US08659202B2
A stator includes a stator core and a stator coil comprised of a plurality of electric conductor segments mounted on the stator core. Each of the electric conductor segments has an insulating coat-removed portion. Each corresponding pair of the insulating coat-removed portions of the electric conductor segments are joined with a joint formed therebetween. Each of the electric conductor segments also has an oblique portion that is comprised of a first part and a second part. The first and second parts extend, along the circumferential direction of the stator core, obliquely with respect to an axial end face of the stator core respectively at first and second oblique angles θ1 and θ2, where θ2>θ1. The second part is positioned closer to the joint, where the insulating coat-removed portion of the electric conductor segment is jointed to that of another electric conductor segment, than the first part is.
US08659200B2
The permanent magnet embedded rotating electrical machine includes a rotor and a plurality of flat permanent magnets. The rotor has on an outer periphery thereof a plurality of pairs of concave portions and a plurality of convex portions. Each of the convex portions is located between the pair of concave portions. The concave portions are formed at radially outward of respective adjacent magnetic pole ends of the permanent magnet. A bridge is provided in the rotor at an angular position about an axis of the rotor between opposed magnetic pole ends of two adjacent permanent magnets. Each concave portion at radially outward of the magnetic pole end of the permanent magnet is located close to the center of the same permanent magnet in relation to the bridge next to the permanent magnet in the circumferential direction of the rotor.
US08659190B2
Embodiments of the invention provide an electric machine module including a housing defining a machine cavity. In some embodiments, an electric machine can be positioned within the machine cavity and include a rotor hub coupled to rotor laminations. The rotor hub can include first and second axial ends and the rotor laminations can include a recess. In some embodiments, the recesses can be aligned to define a portion of a plurality of coolant channels that can be in fluid communication with the machine cavity. In some embodiments, the rotor hub can include first and second rotor hub inlets in fluid communication with at least a portion of the coolant channels. The first and the second rotor hub inlets can be adjacent to the axial ends of the rotor hub. In some embodiments, the coolant channels are in fluid communication with the rotor hub inlets are not the same coolant channels.
US08659184B2
A battery operated vacuum cleaner is provided with one or more principal batteries and one or more supplemental batteries. The batteries and a controller are configured such that as the power provided by the principal batteries drops, one or more of the supplemental batteries is operative connected to provide power to the appliance. A method for providing a substantially constant level of power to an appliance, such as a vacuum cleaner, using a plurality of power sources comprises providing power from a principal power source connected to the appliance; monitoring an operating voltage supplied to the appliance to detect if the operating voltage is below a predetermined threshold voltage level; and upon detecting that the operating voltage is below the predetermined threshold voltage level, providing power from k of n supplemental power sources connected to the appliance, where k and n are positive integers, and k is less than or equal to n. Optionally, upon detecting that the operating voltage is below the predetermined threshold voltage level and where k is equal to n, the principal and supplemental power sources are disengaged from the appliance.
US08659170B2
A semiconductor device includes at least two conductive pads, one of the conductive pads being formed above another of the at least two conductive pads, and a redistribution layer extending from at least one of the conductive pads. The semiconductor device also includes a bump structure formed over the conductive pads and electrically coupled to the conductive pads.
US08659169B2
One or more integrated circuit chips are flip-chip bonded to a first surface of a substrate. A contact array is fabricated on a second surface of the substrate. Corner structures attached to the integrated circuit chip cover at least two corners of the IC chip.
US08659164B2
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.
US08659163B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, and a through electrode passing through the substrate. The semiconductor device has a pad region and a through electrode region. A pad covers the pad region, extends into the through electrode region, and delimits an opening in the through electrode region. A through electrode extends through the semiconductor substrate below the hole in the pad in the through region.
US08659154B2
A semiconductor device includes a chip, at least one element electrically coupled to the chip, an adhesive at least partially covering the at least one element, and a mold material at least partially covering the chip and the adhesive.
US08659153B2
Methods of fabricating interconnect structures for semiconductor dice comprise forming conductive elements in contact with bond pads on an active surface over a full pillar diameter of the conductive elements, followed by application of a photodefinable material comprising a photoresist to the active surface and over the conductive elements. The polymide material is selectively exposed and developed to remove photodefinable material covering at least tops of the conductive elements. Semiconductor dice and semiconductor die assemblies are also disclosed.
US08659145B2
A semiconductor device in which a flip chip is mounted which can change a potential of a specific terminal without changing a design of a package external. The semiconductor device includes an IC chip having a bump for an external terminal, and a package in which the IC chip is mounted. The package includes an inner lead portion that supplies a first signal or a second signal to the external terminal. The inner lead portion has a pattern of an inner lead that can change a signal to be supplied to the external terminal to the first signal or the second signal according to a position at which the IC chip is mounted.
US08659143B2
A microelectronic package can include a substrate and a microelectronic element having a rear face facing a first surface of the substrate, a front face, and a column of element contacts extending in a first direction. The microelectronic element can include stacked electrically interconnected semiconductor chips. Edges of the microelectronic element can define an axial plane extending in the first direction and a third direction normal to the rear face. The package can include columns of terminals extending in the first direction at a second surface of the substrate. The terminals can include first terminals exposed in a central region of the second surface and configured to carry address information usable by circuitry within the package to determine an addressable memory location. The central region may have a width not more than 3.5 times a minimum pitch between adjacent terminal columns. The axial plane can intersect the central region.
US08659141B2
A microelectronic assembly can include a microelectronic package connected with a circuit panel. The package has a microelectronic element having a front face facing away from a substrate of the package, and electrically connected with the substrate through conductive structure extending above the front face. First terminals provided in first and second parallel grids or in first and second individual columns can be configured to carry address information usable to determine an addressable memory location from among all the available addressable memory locations of the memory storage array. The first terminals in the first grid can have signal assignments which are a mirror image of the signal assignments of the first terminals in the second grid.
US08659131B2
The present invention relates to structure and manufacture method for multi-row lead frame and semiconductor package, the method characterized by forming a pad portion on a metal material (first step); performing a surface plating process or organic material coating following the first pattern formation (second step); forming a second pattern on the metal material (third step); and packaging a semiconductor chip following the second pattern formation (fourth step), whereby an under-cut phenomenon is minimized by applying a gradual etching.
US08659117B2
A schottky diode includes a drift region of a first conductivity type and a lightly doped silicon region of the first conductivity type in the drift region. A conductor layer is over and in contact with the lightly doped silicon region to form a schottky contact with the lightly doped silicon region. A highly doped silicon region of the first conductivity type is in the drift region and is laterally spaced from the lightly doped silicon region such that upon biasing the schottky diode in a conducting state, a current flows laterally between the lightly doped silicon region and the highly doped silicon region through the drift region. A plurality of trenches extend into the drift region perpendicular to the current flow. Each trench has a dielectric layer lining at least a portion of the trench sidewalls and at least one conductive electrode.
US08659115B2
A method of fabricating an airgap-containing interconnect structure in which a patternable low-k material replaces the need for utilizing a separate photoresist and a dielectric material is provided. Specifically, a simplified method of fabricating single-damascene and dual-damascene airgap-containing low-k interconnect structures with at least one patternable low-k dielectric and at least one inorganic antireflective coating is provided.
US08659113B2
An embedded semiconductor die package is made by mounting a frame carrier to a temporary carrier with an adhesive. The frame carrier includes die mounting sites each including a leadframe interconnect structure around a cavity. A semiconductor die is disposed in each cavity. An encapsulant is deposited in the cavity over the die. A package interconnect structure is formed over the leadframe interconnect structure and encapsulant. The package interconnect structure and leadframe interconnect structure are electrically connected to the die. The frame carrier is singulated into individual embedded die packages. The semiconductor die can be vertically stacked or placed side-by-side within the cavity. The embedded die packages can be stacked and electrically interconnected through the leadframe interconnect structure. A semiconductor device can be mounted to the embedded die package and electrically connected to the die through the leadframe interconnect structure.
US08659108B2
Impinging electromagnetic radiation generates pairs of majority and minority carriers in a substrate. A spectrometer device for detection of electromagnetic radiation impinging on a substrate comprises means for generating, in the substrate, a majority carrier current; at least one detection region for collecting generated minority carriers, the minority carriers being directed under influence of the majority carrier current; and means for determining spectral information based on minority carriers collected at the at least one detection region.
US08659103B2
According to one embodiment, a magnetoresistive element includes the following configuration. A first magnetic layer has an invariable magnetization. A second magnetic layer has a variable magnetization. A nonmagnetic layer is provided between the first and the second magnetic layers. The first magnetic layer has a structure in which first, second and third magnetic material films and a nonmagnetic material film are stacked. The first magnetic material film is provided in contact with the nonmagnetic layer, the nonmagnetic material film is provided in contact with the first magnetic material film, the second magnetic material film is provided in contact with the nonmagnetic material film, and the third magnetic material film is provided in contact with the second magnetic material film. The second magnetic material film has a Co concentration higher than that of the first magnetic material film.
US08659101B2
Provided is an inertial sensor device comprising a detection part having an MEMS structure, wherein convenience during sensor installation is ensured while erroneous operation caused by the application of external vibration is controlled. To achieve this objective, an anti-vibration structure (103) is provided in the inertial sensor device, between a semiconductor chip (102) mounted on a package substrate and a semiconductor chip (104) comprising a sensor detection part. The anti-vibration structure (103) has a structure in which the periphery of an anti-vibration part (103a) is surrounded by an anti-vibration part (103b) comprising a material having a larger Young's modulus.
US08659094B2
An array substrate for a liquid crystal display device includes: a gate line and a gate electrode on a substrate, the gate electrode connected to the gate line; a gate insulating layer on the gate line and the gate electrode, the gate insulating layer including an organic insulating material such that a radical of carbon chain has a composition ratio of about 8% to about 11% by weight; a semiconductor layer on the gate insulating layer over the gate electrode; a data line crossing the gate line to define a pixel region; source and drain electrodes on the semiconductor layer, the source electrode connected to the data line and the drain electrode spaced apart from the source electrode; a passivation layer on the data line, the source electrode and the drain electrode, the passivation layer having a drain contact hole exposing the drain electrode; and a pixel electrode on the passivation layer, the pixel electrode connected to the drain electrode through the drain contact hole.
US08659093B2
A contact structure is disclosed in which a continuous metal semiconductor alloy is located within a via contained within a dielectric material. The continuous semiconductor metal alloy is in direct contact with an upper metal line of a first metal level located atop the continuous semiconductor metal alloy and at least a surface of each source and drain diffusion region located beneath the continuous metal semiconductor alloy. The continuous metal semiconductor alloy includes a lower portion that is contained within an upper surface of each source and drain region, and a vertical pillar portion extending upward from the lower portion.
US08659092B2
A fabricating method of CMOS transistor includes following steps. A first gate and a second gate are formed on a substrate. A gate insulator is formed on the substrate to cover the first and second gates. A first source, a first drain, a second source, and a second drain are formed on the gate insulator. The first source and the first drain are above the first gate. The second source and the second drain are above the second gate. A first channel layer and a mask layer are formed on the gate insulator. The mask layer is on the first channel layer. The first channel layer is above the first gate and contacts with the first source and the first drain. A second channel layer is formed on the gate insulator. The second channel layer is above the second gate and contacts with the second source and the second drain.
US08659087B2
A transistor structure of an electronic device can include a gate dielectric layer and a gate electrode. The gate electrode can have a surface portion between the gate dielectric layer and the rest of the gate electrode. The surface portion can be formed such that another portion of the gate electrode primarily sets the effective work function in the finished transistor structure.
US08659084B1
In one aspect, a CMOS device is provided. The CMOS device includes a SOI wafer having a SOI layer over a BOX; one or more active areas formed in the SOI layer in which one or more FET devices are formed, each of the FET devices having an interfacial oxide on the SOI layer and a gate stack on the interfacial oxide layer, the gate stack having (i) a conformal gate dielectric layer present on a top and sides of the gate stack, (ii) a conformal gate metal layer lining the gate dielectric layer, and (iii) a conformal workfunction setting metal layer lining the conformal gate metal layer. A volume of the conformal gate metal layer and/or a volume of the conformal workfunction setting metal layer present in the gate stack are/is proportional to a length of the gate stack.
US08659068B2
A DRAM memory structure at least includes a strip semiconductive material disposed on a substrate and extending along a first direction, a split gate disposed on the substrate and extending along a second direction, a dielectric layer at least sandwiched between the split gate and the substrate, a gate dielectric layer at least sandwiched between the split gate and the strip semiconductive material, and a capacitor unit. The split gate independently includes a first block and a second block to divide the strip semiconductive material into a source terminal, a drain terminal and a channel. The capacitor unit is electrically connected to the source terminal.
US08659066B2
An integrated circuit includes a transistor and a capacitor. The transistor includes a first semiconductor layer and a gate stack located on the first semiconductor layer. The gate stack includes a metal layer and a first high-k dielectric layer. A gate spacer is located on sidewalls of the gate stack. The first high-k dielectric layer is located between the first semiconductor layer and the metal layer and between the gate spacer and sidewalls of the metal layer. A first silicide region is located on a first source/drain region. A second silicide region is located on a second source/drain region. The capacitor includes a first terminal that comprises a third silicide region located on a portion of the second semiconductor. A second high-k dielectric layer is located on the silicide region. A second terminal comprises a metal layer that is located on the second high-k dielectric layer.
US08659064B2
The invention includes methods of utilizing compositions containing iridium and tantalum in semiconductor constructions, and includes semiconductor constructions comprising compositions containing iridium and tantalum. The compositions containing iridium and tantalum can be utilized as barrier materials, and in some aspects can be utilized as barriers to copper diffusion.
US08659057B2
A vertical junction field effect transistor (VJFET) having a self-aligned pin, a p+/n/n+ or a p+/p/n+ gate-source junction is described. The device gate can be self-aligned to within 0.5 μm to the source in order to maintain good high voltage performance (i.e. low DIBL) while reducing gate-source junction leakage under reverse bias. The device can be a wide-bandgap semiconductor device such as a SiC vertical channel junction field effect. Methods of making the device are also described.
US08659051B2
Provided is a semiconductor light emitting device. The semiconductor light emitting device includes a light emitting structure disposed under an insulating layer having a plurality of holes. A first electrode is disposed on the insulating layer and a second electrode disposed is disposed under the light emitting structure. A conductive supporting member is disposed under the second electrode. The plurality of contact protrusions are disposed in the holes of the insulating layer and include filler connected to the first conductive semiconductor layer and disposed in the plurality of holes. The conductive supporting member physically contacts with the second electrode and has a thickness thicker than that of the insulating layer. The first electrode is located at a higher position than an entire region of the insulating layer and the insulating layer is located at a higher position than an entire region of the light emitting structure.
US08659047B2
A light emitting device includes a substrate having an element mounting area in a principal surface thereof. The light emitting device also includes at least one light emitting element mounted in the element mounting area of the substrate. The light emitting device also includes a heat transfer member provided on the substrate. The heat transfer member has a thermal conductivity different from thermal conductivity of the substrate so as to form uneven thermal resistance distribution in the element mounting area. Thermal resistance in a heat radiation path through the substrate for release of heat emitted from the light emitting element changes with the mounting position of the light emitting element.
US08659046B2
Disclosed are a light emitting device package and a method for fabricating the same. The light emitting device package includes: a trench formed in a substrate; a light emitting structure which is directly grown on a first area of the trench in the substrate; an electrode on the substrate; a wire bonding connecting the electrode with the light emitting structure; anda filler filling the trench.
US08659028B2
A three-dimensional (3D) high density memory array includes multiple layers of segmented bit lines (i.e., sense lines) with segment switch devices within the memory array that connect the segments to global bit lines. The segment switch devices reside on one or more layers of the integrated circuit, preferably residing on each bit line layer. The global bit lines reside preferably on one layer below the memory array, but may reside on more than one layer. The bit line segments preferably share vertical connections to an associated global bit line. In certain EEPROM embodiments, the array includes multiple layers of segmented bit lines with segment connection switches on multiple layers and shared vertical connections to a global bit line layer. Such memory arrays may be realized with much less write-disturb effects for half selected memory cells, and may be realized with a much smaller block of cells to be erased.
US08659025B2
A semiconductor device with high reliability and operation performance is manufactured without increasing the number of manufacture steps. A gate electrode has a laminate structure. A TFT having a low concentration impurity region that overlaps the gate electrode or a TFT having a low concentration impurity region that does not overlap the gate electrode is chosen for a circuit in accordance with the function of the circuit.
US08659020B2
It is an object to provide an epitaxial silicon wafer that is provided with an excellent gettering ability in which a polysilicon layer is formed on the rear face side of a silicon crystal substrate into which phosphorus (P) and germanium (Ge) have been doped. A silicon epitaxial layer is grown by a CVD method on the surface of a silicon crystal substrate into which phosphorus and germanium have been doped at a high concentration. After that, a PBS forming step for growing a polysilicon layer is executed on the rear face side of a silicon crystal substrate. By the above steps, the number of LPDs (caused by an SF) that occur on the surface of the epitaxial silicon wafer due to the SF can be greatly reduced.
US08659015B2
A semiconductor device includes an antenna functioning as a coil, a capacitor electrically connected to the antenna in parallel, a passive element forming a resonance circuit with the antenna and the capacitor by being electrically connected to the antenna and the capacitor in parallel, a first field effect transistor controlling whether the passive element is electrically connected to the antenna and the capacitor in parallel or not, and a memory circuit. The memory circuit includes a second field effect transistor which includes an oxide semiconductor layer where a channel is formed and in which a data signal is input to one of a source and a drain. The gate voltage of the first field effect transistor is set depending on the voltage of the other of the source and the drain of the second field effect transistor.
US08659012B2
A light emitting device having a plastic substrate is capable of preventing the substrate from deterioration with the transmission of oxygen or moisture content. The light emitting device has light emitting elements formed between a lamination layer and an inorganic compound layer that transmits visual light, where the lamination layer is constructed of one unit or two or more units, and each unit is a laminated structure of a metal layer and an organic compound layer. Alternatively, each unit is a laminated structure of a metal layer and an organic compound layer, wherein the inorganic compound layer is formed so as to cover the end face of the lamination layer. In the present invention, the lamination layer is formed on the primary surface of the plastic substrate, so that a flexible substrate structure can be obtained.
US08659011B2
Provided is a highly reliable light-emitting element in which damage to an EL layer is reduced even when an auxiliary electrode for an upper electrode is provided. Further, a highly reliable light-emitting device in which luminance unevenness is suppressed is provided. The light-emitting element includes a first electrode; an insulating layer over the first electrode; an auxiliary electrode having a projection and a depression on a surface, over the insulating layer; a layer containing a light-emitting organic compound over the first electrode and the auxiliary electrode; and a second electrode over the layer containing the light-emitting organic compound. At least part of the auxiliary electrode is electrically connected to the second electrode.
US08659000B2
A memory device includes: an amorphous semiconductor layer of a first conduction type; a solid electrolyte layer containing movable ions and provided in contact with a part of one of faces of the amorphous semiconductor layer; a first electrode electrically connected to the amorphous semiconductor layer via the solid electrolyte layer; a second electrode electrically connected to one of the faces of the amorphous semiconductor layer; and a third electrode provided over the other face of the amorphous semiconductor layer with an insulating layer therebetween. At the time of application of voltage to the third electrode, at least a part of the amorphous semiconductor layer reversibly changes to a second conduction type.
US08658997B2
Embodiments generally include a method of forming a nonvolatile memory device that contains a resistive switching memory element that has an improved device switching capacity by using multiple layers of variable resistance layers. In one embodiment, the resistive switching element comprises at least three layers of variable resistance materials to increase the number of logic states. Each variable resistance layer may have an associated high resistance state and an associated low resistance state. As the resistance of each variable resistance layer determines the digital data bit that is stored, the multiple variable resistance layers per memory element allows for additional data storage without the need to further increase the density of nonvolatile memory devices. Typically, resistive switching memory elements may be formed as part of a high-capacity nonvolatile memory integrated circuit, which can be used in various electronic devices, such as digital cameras, mobile telephones, handheld computers, and music players.
US08658996B2
A scanner for processing intra-oral flexible information carrier plate exposed to X-rays and an envelope for the plate. The scanner comprises housing with an opening for entering an enveloped plate. The envelope is provided with a protrusion and the opening of the scanner is provided with a shoulder. When the enveloped plate is entered in the opening the protrusion abuts the shoulder such that the plate is allowed to exit from the envelope and pass inside the housing while the envelope is retained outside the housing.
US08658990B2
Radiation dosimeters containing thin KCl:Eu2+ storage phosphors for quantifying and/or verifying the dose of radiation applied during radiation therapy. Methods for measuring the amount of radiation applied from a source of radiation and methods for treating a patient having a cancerous tumor are also provided.
US08658984B2
A method of separating charged particles using an analyzer is provided, the method comprising: causing a beam of charged particles to fly through the analyzer and undergo within the analyzer at least one full oscillation in the direction of an analyzer axis (z) of the analyzer whilst orbiting about the axis (z) along a main flight path; constraining the arcuate divergence of the beam as it flies through the analyzer; and separating the charged particles according to their flight time. An analyzer for performing the method is also provided. At least one arcuate focusing lens is preferably used to constrain the divergence, which may comprise a pair of opposed electrodes located either side of the beam. An array of arcuate focusing lenses may be used which are located at substantially the same z coordinate, the arcuate focusing lenses in the array being spaced apart in the arcuate direction and the array extending at least partially around the z axis, thereby constraining the arcuate divergence of the beam a plurality of times as it flies through the analyzer.
US08658979B2
A system is provided for obtaining a nuclear image of a moving object. The system comprises an input (14), a processing unit (15) and an output (17). The input (14) is provided for receiving a nuclear image and morphological images of the object. The processing unit (15) is configured to process the morphological images to obtain sparse motion information of the object, to use the sparse motion information and a motion model for obtaining estimated motion information about the object, and to generate a motion-corrected nuclear image based on the estimated motion information and the acquired nuclear image. The output (17) provides the corrected nuclear image.
US08658978B2
Methods and apparatus for a radiation monitor. In one embodiment, a radiator monitor comprises a housing, a detector material having an adjustable density in the housing, an optical coupler adjacent the detector material to receive Cherenkov energy generated in the detector material, a photodetector coupled to the optical coupler, and a processing module coupled to the photodetector to determine whether a detection threshold is exceeded.
US08658976B2
A low-power 4×4-pixel THz camera with responsivity greater than 2.5 MV/W and sub-10 pW/√Hz NEP at 0.25 THz is integrated in 130 nm silicon without using either high-resistivity substrates or silicon lenses. Imaging results with a fully integrated radiating CMOS power source demonstrate the first entirely silicon-based THz imager.
US08658974B2
The invention relates to an environmental cell for use in e.g. an electron microscope. The environmental cell shows an aperture (15) for passing the beam produced by the electron microscope to a sample (6) placed inside the environmental cell. The environmental cell according to the invention is characterized in that a part of the environmental cell (14) is transparent to secondary radiation such as back-scattered electrons or X-rays. This enables the detection of this radiation by a detector placed outside the environmental cell and thus a much simpler construction of the cell.
US08658973B2
System and methods for decomposing an Auger electron spectrum into elemental and chemical components, includes conditioning and input spectrum to generate a normalized input spectrum; determining statistical correlation between the normalized input spectrum and stored elemental spectral signatures; and characterizing elemental or chemical species in the input spectrum from the statistical correlation, wherein said conditioning the input spectrum includes estimating a background signal of non-Auger electrons in the input spectrum and subtracting the estimated background signal from the input spectrum.
US08658969B2
One virtual rod electrode (11) is composed by arraying a plurality of plate electrodes (111, . . . , 118) along an ion beam axis, and a quadrupole ion optical element (1) is constructed by arranging four virtual rod electrodes (11, 12, 13 and 14) around an ion beam axis C. A voltage-applying unit alternately applies two radio-frequency voltages having a phase difference of 180 degrees for each of the plate electrodes in one virtual rod electrode. By this voltage application, the quadrupole component of the radio-frequency electric field created within a space surrounded by the four virtual rod electrodes is decreased, while higher-order multipole components are increased. The quadrupole component yields high ion convergence and mass selectivity, while the higher-order components provide high ion transmission efficiency and ion acceptance. The general ion transport efficiency can be improved by appropriately adjusting the ion optical characteristics according to the installation environment of the ion optical system and the conditions before and after the ion optical system.
US08658965B2
An encoder which measures displacement of a moving part includes a light-emitting unit; a moving part which moves relative to the light-emitting unit; a first pattern track which includes a plurality of first unit patterns sequentially formed on the moving part, separated from one another and having different widths; a first light-receiving unit which is disposed to correspond to the light-emitting unit and detects first information light received from the light-emitting unit via a first pattern of the first unit patterns; at least one second light-receiving unit which is disposed to correspond to the light-emitting unit and detects second information about light received from the light-emitting unit via at least one second pattern of the first unit patterns; and a displacement calculating unit which calculates a relative displacement of the moving part with respect to a reference position based on the first and second information.
US08658964B2
A photoelectric encoder in which light emitted from a light source is modulated by an optical grating and the modulated light is detected by a light receiving element, includes a one-side telecentric optical system which forms an image of the light modulated by the optical grating. The imaging optical system has an aperture through which part of the light modulated by the optical grating is allowed to transmit, the aperture having a size which is required when a cutoff spatial frequency that is a spatial frequency indicating a resolution limit of the imaging optical system due to the light emitted from the light source has a value between a fundamental spatial frequency of the optical grating obtained by a Fourier transformation and a second harmonic of the fundamental spatial frequency.
US08658958B2
A light detecting circuit and a light detecting method thereof are provided. The light detecting circuit includes a first resistor, a light sensor, a current source, and a first current mirror. The light sensor generates a corresponding photocurrent according to the illumination while being illuminated by the high brightness light beam. By dividing the photocurrent corresponding to the low brightness light beam from the photocurrent through the current source, the light detecting circuit can mainly detects the high brightness light beam, so that the detecting accuracy can be enhanced. Accordingly, when being applied to detect the high brightness light beam, the light detecting circuit can provide a sensing voltage in a wide enough range and a large enough sense scale, so that the sensing voltage is easy to be distinguished by the rear stage.
US08658950B2
A heating device includes a first induction coil, a second induction coil, a control panel, a power supply unit and a controlling unit. The control panel issues an adjusting signal. The power supply unit provides a first power and a second power to the first induction coil and the second induction coil, respectively. The controlling unit generates a control signal to the power supply unit according to the adjusting signal, thereby controlling the first power and the second power. Electrical energy is transmitted to the first induction coil and the second induction coil and the frequency difference between the first power and the second power is greater than 15 kHz or smaller than 1 kHz during a first time interval under control of the controlling unit. No electrical energy is transmitted to one of the first induction coil and the second induction coil during a second time interval under control of the controlling unit.
US08658943B1
A personal thermal regulating device (PTRD) typically includes a heat generating device, a power source, a switchable control operably coupled with each of the heat generating device and the power source, and a head retention device coupled with the heat generating device and configured to retain the heat generating device positioned centrally at and in thermally conductive contact with a user's forehead. The present invention affects a tangible warming of the extremities, particularly the hands and feet, extending retention of manual dexterity and peripheral comfort under cold conditions.
US08658941B2
A welding-type system is designed for wireless control and for inventory monitoring of welding consumables. The welding-type system includes a power source to produce a welding-type power, wherein the power source is operable in a plurality of operating modes. The welding-type system also includes a controller configured to set a plurality of operating parameters within the power source, at least one wireless monitoring device coupled to the controller, and at least one welding-type consumable associated with a wireless transmitter. The wireless transmitter is configured to emit low frequency magnetic signals having consumable data encoded therein that is indicative of the at least one welding-type consumable. The wireless monitoring device is arranged to communicate with the wireless transmitter by receiving and transmitting the low frequency magnetic signals, with the low frequency magnetic signals being transmitted at a frequency of approximately 131 kHz.
US08658938B2
A method of forming an aperture in an article includes directing a laser at the article and traversing the high energy beam to form a cut extending along the periphery of the aperture in a first direction to a second point on the periphery and then reversing the direction of cutting along the periphery till the aperture is formed.
US08658937B2
A method and apparatus for processing substrate edges is disclosed that overcomes the limitations of conventional edge processing methods and systems used in semiconductor manufacturing. The edge processing method and apparatus of this invention includes a laser and optical system to direct a beam of radiation onto a rotating substrate supported by a chuck, in atmosphere. The optical system accurately and precisely directs the beam to remove or transform organic or inorganic films, film stacks, residues, or particles from the top edge, top bevel, apex, bottom bevel, and bottom edge of the substrate. An optional gas injector system directs gas onto the substrate edge to aid in the reaction. Process by-products are removed via an exhaust tube enveloping the reaction site. This invention permits precise control of an edge exclusion zone, resulting in an increase in the number of usable die on a wafer. Wafer edge processing with this invention replaces existing solvent and/or abrasive methods and thus will improve die yield.
US08658935B2
An improved welding head for creating an in-track weld between a first rail segment and a second rail segment includes a controller having computer-readable instructions read by the controller. The computer-readable instructions include instructions for compensating for rail jerk during in-track welding. The welding head includes a closing force actuator, such as a hydraulic cylinder, for moving the rail segments toward one another. A pressure transducer is monitored during welding to determine a closing force. An impending jerk of the rail movement is detected if an abnormal closing force change is observed, and in response the flow of hydraulic fluid into or out of the hydraulic cylinder is restricted to prevent or minimize the jerk. In addition, when an impending jerk is detected the weld current may be temporarily increased to burn or prevent the formation of short circuit paths between the rails.
US08658930B2
An embedded pole part is provided with an isolating housing made of thermoplastic material. The housing embeds an interrupter as well as the electric terminals of the pole part. At an outer surface of the housing, horizontal and/or vertical aligned three-dimensional structures joined by material engagement are implemented into the thermoplastic material, to achieve a higher mechanical stiffness as well as higher creepage length of the pole part. The mechanical and dielectric parameters of the pole part are thereby strengthened, for example, in the case of a short circuit current.
US08658921B2
Systems for disconnecting and/or connecting service between a utility network and a utility meter are disclosed. In one embodiment, a switch system includes: an actuator connected to a sliding cam for moving the sliding cam between a first position and a second position, the sliding cam slidingly receiving a terminal blade of the utility meter and including a pair of camming surfaces for disengaging a pair of conductors from the terminal blade in response to being moved from the first position to the second position by the actuator.
US08658909B2
The present device is a programmable breadboard matrix interconnection box capable of receiving data from a computer or controller and automatically establishing connections between contact points. A conductor layer, a magnetic layer, and a contact layer are used to automate the connections between contact points. The conductor layer provides conductors which move between ‘ON’ and ‘OFF’ positions and rows/columns which can receive electric current. The magnetic layer provides a necessary magnetic field. The contact layer connects the conductor to the designated contact point. A controller activates each conductor using the Laplace Force generated by the magnetic field and electric current.
US08658893B1
An electrical device including a device body having a rear section configured to fit into an electrical box and at least one device mounting tab having an aperture for a fastener, a front section secured directly to the rear section, and an interchangeable face removably secured to the front section. The interchangeable face may include a frame surrounding a movable element.
US08658887B2
Provided in this invention is a low-cost substrate provided with a transparent conductive film for photoelectric conversion device, which can improve performance of the photoelectric conversion device by enhanced light confinement effect achieved with effectively increased surface unevenness of the substrate. A method for manufacturing said substrate and a photoelectric conversion device using said substrate which can show improved performance are also provided. The substrate provided with the transparent conductive film for the photoelectric conversion device comprises a transparent insulating substrate and a transparent electrode layer containing at least zinc oxide deposited on the transparent insulating substrate, wherein the transparent electrode layer is composed of a double layer structure wherein first and second transparent conductive films are deposited in this order from a substrate side. The transparent conductive film has an average film thickness of 10-500 nm, and the second transparent conductive film has an average film thickness of 300-1,500 nm. The average film thickness of the second transparent conductive film is larger than that of the first transparent conductive film, and an average height difference of the unevenness on the surface of the second transparent conductive film is 10-300 nm, which is larger than that of the first transparent conductive film.
US08658875B2
A drum tuning stabilizer including a threaded lug screw shaft which can be rotated along its axis to adjust the tension on a drum head by changing the position of a drum hoop relative to the shell. At least one of a lug casing of the drum shell and a rim portion of the drum hoop has a threaded hole configured to receive the threaded lug screw shaft for rotation. A lug screw lock is threaded on the lug screw shaft adjacent the threaded hole of the lug casing and the rim portion of the drum hoop and can be rotated to tighten the lug screw lock against a surface adjacent to the threaded hole of the lug casing and the rim portion of the drum hoop to provide an interference fit to lock the threaded lug screw shaft to the surface adjacent the lug casing and the rim portion of the drum hoop having the threaded hole therein.
US08658873B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV935324. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV935324, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV935324 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 CV935324 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 CV935324.
US08658869B1
A novel maize variety designated X13B636 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 X13B636 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X13B636 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X13B636, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X13B636. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X13B636.
US08658866B1
A novel soybean variety, designated XBP59001 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XBP59001, cells from soybean variety XBP59001, plants of soybean XBP59001, and plant parts of soybean variety XBP59001. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XBP59001 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XBP59001, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XBP59001, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XBP59001. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XBP59001 are further provided.
US08658865B1
A novel soybean variety, designated XBP40010 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XBP40010, cells from soybean variety XBP40010, plants of soybean XBP40010, and plant parts of soybean variety XBP40010. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XBP40010 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XBP40010, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XBP40010, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XBP40010. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XBP40010 are further provided.
US08658861B2
A novel pea cultivar designated FP2291 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of pea cultivar FP2291, to the plants of pea cultivar FP2291, and parts thereof, for example pollen, ovule, berry or pod. The invention also relates to methods for producing a pea plant by crossing the cultivar FP2291 with itself or another pea line. The invention further relates to methods for producing a pea plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic plants produced by that method and to methods for producing other pea lines derived from the pea cultivar FP2291.
US08658858B2
The invention provides isolated pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase nucleic acids and their encoded polypeptides. The present invention provides methods and compositions relating to altering pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase levels in plants. The invention further provides recombinant expression cassettes, host cells, transgenic plants, and antibody compositions.
US08658854B2
The instant invention relates to the use of 24-hydroxylated vitamin D compounds as therapeutics in mammalian bone fracture repair. In addition, the instant invention relates to novel 24-hydroxylated vitamin D compound receptors which can be employed in the development of compounds capable of facilitating fracture repair in animals. The instant invention also relates to nucleic acids encoding such receptors as well as vectors, host cells, transgenic animals comprising such nucleic acids and screening assays employing such receptors.
US08658846B2
Disclosed herein are processes for separation of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and hydrogen fluoride using azeotropic distillation. Additionally, disclosed are processes for separating mixtures of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, hydrogen fluoride and 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropane (HFC-245eb) and/or 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoropropane (HFC-245cb) by azeotropic distillation.
US08658845B2
Process and adsorbent for separating ethanol and associated oxygenates from a biofermentation system
Disclosed is a process and an adsorbent for the separation of ethanol associated oxygenates from a dilute mixture of ethanol and associated oxygenates in water in the presence of organic compounds derived from a biofermentation process. After pretreatment, the separation is carried out in a simulated moving bed adsorption system employing an stationary phase adsorbent comprising fluorinated carbon or modified C18 silica gel selective for the adsorption of ethanol and associated oxygenates, such as 2,3-butanediol, with a mobile phase desorbent selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, propanol, and methyl tertiary butyl ether. The process is useful for removing water from dilute aqueous mixtures of organic compounds comprising ethanol in dilute concentration in water and produced by fermentation, biomass extraction, biocatalytic and enzymatic processes which are not economically recoverable by conventional distillation methods.
US08658844B2
Catalytic structures are provided comprising octahedral tunnel lattice manganese oxides ion-exchanged with metal cations or mixtures thereof. The structures are useful as catalysts for the oxidation of alkanes and may be prepared by treating layered manganese oxide under highly acidic conditions, optionally drying the treated product, and subjecting it to ion exchange.
US08658828B2
The recovery of toluene diamine from tar waste residues discharged from the synthesis process of toluene diisocyanate comprising steps of: a) grinding the tar waste residues into particles; b) dispersing the particles of tar waste residues into a phase transfer catalyst, alkali and water to obtain a slurry, said phase transfer catalyst being selected from the group consisting of higher alcohols, polyols, polyether compounds and combinations thereof having a boiling point ranging from 120 to 280° C.; c) under the protection of a protective gas, subjecting the slurry to a hydrolysis reaction at a temperature of 120-180° C. under a meter-measured pressure of 0-0.95 MPa to produce toluene diamine; and d) recovering toluene diamine from the hydrolysis reaction solution. The present invention achieves highly efficient recovery of toluene diamine (the recovery rate of TDA is up to 60%) under mild conditions such as 120-180° C. and 0-0.95 MPa (meter-measured pressure), and has a significant economic benefit and friendliness to the environment by recycling the phase transfer catalyst (its recovery rate is up to 99.6%) and water.
US08658827B2
A method of synthesizing a substituted aminocyclohexanone compound comprising reacting a compound of formula (II) with an organolithium compound to form a compound of formula (III)
US08658823B2
In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process comprises the step of providing a crude product stream comprising the acrylate product and an alkylenating agent. The process further comprises the step of separating at least a portion of the crude product stream to form an alkylenating agent stream and an intermediate product stream. The alkylenating agent stream comprises at least 1 wt % alkylenating agent and the intermediate product stream comprises acrylate product.
US08658822B2
In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process comprises the step of reacting an alkanoic acid and an alkylenating agent under conditions effective to produce a crude acrylate product. A molar ratio of alkylenating agent to alkanoic acid is maintained at a level of at least 1.
US08658812B2
The disclosed invention provides wax dispersions with an average particle size of 0.5 to 100 μm containing (a) a wax phase with a melting point above 25° C. which contains at least one oil or wax component selected from dialkyl(ene) ethers, dialkyl(ene) carbonates, dicarboxylic acids, hydroxyfatty alcohols, and mixtures thereof and at least one emulsifier, and (b) a water phase. The wax dispersions are particularly useful as a basis for cosmetic preparations and, more particularly, for impregnating and wetting utility and sanitary wipes used for personal hygiene and body care.
US08658804B2
In a process for making an N-substituted phthalimide compound, an amine is contacted with a carboxylic acid anhydride and allowed to react in an aqueous solution at a pH of about 2 to about 6. Optionally, the reactants are combined with an acid to lower the pH of the reaction solution wherein the lowering of the pH optimizes the yield of the desired N-substituted phthalimide product. The N-substituted phthalimide may be, for example, N-hydroxyphthalimide, and the reactants may be phthalic anhydride and hydroxylamine or a salt thereof. The N-substituted phthalimide compound is useful for, among other things, the oxidation of various hydrocarbons.
US08658803B2
The present invention relates to novel amide derivatives of N-urea substituted amino acids, processes for preparing them, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as pharmaceuticals as modulators of the N-formyl peptide receptor like-1 (FPRL-1) receptor.
US08658799B2
The present invention relates to a new process for the preparation of crystal modifications for use in the preparation of esomeprazole sodium salt. Further, the present invention also relates to the use of the new crystal modifications for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, pharmaceutical compositions containing them as well as the crystal modifications, as such.
US08658797B2
Disclosed are compounds, compositions and methods for the prevention and/or treatment of diseases which are pathophysiologically mediated by the ghrelin receptor. The compounds have the general formula (I):
US08658796B2
The present invention provides ruthenium complexes of the formula wherein: X and X′ denote an anionic ligand selected independently from the group consisting of anions of halogens, the phenolate anion (C6H5O−) the perfluorophenolate anion (C6F5O−), and residues of arylcarboxylic, alkylcarboxylic, perfluoroalkylcarboxylic, alkylsulphonic, arylsulphonic, or perfluoroalkylsulphonic acids; A denotes either nitrogen or carbon with an R5 group; R1 denotes hydrogen, C1-C5 alkyl, C2-C5 alkene or C3-C7 cycloalkyl; and R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 denote independently hydrogen, C1-C25 alkyl, C1-C25 perfluoroalkyl, C5-C24 aryl, C2-C25 alkene, C3-C7 cycloalkyl, nitro (—NO2), cyano (—CN), formyl (—CHO), carboxyl (—COOH), or an ester (—COOR″), sulphone (—SO2R″), sulphonamide (—SO2NR″2), or ketone (—COR″) group, in which R″ is a C1-C5 alkyl, C1-C5 perfluoroalkyl, or C5-C24 aryl group. The invention also provides methods for producing the inventive ruthenium complexes and the use of the complexes for carrying out metathesis reactions.
US08658794B2
The present invention provides 8-methyl-1-phenyl-imidazo[1,5-a]pyrazine derivatives according to formula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The compounds of the current invention show inhibitory activity against Lck and can be used for the treatment of Lck-mediated diseases or Lck-mediated conditions such as inflammatory disorders.
US08658793B2
A process for the preparation of 5-substituted 4-amino-2-methylpyrimidines of the formula wherein R is CONH2 or CN, and of acid addition salts thereof, characterized in that a compound of formula H2N—CH═C(R) CN (II) is reacted with acetimidic acid methyl ester or an acid addition salt thereof and that, if desired, a compound of formula I is transferred into an acid addition salt, and the transformation of a compound of formula II wherein R is CONH2 into a compound of formula II wherein R is CN by treatment with POCl3.
US08658790B2
The present invention relates to a process for the stereoselective preparation of compounds of formulae (1A) and (1B) and the salts thereof, particularly the physiologically acceptable salts thereof with inorganic or organic acids and bases, which have valuable pharmacological properties, particularly an inhibitory effect on signal transduction mediated by tyrosine kinases, the use thereof for the treatment of diseases, particularly tumoral diseases as well as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), diseases of the lungs and airways.
US08658782B2
The invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) for inhibiting the expression of the Factor V Leiden mutant gene (Factor V Leiden mutant gene), comprising an antisense strand having a nucleotide sequence which is less that 25 nucleotides in length and which is substantially complementary to at least a part of the Factor V Leiden mutant gene. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the dsRNA together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; methods for treating diseases caused by the expression of the Factor V Leiden mutant gene using the pharmaceutical composition; and methods for inhibiting the expression of the Factor V Leiden mutant gene in a cell.
US08658781B2
The invention provides a method for rapidly detecting a pathogen in fish comprising conducting loop-mediated isothermal amplification with a specific primer set and a nucleic acid in a test sample. If at least one amplification is carried out, the test sample comprises the pathogen in fish. The invention also provides a primer set, probe and kit for detecting a pathogen in fish.
US08658768B2
An Annexin A5 variant, comprising one or more RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) sequences, is suitable for use in the treatment of a disease in mammals, including humans, wherein augmentation of phagocytosis is a desired effect of treatment. The Annexin A5 variant can e.g. be used in the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerotic plaque or in the treatment of COPD. At least one RGD sequence may substitute sequences of three amino acids within the range 1-19 or other regions of the amino acid sequences of Annexin A5; alternatively one or more RGD sequences may be part of an extension at the N-terminal side.
US08658758B2
In the production of an aliphatic polyester by ring-opening polymerization of a cyclic ester, at least a latter period of polymerization is proceeded with by way of solid-phase polymerization, and the resultant aliphatic polyester is subjected to removal of residual cyclic ester. As a result, an aliphatic polyester with a minimized content of residual monomer is obtained.
US08658752B2
The invention relates to the use of partly silanized compounds based on polyisocyanate as crosslinking agents with heightened refractive index in curable coating compositions, more particularly in clearcoat materials for automotive finishing. The invention likewise relates to a coating composition which comprises these compounds as crosslinking agents, and to the use of the coating composition to produce a coating.
US08658751B2
Molecule-based magnetic polymers with reasonably high Curie temperature and methods of preparing are provided. In particular, magnetic polymers having repeating units of an organometallic monomer covalently bonded to a monomer having a plurality of unpaired electrons are disclosed. Intrinsically homogeneous magnetic fluids (liquid magnets) and methods of preparing are also provided.
US08658743B2
A cage 1,2,3,4-cyclopentanetetracarboxylic acid (1,3:2,4)-dianhydride compound represented by formula [1], and a polyimide obtained by condensing the compound with a diamine. With the compound, it is possible to provide a polyimide which shows no absorption in the ultraviolet region and is highly transparent to light, has high insulating properties, has improved heat resistance and processability, and has excellent solubility in organic solvents. (In formula [1], R1 and R2 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or a C1-10 alkyl.)
US08658740B2
The present invention relates to the reduction of oligomer content of melt-processible fluoropolymer so that the fluoropolymer has at least 25 ppm less oligomer than the as-polymerized fluoropolymer.
US08658709B2
Process for preparing a polyurethane foam, according to the free rise process, the foam having a free rise density of 5-40 kg/m3, comprising reacting at an index of 40-80 a polyisocyanate composition consisting of diphenylmethane diisocyanate and of homologues of diphenylmethane diisocyanate, said homologues having an isocyanate functionality of 3 or more, and wherein the polyisocyanate composition has an average isocyanate functionality of 2.10-2.40 and a 2,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate content of 6-45% by weight with the proviso that the relationship between this functionality (F) and content (C) is: −123F+287≦C≦−123F+311, and a polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene polyol (polyol b1) having an oxyethylene content of 5-30% by weight, a nominal functionality of 2-4 and an average equivalent weight of 1000-3000, and comprising using 5-20 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of polyol b1, of water as blowing agent, an effective amount of a catalyst enhancing urethane formation, and an effective amount of a surfactant.Foams are claimed as well. The foams show good sound absorption and/or sound insulation.
US08658705B2
A process for reducing the carbon oxide content in natural gas, by producing a carbon oxide containing natural gas from a geological formation through a natural gas delivery system; providing a reaction zone containing at least one catalyst suitable for hydrocarbon conversion in the natural gas delivery system; introducing hydrogen into the carbon oxide containing natural gas to form a reaction mixture; and passing the reaction mixture to the catalyst in the reaction zone to convert at least a portion of the carbon oxides in the natural gas to hydrocarbons.
US08658703B2
Addition of polyvinylpyrrolidone and a water-soluble anionic macromolecular compound to an aqueous suspension of a hardly soluble drug allows to provide an aqueous suspension in which aggregation of drug particles, formation of macro crystals from suspended particles and formation of secondary particles from deposited particles are prevented, and adhesion and adsorption to containers made of plastics, e.g., polypropylene or polyethylene, are avoided. As it has a good redispersibility, the aqueous suspension is useful as eye drops, nasal drops, ear drops, injections, oral preparations, liniments and lotions.
US08658695B2
The inventors have discovered that the disodium salt of certain delivery agents has surprisingly greater efficacy for delivering active agents than the corresponding monosodium salt. Furthermore, the inventors have discovered that the disodium salts of these delivery agents form solvates with ethanol and hydrates with water. Preferred delivery agents include, but are not limited to, N-(5-chlorosalicyloyl)-8-aminocaprylic acid (5-CNAC), N-(10-[2-hydroxybenzoyl]amino)decanoic acid (SNAD), and sodium N-(8-[2-hydroxybenzoyl]amino)caprylate (SNAC). The invention also provides methods of preparing the disodium salt, ethanol solvate, and hydrate and compositions containing the disodium salt, ethanol solvate, and/or hydrate.
US08658692B2
Disclosed herein are a method for preparation of an inclusion-complex including a physiologically active hydrophobic substance in cyclodextrin and a derivative thereof, and use of the inclusion-complex prepared by the same. More particularly, the present invention provides a method for preparing an inclusion-complex, which includes agitating cyclodextrin and a derivative thereof in an agitator at high speed, spraying a physiologically active hydrophobic substance dissolved in alcohol onto the agitator, and drying and crushing the mixture obtained from the preceding step and, in addition, use of the prepared inclusion-complex. The present inventive method has merits of reduced inclusion time and increased inclusion rate. The prepared inclusion-complex has excellent cell and collagen proliferation effects compared to physiologically active hydrophobic substances which were not inclusion processed, thereby being used in production of a cosmetic composition with improved anti-wrinkle and anti-ageing effects.
US08658691B2
The invention provides crystalline hydrochloride salts of (S)-3-[(S)-2-methanesulfonyl-1-(4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)ethyl]pyrrolidine. This invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the crystalline salts, processes and intermediates for preparing the crystalline salts, and methods of using the crystalline salts to treat diseases.
US08658690B2
Disclosed herein are isolated compounds or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, which exhibit immunostimulatory or anti-inflammatory effects. The compounds are isolated from the fruiting body of A. camphorata in a solid culture. Also disclosed are methods of stimulating immune responses and/or treating an inflammatory disorder with these compounds and pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
US08658688B2
The novel active compound combinations consisting, firstly, of cyclic ketoenois and, secondly, of beneficial species (natural enemies) have very good insecticidal and/or acaricidal properties.
US08658682B2
(E)-1-(4-((1R,2S,3R)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybutyl)-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-ethanone oxime dihydrate, compositions comprising it, and methods of its use are disclosed.
US08658675B2
The invention relates to pyridine derivatives of Formula (I), wherein A, R1, R2, R3, and R4 are as described in the description, their preparation and their use as pharmaceutically active compounds. Said compounds particularly act as immunomodulating agents.
US08658667B2
Described herein are formulations comprising therapeutic agents, including but not limited to formulations comprising rapamycin, pharmaceutical formulations, unit dose forms, kits, methods of preparing formulations, and methods of using formulations. Such formulations and methods have increased stability.
US08658662B2
The present invention relates to novel crystalline salts of a CDC7 or CDC7/CDKs inhibitor, to a novel crystal form of the corresponding free base, to a process for their preparation, to hydrates, solvates and polymorphs of such new salt forms, to their use in therapy and to pharmaceutical compositions containing them. Such crystal salts are selected from L-asparate, hemifumarate, hydrochloride, maleate, mesylate, sulfate, L-tartrate or phosphate salts of 5-(2-amino-pyrimidin-4-yl)-2-(2,4-dichloro-phenyl)-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxylic acid amide.
US08658657B2
The present invention provides a compound which has an effect of inhibiting amyloid-β production and is useful as a therapeutic agent for diseases induced by production, secretion and/or deposition of amyloid-β proteins. The present invention relates to a compound represented by formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof: wherein A is optionally substituted carbocyclic diyl or optionally substituted heterocyclic diyl; B is an optionally substituted carbocyclic group or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group; R1 is a group such as optionally substituted lower alkyl; R2 is a group such as hydrogen; and R3a and R3b are each independently a group such as hydrogen, provided that the following compound is excluded.
US08658653B2
Disclosed herein are compounds, including compounds having the structure of Formula (A), (B), (C), and (D), as described in further detail herein, that form covalent bonds with Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk). Also described are irreversible inhibitors of Btk. Methods for the preparation of the compounds are disclosed. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions that include the compounds. Methods of using the Btk inhibitors are disclosed, alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents, for the treatment of autoimmune diseases or conditions, heteroimmune diseases or conditions, cancer, including lymphoma, and inflammatory diseases or conditions.
US08658652B2
The present invention provides combinations of active agents, such combinations comprising one or more antifolate compounds. The particularly can include methotrexate and one or more further antifolate compounds. In specific embodiments, the combinations are useful for treating certain conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis. The invention also provides articles useful to provide the combinations in desirable dosage forms and combinations. The combinations further may be useful in the treatment of further conditions, including abnormal cell proliferation, inflammatory diseases, asthma, and arthritis.
US08658648B2
The disclosure provides modified chloroquine compounds having single ring or fused ring moieties. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, methods of using such compounds to inhibit or treat diseases or conditions caused by chloroquine-resistant (CQR) and chloroquine-sensitive (CqS) malaria parasites and other CQ-susceptible microorganisms, and processes and intermediates useful for preparing such compounds.
US08658646B2
The present invention relates to the use of novel pyrrolopyrazine derivatives of Formula I, wherein the variables are defined as described herein, which inhibit JAK and SYK and are useful for the treatment of auto-immune and inflammatory diseases.
US08658635B2
The invention is directed to certain novel compounds of formula (I) and salts thereof. The compounds of the invention are inhibitors of PI3-kinase activity.
US08658626B2
Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for the treatment of otic disorders with steroid, NSAID, and/or adenosine triphosphatase (“ATPase”) modulator agents. In these methods, the steroidal, NSAID, and/or ATPase compositions and formulations are administered locally to an individual afflicted with an otic disorder, through direct application of these compositions and formulations onto or via perfusion into the targeted auris structure(s).
US08658623B2
The present invention relates to novel substituted bicyclic methyl amine derivatives which are useful as sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors modulators and useful for treating a wide variety of disorders associated with modulation of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors.
US08658611B2
According to the present invention, an apoptosis-inducing agent for prostate cancer comprising REIC/Dkk-3 DNA or an REIC/Dkk-3 protein, and a therapeutic agent for prostate cancer and an agent for inhibiting prostate cancer metastasis that comprise such apoptosis-inducing agent are provided.An apoptosis-inducing agent for prostate cancer, comprising, as an active ingredient, an REIC/Dkk-3 protein (a) or (b) or REIC/Dkk-3 DNA (c) or (d): (a) a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2; (b) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence derived from the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 by substitution or deletion of 1 or more amino acids; (c) DNA consisting of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1; or (d) DNA that hybridizes under stringent conditions to DNA consisting of a nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 and encodes a protein having apoptosis activity; and a therapeutic agent for prostate cancer comprising such apoptosis-inducing agent are provided.
US08658604B2
Template-fixed β-hairpin peptidomimetics of the general formulae wherein Z is a chain of 11 α-amino acid residues which, depending on their positions in the chain (counted starting from the N-terminal amino acid) are Gly, or Pro, or Pro(4NHCOPhe), or of certain types which, as the remaining symbols in the above formula, are defined in the description and the claims, and salts thereof, have the property to inhibit proteases, in particular serine proteases, especially Cathepsin G or Elastase or Tryptase. These β-hairpin peptidomimetics can be manufactured by processes which are based on a mixed solid- and solution phase synthetic strategy.
US08658598B2
A recombinant melusin fusion protein having an improved stability and a capability to reach intracellular compartments as compared to recombinant melusin in vivo, wherein said protein comprises i) a human melusin protein having the amino acid sequence as defined in SEQ ID No.:1, or a homologue thereof having at least 60%, preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID No.:1 and having the function of native melusin protein or a human melusin portion derived from SEQ ID No.:1 or homologue thereof having at least 60%, preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90% sequence identity of the melusin portion derived from SEQ ID No.:1 and having the function of native melusin protein and ii) a cell penetrating polypeptide.
US08658594B2
PKC V5 isozyme-specific peptides are described. The sequences and compositions comprising the sequences are useful for treating disease states associated with the PKC isozyme from which they are respectively derived. Methods of treatment, pharmaceutical formulations and methods of identifying compounds that mimic the activity of the peptides are also described.
US08658593B2
Pharmaceutical compositions are provided. The compositions comprise a compound comprising the hyaluronan-containing structure A-(low molecular weight hyaluronan domain)-B. The compositions also comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. A is hydrogen, a substituent that does not comprise a binding site for tumor necrosis factor stimulated gene-6 (“TSG-6”) protein, a substituent that interferes with binding of TSG-6 protein immediately adjacent thereto, or chondroitin. B is hydroxyl, a substituent that does not comprise a binding site for TSG-6 protein, a substituent that interferes with binding of TSG-6 protein immediately adjacent thereto, or chondroitin. The composition is suitable for administration by injection, inhalation, topical rub, or ingestion. Also disclosed are methods and kits for treating a site of inflammation in an individual in need thereof and for decreasing heavy chain modification of pathological hyaluronan at a site of inflammation in an individual in need thereof based on administering the compounds or the compositions.
US08658570B2
The present invention relates to the use of anthranilamide derivatives of the general formula (I) —in which R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, A, X, Qx, Qy and n have the general meanings given in the description—for controlling insects and/or spider mites by drenching, soil mixing, furrow treatment, droplet application, in hydroponic systems, by planting hole treatment, soil, stem or flower injection, dip application, floating or seedbox application or by treating seed, and also for enhancing the stress tolerance of plants to abiotic stress.
US08658562B2
The present invention relates to a method for hydrothermal preparation of a solid made up of a metal-organic framework (MOF) of crystallised, porous aluminium carboxylates, in an aqueous medium. The invention also relates to solids made up of metal-organic frameworks (MOF) of porous, crystallised aluminium carboxylates capable of being obtained by the method of the invention as well as to the uses thereof for the storage of liquid or gaseous molecules, for selective separation of gas and for catalysis.
US08658549B2
A crystallizing glass solder for high-temperature applications, containing, in % by weight on an oxide basis: 45% to 60% of BaO, 25% to 40% of SiO2, 5% to 15% of B2O3, 0 to <2% of Al2O3, and at least one alkaline earth metal oxide from the group consisting of MgO, CaO and SrO, wherein CaO is 0% to 5% and the sum of the alkaline earth metal oxides MgO, CaO and SrO is 0% to 20%, preferably 2% to 15%. The glass solder is preferably free from TeO2 and PbO. Preferred embodiments of the glass solder contain from 3 to 15 wt. % of Y2O3 and have low porosity and high stability with respect to a moist fuel gas environment.
US08658544B2
This invention relates to a method for texturing a silicon surface and silicon wafers made by the method, where the method comprises immersing the wafers in an alkaline solution at pH>10, and applying a potential difference between the wafer and a platinum electrode in the electrolyte in the range of +10 to +85 V.
US08658539B2
A FinFET device may include a first semiconductor fin laterally adjacent a second semiconductor fin. The first semiconductor fin and the second semiconductor fin may have profiles to minimize defects and deformation. The first semiconductor fin comprises an upper portion and a lower portion. The lower portion of the first semiconductor fin may have a flared profile that is wider at the bottom than the upper portion of the first semiconductor fin. The second semiconductor fin comprises an upper portion and a lower portion. The lower portion of the second semiconductor fin may have a flared profile that is wider than the upper portion of the second semiconductor fin, but less than the lower portion of the first semiconductor fin.
US08658534B2
In an insulation layer of an SOI substrate, a connection pad is arranged. A contact hole opening above the connection pad is provided on side walls and on the connection pad with a metallization that is contacted on top side with a top metal.
US08658532B2
Various lithography methods are disclosed. An exemplary lithography method includes forming a first patterned silicon-containing organic polymer layer over a substrate by removing a first patterned resist layer, wherein the first patterned silicon-containing organic polymer layer includes a first opening having a first dimension and a second opening having the first dimension, the first opening and the second opening exposing the substrate; forming a second patterned silicon-containing organic polymer layer over the substrate by removing a second patterned resist layer, wherein a portion of the patterned second silicon-containing organic polymer layer combines with a portion of the first patterned silicon-containing organic polymer layer to reduce the first dimension of the second opening to a second dimension; and etching the substrate exposed by the first opening having the first dimension and the second opening having the second dimension.
US08658527B2
A method of manufacturing a GaN-based film includes the steps of preparing a composite substrate, the composite substrate including a support substrate in which a coefficient of thermal expansion in its main surface is more than 0.8 time and less than 1.0 time as high as a coefficient of thermal expansion of GaN crystal in a direction of a axis and a single crystal film arranged on a main surface side of the support substrate, the single crystal film having threefold symmetry with respect to an axis perpendicular to a main surface of the single crystal film, and forming a GaN-based film on the main surface of the single crystal film in the composite substrate, the single crystal film in the composite substrate being an SiC film. Thus, a method of manufacturing a GaN-based film capable of manufacturing a GaN-based film having a large main surface area and less warpage without crack being produced in a substrate is provided.
US08658524B2
A MOS device, (400) comprising a semiconductor substrate comprising a channel, an electrode (402) insulated from the channel and positioned at least partly over the channel, and at least one contact (403) to the electrode, the at least one contact being positioned at least partly over the channel.
US08658523B2
A metal source/drain field effect transistor is fabricated such that the source/drain regions are deposited, multilayer structures, with at least a second metal deposited on exposed surfaces of a first metal.
US08658520B2
According to one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a gate electrode on a channel region in a silicon substrate via a gate insulation film; forming a source region and a drain region in the silicon substrate so as to sandwich the channel region along a channel direction by injecting desired impurities to the silicon substrate; forming amorphous regions containing the impurities on surfaces of the source region and the drain region by amorphousizing the surfaces of the source region and the drain region; forming nickel films on the amorphous regions; and forming crystal layers containing the activated impurities and forming nickel silicide films on the crystal layers at low temperature by radiating microwaves to the amorphous regions and the nickel films.
US08658512B2
A method for fabricating an out-of-plane variable overlap MEMS capacitor comprises: providing a substrate (40) comprising a first layer (41), a second layer (42), and a third layer (43) stacked on top of one another; and etching a plurality of first trenches (70) through the third layer (43), through the second layer (42), and into the first layer (41) using a single etching mask. Etching the plurality of first trenches (70) defines a plurality of first fingers (51) in the third layer (43) and a plurality of second fingers (52) in the first layer (41). By using a single mask, the process is self-aligned. The method further comprises removing the second layer (42) in a first region where the plurality of first trenches (70) are provided, thereby forming a spacing or gap between the plurality of first fingers (51) and the plurality of second fingers (52).
US08658493B2
An aluminum oxide film covering a ferroelectric capacitor is formed. Next, an opening (51t) where a portion of a top electrode is exposed and an opening (51b) where a portion of a bottom electrode is exposed are formed in the aluminum oxide film. Thereafter, films (23 to 26) are formed and a resist pattern (92) is formed. Then, etching of the films (23 to 26) is performed with using the resist pattern (92) as a mask thereby forming contact holes (27t) and (27b). At this time, since the openings (51t) and (51b) are formed in the aluminum oxide film, the aluminum oxide film is not required to be processed. Consequently, the contact holes (27t) and (27b) can be formed easily.
US08658492B2
A semiconductor power device integrated with ESD protection diode is disclosed by offering a dopant out-diffusion suppression layers prior to source dopant activation or diffusion to enhance ESD protection capability between gate and source.
US08658483B2
A method of fabricating an integrated circuit device is provided. The method includes forming a replacement gate structure with a dummy polysilicon layer on a first surface of a substrate. The method further includes depositing a dielectric layer by a thermal process to form offset spacers on two opposing sides of the replacement gate structure, wherein the dielectric layer is deposited on the first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface of the substrate. The method further includes removing the dummy polysilicon layer from the replacement gate structure, wherein the dielectric layer on the second surface of the substrate protects the second surface of the substrate during the removing step.
US08658480B2
A method for manufacturing an active array substrate is provided herein. The active array substrate can be manufactured by using only two photolithography process steps. The photolithography process step using a first photomask may be provided for forming a drain electrode, a source electrode, a data line and/or a data line connecting pad and a patterned transparent conductive layer, etc. The photolithography process step using a second photomask may be utilized for forming a gate electrode, a gate line, a gate insulating layer, a channel layer and/or a gate line connecting pad, and so forth.
US08658477B2
An exposure mask according to an embodiment of the invention includes a first transmission region where a plurality of dots through which light is shielded or transmitted are arrayed into a matrix form having rows and columns and a second transmission region where a plurality of dots through which the light is shielded or transmitted are arrayed into a matrix form having rows and columns and is disposed adjacent to the first transmission region. The dots arrayed in a row or a column of the first transmission region, which is adjacent to the second transmission region, have an area intermediate between areas of dots arrayed on both sides of the row or the column.
US08658475B1
The present disclosure relates to a stacked body-contacted field effect transistor (FET) that includes multiple body-contacted FETs coupled in series and a lateral isolation band encircling a periphery of the multiple FETs. The multiple FETs include a first end FET having a first body, which is not directly connected to any body of any other of the multiple FETs, and a second end FET having a second body, which is not directly connected to any body of any other of the multiple FETs. The multiple FETs may include inner FETs that incorporate merged source-drains to save space. By keeping the bodies electrically separated from one another, the full benefits of body-contacting may be realized. However, by incorporating multiple FETs within a single lateral isolation band further saves space.
US08658474B2
An integrated circuit containing a vertical interconnect that includes a region of interconnect metal continuously surrounding one or more dielectric pillars. The vertical interconnect electrically contacts a top surface of a lower conductive structure. An upper conductive structure contacts a top surface of the vertical interconnect. A process of forming an integrated circuit that includes forming a vertical interconnect that has a region of interconnect metal continuously surrounding one or more dielectric pillars. The vertical interconnect electrically contacts a top surface of a lower conductive structure, and an upper conductive structure contacts a top surface of the vertical interconnect.
US08658468B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor chip module and a semiconductor chip package is disclosed. One embodiment provides a first layer, a second layer, and a base layer. The first layer is disposed on the base layer, and the second layer is disposed on the first layer. A plurality of semiconductor chips is applied above the second layer, and the second layer with the applied semiconductor chips is separated from the first layer.
US08658465B2
The method of the preferred embodiments includes the steps of providing a base having a frame portion and a center portion; building a preliminary structure coupled to the base; removing a portion of the preliminary structure to define a series of devices and a plurality of bridges; removing the center portion of the base such that the frame portion defines an open region, wherein the plurality of bridges suspend the series of devices in the open region defined by the frame; and encapsulating the series of devices. The method is preferably designed for the manufacture of semiconductor devices, and more specifically for the manufacture of encapsulated implantable electrodes. The method, however, may be alternatively used in any suitable environment and for any suitable reason.
US08658461B2
A field effect transistor includes a metal carbide source portion, a metal carbide drain portion, an insulating carbon portion separating the metal carbide source portion from the metal carbide portion, a nanostructure formed over the insulating and carbon portion and connecting the metal carbide source portion to the metal carbide drain portion, and a gate stack formed on over at least a portion of the insulating carbon portion and at least a portion of the nanostructure.
US08658460B2
A method of manufacturing an organic light-emitting display device includes forming a gate electrode including a lower gate electrode on a gate insulating layer and an upper gate electrode on the lower gate electrode; forming a source region and a drain region at a semiconductor active layer using the gate electrode as a mask; forming an interlayer insulating layer on a substrate and etching the interlayer insulating layer, resulting in contact holes that expose portions of the source region and the drain region; forming a source/drain electrode raw material on the substrate and etching the source/drain electrode raw material to form a source electrode and a drain electrode; forming a gold overlapped lightly doped drain (GOLDD) structure having a LDD region at the semiconductor active layer by injecting impurity ions; depositing a protective layer on the substrate; and forming a display device on the substrate.
US08658459B2
A method of producing an organic semiconductor device is provided in which a layer composed of an organic semiconductor having excellent crystallinity and orientation in a low-temperature region can be formed, and the device can be produced in the air. The method includes forming a layer composed of an organic semiconductor precursor on a base body and irradiating the organic semiconductor precursor with light, wherein the organic semiconductor precursor is a porphyrin compound or an azaporphyrin compound having in its molecule at least one of the structure represented by the following general formula (1) or (2):
US08658455B2
A system and a method for mass production of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells at low cost via a continuous roll-to-roll process. While a flexible conductive substrate is constantly in transit on a conveyor, a titanium dioxide (TiO2) layer is: formed by spray printing; sintered; dyed in a dye tank, with or without immersion, by a dye solution sprayed from nozzles while the substrate moves along a conveyor line configured as multiple alternating U-shaped lines; washed and dried; loaded with a gel-type electrolyte by roll-type printing; and covered and pressure-sealed by another flexible conductive substrate, aided by preloaded sealants. The dye solution in the dye tank may be re-circulated, during which process, the temperature, level, concentration of the dye solution may be adjusted and controlled. The roll-to-roll production process may further include erecting anti-leakage walls and leveling the electrolyte layer for preventing post-sealing leakage of the electrolyte.
US08658450B2
According to one embodiment, a crystal growth method is disclosed for growing a crystal of a nitride semiconductor on a major surface of a substrate. The major surface is provided with asperities. The method can include depositing a buffer layer on the major surface at a rate of not more than 0.1 micrometers per hour. The buffer layer includes GaxAl1-xN (0.1≦x<0.5) and has a thickness of not smaller than 20 nanometers and not larger than 50 nanometers. In addition, the method can include growing the crystal including a nitride semiconductor on the buffer layer at a temperature higher than a temperature of the substrate in the depositing the buffer layer.
US08658443B2
A method for manufacturing light emitting device is provided. Firstly, provide a substrate. Then arrange a light emitting unit on the substrate. Next form at least one electrode and arrange at least one protective layer on the electrode. The protective layer is to prevent a phosphor layer following formed on the light emitting unit from covering the electrode. After forming the phosphor layer, flatten the phosphor layer and the protective layer. A part of the phosphor layer over the protective layer is removed. Thus the electrode is not affected by the phosphor layer and conductivity of the electrode is improved to resolve phosphor thickness and uniformity problems of the light emitting device. Therefore, the thickness of the light emitting device with LED is effectively reduced and stability of white color temperature control is significantly improved.
US08658435B2
A method for forming a hydrogen barrier liner for a ferro-electric random access memory chip including forming a first dielectric layer over a substrate; forming a gate over the first dielectric layer; forming a first aluminum oxide layer over the gate and the first dielectric layer; forming a second dielectric layer over the first aluminum oxide layer; etching a trench through the second dielectric layer and the first aluminum oxide layer to the gate; forming a hydrogen barrier liner over the second dielectric layer, the hydrogen barrier liner lining the trench and contacting the gate; forming a silicon dioxide layer over the first aluminum dioxide layer, the silicon dioxide layer substantially filling the trench; and substantially removing the silicon dioxide layer leaving a silicon dioxide plug in the trench.
US08658430B2
The invention generally relates to methods and systems for manipulating droplet size. In certain aspects, the invention provides methods for manipulating droplet size that include forming droplets of aqueous fluid surrounded by an immiscible carrier fluid, and manipulating droplet size during the forming step by adjusting pressure exerted on the aqueous fluid or the carrier fluid.
US08658427B2
The present invention pertains to the field of toxicological assessments of risk stratification of chemical compounds. Specifically, it relates to a method for diagnosing increased peroxisomal proliferation. It also relates to a method of determining whether a compound is capable of inducing such peroxisomal proliferation in a subject and to a method of identifying a drug for treating increased peroxisomal proliferation. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a data collection of characteristic values of at least five metabolites, a data storage medium for the data collection, and a system and a device for diagnosing increased peroxisomal proliferation. Finally, the present invention pertains to the use of a group of metabolites or means for the determination thereof for the manufacture of a diagnostic device or composition for diagnosing increased peroxisomal proliferation in a subject.
US08658426B2
A process for determining ionic liquid catalyst deactivation including (a) collecting at least one sample of an ionic liquid catalyst; (b) hydrolyzing the at least one sample to provide at least one hydrolyzed sample; (c) titrating the at least one hydrolyzed sample with a basic reagent to determine a volume of the basic reagent necessary to neutralize a Lewis acid species of the ionic liquid catalyst; and (d) calculating the acid content of the at least one sample from the volume of basic reagent determined in step (c) is described. Processes incorporating such a process for determining ionic liquid catalyst deactivation are also described. These processes are an alkylation process, a process for controlling ionic liquid catalyst activity in a reaction producing by-product conjunct polymers, and a continuous process for maintaining the acid content of an ionic liquid catalyst at a target acid content in a reaction producing by-product conjunct polymers.
US08658420B2
The present invention provides a flow-through photobioreactor containing at least one thermoplastic multi-wall sheet having an upper layer and a lower layer having arranged there between at least two sidewalls, at least one inner wall and two or more end caps. Also provided is a process for the production of a biofuel with the inventive photobioreactor. The photobioreactor and process of the present invention have the following advantages: genetically engineered microbes that give higher yields cannot escape into the environment, water in the system does not evaporate, no weeding (presence of unwanted algae), UV light from the sun is filtered out by the reactor walls, temperature control is possible, CO2 from power plants, breweries, etc. can be artificially fed to increase yield. The inventive photobioreactor is also less expensive to build than pipe reactors and may have low energy costs to operate, because little or no energy is needed for agitation and pumping in a preferred gravity assisted embodiment.
US08658415B2
The present invention relates to methods for sustaining a microbial culture during periods of limited substrate supply. In accordance with the methods of the invention, a microbial culture comprising carboxydotrophic bacteria can be sustained during periods of limited substrate supply by maintaining the temperature of the microbial culture at a temperature below an optimum operating temperature. Examples of periods of limited substrate supply include when the microbial culture is transported to a remote location or during time when it is stored.
US08658410B2
The present invention relates to novel JP170 like subtilases from wild-type bacteria, hybrids thereof and to methods of construction and production of these proteases. Further, the present invention relates to use of the claimed subtilases in detergents, such as a laundry or an automatic dishwashing detergent.
US08658408B2
The invention provides method for producing butanediol and specifically 2,3-butanediol by anaerobic fermentation of a gaseous substrate comprising CO by a culture of at least one micro-organism. In accordance with particular methods of the invention, 2,3-butanediol is produced by anaerobic fermentation of substrates including carbohydrates and carbon monoxide. The invention further provides for the up-regulation of a native 2,3-butanediol dehydrogenase gene in the at least one micro-organism. The 2,3-butanediol can be further converted to compounds such as butene(s), butadiene and methyl ethyl ketone. These compounds can be further converted to chemical products such as 2-butanol.
US08658405B2
Disclosed are a method of hydrolysis of wet fiber and a method for preparing ethanol. Generally, an agricultural plant material, such as corn hulls, distiller's dried grains, or spent germ, is treated to at least partially hydrolyze the fiber. The process may include a maceration step followed by a shearing operation in the presence of steam to yield a treated product, in which, in many embodiments, saccharides will be released and unbound from fibrous portions of the agricultural product. In some embodiments, the process includes macerating the material to provide a slurry having a solids content of at least 10 percent and jet cooking the slurry. A mixture of saccharides prepared in this fashion may be fermented to yield ethanol and/or biochemicals.
US08658403B2
Provided is a method for producing a polyhydroxyalkanoic acid (PHA). More particularly, a method of preparing PHA containing a high content of long-chain aromatic monomer-units by growing a phaZ mutant of a Pseudomonas strain in a medium containing a sugar, a substituted fatty acid, and a salicylic acid.
US08658395B2
This invention provides methods and compositions for incorporation of an unnatural amino acid into a peptide using an orthogonal aminoacyl tRNA synthetase/tRNA pair. In particular, an orthogonal pair is provided to incorporate 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan in a position encoded by an opal mutation.
US08658393B2
Demethylation of a methylated DNA sequence in a eukaryotic cell is described, utilizing a molecule that includes at least a first domain that exhibits a cytidine deaminase activity and at least a second domain that confers either a specific or non-specific DNA binding activity. The molecules of the invention are useful in somatic cell nuclear transfer and also in cancer therapy.
US08658391B2
The present invention provides methods for assessing the activity of topically administered chemodenervating agents. In some embodiments, methods for assessing the activity of topically administered chemodenervating agents involve determining the extent of inhibition of acetylcholine release near the site of administration. In some embodiments, methods for assessing activity of topically administered chemodenervating agents involve observing a reflex motion of a limb of a subject.
US08658384B2
The present invention relates to combinations of biomarkers and levels thereof that may be used, for example, in the determination of risk associated with the occurrence of a major adverse cardiac event (MACE) in a patient.
US08658382B2
The present invention relates to proteins with pteridine glycosyltransferase activity and an analysis method using the same. Since the proteins glycate tetrahydrobiopterin selectively through an enzyme reaction, the method enables quantitative analysis of tetrahydrobiopterin and oxides thereof at the same time or quantitative analysis of tetrabiopterin selectively.
US08658379B2
The present invention relates to methods and kits for diagnosing systemic inflammatory response syndrome or sepsis using levels of FSTL-1.
US08658370B2
The present invention provides novel methods and compositions for the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of breast cancer. The invention also provides methods of identifying anti-breast cancer agents.
US08658369B2
The invention provides methods related to evaluating the methylation status of a polynucleotide that includes an internal control.
US08658368B2
A microfluidic device is provided for analyzing or sorting biological materials, such as polynucleotides, polypeptides, proteins, enzymes, viruses and cells. The invention can be used for high throughput or combinatorial screening. The device comprises a main channel and an inlet channel that communicate at a droplet extrusion region so that droplets of solution are deposited into an immiscible solvent in the main channel. Droplets can thereafter be sorted according to biological material detected in each droplet.
US08658358B1
The invention is based, at least in part, on the observation that the presence of particular biomarkers, e.g., particular mutations in any of the KCNQ1, KCNH2, SCN5A, KCNE1 and KCNE2 genes as identified in Tables 1-5 (and, in particular, those identified with an asterisk), is associated with Long QT Syndrome (LQTS).
US08658354B2
A method of immunoassay of H5 subtype influenza A virus by which the virus can be accurately assayed even in cases where a certain level of mutation has occurred in the H5 subtype influenza A virus, and a kit therefor, and a novel anti-H5 subtype influenza A virus monoclonal antibody which can be used for the immunoassay are disclosed. The antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof of the present invention undergoes antigen-antibody reaction with hemagglutinin of H5 subtype influenza A virus, and the corresponding epitope of the antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof is located in a region other than the receptor subdomain (excluding C-terminal region thereof consisting of 11 amino acids), which antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof does not have neutralizing activity against the influenza A virus.
US08658347B2
A method of manufacturing a micro lens array, wherein the quality of an image is prevented from being deteriorated as a beam on an off-axis surface reaches a focal plane of a micro lens by forming a shading film for preventing the beam from penetrating through a space between micro lenses of the micro lens array, a micro lens having a high numerical aperture or any shape, such as an aspheric shape, is quickly manufactured at a low cost, and the micro lenses and a mask pattern are easily aligned by forming a mask pattern on a focus region formed by the micro lenses of the micro lens array.
US08658346B2
A pattern is formed by (1) coating a first positive resist composition onto a substrate, baking, patternwise exposing, PEB, and developing to form a first positive resist pattern including a large area feature, (2) applying a resist-modifying composition comprising a basic nitrogen-containing compound and heating to modify the first resist pattern, and (3) coating a second positive resist composition thereon, patternwise exposing, and developing to form a second resist pattern. The large area feature in the first resist pattern has a film retentivity of at least 50% after the second pattern formation.
US08658319B2
In one aspect of the present invention, a battery system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the battery system includes a metal oxygen battery (MOB) having a first electrode and second electrode. The second electrode includes a metal material. The battery system also includes an oxygen storage material disposed within the metal oxygen battery. In another embodiment, the oxygen storage material is on oxygen communication with the first electrode.
US08658317B2
The invention is directed to a solid ion conductor which has a garnet-like crystal structure and has the stoichiometric composition L7+xAxG3−xZr2O12, wherein L is in each case independently a monovalent cation, A is in each case independently a divalent cation, G is in each case independently a trivalent cation, 0≦x≦3 and O can be partly or completely replaced by divalent or trivalent anion.
US08658309B2
The present invention provides compositions, formulations and methods providing for the effective dissolution of inorganic fluorides in solvents via incorporation of a dissociating agent component. Dissociating agents of the present invention participate in chemical reactions in solution, such as complex formation, acid-base reactions, and adduct formation reactions, that result in enhancement in the dissolution of inorganic fluorides in a range of solvent environments. Dissociating agents comprising Lewis acids, Lewis bases, anion receptors, cation receptors or combinations thereof are provided that significantly increase the extent of dissolution of a range of inorganic fluorides, particularly inorganic fluorides, such as LiF, that are highly insoluble in many solvents in the absence of the dissociating agents of the present invention.
US08658305B2
The lithium-ion battery provided by the present invention has an electrode assembly (30) obtained by superposing and winding together a long continuous positive electrode sheet (32) and negative electrode sheet (34) with a separator (35) interposed therebetween. An active material layer (344) is formed on the negative electrode sheet (34), with a band-shaped margin being left on one edge thereof along the lengthwise direction of the collector (342). The above band-shaped portion (342a) sticks out beyond the edge of the positive electrode sheet (32). On the exterior surface of the negative active material layer (344), a porous inorganic layer (346) is formed starting at the flat part (344a) of the active material layer, wrapping around the edge (344b) thereof, and extending to the surface of the collector (342). The porosity Pa at the edge (344b) of the inorganic layer (346) is less than the porosity Pb at the flat part (344a) thereof.
US08658301B2
A battery ejecting structure is applied to a portable electronic device which comprises a housing and a battery. The battery ejecting structure comprises an ejecting element, a cover, a pushing element and an elastic element. The ejecting element is movably located in the container of the housing; the cover is connected pivotally to the housing and covers the container to be a closed state, and the cover restricts the ejecting element to move via a blocking element; the pushing element is located in the housing, and the fixed member of the ejecting element is connected to the pushing element through the housing. Wherein when the cover is rotated relative to the housing to form an open state, the blocking element disengages from the container, and the pushing element is moved by an elastic restoring force of the elastic element to unlock the battery.
US08658298B2
A laminate-packaged electric storage device includes an outer package, an electric storage device element, and an electrolyte solution, the outer package formed by stacking and seal-tight bonding outer package films along a bonding section formed in an outer edge area of the outer package films, the electric storage device element and the electrolyte solution being held in a receiving section formed inside the outer package. A non-bonding section surrounded by the bonding section and communicating with the receiving section is formed in the outer edge area, an opening is formed through at least one outer package film, and a seal section is formed to surround the opening formed in an area of the non-bonding section, the outer package films bonded in the seal section, and the opening formed in the area of the non-bonding section at a position other than a center position.
US08658294B2
A protection module capable of being utilized by a secondary battery regardless of the external mounting structure of the secondary battery for mounting the secondary battery to an external device. Accordingly, it is unnecessary to separately manufacture a protective circuit module according to the external mounting structure of the battery. The secondary battery includes: a plurality of bare cells each of which includes a can, an electrode assembly, and a cap assembly; a first protective circuit module located on the upper surface of the bare cells that is formed by the cap assemblies; and a secondary protective circuit module located on a side surface of the bare cells that is formed by curved surfaces of the cans. The first protective circuit module and the second protective circuit module are electrically connected to each other.
US08658287B2
The present invention refers to a nanopaper comprising clay and microfibrillated cellulose nanofibers wherein the MFC nanofibers and the layered clay are orientated substantially parallel to the paper surface. The invention further relates to a method of making the nanopaper and the use of the nanopaper.
US08658286B2
This invention relates to coating compositions that include water; a latex polymer and a silane coupling agent. The latex polymer preferably comprises acetoacetoxy functionality, or is a multistage latex, or is an acetoacetoxy functional multistage latex. The silane coupling agent is preferably a functionalized silane coupling agent (more preferably an epoxy-functional silane coupling agent). The compositions may be used to coat a variety of substrates, including wood, cement and fiber cement. Articles having the coating applied thereto are also provided.
US08658280B2
A plurality of flakes are provided that can be used in ink or paint wherein the flakes are of a size that requires magnification to see their shape, in the form of polygons, such as squares, triangle or rectangles. A breaking or grinding process is used to break a foil into these shaped flakes and frames or walls are provided within the foil sheet so as to delineate the shapes and these lines provided by frames or walls will facilitate breakage in a preferred manner such that the flakes break into selected shaped polygons. Remnants are typically present along flake edges due to the grinding and breakage process however with magnification, one can see the resultant regular polygonal shape. To clearly see the remnants one requires increased magnification and the remnant itself provides a type of signature. It can be seen as a taggent within a taggent.
US08658277B2
Porous hybrid inorganic/organic materials comprising ordered domains are disclosed. Methods of making the materials and use of the materials for chromatographic are also disclosed.
US08658275B2
An easily and inexpensively producible surface-treated metal plate which uses a continuous coating facility for a surface-treated metal plate to provide at least two coating layers. A surface-treated metal plate comprised of a metal sheet on one surface or both surfaces of which two or more coating layers of different ingredients of formulation are provided, which surface-treated metal plate is characterized in that a diffusion layer is formed at an interface part between a first coating layer as a top layer and a second coating layer directly under the first coating layer, wherein the ingredients of the first coating layer and the second coating layer are mixed in the diffusion layer, and in that t/T is 0.2≦t/T≦0.8 where a film thickness of said diffusion layer is “t” and a total film thickness of said diffusion layer, said first coating layer, and said second coating layer is “T”.
US08658271B2
Block copolymer lithography has emerged as an alternative lithographic method to achieve large-area, high-density patterns at resolutions near or beyond the limit of conventional lithographic techniques for the formation of bit patterned media and discrete track media. In one embodiment, a structure includes a plurality of nanostructures extending upwardly from a substrate and a porous membrane extending across upper ends of the plurality of nanostructures. Other systems and methods are disclosed as well.
US08658267B2
This disclosure provides a high-frequency dielectric attachment capable of suppressing a decrease in Q value of a high frequency circuit and achieving a great adjusting effect. The high-frequency dielectric attachment is a laminate of an insulating sheet layer, adhesive layer, and a dielectric sheet layer. The insulating sheet layer forms an outermost layer of the laminate, and the adhesive layer and dielectric sheet layer are arranged in sequence below the insulating sheet layer. The width of the dielectric sheet layer is smaller than each of the width of the insulating sheet layer and the width of the adhesive layer. The adhesive layer projects beyond the dielectric sheet layer in the width direction.
US08658260B2
A coating material containing metal oxide is applied to one side of a substrate, both coating and substrate being transparent to visible light. An absorber material is placed in heat transfer proximity to the coating and a laser beam is transmitted through the substrate and through the coating to strike the absorber material at the interface between coating and absorber. The absorber material absorbs optical energy from the laser beam causing the material to heat. Heat from the absorber propagates to the coating to heat a localized region, causing the coating material to anneal. If desired, the coating material can include a doping material that fuses into the coating during annealing.
US08658253B2
A primer-less coating composition for facestock comprises: a binder being a water-dispersible polymer; an ethylenically unsaturated compound which is aqueous-dispersible and miscible with or bonded to the water-dispersible polymer, wherein the ethylenically unsaturated compound is able to form a covalent bond with an ink; and a crosslinker that is suitable for binding the coating to the facestock. The coating composition may be applied to a substrate to form a printable film. A printed film having the coating may be used in a label, for example for use on a container such as a bottle.
US08658237B2
The object of the present invention is to provide an anti-obesity agent which contains a tea-derived component and which is safe and does not compromise the flavor of foods and beverages.According to the present invention, a safe and palatable anti-obesity agent can be provided by incorporating a benzotropolone ring-containing compound which has tea-derived, high inhibitory activities against lipase and alfa-glucosidase. The anti-obesity agent of the present invention does not compromise the flavor of foods and beverage, has palatability, and can be used in various use applications including foods and beverages intended for health enhancement such as reduction in triglycerides.
US08658235B2
A frozen confection comprising from 1 to 15 wt % of cereal meal particles having a size of from 0.1 to 1.0 mm and from 5 to 25 wt % of sweeteners is provided. A process for manufacturing the frozen confection is also provided, the process comprising the steps of: preparing a mix comprising water, 1 to 15 wt % of a cereal meal particles having a size of from 0.1 to 1.0 mm, and 5 to 25 wt % of sweeteners; holding the mix at a temperature of at least 70° C. for at least 10 minutes; pasteurizing and optionally homogenising the mix; then freezing and preferably aerating the mix to produce the frozen confection.
US08658232B2
A capsule system for preparing beverages by centrifugation of a capsule in a centrifuging brewing device. The system includes a set of different capsules each one for selectively delivering a beverage having specific characteristics that differ from the other capsules of the set. The capsules have a body with a sidewall and a free rim, an upper wall and an extractable or infusible ingredient therein. The capsules are configured with an insertion diameter of the body of the capsule designed for insertion in a rotary capsule holder of the centrifuge brewing device in a referential position, wherein the different capsules in the set having bodies of different storage volumes obtained by a variable depths of the body in the set but the same insertion diameter for all capsules of the set.
US08658224B2
The present invention provides compositions of modified pectin and methods for preparing and using them.
US08658223B2
Insecticidal compositions have at least one active agent and at least one insecticide. The active agent can include perilla oil, a component found in perilla oil, or a perillaldehyde or carvone analog. The insecticide can include a pyrethrum, pyrethrin, pyrethroid, neonicotinoid, chlofenapyr, ethiprole, sulfoxoflor, carbamate, organophosphate, or organochlorine. Methods for controlling insects include contacting an insect with an effective amount of a composition described in this specification. Modified plants that produce an active agent can be contacted with an insecticide.
US08658219B2
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.
US08658216B2
The present invention relates to stable oral compositions of one or more benzimidazole compounds and processes for their preparation. Also provided are methods for treating various gastrointestinal disorders.
US08658208B2
A montelukast-containing coated solid preparation can be applied to one-dose package, wherein the humidity stability of montelukast or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof contained therein is maintained even when the preparation is unpacked. A coated solid preparation contains as an active ingredient montelukast or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof and is coated with a coating layer comprising polyvinyl alcohol and swelling clay, wherein the mass ratio of the above-described polyvinyl alcohol to the above-described swelling clay in the above-described coating layer is 8:2 to 3:7.
US08658206B2
The invention relates to the finding that very favorable pharmacokinetic characters are obtained by combining two strontium salts in one pharmaceutical composition. The present invention relates in one aspect to a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least two strontium salts for use as a medicament, and in particular for the treatment and prevention of bone disorders such as osteoporosis. The composition preferably comprises strontium carbonate and strontium chlorides. Further included may be a vitamin D compound, preferably vitamin D3.
US08658201B2
A rapidly dissolving film is provided for delivery of an active agent to a moist body surface, e.g., mucosal tissue. The film comprises a film-forming binder, a rapidly dissolving polymeric material, and an active agent.
US08658195B2
This invention is related to the use of polyurethane based polymer as a drug delivery device to deliver biologically active compounds at a constant rate for an extended period of time and methods of manufactures thereof. The device is very biocompatible and biostable, and is useful as an implant in patients (humans and animals) for the delivery of appropriate bioactive substances to tissues or organs. The drug delivery device for releasing one or more drugs at controlled rates for an extended period of time to produce local or systemic pharmacological effects comprises: 1. a reservoir, said reservoir comprising; 2. at least one active ingredient; and, optionally, 3. at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; a polyurethane based polymer completely surrounding the reservoir.
US08658194B2
A segmented polyurethane and an amphiphilic random or block copolymer are disclosed. The segmented polyurethane and the amphiphilic random or block copolymer can be used for fabricating a coating for an implantable medical device such as a stent.
US08658189B2
A method of treating acne in a human in need thereof comprising administering systemically to said human a tetracycline compound in an amount that is effective to treat acne but has substantially no antibiotic activity, without administering a bisphosphonate compound.
US08658184B2
The present invention relates to glass flakes and to the use thereof, in particular as transparent filler in cosmetic formulations. Glass flakes having certain dimensions are suitable, owing to their transparency, as filler in cosmetic formulations since they do not change the basic color of the formulation and at the same time improve the skin feel.
US08658181B2
The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for preventing and treating liver fibrosis or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, comprising 50 to 90% by weight of Cordyceps sinensis mycelium powder, and 10 to 50% by weight of condensed astragalus powder.
US08658175B2
The present invention relates to antibodies directed to EGFR and uses of such antibodies, for example, to treat diseases associated with the activity and/or overproduction of EGFR.
US08658166B2
Methods for diagnosing the presence of prostate cancer in a subject are provided, such methods including detecting the levels of expression of multiple polypeptide biomarkers in a biological sample obtained from the subject and comparing the levels of expression with predetermined threshold levels. Levels of expression of at least two of the polypeptide markers that are above the predetermined threshold levels are indicative of the presence of prostate cancer in the subject. Determination of the expression levels of specific combinations of biomarkers can also be used to determine the type and/or stage of prostate cancer.
US08658161B2
The present invention is directed to compositions and methods of delivery of CoQ-10 solubilized in monoterpenes. Use of monoterpenes as dissolving agents, greatly effects the ability to incorporate greater amounts of bioactive CoQ-10 in formulations, such as soft gel capsules.
US08658160B1
A composition including an effective amount of a treatment agent to inhibit tumor growth in a mammal by manipulating a prostaglandin D2 biosynthetic pathway. A method comprising introducing an effective amount of a treatment agent to a mammal to inhibit tumor growth by manipulating a prostaglandin D2 biosynthetic pathway while at the same time reducing production of other forms of prostaglandins that may produce ill effects, such as prostaglandin E2. A method comprising introducing an effective amount of a treatment agent to a mammal to inhibit tumor growth by manipulating a prostaglandin D2 biosynthetic pathway while at the same time reducing potential undesirable side effects related to increased levels of prostaglandin D2. A composition comprising a genetic variant of human hematopoietic prostaglandin D synthase (H-PGDS). A method comprising identifying an individual who carries a Val187Ile gene variant or allele and assessing a predisposition of an individual to various conditions.
US08658159B2
Method to induce and expand therapeutic alloantigen-specific human regulatory T cells in large-scale
Methods for inducing, expanding, and/or generating alloantigen-specific regulatory T cells. Alloantigen-specific regulatory T cells can be induced, expanded, and/or generated from naive CD4+CD25− T cells by using CD40-activated B cells. The regulatory T cells can be human T cells. In one embodiment, the alloantigen-specific human regulatory T cells can be CD4highCD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells.
US08658152B2
Cells derived from postpartum umbilicus and placenta are disclosed. Pharmaceutical compositions, devices and methods for the regeneration or repair of neural tissue using the postpartum-derived cells are also disclosed.
US08658150B2
The invention relates to a static copolymer of linear polyethylenimine that comprises two monomer units of the following formulas I and II, in which R1 is a hydrogen atom or a C1-C6 alkyl radical, R2 is a hydrogen atom, a C1-C6 alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group, wherein the alkyl group is a C1-C6 one, n is a number between 1 and 99% of the total monomers, m is a number between 1 and 99% of the total monomers, and advantageously m+n=100%. The invention also relates to complexes of this copolymer with a nucleic acid, and to the use thereof in in vivo, in vitro or ex vivo gene transfection.
US08658142B2
The invention relates to a cosmetic composition comprising at least one polyester that may be obtained by reacting: a tetraol containing from 4 to 10 carbon atoms; a linear or branched saturated monocarboxylic acid containing from 9 to 23 carbon atoms; a cyclic dicarboxylic acid containing from 6 to 12 carbon atoms; and an aromatic monocarboxylic acid containing from 7 to 11 carbon atoms; at least one resin chosen from hydrocarbon-based resins; at least one hyperbranched polyol compound; at least one non-volatile solvent chosen from monoalcohols; at least one co-solvent chosen from esters; at least one nonvolatile silicone oil; optionally, at least one wax; and optionally, at least one colorant, as well as to methods of using such compositions.
US08658140B2
The disclosure relates to compositions and methods of using the compositions to treat keratinous substrates. The compositions provide a water resistant and non-transferable protective barrier on the substrate. The compositions contain at least one polyamine, at least one acid, at least one water-insoluble ingredient, solvent and optionally at least one auxiliary ingredient. The methods for treating keratinous substrates involve contacting the keratinous substrates with the compositions of the disclosure.
US08658139B1
This invention comprises a set of dental products and methods to prevent and treat dentinal hypersensitivity, prevent tooth decay, and heal incipient caries by means of Mouth Friendly® dental products containing calcium carbonate, having a preferred particle size of 1 to 100 nanometers (nm), and a preferred weight range of 5 to 30%. Said products must contain 8 to 95 weight percent of xylitol, plus the surfactant system described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,541 (Mar. 5, 1996) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,900,230 (May 4, 1999). It is further required that all irritants and other mouth unfriendly ingredients be absent from the dental products of this invention. Additional features of this invention include prevention and treatment of aphthous ulcers, oral mucositis, periodontal disease, perioral dermatitis, halitosis, oral candida, chapped lips, and oral plaque and tartar. This invention also ameliorates the condition of those who suffer from xerostomia and cold sores.
US08658136B2
Bacterial delivery systems with improved transgene expression are provided. The recombinant bacterial delivery systems deliver transgenes of interest and suppressors of the eukaryotic Type I interferon response to eukaryotic cells. Suppression of the eukaryotic Type I interferon response allows improved expression of the encoded transgene.
US08658134B2
Methods of diagnosing Alzheimer's disease are provided. At least five methods of diagnostic measurements are presented: Method 1: Integrated score; Method 2: Average aggregate area per number of aggregates; Method 3: Cell migration analysis; Method 4; Fractal analysis; Method 5: Lacunarity Analysis. In certain embodiments, a sample of a subject's skin provides a network of fibroblasts that is imaged and a fractal dimension of the image is calculated. The fractal dimension can be compared to an aged-matched control (non-Alzheimer's) database to determine if the subject has Alzheimer's disease. The network of fibroblasts may be cultured in a matrix, for example in a protein mixture.
US08658124B1
A process for manufacturing ferric sulfate has the steps of introducing water into an interior of a pressure vessel, introducing an iron material into the interior of the pressure vessel, mixing the iron material and the water within the interior of the pressure vessel, adding sulfuric acid to the mixed iron material and water, agitating the iron material and the sulfuric acid and the water for a period of time so as to increase a temperature of a reaction and a pressure of the reaction within the interior of the pressure vessel, and discharging ferric sulfate from the interior of the pressure vessel. The iron material can be either hematite or magnetite. Oxygen can be introduced into the interior of the pressure vessel if the iron material is magnetite.
US08658123B2
Method for the production of a coarse-grained ammonium sulphate product by crystallization and installation for carrying out the method from an ammonium sulphate solution in a DTB type crystallizer having an internal suspension circuit and a clarifying zone, from which a clarified partial flow of solution is constantly drawn off into an external circuit, is heated in a heat exchanger to dissolve the solids contained therein and is guided back as a clear solution into the lower region of the crystallizer. A fine crystal suspension flow is drawn off from the clarifying zone as a further partial flow and guided back into the internal circuit of the crystallization stage without any previous dissolution of the solid proportion contained therein.
US08658121B2
A method for adjusting a concentration of an acid or lye includes charging a medium for adjusting the concentration of the acid or lye into a supply conduit of the acid or lye so as to provide a combined stream. The combined stream is supplied through an inlet to a mixing chamber such that the combined stream is deflected upon entering the mixing chamber. The combined stream is mixed in the mixing chamber. The combined stream is discharged through an outlet of the mixing chamber such that the combined stream is again deflected upon being discharged from the mixing chamber.
US08658113B2
Provided are a thin film valve device and a thin film valve control apparatus in which a hole or a channel in the body of the thin film valve device is opened and closed using the heat generated from a heat generating apparatus and the centrifugal force. The thin film valve device and the thin film valve control apparatus are applicable to, for example, a diagnostic lab-on-a-chip that can detect a trace amount of a material in a fluid, a rotatable bio-disc in which a bio chip, such as a protein chip and a DNA chip, is integrated, and the like.
US08658112B2
Described herein are automated, integrated microfluidic device comprising a chemical reaction chip comprising for performing chemical reaction, a microscale column integrated with the chip and configured for liquid flow from the column to at least one flow channel, and wherein the fluid flow into the column is controlled by on-chip valves; and comprising at least two on-chip valves for controlling fluid flow in the microfluidic device.
US08658111B2
The present invention provides droplet actuators, modified fluids and methods relating to droplet operations. An aspect includes a droplet actuator including a droplet operations substrate; an oil based filler fluid on the droplet operations substrate comprising an oil soluble additive in the filler fluid; and a droplet in contact with the oil based filler fluid. Still other aspects are provided.
US08658105B2
An apparatus for securely processing biological sample is used to wash, separate, or purify biological molecules, such as DNAs, RNAs, and proteins. The apparatus comprises at least one semi-permeable membrane column, a vacuum manifold, and at least one optional adaptor column. The semi-permeable membrane column is loosely received in the slot of the vacuum manifold. When the adaptor column is used, the semi-permeable membrane column is loosely received in the adaptor column, and the adaptor column is loosely received in the slot of the vacuum manifold. The apparatus also comprises sealing elements which are inserted between the column and the slot. When the semi-permeable membrane column contains liquid sample and vacuum is applied to the vacuum manifold, the liquid in the semi-permeable membrane column can be drawn out of the column through the membrane.
US08658103B2
An exhaust gas processing device includes a pillar honeycomb structure, a first inorganic mat member, a first cylindrical metallic member, a second inorganic mat member, a second cylindrical metallic member, and an insulating layer. The insulating layer has a thickness of about 20 μm to about 400 μm and is provided at least one of a first part between an inner surface of the first cylindrical metallic member and the first inorganic mat member, a second part between an outer surface of the first cylindrical metallic member and the second inorganic mat member, and a third part between an inner surface of the second cylindrical metallic member and the second inorganic mat member.
US08658100B2
The present disclosure provides a system and method for responding to an unintended increase in pressure within a high pressure processing system. The system and method of the present disclosure provides a pressure relief system that releases pressure reliably even if the material under pressure is of mixed phase. In addition, the system and method for releasing pressure avoids the need for complex subsystems to contain and process materials that escape the system during the pressure release process.
US08658098B2
A portable detection system for allergic diseases includes a filtration-based inspection module and a reader module. The filtration-based inspection module includes an FPW sensor and a liquid sample filtration apparatus, wherein the liquid sample filtration apparatus includes an injection opening, a passage module, a filtering membrane and a gathering aperture. The injection opening is in communication with the gathering aperture. The FPW sensor comprises a frame body, a carrier and a sensing chip having an accommodating slot in communication with the gathering aperture. The carrier comprises a plurality of conductive terminals, and the conductive terminals are electrically connected with the sensing chip. The reader module comprises a connection slot capable of being inserted by the conductive terminals of the carrier.
US08658097B2
A sensor for detecting a substance in liquid includes a sensing circuit including a sensing surface acoustic wave (SAW) element in which a reaction film to react with a substance in liquid, a reference circuit including a reference SAW element including an IDT and not including a reaction film, a first signal source driving the sensing circuit, a second signal source driving the reference circuit and being independent of the first signal source, and a differential circuit arranged to output a differential output between an output of the sensing circuit and an output of the reference circuit. The frequency of a first frequency signal output from the first signal source is different from the frequency of a second frequency signal output from the second signal source, thereby making a driving frequency for the sensing SAW element and a driving frequency for the reference SAW element substantially the same as or different from one another.
US08658086B2
A method and a system for producing a change in a medium. The method places in a vicinity of the medium at least one energy modulation agent. The method applies an initiation energy to the medium. The initiation energy interacts with the energy modulation agent to directly or indirectly produce the change in the medium. The system includes an initiation energy source configured to apply an initiation energy to the medium to activate the energy modulation agent.
US08658082B2
Methods to expand polymer tubing with desirable or optimum morphology and mechanical properties for stent manufacture and fabrication of a stent therefrom are disclosed.
US08658056B1
Methods are disclosed for separating and harvesting very small single domain ferroelectric nanoparticles by application of a non-uniform electric or magnetic field gradient. The disclosed methods enable collection of nanoparticles with permanent strong dipole moments for use in a wide variety of applications with greatly improved results.
US08658045B1
An oil skimmer system on a marine vessel. The preferred embodiment contemplates a pickup wing pivotally mounted between two hulls in the forward section of the marine vessel, which is formed to collect and direct the oil to the pickup wing. The pickup wing is dynamically repositionable, the pickup wing mount having provided a mechanism for vertically positioning the unit in real time such that the front of the pickup wing is situated just below the water surface, to provide maximum collection of contaminants (in this case, hydrocarbons) floating thereupon. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the pickup wing has a “teardrop” cross sectional profile, and is configured such that fluid motion over the its forward section, either from vessel motion or fluid current, provides a skimming action, so as to urge the surface contaminants over the wing and into a recovery area, where it is separated from the water and pumped into a collection tank.
US08658038B2
An advanced silica gel sorbent for use in chromatographic separations that has been chemically modified by surface polycondensation of a trifunctional and/or difunctional organosilane. The chromatographic media exhibits a wider pH range and improved pH stability as compared to other silica gel based sorbents, while retaining all other positive aspects attributed to silica gel based sorbents. A method of forming the advanced silica gel sorbent by Templated Multilayer Inorganic/Organic Grafting.
US08658036B2
A filtration and demineralization apparatus 10 including a vessel 20 in a form of a body of revolution; a hollow columnar body 40 that is located in an internal space of the vessel 20, one end 40a of the columnar body being connected to an inner surface of the vessel 20 along an entire circumference of the end, and the other end 40b of the columnar body forming an opening; and a partition plate 44 that is connected to the other end 40b of the hollow columnar body along an entire circumference of the other end 40b, the partition plate being configured to separate an inside space or an outside space of the hollow columnar body 40 as an independent space in the vessel. The partition plate 44 has a circulation port 43 that allows water that is to be treated to pass therethrough. The independent space in the vessel that is separated by the partition plate functions as a filtration chamber 41 in which filter elements are loaded, and the inside space or the outside space of the hollow columnar body that is not separated as the independent space by the partition plate functions as a demineralization chamber 22, the water that was treated in the filtration chamber being adapted to enter the demineralization chamber through the circulation port 43.
US08658035B2
The present disclosure is generally directed to devices and methods of treating aqueous solutions to help remove or otherwise reduce levels, concentrations or amounts of one or more contaminants. The present disclosure relates to a apparatus including a substantially self-contained housing or container which is adapted to receive components including at least one counterelectrode (e.g. cathode) and at least one photoelectrode (e.g. anode) provided or arranged around at least one UV light source, and/or receive, contain and/or circulate fluid or aqueous solution.
US08658027B2
A system and process for desulfurizing a hydrocarbon feed stream containing organosulfur compounds is provided. In general, the system includes a conventional hydrotreating unit through the high pressure cold or hot separator. Aqueous oxidant and an oxidative catalyst are mixed with the hydrotreated hydrocarbon effluent from the high pressure cold or hot separator, and oxidative desulfurization reactions occur in the low pressure separation zone, thereby minimizing or eliminating the requirement of additional oxidative desulfurization reactors.
US08658018B2
A lubricant base oil blend having a wt % Noack volatility less than 29, comprising a) a light base oil fraction having a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. between 1.5 and 3.6, and a wt % Noack volatility both between 0 and 100 and less than a Noack Volatility Factor, and b) a petroleum-derived base oil fraction. A process to make the lubricant base oil blend having a wt % Noack volatility less than 29. Also, a pour point depressed lubricant base oil blend having a Brookfield viscosity at −40° C. of less than 18,000 cP, comprising the light base oil fraction, a petroleum-derived base oil fraction, and a pour point depressant.
US08658007B2
An electrolysis system for generating a metal and molecular oxygen includes a container for receiving a metal oxide containing a metallic species to be extracted, a cathode positioned to contact a metal oxide housed within the container; an oxygen-ion-conducting membrane positioned to contact a metal oxide housed within the container; an anode in contact with the oxygen-ion-conducting membrane and spaced apart from a metal oxide housed within the container, said anode selected from the group consisting of liquid metal silver, oxygen stable electronic oxides, oxygen stable crucible cermets, and stabilized zirconia composites with oxygen stable electronic oxides.
US08658006B2
A system and method is described for electropolishing tubular metallic prostheses. In one aspect, the system provides a continuously changing set of points of contact between anode and prosthesis. In another aspect, the cathode is given a conical shape to correct for current concentrations that would otherwise exist and unevenly affect the amount of electropolishing over the length of the prosthesis.
US08658005B2
An electrode for an electrical-discharge surface-treatment method is molded with a metallic powder or a metallic compound powder having an average grain diameter of 6 micrometers to 10 micrometers. A coat on a surface of a workpiece is formed with a material constituting the electrode or a substance that is generated by a reaction of the material due to a pulse-like electrical discharge. The coat is built up with a material containing metal as a main constituent under conditions of a width of a current pulse for the pulse-like electrical discharge in a range of 50 microseconds to 500 microseconds and a peak of the current pulse equal to or less than 30 amperes.
US08658000B2
A preparation method of chromenone derivatives using radiation is provided. The preparation method exposes commercially-available silybin in reaction solvent to radiation, to thereby concurrently obtain both dehydrosilybin and apigenin compounds, which are chromenone compounds, in a simple reaction step and with high yield. Because the compounds are prepared at economic cost, the preparation method can be advantageously used particularly for the purpose of mass production. Further, in consideration of good cancer cell viability suppression effect thereof, dehydrosilybin and apigenin prepared according to the preparation method can be advantageously used as a pharmaceutical composition for prevention and treatment of cancer.
US08657997B2
A web product having at least one ply and having a Basis Weight, BW, to Dry Bulk, DB, value satisfying the equation DB≧34.63−0.31*BW is disclosed.
US08657995B2
[Object] It is to provide a process of manufacturing recycled paper pulp with high efficiency from newspaper (waste paper) or waste printed paper as a raw material, which is disposed and recovered from homes and offices, through a deinking process using a specific surfactant and electrolyzed water.[Solving Means] A process of obtaining recycled paper pulp from waste printed paper such as waste newspaper as a raw material, including the steps of: cutting waste newspaper or waste printed paper into small pieces; adding alkaline electrolyzed water to the small pieces of waste paper such as waste newspaper, wherein the alkaline electrolyzed water is obtained by electrolysis of water containing a small amount of refined salt; stirring them at a high speed to break down the waste newspaper into fibers; adding the waste newspaper fibers to a stirring vessel; adding an appropriate amount of a liquid surfactant thereto; and then removing ink released to the surface of the solution under gentle stirring, wherein the liquid surfactant is sodium linear alkylbenzene sulfonate.
US08657988B2
A method for applying carbon nanotube films is provided. The method includes the following steps. At least one pre-laid supporter is placed on a film application device including a rotation axis and a rotator. The rotator is capable of rotating about the rotation axis, and includes a number of support surfaces, wherein the at least one pre-laid supporter is attached on the plurality of support surfaces. A carbon nanotube film is drawn from a carbon nanotube array that is supported by a supplier. One end of the carbon nanotube film away from the carbon nanotube array is adhered to one of the at least one pre-laid supporter. The rotator is rotates about the rotation axis such that the carbon nanotube film is applied on the at least one pre-laid supporter; and cutting the carbon nanotube film with a cutter.
US08657980B2
A process for making a brick comprises the steps of prearranging at least one pair of half-shells (3a, 3b) and fixing said half-shells (3a, 3b) to each other to define a main body (2) of the brick with a cavity {4} therein. The process further comprises the step of introducing a preset quantity of argon into said cavity (4), A brick comprises a pair of half-shells (3a, 3b) fixed to each other to define a main body (2) of said brick (1); said main body (2) exhibits an inner cavity (4); said cavity (4) holds a preset quantity of argon.
US08657977B2
A pneumatic tire is manufactured by vulcanizing the uncured tire formed by assembling uncured rubber tire components, at least one of which is made by winding a plurality of tapes around an axis while traversing the tapes along the axis, wherein the number of stroke of the traversing of the tapes is increased in a thick portion than in a thin portion of the tire component, and an angle between one end and the other end of each of the tapes around said axis is at most 90 degrees. The respective midpoints between the one end and the other end around the axis, of the tapes are sifted from each other in the circumferential direction of the tire.
US08657974B1
A gas generator 10 includes an auto-ignition/booster composition 212 that contains a metal chlorate such as potassium chlorate as an oxidizer, a carboxylic acid such as DL-tartaric acid as a primary fuel, a secondary oxidizer such as strontium nitrate, and if desired, a secondary fuel such as 5-aminotetrazole. The auto-ignition/booster composition 212 and a separate provision of ammonium nitrate or phase stabilized ammonium nitrate 228 are provided within a single combustion/decomposition chamber 222 for the production of gas, upon actuation of the gas generator 10. Vehicle occupant protection systems 180, containing the gas generator 10, are also provided.
US08657961B2
Embodiments of the invention generally provide methods for cleaning a UV processing chamber. In one embodiment, the method includes flowing an oxygen-containing gas through a plurality of passages formed in a UV transparent gas distribution showerhead and into a processing region located between the UV transparent gas distribution showerhead and a substrate support disposed within the thermal processing chamber, exposing the oxygen-containing gas to UV radiation under a pressure scheme comprising a low pressure stage and a high pressure stage to generate reactive oxygen radicals, and removing unwanted residues or deposition build-up from exposed surfaces of chamber components presented in the thermal processing chamber using the reactive oxygen radicals.
US08657955B2
It is provided a melt composition for growing a gallium nitride single crystal by flux method. The melt composition contains gallium, sodium and barium, and a content of barium is 0.05 to 0.3 mol % with respect to 100 mol % of sodium.
US08657954B2
The invention relates to a mixture containing an alkali-activated aluminosilicate binder, said mixture, after hardening, containing at least 25% by weight of glass beads, based on the total mass. The hardened product has a surface which has very little tendency to soil and is easy to clean. A process for the preparation of the mixture according to the invention and the use thereof as joint filler are disclosed.
US08657945B2
An offset printing varnish, comprising a solvent, is provided. The solvent comprises at least one triglyceride with saturated monocarboxylic acid moieties, which solvent is preferably food safe.
US08657936B2
The invention is directed to a direct replacement air filtration or handler filter that is placed within an air flow channel within an air handler unit having a housing. A motor in communication with a controller and having an at least one sensor input or a timer or a transceiver and processing module. A filter media storage area is located on one end of the housing, with a pleated, folded filter media folded and compactly stored inside the filter media storage area. An exposed filter media containment area is located on an opposed end within the housing with the filter media extending therebetween. The filter media being paid out or advanced from the filter media storage area across the housing where it is exposed to air within the air flow channel as it removes contaminants from the air. The motor can be activated by said controller in response to input from the at least one sensor or based on a timed input from said timer and rotate an at least one movement member to move the filter media across the exposure area. This allows for higher efficiency operation and reduces maintenance and energy costs. The sensors and communications capability allow for the use of the filter in providing Air Quality Management (AQM). AQM allows the filter to monitor the quality of the air as it passes through the filter and interact with a network system to monitor the air quality at the point of filtration.
US08657907B2
A cam shaft has a tubular part extending longitudinally along an axis and a helical body fixed in the tubular part and having a first helical passage extending between an inlet end where a first pressure is present and an outlet end where a second pressure is present. This helical body forms an oil separator between the inlet and outlet ends. A flow-blocking element at the inlet end moves as a function of a pressure differential between the first and second pressures to open and close the first helical passage.
US08657902B2
Apparatuses for separating solid catalyst particles from a Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) vapor are provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a vessel formed with a vessel wall. A conduit is positioned within the vessel and is configured to direct flow of an FCC vapor-solid stream. The apparatus also includes a channel positioned within the vessel and in fluid communication with the conduit. The channel has a channel inlet with an inlet cross-sectional area and a channel outlet with an outlet cross-sectional area less than about 75% of the inlet cross-sectional area. The channel outlet is configured to direct the vapor-solid stream tangentially toward the vessel wall to separate the solid catalyst particles from the FCC vapor.
US08657901B2
Sparation system 250 for separating particles of a first fluid from a flow of a second fluid, wherein the first fluid has a higher density than the second fluid comprises holder means 252 and a separation chamber 254. A lid 256 is provided for separation chamber 254. A plurality of apparatuses 200 for coalescing particles of liquid dispersed in a gas flow are arranged to be disposed in the holder means 252 such that the outlets 210 of the apparatuses are arranged to direct coalesced particles of liquid in a gas flow to enter the separation chamber 254. The separation chamber 254 comprises a gas outlet 258 and a drain 260 arranged to enable particles of solid or liquid separated from gas in the separation chamber to exit the separation chamber 254.
US08657900B2
A two stage filter device includes a cyclonic pre-separator (10) designed as a pre-filter that separates the particles from the gas flow and a main filter element (20) arranged downstream as a second stage operable to filter by guiding the particles through at least one filter medium (24). The main filter element (20) is received in a filter housing (30). The main filter element (20) includes at least one retaining element (22) for stabilizing the position of the main filter element (20) in the housing (30).
US08657894B2
In one example, a method for producing a cutting device matrix includes mixing a plurality of constituent matrix materials using a resonant acoustic mixing process until the constituent matrix materials are substantially homogeneously distributed throughout the matrix.
US08657891B2
The invention relates to a shaped wood fiber body as an ignition aid with additional fuel content achieved by dipping or impregnation, wherein a plurality of wood fibers are compacted to form the shaped body. According to the invention, the preferably cylindrical body has a multilayered winding or roll structure, comprising a series of layers, which run at a radial spacing about the lengthwise axis of the cylinder. Furthermore, at least the bottom or the top surface of the cylindrical body is diagonal cut.
US08657890B2
Disclosed are biodiesel fuels with improved oxidative stability. Disclosed are biodiesel fuels which comprise two or more antioxidants which increase the oxidative stability of the biodiesel fuel.
US08657886B2
Systems and methods for sensing actuating a prosthetic ankle are disclosed. In one example, the system, such as an actuated prosthetic ankle joint, detects that the user has moved to a relaxed position, such as sitting, reclining, crawling, or leaning. In response, the actuated prosthetic ankle joint actively adjusts the angle between the members of the ankle to a relaxed state. The system may further detect when the user has moved to exit the relaxed position, and may actively adjust the angle between the members of the ankle to an exit state.
US08657877B2
A prosthesis is provided, which includes anterior and posterior lenses spaced from one another and aligned along an optical axis, and an optic body supporting the lenses in spaced relation to one another to establish a chamber between the lenses. Optically transmissive primary and secondary fluids are contained in the chamber. Orienting the optical axis in a horizontal orientation for far vision positions the optical axis through the primary fluid. Orienting the optical axis for near vision at a range of effective downward angles relative to the horizontal orientation positions the optical axis to extend through the primary fluid and the secondary fluid. The prosthesis may further include an internal plate between the lenses, which may be offset at an oblique angle relative to perpendicular to the optical axis. Related methods are also provided.
US08657872B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for repairing or replacing a defective cardiac valve including an anchor having a double helix configured to engage the cardiac valve leaflets of a diseased or defective cardiac valve, and a replacement valve body disposed in an expandable stent configured to be disposed within the anchor so that the anchor limits expansion of the expandable stent. The expandable stent of the replacement valve body may be self-expanding or mechanically expanded, e.g., using a balloon catheter or catheter-based mandrel and the valve body may be formed of animal tissue or a synthetic fabric.
US08657871B2
An expandable stent is implanted in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, peripheral artery, or other body lumen for treating an area of vulnerable plaque. The invention provides for a an intravascular stent having a plurality of cylindrical rings connected by undulating links. The stent has a high degree of flexibility in the longitudinal direction, yet has adequate vessel wall coverage and radial strength sufficient to hold open an artery or other body lumen. A central section is positioned between distal and proximal sections and is aligned with the area of vulnerable plaque to enhance growth of endothelial cells over the fibrous cap of the vulnerable plaque to reinforce the area and reduce the likelihood of rupture.
US08657867B2
A delivery device is provided for delivering a stent device. The stent device (2) is radially expandable from a radially reduced, delivery configuration to a radially expanded, deployment configuration. A restraining sheath (4) is mounted coaxially over the stent device for maintaining the stent device in the delivery configuration. The restraining sheath has a line of weakness (6) extending axially therealong. A pull member is provided, which is to be pulled so as to split the restraining sheath at the line of weakness and withdraw the restraining sheath from over the stent device. The pull member and the line of weakness are located on opposing sides of the restraining sheath. The pull member (5) is wrapped around a distal end of the restraining sheath. The wrap around portion may be formed by a hook of a metal pull member. The wrap around portion may be formed by an open loop of polymer thread. Both ends of the open loop may extend proximally from the restraining sheath and the stent device with one of the ends being fixed to the delivery device and the other being moveable to provide a pull end.
US08657864B2
Embodiments of the invention provide devices and methods for the in situ or in transit adjustment of the core body temperature of a patient. Devices according to some embodiments include a control unit and pressure chamber adapted to apply a pulsating negative pressure to a limb of the patient. An adjustment temperature applied during the application of the pulsating pressure can heat or cool the patient as necessary. Devices and methods disclosed herein can provide for efficient heating and/or cooling of a patient. In addition, devices and methods provide such functionality in a portable device that can be manually carried by an individual.
US08657863B2
A system and method of providing a temperature controlled gaseous medium for dermatological applications is described. The gaseous medium may be cooled and applied to an area such as a skin area to provide an analgesic effect thereon. The system and method also include an automated defrost cycle for minimizing the effects of decreased hydraulic diameter due to freezing.
US08657859B2
Methods and devices for stabilizing ligaments of the canine stifle joint are described. In one embodiment, a device for promoting stability of the stifle joint in a canine subject is provided. The device includes a buttress comprising an intra-articular portion and an extra-articular portion, where the intra-articular portion of the buttress is fenestrated. The device also includes a keel coupled to the extra-articular portion of the buttress, and one or more fasteners configured to attach the device to the stifle joint.
US08657852B2
A device for closing an opening in a wall of a body lumen includes a closure element with a first flange and a second flange. Both the first flange and the second flange may have a delivery cross-sectional dimension and a deployed cross-sectional dimension. The device for closing an opening further includes a first coupler element disposed on the first flange and a second coupler element disposed on the second flange, the first and second coupler elements cooperating to couple the first flange to the second flange.
US08657849B2
A method of embolic protection during a medical procedure in a patient's body vessel includes inserting a medical device having an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member into the body vessel. A flexible filter portion has one end attached to the distal end of the inner tubular member and the other end attached to the distal end of the outer tubular member. The filter portion is deployed within the body vessel so that the filter portion extends distally from the outer tubular member and expands radially outward to engage the filter body with an enclosing body vessel wall. A medical instrument is inserted through the inner tubular member to perform the medical procedure. The filter portion allows the passage of blood cells to surrounding vessels and prevents emboli from entering surrounding vessels. After removing medical instrument, the medical device is also removed from the body vessel.
US08657831B2
An applicator device for use in surgical procedures is disclosed. The device includes an applicator assembly, an atomizing tip, and a regulator assembly. The applicator assembly has a handle, an applicator intake port and a double-barreled syringe. The double-barreled syringe includes a first cylinder and a second cylinder. The atomizing tip is provided at a distal end of the handle and the atomizing tip is in fluid communication with the double-barreled syringe. The atomizing tip includes a proximal end configured to receive and mix a first and a second composition from the double-barreled syringe. The regulator assembly includes a first regulator, a second regulator and a third regulator. The first regulator is configured for engagement with the first cylinder, the second regulator is configured for engagement with the second cylinder, and the third regulator is configured for engagement with the applicator intake port.
US08657825B2
A method for stabilizing bony structures comprises attaching a bone anchor with a first extender extending therefrom and having a receiving portion to a first vertebra. A second bone anchor is then attached to a second extender extending therefrom and having a receiving portion to a second vertebra. A connecting element is manipulated into a desired position relative to the first bone anchor and the second bone anchor and into a pathway defined in the second extender. A securing member is delivered through a passage in the first extender. The connecting element is secured in the receiving portion of the first bone anchor with the securing member. The second extender is manipulated so that it contacts the connecting element. The second vertebra is moved toward the connecting element while the second extender is contacting the connecting element until the connecting element is seated in the receiving portion of the second bone anchor. The connecting element is secured in the receiving portion of the second bone anchor. Finally, the first extender is disengaged from the first bone anchor and the second extender is disengaged from the second bone anchor.
US08657816B2
A biomedical polymer composite that exhibits ultra-low thermal conductivity properties. In a preferred embodiment, the biomedical polymer composite comprises a base polymer component with a dispersed thermally non-conductive filler component consisting of glass or ceramic nanospheres or microspheres that have a thermal conductivity of less than 5 W/m-K, and preferably less than 2 W/m-K. In one embodiment, the polymer composite has an electrically conductive filler and can be used in a filament for treating arteriovascular malformations. In another embodiment, the polymeric composite can be used as an energy-coupling means to apply energy to tissue.
US08657815B2
Devices, systems and methods are provided for deployment of one or more functional devices, such as therapeutic or diagnostic medical devices, or positioning devices, at various locations relative to a defined operative path. The devices, systems, and methods can include a guide system and a positioning element. The guide system defines the operative path when deployed within a patient's body. The positioning element cooperates with the guide system to define one or more positions relative the defined operative path from which the one or more functional devices are deployed. The present inventions allow for the accurate and reliable placement of the one or more functional devices at the one or more positions relative the operative path. In one embodiment, the functional device is an ablation device adapted to ablate cardiac tissue for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation.
US08657804B2
The present disclosure relates to methods for visualizing the opening of a drug reservoir of an implantable medical device. In particular, the present disclosure provides methods for observing the release or exposure of contents from a drug reservoir of a medical device placed within the vitreous of an eye of a subject. The methods include implanting a drug delivery device within an anatomy of a subject. The drug device includes a plurality of reservoirs, each loaded with a therapeutic agent and a marker. Furthermore, the drug delivery device comprises a plurality of barrier layers for separating the contents of one of the plurality of reservoirs from the anatomy. The method further includes irradiating at least one of the plurality of barrier layers such that at least one of the plurality of reservoirs is breached, thereby triggering release of the therapeutic agent and the marker from the device. By visually detecting release of the marker into the anatomy, release of the therapeutic agent into the anatomy is verified.
US08657801B2
The invention provides a switching device for an irrigation system. The switching device provides selective communication between a supply port to which a supply of fluid under pressure can be attached and a balloon port to which a fixing balloon of a catheter can be attached, and between the supply port and a port to which a liquid reservoir can be attached. By use of a selection handle, the user can deform conduits in a pre-determined sequence and thus control an irrigation procedure by opening and closing fluid flow in various conduits. The invention further provides an irrigation device incorporating the switching device and a method of controlling a fluid flow e.g. in an irrigation system.
US08657795B2
An access port for subcutaneous use in a patient is disclosed. This may include one or more of a housing; a chamber; a needle-penetrable sealing septum providing needle access to said chamber; and a male projection having therein a conduit to said chamber, with the projection adapted to receive a catheter. It may also include one or more of a lock and/or a locking button movable with respect to said housing. Such movement may be transverse and/or may include a yoke or other member applying inward force on the catheter.
US08657791B2
A catheter securement device (100) holds a medical article such as a catheter hub or a connector fitting in position upon the body of a patient and at least inhibits longitudinal movement of the medical article. The securement device (100) includes a retainer (120) and at least one anchor pad (110). The retainer (120) has one or more curved ribs (280) into which at least a portion of the medical article is inserted. The retainer (120) includes a spine (145) that extends in a proximal direction from the retainer (120). The spine (145) includes a clip (147) having an abutment surface that can abut against a contact point or surface on the medical article. The abutment, in conjunction with a second abutment and/or a tapering shape of the retainer (120), inhibits longitudinal movement of the medical article in both proximal and distal directions.
US08657790B2
A device may include a hollow needle, a dilator mounted coaxially on the needle, and a sheath mounted coaxially on the dilator. The dilator may be slideably displaceable relative to the sheath.
US08657782B2
A catheter having shaft segments which are joined together by a strong bond providing a low profile shaft section with a flexibility transition and/or a compositional transition. A balloon catheter embodying features of the invention has a distal tip member and a coupling band member surrounding a junction of an inner tubular member of the shaft, and has a gradual change in bending stiffness along a distal end section of the shaft which extends distally from a location within the balloon interior. Another catheter embodying features of the invention has shaft segments joined together by a diagonal seam.
US08657778B2
A disposable assembly for use with a sensor assembly comprises a body, a flow restricting element, and a fluid pressure membrane. The body has a lid portion and a base portion. The body defines a fluid flow passage that forms an inlet and an outlet. The flow restricting element is positioned in the fluid flow passage between the inlet and the outlet. The membrane is located between the lid and base portions along the fluid flow passage. A reinforcing structure, such as a ring or a rigid disk, is positioned between the fluid pressure membrane and the lid portion to provide increased resistance to pressure in the fluid flow passage. The ring or disk can be a separate component or formed on the membrane. The membrane thickness adjacent to sensor access openings in the lid portion can be increased for pressure resistance, too.
US08657772B2
A wearable device having feedback characteristics including a compliant article arranged to extend over an anatomical portion of a wearer and for providing a user with information regarding range of motion parameters of a joint and/or to condition users to maintain proper joint orientations. Sensors provided with the wearable device detect the orientation of the joint and send signals to a processor for analysis. When the processor determines that the joint is outside of predefined range of motion parameters or in an unsafe or potentially injurious configuration, a feedback or response mechanism is activated to alert the user to such a condition or to provide substantially rigid structural support to the joint. The sensors, processor, and feedback mechanisms can be provided in a monitoring and control package along a side of the compliant article.
US08657771B2
An orthopedic device for stabilizing the thumb, i.e. a thumb support. The orthopedic device is worn by a user to stabilize the thumb for treatment of hand and thumb injuries. The device is capable of being worn on either the right hand or left hand of a user and has one or more metal stays made from soft metal material and have an ergonomic design to contour to the hand and thumb.
US08657765B2
Techniques associated with an implant system for imparting vibratory massage to tissue within a body is disclosed. Methods include placing an implant device near a surface of a bladder, the implant device configured to produce and communicate a vibration to bladder tissue, the implant device including a case forming a portion of an exterior of the implant device and defining an interior of the implant device, a vibration generator mounted on the case to vibrate the implant device, and a tissue engaging structure located on the exterior surface of the case to engage the stomach tissue, securing the implant device to the bladder, and activating the vibration generator of the implant device to cause the implant device to vibrate against the bladder, wherein the vibration stimulates a nerve to induce urination.
US08657758B2
A temperature determination method includes temporarily contacting a forehead of a subject with a first surface of a removable patch, and exposing a second surface of the patch opposite the first surface to ambient conditions. The method also includes sensing a temperature of the first surface of the patch while the first surface is in contact with the forehead at a first location thereon, sensing a temperature of the second surface of the patch, and calculating a sub-skull temperature of the subject based on the sensed temperatures of the first and second surface.
US08657756B2
Methods and systems for evaluating a pathological condition include acquiring movement information, such as electromyogram (EMG) information, and sleep disordered breathing (SDB) information, and detecting the presence of a pathological condition using both movement and SDB information. Methods may involve sensing physiological signals including at least muscle movement signals. Sleep-related disorders are detected using the sensed physiological signals, the sleep-related disorders including at least an involuntary muscle movement disorder and sleep-disordered breathing. Methods and systems also provide for detecting and treating a sleep-related disorder using movement and SDB information. Cardiac, respiratory, nerve stimulation, drug, or a combination of such therapies may be delivered to treat a detected or diagnosed pathological condition.
US08657744B2
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for detecting chemicals. As an example, a system is disclosed that includes a chemical sensor, a processor, and a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium includes instructions executable by the processor to: receive a plurality of outputs from the chemical sensor; calculate a baseline value using the plurality of outputs from the chemical sensor; and report an event when the baseline value is exceeded.
US08657741B2
A wound retractor (320) comprises a distal ring (3) for insertion through a wound opening (6), a proximal ring (4) for location externally of the wound opening (6), a valve (10) mounted to the proximal ring (4), and a sleeve (2) for retracting laterally the sides of the wound opening (6). The wound retractor (320) also comprises a flexible release member (81) for releasing the distal ring (3) from a retracting configuration for removal of the distal ring (3) from the wound opening (6). A first end (301) of the release member (81) is attached to the valve housing (102), the release member (81) loops around the distal ring (3), and a second end (302) of the release member (81) is movable relative to the proximal ring (4) to release the distal ring (3) from the retracting configuration.
US08657733B2
The present invention generally relates to a control system for a rotary blood pump adapted to move blood in a patient. The control system comprises a means for measuring and varying the speed of the pump and a means for measuring the pulsatility index of a patient, and the control system is adapted to maintain the pulsatility index at or near a predetermined value by varying the speed of the pump. The pulsatility index is derived from the amplitude of the actual pump speed over a predetermined time period. Optionally, also, the control system can calculate the second derivative of instantaneous speed of the rotary blood pump and use the calculation of the second derivative of instantaneous speed to detect a suction event, and help prevent it.
US08657729B2
A method (1) includes: a step (S10) of conveying the wearing article (1) in such a manner that a front waistline portion (10) and a back waistline portion (20) extend in a conveyance direction (MD) of the wearing article (1); a step (S20) of changing the conveyance direction (MD) of the wearing article (1) by 90 degrees; a step (S30) of folding a flap portion (70) toward the front waistline portion (10), while conveying the wearing article (1); a step (S40) of folding the wearing article (1) along a middle portion, which is located in the middle between the front waistline portion (10) and a crotch portion (30) in the front-to-back direction of the wearing article (1), in such a manner that the front waistline portion (10) and the crotch portion (30) face each other.
US08657725B2
An attack dummy is convertible between a strike dummy and a grappling dummy by exchanging a bottom portion adapted for a strike dummy for a bottom portion adapted for a grappling dummy.
US08657723B2
We have disclosed methods and computer program products for identifying prospective routes for an individual to traverse during a physical activity. The methods may include a server computer system receiving data describing the physical activity from a remote computing device, a server computer system identifying a prospective route in response to receiving data, and a server computer system transmitting data describing a map of a prospective route to a remote computing device for display of the map at the remote computing device in response to identifying the prospective route.
US08657719B2
A clutch for a rotary drive device includes a rotary plate synchronously rotated with a sun gear of a planetary gear set, at least one pawl pivotally mounted onto the rotary plate, an engaging ring sleeved on the rotary plate and surrounding the at least one pawl, and a drive plate co-axially and rotatably mounted onto the rotary plate and abutting against the engaging ring. The planetary gear set is repeatedly operated and the pawls is automatically engaged to/disengaged from the drive plate for reducing noise during operating and lengthening the use life of the clutch for a rotary drive device.
US08657716B1
A drivetrain component is provided that may include a housing, a component, a cover and a pair of bearings. The housing may define an internal cavity and a pair of bearing bulkheads. The component may be received in the internal cavity. The cover may be coupled to the housing and may close a side of the internal cavity. The cover may include a pair of bearing caps. Each of the bearing caps may be mounted to a corresponding one of the bearing bulkheads. The pair of bearings may be received on the component. Each bearing may be engaged to an associated one of the bearing bulkheads and an associated one of the bearing caps.
US08657707B2
An analysis method includes the steps of: measuring a swing of a golf club to which a sensor capable of measuring accelerations in directions of three axes and angular velocities or angles about the three axes is attached; obtaining an index for classifying the swing based on a measuring result of the sensor; and classifying the swing based on the index. The index includes the item (a) or (b): (a) a grip angular velocity at least at one time during a downswing; and (b) a grip velocity at least at one time during the downswing. Preferably, times of an address, a top, and an impact are determined in the analysis method.
US08657706B2
A golf ball having a plurality of dimples formed on its outer surface, the outer surface of the golf ball being divided into plural areas, a first group of areas containing a plurality of first dimples and a second group of areas containing a plurality of second dimples, each area of the second group abutting one or more areas of the first group, the first and second groups of areas and dimple shapes and dimensions being configured such that the golf ball is spherically symmetrical as defined by the United States Golf Association (USGA) Symmetry Rules, and such that the golf ball exhibits a drag coefficient (CD) below about 0.255 at a Reynolds Number (Re) of about 165,000 and at a spin rate in the range of about 3,400 rpm to about 3,550 rpm and below about 0.330 at a RE of about 80,000 and at a spin rate in a range of about 2,900 rpm to about 3,000 rpm.
US08657701B2
A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, has a head that includes a face configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face, the body being adapted for connection of a shaft proximate a heel thereof. The face includes one or more stiffening members or other structures on the inner surface of the face to provide locally increased stiffness to particular areas of the face. Certain stiffening members may provide greater stiffness than other stiffening members, allowing the face to be configured for areas of greatest stiffness and greatest COR tailored to common impact patterns.
US08657694B2
A jack screw connector includes a first clevis including a pair of first clevis legs, an eye block including a first bore and a second bore such that the first and second bores are formed substantially perpendicular to each other, a first pin configured to be supported within the first bore and rotably carried by the pair of first clevis legs when a first end of the eye block is carried therebetween, a second clevis including a pair of second clevis legs sized to engage a second end of the eye block, and a second pin configured to be supported within the second bore and rotably carried by the pair of second clevis legs when aligned therewith.
US08657683B2
Gestures of a computer user are observed with a depth camera. A first gesture of the computer user is identified as one of a plurality of different action selection gestures, each action selection gesture associated with a different action performable within an interactive interface controlled by gestures of the computer user. A second gesture is identified as a triggering gesture that causes performance of the action associated with the action selection gesture.
US08657679B2
The present invention provides a gaming machine that can play both Class II and Class III games. Some implementations provide a gaming machine that has certain features (e.g., a true random number generator or “RNG”) enabled for Class III play and disabled for Class II play. Some aspects of the invention provide methods for determining when a Class III game is available. Other aspects of the invention allow a player to “line up” for a desired Class III game while playing another game, such as a Class II game or another Class III game, on the same gaming machine until the desired Class III game is available. Some such implementations grant higher priority to certain players according to their gaming history, e.g., as indicated by player tracking/player loyalty data. Alternative aspects of the invention allocate available Class III games in other ways, e.g., by playing a Class II game for a chance to play a Class III game, by lottery, or otherwise. Player tracking information may be shared and/or combined for Class II and Class III game play and may be used to determine gaming history.
US08657674B2
A credit amount is returned to a wager game player on a gaming machine when a game experiences a fault condition. The credit amount is displayed automatically and the player can accept the return credit amount and resume game play without intervention from a gaming operator attendant, allowing the patron to resume game play within a short time after the fault occurred. The fault occurs during game play and a return credit amount is calculated using all relevant data available on the gaming machine at the time of the fault. The amount is displayed to the patron and the patron is queried whether the amount is acceptable. If it is, the patron can indicate so by pressing a soft key, be credited with that amount, and immediately resume game play. If not acceptable, the patron can indicate so and a gaming operator is signaled.
US08657666B2
The claimed embodiments contemplate methods, systems and apparatuses directed to an active display button. In various embodiments, an active display button may generally be a button containing one or more elements that move when the button is engaged. By example, and not limitation, these elements may include one or more reels, be they mechanical or video, or perhaps a rotating indicator. The active display button may also include lights, vibratory motors and other experience-enhancing implements. The active display button may be installed on a gaming machine and operated in conjunction with the gaming device, separate from the gaming machine on which it is installed or perhaps as part of the operation of the gaming machine.
US08657663B2
A slot machine comprising a display and a controller programmed to execute processing of: (A) variably displaying a plurality of symbols on the display, and then stop-displaying the symbols; (B) determining a prize based on the number of the symbols of respective types stop-displayed on the display; and (C) displaying sequence numbers on each of the plurality of symbols of the type corresponding to the prize determined in the processing (B).
US08657662B2
This concept is directed to gaming devices configured to vary the speed of game play, as well as method of operating gaming devices to vary the speed of play. In some examples of the this concept, a gaming device may be configured to include a game initiating button that when pressed by a player triggers a game processor to ascertain and display a first game outcome, determine if the first game outcome is a winning outcome, and automatically ascertain and display a second game outcome if the first game outcome is not a winning outcome. If the first game outcome is a winning outcome the gaming device may pause to allow the player to appreciate the win before retriggering the processor to ascertain and display subsequent gaming event outcomes, or the gaming device may wait to receive further player input.
US08657658B2
A baccarat game system, a method of using the baccarat game system, a baccarat game program and a recording medium, in which a great number of players can simultaneously participate in the game at the same table, in which any player can concentrate on the game in his personal space, in which, from the viewpoint of game operation side, the number of dealers standing-by can be decreased while at the same time the number of cards to be discarded is reduced, thereby reducing the cost, and in which any doubt of injustice can be removed while maintaining the sense of reality and the feeling of tension. The baccarat game system includes an image-capturing mechanism for taking images of cards in a baccarat game; an image-delivery mechanism for delivering the card images taken by the image-capturing mechanism; and an image display mechanism for displaying the delivered card images.
US08657653B2
Homogeneous polishing pads for polishing semiconductor substrates using eddy current end-point detection are described. Methods of fabricating homogeneous polishing pads for polishing semiconductor substrates using eddy current end-point detection are also described.
US08657652B2
A study of several key conditioner design parameters has been conducted. The purpose was to improve conditioner performance by considering factors such as wafer defects, pad life, and conditioner life. For this study, several key conditioner design parameters such as diamond type, diamond size, diamond shape, diamond concentration and distribution, were selected to determine their effect on CMP performance and process stability. Experimental validations were conducted. Conditioner specifications were matched to each specific CMP environment (intended application) in order to improve process stability and CMP performance particularly for emerging technology nodes. Several conditioner designs were developed and run successfully in the field. Significant planarity improvement for a 300 mm CMP process was achieved in accordance with one embodiment, and an increase of pad life and wafer polish rate was simultaneously achieved with another embodiment.
US08657650B2
A grinding wheel dressing assembly includes a driving gear rotatable about a central axis and a dressing ring engaged with the driving gear. Rotation of the driving gear about the central axis results in rotation of the dressing ring about an offset axis, which is offset from the central axis. The dressing ring includes a contact surface generally normal to the offset axis and adapted to remove dull CBN particles from a substantially planar grinding surface of a grinding wheel that comes into contact with the contact surface.
US08657644B2
An eddy current sensor is used for detecting a metal film (or conductive film) formed on a surface of a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer. The eddy current sensor includes a sensor coil disposed near a metal film or a conductive film formed on a substrate, and the sensor coil includes a detection coil operable to detect an eddy current produced in the metal film or the conductive film. The detection coil includes a coil formed by winding a wire by a single row and plural layers, the row being defined as a direction perpendicular to the substrate and the layer being defined as a direction parallel to the substrate.
US08657636B2
A metal clamp is formed as a one-piece integral having a lower part and an upper part that border on each other. The upper part has two transversely extending terminal pins and the lower part is formed as a U-shaped structure that includes a first clamping arm, a second clamping arm and a third clamping arm that extend vertically. The first clamping arm and the second clamping arm face each other across an accommodating gap defined therebetween. The third clamping arm is resiliently restorable and is deposited between the first clamping arm and the second clamping arm to face the accommodating gap. The metal clamp provides good electrical contact.
US08657632B2
A connector includes an insulating housing having a rear wall of which a front side extends forward to form a tongue portion and a back side defines a concave groove in accordance with the tongue portion. The tongue portion defines a plurality of terminal grooves. A plurality of terminals each has a fixing portion fixed in a rear of the terminal groove with a rear end thereof further projecting into the concave groove, a contact portion disposed in the terminal groove, and a soldering tail stretching outside the insulating housing. A water-proof member is formed in the concave groove by injecting molten water-proof colloid in the concave groove to seal up intervals between the fixing portions of the terminals and inner sides of the rears of the terminal grooves. A metal shell is molded in the insulating housing.
US08657626B2
A electrical connector for terminating an electrical cable having a metallic sheath, includes a substantially tubular gland body having a central bore extending therethrough, a forward end, and a cable receiving end. A gland nut is rotatably coupled to the cable receiving end of the gland body. The gland nut is axially movable from a first position relative to the gland body to a second position relative to the gland body. A substantially tubular compression bushing is positioned between the gland nut and the gland body. A retaining element is positioned forward of the compression bushing in the central bore, wherein the retaining element comprises an annular body and a number of resilient tabs projecting inwardly from the annular body. Upon receipt of the electrical cable therein, the resilient tabs are configured to deform on engagement with the metallic sheath.
US08657621B2
A connector apparatus has an equipment-side connector (20) mounted in a case (10) and a harness-side connector (30) fit on the equipment-side connector (20) through an opening in the case (10). Fit-on detection mechanisms (27, 40) for detecting connection of the equipment-side connector (20) and the harness-side connector (30) are provided therebetween. The fit-on detection mechanism (27) of the equipment-side connector (20) has two male tabs (28). The fit-on detection mechanism (40) of the harness-side connector (30) has a shorting terminal (50) and two relay terminals (55). The shorting terminal (50) has a coupling plate (51) and two pins (52) projecting from the coupling plate (51). The relay terminals (55) have connection parts (57) at both ends for connecting to the pins (52) of the shorting terminal (50) and to the male tabs (28).
US08657613B2
There is provided an electrical charger including a base unit and an adaptor unit. The base unit is configured for being coupled to an electronic device. The adaptor unit is configured for being coupled to a power supply. The base unit includes an electrical connector plug. The external surfaces of the base unit and the adaptor unit include co-operating external geometries that provide a visual indication whether the electrical connector plug is disposed, relative to the adaptor unit, in the electrically coupled state or in an electrically uncoupled state.
US08657610B2
A portable electronic device including a main body having one end concavely provided with a receiving groove, a pivot pin provided in the receiving groove, a pivot seat pivotally connected to the pivot pin, a transmission line having one end electrically connected to a circuit board provided in the main body and the other end extending into the receiving groove, and a plug having one end embedded in the pivot seat. Since the pivot pin has a hollow configuration, the other end of the transmission line is able to pass through the pivot pin and be electrically connected to the plug, allowing the plug to be rotated and received in the receiving groove when the portable electronic device is not in use and preventing the transmission line from being pulled or curled due to rotation of the plug.
US08657599B2
A device for demolding negatives in plastic injection, which is coupled to means for ejecting a plastic injection mold. A guide bushing can be attached to the die plate of the moveable part of the mold, inside which extends a counter-mold which molds the negative and is formed by a guide runner and a head that can be lowered to demold the negative. The guide bushing contains a projection which pushes against the side of the head as the counter-mold moves forward, so that the head is lowered sideways and the negative is released.
US08657595B2
The present invention concerns a device for molding of thermoplastic matrix composite materials or thermosetting materials. Two mold casings that are mobile relative to each other, electrically conductive material include a molding zone designed to be in contact with the material to be transformed, and an induction circuit for generating a magnetic field. The faces of one of the two mold casings are situated so as to be facing induction circuit, except for the molding zones, being coated with a shielding layer made of a non-magnetic material preventing the magnetic field from penetrating into the mold casings. The mold casings are electrically insulated from each other during the molding phase to define an air gap wherein flows the magnetic field that induces currents at the surface of the molding zones, thus localizing the heating at the interface between the molding zone and the material to be transformed.
US08657590B2
A hydraulic power steering system which includes a tank and a power steering pump which takes in a pressure medium from an intake area which is decoupled from the prevailing atmospheric pressure on the side of the tank wall and delivers it under pressure to the power steering system. A valve device builds up a pre-pressure in the intake area and prevents a negative pressure and a positive pressure from building up on the interior of the oil tank.
US08657585B2
An apparatus and method for driving a compressor of an air conditioner are disclosed. When compensating for load torque of a compressor (e.g., a single-rotary compressor) of an air conditioner, a method for providing a compensation torque using an optimum phase compensation angle is used. In relation to a phase current or a frequency of a given motor, an optimum phase compensation angle causing a minimum speed ripple is measured, and the measured optimum phase compensation angle is stored in the form of a table. In the actual driving of the motor, the method applies a compensation torque having an optimum phase compensation angle to the motor by referring to the table.
US08657582B2
A lightning protection mesh for a blade of a wind turbine comprising a first set of wires running in a first direction, and a second set of wires running in a second, different direction. The mesh has at least one tapered end at which wires from at least one of the first and second set of wires run together. The total conducting cross-sectional area formed by the wires in the tapered end is maintained within the tapered end, and the wires are bundled at the tapered end to provide an electrical connection to the mesh.
US08657576B2
Cooling within aerofoils (30, 47, 67, 87) is a requirement in order that the materials from which the aerofoil (30, 47, 67, 87) is created can remain within acceptable operational parameters. Traditionally static pressure as well as enhanced dynamic pressure impingement flows have been utilized but there are problems with regard to achieving a necessary over pressure to avoid hot gas ingestion or reduced cooling effect. It will be appreciated that fluid flows and in particular coolant fluid flows must be used most appropriately in order to maintain operational efficiency. By providing a plurality of feed apertures (41, 61, 81) which are shaped to have an entry portion (51, 71, 91) which is generally elliptical and an exit portion (52, 72, 92) it is possible to grab and turn a proportion of a feed flow (44, 64, 84) for substantially perpendicular or other angular presentation to an opposed surface of a cooling chamber (42, 62, 82) within which cooling is required.
US08657575B2
A system and method for harvesting the kinetic energy of a fluid flow for power generation with a vertically oriented, aerodynamic wing structure comprising one or more airfoil elements pivotably attached to a mast. When activated by the moving fluid stream, the wing structure oscillates back and forth, generating lift first in one direction then in the opposite direction. This oscillating movement is converted to unidirectional rotational movement in order to provide motive power to an electricity generator. Unlike other oscillating devices, this device is designed to harvest the maximum aerodynamic lift forces available for a given oscillation cycle. Because the system is not subjected to the same intense forces and stresses as turbine systems, it can be constructed less expensively, reducing the cost of electricity generation. The system can be grouped in more compact clusters, be less evident in the landscape, and present reduced risk to avian species.
US08657574B2
A turbine bucket includes an airfoil, a platform adjacent to the airfoil, and a shank adjacent to the platform. The shank defines a shank cavity, and a divider in the shank cavity creates a pressure differential across the shank cavity. A method for cooling a turbine bucket includes directing a fluid to a forward shank cavity and creating a pressure differential between the forward shank cavity and an aft shank cavity.
US08657570B2
An airfoil for use in a rotor assembly is disclosed, the airfoil having a tip-cutter located on a sidewall near a tip portion, wherein the tip-cutter is capable of removing a portion of an abradable material during a tip rub. In another embodiment, an airfoil has a tip-grinder located on the tip portion, wherein the tip-grinder capable of removing a portion of an abradable material during a tip rub. In another embodiment, an airfoil has a tip-rake that facilitates reducing loading induced to said airfoil during tip rubs.
US08657568B2
An air cycle machine includes a turbine wheel, a turbine inlet nozzle, a valve body, and a poppet member. The turbine wheel is mounted to rotate within the air cycle machine and the turbine inlet nozzle is positioned to direct airflow thereto. The poppet member selectively extends into the turbine inlet nozzle and the valve body controls a pressure on the poppet member to move the poppet member relative to the turbine inlet nozzle to vary the size of the turbine nozzle directing airflow to the turbine wheel.
US08657567B2
A gas turbine engine is provided with a nacelle having a hollow inner space. The inner space is utilized as a plenum for directing air from an inlet to an outlet at the upstream end of the nacelle to allow control of an effective lip width of the nacelle under certain flight conditions.
US08657565B2
A pump for an inflatable device includes a housing that defines a blower chamber configured to be inserted into the inflatable device. The blower chamber includes an exhaust port configured to communicate air out of the pump. The housing also defines a deflation port, which is adjacent to the blower chamber, and an attachment portion configured to make a substantially airtight seal with the surface of the inflatable device. The pump also includes a removably attachable cover configured to substantially cover the blower chamber. The cover defines an opening through which the deflation port extends, and at least one vent through which air is communicated into the pump.
US08657555B2
A counter ejector of cardboard sheet box-making machine is disclosed. A front contact plate contacting cardboard sheets is movable in a feed direction. A spanker is disposed to face the front contact plate in the feed direction, and contacts the back edge portion of the cardboard sheet, aligning the sheet edge portions. Ledges separate cardboard sheets loaded between front contact plate and the spanker, forming a batch of a predetermined number of sheets. A transfer conveyor transfers batches in a transfer direction, which is the same direction as the feed direction. An elevator is furnished with a table, and carries batches from the height at which the front contact plate and the spanker are disposed to the height at which the transfer conveyor is disposed. The table is moved by the same amount and in the same movement direction as the movement of the front contact plate.
US08657554B1
A combination transport and load handling vehicle that includes a truck having a chassis with a cab mounted to a forward portion of the chassis and a hitch plate mounted toward the rear of the chassis and a forklift assembly pivotally mounted to the chassis intermediate the cab and the hitch plate so that arms of the forklift are movable from a stowed position above the cab to a deployed position extending rearwardly of the chassis when no trailer is connected to the hitch plate. The forklift assembly has a lift frame including a boom pivotally mounted to the chassis and which supports a forklift tower along which the arms of the forklift device are movable adjustable.
US08657551B2
To help hold a trailer bed of a truck steady at a loading dock as the truck is being loaded or unloaded of its cargo, a yieldable vehicle brace exerts a substantial, but limited, reactive force upward against the trailer's rear impact guard to resist the trailer's downward movement. In some embodiments, the brace holds the trailer bed stationary up to a certain load limit and provides the trailer bed with a controlled or dampened descent when the load exceeds that limit. In some cases, the reactive upward force exerted by the brace increases with the downward velocity of the trailer bed. The reactive force can be created by one or more pressure relief valves, hydraulic fluid passing through a flow restriction, a brake, a spring, or various combinations thereof. Some embodiments of the brace include provisions for accommodating horizontal movement of the rear impact guard.
US08657537B2
A rotating cutting tool (10, 110) includes a body (12, 112) with a longitudinal axis (14, 114) and at least one flute (16, 116) and one active part (18, 118). Each active part has a peripheral surface including: a radial cutting edge (20, 120) that is at a cutting distance (Rc) from the longitudinal axis, a clearance face (30, 130) that is at a final clearance distance (Rd) from the longitudinal axis, and a control face (40, 140) that is at a penetration control distance (Rp) from the longitudinal axis. These distances satisfy the relation: 0<Δp<Δd, with Δp=|Rc−Rp| and Δd=|Rc−Rd|.
US08657531B2
The disclosure provides an installation method to deploy the flexible pipe below the water, utilizing supporting equipment between a flexible pipe and intended connections. In addition, the method of connection and pull down can maintain control of the flexible pipe subsea throughout the method with limited or no surface intervention. This installation method provides a redundancy as the connector approaches in a subsea connection in at least one embodiment. The method utilizes combinations of buoyancy elements, hand-off sequences, and pull down equipment, such as subsea winches and wire rope, to accomplish such connections with limited or no surface intervention.
US08657528B2
Brine disposal systems are configured to receive brine from a brine source and to passively collect seawater from a nearby ocean during high tide using one or more tidal forces. Tidal movements during high tide, low tide, or both may be used to mix and thereby dilute the brine with the seawater. The mixture of seawater and brine is then passively discharged into the ocean during low tide using the tidal force, thereby minimizing the impacts on the marine ecosystem.
US08657513B2
A system to dispense consumable material includes an inner tube having a cone-shaped reservoir such that only a relatively small amount of residual material is retained.
US08657512B2
A method of operating a crafting apparatus. The method includes moving a workpiece along a first feed path for printing on the workpiece with a printer and moving the workpiece along a second feed path for cutting the workpiece with a cutter. The first feed path bypasses a workpiece mover of the cutter.
US08657511B2
Disclosed is an image forming apparatus and printing media cassette thereof. The loading position of a loading plate of the printing media cassette can be varied based on the printing medium size by a capacity adjustment unit. The capacity adjustment unit may operate in association with the size adjustment guide so as to define the loading position based on the size of the printing media. The image forming apparatus can include the printing media cassette detachably received in the body thereof.
US08657490B2
A method for measuring the temperature of an electrical conductor, the method comprising (a) providing a clamp comprising a flexible, thermally conductive material in thermal contact with the electrical conductor, wherein the clamp has an outer surface of a known emissivity value, or a coating of a known emissivity value is disposed on the outer surface of the clamp and (b) measuring the infrared (IR) temperature of the clamp to determine the temperature of the electrical conductor.
US08657486B2
A beater for a mixer includes a shaft including a mixer attachment portion, the shaft defining a rotational axis of the beater. A first stabilizing arm extends outwardly from the shaft and a second stabilizing arm extends outwardly from the shaft and spaced circumferentially from the first stabilizing arm. A first blade has an upper end connected to the first stabilizing arm at a location spaced from the shaft, a lower end located proximate the rotational axis of the beater and a leading face that transitions from a substantially vertical orientation at the lower end to a downwardly angled orientation at the upper end. A second blade has an upper end connected to the second stabilizing arm at a location spaced from the shaft, a lower end located proximate the rotational axis of the beater and a leading face that transitions from a substantially vertical orientation at the lower end to a downwardly angled orientation at the upper end.
US08657478B2
A backlight module includes a light guide plate, a light source disposed at a side of the light guide plate, a diffuser sheet positioned over the light guide plate but not directly contacting the light guide plate, and a light mixing space positioned between the light guide plate and the diffuser sheet so that light emitted from the light guide plate mixes in the light mixing space before being emitted out of the backlight module.
US08657473B2
A recessed lighting fixture having a fire resistant barrier thereon and the fire resistant barrier having an outer box enclosure and an inner box enclosure with an air gap therebetween and mounted on a mounting pan over a lamp housing a source of illumination such as a bulb therein and the mounting pan positionable adjacent an opening in a structure such as a wall, ceiling or floor having an aperture aligned with the lamp housing to let the illumination from the bulb pass therethrough.
US08657471B2
An LED lamp includes a heat sink, a heat pipe and an LED. The heat sink includes a connecting core and fins mounted around the connecting core. Each of the fins includes a plate-shaped main body and a flange extending perpendicularly from a periphery side of the main body. The flanges of the fins cooperatively form an annular planar top surface of the heat sink. The heat pipe includes a condensing section, an evaporating section parallel to and higher than the condensing section and an adiabatic section connected between the condensing section and the evaporating section. The condensing section is fixed to and thermally connects with the top surface of the heat sink. The LED is directly mounted on the evaporating section with a light emitting surface thereof facing outwardly.
US08657468B2
A lamp unit includes a flexible base member, a conductive pattern layer forming a conductive pattern on the base member and maintaining a bent shape of the base member when the base member is bent, and LED lamps mounted on the conductive pattern layer and emitting light when a current is applied thereto. The lamp unit can be bent according to the shape of an object on which the lamp unit is to be installed.
US08657467B2
An illumination apparatus is disclosed in the invention. The illumination apparatus includes a cavity with a diffusion surface, a light source, a light-spreading device, and at least one optically-conditioning surface with a wave-like array formed thereon. The light-spreading device and the optically-conditioning surface spread the light generated by the light source. The light-spreading device includes a wing-shaped protrusion part, a light incident surface, a recess located away from the light incident surface, and an optically-conditioning surface including a wave-like array, wherein the wave-like array has a wavefront direction.
US08657465B2
An LED lamp assembly. The assembly includes a heat sink having an upper outermost peripheral portion deformed continuously around an entire perimeter of the heat sink radially inward towards a peripheral rib in a housing cover, whereby the peripheral rib is compressed towards an inner rib of the heat sink thereby locking the housing cover to the heat sink.
US08657464B2
Methods and systems of emitting different light from a multiple mode light emitting device are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment has a LED portion with a plurality of first LEDs and a plurality of second LEDs arranged in a first ring centered about a central axis, and a rotatable portion with a plurality of light conditioning elements arranged in a second ring centered about the central axis. The plurality of first LEDs emit and the plurality of second LEDs emit different types of light. Each light conditioning element receives and conditions light from one of the plurality of first LEDs when the light conditioning element is in a first position. Each light conditioning element receives and conditions light from one of the plurality of second LEDs when the light conditioning element is in a second position. The light conditioning elements may be reflector cups or may be lens.
US08657455B2
An LED lamp has a lamp body, a base provided on one end of the lamp body, a light transmissive cover provided on an opposite side of the lamp body from the base, a light source substrate disposed inside the light transmissive cover, and at least one LED unit mounted on the light source substrate. The LED unit has an LED chip and a light transmissive encapsulant encapsulating the LED chip. The LED chip is mounted on the light source substrate. The encapsulant is molded such that the encapsulant is raised from the light source substrate. The LED unit radiates light from an entire surface of the encapsulant in an angular range including a region around a periphery of the LED unit.
US08657452B2
A system where a reflector of a laser alignment system is cleaned by a cleaning device that is actuated by an automatic guided vehicle as it passes the reflector. The laser alignment system is used to detect a position of the automatic guided vehicle relative to a location in a manufacturing facility. As the automatic guided vehicle passes the laser alignment system, a projection formed on the automatic guided vehicle will contact an element of a laser cleaning system to actuate the cleaning device over the reflector to clean it.
US08657437B2
A bar code printing device that prints print data including a bar code that has bars arranged in parallel in a main scan direction and spaces therebetween includes: a decoder that detects a point of change from a bar to a space based on bar code position information that indicates a position of the bar code in the print data and a data value for each line in the print data; and a data transfer part that moves up timing for outputting a drive signal for printing a bar immediately preceding the space and that outputs the drive signal, if the decoder detects the point of change from the bar to the space in the bar code.
US08657432B2
Disclosed is a reactive dye ink exhibiting excellent ejection stability when used in a printer having an inkjet head for commercial use which requires a high-viscosity ink. The reactive dye ink has excellent storage stability and excellent fixability to textiles. Specifically disclosed is an ink composition containing at least one reactive dye serving as a coloring matter, which also contains water and a compound represented by formula (1) and having an average molecular weight of 340-2,200. (1) [In the formula, X1, X2, X3 and X4 independently represent a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; and the sum of j, k, m and n is a number not less than 4 but not more than 40.]
US08657431B2
A phase change magnetic ink including a phase change ink carrier; an optional colorant; an optional dispersant; an optional synergist; an optional antioxidant; and a carbon coated magnetic nanoparticle comprising a magnetic core and a carbon shell disposed thereover.
US08657419B2
A continuous ejection system includes a chamber containing liquid under pressure sufficient to eject a liquid jet through a nozzle. A drop formation device modulates the jet causing portions to break into drop pairs including first and second drops separated in time on average by a drop pair period. A charging device includes a varying electrical potential source providing a waveform including first and second distinct voltage states and a period equal to the drop pair period. The charging device produces first and second charge states on first and second drops of the drop pair, respectively. A drop velocity modulation device varies a relative velocity of first and second drops of selected drop pairs causing first and second drops of selected drop pairs to form combined drops having a third charge state. A deflection device causes the first, second, and combined drops to travel along different paths.
US08657418B2
Disclosed is an inkjet head including a fluid channel substrate on which individual liquid chambers are arranged, the individual liquid chambers being partitioned by liquid chamber partition walls; an oscillation plate that is formed on a surface facing openings of nozzles; actuators; wiring layer patterns that supplies driving signals to the actuators, the wiring layer patterns being formed above the corresponding liquid chamber partition walls; and a supporting substrate in which concave oscillation chambers are formed, the concave oscillation chambers being partitioned by supporting substrate partition walls. A width in the short direction of the supporting substrate partition wall is smaller than a width in the short direction of the liquid chamber partition wall and greater than a width of the wiring layer pattern.
US08657403B2
A printing apparatus includes a printing unit that prints an image on a print sheet with a print agent; a discharging unit; a conveying unit including a conveying path through which a print sheet is conveyed from the printing unit to the discharging unit; a measuring unit provided on the conveying path of the conveying unit to measure each colored area formed by the printing unit that adds the print agent on the print sheet from at least one of a first face and a second face opposite to the first face; an identifying unit that identifies a measurement area satisfying a certain condition from the colored areas; and a measurement control unit that performs the measurement for the identified measurement area and does not perform the measurement for the colored areas that are not identified by the identifying unit.
US08657401B2
An image forming apparatus comprises a printing head unit, a driving waveform generator that generates and outputs a driving waveform having four or more driving pulses in chronological order per driving cycle, and a selector that selects and applies one of multiple driving pulses to a pressure generator to cause a printing head unit to selectively discharge a liquid droplet of three or more different sizes. The driving waveform includes three or more driving pulses at least having a final driving pulse to collectively discharge the biggest liquid droplet. The driving waveform includes a micro-driving pulse for discharging a smallest droplet within a time period of from about 2×Tc to about 4×Tc after the driving waveform starts being outputted when Tc represents a natural vibration period of a separate liquid chamber of the printing head unit.
US08657399B2
A liquid jet apparatus according to the present invention includes a drive waveform generator adapted to generate a drive waveform signal, a modulator adapted to execute pulse modulation on the drive waveform signal, a digital power amplifier adapted to power-amplify the modulated signal, on which the pulse modulation is executed by the modulator, with a pair of switching elements push-pull coupled with each other, a low pass filter adapted to smooth the amplified digital signal obtained by the power-amplification of the digital power amplifier, and a modulation period modification circuit adapted to modify a modulation period of the pulse modulation of the modulator based on data of the drive waveform signal.
US08657398B2
A liquid ejecting apparatus including, a control unit including a digital signal generation unit which generates a digital signal defining the shape of the signal waveform, an analog voltage signal generation unit which generates an analog voltage signal on the basis of the digital signal, and a current signal generation unit which generates a current signal of a magnitude corresponding to a waveform of the analog voltage signal, a head unit including, a voltage signal generation unit which generates a voltage signal by detecting a potential difference between two points which are different from each other in a path to which the current signal flows, and by amplifying the potential difference, and an element which is driven by the voltage signal, and causes liquid to be ejected from a nozzle, and a transmission unit which transmits the current signal to the head unit from the control unit.
US08657396B2
There is a case where, in the individual tank number checking processing, usually it is determined that individual tank number agreement can not be confirmed due to a collision of response signals from two tanks. However, due to individual differences among main body side control circuit threshold values and the like, there may be a case that an agreement of the individual tank numbers is confirmed. In response to this, the tank that has the individual tank number whose agreement could be confirmed is put in a sleep state, and because a control code is sent, the other tank designated with color ID is able to return its individual tank number, and the main body side control circuit detects its individual tank number. Based on this it is possible to determine that multiple ink tanks with the same color ID are mounted.
US08657394B2
Disclosed is an image forming apparatus that includes a recording head ejecting a liquid droplet; a liquid tank storing ink to be supplied to the recording head; a first flow path communicated with the recording head and the liquid tank; a liquid feeding unit provided in the first flow path; a second flow path provided parallel to the liquid feeding unit of the first flow path; and a fluid resistance control unit provided in the second flow path. The fluid resistance control unit changes fluid resistance in accordance with the flow rate of a flowing liquid and feeds, when the liquid droplet is ejected from the recording head, the liquid from the liquid tank to the recording head with the liquid feeding unit in a state in which the recording head and the liquid tank are communicated with each other via the second flow path.
US08657373B2
A transfer sling having a generally rectangular fabric element sized to cover bottom of an automobile seat and to extend at least part way up the seat back ending in a yoke to be attached to a vehicle headrest at the top of the seat back. The lower portion of the fabric element is further constructed of an additional, second ply of low friction fabric material sewn together with the fabric element marginally at only the juncture with the top portion so that the two fabric plies remain free to slide relative to one another with minimal resistance thereby enabling the seated individual to more easily rotate their legs to/from a forward oriented position from/to a side oriented position in relation to the vehicle. An adjustable strap with a releasable buckle is provided approximately at the transition point between the upper and lower portions of the fabric element for reinforcing the two-ply joint and for engaging the seat back and retaining the lower portion of the fabric element in relative proximity to the seat bottom of the vehicle seat.
US08657366B2
A panel, a panel assembly having an adhesive bond and a method of adhesively bonding the panel assembly. The panel assembly includes a first panel and a second panel and at least one main adhesive channel formed in at least one of the first and second panels. At least one branched adhesive channel in fluid communication with the at least one main adhesive channel and an adhesive for joining the first and second panels to form an adhesive bond therebetween. By such structure, the placement of an adhesive into the main adhesive channel and subsequent joining of the first and second panels, any excess adhesive flows into the branched adhesive channel to avoid an over-filling or under-filling situation in the main adhesive channel.
US08657363B1
A connector securing a liner to a scuff in a container sidewall is disclosed. The connector is adapted to receive and secure various thicknesses of liners and scuffs. The connector is made of a light weight, high strength flexible material and well suited to secure non-metallic scuffs and non-metallic linings. The connector includes a transition piece that utilizes clamping force (pre-tightening force) to connect two different thicknesses of panels made of continuous glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic material. The connector includes a thick lower opening adapted to secure the scuff and a thin upper opening adapted to secure the liner. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the width of the lower opening is between 5.0 mm and 5.5 mm while the width of the upper opening is between 1.5 mm and 2.0 mm.
US08657357B2
A visor has a curvilinear section which is pivotally mounted to the header rail of a vehicle and, when in a stored position, conforms closely to the geometry of the header rail. It is mounted to allow the visor to pivot away from the windshield toward the driver or passenger, lowering the visor to provide sun-blocking protection. It can be rotated further until it extends through the open area of the roof, when the roof is removed, to provide sun-blocking above the header rail. The curvilinear visor body may also include a glare shield which can be extended from the lower edge of the visor to provide additional sun-blocking protection.
US08657348B2
A latch assembly is provided herein, the latch assembly having: a chassis; a latch bolt, movably mounted on the chassis and having a closed position for retaining a striker, an open position for releasing the striker; a first safety position between the closed position and the open position for retaining the striker; a first pawl having a first pawl engaged position at which the first pawl is engageable with the latch bolt to hold the latch bolt in the closed position and a first pawl disengaged position at which the first pawl is disengaged from the latch bolt thereby allowing the latch bolt to at least move towards the first safety position; and a second pawl having a second pawl engaged position at which the second pawl is engageable with the latch bolt to hold the latch bolt in the first safety position and a second pawl disengaged position at which the second pawl is disengaged from the latch bolt thereby allowing the latch bolt to move towards the open position.
US08657343B2
A connector assembly including a connector body having a coupling end and sealing means. A collet couples to the connector body and has resilient fingers. An adjustment ring has a stop and defines guide tracks. A collar has protrusions coupled in the guide tracks. A ferrule is slidingly housed within the collar and adjustment ring. A locking split ring clips onto the adjustment ring to limit travel of the collar. In a locked position, the locking split ring is installed and a pipe, inserted into the connector body is retained in place by the resilient radially inward fingers of the collet and sealed by the sealing means. In the released position, the collar has been moved to force the ferrule into the collet to splay the resilient fingers such that the pipe is freely insertable and removeable from the connector assembly.
US08657336B1
A protective device for use on an axle of a flatbed of a truck to protect air hoses and mechanical mechanisms of a braking system from accidental damage caused when trucks collide with objects on the roadway. The protective device includes a grated shield that integrally couples to the axle of the flatbed through a specially designed coupling mechanism. The coupling mechanism includes a coupling bracket, having a pair of legs and a rod, and a clamping bracket for accepting the axle therein and providing stability, shock absorbency, and durability to the shield for withstanding accidental damage.
US08657321B2
To obtain vibration characteristics suited to a plurality of operating modes. A first member is mounted on at least one of a left side frame of a vehicle and a right side frame of the vehicle. The first member extends towards the right frame or the left frame. A second member is mounted to at least one of the right side frame of the vehicle and a left side frame. The second member extends towards the left frame or the right frame. A vibration insulating member is provided between the first member and the second member and elastically couples the first and second members to each other.
US08657309B2
The invention provides a wheeling device for a packaged article which may be directly attached to the packaging of the article and which comprises wheeling means.The invention also provides a wheelable package for an article comprising at least one wheeling device according to the present invention, the wheeling device being directly attached to the package.The invention further provides a method of improving the handlability of a packaged article comprising directly attaching to the packaging of the article one or more wheeling devices of the invention.
US08657292B2
An apparatus for providing an electronic, modified version of baccarat, comprises a user interface configured to detect receipt of a first bet from a game participant prior to commencement of a round of game play, a display for displaying visual information to the game participant, a data processing unit coupled to the user interface and the display, configured to, generate two electronic card values representing an initial player hand to the player position and two electronic card values representing an initial bank hand to the bank position, cause the display to present odds relating to a likelihood of the player position beating the bank position at the conclusion of the round of game play for purposes of the game player placing a second bet on an outcome of the round of game play.
US08657280B2
A paper-feeding device and a multi-function printer (MFP) using the paper-feeding device are provided. The MFP includes a housing with the paper-feeding device installed thereon. The paper-feeding device includes an outer case, an inner case and a retainer. The outer case has first side-walls, openings and slots, in which each opening and each slot on the opening are correspondingly disposed on each first side-wall. The inner case is located beside the first side-walls of the outer case and has a second side-wall. The second side-wall has a position-limiting rib protruding towards the first side-walls. The retainer is located between the first side-walls and has a body, a protrusion and a pivot, in which the protrusion is disposed at a top-portion of the body and correspondingly located in the slots, and the pivot is located between the protrusion and a retaining-portion of the body and correspondingly locked in the openings.
US08657272B2
A case clamp is used to properly align two or more cabinet sides and/or gable ends, such as those of European-style cabinet units. The clamp comprises a frame with an upper jaw, a lower jaw, and an alignment wall connected to the upper and lower jaws. The clamp further includes an upper engagement member associated with the upper jaw for movement in a first direction and a side engagement member associated with the lower jaw for movement in a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction. Corners of the workpieces are placed adjacent to each other and the clamp is applied to the corners. The engagement members are advanced to press the corners into alignment with each other. A surface of the clamp frame also provides an alignment function, resulting in three-dimensional alignment of the workpieces.
US08657271B2
The invention provides vehicle suspension systems, and more particularly jounce bumpers made of elastomeric thermoplastic material, having improved design to maximize energy absorption.
US08657268B2
Wastewater is treated by providing a distribution conduit and providing a diffuser assembly. An aperture is created in the distribution conduit having an initial minimum diameter. The diffuser assembly, in turn, comprises a diffuser membrane in fluidic communication with a mating tube. The mating tube has an initial outside diameter at a location along its length greater than the initial minimum inside diameter of the aperture. The mating tube is inserted into the aperture until the location on the mating tube that, before insertion, had the initial outside diameter is encircled by the aperture where the aperture, before insertion, had the initial minimum inside diameter. This forms an airtight interference fit between the distribution conduit and diffuser assembly.
US08657266B2
A water vapor transfer unit with separator plates and a method of making the same. In such an assembly, an ionomer coating that facilitates moisture transfer from a moisture-rich flowpath to a moisture-deficient flowpath and an underlying separator may both be prepared from continuous, roll-based methods. The ionomer may be applied to a separator assembly as the last processing step such that the handling of the fragile membrane is kept to a minimum.
US08657264B2
A carburetor choke mechanism including an actuator linearly expanded and contracted based on a temperature change; a connection lever which is connected to a rotation axis at one end, and rotates based on receiving a thrust of the actuator; a choke lever which is connected with the other end of the connection lever, and receives a rotary force; and a valve shaft where a choke valve is fixed to one end thereof, and a valve shaft lever which receives a transfer of a rotary force from the choke lever is provided on the other end thereof, wherein the choke lever has a bottomed cylindrical shape covering an outer circumference of the valve shaft lever, and the valve shaft lever penetrates a bottom thereof, and is provided rotatably, and a connection mechanism between the connection lever and the choke lever is provided inside a cylindrical outer periphery of the choke lever.
US08657260B2
Apparatus for an integrated winchhead winch are described herein. An integrated winchhead comprising a frame, a winch and a wedge. The frame may include a mounting base at a first end and a bow stop mounting area at a second end of the frame. The winch may be housed within the frame. The wedge may be attached to the mounting base and may also be mountable on a base stand, wherein the wedge may be adjustably mounted to the base stand and the mounting base. The winchhead may be mountable at two different angles and be vertically adjustable along the base stand. A bow stop may be secured to the bow stop mounting area.
US08657249B2
A carrier base with a lateral base extension having a base hollow interior channel. A tooth ring on the lateral base extension. A stop block channel within the base tooth ring. A support arm pivotally carried on the lateral base extension for carrying a mirror head. A tooth ring included on the support arm engaging the base tooth ring in interlocking cooperation. A stop block carried by the support arm within the support arm tooth ring so that the stop block travels between a first end wall and a second end wall to control movement of the support arm. A connecting bolt carried by the support arm extending through the tooth rings into the hollow base interior channel. A leaf spring biasing the connecting bolt into the hollow base interior channel to draw the support arm against the lateral base extension.
US08657248B2
A supporting apparatus for a thin electronic product is composed of a main body having a chamber, a plurality of fillers received in the chamber, an external lateral surface, and a locating portion located on the external lateral surface. The thin electronic product can be visibly fastened to the external lateral surface by the locating portion. Because the supporting apparatus can be firmly put on a surface and define a predetermined angle with respect to the surface, while the thin electronic product is fixed to the external lateral surface of the main body, the thin electronic product can define the predetermined angle with respect to the surface to allow the user to conveniently operate the thin electronic product.
US08657244B2
An article for supporting a material that includes a hanger of rigid material, with the hanger including a first planar portion connected to an offset but parallel second planar portion by a planar shoulder disposed perpendicularly to both the first and second planar portions and further including at least one spike disposed upon a front surface of the first planar portion and at least one notch disposed upon a side surface of the second planer portion. A pair of hangers may be used to form a shelf-like support through connecting the pair of hangers with a wire or filament engaged within a notch, a barb, or both.
US08657237B2
A flying object which moves with a transonic or supersonic velocity is disclosed. The inventive flying object comprises a main body, a streaming element and a holding element. The holding element holds the streaming element distant from the main body. The streaming element is permeable for the airstream. For one embodiment the streaming element is built with a porous material. The streaming element has an outer surface with the shape of a cone or a truncated cone. The holding element holds the streaming element in an orientation with the cone opening towards the airstream.
US08657235B2
The systems and methods of the invention modulate atmospheric gases to temporarily increase the amount of atmospheric particles in the path of the debris, in order to decelerate the debris and accelerate natural orbital decay to the point of atmospheric re-entry. In one aspect of the invention, clearing the space debris includes propelling a plume of atmospheric gases substantially orthogonal to the path of the debris such that the debris collides with the gaseous plume as it passes through the plume. Increased atmospheric drag from the gaseous particles of the plume in the path of the debris obstructs a forward propagation of the debris and gradually decelerates the debris, leading eventually to atmospheric recapture. Embodiments of the invention can be employed in any number of applications, including without limitation, clearing debris in the low-earth orbit (LEO) which is particularly susceptible to debris build-up, de-orbiting non-refuse payloads from orbits, and clearing debris from geosynchronous orbits.
US08657233B2
A tail-cone of an aircraft includes a skin provided with a movable fairing which, by a swing articulated mechanism, is supported on the skin in order to allow the opening/closing of the movable fairing and gain access to the inside of the tail-cone. The tail-cone includes actuators for operating the swing articulated mechanism in order to permit the automatic opening and closing of the movable fairing to be carried out.
US08657232B2
An installation of systems in aircraft fuselages such as thermophonic insulation mattresses and devices such as onboard systems, and bundles of electric wires or fluid ducts (air, water, oxygen, hydraulic fluid). A structure for fastening onto an aircraft fuselage includes at least frames and stringers, the structure further including: fuselage stabilizers connecting the frames and stringers, wherein two stabilizers of two consecutive frames face each other between the two consecutive frames; and a strip board connecting the two stabilizers and including a fastening mechanism arranged so as to receive corresponding fastening mechanisms of the insulation mattresses and the devices.
US08657231B2
Disclosed herein is an asymmetric luggage stowage bin arrangement, with a pair of buckets attached to a single bin housing. The buckets being unequal in length, to optimize the storage capacity of the bin housing relative to the most common luggage dimensions on the market. In one form, the asymmetric luggage stowage bin arrangement is used as a retrofit to replace shelf-style luggage stowage compartments common to older style aircraft.
US08657230B2
Particular embodiments comprise a non-dedicated, temporarily installed, airborne special mission payload mounting system which is mechanically interfaced to the Air Deployment System (ADS) rails of a host cargo aircraft. An Adaptive Mounting Plate (AMP) is placed over an ADS rail section and restrained in position. Once the AMP is secured, an articulated or fixed position strut can be attached to it through the opened side doorway without removing the original door. Once the fixed position or articulated strut is bolted to the AMP, a one piece or segmented two piece pressurized door plug indented along its lower periphery to accommodate the protruding form factor of the fixed position or articulated strut is installed within the vacant doorway above the strut providing an airtight seal and thereby permitting pressurization of the aircraft.
US08657227B1
Systems and methods of independent power generation are disclosed. A particular system includes an aircraft having at least one engine and a plurality of independent power units. Each power unit of the plurality of independent power units generates electricity independently of the at least one engine. The plurality of independent power units include at least a first independent power unit that generates first electricity having a first set of electrical characteristics and a second independent power unit that generates second electricity having a second set of electrical characteristics concurrently with the first power unit generating the first electricity. The first set of electrical characteristics is different than the second set of electrical characteristics.
US08657226B1
Multiple initiatives are applied to achieve synergistic control enhancement and drag reduction benefits in an aircraft having independent airfoils producing downward force opposite to wing lift in normal flight, which are supported in specific wingtip locations. A method is disclosed teaching the exemplary stall resistance and control at high angles of attack demonstrated by preferred embodiments of the invention.
US08657225B2
A paper dispenser has a transport roller which can be alternatively rotated by a motor-driven mechanism or by a manually driven mechanism. A first coupling member is associated with the transport roller and respective second coupling members are associated with the two drive mechanisms. The two secondary coupling members are interconnected by a movable connecting element and can be alternatively engaged with the first coupling member.
US08657219B2
A sheet waste processing device includes: a sheet processing tool that generates piece-like sheet wastes by processing for sheets; a waste receiver that is provided freely movably under the sheet processing tool between a setting position where the sheet wastes generated by the sheet processing tool are housed and a non-setting position where the sheet wastes housed are disposed of; and a transporting/guarding member that is provided between the sheet processing tool and the waste receiver, transports the sheet wastes into the waste receiver located at the setting position, and blocks direct touching the sheet processing tool from a waste receiver space generated by movement of the waste receiver under the condition that the waste receiver is moved to the non-setting position.
US08657218B2
The system and method of separating minerals from ore without fluid includes a materials feeding device, a friction vibration separator and a dry separation concentrator, the materials feeding device passing a dry mixture to the friction vibration separator. At least two materials transport grooves collect the rough separation mixture from the friction vibration separator to at least two materials transport devices for passing the rough separation mixture to the dry separation concentrator. The method includes crushing ore into a mixture of minerals and ore, drying the mixture, storing and transporting the dry mixture to the friction vibration separator by the materials feeding device, collecting a rough separation mixture from the friction vibration separator, transporting the rough separation mixture to a dry separation concentrator to collect a collection mixture.
US08657214B2
A fuel injection valve includes a valve body and a valve member. The fuel injection valve is configured to control fuel supply by a movement of the valve member relative to the valve body. A slit that is configured to inject fuel having a first end portion opened in a sack portion of the valve body and a second end portion opened at an outer wall of the valve body is formed in the valve body. A through hole having a first end portion opened in the sack portion and a second end portion opened at the outer wall of the valve body is formed in the valve body.
US08657213B2
A plate convex is formed on the upstream side of the injection hole plate and a plate concave is formed on the downstream side of the injection hole plate so as to form a pair together, a minimum of one set of the plate convexes and the plate concaves are formed, and the injection holes are arranged so that the radial centerline which connects the centerline of the plate convex from the axial center of the fuel injection valve does not overlap the center of the injection hole on an upstream flat surface of the injection hole plate, and the plate convex is arranged so as to straddle the injection hole on the upstream flat surface of the injection hole plate, and the top surface of the plate convex.
US08657209B2
A system includes a portable liquid container having at least two chambers for containing at least two liquids separate and an apparatus having at least two separate input tubes configured for drawing liquid from the chambers. At least two separate output tubes are configured for passing at least two separate liquids to a user's mouth. A valve assembly includes a lower portion having at least two input connectors each joined to a one of the input tubes. An upper portion has at least two output connectors each joined to a one of the output tubes. An adjustable valve portion determines proportions of liquids in the separate chambers that are passed to the user's mouth where the liquids remain separate until reaching the user's mouth, and where liquids drawn back down the input tubes and the output tubes into the chambers remain substantially separated.
US08657197B2
An account application product includes a package, an account identifier and a terms sheet. The package includes a first panel extending from a free edge to a first fold line, a second panel extending away from the first fold line to a second fold line, and a third panel extending away from the second fold line. The first panel is folded back along the first fold line toward a first surface of the second panel to define a storage area between the first panel and the second panel. The third panel is folded forward along the second fold line toward a second surface of the second panel. The account identifier indicates an account associated with the account application product and is configured to be machine readable. The terms sheet is selectively stored in the storage area and includes printed terms for the account. Associated packages and method are also disclosed.
US08657194B2
A compact hybrid imaging lens assembly captures return light from a target over a field of view of a linear array of image sensors of a solid-state imager, and projects the captured return light onto the array during electro-optical reading of the target. The assembly includes a plastic lens for optical aberration correction, a glass lens spaced away from the plastic lens along an optical axis, and an aperture stop between the lenses and having an asymmetrical aperture through which the optical axis extends. The glass lens has substantially all the optical power of the imaging lens assembly for thermal stability, and the plastic lens has substantially no optical power. A holder holds the lenses and the aperture stop away from the array. Alignment elements on the plastic lens align the asymmetrical aperture relative to the linear array.
US08657192B2
A magnetic stripe reader assembly for a point of sale terminal is provided. The magnetic stripe reader reads the account data from a card and may encrypt it within the magnetic head. An encrypted representation of the account data may be provided to a host processor in the terminal for carrying out a financial transaction, such as a payment for goods or services. The account data is typically recorded on the magnetic stripe on the card in a magnetic flux pattern that is sensed and then converted to an analog signal. Such sensing and conversion and other processing of the account data to produce the encrypted representation of the account data typically involves one or more parameters, and may include at least one parameter that is adjustable.
US08657191B2
The invention relates to an integrated circuit comprising a substrate having a first side and a second opposing side. An electronic circuit (EC) is provided at the first side (S1) of the substrate, wherein the electronic circuit (EC) comprises at least one magnetic field sensor (Snsr, Snsr1, Snsr2, Snsr3, Snsr4). The integrated circuit further comprises a magnetizable region (MR) provided on the second side (S1) of the substrate (SUB) by using a wafer-level type deposition processing step. The magnetic moment of the magnetizable region (MR) is configurable for generating a magnetic field (H1, H2) detectable at the location of the at least one magnetic field sensor (Snsr, Snsr1, Snsr2, Snsr3, Snsr4). The integrated circuit constitutes a very simple construction and enables a strongly miniaturized solution which is, because of its reduced dimensions well suitable for being used in bank cards. An attempt to remove the integrated circuit according to the invention from its environment (e.g. a bank card) may result in the magnetizable region (MR) getting damaged (partially removed) or even completely removed. The invention provides a first level of security against external attack. Embodiments of the invention provide higher security levels. Various magnetic field sensors are illustrated which may be advantageously integrated in the integrated circuit. The invention also relates to a card provided with such integrated circuit. The card in accordance with the invention is more secure. The invention further relates to a method of initializing such integrated circuit and a method of checking the authenticity of such integrated circuit.
US08657190B2
The invention relates to an apparatus for a checkpoint, comprising a controlled access passage, the exit of which is closed by an exit door (gate). Said exit door (5) opens in response to a signal of a least one biometric unit (8) which is arranged in the controlled access space (3) and by which the biometric features of a person desiring passage can be detected, and said biometric unit (8) is arranged frontally opposite of the entrance to the controlled access space (3) and preferably integrated in the exit door (5) of the controlled access space (3). A person entering the controlled access space (3) is therefore immediately located quasi automatically in the correct position for detection by the biometric unit (8), which is to say, frontally opposite of the biometric unit.
US08657183B2
A method of bonding poly-crystalline diamonds to a wear surface, using commercially available poly-crystalline diamond cutters having poly-crystalline diamond buttons bonded to a carbide core. The poly-crystalline diamond cutters are cooled with cryogenic liquid. The poly-crystalline diamond cutters are crushed to form poly-crystalline diamond cutter fragments, with each of the fragments having a poly-crystalline diamond button fragment still bonded to a carbide core fragment. The carbide core fragment is then bonded onto the wear surface, such that the wear surface includes poly-crystalline diamond buttons fragments.
US08657179B1
A control system for a thermal stir welding system is provided. The control system includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor is coupled to the welding system's containment plate assembly and generates signals indicative of temperature of a region adjacent and parallel to the welding system's stir rod. The controller is coupled to the sensor and generates at least one control signal using the sensor signals indicative of temperature. The controller is also coupled to the welding system such that at least one of rotational speed of the stir rod, heat supplied by the welding system's induction heater, and feed speed of the welding system's weld material feeder are controlled based on the control signal(s).
US08657174B2
A surgical cutting and fastening instrument. The instrument comprises an end effector, a shaft connected to the end effector, and a handle connected to the shaft. The handle comprises an electric, DC motor connected to a drive train in the shaft for powering the drive train. The handle also comprises a power pack that comprises at least one charge-accumulating device connected to the DC motor for powering the DC motor.
US08657173B2
In a gas combustion type nail driving device, a head part (3) which is disposed on the front surface of the main body is provided with (a) a guide tube (35) through which a rod (17) and a nail n pass; (b) a main guide body (36) on which the guide tube (35) is disposed; (c) a subguide (37) which makes a pair with the main guide body (36) and forms a nail feed space; (d) a feed motor (48); and (e) a gear unit (46) which is driven by the feed motor (47). The nail connecting body N is fed to the guide tube (35) by the feed gear (73).
US08657167B2
A target thrower mount attachable to a hitch on a vehicle. The target thrower mount may comprise a reconfigurable frame having an adjustable height and length and a universal attachment bracket removably attached to the frame. The frame may comprise horizontal and vertical support structures. The universal attachment bracket may comprise an E-shaped bracket and a base plate attached to and spaced apart from the E-shaped bracket. The E-shaped bracket and the base plate may have aligned holes formed therethrough with a configuration that allows attachment of a plurality of types of target throwers. The spacing between the E-shaped bracket and the base plate may also allow for a portion of an attachment piece of some target throwers to be slid therebetween.
US08657156B2
A feeding device for a balls-sorting machine serves to guide balls to a rotary ball-carrying disc disposed in a housing, the ball-carrying disc is formed with a plurality of ball-falling holes. The feeding device comprises: a feeding hopper, a dividing device, and a control unit. The feeding hopper includes a feeding hole and a feeding passage connected to the housing. The dividing device is abutted against the ball-carrying disc and formed with a receiving space, and a sub-inputting hole and a sub-outputting hole which are in communication with the receiving space, the sub-inputting hole is connected to the feeding passage, and the sub-outputting hole is located corresponding to the ball-falling holes of the ball-carrying disc.
US08657155B2
A cap for a container configured for dispensing single items, such as pills, held in said container. The cap channel extends from an upper surface to a lower end providing a passageway through the cap to allow for a predetermined quantity of items to be transferred through a port in an upper portion of the cap. The cap has a lid moveable from a closed position to an open position. In its closed position dispensing of items is prevented; in its open position at least one item is dispensed through the port. A gate is operable, in a first orientation to partially block the passageway and, in a second orientation, to unblock the passageway to allow a preset number of items, to pass through. Alternatively, a diverter is incorporated to control flow of the contents.
US08657147B2
A container with a tube is disclosed, which is suitable for receiving therein urea-containing liquids and which, especially due to its material properties, can easily be installed subsequently into vehicles and engines. The tube can consist of TPV.
US08657146B2
A vessel is disclosed, the vessel including a main body having a hollow interior for receiving a fluid therein, wherein at least a portion of the hollow interior includes a filling material disposed therein to minimize a rate of flow of the fluid from the main body, wherein the filling material is at least one of a porous structured material and a granulate material.
US08657145B2
A system for sealing an access port of a pressurized container or conduit comprises a metallic cap 10 having a sealing surface 20 which forms a seal with a corresponding sealing surface 16 of a metallic access port assembly 2, when the surfaces are pushed against each other by a clamping means 4 which is preferably separate from the cap. As shown the metal to metal sealing surfaces are frustro-conical in shape. The cap comprises a shoulder 26 which engages the rim of the access port if the cap is over tightened preventing deformation of the sealing surfaces. The cap may comprise a further frustro-conical sealing surface 40 which co acts with a corresponding surface 46 on an insert 6 which fits within and rests upon an internal shoulder 18 of the access port assembly 2 which may be welded onto a container.
US08657121B2
Disclosed herein is a microchip including a substrate and a sample flow path within the substrate. The sample flow path includes a changing flow path and a microtube connected to the changing flow path. The changing flow path is configured to change a cross sectional shape of the sample flow path from a quadrangular shape at a first end to a circular shape at a second end. The microtube is connected to the second end of the changing flow path and is disposed within the substrate.
US08657117B2
A novelty kit comprising components which represent elements for coping with and surviving attempts by another person to dispose of the user of the kit according to any one of several disposal scenarios. The scenarios may include inducing an apparently accidental fall, inducing drowning, and being buried alive. The elements of the kit would be thematically linked to warding off a fall, to resist drowning, and to cope with being buried alive. The kit may take the form of a receptacle containing pill bottles bearing labels reciting the contents and including humorous instructions for use and humorous or appropriate hazard warnings.
US08657116B2
A point of sale packaging assembly includes a support portion for supporting a toy and a fastener device. The support portion has opposing surfaces and a slot extending therethrough and configured for receiving a looped extension member of a toy. The fastener device includes an elongate portion and a base portion pivotally coupled to the elongate portion. The elongate portion includes a distal end portion releasably securable to an engagement surface on the base portion. The elongate portion is configured to be received through the looped extension member of the toy so that the toy is releasably coupleable to the support portion.
US08657114B2
A package includes an outer structure having at least one display face. The display face has a framing region and a focal region. The framing region has a framing pattern having a framing pattern complexity value and the focal region has a focal pattern having a focal pattern complexity value. The difference between the framing pattern complexity value and the focal pattern complexity value is at least 3.
US08657112B2
A back protective cover for a tablet device is provided which is capable of preventing a touch-screen cover from coming off the tablet device. According to the present invention, a back protective cover which covers a back of a tablet device is provided, the back protective cover comprising a separation preventing section configured to cover an attaching/detaching section of a touch-screen cover of a detachable type, the touch-screen cover covering a touch screen of the tablet device, so as to prevent separation between the touch-screen cover and the tablet device.
US08657110B2
A kit containing a shoe body having a heel base and a plurality of assorted removable and interchangeable heels. The heel assembly includes the heel base and a removable and interchangeable heel. The removability relies upon at east two curved, tapered grooves ending in a dimple. The heel utilizes a locking connector which contains components which fit within a cavity within the heel base and which locks in place upon rotation thereof when the components engage the curved, tapered, grooves and dimple.
US08657107B2
A paint brush protective cover for a paint brush includes a jacket which provides for wet media storage and safe transportation.
US08657106B2
A fastener system includes a toy product, a support platform, and a plug that engages a keyhole formed into the product. The plug includes a base and a pronged key extending from the base. The support platform includes a through-hole that permits the passage of the key into the packaging. One or more integrally-formed biasing members are located on the base of the plug to draw the key toward the product and create a secure connection. The pronged key may be formed from a plastic material and configured such that it plastically deforms but remains attached to the key when and predetermined force is applied to the key to pull the key from a misaligned position with respect to the key hole.
US08657104B2
A belt positioning system for positioning a movable belt entrained about a plurality of generally parallel rollers for moving in a trans-axial direction perpendicular to an axial direction in which the rollers extend parallel to each other includes a tapered flange. The tapered flange is operatively connected to an axial end of a specific one of the plurality of generally parallel rollers, and includes a generally planar contact surface and an angled guide surface. The generally planar contact surface extends generally perpendicular to the axial direction to contact an adjoining edge of the belt. The angled guide surface extends radially outward from the contact surface and has a diameter increasing outward in the axial direction.
US08657103B2
An apparatus has a continuous loop conveyor belt mounted on a frame. The conveyor belt has a first edge, a second edge, and a belt surface between the first edge and the second edge. The first edge is positioned relatively higher than the second edge such that the belt surface is at an angle with respect to a horizontal ground reference plane, and such that the belt surface slopes downwardly from the first edge toward the second edge. In addition, a sidewall is connected to the frame. The sidewall is positioned adjacent the second edge, and the sidewall is perpendicular to the belt surface and runs parallel to the second edge. Therefore, the sidewall prevents items from falling off the belt surface at the second edge. Further, a plurality of rectangular fins are connected to the belt surface. The fins are perpendicular to the sidewall and perpendicular to the belt surface. A vibrator is connected to the frame and transmits vibrations to the conveyor belt.
US08657101B2
There is disclosed a conveying apparatus for articles, provided with a first conveyor having an inlet section for articles to be conveyed and an outlet section for the articles, and with a second conveyor which can be selectively set in communication with a transfer section of the first conveyor; the first conveyor is selectively set in a first operative release configuration of the articles at the outlet section and in at least one second operative release configuration of the articles at its transfer section; the second conveyor is selectively set in a first operative withdrawal configuration of the articles from the first conveyor at its transfer section and at least in one second operative inhibition configuration of this withdrawal.
US08657099B2
The device includes several rails supported by a frame (17) which form a kind of tunnel for the end of the preforms, on the neck (21) side. The tunnel is twisted and the two rails (12) and (13) which act as a guidance under the neck have a separation which is constant between the entrance (4) and the exit (5) of the tunnel in order to convey diverse and varying preforms. One of the rails, the rail (12), is straight and the other rail, the rail (13), is curved, this curved rail (13) having a profile created in accordance with the type of preform to be conveyed. The straight rail (12) corresponds to the edge of a guide (15) in the form of a simple flat which is fixed to the frame (17), and the curved rail (13) also corresponds to the edge of a guide (16) in the form of a simple flat which is also fixed suitably to the said frame (17).
US08657094B2
A clutch device for a vehicle includes an input shaft, an output shaft coaxially arranged with a rotational axis of the input shaft, first clutch plates, second clutch plates, a piston fitted to a cylindrical portion integrally formed with the output shaft or the input shaft, an elastic member arranged between the piston and the cylindrical portion, a hydraulic chamber defined by the cylindrical portion and the piston, a canceller chamber defined by the cylindrical portion and the piston to connect to an outer side of the cylindrical portion via a discharge hole formed at a portion of the cylindrical portion, the portion being located at a predetermined radial distance from the rotational axis, and a throttle hole formed in a portion of the piston to connect the hydraulic chamber to the canceller chamber, the portion being located at a radially inward side of the portion of the cylindrical portion.
US08657079B2
The invention relates to an electric parking brake, comprising a motor-gearing unit (2) with a drive output shaft (3), wherein the motor-gearing unit (2) generates a rotation of the drive output shaft (3), and comprising a spindle device (4) having a spindle (5) and a nut (6), wherein the spindle device (4) converts the rotation of the drive output shaft (3) into an axial movement of the nut (6) in the axial direction (X-X), wherein the spindle (5) is connected in a positively locking manner to the drive output shaft (3), the spindle (5) is centered on the drive output shaft (3), and the spindle is mounted in a brake caliper (7).
US08657061B1
A vehicle is provided that may include a chassis, a mounting bracket, a drivetrain component, a first shaft and a second shaft. The mounting bracket may be secured to the chassis. The drivetrain component may include a housing defining an internal cavity and including a fluid fill-hole in communication with the internal cavity and extending through an exterior surface of the housing. The first shaft may engage the fluid fill-hole and may have a head on one end. The second shaft may extend outward from the head and may engage an aperture of the mounting bracket. The second shaft may bear a mounting load of the housing and may transmit at least a portion of the mounting load through the first shaft.
US08657058B2
A vehicle is presented. The vehicle may include a vehicle body frame; a drive wheel suspended from the vehicle body frame; a drive motor for driving the drive wheel; a battery for supplying electric power to the drive motor; a floor panel constituting a floor surface of the vehicle; and a battery support plate having a battery placement surface on which the battery is placed; wherein the battery support plate and the floor panel are supported on the vehicle body frame; and the battery placement surface is positioned below an upper surface of the floor panel.
US08657052B2
A floor panel is formed with an opening for mounting a pedal device. The opening permits a remote control valve to penetrate through the floor panel. The opening has an insertion region configured to allow the joint, the hydraulic hose and a lower portion of a valve body to be inserted thereinto from above the floor panel, and an arrangement region located in side-by-side relation to the insertion region in a second direction and configured to allow the valve body to be arranged therein while being fixed to the floor panel. In top plan view, a length of the opening in the second direction is less than a length of the opening in the first direction, and a length of the arrangement region in the first direction is less than a length of the insertion region in the first direction.
US08657049B2
In a harness wiring structure, a covering member which covers electric wires has a mesh-like portion 80 which is formed of a mesh-like member and covers a wire connection portion where the electric wires are connected with each other. The mesh-like portion is formed on a horizontally extending portion. The mesh-like portion is arranged in the inside defined between left and right main frames. The mesh-like portion is covered with a seat and a fuel tank from above, and is covered with a rear fender from behind. The mesh-like portion is arranged below a cross pipe.
US08657046B2
An engine system includes three different types of motors with complementary characteristics, which together provide increased performance and efficiency. The engine system generally includes a fuel-consuming engine (such as an internal combustion engine), an electric motor and an air motor. The air motor is powered by compressed air stored in air tanks. The air tanks can store energy much more quickly and efficiently than electric batteries. Therefore, the air tanks are a more efficient way of recouping the energy of braking the vehicle. The air tanks can be used to power the vehicle, especially at cruising speed, and can recharge the batteries over time. The three motors are complementary to one another in several ways which provide improved performance and efficiency.
US08657038B2
An expandable reamer apparatus and stabilizer sub having at least one rib thereon attached thereto for drilling a subterranean formation.
US08657035B2
A system transmits a wireless power transmission from a bottom hole assembly of a drill string. The system has a downhole component having a wireless power transmitter adapted to wirelessly transmit at least one wireless power transmission and a wireless power receiver adapted to receive the at least one wireless power transmission.
US08657034B2
A method of drilling a subterranean well bore using a tubular drill string described. One embodiment of the method includes the steps of injecting a drilling fluid into the well bore via the drill string and removing said drilling fluid from an annular space in the well bore around the drill string via a return line. The method can also include oscillating the pressure of the fluid in the annular space in the well bore, and monitoring the rate of flow of fluid along the return line.
US08657031B2
The universal control module is designed for controlling the operation of a plurality of motors and/or configured for a plurality of different motor applications. In an example, the control module is configurable within a housing of a power tool. The control module includes a top cover, a bottom cover and a printed circuit board (PCB) with control components thereon. The control module includes a spacer configured between the top and bottom covers and attached to the PCB for providing tolerances for the control components during a soldering process to fixedly attach the control components to the PCB.
US08657027B2
A Single Piezo-Actuator Rotary-Hammering (SPaRH) Drill includes a horn actuator having high power piezoelectric materials and a flexure pre-stress to increase the actuators effectiveness. The drill is a low mass, low power, compact coring drill measuring 20-cm high by 7-cm diameter and having a total weight of 2 kg including drive electronics. Using an average power of 50-Watts, the drill basalt is expected to cut basalt at a rate of 0.2 cm/min down to depth of 10-cm and create cuttings and an intact core. The drill is expected to operate under different environments including Martian ambient (6 Torr and down to −50° C.), and liquid nitrogen temperatures (77 K) and low pressure (<<1 Torr) to simulate lunar polar and Europa conditions. Materials expected to be sampled include Kaolinite, Saddleback Basalt, Limestone, Volcanic Breccia, Siltstone, ice, permafrost and layered rocks with different hardness.
US08657026B2
A harrow includes plural hydraulic actuators to displace respective working elements between opposing first and second positions. The actuators are connected in series in a phasing relationship to define one or more hydraulic circuits. Each circuit includes a lead actuator mounted in a first orientation to displace the respective working elements in a first direction when extended and a secondary actuator in series with the lead actuator in an opposing second orientation to displace the respective working elements in the first direction when retracted. One of the ports of the secondary actuator is coupled to the same one of the ports of the lead actuator such that all of the working elements are simultaneously displaced in a common direction when supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to the lead actuator. Additional actuators may be similarly connected in series in alternating orientations with the lead and secondary actuators of each circuit.
US08657020B1
A low pressure, extended coverage, fire protection sprinkler, e.g., of the upright type, suitable for use in protection of at least extra hazard and high piled storage occupancies, in accordance with the 1999 Edition of NFPA 13, has a body with an internal passageway extending between an inlet end and an opposite outlet end, and a deflector mounted to the body by at least one support arm and disposed in alignment with the axis and generally spaced from the outlet end of the internal passageway. The sprinkler has a predetermined K-factor, e.g., of greater than about 16.0. The sprinkler is configured and arranged to deflect flow of water generally radially outwardly and downwardly of the sprinkler in a predetermined spray pattern. Preferably, the predetermined spray pattern has a generally polygonal shape, e.g., a rectangular shape, when viewed at a predetermined distance below the deflector.
US08657014B2
An artificial lift system provides a lifting mechanism located in a well. The lifting mechanism communicates with a remote intake that is located below in the well. A compressed gas source provides compressed gas to the well annulus at a pressure that is sufficient to move the well fluid from the remote intake up to the lifting mechanism. The well has an annulus and tubing. The well has isolation elements that isolate the producing formation from compressed gas in the annulus. Various sources of compressed gas can be used such as a compressor, an accumulator or a gas sales line. A controller is provided to control the intermittent application and removal of compressed gas in the annulus and also to control the operation of the lifting mechanism. The well could be a horizontal well or a vertical well. The well could be a cased hole or an open hole well.
US08657013B2
A riser system for coupling a surface platform to a wellhead. The riser system includes a main tube, flanges and one or more tie rods. The main tube forms an annulus for fluid flow between the wellhead and the platform. A flange extends radially from each end of the main tube. The tie rods are coupled to and extend between the flanges.
US08657011B2
A method for providing auxiliary electrical power to an underwater well installation, the installation being linked to a surface location via an umbilical cable, to supplement any electrical power received at the installation from the umbilical cable, comprises the steps of: providing power generation means at the installation; and providing an electrical power output line for transferring electrical power generated by the power generation means to the installation.
US08657010B2
A downhole flow device has a sliding and ported sleeves. A seal has a first component on the sliding sleeve and a second component on the ported sleeve. These components engage one another to seal flow through the ports in the ported sleeve. The components move apart to allow fluid flow through the ports. The components are protected from abrasion and flow by virtue of the seal's structure and how it is opened. The sliding sleeve moves hydraulically along an axis of the ported sleeve to reveal successive ports defined along the sleeve's axis. Operation of the device and the seal address both erosion and damage from differential pressure problems. Thus, the seal prevent damage when unloading a differential pressure across it, and abrasive flow does not have the opportunity to impinge on the sealing surfaces to cause erosion.
US08657005B2
Systems and methods for creating a hydraulic barrier at an interface between high and low permeability regions that may exist in high permeability-contrast subterranean formations. These systems and methods may include providing injection and/or production wells that are completed within the high and/or low permeability regions, supplying a pore throat blocking agent to an interface between the high and low permeability regions, and forming the hydraulic barrier at the interface. The pore throat blocking agent may be sized to substantially flow through the high permeability region while being substantially blocked, or occluded, from the low permeability region. In some embodiments, the hydraulic barrier may be greater than one acre (0.4 hectare) in area. In some embodiments, the subterranean formation may include an oil reservoir. In some embodiments, the high and/or low permeability formations may be swept concurrently and/or independently to remove oil from the oil reservoir.
US08656998B2
Methods and apparatus relate to systems and methods of recovering oil from a formation. In operation, a steam chamber develops as a result of steam injection into the formation and the recovery of fluids including the oil through a production well. An auxiliary well spaced in a lateral direction from the production well helps ensure development of the steam chamber as desired. The auxiliary well may enable heating of the formation through establishing an electric potential between the auxiliary well and the production well or by resistive heating of material forming the auxiliary well. Further, the auxiliary well may provide a flow path for solvent or gas injection to facilitate the recovery through the production well.
US08656991B2
A clog free waste removal system for removing waste or drilling cuttings from a wellbore at the rate that waste is being produced having an incoming transportation system, a rig buffer, and optional surge tank, an outgoing transportation system, and post treatment device or transport.
US08656986B2
The present invention discloses a fin of heat exchanger comprising a straight segment; a substantially-circular arc segment having a radius of R; and a substantially-circular arc transition segment connected between the straight segment and the substantially-circular arc segment and having a radius of r, wherein R>r. According to the present invention, after being assembled and welded to the heat exchanger, the substantially-circular arc segment is relatively easy to deform, and the shapes of the straight segment and substantially-circular arc transition segment are substantially unchanged. Therefore, the deformation of the fin is regular and easy to control. The arranging density of the fin in the heat exchanger is uniform, and the shape of the fin can meet the design requirements. In addition, the shape stability and the heat transfer coefficient of the fin are high.
US08656975B2
A weight applicator for a wheel of a tire-wheel assembly is disclosed. The weight applicator includes an arm portion and an applicator portion connected to the arm portion. The applicator includes a radially-extending flange portion. The radially-extending flange portion is connected to the arm portion. A first plunger portion is movably-connected to the radially-extending flange portion by one or more first radial arms. A method is also disclosed.
US08656974B2
An adjustable inner tube for a pneumatic tire includes a valve and a continuous tube. The continuous tube includes a first segment and a second segment, wherein the first segment covers a portion of the second segment and the second segment may slide relative to the first segment to alter the circumference of the tube.
US08656969B2
A tire (2) includes a tread portion (T) and a pair of side portions (S). An agitating portion (32) is provided on an inner part in a radial direction with respect to a position (PA) indicative of a maximum width over an external surface (34) of each of the side portions (S). The agitating portion (32) includes a large number of dimples (36) which are dented inward from the external surface. An edge of the dimple (36) has a circular contour. A ratio of a depth of the dimple (36) to an outside diameter of the dimple (36) is equal to or higher than 0.2 and is equal to or lower than 0.5. A ratio of a distance between a center of one of the dimples (36) and a center of the other dimple (36) which is close to the one of the dimples 36 to the outside diameter is equal to or higher than 1.2 and is equal to or lower than 2. It is preferable that the outside diameter of the dimple (36) should be equal to or greater than 3 mm and be equal to or smaller than 5 mm in the tire (482). It is preferable that an array pattern of the large number of dimples (36) should be an orthogonal array in the tire (2).
US08656961B2
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to one or more embodiments of and methods to make a reinforced flexible pipe. The reinforced flexible pipe includes a pipe structure, a first composite tape member having a T-shaped cross section, and a second composite tape member having a T-shaped cross section, in which the first composite tape member is wrapped on the pipe structure in a first orientation and the second composite tape member is wrapped on the pipe structure in a second orientation. One or more embodiments relate to a method of forming the same.
US08656958B2
A method of fabricating an elastomeric structure, comprising: forming a first elastomeric layer on top of a first micromachined mold, the first micromachined mold having a first raised protrusion which forms a first recess extending along a bottom surface of the first elastomeric layer; forming a second elastomeric layer on top of a second micromachined mold, the second micromachined mold having a second raised protrusion which forms a second recess extending along a bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer; bonding the bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer onto a top surface of the first elastomeric layer such that a control channel forms in the second recess between the first and second elastomeric layers; and positioning the first elastomeric layer on top of a planar substrate such that a flow channel forms in the first recess between the first elastomeric layer and the planar substrate.
US08656957B2
Devices for generating streamwise vorticity in a boundary includes various forms of vortex generators. One form of a split-ramp vortex generator includes a first ramp element and a second ramp element with front ends and back ends, ramp surfaces extending between the front ends and the back ends, and vertical surfaces extending between the front ends and the back ends adjacent the ramp surfaces. A flow channel is between the first ramp element and the second ramp element. The back ends of the ramp elements have a height greater than a height of the front ends, and the front ends of the ramp elements have a width greater than a width of the back ends.
US08656954B2
A temperature limit stop assembly for a mixing valve including a stop surface supported by a stem and a hot water stop shoulder supported by a stop member and engagable with the stop surface of the stem to limit rotational movement of a valve plate.
US08656951B2
An encapsulated valve system includes a first housing portion having a first facing surface, the first facing surface comprising a plurality of branch pathways formed as a recess within the first facing surface. The valve system further includes a second housing portion having a second facing surface, the second facing surface comprising a plurality of branch pathways formed as a recess within the second facing surface. A disposable conduit is configured to be interposed between the first and second housing portions and disposed within the recess of the first facing surface and the recess of the second facing surface. The disposable conduit is thus sandwiched between the first and second facing surfaces. A plurality of pinch valve actuators are mounted on one or both of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the plurality of pinch valve actuators configured to pinch the disposable conduit at selective branch pathways.
US08656948B2
A wide variety of machines have moveable members that are operated by an hydraulic actuator. For example, an internal combustion engine has a camshaft which is mechanically coupled to rotate with the crankshaft and which opens and closes cylinder intake and exhaust valves. Traditionally the camshaft timing was fixed at a setting that produced the best operation for all engine operating conditions. However, it has been recognized that engine performance can be improved if the valve timing varies as a function of engine speed, engine load, and other factors. Thus a hydraulic actuator is being used on some engines to vary the coupling relationship of the camshaft to the crankshaft. A solenoid operated valve controls the application of pressurized fluid to operate the hydraulic actuator.
US08656947B1
A self-evacuating vertical downspout adapter includes an elongated adapter body defining open top and bottom ends, and an enlarged-volume debris trap with a debris outlet between the top and bottom ends. A drainage grate is located inside the adapter body and defines a drain-through floor of the debris trap angled downwardly towards the debris outlet. A hinged outlet door is attached to the adapter body adjacent the debris outlet, and is urged in a normally closed position to prevent substantial escape of rainwater through the debris outlet. The outlet door is adapted for being pivoted on-demand to a temporarily open position by debris captured on the drainage grate and gravity-fed towards the debris outlet for automatic evacuation.
US08656946B2
A double check valve (10) with two separate elements (20, 25) individually movable to close the valve and collectively movable to open the valve. The separate elements are independently closing the valve, and collectively controllable to open the valve, to allow pressure release or to allow injection of fluid (e.g. lubricant). In an example, the double check valve includes two separate check valves with a stinger element (30) between them which is operable to internally sting the one check valve when (e.g. by action of) the other check valve is stung by a user (e.g. using a stinger means) thereby to open both check valves individually and the double check valve as a whole.
US08656945B2
A pressure control valve assembly for containers adapted to contain compressed and liquefied gases, comprising a valve body that can be applied to a container for gases and the like, in which a first duct for the gas in output from said container and a pressure regulator device connected to the inside of said container and to said first duct are defined, said pressure regulator device being fully placeable within said container, said regulator device comprising at least one regulator of the piston type.
US08656944B2
A valve element combines a metering function and a pressure regulating function. A valve housing houses a metering valve. The metering valve is movable by a control to meter an amount of fluid delivered from an inlet to an outlet. A pressure regulating valve is received within the valve housing and is supplied with a pressure delivered into the inlet on a first face, and a pressure downstream of the outlet on a second face. The pressure regulating valve acts to regulate the pressure drop across the metering valve to ensure accurate fluid metering.
US08656941B1
A fast acting flow control valve uses an electronically-actuated, short-stroke 3-way pilot poppet to actuate a primary poppet valve, for example, to provide impulse thrust to an air or space vehicle. The pilot poppet arrangement has an electromagnetic actuator for positioning the pilot poppet with respect to first and second seats. When the pilot poppet is sealed against the first seat a pressure passage communicates with seat openings and a vent passage of the valve is blocked from the seat openings. When the pilot poppet is sealed against the second seat the pressure passage is blocked from the seat openings and the vent passage communicates with the seat openings. The primary valve arrangement has a primary poppet that seals against a primary seat when the pilot poppet is sealed against the first seat and is unseated when the pilot poppet is sealed against the second seat.
US08656939B2
Disclosed is an apparatus for sealing and severing a subsea pipe adapted to convey fluids, e.g., hydrocarbons, and systems and methods using such apparatus. The apparatus includes a housing adapted to attach to the pipe, a piercing tool for providing an opening in the pipe at a predetermined location and a mechanism for establishing fluid communication between a source of sealant material and space within the pipe adjacent the opening in the pipe, and a cutting mechanism for cutting the pipe. Methods disclosed include piercing the pipe to form an opening, injecting sealant material through the opening into the pipe to form a fluid-tight seal, and cutting the pipe through the seal to form sealed cut ends.
US08656937B1
An outdoor umbrella stabilizer system for preventing wind damage to an outdoor umbrella having a plurality of cords, a plurality of clips and a means of securing the cords to a weighted object. The stabilizer system flexibly maintains the canopy in position, preventing strong winds from catching the canopy and twisting, warping, contorting, buckling or deforming the umbrella, thereby stabilizing the outdoor umbrella. The stabilizer system installs on many styles of outdoor umbrellas, including a cantilever, a beach umbrella, a deck or patio umbrella, a center pole or vertical pole of the umbrella unnecessary for installation. The stabilizer system has a sac containing ballast as a weighted object. The cords attach to the sac. For an umbrella accommodated by a table having a center hold for the umbrella, the table is the weighted object, the cords attaching to the legs.
US08656934B2
A hair treatment device or tool to chemically treat a section of hair for highlighting, frosting, perming, coloring, decoloring, straightening, neutralizing, relaxing, conditioning and the like comprising a member or body of lightweight, flexible, resilient, washable, porous, absorbent foam or fabric including at least one hair section treatment channel formed therein extending from the surface thereof to receive a section of hair therein coated or covered with a treating chemical to isolate the section of hair during treatment and absorb excess chemical from the section of hair being treated.
US08656928B2
Medical devices are made visible under ultrasonic or magnetic imaging techniques by adding a series of features on their surfaces. The features are desirably placed at more than one angle to the surface in order to enhance the visibility of the surface. Laser-machining can make a series of depressions or voids that are symmetric with respect to the surface and another series of depressions or voids that are non-symmetric. The pattern of voids is also varied by using more than one size of void, the depth of the voids, and the distribution of voids, i.e. more voids in some areas than others.
US08656924B2
The subject devices and methods retain surgical instruments and sterile portions of any accompanying cables within sterile surgical fields. One such surgical device includes a surgical instrument for performing surgical procedures within a sterile field. A cable is attached to the surgical instrument for connecting the surgical instrument located within the sterile field to support equipment located outside the sterile field. A self-retracting coil is operatively connected to the surgical instrument. The self-retracting coil is adapted and configured to be anchored within the sterile field to ensure that the surgical instrument and the sterile portion of the cable remain within the sterile field during performance of the surgical procedure.
US08656914B2
A medical ventilator is coupled to a patient via a hose system to generate a respiratory flow according to a predetermined ventilation mode. The ventilator has a first flow sensor for generating a first sensor signal indicative of an inspiratory flow into the hose system distant from the patient. The hose system has a further flow sensor for generating a further sensor signal indicative of the respiratory flow proximal to the patient. The ventilator has an input for receiving the further sensor signal. The ventilator compares the further sensor signal with an expected sensor signal indicative of the respiratory flow proximal to the patient. The expected sensor signal is determined by a combination of the first sensor signal and the predetermined ventilation mode. The ventilator controls the ventilating in dependence on the comparison.
US08656904B2
A heater includes a burner housing that houses burners for combusting a fuel and air mixture into heated gas. Heater tubes each extend from and return to the burner housing for radiating heat. The heater tubes each have an inlet end and an outlet end with the inlet ends in communication with the burners for receiving the heated gas from the burners. A collector box is disposed in the burner housing in communication with the outlet ends of the heater tubes for receiving the heated gas from the heater tubes. A fan is in communication with the collector box to move the heated gas from the burners to the collector box. The outlet ends of the heater tubes are adjacent each other at the burner housing and each of the inlet ends of the heater tubes are spaced in different directions from the outlet tubes at the burner housing.
US08656903B1
A flip top grill assembly includes an assembly base, a pair of linkage assemblies carried by the assembly base, a grill cage carried by the pair of linkage assemblies and positional between a first position and a second position inverted with respect to the first position and at least one handle operably engaging at least one of the pair of linkage assemblies and adapted to facilitate pivoting of the grill cage between the first position and the second position responsive to manipulation of the handle.
US08656892B2
A high-pressure pump for supplying fuel to a fuel rail includes a pressurizing unit, a discharging unit, a return flow channel, a mechanical pressure relief valve, a cup-like shaped spring seat, and a constant residual pressure valve. The return flow channel is closed when pressure of fuel in the fuel rail becomes equal to or less than a predetermined pressure. The spring seat has a guide portion that is formed along an outer shape of a constant residual pressure valve element of the constant residual pressure valve such that the guide portion limits a vortex flow generated at a position downstream of the constant residual pressure valve element in the second flow direction.
US08656882B2
An engine ignition control device comprising: a start-up ignition controller having a function for preventing the occurrence of kickback by either delaying an ignition position of an engine or stopping ignition; start-up rotation angle detection means for detecting a rotation angle of a crankshaft of the engine after initiation of a start-up operation of the engine; and switching means for switching control specifics of the start-up ignition controller in accordance with the detected start-up rotation angle so that when the detected start-up rotation angle is less than a set angle, there is created a kickback-preventive effect within a range at which engine startability is not compromised, and when the detected start-up rotation angle is equal to or greater than the set angle, there is created a kickback-preventive effect that is greater than the kickback-preventive effect for when the start-up rotation angle is equal to or less than the set angle.
US08656872B1
The variable lift hydraulic valve train works in conjunction with a master piston to provide a variable lift of a hydraulically operated valve by adjusting the hydraulic pressure created by the master piston. The variable lift hydraulic valve train includes a housing containing a variable camshaft, and stroke limiter piston. The stroke limiter piston is in fluid communication with the hydraulic fluid, which is in fluid communication with the master piston and valve piston. The position of the stroke limiter piston can be adjusted irrespective of engine RPM to provide varying lift and timing of the valve.
US08656868B2
Heat exchanger for thermo boiler 1 with a tube bundle 6 using solid fuel in particles constituted from an inner furnace 7 and a double wall jacket connected from the tube bundle 6 characterized by the fact that space 14 over the inner furnace 7 and the tube bundle 6 is divided from a slab 13, that tubes 6 which cross said slab 13 in openings 15 are rigidly fixed to said slab 13, that at least a bar 10, 11 which can be controlled from outside crosses the slab 13 and the double wall jacket 20 on at least one side, that said bar/s 10, 11 bring/s at least two scraping plates 8 and 9, of which an at least intermediate one positioned on one side of said slab 13 and at least an other one from the opposite part of slab 13, of which at least one positioned at the end of tubes 6.
US08656855B2
A folding boat includes a pair of stringer tube assemblies arranged for extending longitudinally when assembled and the stringer tubes of each pair of the assemblies connected by hinges to respective adjacent stringer tubes at the hinges. The stringer tubes assemblies are received within a waterproof skin. Frame members or butterfly frame members serve to connect to the assemblies of the stringer tubes within the skin to provide a frame for the waterproof skin. Fabric inflatable tubes are located within the skin, each having a seam for having the assembled stringer tubes assemblies nestled within when assembled in the frame.
US08656854B2
A kayak having a hull shape in which the wetted area is situated over the forward two-thirds section of the hull with the rear hull section having minimal wetted area to provide a kayak of increased steering leverage, and of exceptional maneuverability and speed. The hull has asymmetry that is defined by length-to-girth ratio.
US08656841B2
The present invention is a bodyshell structure of a railcar, the bodyshell structure including: a side bodyshell including an outside plate portion, an inside plate portion, and a joint portion configured to join the outside plate portion and the inside plate portion; an inside window opening formed on the inside plate portion and provided inside the railcar; and an outside window opening formed on the outside plate portion and having a smaller opening area than the inside window opening, and at least one of the inside window opening and the outside window opening has an oval shape extending in the railcar longitudinal direction or a circular shape.
US08656828B2
An electric oven includes a cooking chamber having at least one heating member and at least one support member for supporting food, the cooking chamber being provided with a movable pressing member for pressing the food against the support member to cook the food while kept pressed.
US08656817B2
A die roll is disclosing have multiple alternating patterns. Cutting edges and non-cutting edges on the die roll are phased with cutting surfaces and relieved areas on the anvil, respectively. Multiple cut profiles are achieved from a single die/anvil combination.
US08656816B2
A peeling tool designed for at least partially stripping the outer peripheral surface of rotationally symmetric objects, in particular cylindrical plastic pipes, with the peeling tool featuring a peeling head with a drive shaft having a longitudinal axis and coaxially to this drive shaft arranged cylindrical blade roller. The cylindrical blade roller moves with the drive shaft. The peeling tool also featuring at least one peeling blade inside the blade roller with the peeling blade having a cutting edge which extends beyond the blade roller surface and defines the maximum outer diameter of the peeling head. The peeling tool also features two cylindrical guide elements with longitudinal axes, which are mounted to the face sides of the blade roller in a coaxial arrangement.
US08656815B2
A machining method of machining a transfer optical surface on a optical element producing die having the transfer optical surface made of a material having Vickers hardness of Hv1500 or more, comprising: machining the transfer optical surface on the optical element producing die by cutting with a cutting tool, wherein a rake face of a tip of a blade of the cutting tool is set with an angle of minus values at an incising point on a surface to be machined.
US08656813B1
A locking pliers preferably includes a fixed jaw, a movable jaw, a fixed handle, an adjusting screw, a biasing spring, a toggle link, a power triangle link, at least one tie link and a movable handle. The fixed jaw, the movable jaw, the fixed handle, the adjusting screw and the biasing spring are preferably taken from an Irwin item no. 502L3 vise grips, but other parts may also be used. A second embodiment of the locking pliers preferably includes a fixed jaw, a movable jaw, a fixed handle, an adjusting screw, a biasing spring, a toggle link, two power links, at least one tie link, a release link and a movable handle. The fixed jaw, the movable jaw, the fixed handle, the adjusting screw and the biasing spring are preferably taken from an Irwin item no. 502L3 vise grips.
US08656812B2
The invention provides a pair of pliers capable of properly pinching a screw head and reliably removing a screw from an object to which the screw has been fastened even if the screw has small thickness of a peripheral face to be pinched between pinching teeth.The pair of pliers is formed by coupling a first arm 1 and a second arm 2 each having a jaw portion 4 and a grip 5 through a coupling shaft 3 in an X shape. Each of the jaw portions 4, 4 is provided on left and right sides of a front end thereof with flanks 16, 16 for preventing opposite corners of front ends of each of the jaw portions 4, 4 from coming in contact with a screw fastened face 22. Each of the jaw portions 4, 4 also comprises longitudinal pinching teeth 13, 13 capable of pinching the peripheral face of the screw head 21 so as to be recessed in opposed faces of the respective jaw portions 4, 4 between the left and right flanks 16, 16. Each of the longitudinal pinching teeth 13, 13 is formed by connecting, in shapes of peaks and troughs, a plurality of streak teeth 13a in a front-back direction. Due to the flanks 16, 16, front ends 17 of the streak teeth 13a initially collide with the screw fastened face 22, so that the longitudinal pinching teeth 13 can reliably pinch the peripheral face of the screw head 21.
US08656809B2
In a gearing, in particular coaxial gearing, hollow shaft gearing, hypoid gearing, axial gearing or linear gearing, with a driving element (7), an element (3) and an output element (11), a stepping-up and transmission of a driving torque between driving element (7) and output element (11) are to take place via a plurality of movable tooth segments (5).
US08656804B2
The disclosure discloses a steering wheel for steering a vehicle, comprising: a steering wheel metal core that forms a wheel frame; and a covering portion that covers an area surrounding the steering wheel metal core; the steering wheel metal core having: a boss portion that connects the steering wheel metal core and a steering shaft; an annular portion; and a spoke portion that connects the boss portion and the annular portion; and the covering portion having: an annular covering portion that covers the annular portion of the steering wheel metal core; a harness housing groove portion that is configured to house an electric harness for an electrical structure arranged in the covering portion and is formed into a groove shape on a surface facing to an occupant of the annular covering portion; and a harness cover, that covers the electric harness housed in the harness housing groove portion.
US08656803B2
A mechanical joint includes a first axial bracket, a first bearing, a second bearing, a sleeve, a second axial bracket, and an anti-jamming mechanism. The first axial bracket includes a rotary shaft. The first bearing, the second bearing, and the sleeve sleeve on the rotary shaft of the first axial bracket in turn, the sleeve being sandwiched between the first and second bearings. The second axial bracket is rotatably assembled to the first axial bracket via the first and second bearings. The anti-jamming mechanism is resiliently assembled within the second axial bracket and sleeves on the sleeve. One end of the anti-jamming mechanism resists the second axial bracket and the opposite second bearing.
US08656796B2
An operating element with a drive motor equipped with a drive shaft, which can be driven in two opposite rotational directions to move an actuating element between two end positions by a motion transmission device. Each of two motion transmission devices includes a winding body, onto which a traction element is wound in the direction opposite to that in which the traction element of the other transmission device is wound. The free end of the traction element is attached to the actuating element.
US08656793B2
Embodiments of the invention relate a charge indicator for determining the mass of a fluid contained within a fluid enclosure, wherein the charge indicator responds to a deformation of a solid component in contact with the fluid and wherein the deformation is a function of the mass of fluid contained within the fluid enclosure.
US08656788B2
A ring shear apparatus for measuring a shear strength of soil samples. The ring shear apparatus considering a wall-slip effect including: an upper ring for forming a first accommodation portion having a ring shape in which soil samples are accommodated; a lower ring for forming a second accommodation portion that corresponds to the first accommodation portion of the upper ring and has a ring shape in which soil samples are accommodated, closely attached to a lower portion of the upper ring and rotatably installed relative to the upper ring; a rotating unit for rotating the lower ring relative to the upper ring; and a shear strength measuring sensor combined with the upper ring and for measuring a shear strength of the soil samples, wherein a plurality of protrusions that protrudes from the lower ring is formed on an inner circumferential surface of the lower ring along a circumferential direction of the lower ring in order to prevent the soil samples from being slid when the lower ring is rotated.
US08656786B2
The present disclosure relates to sensors including pressure sensors, humidity sensors, flow sensors, etc. In some cases, a sensor unit subassembly for installation in or use with a pressure sensor housing may include at least one pressure sensor signal output terminal supported by a printed circuit board, a pressure input port, and a pressure sense element secured relative to one or more printed circuit boards. The printed circuit board(s) may include circuitry configured to format pressure output signals provided by the pressure sense element into a particularly chosen output format, and may provide the formatted pressure output signal(s) to an attached electrical connector of the pressure sensor housing. In some cases, the sensor unit subassemblies can be mixed with a multitude of different electrical connectors and/or with a multitude of different port connections to from a wide array of pressure sensor assemblies.
US08656775B2
Disclosed herein is a vibratory gyro-sensor including a vibratory section, a synchronous detector which synchronously detects a detected signal from the vibratory section in timed relation to a timing signal for synchronous detection, and a timing signal output section which outputs the timing signal for synchronous detection. The timing signal output section has a low-pass filter, a comparator, and a first phase shifter. The vibration monitor signal as converted into the binary signal by the comparator and shifted in phase by the first phase shifter is used as the timing signal for synchronous detection.
US08656773B2
A rationality diagnostic device for an alcohol concentration sensor includes a capacitance-type remaining fuel amount sensor as a remaining fuel amount sensor disposed in a fuel tank. The capacitance-type remaining fuel amount sensor has such output characteristics that its output value is determined by the amount of fuel remaining in the fuel tank and the alcohol concentration of the fuel. The rationality diagnostic device corrects the output value of the remaining fuel amount sensor in accordance with the output value of the alcohol concentration sensor to eliminate an alcohol-concentration-dependent component from the output value of the remaining fuel amount sensor. The rationality diagnostic device then verifies the accuracy of the corrected output value of the remaining fuel amount sensor to judge whether the rationality of the alcohol concentration sensor is maintained.
US08656766B2
A sensor apparatus that outputs an electrical signal responding to a physical quantity is provided. The sensor apparatus includes: a housing being screwed to a body and having an insertion hole; an electrical circuit section having an electrical component used for processing the electrical signal, being disposed at an one end side of the housing and integrated with the housing; and a plurality of pins inserted through the electrical circuit section, a first end of the pin being inserted into the insertion hole to be fixed therewith, a second end of the pin being protruded from the electrical circuit section to be capable of engaging with a jig. The jig is used to screw the housing to the body after the housing and the electrical circuit are integrated with each other.
US08656765B2
A device detecting a property of fuel in a course of a pipeline, while improving accuracy and stability of the fuel property detection. The device includes a sub-tank provided in the course of a fuel pipeline connecting a fuel tank and an engine, and a sensor capable of detecting the property of fuel inside the sub-tank. The sub-tank includes a fuel inlet for introducing therethrough fuel from the fuel tank, and a fuel outlet for sending out therethrough the fuel toward the engine.
US08656754B2
The present invention aims at realizing an energy-saving mode in which the usage of a carrier gas and the power consumption are sufficiently suppressed without causing damage to the apparatus. When a command for executing the energy-saving mode is entered (S1), the column flow rate after the transition to the energy-saving mode (when the temperature decreases) is computed by using control parameters determined in correspondence to the energy-saving mode. If the flow rate exceeds the allowable upper limit determined by the configuration of the apparatus (S3 and S4), a warning for urging users to decrease the column inlet pressure and enter the command again is displayed (S11). If the computed flow rate is not higher than the allowable upper limit, a constant pressure control is performed aiming at the inlet pressure at that point in time (S5 and S6). Although the column flow rate gradually increases after the heater of the column oven is turned off, it will not exceed the allowable upper limit. Thus, the detector is prevented from being damaged.
US08656750B2
A hot forming die that includes a first die and a second die. The first die has a first die structure that is formed of a tool steel. The first die structure has a first die surface and a plurality of first cooling apertures. The first die surface has a complex shape. The first cooling apertures are spaced apart from the die surface by a first predetermined distance. The second die has a second die surface. The first and second die surfaces cooperate to form a die cavity. Related methods for forming a hot forming die and for hot forming a workpiece are also provided.
US08656745B2
A washing machine is provided that is capable of efficiently draining condensed fluid discharged by a heat pump module. The washing machine may include a first cabinet, a tub installed in the first cabinet, a drum rotatably installed in the tub, a second cabinet detachably coupled to the first cabinet, a heat pump module mounted in the second cabinet so as to supply hot air into the drum, a condensed fluid drain pump that pumps condensed fluid generated by the heat pump module, and a condensed fluid drain hose, one end of which is connected to the condensed fluid drain pump and the other end of which is connected to the tub, to discharge the condensed fluid pumped by the condensed fluid drain pump to the inside of the tub.
US08656744B2
Sterilizable washing machine using ultraviolet radiation and sterilizable washing method in the same
The present invention discloses a sterilizable washing machine using ultraviolet radiation, and a sterilizable washing method in the same. The sterilizable washing machine includes a cabinet (2) having an inlet for putting the laundry into the washing machine, a door (50) installed at the cabinet (2), for opening and closing the inlet of the cabinet (2), a tub (6) installed in the cabinet with a buffing function and containable wash water, a drum (8) rotatably installed inside the tub (6) for performing washing, a gasket G installed between the inlet of the cabinet (2) and the tub (6), for sealing the gap between the door (50) and the tub (6), and an ultraviolet light source (20) installed at the gasket (6), for radiating ultraviolet rays into the drum (8).
US08656740B2
The invention provides a manufacturing method of a glass-sealed package, and a glass substrate used for the glass-sealed package, whereby an amount of warp in a glass substrate is reduced to improve processing accuracy in a subsequent step in which the glass substrate is combined (such as by anodic bonding) with another glass substrate provided with a thin film. The front side of the glass substrate includes a region where the cavities used to house electronic devices such as semiconductor IC chips and crystal blanks are not formed. The region devoid of the cavities is provided in the formed of a frame to reduce an amount of warp in the glass substrate.
US08656734B2
A method for manufacturing a disklike glass material comprising the successive molding of multiple pieces of disklike glass material from glass melt. Being suppressed variation over time in the concentration of infrared radiation-absorbing ions contained in the glass melt being molded into the pieces of disklike glass material so that the variation in the sheet thickness of the multiple pieces of disklike glass material falls within a range of ±15 percent of a reference value. The reference value being the median between the maximum value and the minimum value of the sheet thickness of 1,000 pieces of the glass material. In the course of molding multiple pieces of disklike glass material comprised of glass containing 0.1 to 100 ppm of infrared radiation-absorbing ions, vaiiation over time in the concentration of the infrared radiation-absorbing contained in the glass melt is suppressed to suppress variation in the sheet thickness of the multiple pieces of sheet like glass material.
US08656728B2
An assembly for filtering water includes a housing and a water inlet for supplying unfiltered water to the housing. A water filter includes an outer casing attached to the housing in communication with the water inlet and a filter medium within the outer casing. The outer casing has at least one portion that is at least partially translucent. The water filter filters the unfiltered water through filter medium to provide filtered water. A water outlet is attached to the housing for transferring filtered water from the outer casing to a device via the housing. An illumination device is mounted adjacent to the outer casing for selectively illuminating the portion of the outer casing that is at least partially translucent. Related refrigeration appliances incorporating such devices are also disclosed.
US08656722B2
A method for cooling components of a gas turbine engine, having first and second sets of components that require cooling, includes removing thermal energy from cooling air, directing the cooling air from which thermal energy has been removed to the first set of components of the gas turbine engine, and transferring thermal energy away from the second set of components of the gas turbine engine using a vaporization cycle of a vapor cooling assembly. Use of the vaporization cycle offsets thermal energy removed from the cooling air.
US08656718B2
In a steam system having a turbine driven by steam supplied from a high-pressure header to a low-pressure header, when the pressure in the low-pressure header drops, a turbine bypass valve is opened and the high-pressure side steam is supplied to the low-pressure side header in a normal control. When the turbine is tripped, steam is rapidly flow into the low-pressure side header and its pressure temporally increases. the steam in the low-pressure header is discharged through a discharge valve. After that, if a steam supply from the low-pressure header to another process increases, the discharge valve is closed. After the discharge valve is fully closed, an after-trip control is performed in which the opening of the turbine bypass valve is increased at an earlier timing than the normal control for preventing the steam amount in the low-pressure header to be too small. The control stability of the steam system when the turbine is tripped can be enhanced.
US08656715B2
Methods and systems are provided for operating a turbocharged engine including a particulate filter positioned upstream of a turbocharger turbine, a catalyst positioned downstream of the turbine, and an EGR passage coupled between an engine exhaust and engine intake. In one example, the method comprises, diverting exhaust gas from downstream of the filter to the engine intake via the EGR passage, and adjusting an amount of diverted exhaust gas based on filter operating conditions.
US08656705B2
A method for controlling an exhaust gas purification device 1 equipped with branch exhaust passages 2 and 3 connected to an exhaust passage 100 on the engine side; a shutoff valve 4 capable of shutting off exhaust gas at the exhaust inlets 2a and 3a of the branch exhaust passages 2 and 3; a nitrogen oxide adsorbing material 5, disposed inside each of the branch exhaust passages 2 or 3, temporarily adsorbing nitrogen oxides in an excess air atmosphere, and detaching the adsorbed nitrogen oxides in a rising temperature atmosphere or a reducing atmosphere; a first combustion device 6, disposed on the exhaust upstream side of the nitrogen oxide adsorbing material 5 inside each of the branch exhaust passages 2 or 3, having an air nozzle 61, and changing the air supplied from the air nozzle 61 into the rising temperature atmosphere or the reducing atmosphere; and a second combustion device 7, disposed on the exhaust downstream side of the nitrogen oxide adsorbing material 5 inside each of the branch exhaust passages 2 or 3 and including an air nozzle 71, a fuel nozzle 72 and an ignition nozzle 73, wherein the ratio of fuel and air supplied from the first combustion device 6 is controlled within the range of 0.6<λ1<1.0, where λ1 is an excess air ratio.
US08656702B2
An exhaust gas after treatment system includes a diesel particulate filter unit (DPFU) provided downstream of a diesel engine, a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) arrangement provided in fluid communication with said DPFU, a first injector for feeding reducing agent into the exhaust gas provided downstream of said DPFU and upstream of said SCR, at least one NOx sensor provided downstream of said SCR for providing at least one NOx signal to a NOx coordinator, at least one temp sensor provided upstream and/or downstream of said SCR for providing at least one temp signal to said NOx coordinator, wherein said NOx coordinator is provided for switching said diesel engine into a high NOx mode or a low NOx mode depending on the values of the at least one NOx signal and the at least one temp signal.
US08656701B2
A control device applied to a system having an engine configured such that an expansion ratio can be changed is characterized to comprise an expansion ratio acquisition part for acquiring the expansion ratio, and a temperature estimation part for estimating a temperature of an exhaust gas discharged from the engine or a member positioned in a passage for the exhaust gas.
US08656694B2
Disclosed is a crop harvesting header configured for attachment to a mobile frame of a harvesting machine. The header has a cutter mechanism to cut crop material and a pair of laterally extending crop conditioner rolls to condition crop material cut by the cutter mechanism. The header includes a header power system having first and second main hydraulic motors and a belt and sheave drive configured to transmit power from the main hydraulic motors to the pair of conditioner rolls. The header also includes an auxiliary drive motor directly connected one of the conditioner rolls of the pair of conditioner rolls.
US08656687B2
A padding machine for packaging substantial products, particularly cucumbers, comprising, on a supporting frame, a carousel assembly for the advancement of containers, the machine further comprising, on the carousel assembly, at each container, a positioning pad for centering the products that overflow laterally from the mouth of the container and a packing pad for inserting the products in the container.
US08656670B2
A system, workflow and facilities for hybrid tissue banks are provided with a central access way having spaces on both sides for public and private diagnostic areas, public and private clean room areas for processing, culturing and other manufacturing steps, public and private storage areas, wherein air flow is into said clean rooms and out of said diagnostic areas and said storage areas, and wherein all public facilities are on one side of the central access-way and private facilities are on the other side, and wherein there are sample pass-throughs between each area, and at least the sample pass-through into and out of the clean room processing areas comprise small enclosed chambers having two access panels (one leading to each space), wherein only one panel can open at a time. Preferably, these areas are preceded by receiving spaces and terminated by shipping spaces, which also have pass-through chambers.
US08656669B2
The present invention is predicated upon the provision of systems and methods for reinforcement of a structural member. More particularly, the present invention is predicated upon unique carrier configurations and application of reinforcing material thereto. In one configuration, the application of reinforcing material is achieved without the use of fasteners, adhesives, or both, for placement, locating and restrictive movement of the reinforcing material onto the carrier.
US08656668B2
A modular frame is described for the assembly of at least one conduit at a construction part. The modular frame comprises a base plate that may be fastened at the construction part, several flange elements arranged side-by-side which may be fastened at the base plate, each comprising a sealing element, and a flat, plate-shaped intermediate element arranged between the base plate and the flange elements, which is characterized in the base plate, the intermediate element, and the flange element showing several passages to accept conduits adjusted to the diameters of said conduits.
