US08792407B2

A wireless communications power saving method and apparatus is provided. The method includes, when no reverse link traffic exists and no forward link traffic has been received for a predetermined amount of time, establishing, at a terminal, a reverse link transmission pilot signal duty cycle, and boosting overhead channel signal transmission power during ON slots and gating overhead channel and pilot signal transmission power during OFF slots. The design further includes estimating, at the terminal, an available data transmission rate, determining an actual data transmission rate, setting a terminal transmission duty cycle for a next period based on the estimated available data transmission rate, the actual data transmission rate, and a margin of error, and transmitting data from the terminal according to the terminal transmission duty cycle.
US08792383B2

The system is based on the arrangement of a plurality of terminals (1), (I′) . . . (In), which are interconnected with one another to form a digital network by means of two databuses, one write and one read, by means of differential transmission, with a hybrid connection topology based inter alia on UTP-type cables (4). Each terminal is constituted by a DLP-type card (7), which contains a programmable logic device for the management of a series of cards associated with the card (7), said cards being a main card (8) and a user-interface card (9), which enable the user to configure the various system options, it being possible, also, to incorporate one or more extension cards (H-H′) for the input and output of audio/video signals, the Internet, a telephone line or an automatic-door-entry line, and also a remote-control and alarm card (10) for activating external loads, activating alarms and receiving signals originating from sensors.
US08792378B2

Provided is an apparatus and method for wideband short-range wireless communication using a directional antenna in a millimeter wave band, and the method for wideband short-range wireless communication according to an embodiment may determine a first time interval and a second time interval for a cooperated data frame transfer based on a packet transmission time at each transmission from a source node to a destination node, transmit a frame to a relay node through an antenna pattern directed towards the relay node at a start point of the first time interval, and transmit the frame to the destination node through an antenna pattern directed towards the destination node after a predetermined period of time from a start point of the second time interval.
US08792371B2

A method for a device to determine a group owner that functions as an access point in a wireless network is provided. In the method, a first device acquires first intention information indicating the first device's intention to become a group owner and receives, from a second device, second intention information indicating the second device's intention to become a group owner, and compares the first intention information and the second intention information to determine that one of the first and second devices is a group owner. This method enables smooth communication between devices in a wireless network since a device which has more available power or can operate for a longer time can become a group owner.
US08792370B2

Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to techniques for carrier preconfiguration for monitoring for transmissions of downlink control information (DCI), for example, conveyed in physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) transmissions utilizing multiple carriers. The methods and apparatuses described herein may be applied in both frequency division duplex (FDD) and time division duplex (TDD) systems.
US08792366B2

A solution for network packet latency measurement includes, at a network device having a memory, storing a first time value indicating when an ingress port of the network device received a packet. The solution also includes storing a second time value indicating when an egress port of the network device received the packet for transmission towards another network device. The solution also includes storing a difference between the first time value and the second time value.
US08792365B2

In geographical areas with incomplete Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA) coverage, it may be beneficial for a multimode User Equipment (UE) to handover to a GSM network, a WCDMA network, a CDMA 1x RTT network, or an LTE network. When multiple networks are available to the UE and a poor signal quality is detected in the TD-SCDMA network, one of the available networks may be selected for inter-RAT handover based on a service type of the active call on the UE. For example, when a circuit-switched call, such as a voice call, is in progress on the UE, an inter-RAT handover to a GSM network occurs. In another example, when a packet-switched call, such as a data call, is in progress on the UE, an inter-RAT handover to a WCDMA network occurs. Selecting a network for inter-RAT handover based on an active call service type improves the service provided to the UE.
US08792363B2

An arrangement is provided for detecting a matching DSL data link layer protocol. A matching-protocol detection mechanism is triggered under certain condition. The matching-protocol detection mechanism, once triggered, detects a matching protocol from at least one initiating protocol. The matching protocol is supported by both a customer premise equipment and a digital subscriber line access module and is used by both to establish a DSL connection. When the matching protocol is successfully identified, it is activated. When the matching protocol is not found, a failure is reported.
US08792361B2

A Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexor (DSLAM) for operation within an access network includes a plurality of digital subscriber line modems for terminating a plurality of corresponding digital subscriber lines and aggregating them for onward connection through the access network. The DSLAM is operable, each time a data connection is established or re-established over one of the digital subscriber lines, to generate line data about the data connection at the DSLAM, to store the line data, to wait a predetermined period of time, to determine if the data connection is still operating successfully since the establishment of the connection without having suffered loss of connection during the predetermined period and then to transmit the line data to a management device which performs dynamic line management based on the data.
US08792358B2

A network component comprising a processor configured to implement a method comprising receiving a request for a content from a first node, determining whether a second node is associated with the content, and facilitating the transfer of the content from the second node to the first node when the second node is associated with the content, wherein the second node is an interior node. Also disclosed is a method comprising receiving a request for a content from a first node in a network, determining whether the content is being distributed to a second node in the network, calculating a path between the second node and the first node when the content is being distributed to the second node, and establishing a connection along the path such that the content is distributed from the second node to the first node.
US08792353B1

A first set of frames is received in a data flow and tagged with respective serial numbers identifying an ordering of frames in the first set. The tagged first set is forwarded to a general processor for processing prior to being sent to a remote network element. A data flow policy is received from the general processor based on processing of the first set. A second set of frames of the data flow are received subsequent to forwarding the first set to the general processor. It can be verified, based on the assigned serial numbers, that each frame in the first set has been sent to the remote network element prior to sending frames in the second set. The second set is processed and sent to the remote network element by the network processor, bypassing the general processor, based on the data flow policy.
US08792345B2

One or more mobile devices capable of establishing wireless communication a public packet network independently of a network access device in a local environment is used to provide additional bandwidth for the local environment. Some traffic that would normally be routed over the backhaul connected to the network access device, such as a fixed wireless terminal, is sent to the mobile device and after address translation sent to the public network over the backhaul connection associated with the mobile device.
US08792341B2

A method and apparatus for reporting events in a machine-to-machine environment are provided. Upon detection of an event, a determination is made whether to report the event with or without a delay. If the event is to be reported with a delay, then reporting is delayed for a period of time. If an event notification is received prior to the expiration of the delay period, then the reporting of the event may be canceled as event has already been reported by another element. If not, then another determination is made whether to report the event with or without another delay. This process continues until either the event has been reported or an event notification corresponding to the event has been received from another element.
US08792340B2

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to providing a method and system for call admission control for a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network shared between a plurality of user classes, such as, for example, a public safety user class and a consumer user class. An admission control module oversees the call admission process based on a specified policy profile. When there are insufficient resources in the network to support an incoming call, the admission control module will consult with a preemption module to determine whether, by preemption of lower priority calls, enough resources can be recovered to support the incoming call.
US08792337B2

A method for providing an uplink over an access ring comprising access devices and at least one aggregation device, wherein each device of said access ring has ring interfaces connecting said device to neighboring devices in said access ring, wherein one access device of said access ring is configured as a ring master device which sends connectivity check messages on both its ring interfaces around said access ring to itself to detect a connectivity failure in said access ring, and wherein said ring master device changes a state of one of its ring interfaces depending on the detection result.
US08792334B2

Methods, systems, and computer program products for managing and selectively distributing routing information in a routing node are disclosed. In one implementation, a method for selectively distributing routing information in a routing node includes organizing internal signaling resources are organized so as to facilitate the efficient mapping of signaling system 7 (SS7) message transfer part (MTP) signaling protocol attributes to Internet protocol (IP)-based signaling resources. A routing status information sharing hierarchy is defined, which enables routing status information to be efficiently shared among members of a signaling mateset group. Members of a signaling mateset replicate and distribute SS7 MTP network management information across non-MTP signaling connections, such as IP connections.
US08792325B1

A system includes a mapping device. The mapping device groups encoded bits of OFDM symbols into first groups. For each of the first groups, the mapping device maps adjacent bits onto non-adjacent subcarriers of multiple subcarriers and in an alternating manner onto bits of a signal constellation such that: every other one of the adjacent bits are mapped to first bits on the signal constellation; and bits other than the every other one of the adjacent bits are mapped to second bits on the signal constellation. Each of the first groups has a corresponding complex number. The mapping device: groups predetermined numbers of the first groups into second groups, where each of the second groups corresponds to one of the OFDM symbols; and maps each of the second groups to one of the multiple subcarriers such that the multiple subcarriers are modulated based on the complex numbers.
US08792310B2

A multitrack recorder can allocate an input source in a simple manner without regard to whether a track is a monaural type or a stereo type. The multitrack recorder can set tracks 3 and 4, among a plurality of tracks 1 through 4, to either a monaural type or a stereotype. Track types are stored in memory. On occasion of allocation of an input source to each of the tracks, available input source alternatives are displayed in a display section while being changed according to whether the track is a monaural type or a stereo type.
US08792305B2

A method of receiving data coded on an ultrasonic signal comprising: detecting said ultrasonic signal using a microphone (4) having its greatest response below 20 kilohertz or a microphone (4) adapted for human speech reception; and decoding said signal to determine said data.
US08792304B2

A downlinking signal is transmitted downhole from the surface using drilling fluid as the communications medium. The downlinking signal includes at least a synchronization phase and a command phase. The downlinking signal is differentiated upon reception such that attributes of the synchronization phase may be used to determine corresponding attributes of the command phase. Commands may be transmitted downhole while drilling and simultaneously while using mud-pulse telemetry uplinking techniques.
US08792303B2

An improved method for analyzing seismic data to obtain elastic attributes is disclosed. In one embodiment, a reflectivity series is determined for at least one seismic trace of seismic data obtained for a subterranean formation, where the reflectivity series includes anisotropy properties of a formation. One or more synthetic seismic traces are obtained by convolving the reflectivity series with a source wavelet. The one or more synthetic seismic traces are inverted to obtain elastic parameters estimates. According to one aspect, the data inputs are angle-azimuth stacks. According to another aspect, the data inputs are azimuthal Fourier coefficients, un, vn.
US08792301B2

A system and method may, based on a 3D seismic data set seed point, execute a seed picking algorithm, using the first point for picking a set of second points from the data set, setting each of the points in the set of second points as the first point and repeating the algorithm. An iteration number or other attribute may be assigned to the points, the iteration number corresponding to the number of times the algorithm repeated to process the point. The attribute or a number of attributes may be displayed as a visual characteristic for each point. An iterative process may be applied to a set of seismic data points, starting at a seed data point and finding a set of next iteration seed points from among the set of points neighboring the seed point, continuing only with next iteration seed points, and recording for each of a set of data points the number of points that are found by the process when the point is used as a seed data point. Attributes may include, for example, the total number of descendants of a seed point, the direction, for example, the azimuth, of propagation of the horizon picking process, or information that relates to the order in which points are picked such as an iteration number.
US08792297B2

In a first embodiment the invention comprises a method for gathering geophysical data, including towing geophysical data gathering equipment behind a survey vessel in a body of water, said equipment including an array of sensor streamers extending behind said vessel, and determining a geodetic location of a streamer steering reference point at a forward end of the sensor streamers and a reference direction. At least one sensor streamer included in said array of sensor streamers is laterally deflected in response to the determined geodetic location of said streamer steering reference point and the determined reference direction.
US08792294B2

An access method for a DRAM is provided. A row address is partitioned into a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the row address via an address bus and a first active command via a command bus are provided to the DRAM. The second portion of the row address via the address bus and a second active command via the command bus are provided to the DRAM after the first active command is provided. A column address via the address bus and an access command via the command bus are provided to the DRAM after the second active command is provided. The address bus is formed by a plurality of address lines, and a quantity of the address lines is smaller than the number of bits of the row address, and the access command is a read command or a write command.
US08792293B2

Described embodiments provide a memory having at least one sense amplifier. The sense amplifier has a first capacitor, an inverting amplifier, a switch, an amplifier, and a second capacitor. The first capacitor is coupled between the input of the sense amplifier and a first node. The inverting amplifier has an input coupled to the first node and an output coupled to an internal node and the switch is coupled between the input and output of the inverting amplifier. The amplifier has an input coupled to the internal node and an output coupled to an output of the sense amplifier and the second capacitor is coupled between the internal node and a control node. When data is to be read from the memory, the second capacitor forces a small voltage reduction onto the intermediate node, helping the sense amplifier resolve the data value stored in the memory cell.
US08792285B2

A page buffer circuit is coupled to a bit line of a memory array. The page buffer circuit includes a latch storing different data during different phases of a multi-phase program operation. A preparation phase is after the program phase and after the program verify phase of the present multi-phase program operation. For the preparation phase, the control circuitry causes the latch to store the preparation data indicating whether to program the memory cell in a subsequent multi-phase program operation following the present multi-phase program operation. Results of the program verify phase, and contents of the latch at a start of the present multi-phase program operation, are sufficient to determine the preparation data.
US08792273B2

A method of operation of a data storage system includes: providing a power monitor module for detecting a loss of host power; interrupting a unit controller by the power monitor module; configuring a memory controller by the unit controller; and writing a non-volatile memory array for storing in-flight data and contents of a system control random access memory in a multi-level cell NAND flash device in response to detecting the loss of the host power.
US08792272B2

A method and apparatus are provided for implementing enhanced data partial erase for multi-level cell (MLC) memory using threshold-voltage-drift or resistance-drift tolerant moving baseline memory data encoding. A data partial erase for data written to the MLC memory using threshold-voltage-drift or resistance-drift tolerant moving baseline memory data encoding is performed, and a data re-write after the partial erase to the MLC memory is performed using threshold-voltage-drift or resistance-drift tolerant moving baseline memory data encoding. A data partial erase cycle includes a duration and voltage level based upon a degradation of the MLC memory cells.
US08792270B2

A memory includes an interface through which it provides access to memory cells, such as phase change memory cells. Such access permits circuitry located on a separate integrated circuit to provide access signals, including read and write signals suitable for binary or multi-level accesses.
US08792268B2

A nonvolatile latch circuit according to the present invention includes: a latch operating unit in which outputs of cross-coupled connected inverter circuit and inverter circuit are connected via a series circuit which includes a transistor, a variable resistance element, and a transistor in this order, and store and restore in a latch state are controlled by control terminals of the transistors; and a comparator circuit which compares a signal obtained by amplifying the value of the sum of potentials at both ends of the variable resistance element with the logic state of the latch operating unit, wherein writing to and reading from the variable resistance element are repeated until an output of the comparator circuit indicates that normal write operation has been performed.
US08792262B2

A method of programming memory cells in a nonvolatile memory, includes applying a programming voltage to a first bitline and setting a second bitline in a floating state. The method further includes applying a compensation voltage to a shield conductive line coupled to the bitline set in the floating state, and setting in the floating state a shield conductive line coupled to the bitline receiving the programming voltage. The method is applicable to the reduction of the parasitic programming phenomena of memory cells by capacitive coupling between bitlines.
US08792257B2

A power converter with reduced power dissipation at light loads and method of operating the same. In one embodiment, the power converter includes an opto-isolator circuit configured to produce an output signal dependent on an output characteristic of the power converter. The power converter also includes a controller configured to control the output characteristic to a first regulated value when the output signal is greater than or equal to a threshold level, and control the output characteristic to a second regulated value less than the first regulated value when the output signal is less than the threshold level.
US08792253B2

A voltage conversion system and methods are disclosed. Phase-shift modulation signals are generated and interleaved to provide interleaved phase-shift modulation signals. A plurality of voltage converters are controlled using the interleaved phase-shift modulation signals to convert an input electrical current at an input voltage to an output electrical current at an output voltage.
US08792250B2

A connector for connecting surface mount devices, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), to printed circuit boards (PCBs). The connector may be prepackage with an LED assembly or on a PCB to which the LED assembly will be mounted. Connection complexity can be moved from the PCB to the connector, and LED assemblies may be customized differently for different customers. One to many and many to one connections are readily supported with variations on the connector.
US08792249B2

A waterproofing structure for a mobile terminal, includes an annular groove that surrounds an outer edge of a predetermined waterproof area of a mobile terminal. A waterproof lid covers an entire surface of the waterproof area, and includes an annular protrusion that fits into the annular groove in the waterproof area, and an elastic resin portion that covers the annular protrusion. The elastic resin portion press-contacts and adheres to only one of two side wall surfaces of the annular groove when the annular protrusion is fitted into the annular groove.
US08792246B2

A device for protecting a circuit board from electromagnetic interference, and which includes shield to be attached to the circuit board. The device includes a metal plate and a plurality of tangs. The metal plate has a perimeter portion. The plurality of tangs are spaced about and extend transversely away from at least a portion of the perimeter portion of the metal plate. Each tang includes a bridge portion and a finger portion. The bridge portion has a first end attached to the perimeter portion and a second end spaced away from the perimeter portion and attached to the finger portion. The finger portion extends away from the second end of the bridge potion and is disposed at an obtuse angle relative to the bridge portion such that the plurality of tangs, in combination, are adapted to receive the circuit board.
US08792242B2

A control unit housing, especially for a transmission control module of a transmission of a motor vehicle. The control unit housing includes a first housing part and a second, cover-shaped housing part. A circuit carrier having at least one electronic component is accommodated in the first housing part. The first housing part is designed in the shape of a tub, whose floor is designed as a heat dissipation surface to an additional housing.
US08792241B2

An assembly includes an electronic device casing, a heat-dissipating module and a waterproofing module. The electronic device casing is formed with an encircling wall. The encircling wall has a wall body and an apertured portion formed in the wall body. The heat-dissipating module is coupled to the electronic device casing, is surrounded by the encircling wall, and includes a heat pipe extending through the apertured portion. The waterproofing module includes a waterproofing element that has a ring portion disposed on a top rim of the wall body, and a sleeve portion having a first sleeve segment that is connected to the ring portion, that is sleeved on the heat pipe and that engages the apertured portion so as to establish water tightness between the heat pipe and the apertured portion.
US08792239B2

Disclosed herein are a power module package and a method for manufacturing the same. The power module package includes: a base substrate made of a metal material; cooling channels formed to allow a cooling material to flow in an inner portion of the base substrate; an anodized layer formed on an outer surface of the base substrate; a metal layer formed on a first surface of the base substrate having the anodized layer and including circuits and connection pads; and semiconductor devices mounted on the metal layer.
US08792232B2

A chemically resistant protective cover for an electronic device that has an interactive control panel includes a protective shell having a first member and a second member. The second member is configured to join with the first case. An aperture defined by the protective shell aligns with the interactive control panel. A chemically resistant protective membrane for an electronic device includes a sheet of engineered thermoplastic having dimensions corresponding to features of a surface of the electronic device, and has a combination of sufficient thinness and a dielectric constant that together permit capacitive inputs on a front side of the protective membrane to be transmitted to the capacitance sensing interactive control panel.
US08792230B2

A laptop with home office capabilities comprising a base to house a plurality of internal components, where the base includes a keyboard and mouse pad attached on a top surface; a cover attached on a hinge to a back portion of the base, where the cover includes a display screen, a camera and a light; a plurality of computing accessories attached around the base, where the plurality of computing accessories provide greater functions for a user during use; and a printer/copier/scanner/fax device built within the base, wherein the printer/copier/scanner/fax device includes a paper tray attached to a side of the base and a paper receiving tray attached to an opposing side of the tray to enable the user to print, copy, scan and fax as desired when using the laptop with home office capabilities.
US08792227B2

A mobile power system includes a plurality of energy sources including a solar powered generating source and a plurality of electronic and telecommunications components configured to receive the power generated by the plurality of energy sources and convert the power generated to direct current power. The system also includes a plurality of batteries configured to store the direct current power and a main distribution panel including one or more short circuit ground fault protection devices configured to isolate a short circuit ground fault in less than approximately two hundred milliseconds. The system also includes one or more transportable housings configured to hold the plurality of energy sources, the plurality of electronic and telecommunications, the main distribution panel and the plurality of batteries during transport of the housing.
US08792226B2

A heat transfer system includes an electrical distribution cabinet extending about at least one current-carrying conductor. The heat transfer system also includes at least one electrically-insulating and thermally-conducting device coupled to the at least one current-carrying conductor. The heat transfer system further includes at least one heat pipe coupled to the at least one electrically-insulating and thermally-conducting device. The heat pipe is also thermally coupled to at least a portion of the electrical distribution cabinet.
US08792225B2

A reaction container for manufacturing a capacitor element includes a container which accommodates electrolytic solution therein, a partitioning frame which can partition the inside of the container into a plurality of individual chambers, negative electrode members individually arranged in each of the individual chambers, and a constant-current source electrically connected to the cathode members. A passage, which enables movement of the electrolytic solution between each individual chamber and at least one individual chamber of the individual chambers adjacent to each individual chamber, is provided in a manner such that the passage can be opened and closed.
US08792222B2

A driver circuit and a diagnostic method are provided. The circuit includes a first voltage driver having a first output line electrically coupled to a main contactor coil of a main contactor. The circuit further includes a microprocessor that measures a first voltage on a first voltage feedback line if the main contactor coil is not energized. The microprocessor measures a second voltage on a second voltage feedback line if the main contactor coil is not energized. The microprocessor sets a status flag equal to a fault condition value if the first voltage is greater than a threshold voltage value. Also, the microprocessor sets the status flag equal to the fault condition value if the second voltage is greater than the threshold voltage value.
US08792217B2

Various embodiments disclosed herein provide protection to monitored equipment at both a local level and a system level, in order to offer more comprehensive protection. In one particular embodiment, the protected equipment may include one or more generators. The protection system may utilize time-synchronized data in order to analyze data provided by systems having disparate sampling rates, that are monitored by different equipment, and/or equipment that is geographically separated. Various embodiments may be configured to utilize a variety of sampling rates.
US08792213B1

A suspension assembly used in magnetic disk drives includes a load beam and a gimbal assembly coupled to an end of the load beam. The gimbal assembly includes a support having a left outrigger and a right outrigger, first tethers or connectors disposed along the left outrigger, second tethers or connectors disposed along the right outrigger, and a flexible circuit assembly that includes a left electrical trace and a right electrical trace. The flexible circuit assembly is coupled to the support through the first tethers or connectors that couple the left electrical trace to the left outrigger and the second tethers or connectors that couple the right electrical trace to the right outrigger. The first and second tethers or connectors are made of stainless steel with a polyimide coating and there are three first tethers or connectors and three second tethers or connectors.
US08792208B1

A method and system provide a magnetic recording transducer having air-bearing surface (ABS). The magnetic recording transducer includes a pole, a side shield, a nonmagnetic gap between the side shield and the pole and at least one coil for energizing the pole. The pole has a pole tip proximate to the ABS. The side shield includes at least one nonconformal portion that extends from a throat height in a stripe height direction perpendicular to the ABS and is nonconformal with the pole. The spacing between the nonconformal portion(s) of the side shield and the pole varies based on a distance from the ABS.
US08792205B1

A disk drive includes a disk drive housing having a hole therethrough. A disk is enclosed within the disk drive housing, and is rotatably attached to the disk drive housing. A seal covers the hole through the disk drive housing. The seal includes a conductive layer, a primary dielectric layer, and a gasket layer. The conductive layer has a covered surface region and an exposed planar surface region. The exposed planar surface region is lacking a dielectric coating disposed thereon. The primary dielectric layer includes an adhesive coating disposed between the primary dielectric layer and the covered surface region. The gasket layer includes first and second adhesive gasket layer sides and a gasket opening disposed through the gasket layer. The gasket opening is disposed about the hole in the disk drive housing, with the first adhesive gasket layer attached to the disk drive housing.
US08792204B2

A base plate of a disk drive apparatus includes a motor base disposed around a central axis and a base body portion extending radially outward of the motor base. The motor base is made of a metallic material of a first type. The base body portion is made of a metallic material of a second type. Thus, the axial thickness of a portion of the base plate close to the central axis can be significantly reduced and a reduction in the stiffness of the portion can be prevented. Further, the motor base includes a flange portion and a plastic deforming portion. The flange portion and the plastic deforming portion are respectively in contact with at least a portion of both axial end surfaces of an inner end portion of the base body portion. Thus, extraction of the motor base in the axial direction is prevented.
US08792196B1

A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk, and control circuitry comprising a read channel comprising an analog filter and an equalizer. Data is read from the disk to generate a read signal, and the analog filter filters the read signal. The filtered read signal is sampled, and the read signal samples are input into the equalizer in order to equalize the read signal samples according to a target response. A response of the read channel based on the read signal samples input into the equalizer is identified to generate an identified response. Expected samples are generated based on the identified response, wherein the expected samples correspond to the data written to the disk, and an estimated noise sequence is estimated based on the expected samples and the read signal samples.
US08792193B2

A magnetic media tester comprising a Laser Doppler Vibrometer (LDV) head; and a magnetic read head; the LDV head and the magnetic read head being configured for obtaining correlatable data of a region on a magnetic disk.
US08792182B2

A zoom lens including a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit having a negative reflective power, a third lens unit having a positive refractive power, and a rear lens group including one or more lens units in this order from an object side to an image side, wherein distances between the respective lens units vary during the zooming operation, wherein the first lens unit consists of three lenses including one negative lens, and a partial dispersion ratio of a material for the negative lens of the first lens unit, an Abbe number of the same, a focal length of the entire system at a wide angle end and a focal length of the first lens unit are set individually and adequately.
US08792181B2

A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, first to fifth lens units respectively having positive, negative, positive, negative, and positive refractive powers. During zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, each of the lens units moves in such a way that a distance between the first and second lens units increases, a distance between the second and third lens units decreases, a distance between the third and fourth lens units increases, and a distance between the fourth and fifth lens units increases. The distances D34w and D34t between the third and fourth lens units, the distances D45w and D45t between the fourth and fifth lens units, focal lengths fw and ft of the entire zoom lens, and focal lengths f1 and f4 of the first and fourth lens units are appropriately set.
US08792173B2

A changeable liquid lens array and a method of manufacturing the same. The changeable liquid lens array includes a substrate, a plurality of partition walls arrayed on the substrate and having a fluid travel path, cells defined by the plurality of partition walls, a first fluid comprised in the cells, a second fluid arranged on the first fluid, a first electrode arranged on at least one side surface of each of the partition walls, and a second electrode disposed to be separate from the partition walls. A shape of shape of an interface between the first fluid and the second fluid changes based on a voltage that is applied to the first electrode and the second electrode.
US08792161B2

An optical polarizer positioned before a light source for use in semiconductor wafer lithography including an array of aligned nanotubes. The array of aligned nanotubes cause light emitted from the light source and incident on the array of aligned nanotubes to be converted into polarized light for use in the semiconductor wafer lithography. The amount of polarization can be controlled by a voltage source coupled to the array of aligned nanotubes. Chromogenic material of a light filtering layer can vary the wavelength of the polarized light transmitted through the array of aligned nanotubes.
US08792156B1

An illumination system is disclosed for providing dual-excitation wavelength illumination for non-linear optical microscopy and micro-spectroscopy. The illumination system includes a laser system, an optical splitting means, a frequency shifting system, and a picosecond amplifier system. The laser system includes a laser for providing a first train of pulses at a center optical frequency ω1. The optical splitting means divides the first train of pulses at the center optical frequency ω1 into two trains of pulses. The frequency shifting system shifts the optical frequency of one of the two trains of pulses to provide a frequency shifted train of pulses. The picosecond amplifier system amplifies the frequency shifted train of pulses to provide an amplified frequency-shifted train of pulses having a pulse duration of at least 0.5 picoseconds.
US08792155B2

In some example embodiments, a demodulator may include an input polarization beam splitter (IPBS), input half waveplate (IHWP), cubical polarization beam splitter (CPBS), first reflector (R1), second reflector (R2), first quarter waveplate (QWP1), second quarter waveplate (QWP2), beam displacer (BD), output half waveplate (OHWP), and output polarization beam splitter (OPBS). The CPBS may be positioned to receive an output from IPBS. The IHWP may be positioned between IPBS and CPBS. The R1 may be positioned to receive and return a first output from CPBS. The QWP1 may be positioned between CPBS and R1. The R2 may be positioned to receive and return a second output from CPBS. The QWP2 may be positioned between CPBS and R2. The BD may be positioned to receive a third output from CPBS. The OPBS may be positioned to receive an output from BD. The OHWP may be positioned between BD and OPBS.
US08792151B2

An optical reflection element includes a frame, a meandrous vibrating part having an outer end connected with an inside of the frame, and a mirror part supported by an inner end of the meandrous vibrating part. The meandrous vibrating part has a meandrous shape that includes curved portions and vibrating beams alternately connected with the curved portions. A curvature of respective one of the curved portions is smaller than a curvature of at least one of the curved portions which is located closer to the inner end than the respective one of the curved portions. This optical reflection element has a large deflection angle of the mirror part.
US08792150B2

The method of storing profile set storage method according to the present invention comprising (a) selecting as reconstruction data that enables to reconstruct a profile set, either size prioritized data, which is smaller than said profile set, or reconstruction speed prioritized data, which enables to be reconstructed within a shorter time period than is required for reconstructing the size prioritized data, and which is smaller than the profile set but is larger than the size prioritized data; (b) for generating the selected reconstruction data based on the profile set; and (c) storing the reconstruction data generated in the step (b) in a storage device.
US08792143B2

A touch panel includes a ring-like shaped light-transmissive portion. A ring-shaped diffusion surface is formed on the bottom surface of a light guide element. The ring-like shape includes a second region provided at a location corresponding to two light sources adjacent to a first region corresponding to one light source. A distance from a location of the ring-shaped light-transmissive portion to a periphery of the ring close to the light source is greater in the second region than in the first region. Light emitted from the light source and incident to the light guide element is diffusion-reflected on the diffusion surface and a part of the diffusion-reflected light illuminates the light-transmissive portion.
US08792139B2

An image correcting method for an image processing apparatus that reads a bound document and corrects a shadow in a bound portion in obtained document image data includes extracting shadow image data from the document image data, generating a grid with which a ratio of changes in luminance between the grid lines in directions perpendicular to each other is smaller than in a square grid and which has grid points within a capacity of a memory for correction values, calculating first correction values that corrects luminance of pixels in the shadow image data corresponding to grid points, storing the first correction values in the memory, calculating second correction values for luminance of the pixels in the shadow image data based on first correction values of grid points close to each pixel, and correcting luminance of the document image data using the first and second correction values.
US08792135B2

An image processing device include a memory, a rasterizer and a color space converter. The rasterizer is configured to generate raster data expressed in a first color space by rendering an object in the memory. The color space converter is configured to convert the raster data from the first color space to a second color space capable of being set so as to reproduce gray of gray pixels in the object by any one of a black coloring material and mixture of multiple color materials. The rasterizer determines whether the gray is reproduced by the black coloring material or the mixture of multiple color materials based on an attribute of the object and adds the gray reproduction information that is obtained from the determination to the raster data. The color space converter sets pixel levels in the second color space based on the gray reproduction information.
US08792132B2

An image forming apparatus which may include a forming unit configured to form a mark for image adjustment, a conveyor member configured to convey the mark formed by the forming unit and a detecting unit configured to detect the mark conveyed by the conveyor member. Further, the image forming apparatus may include a removing unit configured to remove the mark conveyed by the conveyor member, from the conveyor member; and a control device. According to aspects of the disclosure, after the forming unit has formed a mark for image adjustment, the control device may be configured to determine whether the mark has been removed from the conveyor member and based on the determination of whether the mark has been removed from the conveyor member, begin printing of print data even when the mark has not been completely removed from the conveyor member.
US08792131B2

In printing the same image data as image data printed by a printing unit of an image forming apparatus from another image forming apparatus, an image information processing system and an information processing system are capable of executing arbitrary high-quality printing, which can be implemented by acquiring image data received from an image processing server stored on the image forming apparatus, based on a reference location of a shortcut transmitted from the image processing server. The image information processing system and the information processing system can be controlled by a control method, which can be implemented by a program.
US08792129B2

A printing apparatus wherein first image data corresponding to a first document is generated, second partial data corresponding to a partial range of a second document is generated in a state in which the first image data is stored in a storage portion, joint data in which first partial data and the second partial data are joined is generated, the first partial data being included in the first image data and corresponding to a partial range of the first document which is laid out side by side with respect to the partial range of the second document based on the second partial data in a state in which a first image based on the first image data and a second image based on second image data are laid out side by side in a scanning direction of a head, and an image based on the joint data is printed.
US08792123B2

A manufacturing system is disclosed. The manufacturing system may include a personalization mechanism to evaluate personalization information relating to mailpieces, wherein the mailpieces include mail containers and mail content components. The manufacturing system may further include a matching mechanism to compare the containers with their corresponding content components using unique verification codes assigned to each of the containers and content components, wherein the unique verification codes are assigned based on the evaluated personalization information, and a production machine to produce personalized containers and their corresponding content components based on comparison results of the comparison.
US08792119B2

A printing device includes data transfer control units that store an image data transferred from un upper level device into a storage unit and reads out the image data from the storage unit in response to an instruction to start a printing, printing units that print the data onto a recording medium, an output control unit that outputs each image data to a predetermined printing unit, and a printing control unit that instructs the data transfer units to transfer the stored image data corresponding to one page to the output control unit, when a storage report of the image data corresponding to one page is sent from any of the data transfer control units, and stops a conveyance of the recording medium after any of the printing units completes the printing onto the recording medium under the printing in a case that a predetermined specific trouble occurs.
US08792105B2

An interferometer includes a variable optical path length reference mirror to produce a final interferogram from a combination of interferograms. Each of the interferograms is generated at a different optical path length of the reference mirror.
US08792097B2

Systems for applying pigment to a substrate has a spectrophotometer integral to the system and supplies light to the substrate and receives light from the substrate. One or more pigment dischargers integral to the system apply one or more pigments to the substrate. A spectrometer spectrally analyzes the one or more pigments applied to the substrate. The spectrometer includes an optical sensing circuit having plurality of optical sensors and one or more processing elements and a plurality of filter elements fixedly positioned with respect to at least a first group of the optical sensors. An optical implement is fixedly positioned with respect to the plurality of filter elements and has a plurality of outputs and at least one entrance. The spectrometer is fabricated in a unitary manner.
US08792093B2

A film inspection apparatus for inspecting the state of a film includes a transfer unit that fixes the film in a flat state and that transfers the film, and includes an inspection unit that inspects the film transferred through the transfer unit. The transfer unit includes a carrier that is movable to a direction of the inspection unit, a tray in the carrier and for mounting the film thereto, and an adsorption unit that is coupled to the carrier and that adsorbs the film to maintain the film mounted to the tray in the flat state.
US08792088B2

A distance-measuring system includes a light source, a light detector, and measuring optics for projecting light emitted by the light source to a target and for guiding light reflected from said target towards the light detector. The distance-measuring system also includes reference optics for guiding light emitted by the light source within the system towards the light detector as internal reference light and a variable attenuator for adjusting intensity of light incident on the light detector. The variable attenuator includes an attenuating filter arranged in a beam path between the measuring optics and the light detector and an actuator coupled to the attenuating filter for moving the attenuating filter. The distance-measuring system further includes an optical selector coupled to at least one of the actuator or the attenuating filter and moved by the actuator together with the attenuating filter.
US08792087B2

The present invention relates to a concept for optical distance measurement, wherein a radiation pulse is emitted in the direction of an object of measurement. At least two different transfer gates which couple a photoactive region to at least two different evaluating capacities are driven during different drive intervals so that charge carriers generated during the drive intervals by a radiation pulse reflected from the object of measurement and/or by ambient radiation can be transported from the photoactive region to the evaluating capacities each coupled to the at least two transfer gates. Another transfer gate is driven during a time outside the drive intervals of the at least two transfer gates to connect the photoactive region to a reference potential terminal acting as a charge carrier sink during the time outside the drive intervals of the at least two transfer gates.
US08792086B2

A first positional information of a wafer stage is measured using an interferometer system such as, for example, a Z interferometer. At the same time, a second positional information of the wafer stage is measured using a surface position measurement system such as, for example, two Z heads. Moving average is applied to a difference between the first positional information and the second positional information for a predetermined measurement time to set a coordinate offset, which is used to inspect the reliability of output signals of the surface position measurement system. When the output signals are confirmed to be normal, servo control of the wafer stage is performed using a sum of the first positional information and the coordinate offset. According to this hybrid method, drive control of the wafer stage which has the stability of the interferometer and the precision of the Z heads becomes possible.
US08792080B2

A method and system to predict lithography focus error using chip topography data is disclosed. The chip topography data may be measured or simulated topography data. A plane is best fitted to the topography data, and residuals are computed. The residuals are then used to make a prediction regarding the focus error. The density ratio of metal to dielectric may also be used as a factor in determining the predicted focus error.
US08792071B2

A cellulose acylate film containing a cellulose acylate having a total degree of substitution of from 1.5 to 2.6 and a polycondensate ester, satisfying 3.4≦Rth(550)/d, 40 nm≦Re(550)≦60 nm and 100 nm≦Rth(550)≦300 nm, having a film thickness of from 20 to 45 μm and having an internal haze of from 0.005 to 0.07% (d means the film thickness (μm)).
US08792068B2

A lighting device at least has: a plurality of light emitting elements that emit light by a forward direction current; a direct-current power supply; a first wiring and a second wiring for supplying electrical power to the plurality of light emitting elements from the direct-current power supply; and a switch for switching the polarity of the electrical power to be supplied to the first wiring and the second wiring; in which the plurality of light emitting elements include forward direction connection in which the forward direction current flows when the electrical power having a positive polarity is applied to the first wiring and reverse direction connection in which the forward direction current flows when the electrical power having a positive polarity is applied to the second wiring and being connected between the first wiring and the second wiring.
US08792061B2

A liquid crystal display device includes a substrate; gate and data lines disposed on the substrate crossing each other to define a plurality of pixel regions; a plurality of pixel electrodes disposed in the pixel regions; a common electrode which is patterned to have common electrode pattern portions, each common electrode pattern portion corresponding to a respective pixel region; a plurality of sensing lines disposed on the common electrode and electrically connected with the common electrode; and at least one an electric field shield layer disposed over a region between adjacent common electrode pattern portions.
US08792060B2

A liquid crystal display device with a built-in touch screen, which uses a common electrode as a touch-sensing electrode including an intersection of a gate line and a data line to define a pixel region, a bridge line disposed in a central portion of the pixel, an insulating layer formed on the bridge line, a first contact hole disposed through the insulating layer to expose a predetermined portion of an upper surface of the bridge line, a contact metal on the insulating layer and inside the first contact hole, the contact metal electrically connected with the bridge line, a first passivation layer on the contact metal, a second contact hole disposed through the first passivation layer to expose a predetermined portion of an upper surface of the contact metal, a common electrode on the first passivation layer and inside the second contact hole, a conductive line electrically connected with the common electrode, and a second passivation layer on the first passivation layer and the conductive line, wherein the bridge line and the common electrode are electrically connected via the contact metal.
US08792054B2

A method, apparatus and computer program for displaying video and accompanying text data on a display are provided. The method includes receiving media content that includes video and determining whether text data associated with the video is to be presented on the display alongside the video. If associated text data is not to be presented, then the video content is output as normal, with the video content occupying a first area of the display (such as the entire display). If associated text data is to be presented, then the video output is automatically resized such that the video occupies a smaller area of the display, and the associated text data is automatically displayed alongside the video. By allowing for dynamic resizing it is possible to display subtitles or closed captions alongside portions of video content without obscuring the video.
US08792051B2

In a driving device, a distance from a guide member to a vibrator is less than that from the guide member to a permanent magnet in a plane perpendicular to a guiding direction of a guide member. An attraction force between the permanent magnet and a magnetic body acts as a force to rotate (i.e., a rotating force) a holding member about an axis of the guide member, and the vibrator is pressed against a contact member by the rotating force.
US08792050B2

An imaging apparatus comprising an imaging unit in which an optical system and an imaging device are provided, a camera body formed with a concave portion on/from which the imaging unit is mounted/removed, the imaging apparatus photographing the subject image by mounting the imaging unit on the camera body, wherein the concave portion includes three walls of a back wall portion, a side wall portion, and an upper wall portion, viewed from the subject side in a direction of an optical axis of the optical system, wherein the apparatus includes a locking member and a locking member to be locked, wherein an unlocking member for unlocking a lock of the camera body and the imaging unit by means of the locking member is disposed in an intersection portion of the side and upper wall portions, and wherein at least three wall portions which compose the concave portion, are opened.
US08792049B2

A device that analyzes an image. The device includes a circuit that receives an image that includes a plurality of pixels. The circuit creates a histogram of the image and analyzes the histogram to determine an acceptable exposure of the image. The histogram may include a plurality of bins versus a population of pixels associated with each bin. By way of example, the bins may be associated with an intensity of light. The images and histograms may include data defined by low dynamic range number of bits and/or an extended dynamic range number of bits. Certain features and criteria of the image may be determined and analyzed to determine whether the image has an acceptable exposure. If the image is unacceptable, an exposure characteristic can be changed and the process can be repeated until an acceptable image is obtained.
US08792048B2

The focus detection accuracy of a focus detection device that employs an external AF sensor unit having a pair of line sensors that are each comprised of multiple unit line sensors is improved. The individual line sensors are arranged so that the center of the field of view of an imaging optical system at a predetermined subject distance, at which field-of-view adjustment for causing the field of view of the imaging optical system and the field of view of a focus-detection optical system to match has been carried out, corresponds to the center of one of the multiple unit line sensors included in the individual line sensors.
US08792045B2

A method of refocusing a video surveillance camera includes performing a first focusing operation of a camera at a first time, sensing a first temperature of the camera at the first time, sensing a second temperature of the camera at a second time, determining if a change in temperature between the first temperature and the second temperature is greater than a predetermined temperature change, sensing a level of light in a field of view of the camera at the second time, determining if the level of light sensed in the field of view of the camera at the second time is within a predetermined light level range, determining if a period of time between the first time and second time is greater than a predetermined period of time, and performing a focus operation if the change in temperature between the first temperature and the second temperature is greater than the predetermined temperature change, the level of light sensed in the field of view of the camera at the second time is within the predetermined light level range, and the period of time between the first and second time is greater than a predetermined period of time.
US08792044B2

Disclosed is an image pickup device, by which cut resistance at the time of cutting a wafer lens is reduced, high production efficiency is maintained, and excellent optical characteristics are obtained. The image pickup device has a first lens block, a second lens block, a spacer, and a sensor unit. The side surface section of the first lens block, the side surface section of the second lens block, and the side surface section of the spacer are formed on the same plane. A lens cover that covers the first and the second lens blocks is provided in a step formed by respective side surface sections of the first lens block, the second lens block and the spacer, and the side surface section of the sensor unit.
US08792042B2

A vibrating device includes a dust-screening member and a vibrating member. The dust-screening member is disposed in front of an image surface of an image forming element having the image surface in which an optical image is generated. The dust-screening member has a box shape with about the same small plate thickness as a whole, and includes, in a bottom surface portion of the box shape, a transparent part which spreads from the center of the bottom surface portion. The vibrating member is disposed outside the transparent part of the dust-screening member. The vibrating member is configured to generate, in the bottom surface portion of the dust-screening member, vibration having a vibrational amplitude which is vertical to the bottom surface portion thereof.
US08792034B2

A solid-state imaging device includes a plurality of pixels, each of which includes a photoelectric converter section formed on a first substrate to generate and accumulate signal charges corresponding to incident light, a charge accumulation capacitor section formed on the first substrate or a second substrate to temporarily hold the signal charges transferred from the photoelectric converter section, and a plurality of MOS transistors formed on the second substrate to transfer the signal charges accumulated in the charge accumulation capacitor section, connection electrodes formed on the first substrate, and connection electrodes formed on the second substrate and electrically connected to the connection electrodes formed on the first substrate.
US08792033B2

An image pickup apparatus capable of ensuring a dynamic range suitable for an image shooting condition and capable of reducing noise. The image pickup apparatus includes an image sensing device having floating diffusion units that are provided corresponding to pixels and that convert electrical charges accumulated in the pixels into voltage signals, which are output as pixel signals from pixel amplifiers. At that time, according to an image shooting condition, at least parts of connection switches corresponding to the floating diffusion units are sequentially turned on or all the connection switches are turned off, whereby the connection switches are connected to or disconnected from connection lines to thereby change capacity components connected to pixel amplifiers. This contributes to dynamic range expansion or noise reduction.
US08792030B2

An imaging section outputs n pixel signals every pixel row of n×m pixels, and n AD conversion sections, corresponding to n pixel columns of the n×m pixels, convert the n pixel signals to n pixel values. A resolution control section controls the n AD conversion sections so that the AD conversion resolution of the n AD conversion sections become a first resolution, or a second resolution rougher than the first resolution, based on the AD conversion resolution of the n AD conversion sections and the n pixel values.
US08792015B2

An image processing apparatus that performs an image restoration processing of an image includes an optical transfer function obtaining portion configured to obtain an optical transfer function depending on an image pickup condition of the image, a threshold frequency obtaining portion configured to obtain a threshold frequency at which an absolute value of the optical transfer function is under a predetermined threshold value, a generating portion configured to generate an image restoration filter that has gain characteristics depending on the threshold frequency using the optical transfer function, and a processing portion configured to perform the image restoration processing of the image using the image restoration filter.
US08791996B2

An image processing system inputs a captured image of a scene viewed from a vehicle, extracts image feature points from the captured image, and obtains image-capturing situation information indicating a possibility that a specific subject is included in the captured image. The system determines importance degrees of the extracted image feature points based on the image-capturing situation information and generates image feature point data using the extracted image feature points based on the importance degrees. The system generates reference data by associating the image feature point data with image-capturing attribute information and creates a reference data database. The image-capturing attribute information includes an image-capturing position at which the image is captured to obtain the captured image corresponding to the image feature point data.
US08791995B2

A stereo video microscope system (10), comprising: a stereo video microscope (11) having two output channels for providing stereo image data and including an internal lighting; a display unit (14) having two input channels for receiving and displaying stereo image data; and a control unit operably connected to the stereo video microscope (11) and the display unit (14) such that the control unit can control the operation of the stereo video microscope (11) and the display unit (14) and the flow of stereo image data between the two output channels of the stereo video microscope (11) and the two input channels of the display unit (14). In one embodiment the control unit is configured for performing an image rotation and/or exchanging the output channels such that the stereo image is always upright.
US08791985B2

In-line holography to create images of a specimen, such as one or more particles dispersed in a transparent medium. Analyzing these images with results from light scattering theory yields the particles' sizes with nanometer resolution, their refractive indexes to within one part in a thousand, and their three dimensional positions with nanometer resolution. This procedure can rapidly and directly characterize mechanical, optical and chemical properties of the specimen and its medium.
US08791982B1

Introduction of one or more multicast engines to a video conferencing system permits an improvement of overall network bandwidth used for a video conference. A video stream is received at a multicast engine connected to a participant of a plurality of participants in the conference where the video stream is supplied by the participant. The multicast engine selectively transmits the video stream to a server station based on determining whether the video stream is a candidate for a conference video stream to be transmitted to at least some of the plurality of participants. The conference video stream is received at the multicast engine from the server station, and the stream is transmitted from the multicast engine to any participants in the video conference that are connected to the multicast engine.
US08791979B2

Disclosed in the present invention are an access method for performing a video call and a video call apparatus, wherein the method comprises the steps of: presetting an access password for a video call; after answering the video call, closing audio and video channels, and transmitting a command to a calling terminal for providing an access password for the video call so as to prompt said calling terminal to input an access password associated with the video call; determining if the access password associated with the video call and inputted by said calling terminal matches the preset access password; if so, performing the video call, and if not, refusing said calling terminal's request to perform the video call. According to the technical solution provided by the present invention, the function of automatically selecting whether to answer the video call according to the other party's identity is enabled.
US08791977B2

A method for presenting metadata during a video conference includes receiving a first video conferencing stream from a first site. Metadata associated with the first video conferencing stream is identified. A second video conferencing stream incorporating the identified metadata is created using a processor. The second video conferencing stream is presented at a second site.
US08791969B2

A display device includes a first display panel facing a second display panel with a liquid crystal layer between them. The first display panel has a first gate line, a second gate line spaced apart from the first gate line, a first and second storage lines both spaced apart from the first gate line, first and second switching elements controlled by a first gate signal applied through the first gate line, a first sub-pixel electrode connected to the first switching element, a second sub-pixel electrode connected to the second switching element, a third switching element controlled by a second gate signal applied through the second gate line, and a coupling electrode connected to the third switching element and having a portion overlapping the second storage line. Different voltages are applied to the first storage line and the second storage line.
US08791949B1

Various embodiments are directed to methods for marketing investment services. The methods may comprise receiving at least one signal from a position detector indicating a position of a viewer relative to a display screen in a first axis and a perpendicular distance of the viewer from the display screen. The display screen may be aligned along the first axis and a second axis. The methods may also comprise displaying with the display screen a user interface. The user interface may comprise an age scale aligned with the first axis, an asset scale aligned with a second axis and a chart of assets versus age. Upon determining that the perpendicular distance of the viewer from the display screen is less than a predetermined value, the methods may comprise modifying the interface to display an element at a first position on the age scale corresponding to a position of the viewer relative to the display screen in the first axis. The element may comprise information describing at least one of an investment-related event occurring at the first position on the age scale and an investment-related service related to the first position on the age scale.
US08791948B2

In one example embodiment, a system and method is shown as including identifying a context set data defining a context within which a person resides. Next, an operation is executed so as to retrieve the context set data that includes person data and relationship between persons data, the relationship between persons data including certain characteristics that define the person in the context set. An operation may be executed so as to perform a set operation on the person in the context set so as to generate a graph set. Further, an operation may be executed to render a graphical representation of the context set.
US08791940B2

An apparatus and method for compensating for a black level in order to solve a screen flickering phenomenon and a problem of convergence speed of a black level value. The apparatus for compensating for a black level includes: a black pixel average value extraction unit averaging black pixel values of a current frame to determine a black pixel average value; a luminance value extraction unit extracting a luminance value from an analog gain and concentration time information of an image sensor; a black level extraction unit calculating a frame weight by using the luminance value and acquiring a black level value of a current frame by using the frame weight, the black pixel average value, and a black level value of a previous frame; and a black level compensation unit compensating for valid pixel values of the current frame by using the black level value of the current frame.
US08791939B2

A display device is described. The device includes an active-matrix luminescence panel that has data lines and pixels for determining luminescence of the pixels. Each pixel includes a driving transistor that converts a signal voltage from a data line into a signal current, and a first switch between the data line and the gate of the driving transistor. The device includes a test current generator to supply a test current to one of the data lines, a voltage detector to detect the voltage of one of the data lines, and a controller to control switches, the test current generator and the voltage detector.
US08791934B2

The invention relates to a method of driving of an electro-optic display having image regions. Each image region has: a first driving state in which a zero voltage, substantially equal to zero, is applied across the image region; and a second driving state in which a non-zero voltage, substantially different from the zero voltage, is applied across the image region. The method of the invention comprises applying: a common voltage signal to a plurality of the image regions; and an actuating voltage signal to one or more selected ones of the plurality of image regions. The method comprises varying both the common voltage signal and the actuating voltage signal when switching the selected regions between the first driving state and the second driving state. The invention further relates to electro-optic display apparatus having image regions and comprising driving circuitry adapted to perform the method of the invention.
US08791932B2

A display device includes: an LED control section (4) for carrying out control in which (i) an output luminance of an LED (10) whose measured luminance is deviated from a reference luminance or (ii) output luminances of peripheral LEDs (10) which are provided around the LED (10) is or are corrected, respectively, by using control information of the plurality of LEDs, which control information contains (a) information on measured luminances of the plurality of LEDs, the information being obtained by the plurality of photosensors (11) and (b) positional information of the plurality of LEDs, the positional information being obtained by the plurality of photosensors (11), and a liquid crystal display control section (3) for controlling, based on (i) video signals which have been subjected to the video signal process and are supplied from a video signal processing section (2) and (ii) the control information supplied from the LED control section (4), (a) levels of video signals to be supplied to pixels corresponding to the LED (10), whose output luminance is corrected or (b) levels of video signals to be supplied to pixels corresponding to the peripheral LEDs, whose output luminances are corrected, the reference luminance being a luminance which is originally expected to be outputted from each of the plurality of LEDs.
US08791929B2

The semiconductor device includes a transistor and a capacitor element which is electrically connected to a gate of the transistor. Charge held in the capacitor element according to total voltage of voltage corresponding to the threshold voltage of the transistor and image signal voltage is once discharged through the transistor, so that variation in current flowing in the transistor or mobility of the transistor can be reduced.
US08791922B2

A resistive touch panel is provided. The resistive touch panel includes a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer, and a plurality of electrodes is disposed on the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer. A detection area of the resistive touch panel is separated into at least two sub-detection areas through configuration of the electrodes. Thus, the resistive touch panel can calculate coordinates of a contact point corresponding to each sub-detection area at the same time, so as to achieve functions of detecting multiple touch points at the same time and detecting touch point sliding.
US08791911B2

Multichannel device controllers are disclosed. In one embodiment, a multichannel device controller includes a plurality of user selectable control modes for controlling a multichannel device and a plurality of user configurable settings for adjusting parameters associated with the plurality of user selectable control modes. A touchscreen displays a user interface corresponding to a selected one of plurality of user selectable control modes and receives user input indicative of a command to send to the multichannel device. A processor generates the command to send to the multichannel device based at least in part on the user input and the plurality of user configurable settings.
US08791899B1

A method and apparatus of detecting user initiated movement by an input element handled by a user is disclosed. The method may include performing a calibration procedure that is initiated by the user via a physical movement performed by the user. The method may also include positioning at least one sensor to dynamically adjust a size of an effective workspace range capable of detecting the user's movement of the input element.
US08791887B2

This invention relates to active matrix OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) displays, in particular to display panels with integrated negative capacitance circuits and to active capacitance compensation. We describe an active matrix OLED display comprising a glass panel bearing a plurality of lines of OLED pixels, each with an associated active matrix driver circuit having a programming connection for programming a brightness of the associated OLED, programming connections of a line of pixels being connected to a programming line of said display, and wherein said active matrix OLED display further comprises a plurality of capacitors on said glass panel, each having a first plate connected to an end of a respective said programming line and having a second plate for connecting to a negative capacitor circuit to compensate for a capacitance of said programming line.
US08791886B2

An organic light emitting display device includes a DC-DC converter that is capable of reducing power consumption by increasing efficiency. The DC-DC converter includes: a variable resistor; an oscillator configured to output a frequency control signal having a frequency corresponding to a resistance value of the variable resistor; a booster configured to receive the control signal and to output a first power by switching an input voltage in accordance with the control signal; and an inverter configured to receive the control signal and to generate a second power by switching and inverting the input voltage in accordance with the control signal.
US08791881B2

A display device includes: a substrate; a pair of partition walls above the substrate; a light-emitting portion above the substrate that includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a light-emitting layer located between the first electrode and the second electrode, the second electrode and the light-emitting layer located between the pair of partition walls; and a pixel circuit for applying a voltage to the first electrode. Each of the pair of partition walls includes a conductive portion and an insulating portion that covers side surfaces of the conductive portion for insulating the first electrode and the light-emitting layer from the conductive portion. The second electrode covers an upper surface of the conductive portion of each of the pair of partition walls and is electrically connected to the pixel circuit via the conductive portion.
US08791879B2

In order to prevent a burn-in phenomenon from occurring in a liquid crystal, the present invention provides a display apparatus including a liquid-crystal display device employing the liquid crystal and a driving circuit. In an operation to drive the liquid-crystal display device, the driving circuit inverts the polarity of a signal voltage applied between pixel electrodes and a facing electrode, which are employed in the liquid-crystal display device, every frame period of a moving-image signal. In the operation to drive the liquid-crystal display device, the driving circuit also changes the phase of a control signal for inverting the polarity.
US08791874B2

A near-field coupling device that may facilitate communications with a transponder is provided. The near-field coupling device may include a ground plane, a dielectric substrate, one or more conductive strips and a terminating load. The conductive strips together with the ground planes form coupling elements. The near-field coupling device further includes one or more switching elements for selectively connecting and disconnecting the coupling elements with a transceiver. The connected coupling elements define a total characteristic impedance. Using the switching element, the ratio between the total characteristic impedance of the connected coupling elements and the terminating load may be changed in order to adjust the distribution of an electromagnetic field along the coupling elements according to the type and position of the transponder to be processed.
US08791871B2

A dipole antenna includes a circuit board with a first side and a second side, at least one dipole disposed on the circuit board comprising an upper half and a lower half, a microstrip transmission line disposed on the circuit board coupled to at least one of the upper half and lower half of the at least one dipole, and a choke element disposed on the circuit board. The choke element and the lower half of the at least one dipole form an open slot trap with a high impedance point.
US08791870B2

Provided is a portable electronic device which can be changed between a first state and a second state and comprises an antenna that forms a loop in the first state and does not form the loop in the second state. A mobile telephone comprises: an operation unit-side casing; a display unit-side casing; a linking part which links the operation unit-side casing and the display unit-side casing in such a way that it is possible to change between the first state and the second state; and a loop antenna which is disposed at the operation unit-side casing and the display unit-side casing and is changed to form a loop in the first state and not to form the loop in the second state.
US08791863B2

A built-in Printed Circuit Board (PCB) antenna of a mobile terminal is erected to guarantee a sufficient distance from a human body. The built-in PCB antenna includes a main PCB having a power feeding line and a first antenna pattern having a power feeding antenna line having an end electrically connected to the power feeding line, through-holes formed at an end of the main PCB and having a conduction hole electrically connected to the first antenna pattern, an erected PCB fixed on the main PCB orthogonally and having a second antenna pattern formed thereon, and protrusions formed at a lateral side of the erected PCB and having a conduction protrusion, inserted into the conduction hole, electrically connected to an end of the second antenna pattern. The built-in PCB antenna may reduce deterioration of radiation performance caused by a body of a user.
US08791861B2

A technique for determining the position of a mobile device includes receiving messages from respective mobile reference devices. Each of the messages is broadcast beginning at one of several predetermined message start opportunity (MSO) times that have known timings relative to a reference time. Each of the messages contains a MSO value identifying the MSO time at which transmission of the message started. The MSO value is used to determine the time of transmission of each of the messages received at the mobile device, and the position of the mobile device is determined via multi-lateration. According to another approach, the mobile device receives a set of ADS-B messages from a respective set of mobile reference devices. The time of transmission of each of the ADS-B messages is supplied in the ADS-B message itself or in a subsequent message and used to determine the position of the mobile device.
US08791857B2

To track the location of a terminal in an indoor space by using a pseudo GPS signal transmitter, a GPS signal sent from an artificial satellite is received, and a clock signal of the artificial satellite is extracted from the received GPS signal to perform synchronization with the artificial satellite. Once synchronization with the artificial satellite is performed, a pseudo GPS signal is generated, and the transmission time of the pseudo GPS signal is controlled. The GPS signal is sent to the terminal located in the indoor space by a plurality of transmitting antennas based on the controlled transmission time, thereby enabling the terminal located in the indoor space to track its location.
US08791849B1

A system for converting a digital signal to an analog signal, the digital signal having a center frequency, includes: a multi-Nyquist DAC; a clock; and a controller configured to: control the clock to generate a clock signal such that the center frequency of the digital signal is an integer multiple of half the frequency of the clock signal, the clock being configured to supply the clock signal to the multi-Nyquist DAC and to the controller; and supply the digital signal to the multi-Nyquist DAC to generate an output signal.
US08791848B2

A sigma-delta modulator is provided for generating a digital output signal. The sigma-delta modulator includes a multi-stage loop filter, a quantizer, and a digital-to-analog converter. The multi-stage loop filter receives an analog input signal and generates an integrated output signal according to the analog input signal. Each stage of the multi-stage loop filter includes a feedback network. The quantizer receives the integrated output signal and quantizes the integrated output signal to generate the digital output signal. The digital-to-analog converter receives the digital output signal and converts the digital output signal to a compensation signal. The digital-to-analog converter provides the compensation signal to a plurality of internal nodes in the feedback network of the last stage of the multi-stage loop filter.
US08791843B2

An apparatus includes a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit may be configured to generate (i) a compressed representation of an input sequence of characters and (ii) statistics regarding one or more types of information in the compressed representation of the input sequence of characters. The second circuit may be configured to generate a compressed bitstream representation of the input sequence of characters in response to the compressed representation of the input sequence of characters and one or more of the statistics regarding the one or more types of information in the compressed representation of the input sequence of characters. The bitstream values encoding the one or more types of information are generally determined based upon a frequency of occurrence of the one or more types of information in the compressed representation of the input sequence of characters.
US08791835B2

Methods for road safety enhancement use mobile communication device (MCD) onboard vehicle to share traveling data through inter-vehicle communication broadcasting, perform road hazard warning, enhance road navigation, and provide autonomous road assistance. The methods have a variety of vehicle status data, such as moving data, steering data, or indicator data, obtained through GPS or image capturing and recognition of instrument cluster of vehicle. The image capturing and recognition allows to get speed data from indication of speedometer, indication of left or right turn signal, steering action data corresponding to steering wheel rotation, and light-on indication of system status indicators. To facilitate that, the MCD may be placed in front of steering wheel, and, if applicable, also in coupling with movement of steering wheel. The MCD may perform relative positioning map-matching lane correlation and GPS-update-interval speed positioning to improve data quality regarding vehicle moving status.
US08791833B2

Preferred embodiments of housings for an automatic meter reading device permit the automatic meter reading device to be mounted on a meter such as a water meter, or on a wall remote from the meter. A removable portion of the housing can be separated from a body of the housing when the housing is used to mount the automatic meter reading device on the meter.
US08791830B2

The present invention relates to a device for current measuring in power supply networks comprising transformers for measuring current, a signal processing apparatus arranged on a printed circuit board and screw fastenings for mounting the device. The cable ducts of the transformers are orientated parallel to the plane of the printed circuit board, which has openings flush to the cable ducts, and the screw fastenings are fastening tabs with mounting holes, spaced so standards-compliant mounting is possible. In an alternate embodiment, the cable ducts are orientated perpendicularly to the plane of the printed circuit board, the screw fastenings are constructed as an angle rail with cable outlets and standards-compliant mounting holes, and the printed circuit board is internally fastened on one side of the angle rail. In another alternate embodiment the transformers are installed with the printed circuit board in a common housing with fastening tabs and standards-compliant mounting holes.
US08791828B2

A CO detector includes a sensor configured to detect a presence of CO and generate a signal indicative of the presence of CO, and a controller in signal communication with the sensor. The controller is configured to measure a level of detected CO in response to receiving the signal generated by the sensor. The controller is further configured to detect a first trouble condition representative of an end-of-life condition of the sensor, and a second trouble condition different from the first trouble condition.
US08791824B2

A method and system for reading RFID tags in a high-density environment using a directional scanning antenna system is provided. The directional scanning antenna system consists of transmit and receive antennas having highly directional antenna patterns which work together to read and locate the tags. In operation both types of antennas are stepped in a circular fashion with respect to each other wherein the transmit antenna's antenna pattern pauses during rotation while the receive antenna pattern sweeps across the radiating antenna's path produced by the transmit antenna such that the antenna patterns produced from each isolate and determine the location of the tags.
US08791816B2

A method and apparatus for managing events in an electrical distribution system. A number of events in the electrical distribution system are identified for an operator based on a profile for the operator. A wireless mobile device is assigned to the operator and the profile includes a role of the operator. The number of events is sent to the wireless mobile device assigned to the operator.
US08791810B2

An optimal vehicle battery recommendation system includes at least one sensor to detect a manipulation of the vehicle. A driver behavior module determines a driving behavior of a driver of the vehicle. A vehicle consumption module determines battery information of an on-board battery currently connected to the vehicle, and determines energy consumption of the vehicle. A battery capacity advisor module is in electrical communication with the driver behavior module and the vehicle consumption module. The battery capacity module determines a replacement battery option that changes at least one battery characteristic of the on-board battery based on the driver behavior model and the vehicle consumption model.
US08791809B2

An optimal vehicle battery recommendation system includes at least one sensor to detect a manipulation of the vehicle. A driver behavior module determines a driving behavior of a driver of the vehicle. A vehicle consumption module determines battery information of an on-board battery currently connected to the vehicle, and determines energy consumption of the vehicle. A battery capacity advisor module is in electrical communication with the driver behavior module and the vehicle consumption module. The battery capacity module determines a replacement battery option that changes at least one battery characteristic of the on-board battery based on the driver behavior model and the vehicle consumption model.
US08791806B2

A system is disclosed which provides real-time detection of hazardous driving behavior. The system collects information about the motion of a vehicle along a path, for example, using a global positioning satellite system receiver. Roadside signs along the path are detected and their content determined. That information is compared with information about the motion of the vehicle to provide information with regard to potentially hazardous driving behavior.
US08791793B2

A system and method are provided for reading and identifying molded products based on detecting intentionally introduced defects in the molded products that were included to identify and authenticate the molded products, or to confirm compatibility of the molded products in devices in which the molded products are installed for use. Process conditions in the fabrication or formation of melt processed parts are modified to deliberately introduce surface, detectable defects into the melt processed parts. A Quality Review (QR) code that specifies a compilation of at least some of the actual defects that are present in the molded part is provided, potentially encrypted, for comparison purposes.
US08791792B2

An novel impedance sensor for use together with a switch is provided having a plurality of substantially parallel drive lines configured to transmit a signal into a surface of a proximally located object, and also a plurality of substantially parallel pickup lines oriented substantially perpendicular to the drive lines and separated from the pickup lines by a dielectric to form intrinsic electrode pairs that are impedance sensitive at each of the drive and pickup crossover locations.
US08791788B2

A method and system for fingerprinting a content item is described, the content item including a set of content item elements E, providing information uniquely associated with a single user including a string of bits S0, parsing S0 into a plurality of substrings which are functions of S0, providing a matrix of content item replacement elements, each row of which includes, for each member of E, an array of content item replacement elements for Ei, uniquely associating each substring of S0 so that for every substring there exists a corresponding element of E, for every substring, replacing at least one instance of the corresponding element E in the content item with one substitute matrix element for the corresponding substring, and outputting a replacement content item including the result of the replacing, the substitute matrix elements being chosen according to at least one similarity criterion.
US08791784B2

The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a substrate that spans in an X-direction and a Y-direction that is orthogonal to the X-direction. The semiconductor device includes an interconnect structure formed over the substrate in a Z-direction that is orthogonal to both the X-direction and the Y-direction. The interconnect structure includes a plurality of metal lines interconnected together in the Z-direction by a plurality of vias. The interconnect structure contains a transformer device that includes a primary coil and a secondary coil. The primary coil and the secondary coil are each wound at least partially in the Z-direction.
US08791782B2

A multi-coil choke for an AC power conditioner includes a magnetic core having first, second and third parallel legs. A first coil wrapped around the first leg terminates in first and second leads at respective ends. A second coil wrapped around the second leg terminates in first and second leads at respective ends. A third coil wrapped around the third leg terminates in first and second leads at respective ends. A fourth coil is formed from a proximal portion of the second lead of said first coil. The fourth coil is wrapped around a distal portion of the second lead of the third coil. A fifth coil is formed from a proximal portion of the second lead of the third coil. The fifth coil is wrapped around a distal portion of the second lead of the first coil. AC power conditioners using one or more such chokes are also disclosed.
US08791781B2

A spherical magnet is formed as a hollow sphere having a fluid tight outer surface of a first magnetic pole and an inner surface having a second magnetic pole that is magnetically opposite the first pole. A plurality of individual thin flexible rectangular plate magnets are arranged as a continuous outer layer of the spherical magnet. Each individual plate magnet has four sides, an inner magnetic portion and an outer non-magnetic portion that extends around all four sides of the magnetic portion. Each inner magnetic portion includes a first face disposed on the outer surface and having the first pole and a second face opposite the first face, disposed on the inner surface and having the second pole.
US08791761B2

A radio frequency (RF) power amplifier is disclosed. The power amplifier includes an output stage circuit, an exponential type bias circuit and a voltage-current transformation circuit. The output stage circuit receives a first system voltage and outputs an output current. The exponential type bias circuit receives a bias current, wherein a relationship between the bias current and output current is exponential, and when the bias current is zero current, and the output current is zero current. The voltage-current transformation circuit transforms the first system voltage into a second current so that the bias current is in proportion to the first system voltage, and thus the relationship between the output current and the first system voltage is exponential. The bias current is equal to times of the sum of the first current and the second current.
US08791759B2

An amplifier for an integrated circuit has a plurality of ratioed current mirrors connected to each other in a stacked configuration. Each ratio mirror has at least two resistors and at least two bipolar transistors connected to each other via said at least two resistors. Each amplifying transistor, contains a capacitor, and potentially and inductor, to internally match the transistors that make up the amplifying stack. DC, harmonic and s-parameter simulations are performed to provide an optimal impedance for each of the stacked transistors to maximize the RF power output of each stacked layer and the amplifier.
US08791740B2

A method for reducing average current consumption in a local oscillator (LO) path is disclosed. An LO signal is received at a master frequency divider and a slave frequency divider. Output from the master frequency divider is mixed with an input signal to produce a first mixed output. Output from the slave frequency divider is mixed with the input signal to produce a second mixed output. The second mixed output is forced to be in phase with the first mixed output.
US08791736B2

This invention provides a loop filter device and a method for IC designers to adjust the pole or zero location of a phase lock loop (PLL) circuit. The pole and zero location are controlled by an amplifier and some on-chip resistor and capacitor components. The effective capacitance is magnified by the gain of the amplifier. The advantage of the loop filter device and the method according to embodiments of the present invention provides a feasible way to achieve a very low bandwidth in the PLL circuit without a huge external surface-mount capacitor.
US08791728B2

A dynamic latch has a pair of parallel pass gates (a first parallel pass gate that receives a seed signal, and a second parallel pass gate that receives a data signal). A first latch logic circuit performs logic operations using signals output by the parallel pass gates to produce an updated data signal. An additional pass gate is operatively connected to the first latch logic circuit. An additional pass gate controls passage of the updated data signal. An inverter receives the updated data signal from the pass gate, and inverts and outputs the updated data signal as an output data signal. Thus, the dynamic latch comprises two inputs into the pair of parallel pass gates and performs only one of four logical operations on a received data signal. The four logical operations are performed using the signals applied to the two inputs.
US08791711B2

An embodiment of a test apparatus for executing a test of a set of electronic devices having a plurality of electrically conductive terminals, the test apparatus including a plurality of electrically conductive test probes for exchanging electrical signals with the terminals, and coupling means for mechanically coupling the test probes with the electronic devices. In an embodiment, the coupling means includes insulating means for keeping each one of at least part of the test probes electrically insulated from at least one corresponding terminal during the execution of the test. Each test probe and the corresponding terminal form a capacitor for electro-magnetically coupling the test probe with the terminal.
US08791705B2

A calibration substrate having at least one calibration standard with at least two electrical connection points, each for one measurement gate of a vector network analyzer. At least one electrical connection point is formed of at least one calibration standard having a switch, wherein the switch has a first electrical contact electrically connected to an electrical connection point of the calibration standard, a second electrical contact designed for electrically connecting to a measurement gate of the vector network analyzer, and a third electrical contact, wherein the switch is designed such that an electrical contact is established either between the first and third electrical contact or between the first and second electrical contact.
US08791703B2

A method for testing a conductive web includes moving a conductive web past at least one electrostatic probe, providing an alternating current or voltage which generates an alternating current to the at least one electrostatic probe, measuring a current or voltage in the at least one electrostatic probe induced by a capacitance between the conductive web and the at least one electrostatic probe, comparing the measured current or voltage to a reference value, and determining a level of bagginess of the conductive web based on the step of comparing.
US08791697B2

A method for MR spectroscopy includes the steps of (a) switching at least one phase coding gradient for spatial coding of a spectral information to be detected, and (b) detection of the spectral information, and repeating (a) and (b) until a predetermined raw data space has been scanned. Specific spectral information is detected in (b) when the at least one phase coding gradient respectively has a value of 0. This specific spectral information is evaluated in order to determine a property of the spectral information already detected in (b), or still to be detected in (b).
US08791693B2

An apparatus includes a sensor arrangement with a sensor chip. A magnetic field generator is configured to generate a secondary magnetic field opposing an external primary magnetic field at the sensor chip. The magnetic field generator protects the sensor arrangement against the external primary magnetic field.
US08791689B2

Disclosed is a probe for an oscilloscope comprising a multi-stage transistor amplifier that acts as an impedance transformer. Said amplifier is a d.c.-coupled emitter follower circuit that is composed of bipolar transistors or a d.c.-coupled source follower circuit which is composed of field effect transistors and the successive amplifier elements of which are dimensioned and tuned to each other in such a way that the resulting offset direct voltage between the input and the output is minimal.
US08791686B2

The voltage reference circuit includes: a first MOS transistor; a second MOS transistor including a gate terminal connected to a gate terminal of the first MOS transistor and having an absolute value of a threshold value and a K value higher than an absolute value of a threshold value and a K value of the first MOS transistor; a current mirror circuit flowing a current based on a difference between the absolute values of the threshold values of the first MOS transistor and the second MOS transistor; a third MOS transistor flowing the current; and a fourth MOS transistor having an absolute value of a threshold value and a K value higher than an absolute value of a threshold value of the third MOS transistor and flowing the current.
US08791666B2

A charging cable for use in charging a vehicle includes a power line, an input section, an oscillator, and a pulse-width adjusting device. The power line is used to carry power from an external power supply to the vehicle. The external power supply and the vehicle are connected to each other with the power line disposed therebetween. A set charging current value in charging the vehicle is input to the input section. The oscillator is configured to generate an oscillation signal having a pulse width within a range of a rated current of the external power supply. The rated current is capable of being supplied to the vehicle. The pulse-width adjusting device is configured to adjust the pulse width of the oscillation signal generated by the oscillator to correspond to the set charging current value input from the input section.
US08791657B2

To provide a disk drive capable of inhibiting the occurrence of acoustic noise caused by a voltage pulse when the head is retracted using a speed control method using voltage obtained by rectifying a back electromotive force after the power source has been cut off from the rotation of a spindle motor. Retraction control circuit is used to control the on and off modes of transistors in accordance with the speed of VCM. The voltage across VCM becomes a voltage that can be regulated with VCM voltage control circuit. At this time, voltage is supplied to the terminals based on the voltage of ISO5V that is the rectified voltage of the back electromotive force of the spindle motor and the pulsating voltage is synchronized and produced at both terminals. As a result, the potential difference across VCM is such that the pulsating voltage is negated and acoustic noise is inhibited.
US08791648B2

A light emitting diode (LED) driver circuit controls switching of an output transistor. The LED driver circuit monitors inductor current flowing through an output inductor that is coupled to one or more LEDs. In response to detecting that the inductor current has reached a peak value, the LED driver circuit switches OFF the output transistor. The LED driver circuit switches ON the output transistor in response to detecting zero crossing of the inductor current. The LED driver circuit may detect zero crossing of the inductor current from a gate voltage of the output transistor by detecting for a negative spike.
US08791642B2

Light emitting devices include a first string of LEDs that emit light having a color point that is within at least eight MacAdam ellipses of a first blue-shifted-yellow region on the 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram, a second string of LEDs that emit light having color point that is within at least eight MacAdam ellipses of a second blue-shifted-green region on the 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram, and a third light source that emits radiation having a dominant wavelength between 600 and 720 nm. A drive circuit supplies respective drive currents to the first string of LEDs, the second string of LEDs and the third light source, at least two of which are independently controllable.
US08791636B2

A flashtube of the present invention includes a glass tube, an anode-side electrode disposed at one end of the glass tube, and a cathode-side electrode disposed at the other end of the glass tube. The glass tube includes a first glass tube, and second glass tubes coupled to respective ends of the first glass tube via stage joint glass tubes. Each of the stage joint glass tube has a thermal expansion coefficient between the thermal expansion coefficient of the first glass tube and that of each of the second glass tube. A ratio of the outer diameter of the anode-side electrode to the inner diameter of the glass tube is 43.5% or higher.
US08791630B2

A light emitting section emits fluorescence upon receiving exciting light emitted from a laser element. The light emitting section includes a plurality of fluorescent material particles made from a single type of fluorescent material or several types of fluorescent materials, the plurality of fluorescent material particles being accumulated on a metal substrate to form a layer of the plurality of fluorescent material particles. Each of the plurality of fluorescent material particles has a surface coated with a coating layer. The coating layer forms an uneven shape of a surface of the light emitting section.
US08791627B2

A spark plug includes an insulator, and a metal shell disposed at an outer periphery of the insulator and including a shoulder. The insulator includes a trunk portion, and a leg formed at the tip end side of the trunk portion. The shoulder of the metal shell includes a first shoulder, and a second shoulder formed at the tip end side of the first shoulder. A distance Da between the tip end of the second shoulder and the leg and a distance Db between the tip end of the trunk portion and the second shoulder satisfy a relationship of Da/Db≧1.1. A distance T between the rear end of the first shoulder and the tip end of the second shoulder and a distance L between the rear end of the first shoulder and a tip end face of the metal shell satisfy a relationship of T/L≦0.5.
US08791625B2

The invention relates to a ceramic material of the formula [(Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3)(1-y)(BaTiO3)y](1-x) (K0.5Na0.5NbO3)x, and also to a method for producing the same and to a component comprising said material.
US08791618B2

A squirrel-cage rotor includes a rotor core formed having a plurality of slots, a plurality of conductor bars inserted into the slots respectively and made of copper or copper alloy, two conductor end rings joined to the plurality of conductor bars on both end faces of the rotor core and made of copper or copper alloy and a reinforcing-member end ring attached to at least one of the conductor end rings and made of material having a specific strength greater than that of either copper or copper alloy. The plurality of conductor bars are arranged so as to extend through the conductor end rings and the reinforcing-member end ring. Consequently, the rotor can be manufactured by any manufacturing method but die-casting. Further, the conductor end rings can be reinforced with an easily-obtainable material and additionally, the junction of conductor end rings can be easily viewed from an outside.
US08791617B2

An arrangement to ensure an air gap in an electrical machine is provided. The electrical machine has a stator arrangement and a rotor arrangement, wherein an air gap is defined by a distance between parts of the rotor arrangement and parts of the stator arrangement. A cross section of the air gap changes along the certain length. The stator arrangement includes a stator support structure and a lamination stack, wherein the stator support structure has support elements for a two-sided support of the lamination stack, the support elements being ring-shaped and connected via a single main bearing to the rotor arrangement. Elements of the ring-shaped support element show different diameters in reference to the longitudinal axis. A first diameter of a first element of the ring-shaped support element is greater than a second diameter of a second element of the ring-shaped support-element.
US08791615B2

An electric generating device includes a motor having a spindle and a bevel gear, an electric generating mechanism having a pivot axle and another bevel gear, and a speed increasing device includes a flywheel and a bevel gear attached to a secondary shaft and engaged with the bevel gear of the motor spindle, another flywheel and two further bevel gears attached to a primary shaft and engaged with the bevel gears of the secondary shaft and the electric generating mechanism for increasing a momentum of the shafts and for increasing the driving speed of the electric generating mechanism and for decreasing the noise of the electric generating mechanism.
US08791611B2

A device is provided for contact and attachment of an electrical component, such as in a motor vehicle. The contact and attachment are in a substantially flat region of a support element. The device comprises a plurality of clips. One side of the clips being configured to be at least partially inserted into at least one recess in the support element.
US08791608B2

A primary for a linear drive motor has a stage with stacks made from solid steel. Each stack has inner and outer teeth made that form a generally u-shaped cross-section for the stack. A magnet is disposed between the first and second stacks and a a coil wrapped between the first and second stacks. The stacks may be placed in a housing or may be formed as a housingless stage. The stacks and/or housing may be modified to selectively skew motor alignment to reduce motor cogging. The stacks may be contoured to follow various secondary forms. The stack inner and outer teeth lengths may be adjusted to help balance or optimize the magnetic circuit, to increase tooth surface area for increasing force, to allow more motor windings in the coil of the stack assembly, and to help locate the magnet and coil near the tooth surface.
US08791599B2

Described herein are embodiments of a first resonator with a quality factor, Q1, greater than 100, coupled to an energy source, generating an oscillating near field region, and a second resonator, with a quality factor, Q2, greater than 100, optionally coupled to an energy drain, and moving freely within the near field region of the first resonator. The first resonator and the second resonator may be coupled to transfer electromagnetic energy from said first resonator to said second resonator as the second resonator moves freely within the near field region.
US08791591B1

A zero-current switching multiple-output-regulator (“ZCS MOR”) converts power from an input source via a transformer to a main output and one or more auxiliary outputs. Each output is coupled to a respective winding of a transformer preferably by switches controlled as synchronous rectifiers. The synchronous rectifier for each auxiliary output preferably turns on at the start of current flow in its respective winding and off as its respective current returns to zero, independently of the other outputs. The synchronous rectifier for the main output may be held ON until the synchronous rectifiers for each of the auxiliary outputs stop conducting. In the event energy stored in the transformer is insufficient to supply one or more heavily loaded auxiliary outputs, the current in the winding for the main output is allowed to reverse thereby transferring energy from the main output capacitance to the heavily loaded auxiliary outputs. A feed back loop is preferably closed around the main output for regulation. The ZCS MOR may use Fly-back, Buck, and Buck-Boost topologies.
US08791589B2

A method for shifting energy in space and time includes charging an energy store from an energy source at a first location, transporting the energy store to a second location, and discharging the energy store at the second location to deliver energy to an energy consumer. A method for providing energy security to an energy consumer includes charging an energy store from an energy source at a first location, transporting the energy store to a second location, and when a primary energy source at the second location is unavailable, discharging the energy store at the second location to deliver energy to the energy consumer. A vehicle for wirelessly transmitting electric power from a first location to a second location includes a battery, at least one power converter, a controller, and power coupling electrically coupled to the at least one power converter.
US08791585B2

A power system comprises a tension harnessing arrangement to harness tension in a tether connected between a tensioning arrangement and storage means. The tension harnessing arrangement of the system comprises at least one first capstan roller arranged in a predetermined configuration. The tether tensioningly abuts at least a portion of the periphery of the first capstan rollers such that there is substantial contact between the tether and the first capstan rollers, thereby engaging the first capstan rollers to generate rotational energy. Alternatively, second capstan rollers engage with the first capstan rollers. At least one converter functionally co-operates with the first capstan rollers, either directly or via the second capstan rollers, for converting the rotational energy to energy in a transmissible form, storage form dissipative form, or a combination thereof.
US08791575B2

A microelectronic unit, an interconnection substrate, and a method of fabricating a microelectronic unit are disclosed. A microelectronic unit can include a semiconductor element having a plurality of active semiconductor devices therein, the semiconductor element having a first opening extending from a rear surface partially through the semiconductor element towards a front surface and at least one second opening, and a dielectric region overlying a surface of the semiconductor element in the first opening. The microelectronic unit can include at least one conductive interconnect electrically connected to a respective conductive via and extending away therefrom within the aperture. In a particular embodiment, at least one conductive interconnect can extend within the first opening and at least one second opening, the conductive interconnect being electrically connected with a conductive pad having a top surface exposed at the front surface of the semiconductor element.
US08791573B1

Techniques and mechanisms for providing embedded Input/Output (IO) blocks in a floor plan of a semiconductor device are provided, where the embedded IO blocks constitute partial columns (i.e., they do not extend from the bottom through to the top of the semiconductor device). In some embodiments, the partial column IO banks are skewed away from one another. In some embodiments, the partial column IO banks are located away from the center of the semiconductor device. Techniques and mechanisms for implementing symmetrical package routing using skewed partial column IO banks are also provided.
US08791571B1

A method for preventing arcing during processing of a back side of a semiconductor wafer is provided herein. The method comprising includes steps of depositing a dielectric layer over the back side and depositing an anti-arcing layer over the dielectric layer. The anti-arcing layer is a conductive layer, but it not suitable for conducting signals or power. The method further includes etching an opening through a plurality of material layers of the semiconductor wafer. The opening exposes a conductive layer located on a front side of the semiconductor wafer. Additionally, the method includes depositing a conductive layer in the opening to form a through-wafer interconnect. A semiconductor wafer fabricated according to the method is also disclosed.
US08791564B2

In the disclosed method for manufacturing a semiconductor module, a metal layer and a cooler, which have different coefficients of thermal expansion from each other, are joined into a single unit via an insulating resin sheet. A work, comprising a semiconductor element placed on the metal layer with solder interposed therebetween, is fed into a reflow furnace. The work, in that state, is heated in the reflow furnace, thereby mounting the semiconductor element to the metal layer. The heating is carried out such that the temperature of the cooler and the temperature of the metal layer differ by an amount that make the cooler and the metal layer undergo the same amount of thermal expansion as each other.
US08791560B2

A GaN die having a plurality of parallel alternating and closely spaced source and drain strips is contacted by parallel coplanar comb-shaped fingers of source and drain pads. A plurality of enlarged area coplanar spaced gate pads having respective fingers contacting the gate contact of the die. The pads may be elements of a lead frame, or conductive areas on an insulation substrate. Other semiconductor die can be mounted on the pads and connected in predetermined circuit arrangements with the GaN die.
US08791558B2

A stacked semiconductor chip includes a main substrate supporting a semiconductor chip module, wherein the semiconductor module comprises at least two sub semiconductor chip modules each having a sub substrate in which a first semiconductor chip is embedded and at least two second semiconductor chips are stacked on the sub substrate.
US08791548B2

A semiconductor chip is specified that has a contact layer that is not optimum for many common applications. For example, the contact layer is too thin to tolerate an operating current intended for the semiconductor chip without considerable degradation. Also specified is an optoelectronic component in which the semiconductor chip can be integrated so that the suboptimal quality of the contact layer is compensated for. In the component the semiconductor chip is applied to a carrier body so that the contact layer is arranged on a side of the semiconductor body that is remote from the carrier body. The semiconductor chip and the carrier body are at least partly covered with an electrically isolating layer, and an electrical conductor applied to the isolating layer extends laterally away from the semiconductor body and contacts at least a partial surface of the contact layer. In addition, an advantageous process for producing the component is specified.
US08791546B2

A bipolar transistor comprises at least first and second connected emitter-base (EB) junctions having, respectively, different first and second EB junction depths, and a buried layer (BL) collector having a greater third depth. The emitters and bases corresponding to the different EB junctions are provided during a chain implant. An isolation region overlies the second EB junction location thereby providing its shallower EB junction depth. The BL collector does not underlie the first EB junction and is laterally spaced therefrom by a variable amount to facilitate adjusting the transistor's properties. In other embodiments, the BL collector can underlie at least a portion of the second EB junction. Regions of opposite conductivity type over-lie and under-lie the BL collector, which is relatively lightly doped, thereby preserving the breakdown voltage. The transistor can be readily “tuned” by mask adjustments alone to meet various device requirements.
US08791543B2

A reconstituted electronic device comprising at least one die and at least one passive component. A functional material is incorporated in the substrate of the device to modify the electrical behavior of the passive component. The passive component may be formed in redistribution layers of the device. Composite functional materials may be used in the substrate to forms part of or all of the passive component. A metal carrier may form part of the substrate and part of the at least one passive component.
US08791529B2

An object is to provide a field effect transistor (FET) having a conductor-semiconductor junction, which has excellent characteristics, which can be manufactured through an easy process, or which enables high integration. Owing to the junction between a semiconductor layer and a conductor having a work function lower than the electron affinity of the semiconductor layer, a region into which carriers are injected from the conductor is formed in the semiconductor layer. Such a region is used as an offset region of the FET or a resistor of a semiconductor circuit such as an inverter. Further, in the case of setting up such an offset region and a resistor in one semiconductor layer, an integrated semiconductor device can be manufactured.
US08791526B2

A vertical type integrated circuit device includes a substrate and a pillar vertically protruding from the substrate. The pillar includes a lower impurity region and an upper impurity region therein and a vertical channel region therebetween. A portion of the pillar including the lower impurity region therein includes a mesa laterally extending therefrom. The device further includes a first conductive line extending on a first sidewall of the pillar and electrically contacting the lower impurity region, and a second conductive line extending on a second sidewall of the pillar adjacent the vertical channel region. The second conductive line extends in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive line and is spaced apart from the mesa. Related devices and methods of fabrication are also discussed.
US08791522B2

A non-volatile memory and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. A first oxide layer having a protrusion is formed on a substrate. A pair of doped regions is formed in the substrate at two sides of the protrusion. A pair of charge storage spacers is formed on the sidewalls of the protrusion. A second oxide layer is formed on the first oxide layer and the charge storage spacers. A conductive layer is formed on the second oxide layer.
US08791511B2

A semiconductor device is disclosed which has a high voltage isolation structure that is a RESURF structure, wherein it is possible to reduce a displacement current generated by dV/dt noise, and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device. It is possible to increase a lateral resistance without changing the total amount of electric charges in the uppermost surface p-type diffusion layer by using an uppermost surface p-type diffusion layer configuring a double-RESURF structure being formed so that high concentration regions with a deep diffusion depth and low concentration regions with a shallow diffusion depth are alternately arranged adjacent to each other. As a result, it is possible to reduce a displacement current generated by dV/dt noise.
US08791503B2

A conductive field plate is formed between the drain electrode and gate of each cell of a III-Nitride semiconductor and is connected to the source electrode to reduce the electric field between the gate and the drain. The electrodes may be supported on N+ III-Nitride pad layers and the gate may be a Schottky gate or an insulated gate.
US08791497B2

A light-emitting device package mold and a method of manufacturing a lens of a light-emitting device package. The light-emitting device package mold includes a convex unit, an inner circumference of which has a hemispherical shape; a flat panel unit that forms a flat panel by extending from an edge of the convex unit; a cylindrical unit extending in a vertical direction with respect to an upper surface of the flat panel unit; and an injection hole and a discharge hole that penetrate through the convex unit, wherein the discharge hole is formed in a horizontal direction with respect to the flat panel unit.
US08791495B2

Disclosed is a light emitting device package. The light emitting device package includes a body; first and second electrode layers on the body; a light emitting device electrically connected to the first and second electrode layers on the body; a luminescent layer on the light emitting device; and an encapsulant layer including particles on the luminescent layer, wherein an effective refractive index of the encapsulant layer has a deviation of 10% or less with respect to an effective refractive index of the luminescent layer.
US08791487B2

A transparent conductive electrode stack containing a work function adjusted zinc oxide is provided. Specifically, the transparent conductive electrode stack includes a layer of zinc oxide and a layer of a work function modifying material. The presence of the work function modifying material in the transparent conductive electrode stack shifts the work function of the layer of zinc oxide to a higher value for better hole injection into the OLED device as compared to a transparent conductive electrode that includes only a layer of zinc oxide and no work function modifying material.
US08791486B2

A light emitting device package is provided. The light emitting device package may include a main body having a cavity including side surfaces and a bottom, and a first reflective cup and a second reflective cup provided in the bottom of the cavity of the main body and separated from each other. A first light emitting device may be provided in the first reflective cup, and a second light emitting device may be provided in the second reflective cup.
US08791484B2

A LED lamp is disclosed which has a plurality of light unit, each of the light unit has at least one flat metal lead for heat dissipation and the lower part of the metal lead is mounted on a heat sink for a further heat dissipation.
US08791468B2

A method of fabricating a gallium nitride (GaN) thin layer, by which a high-quality GaN layer may be grown on a large-area substrate using an electrode layer suspended above a substrate, a GaN film structure fabricated using the method, and a semiconductor device including the GaN film structure. The method includes forming a sacrificial layer on a substrate, forming a first buffer layer on the sacrificial layer, forming an electrode layer on the first buffer layer, forming a second buffer layer on the electrode layer, partially etching the sacrificial layer to form at least two support members configured to support the first buffer layer and form at least one air cavity between the substrate and the first buffer layer, and forming a GaN thin layer on the second buffer layer.
US08791466B2

A light emitting element has a substrate of gallium oxides and a pn-junction formed on the substrate. The substrate is of gallium oxides represented by: (AlXInYGa(1-X-Y))2O3 where 0≦x≦1, 0≦y≦1 and 0≦x+y≦1. The pn-junction has first conductivity type substrate, and GaN system compound semiconductor thin film of second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type.
US08791458B2

Disclosed is a semiconductor device which consumes low power and has high reliability and tolerance for electrostatic discharge. The semiconductor device includes, over a first substrate, a pixel portion and a driver circuit portion both of which have a thin film transistor having an oxide semiconductor layer. The semiconductor device further possesses a second substrate to which a first counter electrode layer and a second counter electrode layer are provided, and a liquid crystal layer is interposed between the first and second substrates. The first and second counter electrode layers are provided over the pixel portion and the driver circuit portion, respectively, and the second counter electrode layer has the same potential as the first counter electrode layer.
US08791455B2

A flexible display apparatus includes a flexible substrate having a bending area, and a non-bending area adjacent the bending area, and having a display area for realizing a visible image, a plurality of wirings at the bending area, and a plurality of insulating patterns between the flexible substrate and the plurality of wirings, wherein respective ones of the plurality of insulating patterns are separated by separate areas.
US08791453B2

A thin-film semiconductor device for a display apparatus according to the present disclosure includes: a gate electrode above a substrate; a gate insulating film above the gate electrode; a semiconductor layer above the gate electrode; a first electrode above the semiconductor layer; a second electrode in a same layer as the first electrode; an interlayer insulating film covering the first electrode and the second electrode; a gate line above the interlayer insulating film; a first power supply line electrically connected to the second electrode and in a same layer as the second electrode; and a second power supply line in a same layer as the gate line. Furthermore, the gate electrode and the gate line are electrically connected via a first conductive portion, and the first power supply line and the second power supply line are electrically connected via a second conductive portion.
US08791448B2

Semiconductor memory devices having strapping contacts are provided, the devices include cell regions and strapping regions between adjacent cell regions in a first direction. Active patterns, extending in the first direction throughout the cell regions and strapping regions, are spaced apart from one another in a second direction intersecting the first direction. First interconnection lines, extending in the first direction throughout the cell regions and strapping regions, are spaced apart from one another in the second direction while overlapping with the active patterns. Second interconnection lines, extending in the second direction, intersect the active patterns and first interconnection lines in the cell regions. The second interconnection lines are spaced apart from one another in the first direction. Memory cells are positioned at intersection portions of the first and second interconnection lines in the cell regions. The active patterns contact the first interconnection lines through strapping contacts in the strapping regions.
US08791445B2

A nonvolatile resistive memory element includes a host oxide formed from an interfacial oxide layer. The interfacial oxide layer is formed on the surface of a deposited electrode layer via in situ or post-deposition surface oxidation treatments.
US08791444B2

Resistive random access memory (RRAM) using stacked dielectrics and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed, where a setting power of only 4 μW, an ultra-low reset power of 2 nW, good switching uniformity and excellent cycling endurance up to 5×109 cycles were achieved simultaneously. Such record high performances were reached in a Ni/GeOx/nano-crystal-TiO2/TaON/TaN RRAM device, where the excellent endurance is 4˜6 orders of magnitude larger than existing Flash memory. The very long endurance and low switching energy RRAM is not only satisfactory for portable SSD in a computer, but may also create new applications such as being used for a Data Center to replace high power consumption hard discs.
US08791441B1

The present invention provides an ultraviolet radiation system which generates UVC radiation with maximal radiation output and little or no degradation in radiation output during operation of the lamps. The system provides UVC radiation at a wavelength of 253.7 nm, which is effective to kill or deactivate pathogens on surfaces irradiated by the emitted UVC radiation and is simultaneously effective to decontaminate air which passes uniformly over the entire length of the UVC lamps. Uniformly flowing air cools the lamps to maximize the conversion efficiency of power input to the lamps to UVC radiation from the lamps, and at the same time decontaminates the flowing air such that air in the room is also decontaminated.
US08791439B2

A particulate composition comprises a plurality of particles wherein at least one of the particles comprises at least two different crystalline and/or glass phases, each phase comprising a host lattice and a dopant sensitive to electromagnetic radiation. The different phases simultaneously produce different responses on exposure to photons of the same energy, whereby the output from the particulate composition when exposed to said photons is the sum of the responses from the different phases.
US08791436B1

Methods and systems for tracing circuitry on integrated circuits using focused ion beam based imaging techniques. A first component or node on an integrated circuit is coupled to a second component or node on the same integrated circuit. After an external bias is applied to the first component or node, a focused ion beam is applied to the integrated circuit and an image is taken using an electron detector. The features or components on the integrated circuit which are coupled to the second component or node will show up in high contrast on the resulting image. The method may also involve applying a bias to a node or component and then using focused ion beam imaging techniques (through an electron detector) to arrive at an image of the integrated circuit. Components coupled to the node will appear in high contrast in the resulting image.
US08791433B2

An ion implanting apparatus is provided, which can accurately measure a quantity of atoms that are implanted. The ion implanting apparatus according to the present invention has an object to be measured, and the object to be measured is arranged in an irradiating range in which ions are irradiated. When atoms are implanted into an object to be processed by irradiating ions of a processing gas and neutralized particles thereof, the object to be measured is heated through the irradiation with the processing gas ions and the neutralized particles. A control unit determines a quantity of the atoms that are implanted into the object to be processed from the temperature of the object to be measured.
US08791430B2

Disclosed are an apparatus, system, and method for scanning a substrate or other workpiece through a gas-cluster ion beam (GCIB), or any other type of ion beam. The workpiece scanning apparatus is configured to receive and hold a substrate for irradiation by the GCIB and to scan it through the GCIB in two directions using two movements: a reciprocating fast-scan movement, and a slow-scan movement. The slow-scan movement is actuated using a servo motor and a belt drive system, the belt drive system being configured to reduce the failure rate of the workpiece scanning apparatus.
US08791426B2

A system for analyzing an electron beam including a circular electron beam diagnostic sensor adapted to receive the electron beam, the circular electron beam diagnostic sensor having a central axis; an annular sensor structure operatively connected to the circular electron beam diagnostic sensor, wherein the sensor structure receives the electron beam; a system for sweeping the electron beam radially outward from the central axis of the circular electron beam diagnostic sensor to the annular sensor structure wherein the electron beam is intercepted by the annular sensor structure; and a device for measuring the electron beam that is intercepted by the annular sensor structure.
US08791422B2

Provided is a charged particle beam writing apparatus including a stage which a sample can be mounted thereon, an irradiation unit which emits a charged particle beam to be irradiated on the sample, and an aperture plate which includes a first opening portion to shape the charged particle beam. The aperture plate has a stacked structure of a first member and a second member, and a position of an end portion of the first opening portion in the second member is recessed from the position of the end portion of the first opening portion in the first member.
US08791401B2

A method for controlling a pixel may include first and second photosites, each having a photodiode and a charge-transfer transistor, a read node, and an electronic read element, all of which are common to all the photosites. The method may include an accumulation of photogenerated charges in the photodiode of the first photosite during a first period, an accumulation of photogenerated charges in the photodiode of the second photosite during a second period shorter than the first period, a selection of the signal corresponding to the quantity of charges accumulated in the photodiode of a photosite having the highest unsaturated intensity or else a saturation signal, and a digitization of the selected signal.
US08791398B2

An induction cooktop includes a cooking zone, and a circuit arrangement for operating the cooking zone. The circuit arrangement has a parallel circuit, in which two inductors are connected in parallel manner. An apparatus is configured to detect occupancy of at least one cooking sub-zone of the cooking zone by a food preparation vessel and includes a current measuring element which is connected in series to the parallel circuit.
US08791389B2

An electric arc welding wire having an outer cylindrical surface and an electrically conductive layer on the surface wherein the layer comprises an alloy of copper with the copper content being about 60% to about 90% by weight of said alloy. Furthermore, the layer can be made thin with a thickness of less than about 0.50 microns while using essentially pure copper.
US08791378B2

The present invention provides a keyboard preventable keycaps from breaking off, which comprises a keyboard main body, and a limit board fixed to the keyboard main body. The keyboard main body comprises a base board, a thin film circuit board mounted on the base board, an elastic body mounted above the thin film circuit board, a scissors structure, and a keycap. The center of the scissors structure is provided with a hollow part. The elastic body is located above the thin film circuit board and in the hollow part at the center of the scissors structure. The keycap is located on the elastic body. The scissors structure is mounted to the keycap and passes through the thin film circuit board to be moveably mounted to the base board. The keycap comprises a top surface and side surfaces connected with the top surface, and the side surface is provided with a locking part extending outwards therefrom. The limit board is provided with a plurality of openings corresponding to keycaps, the keycaps pass through the openings, and the limit board covers the locking parts. The present invention can effectively prevent the keycap from breaking off under an external force. Furthermore, the present invention has a certain dustproof function, has more stable keycaps, is efficient and durable to use, and facilitates miniaturization of the keyboard.
US08791369B2

An electronic component that can be mounted with good balance includes a substrate, a plurality of first terminals located on a peripheral portion of one main surface of the substrate, a ground electrode located in a center of the one main surface of the substrate and including openings, and at least two second terminals located on the one main surface of the substrate and within the openings of the ground electrode and that are electrically isolated from the ground electrode. The second terminals are arranged at positions that are point symmetrical about a center of the ground electrode.
US08791361B2

An arc-resistant switchgear enclosure has interior compartments with outlet vent openings that are selectively closed by vent flaps. The vent flaps are propped in an open position by props that extend from the vent flaps and contact supports. The props have a latch portion that latches the vent flap when the vent flap is in the closed position.
US08791359B2

Novel structures of photovoltaic cells (also called as solar cells) are provided. The cells are based on nanoparticles or nanometer-scaled wires, tubes, and/or rods, which are made of electronic materials covering semiconductors, insulators, and may be metallic in structure. These photovoltaic cells have large power generation capability per unit physical area over the conventional cells. These cells will have enormous applications such as in space, commercial, residential and industrial applications.
US08791356B2

A photovoltaic a substrate having a plurality of individual serially connected solar cells defined thereon. A bus tape is applied along respective ones of said cells at generally opposite longitudinal ends of the substrate for collecting the charge generated by the plurality of solar cells. A conductive member is interconnected between the bus tapes and is disposed beneath the bus tapes and in direct conductive contact with the respective cells. A junction box is configured for delivering the generated charge to an external load or other component, with the conductive member connected to the junction box.
US08791354B2

A photoelectrochemical cell (1) includes an electrolyte container (3) containing an ionic liquid (2), and a partitioning membrane (4) dividing an interior of the electrolyte container (3) into two being a CO2 capturing chamber (7) and a CO2 releasing chamber (8), having side walls opposing each other, with the partitioning membrane (4) in between, either as a carbon electrode (5) and the other as a photoelectrode (6). A redox mediator (B) has different bonding forces to carbon dioxide, as it appears as an oxidant Box and a reductant Bred, of which that one which has a greater bonding force serves as an intermediary chemical species carrying carbon dioxide to one of the paired electrodes (5, 6). Over the CO2 releasing chamber (10), an upper wall portion (10) is formed, which has a CO2 take-out port (10A) formed therein, for making use of oxidation and reduction of the redox mediator to achieve separation and concentration of carbon dioxide, converting photo energy of sunlight into electric power.
US08791353B2

Alumina as a sublimation suppression barrier for a Zintl thermoelectric material in a thermoelectric power generation device operating at high temperature, e.g. at or above 1000K, is disclosed. The Zintl thermoelectric material may comprise Yb14MnSb11. The alumina may be applied as an adhesive paste dried and cured on a substantially oxide free surface of the Zintl thermoelectric material and polished to a final thickness. The sublimation suppression barrier may be finalized by baking out the alumina layer on the Zintl thermoelectric material until it becomes substantially clogged with ytterbia.
US08791352B2

A speaker unit used for a musical instrument and configured to generate music sounds based on a performance operation in a main body of the musical instrument, including: an electrostatic speaker; and a stationary portion which is a portion fixed to the main body of the musical instrument or which is a member attachable to the main body of the musical instrument, wherein the electrostatic speaker is supported by the stationary portion such that at least one of a position and a posture of the electrostatic speaker with respect to the stationary portion is variable.
US08791351B2

An electromagnetic pickup adapted to be secured to a stringed musical instrument, such as a guitar or bass or the like, of the type having a plurality of magnetic strings of ferromagnetic composition such as steel tensioned to provide musical notes under mechanical stimulation such as picking is disclosed. The electromagnetic pickup comprises at least one magnetized core having a length and a width. An electrically conductive material is wound into at least one coil around the magnetized core, and a ferromagnetic material such as iron, nickel, cobalt or alloys thereof is positioned on at least one side of the length and internally of at least a portion of the electrically conductive material. The electromagnetic pickup is mounted proximate the strings in such a manner that magnetic field of the pickup extends to the strings for the purpose of generating an output electrical signal analogous to the musical notes.
US08791340B1

Disclosed is the seed of a novel soybean cultivar, designated 76983, a sample of which is deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-120858. Also disclosed are plants, or parts thereof, grown from the seed of the cultivar, plants having the morphological and physiological characteristics of the 76983 cultivar, and methods of using the plant or parts thereof in a soybean breeding program.
US08791335B2

The present invention is in the field of soybean variety WN0913535 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean variety WN0913535 and it progeny, and methods of making WN0913535.
US08791333B1

Disclosed is the seed of a novel soybean variety, designated 20872NNR2Y, a sample of which is deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-120554. Also disclosed are plants, or parts thereof, grown from the seed of the variety, plants having the morphological and physiological characteristics of the 20872NNR2Y variety, and methods of using the plant or parts thereof in a soybean breeding program.
US08791330B2

The present invention relates generally to an expression regulatory element operable in plants which includes oil palm, and in particular to an expression regulatory element operable selectively in the endosperm tissue of the plants. Said expression regulatory element comprises a sequence of nucleotides which specifically modulates the expression of a second nucleic acid molecule operably coupled to said expression regulatory element.
US08791314B2

The present invention concerns an additive for reducing the formation of coke and/or carbon monoxide in thermal hydrocarbon cracking units and/or of other organic compounds in heat exchangers. The additive according to the invention is essentially composed of diethyl disulphide (DEDS) or dipropyl disulphide(s) (DPDS) or dibutyl disulphide(s) (DBDS) and can be used on the metal walls of a cracking reactor and on the metal walls of a heat exchanger placed downstream from the cracking reactor, and during the process of cracking hydrocarbons and/or other organic compounds.
US08791309B2

In accordance with the present invention, processes of synthesizing 3,3,3-trifluoropropyne from 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene, and/or 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane are provided.
US08791302B2

A process for preparing an N,N-dialkylethanolamine of the formula I having high color stability where R1 and R2 are each independently a C1- to C8-alkyl group, by reacting ethylene oxide (EO) with a corresponding dialkylamine (R1R2NH) in the presence of water, wherein the reaction is effected continuously in a reactor, the reaction temperature is in the range from 90 to 180° C. and the residence time (RT) in the reactor is in the range from 1 to 7 min, the reactor output is treated thermally at a temperature in the range from 80 to 160° C. over a period in the range from 20 to 1000 min, and then the N,N-dialkylethanolamine is removed by distillation.
US08791298B2

The present invention relates to the use of selected metal complex compounds and ligands as oxidation catalysts as well as to a process for removing stains and soil on textiles and hard surfaces. The metal complex compounds have hydrazide ligands, preferably with electron withdrawing groups in the phenyl ring adjacent to the acyl group. Further aspects of the invention are formulations comprising such metal complex compounds, novel metal complex compounds and novel ligands.
US08791289B2

An intermediate for preparing (meth)acrylated photoinitiators according to Formula (I): wherein: R1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a methyl group; A represents a group including at least one photoinitiating moiety; L represents a n+o-valent linking group including at least one carbon atom; n and o each independently represent an integer from 1 to 4; p is equal to 0 or 1; X represents a group selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br, I, and R2SO3; and R2 represents an optionally substituted group selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an alkaryl group, an aralkyl group, an aryl group and a heteroaryl group. Also, a method for the preparation of (meth)acrylated photoinitiators by β-elimination of HX from the intermediate according to Formula (I).
US08791271B2

Process for preparing polymeric, ionic compounds comprising imidazolium groups, wherein an α-dicarbonyl compound, an aldehyde, at least one amino compound having at least two primary amino groups, if appropriate an amino compound having only one primary amino group and a protic acid, where the carbonyl groups of the α-dicarbonyl compound and of the aldehyde may, if appropriate, also be present as hemiacetal, acetal or hemiketal or ketal, are reacted with one another.
US08791267B2

The present invention relates to a genus of biaryl compounds containing at least one further ring. The compounds are PDE4 inhibitors useful for the treatment and prevention of stroke, myocardial infarct and cardiovascular inflammatory diseases and disorders. The compounds have general formula I: A particular embodiment is
US08791266B2

Provided is a heterocyclic derivative showing a thyroid hormone β receptor agonist action, which is effective for the prophylaxis or treatment of the diseases relating to the action. A compound represented by the formula [I]: wherein each symbol is as defined in the specification, a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof, and a medicament containing the compound as an active ingredient.
US08791258B2

The present invention provides a novel class of pro-fluorescent probes for reactive oxygen species (ROS). One exemplary probe is mitochondria peroxy yellow 1 (MitoPY1), a new type of flurophore for imaging mitochondrial H2O2 in living cells with ROS and spatial specificity. The invention also provides methods of using pro-fluorescent probes to detect analytes. One exemplary method comprises using a pro-fluorescent probe of the invention to detect an explosive.
US08791242B2

The present invention discloses a canine TSLP protein and a nucleic acid that encodes that protein. Peptide fragments of the protein that comprise specific epitopes of the canine TSLP protein are also disclosed. The canine TSLP protein and related peptide fragments may be used as an antigen for immunological assays, as well as for vaccines that induce anti-TSLP antibodies. The present invention further discloses methods of making and using the canine TSLP gene, the canine TSLP protein, and the related peptide fragments.
US08791240B2

The present invention provides an auto-developing and regularly-weighted protein molecular weight marker kit, comprising: (a) a plurality of recombinant proteins having formula (I), (B)m-A-(C)n  (I), wherein A is a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1, B and C are independently any mutually identical or different polypeptides with the value of molecular weight being a multiple of 5, and m and n is independently 0 or any integer larger than 0; and (b) one or more solvents for stabilizing the recombinant proteins. The present invention also provides a method for preparing the auto-developing and regularly-weighted protein molecular weight marker kit.
US08791236B2

A method for selectively acylating an amino group in a peptide or protein which has two or more reactive nucleophilic functional groups is described.
US08791232B2

An amino acid sequence is described. The amino acid may comprise a signal sequence that is SEQ ID NO. 1a (or a variant or homologue or derivative or fragment thereof) that is expressed as a fusion protein that comprises a protein of interest. The signal sequence directs secretion of the protein of interest. The protein of interest may be a heterologous protein. Secretion of the fusion protein aids purification.
US08791210B2

A method for producing a polyacrylic water-absorbent resin powder includes the steps of: producing an acrylic monomer solution in which gas is dissolved and/or dispersed; polymerizing the monomer solution in the absence of a surface active agent or in the presence of not more than 300 ppm of a surface active agent; during or after polymerizing, fragmenting the resulting hydrated gel crosslinked polymer; and drying the fragmented hydrated gel crosslinked polymer, the gas being dissolved and/or dispersed in the monomer solution by (a) applying pressure to the acrylic monomer solution and the gas; (b) creating swirling flows of the acrylic monomer solution and the gas; or (c) introducing the gas with the acrylic monomer solution via fine holes. The production method efficiently produces a water-absorbent resin having an excellent water-absorption rate without deteriorating a liquid-absorbent property of a sanitary product or the like.
US08791204B2

A process for the manufacture of a polymer dispersion from a mixture of a first polypropylene polymer having sufficient carboxylic acid and/or carboxylic acid anhydride groups equivalent to an acid value of from 2 to 50 mg KOH/g nv polymer and a second polymer having a molar excess of functional groups capable of reacting with the carboxylic acid and/or carboxylic acid anhydride groups of the polypropylene is provided. Also provided herein are polypropylene dispersions in organic carrier liquid prepared by such method, as well as coating compositions comprising the dispersion and articles coated with the coating composition.
US08791200B2

The present invention relates to a polyurethaneurea solution having a polyurethaneurea having a structural unit of the formula (I) and terminated with at least one copolymer unit of the group consisting of a polyethylene oxide, a polypropylene oxide, and mixtures thereof.
US08791195B2

Disclosed is a toughened film forming agent for use in a fiber sizing, a finish coating or a binder composition, where the toughened film forming agent includes a film forming polymer and a toughening agent both dispersed in water. The toughening agent may be core shell polymers, rubber, thermoplastic materials, nanomaterials, nanofibers, including any combination or subset thereof. The film forming polymer may be epoxy resins, polyurethane resins, epoxy-polyurethane resins, polyester resins, epoxy-polyester resins, polyvinylacetate resins, polypropylene resins, including any combination or subset thereof.
US08791190B2

The present invention provides one component aqueous compositions comprising (i) a cationic stain blocking polymer chosen from (a) 0.01 to 7 wt. % of anion exchange resin copolymer gelular or dual morphology beads that have a weight average particle size of from 0.1 to 20 μm and a low copolymerized crosslinker content of from 0.5 to 2.0 wt. %, (b) from 1 to 30 wt. % a crosslinked cationic addition polymer and (c) mixtures thereof, (ii) one or more emulsion copolymer having a copolymerized residue of at least one phosphorus acid monomer, and (iii) a stabilizer of from 0.1 to 2 wt. % of an inorganic phosphorus containing dispersant, and from 0.2 to 5.0 wt. % of a mixture of a nonionic surfactant and an anionic surfactant, both wt. % s based on the total weight of emulsion copolymer solids. The compositions provide stabilized binders for in a single coat primer plus topcoat coatings and paints.
US08791189B2

A thermoplastic composition comprises, based on the total weight of the composition: 51-90 wt % polyester, 10-49 wt % ABS impact modifier; 0-20 wt % of multifunctional epoxy compound; 0-40 wt % filler; 0-2 wt % fibrillated fluoropolymer; and more than 0 to 5 wt % of a stabilizer composition. An article blow molded or injection molded from the composition has a multi-axial impact total energy from 30-100 Joules at −30° C. and a ductility of more than 90%; a permeability of more than 0 and less than or equal to 1.5 g/m2-day to ASTM D 471-98 Fuel C, measured after exposure to ASTM D 471-98 Fuel C vapor for 20 weeks at 40° C.; an MVR of 1-20 cc/10 min., measured at 265° C.; a flexural modulus of greater than 1300 MPa; and retains at least 75% of its initial tensile elongation at break, after exposure to Fuel E85 for 28 days at 70° C.
US08791187B2

A polyester composition containing: a) aluminum atoms; and b) alkaline earth atoms or alkali metal atoms or alkali compound residues such as lithium atoms; and c) particles comprising titanium, zirconium, vanadium, niobium, hafnium, tantalum, chromium, tungsten, molybdenum, iron, or nickel atoms or combinations thereof, where the particles improve the reheat rate of the polyester composition. The polyester polymer compositions may also contain phosphorus catalyst deactivators/stabilizers. The polyester compositions and the articles made from the compositions such as bottle preforms and stretch blow molded bottles have improved reheat rate while maintaining low haze, high L*, a b* below 3, and have low levels of acetaldehyde. In the process for making the polyester polymer, the polymer melt is polycondensed in the presence of a) and b), with the particles c) added in a melt phase process or added to the polymer in an injection molding machine or extruder. The polyester polymer composition can be made to high IV from the melt phase while avoiding solid state polymerization.
US08791184B2

A two-component polyurethane adhesive is provided, which comprises a component A comprising at least one polyol with a molecular weight of more than 500 g/mol, a component B comprising at least one polyisocyanate with a molecular weight of less than 1000 g/mol, and additional additives. The component A contains 0.1 to 10 wt. % sterically hindered amines having primary amino groups.
US08791180B2

Polyamide-reinforced polyacrylate polymer compositions comprising a continuous polyacrylate polymer phase and a discontinuous polyamide phase are produced by a melt mixing process. When crosslinked with peroxide curatives the polyamide-reinforced polyacrylate polymer compositions exhibit enhanced resistance to heat aging compared to carbon black-reinforced polyacrylate polymer compositions.
US08791176B2

The invention is directed to a process and apparatus for carrying out reactions with reaction mixtures comprising different physical phases. In a first aspect, the present invention is directed to a process for carrying out chemical reactions comprising a step wherein a reaction mixture comprising at least two different physical phases, wherein at least one of these phases being liquid, is subjected to the action of Dean vortices, which Dean vortices result from said liquid flowing through a channel having at least two curvatures, wherein the channel comprises for at least a fraction of its total length a smooth inner surface.
US08791164B2

The present invention relates to a monolithic solid catalyst for carrying out a heterogeneous catalytic chemical reaction in a reaction fluid which flows through the catalyst and comprises at least one educt, wherein the catalyst has at least one passage opening for the reaction fluid to flow through the catalyst.In order to obtain a larger and targeted yield and selectivity of the sought reaction products with a smaller design of the reactors, smaller energy feed and smaller reaction pressures and/or lower reaction temperatures, it is proposed according to the invention that, to increase the effectiveness of the chemical reaction, the catalyst has at least one mechanical oscillator by which, while carrying out the chemical reaction, the catalyst can be subjected to a mechanical frequency in the range of from 20 kHz to 2 GHz.
US08791163B2

Novel melatonin ligands of Formula I: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof wherein: n is 1 or 2; m is 0, 1 or 2; p is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8; v is 2 or 3; A is aryl or heteroaryl; Z is O, S or NR8; Y is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, aryl, heteroaryl, C1-C6 alkyl, C3-C6 cycloalkyl, and R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl, —OCF3, CF3, C1-C8 alkyl, C1-C8 alkyloxy, C1-C8 alkylthio, halogen and —Z—(CH2)p-A; R1 is selected from the group consisting of C1-C4 alkyl, C3-C6 cycloalkyl, CF3, hydroxy-substituted C1-C4 alkyl, hydroxy-substituted C3-C8 cycloalkyl, and NHR5, wherein R5 is C1-C3 alkyl or C3-C6 cycloalkyl; R2 is selected from the group consisting of: hydrogen, C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 alkyloxy, OCF3, CF3, hydroxyl, and halogen; R3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 alkyloxy, OCF3, CF3, hydroxyl, and halogen; R and R3 may be connected together to form an —O—(CH2)v bridge representing with the carbon atoms to which they are attached a 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic ring system; R4 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 alkyloxy, OCF3, CF3, hydroxyl, and halogen; R6 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-C6 alkyl; R7 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 alkyloxy, OCF3, CF3, hydroxyl, and halogen; and R8 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-C4 alkyl.
US08791153B2

An avermectin-based topical formulation is disclosed which is useful for prevention and treatment of head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis). This topical formulation may be formulated as a shampoo-condition which comprises an effective amount of avermectin, solubilizers, suspending agents, preservatives, non-ionic surfactants, humectants, a silicone compound, and water. Also disclosed are methods of using the topical formulations disclosed within this specification to treat either a susceptible or treatment-resistant strain of lice, as well as uses in the manufacture of a medicament for treating or preventing a lice infestation from a susceptible or treatment-resistant strain in a human patient.
US08791148B2

The present invention relates to novel benzimidazolone derivatives of the general formula (I) in which the substituents R1, R2, R3, A1, A2, and B are as defined in claim 1, medicaments comprising these, and the use thereof for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of vasopressin-dependent diseases.
US08791138B2

This application describes compositions of receptor inhibitors, including antipsychotic agents, for example haloperidol, and methods of use for alleviating clinical depression, improving cognition and/or treating other syndromes, conditions or diseases for which anti-depressant agents are prescribed. Furthermore, this application describes compositions and methods to induce supersensitivity in dopamine D2 and other receptors involved in depression and/or cognition as a means of alleviating clinical depression or improving cognition.
US08791137B2

The invention provides a compound of formula I: wherein R1-R6, X, Y, and B have any of the values described herein, as well as salts of such compounds, compositions comprising such compounds, and therapeutic methods that comprise the administration of such compounds. The compounds are inhibitors of MAO-B enzyme function and are useful for improving cognitive function and for treating psychiatric disorders in animals.
US08791136B2

Disclosed are substituted pyridine compounds as well as pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use. One embodiment is a compound having the structure wherein E, J, T, the ring system denoted by “B”, T, R3, R4, w and x are as described herein. In certain embodiments, a compound disclosed herein activates the AMPK pathway, and can be used to treat metabolism-related disorders and conditions.
US08791131B2

The present invention is directed to compounds of Formula (I), and to salts thereof, their synthesis, and their use as PI3-Kα inhibitors and/or PI3-Kα/mTOR dual inhibitors.
US08791129B2

Novel quinazolinamide derivatives of the formula (I), in which R1-R43 and X have the meanings indicated in Claim 1, are HSP90 inhibitors and can be used for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of diseases in which the inhibition, regulation and/or modulation of HSP90 plays a role.
US08791127B2

A mucosal bioadhesive slow release carrier comprising an active principle and devoid of starch, lactose, which can release the active principal for a duration of longer than 20 hours. This bioadhesive carrier contains a diluent, an alkali metal alkylsulfate, a binding agent, at least one bioadhesive polymer and at least one sustained release polymer, as well as a method for its preparation.
US08791121B2

The present invention relates to oligooxopiperazines and their use. Methods for preparing oligooxopiperazines are also disclosed.
US08791112B2

Substituted 5-(pyrazin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine, 5-(pyrazin-2-yl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine and pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine derivatives according to formula I, II and VII, and methods for making same, which are inhibitors of constitutively activated Tyrosine Kinase-Like (TKL), CMGC protein kinases family members and can be useful in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Down's Syndrome, Huntington's disease, other neurodegenerative and central nervous system disorders, cancer, metabolic disorders and inflammatory diseases. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds and methods of inhibiting wild type and/or mutated protein kinase activities of these families and the treatment of disorders associated therewith using compounds and pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds.
US08791106B2

[Problem] To provide a compound useful as a novel agent which is excellent in preventing and/or treating cannabinoid receptor type 2-related diseases, based on agonist action on a cannabinoid receptor type 2[Means for Solution] The present inventors conducted thorough investigation regarding compounds having agonist action on a cannabinoid receptor type 2. They confirmed that the fused ring pyridine compound of the present invention has excellent agonist action on the cannabinoid receptor type 2, thereby completing the present invention. The fused ring pyridine compound of the present invention has agonist action on the cannabinoid receptor type 2, and can be used as an agent for preventing and/or treating cannabinoid receptor type 2-related diseases, for example, inflammatory diseases and pain.
US08791098B2

The invention relates to bioactive pre-tubulysin derivatives, their preparation and pharmacological use.
US08791092B2

This invention provides novel compositions to inhibit the aggregation of amyloid proteins. In various embodiments the compositions comprise a molecular tweezers that binds lysine and/or arginine and thereby inhibits the aggregation of amyloidogenic proteins.
US08791079B2

Methods and compounds for preventing or reducing the toxic side effects of cardiac glycosides by inhibiting the mitochondrial sodium-calcium exchanger (mNCE) are provided. Methods and compositions for preventing or reducing the occurrence of conditions associated with heart failure, including, but not limited to, sudden cardiac death and contractile decompensation, by inhibiting the mNCE also are provided.
US08791075B2

The invention is directed to a compound that binds to a BCL6 lateral groove and prevents binding of a corepressor to the lateral groove. The present invention is further directed to methods for blocking corepressor binding to a BCL6 lateral groove, methods for inhibiting BCL6 repression in a mammalian cell, and methods for treating a mammal with cancer, wherein the cancer requires BCL6 repression. The present invention is further directed to polypeptides comprising a portion of the corepressor binding site for BCL6 and related polynucleotides and vectors.
US08791072B2

A method may include administering botulinum toxin to a tissue of a patient and administering a neuropeptide of the CRF family to the tissue of the patient. In some examples, the botulinum toxin is periodically administered to the tissue of the patient and/or the neuropeptide of the CRF family is periodically administered to the tissue of the patient. The periods with which the botulinum toxin and the neuropeptide of the CRF family are administered may be the same or may be different. In some examples, the botulinum toxin and the neuropeptide of the CRF family are administered to the tissue at substantially the same time, while in other embodiments, the botulinum toxin and the neuropeptide of the CRF family are administered to the tissue at different times.
US08791071B1

Cartilage materials such as cartilage fluff and a cartilage composition comprising a particulate material are disclosed. These are suitable for stimulating chondrogenesis and/or producing cartilage regeneration. Also disclosed are processes for their preparation. Methods for regenerating articular cartilage are also disclosed, which involve, for example, placing the cartilage fluff or cartilage composition into a cartilage defect.
US08791069B1

The invention discloses use of a pharmaceutical composition for slow-release delivery of a bioactive agent, comprising mixing the bioactive agent with a partially hydrophobic chitosan solution at a low pH and delivering the hydrogel at a physiological pH to transform the hydrogel to a solid complex for releasing the bioactive agent. The partially hydrophobic chitosan is characterized by presence of alternating charges of protonated amine groups and hydrophobic side groups.
US08791068B2

A novel group of gastrokines called Gastric Antrum Mucosal Protein is characterized. A member of the group is designated AMP-18. AMP-18 genomic DNA, cDNA and the AMP-18 protein are sequenced for human, mouse and pig. The AMP-18 protein and active peptides derived from it are cellular growth factors. Surprisingly, peptides capable of inhibiting the effects of the complete protein, are also derived from the AMP-18 protein. Cytoprotection and control of mammalian gastro-intestinal tissue growth and repair (restitution) is facilitated by the use of the proteins, making the proteins candidates for therapies in inflammatory bowel disease and gastric ulcers.
US08791061B2

In one aspect, the present invention provides isolated novel peptides that can be used to modulate innate immunity in a subject and/or for the treatment of an immune-related disorder, including treating and preventing infection by modulating innate immunity. Also provided are an agent reactive with the peptide, a pharmaceutical composition that includes the peptide, an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding the peptide, a recombinant nucleic acid construct that includes the nucleic acid molecule, at least one host cell comprising the recombinant nucleic acid construct, and a method of producing the peptide using the host cell. The present invention further provides a method for treating and/or preventing infection in a subject by administering the peptide of the invention to the subject, thereby modulating innate immunity in the subject. Additionally, the present invention provides a method for predicting whether a subject would be responsive to treatment with a peptide of the invention.
US08791060B2

This invention relates generally to a method of preparation of a phyto-percolate that is derived from fresh water mixture including algae. The phyto-percolate is believed to contain an enzyme having proteolytic activity. The invention further relates to the use of the phyto-percolate in a variety of disease state.
US08791052B2

A rotating machine includes a stator and a rotor configured to rotate within the stator. Rotor windings are supported in the rotor and are formed of a laminated electrical conductor in a single-layer saddle coil configuration. The conductor includes a first support lamina, a second support lamina, an insert including a high temperature superconductor disposed between the first and second support lamina, and a filler material surrounding the insert that bonds the insert to each of the first and second support lamina. At the location between the first support lamina and second support lamina corresponding to the location of the insert, the width dimension of the filler material on each side of the insert is at least 10 percent of a width of the conductor. The conductor is configured to carry at least 600 Amperes per turn and have a C-axis tensile strength of at least 21 MPa.
US08791048B2

Provided herein are synergistic herbicidal compositions containing (a) a compound of formula (I): or an agriculturally acceptable salt or ester thereof and (b) clomazone. The compositions and methods provided herein control undesirable vegetation, e.g., in direct-seeded, water-seeded and transplanted rice, cereals, wheat, barley, oats, rye, sorghum, corn/maize, sugarcane, sunflower, oilseed rape, canola, sugar beet, soybean, cotton, pineapple, pastures, grasslands, rangelands, fallowland, turf, tree and vine orchards, aquatics, plantation crops, vegetables, industrial vegetation management (IVM) and rights of way (ROW).
US08791042B2

Process for the preparation of an unsupported, heterogeneous olefin polymerization catalyst system, comprising an organometallic compound of a transition metal of Group 3 to 10 of the Periodic Table (IUPAC 2007) in the form of solid particles comprising the steps of a) preparing a solution (A) comprising ai) an organometallic compound of a transition metal of Group 3 to 10 of the Periodic Table (IUPAC 2007) or of an actinide or lanthanide, a2) a cocatalyst comprising an element of group 13 of the Periodic Table (IUPAC 2007) and a3) a solvent (A-1), b) preparing a liquid/liquid emulsion system by dispersing the solution (A) in a solvent (B) essentially immiscible with said solution (A) in the presence of a polystyrene-b-fluoro polystyrene copolymer of the formula (I) in which n is a number from 10 to 100, m is a number from 1 to 40, x is a number from 5 to 16, y is a number from 11 to 33, provided that m, n, x and y are selected in a way that the block copolymer is soluble in the solvent B or the solution A in such an extent that a stable emulsion is formed by adding the block copolymer, b1) the solvent (B) constitutes the continuous phase of the emulsion, b2) the solution (A) constitutes in the form of droplets the dispersed phase and b3) the organometallic compound and the cocatalyst are present in the droplets, c) solidifying said dispersed phase to convert said droplets to solid particles and optionally recovering said particles to obtain said catalyst system; an unsupported, heterogeneous olefin polymerization catalyst, obtainable by the process and the use of the catalyst in olefin polymerization.
US08791020B2

A pattern-forming method includes forming a silicon-containing film on a substrate, the silicon-containing film having a mass ratio of silicon atoms to carbon atoms of 2 to 12. A shape transfer target layer is formed on the silicon-containing film. A fine pattern is transferred to the shape transfer target layer using a stamper that has a fine pattern to form a resist pattern. The silicon-containing film and the substrate are dry-etched using the resist pattern as a mask to form a pattern on the substrate in nanoimprint lithography. According to another aspect of the invention, a silicon-containing film includes silicon atoms and carbon atoms. A mass ratio of silicon atoms to carbon atoms is 2 to 12. The silicon-containing film is used for a pattern-forming method employed in nanoimprint lithography.
US08791018B2

The present method of forming an electronic structure includes providing a tantalum base layer and depositing a layer of copper on the tantalum layer, the deposition being undertaken by physical vapor deposition with the temperature of the base layer at 50° C. or less, with the deposition taking place at a power level of 300 W or less.
US08791017B2

Disclosed herein are various methods of forming conductive structures, such as conductive lines and via, on an integrated circuit device using a spacer erosion technique. In one example, the method includes forming a patterned hard mask layer above a layer of insulating material, the patterned hard mask having a hard mask opening, forming an erodible spacer in the hard mask opening to thereby define a spacer opening and performing at least one etching process through the spacer opening on the layer of insulating material to define a trench therein for a conductive structure, wherein the erodible spacer is substantially eroded away during the at least one etching process.
US08791016B2

Disclosed herein are through silicon vias (TSVs) and contacts formed on a semiconductor material, methods of manufacturing, and design structures. The method includes forming a contact hole in a dielectric material formed on a substrate. The method further includes forming a via in the substrate and through the dielectric material. The method further includes lining the contact hole and the dielectric material with a metal liner using a deposition technique that will avoid formation of the liner in the via formed in the substrate. The method further includes filling the contact hole and the via with a metal such that the metal is formed on the liner in the contact hole and directly on the substrate in the via.
US08791013B2

A pattern forming method is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: forming a dielectric layer on a substrate; forming a first patterned mask on the dielectric layer, wherein the first patterned mask comprises an opening; forming a material layer on the dielectric layer and covering the first patterned mask; forming a second patterned mask on the material layer, wherein the second patterned mask comprises a first aperture; forming a second aperture in the second patterned mask after forming the first aperture, wherein the second aperture and the first aperture comprise a gap therebetween and overlap the opening; and utilizing the second patterned mask as an etching mask for partially removing the material layer and the dielectric layer through the first aperture and the second aperture.
US08791011B2

In a process, an opening is formed to extend from a front surface of a semiconductor substrate through a part of the semiconductor substrate. A metal seed layer is formed on a sidewall of the opening. A block layer is formed on only a portion of the metal seed layer. A metal layer is formed on the block layer and the metal seed layer to fill the opening.
US08791009B2

A method for fabricating through-silicon vias (TSVs) for semiconductor devices is provided. Specifically, the method involves utilizing copper contact pads in a back-end-of-line wiring level, wherein the copper contact pads act as cathodes for performing an electroplating technique to fill TSVs with plated-conductive material (e.g., copper) from an electroplating solution. Moreover, the method provides a way to fill high aspect ratio TSVs with minimal additional semiconductor fabrication process steps, which can increase the silicon area that is available for forming additional electronic components on integrated circuits.
US08791003B2

Methods for fabricating integrated circuits are provided. In an embodiment, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes providing a semiconductor substrate and forming a gate structure on the semiconductor substrate. The gate includes a high-k dielectric material. In the method, a fluorine-containing liquid is contacted with the high-k dielectric material and fluorine is incorporated into the high-k dielectric material.
US08791002B2

A fabrication method for a semiconductor device includes the step of forming a gate insulating film on the side of a trench, the bottom thereof, and the periphery thereof. The step of forming a gate insulating film includes a step of forming a first insulating film on the side of the trench and a step of forming a second insulating film on the bottom and periphery of the trench using a high-density plasma chemical vapor deposition method. The thickness of the portions of the gate insulating film formed on the bottom and periphery of the trench is made larger than that of the portion of the gate insulating film formed on the side of the trench.
US08790997B2

While reliably cutting an object to be processed, the strength of the resulting chips is improved. An object to be processed 1 is irradiated with laser light L, so as to form modified regions 17, 27, 37, 47 extending along lines to cut 5 and aligning in the thickness direction in the object 1. Here, modified regions 17 are formed such that modified region formed parts 17a and modified region unformed parts 17b alternate along the lines, and modified regions 47 are formed such that modified region formed parts 47a and modified region unformed parts 47b alternate along the lines. This can inhibit formed modified regions 7 from lowering the strengths on the rear face 21 side and front face 3 side of chips obtained by cutting. On the other hand, modified regions 27, 37 located between the modified regions 17, 47 are formed continuously from one end side of the lines 5 to the other end side thereof, whereby the cuttability of the object 1 can be secured reliably.
US08790990B2

Provided is a silica-based film forming material for formation of air gaps, the material being capable of forming air gaps without employing a CVD method. A silica-based film forming material for formation of air gaps including (a) a certain siloxane polymer, (b) an alkanolamine, and (c) an organic solvent is used when a silica-based film is formed with a spin coating method. According to this silica-based film forming material for formation of air gaps, air gaps with a great degree of opening can be formed even when coated with a spin coating method, without filling the recessed parts.
US08790988B2

A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a device isolation pattern and a passive circuit element. The device isolation pattern is located on the substrate, delimits an active region of the substrate, and includes a recessed portion having a bottom surface located below a plane coincident with a surface of the active region. The passive circuit element is situated in the recess so as to be disposed on the bottom surface of the recessed portion of the device isolation pattern.
US08790987B2

Some embodiments include methods of forming electrical components. First and second exposed surface configurations are formed over a first structure, and material is then formed across the surface configurations. The material is sub-divided amongst two or more domains, with a first of the domains being induced by the first surface configuration, and with a second of the domains being induced by the second surface configuration. A second structure is then formed over the material. The first domains of the material are incorporated into electrical components. The second domains may be replaced with dielectric material to provide isolation between adjacent electrical components, or may be utilized as intervening regions between adjacent electrical components.
US08790981B2

A power field effect transistor (FET) is disclosed which is fabricated in as few as six photolithographic steps and which is capable of switching current with a high voltage drain potential (e.g., up to about 50 volts). In a described n-channel metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) embodiment, a drain node includes an n-well region with a shallow junction gradient, such that the depletion region between the n-well and the substrate is wider than 1 micron. Extra photolithographic steps are avoided using blanket ion implantation for threshold adjust and lightly doped drain (LDD) implants. A modified embodiment provides an extension of the LDD region partially under the gate for a longer operating life.
US08790970B2

A semiconductor structure includes of a plurality of semiconductor fins overlying an insulator layer, a gate dielectric overlying a portion of said semiconductor fin, and a gate electrode overlying the gate dielectric. Each of the semiconductor fins has a top surface, a first sidewall surface, and a second sidewall surface. Dopant ions are implanted at a first angle (e.g., greater than about 7°) with respect to the normal of the top surface of the semiconductor fin to dope the first sidewall surface and the top surface. Further dopant ions are implanted with respect to the normal of the top surface of the semiconductor fin to dope the second sidewall surface and the top surface.
US08790969B2

A method for selective deposition of Si or SiGe on a Si or SiGe surface exploits differences in physico-chemical surface behavior according to a difference in doping of first and second surface regions. By providing at least one first surface region with a Boron doping of a suitable concentration range and exposing the substrate surface to a cleaning and passivating ambient atmosphere in a prebake step at a temperature lower or equal than 800° C., a subsequent deposition step of Si or SiGe will not lead to a layer deposition in the first surface region. This effect is used for selective deposition of Si or SiGe in the second surface region, which is not doped with Boron in the suitable concentration range, or doped with another dopant, or not doped. Several devices are, thus, provided. The method thus saves a usual photolithography sequence required for selective deposition of Si or SiGe in the second surface region according to the prior art.
US08790967B2

A method of fabricating a polycrystalline silicon layer includes: forming an amorphous silicon layer on a substrate; crystallizing the amorphous silicon layer into a polycrystalline silicon layer using a crystallization-inducing metal; forming a metal layer pattern or metal silicide layer pattern in contact with an upper or lower region of the polycrystalline silicon layer corresponding to a region excluding a channel region in the polycrystalline silicon layer; and annealing the substrate to getter the crystallization-inducing metal existing in the channel region of the polycrystalline silicon layer to the region in the polycrystalline silicon layer having the metal layer pattern or metal silicide layer pattern. Accordingly, the crystallization-inducing metal existing in the channel region of the polycrystalline silicon layer can be effectively removed, and thus a thin film transistor having an improved leakage current characteristic and an OLED display device including the same can be fabricated.
US08790964B2

A device comprising a substrate, an integrated circuit (IC) die attached to the substrate on one side, a plurality of contact pads on an active side of the IC die, a plurality of thermally and electrically conductive legs, each of the legs attached to a respective one of the contact pads, and an encapsulating material formed around the substrate, the IC die, and a portion of the legs. A contact end of each of the legs is exposed, and one of the contact ends conducts a signal from a transistor in the IC die.
US08790958B2

A quantum dot organic light emitting device and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. A first electrode layer is formed on a substrate. A block copolymer film which can cause phase separation on the first electrode layer is formed. The block copolymer film is phase-separated into a plurality of first domains, each having a nano size column shape, and a second domain which surrounds the first domains. A quantum dot template film of the second domain, which comprises a plurality of nano size through holes, is formed by selectively removing the first domains. Quantum dot structures, each of which comprises an organic light emitting layer in the through hole of the quantum dot template film, is formed.
US08790954B2

An integrated circuit device is provided. The integrated circuit device can include a substrate; a first radiation-sensing element disposed over a first portion of the substrate; and a second radiation-sensing element disposed over a second portion of the substrate. The first portion comprises a first radiation absorption characteristic, and the second portion comprises a second radiation absorption characteristic different from the first radiation absorption characteristic.
US08790953B2

The surface of silicon is textured to create black silicon on a nano-micro scale by electrochemical reduction of a silica layer on silicon in molten salts. The silica layer can be a coating, or a layer caused by the oxidation of the silicon.
US08790947B2

A nano-scale tower structure array having increased surface area on each tower for gathering incident light is provided for use in three-dimensional solar cells. Embodiments enhance surface roughness of each tower structure to increase the surface area available for light gathering. Enhanced roughness can be provided by manipulating passivation layer etching parameters used during a formation process of the nano-scale tower structures, in order to affect surface roughness of a photoresist layer used for the etch. Manipulable etching parameters can include power, gas pressure, and etching compound chemistry.
US08790946B2

A method includes bonding a first bond layer to a second bond layer through eutectic bonding. The step of bonding includes heating the first bond layer and the second bond layer to a temperature higher than a eutectic temperature of the first bond layer and the second bond layer, and performing a pumping cycle. The pumping cycle includes applying a first force to press the first bond layer and the second bond layer against each other. After the step of applying the first force, a second force lower than the first force is applied to press the first bond layer and the second bond layer against each other. After the step of applying the second force, a third force higher than the second force is applied to press the first bond layer and the second bond layer against each other.
US08790945B2

A nitride semiconductor device includes a silicon substrate, a nitride semiconductor layer formed on the silicon substrate, and metal electrodes formed in contact with the silicon substrate. The metal electrodes has first metal layers which are formed in a shape of discrete islands and in contact with the silicon substrate, and second metal layers which are in contact with the silicon substrate exposed among the islands of the first metal layers and are formed to cover the first metal layers. Further, the second metal layers are made of a metal capable of forming ohmic contact with silicon, and the first metal layers are made of an alloy containing a metal and silicon, in which the metal is different than that in the second metal layer.
US08790940B2

A method for making light emitting diode includes the following steps. A substrate is provided. A first semiconductor layer is grown on a surface of the substrate. A patterned mask layer is located on a surface of the first semiconductor layer, and the patterned mask layer includes a number of bar-shaped protruding structures, a slot is defined between each two adjacent protruding structures to expose a portion of the first semiconductor layer. The exposed first semiconductor layer is etched to form a protruding pair. A number of three-dimensional nano-structures are formed. An active layer and a second semiconductor layers are grown on the number of three-dimensional nano-structures in that order. The substrate is removed and a surface of the first semiconductor layer is exposed. A first electrode is applied to cover the exposed surface. A second electrode is electrically connected with the second semiconductor layer.
US08790937B2

A transparent conductive electrode stack containing a work function adjusted zinc oxide is provided. Specifically, the transparent conductive electrode stack includes a layer of zinc oxide and a layer of a work function modifying material. The presence of the work function modifying material in the transparent conductive electrode stack shifts the work function of the layer of zinc oxide to a higher value for better hole injection into the OLED device as compared to a transparent conductive electrode that includes only a layer of zinc oxide and no work function modifying material.
US08790936B2

A wafer-level optical deflector assembly is formed on a front surface side of a wafer. Then, the front surface side of the wafer is etched by using elements of the wafer-level optical deflector assembly, to form a front-side dicing street. Then, a transparent substrate with an inside cavity is adhered to the front surface side of the wafer. Then, a second etching mask is formed on a back surface side of the wafer. Then, the back surface side of the wafer is etched to create a back-side dicing street. Then, an adhesive sheet with a ring-shaped rim is adhered to the back surface side of the wafer. Then, the transparent substrate is removed. Finally, the ring-shaped rim is expanded to widen the front-side dicing street and the back-side dicing street to pick up optical deflectors one by one from the wafer.
US08790933B2

A method of producing a conformational specific binding partner of a GPCR, the method comprising: a) providing a mutant GPCR of a parent GPCR, wherein the mutant GPCR has increased stability in a particular conformation relative to the parent GPCR; b) providing a test compound; c) determining whether the test compound binds to the mutant GPCR when residing in a particular conformation; and d) isolating a test compound that binds to the mutant GPCR when residing in the particular conformation. Methods of producing GPCRs with increased stability relative to a parent GPCR are also disclosed.
US08790932B2

A method for providing a dried reagent in a microfluidic system is provided, the method comprising the following steps: providing a microfluidic system having a microfluidic structure, introducing a flowable carrier medium containing a reagent in the microfluidic structure, and drying the reagent in the microfluidic structure by lyophilization.
US08790930B2

A chemical indicator having a particulate inorganic substrate, and at least one reactive dye or ink coated on and/or impregnated within the particulate inorganic substrate. Coating and/or impregnating at least one reactive dye or ink on or within a particulate inorganic substrate improves the storage stability and/or thermal stability of the at least one reactive dye or ink, which typically includes relatively unstable compounds. This allows the present indicators to be incorporated into thermoplastic polymer materials and processed conventionally while maintaining the efficacy and stability of the new indicators. The indicators provide simple, reliable, and cost effective detection means for detecting analytes such as ammonia, carbon dioxide, and oxygen, and may find use in applications such as food packaging and medical applications.
US08790927B2

The present invention relates to a composition for preventing or treating cancer, which contains, as an active ingredient, a Taxus cambium- or procambium-derived cell line; a lysate thereof; an extract thereof; or a culture medium thereof. The cell line, the lysate, the extract, and the culture medium has minimized side effects compared to the conventional therapeutic drugs, is safe to the human body, is involved directly in the growth of cancer to induce cancer cell death, and shows anticancer activity of inhibiting angiogenesis occurring in carcinogenesis. Accordingly, the cell line, the lysate, the extract and the culture medium is useful for the prevention, treatment and alleviation of cancer.
US08790922B2

The present invention relates to a Drosophila in vitro system which was used to demonstrate that dsRNA is processed to RNA segments 21-23 nucleotides (nt) in length. Furthermore, when these 21-23 nt fragments are purified and added back to Drosophila extracts, they mediate RNA interference in the absence of long dsRNA. Thus, these 21-23 nt fragments are the sequence-specific mediators of RNA degradation. A molecular signal, which may be their specific length, must be present in these 21-23 nt fragments to recruit cellular factors involved in RNAi. This present invention encompasses these 21-23 nt fragments and their use for specifically inactivating gene function. The use of these fragments (or chemically synthesized oligonucleotides of the same or similar nature) enables the targeting of specific mRNAs for degradation in mammalian cells, where the use of long dsRNAs to elicit RNAi is usually not practical, presumably because of the deleterious effects of the interferon response. This specific targeting of a particular gene function is useful in functional genomic and therapeutic applications.
US08790920B2

The invention is directed to compositions comprising decellularized bone marrow extracellular matrix and uses thereof. Methods for repairing or regenerating defective, diseased, damaged or ischemic tissues or organs in a subject, preferably a human, using the decellularized bone marrow extracellular matrix of the invention are also provided. The invention is further directed to a medical device, preferably a stent or an artificial heart, and biocompatible materials, preferably a tissue regeneration scaffold, comprising decellularized bone marrow extracellular matrix for implantation into a subject.
US08790915B2

The present invention relates to the isolation and characterization of a protein responsible for the reduction of uranium (VI) to uranium (IV). The present invention extends to the use of the isolated protein in the reduction of uranium (VI) to uranium (IV) and further extends to a process for the bioremediation, or at least partial remediation, of a site contaminated with a source of U (VI). According to a first aspect thereof, the present invention provides an isolated polypeptide derived from Thermus scotoductus strain SA-01 that is responsible for the reduction of uranium (VI), in a source of uranium (VI), to uranium (IV), wherein the polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No: 1.
US08790908B2

The present invention relates to novel strains of Saccharomyces that can be produced on a carbonaceous substrate which makes it possible to completely and/or partially replace the use of sugar, and to the use thereof for the production of yeast, in particular on the industrial scale. The invention also relates to a method for producing yeast of the Saccharomyces genus on a carbonaceous substrate which makes it possible to completely or partially replace the use of sugar.
US08790889B2

A method of activating a latent neural precursor cell population, comprising: (1) providing a neural cell population derived from the hippocampus; (2) introducing the neural cell population to a neurosphere-forming culture medium; and (3) activating the latent precursor cell population by treatment with a β3 adrenergic receptor agonist.
US08790880B2

Accurate and fast detection of the presence of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) disease is crucial for the proper treatment of patients with C. difficile infection. Present tests detecting the presence of C. difficile disease are fast and cost effective, but are not very sensitive. Using an ELISA including Cell Wall Protein 84 (Cwp84) increases the sensitivity of the ELISA. Cwp84 may be used alone or in combination with other markers to support a diagnosis of C. difficile-associated disease.
US08790879B2

Oligonucleotides useful for determining the presence of Trichomonas vaginalis in a test sample.
US08790871B2

Disclosed herein are methods of detecting and predicting diastolic heart failure and predicting congestive heart failure comprise protease and protease inhibitor profiling.
US08790867B2

Provided are methods of forming photolithographic patterns by negative tone development. The methods employ a photoresist composition that includes a polymer having a unit of the following general formula (I): wherein: R1 represents hydrogen or a C1 to C3 alkyl group; a represents an integer from 1 to 3; and b represents 0 or 1. The methods find particular applicability in the manufacture of semiconductor devices.
US08790866B2

A negative pattern is formed by coating a resist composition comprising a methylol-substituted urea, amide or urethane compound, a polymer comprising recurring units having an acid labile group-substituted hydroxyl group, and an acid generator onto a substrate, prebaking, exposing to high-energy radiation, and developing in an organic solvent developer such that the unexposed region of resist film is dissolved away and the exposed region of resist film is not dissolved. In image formation via positive/negative reversal by organic solvent development, the resist film is characterized by a high dissolution contrast between the unexposed and exposed regions.
US08790864B2

A method of tailoring the shape of a plurality of relief printing dots created in a photosensitive printing blank during a platemaking process is provided. The photocurable layer is exposed to actinic radiation using an array of UV LED light assemblies and the use of the array of UV LED light assemblies produces relief printing dots having at least one geometric characteristic selected from the group consisting of a desired planarity of a top surface of the relief printing dots, a desired shoulder angle of the relief printing dots and a desired edge sharpness of the relief printing dots.
US08790860B2

An actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition capable of forming a hole pattern which has an ultrafine pore diameter (for example, 60 nm or less) and has an excellent cross-sectional shape with excellent local pattern dimensional uniformity; and a resist film, a pattern forming method, a method for preparing an electronic device, and an electronic device, each using the same, are provided.The actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition includes (P) a resin containing 30 mol % or more of a repeating unit (a) represented by the following general formula (I) based on all the repeating units; (B) a compound capable of generating an acid upon irradiation of actinic rays or radiation; and (G) a compound having at least one of a fluorine atom and a silicon atom, and further having basicity or being capable of increasing the basicity by an action of an acid:
US08790857B2

Disclosed is a toner obtained by coating surfaces of core particles including at least a binder resin having a carboxyl group and a coloring agent with successive coatings of a water-soluble crosslinking agent capable of crosslinking with a carboxyl group and a water-soluble polymer having a carboxyl group, which have been successively applied on the core particles and crosslinked with each other. The thus-formed toner is provided with a good harmony of favorable fixability represented by a low lowest fixable temperature and favorable storage stability represented by little aggregation after standing at 50° C. for 8 hours.
US08790856B2

The present disclosure describes toner compositions containing an additive package including one or more additives that exhibit low dielectric loss, which toners exhibit improved tribo charging, 2nd transfer efficiency and IQ without affecting color.
US08790855B2

The present invention provides a charge control agent containing, as an active substance(s), one or two or more thiazolidinedione derivatives represented by the following formula (1), where R1 represents a hydrogen atom, etc.; R2 represents a hydrogen atom, a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms which may have a substituent, etc.; R3 to R7, which may be identical to or different from each other, represent a hydrogen atom, a chlorine atom, a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms which may have a substituent, etc., and may be joined to each other to form a ring; and V, W, X, Y and Z represent a carbon atom or a nitrogen atom, and 0 to 3 of any of V, W, X, Y and Z are nitrogen atoms which do not have the substituents of R3 to R7.
US08790853B2

The present disclosure is directed to charge generating compositions and methods of making the charge generating compositions. The composition may comprise one or more polymers comprising styrene units and allyl alcohol units, and one or more photoconductive particles. Electrophotographic devices employing the compositions, including methods of making the devices, are also disclosed.
US08790848B2

In fuel cell separator, the periphery of manifold through which fuel gas, reaction water, etc., pass and the seal line being a site of bonding with an adjacent separator are provided with a resin layer. Within the surface of the separator, the resin application site on which the resin layer is formed undergoes subbing treatment in advance to thereby increase the capability of bonding with the resin. When the resin layer consists of a resin having an NH group, as the subbing treatment, hydroxide deposition treatment is carried out on the surface of the separator.
US08790847B2

A method of producing a reversible solid oxide cell. The method includes the steps of tape casting an anode support layer on a support (1); tape casting an anode layer on a support (2); tape casting an electrolyte layer on a support (3); and either laminating said anode layer on top of said anode support layer; removing said support (2) from said anode layer; laminating said electrolyte layer on top of said anode layer; and sintering the multilayer structure; or laminating said anode layer on top of said electrolyte layer; removing said support (2) from said anode layer; laminating said anode support layer on top of said anode layer; and sintering the multilayer structure.
US08790833B2

Provided is a floating-type microbial fuel cell capable of effectively generating energy from organic contaminants of contaminated waters. The floating-type microbial fuel cell includes a cathode, an anode electrically connected to the cathode, and a floating unit connected to the cathode and/or the anode and floatable in a substrate solution, wherein the cathode is positioned at a region in the substrate solution having a dissolved oxygen concentration higher than that of a region at which the anode is positioned, and the anode is positioned at a region in the substrate solution having an amount of electrons generated by microorganisms larger than that of a region at which the cathode is positioned.
US08790827B2

A positive electrode active material includes: a secondary particle obtained upon aggregation of a primary particle that is a lithium complex oxide particle in which at least nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co) are solid-solved as transition metals, wherein an average composition of the whole of the secondary particle is represented by the following formula (1): LixCoyNizM1-y-zOb-aXa   Formula (1) wherein an existent amount of cobalt (Co) becomes large from a center of the primary particle toward the surface thereof; and an existent amount of cobalt (Co) in the primary particle existing in the vicinity of the surface of the secondary particle is larger than an existent amount of cobalt (Co) in the primary particle existing in the vicinity of the center of the secondary particle.
US08790825B2

Disclosed are a negative active material for a rechargeable lithium battery that includes a core including silicon oxide represented by the following Chemical Formula 1; and a surface-treatment layer surrounding the core and including metal oxide represented by the following Chemical Formula 2, a method of preparing the negative active material, and a rechargeable lithium battery including the negative active material. The metal of the metal oxide is included in an amount of about 0.1 wt % to about 20 wt % based on the total weight of the negative active material for a rechargeable lithium battery. SiOx  [Chemical Formula 1] MyOz  [Chemical Formula 2] In the above Chemical Formula 1 and 2, M, x, y, and z are the same as defined in the specification.
US08790818B2

A multi-functional, laminated composite comprises a plurality of cloth layers (3) penetrated by an infused matrix, wherein at least one cell (1) for energy storage is supported by and integrally built up from at least one of the cloth layers (3), the cell (1) being embedded in the matrix. The cell may comprise first and second electrodes (6,7) separated by a porous, separator layer (2) that has a liquid electrolyte-permeable, matrix-free intra-electrode region to which the electrolyte (2′) may be added before or after resin infusion to activate the cell. The structural composite may have integrated energy storage comprising a lithium-ion rechargeable cell, optionally of printed construction.
US08790817B2

A pouch-type lithium secondary battery including: an electrode assembly; and a case to house the electrode assembly, including first and second case portions. The first case portion includes a receiving part to receive the electrode assembly, and a wing part extending from the receiving part. The second case portion includes an outer part that is sealed to the wing part, and an extension part that extends from the outer part and is folded toward the wing part.
US08790815B2

A battery cell tab is described. The battery cell tab is anodized on one end and has a metal coating on the other end. Battery cells and methods of making battery cell tabs are also described.
US08790813B2

An electric storage apparatus includes a plurality of electric storage components, and a holder holding each of the electric storage components at both end portions of each of the electric storage components in a longitudinal direction. The holder includes a plurality of guide portions provided within an orthogonal plane orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the electric storage component and configured to move both end portions of each of the electric storage components toward a predetermined holding position, and an opening portion formed at one end of each of the guide portions and configured to insert the end portion of the electric storage component into the guide portion.
US08790810B2

A battery cell module includes a battery cell, a sliding repeating element, and a guide rail. The repeating element is disposed adjacent the battery cell. A gap is defined between the battery cell and the repeating element. The repeating element has a main body with at least one spacer coupled thereto. The guide rail cooperates with the at least one spacer and permits the repeating element to move with an expansion of the battery cell. The cooperation of the guide rail with the at least one spacer thereby militates against an overcompression of the battery cell.
US08790802B2

An air battery system has a sealed air battery cell (10) having: an air electrode having an air electrode layer (4) containing a conductive material and an air electrode power collector (6) for collecting electric power from the air electrode layer; a negative electrode having a negative electrode layer (3) containing an negative electrode active material that adsorbs and releases metal ions and a negative electrode power collector (2) for collecting electric power from the negative electrode layer; a separator (7) provided between the air electrode layer and the negative electrode layer; and a sealed air battery case (1a, 1b). The air battery system also has a depressurization portion (20) that reduces the internal pressure of the sealed air battery cell to below the atmospheric pressure.
US08790793B2

Provided is an organic electroluminescent element comprising a substrate having thereon an anode, a cathode, and a plurality of organic layers sandwiched between the anode and the cathode, wherein the plurality of organic layers comprise: a light emitting layer containing a phosphorescence emitting compound; and an electron transport layer containing a compound represented by Formula (1), (Ar1)n1-Y1  Formula (1) wherein n1 is an integer of 1 or more; Y1 is a substituent when n1 is 1, and Y1 is a single bond or a linking group of n1 valences when n1 is two or more; Ar1 is a group represented by Formula (A), a plurality of Ar1 may be the same or different with each other when n1 is two or more; and the compound represented by Formula (1) contains at least two condensed aromatic heterocyclic rings each comprising 3 or more rings condensed with each other.
US08790788B2

Composite reinforcement (R-2) that is self-adhesive by curing to a diene rubber matrix, which can be used as reinforcing element for a tire, having one or more reinforcing thread(s) (20), for example a carbon steel cord; a first layer (21) of a thermoplastic polymer, the glass transition temperature of which is positive, for example 6,6 polyamide, covering the thread or the threads; and a second layer (22) having a functionalized unsaturated thermoplastic styrene elastomer, the glass transition temperature of which is negative, for example an epoxidized SBS elastomer, covering the first layer (21), the elastomer containing functional groups selected from epoxide, carboxyl and acid anhydride or ester groups. Process for manufacturing such a composite reinforcement and rubber article or semi-finished product, especially a tire, incorporating such a composite reinforcement.
US08790786B2

The present invention relates to simultaneously drawn opaque biaxially oriented film made of at least one cycloolefin copolymer (COC) containing layer. The COC is preferably at a concentration of 0.5 to 30% by weight, based on the layer. The invention further relates to an opaque, biaxially oriented polyhydroxycarboxylic acid film containing at least one layer containing a polymer based on hydroxycarboxylic acids and a cycloolefin copolymer (COC). The invention further relates to a process for producing the PHC film and the use thereof.
US08790785B2

A method of forming a porous insulation film uses an organic silica material gas having a 3-membered SiO cyclic structure and a 4-membered SiO cyclic structure, or an organic silica material gas having a 3-membered SiO cyclic structure and a straight-chain organic silica structure, and uses a plasma reaction in the filming process. A porous interlevel dielectric film having a higher strength and a higher adhesive property can be obtained.
US08790783B2

Certain example embodiments relate to a coated article including at least one infrared (IR) reflecting layer of a material such as silver or the like in a low-E coating, and methods of making the same. In certain cases, at least one layer of the coating is of or includes nickel and/or titanium (e.g., NixTiyOz). The provision of a layer including nickel titanium and/or an oxide thereof may permit a layer to be used that has good adhesion to the IR reflecting layer, and reduced absorption of visible light (resulting in a coated article with a higher visible transmission). When a layer including nickel titanium oxide is provided directly over and/or under the IR reflecting layer (e.g., as a barrier layer), this may result in improved chemical and mechanical durability. Thus, visible transmission may be improved if desired, without compromising durability; or, durability may simply be increased.
US08790772B2

A wound friction coating and a method for the production thereof.
US08790766B2

The present invention can provide a polymer film having an Ra (arithmetic average roughness) of 0.5 μm to 2.5 μm, an Ry (maximum height) of 3 μm to 11 μm, an Rz (ten-point average height) of 3 μm to 8 μm, and a light transmittance of 85% or higher. A preferable embodiment of the present invention can provide, at the same time, an optical diffusion function, an improved luminance, a transmittance and the like which are of a sufficient level not realized conventionally. In a still preferable embodiment, Sm (average concave-concave/convex-convex interval) of 90 μm to 160 μm and the average inter-local peak interval (S) is 5 μm to 15 μm.
US08790756B2

A thermal-transfer laminate film includes a base film and an image protection layer. The image protection layer is provided an the base film and contains a thermoplastic resin and a pearl pigment, a content ratio of the pearl pigment with respect to 100 parts by mass of the thermoplastic resin being 0.5 parts by mass or more and 10 parts by mass or less.
US08790753B2

A rubber material is described, modified with a barrier material in the form of a copolymer which can be produced via ring-opening metathesis polymerization of a) at least one olefin monomer selected from the group consisting of monocyclic olefin monomers having one or two endocyclic C—C double bonds and bicyclic olefin monomers having one endocyclic C—C double bond and b) at least one polycyclic olefin monomer having at least two C—C double bonds. The barrier material can be used to reduce the gas permeability of the rubber material.
US08790751B2

In a method of promoting adhesion between a copper body and a dielectric layer in contact therewith, the copper body and dielectric layer are placed in a vacuum chamber, in a chamber, the copper body and dielectric layer within the chamber are heated, and SiH4 is provided in the chamber.
US08790749B2

Manufacturing method of grinding surface on glass cosmetics, in particular the nail and skin file, from flat glass of FLOAT type, is carried out by marking at least one abrasive surface on one or two sides of a glass pane or intermediate product. This surface is then coated with fusing glue, powdered with clean quartz sand with grain size between 1 and 500 μm using a sieve, and the surplus sand is knocked-down. The intermediate product with fixed sand is inserted into the fusing furnace where it is baked at the temperature of up to 900° C. The abrasive surface may be roughened by sand blasting before the fusing glue application; the intermediate product coated with fusing glue can be decorated with glass fritte.
US08790748B2

According to one embodiment, a method for pressing roofing granules into a roofing membrane may include providing a roofing membrane and applying roofing granules atop a surface of the membrane. The method may also include adjusting a position of a second roller relative to a first roller so as to vary an amount of contact between the membrane and the first roller and pressing the roofing granules into the membrane via the first roller. In some embodiments, a line speed of the membrane may be determined and a contact value may be calculated based on the line speed of the membrane. The contact value may represent an effective amount of contact between the membrane and the first roller. The position of the second roller may be adjusted so that the amount of contact between the membrane and the first roller corresponds to the effective amount of contact.
US08790745B2

A method of manufacturing an electroluminescent display apparatus includes: discharging first droplets of the fluid luminescent material from the first nozzles to the target discharge areas when the first nozzles are positioned in an area above the target discharge areas so that all of the first droplets are arranged in the target discharge areas on different X-axis direction positions so as not to overlap each other when viewed in the Y-axis direction; and discharging second droplets of fluid luminescent material from the second nozzles to the target discharge areas to which the first droplets have been discharged when the second nozzles are positioned in the area above the target discharge areas after a predetermined period of time passed since the discharge of the first droplets to the target discharge areas.
US08790743B1

A method for processing a substrate in a reactor by pulsing RF power, includes: applying RF power in pulses in the reactor to process the substrate; monitoring data from the reactor indicative of anomalous pulses of RF power, including data from a photo sensor equipped in the reactor; counting the number of anomalous pulses of RF power in the monitored data; determining whether or not the number of anomalous pulses of RF power is acceptable; and initiating a pre-designated sequence if the number of anomalous pulses of RF power is determined to be unacceptable.
US08790742B2

A method for manufacturing an electronic circuit in three-dimensional space provides for interconnecting electronic components within the circuit by directly writing conducting lines. The method may include observing a direct writing tool of a direct write system using a vision system, determining proper placement of the direct writing tool at least partially based on the step of observing, and directly writing conducting lines in three dimensions using the proper placement. The direct writing may be on a surface or in free space. The method may include stacking a plurality of chips to provide a stack having a top surface and edges extending away from the top and interconnecting connections of the chips by directly writing conducting lines along one of the edges.
US08790735B2

Methods and food product compositions are provided for preferentially reducing absorption of saturated fat whereby the effective caloric content of a fat-containing food product is reduced by about 25% of the effective caloric content contributed by a saturated fat. This food product is prepared with a major portion of the saturated fat present in the food product being complexed with a solubilized alpha and/or beta cyclodextrin. Food products comprising a fat component comprising mixtures of saturated and unsaturated fat fractions are provided wherein the saturated fat fraction is desirably selectively more complexed to reduce its relative metabolic availability.
US08790725B2

This invention relates to compositions and methods for improving water quality by enhancing natural bacterial processes and altering environmental conditions in situ. This is achieved by the manufacture and use of granules or tablets composed of the inventive formulations.
US08790712B2

The present invention is drawn to a method of inducing thymocyte proliferation in a vertebrate animal with an impaired immune system comprising administering δ-aminolevulinic acid or a salt thereof every day in succession. The method further comprises administering at least one mineral.
US08790709B2

Compositions and methods for delivering bioactive agents, such as vitamins, hormones, nutrients and drugs, by stabilizing and or solubilizing these agents in a polymer matrix. The carrier polymers can be used in drug delivery and are useful for delivery of small molecules. The carrier polymers also can be used in scaffolds for regenerative medicine.
US08790707B2

Calcium phosphate particles are described comprising a surface treatment wherein the surface treatment comprises at least one sugar alcohol, at least one glycerophosphoric acid compound, or mixture thereof. Also described are various oral care compositions comprising surface treated calcium phosphate particles and methods of surface treating calcium phosphate particles.
US08790702B2

The present application provides compositions comprising hyaluronic acid having low levels of functional group modification, mixtures formed by controlled reaction of such lightly modified hyaluronic acid with suitable difunctional or multi-functional crosslinkers, and hydrogel precursor compositions and the resulting hydrogels. The compositions are lightly cross-linked and possess low pro-inflammatory properties when injected in vivo, and can be used as, for example, medical devices, biomedical adhesives and sealants, and for localized delivery of bioactive agents, among other uses.
US08790696B2

Compositions of a cyclooxygenase inhibitor and a calcium channel antagonist in a liquid carrier. The composition may be administered the the urinary tract during urological diagnostic, interventional, surgical and other medical procedures. One disclosed composition comprises ketoprofen and nifedipine in a liquid irrigation carrier, and includes a solubilizing agent, stabilizing agents and a buffering agent.
US08790695B2

A medicinal carrier is provided. The medicinal carrier comprises a first component, which is a biocompatible polymer with an amino group (—NH2); a saccharide; and a second component which is a biocompatible material. The saccharide grafts to the first component via the amino group (—NH2) of the first component, and the first component bonds to the second component via an ionic bond. The medicinal carrier can protect the medicine from gastric acid and swell or decompose to release the medicine under a specific pH condition, thus, showing a good applicability.
US08790694B2

The present disclosure provides extended release pharmaceutical compositions comprising an opioid and an additional active pharmaceutical ingredient, wherein the composition exhibits gastric retentive properties which are achieved by a combination of a physical property of the composition and release of the opioid, wherein upon administration to a subject, the composition has at least one pharmacokinetic parameter that differs by less than about 30% when the subject is in a fasted state as compared to a fed state.
US08790691B2

Drag derivatives are provided herein which are suitable for loading into liposomal nanoparticle carriers. In some preferred aspects, the derivatives comprise a poorly water-soluble drag derivatized with a weak-base moiety that facilitates active loading of the drag through a LN transmembrane pH or ion gradient into the aqueous interior of the LN. The weak-base moiety can optionally comprise a lipophilic domain that facilitates active loading of the drag to the inner monolayer of the liposomal membrane. Advantageously, LN formulations of the drag derivatives exhibit improved solubility, reduced toxicity, enhanced efficacy, and/or other benefits relative to the corresponding free drags.
US08790688B2

A wound care device for local treatment of pain in a wound is provided. The device comprises an active pain relieving composition, which can also be an anti-inflammatory agent. The wound care device is suitable for treatment of pain in open wounds. The device can include small amounts of pain relieving compositions that are effective in relieving pain at the wound while not resulting in any systemic effects. The device may be in the form of a wound dressing, and the pain relieving composition may be delivered to the wound through a controlled release system.
US08790686B2

A hemorrhoid-treating composition comprising gentian violet and a lubricant or suppository base. A method of treating hemorrhoids by topically applying a composition comprising gentian violet and a lubricant or suppository base.
US08790684B2

A biocompatible material may be configured into any number of implantable medical devices including a vascular closure device. The vascular closure device includes a fibrous structure formed from at least one randomly oriented fiber, the randomly oriented fiber comprising at least one polymer, and at least one agent, in therapeutic dosage, incorporated into at least one of the fibrous structure and the at least one randomly oriented fiber.
US08790681B2

This invention provides aragonite- and calcite-based scaffolds for the repair, regeneration, enhancement of formation or a combination thereof of cartilage and/or bone, which scaffolds comprise at least two phases, wherein each phase differs in terms of its chemical content, or structure, kits comprising the same, processes for producing solid aragonite or calcite scaffolds and methods of use thereof.
US08790678B2

The invention generally relates to substrates and surfaces having substrates. Generally speaking, the substrates may be thinly layered substrates, and the surfaces may comprise thinly layered substrates. Additionally, the substrates may comprise a multifunctional water soluble polymer and a lipoprotein and the surfaces may comprise a multifunctional water soluble polymer and a lipoprotein.
US08790669B2

Disclosed are cosmetic compositions comprising at least one latex-film former chosen from at least one random styrene acrylate copolymer and derivatives thereof, and at least one coalescent and/or plasticizer.
US08790643B2

Monoclonal antibodies to the IL-21 receptor and multimeric complexes comprising the IL-21 receptor; including monoclonal antibodies to the heterodimeric receptor, IL-21/IL-2Rγ; have been prepared. The invention also describes a method of producing said antibodies. And, the invention also describes a method of treatment comprising using said antibodies to suppress an immune response.
US08790634B2

The present invention provides methods to treating inflammation related disease and disorders such as an autoimmune disease and autoimmune related uveitis by administering compositions and formulations comprising MetAP-2 inhibitors as disclosed herein. The composition comprises a formulation of a fumagillol derivative that retains anti-inflammation activity and is associated with a block copolymer comprising a hydrophilic polymer moiety and a hydrophobic polymer moiety.
US08790631B2

The invention relates to a biocompatible polymer having general formula (I) AaXxYy, wherein: A denotes a monomer; X denotes an RCOOR′ group; Y denotes an O or N-sulphonate group which is fixed to A and which has either formula —ROS03R′ or —RNS03R′ in which R denotes an optionally branched and/or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon chain which can contain one or more aromatic rings and R′ denotes a hydrogen atom or a cation; a denotes the number of monomers; x denotes the rate of substitution of the A monomers by the X groups; and y denotes the rate of substitution of the A monomers by the Y groups. More specifically, the invention relates to the use of said biocompatible polymers for the preparation of a pharmaceutical, dermatological or cosmetic composition or a medical device, which are intended to prevent, relieve and/or treat discomfort, distress, itches, irritations and/or pain and/or to protect tissues against same. In addition, in certain cases, the use of said biocompatible polymers for pain treatment can impact on the actual curing of certain diseases. Significant improvements and even cures have been observed in relation to chronic and painful diseases that are associated with alterations in the extracellular matrix regardless of the origin thereof.
US08790629B2

The present invention is directed to heat treated xanthan gums, which have improved solution viscosity over other xanthan gums heat-treated under the same processing conditions while maintaining the improved ease of use and the short, non-stringy gel texture of heat treated xanthan gums. Such high solution viscosity xanthan gums are suitable in a variety of applications, including cosmetic and personal care compositions.
US08790621B2

The invention provides multivalent surface-crosslinked micelle (SCM) particles, crosslinked reverse micelle (CRM) particles, and methods of making and using them. The SCM particles can be used, for example, to inhibit a virus or bacteria from binding to a host cell. The inhibition can be used in therapy for the flu, cancer, or AIDS. The CRM particles can be used, for example, to prepare metal nanoparticles or metal alloy nanoparticles, or they can be used in catalytic reactions.
US08790611B2

The invention relates to a reactor for carrying out an exothermic reaction in the gas phase, which comprises a vessel having an outer wall (13) composed of a metallic material, wherein an inner shell (17) is accommodated in the interior of the reactor (1) and the inner shell (17) has a spacing of at least 50 mm to the inside of the outer wall (13).
US08790607B2

Elemental boron with a boron content of at least 96.8% by weight, an oxygen content of at most 1.6% by weight, a nitrogen content of at most 0.2% by weight, a crystallinity of 30% by weight or less, and a particle size distribution with a d100 value of 9 μm or less.
US08790602B2

The efficiency of heat transfer to a furnace tube or coil in a furnace for cracking ethane, propane or naphtha feedstocks, or a mixture thereof may be improved by providing protuberances on the surface of the tube or coil having i) a maximum height from 3 to 15% of the coil outer diameter, ii) a contact surface with a coil, or a base, which area is 0.1%-10% of the coil external cross section area, and iii) a geometrical shape which has a relatively large external surface containing a relatively small volume.
US08790599B2

A system for analyzing, manipulating, and recording data associated with a microtiter plate is provided. The system provides a touch screen element provided proximal to the microtiter plate such that data pertaining to events and conditions observed within one or more wells of the microtiter plate may be easily and accurately recorded. Data display, storage, and manipulation features are also provided.
US08790598B2

The present invention provides reaction cells capable of maintaining stable analytical performance by preventing bubble adhesion and reducing sample carryover even if the amount of sample liquid for a single test is further reduced in the future. The invention further provides an automatic analyzer that uses the reaction cells and a method for enhancing the hydrophilicity of the inner surfaces of the reaction cells. According to the invention, a reaction cell has a first electrode inserted thereinto and a second electrode disposed on the bottom side of the reaction cell. A voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode to cause electric discharge between the electrodes. This allows for enhancing only the hydrophilicity of the bottom inner surface and the four bottom corners of the reaction cell to which large bubbles adhere easily.
US08790593B2

A structure for holding sample-containing receptacles includes a cover with holes formed therein through which the receptacles can be accessed with a substance transfer mechanism, such as a robotic pipettor. When the transfer mechanism is inserted into and then withdrawn from a receptacle, a string of viscous material may be suspended from the mechanism. A viscous string removal element adjacent each opening engages the string of viscous material and dislodges the string from the mechanism when the mechanism moves in a prescribed path with respect to the removal element. A sample rack configured to hold receptacles and to be inserted into the structure below the cover includes a sample rack having receptacle-receiving pockets, each with a resilient element and a positioning feature for holding receptacles of varying sizes in a predetermined position within the receptacle receiving pocket, and a cover including features for preventing a receptacle from being pulled out of its receptacle-receiving pocket when the transfer mechanism is withdrawn from the receptacle.
US08790590B1

An air treatment substance delivery apparatus includes a pressurized aerosol can of air treatment substance such as a fragrance or sanitizer with a spray nozzle mounted on a conventional nozzle displacement valve, a nozzle depression mechanism actuated by a solenoid, an electric power circuit delivering power from the power source to the solenoid, the power circuit including a spray activation switch connected to air movement detection means so that activation of the air unit fan is detected by the air movement detection means which operates the spray activation switch to activate the solenoid which causes the nozzle depression mechanism to depress the spray nozzle on the can and release atomized air treatment substance into the air stream.
US08790586B2

The present application relates to a molecular exchange device (1) for use with an analysis and control apparatus and a method of manufacturing a molecular exchange device. The molecular exchange device comprises a casing (2), extending from a proximal end (3) to a distal end (4), supporting at least two fluid passageways (7a, 7b) extending from the proximal end to the distal end; the casing comprising at least one exchange aperture (9a, 9b) between the distal end and the proximal end, wherein a portion of the fluid passageway exposed by the exchange aperture is porous
US08790585B2

A countercurrent tank type supercritical water reactor with a sacrificial lining, comprising a cylinder body and a catalyst tank arranged inside, the upper part of the cylinder body is connected with a top cover, and the lower part of the cylinder body is connected with a spherical head, the inner side of the cylinder body, the inner side of the spherical head and the inner side of the top cover constitute the inner wall of the reactor, wherein the inner wall of the reactor is provided with a high temperature resistance and thermal insulation coating layer, the inner wall of the high temperature resistance and thermal insulation coating layer is provided with a sealing coating layer, and the inner wall of the sealing coating layer is provided with the sacrificial lining. The reactor is of a countercurrent tank type, which can prevent the reactor blockage caused by salt deposition.
US08790584B2

Disclosed is a system for refining UMG Si including a vacuum chamber, a cold crucible disposed within the vacuum chamber, a device disposed within the vacuum chamber to supply Si to the cold crucible, a steam plasma torch disposed above the cold crucible to apply steam plasma formed by introducing a reactive gas into plasma flame by an inert gas to the Si supplied to the cold crucible, and an impurity collector disposed above the cold crucible within the vacuum chamber to collect impurity gas generated in the cold crucible and discharge the collected impurity gas to the outside of the vacuum chamber.
US08790572B2

Titanium flat product is produced by passing a titanium powder green flat material through a pre-heating station and heated under a protective atmosphere to a temperature at least sufficient for hot rolling. The pre-heated flat material then is passed through a rolling station while still under a protective atmosphere and hot rolled to produce a hot rolled flat product of a required level of hot densification. The hot rolled flat product is passed through a cooling station while still under a protective atmosphere, and cooled to a temperature at which it can be passed out of a protective atmosphere. In the process, the hot rolling provides the predominant hot densification mechanism involved.
US08790568B1

Method for producing a plastic bottle, and preform and blowing mold suited therefore are disclosed. An exemplary process can produce a plastic bottle, for example, a PET bottle. Such a bottle can be produced from a preform which has a body which is closed on one side, which is connected to a neck section with a pour opening, in which the preform which has been produced in a plastic injection process or an extrusion process is placed in the mold cavity of a blow mold and inflated using the blow nozzle by overpressure according to the mold cavity. Sealing can take place between the blow nozzle and the preform within the preform.
US08790564B2

During the cooking of a composite component including layers of fibers embedded into a matrix, a superficial pressure is exerted. This superficial pressure generates a deformation that causes local contacts of fibers of at least two layers without damaging these fibers. As a result, when an electrical current is applied on a side of the composite component, such as during a lightning strike or a short circuit, the added local contacts enable the electric current to flow along multiple fibers in the composite component, thereby avoiding significant spikes in temperature.
US08790561B2

Various embodiments herein include utilities for generating embosser drums that are used to pre-format optical media such as optical tape with a pattern of nanostructures such as wobbled grooves. One utility includes generating a plurality of replicas from an embossing master and bonding the replicas together to form a bonded replica structure having a surface with the nanostructure pattern imprinted therein and a surface area that is approximately the same as an outer embossing surface of the embosser drum to be formed. Advantageously, a single, one-piece metallic shim can subsequently be generated, appropriately shaped and welded at a single seam to form the embosser drum outer embossing surface.
US08790559B2

Provided is a method of manufacturing a microporous polyolefin film useable as a battery separator, which is easy to control strength, permeability and shrinking properties of the microporous film and embodies excellent quality uniformity and production stability in fabricating the microporous film.
US08790547B2

An anisotropic conductive adhesive including conductive particles dispersed in an epoxy-based adhesive containing an epoxy compound and a curing agent gives a cured product having the elastic modulus satisfying the expressions (1) to (5), in which EM35, EM55, EM95, and EM150 are values of the elastic modulus of the cured product at 35° C., 55° C., 95° C., and 150° C., respectively, ΔEM55-95 is the rate of change in the elastic modulus between 55° C. and 95° C., and ΔEM95-150 is the rate of change in the elastic modulus between 95° C. and 150° C., 700 MPa≦EM35≦3000 MPa  (1) EM150
US08790540B2

A transportable PCM (phase change material) module comprises a number of PCM packs; a housing for thermally insulting said number of PCM packs from a module's surrounding medium; spaces separating said packs and forming one or more channels for the flow of a fluid; said housing incorporating a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; whereby, in use, fluid flows through said channels from said inlet to said outlet. A PCM (phase change material) pack comprises a laminate of a first conducting panel and a second conducting panel enclosing a portion formed primarily of PCM; wherein said portion of PCM incorporates thermal conductors. A PCM (phase change material pack) comprises an envelope of relatively highly thermally conductive material enclosing a portion formed primarily of PCM; wherein said PCM portion incorporates a conductive compound mixed into said PCM which comprises carbon black particles.
US08790539B2

Provided are azeotrope-like compositions comprising 1,1,1,2,2,3,3-heptafluoro-3-methoxy propane and E-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (K-1233zd) and uses thereof, including use in refrigerant compositions, refrigeration systems, blowing agent compositions, solvent, and aerosol propellants.
US08790529B2

A gas supply system for supplying a gas into a processing chamber for processing a substrate to be processed includes: a processing gas supply unit; a processing gas supply line; a first and a second branch line; a branch flow control unit; an additional gas supply unit; an additional gas supply line; and a control unit. The control unit performs, before processing the substrate to be processed, a processing gas supply control and an additional gas supply control by using the processing gas supply unit and the additional gas supply unit, respectively, wherein the additional gas supply control includes a control that supplies the additional gas at an initial flow rate greater than a set flow rate and then at the set flow rate after a lapse of a period of time.
US08790516B2

The invention relates to a method for removing arsenic as scorodite from solutions that contain iron and arsenic. In accordance with the method, arsenic is first precipitated as ferric arsenate and subsequently processed hydrothermally into crystalline scorodite.
US08790499B2

A process kit for a sputtering chamber comprises a deposition ring, cover ring, and a shield assembly, for placement about a substrate support in a sputtering chamber. The deposition ring comprising an annular band with an inner lip extending transversely, a raised ridge substantially parallel to the substrate support, an inner open channel, and a ledge radially outward of the raised ridge. A cover ring at least partially covers the deposition ring, the cover ring comprising an annular plate comprising a footing which rests on a surface about the substrate support, and downwardly extending first and second cylindrical walls.
US08790494B2

The invention provides a three layered reprographic paper having improved strength, stiffness and curl resistance properties, and a method for making same. The paper has a central core layer made largely of cellulose and bulked with a bulking agent such as a diamide salt. A starch-based metered size press coating is pressed on both sides of the core layer, wherein the starch has a high solid content. The coating forms a three layered paper having an I-beam arrangement with high strength outer layers surrounding a low density core.
US08790493B2

The present invention relates to a process for producing paper which comprises: (vii) providing an aqueous suspension comprising cellulosic fibers, (viii) adding to the suspension after all points of high shear a first polymer being a cationic polymer having a charge density above 2.5 meq/g; a second polymer, and a third polymer being an organic or inorganic anionic polymer; and (ix) dewatering the obtained suspension to form paper.
US08790488B2

Biocompatible macromer compositions are provided including an isocyanate-functional polyalkylene oxide combined with at least one multi-functional isocyanate as a first component, and a multi-amino functional compound possessing multiple primary amines as a second component. The isocyanate-functional polyalkylene oxide has pendant polyalkylene oxide groups. The resulting biocompatible macromer composition can be employed as an adhesive or sealant for medical/surgical uses.
US08790480B2

Provided are a system and a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, comprising a panel turning mechanism that has: a long side-supporting part for supporting the liquid crystal panel by coming into contact with an end face along at least one long side of the liquid crystal panel; and a short side-supporting part for supporting the liquid crystal panel by coming into contact with an end face along at least one short side of the liquid crystal panel and is configured to turn over the liquid crystal panel about an axis not parallel to any of the long and short sides of the liquid crystal panel in such a manner that the positional relationship between the long and short sides is reversed while both the long and short sides are supported.
US08790476B2

Mold-free resin-insulated coil windings are obtained by applying continuous fibers embedded in a quasi-solid-state epoxy-resin matrix, e.g. in the form of a tape, to the coil windings. The tape is locally heated up to the melting point of its polymer matrix, and is subsequently pressed against the winding body. The heated and fused resin of the tape, which is pressed onto the coil, flows under pressure into the voids and gaps between the coil windings and fills them up, thereby hermetically insulating the coil windings. After leaving the heating and pressing apparatus the fused epoxy resin becomes solid again. The resulting curing process is thus considerably simplified and shortened, compared to the state of the art.
US08790472B2

[Problems] A conventional process for producing a solder preform in which a predetermined amount of high-melting metal particles are directly put into molten solder and stirred, requires a long time for dispersing the high-melting metal particles by stirring. Therefore, in the conventional method for producing a solder preform, dissolution of the high-melting metal particles into the molten solder occurred during stirring, and their particle diameters became small. If a semiconductor chip and a substrate are soldered with a solder preform containing metal particles having such decreased diameters, the space between portions being soldered becomes narrow, and a sufficient bonding strength is not obtained.[Means for Solving the Problems] In the present invention, a premixed master alloy having a higher proportion of the high-melting metal particles in solder is first prepared, then the premixed master alloy is put into molten solder to disperse the high-melting metal particles. As a result, the high-melting metal particles can be uniformly dispersed in solder in a short length of time. Accordingly, a solder preform which is obtained by the process for producing a solder preform according to the present invention can maintain a predetermined clearance between portions being soldered, and a sufficient bonding strength is obtained.
US08790469B2

Disclosed is a treating apparatus capable of improving the throughput during successive processing of target objects without a bad influence on the target objects. The disclosed treating apparatus includes an extendable liquid treating mechanism, and a common handling unit for handling one target object and another target object in order. The treating apparatus includes a recipe producing unit for producing a recipe having a rinsing liquid treatment and a common handling. When one common handling for handling one target object by the common handling unit and another common handling for handling another target object by the common handling unit are temporally overlapped with each other, the recipe producing unit extends the extendable liquid treatment for another target object, and shifts another common handling to an extent that the extendable liquid treatment is extended, thereby avoiding the temporal overlapping of one common handling with another common handling.
US08790467B2

An apparatus for cleaning an article may include a cleaning head. The cleaning head may have a lower edge and may include an annular steam chamber and a steam nozzle. The annular steam chamber may define a vacuum chamber that may be configured to receive the article therewithin. The annular steam chamber may have a plurality of discrete apertures positioned in vertically spaced relation to the lower edge. The steam nozzle may be configured to provide steam to the annular steam chamber for discharge through the apertures into the vacuum chamber.
US08790461B2

The invention provides a method for manufacturing the silicon carbide single crystal wafer capable of improving the utilization ratio of the bulk silicon carbide single crystal, capable of improving characteristics of the element and capable of improving cleavability, and the silicon carbide single crystal wafer obtained by the manufacturing method. An α(hexagonal)-silicon carbide single crystal wafer which has a flat homoepitaxial growth surface with a surface roughness of 2 nm or less and which has an off-angle from the (0001)c plane of 0.4° or less.
US08790454B2

A heat exchanger having an extended surface plate includes a plurality of heat exchanging bodies having therein flow paths along which a heat transfer medium flows, and extended surface plates each disposed between the heat exchanging bodies and having inclined surfaces in horizontal and vertical directions. Also disclosed is a dehumidifier having the heat exchanger. Moisture in the air may be effectively absorbed by a dehumidifying liquid, and the heat exchanger may have enhanced structural strength.
US08790449B2

Electret webs are presented which include a blend of a thermoplastic resin and a charge-enhancing additive. The charge-enhancing additives include a heterocyclic imide material which is free of fluorinated groups. The webs prepared from the blends may be in the form of films or non-woven fibrous webs. Non-woven microfiber webs are useful as filtration media.
US08790446B2

A removal device for removing gas bubbles and/or dirt particles from a liquid in a conduit system includes a housing (12) with an entry (14) and an exit (16) and a inter space (18) which is defined by the housing (12), wherein in the inter space a number of plates (20) are provided which extend substantially transversally to a main flow direction (58), wherein the plates (20) define a main ongoing flow channel (22), and wherein the plate define branch flow channels (21) which end in at least one quiet zone (44;48), and wherein at least one plate (50) defines a merge flow channel for a merge flow which merges with the main flow (22) at a merge point which is located downstream.
US08790442B2

A method of production of metallic iron nodules comprises assembling a hearth furnace having a moveable hearth comprising refractory material and having a conversion zone and a fusion zone, providing a hearth material layer comprising carbonaceous material on the refractory material, providing a layer of reducible material comprising and iron bearing material arranged in discrete portions over at least a portion of the hearth material layer, delivering oxygen gas into the hearth furnace to a ratio of at least 0.8:1 ponds of oxygen to pounds of iron in the reducible material to heat the conversion zone to a temperature sufficient to at least partially reduce the reducible material and to heat the fusion zone to a temperature sufficient to at least partially reduce the reducible material, and heating the reducible material to form one or more metallic iron nodules and slag.
US08790435B2

A method to improve the function and performance of the mushroom bed which comprises nutritionally supplementing the mushroom bed by mixing very small amounts of carboxylic acid salts into the casing layer or on the surface of the compost in close proximity to the casing layer of chalk and peat soils as commercially utilized. The salt may be derived from an aliphatic, alicyclic, heterocyclic or aromatic carboxylic acid and mixtures thereof. The cations may include potassium magnesium and preferably calcium and mixtures thereof for both casing additions and compost surface application. For compost surface additions only, ammonia and organic amines may also be used as cations. The carboxylic salts may be mixed with other nutrient substances to further improve performance.
US08790434B1

A particulate capture module for a high energy discharge device includes a particulate capture shell having an inlet and an outlet. The shell inlet can receive a high energy material discharged from the high energy discharge device. The particulate capture module can further include a self-healing particulate capture material arranged within the particulate capture shell to enable the high energy material to pass through the self-healing particulate capture material. The self-healing particulate capture material can capture particulates associated with discharge of the high energy material from the high energy discharge device.
US08790424B2

A copolymer obtainable by free-radical copolymerization of (i) monomer units of the structure M1 in which the variables are each hydrogen, alkyl groups, carboxyl groups or carboxyl derivative moieties, and (ii) monomer units of the structure M2 in which R5 is the radical of a carboxylic ester of the formula -A-CO—O—R10 where A is an alkylene group and R10 is a hydrocarbyl radical, and in which R6, R7 and R8 are each hydrogen or alkyl radicals, and subsequent polymer-analogous reaction of the product formed with a long-chain hydrocarbyl alcohol. This copolymer is suitable for improving the cold flow properties of middle distillate fuels, especially those which consist of or comprise biofuel oils.
US08790422B2

Gasoline fuel formulation having a laminar burning velocity SL which is equal to or below that of isooctane at a pressure of 1 bar, a temperature of 300 K and stoichiometric air/fuel mixture strength. The formulation can be used to reduce pre-ignition in a turbocharged spark ignition engine, in particular when operating with an inlet pressure above 1.5 bar absolute. The formulation can thus also be used to reduce engine damage. The invention also provides a method of preparing a gasoline fuel, by mixing gasoline fuel components to achieve a laminar burning velocity SL for the resultant mixture which is equal to or below that of isooctane at a pressure of 1 bar, a temperature of 300 K and stoichiometric air/fuel mixture strength. It further provides a method for selecting a gasoline fuel for use in a turbocharged spark ignition engine, based on its laminar burning velocity SL.
US08790420B2

The present invention provides a method for producing a high-quality reduced metal using an upgraded coal as a carbonaceous material to be incorporated. In the method, coal is first aged by heating in an organic solvent to produce upgraded coal for metallurgy having higher thermal plasticity than that of the coal. Then, a mixture of the upgraded coal for metallurgy and a metal oxide-containing raw material is agglomerated by an agglomerator, and the resultant agglomerates are reduced by heating in a furnace and then melted by further heating to produce a reduced melt. The reduced melt is cooled and solidified in the furnace to produce a reduced solid. The reduced solid is discharged to the outside of the furnace and slag is removed using a screen to recover a metal as a reduced metal.
US08790417B2

Methods and compounds are provided for oxidative coloring of keratinic fibers, in particular hair. The method includes applying a pretreatment agent onto the hair, where the pretreatment agent includes at least one 4-morpholinomethyl-substituted silicone. A hair coloring agent is applied to the hair subsequent to the pretreatment agent within a time span from about 1 second to about 24 hours. The hair coloring agent is obtained by mixing a composition (A), which contains at least one oxidation dye precursor of the developer type and at least one oxidation dye precursor of the coupler type, with a composition (B) that contains at least one oxidizing agent. Composition (B) contains at least one cosmetic oil in a total quantity from 10 to 80 wt %, based on the weight of composition (B).
US08790413B2

A protective sleeve is provided that is useful during minimally invasive surgery to facilitate assembly of modular components. The sleeve prevents contamination of a second component as it is engaged with a previously inserted component. The sleeve may also serve to guide insertion of the second component to facilitate aligning it with the previously inserted component.
US08790411B2

A femoral component of an artificial knee joint is configured with multiple different facets which are similar in size and shape for many different sizes, to simplify an associated method for forming a distal end of the femur to receive the femoral component. Jig embodiments are provided to form surfaces on a distal end of a femur to correspond with facets of the femoral component, with the same jig usable for femoral components of differing size. The femoral component includes medial and lateral condylar legs with a posterior facet of the femoral component exhibiting a negative angle relative to a central axis of the femur, to maximize contact and increase flexion of the artificial knee joint.
US08790410B2

A tibial tuberosity advancement implant and method includes a spacer body made of biocompatible, biodegradable material and having a main section with at least one bony growth orifice therethrough and a proximal slot and at least one fin extending from the main section by at least one connector. A metal clip is slideable into the proximal slot of the spacer body main section and includes spaced screw holes for securing the spacer body to the advanced tibial tuberosity and the tibia when the implant is placed in the space between the advanced tibial tuberosity and the tibia.
US08790404B2

Intervertebral disc prosthesis includes an upper plateau (16) with an outer surface (16a) bearing on an upper vertebra and with a surface (16b) directed towards the inside of the prosthesis, a lower plateau (18) with an outer surface (18a) bearing on a lower vertebra and with a surface (18b) directed towards the inside of the prosthesis, and a ball-type joint between the upper plateau and the lower plateau, having a bulged convex element (27), cooperating with a complementary recess of the bulged convex element (27) and coming into contact with the bulged convex element (27), the bulged convex element (27) including at least one slot (24, 25, 26, 28) that allows it to deform.
US08790402B2

An orthopaedic implant for filling voids in bones, and methods of using the same. The orthopaedic implant comprises an open porous metal component, having pores for promoting bone regeneration, and a resorbable bone growth promoting component which is resorbed into new bone. The orthopaedic implant and methods of the present disclosure provide structural support for the bone as well as osteoconductive and/or osteoinductive matrix for promoting bone re-growth within bone void. Advantageously, the orthopaedic implants and methods disclosed herein are useful in filling critically sized bone voids.
US08790393B2

The present disclosure is directed to tantalum-alloy products, implantable medical devices that incorporate tantalum-alloy products such as stents or other implantable medical devices, methods of making and/or processing the tantalum-alloy products and implantable medical devices, and methods of using the implantable medical devices. In an embodiment, a stent includes a stent body having a plurality of struts. At least a portion of the stent body is made from a tantalum alloy. The tantalum alloy includes a tantalum content of about 77 weight % (“wt %”) to about 92 wt %, a niobium content of about 7 wt % to about 13 wt %, and a tungsten content of about 1 wt % to about 10 wt %. The tantalum alloy exhibits at least one mechanical property modified by heat treatment thereof, such as yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, or ductility.
US08790384B2

The present invention provides a skin patch laminate body, comprising a skin patch body including a base layer and a skin adhesive layer being formed on one surface of the base layer for being directly applied to the skin and a heat imparting body including an exothermic agent and an exothermic agent-accommodating layer that accommodates the exothermic agent therein, wherein the exothermic agent-accommodating layer on one surface of the heat imparting body, and the other surface of the base layer of the skin patch body are attached to each other via a peelable adhesive layer.
US08790380B2

An orthopaedic device to realign bone segments comprises first and second attachment members and a spacer member. The first attachment member is attached to a first rib bone or first transverse process of a vertebra. The second attachment member is attached to a second rib bone or second transverse process of a vertebra adjacent to the first rib bone or the first transverse process. The spacer member is positioned between the first and second attachment members. The spacer member provides distraction between the first and second rib bones or transverse processes to realign the rib bones. The spacer member is releasably connected to the first and second attachment members. The attachment members comprise a clamp and screw combination.
US08790379B2

Embodiments provide methods, apparatuses, and systems for fixation of a fractured bone with a bone plate. In various embodiments, the systems and plates provide elastic suspension of the receiving holes relative to an osteosynthesis plate. This elastic suspension can promote load distribution between the screws that connect a bone segment to the plate, thereby reducing stress risers and load shielding effect. In addition, stress at the screw holes, and within the construct as a whole, is reduced by incorporation of these elastic elements in the plate. Additionally, in some embodiments where fracture healing by callus formation is desired, elastic suspension of the receiving holes relative to the osteosynthesis plate can enable small, controlled amounts of relative motion between bone fragments connected by the plate. This relative motion can promote fracture healing by callus formation.
US08790369B2

Assemblies and methods suitable for knotless arthroscopic repair of tissue defects include two fixation members coupled by two limbs of suture comprising a continuous loop. A unidirectional restriction element that can be a preformed locking, sliding suture knot proximate to one of the fixation members, provides tensioning of the repair.
US08790363B2

The three dimensional, low friction vasoocclusive coil has a portion that is three dimensionally box or cubed shaped. The three dimensional box or cubed shaped portion will form a basket for filling the anatomical cavity at the site in the vasculature to be treated. The vasoocclusive device is formed from at least one strand of a flexible material formed to have a first inoperable, substantially linear configuration for insertion into and through a catheter or cannula to a desired portion of the vasculature to be treated, and a second operable, three dimensional configuration for occluding the desired portion of the vasculature to be treated. The vasoocclusive coil may optionally include a portion that is substantially J-shaped or helically shaped, for filling and reinforcing the three dimensional portion.
US08790362B1

A novel catheter is described. The catheter comprises a handle, an inner sheath providing an inner sheath lumen extending along a first length from a proximal inner sheath portion supported by the handle to a distal inner sheath portion connected to a cage gripper, and an outer sheath having a second length extending from a proximal outer sheath portion supported by the handle to a distal outer sheath portion connected to a cage housing. The inner sheath rotatably resides inside the outer sheath with the cage gripper rotatably housed inside cage housing. During a surgical procedure, a distal bridge portion of the inner sheath is connected to an opening in the lead sidewall with the lead received inside the cage housing. A gear knob is manipulated to cause the inner sheath to rotate with respect to the outer sheath so that the cage gripper is moved from an un-deployed position housed inside the cage gripper to a deployed position completely surrounding the lead connected to the distal bride. The catheter connected to the lead is moved into and to a desired location in a vasculature. Then, a screw driver is inserted through the housing and inner sheath lumens and into the lead and manipulated to screw the distal electrode into body tissue. Manipulating the gear knob causes the inner sheath to rotate the cage gripper from the deployed to the un-deployed position and then the catheter is separated from the lead and removed from the vasculature, leaving the lead behind.
US08790360B2

Methods and devices are provided for dissecting tissue. In one embodiment, a surgical device can include an elongate shaft configured to be introduced into a body of a patient. A transducer coupled to the elongate shaft can be configured to deliver mechanical energy to the elongate shaft, e.g., axially along the elongate shaft, to rotate, vibrate, and/or flex the elongate shaft to facilitate dissection of tissue adjacent at least a leading end or a distal end of the elongate shaft. In some embodiments the elongate shaft can include at least two coaxial coils, and the transducer can be configured to move at least one of the coaxial coils to facilitate tissue dissection using the elongate shaft.
US08790359B2

A medical system includes a sheath and an acoustic reflective element that is capable of amplifying acoustic energy. Methods of using a medical system are also provided herein.
US08790356B2

An instrument for delivering a suture transfascially may include a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, and a pair of needles that are moveable to an extended position beyond the end of the shaft. One or more sutures are carried by the instrument and may be delivered transfascially. A transfascial suture assembly includes a suture having first and second segments and an intermediate segment therebetween. A force distributing member is locatable at the intermediate segment. Suture retainers may be provided at the end of each suture segment, and may have a connection that is moveable relative to the suture segment. A method of delivering transfascial sutures includes inserting a twin-needle instrument loaded with one or more sutures into an abdominal cavity and deploying, from within the abdominal cavity, the suture carrying needles through a soft tissue repair patch and then through at least part of the abdominal wall.
US08790351B2

A system for calculating a position and orientation of an acetabular cup in computer-assisted surgery comprises a first trackable reference secured to a pelvis, with a frame of reference being associated with the first trackable reference. A device is positionable between a femoral neck and the acetabulum of the pelvis in a known relation, the device having a second trackable reference. Sensors track the trackable references for position and orientation. A position/orientation calculator calculates a position and orientation of the frame of reference and of the device and for determining an orientation of the neck axis with respect to the frame of reference from the known relation at a desired position of the femur. An implant position/orientation calculator provides cup implanting information with respect to the orientation of said neck axis as a function of the tracking for position and orientation of at least the first trackable reference.
US08790349B2

A bone piece collector wherein a blade (4) coming into tight contact with the surface of a filter (2) under an appropriate pressure is provided in order to prevent lowering in the efficiency of suction work due to sampled bone chips adhering to the surface of the filter (2) in the bone piece collector provided in a suction line in order to sample a bone, i.e. a transplantation material in autologous bone transplantation, the blade (4) is rotated while being pressed against the surface of the filter (2) with a finger pressure or a motor drive force, and the sampled bone chips are moved in a certain direction so that clogging of the filter (2) is eliminated and the suction efficiency can be recovered at any time.
US08790347B2

Methods and apparatus for arthroscopically-assisted preparation of the tibia to accept an unicompartmental implant that includes the step of removing bone from the tibial plateau to correct depth, diameter and proper angle by employing a tibial rasp comprising a cutter with a plurality of teeth on the bottom surface and a side surface (for example, the front side). The tibial rasp may be used in conjunction with an additional starter rasp that can cut only in one direction (for example, cutting to establish only the depth of the tunnel or socket).
US08790342B2

A surgical instrument can comprise a handle, a first conductor, a second conductor, and an end effector. The end effector can comprise a first jaw, a second jaw, wherein the first jaw is movable relative to the second jaw in order to capture tissue intermediate the first jaw and the second jaw, a first electrode electrically coupled with the first conductor, and a second electrode electrically coupled with the second conductor, wherein the second electrode is comprised of a material configured to have a first electrical resistance when a first pressure is applied to the material, and wherein the material is configured to have a second electrical resistance when a second pressure is applied to the material. In various circumstances, the material can be configured such that, once the applied pressure has exceeded a switching pressure, the resistance of the material can switch from the first resistance to the second resistance.
US08790341B2

A flexible tip electrode for an ablation catheter is disclosed. The catheter includes a catheter body and a hollow elongate tip electrode disposed at a distal end of the catheter body. The electrode includes a sidewall provided with one or more elongate gaps extending therethrough. The one or more elongate gaps providing flexibility in the sidewall for bending movement of the tip electrode relative to a longitudinal axis of the catheter body.
US08790339B2

An apparatus to treat a sphincter has a support member. A sphincter electropotential mapping device includes a mapping electrode. The sphincter electropotential mapping device is coupled to the support member and configured to detect aberrant myoelectric activity of the sphincter.
US08790336B2

A coded neutral electrode including at least two electrodes electrically insulated from each other and having active surfaces for application to a skin segment of a patient, and a cover film, having a known electrical resistance, removably attached to the active surfaces in such a way that the active surfaces are electrically connected to each other by means of the cover film, and an electrosurgical apparatus for use with the coded neutral electrode and methods of production and use of the coded neutral electrode.
US08790332B2

The laser applicator includes a catheter (10) having a proximal section (10a), a midsection (10b) and a distal end section (10c). It contains a light guide, the light of which is output in a decoupling portion (40). The light guide runs in a longitudinal groove on the outside of a catheter body. While the light guide (20) is continuous, the catheter is composed of catheter bodies, which are joined together at a catheter splice site (37).
US08790329B2

A pressure activated valve comprises a valve housing defining a lumen for receiving bodily fluids therein and a flexible membrane disposed in the valve housing. The flexible membrane includes a slit extending therethrough so that the flexible membrane may be moved between an open and a dosed configuration based on fluid pressure within the lumen. A nonthrombogenic coating may be formed on fluid contacting surfaces of the flexible membrane.
US08790326B2

Wearable disposable absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, having elastically extensible fastening members (also sometimes known as fastening “ears”) with particular features, extending from a chassis or main portion of the articles, are disclosed. The fastening members may be highly extensible and have an overall geometry characterized by greater length nearer the chassis or main portion and lesser length nearer the distal end. Examples disclosed may have a fastener zone having a Stiffness of at least about 1,500 N/m, and shape and dimensional characteristics, that help avoid problems of buckling and/or flipping of edges of the fastening members, dishing of fastener components, and fastening member tearing, while the articles are applied and worn.
US08790325B2

The present disclosure includes an embodiment wherein a disposable wearable absorbent article comprises a side and an anchoring subsystem. The anchoring subsystem includes a first side anchoring member with a first middle, disposed along a first pathway, and a second side anchoring member with a second middle, disposed along a second pathway. At least a portion of the first middle is coextensive with at least a portion of the second middle, and at least a portion of the first pathway is distinct from at least a portion of the second pathway.
US08790323B1

A blood containment sleeve of any material and in any form with a cut in it, that dialysis patients wear, preferably, on their arm. The sleeve allows for the dialysis to be carried on and contains the blood spill. Main ideas disclosed are the cut in the sleeve and the containment of the patient's blood. The cut on the sleeve may be a simple cut or a cut with a zipper. The sleeve can have elastic closures at both ends. The sleeve may be by itself or on a shirt, jacket or any other apparel.
US08790316B2

A dosing device for an infusion system comprises a dosing unit having a variable volume and at least one opening in fluid connection with the variable volume, through which opening the variable volume can be filled with a substance or the substance can be dispensed from the variable volume. The dosing device is operable in a first state for filling the substance from a supply conduit, in a second state for preventing filling and dispensing, or in a third state for dispensing through a dispensing conduit. No direct fluid connection exists between the supply conduit and the dispensing conduit at any time. Methods for dosing a substance with the dosing device.
US08790309B2

A modular hemostatic valve includes a splittable valve body. The splittable body defines a passageway. A sealing element is positioned in the passageway. The sealing element is configured to facilitate the passage of a first medical device, and the splittable valve body is configured to engage a second medical device.
US08790304B2

A cooling system for an indwelling heat exchange catheter includes a heat exchange bath that is configured to receive a conduit that carries saline to and from the catheter. A heating/cooling fluid is in the bath and exchanges heat with the saline. The heating/cooling fluid flows through a heat exchanger that includes a refrigerant and two variable speed DC compressor for removing heat from the refrigerant. A gear pump circulates the working fluid to and from the catheter and is removably engaged with a pump support platform.
US08790296B2

A patient hydration system comprises a bladder, a flexible tube, a safety guard, and a mouthpiece. The bladder can be a generally rectangular-shaped pouch designed to hold liquids. The bladder can have an attachment means whereby a retention member can be used to hang the bladder. The bladder has a port that allows the attachment of the flexible tube. The tube is also connected to the safety guard and mouthpiece. The contents of the bladder flow through the tube and out of the mouthpiece on demand. A keeper clip can be added in proximity to the mouthpiece. The safety guard provides a substantial handle for grasping and maneuvering the system, ensures that the mouthpiece is not inadvertently swallowed by the patient, and protects the mouthpiece from surface contamination if the mouthpiece is placed on a table, plate, etc.
US08790295B1

A method for adjusting delivery of a therapeutic fluid to a patient suffering from or at risk of pulmonary arterial hypertension includes introducing the therapeutic fluid to a patient via a catheter at a predetermined rate. The catheter is positioned to deliver the fluid to the right ventricle or the pulmonary artery. The catheter a one-way valve configured to allow the fluid to flow from the catheter to the target location. The method further includes monitoring pressure of the target location by monitoring internal catheter pressure, and adjusting the rate at which the therapeutic fluid is introduced to the catheter based on the monitored pressure. The rate at which the fluid is introduced to the catheter is increased if internal catheter pressure increases, and the rate at which the fluid is introduced to the catheter is decreased if the internal catheter pressure decreases.
US08790292B2

Provided is a pressurized carbon dioxide bathing apparatus for bringing carbon dioxide into contact with skin of a living body by a predetermined pressure value or more using compressed air, and thereby enabling carbon dioxide to be absorbed efficiently from the skin, and the pressurized carbon dioxide bathing apparatus is comprised of a carbon dioxide supply means 1 for supplying a mixed gas of carbon dioxide and water vapor containing one or a plurality of chemical agents, a compressed air supply means 2, and a cover suit 3 of a two-layer structure having an enclosed layer 4 that is connected to the carbon dioxide supply means 1 via a connector 6 to confine the mixed gas supplied from the carbon dioxide supply means 1 so as to bring the mixed gas into direct contact with skin of the human body and an enclosed layer 5 that is connected to the compressed air supply means 2 via a connector 7 to confine compressed air supplied from the compressed air supply means 2, where the carbon dioxide is brought into contact with skin of the human body with a predetermined pressure value or more by the compressed air.
US08790291B2

Ultrasound catheter devices and methods provide enhanced disruption of blood vessel obstructions. Generally, an ultrasound catheter device includes an elongate flexible catheter body with one or more lumens, an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the catheter body lumen and a distal head coupled with the transmission member and positioned adjacent the distal end of the catheter body for disrupting occlusions. A proximal housing of the catheter device may include one or more features for dissipating heat from the ultrasound transmission wire, such as a fluid inlet aperture for passage of fluid, use of heat conductive materials in the proximal housing, surface features to increase the housing's surface area, heat conductive members disposed adjacent the transmission member and the like. Various irrigation fluids may be used, such as cooled, oxygen supersaturated or lubricious fluids.
US08790287B2

An orthopedic padding including an elongate spacer fabric having spaced faces interconnected and separated by an intermediate spacer area, the spaced faces having a knitted construction different from a knitted construction of the intermediate spacer area, and the elongate fabric constructed at least in part of hydrophobic monofilament yarn knitted in an open construction for breathability.
US08790285B2

A chest compressor includes a piston (14) that moves in downward and upward strokes, with the piston undergoing a smooth reversal at the bottom of the downward stroke. A compression spring such as a wave spring (60), is positioned to engage the piston only near the end of its downward stroke, to smoothly reverse the piston motion, limit downward force on the patient at the end of the stroke, and avoid a downward pulse due to the momentum of the downwardly-moving piston. A stop (90, 92) is latchable in an inward position to allow reduction in the piston stroke by engaging an outward flange (56) on the piston before the piston has moved fully downward.
US08790280B2

To provide a human state estimating device which accurately estimates a human state. The human state estimating device includes: a storage unit (16) which stores reference data (17) in which a human state and a reference profile including a horizontal component of a standard microsaccade in the human state are corresponded to each other, for each of plural personal attribute information; a video obtaining unit (11) which obtains video of a user's eyeball, with an eyeball rotation angle accuracy of 0.05 degrees or higher, and a measuring speed of 120 samples per second or higher; an analyzing unit (12) which generates an actual-measurement profile including the horizontal component of the microsaccade, from fixational eye movement shown in the video; a personal attribute information obtaining unit (13) which obtains the user's personal attribute information; and an analyzing unit which estimates the human state by searching, in the reference data (17), for a reference profile that corresponds to the obtained personal attribute information and is closest to the actual-measurement profile.
US08790274B2

A method and system of simultaneously monitoring body position and respiration of a subject are provided. The end-expiratory value of an axial dimension of a distance Xi between a first location and a second location is monitored for the subject orientation, and is then assigned a body position for the subject orientation during a calibration maneuver in which the subject is asked to assume various body positions. The transient voltage spikes in Xi voltage are measured to determine when the subject orientation changes. Following the subject orientation change, the stable end-expiratory voltage is determined to define a new body position. The new body position is outputted to a data output interface communicating with varied output devices.
US08790273B2

A pulmonary ventilation system comprising a method to determine at least one pulmonary ventilation parameter as a function of a plurality of measured anatomical distances and volume-motion coefficients, sensors for acquiring the anatomical distances, a device for determining the plurality of motion coefficients, and a device for determining the ventilation parameter based on the acquired anatomical distances and determined plurality of volume-motion coefficients. In one embodiment, the system further includes a method for acquiring base-line ventilation characteristics and a method for correlating the base-line ventilation characteristics to the ventilation parameter determined with the empirical relationship.
US08790271B2

A portable device for measuring a consumed calories includes: a respiration measurement device measuring an amount of air inhaled into a user's nose to acquire and output a respiration signal; a plurality of movement detection devices acquiring and outputting acceleration signals reflecting (or indicating) the magnitude and direction of a movement of each part of the user's body; and a controller recognizing the amount of a user's movements and movement patterns by analyzing the acceleration signal, recognizing an intensity of an exercise by analyzing the respiration signal, and calculating a consumed calories in consideration of the amount of the user's movements, the movement patterns, and the intensity of exercise. A user's consumed calories can be precisely calculated by recognizing the user's movement and even the user's respiration rate.
US08790264B2

Apparatus and methods for vibro-acoustic detection of cardiac conditions are disclosed. An example method includes calculating a frequency difference between a first frequency of a first cardiac signal and a second frequency of a second cardiac signal; calculating an amplitude difference between the first cardiac signal and the second cardiac signal; calculating a root-mean-square value based on a difference between the first cardiac signal and the second cardiac signal; calculating a value based on the frequency difference, the amplitude difference, and the root-mean-square value; and detecting a cardiac condition based on the value.
US08790261B2

A continuous, noninvasive fetal heart rate measurement is produced using one or more ultrasonic transducer adhered to the abdomen of the mother. Each ultrasound transducer generates an ultrasound beam having a signal strength. The signal strength is determined by an excitation voltage applied to the ultrasound transducer. An excitation voltage adjustment device is positioned between an excitation voltage generator and the ultrasound transducer to selectively control the strength of the ultrasound beam. A user input device allows an operator to control the ultrasound signal strength to vary the depth of viewing of the fetal heart rate monitor.
US08790256B2

Disclosed are systems and methods for enabling the acquisition of physiological parameters of a mammal or other specimen using thermo-mechanical responses (e.g., temperature, pressure and alternatively acceleration, pulse, position). In accordance with one example embodiment, a monitoring device for wired and/or wireless sensors is used to acquire a series of sensor signals that are attached to achieve the physiological measurements of a mammal vital signs is provided. The device includes a Temperature-Pressure (T-P) sensor configured to attach to respiration, vascular pressure and audio points of the mammal in a manner suitable for obtaining the acquired individual sensor electrical signal. The sensor system is configured to attach to alternative locations of the specimen in a manner suitable for obtaining electrical signals in communication with a signal receiver and transmitter. Physiological parameters, such as those associated with vital signs (temperature, pulse, respiration, etc.), can be obtained using the monitoring device and associated sensors.
US08790244B2

The present invention provides a gas water bottle adaptor that is suitable for attachment to a water bottle and to a bottle cap. The adaptor can include a gas inlet on one side thereof suitable for attachment to the gas connection of an endoscope. A sealing member can be affixed to the adaptor to prevent leakage of any fluid (e.g., liquid or gas) that is inside of the water bottle. The adaptor may be used in endoscopy methods and is particularly useful for adding a secondary gas source to a water bottle.
US08790242B2

Devices and systems including implants (which may be removable) and methods of using them for reducing ventricular volume. The implants described herein are cardiac implants that may be inserted into a patient's heart, particularly the left ventricle. The implant may support the heart wall, or may be secured to the heart wall. The implants are typically ventricular partitioning device for partitioning the ventricle into productive and non-productive regions in order to reduce the ventricular volume.
US08790239B2

The invention, in various embodiments, provides systems, devices, and methods for treating urinary incontinence.The invention also provides a driver and methods for advancing needles, cannulas, and other medical devices through the pubic bone. The driver may be used in connection with a driver frame assembly for proper positioning and stabilization of the driver, and with other devices for creating a cavity in the urethral floor and for positioning medical devices therein. The invention also provides simple connections for attaching a suture to a device within the cavity in the urethral floor or in the vagina, an also for attaching sutures to the pubic bone.
US08790237B2

An implantable hearing prosthesis comprising a vibrator for generating vibrations, a coupling arm adapted to be attached to an element of a recipient's ear; and a quick-connector comprising a first connector half disposed on the vibrator and a second connector half disposed on the coupling arm, wherein the connector halves are adapted to be releasably mated with one another to secure the coupling arm in relative position to the vibrator.
US08790235B2

A therapeutic member for use in brachytherapy deliverable to an implant site by way of a needle comprises a single radioactive source encapsulated by a bio-absorbable material having an outer surface including one or more ribs encircling the single radioactive source, a leading edge endcap rib and a trailing edge endcap rib. The one or more ribs reduces a tendency of the member to migrate and rotate within a patient's body after implantation. The encapsulating material further includes a first rail formed from the bio-absorbable material extending at least from opposite sides of the outer surface of the encapsulating material along the longitudinal axis of the therapeutic member, and a second rail formed from the bio-absorbable material extending at least from opposite sides of the outer surface of the encapsulating material along the longitudinal axis of the therapeutic member, the second rail arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane in which the first rail is arranged. Another embodiment includes wings that selectively extend from an implant preventing movement of the implant.
US08790227B2

An exercise apparatus includes a U-bar the ends of which are pivotally coupled to two L-bars by rotatable hinge assemblies containing a torsion spring. The rotatable hinge assemblies have a torsion spring tension setting means configured to vary the tension of the torsion spring and to secure the torsion spring at two or more distinct tensions settings without disassembly of the apparatus thus providing two or more distinct levels of resistance to the relative rotation of each L-bar independently with respect to the U-bar. Additionally, in certain embodiments of the apparatus each hinge assembly has an operation setting means that functions to control the allowable independent rotation of each L-bar relative to the U-bar end sections.
US08790224B1

Aquatic exercise system and method for use in a body of water is presented. In particular, the system comprises a sleeve correspondingly disposable in covering relation to at least a portion of a user's appendage, such as an arm or leg, a securing assembly to secure the sleeve to a user, and at least one fin outwardly extending from the sleeve and structured to increase resistance to the user regardless of the particular directional or rotational movement. In some embodiments, the sleeve is further structured to cover an extremity of a user, such as a hand or foot. Further embodiments include a seat assembly connectable to an access pole of a pool or hot tub. The method includes applying an aquatic exercise system to an appendage of a user, submerging the appendage and system, and moving the appendage and system through water in at least one direction to create resistance.
US08790222B2

A treadmill having a belt assembly allows a user the walk or run in any direction. A single helically wound belt over a flattened torus is powered by two independent drive systems. The drive systems are controlled by a combination of infrared cameras and a physical harness system.
US08790220B2

An interface circuitry for a gym apparatus and the gym apparatus are disclosed. The interface circuitry comprises: a power transmission system interface to a power transmission system of the gym apparatus; a sensor interface to one or more sensors comprised in the gym apparatus and/or one or more sensors external to the gym apparatus; and a user interface connector connecting the interface circuitry to a casing of a portable electronic device serving as a user interface of the gym apparatus during a physical exercise performed with the gym apparatus. The interface circuitry includes a processing system arranged to cause the interface circuitry to process and provide connections between the power transmission system interface, sensor interface, and the user interface connector.
US08790206B2

A constant speed drive includes one or more speed summing differentials operably connected to a base shaft and a machine shaft. A primary variator is operably connected to the one or more speed summing differentials to produce a selected constant rotational speed at the machine shaft across a range of engine speeds at the base shaft. An operating range adjustment element is operably connected to the one or more speed summing differentials to adjust a range of engine speeds at which the constant speed drive can output the selected constant rotational speed at the machine shaft.
US08790203B2

A differential gearing for an energy generation plant, in particular for a wind power station, has three drives and outputs, a first drive being connected to a drive shaft of the energy generation plant, one output being connected to a generator (8), and a second drive being connected to an electrical machine as differential drive (6). The transmission ratio of the differential gearing (3) can be fixed at 1 by way of a brake (20).
US08790192B2

A putter head has a head main body and a face insert mounted on a face surface of the head main body. The face insert has a slit which is cut in from an end face on a sole or top side of the face insert toward an opposite side thereof. In one embodiment, the slit is cut in from an end face on the sole side of the face insert toward the top side thereof. The slit may be extended obliquely such that the top side of the slit is located forward of the face insert. In another embodiment, the slit is cut in from the side face on the top side of the face insert toward the sole side thereof. The slit may be extended obliquely such that the sole side of the slit is located rearward of the putter head. Any slit may be extended from the side face on a toe side of the face insert to the side face on a heel side thereof. The face inserts may contain viscoelastic material loaded in the slit.
US08790179B2

Technologies are generally described for a safety scheme for a gesture-based game. In some examples, a method performed under control of a gesture-based game system may include detecting a presence of at least one first obstacle between a first distance from a player and a second distance from the player that is less than the first distance, and determining a recommended position for the player based at least in part on a location of the detected first obstacle.
US08790177B2

A gaming system and method for exchanging one or more triggered individual bonus games for one or more current plays of a community game or one or more future plays of a community game. If an individual bonus game is triggered in association with an individual gaming device, the gaming system enables the player to: (i) play the triggered individual bonus game, (ii) skip the individual bonus game and play or participate in a community or group game, or (iii) skip the individual bonus game and save an entry to play or participate in a future community or group game. In these embodiments, the gaming system determines one or more features or attributes of the available community game (which the player may play or defer play of) based, at least in part, on which of a plurality of different individual bonus games are triggered.
US08790173B2

A card game includes a plurality of rounds playable upon at least one base wager and at least one supplemental wager. Each one of the rounds results in an outcome, where a base award is associated with at least one of the outcomes. A pattern condition is fulfillable when a pattern of the outcomes corresponds to one of a plurality of designated patterns. Different supplemental awards are provided based on the fulfillment of the pattern condition.
US08790164B2

The present disclosure is directed to method, apparatus, and system for uniformly supporting flexible surface modifying articles during surface modification as well as enabling replacing and repositioning thereof for improving their useful service life as well as improving dust and debris control management.
US08790163B2

A multi-purpose machine for wall processing includes a base, a working member and a sliding device that drives the working member slide up and down relative to the base. The base includes a bottom board with moving wheels therebelow, a top board, and several parallel upright posts therebetween. The working member includes a cover and a roller set inside the cover. A built-in motor is set inside the roller. Wall processing tools are releasably fixed on the outside of the roller. A feeding hole is provided on the upper part of the cover and connected with a supply system or an absorbing system. The multi-purpose machine may perform operations including putty scraping, grinding and polishing, painting, cleaning and wall paper removing on the wall to replace human labor, thus realizing multiple purposes, reducing the labor strength, and improving the working efficiency.
US08790157B2

A method for grinding the surface of non-round workpieces. The method includes the steps of clamping a workpiece within a machining unit; machining the workpiece; without unclamping the workpiece, contactlessly measuring the workpiece using an optical measuring device having a conoscopic holography sensor with a characteristic measuring range; and machining and measuring the workpiece in an alternating manner to iteratively approach the desired measurements of a specified form by adjusting the distance between the optical measuring device and the surface of the workpiece depending on there being a deviation of the surface from the specified form so that a respectively measured area of the surface of the workpiece remains within the measuring range of the optical sensor.
US08790144B2

A contact assembly includes a conductive substrate, a composite layer, and a conductive layer. The conductive substrate is configured to form a conductive path of the electrical connector. The composite layer is engaged to the conductive substrate and includes a dielectric material with a conductive filler material dispersed within the dielectric material at a concentration that is lower than a percolation threshold concentration of the composite layer. The conductive layer is engaged to the composite layer. The conductive substrate, the composite layer, and the conductive layer form a capacitive element through which a signal propagation path between the conductive substrate and a mating contact that mates with the conductive layer passes.
US08790139B2

Communications jacks include a plurality of contacts that are configured to move between a resting position and a deflected position and at least one biasing member that is separate from the plurality of contacts that biases at least a first of the plurality of contacts towards its resting position. The jacks further include a printed circuit board that includes a first contact structure that is configured to electrically connect to the first of the plurality of contacts when the first of the plurality of contacts is in its deflected position.
US08790137B2

An inner holder through which the electric wire connected to the electronic device is passed includes a plurality of peripheral walls. A shield shell adapted to be brought into engagement with the inner holder 3 includes a shield body adapted to be connected to an end of a shield member covering the electric wire and a pair of securing pieces protruding from the shell body toward the inner holder and configured to be overlapped with the peripheral walls. A rib is provided in either of one of the peripheral walls and one of the securing pieces. A notch is provided in the other of the one of the peripheral walls and the one of the securing pieces.
US08790123B2

A power socket disposed on a power supply casing of the electronic device to provide power for the electronic device through a power cord is disclosed. The power socket includes an insulating body, three input end contacts disposed at first side of the insulating body, three output end contacts including a grounding contact disposed at second side of the insulating body, and a rigid connector connected between the grounding contact and a protective grounding pin of the power supply casing. The invention simplifies the connection between the power socket and the power supply casing, thereby simplifies the manufacturing process of the power socket and eliminating the potential safety hazard.
US08790118B2

The invention relates to a computer-based dental restoration system that include a network server having a database storing digital representations, and a communications network providing access to the network server and facilitating direct communication at least between a dentist and a practitioner. The a computer-based dental restoration system also include one or more computers for accessing digital representations over the communications network and displaying the digital representations in a humanly readable format.
US08790114B2

The present invention relates to a fuel processing unit in an electrochemical fuel cell power plant, and more specifically to a preheater combustor that forms byproduct compounds that may destroy downstream catalytic reactors for fuel reforming. The present invention includes a retention material that collects the byproduct compounds prior to entry into the downstream reactors. The retention material may be comprised of at least one active compound and a support structure, preferably having a porous body to facilitate tortuous fluid flow. Further aspects of the invention may include an electrical charging device for use with the retention device material that enhances collection of byproduct compounds. The present invention also includes a method of operation for start-up incorporating a retention material.
US08790106B2

An apparatus for processing thermoset cross-linked elastomeric scrap material has a batch-operated high shear mixer for inducing chemical reactions to partly devulcanize the material in a first devulcanizing stage. A continuously-operated multi-screw cooled extruder receives the partly devulcanized material from the high shear mixer and further devulcanizes the material by a mechanical shearing action in a second stage to produce an extruded product for revulcanization.
US08790093B2

A compressor for generating compressed air in a vehicle includes a crankshaft and an interface area for fastening a clutch device by means of which the crankshaft of the compressor can be connected to or disconnected from a drive device. The interface area is configured to receive a crucible-shaped receptacle element. The crucible-shaped receptacle element can be a cylinder for receiving a piston that can be acted on by a pressure medium for actuating the clutch device.
US08790092B2

A high-pressure cleaning appliance with a high-pressure pump is provided. The pump has at least one pump chamber connected to a suction line and a pressure line. The pressure line is in flow connection with the suction line via a return flow line. A relief valve with a through-channel extending from a valve inlet to a first valve outlet is arranged in the return flow line. A valve element which in a closed position bears against a valve seat is held for movement in the through-channel. At least one outlet channel, which opens into a second valve outlet, branches off from the through-channel. The valve element is surrounded by a sealing ring which seals off an inlet area of the through-channel adjacent to the valve inlet from an outlet area of the through-channel adjacent to the first valve outlet.
US08790090B2

A gear pump has a pair of meshed gears for rotating within a gear pump chamber, and a motor driving at least one of the gears. A discharge line passes fluid downstream from the gear pump chamber, and a suction line delivers fluid into the gear pump chamber. A bypass valve communicates with the discharge line. A shutoff valve communicates with the discharge line. The bypass valve opens at a lower pressure than the shutoff valve. A bypass line communicating the discharge line to the suction line when the bypass valve is open. The gear pump is configured to compress air. In addition, a gear pump arrangement that can be mounted in either of two attitudes is described, as is a method of operating a gear pump.
US08790088B2

A compressor having a compressor blade with a blade tip portion configured to reduce stresses in the blade tip of the compressor blade is provided. The compressor blade includes a first and second faces extending to the blade tip portion. The blade tip portion includes a blade tip, a first recess extending between the first face and the blade tip, and a second recess extending between the second face and the blade tip.
US08790087B2

A blade assembly includes a blade body and at least one sheath assembly located at a leading edge of the blade assembly. The at least one sheath assembly is retained to the blade body in a chordwise direction via an interlocking arrangement between the at least one sheath assembly and the blade body. A tip cap is located at a tip portion of the blade and secured to the blade body thus securing the at least one sheath assembly to the blade body in a spanwise direction. A method of assembling an airfoil includes securing at least one sheath assembly to a leading edge of a blade body via an interlocking arrangement between the at least one sheath assembly and the blade body, and assembling a tip cap to the blade body, thereby retaining the at least one sheath assembly to the blade body in a spanwise direction.
US08790084B2

An airfoil includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a pair of sides extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge. The airfoil also includes an internal cooling flow passage defined between the sides, wherein the passage has a passage axis along which cooling air is to flow. The airfoil further includes a plurality of flow paths extending through at least one of the sides such that the flow paths are configured to discharge cooling air from the passage, wherein each of the flow paths has a broken flow path axis oriented to intersect the passage axis at an acute angle.
US08790072B2

A bearing assembly for supporting a drive shaft of a pump is structured with a cylindrical body having an internal cavity filled with a lubricant, a sealing element arrangement positioned at one or both ends of the cylindrical body and a pressure equalization element that functions to equalize the pressure differential that exists between an area within the cylindrical body and outside of the cylindrical body to improve the operating life of the sealing arrangement and the bearing assembly.
US08790066B2

An exemplary turbocharger assembly includes a housing with a through bore having a central axis extending between a compressor end and a turbine end of the housing and a bearing, configured for receipt by the through bore, where the bearing includes an inner journal configured to rotatably support a turbocharger shaft and where the inner journal includes a central axis, an axial length, a lubricant opening, an axially confined lubricant well, a lubricant ramp, and a lubricant channel that spans the axial length of the inner journal. Various other exemplary devices, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
US08790063B2

A loader attachment mounting apparatus for movable work vehicles is provided, which is used for mounting a work attachment, such as a bale gripper, a bucket or a hook, to the front end of a loader that is movably installed on the front surface of the movable work vehicles, such as a tractor. A loader equipped with the loader attachment mounting apparatus is also provided. In the loader attachment mounting apparatus, an attachment can be easily attached to and easily detached from the attachment mounting apparatus and the attachment mounted to the loader can be easily movable to the left and right, thus improving work efficiency and work reliability of the movable work vehicles. The apparatus includes left and right attachment coupling brackets connected to the loader, and an attachment transfer device including left and right attachment coupling units connected to the attachment coupling brackets.
US08790058B2

A method for baffling and/or sealing a vehicle structure by providing a unitary structure including a sealing body with an integrated fastener.
US08790056B2

A REMOVABLE AND REUSABLE QUICK NUT, of the type used to fasten panels and/or accessories thereto, principally in the automobile industry, wherein on said nut, originating from a planar base, emerge individual opposite compression tabs that rise and fold toward an inner zone of the nut and that, by means of another fold, invert their direction in order on the outside to return to the height of the base, forming joining surfaces; from said surfaces there originate individual lugs or fins that, by means of successive folds, converge toward the inner zone of the nut in a position designed to engage with the screw thread of the screw for fastening the nut.
US08790048B2

The present invention relates toA lock hopper (11) provided with air-tight hoppers (A3, B3) arranged side by side with entrance valves (A1, B1) arranged above the air-tight hoppers (A3, B3) and exit valves (A4, B4) arranged below the air-tight hoppers (A3, B3).The lock hopper (11) performs control which alternately repeats the following states: a state in which granular substances in an upper system are placed in one of the hoppers and gas is supplied into the other hopper to discharge granular substances from the inside of the other hopper to a lower system and a state in which the granular substances in the upper system are placed in the other hopper and gas is supplied to said hopper to discharge granular substances from the inside of said hopper to the lower system.Also provided is a method of transferring granular substances in an upper system to a lower system by using above-described lock hopper, wherein gas having a volume corresponding to the volume of at least the granular substances to be discharged to the lower system is supplied to a hopper in a state in which the granular substances are being discharged from the hopper to the lower system.
US08790046B2

An embankment system comprises a source of pressurized sand/concrete slurry and a delivery conduit in fluid communication with the pressurized sand/concrete slurry source. The embankment system further comprises an elongate nozzle having an inlet and an outlet, with the inlet operatively associated with a distal end of the delivery conduit. A tube formed of a sheet material having an open end and a closed end is operatively associated with the nozzle outlet to receive the pressurized sand/concrete slurry through the open end, such that the tube is continuously filled with the pressurized sand/concrete slurry between the closed end and the open end.
US08790031B2

An applicator assembly may include body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, a container having a closed proximal end, an interior, and an open distal end, wherein the container is coupled to the proximal end portion, a material bonded to the open distal end and sealing the interior of the container, and an application member attached to the distal end portion, wherein the interior of the container is placed in fluid communication with the application member by way of a compressive force applied along circumferential areas toward the distal end of the container. A method of manufacturing an applicator for applying a solution to a surface is provided.
US08790029B2

A cutting apparatus includes a fixed blade module including a fixed blade, a movable blade module including a movable blade that moves when the movable blade module is driven, and a drive module configured to drive the movable blade module. The fixed blade and the movable blade are configured to cut a recording medium. The fixed blade module, the movable blade module, and the drive module are detachably connected.
US08790025B2

A keyboard overlay for use on a touch screen is disclosed, as well as novel key structures for use on overlays. The keyboard overlay and key structures have novel structures which can provide finger resting resistance, deceleration during actuation, pre-actuation cues, finger positioning cues, key identification cues, and other desired aspects of a keyboard optimized for touch typing. Methods for stowing and deploying the keyboard overlay to align with the virtual keyboard of a touch screen are also disclosed. The disclosed keyboard overlay can provide optimal touch typing characteristics for use on all known types of touch screens.
US08790024B2

A top cover assembly for a monitoring camera assembly that includes a mounting portion arranged for attachment to a mounting base for a monitoring camera, a dome window arranged on the mounting portion and a lining arranged at an inside of the dome window, the lining having a camera view opening adapted to a field of view of the monitoring camera and being rotatable in relation to the mounting portion, and the lining having a guiding portion arranged for engagement with a camera mounting bracket on the mounting base to position the lining in relation to the monitoring camera such that the camera view opening covers the field of view of the monitoring camera, when mounting the top cover assembly on the mounting base, thereby allowing the mounting portion to be rotated in relation to the lining into a position for attaching the mounting portion to the mounting base.
US08790018B2

The invention comprises a drum motor comprising a drum tube, a spatially fixed shaft in the interior of the drum tube. To provide a drum motor in particular for use in hygiene areas a drum motor (10) according to the invention comprises: a drum tube (11), a spatially fixed shaft (13) in the interior of the drum tube (11), an inner cover (13) for accommodating a bearing (14) to support the drum tube (11) rotatably about the shaft (13) and for internally sealing off the interior (12), and an outer cover (30) for covering a drum tube end and for externally sealing off the interior (12).
US08790013B2

A rolling element bearing comprises a groove with preferably an indentation in the bottom down the middle of the groove all around the bearing. The groove is to both accommodate a Bragg grated optical fiber and to increase the perceived sensitivity of the optical fiber by weakening the bearing and thereby creating larger deformation for specific loads/vibrations than if the groove was not there.
US08790005B2

A sensor for determining a temperature in the cabin of a motor vehicle including a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of a spatial region adjoining the temperature sensor or surrounding it, a solar sensor for detecting the solar radiation to which the cabin of the motor vehicle is exposed, the temperature sensor and the solar sensor disposed together in a sensor housing, wherein the temperature sensor is connected to two first electric connecting elements which are lead through the sensor housing and the solar sensor is connected to two second electric connecting elements which are lead through the sensor housing, and wherein the first and second connecting elements are configured separately from each other, at least inside the sensor housing.
US08790004B2

A device for the rapid attachment of an interchangeable watch bracelet for wrist watches, as well as a wrist watch and an interchangeable watch bracelet. A body used as a push button slidingly housed in a watch case includes a retaining stem arranged parallel to the watch case. The body is displaceable parallel to a longitudinal axis of the retaining stem and the body is biased in a rest position. The device includes an attachment element mounted at one end of the interchangeable watch bracelet, comprising a slot with a shape complementary to that of the retaining stem. The retaining stem is thus adapted, depending on its position along the longitudinal axis, to cooperate with the attachment element or elements so as to enable the interchangeable watch bracelet to be attached to or to be removed from the watch case.
US08790003B2

The invention relates to the use of an apparatus for adding at least one solid or viscous liquid additive, or an additive dispersed in solvent, to a reactor interior of a reactor for preparing crosslinked, finely divided polymers by copolymerizing (a) water-soluble, monoethylenically unsaturated monomers and (b) from 0.001 to 5 mol %, based on the monomers (a), of monomers comprising at least two polymerizable groups, (c) from 0 to 20 mol %, based on the monomers (a), of water-insoluble monoethylenically unsaturated monomers, where the apparatus comprises at least one screw for conveying the at least one additive and the at least one screw ends in an addition orifice substantially flush with the inner wall of the reactor interior.
US08789998B2

A planar ion-exchanged glass sheet for out-of-plane light beam coupling includes a first surface, a ion-exchanged first glass region adjacent and parallel to the first surface, a core glass region adjacent and parallel to the first glass region, a ion-exchanged second glass region adjacent and parallel to the core glass region, and a second surface adjacent and parallel to the second glass region. One edge of the glass sheet has an angled end face that is inclined to the plane extends across a thickness of at least one of the glass regions. Methods of making the planar ion-exchanged glass sheet, coupling an out-of-plane light beam into a plane using the planar ion-exchanged glass sheet, and scattering the coupled light to illuminate at least select regions of an exposed surface of the glass sheet are also disclosed.
US08789993B2

It is disclosed a light-emitting device (100) comprising a light guide (101), comprising a first (101a) and a second (101b) output surface portion. The light-emitting device (100) further comprises a plurality of light-outcoupling elements (103) and an array of beam-forming structures (104). The light-outcoupling elements (103) are positionally arranged relatively to the beam-forming structures (104) such as to enable light that is impinging on at least one of the light-outcoupling elements (103) and subsequently being incident on a surface portion of a beam-forming structure (104) to be within a predetermined angle interval with respect to the surface portion. Each of the beam-forming structures (104) is adapted to enable light leaving a surface portion of the beam-forming structure (104) to be within a predetermined angle interval with respect to the surface portion. Both direct, functional light and indirect light may be provided, an increased optical efficiency may be achieved, glare control properties of the light outputted from the light-emitting device (100) may be improved and/or the ratio of light outputted from the first surface portion (101a) of the light guide (101) to light outputted from the second surface portion (101b) of the light guide (100) may be adjusted.
US08789990B2

A vehicular headlamp includes: a light-emitting module; a movement mechanism that moves the light-emitting module; and a reflector having a reflecting surface configured to reflect, toward the front of the lamp, light emitted from the light-emitting module and form a plurality of light distribution patterns in accordance with a position of the moved light-emitting module. The movement mechanism is configured to be capable of translating the light-emitting module to a plurality of positions.
US08789989B2

A display switch unit is provided for a vehicle comprising at least one first and one second light guide plate with first and second light sources disposed at the edges. The light guide plates have switch symbols and proximity sensors having sensor structures. The first light guide plate and the second light guide plate are disposed on one another. Respectively one sensor structure is assigned two switch symbols in both light guide plates. The material of the switch symbols is a plastic with light-sensitive nanoparticles, which is arranged distributed in the light guide plates in such a manner that under edge-side irradiation the switch symbols are visible illuminated in color and three-dimensionally in the light guide plates.
US08789982B2

A light source device is provided, which includes: a hold member; a light source held by the hold member; an optical element held by the hold member; and a hardened first adhesive agent bonding at least one of the light source and the optical element to the holding member. The hardened first adhesive agent has elasticity.
US08789977B2

Techniques for light emitting diode (LED) lighting with heat spreading in illumination gaps. Inexpensive structural aluminum may be suitably employed to form a passive heat spreading mount for plural LEDs whose illumination collectively combines to provide the light needed by a particular lighting fixture, such as a pendant chandelier, by way of example, by angling fins of the passive heat spreading mount to correspond to illumination gaps of the LEDs.
US08789967B2

A lighting fixture is presented comprising a plurality of modular apparatuses wherein each modular apparatus comprises one or more light sources and one or more light directing or light redirecting devices. Methods of adjusting one or more components of said lighting fixture about one, two, or three axes are presented whereby the lighting needs of a target area—even one of complex shape—may be addressed and in a manner that promotes compact fixture design with low effective projected area (EPA) without sacrificing transmission efficiency of the light sources.
US08789954B1

A front projection display system for a vehicle including a pico projector including keystone correction; and, a retractable pico front projector screen operatively connected to the pico projector. In one embodiment, a common housing contains the pico projector and the retractable pico front projector screen. In another embodiment the pico projector is mounted within the protective covering. In some embodiments the front projector screen is motor driven and in other embodiments it operated by hand. The present invention is particularly advantageous in an aircraft environment where size and weight considerations are imperative.
US08789935B2

An ink cartridge container includes an ink bag made of flexible material to store ink internally, the ink bag having a corner at an internal bottom surface thereof and an ink outlet at an upper part thereof, an ink delivery tube made of elastic material and situated inside the ink bag to deliver the ink to the outside through the ink outlet, an ink outlet connector connected to the ink delivery tube at the ink outlet to supply the ink to the outside, and a bending part to have the ink delivery tube inside be curved to have the end thereof in contact with the corner at the internal bottom surface, wherein the ink delivery tube inside the ink bag is positioned to have an end thereof in contact with the corner at the internal bottom surface by the bending part.
US08789933B2

A liquid ejection apparatus including: a liquid ejection head including: an inside channel; and ejection openings; a supply channel; a return channel; a supply device; an adjusting device; and a controller, wherein the controller performs a liquid circulation control for circulating liquid through the supply channel, the inside channel, and the return channel in order by controlling (i) the adjusting device such that a channel resistance value of the return channel is less than a predetermined maximum value and (ii) the supply device to supply the liquid into the inside channel, wherein, when the liquid is circulated by the liquid circulation control, the controller starts a liquid discharge control for discharging the liquid by making the channel resistance value larger than that in the liquid circulation control, and wherein the controller controls the supply device such that an amount of the liquid supplied to the inside channel per unit time in the liquid discharge control is larger than that in the liquid circulation control.
US08789930B2

A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid ejecting head having a pressure generation chamber in which a liquid is charged, a pressure generation unit which generates pressure change in the liquid inside the pressure generation chamber with supply of a driving signal, and a nozzle opening which ejects the liquid inside the pressure generation chamber according to the pressure change; and a control unit which has an expansion element expanding the pressure generation chamber and a contraction element contracting the pressure generation chamber, and supplies a micro-vibration driving signal to a piezoelectric element so as to generate the micro-vibration of the liquid to the inside of the pressure generation chamber without ejecting the liquid from the nozzle opening, wherein the micro-vibration driving signal is formed so that the inclination of the expansion element is greater than the inclination of the contraction element.
US08789927B2

A liquid-ejecting head includes a pressure-generating chamber communicating with a nozzle opening and includes a piezoelectric element including a piezoelectric layer and electrodes. The piezoelectric layer contains bismuth sodium potassium titanate and satisfies the inequality 0≦Pr/Pm≦0.25 at 25° C., where Pm and Pr are the saturation polarization and remanent polarization, respectively, of the piezoelectric layer.
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