US08854616B2

Disclosed is a visual inspection apparatus for a glass substrate of a liquid crystal display, comprising an inspection platform and at least two slide rails. The glass substrate for inspection is fixedly located on an inspection platform main body. The slide rails are installed at two adjacent sides of the main body leastwise. Length directions of the slide rails are parallel with a level of the main body. The lengths of the two adjacent slide rails are mutually perpendicular; the visual inspection apparatus further comprises a coordinate reader. The coordinate reader is slidably jointed to the slide rails and employed to cross above the level of the main body to form a locating point. An inspector reads a coordinate of the locating point to acquire a corresponding coordinate of the glass substrate. The present invention also provides an inspection method for a glass substrate of a liquid crystal display.
US08854603B2

A gravitation compensator for mounting optical elements in a projection exposure apparatus and a corresponding projection exposure apparatus are disclosed. The gravitation compensator at least partly compensates for the weight force of a mounted optical element and simultaneously enables a change in the position of the optical element without the compensated weight force being altered in an impermissible manner during the change in position. This applies, in particular, to high weight forces which are to be compensated. Furthermore, the gravitation compensator enables use in different atmospheres and the compensation of corresponding aging effects.
US08854600B2

The present invention provides an exposure apparatus for intermittently irradiating light from a light source to a TFT substrate through a photomask while conveying the TFT substrate in one direction, and forming an exposure pattern on the TFT substrate corresponding to a plurality of mask patterns formed on the photomask. On one surface of the photomask, electrode wiring patterns and signal wiring patterns requiring different resolutions are formed and an electrode wiring pattern group including a plurality of electrode wiring patterns and a signal wiring pattern group including a plurality of signal wiring patterns are formed in front and back in the conveying direction of the TFT substrate, and on the other surface of the photomask, micro-lenses which reduce and project the electrode wiring patterns requiring a high resolution onto the TFT substrate are formed. The photomask is disposed so that the micro-lenses face the TFT substrate.
US08854596B2

An active optical device includes a substrate; a plurality of refractive index variable regions formed on the substrate; and a voltage applier which applies an electric field to the plurality of refractive index variable regions.
US08854577B2

The present invention provides a polarizer protective film capable of suppressing blocking that occurs in taking up the film. The polarizer protective film of the present invention includes a (meth)acrylic resin film and an easy-adhesion layer formed of an easy-adhesive composition including a urethane resin and fine particles. The fine particles include preferably colloidal silica.
US08854576B2

A semitransparent electronic device includes a glassy sheath having an internal cavity and a display unit disposed in the internal cavity. The display unit has an inner display area and an outer display area circumscribing the inner display area. A transparent display device included in the display unit provides at least the outer display area.
US08854570B2

The present invention discloses a light-emitting device of a liquid crystal display apparatus, which includes a light bar and a frame. The frame has a surface having a fixing bar protruded therefrom. An extension direction of the fixing bar is parallel with the surface of the frame. A longer side of a main body of the light bar is attached to the fixing bar. Two ends of the fixing bar respectively have a heat-conductive portion mounted thereon. An inner surface of the heat-conductive portion is perpendicular to a length direction of the main body of the light bar and attached to a shorter side of the main body of the light bar. The present invention further discloses a liquid crystal display apparatus.
US08854565B2

A method of fabricating a liquid crystal display device includes the steps of forming a gate electrode and a gate line on a first substrate, forming a gate insulating layer on the gate electrode, forming an active layer on the gate insulating layer and an ohmic contact layer on the active layer, forming source and drain electrodes spaced apart from each other and on the ohmic contact layer, forming a data line that crosses the gate line, etching a portion of the ohmic contact layer between the source and drain electrodes in a chamber of a dry-etching device to expose a portion of the active layer, forming a passivation layer on the first substrate which remains in the chamber, the passivation layer covering the portion of the active layer, forming a pixel electrode connected to the drain electrode, and interposing a liquid crystal layer between the pixel electrode and a second substrate.
US08854564B2

A mother substrate for a display device includes a display cell, a test pad, an electrostatic preventing pattern and a connecting line. The display cell includes a pad and a signal line. The signal line is extended from the pad and is electrically connected to a pixel. The test pad is disposed out of the display cell and is electrically connected to the signal line of the display cell and receives a test signal. The electrostatic preventing pattern electrically connected to the test pad is disposed adjacent to the test pad and includes a plurality of edges. The electrostatic preventing pattern is formed from a metal pattern. The connecting line is extended from the electrostatic preventing pattern and is electrically connected to the pad of the display cell.
US08854557B2

A method and system for operating a remote-controlled device using a gesture-enabled remote control (RC) includes activating a communication link between the RC and the remote-controlled device. The remote-controlled device may implement a remote control context accommodating gesture commands generated by the RC. The RC may enable a user to generate gesture commands by performing gesture motions with the RC. Command data corresponding to gesture commands, along with selection commands from selection control inputs on the RC, may be sent to the remote-controlled device.
US08854547B2

According to one embodiment, there is provided a video display apparatus, including: a video display unit configured to display a video by receiving a video signal output from a source apparatus; a status information acquisition module configured to acquire, from the source apparatus, status information indicating whether the source apparatus is active or inactive; and a power controller configured to perform a control of powering off the video display apparatus if the acquired status information indicates that the source apparatus is inactive.
US08854539B2

A method for converting video information from an incoming format to an outgoing format using a process free from one or more intermediary files. The method includes receiving video information in a first format and receiving a desired output media format based upon a first input and a desired TV standard based upon a second input. The method decodes the video information in the first format to raw video information in an uncompressed format and directly resizes the raw video information in the uncompressed format into a size associated with the desired output media format and the desired TV standard. The method adjusts the uncompressed format in the size associated with the desired output media format and the desired TV standard to a frame rate associated with the desired TV standard and encodes the uncompressed format in the size and the frame rate into an elementary video stream. A step of multiplexing the elementary video stream with audio information in the desired output media format and the desired TV standard to form video and audio information in a presentation format based upon the desired output media format and the desired TV standard is included.
US08854535B2

An imaging device includes a fixed focus lens, an image sensor having an image matrix of a plurality of pixels arranged on a semiconductor substrate and supplying image data, and an electronic circuit for reading the image matrix. The image sensor also includes at least two ambient light sensors arranged on the semiconductor substrate on opposite sides of the image matrix, and configured to capture an ambient light intensity through the fixed lens, and the electronic circuit is also configured to read the two ambient light sensors and to supply ambient light data and the image data.
US08854530B2

The present invention is intended to display information of a focal length to be corrected or a focus position of a lens on a screen so that the user easily set a proper correction value even when the correction value of the in-focus position of the phase difference AF is different depending on the focal length or the focus position. A display apparatus of an image-pickup apparatus includes a lens information display 510, 531 configured to display lens information including at least one of information relating to a focal length of a lens unit and information relating to a focus position, a scale 503 that represents a correction value for correcting an in-focus position of a phase difference AF, and an indicator 520a-c, 530a-c that is used for setting the correction value corresponding to at least one of the focal length and the focus position.
US08854528B2

A stereoscopic imaging apparatus which uses contrast AF to obviate disadvantages of phase-difference AF, shorten processing time of contrast AF, and improve focusing accuracy. A phase-difference CCD in which object images having passed through different regions in a predetermined direction of a single photographing optical system are pupil-split and imaged subjects the object images having passed through the respective regions to photoelectric conversion to obtain a main pixel image and a sub-pixel image which have a mutual phase difference. Contrast AF is performed using only one of the main pixel image and the sub-pixel image. Which one of the main pixel image and the sub-pixel image will be used for the contrast AF is determined depending on whether the position of an AF area in the angle of view belongs to a main pixel AF area or a sub-pixel AF area.
US08854517B2

A solid-state imaging device includes a first chip including a plurality of pixels, each pixel including a light sensing unit generating a signal charge responsive to an amount of received light, and a plurality of MOS transistors reading the signal charge generated by the light sensing unit and outputting the read signal charge as a pixel signal, a second chip including a plurality of pixel drive circuits supplying desired drive pulses to pixels, the second chip being laminated beneath the first chip in a manner such that the pixel drive circuits are arranged beneath the pixels formed in the first chip to drive the pixels, and a connection unit for electrically connecting the pixels to the pixel drive circuits arranged beneath the pixels.
US08854515B2

A method for adaptive spectral image capture that may be performed via an image capture device is disclosed. A default capture parameter is applied to an imaging assembly and a sample image of a scene is captured by an image capture device. The sample image is analyzed to identify transition zones between multiple different regions. An initial guess as to which spectral regions a filter mode might work best is obtained based on dominant transition region spectrum and a first iterated step in which numerical values for the filter mode are calculated. A second iterated step in which each such filter mode is evaluated for effectiveness against other filter modes. The regions in which a specific filter mode works best becomes associated with the filer mode and these regions become the guess for the next iteration.
US08854499B2

A digital imaging device and method for embedding and retrieving of information in digital images are provided. The digital imaging device includes a capture module for capturing an image and creating a digital image file; a locational information module for determining a location of the device when capturing the image; and a processing module for associating the location information to the digital image file. The device further includes a user verification module for verifying an identity of a user of the device at a time of image capture and an encryption module for encrypting the digital image file and associated information. The method provides for securing information associated with the digital images and for verifying activities of a user.
US08854498B2

The image pick-up apparatus has an image pick-up unit that picks up an image and outputs RAW still image data; a creation unit that creates, when the RAW still image data is picked up, a development parameter that is a parameter used in development processing of the RAW still image data; and a saving unit that saves, in a storage unit, the development parameter created when the RAW still image data is picked up as a first development parameter which can be used in development processing of the RAW still image data, and further saves, in the storage unit, a development parameter created at other time as a second development parameter which can be used in development processing of the RAW still image data, when saving the RAW still image data outputted from the image pick-up unit in the storage unit.
US08854495B2

An image pickup apparatus and method operable to reduce flicker is disclosed. A power supply frequency is detected, and a shutter speed is changed. A changed shutter speed value is slower than a calculated shutter speed and that is an integral multiple of 1/(2f), where “f” represents the power supply frequency. One or more still images are captured at the changed shutter speed, and an electronic hand-shake correction is performed in accordance with the captured still images.
US08854474B2

Systems and methods for identifying an appearance of an object in a video stream, include receiving, in real-time, an indication of an area of interest, from a user, within a frame of a video stream. The area of interest may include an image of an object. Automatically analyzing the characteristics of the area of interest, finding a frame in which the object first appears in time in the video stream and displaying to the user the video stream starting from the frame in which the object first appears.
US08854470B2

A vision-based augmented reality system using an invisible marker indicates an invisible marker on a target object to be tracked, such that it can rapidly and correctly track the target object by detecting the invisible marker. The augmented reality system includes a target object (TO) including an infrared marker (IM) drawn by an invisible infrared light-emitting material; a visible-ray camera (110) for capturing an image of the TO; an infrared-ray camera (120) for capturing an image of the IM included in the TO image; an optical axis converter for allowing the infrared-ray camera (120) and the visible-ray camera (110) to have the same viewing point; an image processing system (140) for rendering a prepared virtual image to the TO image to generate a new image.
US08854469B2

In a method for locating patterns of movement in a first digital video signal, wherein the first digital video signal comprising at least indirectly succeeding individual digital images is analyzed in real time, it is proposed for the locating of patterns of movement in a first digital video signal, during the occurrence of larger moving object volumes in real time, to assign at least a first location-changing foreground region in a first individual image in a predefined manner with a predefinable number of first markings, to subsequently determine the relative movement of the first markings between the first individual image and a subsequent second individual image, to subsequently associate each of the first markings with a predefinable first environment, to assign the first and/or at least one second location-changing foreground region in a predefined manner with a predefinable number of second markings, to remove the second markings disposed inside intersecting regions of a predefinable number of intersecting first environments, to subsequently determine the relative movement of the first and second markings between the second individual image and a subsequent third individual image, and to output the relative movements of the first and/or second markings as a first pattern of movement.
US08854459B2

A method and a system are provided for delivering a supplemented CCTV message to subscribers, such as residents of a MDU. A processor combines the signal from a local CCTV camera system with a supplementary message to be provided to subscribers. The supplemented CCTV signal resulting from this combining is inserted into a dedicated channel of an incoming broadcast television feed. For a digital television feed, the supplemented CCTV signal may be forwarded to a central office managing television feeds for this particular location, so that the inserting may take place thereat.
US08854458B2

An object detection device, including: an imaging unit that is mounted on a movable body; an object detection unit that calculates an image displacement of a partial image between two images captured by the imaging unit at different times, and performs detection processing to detect an object in an image based on at least the image displacement; and a control unit that changes a manner of performing the detection processing based on a position in the image in a lateral direction of the movable body.
US08854456B2

A travel distance detection device includes: an image-capturing unit configured to capture an image; an alignment unit configured to align images in position of bird's-eye view image, the images captured at different times by the image-capturing unit; and a solid object detection unit configured to detect a solid object based on difference image data between data of the images captured at the different times and aligned by the alignment unit. The solid object detection unit counts the number of pixels which each express a certain difference on the difference image data and which are arranged in a direction in which the solid object is inclined when the image of the predetermined region is converted into the bird's-eye view image, then produces a frequency distribution of the counted pixels to generate a difference waveform, and calculates a travel distance of the solid object based on time variation of the difference waveform.
US08854454B2

A chassis testing unit (2) according to the present invention, in particular a shock absorber testing unit, for a vehicle on a test set-up (4) includes at least one correlation sensor (14-18), having an associated lens, situated at the side of the test set-up (4). The correlation sensor (14-18) is directed toward the test set-up (4), and is designed to detect a time sequence of images of a section of a motor vehicle (6), in particular of the body of the motor vehicle (6) and of the motor vehicle wheel, moving on the test set-up (4), and to determine directional velocity components therefrom. The chassis testing unit also includes a data processing unit which is connected to the correlation sensor or correlation sensors (14-18), and which is designed to determine the motion of the motor vehicle, in particular of the body of the motor vehicle (6) and of the motor vehicle wheel, on the basis of the directional velocity components of the correlation sensor or correlation sensors (14-18).
US08854445B2

An endoscope apparatus includes an image pickup section equipped with a color separation section that picks up an image of returning light from a subject illuminated by an illumination section, an emphasis processing section that performs emphasis processing on sharpness of an image signal generated from the output signal of the image pickup section and a storage section that stores information for modifying processing contents of the emphasis processing, wherein the storage section stores information for setting image signals to be subjected to emphasis processing in first and second observation modes in which images are picked up under illumination of white light and narrow band light respectively to a luminance signal and a color difference signal, and the emphasis processing section performs emphasis processing on the luminance signal with a greater emphasis characteristic than the color difference signal over an entire frequency domain.
US08854440B2

A three dimensional image display device, including: a display panel that alternately displays a left eye image and a right eye image, wherein a common voltage synchronized with a voltage reset signal is applied to the display panel and the voltage reset signal is maintained at a high level for a predetermined time before the voltage reset signal is input to the left eye image or the right eye image.
US08854439B2

A stereoscopic picture is viewable from all directions with high reproducibility without complicating a stereoscopic display mechanism, compared to related art. A cylindrical rotation section 104 rotating around a rotation shaft as a rotation center, a two-dimensional light-emitting element array 101 mounted in the rotation section and having a light-emission surface formed of a plurality of light-emitting elements arranged in a matrix, and a slit 102 arranged in a circumferential surface of the rotation section in a position facing the light-emission surface are included. As the two-dimensional light-emitting element array 101, a two-dimensional light-emitting element array including a curved portion with a concave surface which is formed as a light-emission surface is used. The plurality of light-emitting elements emit light, which corresponds to orientation of the light-emission surface, to outside of the rotation section through the slit 102.
US08854432B2

A dual lens camera for producing a three-dimensional image includes plural lens systems and a zoom mechanism. Initial correction data is constituted by a displacement vector of an amount and a direction of misalignment between plural images according to a superimposed state thereof for each of zoom positions of the lens systems. A vector detector, if a calibration mode is set, obtains a current displacement vector related to one first zoom position. A data processor outputs current correction data by adjusting the initial correction data according to the initial correction data and current displacement vector. If the current correction data is stored, a displacement vector is obtained from the current correction data according to a zoom position of the lens systems upon forming the plural images, to carry out image registration between the images according to the obtained displacement vector for producing the three-dimensional image.
US08854430B2

A method for processing image data of a sample is disclosed. The method comprises registering a first and a second images of at least partially overlapping spatial regions of the sample and processing data from the registered images to obtain integrated image data comprising information about the sample, said information being additional to that available from said first and second images.
US08854416B2

A videoconference may be initiated between a plurality of endpoints. At least one of the endpoints may be coupled to a recording server, which may be configured to record the videoconference. A configuration may be selected (e.g., automatically or manually) for performing the recording. The endpoint (e.g., acting as an MCU) may transmit information to endpoints and may transmit recording information to the recording server. The recording information may be different from the videoconference information. For example, it may be in a “streaming friendly” format, at a different bit rate, encoded differently, have different inputs, etc. The manner in which the videoconference is stored and/or recorded may be based on the selected configuration. Clients may be configured to receive and display the videoconference from the recording server and may be configured to change the provided layout to different layouts, e.g., based on user input.
US08854413B2

In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, by an endpoint from a client, an image generated by the client. The endpoint determines that the image generated by the client includes a matrix barcode. The endpoint decodes the matrix barcode to determine one or more instructions associated with text encoded within the matrix barcode. The method further includes performing the one or more instructions associated with the encoded text.
US08854408B2

An image forming apparatus includes; an exposure unit configured to perform, based on the image data, first exposure for a photosensitive member and second exposure for the photosensitive member exposed by the first exposure; a determination unit configured to determine a type of the image to be formed based on image data; and a control unit configured to control the exposure unit such that a difference in an exposure amount between the first exposure and the second exposure performed based on the image data when the type of the image is a character is larger than the difference in the exposure amount between the first exposure and the second exposure performed based on the image data when the type of the image is a picture.
US08854400B2

Provided are a method and system for controlling light by using an image code. The method includes displaying an image code on a display unit; acquiring information relating to light settings by recognizing the image code; determining apparatus information and lighting state information by using information relating to the light settings; and transmitting a light request message for requesting light settings according to the lighting state information to the lighting apparatus having apparatus information that is equal to the apparatus information of the image code.
US08854396B2

An accessing computer accessing an image specified by a web page to be rendered at a resolution that is smaller than the resolution of the full image downloaded from the server does not store the full image. Instead, the accessing computer immediately decompresses the full image to the specified smaller resolution, renders it, and then stores the smaller version of the image.
US08854381B2

A processing unit that includes a plurality of virtual engines and a shader core. The plurality of virtual engines is configured to (i) receive, from an operating system (OS), a plurality of tasks substantially in parallel with each other and (ii) load a set of state data associated with each of the plurality of tasks. The shader core is configured to execute the plurality of tasks substantially in parallel based on the set of state data associated with each of the plurality of tasks. The processing unit may also include a scheduling module that schedules the plurality of tasks to be issued to the shader core.
US08854380B2

One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for displaying high-resolution images using multiple graphics processing units (GPUs). The graphics driver is configured to present one virtual display device, simulating a high-resolution mosaic display surface, to the operating system and the application programs. The graphics driver is also configured to partition the display surface amongst the GPUs and transmit commands and data to the local memory associated with the first GPU. A video bridge automatically broadcasts this information to the local memories associated with the remaining GPUs. Each GPU renders and displays only the partition of the display surface assigned to that particular GPU, and the GPUs are synchronized to ensure the continuity of the displayed images. This technique allows the system to display higher resolution images than the system hardware would otherwise support, transparently to the operating system and the application programs.
US08854376B1

A motion library can be created by generating motion feature vectors for at least some of multiple frames of a video sequence using a 3D mesh, each motion feature vector corresponding to characteristics of the body deformation in one of the frames. The A user can select a subset of the frames. For each frame in the subset, the user can define settings for controls of an animation character, the settings selected by the user to correspond to the body deformation in the respective frame. Mappings are generated using the settings and the motion feature vectors, the mappings regulating the controls based on multiple motion feature vectors. The motion library can be used to generate an animation from an actor performance.
US08854370B2

Some embodiments provide a program that provides a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI includes a display area for displaying an image that includes several pixels. Each pixel includes a set of color component values. The GUI includes a waveform monitor for displaying a graph that includes several graphical representations of the several pixels in the image. Each graphical representation is (1) plotted along a first axis of the graph based on a position of a corresponding pixel in the image and (2) plotted along a second axis of the graph based on the set of color component values of the corresponding pixel in the image. A color of each graphical representation is similar to a color of the corresponding pixel that is used for displaying the pixel in the display area.
US08854361B1

In certain embodiments, the invention relates to systems, methods, and apparatus that allow a user to visually augment a graphical rendering of either a chemical structure representation or a biological sequence representation with multi-dimensional information. A user captures a video image using a computing device such as a hand-held smart phone, computerized eye glasses or tablet computer. The video image includes information regarding at least one of a chemical structure and a biological sequence. A processor identifies, within the video image, a graphical representation of at least one of a chemical structure and a biological structure. The processor augments the graphical representation with additional information and provides the video data for presentation upon a display controlled by the computing device. The computing device presents the video data in substantially real time in relation to the capture of the video data by the computing device.
US08854358B2

Provided are a computer-readable storage medium having stored therein an image processing program executed by a computer of an image processing apparatus capable of outputting an image in a stereoscopically visible manner, the program causing the computer to function as sections configured for: acquiring setting information about a virtual stereo camera configured for imaging of a virtual space to provide images for right and left eyes in a stereoscopically visible manner; designating the position of a first object in the space, including a depth-directional position defining the imaging direction; using the information and the depth-directional position to calculate a displacement for a stereoscopically visible image of the object; and translating from a position, the object associated with the above-designated position, along a plane perpendicular to the depth direction, to generate images for right and left eyes each of which includes an image of the translated object, based on the displacement.
US08854357B2

Computer-readable media, computer systems, and computing devices facilitate presentation of selectors in three-dimensional graphical environments. In embodiments, an obscured region being obscured by an element appearing in front of one or more elements within a three-dimensional graphical environment is determined. In cases that a selector (e.g., a cursor) is located within the obscured region, the selector is presented in accordance with a depth position of the element associated with the obscured region. Such a depth position can indicate a distance at which the element is intended to appear relative to a display screen.
US08854356B2

An image taken by a real camera is repeatedly obtained, and position and orientation information determined in accordance with a position and an orientation of a real camera in a real space is repeatedly calculated. A virtual object or a letter to be additionally displayed on the taken image is set as an additional display object, and based on a result of recognition of a sound inputted into a sound input device, at least one selected from the group consisting of a display position, an orientation, and a display form of the additional display object is set. A combined image repeatedly generated by superimposing on the taken image the set additional display object with reference to a position in the taken image in accordance with the position and orientation information is displayed on a display device.
US08854346B2

In a display device including a pixel circuit having a transistor with a low electron mobility, low power consumption is realized without decreasing an aperture ratio. An liquid crystal capacitor element (Clc) is formed between a pixel circuit (20) and a counter electrode (80). One ends of the pixel electrode (20), a first switch circuit (22), and a second switch circuit (23) and a first terminal of a second transistor (T2) form an internal node (N1). The other end of the first switch circuit (22) is connected to a source line (SL). The second switch circuit (23) has the other end connected to a voltage supply line (VSL), and is a series circuit of transistors (T1 and T3). A control terminal of the transistor (T1), a second terminal of the transistor (T2), and one end of the boost capacitor element (Cbst) form an output node (N2). The other end of the boost capacitor element (Cbst) and the control terminal of the transistor (T2) are connected to a selecting line (SEL) and a reference line REF, respectively. A control terminal of the transistor (T3) is connected to the selecting line (SEL) through a delay circuit (31).
US08854342B2

A graphics application for simulating natural media drawing and painting may model a tablet stylus as if it were a virtual airbrush tool that sprays paint on a virtual canvas (tablet). The application may compute a conical shape of the paint spray, a target area in which to create an airbrush mark, and a target distribution of the paint to be deposited within the target area based on values of configurable parameters of the application and on 6DOF data collected from the tablet stylus and the tablet. The target distribution shape may be based on a hardness parameter. The virtual airbrush tool may create the mark using texture projection or by emitting multiple individual paint particles, which may have random sizes and velocity directions. In a hybrid mode, a granularity parameter may control the relative contributions of texture projection and particle emission in creating a given airbrush mark.
US08854334B2

An exemplary embodiment of touch display device includes a touch panel and a signal processing circuit. The touch panel includes a plurality of touch sensing units, and each touch sensing unit includes a touch sensing element and a coupling sensing element. The signal processing circuit is electrically connected to the touch sensing element and the coupling sensing element. The touch sensing element provides a touch signal to the signal processing circuit, the coupling sensing element provides a coupling signal to the signal processing circuit, and the signal processing circuit processes the touch signal according to the coupling signal to filter an interference signal of the touch signal. A touch display device using the touch panel is also described.
US08854330B1

A system is provided for controlling, real-time logging, and archiving complex commercial transactions such as the purchase and financing of an automobile. An electronic contract disclosure unit or ECDU includes a digitizing display for imaging documents involved in the transaction and a digitizer for manual interaction with images on the display. A computer controls the transaction, and may for instance, control the order of presentation of documents to a vehicle purchaser, receive the purchaser's signature on the displayed documents when required, offer choices of various packages that can be accepted or declined by the purchaser, and insures that the entire transaction is carried out properly. The ECDU logs the transaction for future review and preferably records video and audio. Fingerprint readers allow participants to select between options by pressing their thumb or finger on the readers.
US08854328B2

A touch panel includes: a wire substrate and a cover substrate joined to each other, wherein the wire substrate includes a sensor electrode; a plurality of signal wires that are electrically connected to the sensor electrode and extend along a circumference of the sensor electrode; and a first light blocking layer that covers at least a signal wire disposed closest to the sensor electrode of the plurality of signal wires, and wherein the cover substrate includes a second light blocking layer that faces a continuous region including an outer edge region of the first light blocking layer and a signal wire disposed so as to be the most distant from the sensor electrode.
US08854327B2

A display apparatus includes a display having an array of pixels formed in rows and columns. The rows of pixels are separated by row inter-pixel gaps and the columns of pixels separated by column inter-pixel gaps. A touch-screen includes a transparent dielectric layer having a row side and an opposed column side located over the display, the touch screen having row electrodes spaced apart by row inter-electrode gaps located on the row side of the transparent dielectric layer and column electrodes spaced apart by column inter-electrode gaps located on the column side of the transparent dielectric layer. The row and column electrodes are separated by the transparent dielectric layer. Ground lines are located on the row side between neighboring row electrodes in the row inter-electrode gaps and between the pixels in a row inter-pixel gap.
US08854324B2

An information processing device that includes a display, a touch panel that detects a gesture operation, a memory that stores a correlation between each of a plurality of effects that can be applied to an object displayed on the display and one of a plurality of gesture operations, and a processor that applies one of the plurality of effects that corresponds to the detected gesture operation to an object displayed on the display, and controls the display to display the object to which the one of the plurality effects is applied.
US08854323B2

An operating apparatus (200) which includes: an operation information obtaining unit (204) which obtains, from an input apparatus (203), operation information indicating operations inputted by a user to first and second input units (201 and 202); an operation amount calculation unit (205) which calculates amounts of the operations by the user to the first and second input units (201 and 202), using the operation information obtained by the operation information obtaining unit (204); and an operation region change unit (215) which changes sizes of first and second operation regions (301 and 302) so that areas of the first and second operation regions (301 and 302) corresponding to the first and second input units (201 and 202) increase as the amounts of the operations to the first and second input units (201 and 202) calculated by the operation amount calculation unit are greater.
US08854318B2

Based on one or more characteristics of a received translation input, a computing device is switched between two or more states. The translation input may be a touch input, for example a drag operation. The states may relate to locked and unlocked states, idle screens, or other suitable examples.
US08854312B2

A key assembly for an electronic device that includes a keycap defining a key that has a non-opaque portion to identify the key that is backlit. The assembly includes a light guide positioned in spaced relation to the keycap. An optical radiation source, such as top-fire light emitting diode, is mounted below the lower surface of the light guide. A mask is disposed on the top surface of the optical radiation source. The mask includes an aperture to allow light from the optical radiation source to pass into the light guide, and the mask blocks at least a portion of the light from the optical radiation source. The mask blocks a portion of the top surface of the optical radiation source that emits tinted light. The light guide is affixed atop the opaque mask such that it is nearly directly affixed to the optical radiation source.
US08854311B2

A handheld electronic device includes a reduced QWERTY keyboard and is enabled with disambiguation software that is operable to disambiguate text input. The device is structured to identify and output representations of language objects that are stored in the memory and that correspond with a text input. The device is additionally structured to identify and output representations of language objects that are stored in the memory and that correspond with a known spelling substitution particular to a language active on the handheld electronic device.
US08854309B2

A user interface (301) comprises a layered structure defining one or more keys (302,303,304). The layers can include a top layer (331), a base layer (335), and an interior layer (332) disposed therebetween. One or more layers are pliant and can be compressed. Magnetically permeable materials (308,309) form a closed loop (310). A corresponding coil (311) is operable with the loop. Electrical properties of the closed loop change in response to user input. A control unit (312) is then configured to detect a change in the electrical properties when the pliant material is compressed. Where the change is greater than a predefined threshold, the control unit (312) discharges an energy storage device into the coil to provide a haptic response (109).
US08854307B2

Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to turning on backlights of a keyboard. An angle of a display relative to a base or keyboard is determined or monitored. The backlights are turned on based on at least two values of the angle.
US08854297B2

An interface unit 4 for a game machine 1 includes a monitor 10 having a single display surface 10a, and an input module 11 serving as an input device overlaid on the display surface 10a, wherein a plurality of push button panels 16, each of which has a panel main body with enough transparency to allow a screen image on the display surface 10a to be visually seen, partitions the unit 4 into input display parts 4a, which are arranged on partial regions of the display surface 10a in a push-down operable manner, and a multi purpose display part 4b for displaying a screen image with a different purpose from that of the input display parts 4a.
US08854293B2

The exemplary embodiment suggests an apparatus and a method for driving a light source of a backlight unit. The apparatus for driving the light source of the backlight unit comprises a plurality of LED columns; a power output terminal and feedback terminals connected to the LED columns; and an LED driver sequentially driving the LEDs according to sequentially delayed PWM signals. The LED driver decides an operable number of LED channel based on the signals input through the feedback terminals, and sequentially delays the PWM signals with the phase difference controlled by the number of LED channel.
US08854284B2

A display heat distribution system provides a display assembly. LEDs are mounted in the display assembly and illuminate the display assembly. Heat generation structures are mounted into the display assembly. In addition, heat distribution structures are mounted into the display assembly in a predetermined physically distributed heat management configuration. The heat generation structures and the heat distribution structures are physically located to maintain the LED temperatures at substantially uniform temperatures.
US08854278B2

A method and apparatus for a display comprising a first display comprising a base and a first side extending from the base. The apparatus also comprises a second display comprising a first side coupled to the first side of the first display. The displays have a first position, wherein the first side of the first display is aligned with the first side of the second display, and a second position, wherein the first side of the first display is oblique to the first side of the second display.
US08854276B2

A portable terminal suppresses reduction of antenna sensitivity. A portable telephone includes an actuating side casing, display side casing, open-close sensor, circuit disposed on the actuating side casing and includes a ground part, power supply part and signal processing part, first conducting part disposed on the actuating side casing and connected to the ground part, second conducting part disposed on the display side casing and connected to the power supply part, antenna element, receiver disposed opposite the antenna element when the telephone is closed, switching part.
US08854275B2

An antenna apparatus includes an electrically conductive section having peripheral edges, an antenna element coupled to the electrically conductive section, which transmits or receives electromagnetic signals, and an electromagnetic absorbing carbon material component. The carbon material component is generally disposed adjacent to the electrically conductive section, and includes a border region extending beyond the peripheral edges of the electrically conductive section. The carbon material component can be constructed of a carbon fiber fabric in which the carbon fibers are arranged to increase the effective signal to noise ratio of the antenna apparatus and enhance antenna performance without increasing the baseline power consumption level. The carbon fibers can be coated with silicone to insulate them externally while enhancing their lengthwise conductivity.
US08854274B2

An unbalanced antenna includes a non-conductive substrate having one short edge, and two long edges connected respectively to two opposite ends of the short edge and parallel to each other, and an unbalanced antenna disposed proximate to the short edge of the non-conductive substrate and having a ground portion. A ground plane has side edges extending along the long edges of the non-conductive substrate, and is electrically coupled with the ground portion. The length of the ground plane is longer than a quarter of an equivalent wavelength corresponding to an operating frequency of the unbalanced antenna. A pair of choke sleeve structures are symmetrically disposed at opposite sides of the ground plane and spaced apart from the unbalanced antenna by a quarter of an equivalent wavelength corresponding to the operating frequency. Each choke sleeve structure has one end connected to the ground plane, and the other end extending in a direction away from the unbalanced antenna.
US08854266B2

Electronic devices may be provided with antenna structures and antenna isolation element structures. An antenna array may be located within an electronic device. The antenna array may have multiple antennas and interposed antenna isolation element structures for isolating the antennas from each other. An antenna isolation element structure may have a dielectric carrier with a longitudinal axis. A sheet of conductive material may extend around the longitudinal axis to form a conductive loop structure. The loop structure in the antenna isolation element may have a gap that spans the sheet of conductive material parallel to the longitudinal axis. Electronic components may bridge the gap. Control circuitry may adjust the electronic components to tune the antenna isolation element.
US08854263B2

An antenna structure is disclosed, which includes: a microwave substrate; and a first circuit, a second circuit, and a ground circuit disposed coplanarly on the microwave substrate. The first circuit is an open loop structure with a discontinuous portion having a feed point and a ground point, arranged respectively across the discontinuous portion. The second circuit is connected to a connecting point of the first circuit. The ground circuit is connected to the ground point of the first circuit and the second circuit at the connecting point of the ground circuit. Thus, the antenna structure reduces the SAR. In addition, an electronic device having the same is disclosed.
US08854255B1

An airborne moving target indicating (MTI) radar includes an array antenna. A receive processor electronically multiplies the signals received by each antenna element by element enable/disable signals which vary from time to time, thus electronically moving the effective phase center of the antenna array. The motion of the phase center is matched to the moving vehicle speed and direction.
US08854248B2

A method and system for detecting the presence of subsurface objects within a medium is provided. In some embodiments, the imaging and detection system operates in a multistatic mode to collect radar return signals generated by an array of transceiver antenna pairs that is positioned across the surface and that travels down the surface. The imaging and detection system pre-processes the return signal to suppress certain undesirable effects. The imaging and detection system then generates synthetic aperture radar images from real aperture radar images generated from the pre-processed return signal. The imaging and detection system then post-processes the synthetic aperture radar images to improve detection of subsurface objects. The imaging and detection system identifies peaks in the energy levels of the post-processed image frame, which indicates the presence of a subsurface object.
US08854240B2

An analog-to-digital converter includes a digital-to-analog (DA) converting part having a predetermined number of gradation converting stages and configured to cause each of the predetermined number of gradation converting stages to convert a digital signal to an analog signal and output the converted analog signal, a main-comparator configured to output a binary signal on the basis of a first comparison result between the analog signal output from the DA converting part and a predetermined reference level, and a second sub-comparator having an offset less than a quantization unit with respect to the main-comparator and being configured to output a binary signal on the basis of a second comparison result between the analog signal output from the DA converting part and the predetermined reference level.
US08854224B2

Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless charging. A charging device configured to wirelessly charge one or more electronic devices may comprise at least one charging region, wherein each charging region of the at least one is configured for placement of one or more electronic devices. The charging device may further include an interface configured to convey information relating at least one electronic device of the one or more electronic devices placed within the at least one charging region.
US08854223B2

What is disclosed is a system and method for image-based determination of concentration of CO and CO2 in a vehicle's exhaust gas in an emissions testing environment. In one embodiment, the present method involves receiving an IR image of the exhaust plume of a motor vehicle intended to be tested for CO and CO2 concentrations. The IR image has been captured using a mid-wave infrared camera with at least one optical filter tuned to the infrared absorption band of CO and CO2. The images are pre-processed to isolate pixels which contain the exhaust plume. The intensity values of pixels in those isolated regions are normalized and concentrations of CO and CO2 are determined via a calibration curve which relates pixel intensities to concentrations. The concentrations are compared to an emissions standard set for the vehicle to determine whether the vehicle is a gross polluter.
US08854211B2

An integrated circuit card system that includes a radio frequency (RF) integrated circuit configured to wirelessly communicate with an integrated circuit card reader; and an integrated circuit card, which is connected to the RF integrated circuit by a single wire, the integrated circuit card configured to change an amount of current of a data signal output from the integrated circuit card according to a transmission speed of a data signal input to the integrated circuit card from the RF integrated circuit.
US08854208B2

Systems and methods for wirelessly detecting area changes are provided. Predetermined thresholds may be stored in memory. Each predetermined threshold is associated with a time of day, calendar day, and/or activity. The sensor may detect a change in the in the targeted area. The detected change is evaluated to determine an applicable threshold. Then it may be determined whether the detected change meets a predetermined threshold. If so, information regarding the change is wirelessly transmitted to an associated controller that controls light in the targeted area. The operation of the light may be controlled based on the wirelessly transmitted information.
US08854204B2

A home appliance is provided. The home appliance includes a main controller for generating a first data signal including status information and a second data signal including operating information, a first sound output device for outputting a first sound signal according to the first data signal including status information to be transmitted through a communication network, and a second sound output device for outputting a second sound signal according to the second data signal including operating information to be perceived by a user. Thus, the sound signal regarding the status information and the sound signal regarding the operating information can be output through the different sound output devices, i.e., the first and second sound output devices.
US08854191B2

To provide a semiconductor device including an RFID which can transmit and receive individual information without checking of the remaining charge of a battery or a replacing operation of the battery in accordance with deterioration over time of the battery for driving, and can maintain an excellent state for transmission and reception of individual information even when power of a radio wave or an electromagnetic wave from outside is insufficient. A battery (also described as a secondary battery) is provided as a power supply for supplying power to the RFID. Then, when power which is obtained from a signal received from outside is larger than predetermined power, its surplus power is stored in the battery; and when the power which is obtained from the signal received from outside is smaller than the predetermined power, power which is obtained from the battery is used for the power for driving.
US08854187B2

In one aspect of the present invention there is provided an alarm communicator configured to communicate directly with an alarm panel. The alarm panel includes a key-switch input terminal which is in direct communication with a relay switch defined on the alarm communicator. The alarm communicator is capable of sending open or closed signals from the relay switch to the key-switch input terminal in response to receiving a command that was initiated from a remote device.
US08854184B2

A system and method for assigning controlled access to a securable device may include multiple securable devices available for a user to rent. A first kiosk may be configured to enable the user to rent a securable device from among the securable devices. A second kiosk may be configured to alternatively enable the user to rent the securable device from among the securable devices. A lock unit may be associated with the securable device and be in communication with the first and second kiosks. The lock unit may be configured to enable the user to access the securable device after being rented by the user via either of the first or second kiosk.
US08854177B2

A system and method for storing user permissions for multiple disparate physical devices and systems in a unified permissions database connected to a network in common with the devices. The permissions database also stores user permissions for logical assets on or attached to the network.
US08854173B2

An Fe-based amorphous alloy powder of the present invention has a composition represented by (Fe100-a-b-c-x-y-z-tNiaSnbCrcPxCyBzSit)100-αMα. In this composition, 0 at %≦a≦10 at %, 0 at %≦b≦3 at %, 0 at %≦c≦6 at %, 6.8 at %≦x≦10.8 at %, 2.2 at %≦y≦9.8 at %, 0 at %≦z≦4.2 at %, and 0 at %≦t≦3.9 at % hold, a metal element M is at least one selected from the group consisting of Ti, Al, Mn, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Mo, and W, and the addition amount α of the metal element M satisfies 0.04 wt %≦α≦0.6 wt %. Accordingly, besides a decrease of a glass transition temperature (Tg), an excellent corrosion resistance and high magnetic characteristics can be obtained.
US08854168B2

Power swivel for transmitting electrical power from a first terminal to a second terminal, includes a central part with a hub and an outer ring of a magnetic material, coaxial with and surrounding the hub, the outer ring and central part being rotatable relative to one another around a vertical axis, at least two radial arms of a magnetic material projecting from the hub or from the outer ring, adjacent arms being spaced-apart, each arm carrying a conductor wound around the arm to form a coil for generating a magnetic flux along a radial flux path through the arm, the conductors being connected to the first terminal, wherein the outer ring or the hub has a cylindrical surface at close proximity to free ends of the arms, a plurality of axially extending conductors being distributed along the circumference of the outer ring or hub at or near the cylindrical surface.
US08854165B2

Embodiments of soft latching solenoids comprise a coil assembly (24); a plunger assembly (26); at least one flux conductor (28) comprising a flux circuit. The coil assembly (24) is fixedly situated with respect to a solenoid frame (21). The plunger assembly (26) is configured to linearly translate in a first direction along a plunger axis (32) upon application of a pulse of power to the coil assembly (24). The flux conductor(s) (28) is/are positioned radially exteriorly to the plunger assembly (26) to form the flux circuit. The flux circuit comprises the solenoid frame (21), the plunger assembly (26), and the at least one flux conductor (28). The flux circuit is arranged and configured so that the plunger assembly (26) is held in a plunger detent position upon cessation of the pulse of power.
US08854154B2

Methods and systems for processing signals via directional couplers embedded in a package are disclosed and may include generating via a directional coupler, one or more output RF signals that may be proportional to a received RF signal. The directional coupler may be integrated in a multi-layer package. The generated RE signal may be processed by an integrated circuit electrically coupled to the multi-layer package. The directional coupler may include quarter wavelength transmission lines, which may include microstrip or coplanar structures. The directional coupler may be electrically coupled to one or more variable capacitances in the integrated circuit. The variable capacitance may include CMOS devices in the integrated circuit. The directional coupler may include discrete devices, which may be surface mount devices coupled to the multi-layer package or may be devices integrated in the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit may be flip-chip bonded to the multi-layer package.
US08854153B2

An RF transmission line device with high performance, wide band characteristics includes an inner conductor for transmitting communication signals of a desired frequency band and a grounded outer conductor electrically insulated from the inner conductor by at least one dielectric material. A tap conductor is connected to the inner conductor and serves as an auxiliary path through which signals outside the desired frequency band can be externally injected into and/or retrieved from the through RF path, the tap conductor extending longitudinally through a tap housing conductively coupled to the outer conductor. As a feature of the invention, a modular attachment is removably coupled to the tap housing and includes a plurality of voltage suppression components that are arranged in the conductive path between the tap conductor and the tap housing, the voltage suppression components discharging transient voltages diverted from the inner conductor by the tap conductor.
US08854151B2

An electrical resonance network comprising a first capacitor and a first inductor whose resonance frequency can be tuned by means of a second capacitor and/or a second inductor. The resulting effective capacitor- or inductor value of a network period is controlled by a variable coupling respectively decoupling interval by means of at least one coupling switch. The coupling respectively decoupling interval is synchronized by a sign change of a current and/or voltage in the network.
US08854140B2

A current mirror circuit having formed in a semiconductor: a pair of transistors arranged to produce an output current through an output one of the transistors proportional to a reference current fed to an input one of the pair of transistors; a resistor comprising a pair of spaced electrodes in ohmic contact with the semiconductor, one of such pair of electrodes of the resistor being coupled to the input one of the pair of transistors; and circuitry for producing a voltage across the pair of electrodes of the resistor, such circuitry placing the resistor into saturation producing current through a region in the semiconductor between the pair of spaced ohmic contacts, such produced current being fed to the input one of the transistors as the reference current for the current mirror.
US08854132B2

Class D amplifier circuits for amplifying an input signal. The amplifier has an H-bridge output stage and thus has switches for switchably connecting a first output to a first voltage, e.g. Vdd, or a second voltage (e.g. ground) and for switchably connecting a second output to the first or second voltages. A switch controller is configured to control the H-bridge stage so as to vary between a plurality of states including at least a first state in which the outputs are both connected to the first voltage and a second state in which the outputs are both connected to said second voltage. The switch controller is configured to vary the proportion of time spent in the first state relative to the second state based on an indication of the amplitude of the input signal. The amplifier may therefore have first circuitry for deriving a proportion value (α) based on the input signal (Din) and second circuitry for generating control signals for selecting the first state or said second state based on the proportion value (α).
US08854121B2

In one embodiment, a constant-current generator is connected in series with a dependent (e.g., tail) device. A switched capacitor circuit connected to the gate of the dependent device is operated to (i) charge at least one capacitor of the switched capacitor circuit, (ii) use the at least one charged capacitor to adjust the gate voltage of the dependent device to drive the dependent current through the dependent device to be equal to the constant current through the constant-current generator, and (iii) direct the dependent and constant currents through source and sink current nodes.
US08854120B2

A method and circuitry for determining a temperature-independent bandgap reference voltage are disclosed. The method includes determining a quantity proportional to an internal series resistance of a p-n junction diode and determining the temperature-independent bandgap reference voltage using the quantity proportional to an internal series resistance.
US08854117B2

According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a first circuit portion; and a second circuit portion. The first circuit portion includes: a first and a second switching elements, and a first and a second diodes. The second circuit portion includes a third and a fourth switching elements, and a third and a fourth diodes. The first switching element is juxtaposed with the second switching element in a first direction, and is juxtaposed with the fourth switching element in a second direction. The third switching element is juxtaposed with the fourth switching element in the first direction, and is juxtaposed with the second switching element in the second direction. A voltage is applied to electrodes of the first and third switching elements. A voltage of a polarity opposite the first voltage is applied to electrodes of the second and fourth switching elements.
US08854113B1

Techniques are described to mirror currents and subtract currents accurately. In an implementation, a circuit includes a first current source coupled to a first node to provide a current IPD1 and a current mirror coupled to the first node through a first switch T1 to provide a current IREF1. In a closed configuration, the current IREF1 flows from the current mirror into the first node. A sigma delta modulator controls the switch T1 such that over a period of time an average current flowing from the current mirror into the first node is equal to the current IPD1 flowing out of the first node. The sigma delta modulator generates a digital output to control switch T2 to allow a current IREF2 into a second node, thus subtracting a portion of a current IPD2 at the second node over a period of time.
US08854109B2

A method for controlling two electrically series-connected reverse-conductive (RC) IGBTs (RC-IBGT) of a half bridge is disclosed, wherein an operating DC voltage is applied across the series connection and one of the two series-connected reverse-conductive IGBTs operates in IGBT mode and another of the two series-connected reverse-conductive IGBTs operates in diode mode, and wherein each of the two reverse-conductive IGBTs has three switching states “+15V”, “0V”, “−15V”. The RC-IGBT T1 operated in diode mode does not go into the switching state (−15V) of highly charged carrier concentration, but instead into a state of medium charge carrier concentration associated with the switching state “0V”, and not into the switching state “−15V”, as is known from conventional methods. This reduces the reverse-recovery without adversely affecting the forward voltage.
US08854102B2

A clock generating circuit includes: a counter that counts a number of pulses of an oscillation clock signal existed within one cycle of a reference clock signal; a first time-to-digital converter that generates a plurality of phases of first clock signals by delaying the oscillation clock signal; a second time-to-digital converter that generates a plurality of phases of second clock signals by delaying the oscillation clock signal by a short delay time; a third time-to-digital converter that generates a plurality of phases of third clock signals by delaying the delayed first clock signal; a delay control unit that outputs a delay control signal based on a difference between a cycle of the oscillation clock signal and a target cycle; and an oscillator that generates, based on a cycle of the reference clock signal, the oscillation clock signal whose cycle is 1/m of the cycle of the reference clock signal.
US08854097B2

An IC generally comprises enable pin, ground pin, input pin, output pin, load switch, control circuitry, and level shifter. Load switch is coupled between the input pin and output pin and receives a negative voltage through the input pin. The control circuitry is coupled to the enable pin, the ground pin, and the load switch and controls the load switch and uses ground pin as positive supply rail and input pin as an internal ground. Voltage applied to the input terminal is negative, enabling pulling of the gate of a transistor of a level shifter to ground turns transistor as “on,” enabling a negative output signal to be provided through output pin VOUT. Therefore, the output signal (at output pin VOUT) can be ground (applied to the ground pin GND) when the transistor is “off” and can be the negative voltage (applied to the input pin VIN) when transistor is “on.”
US08854096B1

A transmission system may include an oscillator, a serializer, and a driver. The oscillator may generate at least two clock signals. The serializer may modulate a plurality of data streams based upon the at least two clock signals and a plurality of channels of data. The driver may receive and combine the plurality of data streams into a single output data stream, wherein the single output data stream has a clock frequency higher than frequency of each of the at least two clock signals.
US08854094B2

A disclosed exemplary embodiment is a phase locked loop comprising a main charge pump driven by a phase error signal, and providing a first input to a loop filter. An auxiliary charge pump driven by the phase error signal feeds a second input of the loop filter. The loop filter can be an active loop filter comprising an operational amplifier and a feedback RC network. The first input of the active loop filter can be an inverting input of the operational amplifier and the second input can be a non-inverting input of the operational amplifier. An on-chip stabilizing capacitor fed by the auxiliary charge pump and coupled to the second input of the loop filter is significantly smaller than the conventional stabilizing capacitors. The loop filter outputs a regulating voltage for regulating the oscillation frequency of a voltage controlled oscillator in the phase locked loop.
US08854089B2

In one embodiment, a power switch driving circuit can include: (i) an upper switch having a first power terminal coupled to a voltage source, and a second power terminal coupled to a driving signal; (ii) a lower switch having a first power terminal coupled to the driving signal, and a second power terminal coupled to a first voltage level, where the first voltage level is higher than a first ground potential; (iii) an upper switch driving sub circuit configured to receive a control signal, and to drive the upper switch in response thereto; and (iii) a lower switch driving sub circuit configured to receive the control signal, and to drive the lower switch in response thereto, where the upper and lower switch driving sub circuits are coupled to a second ground potential.
US08854088B2

A multi-chip system may include a plurality of chips, and a channel shared by the plurality of chips. At least one of the plurality of chips includes a transmission circuit configured to transmit a signal to the channel. Drivability of the transmission circuit is adjusted based on a number of the plurality of chips.
US08854079B2

A system on chip (SoC) has a nonvolatile memory array of n rows by m columns coupled to one or more of the core logic blocks. M is constrained to be an odd number. Each time a row of m data bits is written, parity is calculated using the m data bits. Before storing the parity bit, it is inverted. Each time a row is read, parity is checked to determine if a parity error is present in the recovered data bits. A boot operation is performed on the SoC when a parity error is detected.
US08854075B2

The asynchronous circuit includes a fork having at least two branches, each branch being connected to a logic gate so that the logic gate receives as input a branch-ending signal. It further includes a circuit for branching the branch-ending signal at the level of each logic gate to form a branched signal, and a blocking circuit comprising a Muller gate and receiving as input at least one branched signal, the blocking circuit being configured to prevent the propagation of an output signal when the branch-ending signals are in different logic states.
US08854073B2

Method and apparatus for margin testing integrated circuits. The method includes selecting a clock frequency, an operating temperature range and a power supply voltage level for margin testing an integrated circuit wherein one or more of the clock frequency, the operating temperature range and the power supply voltage level is outside of the normal operating conditions of the integrated circuit; applying an asynchronously time varying power supply voltage set to the selected power supply voltage level to the integrated circuit; running the integrated circuit chip at the selected clock frequency and maintaining the integrated circuit within the selected temperature range; applying a continuous test pattern to the integrated circuit; and monitoring the integrated circuit for fails.
US08854070B2

A charging device for a power storage device includes a power conduit configured to deliver current to the power storage device and a detection system configured to be coupled to the power conduit. The detection system includes a current control device coupled to the power conduit and configured to control the current delivered to the power storage device. The detection system also includes a test conductor, a current sensor coupled to the test conductor, and a controller coupled to the current sensor by the test conductor. The current sensor is arranged to detect an amount of current within the test conductor and configured to generate a current measurement signal representative of the current detected. The controller is configured to generate a test signal, transmit the test signal through the test conductor, receive the current measurement signal, and determine a status of the detection system based on the current measurement signal.
US08854065B2

A circuit arrangement includes a load transistor and a sense transistor. The first load terminal of the load transistor is coupled to the first load terminal of the sense transistor. A measurement circuit comprising a current source configured to provide a calibration current, the measurement circuit configured to measure a first voltage between the first load terminal and the second load terminal of the sense transistor in the on-state of the sense transistor, to determine a resistance of the sense transistor based on the calibration current and the first voltage, to measure a second voltage between the first load terminal and the second load terminal of the load transistor in the on-state of the load transistor, and to determine a load current through the load transistor based on the resistance of the sense transistor and the second voltage.
US08854063B2

A method for determining a capacitance and/or a change in capacitance of a capacitive sensor element (C2) comprises the steps of: a) discharging an average value capacitor (C3), and either b1) discharging the capacitive sensor element and c1) charging an operating capacitor (C1) to a charging voltage (VDD), or b2) discharging the operating capacitor and c2) charging the capacitive sensor element to the charging voltage, d) connecting the operating capacitor to the capacitive sensor element, e) connecting the operating capacitor to the average value capacitor, and f) evaluating a voltage established across the operating capacitor or across the average value capacitor in order to determine the capacitance and/or the change in capacitance.
US08854062B2

A capacitive transducer and a readout circuit for processing a signal from a capacitive transducer. The readout circuit includes a high gain circuit element, two summing amplifiers and two feedback path. The high gain circuit element generates an amplified transducer signal, and the summing amplifiers sum the amplified transducer signal with a positive reference voltage and the negative reference voltage, respectively, to generate a first summation signal and a second summation signal. The feedback paths feed back the summation signals to the transducer. Output circuitry generates an output signal based on the summation signals. The high gain circuit element can be a a switched capacitor integrator. The output circuitry can generates the output signal based on the first and second summation signals.
US08854061B2

A linear sensor 21 includes an attachment base 22 attached to a metallic edge of a slide door 2 capable of opening and closing a platform 4, a skin cover part 23 which bulges from the attachment base 22 and has a hollow part 24 in the inside, an insulator 25 which has flexibility and also is embedded in the hollow part 24, and a plate-shaped electrode 26 opposed to the attachment base 22, at least a portion of the electrode being embedded in the insulator 25. In the hollow part 24, a gap 27 is disposed between the electrode 26 and the attachment base 22 and also, the electrode 26 is set in a plus pole and the attachment base 22 is set in a minus pole as the grounding, and proximity and/or contact between a foreign body and the skin cover part 23 is detected based on a change in capacitance between the electrode 26 and the grounding minus pole.
US08854044B2

A formation core analysis system can include an inner barrel and a toroidal electromagnetic antenna which transmits electromagnetic signals into a formation core when the core is received in the inner barrel. Another formation core analysis system can include an inner barrel and multiple longitudinally spaced apart electrodes which electrically contact a formation core when the core is received in the inner barrel. A speed of displacement of the core into the inner barrel may be indicated by differences between measurements taken via the electrodes as the core displaces into the inner barrel. A method of measuring resistivity of a formation core as the core is being cut can include transmitting electromagnetic signals into the core from a toroidal electromagnetic antenna as the core is being cut by a coring bit.
US08854038B2

A method for measuring transverse relaxation rate, R2*, corrected for the presence of macroscopic magnetic field inhomogeneities with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system is provided. The method accounts for additional signal decay that occurs as a result of macroscopic variations in the main magnetic field, B0, of the MRI system, and also mitigates susceptibility-based errors and introduction of increased noise in the R2* measurements. Image data are acquired by sampling multiple different echo signals occurring at respectively different echo times. A B0 field inhomogeneity map is estimated by fitting the acquired image data to an initial signal model. Using the estimated field map, a revised signal model that accounts for signal from multiple different chemical species and for signal decay resulting from macroscopic variations in the B0 field is formed. Corrected R2* values for the different chemical species are then estimated by fitting the acquired image data to the revised signal model.
US08854037B2

A method for compensating for eddy current fields in magnetic resonance images acquired using a magnetic resonance apparatus is provided. A global component of the eddy current fields corresponding to a zeroth order and a first order is compensated globally using a change in control parameters of at least one device of the magnetic resonance apparatus that is suitable for compensating for the global components (e.g., a reference oscillator and/or a gradient coil). In order to correct local higher-order eddy current fields in a volume of interest characterized by a prominent point, the residual eddy current fields remaining following compensation of the global component are developed around the point. Correction values for the control parameters are determined from the zeroth- and/or first-order local components of the development and are taken into account in the control of the magnetic resonance apparatus for magnetic resonance image acquisition.
US08854031B2

A clock-detecting circuit, containing at least a microprocessor, a clock circuit, and a zero-cross detecting circuit. The clock circuit is connected to the microprocessor. The input end of the zero-cross detecting circuit is connected to the utility power AC input. The output end of the zero-cross detecting circuit is connected to the input end of the microprocessor. The zero-cross detecting circuit operates to detect zero crossing points of the utility power AC input. The microprocessor operates to count the number of oscillation periods of the clock circuit in a time interval between two adjacent zero crossing points of the utility power AC input and to detect clock precision of the microprocessor according to the counted number. The circuit according to the invention features simple structure and low production cost, and is reliable and easy to be implemented.
US08854028B2

A signal level detector and detecting method are provided. In one implementation a method includes receiving a differential input signal; incorporating two configurable rectifiers of the same circuit topology; configuring a first one of the two configurable rectifiers as a inverting rectifier to generate an inverting end of an output signal in response to an absolute value of the differential input signal; and configuring a second one of the two configurable rectifiers as a non-inverting rectifier to generate a non-inverting end of the output signal.
US08854026B2

A method of determining a measure of a total capacitance of one or more capacitive elements connected to an output of a switched mode power supply is described. The method includes generating a voltage control signal to cause an output voltage controller to sweep a voltage at the output of the switched mode power supply from an initial voltage value to a final voltage value. Sample values of a current at the output measured by a current sampler during the sweep of the output voltage are received, and an integrated current value representing a measure of the total capacitance using the received sample values is calculated.
US08854023B2

Various embodiments of the present invention provide apparatuses and methods for regulating an output voltage. For example, an apparatus is discussed that includes a low dropout regulator having a pass transistor and an amplifier and being operable to regulate the output voltage based on a feedback signal and a feedforward signal. The apparatus also includes an auxiliary low dropout regulator having an auxiliary pass transistor and an auxiliary amplifier. The auxiliary dropout regulator is operable to generate the feedforward signal and is substantially matched with the amplifier.
US08854012B2

The disclosed embodiments provide a system that manages use of a battery corresponding to a high-voltage lithium-polymer battery in a portable electronic device. During operation, the system monitors a cycle number of the battery during use of the battery with the portable electronic device, wherein the cycle number corresponds to a number of charge-discharge cycles of the battery. If the cycle number exceeds one or more cycle number thresholds, the system modifies a charging technique for the battery to manage swelling in the battery and use of the battery with the portable electronic device.
US08854004B2

An energy storage system and a controlling method thereof are provided. Accordingly, an operation mode of the energy storage system is stably changed. The energy storage system includes: a battery; an inverter for receiving a first power from an external source and generating a second power; and a converter coupled between the battery and both the external source and the inverter. The converter is configured to enter an off mode between a charge mode for charging the battery and a discharge mode for discharging the battery.
US08854001B2

A method for energy management in a robotic device includes providing a base station for mating with the robotic device, determining a quantity of energy stored in an energy storage unit of the robotic device, and performing a predetermined task based at least in part on the quantity of energy stored. Also disclosed are systems for emitting avoidance signals to prevent inadvertent contact between the robot and the base station, and systems for emitting homing signals to allow the robotic device to accurately dock with the base station.
US08853998B2

A dock for receiving a portable electronic device, including: a housing comprising an aperture; a support coupled to an inner wall of the housing; and a charging connector received in the support and movable relative to the housing for charging the portable electronic device when the charging connector extends through the aperture, wiring of the charging connector for electrically communicating with a power source; wherein the charging connector is movable relative to the housing in response to a magnetic force.
US08853991B2

A system and method of detecting phase angle in an inverter is provided. A shunt resistor is coupled to a controller which is part of an inverter circuit and a phase angle may be directly derived from the detected voltage across the shunt resistor. The detected shunt voltage may be used to adjust the power delivery from the inverter to the load.
US08853987B2

In an electric tool, in order to carry out a phase control or an antiphase control using a transistor, constant voltage generating means of the tool includes a series circuit including a resistor and a diode, and a parallel circuit including a capacitor and a Zener diode. One end of the resistor is connected between an AC power supply and an AC motor. A cathode of the diode is connected to one capacitor end and a cathode of the Zener diode. The other capacitor end and an anode of the Zener diode are connected to transistor sources. One ends of resistors are connected to gates of the transistors, and a voltage at the other ends of the resistors are switched between a voltage at a node between the series circuit and the parallel circuit and a voltage of the source of the transistors to turn the transistors ON or OFF.
US08853985B2

Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with back-EMF detection for motor control are described. In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a drive circuit configured to apply excitation signals to respective inputs of a motor, a signal inhibit circuit configured to convey a signal to inhibit application of the excitation signals during an interval, and a measuring circuit configured to measure a back-electromotive force (EMF) signal crossing a reference signal during the interval.
US08853981B2

Provided are a current detection apparatus having sensor sections detecting motor currents flowing in the windings for the phases of the winding groups, a control apparatus calculating voltage instructions with respect to each winding group, based on the motor current detected by each sensor section, a voltage application apparatus applying voltage to each winding group, based on the voltage instructions, and a failure detection apparatus detecting whether or not each sensor section has failed. The control apparatus, when the failure detection apparatus has detected failure of some of the sensor sections, in accordance with the detection, calculates a voltage instruction with respect to the winding group corresponding to the failure of the sensor section, based on motor current with respect to another winding group detected by the sensor section that can normally detect current.
US08853979B2

While enforcing a fake position in the data processing system and applying a zero direct-axis current command, positive and negative quadrature-axis current commands are applied sequentially and at approximately same magnitude to urge the rotor toward an enforced position. A processing module measures a positive quadrature-axis current aligned raw position data after application of the positive quadrature-axis current command and measures negative quadrature-axis current aligned raw position data for the rotor after application of the negative quadrature-axis command. An initial position offset calibrator or data processor determines a difference between the raw position data to determine an alignment of a true averaging axis. An initial position offset calibrator or data processor determines a raw averaging axis position data based on an average of the raw position data. An initial position offset calibrator or data processor determines a position offset based on a difference between the determined true averaging axis and the determined raw averaging axis position data.
US08853976B2

The present invention provides a vibration absorbing device. A vibration absorbing device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a first magnetic force generation member fixed to an external portion that is separated from a vibration source and a second magnetic force generation member provided in one side of the vibration source. When vibration is generated by the vibration source, the direction and magnitude of a magnetic force of one of the first magnetic force generation member and the second magnetic force generation can be controlled such that the second magnetic force generation member can move in a direction for attenuating the vibration of the vibration source.
US08853973B2

Each screen (1) of a group of screens is configured by a method in which a function is approximated, the function giving the instantaneous axial position (H(t)) of the load bar (2) thereof along an axis (Z) of translation in the form of a function having, as a variable, the instantaneous angular position (y(t)) of a winding device (4). The load bars of the screens are sequentially moved into a plurality of positions in which the load bars are aligned, and then the angular position (y(t)) of the winding device is determined. Next, the coefficients defining the approximation function of each screen are determined. The movement of the load bar of each screen is controlled by an instantaneous angular-position set value (θ(t)), which is in turn predetermined from a representative profile using the one-to-one approximation function.
US08853968B2

A dimmable light emitting lamp configured to interface with cat-ear dimmer switches. The lamp includes one or more light emitting devices. The lamp also includes circuitry configured to receive an input voltage and provide regulated current to the one or more light emitting devices. The input voltage has a first voltage pulse that does not represent a dimming level of a dimmer switch and a second voltage pulse that represents the dimming level of the dimmer switch. The circuitry determines a first duration corresponding to a length of the first voltage pulse and a second duration corresponding to a length of the second voltage pulse responsive to first duration. The circuitry adjusts the regulated current to the light emitting devices according to the second duration to adjust output light intensity of the light emitting devices.
US08853964B2

A system including a first transistor, a second transistor, and a comparator. The first transistor is configured to supply a first current to a first load connected to a first terminal of the first transistor. The second transistor is configured to supply a second current to a second load connected to a first terminal of the second transistor, wherein the first current and the second current have a predetermined ratio. The comparator is configured to compare a voltage at the first terminal of the first transistor or a voltage at the first terminal of the second transistor to a reference voltage, and to adjust, based on the comparison, biasing of the first transistor and the second transistor to maintain the predetermined ratio between the first current and the second current.
US08853963B2

A switch circuit utilizes an LED for illumination. A diode is connected in parallel with the LED but in opposite orientation, with the LED anode connected to the diode cathode, and the LED cathode connected to the diode anode, to permit discharging of a power supply capacitor of a ballast of a lamp such as a compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb. Undesirable flickering of the CFL are then avoided.
US08853950B1

The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for controlling an illumination device, such as a light bulb, LED light, or the like. In one embodiment, a lighting control adapter is described, comprising a male base for physically attaching the lighting control adapter to a light fixture and for receiving power from the light fixture via a light switch connected to the light fixture, a female socket for receiving a base of an illumination device, a switching circuit for providing switchable power to the illumination device, and a processing circuit coupled to the switching circuit, for detecting one or more power toggles of the power received by the male base, and for controlling illumination of the illumination device based on the detection of one or more detected toggles.
US08853948B2

A plasma reactor having multi discharging tubes is disclosed, through which activated gas containing ion, free radical, atom and molecule is generated through plasma discharging, and different process gases are injected into multi discharging tubes in which solid, power and gas, etc., are plasma-treated with the activated gas to perform processes including cleaning process for semiconductor, and a plasma state can be maintained even at low power.
US08853945B2

A method for operating an arrangement of equipment that include a pulse generator for generating electrical pulses, a microwave generator with a break-through voltage, and a transmission element is provided. For transmission of the pulses, the pulse generator is connected to the microwave generator via the transmission element, which in the arrangement of equipment, acts as an impedance varying over time. The voltage characteristic over time or the current characteristic over time of each pulse is defined such that in an operating mode, the impedance of the transmission element is matched to the impedance of the microwave generator when the break-through voltage is reached.
US08853939B2

The various embodiments of the invention provide an addressable or a static emissive display comprising a plurality of layers, including a first substrate layer, wherein each succeeding layer is formed by printing or coating the layer over preceding layers. Exemplary substrates include paper, plastic, rubber, fabric, glass, ceramic, or any other insulator or semiconductor. In an exemplary embodiment, the display includes a first conductive layer attached to the substrate and forming a first plurality of conductors; various dielectric layers; an emissive layer; a second, transmissive conductive layer forming a second plurality of conductors; a third conductive layer included in the second plurality of conductors and having a comparatively lower impedance; and optional color and masking layers.
US08853935B2

An organic EL module includes an element substrate on which at least one organic EL element is formed, a first terminal provided on the element substrate and is drawn out from the electrode of the at least one organic EL element, a second terminal facing the first terminal and provided on a circuit substrate, and a pole that electrically connects the first terminal with the second terminal through a through-hole of the circuit substrate.
US08853932B2

Techniques described herein generally relate to methods of manufacturing devices and devices including a filament having therein or coated with a catalyst and carbon nanotubes. The device may be configured to produce light with a luminary characteristic having a value higher than a value of the luminary characteristic of a device having an uncoated filament at a same operating condition. The luminary characteristic may include one or more of device irradiance or light efficiency. The filament may be a tungsten filament, and the carbon nanotubes may include multiwall carbon nanotubes or single wall carbon nanotubes. The filament may be coated with the carbon nanotubes using one or more deposition techniques including electric arc discharge, laser ablation and chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The filament may be coated with the catalyst using a method including one or more of electroless plating, electroplating, dip coating, spin coating, and radio frequency (RF) sputtering.
US08853931B2

An electrodeless plasma lamp having a lamp body and a power source configured to provide radio-frequency (RF) power via a feed to the lamp body is provided. The lamp includes a first conductive element and a second conductive element. The first conductive element has a first side with a first protrusion. The second conductive element has a second side with a second protrusion. The first side and second side face each other and spaced apart by a first distance and configured to couple the RF power via an electric field to a fill to form at least one plasma arc. The first protrusion and the second protrusion extend towards each other and are spaced apart by a second distance that is less than the first distance. The first and second protrusions may provide localized enhancement of the electric field at the first side and the second side.
US08853930B2

An ignition plug that reliably restrains generation of corona discharge for enhancing accuracy in detection of ionic current and method of manufacturing same. The ignition plug is configured such that a metallic shell and an insulator are fixed together by means of a crimped portion provided at a rear end portion of the metallic shell and bent radially inward. An electrically insulative filling member fills a space formed between the crimped portion and the insulator. The filling member covers at least a portion of an outer circumferential surface of a rear trunk portion of the insulator along the entire circumference and the entirety of a rear end surface of the metallic shell, which is a portion of the outer surface of the crimped portion and is visible from the rear side with respect to the direction of an axial line CL1.
US08853928B2

A spark plug includes at least one of a center electrode or a ground electrode that is produced by the steps of: mixing a matrix metal with carbon so that the carbon content of the resultant mixture is adjusted to 80 vol. % or less; subjecting the mixture to powder compacting or sintering, to thereby form a core; placing the core in a cup formed of nickel or a metal containing nickel as a main component; and subjecting the cup to cold working. The thus-produced electrode exhibits favorable thermal conductivity and good heat dissipation, by virtue of the small difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the core and an outer shell. The spark plug including the above electrode exhibits excellent durability.
US08853923B2

A discharge tube of the present invention includes a glass bulb in which noble gas is enclosed, a pair of electrodes protruding from both ends of the glass bulb in the longitudinal direction of the glass bulb, and a connector connected to each of the electrodes. Each of the electrodes includes at least an axis section and a large-diameter section with a step section and a circumferential face. The step section has a first latching section for latching onto the connector. The circumferential face has a contact section with which the connector comes in contact. The connector includes a connector body into which the electrode is inserted, a second latching section for latching onto the first latching section of the electrode, and a connecting section connected to the contact section of the electrode. This achieves a discharge tube with high connection reliability and high heat radiation efficiency, and a light-emitting apparatus provided with this discharge tube.
US08853911B2

A wedge for use in an electric machine has a central leg extending in a direction that will be radially inward when the wedge is mounted on a lamination stack, The wedge has arms extending in both circumferential directions from the central leg, with a circumferentially outermost part of the arms having a curved surface that will be radially outward, and a flat inner surface that will be radially inward when the wedge in mounted in the lamination stack. A generator/motor rotor and a generator/motor are also disclosed.
US08853907B2

A multi-phase electric motor comprises a stator comprising a plurality of wire coils surrounding a non-magnetizable core; a rotor with permanent magnets embedded therein, the rotor being disposed adjacent to the stator, the rotor being mounted on a rotatable drive shaft; a power source; a position sensor operably connected to the rotor; and a control circuit operably connected to the power source, the position sensor, and the wire coils, for controlling distribution of electrical energy to the wire coils. In this motor the control mechanism transfers electrical charge from a first coil to a second coil.
US08853906B2

Various embodiments provide a system for moving optical elements. The system includes a first rotor and a second rotor configured to rotate in opposite directions. The system further includes a first plurality of paddles coupled to the first rotor, each of the plurality of paddles having an aperture configured to receive a first optical element, and a second plurality of paddles coupled to the second rotor, each of the plurality of paddles having an aperture configured to receive a second optical element. The first rotor and the second rotor are configured to move the first optical element between a retracted position and a desired position and to move the second optical element between the desired position and a retracted position substantially simultaneously such that a reaction torque of the first rotor cancels a reaction torque of the second rotor.
US08853892B2

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for reducing power consumption. One method includes detecting the presence of an object, identifying whether the object is a valid device and restricting power if its not a valid device. Another method includes temporarily applying a low amount of power to the primary unit to detect a load, supplying more power to determine if its a valid secondary device, and restricting power if its not. An apparatus for reducing power consumption includes two power inputs, where the lower power input powers a sense circuit. A switch selectively decouples the higher power input from the primary subcircuit during detection mode and couples the higher power input to the primary subcircuit during power supply mode.
US08853889B2

A communication terminal that includes a wireless communication unit used to communicate with another communication terminal, a power transmitting unit that transmits contactless electric power to the another communication terminal, and a control unit that controls the wireless communication unit to transmit, to the another communication terminal, an instruction for receiving the contactless electric power transmitted from the power transmitting unit.
US08853888B2

A multiple-input DC-DC converter that is capable of power diversification among different energy sources with different voltage-current characteristics. The converter is capable of bidirectional operation in buck, boost and buck-boost modes and provides a positive output voltage without the need for a transformer.
US08853886B2

A system to collect energy from generation systems such as, for example, wind farms or solar farms with widely distributed energy-generation equipment. In some cases, static inverters are used to feed the energy directly into the power grid. In some other cases, back-to-back static inverters are used create a high-voltage DC transmission line to collect power from multiple generation sites into one feed-in site.
US08853882B2

Disclosed is an energy generating installation, especially a wind power station, including a drive shaft, a generator (8) and a differential transmission (11 to 13) provided with three drives or outputs. A first drive is connected to the drive shaft, one output is connected to a generator (8), and a second drive is connected (23) to a differential drive (6). A ring gear carrier (18) is connected to a generator shaft (24). The generator shaft (24) is mounted (25) via the ring gear carrier (18) on a housing (26) of the generator (8).
US08853878B1

A gas turbine engine includes a compressor, a combustor, a turbine, a power turbine shaft, and a gas producer shaft. The compressor includes a compressor rotor assembly including a plurality of compressor disk assemblies. The turbine includes a turbine rotor assembly including a power turbine section and a gas producer section. The power turbine shaft is coupled to the power turbine section and is configured to couple to a first driven apparatus. The gas producer shaft is coupled to the gas producer section and the compressor rotor assembly, and is configured to couple to a second driven apparatus.
US08853871B2

A roller, in particular track roller or a carrying roller for use in a cableway system is formed with a cylindrical tubular piece that is located radially on the inside, two annular bearings that are located radially outside the tubular piece and at an axial distance from each other, and a roller body that is located radially outside the annular bearings. The roller body is formed of a track ring and two flanged disks located to the sides thereof. The roller includes an annular electric generator which is located within a cavity surrounded by the roller body and the two annular bearings.
US08853867B2

A mold compound is provided for encapsulating a semiconductor device (101). The mold compound comprises at least approximately 70% by weight silica fillers, at least approximately 10% by weight epoxy resin system, and beneficial ions that are beneficial with respect to copper ball bond corrosion. A total level of the beneficial ions in the mold compound is at least approximately 100 ppm.
US08853860B2

A transistor, a method and an apparatus for forming multiple connections to a transistor for reduced gate (FET/HEMT) or base (BJT/HBT) parasitics, and improved multi-finger transistor thermal impedance. Providing for a method and an apparatus that reduces a transistor's parasitics and reduces a transistor's thermal impedance, resulting in higher device bandwidths and higher output power. More particularly, providing for a method and an apparatus for applying compact, multiple connections to the gate of a FET (or HEMT) or the base of a BJT (or HBT) from many sides resulting in reduced parasitics and improved transistor thermal impedance.
US08853854B2

A semiconductor package may include a package substrate, a first semiconductor chip and a second semiconductor chip. The first semiconductor chip may be arranged on the package substrate. The first semiconductor chip may have a plug electrically connected to the package substrate and at least one insulating hole arranged around the plug. The second semiconductor chip may be arranged on the first semiconductor chip. The second semiconductor chip may be electrically connected to the plug. Thus, the insulating hole and the insulating member may ensure an electrical isolation between the plug and the first semiconductor chip, and between the plugs.
US08853847B2

Disclosed is a stacked chip module incorporating a stack of integrated circuit (IC) chips having integratable and automatically reconfigurable built-in self-maintenance blocks (i.e., built-in self-test (BIST) circuits or built-in self-repair (BISR) circuits). Integration of the built-in self-maintenance blocks between the IC chips in the stack allows for servicing (e.g., self-testing or self-repairing) of functional blocks at the module-level. Automatic reconfiguration of the built-in self-maintenance blocks further allows for functional blocks on any of the IC chips in the stack to be serviced at the module-level even when one or more controllers associated with a given built-in self-maintenance block on a given IC chip has been determined to be defective (e.g., during previous wafer-level servicing). Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing and servicing such a stacked chip module.
US08853838B2

Disclosed are various lead frame and flip chip package structures. In one embodiment, a method can include: (i) a plurality of pins, wherein each of the plurality of pins includes an intermediate portion and an extension portion that are connected to each other; (ii) where the intermediate portion is located at an interior region of the lead frame, the intermediate portion extending to a first side edge of the lead frame; and (iii) where the extension portion is located at a peripheral region of the lead frame, the peripheral region being different than the first side edge.
US08853824B1

An enhanced tunnel field effect transistor includes a substrate, a layer of P-I-N structure, a hetero-material layer, a gate dielectric layer, a gate structure and a spacer, in which the layer of P-I-N structure is disposed on the substrate, the hetero-material layer is disposed on portion of the layer of P-I-N structure, the gate dielectric layer is disposed on the hetero-material layer, the gate structure is disposed the gate dielectric layer and a spacer is disposed on a sidewall of the hetero-material layer, the gate dielectric layer, and the gate structure. The hetero-material layer can increase the tunneling efficiency of the enhanced tunnel field effect transistor to increase the conductor current to improve the enhanced tunnel field effect transistor performance.
US08853823B2

The capacitor of a nonvolatile memory device includes first and second electrodes formed in the capacitor region of a semiconductor substrate to respectively have consecutive concave and convex shape of side surfaces formed along each other and a dielectric layer formed between the first and the second electrodes.
US08853813B2

Embodiments relate to photo cell devices. In an embodiment, a photo cell device includes an array of transmission layers having different optical thicknesses and with photo diodes underneath. The transmission layers can include two different materials, such as a nitride and an oxide, that cover each diode with a different proportional area density in a damascene-like manner. Embodiments provide advantages over conventional devices, including that they can be integrated into a standard CMOS process and therefore simpler and less expensive to produce.
US08853811B2

Provided is a semiconductor image sensor device. The image sensor device includes a substrate. The image sensor device includes a first pixel and a second pixel disposed in the substrate. The first and second pixels are neighboring pixels. The image sensor device includes an isolation structure disposed in the substrate and between the first and second pixels. The image sensor device includes a doped isolation device disposed in the substrate and between the first and second pixels. The doped isolation device surrounds the isolation structure in a conformal manner.
US08853808B2

According to one embodiment, a radiation detector includes a substrate, a scintillator layer, a moisture-proof body and an adhesive layer. The substrate is partitioned into at least an active area and a bonding area. The substrate includes a photoelectric conversion element located in the active area and configured to convert fluorescence to an electrical signal, an organic resin protective layer located at an outermost layer in the active area, and an inorganic protective film located at an outermost layer of the bonding area. The scintillator layer is formed on the organic resin protective layer so as to cover the photoelectric conversion element and configured to convert radiation to the fluorescence. The moisture-proof body is formed so as to cover the scintillator layer. The adhesive layer is formed on the inorganic protective film and bonds the moisture-proof body to the substrate.
US08853805B2

A test structure for measuring strain in the channel of transistors. A method of correlating transistor performance with channel strain.
US08853800B2

An embodiment relates to a device integrated on a semiconductor substrate of a type comprising at least one first portion for the integration of at least one microfluidic system, and a second portion for the integration of an additional circuitry. The microfluidic system comprises at least one cavity realized in a containment layer of the integrated device closed on top by at least one portion of a polysilicon layer, this polysilicon layer being a thin layer shared by the additional circuitry and the closing portion of the cavity realizing a piezoresistive membrane for the microfluidic system.
US08853796B2

A device includes a substrate with a device region surrounded by an isolation region, in which the device region includes edge portions along a width of the device region and a central portion. The device further includes a gate layer disposed on the substrate over the device region, in which the gate layer includes a graded thickness in which the gate layer at edge portions of the device region has a thickness TE that is different from a thickness TC at the central portion of the device region.
US08853793B2

A semiconductor device includes a cross-coupled transistor configuration formed by first and second PMOS transistors defined over first and second p-type diffusion regions, and by first and second NMOS transistors defined over first and second n-type diffusion regions, with each diffusion region electrically connected to a common node. Gate electrodes of the PMOS and NMOS transistors are formed by conductive features which extend in only a first parallel direction. The first and second p-type diffusion regions are formed in a spaced apart manner, such that no single line of extent that extends perpendicular to the first parallel direction intersects both the first and second p-type diffusion regions. The first and second n-type diffusion regions are formed in a spaced apart manner, such that no single line of extent that extends perpendicular to the first parallel direction intersects both the first and second n-type diffusion regions.
US08853786B1

A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor switching element and a rectifier element. The semiconductor switching element includes a plurality of switching cells connected in parallel between a first and a second load terminal and is formed in a cell area of a first semiconductor layer. The rectifier element includes a plurality of rectifier cells connected in parallel between the first load terminal and an auxiliary terminal. The rectifier cells are formed in a second semiconductor layer parallel to the first semiconductor layer in a vertical projection of the cell area. The semiconductor device may integrate free-wheeling diodes for inductive loads and semiconductor switching elements for switching the inductive loads.
US08853779B2

An embodiment of a process for manufacturing a power semiconductor device envisages the steps of: providing a body of semiconductor material having a top surface and having a first conductivity; forming columnar regions having a second type of conductivity within the body of semiconductor material, and surface extensions of the columnar regions above the top surface; and forming doped regions having the second type of conductivity, in the proximity of the top surface and in contact with the columnar regions. The doped regions are formed at least partially within the surface extensions of the columnar regions; the surface extensions and the doped regions have a non-planar surface pattern, in particular with a substantially V-shaped groove.
US08853777B2

A semiconductor device according an aspect of the present disclosure may include an isolation layer formed within a substrate and formed to define an active region, a junction formed in the active region, well regions formed under the isolation layer, and a plug embedded within the substrate between the junction and the well regions and formed extend to a greater depth than the well regions.
US08853766B2

In a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, a stacked body is formed by alternately stacking dielectric films and conductive films on a silicon substrate and a plurality of through holes extending in the stacking direction are formed in a matrix configuration. A shunt interconnect and a bit interconnect are provided above the stacked body. Conductor pillars are buried inside the through holes arranged in a line immediately below the shunt interconnect out of the plurality of through holes, and semiconductor pillars are buried inside the remaining through holes. The conductive pillars are formed from a metal, or low resistance silicon. Its upper end portion is connected to the shunt interconnect and its lower end portion is connected to a cell source formed in an upper layer portion of the silicon substrate.
US08853763B2

Semiconductor devices are provided with encapsulating films for protection of sidewall features during fabrication processes, such as etching to form isolation regions. In a non-volatile flash memory, for example, a trench isolation process is divided into segments to incorporate an encapsulating film along the sidewalls of charge storage material. A pattern is formed over the layer stack followed by etching the charge storage material to form strips elongated in the column direction across the substrate, with a layer of tunnel dielectric material therebetween. Before etching the substrate, an encapsulating film is formed along the sidewalls of the strips of charge storage material. The encapsulating film can protect the sidewalls of the charge storage material during subsequent cleaning, oxidation and etch processes. In another example, the encapsulating film is simultaneously formed while etching to form strips of charge storage material and the isolation trenches.
US08853746B2

The present invention relates to improved complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) devices with stressed channel regions. Specifically, each improved CMOS device comprises an field effect transistor (FET) having a channel region located in a semiconductor device structure, which has a top surface oriented along one of a first set of equivalent crystal planes and one or more additional surfaces oriented along a second, different set of equivalent crystal planes. Such additional surfaces can be readily formed by crystallographic etching. Further, one or more stressor layers with intrinsic compressive or tensile stress are located over the additional surfaces of the semiconductor device structure and are arranged and constructed to apply tensile or compressive stress to the channel region of the FET. Such stressor layers can be formed by pseudomorphic growth of a semiconductor material having a lattice constant different from the semiconductor device structure.
US08853743B2

A pseudomorphic high electron mobility transistor (PHEMT) comprises a substrate comprising a Group III-V semiconductor material, a buffer layer disposed over the substrate, wherein the buffer layer comprises microprecipitates of a Group V semiconductor element and is doped with an N-type dopant, and a channel layer disposed over the buffer layer.
US08853742B2

According to one embodiment, a second nitride semiconductor layer is provided on a first nitride semiconductor layer and has a band gap wider than that of the first nitride semiconductor layer. A third nitride semiconductor layer is provided above the second nitride semiconductor layer. A fourth nitride semiconductor layer is provided on the third nitride semiconductor layer and has a band gap wider than that of the third nitride semiconductor layer. A fifth nitride semiconductor layer is provided between the second and the third nitride semiconductor layers. A first electrode contacts the second, the third and the fourth nitride semiconductor layers. A second electrode is provided on the fourth nitride semiconductor layer. A gate electrode is provided on a gate insulating layer between the first and the second electrodes. A third electrode is in contact with the second nitride semiconductor layer.
US08853733B2

An light-emitting diode (LED) package includes a substrate, a electrode structure embedded in the substrate, and a plurality of LED chips electrically connecting with the electrode structure. The substrate includes a main portion and a protruding portion extending from a bottom surface of the main portion. The main portion is located above the protruding portion. The electrode structure includes a first, a second and a third electrode spaced from each other. The third electrode is located between the first and second electrodes. Top surfaces of the first, second and third electrodes are exposed out of the top surface of the main portion. Bottom surfaces of the first and second electrodes are exposed out of the bottom surface of the main portion. Bottom surface of the third electrode is covered by the protruding portion. The present disclosure also relates to a method for manufacturing the LED package.
US08853730B2

A light emitting device comprises a substrate including a top surface that is flat, a light emitting diode on the substrate, a lead frame formed on the flat top surface of the substrate. The lead frame includes a circuit with a predetermined pattern to electrically connect to the light emitting diode. A dam part is formed on the substrate and is adjacent to the light emitting diode. A first member is formed on the light emitting diode, the first member including a fluorescent substance to convert a light emission spectrum of light from the light emitting diode. A second member is surrounded by the dam part and is formed on the substrate adjacent to the first member, and a lens covers the first member, the second member and the light emitting diode.
US08853726B2

Disclosed are a light emitting device package and a lighting system including the same. The light emitting device package includes a first lead frame and a second lead frame disposed on an insulating layer and electrically separated from each other by a separation part, and a light emitting device disposed on the second lead frame and electrically connected to the first lead frame, and the second lead frame includes a through part disposed opposite to the separation part such that the light emitting device is located therebetween.
US08853725B2

The present invention provides a light emitting device which is capable of enhancing the radiant intensity on a single direction. The light emitting device comprises a substrate, a lens bonded to the substrate, and an LED chip bonded to the substrate and exposed in a gap clipped between the substrate and the lens, wherein the lens has a light output surface which bulges in a direction that is defined from the substrate toward the LED chip and is contained in a thickness direction of the substrate to transmit the light emitted from the LED chip.
US08853721B2

A wire-piercing light-emitting diode (LED) a lead frame having a first lead and a second lead. The first lead has a first transition portion and a first bottom portion with a first cutting member, and the second lead having a second transition portion and a second bottom portion with a second cutting member.
US08853719B2

Provided are a semiconductor light-emitting device and a light-emitting device package having the same. The semiconductor light-emitting device comprises a light-emitting structure, a first electrode unit, and a second electrode layer. The light-emitting structure comprises a plurality of compound semiconductor layers having a rounded side surface at an outer edge. The first electrode unit is disposed on the light-emitting structure. The second electrode layer is disposed under the light-emitting structure.
US08853704B2

A thin film transistor, a thin film transistor array panel including the same, and a method of manufacturing the same are provided, wherein the thin film transistor includes a channel region including an oxide semiconductor, a source region and a drain region connected to the channel region and facing each other at both sides with respect to the channel region, an insulating layer positioned on the channel region, and a gate electrode positioned on the insulating layer, wherein an edge boundary of the gate electrode and an edge boundary of the channel region are substantially aligned.
US08853699B2

Disclosed are a thin film transistor and a method of forming the thin film transistor, wherein the thin film transistor includes a gate electrode, an oxide semiconductor pattern, a first gate insulating layer pattern interposed between the gate electrode and the oxide semiconductor pattern, wherein the first gate insulating layer pattern has an island shape or has two portions of different thicknesses from each other, a source electrode and a drain electrode electrically connected to the oxide semiconductor pattern, wherein the source electrode and the drain electrode are separated from each other, and a first insulating layer pattern placed between the source electrode and drain electrode and the oxide semiconductor pattern, wherein the first insulating layer pattern partially contacts the source electrode and drain electrode and the first gate insulating layer pattern, and wherein the first insulating layer is enclosed by an outer portion.
US08853698B1

An oxide semiconductor thin film transistor (TFT) substrate includes a substrate, a source, a drain, a patterned transparent conductive layer, an oxide semiconductor layer, a gate and a gate dielectric layer. The source and drain are disposed on the substrate. The patterned transparent conductive layer includes a first transparent electrode, a second transparent electrode and a pixel electrode. The first and second transparent electrodes respectively cover an upper surface of the source and an upper surface of the drain. The pixel electrode connects to the drain. The oxide semiconductor layer contacts the first and second transparent electrodes. The gate dielectric layer is interposed between the oxide semiconductor layer and the gate.
US08853692B1

A test structure for measuring bond pad quality is presented. The test structure includes a metal element that is defined over a dielectric layer. The metal element is then covered by a passivation layer, which has a number of probe points that exposes the top surface of the metal element. In addition, the top surface of the metal element is exposed between a pair of adjacent probe points.
US08853690B2

An object is to provide a transistor including an oxide layer which includes Zn and does not include a rare metal such as In or Ga. Another object is to reduce an off current and stabilize electric characteristics in the transistor including an oxide layer which includes Zn. A transistor including an oxide layer including Zn is formed by stacking an oxide semiconductor layer including insulating oxide over an oxide layer so that the oxide layer is in contact with a source electrode layer or a drain electrode layer with the oxide semiconductor layer including insulating oxide interposed therebetween, whereby variation in the threshold voltage of the transistor can be reduced and electric characteristics can be stabilized.
US08853686B2

A flat panel display device with an oxide thin film transistor and a fabricating method thereof are disclosed. The fabricating method of the flat panel display device includes: preparing a substrate defined into a pixel region and a pad contact region; forming a gate electrode and a link line; forming a pixel electrode within the pixel region; forming an oxide layer on the substrate provided with the pixel electrode; forming a passivation layer on the substrate and performing a formation process of contact holes to expose the link line; and forming a second transparent conductive material film on the substrate.
US08853685B2

The optical semiconductor of the present invention is an optical semiconductor containing In, Ga, Zn, O and N, and has a composition in which a part of oxygen (O) is substituted by nitrogen (N) in a general formula: In2xGa2(1-x)O3(ZnO)y, where x and y satisfy 0.2
US08853684B2

In a transistor having a top-gate structure in which a gate electrode layer overlaps with an oxide semiconductor layer which forms a channel region with a gate insulating layer interposed therebetween, when a large amount of hydrogen is contained in the insulating layer, hydrogen is diffused into the oxide semiconductor layer because the insulating layer is in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer; thus, electric characteristics of the transistor are degraded. An object is to provide a semiconductor device having favorable electric characteristics. An insulating layer in which the concentration of hydrogen is less than 6×1020 atoms/cm3 is used for the insulating layer being in contact with oxide semiconductor layer which forms the channel region. Using the insulating layer, diffusion of hydrogen can be prevented and a semiconductor device having favorable electric characteristics can be provided.
US08853681B2

An OLED illuminating device includes an OLED unit and an insulating unit. The OLED unit includes: a substrate having a top surface that includes a first zone provided with a terminal area; a light emitting element having a first electrode layer that includes a first terminal portion disposed on the terminal area, a second electrode layer that includes a second terminal portion disposed on the terminal area, and an organic light emitting multilayer structure; and a packaging cover partially covering the light emitting element in such a manner that the first and second terminal portions are exposed therefrom. The insulating unit covers the first and second terminal portions and is bonded adhesively to the terminal area.
US08853667B2

Quantum dot (QD) gate FETs and the use of quantum dot (QD) gate FETs for the purpose of sensing analytes and proteins is disclosed and described. Analytes, proteins, miRNAs, and DNAs functionalized to the QDs change the charge density in the gate and hence the current-voltage characteristics. In one embodiment, QD-FETs, such as 3-state configurations, the binding of chemical and biological species change the drain current-gate voltage characteristics resulting in detection. In one embodiment, DNA sensing is done by its binding to an existing reference DNA functionalized on to quantum dots which are located in the gate region of the FET.
US08853662B2

A memory array including a plurality of memory cells. Each word line is electrically coupled to a set of memory cells, a gate contact and a pair of dielectric pillars positioned parallel to the word line. Dielectric pillars are placed on both sides of the gate contact. Also a method to prevent a gate contact from electrically connecting to a source contact for a plurality of memory cells on a substrate. The method includes formation of a pair of pillars made of an insulating material over the substrate, depositing an electrically conductive gate material between and over the pillars, etching the gate material such that it both partially fills a space between the pair of pillars and forms a word line for the memory cells, and depositing a gate contact between the dielectric pillars such that the gate contact is in electrical contact with the gate material.
US08853661B1

Provided are resistive random access memory (ReRAM) cells and methods of fabricating thereof. A ReRAM cell includes an embedded resistor and resistive switching layer connected in series. The embedded resistor prevents excessive electrical currents through the resistive switching layer, especially when the resistive switching layer is switched into its low resistive state, thereby preventing over-programming. The embedded resistor includes aluminum, nitrogen, and one or more additional metals (other than aluminum). The concentration of each component is controlled to achieve desired resistivity and stability of the embedded resistor. In some embodiments, the resistivity ranges from 0.1 Ohm-centimeter to 40 Ohm-centimeter and remains substantially constant while applying an electrical field of up 8 mega-Volts/centimeter to the embedded resistor. The embedded resistor may be made from an amorphous material, and the material is operable to remain amorphous even when subjected to typical annealing conditions.
US08853659B2

A switchable electronic device comprises a hole blocking layer and a layer comprising a conductive material between first and second electrodes, wherein the conductivity of the device may be irreversibly switched upon application of a current having a current density of less than or equal to 100 A cm−2 to a conductivity at least 100 times lower than the conductivity of the device before switching. The conductive material is a doped organic material such as doped optionally substituted poly(ethylene dioxythiophene).
US08853655B2

A laser-sustained plasma illuminator system includes at least one laser light source to provide light. At least one reflector focuses the light from the laser light source at a focal point of the reflector. An enclosure substantially filled with a gas is positioned at or near the focal point of the reflector. The light from the laser light source at least partially sustains a plasma contained in the enclosure. The enclosure has at least one wall with a thickness that is varied to compensate for optical aberrations in the system.
US08853653B1

A system to control an ion beam in an ion implanter includes a detector system to detect a plurality of beam current measurements of the ion beam at a first frequency and an analysis component to determine a variation of the ion beam based upon the plurality of beam current measurements, the variation corresponding to a beam current variation of the ion beam at a second frequency different from the first frequency. The system also includes an adjustment component to adjust the ion beam in response to an output of the analysis component to reduce the variation, wherein the analysis component and the adjustment component are configured to dynamically reduce the variation of the ion beam below a threshold value while the ion beam is generated in the ion implanter.
US08853652B2

Provided herein are exemplary embodiments for phosphor screen including a substrate, a stimulable phosphor layer disposed over the substrate, the stimulable phosphor layer including a stimulable phosphor material, and an adhesive layer disposed by solvent coating over the stimulable phosphor layer, the adhesive layer including solvent-coatable thermally-sensitive elastomers, where the adhesive layer has a dust adhesion of ≦1 dust particles/sq.in.
US08853649B2

A fluorescence sensor includes a detection substrate section, on a first principal plane of which a concave portion having a bottom surface parallel to the first principal plane is present and, on a side surface of the concave portion of which a PD element configured to receive fluorescent light and output a detection signal is formed, an LED element disposed on the bottom surface of the concave portion of the detection substrate section and configured to generate excitation light, and an indicator layer disposed on an inside of the concave portion on the LED element and configured to generate the fluorescent light corresponding to the excitation light and an analyte amount.
US08853643B2

The readout electrode assembly of an avalanche particle detector can be effectively protected against sparks and discharges by means of a plurality of resistor pads formed in a dielectric cover layer above the readout pads. The resistor pads may either be connected directly to the readout pads, or may be coupled capacitively by means of a charge spreading pad embedded into the dielectric cover layer and spatially separated from the readout pads. The charge spreading pad allows the distribution of charges to neighboring readout pads, and may hence increase the spatial resolution of the detector device.
US08853632B2

An IR sensor comprises a heat sink substrate (10) having portions (12) of relatively high thermal conductivity and portions (14) of relatively low thermal conductivity and a planar thermocouple layer (16) having a hot junction (18) and a cold junction (20), with the hot junction (18) located on a portion (14) of the heat sink substrate with relatively low thermal conductivity. A low thermal conductivity dielectric layer (22) is provided over the thermocouple layer (16), and has a via (24) leading to the hot junction (18). An IR reflector layer (26) covers the low thermal conductivity dielectric layer (22) and the side walls of the via (24). An IR absorber (30; 30′) is within the via. This structure forms a planar IR microsensor which uses a structured substrate and a dielectric layer to avoid the need for any specific packaging. This design provides a higher sensitivity by providing a focus on the thermocouple, and also gives better immunity to gas conduction and convection.
US08853621B2

Disclosed herein are systems and methods that allow analysis of macromolecular structures using laserspray ionization at intermediate pressure or high vacuum using commercially available mass spectrometers with or without modification and with the application of heat. The systems and methods produce multiply-charged ions for improved analysis in mass spectrometry.
US08853620B2

The invention provides a method of producing a mass spectrum, comprising: obtaining a transient from the oscillation of ions in a mass analyser; Fourier transforming the transient to obtain a complex spectrum having a real component and an imaginary component; and calculating an enhanced spectrum which comprises a combination of (i) and (ii) wherein (i) comprises a Positive spectrum; and (ii) comprises an Absorption spectrum. Also provided are an apparatus for producing a mass spectrum suitable for carrying out the method as well as a method of determining a phase correction for a complex spectrum obtained by Fourier transformation from a detected transient obtained from a mass analyser.
US08853619B2

The invention concerns a method for surveying a subsurface formation containing hydrocarbons, comprising: injecting at least one tracer compound into the subsurface formation; recovering a fluid derived from the subsurface formation; detecting the tracer compound in the fluid by liquid chromatography analysis coupled with tandem mass spectrometry analysis, the liquid chromatography analysis being conducted with a stationary phase composed of particles having a mean size equal to or less than 2.1 μm.
US08853612B2

A light barrier having at least one transmitter (6) and at least one receiver (8) for a light beam and having a light path (1), which runs between a first side (2) and a second side (4) of a region to be monitored, can be produced flexibly and with little complexity by virtue of the transmitter (6) and of the receiver (8) being situated on the first side (2) and by virtue of the second side (4) containing an optical system (10) which picks up the primary light beam (7) emitted by the transmitter and which deflects the primary light beam (7) and returns it to the receiver (8) via the light path (1) to the first side (2) as a secondary light beam (9), which is separate from the primary light beam (7), at a distance from the primary light beam (7).
US08853608B2

An image sensor for reducing a sampling time by shortening a stabilization duration is provided. The image sensor includes a pixel unit, a sampling unit sampling a signal from an output node of the pixel unit, a sinking unit sinking current from the output node of the pixel unit, and a current controller controlling the amount of current in the sinking unit.
US08853606B2

An image sensor cell, wherein at least one of a plurality of transistors included in image sensor cell is a recess transistor having a channel region recessed into a substrate. The image sensor cell includes an image charge generating unit for generating an image charge corresponding to an image signal, and an image charge converting unit for converting the image charge into an electrical signal, wherein at least one of a plurality of transistors included in the image charge converting unit is a recess transistor including a channel region that is recessed into a substrate.
US08853605B2

An intelligent solar panel array comprises a master panel and a plurality of client panels connected by a predetermined scheme. All panels further comprise a plurality of solar energy collection modules, a supporting, pivoting and tilting mechanism, a controller and a short range communication unit. The communication units of panels form an ad hoc communication network. The optimized position of the master panel towards the sun is determined by measuring current-voltage curve at multiple positions. The optimized position is transmitted to all client panels through the ad hoc communication network. All panels therefore generate electrical power based upon the optimized positions towards the sun.
US08853604B1

An Integrated Laser Field Conjugation System (ILFCS) for end-to-end compensation of high-energy laser for propagation through turbulence with non-cooperative target. ILFCS using interferometric slaving technique and stand-alone adaptive optical systems to effect pre-compensation of amplitude and phase aberrations in turbulent medium, providing pre-compensation for aberrations in a laser amplifier. Performing compensation functions in low-power beam paths, increasing capability, reducing cost, reducing size compensation components for phase correction devices. Pre-compensating low-power master oscillator beam for aberrations in both high-power amplifier and turbulent propagation path-to-target with configuration enabling wavefront sensing of aberrations. Can be configured to perform phase compensation, or compensation of phase/amplitude aberrations. Capability to compensate aberrations in master oscillator beam. ILFCS enables integration with a short pulse mode locked laser for use in Target Feature Adaptive Optics (TFAO) or with a mode locked ultra short pulse laser with carrier envelope phase stabilization for use in Broadband Coherent Adaptive Optics (BCAO).
US08853599B2

An induction heating cooking apparatus includes a magnetic flux-shielding plate 28 to restrain magnetic flux leakage from a heating coil 24 and define a cooling air trunk 33, through which cooling air from a fan 32 passes. An infrared sensor 26 for detecting infrared rays emitted from a cooking container 22 and a control circuit 27 for controlling an output of a heating coil 24 depending on an output from the infrared sensor 26 are accommodated within the same space with respect to the magnetic flux-shielding plate 28 to thereby enhance assemblage. Also, the infrared sensor 26 is mainly cooled by cooling air passing through a cooling air trunk 33 to thereby enhance the cooling efficiency of the infrared sensor 26 and conduct correct temperature detection.
US08853598B2

A bowling ball maintenance device performs a de-oiling process on bowling balls having porous surfaces. The maintenance device may comprise a container sized to store at least one bowling ball within the container and structured to receive the bowling ball. A heating element is structured to warm an internal environment of the container at least to a level at which oil that may have accumulated in the pores of the ball begins to flow out of the pores. Embodiments also include a ball support cup within the container that is structured to contain the oil that has flowed out of the pores of the ball. Depending on the embodiment, the ball support cup may include three or more ball support extensions structured to support the ball in a stationary position over a height of the walls or edges of the ball support cup during operation of the maintenance device.
US08853596B2

A machine-plate manufacturing device 30 includes a cylinder section 32 having an outer circumferential portion. A groove into which an engagement portion of the sheet is removably inserted is formed in the outer circumferential portion of the cylinder section 32. On the inner side of the outer circumferential portion of the cylinder section 32, magnetic attraction members 51 formed of a magnetic material are provided, and permanent magnets 53 are provided in such a manner that their orientation can be switched. Permanent-magnet switching means is provided to switch the orientation of the permanent magnets 53 between a magnetization position for magnetizing the magnetic attraction members 51 and a demagnetization position for demagnetizing the magnetic attraction members 51.
US08853591B2

A surface treatment equipment is designed for forming nickel barriers on a plurality of terminals for preventing solder wicking is disclosed. The surface treatment equipment includes a retractable feeding system, a laser engraving system, an image sensor, and a control system. The retractable feeding system is utilized to transmit a strip that has the terminals. The laser engraving system is utilized to ablate the terminals. The image sensor is utilized to collect a plurality of images of the ablated terminals. The control system receives the images to perform image recognition. When a defective terminal is recognized, the control system controls the retractable feeding system to transmit in reverse and controls the laser engraving system to repeatedly ablate the defective terminal. The defective terminals can be automatically recognized by the image sensor accompanying the control system. Thus, the drawback of a human visual inspection is solved.
US08853590B2

A device for irradiating a laser beam onto an amorphous silicon thin film formed on a substrate. The device includes: a stage mounting the substrate; a laser oscillator for generating a laser beam; a projection lens for focusing and guiding the laser beam onto the thin film; a reflector for reflecting the laser beam guided onto the thin film; a controller for controlling a position of the reflector; and an absorber for absorbing the laser beam reflected by the reflector.
US08853565B2

A piece of luggage has a body with a surface. A weight scale has a top surface and is disposed in the body of the luggage. The top surface of the weight scale is coplanar with the surface of the body of the luggage. The weight scale determines a weight of the piece of luggage when in an operating state. When the weight scale is in a non-operating state it is stored safely within the body of the luggage. Most importantly the weight scale does not stick out from the body of the luggage so as to be susceptible to damage during transport of the luggage.
US08853556B2

A transparent conductive film which comprises: a substrate composed of a non-crystalline polymer film; a first hard coating layer; a first transparent conductor layer; a first metal layer; a second hard coating layer; a second transparent conductor layer; and a second metal layer. The first hard coating layer includes a binder resin and a plurality of sphere-shaped particles having a diameter of 1 μm to 5 μm. The first metal layer has a plurality of projections having a maximum height Rz of 0.5 μm to 2.5 μm resulting from the plurality of particles included in the first hard coating layer on a surface thereof.
US08853553B2

A ball grid array (BGA) and via pattern includes a printed circuit board (PCB) having a surface on which a plurality of regions are formed and a transmit (TX) and receive (RX) cluster comprising a transmit differential signal pair and a receive differential signal pair formed using at least a portion of the plurality of regions on the surface of the PCB, the transmit differential signal pair and the receive differential signal pair comprising nodes arranged in a diagonal orientation in which each node of the receive differential signal pair is equidistant from each node of the transmit differential signal pair.
US08853552B2

A method for manufacturing a multilayer printed wiring board includes preparing a first resin insulative material having a first conductive circuit on or in the first resin insulative material, forming a second resin insulative material on the first resin insulative material and the first conductive circuit, forming on a surface of the second resin insulative material a first concave portion to be filled with a conductive material for formation of a second conductive circuit, forming on the surface of the second resin insulative material a pattern having a second concave portion and post portions to be filled with the conductive material for formation of a plane conductor, and filling the conductive material in the first concave portion and the second concave portion such that the second conductive circuit and the plane conductor are formed.
US08853547B2

A flexible printed circuit board, in particular for the spatial connection of electronic components, includes a carrier foil (1), several bonding surfaces (10) arranged on a solder side (4) of the carrier foil (1), and several soldering surfaces (2) arranged on a bonding side (12) of the carrier foil (1) opposite the solder side. The soldering surfaces (2) are connected to the bonding surfaces (10) via electrical strip conductors, and a stiffening plate (3) is inseparably connected to the carrier foil (1) on the solder side thereof.
US08853542B2

A collar configured to sealingly engage a sealing cover, the collar and the sealing cover configured prevent ingress of environmental elements, comprising a base portion, the base portion including an inner mating surface, a first sleeve portion integrally connected to a base portion, and a second sleeve portion integrally connected to the base portion, wherein a cavity between the first sleeve portion and the second sleeve portion is configured to accept a portion of the sealing cover, wherein the portion of the sealing cover disposed within the cavity sealingly contacts the first sleeve portion and the second sleeve portion is provided. A collar having an interlocking feature is further provided. An associated method is also provided.
US08853540B2

A conductor for a communications cable includes an elongated metal wire and a metal sheet that includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes that at least partially surrounds the elongated metal wire. The metal wire may include copper, and the metal sheet may likewise include copper and may be welded to an outside surface of the metal wire to surround the metal wire. This conductor may be used in a variety of communications cables that carry high frequency signals.
US08853535B1

An electrical device cover with a rotatable lid. An implementation of a weatherproof electrical device cover may include a base unit having a face, an electrical device aperture, and a box mounting screw aperture therethrough. A lid may be rotatably coupled to the base unit and rotate over the base unit in a plane substantially parallel with the base unit. The lid may cover the electrical device aperture of the base unit when the lid is closed over the base unit.
US08853532B2

A conducting path includes a plurality of cables, and a cable clamp for clamping the plurality of cables together. The cable clamp includes a single metal plate molded along a perimeter of the plurality of cables, an attachment flange formed by overlapping both ends of the metal plate, and a cable supporting member for supporting the plurality of cables between the cable supporting member and the metal plate. The cable supporting member includes a coolant passage formed therein for passing a coolant to cool the plurality of cables in a longitudinal direction of the plurality of cables.
US08853527B2

Photovoltaic modules comprise solar cells having doped domains of opposite polarities along the rear side of the cells. The doped domains can be located within openings through a dielectric passivation layer. In some embodiments, the solar cells are formed from thin silicon foils. Doped domains can be formed by printing inks along the rear surface of the semiconducting sheets. The dopant inks can comprise nanoparticles having the desired dopant.
US08853521B2

The present disclosure presents a partially-transparent (see-through) three-dimensional thin film solar cell (3-D TFSC) substrate. The substrate includes a plurality of unit cells. Each unit cell structure has the shape of a truncated pyramid, and its parameters may be varied to allow a desired portion of sunlight to pass through.
US08853514B2

A musical drum comprising a drum shell made of wood staves is provided. The drum shell has cutout sections which are positioned so as to achieve desired acoustical properties for the drum. The cutout portions of the drum shell can also be filled with other materials to further modify the acoustical properties of the drum and lighting can be provided in the interior of the drum allowing light to be passed through the cutout portions of the shell. The light passing through the cutout portions of the drum can be excited by the conditions of play.
US08853510B2

A wheat cultivar designated HY 319-SWW is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds and plants of wheat cultivar HY 319-SWW, and to methods for producing wheat seeds and plants by crossing wheat cultivar HY 319-SWW with itself or another wheat cultivar or wheat plant not designated a cultivar. The invention also relates to methods for producing seeds and plants of wheat cultivar HY 319-SWW containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic wheat plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to methods for producing seeds and plants by mutagenesis of wheat cultivar HY 319-SWW. The invention also relates to hybrid wheat seeds and plants produced by crossing wheat cultivar HY 319-SWW with another wheat cultivar.
US08853509B2

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH765192. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH765192, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH765192 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH765192.
US08853496B2

The present invention relates to nucleic acid sequences encoding a hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (EC 1.13.11.27, abbreviated herein as HPPD) obtained from protists belonging to the family Blepharismidae, as well as the proteins encoded thereby, and to a chimeric gene which comprises such nucleic acid sequence, and to the use of such nucleic acid sequences, proteins or chimeric genes for obtaining plants which are tolerant to HPPD inhibitor herbicides.
US08853488B2

The present invention provides methods for transforming monocot plants via a simple and rapid protocol, to obtain regenerated plants capable of being planted to soil in as little as 4-8 weeks. Associated cell culture media and growth conditions are also provided, as well as plants and plant parts obtained by the method. Further, a method for screening recalcitrant plant genotypes for transformability by the methods of the present invention is also provided. Further, a system for expanding priority development window for producing transgenic plants by the methods of the present invention is also provided.
US08853480B2

When producing an aromatic hydrocarbon by a contact reaction of a lower hydrocarbon with a catalyst, the aromatic hydrocarbon is produced stably for a long time while maintaining a high aromatic hydrocarbon yield. In a process for producing an aromatic hydrocarbon by being equipped with a reaction step for obtaining the aromatic hydrocarbon by a contact reaction of a lower hydrocarbon with a catalyst and a regeneration step for regenerating the catalyst used in this reaction step, and by repeating the reaction step and the regeneration step, yield of the aromatic hydrocarbon is calculated at constant intervals of time. A yield as the standard is set up from this calculated yield. Based on the change of yield relative to this standard, the regeneration time of the regeneration step is prolonged. A threshold value is set up in the change of yield. In case that the change of yield of the aromatic hydrocarbon has been lower than the threshold value in the reaction step, the regeneration time of the regeneration step is prolonged.
US08853477B2

A new family of coherently grown composites of TUN and IMF zeotypes has been synthesized and shown to be effective catalysts for catalytic pyrolysis of biomass. These zeolites are represented by the empirical formula. NanMmn+RrQqAl1-xExSiyOz where M represents zinc or a metal or metals from Group 1, Group 2, Group 3 or the lanthanide series of the periodic table, R is an A,Ω-dihalosubstituted paraffin such as 1,4-dibromobutane, Q is a neutral amine containing 5 or fewer carbon atoms such as 1-methylpyrrolidine and E is a framework element such as gallium. The process involves contacting a carbonaceous biomass feedstock with UZM-39 at pyrolysis conditions to produce pyrolysis gases comprising hydrocarbons. The catalyst catalyzes a deoxygenation reaction converting oxygenated hydrocarbons into hydrocarbons and removing the oxygen as carbon oxides and water. A portion of the pyrolysis gases is condensed to produce low oxygen biomass-derived pyrolysis oil.
US08853475B2

A process for producing a renewable hydrocarbon fuel. The process can include providing a feed including a lignocellulosic material to a pyrolysis zone to produce a stream including a pyrolysis oil, providing the pyrolysis oil stream to a refining zone producing a refined stream, providing at least a portion of the refined stream to a reforming zone producing a stream including hydrogen, providing at least a portion of the hydrogen stream to the refining zone; and recovering the renewable hydrocarbon fuel from the refined stream.
US08853471B2

Preparation of C4-oxygenates, in particular 2-butanol and butanone, which comprises the reaction of ethene with ethanol to form 2-butanol under conditions under which ethanol is present in the supercritical state.
US08853450B2

A method for hydrating a nitrile derivative to generate an amide derivative is provided. The method includes mixing the nitrile derivative with a ruthenium catalyst complex in an aqueous solution to form a mixture, and reacting the nitrile derivative with water in the aqueous solution and in the presence of the ruthenium catalyst complex to form a reacted mixture comprising the amide derivative. The ruthenium catalyst complex is represented by the following structural formula: RuX2(L)n, wherein X is an anionic ligand, L is a bifunctional phosphine ligand, and n is 3 or 4.
US08853448B2

The invention relates to a process for preparing aromatic sulfonylimides, to the sulfonylimides obtained, and to the use thereof as salt of an electrolyte. The sulfonylimides correspond to the formula [R—SO2—N—SO2R′]rM (I). R′ is an ArZL- group. R′ is a perfluoroalkyl group or an ArZL- group. Z is an S, SO or SO2 group. L is a —(CF2)n—CFRf— group. n is 0 or 1; Rf represents F or a C1 to C8 perfluoroalkyl group; Ar is an aromatic group. M represents H, an alkali metal cation, an alkaline earth metal cation, a trivalent or tetravalent metal cation, or an organic cation. The process consists in preparing a compound RSO2N(R′)SO2R′ from RSO2F, and in replacing the group R′ by nucleophilic substitution reaction so as to obtain the compound (I), R′ being a benzyl or trimethylsilyl group.
US08853446B2

Glycine is an organic compound that can be used in the making of a synthetic acid that obviates all the drawbacks of strong acids such as hydrochloric acid. The new compound is made by dissolving glycine in water, in a weight ratio of approximately 1:1 to 1:1.5. The solution is mixed until the glycine is essentially fully dissolved in the water. Once dissolution is complete, hydrogen chloride gas is dissolved in the solution to produce the new compound, which can be referred to as hydrogen glycine.
US08853444B2

Processes for preparing 4-chlorobenzenesulfonic acid from 2-chlorobenzenesulfonic acid and/or 3-chlorobenzenesulfonic acid, which processes include the conversion of 2-chlorobenzenesulfonic acid and/or 3-chlorobenzenesulfonic acid to 4-chlorobenzenesulfonic acid in the presence of sulfuric acid at a temperature of 100 to 300° C.; as well as processes for preparing 4,4′-dichlorodiphenyl sulfone, which include such described processes for preparing 4-chlorobenzenesulfonic acid.
US08853443B2

The present invention relates to a process for preparing an isocyanate, comprising hydrogenating a mixture (Gi) comprising an amine in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst comprising copper to obtain a mixture (Gii) comprising the amine, and reacting the mixture (Gii) with phosgene to obtain a mixture (Giii) comprising the isocyanate. The present invention further relates to the isocyanate preparable by this process.
US08853441B2

A sulfonium compound represented by the following formula (1), a photoacid generator containing the sulfonium compound, and a resist composition containing the photoacid generator are provided: wherein X represents an electron donor group; R1 and R2 each independently represent an alkyl group or the like; R4 to R6 each independently represent an alkyl group, or the like; R3 represents a cyclic alkenediyl group or the like; and −A represents an anion. The sulfonium compound has a photon yield that is controllable by introducing different absorbers to the cation region in one molecule, can address the inconvenience of using a mixture of different photoacid generators when the sulfonium compound is applied as a photoacid generator, has excellent miscibility in a resist, and has enhanced resolution and line edge roughness.
US08853438B2

Formulations of solutions and processes are described to form a substrate including a dopant. In particular implementations, the dopant may include arsenic (As). In an embodiment, a dopant solution is provided that includes a solvent and a dopant. In a particular embodiment, the dopant solution may have a flashpoint that is at least approximately equal to a minimum temperature capable of causing atoms at a surface of the substrate to attach to an arsenic-containing compound of the dopant solution. In one embodiment, a number of silicon atoms at a surface of the substrate are covalently bonded to the arsenic-containing compound.
US08853435B1

The present invention includes a nutritional supplement composition that may be used for livestock and the like, as well as to a livestock feed mixture containing same. Also included are methods of preparing the nutritional supplement composition, the livestock feed mixture, as well as methods of providing nutrition to livestock and the like. The livestock feed composition comprises: (a) a solid particulate livestock feed material and (b) a solidified particulate mixture of (i) free fatty acid and (ii) a magnesium salt of a fatty acid, the magnesium salt of a fatty acid being present in an amount in the range of from about 25% to about 55% of the amount of the free fatty acid based upon the theoretical requirement to accomplish the total neutralization of all of fatty acid present.
US08853427B2

In one aspect, the invention relates to compounds having the formula: where R1-R6, a, b, Z, and X are as defined in the specification, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. These compounds have neprilysin inhibition activity. In another aspect, the invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds; methods of using such compounds; and processes and intermediates for preparing such compounds.
US08853420B2

The present invention encompasses compounds of general formula (1), wherein R1 to R4 are defined as in claim 1, which are suitable for the treatment of diseases characterized by excessive or abnormal cell proliferation, and their use for preparing a medicament having the above-mentioned properties.
US08853419B2

The present invention relates to processes and intermediates useful in the preparation of (R)-2-(7-(4-cyclopentyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)benzyloxy)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrocyclopenta[b]indol-3-yl)acetic acid of Formula (Ia) and salts thereof, an S1P1 receptor modulator that is useful in the treatment of S1P1 receptor-associated disorders, for example, diseases and disorders mediated by lymphocytes, transplant rejection, autoimmune diseases and disorders, inflammatory diseases and disorders (e.g., acute and chronic inflammatory conditions), cancer, and conditions characterized by an underlying defect in vascular integrity or that are associated with angiogenesis such as may be pathologic (e.g., as may occur in inflammation, tumor development and atherosclerosis).
US08853411B2

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of crystalline dexlansoprazole.
US08853407B1

A novel process for the synthesis of 4-aryl 4-acyl piperidine derivatives using indium metal is described. Specifically, a novel process for the synthesis of 4-acetyl 4-phenyl piperidine and its salts using indium metal is described.
US08853400B2

The invention relates to a process for preparing primary amines by alcohol amination of alcohols with ammonia with the elimination of water, where the alcohol amination is carried out under homogeneous catalysis in the presence of at least one complex catalyst which comprises ruthenium and at least one at least bidental donor ligand, but no anionic ligands.
US08853398B2

The present invention relates to a process for preparing methyl {4,6-diamino-2-[1-(2-fluorobenzyl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-3-yl]pyrimidin-5-yl}methylcarbamate of the formula (I) and to a process for purifying the crude product of the compound of the formula (I) for use as pharmaceutically active compound, where, for purification, methyl {4,6-diamino-2-[1-(2-fluorobenzyl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-3-yl]pyrimidin-5-yl}methylcarbamate sulphinyldimethane (1:1), i.e. a compound of the formula (II), is isolated as intermediate or is generated as intermediate in this purification process, if appropriate present in a mixture.
US08853381B2

The present invention relates to a method for producing a polypeptide comprising using a signal peptide, to nucleic acid constructs comprising a first nucleotide sequence encoding the signal peptide and a second nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide which is foreign to the first nucleotide sequence. Furthermore, it also relates to expression vectors and host cells comprising the nuclei acid construct.
US08853377B2

Compositions for modulating the expression of a protein in a target cell comprising at least one RNA molecule which comprises at least one modification conferring stability to the RNA, as well as related methods, are disclosed.
US08853374B2

A target protein is prepared as soluble protein using a recombinant protein expression system. An expression vector is used that includes (1) an expression-inducible promoter sequence; (2) a first coding sequence including a polynucleotide coding for a polypeptide that is represented by the formula (Z)n; and (3) a second coding sequence that includes a polynucleotide that codes for a target protein. A method of producing the target protein is also used that includes expressing protein using this expression vector.
US08853373B2

Provided is a nucleic acid substrate which has nucleic acid substrate characteristics equivalent to those of dATP, has a low substrate specificity for luciferase, exerts no negative effect on enzymatic reactions such as a complementary-strand synthesis, and therefore is particularly suitable for the pyrosequencing method. As a nucleic acid substrate complementary to nucleotide T, a 7-substituted deoxyribonucleotide triphosphate whose 7-position of a purine group is modified by a substituent is used as a substitute for a nucleotide α-thiotriphosphate analog.
US08853369B2

The invention provides anti-Axl antibodies and methods of using the same.
US08853368B2

Specific binding members directed to human glycoprotein VI (GPVI), in particular human antibodies, may employ the antibody VH and/or VL domain of the scFv fragment herein termed 10B12 or one or more complementarity determining regions (CDRs) of the 10B12 heavy chain variable (VH) and/or light chain variable (VL) domains, especially VH CDR3 in other antibody framework regions. Antibody molecules are provided with advantageous and unexpected properties, especially ability to inhibit collagen-induced platelet aggregation and the adhesion of platelets to Collagen-Related Peptide (CRP). Domain 1 of human GPVI is a primary target for the 10B12 antibody with these properties, and the epitope includes lysine 59.
US08853364B2

PSCA and its encoded protein, and variants thereof, are described wherein PSCA exhibits tissue specific expression in normal adult tissue, and is aberrantly expressed in the cancers listed in Table I. Consequently, PSCA provides a diagnostic, prognostic, prophylactic and/or therapeutic target for cancer. The PSCA gene or fragment thereof, or its encoded protein, or variants thereof, or a fragment thereof, can be used to elicit a humoral or cellular immune response; antibodies or T cells reactive with PSCA can be used in active or passive immunization.
US08853357B2

The invention discloses highly purified daptomycin and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising this compound. The invention discloses a method of purifying daptomycin comprising the sequential steps of anion exchange chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography and anion exchange chromatography. The invention also discloses a method of purifying daptomycin by modified buffer enhanced anion exchange chromatography. The invention also discloses an improved method for producing daptomycin by fermentation of Streptomyces roseosporus. The invention also discloses high pressure liquid chromatography methods for analysis of daptomycin purity. The invention also discloses lipopeptide micelles and methods of making the micelles. The invention also discloses methods of using lipopeptide micelles for purifying lipopeptide antibiotics, such as daptomycin. The invention also discloses using lipopeptide micelles therapeutically.
US08853351B2

Disclosed are a highly pure amphiphilic block copolymer including a hydrophobic polymer block of a poly(α-hydroxy acid), and a method for preparing the same. The method for preparing a highly pure amphiphilic block copolymer including a hydrophobic polymer block of a poly(α-hydroxy acid) includes removing α-hydroxy acid, lactone monomers thereof, oligomers thereof and an organometal catalyst in polymerizing the amphiphilic block copolymer.
US08853334B2

Process and apparatus for discharging polyolefin particles from a gas-phase polymerization reactor of a pressure from 1.0 MPa to 10 MPa to a discharge vessel of a pressure from 0.1 MPa to 1.0 MPa wherein the discharging is carried out discontinuously through at least two discharge lines in which the polyolefin particles are transported horizontally or upwards.
US08853332B2

A curable silicone composition comprises (A) (A-1) an alkenyl-containing dialkylpolysiloxane and a viscosity of at least 1,000 mPa·s to not more than 20,000 mPa·s and (A-2) an alkenyl-containing, resin-form organopolysiloxane that comprises the SiO4/2 unit, R12R2SiO1/2 unit, and R13SiO1/2 unit wherein R1 is alkyl and R2 is alkenyl, that contains from 2.5 to 5.0 mass % alkenyl group, and that has a ratio for the total number of moles of R12R2SiO1/2 and R13SiO1/2 units to 1 mole of the SiO4/2 unit in the range from 0.70 to 1.10; (B) an organopolysiloxane that contains at least 0.9 mass % silicon-bonded hydrogen; and (C) a hydrosilylation reaction catalyst. The curable composition provides a bending-tolerant and highly transparent cured silicone material that has a hardness in the range from 80 to 95, and a parallel light transmittance at 200° C. of a value that is at least 99% of the parallel light transmittance at 25° C.
US08853327B2

A process for preparing a blend of thermoplastic polymer and resin modifier within a single-screw extruder, wherein the resin modifier is a hydrocarbon resin.
US08853326B1

An RF-weldable thermoplastic elastomer composition, including a thermoplastic elastomer of non-RF-weldable or poorly RF-weldable character, e.g., a styrenic copolymer/olefinic polymer blend thermoplastic elastomer, and polyol in an amount that is less than 1% by weight, based on weight of the thermoplastic elastomer, and is effective to enhance RF-weldability of the thermoplastic elastomer. The composition may also contain an antistatic ionomer, in an amount that is less than 15% by weight, based on weight of the thermoplastic elastomer. Films of such composition are usefully employed to form RF-welded film articles, such as blood bags, IV fluid bags, glucose bags, urine bags, stool bags, biological sample bags, pouches, covers, and liners.
US08853325B2

The present invention is directed to alkanal derivatives of water-soluble polymers such as poly(ethylene glycol), their corresponding hydrates and acetals, and to methods for preparing and using such polymer alkanals. The polymer alkanals of the invention are prepared in high purity and exhibit storage stability.
US08853322B2

A water-dispersible, cyclocarbonate-functionalized vinyl copolymer binder, a process for the preparation of the binder, an aqueous dispersion containing the binder, a system comprising the binder, water and an (amine) curing agent and the use of the binder for the production of a hardened coating are proposed. It was surprisingly found that this binder, in which the emulsifier groups according to the invention are incorporated in the polymer chain, gives stable aqueous dispersions having a solids content of up to a 30% by weight.
US08853320B2

The invention relates to hybrid polyester-fluorocarbon powder coating composition and the manufacture thereof. These powder coating compositions are manufactured in a process comprising the steps of: Preparation of a polyester powder coating composition A, comprising a polyester resin and a curing agent for said polyester resin; Preparation of a fluorocarbon powder coating composition B, comprising a fluorocarbon resin and a curing agent for said fluorocarbon resin; and Dry blending said polyester powder coating composition A and fluorocarbon powder coating composition B, wherein the weight ratio of polyester powder coating composition A to fluorocarbon powder coating composition B is in the range of 70:30 to 30:70.
US08853319B2

The thermoplastic molding composition comprises: a) as component A, from 0 to 97.9% by weight of one or more (methyl)styrene-acrylonitrile copolymers which do not have any units derived from maleic anhydride, and which have an intrinsic viscosity smaller than 85 ml/g, b) as component B, from 1 to 98.9% by weight of one or more (methyl)styrene-acrylonitrile copolymers which have, based on the entire component B, from 0.5 to 5% by weight of units derived from maleic anhydride, c) as component C, from 1 to 75% by weight of glass fibers, d) from 0.1 to 20% by weight of one or more flow promoters, selected from d1) as component D1, at least one highly branched or hyperbranched polycarbonate with an OH number of from 1 to 600 mg KOH/g of polycarbonate (to DIN 53240, part 2), d2) as component D2, at least one highly branched or hyperbranched polyester of AxBy type, where x is at least 1.1 and y is at least 2.1, d3) as component D3, alkyl acrylate oligomers with a weight-average molar mass in the range from 1200 to 4000 g/mol, e) as component E, from 0 to 40% by weight of further fillers, or rubbers, and/or further additives, where the total amount of components A to D and, if present, E is 100% by weight.
US08853318B2

The invention relates to radiation-curable aqueous composition comprising a high molecular weight ethylenically unsaturated polyurethane obtained from the reaction of a polyisocyanate, at least one hydrophilic compound which is capable to render the polyurethane prepolymer dispersible in aqueous medium, an ethylenically unsaturated compound containing at least two reactive groups capable to react with isocyanate groups and an active hydrogen containing chain extender and a low molecular weight ethylenically unsaturated polyurethane end-capped with an ethylenically unsaturated compound containing essentially one reactive group capable to react with isocyanate groups.
US08853314B2

The invention relates to a powder composition comprising particles of a) an alkali metal tungsten bronze, b) tungsten oxide, and c) tungsten metal, a method for the preparation of said powder composition, and to the use of said powder composition in form of a dispersion in a polymer material or article for heat shielding, or to increase the heat-input amount of near infrared radiation in processes selected from laser welding of plastics, NIR curing of coatings, drying of printing inks, fixing of ink toners to a substrate, heating of plastic performs, laser marking of plastics or paper.
US08853306B2

The invention relates to a bituminous composition containing at least one bitumen and at least one polyolefin capable of forming a supramolecular assembly comprising one or more associative group(s). The invention also relates to the use of such bituminous composition for the preparation of asphalt mixtures useful for the coating of rolling surfaces, for the preparation of water-proofing coatings, and for the preparation of adhesive formulations.
US08853303B2

The recycled crumb rubber coating is a corrosion-proof coating for piping and the like. The coating is formed from recycled crumb rubber mixed with an epoxy resin and a hardener. Crumb rubber is first mixed with a liquid epoxy resin. An agent for reducing the viscosity of the liquid epoxy resin may also be added. A hardener is then added to this mixture. Finally, powdered crumb rubber is added and mixed to form the recycled crumb rubber coating. The total crumb rubber forms about 23 wt % of the coating. If no viscosity reducing agent is added, then the liquid epoxy resin forms about 51.6 wt % of the coating. If the viscosity reducing agent is added, then the liquid epoxy resin forms about 50.1 wt % of the coating, and the viscosity reducing agent forms about 1.5 wt % of the coating. The hardener forms about 25.4 wt % of the coating.
US08853302B2

The present invention provides a liquid resin system including a liquid monobenzoxazine monomer and a non-glycidyl epoxy compound, wherein the weight ratio of the monobenzoxazine monomer to the non-glycidyl epoxy compound is in a range of about 25:75 to about 60:40. The liquid resin system exhibits a low viscosity and exceptional stability over an extended period of time making its use in a variety of composite manufacturing methods highly advantageous.
US08853298B2

A fiber wadding for filling bone defects having a flocculent three-dimensional structure is disclosed. The fiber wadding includes a plurality of fibers that contain a biodegradable resin as a principal component and a siloxane. Outside diameter of the plurality of fibers of the wadding is from about 0.05 μm to about 30 μm. Bulk density of the fiber wadding is about 0.005-0.3 g/cm3.
US08853294B2

An article comprising two chemically grafted polymer layers comprising a hydrogel layer and an end-functionalized polyurethane layer. The invention also includes methods of making and using the article.
US08853288B2

A thermoplastic resin foam, having a bubble with an average bubble diameter of 10 μm or less in the inside thereof, in which wherein the thermoplastic resin foam is prepared by using and foaming a thermoplastic resin composition containing 0.25 to 2.5 part(s) by mass of a melt-type crystallization nucleating agent (B), with respect to 100 parts by mass of an amorphous thermoplastic resin (A).
US08853286B2

The present invention is directed to compositions useful for use in separators for use in lithium ion batteries, and membranes, separators, and devices derived therefrom.
US08853284B2

Aqueous wax dispersions useful as surface modifiers for paints, inks and coatings. More particularly, aqueous particulate wax dispersions useful as surface modifiers to provide improved properties in primers, paints, inks and other coating formulations. The dispersions are stable, substantially homogenous, have a high solids concentration at low viscosities, and comply with the applicable FDA regulations for use in food packaging applications.
US08853282B1

A topical liquid formulation is provided which contains a combination of three active ingredients for treating fleas and ticks in domestic animals. Total concentration of the active hydrophobic and hydrophilic ingredients can exceed 60 weight percent. In contrast to commonly available flea treatments, the new insecticidal composition is safe and effective for both felines and canines and a single topical application can be effective for at least several weeks.
US08853276B2

The invention relates to novel guanidine derivatives in the cinnamic series of general formula (I): The invention also relates to the process for preparing said guanidine derivatives and also to synthetic intermediates.Finally, the invention relates to the use of the guanidine derivatives for the preparation of compositions with anti-glycation properties, especially in cosmetology.
US08853270B2

The present invention relates to stilbene and quinine compounds related to combretastatin A-4 and their use as anticancer compounds and prodrugs. The compounds include those with an alkyl group on the double bond of cis- or trans-stilbenes, compounds with one or more (and preferably 2 or 3) alkyl group substituents on the stilbene A ring, compounds with an alkoxy group other than methoxy at position 3, 4, and/or 5 of the stilbene A ring, compounds (or prodrugs) in which BBOC amino acid esters are formed with the phenolic hydroxyl at the 3-position of the B ring and compounds (or prodrugs) based on a benzoquinone B ring. The present invention further relates to the photochemical reactions of stilbene compounds, either the above compounds disclosed for the first time herein or compounds based on prior stilbenes. These reactions include the photochemical release of an active form of the compound from a prodrug conjugate and the photochemical isomerization of the compounds, especially from a trans to cis form of compounds. The reactions can be used alone or in combination to convert inactive or comparatively less active forms of the compounds to more active forms, thereby allowing the compounds to be selectively targeted, e.g., activating them at the site of a tumor.
US08853269B2

Compositions and methods for the treatment of intestinal infections. Compositions that include a liquid crystal mixture of an antimicrobial glycerol fatty acid ester and a polyhydric alcohol inhibit the growth of numerous deleterious intestinal pathogenic bacteria, including C. difficile. C. difficile is the causative agent in an increasing number of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. The formulations may be administered orally as capsules or soft gels, or alternatively as a enema, colonic, or rectal suppository. When combined with a probiotic supplement, the liquid crystal combinations reported here are able to treat an intestinal bacterial infection effectively and safely, thus promoting general intestinal health.
US08853260B2

In accordance with the present invention, there are provided compositions and methods useful for the in vivo delivery of substantially water insoluble pharmacologically active agents (such as the anticancer drug paclitaxel) in which the pharmacologically active agent is delivered in the form of suspended particles coated with protein (which acts as a stabilizing agent). In particular, protein and pharmacologically active agent in a biocompatible dispersing medium are subjected to high shear, in the absence of any conventional surfactants, and also in the absence of any polymeric core material for the particles. The procedure yields particles with a diameter of less than about 1 micron. The use of specific composition and preparation conditions (e.g., addition of a polar solvent to the organic phase), and careful selection of the proper organic phase and phase fraction, enables the reproducible production of unusually small nanoparticles of less than 200 nm diameter, which can be sterile-filtered. The particulate system produced according to the invention can be converted into a redispersible dry powder comprising nanoparticles of water-insoluble drug coated with a protein, and free protein to which molecules of the pharmacological agent are bound. This results in a unique delivery system, in which part of the pharmacologically active agent is readily bioavailable (in the form of molecules bound to the protein), and part of the agent is present within particles without any polymeric matrix therein.
US08853257B2

The present invention provides methods and pharmaceutical compositions for treating ocular disorders associated with elevated intraocular pressure, such as glaucoma, by administering anti-epileptic or anti-convulsant compounds of the succinimide family, in particular compounds of formula I and/or II as defined herein.
US08853242B2

[Object] An excellent agent for preventing or treating dementia, schizophrenia, and the like, based on serotonin 5-HT5A receptor modulating action, is provided.[Means for Solution] It was confirmed that acylguanidine derivatives (the following formula I; any one of Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4 and Z5 is nitrogen atom, and the others are carbon atoms) which have the characteristic structure in which the guanidine is bonded to one ring of the quinoline or isoquinoline via a carbonyl group, and a cyclic group is bonded to the other ring, exhibit potent 5-HT5A receptor modulating actions and excellent pharmacological actions based on the 5-HT5A receptor modulating action, and thus can be excellent agents for preventing or treating dementia, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Thus, the present invention has been completed.
US08853241B2

The invention relates to biaryl substituted azabicyclic alkane derivatives, compositions comprising such compounds, and methods of treating conditions and disorders using such compounds and compositions.
US08853239B2

The present invention relates to compounds of formula I, wherein R1, LP, LQ, X, A, and n are as defined in the application, which have valuable pharmacological properties, and in particular bind to the GPR119 receptor and modulate its activity.
US08853228B2

The compositions and methods described herein disclose the design, synthesis and testing of compounds that act as inhibitors of DHFR. The basic scaffold of these inhibitors includes a 2,4-diaminopyrimidine ring with a propargyl linker to another substituted aryl, bicyclo or heteroaryl ring. These DHFR inhibitors are potent and selective for many different pathogenic organisms, including the DHFR enzyme from bacteria such as Bacillus anthracis and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, fungi such as Candida glabrata, Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans and protozoa such as Cryptosporidium hominis and Toxoplasma gondii. These compounds and other similar compounds are also potent against the mammalian enzyme and may be useful as anti-cancer therapeutics.
US08853227B2

Methods are provided for using methotrexate (MTX) active agents in which reduced host toxicity is observed. Aspects of the methods include administering to a subject an effective amount of an MTX active agent in conjunction with a MTX toxicity-reducing adjuvant, such as a 2,2′-anhydropyrimidine, a derivative thereof or a uridine phosphorylase inhibitor. Also provided are compositions and kits that find use in practicing embodiments of the invention. The methods and compositions find use in a variety of applications, including the treatment of a variety of different disease conditions.
US08853216B2

The present invention provides a compound and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, comprising the Formula I. Also provided are methods of using the compound of this invention as an AKT protein kinase inhibitor and for the treatment of hyperproliferative diseases such as cancer.
US08853215B2

The present invention relates to a compound represented by the formula wherein each symbol is as defined in the present specification, which has a superior RBP4-lowering action and is useful as a pharmaceutical composition for the prophylaxis or treatment of a disease or condition mediated by an increase in RBP4.
US08853201B2

Disclosed herein are sulfate esters of noribogaine or 9,17 dihydronoribogaine, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of each thereof, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and methods of their use, including in treating addiction and/or pain.
US08853190B2

Steroid compounds having increased resistance against metabolism and increased water solubility are disclosed, together with methods for their production. These substances are suitable for the manufacture of pharmaceuticals for the treatment of steroid related or steroid induced CNS disorders and for use in methods of prevention, alleviation or treatment of such disorders.
US08853185B2

A monomer useful in prepaπng therapeutic compounds includes a diversity element which potentially binds to a target molecule with a dissociation constant of less than 300 11 M and a linker element connected to the diversity element The linker element has a molecular weight less than 500 daltons, is connected, directly or indirectly through a connector, to said diversity element, and is capable of forming a reversible covalent bond or noncovalent interaction with a binding partner of the linker element The monomers can be covalently or non-covalently linked together to form a therapeutic multimer or a precursor thereof.
US08853183B2

The present invention relates to an antibody which specifically binds a Spot 14 (S14 or THRSP) protein in human breast cancer cells and a method for using the same to predict disease-free survival and select treatment modalities for breast cancer. The present invention is also a method for inducing apoptosis in breast cancer cells by inhibiting the expression or activity of Spot 14. Compositions and methods for treating breast cancer are also provided.
US08853178B2

Compounds, compositions and methods are provided for modulating the expression of PTP1B. The compositions comprise antisense compounds, particularly antisense oligonucleotides, targeted to nucleic acids encoding PTP1B. Methods of using these compounds for modulation of PTP1B expression and for treatment of diseases associated with expression of PTP1B are provided.
US08853177B2

The invention provides the use of TLR inhibitors or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof, optionally in combination with one or more lipid lowering composition, cholesterol lowering composition, diuretics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory compounds (NSAIDs), antibodies, antisense oligonucleotides, TLR agonists, TLR antagonists, peptides, proteins or gene therapy vectors or combinations thereof for the prevention or treatment of hypercholesterolemia and/or hyperlipidemia and/or diseases associated therewith.
US08853176B2

The present invention features interferon-free therapies for the treatment of HCV. Preferably, the treatment is over a shorter duration, such as no more than 12 weeks. In one aspect, the therapies comprise administering at least two direct acting antiviral agents and ribavirin to a subject with HCV infection. For example, the therapies comprise administering to the subject effective amounts of therapeutic agent 1, therapeutic agent 2 (or therapeutic agent 3), an inhibitor of cytochrome P450 (e.g., ritonavir), and ribavirin.
US08853166B2

The present invention generally relates to the field of treatment of neuronal disorders and more particularly to neurotrophic factor MANF and uses thereof. The present invention provides a pharmaceutical compound comprising MANF nucleic acid molecule, MANF protein or a functional fragment thereof for the treatment of a peripherial neuropathy including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, drug addiction and ischemic brain injury.
US08853161B2

The invention includes methods and compositions for remodeling a peptide molecule, including the addition or deletion of one or more glycosyl groups to a peptide, and/or the addition of a modifying group to a peptide.
US08853155B2

The present invention is related to insulin derivatives containing additional disulfide bonds and methods of making such.
US08853154B2

The present invention relates to fibronectin-based scaffold domain proteins that bind to myostatin. The invention also relates to the use of these proteins in therapeutic applications to treat muscular dystrophy, cachexia, sarcopenia, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, diabetes, obesity, COPD, chronic kidney disease, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and fibrosis. The invention further relates to cells comprising such proteins, polynucleotides encoding such proteins or fragments thereof, and to vectors comprising the polynucleotides encoding the proteins.
US08853153B2

An agent for suppressing elevation of blood GIP concentration and an agent for preventing or improving obesity, each of which contains a polyglutamic acid as an active ingredient.
US08853152B2

Methods of spray drying are described.
US08853148B2

Nutritional compositions and methods of making and using the nutritional compositions are provided. In a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides nutritional compositions having whey protein micelles and leucine. The nutritional compositions provide a sufficient amount of leucine to improve protein synthesis in humans, while also maintaining a low-viscosity fluid matrix and acceptable organoleptic properties.
US08853140B2

The invention provides a grease composition comprising a base oil consisting of a fluorinated oil and an antirust agent, wherein said antirust agent comprises an aliphatic dibasic acid salt of the formula (1) in an amount of not less than 0.1% by mass and less than 1.0% by mass based on the total mass of the grease composition: (CH2)n(COO)2Mm  (1) wherein n is an integer of 1 to 19, M is an alkali or alkaline earth metal, m is 2 when M is an alkali metal and m is 1 when M is an alkaline earth metal, and a bearing wherein the grease is packed. The grease exerts less effects on the environment. It is low in evaporation loss at a high temperature, shows good antirust property and can be suitably used in a ball bearing operated at a high temperature.
US08853139B2

Provided is a detergent-dispersant for a lubricant having excellent detergency and dispersibility effects. Specifically provided are: a detergent-dispersant including a heterocyclic compound having a heterocyclic skeleton derived from a compound selected from the group consisting of pyridines, pyrroles, pyrimidines, pyrazoles, pyridazines, imidazoles, pyrazines, triazines, triazoles, tetrazoles, oxazoles, oxadiazoles, thiazoles, thiadiazoles, furans, dioxanes, pyrans, and thiophenes; and an additive composition for a lubricant and a lubricant composition, each containing the detergent-dispersant.
US08853132B2

The trivalent phosphorous atom of a compound is reacted with a reagent in such a manner that a stable phosphate mimetic or a specifier is formed. Phosphoramidites with a phosphorous atom containing at least one hydroxyl residue which is provided with a protective group are reacted for this purpose with a free hydroxyl group: In the first synthesis cycle the hydroxyl group is linked to a solid support via a cleavable or non-cleavable linker. In further synthesis cycles the hydroxyl group is created by cleavage of the protective group from the growing oligomer. This results in formation of a phosphorous acid triester which is reacted with azides. By selecting suitable monomers for the synthesis which have a defined stereoconformation compounds of Formula 1 are produced in a stereocontrolled manner.
US08853125B2

The present invention relates to a method for controlling invertebrate pests which method comprises treating the pests, their food supply, their habitat or their breeding ground or a plant, seed, soil, area, material or environment in which the pests are growing or may grow, or the materials, plants, seeds, soils, surfaces or spaces to be protected from pest attack or infestation with a pesticidally effective amount of a pyrazole compound of formulae I or II or a salt or an N-oxide thereof, wherein A is a pyrazole radical of the formulae A1 or A2, wherein # denotes the binding; D is a 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic radical fused to the pyrazole moiety; Rp1, Rp2 and Rpx are H, halogen, CN, NO2, C1-C10-alkyl, C2-C10-alkenyl, C2-C10-alkynyl, etc.; n is 0 to 4; or two radicals Rpx bound to the same ring-member may form an oxo substituent, or two radicals Rpx bound to adjacent ring-members may form a 3- to 7-membered fused cyclic radical; B is N or CR4, wherein R4 is H, halogen, CN, NO2, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, etc.; X1 is S, O or NR1a, wherein R1a is H, C1-C10-alkyl, etc.; X2 is O2a, NR2bR2c or S(O)mR2d, wherein m is 0, 1 or 2; R2a is C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C3-C6-cycloalkyl, etc.; R2b, R2c are H, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C3-C6-cycloalkyl, etc.; R2d is C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C3-C6-cycloalkyl, etc.; R1 is H, CN, C1-C10-alkyl, C1-C10-haloalkyl, C3-C10-cycloalkyl, etc.; R2, R3 and R5 are H, halogen, CN, NO2, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, etc., to a method for protecting plant propagation material and/or the plants which grow threfrom, to plant propagation material comprising at least one compound of formulae I or II, to a method for treating or protecting an animal from infestation or infection by parasites, to novel pyrazole compounds of formulae I or II and agricultural composition containing those compounds.
US08853114B2

The invention is to provide an aluminum titanate-based ceramics showing a good mechanical strength. The invention is an aluminum titanate-based ceramics obtained by firing a starting material mixture which contains a titanium element and an aluminum element, and further contains a chromium element and/or a tungsten element. Preferably, a content of a chromium source which contains the chromium element is from 0.001 to 5 parts by mass, and a content of a tungsten source which contains the tungsten element is from 0.001 to 1.0 part by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the starting material mixture.
US08853113B2

A flat panel display glass substrate according to the present invention includes a glass comprising, as expressed in mol %, 55-80% SiO2, 3-20% Al2O3, 3-15% B2O3, 3-25% RO (the total amount of MgO, CaO, SrO, and BaO), and substantially no As2O3 and Sb2O3. The devitrification temperature of the glass is 1250° C. or less. The glass substrate has a heat shrinkage rate of 75 ppm or less. The heat shrinkage rate is calculated from the amount of shrinkage of the glass substrate measured after a heat treatment which is performed at a temperature rising and falling rate of 10° C./min and at 550° C. for 2 hours by the heat shrinkage rate (ppm)={the amount of shrinkage of the glass substrate after the heat treatment/the length of the glass substrate before the heat treatment}×106.
US08853105B2

A helmet shell is formed having an outer section of fibrous layers, a middle section of fibrous layers and an inner section of fibrous layers. The outer section layers contain high tenacity abrasive fibers in a resin matrix. The middle section layers contain high strength polyolefin fibers and are in the form of woven or knitted fabrics with a resin matrix. The inner section layers contain high strength polyolefin fibers and are in the form of non-woven fabrics with a resin matrix. The helmet is lightweight and resists penetration of rifle bullets.
US08853104B2

The present invention relates to a process of obtaining an industrial fabric with porous and controlled plasticized surface and an industrial fabric with the mentioned characteristics thereof. The invention also relates to an industrial fabric such as press fabric for use in the press section of a paper machine with enhanced aesthetic properties by the use of plasticizers and optional heat and/or pressure treatment.
US08853096B2

The disclosure relates to a method for making a grating. The method includes the following steps. First, a substrate is provided. Second, a photoresist film is formed on a surface of the substrate. Third, a nano-pattern is formed on the photoresist film by nano-imprint lithography. Fourth, the photoresist film is etched to form a patterned photoresist layer. Fifth, a mask layer is covered on the patterned photoresist layer and the surface of the substrate exposed to the patterned photoresist layer. Sixth, the patterned photoresist layer and the mask layer thereon are removed to form a patterned mask layer. Seventh, the substrate is etched through the patterned mask layer by reactive ion etching, wherein etching gases includes carbon tetrafluoride (CF4), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) and argon (Ar2). Finally, the patterned mask layer is removed.
US08853090B1

A method for fabricating a through-silicon via comprises the following steps. Provide a substrate. Form a through silicon hole in the substrate having a diameter of at least 1 μm and a depth of at least 5 μm. Perform a first chemical vapor deposition process with a first etching/deposition ratio to form a dielectric layer lining the bottom and sidewall of the through silicon hole and the top surface of the substrate. Perform a shape redressing treatment with a second etching/deposition ratio to change the profile of the dielectric layer. Repeat the first chemical vapor deposition process and the shape redressing treatment at least once until the thickness of the dielectric layer reaches to a predetermined value.
US08853073B2

Method for producing at least one via (200) in the thickness of a substrate and an electrically conducting line (280) connected to the via (200) and formed on a face (220) of the substrate, comprising: forming, from the face (220), a via cavity comprising a side wall and a bottom; forming an isolating layer (240) on the side wall and the bottom of the cavity; forming at least one line pattern on the face (220) of the substrate, with the line pattern opening into the via cavity; filling with an electrically conducting material the line pattern and the via cavity, a filling so configured as not to totally fill said cavity; Forming at least one line pattern comprises, after forming the isolating layer (240), the forming of a trench (244) in a portion of the isolating layer (240) positioned on the face (220).
US08853072B2

Some embodiments include methods of forming interconnects through semiconductor substrates. An opening may be formed to extend partway through a semiconductor substrate, and part of an interconnect may be formed within the opening. Another opening may be formed to extend from a second side of the substrate to the first part of the interconnect, and another part of the interconnect may be formed within such opening. Some embodiments include semiconductor constructions having a first part of a through-substrate interconnect extending partially through a semiconductor substrate from a first side of the substrate; and having a second part of the through-substrate interconnect extending from a second side of the substrate and having multiple separate electrically conductive fingers that all extend to the first part of the interconnect.
US08853070B2

A method of increasing a work function of an electrode is provided. The method comprises obtaining an electronegative species from a precursor using electromagnetic radiation and reacting a surface of the electrode with the electronegative species. An electrode comprising a functionalized substrate is also provided.
US08853067B2

A method is provided. The method includes forming a plurality of nanowires on a top surface of a substrate and forming an oxide layer adjacent to a bottom surface of each of the plurality of nanowires, wherein the oxide layer is to isolate each of the plurality of nanowires from the substrate.
US08853058B2

A method of assembling semiconductor devices includes providing a structure that includes an array of conductive frame members beside an array of apertures and an array of conductive vias that are exposed at a first face and extend towards a second face. An array of semiconductor dies is positioned in the array of apertures with their active faces positioned in the first face of the structure. The assembly is encapsulated from the second face of the structure and a redistribution layer is formed on the first face of the structure and the active faces of the die. Material is removed from the back face of the encapsulated array to expose the vias at the back face for connection through a further redistribution layer formed on the back face to electronic components stacked vertically on the further redistribution layer.
US08853051B2

Generally, the present disclosure is directed to various methods of recessing an active region and an adjacent isolation structure in a common etch process. One illustrative method disclosed includes forming an isolation structure in a semiconducting substrate, wherein the isolation structure defines an active area in the substrate, forming a patterned masking layer above the substrate, wherein the patterned masking layer exposes the active area and at least a portion of the isolation structure for further processing, and performing a non-selective dry etching process on the exposed active area and the exposed portion of the isolation structure to define a recess in the substrate and to remove at least some of the exposed portions of the isolation structure.
US08853049B2

A method for forming a DRAM MIM capacitor stack having low leakage current and low EOT involves the use of a first electrode that serves as a template for promoting the high k phase of a subsequently deposited first dielectric layer. The first high k dielectric layer comprises a doped material that can be crystallized after a subsequent annealing treatment. An amorphous, doped high k second dielectric material is form on the first dielectric layer. The dopant concentration and the thickness of the second dielectric layer are chosen such that the second dielectric layer remains amorphous after a subsequent annealing treatment. A second electrode layer compatible with the second dielectric layer is formed on the second dielectric layer.
US08853042B2

A method of forming an integrated circuit (IC) including a core and a non-core PMOS transistor includes forming a non-core gate structure including a gate electrode on a gate dielectric and a core gate structure including a gate electrode on a gate dielectric. The gate dielectric for the non-core gate structure is at least 2 Å of equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) thicker as compared to the gate dielectric for the core gate structure. P-type lightly doped drain (PLDD) implantation including boron establishes source/drain extension regions in the substrate.The PLDD implantation includes selective co-implanting of carbon and nitrogen into the source/drain extension region of the non-core gate structure. Source and drain implantation forms source/drain regions for the non-core and core gate structure, wherein the source/drain regions are distanced from the non-core and core gate structures further than their source/drain extension regions. Source/drain annealing is performed after source and drain implantation.
US08853025B2

An embodiment method of controlling threshold voltages in a fin field effect transistor (FinFET) includes forming a dummy gate over a central portion of a fin, the central portion of the fin disposed between exterior portions of the fin unprotected by the dummy gate, removing the exterior portions of the fin and replacing the exterior portions of the fin with an epitaxially-grown silicon-containing material, applying a spin-on resist over the dummy gate and the epitaxially-grown silicon-containing material and then removing the spin-on resist over the hard mask of the dummy gate, etching away the hard mask and a polysilicon of the dummy gate to expose a gate oxide of the dummy gate, the gate oxide disposed over the central portion of the fin, and implanting ions into the central portion of the fin through the gate oxide disposed over the central portion of the fin.
US08853021B2

An embedded transistor for an electrical device, such as a DRAM memory cell, and a method of manufacture thereof is provided. A trench is formed in a substrate and a gate dielectric and a gate electrode formed in the trench of the substrate. Source/drain regions are formed in the substrate on opposing sides of the trench. In an embodiment, one of the source/drain regions is coupled to a storage node and the other source/drain region is coupled to a bit line. In this embodiment, the gate electrode may be coupled to a word line to form a DRAM memory cell.
US08853020B2

Extension regions 7 are formed through implantation using offset sidewalls 6a of a footing profile as a mask, and sidewalls 9 are formed on the offset sidewalls 6a so that source and drain regions 10 are formed into the sidewall through implantation, so that the extension regions 7 are made separated away from both edges of the gate, contributing to enlargement in an effective gate length, and dealing with the narrowed gate pitch, without increasing the number of processes.
US08853014B2

There is provided a method of manufacturing a thin-film device, the method including forming a first substrate on a supporting base by a coating method, the first substrate being formed by using a resin material; forming a second substrate on the first substrate by using any one of a thermosetting resin and energy ray-curable resin; forming an active element on the second substrate; and removing the supporting base from the first substrate. The resin material used to form the first substrate has a glass transition temperature of at least 180° C.
US08853009B2

In a method of manufacturing a reverse-blocking semiconductor element, a tapered groove is formed and ions are implanted into a rear surface and the tapered groove. Then, a furnace annealing process and a laser annealing process are performed to form a rear collector layer and a separation layer on the side surface of the tapered groove. In this way, it is possible to ensure a reverse breakdown voltage and reduce a leakage current when a reverse bias applied, even in a manufacturing method including a process of manufacturing a diffusion layer formed by forming a tapered groove and performing ion implantation and an annealing process for the side surface of the tapered groove as the separation layer for bending the termination of a reverse breakdown voltage pn junction to extend to the surface.
US08853007B2

A method of dissipating heat from a heat source includes providing a plurality of heat flux paths in a plane of the heat source to remove heat from the heat source.
US08853005B2

When forming a conductive film by a method comprising sputtering after grinding the back surface of a semiconductor substrate, in order to avoid discharge from a part of an adhesive flown out at the outer periphery of the substrate, wherein the adhesive is used to fix the substrate to a support during grinding, at least the substrate end or the adhesive is removed after grinding the semiconductor substrate and before forming the conductive film, so that a gap between the substrate end and the adhesive may have a predetermined size.
US08853004B2

Disclosed is a technique in which an excessive resin can be stably cut and removed in a molding step. In a step for separating part of a runner leading to a resin-sealing body from the resin-sealing body, the runner is formed by a first runner and a second runner coupled to the first runner and the resin-sealing body. The runner is separated from a middle of the second runner by supporting, with a first supporting portion, the second runner from the side of the second surface of a lead frame, and by pushing down, with a break pin, the first runner in the direction from the side of the first surface of the lead frame toward the side of the second surface thereof, while the resin-sealing body is in a condition of floating in the air.
US08853000B2

A method for manufacturing a package on package structure includes the steps of: providing a connection substrate comprising a main body and electrically conductive posts, the main body comprising a first surface and an opposite second surface, each electrically conductive post passing through the first and second surfaces, and each end of the two ends of the electrically conductive post protruding from the main body; arranging a first package device on a side of the first surface of the connection substrate, arranging a package adhesive on a side of the second surface of the connection substrate, thereby obtaining a semi-finished package on package structure; and arranging a second package device on a side of the package adhesive furthest from the first package device, thereby obtaining a package on package structure.
US08852994B2

A method of fabricating on a semiconductor substrate bifacial tandem solar cells with semiconductor subcells having a lower bandgap than the substrate bandgap on one side of the substrate and with subcells having a higher bandgap than the substrate on the other including, first, growing a lower bandgap subcell on one substrate side that uses only the same periodic table group V material in the dislocation-reducing grading layers and bottom subcells as is present in the substrate and after the initial growth is complete and then flipping the substrate and growing the higher bandgap subcells on the opposite substrate side which can be of different group V material.
US08852993B2

A gallium-containing alloy is formed on the light-receiving surface of a CIGS absorber layer, and, in conjunction with a subsequent selenization or anneal process, is converted to a gallium-rich region at the light-receiving surface of the CIGS absorber layer. A second gallium-rich region is formed at the back contact surface of the CIGS absorber layer during selenization, so that the CIGS absorber layer has a double-graded gallium concentration that increases toward the light-receiving surface and toward the back contact surface of the CIGS absorber layer. The double-graded gallium concentration advantageously produces a double-graded bandgap profile for the CIGS absorber layer.
US08852989B2

Methods for increasing the power output of a TFPV solar panel using thin absorber layers comprise techniques for roughening and/or texturing the back contact layer. The techniques comprise roughening the substrate prior to the back contact deposition, embedding particles in sol-gel films formed on the substrate, and forming multicomponent, polycrystalline films that result in a roughened surface after a wet etch step, etc.
US08852976B2

According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting device includes a semiconductor layer including a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a light emitting layer; a p-side electrode provided on the second surface of the semiconductor layer in a region including the light emitting layer; an n-side electrode provided on the second surface of the semiconductor layer in a region not including the light emitting layer; an insulating film being more flexible than the semiconductor layer, the insulating film provided on the second surface and a side surface of the semiconductor layer, and the insulating film having a first opening reaching the p-side electrode and a second opening reaching the n-side electrode; a p-side interconnection layer provided on the insulating film and connected to the p-side electrode; and an n-side interconnection layer provided on the insulating film and connected to the n-side electrode.
US08852975B2

The present invention relates to an array substrate for a fringe field switching (FFS) mode liquid crystal display device and a method for fabricating the same. The liquid crystal display device may include a gate line formed on the substrate; a data line crossed with the gate line to define a pixel region; a thin-film transistor (TFT) formed at an intersection of the gate and data line; an organic insulating layer formed to have an opening portion for exposing the TFT; a common electrode having an area formed at an upper portion of the organic insulating layer, and an auxiliary electrode pattern connected to the TFT through the opening portion; a passivation layer formed to expose the auxiliary electrode pattern connected to the TFT; and pixel electrodes electrically connected to the TFT through the exposed auxiliary electrode pattern.
US08852972B2

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor light emitting device, includes forming a conductive film on a surface of a semiconductor light emitting element. Phosphor particles are charged by mixing phosphor particles with an electrolyte having a metallic salt dissolved therein. The semiconductor light emitting element having the conductive film formed thereon is immersed in the electrolyte having the charged phosphor particles. A phosphor layer on the conductive film is formed by electrophoresing the phosphor particles. The conductive film is removed using wet etching.
US08852968B2

Methods of deducing oxide thickness using calculated and measured scattering spectra are provided. Embodiments include depositing an oxide over a semiconductor wafer, reducing the oxide from a portion of the semiconductor wafer, and deducing a thickness of oxide remaining at a location within the portion using scatterometric metrology. Embodiments further include deducing the thickness by: calculating scattering spectra for a plurality of oxide thicknesses, producing calculated scattering spectra, monitoring scattering spectra at the location within the portion of the semiconductor wafer, comparing the monitored scattering spectra at the location to the calculated scattering spectra, determining a closest matching calculated scattering spectra to the monitored scattering spectra at the location, and obtaining an oxide thickness corresponding to the closest matching calculated scattering spectra.
US08852955B2

Provided herein are methods and systems for detecting biomolecular binding events using gigahertz or terahertz radiation. The methods and systems use low-energy spectroscopy to detect biomolecular binding events between molecules in an aqueous solution. The detected biomolecular binding events include, for example, nucleic acid hybridizations, antibody/antigen binding, and receptor/ligand binding.
US08852952B2

The invention provides droplet actuators and droplet actuator cassettes including reagent storage capabilities, as well as methods of making and using the droplet actuators and cassettes. The invention also provides continuous flow channel elements and techniques for using electrodes to manipulate droplets in flowing streams. The invention also discloses methods of separating compounds on a droplet actuator. Various other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.
US08852949B2

A urea solution quality determining system may include a urea tank in which a urea solution is filled through a charging hole, a test chamber positioned below the charging hole for holding a portion of the urea solution, a main line connected to the urea tank at a lower part of the urea tank below the test chamber, a test line connected to the test chamber, a pumping line to which the main line and the test line are joined, a pump in the pumping line to pump the urea solution from the test chamber or from the urea tank, a control valve for selectively connecting the main line or the test line to the pumping line, and an injector at an end of the pumping line to inject the urea solution into an exhaust line through which an exhaust gas flows. A method is also described.
US08852946B2

Disclosed herein is a method for identifying the compounds contributing to urine odor emitting from an air conditioner, a method for artificially reproducing the detected urine odor, and preparing a corresponding urine odor composition. Through the analysis method of the present invention, the compounds contributing to the urine odor emitted from an air conditioner may be identified and quantified. The detected urine odor may be reproduced from a combination of the compounds identified by the analysis method of the present invention. The reproduced urine odor may provide meaningful data required for development of an apparatus and a method for removing specific odor.
US08852945B2

Disclosed herein is a method for identifying compounds contributing to a sour odor emitting from an air conditioner, a method for artificially reproducing the detected sour odor and preparing a corresponding sour odor composition. Through the analysis method of the present invention, the compounds contributing to the sour odor emitted from an air conditioner may be identified and quantified. The detected sour odor may be reproduced from a combination of the compounds identified by the analysis method of the present invention. The reproduced sour odor may provide meaningful data required for development of an apparatus and a method for removing specific odors.
US08852944B2

A detection method and indicator are disclosed that includes quantum dots that fluoresce under illumination of a first light having a first wavelength to indicate the presence of a predetermined condition, and in particular, a corrosion condition. The quantum dots are surrounded by a shell material that under normal conditions reflect the first light and reacts in the presence of the predetermined condition to permit the first light to illuminate the quantum dot to excite the quantum dot to emit a second light having a second wavelength, which when detected, indicates the presence of the predetermined condition.
US08852942B2

Presently provided are a cineraria-derived polynucleotide which can act as a promoter for a coding region of flavonoid 3′,5′-hydroxylase (F3′5′H and a F3′5′H gene construct which carries the polynucleotide. The cineraria-derived petal-specific promoter can be as polynucleotide having the nucleotide sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO: 9 or a polynucleotide which can hybridize with the polynucleotide having the nucleotide sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO: 9 under stringent conditions and can act as a promoter for a coding region of flavonoid. 3′,5′-hydroxylase (F3′5′H). The gene construct can be used, for inhibiting the expression of a gene in an RNAi method, which has, as a loop, a polynucleotide comprising the whole or a part of a first intron of the presently provided cineraria-derived polynucleotide.
US08852941B2

A major object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing induced pluripotent stem cells with low tumorigenesis potential and high induction efficiency.The invention provides a method for producing induced pluripotent stem cells comprising the step of introducing one or more nucleic acids that facilitate expression of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of NANOG, SOX2, OCT3/4, KLF4, LIN28, and c-MYC into somatic cells.
US08852939B2

The present invention concerns Vgll3 a new target involved in adipogenesis modulation. Further, the present invention relates to methods to increase Vgll3 activity in adipocytes and preadipocytes. In addition, pharmaceutical composition comprising Vgll3 activity enhancing molecules in order to enhance the Vgll3 activity in a target tissue are also provided. These methods, compositions and molecules can be useful to modulate adipogenesis and thus treat obesity and related disorders.
US08852928B2

The present invention relates generally to chemical-inducible system and to methods of use in transgenic animals. More specifically, the present invention relates to a chimeric transcription factor that binds to a ligand and functions in ligand-dependent manner to induce expression of genes of interest under the control of a synthetic operator-promoter sequence. The expression of genes of interest can be tightly controlled by adding or removing the ligand.
US08852916B2

Certain embodiments disclosed relate to compositions, including therapeutic compositions, methods, devices, and systems that include modified microorganisms including at least one genetic element encoding at least one therapeutic agent or environmental treatment agent.
US08852913B2

The present invention relates to variants of a parent beta-glucosidase, comprising a substitution at one or more positions corresponding to positions 142, 183, 266, and 703 of amino acids 1 to 842 of SEQ ID NO: 2 or corresponding to positions 142, 183, 266, and 705 of amino acids 1 to 844 of SEQ ID NO: 70, wherein the variant has beta-glucosidase activity. The present invention also relates to nucleotide sequences encoding the variant beta-glucosidases and to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the nucleotide sequences.
US08852912B2

Described are compositions and methods relating to variant alpha-amylases having altered biochemical properties and advantageous performance characteristics as compared to a reference alpha-amylase. The variants are suitable for use in various industrial applications such as starch conversion, ethanol production, laundry, dishwashing, pulp and paper production, textile desizing, and/or sweetener production.
US08852910B2

The invention relates to modified polymerase enzymes which exhibit improved incorporation of nucleotide analogs bearing substituents at the 3′ position of the sugar moiety that are larger in size than the naturally occurring 3′ hydroxyl group. Also described are methods of using the polymerases to incorporate nucleotides into polynucleotides, particularly in the context of DNA sequencing.
US08852909B2

The present disclosure provides engineered ketoreductase enzymes having improved properties as compared to a naturally occurring wild-type ketoreductase enzyme. Also provided are polynucleotides encoding the engineered ketoreductase enzymes, host cells capable of expressing the engineered ketoreductase enzymes, and methods of using the engineered ketoreductase enzymes to synthesize a variety of chiral compounds.
US08852900B2

The present disclosure provides engineered transaminase polypeptides having improved properties as compared to naturally occurring transaminases including the ability of converting the substrate, 3′-hydroxyacetophenone to (S)-3-(1-aminoethyl)-phenol in enantiomeric excess and high percentage conversion. Also provided are polynucleotides encoding the engineered transaminases, host cells capable of expressing the engineered transaminases, and methods of using the engineered transaminases to synthesize (S)-3-(1-aminoethyl)-phenol and related compounds useful in the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients.
US08852894B2

A method of detecting an analyte is provided. The method includes providing a sample, a container 110 with a wall 115, and a catalyst for a luminescent reaction. The wall includes a colored portion 115b. The method further comprises forming a reaction in the container and detecting the presence or absence of light emitted from the reaction mixture in the container. Detecting light emitted from the container can comprise detecting light passing through the colored portion. The colored portion can be detected visually and the color can be associated with the identity of an analyte—specific reagent disposed in the container. Kits comprising the container and a catalyst for a luminescent reaction are also provided.
US08852893B2

The invention generally relates to methods for detecting a target nucleic acid and a target protein in a single assay.
US08852882B2

A FRET donor-acceptor pair for use as a biosensor, comprising at least two fluorescence proteins, wherein at least one fluorescence protein is stable with respect to a parameter to be detected by the biosensor and at least one fluorescence protein is unstable with respect to the parameter to be detected by the biosensor.
US08852881B2

A device for characterizing the biological properties of cells can include a plurality of dual-compartment assay chambers wherein the compartments of each chamber are separated by a cell layer across which ions can flow. The biological properties of the cell layer in the presence or absence of experimental compounds can be determined by measuring an electrical gradient across the layer. A individual dual-compartment chamber of this type may be referred to as an “Ussing chamber.”
US08852877B2

The present invention relates to systems and methods for the rapid in situ determination of the existence of a hook effect and expansion of the dynamic range of a point of care immunoassay. For example, a system for identifying a hook effect and expanding the dynamic range of an immunoassay is provided that may include a primary sensor having first immobilized antibodies that may be configured to generate a first signal based on a presence or absence of a target analyte in a sample. The system may further include an attenuated sensor having second immobilized antibodies at a reduced concentration relative to a concentration of the first immobilized antibodies on the primary sensor and that may be configured to generate a second signal based on the presence or absence of the target analyte in the sample. The system may further include a processor configured to determine a presence of a hook effect in the immunoassay based on relative values of the first and second signals and optionally determine the target analyte concentration of the sample.
US08852876B2

Disclosed are compositions and methods for using label free optical biosensors for performing cell assays. In certain embodiments the assays can be performed in high throughput methods and can be multiplexed.
US08852872B2

Methods and products for the detection of oncofetal fibronectin indicating molecules in samples are provided. Methods for imaging of oncofetal fibronectin are provided. In some methods provided herein, the sample is treated with a reagent and/or contacted with a non-specific binder. Provided are methods for testing subjects to ascertain health and disease status and to assess the risk of developing a disease or condition. Methods for detecting the presence of oncofetal fibronectin indicating molecules by a variety of methods such as immunoassays and mass spectrometry also are provided. Methods and products for detection of oncofetal fibronectin for selection of concepti are provided.
US08852863B2

The present invention relates to a method for amplifying and detecting nucleic acid sequences in a reaction cartridge comprising, (i) providing a sample comprising at least one nucleic acid molecule, (ii) in a first reaction chamber of the cartridge providing reagents for an amplification reaction, (iii) mixing the sample with the amplification reagents, (iv) amplifying the at least one nucleic acid in the first reaction chamber of the cartridge, (v) transferring at least parts of the amplification reaction into a second and third reaction chamber of the cartridge each comprising a probe set and performing a melting point analysis in order to determine which of the probes has specifically bound a nucleic acid.
US08852856B2

To provide an image processing method including at least one of recording an image onto a thermoreversible recording medium in which transparency or color tone reversibly changes depending upon temperature, by applying a laser beam with the use of a CO2 laser device so as to heat the thermoreversible recording medium, and erasing an image recorded on the thermoreversible recording medium, by heating the thermoreversible recording medium, wherein an intensity distribution of the laser beam applied in the image recording step satisfies the relationship represented by Expression 1 shown below, 1.59
US08852852B2

A method for manufacturing a narrow frame touch input sheet includes forming and stacking transparent conductive films, light-excluding conductive electrode films, and first resist layers sequentially on both surfaces of a transparent base sheet, exposing and developing the first resist layers simultaneously on the both surfaces, etching the transparent and light-excluding conductive electrode films on the both surfaces, and stripping the first resist layers to form a fine wiring circuit pattern with the stacked transparent conductive film and light-excluding conductive electrode film in an outer edge portion on each of the two surfaces. The method further includes forming a second resist layer to cover the fine wiring circuit pattern on each surface, and etching only the light-excluding electrode conductive film layer on which the second resist layer is not formed, to expose a circuit pattern of the transparent conductive film in a central window portion on each surface.
US08852843B2

A process is disclosed for the preparation of developer compositions comprising: providing a first developer including carrier and a first toner comprised of resin, pigment, polyolefin, a first compatibilizer, a first charge control agent, and a first metal oxide surface additive; and, adding thereto a second developer including carrier, and a second toner, second compatibilizer, a second charge control agent, and a second metal oxide surface additive.
US08852836B2

A toner including: a base resin; and charge-controlling resin particles contained in the base resin, wherein the toner is in shape of particles, and the charge-controlling resin particles are present in a region of each toner particle which is 500 nm in depth from a surface of the toner particle and an average of amounts of the charge-controlling resin particles present in the regions of the toner particles is 20% by volume to 70% by volume, wherein an average of embedment rates of the charge-controlling resin particles in the toner particles is 90% or higher, where each embedment rate is an average of embedment rates of the charge-controlling resin particles in each toner particle, and wherein the charge-controlling resin particles have a charge amount of 60 μC/m2 or more as measured by a blow-off method.
US08852818B2

A non-aqueous secondary battery contains a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator and a non-aqueous electrolytic solution. The positive electrode contains a layered structure lithium-containing compound oxide, or a spinel lithium-containing compound oxide containing manganese as an active material. The non-aqueous electrolytic solution contains at least one additive selected from a sulfonic acid anhydride, a sulfonate ester derivative, a cyclic sulfate derivative and a cyclic sulfonate ester derivative, and a vinylene carbonate or a derivative of the vinylene carbonate.
US08852814B2

The invention relates to the development of an electrochemical device including a lithium salt/polyether electrolyte film between two films forming the cathode and the anode, respectively. The method of the invention involves assembling a multilayer structure consisting of the current-collecting carrier, the cathode-forming film, the electrolyte-forming polyether film and the anode-forming film. The cathode and/or anode films are made of a composite material containing the lithium salt. The polyether film is lithium salt-free. The assembled device is allowed to rest for long enough to enable the lithium salt in the cathode and/or the anode to be dispersed throughout the polymer film.
US08852813B2

A non-aqueous electrolyte composition, useful in batteries, capacitors and the like, said electrolyte composition comprising an electrolyte support salt, a non-aqueous electrolyte carrier, and a polycyclic aromatic amine, e.g., a naphthyl amine.
US08852800B2

A phosphorated composite capable of electrochemical reversible lithium storage includes a conductive matrix and red phosphorus. The conductive matrix includes a material being selected from the group consisting of conductive polymer and conductive carbonaceous material. A weight percentage of the conductive matrix in the phosphorated composite ranges from about 10% to about 85%. A weight percentage of the red phosphorus in the phosphorated composite ranges from about 15% to about 90%. An anode using the phosphorated composite is also provided.
US08852786B2

A method of sealing a ceramic component to a metal component for a metal halide battery is provided. The method involves the steps of coating a portion of the ceramic component with a metallic coating, and then bonding the coated ceramic component to the metal component. The metallic coating includes a reactive metal. A sealing structure formed by using such a method is also presented.
US08852785B2

A bipolar secondary battery has a battery element that includes first and second bipolar electrodes each having a collector disposed with a conductive resin layer containing a first resin as a base material and positive and negative electrode active material layers formed on opposite sides of the collector and a separator containing a second resin as a base material, arranged between the first and second bipolar electrodes and retaining an electrolyte material to form an electrolyte layer. The positive electrode active material layer of the first bipolar electrode, the electrolyte layer and the negative electrode active material layer of the second bipolar electrode constitute a unit cell. A melting point of the first resin is lower than or equal to a melting point of the second resin. Outer peripheries of the collectors of the first and second bipolar electrodes and an outer periphery of the separator are fused together to thereby seal an outer peripheral portion of the unit cell.
US08852781B2

A battery cell assembly is provided. The battery cell assembly includes a cooling fin having a rectangular-shaped aluminum plate, a tube, and a flexible thermally conductive sheet. The plate has a first side and a second side. The tube is coupled to the first side of the plate and extends on at least first, second, and third peripheral edge portions of the plate. The flexible thermally conductive sheet is disposed on the first side of the plate. The battery cell assembly further includes a battery cell disposed against the flexible thermally conductive sheet of the cooling fin.
US08852770B2

A device includes two electrically conductive rods to couple to connection terminals of a battery cell of a battery, with a force tending to squeeze the electrically conductive rods together. The device includes an insulating block to keep the electrically conductive rods from making electrical contact with each other. An insulating block disable element disables the insulating block in response to a control signal generated by a disable element controller. The disable element controller monitors at least one operating state signal of the cell, and generates the control signal based on the monitoring, allowing the rods to come into electrical contact and short-circuit the battery cell.
US08852767B2

The present invention relates to a safety apparatus and a protection method of a secondary battery, which can prevent explosion and fire of the secondary battery using a switch or a rupture switch attached on the outside of the secondary battery if a swelling degree of the secondary battery reaches a predetermined value when the secondary battery is swelled due to abnormal usage such as overcharge, short-circuit, reverse-connection and heat-exposure of large-capacity lithium polymer battery.
US08852766B2

Disclosed herein is a secondary battery pack including a battery cell having an electrode assembly of a cathode/separator/anode structure mounted in a battery case together with an electrolyte in a sealed state, an insulative mounting member having openings, through which electrode terminals of the battery cell are exposed to the outside, the insulative mounting member being configured to have a structure in which a safety element is mounted to the top of the insulative mounting member, the insulative mounting member being disposed in direct contact with the top of the battery cell, and an insulative cap coupled to the top of the battery cell so that the insulative cap surrounds the insulative mounting member in a state in which the safety element is mounted to the insulative mounting member, wherein the battery case is provided at the top thereof with a coupling groove, and the insulative cap is provided at the bottom thereof with a coupling protrusion formed in a shape corresponding to the coupling groove, the coupling of the insulative cap to the battery cell being achieved by the insertion of the coupling protrusion into the coupling groove.
US08852764B2

To provide a substrate for information recording medium having various properties, in particular higher fracture toughness, required for application of the substrate for information recording medium of the next generation such as perpendicular magnetic recording system, etc. and a material with excellent workability for such purpose. A crystallized glass substrate for information recording medium, consisting of a crystallized glass which comprises one or more selected from RAl2O4 and R2TiO4 as a main crystal phase, in which R is one or more selected from Zn, Mg and Fe, and in which the main crystal phase has a crystal grain size in a range of from 0.5 nm to 20 nm, a degree of crystallinity of 15% or less, and a specific gravity of 3.00 or less.
US08852763B2

Compounds of formula I: wherein X are independently —(CH2)b—, wherein b is 0 or an integer from 1 to 6; Rf are independently —CF2O(CF2CF2O)p(CF2)qCF2—, —CF2CF2O(CF2CF2CF2O)rCF2CF2—, or —CF2CF2CF2O(CF2CF2CF2CF2O)sCF2CF2CF2—, or derivatives thereof, wherein p, q, r and s are independently integers so that Mn of Rf is about 150 to 4500; and Z are independently chosen from groups that comprise —OH, —(OH)2, —COOCH3, —F, —CF3, or —CF2CF3, with the caveat that not all Z are the same.
US08852755B2

The present invention relates to oxadiazole metallic complexes. More specifically it relates to the synthesis and electronic and opto-electronic applications of oxadiazole metallic complexes having a general Formula I, wherein each of variables is defined herein.
US08852753B2

The present invention provides a galvanized steel sheet including: a steel sheet; and a galvanizing layer provided on a surface of the steel sheet; wherein the galvanizing layer includes an amorphous coating layer having an inorganic oxoacid salt and metallic oxide on a surface layer of the galvanizing layer; the galvanizing layer includes a ζ phase and a δ1 phase; the galvanizing layer includes, by mass, 8 to 13% of Fe; Zn in the metallic oxide exists up to an outermost surface layer of the amorphous layer; and an X-ray diffraction intensity ratio I, which is obtained by dividing an X-ray diffraction intensity of the ζ phase at d=0.126, after removing background intensity, by an X-ray diffraction intensity of the δ1 phase at d=0.126, after removing background intensity, is 0.06 to 0.35.
US08852750B2

The present invention is directed to a method for coating a sheet-like cellulose containing material by applying a composition comprising at least one glucan (G), which has a β(beta)-1,3-glycosidically linked main chain and at least one side group having a β(beta)-1,6-glycosidic bond to the main chain, particularly Schizophyllan, and at least one solvent (S), particularly a ionic liquid, on the surface of the sheet-like material.
US08852748B2

A polymeric resin having a density of greater than about 0.960 g/cc, a melt index of from about 1.3 g/10 min. to about 2.8 g/10 min., a zero shear viscosity of from about 1×104 Pa*s to about 1×105 Pa*s, a recoverable shear parameter of from about 220 to about 370, and a CY-a parameter of from about 0.155 to about 0.200. A polymeric resin having an initial tension defined by the equation IT≧−1.67*(MI)+b where b is 5.17 and a percent decrease in the extrusion pressure of the resin of about 30% when compared to polymer resin of similar melt index prepared with a catalyst that has not undergone an activation comprising an oxidation, reduction, oxidation sequence wherein the resin when formed into a film has a moisture vapor transmission rate of from about 0.21 g.mil/100 in2/day to about 0.33 g.mil/100 in2/day.
US08852747B2

The invention relates to coextrusion binders including renewable and/or biodegradable polymers having good adhesion properties: at least one renewable and/or biodegradable polymer (A) grafted with a functional monomer including at least one reactive function, the grafting ratio being <1% in weight of the grafted polymer (A); at least one non-grafted renewable and/or biodegradable polymer (B) identical to (A) or compatible with (A) optionally a softener (C); and optionally a starch-based material (D). The invention also relates to multilayered structures including the binder of the present invention, in which the layers are preferably made of renewable and/or biodegradable compounds. The multilayered structures are advantageously useful in the field of food packaging.
US08852744B2

The present invention relates to a composite component comprising i) a support made of a thermoplastic composition comprising A) at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of aromatic polycarbonates, aromatic polyester carbonates, aromatic polyesters, and mixtures thereof, in an amount of from 20.0 to 85.0 parts by wt., based on the sum of components A and B; B) at least one rubber-modified vinyl (co)polymer in an amount of from 15.0 to 80.0 parts by wt., based on the sum of components A and B, and with a rubber content [RB] of at least 25.0 parts by wt., based on component B; and C) at least one polymer additive in an amount of from 0 to 30.0 parts by wt., based on the sum of components A to C; and ii) at least one polyurethane layer, wherein the thermoplastic composition comprises a total rubber content [R], of at least 12 parts by wt., based on the sum of components A to C.
US08852741B2

Resin particles which are excellent in electrostatic property, thermal storage stability and thermal properties, and have evenness of particle diameter are to be provided. The resin particles are core-shell resin particles (C2) each comprising one or more film-like shell layers (P) comprising a first resin (a) and a core layer (Q) comprising a second resin (b). Core-shell type resin particles (C2) each comprising a film-like shell layer (P) in one or more layer structure comprising a first resin (a) and a core layer (Q) in one layer structure comprising a second resin (b), wherein the weight ratio of (P) and (Q) is in a range of (0.1:99.9) to (70:30), the content of volatile components of (C2) is 2% by weight or lower, and (a) has an initial softening temperature of 40 to 270° C., a glass transition temperature of 20 to 250° C., a flow temperature of 60 to 300° C., and the difference of the glass transition temperature and the flow temperature in a range of 0 to 120° C. and contains 20 to 80% by weight of vinyl acetate as constituent units.
US08852739B2

The invention relates to a carbon black with a CTAB surface area of from 20 to 49 m2/g, with a COAN greater than 90 ml/(100 g), and with a sum of OAN and COAN greater than 235 ml/(100 g). The carbon black is produced in a furnace reactor, where from 20 to 55% by weight of the feedstock used for the carbon black are introduced radially through a nozzle within the first third of the reaction zone, and the remaining amount of the feedstock used for the carbon black is introduced through a nozzle upstream at least one further point into the reactor. The carbon black can be used in rubber mixtures.
US08852738B2

A thermal laminating film is provided that has superior intrusion resistance that is well suited to addressing security and anti-counterfeiting needs. The film includes a polymer substrate and an adhesive system with a polymer component having a Vicat softening point temperature that is close to a glass transition temperature of the polymeric substrate, which typically is not greater than about 95° C.
US08852734B2

The present invention is to provide an epoxy resin composition uniformly containing a large amount of inorganic fillers, excellent in heat resistance and flame resistance, and having good impregnation into a base material, and a prepreg using the epoxy resin composition, having good tackiness, and being easy in handling. Furthermore, it is to provide a printed wiring board using a metal-clad laminate formed using the prepreg and/or the prepreg or the epoxy resin composition, capable of easily conducting an ENEPIG process, and a semiconductor device using the printed wiring board, excellent in performances. An epoxy resin composition comprises a solid epoxy resin, a silica nanoparticle having an average particle diameter of 1 nm or more and 100 nm or less, and a silica particle having an average particle diameter larger than that of the silica nanoparticle, in the range of 0.1 μm or more and 5.0 μm or less.
US08852724B2

A form liner system comprises a first form liner, a second form liner and a bridge member. Each form liner comprises a plurality of raised portions defining a plurality of cells and at least one partial cell. The form liners are arranged such that the partial cells form a collective cell. The bridge member can be oriented in said collective cell, wherein a first portion of the bridge member is oriented in the first liner partial cell and a second portion of the bridge member is oriented in the second liner partial cell.
US08852722B2

Structured surface articles such as molds or sheeting are formed on a compound substrate including a machined substrate and a replicated substrate. In one embodiment, the structured surface is a cube corner element on a compound substrate. In another embodiment, the structured surface is a geometric structure that has a plurality of faces, where one face is located on the machined substrate and another face is located on the replicated substrate. In yet another embodiment, at least some of the faces include a compound face with a portion formed on the machined substrate and a portion formed on the replicated substrate. The method of making a structured surface article including a geometric structure having a plurality of faces includes forming an array of geometric structures in a first surface of a machined substrate; passivating selected locations of the first surface of the machined substrate; forming a replicated substrate of the machined substrate to form a compound substrate; forming an array of second geometric structures on a second surface opposite the first surface on the machined substrate; and removing selected portions from the second surface of the machined substrate.
US08852716B2

An insert-molded fiber optic transmission component has at least one insert and a main body portion. The main body portion has at least one adjoining surface, a portion of the at least one adjoining surface lying in a first plane. The insert has an engaging face disposed against the outer edge surface and a reference surface adjacent the engaging face, where the reference surface lies in a second plane, and the adjoining surface is adjacent the engaging face of the at least one insert and the first and second planes being parallel to and offset from one another.
US08852714B2

High tenacity, high elongation multi-filament polymeric tapes as well as ballistic resistant fabrics, composites and articles made therefrom. The tapes are fabricated from multi-filament fibers/yarns that are twisted together, bonded together, compressed and flattened.
US08852713B2

Materials and methods are provided for producing preform materials for impact-resistant composite materials suitable for liquid molding. Interlayers formed of nonwoven, continuous fibers, such as spunbonded, spunlaced, or mesh fabric, are introduced between non-crimped layers of unidirectional reinforcing fibers to produce a preform for use in liquid-molding processes to produce a composite member. Curing of the preform provides increased impact resistance by increasing the amount of energy required to propagate localized fractures due to impact.
US08852709B2

A composite material part and method for manufacturing the part. The part has a large variation in thickness between a first zone having a thickness E1 and a second zone having a thickness E2, which is made as a single part with a transition zone, external surfaces of which have gradients of magnitude, in which the structure of the stack includes; b1) a plurality of continuous plies that extend in the three zones; b2) a plurality of plies that extend in the first zone and in the transition zone, terminating in a stepped manner in the transition zone; b3) a plurality of plies that extend in the first zone and in the transition zone, terminating in a stepped manner in the transition zone.
US08852701B2

A preformed, self adhering single ply roofing membrane including a water impermeable membrane; a pressure sensitive, hot melt adhesive adhered to one side of the water impermeable membrane, and a release liner on the side of the pressure sensitive, hot melt adhesive opposite of the water impermeable membrane.
US08852687B2

An organic layer deposition apparatus for forming an organic layer while a substrate is being moved, in which an interval between the substrate and the organic layer deposition apparatus can be measured at a vacuum condition.
US08852659B2

A cartridge for use in a beverage preparation machine, the cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the cartridge comprising an inlet for the introduction of an aqueous medium into the cartridge and an outlet for discharge of a beverage produced from the one or more beverage ingredients.
US08852647B2

The present invention relates to compositions comprising a combination of pyrimethanil, or a salt thereof, together with one or more silver salts selected from silver acetate, silver alginate, silver azide, silver citrate, silver lactate, silver nitrate, silver sulfate, silver chloride, silver thiocyanate, silver-sodium-hydrogen-zirconium phosphate, silver sulfadiazine, silver cyclohexanediacetic acid and disilver 2,5-dichloro-3,6-dihydroxy-2,5-cyclohexadiene-1,4-dione; in respective proportions to provide a synergistic biocidal effect. Another suitable silver component (II) is nano-silver particles, typically with a particle size of 1-1000 nm. Compositions comprising these combinations are useful for the protection of any living or non-living material against deterioration due to the action of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, yeasts, algae, and the like.
US08852641B2

The present invention relates to polymer microgel beads having a polymeric matrix with nanomagnetic particles dispersed substantially uniformly therethrough, wherein a steric stabilizer is associated with the particles, the steric stabilizer being a polymeric material that (i) forms at least part of the polymeric matrix of the beads, and (ii) comprises a steric stabilizing polymeric segment and an anchoring polymeric segment, wherein the steric stabilizing polymeric segment is different from the anchoring polymeric segment, and wherein the anchoring polymeric segment has an affinity toward the surface of the nanomagnetic particles and secures the stabilizer to the particles.
US08852637B2

The present invention is directed to methods of inhibiting cancer cell growth or proliferation by contacting the cancer cell with an extracellular matrix (ECM) composition. Also provided are methods of delivering a chemotherapeutic agent to a cancer cell by contacting a cancer cell with an extracellular matrix composition containing a chemotherapeutic agent. Also provided are compositions containing ECM and a chemotherapeutic agent.
US08852630B2

The present invention relates to chimeric chemical compounds which are used to recruit antibodies to cancer cells, in particular, prostate cancer cells or metastasized prostate cancer cells. The compounds according to the present invention comprise an antibody binding terminus (ABT) moiety covalently bonded to a cell binding terminus (CBT) through a linker and optionally, a connector molecule.
US08852625B2

A method for depositing a coating comprising a polymer and at least two pharmaceutical agents on a substrate, comprising the following steps: providing a stent framework; depositing on said stent framework a first layer comprising a first pharmaceutical agent; depositing a second layer comprising a second pharmaceutical agent; Wherein said first and second pharmaceutical agents are selected from two different classes of pharmaceutical agents.
US08852624B2

A biomedical implant according to this invention comprises ceramic complex, which includes a surface-modified basic ceramic particles, which are basic ceramic particles modified their surface with first biodegradable polymers, and the second biodegradable polymers. The first and second biodegradable polymer are combined each other and form a stereo complex. The biomedical implant has a superior effect to suppress inflammation caused by degradation of biodegradable polymers with improving its mechanical property.
US08852619B2

A biocidal composition comprising 2,2-dibromomalonamide and 2,2-dibromo-3-nitrilopropionamide, and its use for the control of microorganisms in aqueous and water-containing systems.
US08852605B2

The disclosure pertains to conjugates of the capsular polysaccharide of Vibrio cholerae O139, or a structurally and/or immunologically related oligo- or poly-saccharide, and a carrier. These conjugates are useful as pharmaceutical compositions and/or vaccines to induce serum antibodies which have bactericidal (vibriocidal) activity against V. cholerae, in particular V. cholerae O139, and are useful to prevent, treat and/or reduce the severity of disease caused by V. cholerae infection, such as cholera. The present disclosure also relates to diagnostic tests for V. cholerae infection, and/or cholera caused by V. cholerae infection, using one or more of the oligo- or poly-saccharide-carrier conjugates or antibodies described above.
US08852600B2

In one aspect, the invention provides a DNA molecule. The DNA molecule includes a nucleotide sequence that encodes the receptor-binding domain of Clostridium difficile toxin A or toxin B in which at least about 10% of the in-frame codons for each amino acid residue has a higher percentage use in the human genome than the corresponding in-frame codons of C. difficile toxin A or toxin B having a known sequence. Methods for generating antibodies to Clostridium difficile toxin A or toxin B, methods for reducing the risk of a C. difficile infection, and methods for treating a C. difficile are also provided.
US08852582B2

Compositions comprising Glutathione Reductase (GSSG-r) and Oxidized Glutathione (GSSG) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof for pharmaceutical use as antiviral and antibacterial agents and for the protection against the toxicity of free radicals and in particular radicals produced by the radiolysis of cellular water are provided. Methods of making and using such compositions are also provided.
US08852574B2

Disclosed are compositions and methods for repairing and/or regenerating cardiac tissue by administering adult bone marrow-derived stem cells to an individual. These cells can be administered as a liquid injectible or as a preparation of cells in a matrix which is or becomes solid or semi-solid. The cells can be genetically modified to enhance myocardial differentiation and integration. Also disclosed is a method for replacing cells ex vivo in a heart valve for implantation.
US08852571B2

Disclosed is a method for producing cardiomyocytes in vivo by administering to the heart of an individual a cardiomyocyte producing amount of mesenchymal stem cells. These cells can be administered as a liquid injectible or as a preparation of cells in a matrix which is or becomes solid or semi-solid. The cells can be genetically modified to enhance myocardial differentiation and integration. Also disclosed is a method for replacing cells ex vivo in a heart valve for implantation.
US08852568B2

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating and preventing skeletal muscle deficiencies. In particular, the present invention provides compositions comprising poloxamers (e.g., poloxamer 188-P188) and methods of using the same for treating and preventing skeletal muscle deficiencies and injuries (e.g., dystrophin-deficient skeletal muscle; skeletal muscle having a contraction force deficit; skeletal muscle having a Ca2+ imbalance; skeletal muscle having microtears).
US08852560B2

A dental bleaching composition comprises a dental bleaching agent and a polyvinylpyrrolidone thickening agent. The bleaching composition may include water, flavoring agents, a basic substance and desensitizing agents, as desired. Polyvinylpyrrolidone avoids acid etching and chelation of teeth that were problematic in bleaches using carbomer as a thickener. A delivery system for delivering the bleaching composition comprises the aforementioned dental bleaching composition in combination with a moisture-resistant barrier layer such as a dental tray or a flexible strip of material.
US08852559B2

A stabilized oral care composition comprising a borinic acid derivative, e.g., a borinic ester.
US08852558B2

A composition for in situ formation and/or expansion of a polymer-based hemostatic agent to control bleeding includes a suitable amount of a polymer or polymer-forming component, hydrogen peroxide or chemical(s) capable of forming hydrogen peroxide, or a combination of both, and a decomposing agent for hydrogen peroxide. The decomposing agent includes an endogenously or exogenously supplied catalyst (other than catalase), or both, and/or the polymer or polymer-forming component.
US08852557B2

A pharmaceutical aerosol is disclosed which is suitable for delivering an active compound to the mucosa of the nose, the osteomeatal complex or a paranasal sinus. The pressure of the aerosol is not constant, but pulsates at a frequency from about 10 to 90 Hz. The aerosol is further characterized in that it exhibits a low effective flow rate of less than about 5 liters per minute. The aerosol is, inter alia, suitable for the prevention, management, or treatment of a disease, symptom, or condition affecting the nose or the paranasal sinuses, such as acute and chronic sinusitis.
US08852554B2

The present invention relates to novel, selective, radiolabelled PDE10 ligands which are useful for imaging and quantifying the PDE10A enzyme in tissues, using positron-emission tomography (PET). The invention is also directed to compositions comprising such compounds, to processes for preparing such compounds and compositions, and to the use of such compounds and compositions for imaging a tissue, cells or a host, in vitro or in vivo.
US08852553B2

The present disclosure is directed to compounds, diagnostic agents, and related methods. In some cases, methods for treating patients are provided. More specifically, the disclosure provides compounds, diagnostic agents, and kits for detecting and/or imaging and/or monitoring elastin rich tissues. In addition, the disclosure provides methods of detecting and/or imaging and/or monitoring the presence of coronary plaque, carotid plaque, iliac/femoral plaque, aortic plaque, renal artery plaque, plaque of any arterial vessel, aneurism, vasculitis, other diseases of the arterial wall, and/or damage or structural changes in ligaments, uterus, lungs or skin, as indicated by changes in total vessel wall area, internal lumen size, and exterior arterial perimeter.
US08852539B2

A second stage Fischer-Tropsch reaction system to enhance a conversion ratio of a synthetic gas, includes, at least one first reactor that uses a Fe catalyst, receives a first synthetic gas extracted from a coal, biomass or natural gas, and reacts the first synthetic gas with the Fe catalyst to obtain a synthetic fuel, and a second reactor that uses a Fe.Co or Co catalyst, receives a second synthetic gas discharged from the first reactors after reaction, and reacts the second synthetic gas with the Fe.Co or Co catalyst to obtain a synthetic fuel.
US08852528B2

A fragrance product is disclosed including a container containing liquid fragrance and a dispenser assembly for dispensing the liquid fragrance including a transport assembly and a tube connected to the transport assembly and extending into the liquid fragrance. The tube and the liquid fragrance each have a refractive index, and the difference between the refractive index of the tube and the liquid fragrance is not greater than about 0.04.
US08852523B1

A mass transfer system including a housing and a three-dimensional ordered open-cellular micro-truss material within the housing for a mass transfer application. Here, the three-dimensional ordered open-cellular micro-truss material includes a plurality of first truss elements defined by a plurality of first self-propagating polymer waveguides and extending along a first direction, a plurality of second truss elements defined by a plurality of second self-propagating polymer waveguides and extending along a second direction, and a plurality of third truss elements defined by a plurality of third self-propagating polymer waveguides and extending along a third direction. The first, second, and third ordered truss elements interpenetrate each other at a plurality of nodes to form a continuous material. In one embodiment, the continuous material is a metal material.
US08852521B2

The present disclosure is drawn to methods and systems for producing solutions containing ultrafine metal particles. The method for producing ultrafine metal particles in an aqueous medium includes providing a reaction chamber having a transition metal anode and a transition metal cathode disposed therein. The reaction chamber can also contain an aqueous medium. An anode and cathode are associated at a distance with respect to one another such that when activated by a power source, a discharge arc occurs between the anode and cathode within the aqueous medium. Activation of a power source causes the discharge arc to occur between the anode and the cathode, thereby generating ultrafine metal particles suspended within the aqueous medium.
US08852514B2

An electronic device for analyzing an aqueous solution may comprise a housing, one or more measurement circuits and a control circuit all arranged inside the housing. The housing may be configured to receive a test element. The one or more measurement circuits may be configured to produce one or more corresponding sets of measurement signals relating to an aqueous solution received on the test element. The control circuit may include a memory having instructions stored therein that are executable by the control circuit to process the one or more sets of measurement signals to determine one or more corresponding characteristics of the aqueous solution.
US08852510B2

The ability to switch at will between amperometric measurements and potentiometric measurements provides great flexibility in performing analysis of unknowns. Apparatus and methods can provide such switching to collect data from an electrochemical cell. The cell may contain a reagent disposed to measure glucose in human blood.
US08852507B2

An interface apparatus between a pneumatic mail system and a feeding system of biological products to a laboratory automation system is described, the apparatus comprising a capsule suitable for being conveyed in a pneumatic mail system which accommodates therein one or more biological material containers, said capsule opening and connecting to a device for transferring said biological material containers contained in said capsule into at least one recruiting device of said biological product containers, said at least one recruiting device being used to load said containers of biological products into a positioning device interfaced with a gripping device of said biological product container for transferring said biological product container on an automatic conveyor belonging to a laboratory automation system. Said capsule has an inner chamber containing foam elements adapted to withhold said biological product containers present in said capsule.
US08852506B2

A sample analyzer comprising: a first container set section in which a first reagent container, wherein the first container set section includes a first operating section which is operated by a user when setting the first reagent container; a first detector configured to detect an operation of the first operating section; a second container set section in which a second reagent container, wherein the second container set section includes a second operating section which is operated by the user when setting the second reagent container; a second detector configured to detect an operation of the second operating section; an output section; and a controller configured to control the output section to output a predetermined notification, if the second detector detects the operation of the second operating section by the user when it is required to set the first reagent container in the first container set section.
US08852505B2

A hematological analyzer on whole blood, for analyzing bloods contained in tubes, wherein the tubes are brought and treated in tube mode by the tube. The analyzer includes a stirring device for receiving a blood tube and stirring the blood tube according to a selected stirring mode, a controller connected to the stirring device for stirring the blood tube under conditions controlled according to specific parameters, and a sampling mechanism for extracting a blood sample in the blood tube previously stirred by the stirring device and transferring the blood sample to an analyzing unit. The analyzer is applicable in particular to hematological analyzers for blood cell count.
US08852498B1

A process for fabricating hollow metal shells such as Be or Al filled with a selected gas such as D or T. An organic preform is coated with a slurry of organic binder and metal powder of Be or Al. The coated preform is heated to remove the preform and any organics to form a hollow shell which is then fired at an elevated temperature in a gas so as to seal the shell and capture the gas inside the sealed shell.
US08852497B2

A method for providing an internal surface temperature profile of a thermoplastic preform (10, 22) during a stretch blow molding production process comprising at least the steps of: (a) heating a plurality of in-line cold preforms (10) in the production process to provide a plurality of in-line heated preforms (22); (b) diverting at least one of the in-line heated preforms to provide at least one off-line heated preform (30); (c) providing the remaining the in-line heated preforms to one or more stretch blow molds (24) for forming the heated preforms into blow molded products (12); and (d) locating one or more temperature sensors (34, 36) inside the or each off-line heated preform (30) of step (b) to provide an inside surface temperature profile of said preform(s).
US08852490B2

Systems and methods for a concrete apparatus with incorporated lifter are provided. A concrete apparatus is formed by placing a reinforcement system in a mold. The reinforcement system comprises a lifter. Concrete is poured into the mold such that the lifter protrudes from the poured concrete. After the concrete has hardened and the mold is removed, the lifter is used to carry and position the concrete apparatus. After the concrete apparatus is positioned, the lifter is removed at the circumference of the concrete apparatus leaving no holes, thereby eliminating water leakage due to lifting methods.
US08852488B2

The present invention relates to a process for the manufacture of short or discontinuous lignocellulosic fiber in combination with synthetic fiber filled thermoplastic composites, in which the process consists of preferably, defiberization and dispersion of the cellulosic fibers in the thermoplastic matrix, further consolidation and dispersion of the blended thermoplastic composition, further blending of the same with inorganic fibers to get the moldable thermoplastic composition and further injection or compression or compression injection molded under high pressure ranging from 100 tones to 1000 tones and a temperature range from 170 to 210 degree centigrade into composite products. The said composites have a tensile strength of at least 75 MPa and a flexural strength of at least 125 MPa. The invention also relates to the use of the said composites in automotive, aerospace, furniture and other structural applications.
US08852487B2

A method for injection molding a thermoplastic composition that contains a polyarylene sulfide and a boron-containing nucleating agent is provided. By selectively controlling certain aspects of the polyarylene sulfide and nucleating agent, as well as the particular manner in which they are combined, the crystallization properties of the resulting thermoplastic composition can be significantly improved. This allows the “cooling time” during a molding cycle to be substantially reduced while still achieving the same degree of crystallization. The cooling time can be represented by the “normalized cooling ratio”, which is determined by dividing the total cooling time by the average thickness of the molded part.
US08852485B2

A method for the dry-formation of a deep drawn, three-dimensional wood fiber structural core is provided. The method comprises providing a preformed, substantially flat, dry-formed mat of wood fibers, providing a three-dimensional mold, introducing the dry-formed mat of wood fibers into the three-dimensional mold, and drawing and molding the mat of wood fibers into said three-dimensional wood fiber structural core.
US08852484B2

A bead-forming apparatus and method for its use are described. The bead-forming apparatus includes a base with a pair of legs extending from a top surface. First ends of the legs couple to respective eccentric elements. The eccentric elements removeably and rotatably couple to a platen. Second ends of the legs are rotatably and slideably mated with a gear train disposed within the base. The legs are slideably translatable into the base and the gear train maintains a rotational orientation of the legs and the eccentric elements coupled thereto. The platen is thus moveable through a circular path defined by the rotation of the eccentric elements and legs. As such, a plug of moldable material placed between the base and the platen and in contact with the platen, is formed into a double-cone shape by movement of the platen through the circular path.
US08852481B2

A method for encapsulating a device, such as an battery, having two opposite and parallel main faces and a peripheral edge, wherein one main face includes an electrical contact zone, includes the steps of retaining the device within an injection chamber of a mold and injecting encapsulation material into the injection chamber to overmold an encapsulation block on the device. The injection chamber is configured to hold a portion of the device, adjacent its peripheral edge, so as to center the device within the injection chamber. The mold includes centering structures that at least partially cover the electrical contact zone. Opposite positioning studs protrude into the injection chamber and bear on the opposite main faces of the device. The resulting packaged device includes an overmolded encapsulation block enveloping the device except for portions covered by the centering structure.
US08852479B2

Escape route marking for an aircraft comprising photoluminescent pigments in a carrier material, which luminesce in the dark, the carrier material comprising silicone and the photoluminescent pigments having a mean particle size of less than 150 μm.
US08852476B2

A process for forming thin flake particles includes coating the liquid release agent over a base substrate, forming a multilayer structure by depositing a thin film over the liquid release agent, collecting the multilayer structure, and separating the thin flake from the multilayer structure using a suitable solvent. The liquid release agent comprises a curable compound that can form a solidified layer less than 0.001 mm thick onto which the thin film can be deposited. Separation requires little solvent because of the thinness of the solidified layer.
US08852471B2

A die having a plurality of cavities and a temperature sensor for acquiring a temperature value in which the number of the cavities is larger than that of electrothermal conversion elements. When viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface of a parting line, all cavities and a temperature sensor are arranged in a region occupied by the electrothermal conversion elements. Interval between the outlines of the cavities is smaller than the minimum interval between the outline of the cavity and the electrothermal conversion element, and the shortest distance between the electrothermal conversion element and the temperature measuring portion of a temperature measuring element is shorter than the minimum interval between the outline of the cavity and the electrothermal conversion element.
US08852467B2

An exemplary printable composition of a liquid or gel suspension of diodes comprises a plurality of diodes, a first solvent and/or a viscosity modifier. An exemplary method of making a liquid or gel suspension of diodes comprises: adding a viscosity modifier to a plurality of diodes in a first solvent; and mixing the plurality of diodes, the first solvent and the viscosity modifier to form the liquid or gel suspension of the plurality of diodes. Various exemplary diodes have a lateral dimension between about 10 to 50 microns and about 5 to 25 microns in height. Other embodiments may also include a plurality of substantially chemically inert particles having a range of sizes between about 10 to about 50 microns.
US08852465B2

In order to provide an electro-conductive paste bringing no increase of the contact resistance for forming an electrode of a solar cell device, the electro-conductive paste is characterized by containing an electro-conductive particle, an organic binder, a solvent, a glass frit, and an organic compound including alkaline earth metal, a metal with a low melting point or a compound affiliated with a metal with a low melting point.
US08852462B2

A light-reflective anisotropic conductive adhesive used for anisotropic conductive connection of a light-emitting element to a wiring board includes a thermosetting resin composition containing a silicone resin and a curing agent, conductive particles and light-reflective insulating particles. The light-reflective insulating particle is at least one kind of inorganic particles selected from the group consisting of titanium oxide, boron nitride, zinc oxide, silicon oxide, and aluminum oxide. The silicone resin is a glycidyloxyalkyl-alicyclic alkyl-modified organopolysiloxane.
US08852460B2

Methods and compositions for the deposition of a film on a substrate. In general, the disclosed compositions and methods utilize a precursor containing calcium or strontium.
US08852452B2

A lithium transition metal oxide powder for use in a rechargeable battery is disclosed, where the surface of the primary particles of said powder is coated with a LiF layer, where this layer consists of a reaction product of a fluorine-containing polymer and the primary particle surface. The lithium of the LiF originates from the primary particles surface. Examples of the fluorine-containing polymer are either one of PVDF, PVDF-HFP or PTFE. Examples of the lithium transition metal oxide are either one of —LiCodMeO2, wherein M is either one of both of Mg and Ti, with e<0.02 and d+e=1; —Li1+aM′1−aO2±bM1kSm with −0.03
US08852445B2

A backwash header for a cloth filter disk includes a body having a length a diameter, first and second ends, a longitudinal axis, and an exterior surface, the body defining at least one internal cavity. The body includes at least one suction slot configured to allow fluids and solids to enter the internal cavity from outside of the exterior surface. A structure is attached to a portion of the exterior surface of the body around and extending away from the suction slot to form a chamber defined by the structure and a portion of the exterior surface near the suction slot. The structure is configured to allow fluids and solids to enter the chamber and then the suction slot and cavity from a material being cleaned. Cloth disk filters and methods of treating water and wastewater using the backwash headers and cloth disk filters.
US08852443B2

Various “no filter, no run” fuel filtration designs are described that include a variable restriction orifice (VRO) designed to vary the amount of fluid, for example fuel, that reaches a fluid outlet. The VRO has a fully open position at which a maximum non-zero fluid flow is permitted, and a fully closed position at which a limited amount of fluid can flow to the outlet. In the case of diesel fuel, the amount of fuel flow permitted at the fully closed position provides lubrication of downstream fuel system components, for example the fuel pump, but is insufficient to permit engine operation.
US08852442B2

A solid chemical feed unit dissolver has an upper feed unit chamber with an inwardly tapering sealing surface at its lower end and against which a lowermost feed unit seals, retaining the upper chamber in a dry condition, preventing wetting and caking of solid chemical feed units behind the dissolving and sealed off face of the solid chemical feed unit. A solid chemical feed unit magazine is slotted to permit gentle feeding of a plurality of solid chemical feed units therein and a cover-defined sight slot permits guiding and visual observation of remaining solid chemical feed units in the magazine. The magazine preferably, but not necessarily, defines the tapering sealing surface. Distinctly shaped solid chemical feed units are disclosed. The dissolver can handle large solid chemical feed unit loads up to one hundred pounds or more and in a small footprint stable configuration. Methods are disclosed.
US08852441B2

The invention relates to an apparatus for purifying liquids, in particular for purifying ballast water.
US08852422B2

The present invention relates to improved electrochemical biosensor strips and methods for determining the concentration of an analyte in a sample. By selectively measuring a measurable species residing in a diffusion barrier layer, to the substantial exclusion of the measurable species residing exterior to the diffusion barrier layer, measurement errors introduced by sample constituents, such as red blood cells, and manufacturing variances may be reduced.
US08852416B2

Particles may be injected into a matrix for concentration by scodaphoresis using a quadrupole injection field. Particles may be injected from two or more sample chambers simultaneously. Particle injection may be performed simultaneously with performing scodaphoresis. In some embodiments the particles are concentrated into a well containing fluid. The well can extend out of a plane of the matrix. Altering the relative phases of components of a scodaphoresis field permits concentration of selected particles and exclusion of other particles. Scodaphoresis methods may be applied to DNA, other bio-molecules and other particles.
US08852410B1

An electrolytic generator to produce a stoichiometric mixture of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas features a case penetration. An electrode extends through the case penetration and clamps a support plate to the inside of the case. The electrode and the support plate are electrically insulated from the case by a non-conducting bushing located within the case and between the support plate and the inside surface of the case. First and second plates are interleaved and maintained in a spaced apart relation along the first and second plate fasteners.
US08852406B2

A method for producing a cubic boron nitride (cBN) thin film includes depositing cBN onto nanocrystalline diamond having controlled surface irregularity characteristics to improve the adhesion at the interface of cBN/nanocrystalline diamond, while incorporating hydrogen to a reaction gas upon the synthesis of cBN and controlling the feed time of hydrogen, so that harmful reactions occurring on a surface of nanocrystalline diamond and residual stress applied to cBN may be inhibited. Also, a cBN thin film structure is obtained by the method. The cBN thin film is formed on the nanocrystalline diamond thin film by using a physical vapor deposition process, wherein a reaction gas supplied when the deposition of a thin film occurs is a mixed gas of argon (Ar) with nitrogen (N2), and hydrogen (H2) is added to the reaction gas at a time after the deposition of a thin film occurs.
US08852401B2

A process for manufacturing fiberboard by preparing a fiber slurry mixture including containing cellulose fibers and water then atomizing a liquid bituminous material, such as asphalt. The liquid bituminous material is atomized by mixing it with a pressurized gas, such as compressed air, forming a mist comprising droplets of bituminous material having a diameter between 20 microns and 50 microns. A water spray solidifies the bituminous material droplets thereby forming bituminous particles which fall into the fiber slurry within the spray chamber. From there the slurry is sheared, dewatered, and dried, forming a finished fiberboard.
US08852396B2

The present invention relates to a sheet material (2) comprising at least one first layer defining an outer surface of the sheet material and having at least one first color, at least one second layer comprising at least one watermark (6) and having at least one second color, the first and second colors having at least different saturations and/or hue angles.
US08852392B2

A method for the production of an elastic composite material with a textile surface. First, a laminate is produced, which has elastic cover layers and a core composed of a nonwoven fabric. Subsequently, the laminate is separated into two strips, each of which has a cover layer and an adhering layer of nonwoven fabric, by tearing open the core.
US08852387B2

There is provided a plasma processing apparatus including: a shower head installed within a processing chamber for processing a substrate and facing a mounting table for mounting the substrate; a multiple number of gas exhaust holes formed through the shower head to be extended from a facing surface of the shower head to an opposite surface to the facing surface; a multiple number of openable and closable trigger holes formed through the shower head to be extended from the facing surface of the shower head to the opposite surface, and configured to allow plasma leakage from the facing surface to the opposite surface; and a partition wall installed in a gas exhaust space provided on the side of the opposite surface of the shower head to divide the gas exhaust space into a multiple number of regions, each region communicating with one or more trigger holes.
US08852385B2

An upper electrode and a lower electrode are disposed opposite to each other in a process container configured to be vacuum-exhausted. The upper electrode is connected to a first RF power supply configured to apply a first RF power for plasma generation. The lower electrode is connected to a second RF power supply configured to apply a second RF power for ion attraction. The second RF power supply is provided with a controller preset to control the second RF power supply to operate in a power modulation mode that executes power modulation in predetermined cycles between a first power set to deposit polymers on a predetermined film on a wafer and a second power set to promote etching of the predetermined film on the wafer.
US08852382B2

A thermosetting composition comprising (a) 97 to 40 percent by weight of at least one bis(dihydrobenzoxazine) prepared by the reaction of an unsubstituted or substituted bisphenol with at least one unsubstituted position ortho to each hydroxyl group, formaldehyde and a primary amine; and (b) 3 to 60 percent by weight of at least one bisphenol, wherein the percent by weight refer to the total amount of components (a) and (b), with the proviso that (a) and (b) add up to 100 percent by weight; and (c) optionally other components. Cured products made from these compositions have valuable chemical, physical and mechanical properties.
US08852381B2

A method for making an absorbent article includes the steps of applying a layer of adhesive composition to a stretchable substrate and applying a layer of particulate superabsorbent material to the adhesive composition after applying the adhesive composition to the stretchable substrate.
US08852377B2

An insulative label is provided for a beverage container to reduce heat transfer, particularly heat transfer by conduction from a consumer's hand to the beverage container. The label comprises a dual-ply construction, with a grid pattern placed between the layered materials. Preferably, the label comprises a film base layer secured to the container, the grid pattern comprising an ink and varnish mixture printed over the film base layer, and a laminate top layer secured to the film base layer. Air is trapped in the gaps or spaces between the protrusions created by the grid pattern, and the trapped air insulates the container. The label has a very thin profile, thereby not perceptibly changing the appearance of the label or the container.
US08852376B2

A method for making a heater is related. A rotator having an axis and a flexible substrate with a plurality of electrodes located on a surface of the flexible substrate are provided. The flexible substrate is fixed on a surface of the rotator and a carbon nanotube film drawn from a carbon nanotube array is adhered on the surface of the flexible substrate. The rotator is rotated about the axis to wrap the carbon nanotube film on the surface of the flexible substrate to form a carbon nanotube layer. The flexible substrate and the carbon nanotube layer are cut along a direction to form the heater.
US08852375B2

In the process for producing a tread (4) for a vehicle tire: a tread strip made of rubber (4) is extruded; at least one furrow (44) is formed in the tread strip, the tread strip exhibiting material that is contiguous with the furrow; at least one string (8) is supplied from a coil; the string is inserted into the one furrow or each furrow; and the furrow is reclosed over the string using material of the tread strip that is contiguous with the furrow.
US08852360B2

This high strength hot-rolled steel sheet includes: in terms of percent by mass, C: 0.05 to 0.12%; Si: 0.8 to 1.2%; Mn: 1.6 to 2.2%; Al: 0.30 to 0.6%; P: 0.05% or less; S: 0.005% or less; and N: 0.01% or less, with the remainder being Fe and unavoidable impurities, wherein a microstructure includes specific ranges (in area %) of ferrite phases as well as martensite phases, and a maximum concentration of Al detected by a glow discharge emission spectroscopic analysis is in a range of 0.75 mass % or less in a region from a surface of the steel sheet to a thickness of 500 nm after being acid-pickled.
US08852358B2

A process for surface treating aluminum or aluminum alloy comprises the following steps. Providing a substrate made of aluminum or aluminum alloy. The substrate is treated with a chemical conversion treatment solution containing molybdate as the main film forming agent, to form a molybdate conversion film on the substrate. Then, a ceramic coating comprising refractory compound is formed on the molybdate conversion film by physical vapor deposition.
US08852354B2

This invention relates to a dishwasher (1) and a control method thereof, where the effects influencing the washing performance negatively such as filter clogging, rotor blocking, foaming or increase in viscosity are identified by detecting the current (I) drawn by the circulation pump (4) from the network and the solution steps applied to solve this problem.
US08852353B2

New solid detergent compositions and methods of forming and using those compositions are provided. The compositions for forming the solid detergents comprise a copolymer, scale inhibiting agent, and non-phosphate builder dispersed or dissolved in a solvent system. Advantageously, the inventive solid detergents provide dramatically improved cleaning performance and drying time without the use of a separate rinse additive. The detergents are especially suited to commercial dishmachine processes. The solid detergents are also in the form of a solid, homogeneous, self-sustaining body for improved handling and use.
US08852349B2

According to one aspect of the invention, an apparatus for reducing auto-doping of the front side of a substrate and reducing defects on the backside of the substrate during an epitaxial deposition process for forming an epitaxial layer on the front side of the substrate comprising: a means for forming a wafer gap region between the backside of the substrate and a susceptor plate, having an adjustable thickness; a means for ventilating auto-dopants out of the wafer gap region with a flow of inert gas, while inhibiting or prohibiting the flow of inert gas over the front side of the substrate; and a means for flowing reactant gases over the surface of the front side of the substrate, while inhibiting or prohibiting the flow of reactant gases near the surface of the backside of the substrate.
US08852346B2

A mask frame assembly for thin film deposition is disclosed. In one embodiment, the assembly includes: a frame, and a plurality of unit mask strips attached to the frame, wherein each of the unit mask strips includes a plurality of unit masking patterns which are spaced apart from each other. In one embodiment, each of the unit masking patterns includes: i) a plurality of stripe pattern slits and ii) a plurality of sets of dot pattern slits each set formed to be substantially parallel with the stripe pattern slits. Further, the stripe pattern slits and the sets of dot pattern slits are alternately formed with respect to each other, wherein each set of the dot pattern slits includes a plurality of dot pattern slits, and wherein the length of each stripe pattern slit is substantially the same as the length of each set of the dot pattern slits.
US08852339B2

The present invention relates to a process for the production of a clinker with a high content of belite, said process comprising the following steps: (i) introducing a raw meal into a calcination chamber of a cement plant kiln; (ii) calcining the raw meal at a temperature of from 1150° C. to 1375° C.; (iii) measuring the weight per liter of the product of step (ii) and eliminating the product having a weight per liter strictly less than 650 g/liter; (iv) measuring the quantity of SO3 in the product of step (ii) and eliminating the product having a ratio of quantity of SO3 of the decarbonated raw meal/quantity of SO3 in the product of step (ii) less than or equal to 0.75 and greater than or equal to 1.2; (v) measuring the quantity of free lime (CaOl) in the product of step (ii) and eliminating the product having a quantity of free lime strictly greater than 1.5%, percentage by mass of free lime in the product of step (ii).
US08852338B2

A composite panel is made from wood and cementitious binders, with flat surfaces and several possible colors. The panel comprises 35 to 85% of grey or white Portland cement; 10 to 30% of debarked resinous wood particles; 5 to 20% of semi-hydrated calcium sulphate; 0 to 10% of a surface accelerator; 0 to 10% of aluminum sulphate solution; 0 to 30% of calcium carbonate; and 0 to 15% of pigments. The process of preparation for the existing VIROC panel is adjusted to the new material. This panel, in addition to being very resistant and showing high performances in terms of resistance to impact, humidity, temperature variation, noise and fungi, as well as other microorganisms, also complies with all the requirements of the associated product standard.
US08852336B2

A method is provided that solves the problem of the manner of obtainment of mass for production of shaped construction elements. The manner consists of the fact, that in the mechanical mixer a ceramic granulate is placed, preferably in the form of perlite and is soaked, preferably with water until complete soaking of the granulate and is mixed with the binding agent until obtainment of the situation, where each loose grain (1) of the granulate is coated with a layer of moist binding agent, creating a coating (2) around the grain. Priorly prepared moulds are filled with the obtained mass. The mass for production of shaped construction elements consists of 15-25% of bond weight, preferably in the form of perlite, 35-45% of binding agent weight, preferably in the form of plaster with improved resistance parameters and 35-45% of water weight.
US08852330B2

A separator tank (1) for separating oil and gas from water comprises an essentially cylindrical vertical tank with at least one separator tank unit. The separator tank unit has an inlet for fluid (2) and a first inner annular wall (5) a first conical portion (9) and a first central opening (8). A second inner annular wall (15) is positioned at a distance from the first inner annular wall and has a second conical portion (19) and a second central opening (18). A first flow opening (10) is provided at an end of said first inner annular wall (5) and a second flow opening (20) is provided at an end of second inner annular wall (15).
US08852329B2

Disclosed is a dry carbon dioxide capturing device which can improve sorption efficiency by supplying sorbent for absorbing carbon dioxide or exhaust gas containing carbon dioxide to a recovery reactor in multistages at various heights. The dry carbon dioxide (CO2) capturing device with multistage supply structure comprises a recovery reactor 102 to recover CO2 by contacting a solid sorbent with exhaust gas; a recovery cyclone 110 connected to the recovery reactor 102 to discharge a gas while separating the CO2-captured solid sorbent only; a regenerator 114 connected to the recovery cyclone 110 to receive the CO2-captured solid sorbent and separate CO2 captured in the solid sorbent; and a pre-treatment reactor 122 connected to the regenerator 114 for cooling the solid sorbent free from CO2, wherein at least one of the exhaust gas supply line and the sorbent supply line has two or more arranged according to the height of the recovery reactor 102.
US08852327B1

An air dryer cartridge having an outer shell, an inner shell positioned within the outer shell, and a check valve positioned at least partially between the inner and outer shells. The inner and outer shells each have an inlet and an outlet. The outer shell is preferably operable to removably engage an air dryer. The check valve is operable to regulate the rate of flow of fluid through the outlet of the inner shell. Preferably, the check valve also seals between portions of the inner and outer shells and/or is operable to sealingly engage an air dryer.
US08852321B2

A recharging dehydrating breather for providing dehydrated air to electrical components includes a desiccant chamber configured to hold desiccant and a heating element configured to heat the desiccant held in the desiccant chamber to at least partially eliminate water. The device further includes a housing configured to hold the desiccant chamber and the heating element, an outlet configured to provide an outlet to guide the water away from the housing, and the outlet configured to be heated by the heating element. A process of configuring a recharging dehydrating breather for providing dehydrated air to electrical components is also disclosed.
US08852317B2

The present invention provides a technology for recovering high-content tantalum from tantalum-containing waste with reducing various impurities such as antimony (Sb) and phosphorus (P) which hinder reuse of the tantalum in tantalum capacitors. The method for recovering tantalum from tantalum-containing waste according to the present invention is characterized in that tantalum-containing waste is subjected to an acid treatment and then to an alkali treatment, thereby recovering tantalum. The acid treatment is preferably performed with use of an acid containing hydrochloric acid and the alkali treatment is preferably performed with use of sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. The tantalum-containing waste in the present invention is preferably a tantalum sintered compact collected from a tantalum capacitor.
US08852316B2

The invention relates to a process for the preparation of silver nano particles comprising dissolving a surfactant in ethanol to obtain a first solution; dissolving a silver precursor in water to obtain a second solution; adding the second solution to the first solution to obtain a third solution; dissolving a reducing agent in water to obtain a reducing agent solution and adding the reducing agent solution to the third solution to obtain silver nano particles.
US08852311B2

The present invention aims to provide a honeycomb structure capable of preventing a plugging failure and forming cracks by heat shock which are caused by a cell having a small cross-section. The present invention is a honeycomb structure used for a filter for purifying an exhaust gas discharged from an internal combustion engine, wherein the honeycomb structure has a double structure of an outer tube and an inner tube, on the inner side of the inner tube, an inside cell partitioning wall forming an inside through-hole is provided, between the outer tube and inner tube, an outside cell partitioning wall forming an outside through-hole is provided, the inner tube and the inside cell partitioning wall form a through-hole having an irregular cross-section, and connected through-holes are formed by making at least one of the following connection patterns: the connection between a through-hole having an irregular cross-section and an outside through-hole, the through-holes sharing the inner tube, the connection between a through-hole having an irregular cross-section and another through-hole having an irregular cross-section, the through-holes sharing an inside cell partitioning wall, and the connection between a through-hole having an irregular cross-section and an inside through-hole, the through-holes sharing an inside cell partitioning wall.
US08852305B2

A cutting tool insert for machining by chip removal includes a body of a hard alloy of cemented carbide, cermet, ceramics, cubic boron nitride based material or high speed steel, onto which a hard and wear resistant coating is deposited by physical vapor deposition. The coating includes a polycrystalline nanolaminated structure of alternating layers A and B where layer A is (Ti,Al,Me1)N and Me1 is optionally one or more of the metal elements from group 3, 4, 5 or 6 in the periodic table, layer B is (Ti,Si,Me2)N and Me2 is optionally one or more of the metal elements from group 3, 4, 5 or 6 in the periodic table including Al with a thickness between 0.5 and 20 μm and method of making the same. This insert is particularly useful in metal cutting applications generating high temperatures with improved edge integrity, machining of super alloys, stainless and hardened steels.
US08852301B1

A system for treating biomass for the production of a composition of lignin pellets .is disclosed. Pellets comprising at least 50 percent lignin by dry weight is disclosed. Also disclosed are pellets produced from a lignin composition by a process comprising: pre-treating lignocellulosic biomass into pre-treated biomass; separating the pre-treated biomass into a first liquid component comprising sugars and a first solids component comprising cellulose and the lignin composition; hydrolysing the first solids component of the pre-treated biomass into a hydrolysed biomass comprising sugars and the lignin composition; separating the hydrolysed biomass into a second liquid component comprising sugars and a second solids component comprising the lignin composition; supplying the second solids component comprising the lignin composition to a pelleting apparatus to produce the pellets; wherein the lignocellulosic biomass comprises cellulose, hemi-cellulose and lignin. According to an aspect, at least a portion of the lignin is not sulfonated.
US08852300B2

This invention relates to an internal combustion engine combusting hydrocarbon fuel having a lithium conditioned combustion chamber for reduced carbon oxide engine emissions. The condition chamber is formed by combusting therein a hydrocarbon fuel containing a lithium salt.
US08852296B2

The present invention provides non-petroleum high-octane fuel which may be derived from biomass sources, and a method of producing same. The method of production involves reducing the biomass feedstocks to sugars, fermenting the sugars using microorganisms or mutagens thereof to produce ethanol or acetic acid, converting the acetic acid or ethanol to acetone, and converting the acetone to mesitylene and isopentane, the major components of the engine fuel. Trimerization of acetone can be carried out in the presence of a catalyst containing at least one metal selected from the group consisting of niobium, iron and manganese. The ethanol can be converted to mesitylene in a dehydration reaction in the presence of a catalyst of zinc oxide/calcium oxide, and unreacted ethanol and water separated from mesitylene by distillation. These ethanol-based fuels may be formulated to have a wide range of octane values and energy, and may effectively be used to replace 100 LL aviation fuel (known as AvGas), as well as high-octane, rocket, diesel, turbine engine fuels, as well as two-cycle, spark-ignited engine fuels.
US08852290B2

The invention provides a biocompatible silicone implant that can be securely affixed to living tissue through interaction with integral membrane proteins (integrins). A silicone article containing a laser-activated surface is utilized to make the implant. One example is an implantable prosthesis to treat blindness caused by outer retinal degenerative diseases. The device bypasses damaged photoreceptors and electrically stimulates the undamaged neurons of the retina. Electrical stimulation is achieved using a silicone microelectrode array (MEA). A safe, protein adhesive is used in attaching the MEA to the retinal surface and assist in alleviating focal pressure effects. Methods of making and attaching such implants are also provided.
US08852270B2

An implant delivery system may comprise a catheter including at least one lumen, a guide wire configured to be received in the lumen, and an implant. The guide wire may comprise a clamping mechanism disposed about a distal end of the guide wire. The clamping mechanism may include a first and at least a second jaw wherein at least one of the jaws is configured to pivot between a closed position wherein the jaws define at least one internal cavity between the jaws configured to receive at least a portion of the implant and an open position configured to release the implant. The implant may be configured to be received in the lumen and may comprise a driver configured to be releasably received in the cavity of the clamping mechanism.
US08852264B2

The present invention includes a radiopaque stent comprising a cylindrical main body. The tubular main body comprises a cobalt chromium alloy that comprises cobalt, chromium and one or more radiopaque materials.
US08852263B2

The use of nucleating agents to manufacture polymeric stents is disclosed. The resulting stents may have increased crystallinity, decreased crystal size, increased mechanical properties, and faster degradation times.
US08852246B2

The present invention relates to a device for internal fixation of the bone fragments (2, 3) in a radius fracture (4). The device comprises at least one body (1) for abutment against the bone fragments (2, 3) in the radius fracture (4), and fixing elements (6, 7) which are intended to be locked to the body for fixation of said bone fragments. The body (1) itself has in a distal end portion (1a) at least two predrilled holes (8) for fixing elements (6), and in a proximal end portion (1b) at least two predrilled holes (9) for fixing elements (7). To allow effective optimum internal fixation of the bone fragments in the radius fracture, the predrilled holes (8, 9) run obliquely relative to a longitudinal axis (L) of the body (1) so that all of the fixing elements (6, 7) which, after the body has been caused to abut against the bone fragments (2, 3) in the radius fracture (4), are introduced into said bone fragments through holes (8, 9) in the body's distal end portion (1a) and proximal end portion (1b) cross the radius fracture (4) as viewed in the transverse direction of the body. Each fixing element (6, 7) has at least one fixing portion (10; 10a, 10b) for locking the fixing element in the bone fragments (2, 3) in the radius fracture (4) and for locking the fixing element to the body (1).
US08852228B2

A forceps is provided. The forceps includes a housing having a shaft that extends therefrom. The bipolar forceps also includes a hydraulic mechanism that includes a fluid line and a plunger operatively coupled to the fluid line. The plunger is translatable within at least a portion of the shaft from a proximal position to a distal position. An end effector assembly is operatively connected to a distal end of the shaft and includes a pair of first and second jaw members biased in an open configuration. Each of the first and second jaw members configured to receive at least a portion of the plunger when a fluid is caused to flow within the fluid line such that the first and second jaw members move from an open position for positioning to a closed position for grasping tissue.
US08852227B1

Vascular treatment and methods include a plurality of self-expanding bulbs and a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Joints between woven structures and hypotubes include solder. Woven structures include patterns of radiopaque filaments measurable under x-ray. Structures are heat treated to include at least shapes at different temperatures. A catheter includes a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Heat treating systems include a detachable flange. Laser cutting systems include a fluid flow system.
US08852213B2

Methods and devices for repairing a cardiac valve. A minimally invasive procedure includes creating an access in the apex region of the heart through which one or more instruments may be inserted. The device can implant artificial heart valve chordae tendineae into cardiac valve leaflet tissues to restore proper leaflet function and prevent reperfusion. The device punctures the apex of the heart and travels through the ventricle. The tip of the device rests on the defective valve and punctures the valve leaflet. A suture or a suture/guide wire combination is inserted, securing the top of the leaflet to the apex of the heart. A resilient element or shock absorber mechanism adjacent to the outside of the apex of the heart minimizes the linear travel of the device in response to the beating of the heart or opening/closing of the valve.
US08852211B2

A wound closure device for closing a surgical wound is provided. The device includes a flexible base sheet and at least one flexible hemostatic clip for applying pressure to a patient's tissue. The flexible base sheet includes at least a first end and a second end, as well as an aperture extending through the base sheet longitudinally from proximate to the first end toward the second end. The aperture has a first and a second longitudinally extending edge. The clip has a first end, a second end, a top, a bottom, and at least a first and a second clamping member. Each clamping member has a distal edge. The clip is attachable to the base sheet.
US08852203B2

A multi-wire instrument has a distal functional section, in which a plurality of individual wires form a wire basket, wherein they are combined at a distal end and connected to one another by being joined directly to one another or to a distal terminating body while forming a respective predetermined breaking connection. A shaft section extends between the distal functional section and a proximal end region of the multi-wire instrument. The individual wires extend in one piece from their distal end to the proximal end region of the multi-wire instrument and the shaft section is formed by the individual wires, which are combined there and held together. The individual wires are twisted together in the entire shaft section up to the basket-forming functional section, wherein they merge from the twisted distal end of the shaft section with radial widening, and/or the individual wires are twisted together in a distal end region which adjoins the basket-forming functional section in a distal manner and in this case abut one another along this twisting.
US08852199B2

A bone adhesive application device has a pliable structure with an application surface upon which a bone adhesive may be applied. The application surface has a surface energy substantially equal to or less than a surface energy of the bone adhesive to reduce adhesion between the bone adhesive and the bone adhesive application device. The bone adhesive application device may be included in a kit for repairing bone defects having a bone adhesive formed from a reactive biocompatible polyurethane material. The bone adhesive may be applied to a bone defect by positioning the pliable structure over at least a portion of the bone defect, delivering the bone adhesive to the bone defect and removing the pliable structure from the bone adhesive.
US08852193B2

Methods and instrumentation for implantation of an intervertebral disc prosthesis are provided. A guide tool with sagittal and coronal reference features guides placement of guide pins relative to a sagittal plane and a coronal plane of the vertebrae. A retainer lockable to the guide pins has a ratcheting mechanism providing distraction or compression. A rasp, planer or other tools may be aligned to the retainer and inserted into the intervertebral space to prepare the vertebral endplates. An interoperatively adjustable trial is alignable to the retainer and measures an angularity of the intervertebral space. A prosthesis with keying features may be mounted to a prosthesis inserter with complementary features, held by pivotable arms and compressed between prongs. The inserter may be aligned to the retainer and advanced to implant the prosthesis in the intervertebral space. A prosthesis remover may grip one prosthetic end plate and extract the entire prosthesis.
US08852188B2

A method for providing joint arthroplasty includes resecting an end portion of a long bone, preparing a central longitudinal opening in a medullary canal of the long bone, providing a prosthetic stem component, installing the prosthetic stem component into the opening in a medullary canal, providing a reamer including an opening for receiving the prosthetic stem component, positioning the reamer onto the prosthetic stem component with the opening of the reamer positioned at least partially over the prosthetic stem component, reaming a portion of the long bone with the reamer, removing the reamer, and installing a prosthetic body component onto the prosthetic stem component.
US08852185B2

An endoscopic forceps includes a housing having a shaft extending therefrom for treating tissue. A longitudinal axis is defined through the shaft. An end effector assembly is operably coupled to a distal end of the shaft and includes a pair of first and second jaw members. A rotating assembly operably coupled to the shaft is configured to rotate the shaft and the end effector about the longitudinal axis. A drive assembly is configured to selectively and releasably engage the rotating assembly. Engagement of the rotating assembly with the drive assembly couples the rotating assembly to the shaft such that the shaft is rotatable about the longitudinal axis in a predetermined direction when the rotating assembly is rotated. And, disengagement of the rotating assembly from the drive assembly uncouples the rotating assembly from the shaft such that the shaft is non-rotatable about the longitudinal axis when the rotating assembly is rotated.
US08852171B2

The present invention relates to a collecting device comprising a collecting device for collection of body fluids. The invention relates to a collecting device arranged in a compact configuration wherein the dimensions of the collecting device is small in comparison with the dimensions of the collecting device in an unfolded configuration. In particular the invention relates to a bag having an inner folding and an outer folding. Two pull points may further be arranged so that the application of oppositely directed forces to the first and second pull-points will lead to unfolding of the inner folding. With this arrangement the outer folding may be forced to unfold as the inner folding unfolds.
US08852167B2

A medical connector includes a body defining a lumen for fluid flow through the medical connector. The medical connector includes a luer member and an annular member disposed about the luer member. The annular member includes internal and/or external engagement structures. The medical connector may be provided on the outlet of a syringe or on a catheter. A fluid path is disclosed including a first section and a second section. The first and second sections may each include a medical connector to provide a removable connection with a syringe and a catheter, respectively. The medical connector may provide a removable connection between the first and second sections. A fluid delivery system is disclosed including an injector, a syringe operatively associated with the injector, and a fluid path connecting the syringe and a source of injection. The medical connector may provide a removable connection between the syringe and fluid path.
US08852162B2

A device, method, and computer program product for controlling a dispensing device adapted to be capable of dispensing contrast media as part of a medical imaging procedure. The device comprises a controller device, user interface, injector portion, and a storage device such that a user of the device may initialize multiple dispensing functions in the injector portion and user interface via a user input. The method and computer program product for controlling a dispensing device comprises receiving a user input from a user interface and directing the dispensing device to perform multiple dispensing functions, including actuating the injector portion and updating the user interface, in response to a user input.
US08852161B2

Absorbent garment such as a diaper and an incontinence guard, said garment has a first body panel, a second body panel and a crotch portion there between. The garment is provided with opposed laterally extending belt members attached to the waist portion of the first body panel and are adapted to be wrapped around the waist of the wearer of the garment and fastened together by a first fastener. The second body panel at its waist portion is provided with second fasteners adapted to be fastened to the belt members, in such a way that the garment will assume a pant-like shape. The belt members are interconnected by a waist band extending in transverse direction along the waist portion of the first body panel. At least one of the belt members has an elastic region located at the proximal end of said belt member adjacent said waist band.
US08852160B2

A venous access port assembly having a housing base, a flange, and a septum. The housing base defines an interior reservoir. The flange includes integrally molded X-ray discernable indicia identifying that the assembly is rated for power injection. The X-ray discernable indicia may extend through a height of the flange from a top surface to a bottom surface of the flange. According to one aspect, the flange may be formed from X-ray discernable material, and the X-ray discernable indicia may be formed from the X-ray discernable material of the flange, or they may be formed by voids in the X-ray discernable material. According to another aspect, the flange may be formed from a radiotransparent or radiolucent material and applied with a radiopaque agent, and the X-ray discernable indicia may be one or more voids in the radiopaque agent or may be portions of the flange applied with the radiopaque agent.
US08852154B2

A method of using a safety enclosure for a needle, the needle including an aft end and a fore end together forming a right angle, the fore end including a sharp outer end. The method includes providing a safety enclosure including a needle housing and a panel unit, the needle housing having a finger pad, orienting the safety enclosure in a desired location for insertion of the needle, and applying pressure to the finger pad sufficient to cause penetration of the needle at the desired location and to move the panel unit to the installation position.
US08852149B2

The present invention discloses an appliance for administering medical treatment to a person, as well as methods of using the appliance. In various embodiments, the appliance may be comprised of a medical device, an electronic processor, an electronic display (such as a liquid crystal display (LCD)), an audio output device (such as a piezoelectric speaker/microphone), electronic controls for controlling the operation of the electronic processor, and an electronic input receptacle (such as a DVD drive or USB port) adapted to receive and electronically access an electronic storage device (such as a DVD or flash memory device). The electronic processor or electronic storage device or both have information related to use and operation of the medical device digitally stored therein, so that the user of the appliance has ready access to instructional materials. Thus, the appliance includes an internal system for instructing the user in the use of the medical device.
US08852147B2

A pressure isolation mechanism for use in a medical procedure includes a lumen, an isolation port in fluid connection with lumen, and a valve having a first state and a second state. The first state occurs when the lumen and the isolation port are connected. The second state occurs when the lumen and the isolation port are disconnected. The lumen remains open for flow of fluid therethrough in the first state and in the second state. The valve is normally in the first state and is switchable to the second state when fluid pressure in the lumen reaches a predetermined pressure level. A pressure transducer can be in fluid connection with the isolation port of the pressure isolation mechanism A fluid delivery system includes a manually operated syringe and a pressure isolation mechanism as described above.
US08852141B2

Some embodiments of an infusion pump system may include an occlusion sensor that can be used to detect when an occlusion exists in the fluid path between the medicine reservoir and the infusion site on the user's skin. Such an occlusion may occur, for example, when the fluid flow line (e.g., a cannula, infusion set tubing, or the like) is kinked. If the medicine dispensation path to the user is occluded, the user may receive no dosage or a lower dosage of the medicine. As such, the occlusion sensor can be used to indicate when the fluid is flowing or not flowing, thereby permitting the infusion pump system to communicate an alarm to the user if an occlusion exists.
US08852140B2

Systems and methods are provided for automatically adjusting the operational parameters of a blood separation procedure. A blood separation device has an inlet for passing fluid thereinto and an outlet for removing fluid therefrom. A pump system is provided for moving fluid into and out of the device. In use, blood is conveyed into the device, where platelets are separated from at least a portion of the blood. A controller determines the amount of platelets in the device. Based at least in part on the amount of platelets in the device, corrective action is taken to avoid platelet aggregation in the device. The corrective action may be conveying an elevated amount of anticoagulant into the blood and/or the device and may be initiated when the determined amount of platelets approaches, meets, or exceeds a threshold predicted likelihood of platelet aggregation.
US08852138B2

A method and apparatus for delivering energy during a surgical procedure such as phacoemulsification is provided. The method and apparatus include applying energy during at least one pulsed energy on period, typically sufficient or intended to rapidly induce and beneficially employ transient cavitation. Applying energy during the pulsed energy on period comprises applying energy during a first high energy period, and applying energy during a second nonzero lower energy period.
US08852130B2

A medical probe, including a flexible insertion tube, having a distal end for insertion into a body cavity of a patient and which is configured to be brought into contact with tissue in the body cavity. The probe further includes a sensor tube of an elastic material, contained inside the distal end of the insertion tube and configured to deform in response to forces exerted by the tissue on the distal end. The probe also includes a plurality of strain gauges fixedly attached to a surface of the sensor tube at different, respective locations and configured to generate respective signals in response to deformations of the sensor tube.
US08852129B2

A method for the treatment of paralysis caused by injury to the brain. A set of movements by a healthy extremity is recorded and stored in a computer. Movements made by an affected extremity are recorded and compared to the standard provided by the healthy extremity. A score based on the similarity of the movement is reported to the user to aid in tracking progress. A similar system may also be used to detect and track the progress of degenerative diseases by comparing past movements to current movements.
US08852121B2

The present application is directed to an image-guided, vacuum assisted, percutaneous, coring, cable driven breast biopsy instrument which may be conveniently mounted to an x-ray machine wherein the biopsy instrument incorporates a rotation knob at the proximal end of the instrument to manually rotate the distal end of the probe, thus allowing the clinician to conveniently position the tissue port next to the tissue to be sampled.
US08852114B2

Disclosed herein are methods and devices for monitoring a heartbeat. In one embodiment, the device may comprise a sensor package mountable over a pulse location of a user. The sensor package may include a first sensor element configured to sense at least one signal at the pulse location and to provide a first output signal comprising a heart pulse signal and a first set of noise artifacts, a second sensor element configured to sense at least one signal at the pulse location and to provide a second output signal indicative of a second set of noise artifacts, and a mechanically isolating material located between the first sensor element and the second sensor element. The device may further comprise processing circuitry connected to the sensor package and configured to extract the heart pulse signal from the first output signal based on the first output signal and the second output signal.
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