US08755159B2

System of current protection of a primary electrical distribution box supplied by at least one electrical energy generator and delivering electrical energy to at least one load and/or to at least one secondary distribution box, comprising a line contactor for each generator arranged between the primary electrical distribution box and said generator, the primary electrical distribution box comprising an electrically conductive frame. The system of protection comprises an electrical connection member capable of electrically coupling the frame of the box to an external metal structure coupled to the earth, a current sensor capable of measuring a current flowing through said electrical connection member, and control means capable of controlling the line contactors so as to electrically decouple at least one generator from the primary electrical distribution box if a current flowing through said electrical connection member is detected.
US08755153B2

According to one embodiment, a reproducing head includes a spin-torque oscillator and a pair of shield parts. The spin-torque oscillator has a first surface facing a magnetic recording medium. The pair of shield parts each has a second surface facing the magnetic recording medium, the spin-torque oscillator being arranged between the shield parts. A distance between the second surface and the magnetic recording medium is shorter than a distance between the first surface and the magnetic recording medium.
US08755152B1

A method and system for providing a magnetic transducer is described. The method and system include providing a magnetic shield, an insertion layer on the magnetic shield, an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer, a pinned layer magnetically coupled with the AFM layer, a nonmagnetic spacer layer, and a free layer. The magnetic shield has a texture and a grain size. The insertion layer has a thickness that is sufficiently large that the AFM layer is magnetically decoupled from the magnetic shield and sufficiently small that the AFM layer is structurally coupled with the magnetic shield. The pinned layer resides between the AFM layer and the nonmagnetic spacer layer. The nonmagnetic spacer layer resides between the free layer and the pinned layer.
US08755150B2

A design is disclosed for a microwave assisted magnetic recording device wherein direct current and rf current are simultaneously injected from a bias tee into a spin transfer oscillator (STO) between a main pole and write shield to improve the assist process. The STO oscillation layer (OL) has a large angle magnetization oscillation frequency that is locked to a magnetic medium bit resonance frequency f0 when the rf current has a frequency f=f0 and a threshold current density is applied. Alternatively, the OL magnetization oscillation frequency may be adjusted closer to f0 to improve the assist process. A third advantage is lowering the threshold current density when both direct current and rf current are injected into the STO during a write process. The main pole is grounded when direct current and rf current are injected into a write shield.
US08755149B2

A magnetic recording head is fabricated with a pole tip shielded laterally on its sides by a pair of symmetrically disposed side shields formed of porous heterogeneous material that contains non-magnetic inclusions. The non-magnetic inclusions, when properly incorporated within the magnetic matrix of the shields, promote the formation of flux loops within the shields that have portions that are parallel to the ABS and do not display locally disorganized and dynamic regions of flux during the creation of magnetic transitions within the recording medium by the magnetic pole. These flux loop portions, combine with the magnetic flux emerging from the main pole to create a net writing field that significantly reduces adjacent track erasures (ATE) and wide area erasures (WATE).
US08755148B1

Described herein is a disk drive balance plug that includes a substantially cylindrical body defining a first end, a second end, a substantially cylindrical outer surface, and a plug central axis. The balance plug also preferably includes at least one protrusion extending along the cylindrical outer surface between the first and second ends in a direction substantially aligned with the plug central axis.
US08755144B2

A base for a motor, the base including: a base body formed by performing press processing on a steel plate, a base material; an outer wall part defining an outer edge of the base body and formed by being bent from an end portion of the base body; and at least one weight reducing part formed by removing a predetermined region of the outer wall part.
US08755142B2

A hard disk drive (HDD) has a high track misregistration (TMR) mode of writing data. If the position error signal (PES) from the servo positioning information exceeds a first write inhibit threshold (WI-1), writing is not inhibited but a high TMR mode of operation is enabled. In high TMR mode, prior to writing data to the target track, the data on the adjacent tracks is read and stored in a buffer. The data to be written to the target track is also stored in the buffer, and is flagged to indicate that the data needs to be written. The data is then written to the target track. However, if during writing the PES exceeds a second threshold (WI-2), then the data from the adjacent encroached track in the buffer is flagged for writing and the process repeated with the encroached track set as the target track.
US08755137B2

According to one embodiment, there is provided a disk drive. In the disk drive, a calibration module calibrates a write condition using a first area in a sequential access area on a disk to which data is to be written next time as a calibration area if the calibration is required. A manager enters the calibration area in a management table in association with a physical address of the first area used as the calibration area. A sequential write module continues a sequential writing from a second area following the first area based on skipping the first area.
US08755130B2

A zoom lens device includes a base barrel, first and second cam barrels connected rotatably to and movable relative to the base barrel, first and second lens barrels connected respectively to the first and second cam barrels, and a driving barrel surrounding and rotatable relative to the base barrel. Rotation of the driving barrel drives the first and second cam barrels to rotate synchronously and move individually along an axis, and therefore causes individual axial movements of the first and second lens barrels along the axis.
US08755129B2

A lens barrel capable of distributing, upon receipt of the impact of, e.g., dropping, a torque load so as not to concentrate on a particular linear movement key and groove for linearly moving a barrel member, thereby suppressing occurrence of a failure. The lens barrel has a fixed barrel (8) and a third lens group barrel (3). In a movement region of the third lens group barrel (3) moving in the optical direction relative to the fixed barrel (8), each of a set of a first linear movement groove (8c) and a first linear movement key (3c) and a set of a second linear movement groove (8d) and a second linear movement key (3d) has a mutually engageable region and a mutually disengageable region, and a set of a groove (8e) and a projection (3e) has not a mutually engageable region.
US08755126B2

A zoom lens includes a first lens unit, a second lens unit, a third lens unit, a fourth lens unit and a fifth lens unit. In the zoom lens, air intervals L2w, L3w between the second lens unit and the third lens unit and between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit at a wide-angle end, a focal length f1 of the first lens unit, a combined focal length f23w of the second lens unit and the third lens unit at the wide-angle end, a focal length fw of the whole system at the wide-angle end, a zoom ratio Z, and a smallest value L2z1a of the air interval between the second lens unit and the third lens unit in a wide angle zoom range in which a magnification-varying ratio relative to that at the wide-angle end ranges from Z0.02 to Z0.35 are appropriately set.
US08755119B2

A diffractive optical element is made by layering first and second diffractive gratings. A difference of an extinction coefficient to d-line between the two materials of each of the first and second diffractive grating is larger than 0.0002 and smaller than 0.002. The following conditional expressions are satisfied 0.05<|Δnd1|<0.3, 0.05<|Δnd2|<0.3, 20<|Δνd1|<40, and |Δνd2|<15, where Δnd1, Δnd2 are differences of a refractive index to the d-line between the two materials of the first and second diffractive gratings, and Δνd1, Δνd2 are differences of an Abbe number between the two materials of the first and second diffractive gratings.
US08755118B2

Planar lenses and reflectors are described comprising subwavelength high-contrast gratings (HCG) having high index of refraction grating elements spaced apart from one another in straight and/or curved segments and surrounded by low index material. The high-contrast grating is configured to receive an incident wave which excites multiple modes within the high-contrast grating and is focused for reflection and/or transmission by said high contrast grating. The width of the high contrast grating bars vary along a distribution direction of the grating bars which is perpendicular to the length of the grating bars and/or varies along the length of one or more grating bars to focus said reflection and/or transmission. The HCG is configured to provide double focusing, whose use is exemplified within a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) structure using focusing HCG structures for both the top and bottom mirrors.
US08755113B2

An inorganic, dielectric grid polarizer device includes a stack of film layers disposed over a substrate. Each film layer is formed of a material that is both inorganic and dielectric. Adjacent film layers each have different refractive indices. At least one of the film layers is discontinuous to form a form-birefringent layer with an array of parallel ribs having a period less than 400 nm. Another layer, different than the form-birefringent layer, is formed of an optically absorptive material for the ultra-violet spectrum.
US08755108B2

An electrophoretic display device includes: an electrophoretic layer which is sandwiched between a first substrate and a second substrate, wherein a disposition area of the electrophoretic layer is constituted by a display area and a sacrifice display area which is provided to surround the display area, and at the second substrate, a printed area which is set outside the display area in a plan view and overlaps an outer peripheral portion of the sacrifice display area is provided.
US08755105B2

The thermally switched reflective optical shutter is a self-regulating “switchable mirror” device that reflects up to 100% of incident radiant energy above a threshold temperature, and reflects up to 50% of incident radiant energy below a threshold temperature. Control over the flow of radiant energy occurs independently of the thermal conductivity or insulating value of the device, and may or may not preserve the image and color properties of incoming visible light. The device can be used as a construction material to efficiently regulate the internal temperature and illumination of buildings, vehicles, and other structures without the need for an external power supply or operator signals. The device can be tailored to transmit sufficient visible light to see through in both the transparent and reflective states, while still providing significant control over the total energy transmission across the device.
US08755092B2

An image reading apparatus includes an array substrate in which a plurality of point light sources is mounted along the main scanning direction, a light guide member disposed on a surface of the array substrate that mounts the plurality of point light sources, and guiding light from the plurality of point light sources to the document surface, a frame for fixing the light guide member and the array substrate, a positioning unit that determines the positional relationship of the frame with the light guide member and the array substrate in a configuration in which the incident surface of the light guide member is in proximity to or in contact with the plurality of point light sources; and an image reading unit that uses reflected light when illuminating light from the plurality of point light sources through the light guide member onto the document surface to thereby read the document image.
US08755091B2

A method for adding scan data to a computer work area is provided. The method includes the following steps. Location information corresponding to a registered location of a pointer is received. According to the location information, an image file format is determined. A document is scanned. Next, a scan image file corresponding to the document and the image file format is produced. The scan image file is added to a work area where the pointer is located.
US08755086B2

An image forming apparatus and a control method thereof which execute auto color registration in consideration of mechanical change factors of both photoconductors and drive rollers. The control method of an image forming apparatus includes photoconductors, an intermediate transfer belt to which developers attached to the photoconductors are transferred, and drive rollers to drive the intermediate transfer belt, test patterns are printed on the intermediate transfer belt by adjusting a printing time interval of the test patterns according to a spatial period of the photoconductors and a spatial period of the drive rollers, if conditions to execute auto color registration (ACR) are satisfied, and ACR is executed according to a signal reflected by the test patterns.
US08755079B2

In a case where a reusable object extracted from a print job and is subjected to transformation processing upon reuse thereof, a print device executes halftone processing taking into account the transformation indicated by the transformation processing for the reusable object, and generates image data to store the generated image data in a cache.
US08755065B2

A client terminal transmits a request to a printing apparatus for a registration web page for registering, in a print server, a printing apparatus used in a print service provided by the print server. The printing apparatus collects configuration information of the printing apparatus in response to reception of the request, and creates link information which contains the collected configuration information and is used to access the print server. The printing apparatus then generates a registration web page containing the created link information, and transmits it to the client terminal. The print server receives the configuration information of the printing apparatus transmitted from the client terminal via the registration web page transmitted to the client terminal. The print server creates printing apparatus information which associates the configuration information with user information of the user of the client terminal, and manages it in a storage medium.
US08755064B2

An information processing apparatus includes a generation unit configured, in extracting an object from an input document, to generate object data including a word indicating a characteristic of the object and store the generated word in a storage area, a storage unit configured to store a table holding the word indicating a characteristic of the object associated with a degradation level, and a degradation unit configured, in performing output processing by reusing the object, to determine whether the word indicating a characteristic of the object to be reused is associated with the degradation level, and if it is determined that the word indicating the characteristic of the object is associated with the degradation level, to degrade the object according to the degradation level corresponding to the word indicating the characteristic of the object.
US08755063B2

A print processor interfaces with a print job source such as an accounting system and a remote automated data processing system. The print processor comprises a print job source interface for receiving a sequence of documents from a print job source. The sequence of documents may comprise a first set of documents and a second set of documents. The first set of documents and the second set of documents may be mutually exclusive subsets of the sequence of documents. Each document of the first set may comprise data content to be directed to the remote automated data processing system. Each document of the second set may be directed to a printer. The print processor may establish a network session to the remote automated data processing system, authenticating to the remote automated data processing system, and transfer each document of the first set to the remote automated data processing system. The print processor may direct transfer of the second set to the printer.
US08755058B1

A system and method for self-publishing includes components reflecting an author's intent with respect to other contributors and readers. Embodiments may include an object model which manages permissions to permit contributors to contribute content and services to the book to replace aspects of the traditional publishing process, and to offer new opportunities for republishing a book. A book may be an electronic book comprising context associated with a focus in the book which is reflected in schema underlying the book. Content may be added by contributors, and different versions of the book may be published with the new content. Ratings and other business intelligence may be provided to the original author to aid selection of contributors and content. A resulting book may be published electronically or as a hard copy.
US08755052B2

A shape-measuring method accurately performs fitting between measured data of a surface to be measured, which is formed based on a design shape having multiple periodical design-level differences, and a design shape. A level-difference region and a level-difference height are specified from a measured point sequence of the surface to be measured. A point sequence is moved by a level-difference height. In other words, a process for eliminating the level difference is performed, and fitting target data without a level difference is obtained. On the other hand, a reference shape without multiple design-level differences is obtained from the design shape. Fitting between the fitting target data and the reference shape is performed by the least square method or the like.
US08755051B2

The disclosure relates to a scanning device for detecting the contour of an object. The scanning device has a light source for generating a light pattern on the surface area of the object, and a camera for detecting the light pattern on the surface area of the object. The disclosure describes that the one light source includes at least one incoherent spot light source, and that between the at least one spot light source and the object, a shadow caster defines the light pattern on the surface area of the object. The disclosure also relates to a method for detecting the contour of an object.
US08755050B2

An optical coherence tomography apparatus includes a light source, a light coupling module, and an optical path difference generating module. The light source emits a coherent light. The light coupling module divides the coherent light into a first incident light and a second incident light. The first incident light is emitted to an item to be inspected and a first reflected light is generated. The second incident light is emitted to the optical path difference generating module, a second reflected light is generated according to the second incident light by the optical path difference generating module through changing the transparent/reflection properties of at least one optical devices of the optical path difference generating module, so that there is a optical path difference between the first reflected light and the second reflected light.
US08755040B2

An illuminating apparatus includes a rotating phase plate having a height equal to or less than a wavelength of light from a light source and including a plurality of randomly arranged step regions so as to change a phase of light from the light source by allowing the light beam to pass therethrough; and a fly's eye lens including an array of a plurality of lenses configured to pass the light beam passed through the rotating phase plate, wherein a portion in which a product of a maximum size of the plurality of step regions and an optical magnification from the rotating phase plate to a plane of incidence of the fly's eye lens is equal to or less than an arrangement pitch of the plurality of lenses and a portion in which the product is larger than the arrangement pitch of the plurality of lenses are mixed.
US08755038B2

A method includes applying pulsed light to a first end of an optical fiber from an optical fault locator during a first distance test. The method includes determining an estimated distance to a fault based on the pulsed light. The method includes sending information indicative of the estimated distance to a remote device. The method also includes applying first visible light from the optical fault locator to the first end of the optical fiber to facilitate identification of the fault at a first site that is remote from the first end of the optical fiber.
US08755037B2

An optical device is disclosed that may be employed in distance measuring devices. In at least one embodiment, the optical device includes a control unit that is adapted to cause at least one control signal generator unit to generate at least one control signal according to a predetermined temporal function on the basis of an elapsed time from a predetermined point in time. On the basis of the generated at least one control signal, at least one parameter of a receiver unit may be adjusted during the travel time of the optical pulse, wherein the at least one parameter affects the dynamic range of the receiver unit. In this way, the dynamic range of the receiver unit may be increased. A method is further disclosed for operating such an optical device, along with a distance measuring device including such an optical device and a surveying instrument including such a distance measuring device.
US08755034B2

According to an example embodiment, a method to determine an exposure start position and orientation includes loading a substrate on a moving table. The substrate includes at least one alignment mark of a first set of alignment marks of a first pattern layer patterned thereon. At least one alignment mark of a second set of alignment marks of a second pattern layer is exposed on the substrate using maskless lithography. A position of the at least one alignment mark of the first set of alignment marks and a position of the at least one alignment mark of the second set of alignment marks on the substrate is measured. A relative orientation difference between a desired exposure start orientation and an obtained exposure start orientation is acquired using the measured positions of the at least one alignment mark of the first set of alignment marks and the at least one alignment mark of the second set of alignment marks. A relative position difference between a desired exposure start position and an obtained start position is acquired using the measured positions of the at least one alignment mark of the first set of alignment marks and the at least one alignment mark of the second set of alignment marks. An exposure start position and orientation compensated using the relative position difference and the relative orientation difference is determined.
US08755033B2

A substrate table of an immersion lithographic apparatus is disclosed which comprises a barrier configured to collect liquid. The barrier surrounds the substrate and is spaced apart from the substrate. In this way any liquid which is spilt from the liquid supply system can be collected to reduce the risk of contamination of delicate components of the lithographic projection apparatus.
US08755030B2

A lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system configured to condition a radiation beam; a support constructed to support a patterning device, the patterning device being capable of imparting the radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam; a substrate table constructed to hold a substrate; and a projection system configured to project the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate. An optical element of the projection system is adjustable. The lithographic apparatus includes a controller to control the adjustable optical element. The controller is arranged to drive the optical element so as to at least partly compensate for a magnification resulting from a bending of the patterning device.
US08755027B2

A fluid system to provide a fluid including liquid in a part of a lithographic apparatus, the fluid system including a manifold to mix a first liquid component and a second component to form the fluid in the part of the lithographic apparatus, a controller to control a physical property of the fluid by controlling the amount of the first and/or second component used to form the fluid, and a measuring device to measure a property of the fluid and to make feedback available to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to control the physical property of the fluid based on the measured property.
US08755026B2

An immersion lithographic apparatus is disclosed that includes a table having a surface and a sensor, or a target for a sensor, or both, the sensor and/or target having a first area which is lyophobic to immersion liquid and a second area which is lyophilic to immersion liquid, and a liquid displacement device configured to displace liquid on the sensor and/or target, the liquid displacement device comprising a gas outlet opening configured to direct a gas flow toward the first and second areas, wherein a property of a part of the gas flow directed to the first area is different to a property of a part of the gas flow directed to the second area.
US08755024B2

The present invention relates to an image display device using a diffractive lens. An image display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a display panel displaying an image, and a diffractive lens for the image of the display panel to be recognized as a two-dimensional (2D) image or a three-dimensional (3D) image, wherein the diffractive lens modifies a path of light by using an optical principle of a Fresnel zone plate.
US08755023B2

Embodiments of a grey-scale holographic structure and system for generating a collimated wavefront in a compact range are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the grey-scale holographic structure comprising millimeter-wave transmissive material having a surface arranged to provide differing amounts of phase-delay to an incident millimeter-wave wavefront as the incident wavefront passes through the material. The grey-scale holographic structure may comprises a plurality of layers (N) to provide a phase total delay of lambda which results from a series tuned layers, each having a thickness of a wavelength/N. Each layer provides a predetermined amount of phase delay allowing the structure to operate as a phase-delay hologram.
US08755022B2

The invention relates to liquid crystal display cells with fast response and continuous gray scale. The liquid crystal cell is based on a field-sequential color system (“FSC”) and comprises a chiral smectic liquid crystal whose helix pitch is less than thickness of liquid crystal layer placed between two polarizers, as well as a source of voltage applied to electrodes of the cell, wherein the amplitude of the applied voltage is less than the critical voltage amplitude of the helix unwinding. The liquid crystal has one steady state corresponding to twisted helix without applied voltage. In this case, the principal optical axis coincides with the helical axes, but deviates from steady state under the action of a driving voltage, providing thereby an electro-optical response of the display which exhibits gray scale in light transmission or reflection that is continuous, hysteretic-free and non-sensitive to the driving voltage polarity, if the steady orientation of the principle axes is parallel or perpendicular to the light polarization plane and the driving voltage frequency is between 10 Hz and 5 kHz. In embodiments with very short helix pitches, the cells may be free from selective reflection and diffraction in the visible spectral range. Different embodiments of the invention may use ferroelectric liquid crystal, ferroelectric liquid crystal, or antiferroelectric liquid crystal.
US08755020B2

A region of the first substrate and the second substrate enclosed by a sealant is a rectangle. The rectangle includes a central region, a pair of first regions between which the central region is interposed in a major-axis direction of the rectangle, a pair of second regions between which the central region is interposed in a minor-axis direction of the rectangle, and a peripheral region that surrounds the central region, the pair of first regions, and the pair of second regions. The spacers are disposed in the central region and the peripheral region except the pair of first regions and the pair of second regions. In the peripheral region, a width from each of the first regions to one long side of the rectangle in an outward direction is larger than a width from one of the second regions to the one long side in the outward direction.
US08755013B2

A liquid crystal display device includes an array substrate, an opposite substrate and a liquid crystal display layer. The array substrate includes a pixel electrode and a lower reactive mesogen layer. The pixel electrode includes a plurality of slit portions disposed on a plurality of domains in different directions. The lower reactive mesogen layer is disposed on the pixel electrode to induce an inclined direction of liquid crystal molecules. The opposite substrate includes an upper substrate. An upper reactive mesogen layer is disposed on a common electrode of the opposite substrate. The liquid crystal layer includes liquid crystal molecules arranged to have a pretilt angle between a surface of the lower reactive mesogen layer and a surface of the upper reactive mesogen layer.
US08755012B2

A display device includes a plastic substrate and a thin film transistor layer including at least one thin film transistor. The thin film transistor layer is disposed on the plastic substrate via a resin film having no viscosity or adhesion and an adhesive film. The resin film has a first surface formed on a first surface of the thin film transistor layer, the first surface of the thin film transistor layer being at one side of the plastic substrate, and the adhesive film is formed on a second surface of the resin film, the second surface of the resin film being at the one side of the plastic substrate, and the resin film is attached to the plastic substrate by the adhesive film.
US08754988B2

A single-ended blur detection probe and method with a local sharpness map for analyzing a video image sequence uses two sets of edge filters, one for “fast edges” and the other for “slow edges.” Each set of edge filters includes a horizontal bandpass filter, a vertical bandpass filter and a pair of orthogonal diagonal filters where the frequency response of the fast edge filters overlap the frequency response of the slow edge filters. The video image sequence is input to each filter of each set, and the output absolute values are combined with weighting factors to produce a slow edge weighted sum array and a fast edge weighted sum arra. The respective weighted sum arrays are then decimated to produce a slow edge decimated array and a fast edge decimated array. The ratio of the maximum difference value between the decimated arrays and the maximum value from the fast edge decimated array, weighted by an appropriate factor, produces a localized maximum sharpness value, the log of which produces a dimensionless blur value.
US08754984B2

In accordance with an embodiment, a method of processing an electronic image having caption text includes receiving the electronic source image, detecting the caption text in the electronic source image, reformatting the electronic source image, reformatting the caption text, and overlaying the reformatted caption text on the reformatted electronic image to form a resultant image.
US08754965B2

An image processing apparatus for processing an input image generated by an image pick-up device from an optical signal passing through a lens includes a first module comprising a plurality of chromatic aberration correction units that correct chromatic aberration in the input image; a second module, configured independently of the first module in terms of hardware, comprising a lens distortion correction unit that corrects lens distortion in the input image; a memory that stores data; and a bus connected to the first module, the second module, and the memory, and that transfers data between the first module, the second module, and the memory. The data is transferred in an on-the-fly method between the plurality of chromatic aberration correction units of the first module. The first module outputs data processed in units of blocks that are units for processing the data of the input image in the first module. The second module performs lens distortion correction when the data of the input image of a block is output from the first module.
US08754959B2

An optical-flow calculating unit (122) detects the amount of movement of an image capturing apparatus at the time of shooting a shot moving image. A camerawork-parameter calculating unit (123) calculates transformation parameters on the basis of the amount of movement. An image transforming unit (160) transforms a captured image on the basis of the transformation parameters. An image combining unit (180) combines the transformed captured image with a history image. A display unit (260) displays, as a representative image, the history image generated by the image combining unit (180) from a certain number of images among captured images. When a selecting operation of selecting a position in the displayed representative image is accepted, a selecting unit (240) selects a recording position of the moving image on the basis of the selected position. A display control unit (250) plays the moving image, starting from the selected recording position of the moving image. Accordingly, a desired moving image can be quickly retrieved when captured moving images are browsed. Also, a desired frame can be quickly retrieved from the retrieved moving image.
US08754956B2

A method of k*k subsampling, where k is an integer greater than one, a full frame readout on a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns, each pixel belonging to one of at least two sets, a first set configured to sense a first value of an image parameter and a second set configured to sense a second value of the image parameter, the method including sampling signals of k pixels of at least one set in a first row to output subsampled signals, converting the subsampled signals into digital signals having a lower resolution than the full frame readout, repeating sampling and converting for k rows, and adding digital signals for the first to kth rows within the at least one set.
US08754954B2

Generating a high definition projected illumination pattern from a substantially lower resolution digital projector array involves: selectively illuminating a connected set of pixels to produce a pixellated, high contrast edge feature, and positioning an anisotropically blurring optical element (ABOE) between a light source of the projector array and the projection. The ABOE applies an anisotropic blur pattern to pixels of the at least one connected set, to locally preferentially blur the pixel more (and preferably substantially only) in a direction of equally or more strongly illuminated pixels, and not in directions of less illuminated pixels. Preferably a contour of the connected set has no beginning or end within a periphery of the illumination plane, and has bounded curvature, permitting simple ABOEs to be used. Several images each having several or many edges can be produced using a same ABOE. The ABOE may alleviate interpixel gap effects for non-edge pixels too.
US08754948B2

A digital camera is disclosed for capturing digital images and organizing the captured images for subsequent transfer from the digital camera to an external device that utilizes the digital images. The digital camera includes a database having a plurality of customized profiles, wherein each customized profile contains a plurality of image utilization fields. A user selects one of the plurality of customized profiles from the database. The digital camera further includes a structure for defining a plurality of profile indices respectively corresponding to ones of the plurality of customized profiles, and an image sensor for capturing images. A profile index is associated with at least one captured image to identify the corresponding selected customized profile. The digital camera further includes a memory for receiving and storing the at least one captured image and the corresponding profile index.
US08754946B2

A method for locking communication between at least one wireless input capture device ICD(s) and a corresponding digital input recorder (DIR) and/or another ICD, including the steps of providing base system; at least one user accessing the DIR via user interface either directly or remotely; the DIR and/or ICD searching for signal from the ICD(s) and establishing communication with them; and locking the ICDs to send wireless data exclusively to that DIR and/or ICD; and/or the DIR and/or ICD locking itself for exclusive communication with the locked ICDs, thereby providing a secure surveillance system for a target environment.
US08754944B2

A device and method for converting one stereoscopic format into another. A software-enabled matrix is used to set forth predefined relationships between one type of format as an input image and another type of format as an output image. The matrix can then be used as a look-up table that defines a correspondence between input pixels and output pixels for the desired format conversion.
US08754943B2

A method and apparatus for protecting the troops when they exit an armored vehicle is provided by utilizing the universal tail light assembly and providing the assembly with wide field-of-view cameras and other sensors, with screens or displays located within the vehicle to provide situational awareness of the rear of the vehicle, thus to alert troops and their commanders as to external threats prior to troop deployment. In one embodiment, two wide-angle infrared cameras are retrofitted to existing universal tail light assemblies to either side of the vehicle, with the cameras having overlapping fields of view to permit generation of a panoramic view. Moreover, additional sensors such as ultrasonic sensors, LIDARs and laser range finders can be located in the universal tail light assembly, with the subject system not requiring breach of the already-existing armor for the vehicle.
US08754941B1

One embodiment relates to a method of outputting multiple views from a networked camera. Each imager of an array of imagers in the camera captures image frames and transmits the captured image frames to an associated image flow processor. Each image flow processor processes the captured image frames and transmits the processed image frames to a multi-imager video processor. An updating of parameters for said processing by each image flow processor is performed on a frame-by-frame basis. Another embodiment relates to a video camera including a plurality of imagers, a plurality of image flow processors, a multi-imager video processor, and a plurality of update queues. Other embodiments and features are also disclosed.
US08754937B2

Disclosed is a video signal processing apparatus including a telecine conversion signal detecting unit configured to detect whether or not an input video signal in an interlaced system is a telecine converted video signal; an IP converting unit configure to convert the input video signal into a signal in a progressive system according to a detected result obtained by the telecine conversion signal detecting unit; and a noise level detecting unit configured to detect a noise level of the input video signal. The video signal processing apparatus further includes a control unit configured to control a detection sensitivity of the telecine conversion signal detecting unit such that the input video signal is detected as the telecine converted video signal less easily if a noise level is increased based on the detected result obtained from the noise level detecting unit.
US08754935B2

A microstructure inspection method which inspects an angle of a sidewall of a sample microstructure pattern, the method including: taking SEM photographs of the sample microstructure pattern under plural SEM conditions; measuring a width of a white band at an edge portion of the sample microstructure pattern in the SEM photographs; and calculating the angle of the sidewall of the sample microstructure pattern on the basis of an amount of change in the width of the white band due to the change between the plural SEM conditions.
US08754930B2

Provided is a video transmission device that includes: a transmission signal output portion that outputs a video signal that causes two-dimensional video or three-dimensional video to be displayed, an audio signal that causes audio to be output, and a control signal including information relating to the video signal and the audio signal; and a control portion that controls content of the control signal output from the transmission signal output portion. When the video signal switches from three-dimensional video to two-dimensional video, the control portion does not stop output of the video signal from the transmission signal output portion, and controls the transmission signal output portion such that information indicating that the video signal output from the transmission signal output portion has switched to two-dimensional video is included in information indicating that the video signal is three-dimensional video that is output from the transmission signal output portion.
US08754918B2

An optical scanner includes a housing, a light source, a polygon mirror, an optical device, and a holder. The housing includes a mounting portion. The light source projects light. The polygon mirror is enclosed within the housing and rotates to deflect the light projected from the light source. The optical device is disposed substantially near the polygon mirror. The holder is disposed within the housing and attached to the housing at the mounting portion, and holds the optical device in place. A distance L1 between a center of rotation of the polygon mirror and the optical device is shorter than a distance L2 between the center of rotation of the polygon mirror and the mounting portion. An image forming apparatus includes the optical scanner.
US08754906B2

A plurality of sets volume data obtained for a specified subject on different imaging dates/times are selected. At least one image for observation is generated for each selected set of volume data for the specified subject. Layered images are generated by positioning and overlapping the generated plurality of images for observation. The layered images are arranged on a predetermined screen, and operations that move a point along a temporal axis on the screen are detected. The display of each image for observation that constitutes the layered image arranged on the screen is changed based on the detected operations.
US08754904B2

Vertical synchronization (v-sync) in prior art prevents video tearing artifacts by keeping the video pipeline synchronized with the monitor. Such technique keeps the frame rate of the rendering engine equal to monitor's refresh rate. However, it suffers from two substantial shortcomings: performance limitations and input lag, both of which are critical in real-time applications such as video games and professional applications (e.g. 3D CAD). The different embodiments of present invention, termed virtual vertical-synchronization (Virtual v-sync), eliminate tearing artifacts, while solving the shortfall of performance by shortening or dropping undisplayed frames, and solving the input lags by removing frame blocking. Any frame rate is achievable, independently of the monitor refresh. Two additional uses of the virtual vertical-synchronization are cloud gaming improvement and power consumption control.
US08754901B2

A computer system generates video based cohorts. Digital video data is processed to identify a set of color and texture based attributes associated with clothing worn by a set of objects. The digital video data comprises metadata describing the set of objects. The set of color and texture based attributes are analyzed using cohort criteria to form a result. The cohort criteria specify attributes that are associated with members of a given cohort. A set of cohorts is generated based on the result. Each cohort in the set of cohorts comprises a subset of objects from the set of objects that share at least one color and texture based attribute in common.
US08754899B2

A technique to increase memory bandwidth for throughput applications. In one embodiment, memory bandwidth can be increased, particularly for throughput applications, without increasing interconnect trace or pin count by pipelining pages between one or more memory storage areas on half cycles of a memory access clock.
US08754888B2

A method is provided for segmenting three-dimensional (3D) image volumes. The method includes obtaining a 3D volume data set corresponding to an imaged volume, rendering at least a portion of the 3D volume data set based on 3D rendering settings, and creating a two-dimensional (2D) segmentation of the rendered 3D volume data set. The method further includes segmenting the 3D volume data set using the 2D segmentation and the 3D rendering settings to define a 3D region of interest within the 3D volume data set.
US08754885B1

An exemplary method for navigating a virtual camera in a three dimensional environment includes determining a point at an off-center location of a viewport of the virtual camera. The point corresponds to a user selection, and the virtual camera defines a field of view to view content of the three dimensional environment. The method also includes rotating the virtual camera toward the off-center location such that the point is located at a center location of the viewport. The method further includes zooming the virtual camera toward the point located at the center location of the viewport. The method also includes after the zooming the virtual camera, re-rotating the virtual camera such that the point is located at the off-center location of the viewport. The method further includes after the re-rotating, rendering the content from a projection of the viewport.
US08754869B2

A surface capacitance touch sensitive surface (or “surface cap panel”) suitable for use in a touch screen or touchpad, wherein the surface cap panel has a substantially even coating of a conductive material on a non-conductive substrate and then covering the conductive material with a dielectric material, wherein a novel current measuring circuit reduces the effect of stray capacitance on the accuracy of a current measurement so that the relative X and Y position of an object on the surface cap panel can be determined using simple ratio equations, and wherein measuring the charge transfer rate in a measuring circuit, in addition to the total charge transfer for each toggle event, enables the location of two objects to be identified on the surface cap panel, wherein the charge transfer rate is used to determine the distance between two points of contact on the surface cap panel, and wherein height and width information related to the distance between the two points of contact can now be determined by doubling the number of electrodes at the corners of the surface cap panel.
US08754865B2

A method of performing measurements on medical images with a bedside controller includes receiving, through a touch-sensitive display on the bedside controller, a user measurement input on an image displayed on the display, the user measurement input including a start point defined by a point of initial contact with the touch-sensitive display and an end point defined by a point of last contact with the touch-sensitive display. The method also includes selecting a measurement mode based on a shape of the user measurement input and calculating a measurement value associated with the user measurement input based on the measurement mode.
US08754863B2

A fixed display system that can interact with a communication device includes a display system including a fixed display operable to display information. A sensor is operable to provide a first signature upon an occurrence of a predetermined event, and the communication device is also operable to provide a second signature upon the occurrence of the same predetermined event. A processor compares the first and second signatures and determines whether these first and second signatures describe the same predetermined event, whereupon the processor initiates a communication session between the display system and the communication device. In addition, personal information of the user on the communication device may be used locally or partially/fully transferred to the display system to provide a personalized interactive experience for the user.
US08754857B2

Disclosed herein is a display apparatus including: a display block configured to have a plurality of picture elements; a switch arranged inside the display block and configured to be closed by an external pressure; a detection block configured to detect whether the switch is closed based on a comparison between a signal supplied from the switch and a reference signal; a precharge block configured to give a precharge potential to a wire conducting with one of electrodes of the switch before detection is executed in the detection block; and a detection block potential supply block configured to give a predetermined potential to a wire conducting with the other electrode of the switch before detection is executed in the detection block.
US08754856B2

A computing device including a multi-touch surface, and a method of operation thereof are described. The method comprises: detecting a customer's hand placed palm downwards on the multi-touch surface and detecting the customer's hand pivoting upwards from the detected palm downwards position so that an edge of the hand is placed on the multi-touch surface. The method also comprises displaying a private interaction window located adjacent to, and on the palm side of, the customer's hand; and communicating private data on the private interaction window. The private interaction window is dimensioned to be shielded by the customer's hand.
US08754841B2

In a display driver, a first backlight control unit using a histogram and a second backlight control unit using an optical sensor can be used in combination. The display driver includes a PWM generating unit setting a control signal value consisting of a product of a luminance rate of X % and a luminance rate of Y % as a luminance rate of a control signal for controlling a backlight with respect to maximum backlight luminance when a luminance rate of a control signal obtained by first backlight control with respect to the maximum backlight luminance is X % and a luminance rate of a control signal obtained by second backlight control with respect to the maximum backlight luminance is Y %.
US08754837B2

A liquid crystal driving circuit is disclosed which carries out time-division driving with respect to each pixel constituting a liquid crystal display panel by causing a bright and dark frame period and a positive and negative frame period to be different from each other, the bright and dark frame period being a period of brightness and darkness of luminance at which to drive the each pixel, the positive and negative frame period being a period of polarities of a voltage to be applied to liquid crystal of the each pixel.
US08754831B2

Embodiments that relate facilitating the viewing of images on a mobile device are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a mobile device including a display screen and an image display system configured to selectively switch between a first viewing mode in which an image comprising a first amount of visual information is displayed at a first apparent distance from the display screen and a second viewing mode in which an image comprising a second, different amount of visual information is displayed at a second apparent distance from the display screen. The mobile device further includes a controller in communication with the image display system, wherein the controller is configured to switch between the first viewing mode and the second viewing mode.
US08754828B2

In an embodiment, a display apparatus includes multiple physical interface circuits (PHYs) couple to respective displays. In a mirror mode, the PHYs may operate as masters. A primary master PHY may control a synchronization interface to one or more secondary master PHYs. The synchronization interface may include a start of frame signal that the primary master PHY may generate to indicate the beginning of a new frame. The secondary master PHYs may be configured to generate internal start of frame signals while independently processing the same display data as the primary master. If the internally-generated start of frame and the received start of frame occur within a window of tolerance of each other, then the secondary masters may continue to process the display data stream independently. A secondary master that detects the start of frames occur outside of the window of tolerance may resynchronize.
US08754824B2

The present invention refers to a triple-band antenna array for cellular base stations operating at a first frequency band and at a second frequency band within a first frequency range, and also at a third frequency band within a second frequency range. Said triple-band antenna array comprises a first set of radiating elements operating at the first frequency band, a second set of radiating elements operating at the second frequency band, a third set of radiating elements operating at both the third and the first frequency bands, and a fourth set of radiating elements operating at both the third and the second frequency bands. The radiating elements are arranged in such a way that at least some of the radiating elements of the first set are interlaced with at least some of the radiating elements of the third set, and at least some of the radiating elements of the second set are interlaced with at least some of the radiating elements of said fourth set. Further the invention relates to a slim triple-band base station for mobile/cellular services that includes in its radiating part two or more of said triple-band antenna arrays.
US08754820B2

An antenna apparatus includes a first feeding point and a second feeding point provided at respective positions on an antenna element. The antenna element is excited through the first and second feeding points simultaneously so as to operate as a first antenna portion and a second antenna portion simultaneously, the first antenna portion and the second antenna portion correspond to the first and second feeding points, respectively. The antenna element further includes, between the first and second feeding points, an electromagnetic coupling adjuster for making an amount of isolation between the first and second antenna portions.
US08754819B2

An antenna system includes a circularly polarized (CP) antenna for receiving and/or transmitting a circularly polarized RF signal. The CP antenna includes a pair of radiating patches each having an elongated shape. An elongated axis is defined along a longest length of each of the radiating patches. The elongated axes are disposed generally perpendicular to one another to generate the circular polarization. A coplanar waveguide feeding element is disposed between the radiating patches for feeding RF signals from and/or to the radiating patches via electromagnetic coupling. A width of the slot of the coplanar waveguide is varied to provide impedance matching of the CP antenna with a transmission line.
US08754812B2

Embodiments of the present invention include a method of determining a location of a mobile device. The method comprises transmitting a signal between a plurality of known locations and receiving signal at device of unknown location such as a mobile device. The signal may include multiple tones having different frequencies and resulting in sets of residual phase differences. The location of the mobile device may be determined using the known locations and the frequency and phase differences between the transmitted tones. In one embodiment, OFDM signals may be used between an access point and mobile device, for example, to determine the location of the mobile device.
US08754806B2

A pulse radar receiver includes a power splitter configured to split a transmit (TX) trigger signal for generating a TX pulse, a phase-locked loop (PLL) configured to receive a division ratio and the TX trigger signal split by the power splitter, and generate a sampling frequency, and a sampler configured to sample a reflected wave received through an RX antenna, according to the sampling frequency generated by the PLL. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a high distance resolution by generating a sampling frequency with a difference from a TX pulse to sample a reflected wave received through an RX antenna. Thus, it is possible to overcome a limitation in the distance resolution due to the pulse width and to measure a minute movement at a short distance. Therefore, the pulse radar receiver is applicable to high range resolution radar applications such as a living body measuring radar.
US08754798B2

In one embodiment, a SAR (successive-approximation register) ADC (analog-to-digital converter) comprising: a plurality of capacitors, a switch controlled by a sampling signal for connecting a common node to a ground node when the sampling signal is asserted; a plurality of switching networks controlled by the sampling signal and a plurality of control bits comprising a respective grounding bit and a respective data bit, each of the plurality of switching networks for connecting a bottom plate of a respective capacitor to an analog input signal, a ground node, a first reference voltage, or a second reference voltage depending on the asserted signal or bit; a comparator for detecting a polarity of a voltage at the common node and outputting a binary decision along with a complementary binary decision when a comparing signal is asserted; a logic gate for receiving the binary decision and the complementary binary decision and outputting a ready signal indicating whether a decision is readily made; a timer for receiving the comparing signal and outputting a time out signal; and a SAR logic for receiving the binary decision, the ready signal, and the time out signal and outputting the sampling signal, the comparing signal, the plurality of control bits, and an output data.
US08754796B2

A D/A conversion circuit in accordance with the present invention, which is provided with a switch swD, allows a writing operation of a voltage (a true gradation voltage) to be performed at a higher speed by first applying a first voltage (a voltage close to the true gradation voltage), which is supplied without passing through a resistor element, to an output line and then applying a second voltage (the true gradation voltage), which is supplied via the resistor element, to the output line. Thus, the present invention can provide a D/A conversion circuit capable of writing display data to liquid crystal cells with higher precision at higher speed, and a semiconductor device utilizing such a D/A conversion circuit.
US08754795B2

Methods, systems and devices are disclosed. Among the disclosed devices is an electronic device that, in certain embodiments, includes a plurality of memory elements or imaging elements connected to a bit-line and a delta-sigma modulator connected to the bit-line. The delta-sigma modulator may include an integrator having a differential amplifier.
US08754789B2

A power manager for mobile applications using location based services. Generally described, the system and method manages power of a wireless device by adjusting the sampling rate of mobile applications that use location based services. In one illustrative embodiment, the power can be managed by establishing a schedule. The schedule can include settings such as a start time, end time, interval, and duration. These settings can be used to establish a window of time whereby multiple location samplings can take place. The schedule can minimize the user's involvement on a continual basis by allowing manual and automatic scheduling. The power manager can include, but is not limited to, three features to provide better power management for the wireless device. These can include scheduling for location sampling, automatic and learned scheduling, and frequency and duration dynamic modification. Through the power manager, the power supply on the wireless device can be maximized.
US08754788B2

Provided is a communication device mounted in a vehicle or disposed at the roadside, which can adaptively and efficiently manage positional information relating to directly communicable surrounding in-vehicle communication devices and surrounding roadside communication devices and can stably transmit information to a specified communication destination even when the positional relationship between vehicles frequently changes. The communication device is provided with a surrounding communication device information table for holding positional information relating to other communication devices received from the other communication devices and receipt times and a transmission destination determination unit for, when transmission destination position/area information indicating the position or area of a communication device that is a communication destination is accepted, determining a communication device with which communication is to be established on the basis of the transmission destination position/area information and the contents held in the surrounding communication device information table and making a transmission destination setting signal.
US08754787B2

There is proposed a marine security system which comprises at least two different monitoring elements (IRC, IRS) and a controller (PC) connected thereto in particular for warding off pirates, said controller triggering an alarm and/or activating alarm devices as a function of the displays or outputs of the different monitoring elements. In addition, at least two separate line or conduit systems (LA, LB) and outlets (DA, DB) connected thereto are provided, from which at least one substance can be discharged. In the event of an alarm, at least one substance is specifically supplied to the outlets (DA, DB), wherein said outlets are installed in different locations or sections (A1-A5, B1-B5) of the hull (S) and can be specifically activated there. The outlets (DA, DB) may also have different designs in order to optimally discharge the respective substance, for example by atomizing, nebulizing, spraying or pouring.
US08754780B2

Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a system for monitoring a variety of environmental and/or other conditions within a defined remotely located region. Such a system may be configured to monitor utility meters in a defined area. The system is implemented by using a plurality of wireless transmitters, wherein each wireless transmitter is integrated into a sensor adapted to monitor a particular data input. The system also includes a plurality of transceivers that are dispersed throughout the region at defined locations. The system uses a local gateway to translate and transfer information from the transmitters to a dedicated computer on a network. The dedicated computer, collects, compiles, and stores the data for retrieval upon client demand across the network. The computer further includes means for evaluating the received information and identifying an appropriate control signal, the system further including means for applying the control signal at a designated actuator. Other aspects, features, and embodiments are also claimed and described.
US08754760B2

Methods and apparatuses for informing an occupant of a vehicle of surroundings of the vehicle are provided. A recording unit of the vehicle generates at least two images, which contain different road sections of a road plane in the surroundings of the vehicle. The at least two images are processed by an image processing unit, which generates a depiction in which the at least two images are imaged on a virtual road plane that is displayed in perspective. The depiction is displayed on a display unit in the interior of the vehicle.
US08754757B1

A system is provided that automatically generates one or more haptic effects from source data, such as audio source data. The system fits the one or more haptic effects to the source data by analyzing the source data and identifying one or more haptic effects that are the most similar to the source data. The system matches the identified one or more haptic effects with the source data. The system subsequently outputs the identified one or more haptic effects.
US08754752B2

A system for locating RFID tags includes several RFID readers. A first RFID reader transmits a single RF signal at a particular time to a tag to be located. Each of the RFID readers receives a signal backscattered off the tag from the single RF signal that is transmitted by the first RFID reader. Each of the RFID readers extracts at least one measured position parameter from the signal backscattered off the tag. At least one RFID reader determines the location of the tag by using the measured position parameters extracted from the signal backscattered off the tag from the single RF signal transmitted at the particular time from the first RFID reader. All measured position parameters used in determining the location of the tag are extracted from the signal backscattered off the tag from the single transmission at the particular time from the first RFID reader.
US08754744B2

A system and method for dispensing a key from a key kiosk disposed at a realtor's office near a real property based on a showing appointment scheduled with a showing scheduling system. The appointment, including a date and time, as well as an authorized user is communicated from the showing scheduling system to the key kiosk. The user then authenticates herself or himself to the kiosk at the appropriate time, and the key is dispensed.
US08754739B2

A reactor having a good heat dissipation effect is provided. The reactor includes one coil formed by winding a wire, a magnetic core arranged inside and outside the coil and forming a closed magnetic circuit, and a case for housing an assembly of the coil and the magnetic core. An end surface of the coil has a race track shape, and the coil is housed in the case such that the axial direction of the coil is parallel to an outer bottom surface of the case. A part of an outer peripheral surface of the coil is covered with the magnetic core (outer core portion), and a remaining part thereof not covered with the magnetic core is contacted with an inner bottom surface of the case. Since a part (mainly a linear portion) of the outer peripheral surface of the coil is directly contacted with the inner bottom surface of the case, heat of the coil can be directly dissipated such that the heat is released through the case to an installation target, e.g., a water cooling base, on which the case is installed. Thus, the reactor has a good heat dissipation effect.
US08754737B2

Methods and apparatus described herein are associated with integrated magnetic induction devices. A magnetic induction device can include a groove formed in a substrate, a magnetic core included in the groove and surrounded by a conductive winding that is adjacent to portion(s) of the substrate, and respective insulation layers included between the substrate and the conductive winding and between the magnetic core and the conductive winding. An inductor can further include conductive vias formed in the substrate and connected to respective portions of the conductive winding. Further, a transformer can include a groove formed in a substrate, a closed-loop/gapped magnetic core included in the groove and surrounded by first and second conductive windings that are adjacent to respective portions of the substrate, and respective insulation layers formed between the substrate and the first and second conductive windings, and between the closed-loop/gapped magnetic core and the first and second conductive windings.
US08754725B2

An apparatus for filtering a signal is disclosed. The apparatus includes a conductive line affixed to a surface of a substrate. For a signal received at an end of the conductive line, the apparatus is configured to filter at least a portion of the frequency components of the signal. First and second resistive films are adjacent to a respective side of the conductive line along a first side of each of the first and second resistive films, respectively. The first and second resistive films have a first resistivity. Third and fourth resistive films adjacent to a respective one of the first and second resistive films along a second side of each of the first and second resistive films. Each second side of the first and second resistive films extends beyond the third and fourth resistive films. The third and fourth resistive films have a second resistivity.
US08754723B2

External electrodes are provided on a bottom surface of a laminate, and are connected to both ends of a main line and both ends of a sub-line, respectively. A warpage prevention conductor is provided on an insulating material layer that is provided on a top surface side of the laminate with respect to insulating material layers to which the main line is provided and with respect to insulating material layers to which the sub-line is provided. The warpage prevention conductor overlaps with the external electrodes when seen from a z-axis direction in a plan view. A conductor layer that is not connected to the main line or the sub-line is not provided on any of the insulating material layers provided on a bottom surface side of the laminate with respect to the insulating material layer on which the warpage prevention conductor is provided.
US08754713B2

In an ADPLL composed of a digital circuit, a technique improving phase difference detection in a vicinity of a phase difference of 0 (zero) is provided. A feedback loop comprises a PFD comparing phases and frequencies of a reference signal and a feedback signal, a TDC converting an output of the PFD into a digital value, a DLF removing a high frequency noise component from an output of the TDC, a DCO controlled based on an output of the DLF and a DIV frequency-dividing an output the DCO and outputting the feedback signal. An offset value is added at any portion of the feedback loop, a phase of the feedback signal is controlled and a value other than 0 is inputted to the TDC even when the ADPLL is locked.
US08754705B2

An audio amplifier is powered by a switch mode power supply optimized for audio applications. The power supply includes a rectifier circuit and a discontinuous mode multiphase isolated flyback power circuit and does not require a separate power factor correction stage. The discontinuous mode multiphase isolated flyback power circuit includes multiple isolated flyback converters operating synchronously to each convert a portion of the power and supply a phase-summed direct current voltage to the audio amplifier.
US08754702B2

Signal processing within an integrated circuit (IC) may be monitored by a silicon process monitor, where one or more inputs to the IC may be controlled. The controlled input may comprise a variable frequency signal, a variable voltage level, an analog signal and/or a known input with a corresponding expected output. The controlled input may drive a plurality of components on the IC. The IC output signal variations may be due to temperature and/or silicon manufacturing processes variations and may affect performance and/or power consumption. IC output signal variations may be detected based on the controlled inputs. Controlled inputs may be adjusted based on the detected output variations and may be adjusted to modify the output. The variations may be detected based on relative frequency between output and the controlled input. In addition, logical operations and/or counters may be utilized to detect variations.
US08754697B2

A dual mode frequency synthesizer circuit including: a DDS or PLL (204) for receiving an input clock (202) and generating an output clock (206), in a high resolution mode; and an RF switch (210) having its output (208) coupled to the output of the DDS or PLL, a first input (216) for receiving a first injection low phase-noise clock (F1), a second input (218) for receiving a second injection low phase-noise clock (F2), and a control input (222) for selecting one of the first or second injection low phase-noise clocks for a low phase-noise mode.
US08754694B2

An apparatus includes a drive signal circuit for MEMS sensor. The drive signal circuit includes an input configured to receive a voltage signal representative of charge generated by the MEMS sensor, a phase-shift circuit electrically coupled to the input and configured to phase shift an input signal by substantially ninety degrees, and a comparator circuit with hysteresis. An input of the comparator is electrically coupled to an output of the phase-shift circuit and an output of the comparator circuit is electrically coupled to an output of the drive signal circuit. A feedback loop extends from the output of the drive signal circuit to the input of the phase-shift circuit and is configured to generate a self-oscillating signal at an output of the drive signal circuit. An output signal generated by the drive signal circuit is applied to a drive input of the MEMS sensor.
US08754688B2

A signal output circuit includes a signal transfer unit configured to transfer a signal of a first line to a pull-up line during an activation period of a first clock, transfer the signal of the first line to a pull-down line during a deactivation period of a second clock, transfer a signal of a second line to the pull-up line during a deactivation period of the first clock, and transfer the signal of the second line to the pull-down line during an activation period of the second clock; and an output driving unit configured to pull-up drive an output node in response to a signal of the pull-up line and pull-down drive the output node in response to a signal of the pull-down line, wherein the first clock and the second clock have the activation periods longer than the deactivation periods.
US08754687B2

A frequency multiplier circuit comprising a delay line receiving at one end thereof a reference clock for generating clock tap outputs from respective ones of a plurality of period matched delay elements; a clock combining circuit responsive to pairs of tap outputs for generating a rising and falling edge of an output clock pulse from respective ones of the pairs whereby the output clock period is less than the input clock period.
US08754682B2

A fractional rate LC VCO and compensating divider circuit to avoid bit-rate interference includes an LC PLL having an input for receiving a reference clock signal, an N-stage ring VCO with rotating injection having an input coupled to an output of the LC PLL and an output for providing an output clock signal, a first divider circuit having an input coupled to an output of the N-stage ring VCO and an output coupled to the LC PLL, a second divider circuit having an input coupled to the output of the LC PLL, and an M-stage reference ring PLL having an input coupled to an output of the second divider and an output coupled to the N-stage ring VCO.
US08754679B2

A power-on reset (POR) circuit includes a first transistor (MPa) having a source coupled to a first supply voltage (VDD) and a gate coupled to a second supply voltage (GND). A resistor (R0) has a first terminal coupled by a depletion mode transistor (JP0) to the second supply voltage and a second terminal coupled to a drain of the first transistor. A Schmitt trigger (20) has an input coupled to receive a first signal (VTRIGGER) on a conductor (14) coupled to the second terminal of the resistor and a terminal of a capacitor (C0), for producing an output voltage (VO) representative of a power-on reset signal (VPOR) in response to an interruption of the first supply voltage (VDD).
US08754666B2

Structures having a plurality of discrete insulated elongated electrical conductors projecting from a support surface which are useful as probes for testing of electrical interconnections to electronic devices, such as integrated circuit devices and other electronic components and particularly for testing of integrated circuit devices with rigid interconnection pads and multi-chip module packages with high density interconnection pads and the apparatus for use thereof and to methods of fabrication thereof. Coaxial probe structures are fabricated by the methods described providing a high density coaxial probe.
US08754662B1

Embodiments of a capacitive sensor array may comprise a large sensor electrode and a plurality of small sensor electrodes, including a first small sensor electrode, a second small sensor electrode, and a third small sensor electrode. The large sensor electrode and the plurality of small sensor electrodes may be formed from a single layer of conductive material. The first small sensor electrode may be located on the same lateral side of the large sensor electrode as the second small sensor electrode, may be consecutive with the second small sensor electrode in a spatial order of the small sensor electrodes along a longitudinal axis of the large sensor electrode, and may be located on an opposite lateral side of the large sensor electrode from the third small sensor electrode. For each small sensor electrode of the plurality of small sensor electrodes, at least a portion of the small sensor electrode may be located between two interior points of the large sensor electrode.
US08754659B2

In one embodiment, a method includes applying a first current to a capacitance of a touch sensor. The application of the first current to the capacitance for a first amount of time modifies the voltage at the capacitance from the reference voltage level to a first pre-determined voltage level. The method also includes applying a second current to an integration capacitor. The second current is proportional to the first current. The application of the second current to the integration capacitor for the first amount of time modifies the voltage at the integration capacitor from the reference voltage level to a first charging voltage level. The method also includes determining whether a touch input to the touch sensor has occurred based on the first charging voltage level.
US08754657B2

A salinity determining system for determining a salinity of water in a hydrocarbon emulsion of oil and water. The salinity determining system includes an antenna element in contact with the hydrocarbon emulsion and a switch coupled to the antenna element. The salinity determining system includes a first analyzer device configured to be coupled to the antenna element via the switch. The first analyzer device is associated with a first coincidence function based on first measured electrical parameters of transmitted radio-frequency (RF) energy. The salinity determining system also includes a second analyzer device configured to be coupled to the antenna element via the switch.
US08754655B2

Test structures for simultaneously testing for electromigration or stress migration fails and time dependent dielectric breakdown fails in integrated circuits, test circuits using four test structures arranged as a bridge balance circuit and methods of testing using the test circuits. The electromigration or stress migration portions of the test structures include via chains of wire segments connected in series by electrically conductive vias, the wire segments formed in at least two adjacent wiring levels of an integrated circuit. The time dependent dielectric breakdown portions of the test structures include digitized wire structures in one of the at least two adjacent wiring levels adjacent to a less than whole portion of the wire segments in the same wiring level as the digitized wire structures.
US08754652B2

Various embodiments provide a method for ascertaining a type of a gas discharge lamp using an electronic ballast for operating different types of gas discharge lamps, wherein the different types of gas discharge lamps differ in at least one operating parameter, wherein the method may include: a) preheating at least one filament in the gas discharge lamp for a predetermined preheating time; b) measuring a physical variable which is characteristic for the type of the gas discharge lamp at the end of the preheating time and providing the measurement value of said variable; and c) ascertaining the lamp type on the basis of the measurement value which is provided, wherein the preheating time is increased by a predetermined time period and the b) and c) are repeated if the lamp type in c) cannot be ascertained uniquely. Moreover, various embodiments provide an electronic ballast for operating at least two different types of gas discharge lamps which have at least one different operating parameter.
US08754650B2

The present disclosure relates to a method to determine a characteristic of a subsurface formation using electromagnetic coupling components. A downhole logging tool having one or more transmitters and one or more receivers, and being capable of measuring the electromagnetic coupling components is provided. The electromagnetic coupling components are measured using the downhole logging tool and used to form a 3-D Lateral Indicator and/or a 3-D Longitudinal Indicator. The 3-D Lateral Indicator and/or the 3-D Longitudinal Indicator are used to determine the characteristic of the subsurface formation.
US08754642B2

A magnetic balance type current sensor includes a magnetoresistance effect element whose resistance value changes owing to the application of an induction magnetic field from a current to be measured; a feedback coil disposed in the vicinity of the magnetoresistance effect element and generating a cancelling magnetic field cancelling out the induction magnetic field; a magnetic field detection bridge circuit including two outputs causing a voltage difference corresponding to the induction magnetic field to occur; and a magnetic shield attenuating the induction magnetic field and enhancing the cancelling magnetic field, wherein, on the basis of the current flowing through the feedback coil at the time of an equilibrium state in which the induction magnetic field and the cancelling magnetic field are cancelled out, the current to be measured is measured, wherein the feedback coil, the magnetic shield, and the magnetic field detection bridge circuit are formed on a same substrate.
US08754637B2

An arrangement is proposed for electrically conductively connecting an electrical component which is mounted in a housing containing oil, to an electrical unit, and mounted in which between the component and the unit at least two cores are arranged which consist of an electrical conductor and an insulation surrounding the conductor. The housing includes an opening which in the position of use is closed in an oil-tight moisture-tight manner which has at least one passage hole (9) for passing the cores (4,5) therethrough. For the cores (4,5) is provided a core for each in which material impermeable to oil is mounted between the conductor and its insulation, in such a way that all hollow spaces existing within the space surrounded by the insulation. The cores (4,5) are guided through at least one sealing plug which tightly surrounds the cores, and the sealing plug is in the position of use mounted in a passage hole (9) of the passage (7) in an oil-tight and moisture-tight manner.
US08754635B2

A circuit arrangement for measuring a load current provided to a load via a first load terminal of a load transistor is disclosed. In accordance with one example of the invention, the circuit arrangement includes a sense transistor coupled to the load transistor to provide a sense current representing the load current at a first load terminal of the sense transistor. The first load terminals of the load and the sense transistors are at respective floating electric potentials. A floating sense circuit coupled between the load terminals of sense transistor and load transistor, at least in one mode of operation the sense circuit receives the sense current and provides a floating signal representing the sense current. A non-floating measurement circuit is coupled to the sense circuit via a DC decoupling capacitor for transferring the floating signal representing the sense current to the non-floating measurement circuit. The measurement circuit is configured to provide an output signal representing the floating signal and thus the sense current.
US08754627B1

A method for tracking a power point for a power source includes calculating voltage and current errors for the power source, selecting either the voltage error or the current error, and controlling the power converter with a first control loop in response to the selected error. The voltage and current errors may be calculated in response to voltage and current targets, respectively, which may be calculated by a second control loop that implements an MPPT algorithm. The second control loop may calculate the voltage and current targets in response to which error the first control loop selects. A method for tracking a power point for a power source having multiple local power maxima includes measuring the individual voltage across one or more series-connected power elements in the power source, and controlling the power in response to the overall voltage and current as well as the individual voltage.
US08754615B2

An approach for converting a synchronous generator to a synchronous condenser is disclosed. In one aspect, a variable frequency driver is used to provide a starting power source to accelerate a synchronous generator decoupled from a turbine to an operational speed to act as a synchronous condenser. In another aspect, the synchronous condenser can be recoupled back to the turbine to form the synchronous generator.
US08754613B2

A charging device to charge a secondary battery that includes a DC/DC circuit to generate a charging current supplied to the secondary battery, an impedance measurement circuit to measure an impedance of the secondary battery, a first control circuit to output a duty-cycle decrease signal in accordance with the measured impedance, a charging-current monitor circuit to detect the charging current outputted from the DC/DC circuit when the duty cycle of the pulses generated by the DC/DC circuit is decreased by the duty-cycle decrease signal, and, a second control circuit to compare the charging current detected by the charging-current monitor circuit and a charging-current threshold and to output to the DC/DC circuit a frequency change signal that increases a switching operation frequency in the DC/DC circuit.
US08754612B2

A gas gauge circuit has a power supply pin, a power return pin, power-on reset capability, and a communications signal pin. A reset control circuit is coupled between the power supply pin and the communications signal pin, or between the power return pin and the communications signal pin. The reset control circuit removes power to the gas gauge circuit in accordance with a control signal asserted on the communications signal pin. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08754599B2

A motor control apparatus includes a power conversion unit which supplies drive power to a motor, a current detection unit which detects the value of a current flowing from the power conversion unit to the motor, a delta-sigma modulation AD converter to which the current value detected by the current detection unit is input as analog data, and which includes a modulator and a plurality of digital low-pass filters and outputs digital data in accordance with the filter characteristics of the respective digital low-pass filters, and a command generating unit which is connected to the digital low-pass filter to be used for motor drive control among the plurality of digital low-pass filters, and which generates a drive command to the power conversion unit by using the digital data output from the motor drive controlling digital low-pass filter.
US08754592B2

An automobile LED driving device includes a current setting portion to set multiple reference currents independently from one another for multiple respective current setting resistors connected externally, a current controller to select one of the multiple reference currents based on a control signal provided from outside, and an output transistor to control an output current to an automobile LED connected externally based on the reference current selected by the current controller.
US08754591B2

A device to control luminosity of a lamp supported by a rapid start ballast, the device including a first terminal and a second terminal configured to be connected in series with the rapid start ballast and the lamp, a current divisor array, in connection with the first terminal and the second terminal, with a plurality of inductors and a commutable element, the commutable element selecting between two current paths employing the plurality of inductors, the commutable element when in a first state selecting a first one of the current paths to provide a higher luminosity setting and when a second state selecting a second one of the current paths to provide a lower luminosity setting, and a transformer in connection with the first terminal and the second terminal configured to provide heating to an electrode of the lamp.
US08754567B2

An electric generator comprises a line; a cage having a plurality of magnets secured to the cage, wherein the cage is hanging from the line; and conductive coils surrounding the cage, wherein the cage receives a force causing the cage to rotate and wherein electricity is generated at the conductive coils when the cage rotates.
US08754566B2

A laminated stator and a method for making a laminated stator of an electric motor. The method includes arranging a plurality of stator laminations into lamination stacks spaced axially from one another, each lamination stack including a first group of stator laminations including an annular portion and a plurality of tooth portions extending from a periphery of the annular portion, and a second group of stator laminations including only tooth portions positioned to correspond with the tooth portions of said first group. The method further includes winding stator windings around selected subsets of the plurality of teeth while the lamination stacks are spaced axially and meshing the lamination stacks with one another so the annular portions of the lamination stacks are axially adjacent one another and the plurality of teeth are intermeshed with the plurality of another stack.
US08754564B2

The present disclosure relates to a hydrogel composition and methods of using the same. The hydrogel composition may include precursors that react with each other upon contact as well as precursors that react upon contact with an initiator. In embodiments, the resulting hydrogels may have varying levels of crosslinking with both denser and less dense regions.
US08754558B2

A kinetic energy converter for converting linear motion into electrical energy has an outer body and an inner cylindrical body. The outer body and the inner body define a common central axis wherein the outer body is movable along the central axis with respect to the inner cylindrical body. A stator winding of a plurality of turns of at least one electrically conductive wire is disposed about an inner periphery of the inner body. A rotor having a central shaft and a plurality of magnets radially extending therefrom is rotatably disposed within the inner body and rotatable about the central axis. A helical blade extends from one end of the outer body to the rotor and is interengaged with the rotor wherein axial translation of the blade rotates the rotor about the central axis.
US08754552B2

The invention is directed to a permittivity-based paper shredder control system. The touching feature is implemented through a series of electronic circuits, taking input from a conductive touch panel on the shredder feed throat, processing the signal, and through a motor driving circuit, stopping the mechanical parts of the shredder. The system has a touch detection circuit unit, which contains a bioelectricity controlled switching circuit to sense the conductive touch panel. The bioelectricity controlled switching circuit is configured to trigger a ground switching circuit in the touch detection circuit unit which outputs to a multifunction bioshield controller. The bioshield controller then takes care of the remaining protection issues. The touching device for paper shredders protects humans and other living beings including pets from injuries through automatic and real time monitoring. The complete control process is both safe and sensitive.
US08754550B2

A non-contact sensor switch assembly includes a switching transistor adapted for switching on/off the supply of a power supply to the control unit of an automatic handwash dispenser, automatic water tap or automatic door, a charge induction plate inducible by an approaching body part of a person, and a capacitive proximity sensor electrically coupled between the charge induction plate and the switching transistor for triggering the switching transistor to switch on the supply of the power supply to the control unit of the automatic handwash dispenser, automatic water tap or automatic door upon approach of a body part of a person.
US08754540B2

The present invention is concerned with a hydroelectric turbine which includes a stator and a shaftless rotor housed for rotation within the stator, the stator defining an opening or channel in which the rotor is retained and which channel is dimension to permit the rotor to undergo both axial rotation and displacement along the circumference of the opening, whereby during operation the rotor assumes substantially hypocycloidal motion relative to the stator.
US08754534B2

A memory card has a wiring board, four memory chips stacked on a main surface of the wiring board, and a controller chip and an interposer mounted on a surface of the memory chip of the uppermost layer. The memory chips are stacked on the surface of the wiring board so that their long sides are directed in the same direction as that of the long side of the wiring board. The memory chip of the lowermost layer is mounted on the wiring board in a dislocated manner by a predetermined distance in a direction toward a front end of the memory card so as not to overlap the pads of the wiring board. The three memory chips stacked on the memory chip of the lowermost layer are disposed so that their short sides on which pads are formed are located at the front end of the memory card.
US08754530B2

A method for fabricating a transistor having self-aligned borderless electrical contacts is disclosed. A gate stack is formed on a silicon region. An off-set spacer is formed surrounding the gate stack. A sacrificial layer that includes a carbon-based film is deposited overlying the silicon region, the gate stack, and the off-set spacer. A pattern is defined in the sacrificial layer to define a contact area for the electrical contact. The pattern exposes at least a portion of the gate stack and source/drain. A dielectric layer is deposited overlying the sacrificial layer that has been patterned and the portion of the gate stack that has been exposed. The sacrificial layer that has been patterned is selectively removed to define the contact area at the height that has been defined. The contact area for the height that has been defined is metalized to form the electrical contact.
US08754525B2

A semiconductor construct includes a semiconductor substrate and connection pads provided on the semiconductor substrate. Some of the connection pads are connected to a common wiring and at least one of the remaining of the connection pads are connected to a wiring. The construct also includes a first columnar electrode provided to be connected to the common wiring and a second columnar electrode provided to be connected to a connection pad portion of the wiring.
US08754520B2

A microelectronic substrate which includes a dielectric layer overlying a semiconductor region of a substrate, the dielectric layer having an exposed top surface; a plurality of metal lines of a first metal disposed within the dielectric layer, each metal line having edges and a surface exposed at the top surface of the dielectric layer; a dielectric cap layer having a first portion overlying the surfaces of the metal lines and a second portion overlying the dielectric layer between the metal lines, the first portion has a first height above the surface of the dielectric layer, and the second portion has a second height above the surface of the dielectric layer, the second height being greater than the first height; and an air gap disposed between the metal lines, the air gap underlying the second portion of the cap layer.
US08754512B1

An electronic device assembly that includes a die and a substrate, and optionally a lead frame and a heat spreader. The die is characterized as an electronic device in die form, and has a polished die region. The substrate has a polished substrate region in direct contact with the polished die region. The polished die region and the polished substrate region have surface finishes effective to attach the die to the substrate by way of an atomic bond. The lead-frame has a polished lead-frame region, and the heat spreader has a polished heat spreader region. These polished regions may also be attached to the polished die region or the polished substrate region by way of an atomic bond.
US08754498B2

A method of making an antifuse includes providing a substrate having a bit line diffusion region and a capacitor diffusion region. A gate dielectric layer is formed over the substrate, and a word line is formed on the gate dielectric layer. An oxide layer is formed on the capacitor diffusion region, in a separate process step from forming the gate dielectric layer. A select line contact is formed above and contacting the oxide layer to form a capacitor having the oxide layer as a capacitor dielectric layer of the capacitor. The select line contact is configured for applying a voltage to cause permanent breakdown of the oxide layer to program the antifuse.
US08754496B2

Embodiments include but are not limited to apparatuses and systems including a field-effect transistor switch. A field-effect transistor switch may include a first field plate coupled with a gate electrode, the first field plate disposed substantially equidistant from a source electrode and a drain electrode. The field-effect transistor switch may also include a second field plate proximately disposed to the first field plate and disposed substantially equidistant from the source electrode and the drain electrode. The first and second field plates may be configured to reduce an electric field between the source electrode and the gate electrode and between the drain electrode and the gate electrode.
US08754490B2

An element array comprises a plurality of elements having a first electrode and a second electrode with a gap therebetween; the first electrode is separated for each of the elements by grooves, an insulating connection substrate is bonded to the first electrode, and wirings are provided from the respective first electrodes through the connection substrate to the side opposite to the first electrodes.
US08754489B2

An ultrasonic transducer includes a first electrode, a first insulation film covering the first electrode, a hollow part overlapping the first electrode on the first insulation film, a second insulation film covering the hollow part, a second electrode overlapping the hollow part on the second insulation film, and an interconnection joined to the second electrode. An edge of the first electrode is formed so as to moderate a step of the first electrode.
US08754484B2

A process of forming an integrated circuit containing a bipolar transistor and an MOS transistor, by forming a base layer of the bipolar transistor using a non-selective epitaxial process so that the base layer has a single crystalline region on a collector active area and a polycrystalline region on adjacent field oxide, and concurrently implanting the MOS gate layer and the polycrystalline region of the base layer, so that the base-collector junction extends into the substrate less than one-third of the depth of the field oxide, and vertically cumulative doping density of the polycrystalline region of the base layer is between 80 percent and 125 percent of a vertically cumulative doping density of the MOS gate. An integrated circuit containing a bipolar transistor and an MOS transistor formed by the described process.
US08754473B2

The present invention provides a power transistor device including a substrate, an epitaxial layer, a dopant source layer, a doped drain region, a first insulating layer, a gate structure, a second insulating layer, a doped source region, and a metal layer. The substrate, the doped drain region, and the doped source region have a first conductive type, while the epitaxial layer has a second conductive type. The epitaxial layer is formed on the substrate and has at least one through hole through the epitaxial layer. The first insulating layer, the gate structure, and the second insulating layer are formed sequentially on the substrate in the through hole. The doped drain region and doped source region are formed in the epitaxial layer at one side of the through hole. The metal layer is formed on the epitaxial layer and extends into the through hole to contact the doped source region.
US08754472B2

A transistor and a method of fabricating a transistor, including a metal oxide deposited on an epitaxial layer, a photo resist deposited and patterned over the metal oxide and the metal oxide and epitaxial layer are etched to form at least one circular trench, wherein the trench surfaces are defined by the epitaxial layer. An oxide layer is grown on the trench surfaces of each trench, and a gate conductor is formed within the at least one trench.
US08754466B2

Three-dimensional (3D) semiconductor memory devices are provided. According to the 3D semiconductor memory device, a gate structure includes gate patterns and insulating patterns alternately stacked on a semiconductor substrate. A vertical active pattern penetrates the gate structure. A gate dielectric layer is disposed between a sidewall of the vertical active pattern and each of the gate patterns. A semiconductor pattern is disposed on the gate structure and is connected to the vertical active pattern. A string drain region is formed in a portion of the semiconductor pattern and is spaced apart from the vertical active pattern.
US08754464B2

Non-volatile memory devices and methods of manufacturing the same are disclosed. In a non-volatile memory device, widths of a metal gate and an upper portion of a base gate in a gate electrode are less than the width of a hard mask pattern disposed on the metal gate. First and second protection spacers are disposed on opposing sidewalls of the metal gate and on opposing sidewalls of the upper portion of the base gate, respectively.
US08754463B2

In one embodiment of the invention, a memory includes wordline jogs and adjacent spacers. Spacers from different wordlines may contact one another on either side of a drain contact and consequently isolate and self-align the contact in the horizontal and vertical directions.
US08754458B2

A solid-state imaging device includes an element forming region on the surface of a substrate, element isolating parts that isolate pixels, each of which is formed with a trench and a buried film, an opto-electric conversion element, and a buried-channel MOS transistor. The buried-channel MOS transistor includes a source region and a drain region, formed in the element forming region, that have a conductivity type opposite to that of the element forming region, a channel region having first and second impurity diffusion regions, which have a conductivity type opposite to that of the element forming region, and a gate electrode. Each first impurity diffusion region is formed between the source region and drain region on a side adjacent to one element isolating part. The second impurity diffusion region is formed across the region between the source region and drain region.
US08754456B2

An image sensor including at least one photodiode and at least one transistor formed in and on a silicon substrate, the assembly of the photodiode and of the transistor being surrounded with a heavily-doped insulating wall, wherein the silicon substrate has a crystal orientation (110).
US08754454B2

Sensors and detection systems suitable for measuring analytes, such as biomolecule, organic and inorganic species, including environmentally and medically relevant volatiles and gases, such as NO, NO2, CO2, NH3, H2, CO and the like, are provided. Certain embodiments of nanostructured sensor systems are configured for measurement of medically important gases in breath. Applications include the measurement of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) in breath, such as for the monitoring or diagnosis of asthma and other pulmonary conditions.
US08754440B2

A light-emitting diode (LED) package system includes a LED disposed over a surface of a substrate. A molding material covers the LED. A phosphor-containing material is disposed over and spaced from the LED by the molding material.
US08754434B1

A protected organic light emitting diode includes an organic light emitting diode structure formed on a substrate, a hermetic barrier layer formed over at least part of the organic light emitting diode structure, and a light extraction layer. The barrier layer may include a glass material such as a tin fluorophosphate glass, a tungsten-doped tin fluorophosphate glass, a chalcogenide glass, a tellurite glass, a borate glass or a phosphate glass. The light extraction layer, which may be formed over the barrier layer, includes a high refractive index matrix material and at least one of scattering particles dispersed throughout the matrix material and a roughened surface.
US08754428B2

A light emitting diode having a mount lead having a cup and a lead, an LED chip mounted in the cup of said mount lead with one of electrodes being electrically connected to said mount lead, a coating material filling the cup of said mount lead to cover said LED chip; a molding material covering said LED chip, said coating material and the cup of said mount lead, and a phosphor absorbing a part of light emitted by said LED chip and emitting light of wavelength different from that of the absorbed light, wherein said phosphor is located in said coating material, and wherein said molding material is shaped to form a concave lens.
US08754426B2

A light source includes a substrate arranged into at least two facing surfaces which form a seam therebetween; and a lighting device with light emitting diode (LED) chips embedded therein in a linear arrangement. The LED chips generate light photons. The lighting device has a first edge and a second edge opposite to the first edge, the light photons within the lighting device that are emitted by the LED chips from a top surface of the LED chips being output from the lighting device at the second edge of the device. The lighting device is sandwiched in the seam between the two facing surfaces, the second edge of the lighting device being exposed when the seam is in an opened position.
US08754425B2

Electrically pixelated luminescent devices, methods for forming electrically pixelated luminescent devices, systems including electrically pixelated luminescent devices, and methods for using electrically pixelated luminescent devices are described. More specifically, electrically pixelated luminescent devices that have inner and outer semiconductor layers and a continuous light emitting region, as well as individually addressable electrodes are described.
US08754417B2

Vertically stacked Field Effect Transistors (FETs) are created where a first FET and a second FET are controllable independently. The vertically stacked FETs may be connected in series or in parallel, thereby suitable for use as a portion of a NAND circuit or a NOR circuit. Epitaxial growth over a source and drain of a first FET, and having similar doping to the source and drain of the first FET provide a source and drain of a second FET. An additional epitaxial growth of a type opposite the doping of the source and drain of the first FET provides a body for the second FET.
US08754411B2

An active device is disposed on a substrate. The active device includes a metal layer, a semiconductor channel layer, an insulating layer, a source and a drain. The metal layer has a metal oxide surface away from the substrate. The insulating layer is disposed between the metal layer and the semiconductor channel layer. The source and the drain are disposed at one side of the semiconductor channel layer. A portion of the semiconductor channel layer is exposed between the source and the drain. An orthogonal projection of the metal layer on the substrate at least covers an orthogonal projection of the portion of the semiconductor channel layer exposed by the source and the drain on the substrate.
US08754409B2

Provided is a field-effect transistor (FET) having small off-state current, which is used in a miniaturized semiconductor integrated circuit. The field-effect transistor includes a thin oxide semiconductor which is formed substantially perpendicular to an insulating surface and has a thickness of greater than or equal to 1 nm and less than or equal to 30 nm, a gate insulating film formed to cover the oxide semiconductor, and a strip-like gate which is formed to cover the gate insulating film and has a width of greater than or equal to 10 nm and less than or equal to 100 nm. In this structure, three surfaces of the thin oxide semiconductor are covered with the gate, so that electrons injected from a source or a drain can be effectively removed, and most of the space between the source and the drain can be a depletion region; thus, off-state current can be reduced.
US08754400B2

A first nanoscale self-aligned self-assembled nested line structure having a sublithographic width and a sublithographic spacing and running along a first direction is formed from first self-assembling block copolymers within a first layer. The first layer is filled with a filler material and a second layer is deposited above the first layer containing the first nanoscale nested line structure. A second nanoscale self-aligned self-assembled nested line structure having a sublithographic width and a sublithographic spacing and running in a second direction is formed from second self-assembling block copolymers within the second layer. The composite pattern of the first nanoscale nested line structure and the second nanoscale nested line structure is transferred into an underlayer beneath the first layer to form an array of structures containing periodicity in two directions.
US08754396B2

The present invention provides stretchable, and optionally printable, semiconductors and electronic circuits capable of providing good performance when stretched, compressed, flexed or otherwise deformed. Stretchable semiconductors and electronic circuits of the present invention preferred for some applications are flexible, in addition to being stretchable, and thus are capable of significant elongation, flexing, bending or other deformation along one or more axes. Further, stretchable semiconductors and electronic circuits of the present invention may be adapted to a wide range of device configurations to provide fully flexible electronic and optoelectronic devices.
US08754391B2

Nonvolatile memory devices including a first interlayer insulating film and a second interlayer insulating film separated from each other and are stacked sequentially, a first electrode penetrating the first interlayer insulating film and the second interlayer insulating film, a resistance change film along a top surface of the first interlayer insulating film, side surfaces of the first electrode, and a bottom surface of the second interlayer insulating film, and a second electrode between the first interlayer insulating film and the second interlayer insulating film.
US08754371B2

A miniature, low cost mass spectrometer capable of unit resolution over a mass range of 10 to 50 AMU. The mass spectrometer incorporates several features that enhance the performance of the design over comparable instruments. An efficient ion source enables relatively low power consumption without sacrificing measurement resolution. Variable geometry mechanical filters allow for variable resolution. An onboard ion pump removes the need for an external pumping source. A magnet and magnetic yoke produce magnetic field regions with different flux densities to run the ion pump and a magnetic sector mass analyzer. An onboard digital controller and power conversion circuit inside the vacuum chamber allows a large degree of flexibility over the operation of the mass spectrometer while eliminating the need for high-voltage electrical feedthroughs. The miniature mass spectrometer senses fractions of a percentage of inlet gas and returns mass spectra data to a computer.
US08754365B2

The present invention is directed to a method and device to desorb an analyte using heat to allow desorption of the analyte molecules, where the desorbed analyte molecules are ionized with ambient temperature ionizing species. In various embodiments of the invention a current is passed through a mesh upon which the analyte molecules are present. The current heats the mesh and results in desorption of the analyte molecules which then interact with gas phase metastable neutral molecules or atoms to form analyte ions characteristic of the analyte molecules.
US08754356B2

Provided is a single photon detector and a photon number detector which use an APD and include an auxiliary signal generator, a light receiving element, a mixer, and a determiner. The auxiliary signal generator generates an auxiliary signal. The light receiving element receives a photon to output an electric signal. The mixer receives and mixes an output signal of the light receiving element and the auxiliary signal. The determiner determines whether the photon is received or the number of received photons. The single photon detector and photon number resolving detector detect an avalanche of an amplitude less than the amplitude of a capacitive response. A probability that an after pulse is generated can be reduced. A photon count rate is enhanced. The influence on the waveform of the gate signal can be decreased. The frequency of the gate signal can be continuously changed.
US08754342B2

In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus is provided, including a dome of a top push switch configured to contact, upon pushing, an inner pad of a base, fixing paste connecting the dome to an outer pad of the base; and a covering tape on top of the dome.
US08754335B2

A ceramic electronic component includes a ceramic element body having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and first and second external electrodes. The first and second external electrodes are provided on a first principal surface. Portions of the first and second external electrodes project further than the other portions in a thickness direction. A projecting portion of the first external electrode is provided at one end of the first external electrode in a length direction and a second projecting portion of the second external electrode is provided at another end of the second external electrode in the length direction. Thus, a concave portion is provided between the projecting portions, and a portion of the first principal surface provided between the first and second external electrodes is exposed.
US08754328B2

A laminate circuit board with a multi-layer circuit structure which includes a substrate, a first circuit metal layer, a second circuit metal layer, a first nanometer plating layer, a second nanometer plating layer and a cover layer is disclosed. The first circuit metal layer is embedded in the substrate or formed on at least one surface of the substrate which is smooth. The first nanometer plating layer with a smooth surface covers the first circuit metal layer. The second nanometer plating layer is formed on the other surface of the substrate and fills up the opening in the cover layer to electrically connect the first circuit metal layer. The junction adhesion is improved by the chemical bonding between the nanometer plating layer and the cover layer/the substrate. Therefore, the circuit metal layer does not need to be roughened and the density of the circuit increases.
US08754327B2

A gas insulated device includes a grounded metal container that covers a high-voltage conductor with a space interposed between itself and the high-voltage conductor; and an insulating spacer that is held and fixed between an end flanges on its outer side and supports the high-voltage conductor on its inner side. The insulating spacer has an internal shield that is buried in the insulating portion so as to surround the high-voltage conductor; grounding bars having conductivity whose one end is electrically connected to the internal shield and the other end extends to the outside of the insulating portion so as to be connected to the grounded metal container; a measurement bar having conductivity whose one end is electrically connected to the internal shield and other end extends to the outside of the insulating portion so as to be connected to the partial discharge measurement terminal.
US08754318B2

A cymbal pickup is described, including a sensor detecting the vibration of the cymbal, and a sensor attaching part to which the sensor is attached. The cymbal has, through its center, a hole that allows a rod to be inserted through. The sensor attaching part includes: a first abutting part having a first insertion hole for pass of the rod, a second abutting part configured opposite to a side of the first abutting part and having a second insertion hole for pass of the rod, and an insertion part between the two abutting parts to maintain a separation distance between the opposite sides of the two abutting parts. The sensor is attached to a side of the first or the second abutting part. The cymbal pickup abuts the cymbal and is fixed together with the cymbal to detect its vibration while the rod is inserted through them.
US08754314B1

A remote activated percussion device with a pedal section having a foot pedal and a connection for a pulley element; a support section having an at least partially hollow shaft and a connection for a pulley element, the support section for supporting a pair of cymbals; a transfer section having a brace, a first pulley element and a second pulley element, the first pulley element having a connector for connecting to the connection for a pulley element on the pedal section and the first pulley element having a brace connector, the second pulley element having a connector for connecting to the connection for a pulley element on the transfer section and the second pulley element having a brace connector, and a cable engaging the pedal section, transfer section and support section for activating the pair of cymbals while providing a remote distance.
US08754311B2

Sound chests having a sound board connected to a hollow body which includes a bearing structure to which there is connected an outer shell are provided. In such sound chests the bearing structure includes a bottom wall or chest-bottom, and a top member or upper block, a central longitudinal batten or backboard, and two side battens or planks, which extend between the chest-bottom and the upper block, remote from and close to the sound board, respectively; and a plurality of longitudinally staggered, transverse stiffening members or bridges each of which is connected centrally to the backboard with its ends connected to the side planks. Methods for making such sound chests are also provided.
US08754293B2

The present invention relates to plants of a lettuce variety NUN 6741 (referred to as “INTRED”) and seeds and progeny thereof. The invention further relates to methods for producing a lettuce plant by traditional breeding methods. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for producing a lettuce plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes.
US08754292B2

Nucleotide sequences mediating male fertility in plants are described, with DNA molecule and amino acid sequences set forth. Promoter sequences and their essential regions are also identified. The nucleotide sequences are useful in mediating male fertility in plants.
US08754290B2

This disclosure concerns a plant of the genus, Brassica, or parts thereof, which comprise one or more traits selected from the group consisting of high oleic acid content, low linolenic acid content, increased herbicide resistance, restorer of cytoplasmic male sterility, and increased clubroot disease (Plasmodiophora brassicae) resistance, compared to a wild-type plant of the same species. This disclosure further relates to wild-type and mutant alleles of genes involved in these traits, molecular markers linked thereto, and methods of their use.
US08754288B2

The invention relates to pink Brassica oleracea capitata (cabbage) plants and a production method thereof. The invention relates furthermore to the use of pink cabbage for the production of pink pickled cabbage and pink salad.
US08754279B1

A new family of aluminosilicate zeolites designated UZM-44 has been synthesized. These zeolites are represented by the empirical formula. NanMmk+TtAl1-xExSiyOz where “n” is the mole ratio of Na to (Al+E), M represents a metal or metals from zinc, Group 1, Group 2, Group 3 and or the lanthanide series of the periodic table, “m” is the mole ratio of M to (Al+E), “k” is the average charge of the metal or metals M, T is the organic structure directing agent or agents, and E is a framework element such as gallium. These zeolites are similar to IM-5 but are characterized by unique compositions and synthesis procedures and have catalytic properties for carrying out various hydrocarbon conversion processes and separation properties for carrying out various separations.
US08754276B2

A reverse flow regenerative reactor having first and second zones, each having first and second ends, the first zone having a plurality of channels capable of separately conveying at least two components of a combustible gas mixture, a gas distributor configured for injecting the components of the combustible gas mixture into first zone, a combustion zone including a selective combustion catalyst disposed at or downstream of the second end of said channels for catalyzing combustion, wherein the second zone is positioned and situated to receive a combusted gas mixture. Processes usefully conducted in the reactor are also disclosed.
US08754271B2

Disclosed are processes for the production of fluorinated olefins, preferably adapted to commercialization of CF3CF═CH2 (1234yf). Three steps may be used in preferred embodiments in which a feedstock such as CCl2═CClCH2Cl is fluorinated to synthesize a compound such as CF3CCl═CH2. The CF3CCl═CH2 is preferably converted to CF3CFClCH3 (244-isomer) using a SbCl5 as the catalyst which is then transformed selectively to 1234yf. For the first step, a mixture of Cr2O3 and FeCl3/C is preferably used as the catalyst to achieve high selectivity to CF3CCl═CH2 (96%). In the second step, SbCl5/C is preferably used as the selective catalyst for transforming 1233xf to 244-isomer, CF3CFClCH3. The intermediates are preferably isolated and purified by distillation and used in the next step without further purification, preferably to a purity level of greater than about 95%.
US08754270B2

A process for selective formation of ethanol from acetic acid includes contacting a feed stream containing acetic acid and hydrogen at an elevated temperature with catalyst comprising platinum and tin on a high surface area silica promoted with calcium metasilicate. Selectivities to ethanol of over 85% are achieved at 280° C. with catalyst life in the hundreds of hours.
US08754268B2

A process for removing water from an alcohol mixture, such as an ethanol mixture in the production of ethanol by hydrogenating acetic acid. The water is removed from a distillate of a first column using an adsorption unit, membrane, extractive column distillation, or a combination thereof.
US08754263B2

Disclosed are methods for generating propylene glycol, ethylene glycol and other polyols, diols, ketones, aldehydes, carboxylic acids and alcohols from biomass using hydrogen produced from the biomass. The methods involve reacting a portion of an aqueous stream of a biomass feedstock solution over a catalyst under aqueous phase reforming conditions to produce hydrogen, and then reacting the hydrogen and the aqueous feedstock solution over a catalyst to produce propylene glycol, ethylene glycol and the other polyols, diols, ketones, aldehydes, carboxylic acids and alcohols. The disclosed methods can be run at lower temperatures and pressures, and allows for the production of oxygenated hydrocarbons without the need for hydrogen from an external source.
US08754245B2

A process is provided for the synthesis of furan and related compounds by vapor-phase decarbonylation of furfural and derivatives, using a palladium/metal aluminate catalyst that has been promoted with an alkali carbonate, such as cesium carbonate. The use of such catalysts, which are inherently less acidic than alumina, results in improved lifetime and high productivity.
US08754243B2

This invention relates to an improved process for the preparation of compounds of Formula I, salts of the free base cis-adamantane-2-spiro-3′-8′-[[[(2′-amino-2′-methylpropyl)amino]carbonyl]methyl]-1′,2′,4′-trioxaspiro[4.5]decane, Formula (I) wherein X is an anion. The compounds of Formula (I) have antimalarial activity.
US08754236B2

The present invention provides methods for preparing TLR-4 receptor agonist E6020: and stereoisomers thereof, which compounds are useful as an immunological adjuvants when co-administered with antigens such as vaccines for bacterial and viral diseases. Also provided are synthetic intermediates.
US08754227B2

The instant invention describes compounds having metalloenzyme modulating activity, and methods of treating diseases, disorders or symptoms thereof mediated by such metalloenzymes.
US08754223B2

The invention provides a crystalline 1,2-ethanedisulfonic acid salt of biphenyl-2-ylcarbamic acid 1-[2-(2-chloro-4-{[(R)-2-hydroxy-2-(8-hydroxy-2-oxo-1,2-dihydroquinolin-5-yl)ethylamino]methyl}-5-methoxyphenylcarbamoyl)ethyl]piperidin-4-yl ester or a solvate thereof. This invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising such a salt or prepared using such a salt; processes and intermediates for preparing such a salt; and methods of using such a salt to treat a pulmonary disorder.
US08754214B2

A synthesis approach providing an early ring attachment via a bromination to compound I-I yielding compound II-II: whereby a final product such as AA: can be synthesized. In particular, the 2,4-difluorophenyl-containing sidechain is attached before creation of the additional ring Q.
US08754208B2

A method of preparing a cyclic monomer, comprising: forming a first mixture comprising a precursor compound, bis(pentafluorophenyl)carbonate, and a catalyst; wherein the precursor compound has a structure comprising a) two or more carbons, and b) two functional groups selected from the group consisting of primary amine, secondary amine, thiol group, hydroxyl group, and combinations thereof; and agitating the first mixture at a temperature effective to form a second mixture comprising the cyclic monomer, the cyclic monomer selected from the group consisting of a cyclic carbonate, a cyclic carbamate, a cyclic urea, a cyclic thiocarbonate, a cyclic thiocarbamate, and a cyclic dithiocarbonate.
US08754203B2

The invention relates to isolated DNA or RNA molecules comprising at least ten contiguous bases having a sequence in a microRNA shown in SEQ ID NOs: 1-94; 281-374; 467-481; 497-522; or 549, except that up to thirty percent of the bases may be wobble bases, and up to 10% of the contiguous bases may be non-complementary. The invention further relates to modified single stranded microRNA molecules, isolated single stranded anti-microRNA molecules and isolated microRNP molecules. In another embodiment, the invention relates to a method for inhibiting microRNP activity in a cell.
US08754202B2

RNA interference is provided for inhibition of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) by silencing TNFα cell surface receptor TNF receptor-1 (TNFR1) mRNA expression, or by silencing TNFα converting enzyme (TACE/ADAM17) mRNA expression. Silencing such TNFα targets, in particular, is useful for treating patients having a TNFα-related condition or at risk of developing a TNFα-related condition, such as ocular angiogenesis, retinal ischemia, and diabetic retinopathy.
US08754200B2

The present invention relates to promoters that enable gene expression which is both specific to the endosperm and early during the development of the endosperm, as well as nucleic acid molecules encoding basal endosperm transfer cell layer (BETL) proteins.
US08754191B2

This invention is directed to methods, kits, non-nucleotide probes as well as other compositions pertaining to the suppression of binding of detectable nucleic acid probes to undesired nucleotide sequences of genomic nucleic acid in assays designed to determine target genomic nucleic acid.
US08754179B2

The present discovery uses monomers which contain reversible photo-crosslinkable groups in addition to primary polymerizable groups. The mechanical properties of these materials and the reversibility of the photo-activated shape memory effect demonstrate the effectiveness of using photo-irradiation to effect change in modulus and shape memory effect. In the preferred embodiment the reaction mixture includes a photo-reactive monomer comprising a photo reactive group and a polymerizable group; a second monomer, which is more preferably a mixture of monomers, which are acrylate based; a multi-functional crosslinking agent, preferably 1,6 hexanediol diacrylate (HDODA); an initiator, preferably a free radical initiator; and a fifth, optional, component which is a modifying polymer. The mixture of the second monomer, crosslinking agent, and initiator comprise the base polymer matrix into which the photo-reactive monomer is incorporated. The polymeriziable group of the photo reactive monomer allows the photo reactive monomer to polymerize with the base polymer matrix.
US08754175B2

Novel polymer compositions which provide controlled end-group functionalization for polythiophenes including regioregular polythiophenes including alkenyl and alkynyl functionalization. Monocapped polymers are formed and can be converted to block copolymers. Conditions and reagents can be selected to provide more monocapping than dicapping of the polymer. Devices, films, and blends can be prepared.
US08754174B2

A solventless addition-curable pressure sensitive silicone adhesive composition is provided. The composition comprises (A) an alkenyl group-containing polydiorganosiloxane; (B) a condensation product of (a) a polydiorganosiloxane having hydroxyl group or an alkoxy group on opposite ends of the molecular chain and (b) a polyorganosiloxane containing R13SiO1/2 unit and SiO2 unit as critical components and also a HOSiO3/2 unit in the molecule; (C1) a polyorganohydrosiloxane having at least three SiH groups per molecule; (C2) a polydiorganohydrosiloxane having SiH group on opposite ends; and (D) a platinum group metal catalyst. Use of the present composition enables production of a pressure sensitive adhesive agent having flexibility, pressure sensitive adhesiveness, and heat resistance, and the present composition is particularly effective for use as a buffer member having pressure sensitive adhesiveness.
US08754169B2

A method for forming a rubber-modified polymeric composition includes polymerizing vinyl aromatic monomer within a mixture including the vinyl aromatic monomer and an interpolymer having at least one block of polyisoprene, at lest one block of polystyrene, and at lest one block of polybutadiene to thereby form the rubber-modified polymeric composition, where the interpolymer includes an internal block of polyisoprene.
US08754162B2

Blend (B) comprising: at least one polyarylene (P1) in a form other than fibers, at least one poly(aryl ether ketone) (P2), and at least one fibrous filler (F). Article or part of an article comprising the blend (B).
US08754160B2

A method for producing a silicone rubber compound in a reduced blending time, and which imparts excellent resistance to plasticity reversion and the cured silicone rubber prepared without heat treatment has excellent resistance to compression set. (A) an organopolysiloxane with polymerization degree of at least 100 represented by the following average compositional formula (I): R1aSiO(4-a)/2  (I) (R1: a substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon group, a: 1.95 to 2.05), (B) a reinforcing silica having a specific surface area (BET) of at least 50 m2/g, and (C) a preliminary hydrolysis product of (C-1) an alkoxysilane represented by the following formula (II): R2mSi(OR3)4-m  (II) (R2: hydrogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon group, R3: a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, m: 0, 1, 2, or 3), and (C-2) water at a molar amount 0.3 to 5 times the alkoxy group in the alkoxysilane of component (C-1) are mixed and heated.
US08754157B2

A polyvinyl chloride-type covering material for electric wire that has an excellent damage-resistance property, cold-resistance property and low-temperature property after aging. The covering material containing a polyvinyl chloride comprises, with respect to 100 parts by mass of the polyvinyl chloride, (A) 15 to 30 parts by mass of a plasticizer comprising 15 parts by mass or more of one or more plasticizers selected from trimellitate plasticizers and pyromellitate plasticizers, (B) 2 to 10 parts by mass of a chlorinated polyolefin, and (C) 1 to 6 parts by mass of a methyl methacrylate-butadiene-styrene copolymer.
US08754150B2

The invention relates to a copolymer which can be used as a superplasticizer for hydraulic binders and comprises 30 to 47 mol % of a (meth)allyl alcohol polyether derivative structural unit and 53 to 70 mol % of a maleic acid derivative structural unit.
US08754147B2

A formulation and method of use for eliminating the use of hexa in shell sand encapsulation is disclosed. The composition of matter consists of standard novalac resins with the hexa component replaced by solid granular resole or curing agent. The preferred formulation and method of compounding is given. Trace elements of ammonia, phenol and the like are further reduced by the addition of a preferred 50:50 mix of an ammonia buffer and masking agent. The preferred compounds for the ammonia buffer and masking agent mix are given.
US08754142B2

Polymeric foam and polymeric foam products that contain a foamable polymer material, at least one blowing agent, an infrared attenuating agent, and a polystyrene/polyethylene oxide copolymer are provided. In exemplary embodiments, the blowing agent contains an HFC. The maleic anhydride-styrene copolymer grafted with polyethylene oxide increases the cell size of the polymer foam and offsets or even negates the decreased cell size caused by an HFC blowing agent and/or infrared attenuating agents. In addition, the copolymer of maleic anhydride-styrene grafted with polyethylene oxide has a positive affect on the processability of the blowing agent(s) in the composition by both widening the process window and enhancing the solubility of the blowing agent in the polymer melt. Thus, the polystyrene/polyethylene oxide copolymer present in the inventive composition acts as a cell enlarger, a plasticizer, and a processing aid. A method of forming an extruded foam product is also provided.
US08754131B2

An aqueous liquid preparation of the present invention containing 2-amino-3-(4-bromobenzoyl)phenylacetic acid or its pharmacologically acceptable salt or a hydrate thereof, an alkyl aryl polyether alcohol type polymer such as tyloxapol, or a polyethylene glycol fatty acid ester such as polyethylene glycol monostearate is stable. Since even in the case where a preservative is incorporated into said aqueous liquid preparation, the preservative exhibits a sufficient preservative effect for a long time, said aqueous liquid preparation in the form of an eye drop is useful for the treatment of blepharitis, conjunctivitis, scleritis, and postoperative inflammation. Also, the aqueous liquid preparation of the present invention in the form of a nasal drop is useful for the treatment of allergic rhinitis and inflammatory rhinitis (e.g. chronic rhinitis, hypertrophic rhinitis, nasal polyp, etc.).
US08754125B2

The invention provides intravenous formulations of propofol in an oil-in-water emulsion, having a combination of preservatives.
US08754124B2

The present invention includes bis- and tris-benzamide compounds that block AR signaling and have activity against prostate cancer. Uses for these compounds, and pharmaceutical compositions containing the same, also are provided.
US08754123B2

The present invention is directed to the provision of pharmaceutical compositions. The compositions include a therapeutic agent and a relatively low amount of surfactant for providing higher bioavailability of the therapeutic agent. The compositions are particularly desirable as ophthalmic compositions in which the therapeutic agent is a prostaglandin such as travoprost and the surfactant is a vegetable oil such as castor oil.
US08754122B2

Disclosed herein is a method comprising administering a compound to a mammal suffering from an inflammatory bowel disease for the treatment of said disease, said compound having a structure according to Formula I wherein X, Y, B, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and n have the meanings found herein.
US08754117B2

In various embodiments, the present invention provides cycloalkyl pyrrolidine compounds and methods for their use in the treatment and/or prevention of various diseases, conditions and syndromes, including central nervous system (CNS) disorders, such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and sleep disorder as well as methods for their synthesis. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds of the invention, as well as methods of inhibiting reuptake of endogenous monoamines, such as dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine from the synaptic cleft and methods of modulating one or more monoamine transporter.
US08754112B2

Provided are a compound having an excellent hypoglycemic action, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutical composition having an excellent therapeutic effect and/or prophylactic effect on type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and the like, which cause an increase in the blood sugar level due to abnormal sugar metabolism. A compound represented by general formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is disclosed.
US08754111B2

A method for the synthesis of N-substituted 3-acylated pyridinium compounds by reacting a pentamethine precursor with a primary amine.
US08754107B2

The present invention is directed to novel aminopyrrolidines of formula I pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, metabolites thereof, isomers thereof, stereoisomers thereof or pro-drugs thereof, wherein the variables are as defined herein. The compounds of formula (I) are useful as chemokine receptor antagonists and as such would be useful in treating certain conditions and diseases, especially inflammatory conditions and diseases and proliferative disorders and conditions, for example, cancers.
US08754105B2

Inhibitors of HCV replication of formula (I) the N-oxides, salts, and stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, wherein each dashed line (represented by ) represents an optional double bond; X is N, CH and where X bears a double bond it is C; R1 is aryl or a saturated, a partially unsaturated or completely unsaturated 5 or 6 membered monocyclic or 9 to 12 membered bicyclic heterocyclic ring system wherein said ring system contains one nitrogen, and optionally one to three additional heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen, and wherein the remaining ring members are carbon atoms; wherein said ring system may be optionally substituted on any carbon or nitrogen ring atom with one, two, three, or four substituents; L is a direct bond, —O—, —O—C1-4alkanediyl-, —O—C(═O)—, —O—C(═O)—NR4a— or —O—C(═O)—NR4aC1-4 alkanediyl-; R2 is hydrogen, —OR5, —C(═O)OR5, —C(═O)R6, —C(═O)NR4aR4b, —C(═O)NHR4c, —NR4aR4b, —NHR4c, —NR4aSOpNR4aR4b, —NR4aSOpR7, or B(OR5)2; R3 is hydrogen, and where X is C or CH, R3 may also be C1-6alkyl; n is 3, 4, 5, or 6; p is 1 or 2; aryl is phenyl, naphthyl, indanyl, or 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthyl, each of which may be optionally substituted with one, two or three substituents; Het is a 5 or 6 membered saturated, partially unsaturated or completely unsaturated heterocyclic ring containing 1 to 4 heteroatoms each independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, being optionally condensed with a benzene ring, and wherein the group Het as a whole may be optionally substituted with one, two or three substituents; pharmaceutical compositions containing compounds (I) and processes for preparing compounds (I). Bioavailable combinations of the inhibitors of HCV of formula (I) with ritonavir are also provided.
US08754104B2

A stable solid pharmaceutical composition consisting essentially of an effective amount of a crystalline salt of formula (II) together with an alkaline-reacting component maintaining the pH preferably above 8, or a salt with a divalent metal cation; and at least one pharmaceutical excipient; said salt of formula (II) being essentially stable during storage at room temperature for a period of at least 3 years. A process for stabilizing the salt of formula (II). A crystalline salt of formula (II) and a process for preparing said salt.
US08754102B2

Compounds of Formula (I), their preparation and use in preventing or treating bacterial infections are disclosed.
US08754101B2

A compound of formula (I) wherein X represents a H atom, or a CH2OH group, Y represents a H atom, or a CH2OH group, but X and Y are not both CH2OH groups and Ar is selected from or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US08754100B2

A compound represented by the formula [I]: or a pharmacologically acceptable salt or ester thereof, wherein Ring A represents a five-membered aromatic heterocyclic group or the like fused with a non-aromatic ring group, which may be substituted, Ring B represents a phenyl group or the like which may be substituted, X1 represents a single bond or the like, R1 and R2 each represent a C1-6 alkyl group or the like, m represents an integer of 0 to 3, and n represents an integer of 0 to 2, is effective as a therapeutic agent for a disease caused by Aβ.
US08754097B2

Compounds of the formula (I), in which R1, R2, R3, D, G, Q and W have the meanings indicated in claim (1), can and be employed for the treatment of tumors.
US08754092B2

The present invention is directed to a compound of Formula I or a single isomer thereof; where the compound is optionally as a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate or combination thereof, in addition to methods of preparing a Compound of Formula I, and methods of using a Compound of Formula I to treat cancer.
US08754090B2

Disclosed herein are methods for treating a cancer comprising: a. administering a Btk inhibitor to a subject sufficient to result in an increase or appearance in the blood of a subpopulation of lymphocytes defined by immunophenotyping; b. determining the expression profile of one or more biomarkers from one or more subpopulation of lymphocytes; and c. administering a second agent based on the determined expression profile.
US08754089B2

Substituted bicyclic heteroaryls and compositions containing them, for the treatment of general inflammation, arthritis, rheumatic diseases, osteoarthritis, inflammatory bowel disorders, inflammatory eye disorders, inflammatory or unstable bladder disorders, psoriasis, skin complaints with inflammatory components, chronic inflammatory conditions, including but not restricted to autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE), myestenia gravis, rheumatoid arthritis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, multiples sclerosis, Sjoegren's syndrome and autoimmune hemolytic anemia, allergic conditions including all forms of hypersensitivity, The present invention also enables methods for treating cancers that are mediated, dependent on or associated with p110 activity, including but not restricted to leukemias, such as Acute Myeloid leukaemia (AML) Myelo-dysplastic syndrome (MDS) myelo-proliferative diseases (MPD) Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL) B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL) Non Hodgkins Lymphoma (NHL) B-cell lymphoma and solid tumors, such as breast cancer.
US08754086B2

The disclosure describes compounds of formula I, wherein the wedged bonds, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R5a, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, R12, R13, R14, X and Y have meanings given in the description, and pharmaceutically-acceptable salts thereof; and methods of using such compounds useful in the treatment of cancer and conditions affected by inhibition of angiogenesis. Also provided, are processes for the preparation of formula I, by reacting formula I with other compounds; and processes for the preparation of a pharmaceutical formulation by bringing into association, a compound of formula I, with therapeutic agents and/or a pharmaceutically-acceptable adjuvant, diluent, or carrier.
US08754085B2

The present invention provides heterocyclic derivatives which activate the IP receptor. Activating the IP receptor signaling pathway is useful to treat many forms of PAH, pulmonary fibrosis and exert beneficial effects in fibrotic conditions of various organs in animal models and in patients. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising such derivatives are also encompassed. Examples of compounds of the invention include the compounds according to Formula Ia, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and the compounds of the examples.
US08754080B2

The present invention relates to a purine compound useful as a kinase inhibitor. The compound has the structure (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US08754079B2

The present invention relates to novel thienopyrimidine compounds of general formula pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and their therapeutic use for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of diseases which can be influenced by the inhibition of the kinase activity of Mnk1 and/or Mnk2 (Mnk2a or Mnk2b) and/or variants thereof.
US08754077B2

8-Fluorophthalazin-1(2h)-one compounds of Formula I where one or two of X1, X2, and X3 are N, are provided, including stereoisomers, tautomers, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, useful for inhibiting Btk kinase, and for treating immune disorders such as inflammation mediated by Btk kinase. Methods of using compounds of Formula I for in vitro, in situ, and in vivo diagnosis, and treatment of such disorders in mammalian cells, or associated pathological conditions, are disclosed.
US08754060B2

Methods of reducing Wallerian degeneration are disclosed. These methods comprise inhibiting expression or activity of a mixed lineage kinase such as a dual leucine-zipper-bearing kinase (DLK), inhibiting expression or activity of a molecule acting downstream from DLK, such as a c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), or a combination thereof. Further disclosed are methods of screening candidate compounds for DLK inhibition activity. These methods comprise providing a neuronal culture comprising a plurality of axons; contacting the culture with a candidate compound and with an axon degeneration-triggering agent; and comparing axonal degeneration in the culture to a control culture comprising the axon degeneration-triggering agent but not the candidate compound.
US08754056B2

Disclosed herein are methods of enhancing repair of vascular lesions involving the administration of cells in which TGF-β expression and/or activity has been transiently blocked. Other methods involve the administration of a TGF-β blocking agent to a subject who has a vascular lesion or is at risk of developing a vascular lesion. Alternatively, a TGF-β blocking agent and treated cells are co-administered to a subject in need thereof.
US08754055B2

Methods, pharmaceutical compositions, and kits are provided which includes accurately sampling a RNA from a tissue of an animal and analyzing RNA in the tissue of the animal as an indicator of physiological state, infectious disease, neoplastic disease, autoimmune disease, inflammatory disease, cardiovascular disease, atherosclerotic disease, or neurological disease in the animal. A method is provided which includes administering at least one compound to an animal wherein the at least one compound is configured to prevent the cleavage of at least one tissue RNA by a ribonuclease. The method further includes collecting a sample of at least a portion of tissue from the animal.
US08754044B2

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for neuroprotection. In particular, provided herein are compositions (e.g., hepatocyte secretory factors) for alleviating and/or protecting against neuronal damage (e.g., resulting from stroke), and methods of use thereof.
US08754043B2

A composition for treating a wound, wherein the composition can comprise therapeutically effective amount of an epidermal growth factor and a physiologically acceptable agent, wherein the physiologically acceptable agent comprises at least one of a stabilizer, a preservative, a thickening agent, carrier/diluent, and optionally pH regulating agent and humectant.
US08754032B2

A concomitant agent to be used simultaneously or separately, comprising a combination of (a) 3-{(2S,4S)-4-[4-(3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)piperazin-1-yl]pyrrolidin-2-ylcarbonyl}thiazolidine, a salt of the compound with an organic or inorganic and mono- or di-basic acid or a solvate thereof, and (b) at least one kind of active ingredient selected from the group consisting of an active ingredient of a pharmaceutical agent selected from (i) an antidiabetic drug, (ii) a lipid lowering drug, (iii) an antihypertensive drug, (iv) a therapeutic drug for diabetic complications, (v) an antiobesity drug, (vi) an antiplatelet drug and (vii) an anticoagulant, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a solvate thereof.
US08754024B1

A liquefied-gas aerosol dusting composition for preventing inhalation abuse incidents. The composition comprises at least one liquefied gas and Sucrose Octaacetate wherein the concentration of said aerosol dusting composition ranges from 5 ppm to about 50 ppm.
US08754023B2

Liquid washing or cleaning agent preparations includes a) >5 wt. % of at least one active washing or cleaning enzyme; b) >5 wt. % of at least one organic solvent c) boric acid or a boric acid derivative d) a source of Ca or Mg ions and are characterized by a good phase and enzyme stability and good cleaning powers.
US08754019B2

A pressure transmission medium contains an ester or an ether having two or more ring structures of an aromatic ring or a saturated naphthenic ring as a pressure transmission medium base oil. The pressure transmission medium that exhibits low energy loss due to compression, excellent response in a hydraulic circuit, energy-saving, high-speed operation and high precision of control in a hydraulic circuit, a low viscosity and a low churning resistance, and a hydraulic device can be provided.
US08754013B2

A dual display phage system for the identification of protein interaction networks and therapeutic targets.
US08754000B2

A catalyst for the generation of hydrogen from a small organic molecule comprises a tertiary metal composition where: the first metal is either Pt or Ru; the second metal is at least one of Pt, Ru, Au, Pd, Rh, Ir, Os, and/or Re; and Bi, primarily present in the form of an oxide or of a mixture of oxides and carbonates and in the +3 oxidation state. A portion of the first and/or second metal may be in the form of an oxide. The catalyst can be in the form of a nanoparticle and supported on an inert substrate, such as carbon. The catalyst can be used for dehydrogenation of formic acid or other small organic molecules in a liquid state at ambient pressures and at temperatures below the boiling point of the liquid. The liquid can be an aqueous solution of the small organic molecule.
US08753996B2

A method of ageing a catalyst material includes at least the steps of: (a) heating a gaseous stream; (b) adding a least one pure hydrocarbon gas and an oxygen-containing gas to the heated gaseous stream to provide a combined stream; and (c) passing the combined stream through the catalyst material. The use of at least one pure hydrocarbon gas and an oxygen-containing gas allows maximum re-circulation of the exit stream from the catalyst material for reuse, while maintaining the correct C, H and O proportions being provided in the combined stream to replicate realistic use of the catalyst material.
US08753995B2

A high-frequency and low-dielectric-constant ceramic dielectric material matched with nickel internal electrode and a method for producing capacitor using same. The ceramic dielectric material consists of main crystalline phase, modifying additive and sintering flux. The main crystalline phase is MgZrxSi(1−x)O3, wherein 0.05≦x≦0.15. The modifying additive is one or more of MnO2, Al2O3, CaO, Bi2O3 and TiO2, and the sintering flux is one or more of B2O3, SiO2, ZnO, Li2O, K2O and BaO. The ceramic dielectric material has good uniformity, and excellent dielectric properties, meets the requirements of COG characteristics in EIA standard, and meets the environmental requirements. The ceramic dielectric material can be sintered under the reducing atmosphere and can be matched with nickel electrodes. The chip multilayer ceramic capacitor made of the ceramic dielectric material and nickel internal electrodes has stable performance.
US08753992B2

To provide a glass ceramic composition with which a substrate for a light emitting element having a high reflectance and a high thermal conductivity can be obtained, and which can suppress breakage at the time of production of the substrate for a light emitting element. A glass ceramic composition to be used for production of a substrate on which a light emitting element is to be mounted, which comprises from 30 to 45 mass % of a glass powder, from 35 to 50 mass % of an alumina powder and from 10 to 30 mass % of a zirconia powder, to the total amount of the glass powder, the alumina powder and the zirconia powder, wherein the average particle size of the zirconia powder is at most ¼ of the average particle size of the alumina powder.
US08753990B2

The surface of a material is textured and crystallized in a single step by exposing the surface to pulses from an ultrafast laser. The laser treatment causes pillars to form on the treated surface. These pillars provide for greater light absorption. The crystallization of the material provides for higher electric conductivity and changes in optical properties of the material. The method may be performed in a gaseous environment, so that laser assisted chemical etching will aid in the texturing of the surface. This method may be used on various material surfaces, such as semiconductors, metals, ceramics, polymers, and glasses.
US08753984B2

A method of forming a silicon nitride film on the surface of an object to be processed, the method including forming a seed layer functioning as a seed of the silicon nitride film on the surface of the object to be processed by using at least an aminosilane-based gas, prior to forming the silicon nitride film on the surface of the object to be processed.
US08753982B2

A method for producing a connection region on a side wall of a semiconductor body is disclosed. A first trench is produced on a first surface of a semiconductor body and extends into the semiconductor body. An insulation layer is formed on the side walls and on the bottom of the first trench, and the first trench is only partially filled. The unfilled part of the first trench is filled with an electrically conductive material. A separating trench is produced along the first trench in such a way that a side wall of the separating trench directly adjoins the first trench. The part of the insulation layer which adjoins the separating trench is at least partially removed, with the result that at least some of the electrically conductive material in the first trench is exposed.
US08753981B2

Microelectronic devices with through-silicon vias and associated methods of manufacturing such devices. One embodiment of a method for forming tungsten through-silicon vias comprising forming an opening having a sidewall such that the opening extends through at least a portion of a substrate on which microelectronic structures have been formed. The method can further include lining the sidewall with a dielectric material, depositing tungsten on the dielectric material such that a cavity extends through at least a portion of the tungsten, and filling the cavity with a polysilicon material.
US08753974B2

Structures and methods for the dissipation of charge build-up during the formation of cavities in semiconductor substrates.
US08753972B2

A copper bonding compatible bond pad structure and associated method is disclosed. The device bond pad structure includes a buffering structure formed of regions of interconnect metal and regions of non-conductive passivation material, the buffering structure providing buffering of underlying layers and structures of the device.
US08753970B2

One method includes forming a sacrificial gate structure above a substrate, forming a first sidewall spacer adjacent a sacrificial gate electrode, removing a portion of the first sidewall spacer to expose a portion of the sidewalls of the sacrificial gate electrode, and forming a liner layer on the exposed sidewalls of the sacrificial gate electrode and above a residual portion of the first sidewall spacer. The method further includes forming a first layer of insulating material above the liner layer, forming a second sidewall spacer above the first layer of insulating material and adjacent the liner layer, performing an etching process to remove the second sidewall spacer and sacrificial gate cap layer to expose an upper surface of the sacrificial gate electrode, removing the sacrificial gate electrode to define a gate cavity at least partially defined laterally by the liner layer, and forming a replacement gate structure in the cavity.
US08753969B2

A MOS device and methods for its fabrication are provided. In one embodiment the MOS device is fabricated on and within a semiconductor substrate. The method includes forming a gate structure having a top and sidewalls and having a gate insulator overlying the semiconductor substrate, a gate electrode overlying the gate insulator, and a cap overlying the gate electrode. An oxide liner is deposited over the top and sidewalls of the gate structure. In the method, the cap is etched from the gate structure and oxide needles extending upward from the gate structure are exposed. A stress-inducing layer is deposited over the oxide needles and gate structure and the semiconductor substrate is annealed. Then, the stress-inducing liner is removed.
US08753965B2

A method of forming a transistor structure is provided. The method includes forming a graphene layer on an insulating layer; forming a stack of a first metal portion and a second metal portion over the graphene layer, wherein sidewalls of the first metal portion are vertically coincident with sidewalls of the second metal portion; and laterally offsetting the sidewalls of the first metal portion relative to the sidewalls of the second metal portion by a lateral distance.
US08753963B2

A multi-trench termination structure for semiconductor device is disclosed, where the semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and an active structure region. The multi-trench termination structure includes multiple trenches defined on an exposed face of the semiconductor substrate, a first mask layer formed on a partial exposed surface of the semiconductor substrate and corresponding to a termination structure region of the semiconductor device, a gate insulation layer formed in the trenches, a conductive layer formed on the gate insulation layer and protruding out of the exposed surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a metal layer formed over the first mask layer and conductive layer on the termination structure region of the semiconductor device.
US08753953B1

A capacitor and method for fabricating the same. In one configuration, the capacitor has a silicon substrate, a first and a second silicon dioxide layer over the silicon substrate, and silicon nitride fins between the silicon dioxide layers. The capacitor further includes a dielectric layer over the silicon nitride fins and metal vias in the dielectric layer.
US08753952B2

Ferroelectric capacitor structures for integrated decoupling capacitors and the like. The ferroelectric capacitor structure includes two or more ferroelectric capacitors connected in series with one another between voltage nodes. The series connection of the ferroelectric capacitors reduces the applied voltage across each, enabling the use of rough ferroelectric dielectric material, such as PZT deposited by MOCVD. Matched construction of the series-connected capacitors, as well as uniform polarity of the applied voltage across each, is beneficial in reducing the maximum voltage across any one of the capacitors, reducing the vulnerability to dielectric breakdown.
US08753947B2

The present invention provides a method of manufacturing an electronic apparatus, such as a lighting device having light emitting diodes (LEDs) or a power generating device having photovoltaic diodes. The exemplary method includes depositing a first conductive medium within a plurality of channels of a base to form a plurality of first conductors; depositing within the plurality of channels a plurality of semiconductor substrate particles suspended in a carrier medium; forming an ohmic contact between each semiconductor substrate particle and a first conductor; converting the semiconductor substrate particles into a plurality of semiconductor diodes; depositing a second conductive medium to form a plurality of second conductors coupled to the plurality of semiconductor diodes; and depositing or attaching a plurality of lenses suspended in a first polymer over the plurality of diodes. In various embodiments, the depositing, forming, coupling and converting steps are performed by or through a printing process.
US08753944B2

A method of fabricating a Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) transistor includes providing a substrate having a substrate surface doped with a second dopant type and a gate stack over the substrate surface, and a masking pattern on the substrate surface which exposes a portion of the substrate surface for ion implantation. A first pocket implantation uses the second dopant type with the masking pattern on the substrate surface. At least one retrograde gate edge diode leakage (GDL) reduction pocket implantation uses the first dopant type with the masking pattern on the substrate surface. The first pocket implant and retrograde GDL reduction pocket implant are annealed. After annealing, the first pocket implant provides first pocket regions and the retrograde GDL reduction pocket implant provides an overlap with the first pocket regions to form a first counterdoped pocket portion within the first pocket regions.
US08753942B2

Methods of forming microelectronic structures are described. Embodiments of those methods include forming a nanowire device comprising a substrate comprising source/drain structures adjacent to spacers, and nanowire channel structures disposed between the spacers, wherein the nanowire channel structures are vertically stacked above each other.
US08753937B2

The present invention provides a manufacturing method of a power transistor device. First, a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type is provided, and at least one trench is formed in the semiconductor substrate. Next, the trench is filled with a dopant source layer, and a first thermal drive-in process is performed to form two doped diffusion regions of a second conductivity type in the semiconductor substrate, wherein the doping concentration of each doped diffusion region close to the trench is different from the one of each doped diffusion region far from the trench. Then, the dopant source layer is removed and a tilt-angle ion implantation process and a second thermal drive-in process are performed to adjust the doping concentration of each doped diffusion region close to the trench.
US08753930B2

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device comprises placing a semiconductor substrate in an ashing chamber, the semiconductor substrate having a gate, a silicon nitride gate sidewall offset spacer or a silicon nitride gate sidewall pacer formed thereon, and a photo resist residue remaining on the semiconductor substrate, introducing a gas mixture including D2 or T2 into the ashing chamber, and ashing the photo resist residue using a plasma that is formed from the gas mixture. The gas mixture can include a deuterium gas or a tritium gas having a volume ratio ranging between about 1% and about 20%. Embodiments can reduce Si recess and the loss of silicon nitride thin film during ashing.
US08753929B2

A structure fabrication method. A provided structure includes a gate dielectric region on the substrate and a gate electrode region on the gate dielectric region. Atoms are implanted in a top portion of the gate electrode region, which expands the top portion of the gate electrode in a direction parallel to a top surface of the gate dielectric region. After the atom implantation, a conformal dielectric layer is formed on top and side walls of the gate electrode region. A dielectric spacer layer, formed on the conformal dielectric layer, is etched such that only spacer portions of the dielectric spacer layer which are under the conformal dielectric layer remain, wherein for any point of the remaining spacer portions, a straight line through that point and parallel to a reference direction intersects the conformal dielectric layer. The reference direction is perpendicular to the top surface of the gate dielectric region.
US08753928B2

In a process of manufacturing a transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer, an amorphous oxide semiconductor layer which includes a region containing excess oxygen as compared to a stoichiometric composition ratio of an oxide semiconductor in a crystalline state is formed over a silicon oxide film, an aluminum oxide film is formed over the amorphous oxide semiconductor layer, and then heat treatment is performed so that at least part of the amorphous oxide semiconductor layer is crystallized and an oxide semiconductor layer which includes a crystal having a c-axis substantially perpendicular to a surface of the oxide semiconductor layer is formed.
US08753927B2

An anti-fuse structure is provided in which an anti-fuse material liner is embedded within one of the openings provided within an interconnect dielectric material. The anti-fuse material liner is located between a first conductive metal and a second conductive metal which are also present within the opening. A diffusion barrier liner separates the first conductive metal from any portion of the interconnect dielectric material. The anti-fuse structure is laterally adjacent an interconnect structure that is formed within the same interconnect dielectric material as the anti-fuse structure.
US08753924B2

An article of manufacture includes a semiconductor die (110) having an integrated circuit (105) on a first side of the die (110), a diffusion barrier (125) on a second side of the die (110) opposite the first side, a mat of carbon nanotubes (112) rooted to the diffusion barrier (125), a die attach adhesive (115) forming an integral mass with the mat (112) of the carbon nanotubes, and a die pad (120) adhering to the die attach adhesive and (115) and the mat (112) of carbon nanotubes for at least some thermal transfer between the die (110) and the die pad (120) via the carbon nanotubes (112). Other articles, integrated circuit devices, structures, and processes of manufacture, and assembly processes are also disclosed.
US08753916B2

The invention described herein provides for thin films and methods of making comprising inorganic semiconductor-nanocrystals dispersed in semiconducting-polymers in high loading amounts. The invention also describes photovoltaic devices incorporating the thin films.
US08753909B2

A light emitting device and a method of fabricating thereof are provided. The method of fabricating the light emitting device comprises: providing a substrate having a first major surface and a second major surface; forming a plurality of light-emitting stacks on the first major surface; forming an etching protection layer on each of the light emitting stacks; forming a plurality of holes by a discontinuous laser beam on the substrate; etching the plurality of holes; and slicing off the substrate along the plurality of holes to form a light emitting device. The light emitting device has a substrate wherein the sidewall of the substrate comprising a first area with a substantially flat surface and a second area with substantially textured surface.
US08753902B1

A method of controlling an etching process for forming an epitaxial structure includes the following steps. A substrate having a gate thereon is provided. A spacer is formed on the substrate beside the gate to define the position of the epitaxial structure. A thickness of the spacer is measured. The etching time of a first etching process is set according to the thickness. The first etching process is performed to form a recess in the substrate beside the spacer. The epitaxial structure is formed in the recess.
US08753900B2

Methods and apparatus for routing signal paths in an integrated circuit. One or more signal routing paths for transferring signals of the integrated circuit may be determined. A dummy fill pattern for the integrated circuit may be determined based on the one or more metal density specifications and at least one design rule for reducing cross coupling capacitance between the dummy fill pattern and the routing paths. The signal routing paths and/or the dummy fill pattern may be incrementally optimized to meet one or more timing requirements of the integrated circuit.
US08753899B2

A method includes patterning a plurality of magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) layers to form an MTJ cell, and forming a dielectric cap layer over a top surface and on a sidewall of the MTJ cell. The step of patterning and the step of forming the dielectric cap layer are in-situ formed in a same vacuum environment. A plasma treatment is performed on the dielectric cap layer to transform the dielectric cap layer into a treated dielectric cap layer, whereby the treated dielectric cap layer improves protection from H2O or O2, and thus degradation.
US08753896B2

A method of monitoring a surfactant in a microelectronic process is disclosed. Specifically, the monitoring of a surfactant occurs by studying the fluorescence or electromagnetic emission of a sample collected from a microelectronic process.
US08753893B2

The present invention provides multi-dimensional sensors with fluidic flow channels for processing fluid samples.
US08753889B1

Methods are disclosed for using stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen in hair and feces to predict disease in animals such as predicting the susceptibility of dairy cows to periparturient production-related metabolic diseases (PRMDs). Other methods that are disclosed are for using stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen in blood components, erythrocytes and plasma proteins, to predict dairy cow susceptibility to PRMDS; yet other disclosed methods are for using stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen in hair and feces of horses as a prognostic indicator after surgical or medical correction of gastrointestinal colic. Other methods that are disclosed also include using stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen in blood components, erythrocytes and plasma proteins, of horses as a prognostic indicator before or after surgical or medical correction of gastrointestinal colic.
US08753887B2

The present invention relates to the use of a female germinal cell (egg) extract of pluricellular organisms in M-phase of the cell cycle for a mitotic remodeling of chromosomes of donor cells of pluricellular organisms, wherein the mitotic remodeling confers to the nucleus of the donor cells the ability to adapt themselves to the early embryonic development, in particular to the replication phases, in order to carry out the embryonic development or to obtain stem cells.
US08753879B2

Provided herein are exemplary vectors for transforming algal cells. In exemplary embodiments, the vector comprises a Violaxanthin-chlorophyll a binding protein (Vcp) promoter driving expression of an antibiotic resistance gene in an algal cell. Embodiments of the invention may be used to introduce a gene (or genes) into the alga Nannochloropsis, such that the gene(s) are expressed and functional. This unprecedented ability to transform Nannochloropsis with high efficiency makes possible new developments in phycology, aquaculture and biofuels applications.
US08753878B2

Process, use, method and formulation of disoxyribonucleic acid vaccine inclusion (DNA) in nutritional compositions for animal in culture, particularly in fishery systems.
US08753877B2

An incubator including a cultivating chamber for cultivating cultures, a water supply control unit for supplying water into the cultivating chamber through a water supply passage and adjusting the humidity of the inside of the cultivating chamber, and a filter provided in the water supply passage.
US08753875B2

The present invention pertains to the need for novel, reliable, fast and inexpensive approaches to diagnosing, including detecting and characterizing microbial infections in humans and animals or methods for detecting and characterizing microbial infections in various environments, such as in a food or feed sample. The present invention provides compositions, platforms, kits and methods for diagnosing, detecting and/or characterizing a microbial infection or contamination. In particular the present invention relates to such compositions, platforms, kits and methods for diagnosing, detecting and/or characterizing a urinary tract infection.
US08753871B2

Systems and methods for automatically controlling conditions of a process are disclosed. In one example, a controller is programmed with a sequence of steps and parameters required to carry out a bioreactor process. A sensor system interacts with the bioreactor to receive information related to a condition of the bioreactor and/or receive a sample from the bioreactor, which it analyzes. The sensor system sends data signals related to the information and/or the sample to a controller, which determines a control signal based on the received information. The controller sends the control signal to the sensor system which, based on the control signal, performs an action that affects a condition of the bioreactor or affects the sensor system itself.
US08753867B2

Method of evaluating the biodegradation, through the action of a bacterial population, of hydrocarbons trapped in a geologic structure.The mass of hydrocarbons present in said structure is determined without taking account of the biodegradation, from data relative to the physical and geometrical characteristics of the structure studied. Then the mass of hydrocarbons consumed by biodegradation is calculated after evaluating the number of bacteria, their hydrocarbon consumption and the structure filling time. The mass percentage of oil disappeared through the bacterial action is deduced from these two masses.Application: determination of the composition of oils in a reservoir and notably location of heavy oils. The method can notably be applied to the evaluation of the economic risk linked with the presence of biodegraded petroleum reservoirs.
US08753860B1

The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.
US08753858B2

The present disclosure relates to stabilizers for alkaline phosphatase or conjugates thereof, a process for preparing a stabilizer, and a method for stabilizing alkaline phosphatase or conjugates thereof with a stabilizer. The present disclosure also relates to a reagent of alkaline phosphatase or conjugates thereof as well as to a process for preparing the same. In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a kit comprising the stabilizers disclosed herein and alkaline phosphatase or conjugates thereof. The stabilizer disclosed herein can stabilize alkaline phosphatase or conjugates thereof for a prolonged period of time, extending their shelf-life.
US08753853B2

This invention provides a process of making a linear dicarboxylic acid of C10, C12, C14, C16 or C18 chain length, the process comprising providing a feed which is a renewable resource, contacting the feed with a catalyst in the presence of hydrogen and at a temperature of about 250° C. to about 425° C. and at a pressure of about 500 psig to about 2500 psig (3450 kPa to about 17,250 kPa) to produce a hydrocarbon product having at least a 5:1 ratio of even-numbered alkanes to odd-numbered alkanes and comprising a linear alkane of Cn chain length; and fermenting at least a portion of the linear alkane of Cn chain length to a linear dicarboxylic acid of Cn chain length, wherein n=10, 12, 14, 16 or 18. The catalyst comprises an oxide, molybdenum, and one or more active metals selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, and mixtures thereof and the catalyst is in sulfided form.
US08753851B2

Provided herein are systems and methods for extracting lipids and/or producing biofuel from algae in marine and freshwater environments, wherein algae and bivalves are co-cultured in a system of enclosures comprising water that comprises recycled nutrients that are essential for algal growth. The system also include enclosures for culturing fishes which are used to harvest the algae.
US08753848B2

A method of producing corn starch by enzymatic process involving: soaking the corn; crushing the corn, separating and washing embryo; fine grinding; washing and drying fiber; separating and drying protein; washing, dewatering and drying the starch. An enzyme preparation is added before the step of washing, dewatering and drying the starch; the enzyme preparation is cellulose, or xylanase, or combination of the cellulose and the xylanase; and addition of the enzyme preparation is from 0.001% to 0.08% by weight of the corn. Based on the technology of traditional wet process, the method of the present invention comprises a step of adding enzyme preparation in the process of separating the corn, which improves the effect and the efficiency of mechanical separation, and further improves the purity and yield of the substance separated while also reducing the energy consumption.
US08753846B2

A method of double crossover homologous recombination in a host cell comprising: a first homologous recombination event between a donor DNA molecule comprising a first element of a selectable allele and an acceptor DNA molecule comprising a second element of the selectable allele in the host cell, thereby to form a product of the first homologous recombination event in the host cell; and a second homologous recombination event within the product of the first homologous recombination event, thereby to form a product of the second homologous recombination event in the host cell which confers a selectable phenotype on the host cell, wherein the selectable phenotype arises following and in dependency on the formation of a selectable allele from the first and second elements of the selectable allele.
US08753843B2

Engineered antibodies to human IL-17A are provided, as well as uses thereof.
US08753840B2

Disclosed is a modified photoautotrophic bacterium comprising genes of interest that are modified in terms of their expression and/or coding region sequence, wherein modification of the genes of interest increases production of a desired product in the bacterium relative to the amount of the desired product production in a photoautotrophic bacterium that is not modified with respect to the genes of interest.
US08753832B2

In quickly assaying a blood component interfered by glucose and/or its derivative on the bedside or in a clinic or in assaying the same by a patient in his/her own home, there has been required an assay method wherein the whole blood can be used as a sample as such without resorting to a centrifuge or the like. A method of assaying a blood component to be used for assaying a blood component interfered by glucose and/or its derivative, characterized by comprising bringing the whole blood into contact with a substance capable of converting glucose and/or its derivative into another substance not interfering the assay and, simultaneously or subsequently, separating blood cells; a device to be used in the assay method; and a kit containing this device.
US08753831B2

Provided herein is a large immuno-sorbent surface area assay (ALISSA) for the rapid and sensitive detection of botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) and anthrax toxin. This assay is designed to capture a low number of toxin molecules and to measure their intrinsic protease activity via conversion of a fluorogenic or luminescent substrate. Also provided herein are novel peptides that can be specifically cleaved by BoNT and novel peptides that are resistant to cleavage by BoNT. The combination of these cleavable and control peptides can be used for implementation of an exemplary ALISSA used to specifically detect BoNT enzymatic activity. Furthermore, the ALISSA as described herein may also be used in a column based format for use in a high-throughput system for testing large quantities of samples.
US08753823B1

The steps of the method are preparing a specific antigen; intravenously injecting prescription medication initially intended for oral consumption into the blood stream of the patient, the prescription medication including an inert binder; creating unnatural antibodies in response to antigenic stimulation; drawing a blood sample from a patient; mixing the drawn blood sample with the prepared specific antigen; and determining the presence of a formation of an antibody-antigen complex indicative of medication initially intended for oral consumption intravenously injected into the blood stream of a patient.
US08753817B2

The present invention provides novel mutations of the CFTR gene related to cystic fibrosis or to conditions associated with cystic fibrosis. Also provided are probes for detecting the mutant sequences. Methods of identifying if an individual has a genotype containing one or more mutations in the CFTR gene are further provided.
US08753813B2

The disclosure relates to a method of forming a pattern having pattern elements with a plurality of sizes on a substrate surface with a tilted pen array that includes choosing a tilt geometry for a pen array with respect to a substrate, inducing the tilt geometry between the pen array and the substrate surface, and forming a pattern having pattern elements on the substrate surface with the titled pen array, whereby the size of the formed pattern elements varies across the substrate surface along the tilted axis or axes. For example, the tilt geometry is in reference to the substrate surface and comprises a first angle with respect to a first axis of the substrate and a second angle with respect to a second axis of the substrate, the second axis being perpendicular to the first axis, and at least one of the first and second angles being non-zero.
US08753802B2

A pattern forming method comprising: (i) a step of forming a film from a chemical amplification resist composition, (ii) a step of exposing the film, and (iii) a step of developing the exposed film by using an organic solvent-containing developer, wherein the resist composition contains: (A) a resin, (B) a nonionic compound capable of generating an acid upon irradiation with an actinic ray or radiation, (C) a crosslinking agent, and (D) a solvent.
US08753789B2

An electrophotographic photosensitive member comprises a charge-transporting layer which is a surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member; wherein the charge-transporting layer has a matrix-domain structure having: a matrix comprising: at least one resin selected from the group consisting of a polycarbonate resin C and a polyester resin D; and at least one charge-transporting substance selected from the group consisting of a compound represented by the following formula (1) and a compound represented by the following formula (1′), and a domain comprising a polycarbonate resin A.
US08753785B2

A shaped part that is particularly suited as an interconnector or an end plate for a fuel cell stack, is produced by pressing and sintering a pulverulent starting material. The shaped part has a basic body with a multiplicity of knob-like and/or ridge-like elevations with a height h. Each elevation has two inclined side flanks which lead, proceeding from an end contour of the elevation, via rounded corner portions, with a radius r or r′ directly or via intermediate rectilinear portions, into curved portions, with a radius R or R′, which in turn merge into the surface contour, of the basic body. The rectilinear portions, or, in the case of a direct transition of the rounded corner portions into the curved portions, the tangents at the point of the transition, have an angle of inclination relative to the surface contour, between 95° and 135°.
US08753782B2

A cooling system of a fuel cell is provided with a main cooling flow passage and a bypass cooling flow passage which is arranged parallel with the main cooling flow passage and diverts the same coolant, as flow passages through which coolant flows. A radiator and a coolant circulation pump and the like are arranged in the main cooling flow passage. Coolant from the main cooling flow passage enters the bypass cooling flow passage and reaches a second heat exchanger via a case of a motor of an ACP and the like. At the second heat exchanger, heat exchange is also performed with a supply gas flow passage, after which the coolant returns to the main cooling flow passage. The manner in which the coolant is distributed can be changed depending on where the coolant is diverted from the main cooling flow passage and the arrangement of the circulation pump.
US08753769B2

Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a secondary battery (10) containing a nonaqueous electrolyte solution. This method comprises a step (S110) for preparing an electrode assembly (20) having positive and negative electrode sheets (30, 40), a step (S120) for immersing the electrode assembly (20) into a nonaqueous liquid (60), and a step (S130, S140) for placing the electrode assembly (20) after immersion into a battery container (11) together with a nonaqueous electrolyte solution (70). By performing the immersion process, the water content in the electrode assembly (20) moves into the nonaqueous liquid (60).
US08753767B2

An automobile cell is provided with an electric power generating element composed of a positive electrode having a positive electrode active substance layer, a negative electrode having a negative electrode active substance layer and a separator interposed between the electrodes, a cell outer sheath made of a laminate film compositely composed of polymer and metal, a positive electrode terminal lead electrically conductive with the positive electrode and extending to an outside of the cell outer sheath, and a negative electrode terminal lead electrically conductive with the negative electrode and extending to the outside of the cell outer sheath. The positive electrode and the negative electrode associated therewith via the separator defines a unit electrode, and the relationship between a thickness of the automobile cell and a sum of a thickness of the positive electrode active substance layer and a thickness of the negative electrode active substance layer of the unit electrodes, is defined such that a value obtained by dividing the former by the latter is equal to or less than 80.
US08753766B2

An electric storage device including a case, a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a current collector, a gasket, and a conductive member. The current collector has a first end connected to the positive electrode or the negative electrode and a second end electrically connected to an inner surface of the case. The conductive member includes a body and an inside large-diameter portion having a larger diameter than that of the body. The body is arranged in a mounting hole of the case. The inside large-diameter portion is disposed at one end of the body inside the case, and electrically connected to a second end of the current collector. The inside large-diameter portion is arranged so as to be in contact with an inner gasket such that the inner gasket and the second end of the current collector are sandwiched between the inside large-diameter portion and the case.
US08753759B2

An exemplary battery is provided in the present invention. The battery includes a current collector, a positive-electrode structure, a separation structure, a negative-electrode structure and a housing. The positive-electrode structure, the separation structure, the negative-electrode structure are encircled in sequence inside of the housing. At least one of the negative-electrode structure and the positive-electrode structure comprises chlorophyll. The battery of the present invention could store hydrogen by the chlorophyll of the positive-electrode structure and/or the negative-electrode structure to generate electricity.
US08753758B2

A low emissivity and EMI shielding transparent composite film typically for use in association with window glazing and comprising a transparent film substrate having on one side thereof an underlayer of abrasion resistant hardcoat material with at least one infrared reflective layer covering the underlayer, typically a metallic layer which may be encased in metal oxide layers, which is then covered with a thin external protective top coat of a cured fluorinated resin.
US08753754B2

The present invention provides a steel sheet for a can exhibiting excellent corrosion resistance, adhesive properties, and weldability, including a steel sheet, an Ni—Cu alloy plating layer formed on at least one surface of the steel sheet; and a chromate film layer formed on a surface of the Ni—Cu alloy plating layer, in which the Ni—Cu alloy plating layer has Ni attached thereto in an amount of from 0.30 g/m2 to 3.0 g/m2, and Cu contained therein in an amount of from 0.5 mass % to 20 mass %; and the chromate film layer has Cr attached thereto in an amount of from 1.0 mg/m2 to 40 mg/m2 in equivalent units of Cr.
US08753743B2

The invention relates to a material composed of nanoparticles essentially comprising a spin transition compound. The compound corresponds to the formula [ ( Fe 1 - y ⁢ M y ⁢ L 3 ) w ⁢ L 3 ] [ X 2 x ⁢ ( 1 - z x ′ ) ⁢ Y 2 ⁢ ⁢ z x ′ ] w in which L represents a 1,2,4-triazole ligand carrying an R substituent on the nitrogen in the 4 position; X is an anion having the valency x, 1≦x≦2; Y is an anion other than X having the valency x′, 1≦x′≦2; R is an alkyl group or an R1R2N— group in which R1 and R2 represent, each independently of the other, H or an alkyl radical; M is a metal having a 3d4, 3d5, 3d6 or 3d7 configuration, other than Fe; 0≦y≦1; 0≦z≦2; 3≦w≦1500. Applications: thermochromic pigment, data storage, optical limiters, contrast agent.
US08753740B2

The present invention provides a submicron-scaled graphitic fibril having a diameter or thickness less than 1 μm, wherein the fibril is free of continuous thermal carbon overcoat, free of continuous hollow core, and free of catalyst. The fibril is obtained by splitting a micron-scaled carbon fiber or graphite fiber along the fiber axis direction. The diameter or thickness is preferably less than 500 nm and can be greater or less than 100 nm. These graphitic fibrils exhibit exceptionally high electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, elastic modulus, and strength. The present invention also provides several products that contain submicron graphitic fibrils: (a) paper, thin-film, mat, and web products; (b) rubber or tire products; (c) energy conversion or storage devices, such as fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries, and supercapacitors; (d) adhesives, inks, coatings, paints, lubricants, and grease products; (e) heavy metal ion scavenger; (f) absorbent (e.g., to recover spill oil); (g) sensors; (h) friction and brake components; (i) radiation-shield components; and (j) nanocomposite materials.
US08753733B2

A composite laminate is made by providing at least a first composite ply and a second composite ply, each having longitudinally oriented fibers in a thermoplastic matrix. The second composite ply is disposed on, and in transverse relation to, the first composite ply. Preferably, the second ply is disposed at 90° relative to the first ply. An article can be manufactured by providing a core material and applying a reinforcing material to a portion of the core material. The reinforcing material is a reinforcing composite ply or a composite laminate as described herein. Optionally, the core material is a prepreg that may be a composite laminate.
US08753732B2

A flexible heat insulation product (1) comprising a flexible heat insulating core layer (4) with a first side (3) and a second side (9), and a flexible facing (2) that is connected to the first side (3) of the insulating core layer (4) by a plurality of elements (7) that extends from the facing (2) to the second side (9) of the insulating core layer (4). The insulation product (1) further comprises a flexible heat insulating cover layer (8) that is secured to the second side (9) of the insulating core layer (4). A method for producing such a product is also disclosed.
US08753729B2

There is provided an adhesive resin composition suitable for a multilayer structure which retains sufficient adhesive strength even when in contact with gasoline or light gas oil, and has excellent long-term durability and durability in high-temperature fuels and excellent adhesive strength at high temperature. The adhesive resin composition of the invention includes a modified ethylene polymer (A1) which is graft-modified with an unsaturated carboxylic acid or a derivative thereof and which has a density of 930 to 980 kg/m3, and an unmodified ethylene polymer (A2) having a density of 910 to 929 kg/m3, wherein the adhesive resin composition has a melt flow rate (MFR) [ASTM D 1238 (temperature: 190° C., 2160 g load)] of 0.1 to 3 g/10 min and a density of 920 to 930 kg/m3 and has an elution amount of 60 wt % or less at 85° C. or lower as determined by cross-fractionation chromatography. The present invention also relates to a multilayer structure formed by using the adhesion resin composition.
US08753718B2

The invention concerns the use of the ruthenium-containing precursor having the formula (Rn-chd)Ru(CO)3, wherein: (Rn-chd) represents a cyclohexadiene (chd) ligand substituted with n substituents R, any R being in any position on the chd ligand; n is an integer comprised between 1 and 8 (1≦n≦8) and represents the number of substituents on the chd ligand; R is selected from the group consisting of C1-C4 linear or branched alkyls, alkylamides, alkoxides, alkylsilylamides, amidinates, carbonyl and/or fluoroalkyl for R being located in any of the eight available position on the chd ligand, while R can also be oxygen O for substitution on the C positions in the chd cycle which are not involved in a double bond for the deposition of a Ru containing film on a substrate.
US08753707B2

The present invention includes a solid fat composition that includes an oil having saturated fat and a microbial oil having a long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid and an emulsifier. In particular, the solid fat composition can have high levels of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid and low amounts of emulsifiers. In preferred embodiments, the polyunsaturated oil is an unwinterized microbial oil. The invention also relates to methods for making such compositions and food, nutritional, and pharmaceutical products comprising said compositions. The present invention also includes a microbial oil product prepared by extracting an oil-containing fraction comprising at least one LC-PUFA from a microbial biomass, and treating the fraction by a process of vacuum evaporation, wherein the oil product has not been subject to one or more of a solvent winterization step, a caustic refining process, a chill filtration process, or a bleaching process.
US08753704B2

High concentration, that is, strong antimicrobial treatment materials such as high concentration aqueous ammonia solutions or even liquid ammonia may be applied to a foodstuff without deleterious effects by controlling the temperature of the foodstuff at or immediately after the time of contact with the antimicrobial treatment material. In particular, ice crystals are maintained at or just below the surface of the foodstuff at or immediately after the time of contact with the antimicrobial treatment material. The ice crystals in the foodstuff inhibit absorption of the antimicrobial treatment material into the foodstuff.
US08753700B2

A method for heating a food item includes providing a structure for supporting a food item, a heater capable of heating the structure and the food item, a sensor for sensing a temperature of at least one of the structure and the food item, and a controller for controlling the operation of the heater. The sensor senses the temperature of at least one of the structure and the food item. In one embodiment, the heater is operated on a rethermalization cycle to raise the temperature sensed by the sensor to a cook temperature. The rethermalization cycle may be initiated manually or automatically upon the temperature sensed by the sensor falling below a lower limit temperature. The heater is operated to cook the food item on a cook duty cycle as a function of the temperature sensed by the sensor.
US08753679B2

A capsule formulation of pirfenidone is provided that includes pharmaceutically acceptable excipients. In one embodiment, this capsule formulation is capable of sustaining desirable pharmacokinetic responses in a patient. Further provided are methods of treating fibrotic conditions and other cytokine-mediated disorders by administering pirfenidone capsules of such formulation to a patient in need.
US08753678B2

Provided are methods, systems and apparatuses for producing delivery devices, for example, for oral intake of an agent. The method can include assembling one or more layers including one or more materials with an agent or an agent-releasing formulation to form an intergraded device; folding the intergrated delivery device to form a folded integrated delivery device; and at least partially enclosing the folded delivery device to a form suitable for oral delivery.
US08753671B2

The present invention relates to a method for preparing by wet spinning a continuous filament based on hyaluronic acid in free acid form, notably soluble in water. The preparation method according to the invention comprises the following steps: a) preparing a spinnable aqueous solution of hyaluronic acid or of a hyaluronic acid salt, preferably a sodium hyaluronate solution; b) extruding said solution to an extrusion die; c) forming the filament by passing the extruded solution into a bath of acetic acid, concentrated to more than 80%, drawing and drying. The invention also relates to a filament based on hyaluronic acid in free acid form, said filament having swelling properties in water and physiological liquids and moreover being solubilizable in water under certain conditions.
US08753644B2

The present invention relates to compositions comprising peptides for preventing or treating allergy to house dust mites, and in particular to optimal combinations of peptides for preventing or treating said allergy.
US08753642B2

A method of treating or inhibiting hepatitic C virus (HCV). The method comprises administering an effective amount of at least one pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP) mutant alone or in combination with other anti-HCV agents.
US08753633B2

Human antibodies, preferably recombinant human antibodies, that specifically bind to human tumor necrosis factor α (hTNFα) are disclosed. These antibodies have high affinity for hTNFα (e.g., Kd=10−8 M or less), a slow off rate for hTNFα dissociation (e.g., Koff=10−3 sec−1 or less) and neutralize hTNFα activity in vitro and in vivo. An antibody of the invention can be a full-length antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof. The antibodies, or antibody portions, of the invention are useful for detecting hTNFα and for inhibiting hTNFα activity, e.g., in a human subject suffering from a disorder in which hTNFα activity is detrimental. Nucleic acids, vectors and host cells for expressing the recombinant human antibodies of the invention, and methods of synthesizing the recombinant human antibodies, are also encompassed by the invention.
US08753631B2

The present invention is directed to a therapeutic agent comprising a GPIIIa(49-66) specific targeting agent and a thrombi-specific homing agent. Also disclosed is the use of the therapeutic agent in carrying out a method of treating thromboembolic disorders and a method of inducing platelet fragmentation.
US08753622B2

The present invention relates to a novel RNA picornavirus that is called Seneca Valley virus (“SVV”). The invention provides isolated SVV nucleic acids and proteins encoded by these nucleic acids. Further, the invention provides antibodies that are raised against the SVV proteins. Because SVV has the ability to selectively kill some types of tumors, the invention provides methods of using SVV and SVV polypeptides to treat cancer. Because SVV specifically targets certain tumors, the invention provides methods of using SVV nucleic acids and proteins to detect cancer. Additionally, due to the information provided by the tumor-specific mechanisms of SVV, the invention provides methods of making new oncolytic virus derivatives and of altering viruses to have tumor-specific tropisms.
US08753613B2

A retraction material promoting both retraction and drying of the gingival sulcus around a tooth. The retraction material comprises an astringent and an absorbing or drying agent. The retraction material is placed with a syringe and capsule around the gingival sulcus prior to the taking of an impression in a dental procedure.
US08753604B2

Disclosed are compositions and methods useful for targeting therapeutics to cancerous cells and tumors. The disclosed targeting is useful for delivering therapeutic and detectable agents to cancerous cells and tumors.
US08753602B2

A method of forming a carbon nanotube array on a substrate is disclosed. One embodiment of the method comprises depositing a composite catalyst layer on the substrate, oxidizing the composite catalyst layer, reducing the oxidized composite catalyst layer, and growing the array on the composite catalyst layer. The composite catalyst layer may comprise a group VIII element and a non-catalytic element deposited onto the substrate from an alloy. In another embodiment, the composite catalyst layer comprises alternating layers of iron and a lanthanide, preferably gadolinium or lanthanum. The composite catalyst layer may be reused to grow multiple carbon nanotube arrays without additional processing of the substrate. The method may comprise bulk synthesis by forming carbon nanotubes on a plurality of particulate substrates having a composite catalyst layer comprising the group VIII element and the non-catalytic element. In another embodiment, the composite catalyst layer is deposited on both sides of the substrate.
US08753597B2

Systems and method for adjusting a cone angle of injected reductant directed into an engine exhaust upstream of a catalytic device based on the temperature distribution within the catalytic device are disclosed. In one particular example, a dosing unit comprising an adjustable piston is described whose adjustment further controls the distribution and amount of reaction fluid delivered therefrom. In this way, the fluid flow shape may be controlled to achieve a more optimal exhaust gas conversion based on the prevailing conditions within the exhaust gas system.
US08753596B2

The invention relates to a catalyst for removal of nitrogen oxides from the exhaust gas of diesel engines, and to a process for reducing the level of nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas of diesel engines. The catalyst consists of a support body of length L and of a catalytically active coating which in turn may be formed from one or more material zones. The material zones comprise a copper-containing zeolite or a zeolite-like compound. The materials used include chabazite, SAPO-34, ALPO-34 and zeolite β. In addition, the material zones comprise at least one compound selected from the group consisting of barium oxide, barium hydroxide, barium carbonate, strontium oxide, strontium hydroxide, strontium carbonate, praseodymium oxide, lanthanum oxide, magnesium oxide, magnesium/aluminum mixed oxide, alkali metal oxide, alkali metal hydroxide, alkali metal carbonate and mixtures thereof. Noble metal may optionally also be present in the catalyst.
US08753591B2

Molybdic oxide is recovered from molybdenite by a multistep process in which (A) the molybdenite is converted to soluble and insoluble molybdic oxide by pressure oxidation, (B) the insoluble molybdic oxide is converted to soluble molybdic oxide by alkaline digestion and then combined with the soluble molybdic oxide, and (C) the molybdenum values of the combined streams are extracted into an organic phase using a nonprimary amine. The extracted molybdenum values are recovered from the organic phase using aqueous ammonia to form ammonium dimolybdate (ADM) which is recovered as refined crystals from a two-step calcination process. Hallmarks of the process include one or more of economic ammonia recovery and recycle, use of ferrous sulfate to remove arsenic and/or phosphorus from the Mo-loaded aqueous ammonia strip liquor, two-stage calcination of ADM crystals, recovery of rhenium from a filtrate of the residual molybdenum precipitation stage, selenium removal from the liquid fraction from which rhenium is recovered, and caustic boil of the mother liquor from which the selenium is precipitated.
US08753588B2

Underdrain design for a multiwell device that when fixed to the device (either as an integral or removable component thereof), allows for adequate venting during filtration, minimizes or prevents air lock, and has improved structural integrity. Also disclosed is a laboratory device designed particularly for a multiplate format that includes a plate or tray having a plurality of wells, and an underdrain in fluid communication with each of the plurality of wells. The underdrain can be a separate, removable piece, or can be an integral unitary structure with the plate or tray forming a one-piece design. The design is preferably in compliance with SBS format.
US08753587B2

A microvalve assembly (10) includes an elongate valve body (14) having opposed first and second major surfaces, the first major surface defining a valve recess (34) and the second major surface defining first and second fluid ports (20,22). Both the fluid input port and the fluid output port extend in fluid communication with the valve recess. A gasket (12) is freely positioned within the valve recess so as to extend in overlying registry with either or both of fluid ports. A valve cover (16) is bonded to the valve body and includes a first planar surface positioned in overlying registry with the valve recess so as to enclose the gasket therein. The valve cover is deflectable into the valve recess so as to cause the gasket to seal at least one of the fluid ports.
US08753586B2

An apparatus for chemical separations includes a microfluidic substrate having an outlet aperture for outputting an eluent of a sample, a spray unit having an inlet to receive the eluent and an outlet to emit a spray of the eluent, and a force-applying unit. The spray unit has a deformable portion defining the inlet and having an elastic modulus that is lower than an elastic modulus of the microfluidic substrate. The force-applying unit, such as a spring, is disposed to urge the deformable portion in contact with the substrate to form a substantially fluid-tight seal.
US08753585B2

A device for handling liquid samples, comprising a flow path with at least one zone for receiving the sample, and a transport or incubation zone, said zones connected by or comprising an area having projections substantially vertical to its surface, said device provided with a sink with a capacity of receiving said liquid sample, said sink comprising an area having projections substantially vertical to its surface, and said sink being adapted to respond to an external influence regulating its capacity to receive said liquid sample.
US08753572B2

Stepped portions of a flow channel are reduced by completely fixing the channel that extends to the measuring unit, and reducing connections in the channel, thereby to suppress a disturbance in the flow of the liquid suctioned into the measuring unit. A means is provided so that the reaction solution and reagent suctioned will move towards the channel through which the liquids are suctioned.
US08753568B2

A microprocessor preprogrammable autonomous device with biofouling control and method for monitoring aquatic environment by disposing environmental sensors in a sensor chamber which programmably opens for allowing direct communication between the sensors and the fluid of interest for sampling and which is closed after the sampling sequence is completed to create an anti-fouling environment in the sensor chamber by dissolving a biocide salt in the chamber and exposing the sensors to the anti-fouling environment for a predetermined period of time.
US08753567B1

A method for controlling odor in an air scrubber makes use of a dicarboxylic acid, which is placed in contact with odor-causing contaminants, and which is maintained at a pH of about 5.0 to about 8.0.
US08753566B1

The invention relates to methods and apparatuses for treating a condensate stream from a condenser that contains odorous compounds, such as various condensate streams produced in a rendering process. In one embodiment, the condensate stream is treated by adding an oxidizer to the liquid condensate stream to oxidize odor-causing compounds in the stream prior to being treated in a waste water pre-treatment system. In this manner, the odor resulting from these compounds can be reduced or eliminated.
US08753558B2

A method of forming a shaped abrasive particle includes extruding a mixture into an opening in a screen within an application zone and translating the screen and belt to a release zone and separating the screen and belt to form a precursor shaped abrasive particle on the belt, wherein the screen and belt are separated at a release angle of at least about 15° and not greater than about 45°, wherein the release angle is defined as an angle between a surface of the screen and a surface of the belt.
US08753537B2

The present invention provides a mixture for liquid crystal medium and a liquid crystal display using the same. The mixture for liquid crystal medium comprises: at least one anisotropic liquid crystal material and a polymerizable monomer which will polymerize under UV irradiation. The weight percentage of the polymerizable monomer accounts for 0.1% to 1% of the total mixture for liquid crystal medium. In the mixture for liquid crystal medium and a liquid crystal display using the same according to the present invention, by using a polymerizable monomer which will polymerize under UV irradiation and the appropriate content ratio, the polymer bump with small size and good uniformity can be obtained within the mixture for liquid crystal medium after the polymerization, which avoids the bad liquid crystal alignment and the light spot occurred at the dark state of the liquid crystal panel, and then increases the response rapid of the liquid crystal panel to obtain high contrast ratio and stable mass production.
US08753530B2

An aspect of the present invention relates to a method of preparing a magnetic particle, which comprises attaching a transition metal-containing organic compound to a surface of a hard magnetic particle and then thermally decomposing the transition metal-containing organic compound to obtain the magnetic particle.
US08753526B2

The present application relates to a porous thin film having holes, wherein the holes are formed in the top part and/or the bottom part of the thin film and the holes are linked to the pores of the thin film; and the present invention also relates to a production method for a porous thin film having holes, comprising the use of a particle alignment layer as a mold.
US08753524B2

Systems and methods for treating a stream comprising a hydrocarbon liquid and an aqueous-based liquid are provided. The systems and methods may utilize a media composite comprising a mixture of a cellulose-based material and a polymer. In certain systems and methods, the media composite is capable of being backwashed. The stream comprising the hydrocarbon liquid and aqueous-based liquid may be separated by contacting the stream with the media composite. In certain system and methods, the stream comprising the hydrocarbon liquid and aqueous-based liquid may be coalesced by contacting the stream with the media composite.
US08753523B2

The invention is a method for treating fluid in a main fluid reservoir, e.g., a pool, spa, or water tank, etc., using ozonated air. A fluid filter is placed in an auxiliary fluid reservoir located in or next to the main fluid reservoir. An ozone generator pumps a combination of ozone and air into the auxiliary reservoir. Fluid in the auxiliary reservoir passes through a filter and back into the main reservoir without the use of any fluid pump. More specifically, a vertical lift tube is placed beneath the auxiliary fluid reservoir so that the open top of the lift tube is within the auxiliary reservoir. Fluid from the main reservoir is fed to the bottom of the lift tube. Ozone and air from the ozone generator is also piped into the lift tube near its bottom. The fluid flows through the filter due to the effect of ozone and air bubbles released by a diffuser at the bottom of the lift tube. The diffuser releases thousands of tiny bubbles into the lift tube, which cause the fluid in the tube to rise and mix with fluid already in the auxiliary fluid reservoir. This rising fluid also causes fluid to flow through the filter. The ozone treated fluid output from the filter is piped back into the main fluid reservoir.
US08753521B2

An offshore water-hydrocarbon separator system is capable of entrapping spilled oil offshore, and recovering the oil to a usable state for subsequent refining. The kinetic energy of a towing vessel provides the energy for establishing a flow path of oil and seawater through the hydrocarbon separator. Annular venturi provided at each successive stage in the separator accelerate a core flow of sea water substantially down the center of the flow path, while drag associated with aggregated oil particles forces oil outward, away from the core, to flow along the walls of each stage. The energy that establishes the core flow of water is provided by the kinetic energy of the surface vessel and the acceleration of core flow at each successive venturi. No other source of energy is needed to induce the water hydrocarbon separation.
US08753519B2

A process for removing silicon compounds from aqueous NaCl brine includes, first, adjusting a weak brine to a pH value of less than 3 with hydrochloric acid. Iron(III) chloride or other trivalent iron ions are added to the acidified weak brine, the obtained weak brine is then continuously fed to a stirred dissolution vessel which contains undissolved salt in addition to brine. Fresh salt is charged batch-wise and intermittently to the dissolution vessel to produce strong brine. The obtained strong brine is fed to a stirred buffer vessel, the pH value in this buffer vessel being maintained at a level ranging from 5 to 8. A strong-brine flow is continuously withdrawn from the buffer vessel and filtered, and the filtrate containing the added iron and silicon is discharged. Also a system for carrying out this process is disclosed.
US08753518B2

In one aspect the invention provides a system for treating a wastestream, particularly a radwaste, for safe disposal and, in final processing converting it into one or both forms including an aqueous form for safe discharge to the environment and a solidified form for safe disposal. In another aspect the invention provides the capacity to employ a step where a specific target element strategy can be set up synchronizing sorbent substance choices and multiple recycle options to remove target substances from wastestream as a part of its Sorption or Powder Sorbent Isotopic Reduction step (II). Other steps cooperate with Sorption step (II) including Oxidation (I), Solid-Liquid separation (III), and Selective Ion Exchange (IV) to deliver the wastestream to final processing.
US08753507B2

An artificial oil lifting unit uses an endless olephilic absorbent belt, driven by a surface equipment and tensed by a down hole equipment placed in the well production casing. The said absorbent belt (1) is looped over a central pulley (2) from a driving and collecting module (C) and driven by a double toothed belt (4) looped over six pulleys from which five are free (6,7,8,9 and 10). One is a driving pulley (5) placed over an entry shaft (36), the double toothed belt (4) being looped also over the oil absorbent belt on the central pulley and tensed with two identical systems (I) with pulleys commanded from the exterior of the case (13).
US08753505B2

An apparatus for treating a liquid includes a first flow generator having an outlet for generating a first flow stream and a reaction chamber positioned in proximity to the outlet of the first flow generator and having a cavity adapted to receive the first flow stream from the first flow generator and reverse its direction within the confined space of the cavity. The flow generator may be a cavitation generator for producing multiple cavitation bubbles in the first slow stream, or a nozzle for generating a flow stream devoid of cavitation bubbles. A method for treating a liquid includes directing the liquid into a first flow generator configured to generate a first flow stream of the liquid, and directing the first flow stream from the first flow generator into a cavity of a reaction chamber.
US08753498B2

An open optoelectrowetting (o-OEW) device for liquid droplet manipulations. The o-OEW device is realized by coplanar electrodes and a photoconductor. The local switching effect for electrowetting resulting from illumination is based on the tunable impedance of the photoconductor. Dynamic virtual electrodes are created using projected images, leading to free planar movements of droplets.
US08753494B2

The present disclosure relates to a gas sensor including a nanopore electrode and a fluorine compound coated on the nanopore electrode, and also relates to a preparing method of the gas sensor.
US08753485B2

The present invention provides a multilayer multiaxial woven fabric for a papermachine having a reduced interference pattern and accordingly improved dewatering uniformity. The present invention also provides a method of forming such multilayer multiaxial fabric.
US08753482B2

A sheet formation section of a paper machine includes a sensor that measures a first characteristic of a sheet of paper being formed. The sensor may measure a characteristic such as streaking, rises, depressions, or smoothness. The sheet formation section also includes an apparatus that applies a magnetic field to the sheet of paper being formed. The machine also includes a controller that causes the apparatus to apply the magnetic field in response to a signal from the sensor representative of the first characteristic. The magnetic field transforms a second characteristic of the sheet of paper. The apparatus may transform a characteristic such as water content or fiber orientation.
US08753473B2

A composite structural element and a method for making same are provided. The element includes a polymer foam core and at least one fibrous layer adhered to the polymer foam core by epoxy. Nano-particles are suspended in the epoxy prior to curing; preferably they are mixed with the hardener before it is mixed with the resin. The polymer foam core is preferably an exothermic foam such as polyurethane, and heat generated by the exothermic foam cures the epoxy, thereby causing the fibrous layer to adhere to the foam core. The nano-particles may be made from at least one of carbon, a ceramic, tungsten, a carbide, titanium, zircon, aluminum, silver, or boron. When carbon nano-particles are used, the strength of the composite is greatly increased, and the curing time of the heat-curable epoxy is significantly reduced. Ceramic nano-particles can be used to increase penetration resistance and provide increased ballistic protection.
US08753452B2

A device and method for removing particles, such as catalyst, from a chemical reactor tube by inserting a hollow tube body into the bottom end of a vertical tube, sealing between the hollow tube body and the vertical tube, blowing a gas through the hollow tube body into the bottom of the vertical tube, and vacuuming the top of the vertical tube while continuing to introduce gas into the bottom of the vertical tube.
US08753450B2

One exemplary embodiment can be a process for treating an interior of equipment for an isomerization unit. Generally, the isomerization unit includes at least one of a drying zone, an isomerization reaction zone, and a stabilizer zone, for receiving a feed stream. Usually, the feed stream includes one or more C4-C8 hydrocarbons. The process can include combining an anhydrous hydrogen stream and anhydrous organic chloride stream to form a hydrogen chloride feedstock, and passing the hydrogen chloride feedstock to a reaction zone containing a catalyst including at least one of nickel, palladium, and platinum on an alumina support to form a hydrogen chloride stream, and passing the hydrogen chloride stream upstream of the isomerization reaction zone.
US08753445B2

The invention relates to an apparatus and method for growing a high quality Si single crystal ingot and a Si single crystal ingot and wafer produced thereby. The growth apparatus controls the oxygen concentration of the Si single crystal ingot to various values thereby producing the Si single crystal ingot with high productivity and extremely controlled growth defects.
US08753413B1

Embodiments of the invention relate to polycrystalline diamond compacts (“PDCs”) comprising a polycrystalline diamond (“PCD”) table including a catalyst material therein that has been implanted with ions (e.g., carbon ions) and/or infiltrated from a host material implanted with carbon ions. In an embodiment, a PDC comprises a substrate and a PCD table bonded to the substrate. The PCD table includes a plurality of bonded diamond grains defining a plurality of interstitial regions. The PCD table includes an upper surface from which a region inwardly extends. At least a portion of the interstitial regions of the region includes a catalyst material disposed therein. At least a portion of the catalyst material may be at least saturated with carbon.
US08753407B2

Disclosed is an intraluminal gastrointestinal (GI) device that is placed at the time of surgery to protect a freshly constructed GI anastomosis, GI staple-line, or the like. For the esophagus and stomach, the device covers the esophagus, stomach, and anastomosis/staple-line. For the pancreas or biliary duct, the device covers the biliary duct, pancreatic duct, and small bowel. For the colon and rectum, the device is a self expanding protective barrier that covers the anal canal, the anus, and the colon or rectum, approximately 18 cm proximal to the anus. These devices provide a waterproof barrier between the gastrointestinal content and the mucosa of the GI tract and the newly constructed anastomosis. Additionally, the design of the device is made to prevent migration within the gastrointestinal tract and facilitate removal of the device.
US08753405B2

The method of accurately and correctly fitting and axially positioning at implantable ball to the neck trunnion of a hip replacement device, as during surgery, the ball adapted to be received in a socket, the ball having a bore, the method including the steps providing the neck trunnion with deformable metallic surface ribs, providing a deformable adapter and fitting the adapter over the ribs, providing a trial ball having a non-metallic bore, and including axially forcibly fitting that bore over the deformable adapter to deform the adapter without deforming the ribs, as the trial ball adjustingly arrives at selected axial position on the neck trunnion corresponding to correct position of the trial ball in the socket, and correspondingly subsequent correct axial positioning of the implantable ball on the neck trunnion.
US08753403B2

A joint assembly incorporated into reconditioned end surfaces established between an upper bone and an opposing lower bone. The assembly includes a first component anchored into a first of the reconditioned bone end surfaces and exhibiting a first exposed support surface and a second component anchored into a second of the reconditioned bone end surfaces and exhibiting a second exposed support surface further including a flexible and conveyable closed loop belt relatively displaceable upon contact with the first support surface. Entrapment pockets can be formed within the implantable components and for collecting wear particles and debris from the belt and in order to extend the life of the joint assembly.
US08753398B2

A method of inserting an expandable intervertebral implant between vertebrae of a human spine without overdistraction of the vertebrae is described. The method includes removing a portion of a disc between the vertebrae to create a disc space between the vertebrae. The unexpanded intervertebral implant may be positioned in the disc space. The intervertebral implant may be expanded to increase a height of the intervertebral implant, thereby increasing a separation distance between the vertebrae or a separation distance between an upper body and a lower body of the intervertebral implant. The increased height of the intervertebral implant may be maintained at substantially the expanded height, wherein the maximum separation distance between the two vertebrae during the procedure is the separation distance created during expansion of the intervertebral implant.
US08753396B1

A spinal implant for implantation in an intervertebral space is provided, such that the implant may provide a back-out prevention feature and may also provide a visual indication of whether the back-out prevention feature is engaged. The visual indication may be a contrast between a circular visible shape of the screw head and a non-circular visible shape of the screw head. The back-out prevention feature may provide engagement of a tapered thread in the screw head with an internal thread of the implant. A hard stop may also be provided. Such back-out prevention feature may also provide a torque-based indication of engagement or non-engagement of the back-out prevention feature. The implant may possess a polymeric posterior body joined to a metallic anterior body.
US08753390B2

A prosthesis for reducing injury to soft tissues of the body, comprising an implantable member adapted to simulate at least one of a size or a shape of a naturally occurring bursa, where the member may be inflatable or otherwise expandable, flexible or rigid, and may be composed of a biocompatible, biodegradable, or non-biodegradable material. The member is adapted to be implanted at a musculoskeletal attachment site or at a site between a muscle and a bone, and is shaped and sized to reduce injury to the site. The prosthesis may also include a plug which seals the prosthesis automatically upon removal of an inflation tube.
US08753385B2

A multi-port stent graft delivery device (100) has an annular access lumen (107) between a delivery catheter (112) and a main sheath (106), at least one indwelling access sheath (118, 122) within the access lumen, and an indwelling guide wire (138, 146) within the or each access sheath and a stent graft (131) retained in the delivery device. Upon deployment of the stent graft into the vasculature of a patient the indwelling guide wire can be used to facilitate stabilisation of the access sheath during cathertisation of a side branch and deployment of a side arm covered or uncovered stent therein through the advanced access sheath. A two part handle enables withdrawal of a nose cone dilator before final placement of the side arm stents. A manifold (114) associated with a proximal handle portion provides a plurality of access ports (116, 120).
US08753384B2

An assembly for delivering a self-expanding stent into a body lumen comprising a catheter adapted to deliver the self-expanding stent, the catheter having a stent delivery passage adapted to contain the stent in an at least partially radially compressed state, and a stent transfer member communicating with a distal end of the catheter, the stent transfer member having a cylindrical passage sized to circumferentially surround at least a portion of the stent in an at least partially radially expanded state, the stent transfer member further including a tapered passage disposed between the cylindrical passage and the delivery passage to radially compress the stent as the stent moves from the cylindrical passage into the tapered passage.
US08753381B2

An apparatus for determining a thermal property of tissue includes a base unit with one or more energy source and at least two, preferably detachable, leads. The distal end of each lead, which is introduced into the tissue to be treated, has at least two longitudinally spaced temperature measuring elements to measure surrounding tissue temperature and at least two longitudinally spaced electrode surfaces for applying current to the tissue. Each distal end is also provided with an element which uses energy emitted by the sources of energy to heat up the surrounding tissue. The base unit has computing elements, current generating elements for generating an alternating current, and conductance determining elements for determining the tissue conductance between pairs of electrode surfaces based on the alternating current applied by the current generating elements to the tissue. Methods for using the device and leads for use in the device are also described.
US08753362B2

The present invention provides a device which is adapted to press together the septum primum and the septum secundum between the atrial chambers to close any tunnel in the septum. The device in its preferred form has two clamping members, one on each side of the septum and a central connector which connects the two clamping members and passes through the tunnel. The device is configured to conform to the anatomy such that the tunnel is not substantially deformed by the device. The central connector, in its preferred form has two wires that are spaced apart so that the wires are proximate the lateral sides of the tunnel. The spacing allows the device to be centered at an appropriate location.
US08753358B2

Hernia repair using a mesh patch and a placement tool is described. The placement tool includes a plurality of adjustable blades and a control to move the adjustable blades between a clustered position that allows the blades to be inserted in an opening in a ply of the mesh patch and an expanded position to spread the mesh patch out in a planar fashion. Repair of a hernia includes compressing the mesh patch, inserting the adjustable blades of a placement tool into the opening in the mesh patch, inserting the mesh patch and tool into a patient, moving the adjustable blades from the clustered position to the expanded position, affixing the mesh patch to the patient, moving the adjustable blades from the expanded position to the clustered position, and removing the placement tool from the mesh patch and the patient.
US08753356B2

A surgical clip applier and methods for applying surgical clips to a vessel, duct, shunt, etc., during a surgical procedure are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a surgical clip applier is provided having a housing with a trigger movably coupled thereto and an elongate shaft extending therefrom with opposed jaws formed on a distal end thereof. The trigger is adapted to advance a clip to position the clip between the jaws, and to move the jaws from an open position to a closed position to crimp the clip positioned therebetween.
US08753354B2

Provided herein is an apparatus and method useful for surgical removal of mammalian tissue at specific depths and specific angles. In one or more implementations, an extraction instrument having a main body, a nipple portion, a punch, and an actuator may be utilized to extract one or more hair follicles.
US08753351B2

Occluding structures may be created within a body lumen by advancing a length of material distally through the body lumen. By drawing a distal location on the advanced length of material in a proximal direction, the material may be compacted into a structure which at least partially occludes the lumen. The occluding structure may be used to remove kidney stones from the ureter in conjunction with lithotripsy and irrigation.
US08753349B2

A device for early stabilizing of distracted tissue that includes a first implant, a second implant, a sliding expansion mechanism and a stabilizer. The first implant is capable of being attached to a first tissue region. The second implant is capable of being attached to a second tissue region. The sliding expansion mechanism engages the first implant and the second implant for distracting the first implant away from the second implant to create a distraction space for formation of the distracted tissue. The stabilizer rigidly fixes the first implant and the second implant after disengagement of the sliding expansion mechanism to rigidly stabilize the distracted tissue. The stabilizer includes in whole or in part a biodegradable, bioerodible or bioresorbable material.
US08753348B2

A tool is disclosed for use in distracting and compressing fractures of any of a variety of bones. In particular, the tool has a pair of engaging arms, one arm having a hook element to engage a bone plate connected to one side of a fracture, and the other arm having at least one recess for engaging a head of a bone screw or guide wire connected to the other side of the fracture. Actuation of the tool causes the opposing bone segments of the fracture to be pushed apart or drawn together, depending on whether the tool handles are squeezed together or pulled apart. The tool may have a scissors joint that allows the ends of the tool to maintain a parallel alignment during operation, thus reducing the chances for misalignment of the bone segments during operation.
US08753343B2

A bone fixing device includes an intramedullary nail (1) with a distal end part (2), a proximal end part (3), a center line (4), and a bore (5) that extends perpendicular to the center line (4) in the proximal end part (3) and is provided with a bore axis (6). The bone fixing device further includes a bone plate (10) with a top face (11), a bottom face (12) that is to be in contact with the bone, a continuous, central opening (13) which is located in the central portion of the bone plate (10) and connects the top face (11) to the bottom face (12), and several plate holes (14) that are also continuous and are disposed peripherally around the central opening (13).
US08753337B2

There is disclosed a diathermic cutter including a cylindrical main body member having a central axis, an axially elongated member including a tip end portion movable so as to change a projected state from a tip end of the main body member along the central axis of the main body member, an electrode including a base end portion on which the tip end portion of the elongated member is disposed and extending in a direction deviating from the central axis of the elongated member, and an electrically insulating member with which the electrode is coated in such a manner that at least a part of a base-end surface of the base end portion of the electrode in the vicinity of the tip end of the main body member is exposed toward the tip end of the main body member.
US08753330B2

A syringe adapter tool facilitates inline connection of a syringe with a catheter lumen, as well as torque transfer between the syringe and catheter. The adapter tool may further facilitate passage of an instrument through a seal zone portion of the catheter lumen, which seal zone portion is located in a proximal section of the catheter.
US08753325B2

Liquid drug transfer devices including a vented vial adapter having a top wall, a downward depending skirt, and a dual lumen puncturing spike. The top wall includes vent apertures in flow communication with an underlying air filter and protective hoods for covering the vent apertures from splashes. The hood-like hoods are preferably quarter sphere shaped with hood apertures facing radial outwards.
US08753323B2

An apparatus and method to suppress vacuum surges in a surgical aspiration system is disclosed and claimed. A vacuum surge suppressor includes a first fluid path for coupling to a surgical instrument, and a filter attached to the first fluid path. A flow restrictor is coupled to the filter with the filter disposed upstream of the flow restrictor. The filter defines a filter longitudinal axis that may be oriented vertically with respect to gravity, so that a downstream direction at the filter is upwards. The vacuum surge suppressor also includes a second fluid path for coupling to a vacuum pump. The second fluid path is connected to the flow restrictor and disposed downstream of the flow restrictor. A third fluid path is coupled to the filter and is connected to the second fluid path, bypassing the flow restrictor. A valve in the third fluid path selectively obstructs or permits flow in the third fluid path.
US08753321B2

The invention relates to methods of treating an eye that include coupling a suction ring to the eye and introducing a liquid into an interior chamber of a container element coupled to the suction ring. The container element is also coupled to a focusing lens of a laser system such that only the liquid within the interior chamber is positioned between the focusing lens of the laser system and an outer surface of the eye. In some embodiments, the suction ring has a first suction region that is designed to suck the suction ring onto an eye and a second suction region that is designed to couple the suction ring to the container element.
US08753319B2

A method and system for delivering a user-settable dose of a first medicament and a non-user settable dose of a second medicament through a single dose setter and a single dispense interface. The drug delivery system includes a drug delivery device and a medicated module. The drug delivery device comprises a single dose setter operably connected to a primary reservoir containing the first medicament. The medicated module comprises (i) a collapsible feature holding the second medicament and (ii) the single dispense interface having an output needle. Further, the drug delivery device and medicated module are each configured such that the single dose setter is mechanically linked to the collapsible feature after attachment of the medicated module to the drug delivery device.
US08753318B2

A retainer (34) is provided for holding a microprotrusion member (44) for application of the microprotrusion member (44) to the stratum corneum with an impact applicator (10). The microprotrusion member (44) includes a plurality of microprotrusions (90) which penetrate the stratum corneum to improve transport of an agent across the stratum corneum.
US08753317B2

A medical instrument includes a housing with a passage through which a catheter is received. A valve body is mounted in the passage, and, as the catheter penetrates through the valve body, the valve body conforms to the outer wall of the catheter to maintain a fluid tight seal between the valve body and the catheter. When the valve body is unstressed before being mounted in the passage, the valve body has a first planar dimension and a second planar dimension that is less than the first planar dimension.
US08753308B2

Systems and methods for administration of small volume sufentanil drug dosage forms to the sublingual mucosa of a subject using a device are disclosed. The dispensing device includes a lock-out feature and a means to retard or prevent saliva and/or moisture ingress such that the drug dosage forms in the device remain dry prior to administration.
US08753294B2

The present invention is generally directed to apparatuses and methods for evaluating the amount of “play” in a joint. In one embodiment, an apparatus is provided that quantifies the rotation of the tibia in response to a known torque. The apparatus is configured to minimize the influence of other joints on the rotation analysis. Other embodiments provide data related to movement of the tibia in other degrees of freedom.
US08753290B2

Devices and methods for automatic monitoring of fluid of a patient are disclosed, comprising a patient line, a transfer disk which receives the fluid and controllably transfers the fluid to test substrates, and a sensor disk which houses the test substrates. The sterile transfer disk may be configured to maintain the sterility of the patient sampling assembly while transferring samples to non-sterile components, such as the sensor disk.
US08753289B2

A pricking system includes lancets for producing a prick wound, sampling devices for collecting a sample of a body fluid from the prick wound, a housing having an opening for application of a body part in which the prick wound is to be produced, a drive arranged in the housing for moving one of the lancets to produce the prick wound and to then move one of the sampling devices to the prick wound so produced, a coupling part for coupling to the drive one of the lancets for a pricking movement and then coupling to the drive one of the sampling devices for a sampling movement, the coupling part being moved, during the pricking movement and the sampling movement, respectively, from a starting position into an end position by an advancing movement, and from the end position back into the starting position by a reversing movement, respectively, and a motion control which, during the sampling movement, causes the coupling part to reach an end position that differs from the end position reached by the coupling part during the pricking movement, wherein the end position reached by the coupling part in the sampling movement is laterally displaced relative to the end position reached by the coupling part in the prickling movement.
US08753288B2

A biopsy needle comprises a first lumen open to a tissue penetrating distal tip of the needle for receiving a tissue sample therein and a second lumen in combination with a filter separating the first and second lumens from one another, the filter being configured to permit fluids to pass therethrough while preventing the sampled tissue from passing therethrough.
US08753281B2

In one aspect, the invention relates to a probe. The probe includes a sheath, a flexible, bi-directionally rotatable, optical subsystem positioned within the sheath, the optical subsystem comprising a transmission fiber, the optical subsystem capable of transmitting and collecting light of a predetermined range of wavelengths along a first beam having a predetermined beam size. The probe also includes an ultrasound subsystem, the ultrasound subsystem positioned within the sheath and adapted to propagate energy of a predetermined range of frequencies along a second beam having a second predetermined beam size, wherein a portion of the first and second beams overlap a region during a scan.
US08753280B2

A locking mechanism for probe connector that is connected to a shaft of the probe connector, includes a door and a drive assembly for releasing or locking the probe connector by opening and closing of the door.
US08753268B2

An endoscopic access port and sheath assembly or laparoscopic port (10) comprises a sheath (12) and a haemostatic valve. The sheath has an elongate tubular body and a sheath lumen through it. The haemostatic valve comprising a housing (14), the housing comprises a tubular body with an internal lumen (18) and a first end and a second end. The first end is connected to the sheath and the sheath lumen and the internal lumen are in fluid communication. The second end of the housing has an access port. There is a substantially cylindrical valve assembly (27) within the housing at the second end of the housing. The substantially cylindrical valve assembly is formed from a plurality of valve segments (28). Each valve segment has an elongate body being in cross section a sector of a circle. Each valve segment is formed from a resilient material. The plurality of valve segments when assembled form the substantially cylindrical valve assembly and define between each other a plurality resilient interface regions (29) to receive and grip a medical device between them in use.
US08753262B2

An internal treatment apparatus for a patient having a flexible tubular body to be introduced into a patient includes a center opening for inserting therethrough an endoscope for observing a target site, the center opening being circular in cross section and disposed at a center of an end face of the flexible tubular body; and a plurality of circumferential apertures through which surgical instruments are inserted for performing a surgical procedure on the target site, the plurality of circumferential apertures being provided in the flexible tubular body at equi-angular intervals around the center opening.
US08753261B2

An endoscope apparatus comprises an insertion portion having an observation optical system attached onto the distal end portion thereof and having flexibility, a thrust generating portion for generating a thrust by rotation, formed beyond a predetermined length on an outer-peripheral surface of the insertion portion in a longitudinal-axis direction, a rotation device for rotating the thrust generating portion around the longitudinal axis, and a control portion for controlling a rotational speed of the thrust generating portion according to an insertion length of the thrust generating portion inserted in a subject.
US08753260B2

Surgical instruments for prolapse repair are disclosed. The surgical instruments have straight portions and helical portions.
US08753259B2

The invention provides, in one embodiment, a sling assembly including an implantable supportive sling and a biocompatible dissolvable protective treatment on at least a portion of the sling.
US08753258B2

An intravaginal device has a working portion (e.g., intravaginal urinary incontinence device suppository, tampon) and an anchoring portion comprising at least one member extending beyond at least one end of the working portion to maintain the working portion in place during use.
US08753256B2

A portable external device for a mechanical circulation support system includes first and second power sources, e.g. batteries and control electronics for redundant uninterrupted operation of an implantable blood pump. The control and power source module may be configured to accommodate a variety of wearable configurations for patient convenience and comfort.
US08753250B2

A method for startup control of a motor vehicle whose drive train comprises a drive engine built as a turbo-charged internal combustion engine, an automated friction clutch, and an automatic stepped transmission, with a startup which is triggered by the activation of the gas pedal from the stationary state, after engagement of a determined startup gear. The driven engine, in conjunction with coordinated engagement of the friction clutch, is controlled from the idle speed to a startup speed and from the idle torque to a determined startup torque. To reduce the load on the friction clutch, the method provides that the lowest possible engine speed, which can be generated spontaneously under load from the idle speed depending on the dynamic operating characteristics of the drive engine and with which the drive engine can generate the determined startup torque, is determined and set as the startup speed.
US08753244B2

A bearing pin for a planetary transmission, which has a cylindrical base body with a radial bore formed in one axial end of the base body. A locking element is mounted with a salient radial portion in the radial bore and serves as an anti-rotation feature of the base body. The bearing pin creates a possibility of reliable fixing of a bearing pin in a planetary transmission with a low-complexity manufacturing procedure. Also, a carrier arrangement for a planetary transmission, which includes such a bearing pin is disclosed.
US08753235B1

A ball kit comprising at least one shell and at least one removable bladder operative to be insertable into the at least one shell. A ball kit comprising at least one shell having at least one aperture and a plurality of removable bladders. A ball comprising a shell and a removable bladder positioned within the shell. A method of using a ball, comprising placing a removable bladder within a shell and inflating the removable bladder within the shell.
US08753232B2

A swing weight training device for stringed sports rackets includes two major parts designed to be secured together from opposing sides of the racket strings, to be quickly secured and removed without damage to the strings. An over-molded elastomeric coating encases a mass, providing a soft surface to grab the strings and keep the swing weight from moving or sliding on the strings. The over-mold material may also cover a portion of an attachment mounting stud that protrudes between the strings. An opposing quick attachment knob receives a portion of the stud projecting through strings, securing the mass with a low friction material that slides easily against the racket's strings without damage and providing a quick but secure attachment of the device to the strings of the racket. The knob may have either a threaded attachment or a quick release mechanism incorporated within the stud attachment system.
US08753228B2

A golf club head having a replaceable striking face is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses a golf club head where at least a portion of the frontal striking surface of the face is detachable and replaceable to improve performance. A golf club head in accordance with the present invention may generally have a thinned striking face with a thickness of less than about 3.0 mm yielding a golf club head with a larger sweet spot that's greater than 6% of the frontal striking surface; defined as an area of the frontal striking surface having at least 99% of the maximum characteristic time between about 239 microseconds to about 257 microseconds.
US08753203B1

A compositing apparatus is provided that has, in certain implementations, electronic circuitry for combining visual content for an electronic game of chance. The compositing apparatus may receive wagering display information from a wagering engine that controls wagering aspects of the game and entertainment display information from an entertainment engine that controls non-wagering aspects of the game. The compositing apparatus may combine the wagering and entertainment display information for presentation to a player on a display. In certain implementations, the compositing apparatus also enables the wagering engine to control the output of display information on the display.
US08753194B2

A gaming machine includes configured to communicate with a remote server, and further configured to detect a reportable event during play of a game by a player, wherein the reportable event is associated with a winning outcome having an associated award amount. The processor also receives an acknowledgement of the reportable event from the player, and transmits the acknowledgement of the reportable event and the award amount to the remote server for use in generating a taxable accrual log.
US08753191B2

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a slot machine having multipliers that randomly appear on selected symbols during play. In one embodiment, a game device comprises: a display device; an input device; and a processor for accessing a plurality of instructions which cause the processor to provide a game comprising: a plurality of reels, each of the reels including a plurality of symbol positions; a plurality of symbols at the plurality of symbol positions on the reels; a predetermined multiplier symbol, the multiplier symbol being randomly generated before every spin of the game; at least one predetermined winning symbol combination of a plurality of winning symbol combinations including the predetermined multiplier symbol; and an award associated with the predetermined winning symbol combination, the award being multiplied by the predetermined multiplier symbol.
US08753183B2

Techniques to automatically provide assistance for electronic games are described. An apparatus may comprise a game strategy application arranged to receive as input game telemetry information representing gameplay of an electronic video game on a client device. The game strategy application may process the game telemetry information to determine whether a player of the electronic video game potentially needs assistance, and if so, automatically retrieve appropriate game strategy information from a local or remote datastore. The game strategy application may then send the retrieved game strategy information to the same or different client device. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08753176B2

A device for treating wafers on assembly carriers is disclosed. A wafer to be treated can be fixed on a liquid film that is located between the front side of the wafer and the assembly carrier by freezing of the film.
US08753173B2

During grinding of mutually parallel edges of glass plates every edge of the glass plate is ground using a grinding tool or two grinding tools disposed one behind the other and cooling agent is directed from a side of the glass plate toward the grinding tool and supplied using a supply line divided via a redirection and separating segment into a plurality of fine streams of cooling agent, and a position of the grinding tool can be adjusted such that at least the position of the grinding tools relative to the assigned edge of the glass plate, which is passing through, is calibrated and the corners of the glass plate are ground to form a chamfer.
US08753165B2

A playmate toy or similar children's toy is provided having associated wireless, batteryless ID tag that can be read from and/or written to using a radio-frequency communication protocol. The tag is mounted internally within a cavity of the toy and thereby provides wireless communication of stored information without requiring removal and reinsertion of the tag. In this manner, a stuffed animal or other toy can be quickly and easily identified non-invasively, without damaging the toy. Additional information (e.g., unique personality traits, special powers, skill levels, etc.) can also be stored on the ID tag, thus providing further personality enhancement, input/output programming, simulated intelligence and/or interactive gaming possibilities.
US08753162B2

The invention is a set for building toy houses, in particular doll's houses and the like, including wall panels (1, 2, 3, 4) with and without openings for windows and doors, and coupling elements (5, 6, 7, 8) for assembling the wall panels. Each wall panel has a reduced thickness section in each corner thereof for insertion into a coupling element. The reduced thickness section extends on both sides of the wall panel as a plane, recessed section (10). Each recessed section extends between staggered edges (11) and is provided with a depression (12, 13) provided centrally on both sides thereof, the coupling element being configured with parallel lateral faces (14, 15) for enclosing the corner area.
US08753161B1

A snowman kit and method of making a snowman is disclosed. In one embodiment, the kit comprises two legs, a base bowl, and a torso cap. The two legs form the base of the snowman. A torso formed from snow is placed in the base bowl. A torso cap of plastic is placed on the top of the torso. Plastic arms are attached to the torso cap, and a head is formed and placed on the torso cap.
US08753156B2

A remote powered propulsive device having a rudder which carries a propeller or oscillating fins which are powered by pedals alone or with hydraulic assist or by an electric motor.
US08753153B2

A canted coil spring includes a plurality of canted coils generally canted relative to a centerline extending through the coils. At least one coil when viewed in the direction of the centerline appears to have a non-elliptical shape and a non-circular shape when the at least one coil is in the unbiased state. The plurality of coils is generally canted at a first coil angle relative to the center line. The at least one coil includes at least one section canted at a second coil angle relative to the centerline. The second coil angle is different from the first coil angle when the at least one coil is in an unbiased state.
US08753152B1

A radially uniform spring-biased intra-pole plug connector and transformer outside the trunk configuration for an electric artificial tree is described. The radially uniform plug comprises a springed-tip and a prong, and allows the tree trunk segments to be connected at any point along their 360 degree circumference. The plug connector resembles the structure of a car cigarette lighter. A mold is used to sandwich the plug within the trunk. A plug portion of the plug connector is housed in one trunk segment, and a receptacle portion is housed in a different trunk segment, such that when the trunk segments are assembled, the plug is connected, illuminating the tree. The plug allows the electrical wiring to be hidden and housed within the trunk, providing safety, convenience to the user and giving the tree a cleaner appearance. The transformer outside the trunk configuration makes the trunk safer, more lightweight and less bulky.
US08753151B2

A connector module includes an electrical connector and a sound-receiving component. The connector includes an insulation casing and multiple conductive terminals disposed at and passing through the insulating casing. The insulation casing has a jack hole at the outer-side thereof and a channel at the inner-side thereof and extending along an axial direction. The connector is adapted to connect the plug plugged into the channel from the jack hole. The sound-receiving component is disposed at the insulation casing along a radial direction, wherein the insulation casing has an opening communicated with the channel and corresponding to the sound-receiving component and the sound-receiving component is adapted to receive the sound transmitted into the channel from the jack hole via the opening. A handheld electronic device is also provided which includes a casing and a connector module disposed in the casing and adapted to connect a plug or receive a sound.
US08753146B1

A universal test connector is disclosed for connecting a data storage device including a plug connector, a USB interface connector, and a plurality of serial I/O (SIO) contacts to a data storage device tester. The universal test connector includes a receptacle connector configured to connect to the plug connector, a cross-member configured to conform around the USB interface connector, and a plurality of SIO contacts configured to connect to the plurality of SIO contacts on the data storage device.
US08753143B2

A connection structure for a flexible circuit cable includes a flexible circuit cable that has a flexible circuit substrate having a first end bonded to a soldering stage of the connector housing with first finger pad conductive contacts of conductive lines of the flexible circuit cable respectively corresponding to cable soldering sections of metal conductive terminals of the connector. A soldering layer is formed between a metal coating layer of the first finger pad conductive contact of each of the conductive lines and the cable soldering section of the corresponding metal conductive terminals to set the conductive lines of the flexible circuit cable in electrical connection with the metal conductive terminals of the connector.
US08753136B2

A power feeding plug locking device that locks a power feeding plug to a power feeding inlet. The power feeding inlet is arranged in a machine including a door that can be locked. The locking device includes a lock mechanism of which operational state is shifted between a lock state and an unlock state. The lock mechanism prohibits removal of the power feeding plug from the inlet in the lock state and allows removal of the power feeding plug from the inlet in the unlock state. An operation unit is operated when switching the operational state of the lock mechanism between the lock state and the unlock state. A door lock state confirmation unit confirms whether the door of the machine is locked. A controller controls the operational state of the lock mechanism based on the operation of operation unit whether the door is locked.
US08753134B1

An outdoor power socket having protective lid structure is disclosed, comprising a socket body, a connection element including positioning pillars, a protective lid, a pivotal axle and a torsion spring. Herein the pivotal axle is used to combine the protective lid with the connection element, and the protective lid can be flipped over the connection element. Moreover, an electric power socket is installed on the front case of the socket body, and a combination part is set up on one side of the power socket. In this way, it is possible to combine the positioning pillar of the connection element into the positioning part of the front case of the socket body such that the fixation pillar on the connection element penetrates the fixation hole of the combination part thereby allowing the protective lid to cover or open the power socket.
US08753127B2

A method and apparatus for a data object previewer is described. In an embodiment, the invention is a method. The method includes detecting a change in a structure. The method also includes processing the structure into a preview. The method further includes presenting the preview.In another embodiment, the invention is a system. The system includes a processor, a bus coupled to the processor, and a memory coupled to the bus. The processor is to detect a change in a structure, process the structure into a preview, and present the preview.
US08753125B1

The submitted game with folding board stylized like a baseball field is uniquely associated with Baseball, providing entertainment about people or an original learning method to sustain interest and retention of any substituted subject. Rules in an instructive copyrighted Manual simultaneously enhance English use. Also boxed for two to twenty-two players aged five on, are two teams alternating at bat once an inning; laminated picture cards with removable holders represent team manager, umpire and nine members. Each of nine members has playing position originally correlated with the nine speech parts. Defense requires Offense to use speech parts designated at bases to fit the nine designated sentence parts for sentence construction to win with runs and walks. The subject's vocabulary is listed by speech parts, kindergarden through twelve on. After pitcher selects verb for each batter, Offense chooses vocabulary as designated to make and record sentences for reteaching.
US08753124B2

A method and apparatus for determining and prescribing a quantifiable, reproducible, and customized diet for a patient suffering from dysphagia.
US08753122B2

A smoke simulator system (1) for an aircraft simulator cockpit said system (1) comprising a water tank (2), an ultrasonic generator (3), said ultrasonic generator (3) being inside said water tank (2), supply means (7) to said water tank (2) and outlet means (8) from said water tank (2) for smoke. The invention relates as well to a method to operate such a smoke simulator system (1) for an aircraft simulator cockpit.
US08753106B2

Methods and systems for producing thermoformed articles from pre-cut thermoformable billets are provided. The system may include a heating apparatus for heating the billets, a billet thermoformer for thermoforming the billet into an article, a discharge system for evacuated the formed articles from the thermoformer, and an inspection system for inspecting each of the formed articles for the presence of a defect. Conveyors and billet carriers are provided for transporting the billets between the various components of the system, and loaders are provided for loading the billets onto the conveyor and/or billet carriers.
US08753101B2

Provided is an apparatus for molding a crash pad for a vehicle, which includes a first metal mold in which an insert cavity is formed, a second metal mold installed opposite the first metal mold, an insert inserted into the insert cavity and having a through-hole toward the first metal mold so as to define a boundary between an upper part and a lower part of the crash pad that is injection-molded by the first and second metal molds, and a resin introducing unit installed in the first metal mold abutting on the insert and having an elastically adjusted space into which molding resin is introduced through the through-hole when an injection pressure exceeds a predetermined level.
US08753088B2

A propeller blade retention system and method of manufacture are disclosed. Because of the design, a truly integral hub is able to house a set of variable pitch blades. Each hub socket establishes a substantially cylindrical interface with its respective blade, making the blade slidably receivable for installation. Each blade is allowed axial rotation, and held inside the socket by a set of angular contact bearings. A snap ring locks the blade against coming back out of the socket. An O-ring is provided in the interface to create a fluid seal. The hub alone accomplishes all of the required load-bearing and weather-seal functions.
US08753085B2

A device for changing a pitch of a blade of an impeller/propeller is disclosed. The device includes a linear actuator, a first bearing and a second bearing, allowing a relative axial movement between the first bearing and second bearing. The first bearing is mounted between a supporting structure of the rotor shaft and a non-rotary mechanical element, allowing a relative rotation between the supporting structure and the linear actuator. The second bearing is mounted between the second portion and a lever having a rotary point. Operating the linear actuator leads to an angular movement of the lever causing a change of the pitch of a blade, and when operating the at least one linear actuator, a force is generated that acts upon the non-rotary element, so that the rotor shaft is unaffected by the force.
US08753071B2

A method for providing a fluid cooling system within a high temperature component is described. At least one microchannel is formed in an external surface of the component; and one or more coolant passage holes are then formed, extending from at least one of the microchannels to an interior region of the component. A layer of a metallic structural coating is then applied over the external surface. At least one slot, or a set of relatively small passive cooling holes, are then formed through the metallic structural coating; extending into at least a portion of the microchannels. A second coating layer is then applied over the first layer. In some embodiments, a sacrificial material is deposited into the microchannels before the first coating layer is applied. Related articles are also described.
US08753067B2

In one embodiment, a steam valve apparatus includes: a hydraulic cylinder including an internal space sectioned into first and second chambers by a piston operated by a hydraulic liquid; a first passage to supply the hydraulic liquid to the first chamber; a second passage connecting the first and second chambers; a third passage to drain the hydraulic liquid from the second chamber; an electromagnetic valve switched between first and second states; a first cartridge valve opening the first passage when the electromagnetic valve is in the first state and closing the first passage when the electromagnetic valve is in the second state; and a second cartridge valve closing the first passage when the electromagnetic valve is in the first state and opening the first passage when the electromagnetic valve is in the second state.
US08753063B2

The present invention discloses apparatuses and method for configuring a compartmentable equipment to accommodate emergency responses. An exemplary equipment comprises a plurality of removable compartments for storing workpieces so that in emergency events, such as power failure or equipment failure, the workpieces can be removed from the equipment for continuing processing without disrupting the flow of the fabrication facility. The compartmentable equipment can comprise emergency access ports, including mating interface to a portable workpiece removal equipment to allow accessing the individual compartments without compromising the quality, defects and yield of the workpieces stored in the stocker.
US08753055B2

A device for connecting two components, comprising: an anchoring element (12) with an elongated anchoring section (14) with an elongated hollow space (16) and a head section (18), a fastening element (38) with a head (44) and a pin section (40) with an outer thread, at least four elastic locking feet (22, 24) being provided on the anchoring section, wherein two locking feet are provided on opposing sides of the anchoring section, respectively and the locking feet (22, 24) each have at least two locking shoulders (28, 30) arranged offset in the longitudinal direction of the anchoring section, for locking on openings of components of different thicknesses, and wherein opposing locking feet each have identically designed locking shoulders, which are however offset with respect to the locking shoulders of other opposing locking feet in the longitudinal direction of the anchoring section, and in the elongated hollow space of the anchoring section at least two diametrically opposed rows are provided, each with a plurality of fins (32) being directed radially inwards, wherein the axial distance between the fins (32) is not equal to the thread pitch of the pin section (40).
US08753052B2

A head is formed so that the maximum diameter portion as viewed from the front is arranged in a different position axially with respect to the maximum diameter portion as viewed from the side. The horizontal cross-section of the head is such that a first ellipse is formed in the maximum diameter portion, and a second ellipse is formed in the maximum diameter portion with the long axis perpendicular to the long axis of the first ellipse. The horizontal cross-sectional shape of the head is gradually changed in the axial direction so as to continue from the first ellipse to the second ellipse. Each one of the horizontal cross-sections has the same circumferential length at different axial positions on the head.
US08753038B2

A marine geophysical survey cable retriever system. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including causing a submerged survey cable to surface. In some cases, causing the submerged survey cable to surface includes: shedding ballast weights when the survey cable reaches or exceeds a first predetermined depth; and inflating a lifting bag when the survey cable reaches or exceeds a second predetermined depth.
US08753034B2

A crash barrier system is provided that generally includes a hydraulic actuator driven piston operably connected to a hydraulic circuit and the crash barrier. In general, the hydraulic circuit includes a normal-UP and normal-DOWN section, an emergency-UP section, and an overpressure relief sub-system. In order to automatically provide corrective action in the event of an overpressure condition, the overpressure relief sub-system includes an external pressure relief valve that is connected to the hydraulic circuit. Upon occurrence of condition that causes the hydraulic fluid pressure to exceed a predetermined value, hydraulic fluid is released through the pressure relief valve to maintain the pressure at or below the predetermined value.
US08753028B1

A ring binder has a standard ring assembly having a ring base and upstanding rings, a ring assembly support having a plurality of indents positioned along its sides, a binder connector having a plurality of upstanding tabs, and a plurality of binder covers each having a center spine with a plurality of slots configured to accept each of the plurality of binder connector tabs. The ring binder is assembled by the insertion of the binder connector tabs into slots of the binder cover and then into the indents of the ring assembly support. The ring binder can be sold assembled or as a kit, which would include a plurality of interchangeable binder covers.
US08753019B2

The turning bearing has a separator whose leading and trailing sides are concaved to fit over circular rolling surfaces of the rollers to provide concavities where concaved surfaces lying either in parallel with and in perpendicular to the axis of the roller. The rollers fit in the separator in either of two different directions. The separator can be easier installed into the raceway through a loading hole without the posture of the separator in mind. The separator has a quadrilateral in a transverse cross-section perpendicular to a traveling direction of the separator of which a peripheral surface is in opposition to the outer ring and the inner ring. The separator has a center through-hole. The concaved surfaces in the separator are contoured in arced or curved profiles and bulge gradually closer to a circular edge of the through-hole to form arcing bulges at bottoms of the curved surfaces.
US08752988B2

There is provided a taillight for vehicles or trailer trucks with built-in RF signal communication antenna which, according to its features, enables the creation of a taillight with its own specific structure, electromechanical type and destined to place a lighting module with lighting function and a RF signal communication antenna with RF signal communication function regardless the frequency or type of signal on the surface of vehicles or trailer trucks in general, in order to enable an extremely practical, safe and precise way to optimize the procedures for placing communication RF signal antennas and their signal transmissions in vehicles or automotive trailers, with complete invisibility and excellent elimination of any interference in these transmissions.
US08752974B2

A pace setting device having a cylinder, top circular slab, a circular wall, an enclosed region; a piece of material connected at the top circular slab and a cuff at the cylinder base. The device has multiple springs connected between the cylinder and the piece of material holding the piece of material and the cylinder together. The piece of material serves as a large touching zone for athletic pace setting. A row of LEDs arranged within cavities that perforate the circular cylindrical wall are lighted by a battery having a snap terminal connected to a first jumper connection and a push button device operable to activate a lighting circuit made of the row. The first jumper connection is connected to two resistors that are respectively connected to two sets of differently colored LEDs and a second jumper connection having connections to both sets of LEDs and the push button device.
US08752972B2

Disclosed herein is a lighting system that may include a faceplate, a lighting component, a common electrical component, a battery, means for sensing that normal power is not available, means for triggering a connection between the battery and the light emitting device, means for displaying whether the battery is charged, and a means for triggering a test of the light emitting device and the battery. The faceplate may be sized to cover a single gang electrical box and may include a means to mount approximately flush to the electrical box. The lighting component may be permanently affixed to the faceplate and may include a light emitting device in a first portion of the faceplate such that when illuminated light may emit away from the electrical box.
US08752965B2

A stereoscopic display apparatus includes an image projection module, a plurality of projection lenses and an optical path switching module. The optical path switching module is disposed between the image projection module and the projection lenses. The optical path switching module has a light-incident surface and different light-emitting surfaces. An image signal generated by the image projection module enters the optical path switching module through the light-incident surface. The optical path switching module includes a plurality of polarization beam splitters and a polarization adjusting module. The polarization adjusting module is disposed between the polarization beam splitters. The optical path switching module is used for switching the polarization adjusting module time-sequentially for guiding the image signal to those different light-emitting surfaces respectively, and accordingly a plurality of image formation beams are formed from the light-emitting surfaces though the projection lenses.
US08752963B2

The technology provides various embodiments for controlling brightness of a see-through, near-eye mixed display device based on light intensity of what the user is gazing at. The opacity of the display can be altered, such that external light is reduced if the wearer is looking at a bright object. The wearer's pupil size may be determined and used to adjust the brightness used to display images, as well as the opacity of the display. A suitable balance between opacity and brightness used to display images may be determined that allows real and virtual objects to be seen clearly, while not causing damage or discomfort to the wearer's eyes.
US08752958B2

A method and apparatus for increasing the depth of focus of the human eye is comprised of a lens body, an optic in the lens body configured to produce light interference, and a pinhole-like optical aperture substantially in the center of the optic. The optic may be configured to produce light scattering or composed of a light reflective material. Alternatively, the optic may increase the depth of focus via a combination of light interference, light scattering, light reflection and/or light absorption. The optic may also be configured as a series of concentric circles, a weave, a pattern of particles, or a pattern of curvatures. One method involves screening a patient for an ophthalmic lens using a pinhole screening device in the lens to increase the patient's depth of focus. Another method comprises surgically implanting a mask in the patient's eye to increase the depth of focus.
US08752955B2

An inkjet printer includes a movable conveyance belt, a first charging device, and a second charging device. Upon the conveyance belt, a recording medium is placed and conveyed at a given conveyance speed in a longitudinal, conveyance direction of the belt. The first charging device is disposed in contact with the belt while supplied with a first alternating current voltage to create a first electrified portion in the conveyance belt where positive and negative electric charges are arranged alternately with each other in the conveyance direction for electrostatically attracting the recording medium to the belt. The second charging device is disposed adjacent the belt to contact the recording medium conveyed on the belt while supplied with a second alternating current voltage to create a second electrified portion in the recording medium for cancelling an electric field originating from the first electrified portion of the belt.
US08752954B2

A sheet conveyance apparatus comprising: a sheet conveyance path; a loop forming unit that is disposed on the sheet conveyance path and bends, in a loop, the sheet to be conveyed; and a guide unit that is stepwise high at both sides whereas low at the center, as viewed in a sheet conveyance direction, and extends in the sheet conveyance direction, wherein the sheet sagging in the loop by the loop forming unit enters a guide region being defined between opposite guide faces of paired steps in the stepwise guide unit and having a width according to the width of the sheet, so that the side edges of the sheet abut against the guide faces, thus correcting the skewing of the sheet in the sheet conveyance direction.
US08752949B2

An ink composition includes: a pigment; water; a polymerizable monomer that is capable of being polymerized by an active energy ray; and an initiator that is capable of initiating polymerization of the polymerizable monomer by the active energy ray, wherein a number of particles contained in the ink composition having a particle diameter of 0.8 μm or more is 20,000 particles/μl or less.
US08752948B2

An inkjet recording ink including a water-soluble organic solvent, a colorant, at least one fluorine-based surfactant having a chemical structure represented by Structural Formula (I) below, and water, where Rf represents any one of CF3, CF2CF3, (CF2)3F, and (CF2)4F, and X plus Y is an integer of 4 or 5.
US08752945B2

A cartridge including: an engagement portion disposed on a first surface facing a first direction, a first reservoir storing a first liquid including a colorant, a second reservoir storing a second liquid having a characteristic of coagulating the colorant, and a third reservoir storing a third liquid including water. Each of the first, the second, and the third reservoirs includes an outlet portion that directs liquid from an interior of the respective reservoirs to an exterior of the cartridge in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The outlet portions of the first, the second, and the third reservoirs do not overlap each other in the first direction.
US08752942B2

A multifunctional printer including a body, a cover, a print head, an ink delivery module, an ink delivery pipe and a driving module is provided. The cover is pivoted to the body, such that the cover is open relative to the body, and therefore elements in the body are exposed. The print head and the ink delivery module are both disposed in the body, wherein the ink delivery module having multiple color cases is located adjacent to the cover. The ink delivery pipe is connected between the print head and the ink delivery module. The driving module includes a first driving element and a second driving element, wherein the first driving element is disposed on the ink delivery module while the second driving element is disposed on at least one of the body and the cover and engages with the first driving element.
US08752938B2

A liquid ejecting head includes a flow channel forming substrate having pressure generation chambers communicating with a nozzle opening and arranged in parallel along a lateral direction. A piezoelectric element is provided on one surface of the flow channel forming substrate in correspondence to the pressure generation chamber, and has a first electrode, a piezoelectric layer provided on the first electrode and a second electrode provided on the piezoelectric layer. In a direction intersecting with the arrangement direction of the pressure generation chambers, in boundaries between an active section that is a substantial driving section and an inactive section that is not a substantial driving section of the piezoelectric layer, the first electrode includes a taper section of which a width is gradually decreased toward the boundary from the active section side.
US08752937B2

An inkjet head includes a nozzle plate having a plurality of nozzle holes to eject ink droplets, a plurality of ink chambers in which ink is filled, partitioned by sidewalls in communication with the nozzle holes, a plurality of electric conversion elements to generate energy to the ink in the ink chambers for ejecting the ink droplets from the nozzle holes, and an ink chamber plate on which a plurality of drive circuits are mounted to apply a drive voltage to each of the electric conversion elements. Each of the drive circuits includes, on a side face having a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides, drive voltage terminals arranged along one long side to apply the drive voltage to the electric conversion elements via a wiring, input terminals arranged near one short side to which control signals are input, and output terminals arranged near the other short side to output all the control signals.
US08752936B2

A liquid ejection head has recessed portions are formed in an ejection face, such that a distance d1 is between a center of an ejection opening in one recessed portion and an other-side side face of another recessed portion adjacent thereto on one side, where a distance d2 is between the center and a one-side face of another recessed portion adjacent to the one recessed portion on the other side, and where a distance x1 is between the center and a one-side side face of the one recessed portion, and a distance x2 is between the center and an other-side side face thereof. A central position of a bottom portion of the one recessed portion is positioned relative to the center, such that a relationship between distance d1 and distance d2 is the same as a relationship between distance x1 and distance x2.
US08752930B2

The amount of ink wastage is reduced, even in a case wherein a predetermined amount of air bubbles has grown in a print head at a specific internal temperature and the growth has been settled, and thereafter the temperature in the print head is increased. A suction-based recovery control method, for an ink jet printing apparatus that includes a print head, a temperature detection unit, and a suction-based recovery unit, comprising: a temperature detection step; a temperature judgment step for judging whether the internal temperature of the print head is higher than a reference temperature that is determined based on internal temperatures of the print head that were previously employed; and a suction-based recovery step for permitting the suction-based recovery unit when it is determined at the temperature judgment step that the internal temperature of the print head is higher by the predetermined number of degrees or greater.
US08752927B2

A printing apparatus is provided in which a position of a joint of a first yellow nozzle group and a second yellow nozzle group in a predetermined direction is offset from a position of a joint of a first magenta nozzle group and a second magenta nozzle group in a predetermined position and a position of a joint of a first cyan nozzle group and a second cyan nozzle group in the predetermined position, and the position of the joint of the first magenta nozzle group and the second magenta nozzle group in the predetermined position is the same as the position of the joint of the first cyan nozzle group and the second cyan nozzle group in the predetermined direction.
US08752924B2

A printhead includes a nozzle and a jet control element. The jet control element includes a continuous heater element positioned to surround the nozzle and a plurality of three or more electrical contacts in electrical communication with the continuous heater element. The plurality of three or more electrical contacts define a plurality of three or more continuous heater element portions that are actuatable with sufficient independence so as to control jet steering. The number of the continuous heater element portions equals the number of electrical contacts.
US08752922B2

Provided herein are devices, methods and other means, including those related to printers, as well as computer readable media for storing code to execute instructions for a device, and other systems for providing and supporting mobile printing and other types of devices. The printer, for example, can be coupled with one or more docks and/or other accessory devices, examples of which are also discussed herein.
US08752903B2

A chair, convertible into a baby's highchair, comprising a base frame to which it is possible to connect a seat body with height adjustment elements, the seat body comprising a fixed back to which a movable and height-adjustable back is connected, a sill being further provided which can be detachably associated with the seat body and being provided with safety elements adapted to prevent coupling to the seat body when the movable back is in an incorrect position.
US08752893B2

An adjusting method and a structure for a seat post of a bicycle are provided. The structure of the seat post includes an adjusting tube, four pulleys, a pushing member, a main tube, an elastic member, and a cord. The adjusting tube is coaxially movably disposed in the main tube, while the pushing member is coaxially movably disposed in the adjusting tube and coaxially fixed with the main tube. One of the pulleys is pivotally disposed in the adjusting tube, and the other pulleys are pivotally disposed in the pushing member. Two of the pulleys inside the pushing member are movable along the pushing member. The cord is wound around the four pulleys. The elastic member is disposed in the pushing member and can push the pulleys to move. Pulleys moving along the pushing member push the adjusting tube moving outwardly form the main tube.
US08752886B2

The cooling air flap module has a closed mounting frame with bearings and an actuating device for the cooling air flaps, and the mounting frame of the module is arranged so as to be fixed in a forward-mounted reinforcing frame. The mounting frame with the reinforcing frame can be connected as a constructional unit to the front panel so as to form a construction module.
US08752882B2

An assembly method and a motor vehicle body having at least one marginal portion delimiting a bodywork opening is provided. The motor vehicle includes a plasma-treated gluing surface to which a seal is fastened in a materially joined manner.
US08752881B2

In the coupling of bi-directional, non-freewheeling-type DC motors to the pulling spool of a canopy deployment strap and to a take-up roller, ratchet gears assure automatic alignment and synchronization of the deployment and retraction mechanisms. The reverse direction rotation of the unwinding motor can be uninhibited through the slipping of its ratchet gear when the winding motor is slow to take up the pulling strap or the tarp being wound thereon. The slipping provides sufficient slack to accommodate changes of spool and roller diameters as more material is successively wound thereon. A friction brake acting against a flange of the spool keeps it from spinning freely when not engaged by the motor.
US08752874B2

A robot hand that changes a space between finger members provided apart from each other includes: moving members on which the finger members are vertically provided; a palm member including a moving mechanism for moving the moving members in a predetermined axial direction; and guide members that guide the movement of the moving members in the predetermined axial direction.
US08752871B2

A wire strike assembly for use with a latch mechanism having an adjustment mechanism and locking mechanism to enable the wire strike assembly to be readily adjusted to align with the latch in an efficient and fail safe manner.
US08752865B1

A drain pan collects condensate water from an air conditioner. A drain line includes an elbow connecting the pan to a vertical pipe that drains the condensate water to outside. The drain line must be periodically cleaned to prevent clogging. A kit and method is provided to modify the drain line so that it can then be cleaned more easily, and components are provided to facilitate the drain line cleaning process.
US08752861B2

A fixing structure of a rear side airbag device for a vehicle may assure a margin of time for the side airbag to be deployed. In a vehicle rear side airbag device fixing structure, an airbag module is fixed by fastening to a child seat fixing member conforming to ISOFix standards, via a metal plate. The child seat fixing member is fixed to the rear floor of a vehicle body at the downward side of a rear seatback. Therefore, in comparison with a structure in which an airbag module is fixed to a rear wheel housing via a bracket, the airbag module may be disposed to the vehicle width direction inner side. Moreover, the child seat fixing member exhibits a high rigidness with respect to a side collision of the vehicle. Therefore, fixing portions of the airbag module are resistant to being deformed during a side collision of the vehicle.
US08752858B2

A binding (1) for disengagebly fixing a boot (20) into a cross-country ski (10), where the boot has a sole (22) with an outer surface (23) adapted to positioning towards a top surface (13) of the ski. The binding has a cleat (30) including a flange (31) at a lock distance (S1) from the outer surface of the sole, and a base (24) extending from the flange, whereupon the base has a smaller base cross-section (A2) than a flange cross-section (A1) of the flange. The binding further includes a single frame plate (9) having a frame opening (14) with an opening cross-section (A3) larger than the base cross-section (A2) and larger than the flange cross-section (A1); and a lever (8) or a slide (7) movable in directions (P1 or P2) parallel to the top surface (13) of the ski. The lever/slide is between the outer surface and the flange.
US08752857B2

A snowboard binding for coupling a snowboard boot to a snowboard includes a highback that extends upwardly from a midfoot or heel region of the binding to provide rear support for the boot. In one embodiment, the highback is formed of a plurality of modular components that each can be manufactured of a separate material to collectively provide desired structural characteristics to the highback. The attachment of the highback, its supporting elements and one or more straps to retain the boot within the binding are arranged such that certain attachment points are fixedly connected to each other and thus made to move synchronously when the position of the highback with respect to the binding's base is adjusted.
US08752852B2

A multi-rider or occupant human powered vehicle permits at least one rider or occupant to contribute to powering the vehicle while being seated in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the vehicle. By way of example, tandem bicycles are provided accommodating rearward-facing aft cyclists or rearward-facing fore cyclists. Other vehicles, such as tricycles, four-wheeled carts, and human powered watercraft, such as paddle boats, are also contemplated by the present invention. In one embodiment, a tandem bicycle with a rearward-facing occupant contributing to powering the vehicle via a single drive chain, belt, or shaft is disclosed.
US08752848B2

A computer cart has removable electrical connector management system which may be removed from the computer cart to install electrical connectors and then reinserted into the computer cart to facilitate wiring of the cart. A numbering system is implemented to uniquely identify corresponding electrical and physical characteristics of the cart to facilitate maintenance of computers stored within the cart.
US08752842B2

The invention relates to a seal (1) designed to be inserted between a nacelle element and an element of a turbojet of an aircraft propulsion unit. According to the invention, the seal (1) consists of at least two parallel tubular parts (2) each having a quadrangular cross-section including a planar supporting face (4), a convex contact face (6) in contact with an element to be sealed and two concave side faces (5) connecting the convex contact face (6) and the planar supporting face (4), said two tubular parts (2) being formed by a knitted web coated with a synthetic matrix.
US08752835B2

A pillow block supporting a feed roller includes a pillow block main body; a wedge body adjusting a height position of the pillow block main body; and a bracket adjustably installing the pillow block main body in a sheet feeding direction on a mounting surface. Further, the pillow block main body includes a reception part to support the feed roller, a concave part though which the wedge body is inserted, and the bracket is temporarily fixed to the mounting surface. Further, the wedge body pushes up the height position of the pillow block main body upon being inserted into the concave part to determine the position of the reception part so that the reception part supports the feed roller from below.
US08752834B2

An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device including a pair of first rotating members; a first transport path having a curved portion where a recording medium is curved, the first transport path being for transporting the recording medium to which the image is fixed by the pair of first rotating members; a first transporting section including a pair of second rotating members provided downstream from the curved portion of the first transport path; and a controller that controls so that, while the recording medium is interposed between the pair of first rotating members and the pair of second rotating members, a peripheral velocity of the second rotating members and a peripheral velocity of the first rotating members are reduced at the same time, or the peripheral velocity of the second rotating members is reduced before reducing the peripheral velocity of the first rotating members.
US08752831B2

Systems and methods are provided for controlling substrate flatness for sensor measurements in printing device. A flow of air may be provided from a blower to a plenum. A printed sheet of media may be transported between upper and lower transport baffles that are generally spaced apart to permit the sheet of media to pass. Located on one of transport baffles may be a sensor to measure a property of the printed sheet. Air from the plenum is provided to the back surface of the sheet to urge it toward the sensor.
US08752827B2

Provided is a medium stacking apparatus, which comprises a stacking frame and a damper. The stacking frame forms a stacking space in which media are stacked, and comprises a medium inlet. The damper collides with the medium introduced through the medium inlet, and absorbs a shock from the medium. The damper comprises one or more damping ribs that extend in a stacking direction of the media and are elastically deformed by a collision with the medium.
US08752824B2

A sheet inverting device includes a loop pathway including an entrance slot to which a recording medium is conveyed and an exit slot from which the recording medium is conveyed, the loop pathway forming a loop shape to convey the recording medium therethrough in a forward direction defined by a sheet conveyance direction in which the recording medium is conveyed from the entrance slot travels, and a redirectable sheet conveyance member to convey the recording medium traveling through the loop pathway in the forward direction and a reverse direction that is the reverse of the forward direction. The exit slot is configured to convey the recording medium that is conveyed by the redirectable sheet conveyance member in the reverse direction outside the sheet inverting device therethrough.
US08752819B2

A sheet processing apparatus that is capable of aligning sheets in a sheet longitudinal direction with high accuracy when bundling the sheets. A conveyance unit conveys a sheet. A stacking unit stacks a plurality of sheets that are conveyed by the conveyance unit. A grasping member performs a grasping operation that grasps the rear end of the sheet surface of the sheets stacked on the stacking unit. A driving unit moves the grasping member. A control unit controls the driving unit so as to align the sheets stacked on the stacking unit in a sheet conveyance direction by making the grasping member contact the rear end of the stacked sheets after the sheets are stacked on the stacking unit, and controls the driving unit so that the grasping member performs the grasping operation when a following sheet is stacked on the stacked sheets.
US08752816B2

An inserter system including a first station operative to output personal inserts for inserting in envelopes, an inserter operative to insert the personal inserts in the envelopes, and a dynamic buffer operative to convey the personal inserts from the first station to the inserter, the dynamic buffer including a partition-less adjustable length conveyor and an inserter-interface conveyor, wherein the adjustable length conveyor conveys the personal inserts from the first station to the inserter-interface conveyor and the inserter grabs the personal inserts from the inserter-interface conveyor, and wherein the inserter grabbing the personal inserts determines a speed of operation of the inserter-interface conveyor, including a timing at which the inserter-interface conveyor grabs the personal inserts from the adjustable length conveyor.
US08752813B2

The present invention relates to a fletching device for adhesively bonding arrow feathers onto arrow shafts and quarrels, comprising a base plate (9) having a support for the nock of an arrow, retaining rods (8) extending upward therefrom at a distance from each other, an upper cover plate (12) having a passage opening directing upward and a centering means for the shaft of an arrow (1), and retaining clamps (3) arranged on the retaining rods (8) for the arrow feathers to be adhesively bonded. The fletching device is characterized in that the centering means for the arrow shaft is similar to the chuck (7) of a drilling machine or comprises an adapted chuck (7) of a drilling machine.
US08752794B2

A door assembly, in particular for a helicopter, has a post; a door fitted to the post by a first and second hinge arranged on an outer wall of the post, so as to rotate about a hinge axis to open and close a door opening; and an emergency release device having a release handle, and a stem which extends through the post along a release axis substantially perpendicular to the hinge axis, rotates axially, in response to operation of the release handle, from a first to a second angular position to detach the door from the post, and is fixed at one axial end to the first hinge; the release handle being connected to the stem to rotate together with the stem about its release axis.
US08752793B2

A door assembly, in particular for a helicopter, has a post; a door fitted to the post by a first and second hinge arranged on an outer wall of the post, so as to rotate about a hinge axis to open and close a door opening; and an emergency release device having a release handle, and a stem which extends through the post along a release axis substantially perpendicular to the hinge axis, rotates axially, in response to operation of the release handle, from a first to a second angular position to detach the door from the post, and is fixed at one axial end to the first hinge; the release handle being connected to the stem to rotate together with the stem about its release axis.
US08752790B2

An aircraft landing gear steering system comprising a turning member that is operably coupled to a landing gear leg through a harmonic drive mechanism. The landing gear steering system may be electrically driven. Additionally, the landing gear system has various advantages, including the provision of a safe failure mode should the harmonic drive mechanism fail.
US08752789B2

A method for controlling control surfaces. A position limit is identified for movement of a control surface based on a load limit set for the control surface and a number of vehicle current operation parameters to form an identified position limit. Responsive to receiving a command to move the control surface on a vehicle to a new position, the control surface is commanded to move to a position within the identified position limit.
US08752780B2

A shredder comprises a shredder housing and a shredder mechanism received in the housing. The shredder mechanism includes a motor and cutter elements and enables at least one article to be shredded to be fed into the cutter elements. The motor is operable to drive the cutter elements in a shredding direction. The shredder also includes a plurality of supporting structures between the shredder mechanism and the shredder housing. The shredder housing has a plurality of support surfaces. Each of the plurality of supporting structures is engaged but not fixedly connected on a corresponding support surface, thus allowing movement of the shredder mechanism in X, Y, and Z directions. At least one motion limiter is provided to limit the relative movement between the mechanism and the housing. The shredder mechanism may be urged to a centered position. The supporting structures may reduce vibrations and noise during operation of the shredder.
US08752779B2

A beneficiation process and apparatus for the continuous treatment of comminuted woody biomass, particularly hog fuel, to substantially remove mineral impurities and bark and to recover white wood therefrom for use as industrial feedstocks.
US08752771B2

A thermostat and related methods are described for controlling one or more functions, such as heating and cooling in an HVAC. According to some embodiments the thermostat includes a rechargeable battery; charging circuitry adapted and arranged to recharge the battery; and control circuitry adapted and arranged to control the one or more HVAC functions using power from the rechargeable battery. According to some embodiments, the thermostat also includes power harvesting circuitry adapted and arranged to harvest power from the HVAC system in cases where no common wire is available to the thermostat, and to supply power to the charging circuit for recharging the battery.
US08752768B2

Methods and systems are disclosed for producing color-image data representative of a color optical code or other color objects, particularly with a monochrome imager. Monochrome image-sensor data is produced by receiving a sequence of colored light emitted by an artificial light source and reflected from the color object. The sequence of colored light may be a red, green, and blue sequence of colored light emitting diode lights according to some embodiments. The monochrome imager produces the monochrome image-sensor data based at least in part on the portion of the reflected sequence of colored light. The monochrome image-sensor data is processed to produce color-image data representing the color optical code.
US08752767B2

An apparatus includes an illumination lens, an illumination light source for generating illumination light, and a prism made of optical transparent material. The first section on the first surface of the prism has a length that is at least four times as long as its width. The first surface of the prism includes a second section adjacent to the first section for defining the edge of an aperture. The third surface of the prism is configured to reflect the illumination light received from the first section onto the second surface of the prism. At least a portion of the illumination light received from the first section passes through both the second surface of the prism and the illumination lens for projecting illumination light onto a target object within an imaging field of view.
US08752766B2

A laser scanning code symbol reading system includes an analog scan data signal processor for producing digitized data signals, wherein during each laser beam scanning cycle, a light collection and photo-detection module generates an analog scan data signal corresponding to a laser scanned code symbol, an analog scan data signal processor/digitizer processes the analog scan data signal to generate digital data signals corresponding thereto, and a synchronized digital gain control module automatically processes the digitized data signals in response to start of scan (SOS) signals generated by a SOS detector. The synchronized digital gain control module generates digital control data which is transmitted to the analog scan data signal processor for use in controlling the gain of at least one signal processing stage in the light collection and photo-detection module and/or analog scan data signal processor, during the corresponding laser beam scanning cycle.
US08752764B2

A system includes an apparatus for identifying an item with inclusion of a contact smart card to store the authenticity information of the item, and a card reader to allow examination of the authenticity being conducted locally and/or remotely. The identifying apparatus further has a locking means and a disabling means. The locking means prevents normal use of the item in a locked position. The disabling means will disable the contact smart card when the locking means is unlocked. The identifying apparatus further has a releasing means to be engaged with the locking means and disabling means. The card reader includes a central operating unit, an interface to the contact smart card, an interface to an external device and an interface to users. The interface to the contact smart card includes an adaptor of contact smart card and a fastening means to secure the identifying apparatus.
US08752759B1

According to one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method and a system for implementing a card product or access mechanism with multiple relationships with an issuing entity (e.g., bank, etc.) where each relationship may be defined by one or more sets of rules that are customized for a particular customer. A computer implemented method and system for implementing a mechanism with multiple customized relationships may involve identifying one or more customized rules for an access mechanism associated with a customer; establishing a plurality of accounts for the customer wherein the plurality of accounts comprise different accounts with different account characteristics; and invoking one of the plurality of accounts for a transaction through the access mechanism, based at least in part on the one or more customized rules; wherein the plurality of accounts share at least one funding account.
US08752758B1

Systems and methods of using 2-D barcodes to provide information responsive to a particular error condition/event of, or need for operational or configuration assistance with respect to, a weighing device that is adapted to generate and display such 2-D barcode. The 2-D barcode contains a hyperlink to a context-sensitive web page that contains information relevant to the 2-D barcode. An image of the 2-D barcode is captured with a scanning device and the 2-D barcode is decoded by an appropriate scanning application of the scanning device. The scanning device is subsequently caused to request the web page as directed by the hyperlink in the 2-D barcode. The web page request is received at a server or similar location, and the requested web page is sent to the scanning device for viewing and use by a user.
US08752756B2

An envelope assembly includes an original and a return address components. The original address component has a front side having an original address provided thereon, a rear side, and a first attachment portion provided around at least part of the perimeter of the original address component. The return address component includes a second attachment portion provided around at least part of the perimeter of the return address component and a return envelope portion, wherein the second attachment portion is attached to the first attachment portion The return envelope portion has a front side having a return address provided thereon, a rear side, and an interior for receiving return mailing materials. The rear side of the original address component faces the front side of the return envelope portion, and the return envelope portion is removeably attached to and separable from the second attachment portion by a first separation device.
US08752755B2

A carton is formed from a blank having gusseted corners that in part form an interior carton volume. The interior volume of the carton can be varied by placing the carton in an expanded configuration. The carton can include a bottom receptacle portion that may be liquid-tight.
US08752752B2

A composite steel plate includes at least two steel sheets rolled to form a plate. One of the sheets has a composition that varies in a depthwise direction, between nanocrystalline and micron grained. The plate is made by treating a steel sheet to produce a composition in the sheet that varies in a depthwise direction of the sheet between nanocrystalline and micron grained, stacking the treated sheet with at least one other steel sheet, and rolling the stacked sheets to form the plate.
US08752741B2

A holster assembly, and method using same, are disclosed. The holster comprises a base and a trigger housing mechanism slidably disposed on that base, wherein the trigger housing mechanism can be slidingly moved bidirectionally between a first position and a second position. The holster assembly further comprises a spring having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the spring is attached to the base, and wherein the second end of the spring is attached to the trigger housing mechanism.
US08752736B2

The present invention relates to a self actuating rotary dust valve particularly for discharging dust from an engine air cleaner. The rotary dust valve includes a valve body having an inlet port, an outlet port and a rotor chamber interposed therebetween. A rotary dust ejection member is enclosed in the rotor chamber and supported for rotation about a fixed axis. A plurality of fin members are provided angularly spaced about and secured to the hub member. Adjacent pairs of the fin members define at least one dust pocket therebetween to receive dust from the air cleaner to be ejected. The rotor chamber and the fin members are cooperatively shaped and configured to maintain a continuous air lock closure. The dust valve is operable by any of: gravity and vibration to rotate and thereby to discharge the dust buildup through the outlet port or alternately by other drive means.
US08752734B2

The present invention provides a tubing adapter assembly. The assembly includes a fitment having an annular flexible mounting flange having a planar surface, and a generally centrally disposed, generally cylindrical annular wall extending axially away from the planar surface defining a passage way therethrough; and a tubing adapter having a first end and a second end opposed to the first end, a portion of the second end being positioned within the passageway, the second end having a first cylindrical wall having an outer surface having a member for fixedly attaching the tubing adapter to the fitment, the tubing adapter having a second generally cylindrical wall at the first end dimensioned to be inserted into a lumen of a tubing.
US08752718B2

An end frame assembly, for use with a display unit including a post having at least one aperture formed through each of two opposing surfaces of the post, including an end frame, a first stationary plate coupled to the end frame, a second stationary plate coupled to the end frame and spaced from and extending substantially coplanarly with respect to the first stationary plate, and a first slide plate disposed over the first stationary plate and including a first tab capable of fitting within one of the apertures formed through one of the two opposing surfaces of the post. The first slide plate is selectively coupled with the first stationary plate via at least a first fastener, and the first fastener is selectively releasable to selectively allow linear movement of the first slide plate and selectively securable to hold the first slide plate in a substantially static position.
US08752707B2

A packaging member can include a foldable member deformable between a folded state and an unfolded state and configured to form a deployed configuration in the folded state. The foldable member can include a plurality of foldable sections and a slot forming portion. The foldable sections can be configured to form a plurality of walls in the folded state. The slot forming portion can be configured to form a slot in the folded state. The slot can be configured to receive a portion of an article.
US08752705B2

A packaging system includes a bottle, a ring, and a cap. The bottle defines a first end, a second end, and a cavity. The first end defines a neck having an opening providing access to the cavity. The ring is secured about the neck of the bottle, is spaced from the opening, and defines an exterior ring width measured between a front and a back of the ring. The cap is removably secured about the neck of the bottle. The cap defines an exterior cap width measured between a front and a back of the cap. The exterior cap width is substantially equal to the exterior ring width such when the cap is positioned adjacent the ring, the front of the ring and the front of the cap generally align and the back of the ring and the back of the cap generally align.
US08752699B2

A fastener cartridge can comprise a compressible, collapsible, and/or crushable cartridge body and fasteners embedded within the cartridge body which can be utilized to fasten tissue. In use, the fastener cartridge can be positioned in a first jaw of a surgical fastening device, wherein the first jaw can be positioned opposite a second jaw, or anvil. The anvil can be engaged with the fastener cartridge to compress, collapse, and/or crush the cartridge body and deform, or otherwise deploy, the fasteners contained therein. As the fasteners are deformed or deployed, the fasteners can capture at least a portion of the cartridge body therein along with at least a portion of the tissue being fastened. In various embodiments, the cartridge body can comprise a plurality of bioabsorbable layers. These bioabsorbable layers can be comprised of materials which can be bioabsorbed at different rates.
US08752698B2

A conveyor belt is provided that may include a first link having a first protrusion. The first protrusion may include a first mating surface and may be disposed proximate a first rod receiving aperture extending through the first link. The conveyor belt may include a second link having a second protrusion extending a second distance from a surface of the second link. The second protrusion may include a second mating surface, wherein the second protrusion is disposed proximate a second rod receiving aperture extending through the second link. The first mating surface of the first protrusion may be disposed in a mating relationship with the second mating surface of the second protrusion. Further, the conveyor belt may include a connecting rod extending through the first rod receiving aperture of the first link and the second rod receiving aperture of the second link.
US08752693B2

A container transporting device having a centrally rotatingly driven star wheel including a plurality of elements for manipulating containers, a stationary column and an electric motor which forms a drive unit of the container transporting device and comprises a stator and a rotor, and the stator of which is supported relative to the column, the electric motor is an outer-rotor motor the stator of which is detachably mounted on the column, and the rotor of which carries the star wheel equipped with the elements and supports it via the stator on the column.
US08752689B2

A money input/output apparatus includes a bill accommodation unit, a mount unit, a detection unit, a second storage unit, an instruction reception unit, a conveyance unit, and a control unit. The control unit reads the denomination of the bill from the first storage unit and determines whether or not the read denomination of the bill corresponds to the denomination stored in the second storage unit in association with the mount unit on which mounting of the bill accommodation unit has been detected when the detection unit has detected that the bill accommodation unit has been mounted on the mount unit, starts reception of an instruction to input or output to the bill from the instruction receiving unit and makes the conveyance unit convey the bill in accordance with the instruction when the denominations have been determined to correspond. Thereby, a bill accommodation unit can be used for all denominations.
US08752684B2

A cross arm for supporting live railway, trolley and subway lines comprising a cross-member (8) fitted with means of connection to an associable support structure (16), at least a first electric insulator (20) joined to the cross-member (8) and able to support a first live electric cable, electrically insulating it from said cross-member (8). Advantageously, the cross-member (8) comprises a body (24) having a mainly longitudinal (X-X) extension and at least a first attachment portion (28) fitted with a ‘U’ shaped profile able to form a shaped coupling with said first electric insulator (20). The first attachment portion (28) defines a first seat (32) for the continuous adjustment of the longitudinal position of the electric insulator (20) along the cross-member itself.
US08752683B2

A piece of luggage including at least one section of a stiff shell material is provided. The at least one section of the stiff shell material defines a first face of the piece of luggage and has at least one corner. A portion of the at least one section has been removed to define at least one notch proximate the at least one corner. First and second edges of the at least one section adjacent the notch are folded inward relative an inner surface of the at least one section forming first and second sides. The first and second sides define second and third faces of the piece of luggage. The piece of luggage further includes at least one rigid corner piece secured to the first and second sides proximate the at least one notch.
US08752681B2

An integrated and self-contained suspension assembly having a gas spring integrated with a shock absorber (damper) is described. The rigid gas cylinder of the air spring is divided into a first gas chamber and a second gas chamber. A flow port connects the first and second gas chambers, and can be manually opened or closed by valve and a simple one-quarter turn rotation of an external knob to instantly switch the gas spring between two different spring rates. The different spring rates are functions of the separate or combined volumes of the two. gas chambers. The integrated suspension assembly is compactly packaged and self-contained, i.e., does not require any externalities, such as gas sources or electricity, to operate.
US08752670B2

An adjustable bracket for a tree stand having a mounting plate and a first bracket member and a second bracket member. The mounting plate has a mounting plate locking ring. A threaded shaft which terminates in a brace is extended through the mounting plate locking ring. The mounting plate is connected to the tree stand by the first bracket member and the second bracket member. When the tree stand is positioned in a tree the threaded shaft is rotated through the mounting plate locking ring until the brace engages the tree. In this way the tree stand is stabilizing and adjusted.
US08752659B1

A drive unit for a carrier that includes a chassis with a drive wheel that is pivotable with an air spring in and out of contact with a surface over which the carrier is propelled. The air spring is in a pneumatic system including an air compressor which is connected to a processor in an electrical system. The compressor is programmed to provide a fair safe mode for the drive wheel, a runtime control for the air compressor and a battery voltage sensing circuit to shut down the electrical system during periods of inactivity.
US08752657B2

A pallet jack power assembly upgrades a manually powered pallet jack to provide a motor-driven drive wheel. In one example, the manually powered pallet jack includes left and right steering wheels separated by a narrow distance. A frame of the pallet jack power assembly may be adapted for attachment to the pallet jack. The frame supports a drive axle, which in turn supports a drive wheel. Attachment of the frame of the pallet jack power assembly locates the drive wheel between the left and right steering wheels. The drive axle and a steering axle, supporting the left and right steering wheels of the pallet jack, may be located in a same vertical plane. A biasing device, such as a spring, may be used to provide a downward force on the drive wheel, thereby increasing friction between the drive wheel and the floor.
US08752656B2

A bottom hole assembly containing a drill bit. The drill bit additionally has a plurality of primary cutter elements mounted thereto. The plurality of cutter elements comprise one or more first cutter elements and one or more second cutter elements. The second cutter element differs from the first cutter element in at least one cutter element property. The first cutter element has a diamond body containing a first region comprising an infiltrant material disposed within the interstitial regions. The first region is located remote from the working surface of the diamond body. The first cutter element also contains a second region comprising interstitial regions that are substantially free of the infiltrant material. The second region is located along at least the working surface of the diamond body. Also included are a cutter element, method of designing a bottom hole assembly as well as method of designing a drill bit.
US08752641B2

A fire blanket assembly includes a thermal insulation material defining an opening, a metallic foil layer positioned along a first surface of the thermal insulation material and over at least a portion of the opening, an insert disc positioned adjacent to a second surface of the thermal insulation material opposite the first surface and further being positioned at the opening in the thermal insulation material, and a detail. The detail includes a base positioned at least partially within the opening in the thermal insulation material, a sidewall extending from the base, and a flange extending from the sidewall at a location spaced from the base, a perimeter of the flange turned at least partially away from the metallic foil layer.
US08752633B2

The present invention relates to protector apparatus (30) for protecting at least one cable (24) during operation of a diverter (28). The protector apparatus (30) comprises at least one protector assembly substantially formed of a plastics material. The protector assembly defines a plurality of bores, a first of the plurality of bores being configured to receive a string (23) and a second of the plurality of bores being configured to receive a cable (24). The protector assembly is further configured to define an external surface with which an operating diverter engages when the protector apparatus is in use and a string is received in the first bore.
US08752630B2

A flow stop valve (20) positionable in a downhole tubular (6), and a method, are provided. The flow stop valve (20) is in a closed position when a pressure difference between fluid outside the downhole tubular (6) and inside the downhole tubular (6) at the flow stop valve (20) is below a threshold value, thereby preventing flow through the downhole tubular. The flow stop valve (20) is in an open position when the pressure difference between fluid outside the downhole tubular (6) and inside the downhole tubular (6) at the flow stop valve (20) is above a threshold value, thereby permitting flow through the downhole tubular (6).
US08752628B2

A fluid flow control device disposable in a bore can include channels that can direct fluid flow based on one or more properties of the fluid more robustly. The channels may include a side channel between two other channels. The side channel can allow fluid flow to affect fluid flowing in one of the channels. Devices according to some aspects can differentiate between fluids having close, but different, properties and direct the fluid accordingly. Examples of fluid properties based on which the device can direct fluid include fluid density, fluid velocity, fluid viscosity, and Reynolds number of the fluid flow.
US08752623B2

In solvent-dominated recovery processes for recovering In situ oil, including bitumen, the produced fluid stream includes oil and solvent. The solvent is preferably recovered and reinjected into the reservoir. In previously described methods, solvent is removed from the oil/solvent mixture. In the present method, the oil/solvent mixture is first separated into a heavier stream and a lighter stream from which solvent is independently removed.
US08752621B2

Systems and methods are provided for supervising the control of wells in a grouping of wells, or “well pads,” in a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir so as to coordinate operation of the well pad. By coordinating operation of the well pad, hydrocarbon production for the well pad can be optimized. An exemplary method includes the steps of generating a plurality of requests to control individual wells of the well grouping, queuing the requests, and authorizing the requests based on one or more criteria associated with the well grouping so as to coordinate operation of the well grouping.
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