US08860781B2
In a video decoding system, a method and system for decoding previously encoded frames of video into a compressed and uncompressed format. The uncompressed format frames may be further stored and utilized to decode additional frames of video. The compressed format frames may be further stored and provided to a display processor to be rendered with additional textures.
US08860779B2
A participation device in a multiparty conference call may act as a server device and/or a client device for two-way audio and video (AV) streaming. A server device may encode a requested AV stream into a set of different encoding profiles that may be dynamically determined based on the varying channel conditions and device capacities of the client devices. At least a portion of differently encoded AV streams is selected and dynamically communicated to the client devices for display. Session parameters are determined according to the varying channel conditions and the device capacities of the client devices to create intended sessions. The selected encoded AV streams are communicated utilizing segment-based adaptive streaming techniques such as HTTP. A client device may access to a HTTP session to download an expected AV stream from the server device. The downloaded AV stream may be decoded into different decoding profiles for display as needed.
US08860776B2
A conference terminal, a conference server, a conference system, and a data processing method are provided. The conference terminal includes: a mark obtaining module, configured to obtain a mark data signal; an image obtaining module, configured to obtain an image data signal; a superimposing module, configured to superimpose the mark data signal onto the image data signal to generate a hybrid image data signal; and an outputting module, configured to output the hybrid image data signal. The present invention improves the interactivity between videoconference users and the discussion efficiency.
US08860773B2
Methods, systems and computer-readable storage mediums encoded with computer programs executed by one or more processors for providing a telepresence with gestural interface for remote collaboration are disclosed. An electronic presentation including a background object and a foreground object is received. A real-time video of a presenter is received over a network for display within the electronic presentation. A layered presentation is composited. The layered presentation including the background object composited behind the opaque representation of the presenter composited behind the foreground object composited behind the translucent representation of the presenter. The layered presentation is provided for rendering in real-time.
US08860770B2
A method of driving a display panel includes driving a first sub area and a second sub area of a pixel part in a two-dimensional (2D) image mode, wherein a first luminance difference exists between the first and second sub areas in the 2D image mode, and driving the first sub area and the second sub area of the pixel part in a three-dimensional (3D) image mode, wherein a second luminance difference exists between the first and second sub areas in the 3D image mode, the second luminance difference being smaller than the first luminance difference.
US08860766B2
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for determining one or more contact points between a pair of objects. In operation, a first contact normal is identified between a pair of objects at a first position. Additionally, a relative velocity of the pair of objects is determined at the first position. Furthermore, one or more contact points between the pair of objects are determined at a second position through a translational analysis, utilizing the first contact normal and the relative velocity.
US08860757B2
A computerized system provides assistance for placement of localization markers for medical operations such as ACL repair procedures. The system displays, on a graphical user interface, an image of an anatomical structure and allows identification, via an input device on the graphical user interface, of a set of landmark locations identifying respective anatomical positions within the displayed image of the anatomical structure. The system displays a graphical overlay over the image of the anatomical structure. Placement of the graphical overlay is based on the set of landmark locations. The system displays at least one localization marker within the graphical overlay. The localization marker(s) identify a location for performing a surgical operation associated with the anatomical structure, such as ACL repair surgical operations.
US08860756B2
Disclosed is a method of producing a cropped image from an original image for a given target crop region. The method comprising receives a plurality of example crops, each example crop corresponding to at least a part of the original image. Two example crops are selected based on at least a property of the target crop region. The method interpolates between the selected example crops to determine a crop window, crops the original image with the determined crop window to produce the cropped image.
US08860750B2
Devices and methods for dynamic dithering are provided. For example, an electronic device according to an embodiment may include image processing circuitry that operates on higher-bit-depth image data and a display panel that displays lower-bit-depth image data. To obtain the lower-bit-depth image data, the image processing circuitry may perform dynamic dithering on the higher-bit-depth image data. Such dynamic dithering may involve dithering frames of the higher-bit-depth image data based at least in part on respective rounding threshold values.
US08860749B1
A computer-implemented method for icon generation. The method comprises determining a color from a first icon, generating a colored region comprising the determined color, and generating a composite image of the colored region and the first icon to produce a second icon, wherein the second icon is larger than the first icon.
US08860747B2
System and methods for gamut bounded saturation adaptive color enhancement are provided. Color enhancement incorporating gamut bounded saturation enhances colors of an pixel from a source color gamut such that the resulting color is within a target color gamut. This resulting color may, for example, take advantage of an expanded target color gamut of a display. Gamut bounded saturation may be implemented independently or in combination with RGB bounded saturation.
US08860741B1
In contrast to a conventional computing system in which the graphics processor (graphics processing unit or GPU) is treated as a slave to one or several CPUs, systems and methods are provided that allow the GPU to be treated as a central processing unit (CPU) from the perspective of the operating system. The GPU can access a memory space shared by other CPUs in the computing system. Caches utilized by the GPU may be coherent with caches utilized by other CPUs in the computing system. The GPU may share execution of general-purpose computations with other CPUs in the computing system.
US08860736B2
A terminal equipped with a central processing unit (CPU) and a graphics processing unit (GPU) performs a method for executing applications in adaptation to the load of the CPU and GPU. The application execution method of the present invention includes checking, when a code of application to be executed is input, workloads of a central processing unit and a graphics processing unit. The method also includes comparing the workloads of the central processing unit and the graphics processing unit with respective workload threshold values, and compiling the code according to comparison result. The method further includes generating a binary for executing the application at one of the central processing unit and the graphics processing unit using the compiled code, and executing the application with the generated binary. The method reduces application execution time by adjusting the workloads of the CPU and GPU according to the total workload, thereby saving power.
US08860732B2
An interactive application may include a quasi-physical simulator configured to determine the configuration of animated characters as they move within the application and are acted on by external forces. The simulator may work together with a parameterized animation module that synthesizes and provides reference poses for the animation from example motion clips that it has segmented and parameterized. The simulator may receive input defining a trajectory for an animated character and input representing one or more external forces acting on the character, and may perform a quasi-physical simulation to determine a pose for the character in the current animation frame in reaction to the external forces. The simulator may enforce a goal constraint that the animated character follows the trajectory, e.g., by adding a non-physical force to the simulation, the magnitude of which may be dependent on a torque objective that attempts to minimize the use of such non-physical forces.
US08860728B2
A method includes receiving a trigger to present a balloon notification on a display. The notification is associated with an object in the display. The method also includes determining dimensions of the notification and determining a suitable location in the display for the notification. The method further includes presenting the notification in the display at the suitable location. Determining the suitable location in the display for the notification could include (i) determining whether the notification if placed proximate to a first corner of the object would be presented completely in the display, (ii) determining how many other objects in the display would be obstructed by the notification if placed proximate to the first corner of the object, and/or (iii) determining how much total area of other objects in the display would be obstructed by the notification if placed proximate to the first corner of the object.
US08860722B2
Early Z scoreboard tracking systems and methods in accordance with the present invention are described. Multiple pixels are received and a pixel depth raster operation is performed on the pixels. The pixel depth raster operation comprises discarding a pixel that is occluded. In one exemplary implementation, the depth raster operation is done at a faster rate than a color raster operation. Pixels that pass the depth raster operation are checked for screen coincidence. Pixels with screen coincidence are stalled and pixels without screen coincidence are forwarded to lower stages of the pipeline. The lower stages of the pipeline are programmable and pixel flight time can vary (e.g., can include multiple passes through the lower stages). Execution through the lower stages is directed by a program sequencer which also directs notification to the pixel flight tracking when a pixel is done processing.
US08860716B2
A method and a 3D display apparatus for processing a stereoscopic image signal in high rate by software while using a least number of hardware components in a portable 3D display apparatus based on a mobile Android platform are provided. This method is suitable for a portable terminal apparatus equipped with a kernel layer directly controlling hardware means including a display panel, and an application/middleware layer controlling the kernel layer to display a motion picture through the hardware means. One or more plane image surfaces are first generated from the application/middleware layer and stored in a first frame buffer. An encoded image signal is decoded under the application/middleware layer to restore a YUV image signal representing a stereoscopic image pair. Subsequently, the YUV image signal is converted into an RGB image signal, and left and right images of the RGB image signal are mixed at the kernel layer.
US08860709B2
A level converting circuit includes a level converting part and a bias part. The level converting part includes at least first to fourth n-type field effect transistors and first and second p-type field effect transistors. The bias part includes a fifth n-type field effect transistor, a voltage drop part including at least one resistive element, and a current source having a power-supply-side terminal connected to a voltage source of a voltage higher than a first voltage. The bias part generates a bias voltage higher than the first voltage by the threshold voltage of the first and second n-type field effect transistors or a bias voltage that is higher than the first voltage and lower than the threshold voltage at the side of one end of the resistive element, and supplies the bias voltage to the gates of the first and second n-type field effect transistors in the level converting part.
US08860693B2
Image processing techniques that can improve the user interface experience associated with key-based input devices. In one embodiment, a motion sensitive mechanical keyboard can utilize orthogonally-oriented cameras to sense hand/finger motion over the surface of the keys. This arrangement can enable a standard look and feel mechanical keyboard to receive command and cursor input (e.g., pointing and gestures) from the user without requiring the user to move the user's hand off the keyboard. The image processing techniques can be utilized to minimize or remove undesirable cursor movement that can occur based on certain detected hand/finger motion from such cameras, including looming and/or vertical motions for example.
US08860680B2
An information processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a display unit for displaying thereon a plurality of input regions operated by an operating body, a detection unit for detecting an approach distance between the operating body and a surface of the display unit, and a region control unit for, when the operating body approaches one of the input regions within a predetermined distance, enlarging the input region which the operating body approaches, and moving at least one of the input regions such that the adjacent input regions do not overlap each other. The input region is enlarged and an overlap between the input regions is avoided so that a user can easily select a desired input region, thereby preventing erroneous selection of other input region.
US08860679B2
A method, system and computer program product for pointing to an object displayed on a touchscreen, the touchscreen having a display function. The coordinates of a point P, the point P being a position of a fingertip of a user on a surface of the touchscreen, is calculated. A vertical distance R between the surface of the touchscreen and the fingertip is further calculated. Furthermore, the coordinates of a point Q of a line segment OQ is calculated, the line segment OQ extending in the same direction as a line segment OP connecting an origin O on the surface of the touchscreen and the point P, the line segment OQ having a length that is proportional to the vertical distance R. In response to an object being displayed at the coordinates of the point Q, determining that the object has been pointed to.
US08860673B2
A first resistive film is arranged such that one edge thereof is connected to a first terminal, and an edge that is opposite to the aforementioned edge is connected to a second terminal. A second resistive film is arranged with a gap between it and the first resistive film such that one edge thereof is connected to a third terminal. A voltage generating unit applies a predetermined first bias voltage and a predetermined second bias voltage to the first terminal and the second terminal, respectively. A voltage detection unit detects a panel voltage that occurs at the third terminal. A current detection unit detects a panel current that flows through a path including the first terminal, the first resistive film, and the second terminal. A computation unit determines the coordinates touched by the user, based upon the values of the panel voltage and the panel current.
US08860670B2
An apparatus is provided for performing a scroll function in a portable terminal, in which a touch screen displays a list divided into a plurality of sections, a memory stores a scroll function established for each of the plurality of sections, and a controller locates a focus on a particular item by performing a scroll function established for a particular section, when the section among the plurality of sections is touched and dragged.
US08860667B2
Disclosed is a display terminal device including a display operating unit (12), a first communication unit (22), a reader/writer circuit (24) and a controller (26). The display operating unit is provided on a main body unit (11) to display advertisement data, and the first communication unit communicates with a host device. The reader/writer circuit is provided on the main body unit (11) and communicated with the memory from the display operating unit (12) side to write and/or read out data relevant to the advertisement data. The controller allows advertisement data received by the first communication unit (22) to be displayed on a display operating unit (12). The controller causes data written and/or read out by the reader/writer circuit (24) to be transmitted to or received from a host device or another device via the first communication unit (22). Since the display operating unit (12) side may communicate with a memory, such as an IC card, the data relevant to the advertisement data may be exchanged extremely readily.
US08860661B2
An information processing apparatus includes an imaging unit, a display, a detection unit, and an image generation unit. The imaging unit is configured to capture an image to acquire a captured image. The display has a display surface that faces in the same direction as an imaging direction of the imaging unit. The detection unit is configured to perform imaging processing on the captured image to detect a face region that is a region of a face of a user in the captured image. The image generation unit is configured to generate a display image displayed on the display based on a result of the detection by the detection unit.
US08860660B2
Determining pupil center position. At least some illustrative embodiments are methods including: creating a video signal of an eye, the video signal comprising a stream of frames; and finding an indication of pupil position. The finding may include: calculating a set of feature points within a first frame of the video signal; dividing, by the computer system, the first frame of the video signal into a plurality of sections; selecting a plurality of feature points from the first frame, at least one feature point selected from each section; and determining an ellipse from the plurality of feature points. The method may further include moving a cursor on a display device responsive to change in location of a feature of the ellipse with respect to a previous feature of an ellipse from a previous frame.
US08860645B2
A scan driving method for LCD panel comprises varying of polarity pattern adaptive to column data, wherein polarity patterns are dynamically determined from row to row, based on analysis of column drive signals for present and previous rows to obtain a parametric value and determination to either keep default polarity pattern or switch to alternate polarity pattern in accordance with parametric value obtained. Columns are regarded as in one or multiple groups for consideration. A total drive differential value is used as parameter, switching from default polarity pattern to alternate polarity pattern when a threshold is exceeded, to reduce total drive differential going from row to row. Column inversion is a default and dot inversion is an alternate.
US08860644B2
In a first display period, a light source controlling section controls a backlight to emit light having a given intensity, and in order to display a given gradation in a first region which is a part of the image, a gradation voltage generating section applies a voltage which is in accordance with the given gradation, and in a second display period which is different from the first display period, the light source controlling section controls the backlight to emit light having a lower intensity than the intensity of the given intensity of the light emitted in the first display period, and in order to display the given gradation in a second region which is different from the first region, the gradation voltage generating section applies a higher voltage than the voltage applied to display the given gradation in the first region.
US08860643B2
A display device includes an image signal modifier for modifying input image signals based on the difference between the input image signal for a pixel in a first row and the input image signal for the pixel in the adjacent row. The gate-on voltages includes a pre-charging voltage and a main charging voltage, the main charging voltage for the first row overlaps the pre-charging voltage for the second row and the pre-charging voltage for the first grow overlaps the main charging voltage for the second row for a predetermined time. The first data voltage is applied to the pixels of the first and second rows after application of the main charging gate-on voltage for the first row and the pre-charging gate-on voltage for the row, and the second data voltage is applied to the pixel of the second row after application of the main charging gate-on voltage for the second row.
US08860641B2
An acquisition device acquires temperature information indicative of temperature. When rewriting of the gray level of a target pixel to be processed among plural pixels starts, in case the temperature indicated by the temperature information acquired by the acquisition device is less than a threshold value, a remainder frequency setting device writes a value b (b
US08860636B2
A method and system for driving a light emitting device display is provided. The system provides a timing schedule which increases accuracy in the display. The system may provide the timing schedule by which an operation cycle is implemented consecutively in a group of rows. The system may provide the timing schedule by which an aging factor is used for a plurality of frames.
US08860633B2
A method and apparatus for configuring multiple displays includes determining, in connection with an image or portion thereof to be displayed on the multiple displays at the same time, whether received display preferences can be fulfilled in observance of: configuration properties of the multiple displays and configuration properties of a computing system, such as the capabilities of display controllers. The method and apparatus also determine whether a current configuration of the multiple displays to the computing system can be reconfigured such that the display preferences of the multiple displays can be fulfilled at the same time while maintaining effective configuration of a current configuration when the display preferences cannot be fulfilled, and display the images of a portion thereof on the multiple displays at the same time.
US08860632B2
A multi-panel device with a configurable interface is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the device includes a hinge rotatably coupled to a first panel of the device via a first pin and rotatably coupled to a second panel of the device via a second pin. The first pin is engaged within a slot of the first panel to enable a lateral movement of the first panel relative to the second panel such that the first panel has a first range of motion relative to the second panel when the hinge is in an extended configuration and a second range of motion when the hinge is in a retracted configuration. The first range of motion is larger than the second range of motion.
US08860623B2
An antenna system includes a first antenna, a second antenna, a band rejection filter, and a dielectric substrate. The band rejection filter is substantially disposed between the first antenna and the second antenna. The band rejection filter includes a protruded ground element, a main branch, a first extension branch, a first additional branch, and a second additional branch. The main branch substantially has a T-shape. The first extension branch is coupled to the main branch. The first additional branch is separated from the main branch, and a first coupling gap is formed between the first additional branch and the main branch. The second additional branch is separated from the main branch, and a second coupling gap is formed between the second additional branch and the first extension branch. The band rejection filter is configured to improve the isolation between the first antenna and the second antenna.
US08860618B2
An antenna for receiving and/or transmitting radio frequency signals in a predetermined frequency band, the antenna comprising: a first antenna portion comprising at least one conducting loop about a first material having an initial permeability of at least 4; and a second antenna portion embedded within a second material having a dielectric constant of at least 4; wherein the first and second antenna portions are electrically coupled together so as to form a compound antenna having a size such that the diameter of the smallest sphere which encloses all of the first and second antenna portions of the compound antenna is less than 1/30 of the wavelength of the radio frequency signals at the center of the predetermined frequency band.
US08860610B2
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for enabling a satellite-based navigation signal receiver to support multiple types of global navigation satellite systems (GNSS). A legacy GNSS receiver can support a plurality of GNSS types by software upgrade and with a new/modified radio frequency (RF) chip. There is no need to completely redesign a navigation host chip to support the multiple GNSS types. This invention offers a cost-efficient multi-GNSS solution without sacrificing the navigation performance. A GNSS baseband controller controls synchronization of measurement time for digitized data along a first signal processing path for a legacy GNSS signal and a second signal processing path for a non-legacy GNSS signal.
US08860609B2
Techniques for loosely coupling a Global Navigation Satellite System (“GNSS”) and an Inertial Navigation System (“INS”) integration are disclosed herein. A system includes a GNSS receiver, an INS, and an integration filter coupled to the GNSS receiver and the INS. The GNSS receiver is configured to provide GNSS navigation information comprising GNSS receiver position and/or velocity estimates. The INS is configured to provide INS navigation information based on an inertial sensor output. The integration filter is configured to provide blended position information comprising a blended position estimate and/or a blended velocity estimate by combining the GNSS navigation information and the INS navigation information, and to estimate and compensate at least one of a speed bias and a heading bias of the INS navigation information.
US08860605B2
A method for estimating the position and the speed of a target with a radar is provided. The radar emits a waveform including a train of pulses, each pulse having an OFDM chip constructed from subcarriers, the subcarriers covering the whole bandwidth of the radar. Upon receipt of the echoed pulses, some of the subcarriers are used in a step of Doppler processing, each of the subcarriers being fixed over the pulses. Upon receipt of the echoed pulses, other subcarriers, which are not used for Doppler processing, are used in a step of High Range Resolution processing, the subcarriers being randomly distributed over the pulses.
US08860602B2
In cognitive radar information networks (CRINs) human-like cognitive abilities of attention and intelligence are built into radar systems and radar information networks (RINS) to assist operators with information overload. A CRIN comprises a plurality of radar sensing nodes monitoring an environment, a repository or memory, and a cognitive radar controller. Each radar sensing node includes a radio frequency transmitter, a transmitting antenna, and a receiver and receiving antenna. The receiver includes a digital radar processor for generating receiver information from the received echoes about the environment. The repository is configured for receiving and storing the receiver information generated by the digital radar processor. The cognitive controller is configured to automatically focus the system's attention on a region of interest within the surveillance volume in response to an attention request, by selecting the transmitter's waveform, selecting the receiver's processing mode, and controlling the transmitter's antenna. The cognitive controller learns from the environment by exploiting the repository's historical receiver information and further learns from the consequences of its past decision.
US08860595B1
A system for scalable voltage ramp control for power supply systems. A system may comprise at least power supply circuitry, digital-to-analog (D/A) converter circuitry and a controller. The power supply circuitry may be configured to output a voltage to a load based on an input voltage provided by the D/A converter. The controller may be configured to control the D/A converter (e.g., to cause the D/A converter to provide the input voltage to the power supply circuitry) using a large range voltage ramp-up or a small range voltage ramp-up. Utilization of the large range voltage ramp-up or the small range voltage ramp-up by the controller may be based on, for example, a threshold voltage.
US08860592B2
A signal generating circuit, may include an analog signal generator having an output and a control input, the analog signal generator configured to generate at the output an analog output signal in accordance with a timing parameter; an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) having an input and an output, the input coupled to the output of the analog signal generator, the ADC configured to generate a sequence of signal values dependent on the analog signal received at the input; a configurable digital signal generator comprising an output and a control input, the digital signal generator configured to generate a digital output signal in accordance with signal parameters received at the control input; and a control circuit having an input coupled to the output of the ADC.
US08860590B2
Methods and circuits for controlling an automatic gain control (AGC) circuit wherein the AGC circuit is used to adjust the gain of a signal input to an analog to digital converter. The method includes obtaining a plurality of samples from the output of the analog to digital converter and determining whether the amplitude of each sample is greater than a threshold amplitude value. If the amplitude of a sample is greater than the threshold amplitude value then a counter value is incremented. The target average amplitude of the automatic gain control circuit is then periodically adjusted based on the counter value.
US08860588B1
The present invention provides devices and methods for illustrating travel time. The device includes a display screen, a starting point indicator, a destination indicator, a travel path, and a progress indicator. The starting point indicator represents a starting point and is adapted for display on the display screen. The destination indicator represents a destination point and is adapted for display on the display screen. The travel path represents a path of travel between the starting point and the destination point. The progress indicator is adapted to indicate a point between the starting point indicator and the destination indicator and is adapted for movement along the travel path. A method for illustrating travel time comprises displaying a starting point indicator on a display screen, displaying a destination indicator on the display screen, and displaying a progress indicator.
US08860586B2
A test arrangement for a laser threats identifying system of an aircraft comprises optical detecting means (10), adapted to pick up threat light beams (B) impinging on the aircraft (12) from a plurality of surrounding space sectors, and a threat warning unit (30), adapted to receive a plurality of actual optical signals indicative of at least one of the threat beams (B) through a plurality of optical channels (20), and arranged for comparing the actual signals with a predetermined library of reference optical signals representing known threats. The test arrangement includes a light emitting source (L) arranged for selectively generating a plurality of predetermined optical signals for simulating virtual threats (S1-Sn), and a plurality of optical guides (F1-Fn) for the simulation signals (S1-Sn), directly coupled with the source (L) and adapted to be connected to the aforementioned optical channels (20—120_n) for selectively stimulating the threat warning unit (30).
US08860576B2
An integrated document holder and RFID tag device is disclosed herein. The document holder may take the form of a shipping envelope which is affixed to an item and carries documents related to the item such as a packing list or shipping manifest. The device includes an RFID tag integrated into the shipping envelope which allows both the RFID tag and the shipping envelope to be affixed to the item in a single labor effort.
US08860573B2
The present invention is an alarm system comprising an alarm handset (10) having a housing (30), a detector circuit (100) having means (102, 104) for receiving a preselected signal from a remote transmitter (40) and generating a first detection signal in response thereto, first sensing means for sensing change in a preselected parameter of the handset, warning means (300) for generating a warning signal, alarm means (400) for generating an alarm signal and control means (500) responsive to receipt of the detection signal to activate the alarm means (400). The control means (500) is operable to activate the warning means in response to at least one of receipt of the control signal and sensing of the change in the preselected parameter of the handset.
US08860568B1
A security system for monitoring alarming situations inside of a home security safe and communicating alarm activation is taught which consists of a central processor, that receives input, processes sensed situations, stores information and provides an output alarm. A number of event detecting sensors, an IP surveillance camera and an electric circuit switch provide input into the central processor. Wireless communication and a memory activity log of keypad usage input are also provided. Output from the processor sends information to a central station, having an alarm enunciator and battery backup. Information is sent through a land line, or WIFI/wireless circuit, to a central monitoring station. There are two embodiments differing only in the interconnection between functional elements. A hard wired embodiment for OEM construction and a wireless WIFI embodiment is for aftermarket installation.
US08860565B2
An efficiency gauge from a vehicle information display may incorporate vehicle range information in addition to an efficiency indicator. The range information may be displayed as an area on the efficiency gauge indicating a safe operating region for average driving in order for the vehicle to reach a target destination entered by a driver before an on-board energy source is depleted. By maintaining a vehicle's average trip efficiency within the safe operating region through driving behavior, the display may convey that the vehicle will be able to make it to the target destination. Over the course of a trip, the safe operating region may be constantly updated to reflect the current state of the battery and the remaining distance to the target destination. If no target information is received, a default target distance value based on an initial distance to empty estimation may be used.
US08860562B2
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed that allow an electronic device to autonomously adapt one or more user alerts of the electronic device. For example, some embodiments may include a method for operating a haptic device including driving a haptic device using a control signal, measuring a frequency related to the operation of the haptic device and comparing the measured frequency with a target frequency. A control signal is adjusted based on the comparison to drive the haptic device to the target frequency.
US08860561B2
In one aspect, the present invention provides control for a distributed lighting network, for selectively reducing an aggregate electrical load of the distributed lighting network according to a defined lighting reduction pattern. Among the several advantages of the provided control is the ability to define via the pattern which lamps are involved in load shedding, and how they are controlled to shed load. In another aspect, the present invention provides control for a distributed lighting network, for visibly signaling persons within sight of one or more lamps within the distributed lighting network. Among the several advantages of the provided control is the ability to provide emergency or other public safety signaling to persons that might not otherwise be alerted to an existing or impending danger.
US08860560B2
The present invention discloses a medication history management system and method. The medication management system includes: a mobile terminal; a medicine storage apparatus which is operably connected to the mobile terminal and stores medicines; and a medication management server which is connected to the mobile terminal via a network, provides a medicine loading request message for requesting a user to load a medicine in the medicine storage apparatus to the user through the mobile terminal when the user who must take the medicine will go out, and provides a medication request message for requesting the user to take the medicine stored in the medicine storage apparatus to the user through the mobile terminal when it is time to take the medicine.
US08860558B2
A remote control device includes: a vibration power generator configured to convert externally applied vibrations to electric power; a storage section charged with the electric power obtained by the vibration power generator; a switch provided between the vibration power generator and the storage section; and a control circuit configured to output a vibration instruction signal and turn the switch on when the remaining power of the storage section becomes smaller than a predetermined amount. The electronic apparatus instructs the user to vibrate the remote control device in response to the vibration instruction signal.
US08860549B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for managing an opening through gait recognition. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for managing an opening through gait recognition is provided. The method includes capturing imagery, for example through the use of a Web cam, of a moving object as the moving object approaches an automated door. The method additionally, includes determining from the captured imagery a presence or absence of a gait of the moving object. Finally, the method includes managing an automated opening of the door according to the determined presence or absence of a gait of the moving object.
US08860548B2
Techniques are addressed for providing young children with an art experience in which opportunities to misuse art supplies, such as crayons, markers and the like are substantially reduced. To such ends, an art supply system is provided in which selectively enabled art supplies are automatically enabled so that they are useable only within a compliant usage zone, such as within a predetermined distance of an acceptable work surface.
US08860547B2
A wearable control terminal for allowing a user to control a target object includes a contact detector, an impact detector, a motion detector, and a transmitter. The contact detector is mounted on a surface of a first portion of a user's body to detect whether the first portion is in contact with or separated from a second portion of the body based on whether a closed loop conducting path is formed with the first portion and the second portion. The impact detector detects an impact on the control terminal. The motion detector detects a motion of the user based on the results of detection by the contact detector and the impact detector. The transmitter transmits a control signal to the target object according to the detected motion.
US08860542B2
A reactor being small in size and exhibiting excellent productivity, a method for manufacturing the same, and a reactor component suitable as the constituent component of the reactor are provided. The reactor includes a combined product including a coil and a magnetic core, and a case storing the combined product. The case includes a bottom plate portion made of aluminum, a side wall portion made of an insulating resin, and a joining layer formed on the inner face of the bottom plate portion for fixing the coil. The bottom plate portion and the side wall portion are independent separate members, which are integrated with each other by bolts and the like. Terminal fittings having a pair of joining pieces, which are disposed at the positions opposing to the end portions of the wire structuring the coil, are fixed to the side wall portion. Since each end portion of the wire is interposed in the space formed by the joining pieces, the wire and the terminal fittings can be electrically connected to each other without the necessity of using a separate jig. Since the joining layer is made of an adhesive agent exhibiting excellent thermal conductivity and insulation, the reactor possesses an excellent heat dissipating characteristic.
US08860539B2
A magnetized structure that induces in a central area of interest a homogeneous magnetic field of predetermined orientation relative to a longitudinal axis (z) of the structure comprises at least two magnetized rings (110, 120) disposed symmetrically relative to a plane (P) that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (z) and that contains the central area of interest, and at least one median annular magnetized structure disposed at least partly between the two magnetized rings (110, 120) and also disposed symmetrically relative to the plane (P) of symmetry, one of the two magnetized rings (110) being magnetized radially relative to the longitudinal axis (z) with divergent magnetization and the other of the two magnetized rings (120) being magnetized radially relative to the longitudinal axis (z) with convergent magnetization, and the median annular magnetized structure being magnetized with an orientation different from that of the magnetization of the two magnetized rings (110, 120). The median annular magnetized structure comprises at least one magnetized ring (150) having a magnetization distribution of orientation that varies as in Halbach dipoles and the first two magnetized rings (110, 120) and the median annular magnetized structure are each divided into individual components in the form of regularly distributed identical sectors.
US08860538B2
According to one aspect, there is provided an inductor core including: an axially extending core member, an axially extending external member at least partly surrounding the core member, thereby forming a space around the core member for accommodating a winding between the core member and the external member, a plate member presenting a radial extension and being provided with a through-hole, wherein the core member is arranged to extend into the through-hole, wherein the plate member is a separate member from the core member and the external member and is adapted to be assembled with the core member and the external member, wherein a magnetic flux path is formed which extends through the core member, the plate member and the external member.
US08860534B2
An overcurrent switching device for an electric circuit to be monitored, which has interrupter contact means (14) constructed in such a manner that an interruption of the electric circuit is effected as a reaction to the exceeding of a predetermined current threshold, wherein the interrupter contact means have an expansion unit (16) realized by means of a magnetically active shape memory alloy material, which is loaded by a magnetic field (18) of a current flowing in the electric circuit, characterized in that the expansion unit (16; 30; 32; 34) mechanically driving a contact, particularly an interrupter contact (14), is provided adjacently to a coil-free current-carrying conductor section (10) of the electric circuit for magnetic interaction in such a manner that above the predetermined current threshold, a current flow in the current carrying conductor section generates a magnetic field which effects an expansion movement of the expansion unit which interrupts the electric circuit.
US08860531B2
An electrical circuit arrangement provides a substrate and at least two conductive surfaces. The substrate comprises at least one layer disposed between the conductive surfaces. The conductive surfaces form a capacitor and overlap in part and form an overlapping area. In the event of a displacement of the conductive surfaces relative to one another, the resulting overlapping area is largely constant up to a threshold value of the displacement.
US08860528B2
An equalizer includes a circuit board and a compensation module. The compensation module includes first and second transmission lines, first to fourth resistors, and first to fourth micro-strips. Two vias extend through the circuit board and are grounded. First terminals of the first and second resistors are electrically connected to the ground layer through the first via. First terminals of the third and fourth resistors are electrically connected to the ground layer through the second via. A second terminal of the first resistor is electrically connected to the first transmission line through the first micro-strip, and is further electrically connected to a second terminal of the second resistor through the second micro-strip. A second terminal of the third resistor is electrically connected to the second transmission line through the third micro-strip, and is further electrically connected to a second terminal of the fourth resistor through the fourth micro-strip.
US08860522B2
A modulator for an electrical signal comprises a data input port and a clock frequency input port. The modulator also comprises a first phase shifter for subjecting input clock frequency signals to a phase shift and adapted to keep the phase of an input clock frequency signal aligned with the phase of a data stream which is input at the data input port. The modulator also comprises a first XOR gate with an output port, to which first XOR gate said input ports of the modulator are connected, by means of which a BPSK signal is created at the output port when a first data stream is connected to the data input port and a first clock frequency signal is connected to the clock frequency input port.
US08860517B2
An oscillator circuit including a first capacitor provided with a first terminal; a resistor provided with a reference terminal; a first current generator provided with a connection terminal; a second current generator provided with a second connection terminal. Further, the circuit includes a switching matrix between the first and second generators and resistor and the at least one first capacitor.
US08860509B2
A clipping circuit includes: a first input terminal which receives a first signal, a second input terminal which receives a second signal, and a first variable resistive element which has a control terminal electrically connected to the second input terminal and which has a threshold, wherein first and second ends of the first variable resistive element are connected to first input terminal and a reference voltage, respectively. The clipping circuit also includes a second variable resistive element which has a control terminal electrically connected to the first input terminal and which has a threshold, wherein first and second ends of the second variable resistive element are connected to a second input terminal and the reference voltage, respectively. In addition, a first bias applying unit applies a bias voltage lower than the threshold to the control terminal regarding the first variable resistive element, and a second bias applying unit applies a bias voltage lower than the threshold to the control terminal regarding the second variable resistive element.
US08860505B2
The presented device is the combination of a lock-in amplifier unit (1) and a phase-synchronous processing unit (2). This combination leads to a multitude of valuable signal analysis and conditioning possibilities. Amongst others, these possibilities include (i) extraction of time-domain properties of the input signal, (ii) extraction of statistical properties of the input signal, (iii) extraction of frequency-domain properties of the input signal, and (iv) preconditioning of the lock-in input signal.
US08860492B2
A switched capacitor circuit includes an inverter, a first capacitor, and a first switch unit. The inverter is arranged to receive a control signal to generate an inverting control signal corresponding to the control signal. The first capacitor is coupled between a first output port and a first node. The first switch unit is arranged to receive a first input signal and a second input signal, and selectively couple the second input signal to the first node according to the first input signal. The first input signal is determined by one of the control signal and the inverting control signal, and the second input signal is determined by the other of the control signal and the inverting control signal.
US08860491B1
Embodiments of the present invention may include an apparatus and method to reduce an output swing in each stage of a multi-stage loop filter while also maintaining a desired signal transfer function for each respective stage. A given stage of the loop filter may include an integrator, a feedback path, a first cancellation path, and a second cancellation path. The first cancellation path may be coupled to the output of the integrator. The second cancellation path may be coupled to a feedback path provided about the input and output of the integrator. A first cancellation signal may be injected into the first cancellation path to reduce the output swing of the integrator. A second cancellation signal may be injected into the second cancellation path to minimize a change in the integrator's signal transfer function caused by the first cancellation signal.
US08860485B2
To provide a novel nonvolatile latch circuit and a semiconductor device using the nonvolatile latch circuit, a nonvolatile latch circuit includes a latch portion having a loop structure where an output of a first element is electrically connected to an input of a second element, and an output of the second element is electrically connected to an input of the first element; and a data holding portion for holding data of the latch portion. In the data holding portion, a transistor using an oxide semiconductor as a semiconductor material for forming a channel formation region is used as a switching element. In addition, an inverter electrically connected to a source electrode or a drain electrode of the transistor is included. With the transistor, data held in the latch portion can be written into a gate capacitor of the inverter or a capacitor which is separately provided.
US08860478B2
The invention provides a phase-locked loop with loop gain calibration and methods for measuring an oscillator gain, gain calibration and jitter measurement for a phase-locked loop. The method for measuring an oscillator gain of a phase-locked loop includes the steps of providing a varying code at an input end of the oscillator; outputting excess reference phase information by a reference phase integral path and outputting excess feedback phase information based on the varying code by a feedback phase integral path; and obtaining an estimated gain information of the oscillator based on the excess reference phase information and the excess feedback phase information.
US08860477B2
A receiver circuit includes a data interpolator to interpolate an input data signal and generate an interpolation data signal, a data determination unit to determine a data determination result of the interpolation data signal, a clock recovery unit to detect phase information based on a data determination result and output an interpolation code determining an interpolation rate to the data interpolator based on the detected phase information, a first interpolator to interpolate the input data signal and generate an interpolation data signal for an eye pattern monitor, a first determination unit for the eye pattern monitor to compare the interpolation data signal with a reference voltage, a match determination unit to determine whether the data determination result of the data determination unit matches a comparison result of the first determination unit, and an eye pattern regenerator to generate an eye pattern based on the phase information and a determination result.
US08860476B2
Disclosed herein is a device that includes a delay line that includes n delay circuits cascade-connected and delays an input clock signal by k cycles, and a routing circuit that generates multi-phase clock signals having different phases based on at least a part of n output clock signals output from the n delay circuits, respectively. The n and the k are both integers more than 1 and a greatest common divisor thereof is 1.
US08860471B2
An isolated gate driver including a driving control circuit, an isolated transformer, an anti-circuit and a secondary processing circuit is provided. The driving control circuit is configured to generate a driving PWM signal for driving a power switch tube. The isolated transformer has a primary winding and a secondary winding. The anti-circuit is connected between the driving control circuit and the primary winding of the isolated transformer, and is configured to suppress a variation of an induced voltage in the secondary winding of the isolated transformer when a duty cycle of the driving PWM signal is sharply decreased. The secondary processing circuit is connected in parallel with the secondary winding of the isolated transformer, and is configured to perform a voltage clamping action on a gate-source voltage of the power switch tube when the duty cycle of the driving PWM signal is sharply decreased.
US08860461B2
A voltage level shifter for translating a binary input signal representing a binary sequence to a binary output signal representing the same binary sequence. The voltage level shifter comprises an input port for receiving the binary input signal as an input voltage varying between a first input voltage level and a second input voltage level. An output port is connected to a node for outputting the binary output signal as an output voltage varying between a first output voltage level and a second output voltage level. A supply voltage node connectable to a voltage supply, can provide the second output voltage level. A first switch is arranged to couple the supply voltage node to the node and to decouple the supply voltage node from the node based on a voltage at the node. A feedback voltage loop is connected to the node for providing a feedback voltage based on the voltage at the node. A second switch is connected to the feedback voltage loop and arranged to couple the input port to the node based on a voltage at the input port and the feedback voltage. A decoupler and a voltage shifting method are also disclosed.
US08860451B2
A jig for use in a semiconductor test includes: a base on which a probe pin and an insulating material are placed, the insulating material surrounding the probe pin in plan view; and a stage arranged to face a surface of the base on which the probe pin and the insulating material are placed. The stage is capable of holding a test object on a surface of the stage facing the base. When the base and the stage move in a direction in which they go closer to each other while the test object is placed on the stage, the probe pin comes into contact with an electrode formed on the test object and the insulating material comes into contact with the test object.
US08860449B2
A dual probing tip system uses a slot and rail system to provide variable spacing and lateral and axial compliance of the probing tips mounted on first and second support members. A movable base member is secured on a frame with the base member having a rack of linear teeth and a pair of rails angled toward the front. First and second intermediate carriers each have a slot that engages one of the angled rails. Each of the carriers has stanchions that receive a thumb wheel pinion gear mounted on a shaft. The pinion gear mates with the teeth on the base member for movement of the carriers. Each support member has an axial slot that mated with an axial slot on each one of the carriers. Each support member has a compression spring which allows axial compliance of the support members.
US08860432B2
A touch panel sensor system that can dynamically measure noise and automatically switch to a frequency with minimal noise is described. The touch panel sensor system includes a sensor configured to detect a change in capacitance associated with a touch upon a touch panel. The system also includes a drive module configured to generate a drive signal having a first waveform characteristic (e.g., signal having a periodic waveform characteristic) during a first phase (e.g., sensor phase) and a second drive signal having a second waveform characteristic (e.g., constant voltage signal) during a second phase (e.g., noise detection phase). The first and second drive signals are configured to drive the sensor. The system also includes a measuring module coupled to the sensor that is configured to measure noise having the first waveform characteristic (e.g., periodic waveform characteristic) during the second phase.
US08860430B2
An object is to detect an insulation failure of a DC circuit with high sensitivity and in safety by means of a simple detection circuit. An insulation resistance measurement device of this invention is a device for measuring an insulation resistance to ground of a DC source circuit and is provided with connection terminals for connections to a positive electrode and a negative electrode of a series power supply, switch elements connected between the connection terminals and the ground potential and configured to switch connections between the connection terminals and the ground potential, resistive elements connected through the switch elements between the connection terminals respectively, and the ground potential, and a voltage detection unit for detecting voltage drops in the resistive elements.
US08860418B2
An open ended coaxial probe is disclosed that can be used to measure the dielectric properties of solids. According to some embodiments, the probe is specially designed to make good contact with solids having flat or non-flat surfaces. This design relies on forcing a good contact between the solid surface with both the center conductor and outer conductor of the coaxial probe. A method is also described in which the coaxial probe is used to monitor the dielectric permittivity of cylindrical samples such as rock cores drilled from a well. Also described are methods of using the coaxial probe to provide a continuous log of the dielectric permittivity of a rock core.
US08860412B2
Methods and systems for measuring nuclear magnetic resonance characteristics of formation fluid utilizing micro-NMR sensors are provided. The micro-NMR sensors can be used to analyze fluid flowing through the wellbore on a periodic, continuous, and/or batch-mode basis. More efficient sampling and analysis can be conducted using the micro-NMR sensors. In situ analysis and time-lapse logging are also enabled.
US08860404B2
Magnetic field sensor and related techniques can identify passing conditions, failing conditions, and marginal conditions of a sensed object. The magnetic field sensor and techniques can use one or more peak values of a proximity signal representative of proximity of the sensed object, can generate one or more difference values representative of difference between the peak values of the proximity signal and threshold values of a threshold signal proportional to the peak values, can categorize the one or more difference values into a plurality of potential categories, wherein at least one of the plurality of potential categories is representative of a respective passing self-test and wherein another at least one of the plurality of potential categories is representative of a respective marginally passing self-test, can assign category values to the plurality of potential categories, and can communicate at least one of the plurality of category values.
US08860402B2
Detectors and other apparatus for determining the presence of electromagnetic events are disclosed. One such system includes an electromagnetically shielded enclosure and a detector configured to detect an electromagnetic field event occurring in the proximity of the enclosure. The detector includes an antenna and a circuit electrically connected to the antenna. The circuit includes electronics communicatively connected to the antenna via a direct current isolation circuit, and an equalizer compensating for the differentiating frequency response of the antenna. The circuit also includes a logarithmic amplifier electrically connected to the equalizer and configured to generate a range of signals based on signals received at the antenna, and a peak detector receiving signals from the logarithmic amplifier and configured to capture a peak value of the signals. An electromagnetic field event is detected at least in part based on the peak signal value.
US08860401B2
The present invention provides a sensor system and a corresponding sensing method employing the sensor system. The sensor system comprises a sensor (12) having an input (20) and an output (22), a feedback path (16) from the output to the input, and a filter (14; 92) in the feedback path. The filter comprises a narrow band filter, which is tuned or tunable to a respective one of signals that are wanted signals and signals that represent interference signals. The sensor and the filter are arranged so as to alter the relative amplitudes of the wanted signals and the interference signals in order to increase the relative amplitude of the wanted signals and reduce the relative amplitude of the interference signals.
US08860389B2
A fast load transient response circuit includes a feedback loop that senses a load transient; a first driver and a second driver responsive to a feedback signal from the feedback loop; and a first pass transistor and a second pass transistor with sources and drains being coupled to each other, and a gate of the first pass transistor being driven by the first driver and a gate of the second pass transistor being driven by the second driver. A width of the channel to length of the channel (W/L) ratio of the first pass transistor is different than that of the second pass transistor such that second pass transistor reacts faster than the first pass transistors to a load transient.
US08860387B2
Systems and methods for providing a buck-boost converter with an improved efficiency are disclosed. The buck-boost converter disclosed operates in 5 different modes, namely in buck mode, half frequency buck mode, half frequency buck-boost mode, half frequency boost mode, and in boost mode. In half frequency buck mode, buck-boost mode, and in half frequency boost mode the switching frequency is halved compared to the switching frequency of buck or boost mode. A simple circuit implementation by adding two offset voltages in ramp signals or PWM comparators enables to halve the switching frequency if required.
US08860383B2
A control device for a separately excited rotor winding (LR) of a synchronous machine is described, which comprises a voltage source (2) connected to the rotor winding (LR) and intended for transmitting electrical energy (E) from a power supply (4) to the rotor winding (LR), in such a way that said rotor winding is caused to rotate by a rotating field on the stator side. According to the invention, the control device furthermore comprises a consumer (3) connected to the rotor winding (LR) and intended for transmitting electrical energy (E) from the rotor winding (LR) to the power supply (4). Furthermore, a method for controlling a separately excited rotor winding (LR) of a synchronous machine is described.
US08860382B2
A method for damping torsional oscillations in a drive train component, in particular a gearbox, in particular in a power production plant, includes adjusting a load on the output side in the drive train as a function of a difference between a rotational speed of an input shaft of the drive train component and a rotational speed of an output shaft of the drive train component.
US08860378B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and system for indicating an attachment and removal for a portable device. The method includes the steps of attaching the portable device to a charging system, delivering current to the portable device from the charging system, the delivered current is limited based on the portable device, replicating the current flowing through the first switch at a second switch, generating a voltage based on the current flowing through the second switch, comparing the voltage with a pre-defined threshold voltage, and indicating at least one of attachment or removal for the portable device based on the comparison.
US08860375B2
A backup battery charger charges a backup battery of a handheld electronic device. The handheld electronic device comprises a power supply unit and an electronic component. The power supply unit supplies a power to the electronic component. The backup battery charger is connected to the electronic component, such that the backup battery charger shares with the electronic component the power, uses the power as a charging power, and controllably determines via a control module whether to supply the charging power to the backup battery.
US08860367B2
Disclosed herein is a wireless electrical charging apparatus, including: a power-supply unit configured to generate power to be transferred to a power receiving apparatus; a power transferring device configured to transfer power generated by the power-supply unit to the power receiving apparatus; a power relaying device capable of relaying power transferred by the power transferring device to the power receiving apparatus; and a power-relaying-device moving mechanism section configured to move the power relaying device.
US08860359B2
A hybrid energy storage system for supplying power to an application with a fluctuating load profile, such as, for example, electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, wind energy harvesting equipment and solar energy harvesting equipment. The hybrid energy storage system includes an ultra-capacitor electrically connected to a DC bus and a power source electrically connected to the DC bus via a controlled switch. The hybrid energy storage system further including a DC/DC converter connected between the power source and the ultra-capacitor, the DC/DC converter boosting a voltage of the power source to charge the ultra-capacitor. The DC/DC converter is preferably controlled to maintain a voltage of the ultra-capacitor at a higher value than the voltage of the power source.
US08860358B2
A method includes searching for a point of maximum power based on a systematic load variation, setting the point of maximum power as the operating point of the photovoltaic generator, and tracking the operating point based on a load variation with a narrow variation range. The method also includes analyzing operating variables of the photovoltaic generator to determine the level of probability that the operating point deviates from the point of maximum power, selectively interrupting the tracking and carrying out another search to determine the point of maximum power as a function of the analysis of the operating variables, and setting the point of maximum power as the operating point, and resuming the tracking. The method further takes into account previous searches carried out in the presence of comparable operating variables to determine the probability.
US08860354B2
The control circuit of an electric motor, which has at least one phase supplied with high voltage and has a defined high-voltage zone, is provided with a control for the supply current of the phase with a setpoint-value current, and has devices for measuring the supply current which generate a first analog signal whose value corresponds to the measured current, an electronic control unit being disposed in a low-voltage zone, and having an analog-to-digital converter for converting the first analog signal or another analog signal acting as the first analog signal, into a corresponding digital signal which is supplied to the electronic control unit. The measuring devices are formed by a bleeder resistor, which is disposed in series with the phase, as well as by a differential amplifier whose two inputs, respectively, are connected to two contacts of the bleeder resistor. The analog-to-digital converter is located in the high-voltage zone a galvanic separating element is situated between the analog-to-digital converter and the electronic control unit. The control circuit has, inter alia, a voltage converter which, within the high-voltage zone, provides a floating low voltage which supplies the analog-to-digital converter.
US08860344B2
The present invention relates to a motor controller employing bootstrap-capacitor supplies and in particular to the situation where the bootstrap supplies have to be charged, while the motor controller is connected to a spinning and energized motor. The present invention introduces a method of recharging based on choosing a recharging sequence from a set of recharging sequences, where the choice depends on the state of the connected motor and in particular on the back-EMF voltages of the motor.
US08860341B2
A power regeneration device according to an aspect of embodiments includes a voltage detecting unit, a signal processing unit, a phase detecting unit, and a power conversion unit. The signal processing unit generates, by using self-oscillation when the output of an AC detection signal from the voltage detecting unit is stopped due to a power outage, an AC signal whose frequency is the same as that of and whose phase is continued to that of the AC detection signal just before the stop. The phase detecting unit detects the phase of the AC power supply on the basis of the AC signal from the signal processing unit when power is recovered from the power outage.
US08860339B2
Embodiments of a trigger switch circuit are described. In some embodiments of the trigger switch circuit wasteful power consumption is suppressed without increasing the number of components by providing a changeover switch. In some embodiments, a trigger switch circuit operates in conjunction with a trigger of an electric instrument and comprises a main switch, a sliding switch, a light-emission control unit, and a rotation control unit. In some embodiments, when the trigger is in a first position, the sliding switch is connected to one of the fixed contact points, and electric power is fed to the light-emission control unit without interposing the main switch to emit light in an LED. When the trigger is in a second position, the main switch is turned on to feed the electric power into the trigger switch circuit.
US08860324B2
A system and method for commissioning a lighting system is provided in which signals from light sensors are filtered in order to determine whether light is received from light fixtures in the lighting system or from external light sources. Alternatively or in addition, signals from light sensors may be filtered to determine the amount of light from external light sources. By filtering the signals from the light sensors, an identification of which light fixtures are colocated with which light sensors may be made even in the presence of light received from external light sources or light from multiple light fixtures in the lighting system. Physical locations of light fixtures and/or sensors may be determined based on detecting the amount of light received from external light sources.
US08860322B2
A piezoelectric resonant LED driving circuit, wherein a rectifier is used to rectify an AC voltage provided by the supply main into a DC voltage. Then, a quasi-resonant switching module performs resonance by means of the DC voltage to produce an induced current, to raise resonance frequency to operation frequency of a piezoelectric oscillator. Finally, the piezoelectric oscillator performs resonance and filtering using the induced current, to generate a sine wave current. Then, the sine wave current is rectified to output a DC current to drive an LED module.
US08860318B2
In accordance with certain embodiments, an illumination system comprising a plurality of power strings features elements facilitating compensation for failure of one or more light-emitting elements connected along each power string.
US08860316B2
A system and method for daylight harvesting and/or light management is provided in which a signal from a light sensor is filtered in order to determine the amount of light received from a light fixture in a lighting system and/or from an external light source, such as sunlight even if light is received from multiple light sources. By filtering the signals from the light sensor, an amount of light received from each light source may be determined, and correspondingly controlled to reach a target light level and/or a target balance of light from the multiple light sources.
US08860301B2
A dimming method of an organic EL displaying apparatus having a displaying unit constructed by combining pixels each having a substrate, an organic EL element formed over the substrate, a power supply line for supplying a power source to the organic EL element, and at least one TFT provided on a wiring path from the power supply line to the organic EL element. The TFT has a semiconductor layer which is arranged between a source electrode and a drain electrode and is electrically connected to the source electrode and the drain electrode. A laser beam is irradiated from a downward direction of the substrate to a region which does not overlap a gate electrode, the source electrode, the drain electrode, and the wiring layer when seen as a plan view in a plane region where the semiconductor layer is provided.
US08860299B2
An organic light-emitting display device and a method of manufacturing the same are presented. The organic light-emitting display device includes substrate; a display unit comprising a plurality of emission regions in which organic light-emitting devices are disposed, and a pixel-defining layer having openings defining the emission regions, the emission regions and the pixel-defining film being formed on the substrate; an encapsulation thin film that covers the display unit on the substrate and that comprises a plurality of stacked insulating layers; and a color film that is interposed between the insulating layers of the encapsulation thin film and that is formed to at least fill a concave portion corresponding to each of the openings.
US08860292B2
A spark plug and a method of forming the same. The spark plug having a rod-shaped center electrode extending in an axial direction, a tubular insulator having an axial hole and holding the center electrode in the axial hole, a tubular metallic shell having an end surface, an inner circumferential surface, and a gap formed between the inner circumferential surface and a forward end portion of the insulator, and a ground electrode welded to the end surface. A method of manufacturing the spark plug includes a welding step of welding the ground electrode to the end surface; and a shaping step which is performed after the welding step so as to form the inner circumferential surface, through shaping, on the metallic shell having the ground electrode welded to the end surface thereof.
US08860285B2
An electronic component includes: a base material having a first conductive section; an oscillation piece having a second conductive section; a first member which is covered with a third conductive section making conductive contact with the first and second conductive sections and is provided between the base material and the oscillation piece; and a second member which is provided so as to be surrounded with the base material, the oscillation piece, and the first member and holds the base material and the oscillation piece.
US08860281B2
The multiple-gap electric rotating machine includes a rotor cantilever-supported at a first axial end thereof by a rotor arm coupled to a rotating shaft. The rotor includes a laminated core of core sheets made of soft magnetic material and an end-surface core disposed on a surface of the laminated core on a second axial end of the rotor. The laminated core includes segments joined in a ring and each formed with a salient pole structure at each of radially inner and outer peripheries thereof. The end-surface core includes soft magnetic sections made of steel and non-magnetic sections made of stainless steel, which are joined together in a ring. The laminated core is held between the rotor arm and the end-surface core, and fixed to the rotor arm by rivets penetrating through the rotor arm, laminated core and the end -surface core.
US08860279B2
A generator core that increases the amount of power generated by a generator is provided. A plurality of magnetic steel sheets including non-divided magnetic steel sheets and divided magnetic steel sheets are stacked on each other to form a plurality of divided cores. The divided magnetic steel sheets are disposed to form a gap portion that crosses a magnetic path in one magnetic steel sheet. Each gap portion is positioned and shaped such that magnetic resistances of magnetic pole portions of the plurality of divided cores are not different from each other.
US08860277B2
A stator coil segment for an electro mechanical transducer, in particular a generator for generating electric energy from mechanical energy, includes a first coil which is arranged at a first radial position along a radial direction and adapted to be connected to an input terminal of a first power electronic device. The radial direction is perpendicular to a rotation axis of the electro mechanical transducer. Further, a second coil is arranged at a second radial position along the radial direction and adapted to be connected to an input terminal of a second power electronic device, wherein the second radial position is different from the first radial position.
US08860271B2
A rotating electric machine includes a stator and a rotor. The rotor includes an iron core and permanent magnets. The iron core includes a cylindrical connection portion and ten magnetic pole portions. The cylindrical connection portion surrounds a rotation shaft. The ten magnetic pole portions, the number of which corresponding to the number of poles, are disposed radially outside the connection portion. The connection portion and the magnetic pole portions are integrated with each other. The permanent magnets are disposed between the magnetic pole portions. The magnetic pole portions include flange portions that cover parts of radially outer surfaces of the permanent magnets while allowing at least parts of the radially outer surfaces to be exposed. Each of the permanent magnets includes a tapered portion in at least a part thereof, and the tapered portion has a length in a direction perpendicular to the radial direction that decreases radially inward.
US08860270B2
A transverse flux machine includes: a winding wound in a rotational direction; a stationary component in which first ferromagnets and second ferromagnets surrounding a part of the winding are arranged in the rotational direction; a rotor capable of rotating around a rotational axis; and a rotary component opposing the stationary component and attached to the rotor, wherein the rotary component having: third ferromagnets opposing the first ferromagnets; fourth ferromagnets opposing the second ferromagnets; and first magnetic field generating sections and second magnetic field generating sections intervened between the third ferromagnets and the fourth ferromagnets, wherein the first magnetic field generating sections and the second magnetic field generating sections generate magnetic fields from an opposing surface of the rotary component toward an opposing surface of the stationary component, and directions of the magnetic fields are opposite of one another.
US08860241B2
Apparatuses and methods include a photovoltaic energy production unit to generate electricity. A local management unit is coupled between the photovoltaic energy production unit and a connection of energy production units forming a string bus. The local management unit includes a controller and switching circuitry. The controller provide a control for the switching circuitry to deliver electrical energy to the string bus. A communication transmission modulator is associated with the local management unit. The communication transmission modulator modulates the control with data to be transmitted from the local management unit over the string bus.
US08860231B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a plurality of semiconductor chips stacked in a multi-layer structure; a correction circuit in each semiconductor chip configured to reflect a delay time corresponding to the position of the chip in the stack into an input signal to output to each semiconductor chip; and a plurality of through-chip vias formed vertically through each of the semiconductor chips and configured to transmit the input signal to the semiconductor chip.
US08860226B2
A semiconductor device includes a storage node contact plug, a bit line in communication with to the storage node contact plug, and an expansion unit formed on a sidewall of the bit line. Thermal expansion of the expansion unit serves to increase capacitance by ensuring a distance between the bit line and the storage node contact plug, thereby improving a sensing margin. A cell characteristic such as a record recovery time (tWR) may be enhanced.
US08860223B1
A resistive random access memory may include a memory array and a periphery around the memory array. Decoders in the periphery may be coupled to address lines in the array by forming a metallization in the periphery and the array at the same time using the same metal deposition. The metallization may form row lines in the array.
US08860218B2
A semiconductor die includes a first contact stack including a first die pad having a first pad perimeter, a first via through a dielectric layer to the first die pad having a first via perimeter, and a first UBM pad contacting the first die pad through the first via having a first UBM pad perimeter. A second contact stack includes a second die pad having a second pad perimeter shorter than the first pad perimeter, a second via through the dielectric layer to the second die pad having a second via perimeter shorter than the first via perimeter, and a second UBM pad contacting the second die pad through the second via having a second UBM pad perimeter that is shorter than the first UBM pad perimeter.
US08860216B1
A method and system for providing a laser diode submount for use in an energy assisted magnetic recording disk drive are described. A portion of a silicon substrate is removed, forming trenches therein. Each trench has sidewalls, surrounds a silicon island corresponding to a laser diode submount, and corresponds to a thickness of the laser diode submount. The silicon island has a top surface and a facets corresponding to the trench sidewalls. Insulator(s) for the top surface and facets of the silicon island are provided. Metallization is provided on the top surface and facets of the silicon island. A first portion of the metallization on the top surface corresponds to under bump metal (UBM) for solder pad(s). A second portion of the metallization corresponds to electrical traces. Solder pad(s) are provided on the UBM. The silicon island is released from the silicon substrate.
US08860215B2
A semiconductor device has a wiring substrate, a first semiconductor chip, a second semiconductor chip, and a sealing member. The second semiconductor chip has a chip-layered structure with a plurality of semiconductor chip components stacked in the height direction of the semiconductor device. The first semiconductor chip has an upper surface located at the same height from a surface of the wiring substrate as an upper surface of the second semiconductor chip.
US08860211B2
A semiconductor device includes an insulation layer, a first semiconductor element and a second semiconductor element which are disposed within the insulation layer, a frame which has higher thermal conductivity than the insulation layer and surrounds the first semiconductor element and the second semiconductor element via the insulation layer, and a wiring layer which is disposed over the insulation layer and includes an electrode which electrically connects the first semiconductor element and the second semiconductor element.
US08860209B1
Disclosed is a luminaire, comprising a front convective heat sink, a rear convective heat sink, and a removable thin printed circuit board. The front convective heat sink has at least one optical aperture. The removable thin printed circuit board has an electrically-insulated back surface and a selectively electrically-insulated front surface. The front surface has exposed electrical contacts in at least one area corresponding to the at least one optical aperture. The removable thin printed circuit board is sandwiched between the front and rear convective heat sinks with a compressive force.
US08860194B2
One exemplary disclosed embodiment comprises a semiconductor package including a vertical conduction control transistor and a vertical conduction sync transistor. The vertical conduction control transistor may include a control source, a control gate, and a control drain that are all accessible from a bottom surface, thereby enabling electrical and direct surface mounting to a support surface. The vertical conduction sync transistor may include a sync drain on a top surface, which may be connected to a conductive clip that is coupled to the support surface. The conductive clip may also be thermally coupled to the control transistor. Accordingly, all terminals of the transistors are readily accessible through the support surface, and a power circuit, such as a buck converter power phase, may be implemented through traces of the support surface. Optionally, a driver IC may be integrated into the package, and a heatsink may be attached to the conductive clip.
US08860193B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electronic package assembly comprising a solder mask layer, the solder mask layer having at least one opening, and a plurality of pads coupled to the solder mask layer, wherein at least one pad of the plurality of pads includes (i) a first side, (ii) a second side, the first side being disposed opposite to the second side, (iii) a terminal portion and (iv) an extended portion, wherein the first side at the terminal portion is configured to receive a package interconnect structure through the at least one opening in the solder mask layer, the package interconnect structure to route electrical signals between a die and another electronic device that is external to the electronic package assembly, and wherein the second side at the extended portion is configured to receive one or more electrical connections from the die. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US08860184B2
Spacer-based pitch division lithography techniques are disclosed that realize pitches with both variable line widths and variable space widths, using a single spacer deposition. The resulting feature pitches can be at or below the resolution limit of the exposure system being used, but they need not be, and may be further reduced (e.g., halved) as many times as desired with subsequent spacer formation and pattern transfer processes as described herein. Such spacer-based pitch division techniques can be used, for instance, to define narrow conductive runs, metal gates and other such small features at a pitch smaller than the original backbone pattern.
US08860181B2
A thin film resistor structure includes a substrate, a flat bottom ILD (inter layer dielectric) disposed on the substrate, a plurality of first contacts disposed in the bottom ILD, and each top surface of the first contacts is on the same level as a top surface of the bottom ILD; a flat top ILD disposed on the bottom ILD, a plurality of second contacts disposed in the top ILD, and each top surface of the second contacts is on the same level as a top surface of the top ILD, and a thin film resistor disposed between the bottom ILD and the top ILD.
US08860177B2
An antifuse of a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including a device isolation layer and an active region, a gate structure extending across an interface between the device isolation layer and the active region, a contact coupled to at least a portion of a sidewall of the gate structure, and a metal interconnection provided on the contact and gate structure.
US08860170B2
A power semiconductor apparatus which is provided with a first power semiconductor device using Si as a base substance and a second power semiconductor device using a semiconductor having an energy bandgap wider than the energy bandgap of Si as a base substance, and includes a first insulated metal substrate on which the first power semiconductor device is mounted, a first heat dissipation metal base on which the first insulated metal substrate is mounted, a second insulated metal substrate on which the second power semiconductor device is mounted, and a second heat dissipation metal base on which the second insulated metal substrate is mounted.
US08860169B2
The present invention aims to enhance the reliability of a semiconductor device equipped with a Schottky barrier diode within the same chip, and its manufacturing technology. The semiconductor device includes an n-type n-well region formed over a p-type semiconductor substrate, an n-type cathode region formed in part thereof and higher in impurity concentration than the n-well region, a p-type guard ring region formed so as to surround the n-type cathode region, an anode conductor film formed so as to integrally cover the n-type cathode region and the p-type guard ring region and to be electrically coupled thereto, n-type cathode conduction regions formed outside the p-type guard ring region with each separation portion left therebetween, and a cathode conductor film formed so as to cover the n-type cathode conduction regions and to be electrically coupled thereto. The anode conductor film and the n-type cathode region are Schottky-coupled to each other.
US08860168B2
An integrated circuit structure includes a substrate, a semiconductor device supported by the substrate, and a guard ring structure disposed around the semiconductor device, the guard ring structure forming a Schottky junction. In an embodiment, the Schottky junction is formed from a p-type metal contact and an n-type guard ring. In an embodiment, the guard ring structure is electrically coupled to a positive or negative supply voltage.
US08860165B2
The present invention provides a wavelength conversion-type photovoltaic cell sealing material, the sealing material including at least one light emitting layer containing a group of spherical phosphors, the group of spherical phosphors having a ratio of a median value D50 of the group of spherical phosphors to a total thickness t of the light emitting layer of from 0.1 to 1.0, where the median value D50 is a median value of a volume particle size distribution of the group of spherical phosphors, and an integrated value N of a number particle size distribution from D25 to D75 of the group of spherical phosphors being 5% or more, when D25 is a particle size value at 25% of an integrated value of the volume particle size distribution of the group of spherical phosphors and D75 is a particle size value at 75% of the integrated value of the volume particle size distribution of the group of spherical phosphors; and a photovoltaic cell module including the sealing material.
US08860155B2
The present disclosure relates to a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) device and its fabricating method. Through forming MTJ through a damascene process, device damage due to the etching process and may be avoided. In some embodiments, a spacer is formed between a first portion and a second portion of the MTJ to prevent the tunnel insulating layer of the MTJ from being damaged in subsequent processes, greatly increasing product yield thereby. In other embodiments, signal quality may be improved and magnetic flux leakage may be reduced through the improved cup-shaped MTJ structure of this invention.
US08860152B2
A integrated circuit die includes a chemical sensor, a thermal sensor, and a humidity sensor formed therein. The chemical sensor, thermal sensor, and humidity sensor include electrodes formed in a passivation layer of the integrated circuit die. The integrated circuit die further includes transistors formed in a monocrystaline semiconductor layer.
US08860149B2
A semiconductor device including a transistor formed on a first surface of a silicon layer; a first insulating film formed on the first surface of said silicon layer and covering said transistor; a wiring section formed in the first insulating film and electrically connected to the transistor; a supporting substrate formed on a surface of the first insulating film with a second insulating film interposed between the supporting substrate and the first insulating film; and an adjusting insulating film for adjusting a threshold voltage of said transistor, the adjusting insulating film being formed on a second surface of said silicon layer opposing the first surface of said silicon layer. Some embodiments may include a probing electrode electrically connected to the transistor and an opening in the silicon layer for exposing the probing electrode.
US08860144B2
In general, according to one embodiment, a power semiconductor device includes a first pillar region, a second pillar region, and an epitaxial layer of a first conductivity type on a first semiconductor layer. The first pillar region is composed of a plurality of first pillar layers of a second conductivity type and a plurality of second pillar layers of the first conductivity type alternately arranged along a first direction. The second pillar region is adjacent to the first pillar region along the first direction and includes a third pillar layer of the second conductivity type, a fourth pillar layer of the first conductivity type, and a fifth pillar layer of the second conductivity type in this order along the first direction. A plurality of second base layers of the second conductivity type electrically connected, respectively, onto the third pillar layer and the fifth pillar layer and spaced from each other.
US08860142B2
A method (and semiconductor device) of fabricating a semiconductor device utilizes a thermal proximity correction (TPC) technique to reduce the impact of thermal variations during anneal. Prior to actual fabrication, a location of interest (e.g., a transistor) within an integrated circuit design is determined and an effective thermal area around the location is defined. Thermal properties of structures intended to be fabricated within this area are used to calculate an estimated temperature that would be achieved at the location of interest from a given anneal process. If the estimated temperature is below or above a predetermined target temperature (or range), TPC is performed. Various TPC techniques may be performed, such as the addition of dummy cells and/or changing dimensions of the structure to be fabricated at the location of interest (resulting in an modified thermally corrected design, to suppress local variations in device performance caused by thermal variations during anneal.
US08860131B2
An embodiment of a power device comprising and formation of at least one gate region, of at least one buried source region, of at least one body region and of at least one source region; at least one body/source contact and at least one buried source contact; and formation of a source contact region and of a gate contact region through deposition. An embodiment of the method also comprises formation of the at least one gate region and of the at least one buried source region, electrically insulated, through a single deposition of a conductive filling material on an epitaxial layer, on vertical walls of the trench and within the empty region; and through etching of the conductive filling material forming a first spacer and a second spacer, suitable for serving as a gate electrode and forming a buried source electrode within the empty region.
US08860124B2
A memory device includes a plurality of semiconductor lines, such as body-tied fins, on a substrate. The lines including buried-channel regions doped for depletion mode operation. A storage structure lies on the plurality of lines, including tunnel insulating layer on the channel regions of the fins, a charge storage layer on the tunnel insulating layer, and a blocking insulating layer on the charge storage layer. A plurality of word lines overlie the storage structure and cross over the channel regions of the semiconductor lines, whereby memory cells lie at cross-points of the word lines and the semiconductor lines.
US08860123B1
A memory device may include a semiconductor substrate, and a memory transistor in the semiconductor substrate. The memory transistor may include source and drain regions in the semiconductor substrate and a channel region therebetween, and a gate stack having a first dielectric layer over the channel region, a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer, a first diffusion barrier layer over the second dielectric layer, a first electrically conductive layer over the first diffusion barrier layer, a second diffusion barrier layer over the first electrically conductive layer, and a second electrically conductive layer over the second diffusion barrier layer. The first and second dielectric layers may include different dielectric materials, and the first diffusion barrier layer may be thinner than the second diffusion barrier layer.
US08860114B2
The present disclosure provides an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a substrate having a surface that is defined by a first axis and a second axis perpendicular to the first axis; and a capacitor structure disposed on the substrate. The capacitor structure includes a first conductive component; a second conductive component and a third conductive component symmetrically configured on opposite sides of the first conductive component. The first, second and third conductive components are separated from each other by respective dielectric material.
US08860113B2
A semiconductor structure is disclosed in which, in an embodiment, a first substrate includes at least one buried plate disposed in an upper part of the first substrate. Each of the at least one buried plate includes at least one buried plate contact, and a plurality of deep trench capacitors disposed about the at least one buried plate contact. A first oxide layer is disposed over the first substrate. The deep trench capacitors and buried plate contacts in the first substrate may be accessed for use in a variety of memory and decoupling applications.
US08860107B2
At least one semiconductor fin for a capacitor is formed concurrently with other semiconductor fins for field effect transistors. A lower conductive layer is deposited and lithographically patterned to form a lower conductive plate located on the at least one semiconductor fin. A dielectric layer and at least one upper conductive layer are formed and lithographically patterned to form a node dielectric and an upper conductive plate over the lower conductive plate as well as a gate dielectric and a gate conductor over the other semiconductor fins. The lower conductive plate, the node dielectric, and the upper conductive plate collectively form a capacitor. The finFETs may be dual gate finFETs or trigate finFETs. A buried insulator layer may be optionally recessed to increase the capacitance. Alternately, the lower conductive plate may be formed on a planar surface of the buried insulator layer.
US08860098B2
The present disclosure describes structures and processes to produce high voltage JFETs in wide-bandgap materials, most particularly in Silicon Carbide. The present disclosure also provides for products produced by the methods of the present disclosure and for apparatuses used to perform the methods of the present disclosure.
US08860093B2
A technology which allows a reduction in the thermal resistance of a semiconductor device used in a radio communication device, and the miniaturization thereof is provided. For example, the semiconductor device can include a plurality of unit transistors Q, transistor formation regions 3a, 3b, and 3e each having a first number (e.g., seven) of the unit transistors Q, and transistor formation regions 3c and 3d each having a second number (e.g., four) of the unit transistors Q. The transistor formation regions 3c and 3d are located between the transistor formation regions 3a, 3b, 3e, and 3f, and the first number is larger than the second number.
US08860091B2
A device and a method of making said wherein the device wherein the device has a group III-nitride buffer deposited on a substrate; and a group III-nitride heterostructure disposed on a surface of the group III-nitride buffer, wherein the group III-nitride heterostructure has a group III-nitride channel and a group III-nitride barrier layer disposed on a surface of the group III-nitride channel, the group III-nitride barrier layer including Al as one of its constituent group III elements, the Al having a mole fraction which varies at least throughout a portion of said group III-nitride barrier layer.
US08860090B2
A nitride semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, a conductive substrate, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a control electrode. The second semiconductor layer is directly bonded to the first semiconductor layer. The conductive substrate is provided on and electrically connected to the first semiconductor layer. The first electrode and the second electrode are provided on and electrically connected to a surface of the second semiconductor layer on a side opposite to the first semiconductor layer. The control electrode is provided on the surface of the second semiconductor layer between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode is electrically connected to a drain electrode of a MOSFET formed of Si. The control electrode is electrically connected to a source electrode of the MOSFET. The conductive substrate is electrically connected to a gate electrode of the MOSFET.
US08860089B2
According to example embodiments, a higher electron mobility transistor (HEMT) may include a first channel layer, a second channel layer on the first channel layer, a channel supply on the second channel layer, a drain electrode spaced apart from the first channel layer, a source electrode contacting the first channel layer and contacting at least one of the second channel layer and the channel supply layer, and a gate electrode unit between the source electrode and the drain electrode. The gate electrode unit may have a normally-off structure. The first and second channel layer form a PN junction with each other. The drain electrode contacts at least one of the second channel layer and the channel supply layer.
US08860085B2
A III-nitride heterojunction power semiconductor device having a barrier layer that includes a region of reduced nitrogen content.
US08860070B2
The present disclosure provides a vertical GaN-based semiconductor diode and a method of manufacturing the same. The GaN-based πi-V group semiconductor device includes a substrate, a p-type ohmic electrode layer on the substrate, a p-type GaN-based πi-V group compound semiconductor layer on the p-type ohmic electrode layer, an n-type GaN-based πi-V group compound semiconductor layer on the p-type GaN-based πi-V group compound semiconductor layer, and an n-type ohmic electrode layer on the n-type GaN-based IE-V group compound semiconductor layer. The p-type ohmic electrode layer is an Ag-based highly reflective electrode having a high reflectivity of 70% or more, and a surface of the n-type GaN-based E-V group compound semiconductor layer is subjected to at least one of a process of forming photonic crystals and a process of surface roughening.
US08860063B2
A light-emitting diode chip is specified, comprising an n-conducting region (1), a p-conducting region (2), an active region (3) between the n-conducting region (1) and the p-conducting region (2), a mirror layer (4) at that side of the p-conducting region (2) which is remote from the active region (3), an encapsulation layer (5) at that side of the mirror layer (4) which is remote from the p-conducting region (2), and a contact layer (6) at a side of the encapsulation layer (5) which is remote from the mirror layer (4), wherein the encapsulation layer (5) extends along a bottom area (43) of the mirror layer (4) which is remote from the p-conducting region (2) and a side area (42) of the mirror layer (4) which runs transversely with respect to the bottom area (43), and the contact layer (6) is freely accessible in places from its side facing the n-conducting region (1).
US08860055B2
A light emitting device according to the embodiment includes a first conductive semiconductor layer; an active layer under the first conductive semiconductor layer; a second conductive semiconductor layer under the active layer; a current blocking region under the second conductive semiconductor layer; a second electrode layer under the second conductive semiconductor layer and the current blocking region; and a first electrode layer including a protrusion protruding toward the first conductive semiconductor layer arranged, on the first conductive semiconductor layer.
US08860053B2
A light emitting module includes: a light emitting element including: a first light emitting surface, and second light emitting surfaces bordering the first light emitting surface; an optical wavelength conversion member that converts a wavelength of light emitted from the light emitting element, wherein the optical wavelength conversion member is plate-shaped and is disposed such that an incident surface of the optical wavelength conversion member faces the first light emitting surface; and a reflecting member disposed to face the incident surface of the optical wavelength conversion member, the reflecting member comprising a reflecting surface. The reflecting surface faces the second light emitting surfaces, and the reflecting surface is inclined such that a distance between the reflecting surface and the second light emitting surfaces is gradually increased toward the incident surface of the optical wavelength conversion member.
US08860052B2
Provided is a light emitting device. The light emitting device comprises a body, a light emitting diode on the body, a resin layer on the light emitting diode, and a primer layer containing a metal material on the resin layer.
US08860049B2
A multi-LED package includes a heat sink including a primary slug and a secondary slug separated from each other, a primary LED chip mounted on the primary slug, one or more secondary LED chips mounted on the secondary slug, a lead frame structure electrically wired to the primary and secondary LED chips, and a phosphor covering at least a part of the primary LED chip. Another multi-LED package includes a heat sink having an upper surface and partitions protruding therefrom, a primary LED chip mounted inside the partitions, one or more secondary LED chips mounted outside the partitions, a lead frame structure electrically wired to the primary and secondary LED chips, and a phosphor covering at least a part of the primary LED chip.
US08860047B2
A reliable semiconductor light-emitting device can include a wavelength converting material in a cavity mounting at least one semiconductor light-emitting chip. The device can also include an encapsulating resin to cover the wavelength converting material so as to emit a wavelength-converted light using light emitted from the chip. The wavelength converting material should include a transparent resin having a large thermal expansion coefficient to maintain a high thermal resistance, and the encapsulating resin is subject to cracks due to a high transparent resin. The semiconductor device can be configured to form a space between the wavelength converting material and the encapsulating resin so that each of the encapsulating resin and the wavelength converting material cannot contact with each other even under a high temperature. Thus, the disclosed subject matter cannot stress in the encapsulating resin when the wavelength converting material expands, and therefore can provide the reliable semiconductor light-emitting device.
US08860042B2
A light component includes a printed circuit board and a plurality of lighting emitting diodes (LEDs). The printed circuit board has a metal substrate. The LEDs are disposed on the printed circuit board, wherein two opposite edges of the metal substrate protrude out and are bent towards the LEDs to form two metal clamps.
US08860038B2
Provided is a nitride semiconductor device comprising a base substrate; a buffer layer formed above the base substrate; an active layer formed on the buffer layer; and at least two electrodes formed above the active layer. The buffer layer includes one or more composite layers that each have a plurality of nitride semiconductor layers with different lattice constants, and at least one of the one or more composite layers is doped with carbon atoms and oxygen atoms in at least a portion of a carrier region of the nitride semiconductor having the largest lattice constant among the plurality of nitride semiconductor layers, the carrier region being a region in which carriers are generated due to the difference in lattice constants between this nitride semiconductor layer and the nitride semiconductor layer formed directly thereon.
US08860036B2
The present invention relates to a pixel electrode structure, comprising: at least one scanning line disposed on a substrate; at least one data line disposed on the substrate and intersecting the scanning line to define a pixel area; a pixel electrode disposed in the pixel area; an active element comprising a gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode, wherein the gate electrode is electrically connected to the scanning line, the source electrode is electrically connected to the data line, and the drain electrode is electrically connected to the pixel electrode; and a shielding electrode overlapping one side of the scanning line and electrically connected to the pixel electrode with a first connecting part, wherein the shielding electrode has a jag structure, and the first connecting part is disposed at a junction between jags of the jag structure protruding in different orientations.
US08860028B2
Disclosed are a thin film transistor substrate and a method of fabricating the same in which the number of processes is reduced. The method includes forming a first conductive pattern including gate electrodes and gate lines on a substrate through a first mask process, depositing a gate insulating film and forming a second conductive pattern including a semiconductor pattern, source and drain electrodes and data lines through a second mask process, depositing first and second passivation films and forming pixel contact holes passing through the first and second passivation films and exposing the drain electrodes through a third mask process, and forming a third conductive pattern including a common electrode and a common line and forming a third passivation film formed in an undercut structure with the common electrode through a fourth mask process, simultaneously, and forming a fourth conductive pattern including pixel electrodes through a lift-off process.
US08860027B2
Embodiments may disclose an organic light-emitting display device including a first substrate including a pixel area emitting light in a first direction, and a transmittance area that is adjacent to the pixel area and transmits external light; a second substrate facing the first substrate and encapsulating a pixel on the first substrate; an optical pattern array on the first substrate or the second substrate to correspond to the transmittance area, the optical pattern array being configured to transmit or block external light depending on the transmittance area according to a coded pattern; and a sensor array corresponding to the optical pattern array, the sensor array being arranged in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction in which the light is emitted, the second array receiving the external light passing through the optical pattern array.
US08860023B2
Reducing hydrogen concentration in a channel formation region of an oxide semiconductor is important in stabilizing threshold voltage of a transistor including an oxide semiconductor and improving reliability. Hence, hydrogen is attracted from the oxide semiconductor and trapped in a region of an insulating film which overlaps with a source region and a drain region of the oxide semiconductor. Impurities such as argon, nitrogen, carbon, phosphorus, or boron are added to the region of the insulating film which overlaps with the source region and the drain region of the oxide semiconductor, thereby generating a defect. Hydrogen in the oxide semiconductor is attracted to the defect in the insulating film. The defect in the insulating film is stabilized by the presence of hydrogen.
US08860018B2
An anthanthrene based compound of the structural formula (1) is disclosed: wherein X represents an element of the Group 16; n represents an integer of from 0 to 20; m represents an integer of from 1 to 9; a bonding position in the A segment to the B segment, a bonding position in the B segment to the A segment, a bonding position in the B segment to the C segment, and a bonding position in the C segment to the B segment are at least one of from the 1-position to the 5-position and from the 7-position to the 11-position; and each of substituents R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R7, R8, R9, R10 and R11 independently represents, for example, a substituent of one member selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group and the like.
US08860011B2
One pixel is divided into a first region including a first light emitting element and a second region including a second light emitting element, wherein the first region emits light in one direction and the second region emits light in the direction opposite to that of the first region. Independently driving the first light emitting element and the second light emitting element allows images to be displayed independently on the surface.
US08860008B2
An active region or channel for printed, organic or plastic electronics or polymer semiconductors, such as organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), is obtained by using an enhanced inkjet drop-cast printing technique. A two-liquid system is employed to achieve the direct growth of well-oriented organic crystals at the active region of channel. High-performance electrical properties exhibiting high carrier mobility and low threshold voltage are obtained due to the proper orientation of molecules in the grown crystal in a highest mobility direction, due to the absence of grain boundaries, and due to low trap densities. The hydrophobic-hydrophilic interactions between the liquids utilized, which results in the fabrication of low-cost and mass-producible printable electronic devices for applications in flexible displays, electronic signages, photovoltaic panels, membrane keyboards, radio frequency identification tags (RFIDs), electronic sensors, and integrated electronic circuits.
US08860001B2
A resistive random access memory (ReRAM) includes a first metal layer having a first metal and a metal-oxide layer on the first metal layer. The metal-oxide layer inlcudes the first metal. The ReRAM further includes a second metal layer over the metal-oxide layer and a first continuous conductive barrier layer in physical contact with sidewalls of the first metal layer and of the metal-oxide layer.
US08859997B2
A charged particle beam writing apparatus includes an unit to measure height positions of a substrate, an unit to input a position dependent height distribution obtained by converting each position error of a pattern generated depending on each corresponding writing position of the substrate into a value in a height direction, and to add the position dependent height distribution to a height distribution obtained based on the height positions in order to correct the height distribution of the substrate, an unit to calculate a deflection shift amount of a pattern to be written by using a corrected height distribution, an unit to calculate a deflection amount for deflecting a beam to a position where a calculated deflection shift amount has been corrected, and an unit to write a pattern on the substrate by deflecting the beam by a calculated deflection amount.
US08859986B2
The invention generally relates to systems and methods for mass spectrometry analysis of microorganisms in samples.
US08859985B2
A radiation detector employed in a radiation detection apparatus and a fluorescent X-ray analyzer includes: a first circuit board on which a semiconductor radiation sensor is mounted and which is cooled by a Peltier device (an electronic cooling unit); and a second circuit board set apart from the first circuit board. A plurality of lead pins are joined to the second circuit board. Then, the first circuit board and the second circuit board are wire-bonded to each other. In comparison with conventional wire bonding performed onto the tips of lead pins, the work of connection is easy, the productivity is high, and the reliability of connection is high. Further, the second circuit board not requiring cooling is set apart so that cooling is concentrated on the first circuit board. This permits size reduction of the radiation detector.
US08859984B2
Provided is a method and an apparatus for inspecting a sample surface with high accuracy. Provided is a method for inspecting a sample surface by using an electron beam method sample surface inspection apparatus, in which an electron beam generated by an electron gun of the electron beam method sample surface inspection apparatus is irradiated onto the sample surface, and secondary electrons emanating from the sample surface are formed into an image toward an electron detection plane of a detector for inspecting the sample surface, the method characterized in that a condition for forming the secondary electrons into an image on a detection plane of the detector is controlled such that a potential in the sample surface varies in dependence on an amount of the electron beam irradiated onto the sample surface.
US08859981B1
A system and associated method for isolating intended radiation signals for determining target characteristics includes multiple detectors for detecting radiation signals having varying energies, delay modules for delaying the detected radiation signals and a discriminator associated with the multiple detectors for determining if detected radiation signals include unintended radiation signals, e.g., x-rays, and provided blanking signals to a switch in order to effectively remove the unintended radiation signals from the data that is presented to the processor for determining target characteristics.
US08859980B2
A device and method for on line dosimetry monitoring of a hadron beam generated from a source of radiation and delivered to a target, the device comprising a plurality of support plates arranged in parallel in a face-to-face relation, separated from each other by gas filled gaps and perpendicularly to the central axis of said hadron beam, and forming a plurality of ionization chambers, each support plate having on a first side one or more collecting electrodes and on a second side one or more high voltage electrode, arranged in such a way that each support plate has said first side substantially opposed to said second side of another support plate. Each support plate has an opening so as to form an inner cavity for allowing the undisturbed passage of a central portion of the hadron beam delivered to said target and a peripheral region for intercepting and measuring, by means of said plurality of ionization chambers, a peripheral portion of said hadron beam.
US08859975B2
A radiation detector module 10A includes a scintillator for converting radiation made incident from a predetermined direction to light, a two-dimensional PD array 12 for receiving light from the scintillator, a connection substrate 13 formed by stacking dielectric layers 130a to 130f, and mounted with the two-dimensional PD array 12 on one substrate surface thereof, and an integrated circuit device 14 mounted on the other substrate surface of the connection substrate 13, and for reading out electrical signals output from the two-dimensional PD array 12. The integrated circuit device 14 has a plurality of unit circuit regions 14b separated from each other. The connection substrate 13 has a plurality of through conductors 20 and a plurality of radiation shielding films 21a to 23a formed integrally with each of the plurality of through conductors 20 and separated from each other. Accordingly, the readout circuits of the integrated circuit device can be protected from radiation with a simple configuration.
US08859963B2
A method and apparatus for preparing thin TEM samples in a manner that reduces or prevents bending and curtaining is realized. Embodiments of the present invention deposit material onto the face of a TEM sample during the process of preparing the sample. In some embodiments, the material can be deposited on a sample face that has already been thinned before the opposite face is thinned, which can serve to reinforce the structural integrity of the sample and refill areas that have been over-thinned due to a curtaining phenomena. In other embodiments, material can also be deposited onto the face being milled, which can serve to reduce or eliminate curtaining on the sample face.
US08859959B2
The invention generally relates to systems and methods for mass spectrometry analysis of samples. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a mass spectrometry probe including at least one porous material connected to a high voltage source, in which the porous material is discrete from a flow of solvent.
US08859956B2
The invention generally relates to systems and methods for mass spectrometry analysis of samples. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a mass spectrometry probe including at least one porous material connected to a high voltage source, in which the porous material is discrete from a flow of solvent.
US08859955B2
A method of analyzing a sample is disclosed comprising transmitting a first population of ions through a mass spectrometer and switching a state or mode of the mass spectrometer to produce a second population of ions. A sequential stream of mass spectra is acquired asynchronously with respect to switching the state or mode of the mass spectrometer. The stream of mass spectral data is then post-processed to produce mass spectra corresponding predominantly to the first and second population of ions.
US08859950B2
Methods enable the capture and manipulation of minute particles. One method includes locating a particle on a specimen stage; generating a finite-length open-ended hollow tube laser output around the particle; generating opposing end-cap laser outputs at either end of the hollow tube laser output to enclose the particle; and moving at least one of the specimen stage, hollow tube laser output and end cap laser outputs to re-position the particle. Another method includes locating a particle on a specimen stage; generating a first finite-length open-ended hollow tube laser output around the particle; generating a second finite-length open-ended hollow tube laser output around the particle, whereby the particle becomes enclosed at the intersection of the first and second hollow tube laser outputs; and pivoting at least one of the first and second hollow tube laser outputs such that the particle is re-positioned.
US08859949B2
A sensor device has an optical sensor (1), a container (2) and a compartmentalizer (3) that temporarily divides the container into a main space (4) and an adjacent space (5), in which the optical sensor (1) is located. The gas volume in the direct vicinity of the optical sensor (1) is reduced, as are also, consequently, the reactive products generated by radiation sterilization. The adjacent space (5) can be united with the main space (4) after the sterilization as a result of the temporary compartmentalization. The optical sensor is suitable for implementation in containers and laboratory products, such as, for example, disposable bioreactors, that are sterilized by gamma radiation.
US08859946B2
An optical detecting device includes a light-detecting element for outputting an electrical signal, a pre-amplifier for amplifying the electrical signal, a signal line connected to an output of the pre-amplifier, and a resistor and a capacitor connected in series between the signal line and GND.
US08859941B2
An oven includes an oven liner defined by front, top, bottom, back and side panels, a heating element thermally coupled to the oven liner, a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of a panel of the oven cavity, and a controller operatively coupled to the temperature sensor and the heating element. The controller is configured to energize the heating element as a function of the detected temperature.
US08859938B2
A vehicle cabin heating system is provided basically with an infrared heater, a temperature sensor and a controller. The infrared heater is aimed to heat a target surface in front of the infrared heater within a vehicle cabin interior space. The temperature sensor is disposed in front of the first infrared heater to detect a measured temperature in front of the first infrared heater. The controller is operatively coupled to the first infrared heater to selectively operate the first infrared heater to a target surface temperature within the vehicle cabin interior space whenever an estimated surface temperature of a target surface is determined based on the measured temperature by the temperature sensor falls below a prescribed temperature range below the target surface temperature.
US08859934B1
A method of removing slag formed during laser cutting a hypotube may include flowing cooling gas into a laser nozzle, directing flow of the cooling gas onto an external surface of the hypotube, and injecting cooling fluid into an inner lumen of the hypotube at a velocity. Flowing the cooling gas and injecting the cooling fluid may at least partially remove slag from the external surface of the hypotube.
US08859928B2
Systems and methods are provided for a torch power system using a multi-stage compressor. In one embodiment, a system includes a torch power unit that includes a compressor having multiple compression stages. A method of operation is provided that includes compressing a gas via a multi-stage compressor in a torch power unit. A method of manufacturing a torch power unit is provided that includes providing a multi-stage compressor for a torch power unit and mounting the multi-stage compressor inside an enclosure of the torch power unit. Another system is provided that includes a plasma cutting circuit, a multi-stage compressor, a motor coupled to the compressor, and a compressor controller.
US08859927B2
The vacuum switch is compact, requires little effort, and provides a reliable current path having a high current-carrying capacity between the terminals of the vacuum switch, particularly at high switch-on speeds. The vacuum switch has a vacuum chamber, in which a vacuum is present and in which a switching contact is arranged. The switching contact includes a fixed contact piece firmly connected to the vacuum chamber and in electrical contact with a fixed contact terminal, and a moving contact piece movably guided relative to the fixed contact piece. The moving contact piece is at a distance to the fixed contact piece in a disconnect position and contacts the latter in a contact position. A drive unit produces a drive movement. A switching mechanism is connected to the drive unit and the moving contact piece and includes a conductor section that is electrically conducting up to the moving contact piece. A connector connects a moving contact terminal electrically to the moving contact piece in the contact position. The connector has a clamping contact, which has an insertion clamping contact piece connected to the conductor section of the switching mechanism and a mating clamping contact piece firmly connected to the vacuum chamber and electrically connected to the moving contact terminal. The insertion clamping contact piece and the mating clamping contact piece are arranged relative to each other such that the insertion clamping contact piece is clamped with the mating clamping contact piece in an electrically conducting manner as a result of the drive movement.
US08859926B2
In one configuration of the present invention, a hair extension device for providing a user with the appearance of having longer, fuller hair is disclosed. The device may have a hair cluster having a hair flap which in turn comprises one or more hair wefts. The hair wefts may contain a number of hair strands connected together by seams which composes the band. The device may contain a filament which may be sandwiched between one or more flaps. The hair wefts may be sewn together with thread using a zig-zag stitch for example. The hair extension device may be reversible and the wefts may be attached to a length of lace.
US08859921B2
A switch device including arm springs as movable contacts slide in accordance with a switching operation of a switch knob. The arm springs come into resilient contact and slide on movable contact slide parts. Root parts and mountain parts are formed in the movable contact slide parts and a fixed contact is formed with end edges of bus bars. The bus bars are mounted and fixed to an upper surface of a support part. A cut out part is provided on the upper surface of the support part. The arm springs are formed in the shapes of bars having mountain forms in section fitted to the root parts, and the arm springs are extended in the vertical direction to plate surfaces of the bus bars and arranged to be inclined so that outer side surfaces abut on upper side edges of the fixed contacts.
US08859919B2
Circuit breaker assembly methods and apparatus are provided. Embodiments include side frames of a latching mechanism of a circuit breaker trip unit. Each side frame includes a location tab. Embodiments also include a housing adapted to contain the circuit breaker trip unit, the side frames and a latching mechanism. The housing includes at least two cutouts for recieving the location tabs of the side frames. Insertion of the location tabs into the cutouts in the housing operationally aligns a latching mechanism coupled to the side frames with a circuit breaker trip unit. Numerous additional features are shown.
US08859917B2
A latch assembly is provided for securing a switch operator to a contact block. The latch assembly includes a collar designed to retain the switch operator in the latch assembly. The latch assembly also includes a housing having one or more apertures for receiving fasteners to secure the contact block to the latch assembly. The collar is displaceable within the housing between a locked position that secures the switch operator and an unlocked position that permits disengagement of the switch operator from the collar. When the collar is in the locked position, corresponding apertures in the collar align with the one or more apertures in the housing, permitting the fasteners to be inserted through the collar apertures. Insertion of the fasteners through the collar apertures secures the collar in the locked position, thereby impeding unintentional disconnection of the switch operator from the latch assembly.
US08859915B2
An electrical switch has a switch body, actuators, and switch contacts, and at least one moving contact member having first and second ends. Elongate cam sliders extend side-by-side in the switch body, between the actuators and the moving contact member, for sliding lengthwise by the actuators to cause pivotal movement of the moving contact member about the first end such that the second end is moved into and out of contact with at least one of the switch contacts. The first and second ends of the moving contact member lie in a plane extending parallel to the longitudinal extent of the cam sliders, or extend parallel to the length of the cam sliders.
US08859914B1
The present invention is a digital scale having an outside housing that generally is supported from a support surface from a horizontal surface, where the outside housing preferably encloses a microprocessor operating under a control program and is at least connected to a power supply, a sensors/load cell unit, an input/output unit, and a user interface with a display. The sensors/load cell unit is operatively connected with a weighing surface plate, upon which may directly receive to an upper surface an item which will be weighed or which may engage other intervening plates or containers which ultimately support an item to be weighed. The outside housing defines an opening in a bottom, side or top surface which provides access to an adjunct tools container which lies, in a stored position, completely or mainly, within a form factor of the outside housing.
US08859910B2
A circuit board includes a dielectric layer and a signal routing layer on the dielectric layer. The signal routing layer includes chip traces, connector traces, and signal traces connected with the chip traces and the connector traces. The dielectric layer includes a signal trace area for arraying the signal traces, a chip trace area for arraying the chip traces, and a connector trace area for arraying the connector traces. The dielectric coefficient of the signal trace area is smaller than the dielectric coefficient of the chip trace area and greater than the dielectric coefficient of the connector trace area.
US08859895B2
A method for vertically grounding and leading down form a center of a composite pole tower includes the following steps: extending a ground down-leading wire from a center of a ground wire cross arm which is made of metal and is positioned on top of the pole tower, wherein the ground down-leading wire is vertically leaded down to the earth form the center of the composite pole tower, wherein when an lower portion of the tower body is a metal pipe, the ground down-leading wire is extended from the center of the composite material and is directly connected to the metal pipe. The method utilizes the advantage of the insulating intensity of the wall of the composite pole tower and enhances the insulating intensity of the transmission line on impact of lightning. The ground down-leading wires are prevented from short-circuiting with the tower body of the composite pole tower, so that advantage of the insulating property of the composite material of the pole towers is realized. Since the ground down-leading wire is penetrated through center of the pole tower, so that the ground down-leading wires are not exposed and are prevented from destroying by external force. And also the method is easy and simple for application.
US08859894B2
The present invention relates to a binuclear ruthenium complex dye represented by the following general formula (1-1): wherein R01 represents a linear or branched alkyl group having 2 to 18 carbon atoms; X represents a counter ion; and n represents a number of the counter ions needed to neutralize a charge of the complex; and in which proton(s) (H+) of one or more carboxyl groups (—COOH) may dissociate.
US08859891B2
A socket assembly includes a photovoltaic package having a substrate with a photovoltaic cell and contact pads electrically connected to the photovoltaic cell. A dielectric housing removably receives the photovoltaic package. The dielectric housing holds contacts in mating engagement with the contact pads. A metal shell receives the housing and the photovoltaic package, and the metal shell has a window providing access to the photovoltaic cell.
US08859890B2
A solar cell and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The solar cell includes: i) a first conductive layer; ii) a plurality of nano structures that are positioned on the first conductive layer and that are extended to cross a surface of the first conductive layer and that are separated from each other; iii) a resin layer that is positioned on the first conductive layer and that is filled at space between the plurality of nano structures; iv) at least one semiconductor layer that is positioned on the resin layer and that covers the plurality of nano structures; and v) a second conductive layer that covers the semiconductor layer and that has a light transmittance lower than that of the first conductive layer.
US08859876B2
Multi-channel audio signal processing systems and techniques are provided for electronic instruments having multiple and distinct output channels. Such systems may be used in conjunction with instruments comprising multiple vibrating elements, each with a dedicated signal output. Each received audio signal channel may be directed to a dedicated or shared signal processor for variably changing selected attributes of pitch, timing, timbre, and amplitude in ways that are unique for each signal. Signal processors may be shared using an allocating mixer, allocating switch, or both. An output mixer may be used to mix signal processor output signals into one or more outgoing mixed audio signals. Signal processors, mixers, and switches may be configured by stored program control and controlled in real-time. Real-time pitch variations can be used to change the pitch organization of fixed-pitch vibrating elements within an electronic musical instrument.
US08859872B2
A method is presented that allows feedback to be given on a musical performance without restrictions on the performance in terms of quality of intonation, tempo, or specific note order. Based on standard musical exercises, the ability to rate a performance is tolerant to repeated and/or omitted notes, to varying tempo and to systematic tuning errors. The method is suitable for use on mobile devices and may provide real-time feedback to allow the performer to adjust their performance or monitor their progress during the performance. Since a wide range of proficiency is able to be rated to give an indication of how well the performer executed a musical exercise this allows very inexperienced musicians to feel a sense of accomplishment when practicing outside the teaching environment as well as giving more accomplished musicians the feedback they need for continuous improvement.
US08859870B2
A pedal percussion instrument includes a base, a pedal, a connecting member, a rotating body, a shaft pivotally connecting the rotating body, a striking part rotating about the shaft and a stricken part. The shaft is located between an upper end and a lower end of the pedal part when the pedal part is not being operated. The striking part is disposed on a side opposite to the pedal part with the shaft interposed therebetween and is disposed on a side lower than the stricken part when the pedal part is not being operated. The pedal part rotates in one direction with respect to the base, the rotating body rotates via the connecting member in an other direction with respect to the base. The stricken part is struck by the striking part through a rotation of the rotating body in the other direction in a predetermined angle.
US08859856B2
The present invention relates to nucleic acid sequences encoding a hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (EC 1.13.11.27, abbreviated herein as HPPD) obtained from bacteria belonging to the genus Kordia, 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.
US08859852B2
The present invention is directed to identify genes involved in the growth of a plant and provide a transformed plant the growth of which is promoted utilizing the genes.
US08859850B2
The present invention relates to the specific silencing of the α (alpha), β (beta), γ (gamma) and ω (omega)-gliadins of hard wheat for flour by RNA interference (RNAi) through employment of a polynucleotide which is transcribed into an hpRNA (hairpin RNA). Furthermore the present invention additionally relates to a vector, cell, plant or seed comprising the polynucleotide, the expression whereof is specifically directed in particular tissues of wheat seeds through gene expression-regulating sequences such as, for example, the promoter of a gene of γ-gliadins or the promoter of the gene encoding for a D-hordein.
US08859845B2
The present invention relates to the field of plant breeding and disease resistance. More specifically, the invention includes a method for breeding soybean plants containing quantitative trail loci (QTL) for resistance the Phytophthora root rot (PRR) caused by Phytophthora sojae. The invention further includes the use of molecular markers in the introgression of PRR resistance QTL into soybean plants.
US08859840B2
A multiple-use blotting device for blotting blood from a fingertip includes a substrate, and a blood absorbing pad secured to the substrate. The blood absorbing pad has a plurality of blood absorbing sections that are evenly spaced from one another. The blotting device includes a protective cover overlying the blood absorbing pad, the protective cover having a window formed therein for exposing the blood absorbing pad. The cover is coupled with the substrate and is adapted to rotate relative to the substrate and the blood absorbing pad for sequentially aligning the window of the cover with each of the blood absorbing sections for exposing, one at a time, each of the blood absorbing sections. After one section of the pad has been used to blot blood, the cover is rotated for exposing a clean, unused section of the pad, while covering the used, blood-soaked section of the pad.
US08859836B2
A crystalline molecular sieve of MFS framework type manufactured by the method disclosed herein. A hydrocarbon conversion process using the crystalline molecular sieve is disclosed.
US08859835B2
In a process for the regeneration of a coked metal-containing catalyst, the coked catalyst is contacted in a regeneration zone with an atmosphere which contains carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide at a temperature of at least 400° C.
US08859833B2
Methods and system for obtaining long chain carbons that generally include forming a conversion mixture of an alcohol and a base, adding the conversion mixture to oil (such as petroleum based oil, crude oil, used oil, used motor oil, and new motor oil) to form a reaction mixture, adding a high nitrate compound the reaction mixture, and separating out the long chain carbons for use as an input by other processing such as pharmaceutical and/or additional petro-chemical processing. Additional cooling and/or filtering processes may be utilized to complete and/or optimize oil conversion.
US08859825B2
A method for isolating 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol (TMCD) solids from an isolated feed slurry formed in a TMCD process comprising TMCD, a liquid phase, and impurities by (a) treating the isolated feed slurry in a product isolation zone to produce an isolated TMCD product wet cake, a mother liquor, and impurities; wherein the product isolation zone can comprise at least one rotary pressure drum filter.
US08859823B2
An improved OXO process with converted waste oil recycle includes: (a) hydroformylating an olefin with synthesis gas in a reactor to produce an OXO product as well as by-product waste oil, the by-product waste oil having a lower or higher boiling temperature than said OXO product; (b) separating OXO product from the by-product waste oil; (c) converting separated waste oil to synthesis gas; and (d) recycling the synthesis gas produced in step (c) to the reactor of step (a).
US08859820B1
The present invention is directed to a novel fragrance compound, 3-methyl-cyclohexadec-6-enone.
US08859818B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a charge transport material and an electrophotographic photoreceptor using the charge transport material, the charge transport material sufficiently satisfying characteristics conventionally desired for a charge transport material for an electrophotographic photoreceptor, specifically, the charge transport material having a good solubility in a binder polymer, allowing formation of a stable and high-concentration organic thin film therefrom, and having a high carrier mobility. To achieve the object, the present invention provides a tris(4-styrylphenyl)amine derivative represented by the following general formula (1): wherein R1 represents a methyl group or methoxy group, and R2 represents a hydrogen atom, methyl group, or methoxy group, provided that a case where R1 and R2 are a methyl group and R2 is at the meta-position is excluded; wherein 50% or more of geometrical isomers have three double bonds which are all trans.
US08859811B2
Provided is an apparatus for recovering amines from amine-containing waste water generated in power stations, etc., and regenerating a cation exchange resin. The apparatus includes: a cation exchange resin layer capturing amines from amine-containing waste water and eluting the amines therefrom; a degassing tower degassing the eluted amines; a vacuum pump connected to the degassing tower; and a condensation and cooling tower condensing the degassed amines at a temperature of −33° C. or lower, wherein the amines captured in the cation exchange resin layer are eluted by injecting a strong acidic solution, while the resin is regenerated, and the amines eluted by the strong acidic solution is subjected to vacuum degassing and then recovered. Provided also is a method for recovering amines and regenerating a cation exchange resin using the apparatus. The apparatus and method for recovering amines and regenerating a cation exchange resin improve the quality of effluent water from power stations, etc., and increase the cost-efficiency through the recycle of amines.
US08859806B2
Disclosed herein is a process for purifying aryl carboxylic acids, in particular terephthalic acid, wherein the impure acid is dissolved or dispersed in an ionic liquid and a non-solvent is added to precipitate the purified acid. The present disclosure further relates to compositions comprising terephthalic acid and one or more ionic liquids.
US08859796B1
This application discloses novel methods and processes for preparation and purification of phosphaplatin compounds. The improvements of the synthetic methods and purification processes include, but are not limited to, efficient and reproducible large-scale preparation of these useful pharmaceutical agents in high quality and good yield.
US08859795B2
The invention discloses a technology for producing ester of carboxylic acid using cellulosic biomass as starting material. This technology comprises the following key steps: converting all of the organic polymers, including such high molecular-weight polymers as carbohydrate components and lignin, in cellulosic biomass into water soluble, small molecular organics completely in relatively short time under relatively mild conditions; separating the resultant water soluble compounds containing aromatic rings by adjusting the acidity/basicity of the reaction solution or by using adsorption resin; and converting the water soluble compounds containing aromatic rings into ester of carboxylic acid by hydrogenation and esterification in a corresponding alcohol solution.
US08859793B2
A process for extracting fats and oils from plant and animal matter using a normally gaseous solvent in its liquid state. Use is made of gravity flow and pressure differential from one vessel to another to transfer solvent from an upper vessel to a lower vessel. The vessels comprise an outer jacket to allow cooling and heating fluid to flow there-through to achieve better control of the pressure within each vessel.
US08859791B2
A process for producing an alkylene oxide by olefin epoxidation, wherein said process comprises the steps of: (1) in a first olefin epoxidation condition, in the presence of a first solid catalyst, a first mixed stream containing a solvent, an olefin and H2O2 is subjected to an epoxidation in one or more fixed bed reactors and/or one or more moving bed reactors until the conversion of H2O2 reaches 50%-95%, then, optionally, the resulting reaction mixture obtained in the step (1) is subjected to a separation to obtain a first stream free of H2O2 and a second stream containing the unreacted H2O2, and the olefin is introduced to the second stream to produce a second mixed stream, or optionally, the olefin is introduced to the reaction mixture obtained in the step (1) to produce a second mixed stream; (2) in a second olefin epoxidation condition, the reaction mixture obtained in the step (1) or the second mixed stream obtained in the step (1) and a second solid catalyst are introduced to one or more slurry bed reactors to conduct an epoxidation until the total conversion of H2O2 reaches 98% or more, with a proviso that said process for producing the alkylene oxide by olefin epoxidation has an selectivity for the alkylene oxide of 90% or more.The process of the present invention combines the slurry bed reactor with the fixed bed reactor and/or the moving bed reactor so as to overcome the disadvantages of the low conversion of H2O2 in the case that only the fixed bed reactor and/or the moving bed reactor are used, and the low selectivity for the target alkylene oxide in the case that only the slurry bed reactor is used.
US08859788B2
A process for the manufacture of dialkyl furan-2,5-dicarboxylate (DAFD) vapor composition by feeding furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (“FDCA”) to an esterification reactor and in the presence of an alcohol compound such as methanol, conducting an esterification reaction to form an esterification vapor containing DAFD, unreacted alcohol compound, 5-(alkoxycarbonyl)furan-2-carboxylic acid (ACFC), and water, and continuously passing the esterification vapor through an ACFC condensing zone, that can be integral with the esterification reactor, in which at least a portion of the ACFC in the esterification vapor is converted to a liquid phase condensate, and continuously discharging the esterification vapor from the ACFC condensing zone as a DAFD vapor. There is also a DAFD vapor composition containing DAFD, water, unreacted alcohol, and by-products.
US08859787B2
Disclosed is a glycol compound which is useful as a raw material and an intermediate for synthetic resins, additives for synthetic resins, medicines, cosmetics, food additives, surfactants and the like, further disclosed is a method for producing the compound.The glycol compound is represented by the following Formula (1): wherein R represents an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms or a halogen atom; n represents an integer of 1 to 4; and when n represents an integer of 2 to 4, plural R may be the same or different from each other.
US08859786B2
The invention discloses a method for the preparation of tert-butyl 6-chloro-3,5-dioxohexanoate from Meldrum's acid derivative and its use for the preparation of tert-butyl(4R,65)-(6-hydroxymethyl-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxan-4-yl)acetate (BHA), Rosuvastatin and Atorvastatin.
US08859784B2
The present disclosure provides substantially enantiomerically pure heterobicyclic compounds of the following structural formulas, wherein A, M, M′, and R5 are as described herein, and to biocatalytic processes for their preparation, and to the enzymes used in those processes.
US08859776B2
The present invention provides a compound of Formula 1 as described herein or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or ester thereof. The compounds are useful as inhibitors of the HDM2 protein. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the above compounds and methods of treating cancer using the same.
US08859768B2
This invention provides compounds of formula IA or IB: wherein HY, R1, R2, and G1, are as described in the specification. The compounds are inhibitors of VPS34 and/or PI3K and are thus useful for treating proliferative, inflammatory, or cardiovascular disorders.
US08859754B2
The present invention is directed towards the synthesis of high purity deuterated sugars, deuterated phosphoramidites, deuterated nucleobases, deuterated nucleosides, deuterated oligonucleotides, and deuterated RNA's of defined sequences which can exhibit biochemically useful and biologically valuable properties, thus having potential for therapeutic uses.
US08859753B2
The present invention relates to methods for the labeling of nucleic acid polymers in vitro and in vivo. In particular, the methods include a [3+2] cycloaddition between a nucleotide analog incorporated into a nucleic acid polymer and a reagent attached to a label. Such methods do not require fixation and denaturation and therefore can be applied to the labeling of nucleic acid polymers in living cells and in organisms. Also provided are methods for measuring cellular proliferation. In these methods, the amount of label incorporated into the DNA is measured as an indication of cellular proliferation. The methods of the invention can be used in a wide variety of applications including clinical diagnosis of diseases and disorders in which cellular proliferation is involved, toxicity assays, and as a tool for the study of chromosomes' ultrastructures.
US08859749B2
The present invention refers to a double-stranded siRNA molecule comprising a sense Strand and an antisense Strand which is essentially complementary to the sense Strand, each of the sense and the antisense Strands comprising at least 17 nucleotides (nt), the siRNA further comprising at least one overhang at the 5′ and/or 3′ end, wherein the overhang residue or overhang residues are chemically modified and selected independently from each other from the group consisting of: (a) 2′-deoxy modified nucleotides; (b) 2′-methoxy modified nucleotides; (c) two nucleosides linked by a 3′ to 5′ or 2′ to 5′ formacetal linkage; (d) nucleotides modified at the 2′-position by a —O—CH2—O—(CH2)2—OH group; and (e) nucleotides comprising in the 3′-position a —CH2—O—(CH2)7—CH3 group.
US08859748B2
The invention relates to PCR-based clonality studies for among others early diagnosis of lymphoproliferative disorders. Provided is a set of nucleic acid amplification primers comprising a forward primer, or a variant thereof, and a reverse primer, or a variant thereof, capable of amplifying a rearrangement selected from the group consisting of a VH-JH IGH rearrangement, a DH-JH IGH rearrangement, a VK-JK IGK rearrangement, a VK/intron-Kde IGK rearrangement, a Vλ-Jλ IGL rearrangement, a Vβ-Jβ TCRB rearrangement, a Dβ-Jβ TCRB rearrangement, a Vγ-Jγ TCRG rearrangement, a Vδ-Jδ TCRD rearrangement, a Dδ-Dδ TCRD rearrangement, a Dδ-Jδ TCRD rearrangement, a Vδ-Dδ TCRD rearrangement, or a translocation selected from t(11;14)(BCL1-IGH) and t(14;18)(BCL2-IGH). The primers can be used in PCR-based clonality studies for early diagnosis of lymphoproliferative disorders and detection of minimal residual disease (MRD). Also provided is a kit comprising at least one set of primers of the invention.
US08859725B2
The invention provides novel healthy kidney biomarkers useful in the monitoring of renal function and in the prognosis and diagnosis of renal dysfunctions, especially those related to graft rejection. The invention further relates to methods for aiding in the evaluation, and design of personalized therapies in transplantation nephrology.
US08859712B2
A method of: providing a solution of a dichloroaromatic compound having an electron-withdrawing group bound to each aromatic ring containing one of the chloride groups; a dihydroxyaromatic compound; an organic transition metal complex or a transition metal salt; a base; and a solvent; and heating the solution to a temperature at which the dichloroaromatic compound and the dihydroxyaromatic compound react to form a dimetallic salt of an aromatic ether oligomer. The molar ratio of the dihydroxyaromatic compound to the dichloroaromatic compound is greater than 2:1. Water formed during the heating is concurrently distilled from the solution.
US08859709B2
A mixture of at least two polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) compounds is formed in the presence of rhenium on cerium(IV) oxide. The POSS compounds are formed utilizing a method that includes the step of combining (a) a trihalosilane, (b) hydrogen gas, and (c) the rhenium on cerium(IV) oxide, in a reactor at a temperature of from 250° C. to 600° C. to form the mixture. The trihalosilane has the formula RSiX3 wherein R is an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an aryl group, and wherein X is a halo atom. This method allows for the efficient, predictable, and accurate production of the POSS compounds with a minimized need for use of expensive separation techniques. In addition, this method produces the POSS compounds in commercially useful quantities as major reaction products thereby avoiding the need to run multiple reactions.
US08859706B2
The invention relates to a bioactive hydrogel as a hybrid material of heparin and star-branched polyethylene glycol with functionalized end groups, wherein the heparin is bound directly by reaction of the carboxyl groups activated with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimides/N-hydroxysulfosuccinimide (EDC/s-NHS) with the terminal amino groups of the polyethylene glycol covalently by amide bonds.
US08859704B2
Disclosed is an ethylene-based polymer with a density from about 0.90 to about 0.94 in grams per cubic centimeter, with a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) from about 2 to about 30, a melt index (I2) from about 0.1 to about 50 grams per 10 minutes, and further comprising sulfur from about 5 to about 4000 parts per million. The amount of sulfur is also determined based upon the total weight of the ethylene-based polymer. Also disclosed is process for making an ethylene-based polymer which includes the steps of splitting a process fluid for delivery into a tubular reactor; feeding an upstream process feed stream into a first reaction zone and at least one downstream process feed stream into at least one other reaction zone, where the process fluid has an average velocity of at least 10 meters per second; and initiating a free-radical polymerization reaction.
US08859702B2
The present invention has an object to provide a polymer-containing composition for dispersants for cement which exhibits higher cement dispersibility even when used in a small amount, and can provide high flowability to a cement composition such as mortar and concrete and stably maintain this high flowability for a certain period, and to provide a production method thereof. The polymer-containing composition for dispersants for cement includes a polymer including a repeating unit derived from an unsaturated polyalkylene glycol ether monomer (I) having a specific structure and a repeating unit derived from an unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer (II) having a specific structure, and is prepared by polymerizing an unsaturated polyalkylene glycol ether monomer (I)-containing composition that includes specific amounts of specific components.
US08859700B2
A method for producing a water-absorbent resin having a further reduced odor as compared with a water-absorbent resin obtained by a conventional method as well as a water-absorbent resin produced by the same method, by maintaining the addition rate V from the pouring nozzle for the aqueous solution of the water-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer in a polymerization reaction tank not more than 0.30 [min−1], in the first stage polymerization step which is within the step of the conventional method upon performing multi-stages such as two or more stages of reversed-phase suspension polymerizations in a method for producing a water-absorbent resin, and thereby by being able to reduce the amount of the petroleum hydrocarbon dispersion medium remaining in the above water-absorbent resin.
US08859698B2
A sulfur-containing macromolecule and a method of preparing the sulfur-containing macromolecule comprising a polymerization step are provided, where the sulfur-containing macromolecule contains internal units of formula (I) and the polymerization step is formula (II) wherein n is greater than 1, said precursor comprises alkyne having one or more acetylene groups and thiol having one or more thiol groups; and R is remainder of said thiol excluding said thiol groups, R′ is remainder of said alkyne excluding said acetylene groups, and R and R′ are selected from organic or organometallic groups.
US08859696B2
A process for producing an oligomeric product by oligomerization of at least one olefinic compound, the process including a) providing an activated oligomerization catalyst, by combining, in any order, i) a source of chromium, ii) a ligating compound, iii) a catalyst activator or combination of catalyst activators, b) providing a zinc compound, and c) contacting the at least one olefinic compound with a composition containing the activated oligomerization catalyst and the zinc compound, the zinc compound being present in a sufficient quantity such that the ratio of the molar amount of zinc in the zinc compound to the molar amount of chromium in the source of chromium is between 1 and 10,000. The invention also provides a process of activating an oligomerization catalyst to be used to produce an oligomeric product from at least one olefinic compound.
US08859695B2
A hem-curing epoxy resin composition, that includes an epoxy resin A having more than one epoxy group per molecule on average; a curing agent B for epoxy resins, which is activated at a temperature in a range of 100° C. to 220° C.; and an activator C for epoxy resin compositions, wherein activator C is a compound of formula (I), or is a reaction product between a compound of formula (Ia) and an isocyanate or an epoxide.
US08859694B2
An epoxy resin composition comprising an epoxy resin component combined with a sufficient amount of an imidazole curative to provide curing of the epoxy resin composition. The epoxy resin composition further includes a non-hydroxyl containing cure accelerator for the imidazole curative.
US08859692B2
Process for reacting thermoplastic polyurethanes with compounds having isocyanate groups, wherein the reaction is carried out in the presence of a prepolymer which is the reaction product of (a) isocyanates with (b) compounds which are reactive toward isocyanates and have a molecular weight in the range from 500 g/mol to 10 000 g/mol, preferably from 2000 g/mol to 8000 g/mol, and the prepolymer has a glass transition temperature Tg measured by means of DSC in accordance with DIN EN ISO 11357-1 below −35° C.
US08859690B2
The present invention relates to a biodegradable composite and its preparation process, which composite is prepared by mixing feed stocks comprising a polylactic acid, an aliphatic-aromatic copolyester A, an aliphatic-aromatic copolyester B and an organic peroxide at a temperature between about 100 and about 200° C. The present invention also relates to a disposable article, which is prepared from said biodegradable composite.
US08859687B2
The present invention is directed to a functionalized elastomer comprising: a polymeric backbone chain derived from a monomer comprising at least one conjugated diene monomer and optionally at least one vinyl aromatic monomer; and a functional group bonded to the backbone chain, the functional group comprising a multidentate ligand capable of complexing with a metal ion.
US08859679B2
The instant invention relates to storage stable aqueous solutions of stilbene optical brighteners with polyvinyl alcohols which can be directly used by the papermaker in that they may be diluted with water and/or be metered directly into a coating composition, to provide coated papers of a particularly high whiteness.
US08859678B2
The invention relates to a thermoplastic composition comprising at least one thermoplastic matrix; and at least one copolymer obtained by copolymerization of C1-C4 alkyl methacrylate, a C1-C8 alkyl acrylate comonomer, and a styrene monomer. The invention also relates to molded bodies based on said thermoplastic composition.
US08859674B2
A moisture-curable resin composition comprising (a) at least one moisture-curable polymer having at least one hydrolysable silyl group; (b) at least one hydrocarbylalkoxysilane; and (c) at least one silane adhesion promoter containing a glycidoxy group. The composition may also contain additives including a catalyst for catalyzing the reaction between the moisture-curable polymer having at least one hydrolysable silyl group (a) with water under curing conditions, a filler, a plasticizer, and combinations thereof. The moisture-curable resin composition is useful in the production of adhesives, sealants and coatings for use in primerless concrete applications.
US08859672B2
A poly(arylene ether)-poly(hydroxy ether) block copolymer includes at least one poly(hydroxy ether) block and at least one poly(arylene ether) block, and the mole ratio of poly(hydroxy ether) blocks to poly(arylene ether) blocks is 0.95:1 to about 1.00:1. The poly(arylene ether)-poly(hydroxy ether) block copolymer can be prepared by reacting a telechelic poly(arylene ether) having terminal hydroxyl groups with a telechelic poly(hydroxy ether) epoxy resin having terminal epoxy groups, wherein the mole ratio of the telechelic poly(hydroxy ether) to the telechelic poly(arylene ether) is 0.95:1 to 1.00:1. The poly(arylene ether)-poly(hydroxy ether) block copolymer can be shaped into an article by extrusion, thermoforming, or molding, and is a compatibilizing agent for non-polar and polar polymers.
US08859671B2
Film structures made from a polymeric blend comprising an ethylene/carbon monoxide (ECO) copolymer and an olefinic, particularly an ethylenic, polymer, e.g., LDPE, exhibit not only photodegradation, but also desirable tensile and dart properties. In one embodiment the film structure is a monolayer in which ECO copolymer comprises at least 40 weight percent with the remainder of the structure comprising at least one of LDPE, LLDPE and HDPE.
US08859662B2
What is described is a polyamide molding material based on semicrystalline polyamides for production of LED housings or housing components with high strength, high long-term reflectivity and low blistering tendency. The polyamide moulding material proposed consists of the following components (A) 40 to 80% by weight of at least one semiaromatic polyamide based on at least 70 mol % of aromatic dicarboxylic acids and at least 70 mol % of aliphatic diamines having 4 to 18 carbon atoms and having a melting temperature in the range from 270° C. to 340° C. (B) 10 to 30% by weight of titanium dioxide particles (C) 5 to 20% by weight of glass fibres (D) 5-30% by weight of calcium carbonate. The percentages by weight of components (A) to (D) together add up to 100%, with the proviso that components (B), (C) and (D) meet the following conditions: (B)+(C)+(D)=20 to 60% by weight; weight ratio of (C)/(D) in the range from 0.25 to 1.5, where the polyamide molding material may optionally comprise customary additives (E) in addition to components (A) to (D), and where the amount thereof is in addition to the sum of components (A) to (D).
US08859655B2
A flame retardant resin composition which has high flame retardancy, excellent heat resistance and physical properties and is obtained from a plant-derived raw material and a molded article thereof.The flame retardant resin composition comprises: (A) 100 parts by weight of a polylactic acid and/or a lactic acid copolymer (component A); (B) 1 to 100 parts by weight of a styrene-based resin and/or a polycarbonate resin (component B); and (C) 1 to 100 parts by weight of an organic phosphorus compound represented by the following formula (1) (component C). (wherein X1 and X2 are the same or different and each an aromatic substituted alkyl group represented by the following formula (2)) ALAr)n (2) (wherein AL is a branched or linear aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, Ar is a phenyl group, naphthyl group or anthryl group all of which may have a substituent. n is an integer of 1 to 3, and Ar can be bonded to any carbon atom contained in AL.).
US08859654B2
The present disclosure is directed to a polymeric composition containing a vinyl chloride resin and an epoxidized fatty acid ester. The polymeric composition also includes a heat stabilizing composition. The heat stabilizing composition includes a first metal salt, a second metal salt, and a β-diketone. The epoxidized fatty acid ester is the primary, or the sole, plasticizer in the polymeric composition. The present polymeric composition finds advantageous application as a coating for wire and cable.
US08859650B2
A rubber composition for tires which comprises at least one rubber component selected from natural rubber and synthetic rubbers and, based on 100 parts by mass of the rubber component, 0.1 to 45 parts by mass of (A) a terpene phenol resin and 1 to 150 parts by mass of (B) a softener comprising a process oil which comprises polycyclic aromatic compounds (PCA) in an amount such that the content of extracts with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in accordance with the method of IP346 is controlled to a value smaller than 3%. A rubber composition for tires which overcomes problems arising due to the use of a highly aromatic oil having a content of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PCA) controlled to a value smaller than 3% as the process oil in place of conventional highly aromatic oils and exhibits excellent loss property and rigidity and a tire which uses the rubber composition and exhibits excellent steering stability on dry road surfaces and excellent braking property on wet road surfaces can be provided.
US08859648B2
The present invention relates to a retardation film using polyester having a photoelastic coefficient of −40×10−12 Pa−1 to 40×10−12 Pa−1. The present invention also relates to a polyester resin for optical use which contains a phosphorus compound, and an alicyclic component and a fluorene derivative component as constituents, and satisfies the following equations (6) and (7): 100° C.≦glass transition temperature≦150° C. (6) and 1.0≦(Ma/2+Mb+Mc)/P≦5.0 (7), wherein Ma is the number of moles of an alkali metal element contained in 1 ton of the polyester resin, Mb is the number of moles of an alkaline earth metal element contained in 1 ton of the polyester resin, Mc is the sum of the number of moles of a zinc element (Zn), a cobalt element (Co) and a manganese element (Mn) contained in 1 ton of the polyester resin, and P is the number of moles of a phosphorus element contained in 1 ton of the polyester resin.
US08859641B2
Particle in the shape of an encapsulated droplet comprising a core material and a shell material surrounding the core material, the shell material containing maleimide groups, preferably a copolymer of maleimide groups. The shell material contains a copolymer of styrene and maleic anhydride derivatives, of which more than 75 mole %, preferably more than 90 mole % is maleimide, and the average particle size is smaller than 300 nm. The particles are obtained by a process comprising by heating between 80° C. and 195° C., more preferably between 120° C. and 190° C. an ammonium salt of a maleic anhydride containing polymer in the presence of the core material.
US08859639B2
A capsulated colorant including a colorant and a polymer resin which is coated on the colorant and has a cross-linked structure, a method of preparing the capsulated colorant, and an ink composition including the capsulated colorant. By adjusting the extent of cross-linking of the colorant on which the polymer having a cross-linked structure is coated, a capsulated colorant having a cross-linking of larger extent and a capsulated colorant having a cross-linking of smaller extent are obtained. By using an ink composition including the capsulated colorant having a larger cross-linked extent, characteristics of excellent waterfastness, lighffastness, rubfastness and optical density can be realized. In addition, by using the ink composition including the capsulated colorant having a smaller cross-linked extent, images with excellent durability and printed gloss can be realized.
US08859632B2
A foamed resin product having shape-formable properties, a method of using the same and a cushion material that is to be worn by the human body are provided. The foamed resin product (a flexible polyurethane foam, etc.) has a glass transition temperature, expressed as the temperature of the loss tangent peak, of 10° C. to 35° C., a loss tangent within this temperature range of 0.20 to 0.80, and, with respect to the storage elastic modulus (G′) within this temperature range, the ratio (G′max/G′min) of maximum value (G′max) to minimum value (G′min) of 3.0 to 30. The using method thereof has attaching a molded article made of the foamed resin product to the surface of the human body, and lowering the hardness of the molded article due to the heat transferred from the human body so as to deform the molded article by allowing to follow-up the shape of the body.
US08859627B2
The present invention relates to an anti-microbial composition and method of use thereof. In particular, the present invention relates to an anti microbial composition comprising farnesol and cetrimide.
US08859622B1
Drug substances comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable organic acid addition salt of amine containing pharmaceutically active compounds useful for the treatment of a therapeutic ailment administration and exhibiting prophylactic properties when employed in non-therapeutic administration.
US08859614B2
Analogs of (−)-Picropodophyllin, synthesis thereof, and uses in pharmaceuticals as inhibitors of IGF1RK.
US08859611B2
The present invention is directed to novel thiophene inhibitors of S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR), pharmaceutical compositions comprising such GSNOR inhibitors, and methods of making and using the same.
US08859605B2
Compounds of the formula I wherein R1a is H; and R1b is C1-C6alkyl, Carbocyclyl or Het; or R1a and R1b together define a saturated cyclic amine with 3-6 ring atoms; R2a and R2b are independently H, halo, C1-C4alkyl, C1-C4haloalkyl or C1-C4alkoxy, or R2a and R2b together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a C3-C6cycloalkyl; R3 is a branched C5-C10 alkyl chain, C2-C4haloalkyl or —CH2C3-C7 cycloalkyl; R4 is C1-C6alkyl, C1-C6haloalkyl, C1-C6alkylamino or C1-C6dialkylamino; for use in the prophylaxis or treatment of a disorder characterised by inappropriate expression or activation of cathepsin S.
US08859600B2
Acetone solvate crystals of trityl olmesartan medoxomil are provided.
US08859599B2
The present invention concerns compounds of general formula (I): Method of preparation and uses thereof.
US08859594B2
Disclosed are a polymorphs I-VI of N-(6-(4-chlorophenoxy)hexyl)-N′-cyano-N″-(4-pyridyl)guanidine or of a solvate thereof, a preparation method thereof, and a use thereof as a biological active ingredient. The polymorphs are useful in treatment of cancers, and diseases or disorders caused by abnormal cell proliferation.
US08859592B2
A compound of formula (I): wherein A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, G1, R1, R2, R3 and R4 are as defined in claim 1; or a salt or N-oxide thereof. Furthermore, the present invention relates to processes and intermediates for preparing compounds of formula (I), to insecticidal, acaricidal, nematicidal and molluscicidal compositions comprising them and to methods of using them to combat and control insect, acarine, nematode and mollusc pests.
US08859581B2
The invention relates to compounds of the formula (I), to the preparation and use thereof for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of diseases, in particular tumors and/or diseases in the development or course of which kinases are involved.
US08859577B2
The invention provides a compound of Formula (I) Z N N O N O A1R2 R1 R3R 3 L A2 (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound, wherein R1, R2, R3,Z, A1, L and A 5 2 are as described herein; pharmaceutical compositions thereof; and the use thereof in treating diseases, conditions or disorders modulated by the inhibition of an acetyl-CoA carboxylase enzyme(s) in an animal.
US08859571B2
Disclosed are compounds having the formula: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 are as defined herein, and methods of making and using the same.
US08859569B2
The present application relates to novel substituted annellated pyrimidines, methods for production thereof, use thereof alone or in combinations for treating and/or preventing diseases and use thereof for the production of medicinal products for treating and/or preventing diseases, in particular for treating and/or preventing cardiovascular diseases.
US08859566B2
The present invention discloses substituted fused pyrimidine compounds of formula (I), their tautomers, polymorphs, stereoisomers, solvates, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, or pharmaceutical compositions containing them and methods of treating conditions and diseases that are mediated by adenosine receptor (AR) activity. The compounds of the present invention are useful in the treatment, prevention or suppression of diseases and disorders that may be susceptible to improvement by antagonism of the adenosine receptor, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, angiogenesis, pulmonary fibrosis, emphysema, allergic diseases, inflammation, reperfusion injury, myocardial ischemia, atherosclerosis, hypertension, congestive heart failure, retinopathy, diabetes mellitus, obesity, inflammatory gastrointestinal tract disorders, and/or autoimmune diseases.
US08859561B2
This disclosure relates to new heterocyclic compounds that may be used to modulate a histamine receptor in an individual. Pyrido[4,3-b]indoles are described, as are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds and methods of using the compounds in a variety of therapeutic applications, including the treatment of a cognitive disorder, psychotic disorder, neurotransmitter-mediated disorder and/or a neuronal disorder.
US08859556B2
A compound of Formula (I), pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, enantiomers, or mixtures thereof; pharmaceutical compositions containing said compounds, enantiomers or mixtures; processes for making said compounds, enantiomers or mixtures; the use of said compounds, enantiomers or mixtures; and medicaments containing the same for treatment of pain and other conditions; and methods of treating pain and other conditions with the same.
US08859550B2
The present invention relates to salts, hydrates, and polymorphs of bicyclic heteroaryl compounds, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof, which may be useful as inhibitors of H4R for the treatment or prevention of diseases including allergic rhinitis.
US08859537B2
This invention relates to the use of a ligand of the 5-HT4 receptor or of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of this ligand and to a nucleic acid coding for a 5-HT4 receptor or of a functionally equivalent receptor for a drug for treating and/or preventing a pathology associated with an obsessional behavior such as anorexia, bulimia and the addiction to drugs of abuse or obesity. The invention also relates to a method for identifying a compound that is biologically active in the treatment and/or the prevention of a pathology associated with an obsessional conduct or obesity including: a) placing the 5-HT4 receptor or a functionally equivalent receptor in contact with this biologically active compound, and b) the determination of whether this biologically active compound is capable of modulating the basal activity of the 5-HT4 receptor or of a functionally equivalent receptor.
US08859523B2
Described herein are crosslinked compounds useful in numerous treatments. Described herein are methods of making crosslinked compounds via (1) the oxidative coupling of two or more thiol compounds or (2) by the reaction between at least one thiol compound with at least one thiol-reactive compound.
US08859516B2
This invention relates to compositions containing double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) in a SNALP formulation, methods of using the compositions to inhibit the expression of the Eg5/KSP and VEGF, and methods of using the compositions to treat pathological processes mediated by Eg5/KSP and VEGF expression, such as cancer.
US08859512B2
A compound for use in the treatment or prophylaxis of viral infections such, for example as chicken pox or shingles caused by the Varicella Zoster virus, said compound having the general formula (II): wherein X is O, S, NH or CH2, Y is O, S or NH, Z is O, S or CH2, R1 is C1-6 alkyl, preferably n-alkyl, e.g., n-pentyl or n-hexyl, and one of R2 and R3 is OH, and the other of R3 and R2 is a neutral, non-polar amino acid moiety, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof. Said neutral, non-polar amino acid moiety R2 or R3 may be (IV): in which R4, R5, R6 and R7 are each independently H or C1-2 alkyl. In preferred embodiments, one of R2 or R3 is valine, leucine, isoleucine or alanine, particularly valine.
US08859504B2
The present invention provides novel compounds useful as proteasome inhibitors. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of the invention and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of various diseases.
US08859503B2
This invention provides methods of treating, reducing the incidence of, and inhibiting metastasis formation of carcinomas, sarcomas, Epstein-Barr virus-induced malignancies, B cell proliferative disorders, and mast cell activation disorders, comprising administering to a subject a compound that inhibits an interaction of a first protein and an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM) of a second protein, and screening methods for identifying ITAM-inhibitory compounds and peptides. This invention also provides peptides that inhibit signaling by ITAMs.
US08859497B2
The growth hormone supergene family comprises greater than 20 structurally related cytokines and growth factors. A general method is provided for creating site-specific, biologically active conjugates of these proteins. The method involves adding cysteine residues to non-essential regions of the proteins or substituting cysteine residues for non-essential amino acids in the proteins using site-directed mutagenesis and then covalently coupling a cysteine-reactive polymer or other type of cysteine-reactive moiety to the proteins via the added cysteine residue. Disclosed herein are preferred sites for adding cysteine residues or introducing cysteine substitutions into the proteins, and the proteins and protein derivatives produced thereby. Also disclosed are therapeutic methods for using the cysteine variants of the invention.
US08859495B2
The present application discloses a method for stimulating or enhancing proliferation of a population of cells by activating MUC1 receptor on the cells.
US08859493B2
The present invention is related to insulin derivatives having a side chain attached either to the α-amino group of the N-terminal amino acid residue of B chain or to an ε-amino group of a Lys residue present in the B chain of the parent insulin molecule via an amide bond which side chain comprises one or more residues of ethyleneglycol, propyleneglycol and/or butyleneglycol containing independently at each termini a group selected from —NH2 and —COOH; a fatty diacid moiety with 4 to 22 carbon atoms, at least one free carboxylic acid group or a group which is negatively charged at neutral pH; and possible linkers which link the individual components in the side chain together via amide or ether bonds, said linkers optionally comprising a free carboxylic acid group.
US08859491B2
Provided herein are glucagon superfamily peptides conjugated with GR ligands that are capable of acting at a glucocorticoid receptor. Also provided herein are pharmaceutical compositions and kits of the conjugates of the invention. Further provided herein are methods of treating a disease, e.g., a metabolic disorder, such as diabetes and obesity, comprising administering the conjugates of the invention.
US08859485B2
Described are fabric care compositions, comprising a builder and an aqueous dispersion comprising an ethylene acrylic acid copolymer and a fragrance.
US08859483B2
A liquid cleaning composition containing alkyl polyglycoside surfactants, alkyl esters derived from vegetable oil, water and a sodium-containing base provides excellent cleaning soil removal capabilities. The carbon materials from which it is manufactured are all renewable, and the composition is readily biodegradable.
US08859474B2
A lubricating oil composition comprising (a) a major amount of an oil of lubricating viscosity; and (b) an oil soluble epoxide compound having the following structure: wherein X is hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted C1 to C20 hydrocarbyl group, wherein the substituted hydrocarbyl group is substituted with one or more substituents selected from hydroxyl, alkoxy, ester or amino groups and Y is —CH2OR, —C(═O)OR1 or —C(═O)NHR2, wherein R, R1 and R2 are independently hydrogen or C1 to C20 alkyl or alkenyl groups; —and further wherein the oil of lubricating viscosity does not contain a carboxylic acid ester.
US08859472B2
The present invention relates to the use of ester group-including polymers having at least one nonpolar segment P and at least one polar segment D, where the polar segment D includes at least 8 repeating units, and the proportion of dispersing repeating units in the polar segment D is at least 30% by weight based on the weight of the polar segment D, as antifatigue additive in lubricants.
US08859467B2
The present disclosure provides methods of integrating therapeutic protein and antibody generation and/or selection, evolution and expression in a eukaryotic host for manufacturing in a single system. Therapeutic proteins, including antibodies, are generated, optimized and manufactured in the same eukaryotic host system. The disclosed system of Comprehensive Integrated Antibody Optimization (CIAO!™) allows for simultaneous evolution of protein performance and expression optimization.
US08859454B2
The invention relates to a method for producing a catalyst, wherein the catalyst has a high activity and selectivity with regard to the oxidation of CO and NO. The invention also relates to the catalyst produced using the method according to the invention, the use of the catalyst as oxidation catalyst as well as a catalyst component which contains the catalyst according to the invention. Finally, the invention is directed towards an exhaust-gas cleaning system which comprises the catalyst component containing the catalyst according to the invention.
US08859450B2
A solid catalyst component for olefin polymerization, comprising titanium atoms, magnesium atoms, halogen atoms and hydrocarbyloxy groups, wherein the following filtrate contains titanium atoms in a concentration of 0.08 mg-Ti/ml-filtrate or lower, measured according to a method comprising the steps of (1) preparing a suspension of the solid catalyst component for olefin polymerization in heptane having a concentration of 0.1 g-solid catalyst component/ml-suspension, (2) heating the suspension at 70° C. for 30 minutes under stirring, (3) filtering the suspension, thereby obtaining a filtrate, and (4) measuring a concentration of titanium atoms contained in the filtrate; and a production process of the solid catalyst component.
US08859449B2
In one example embodiment, a substrate having a smooth surface is prepared, a fine-particle layer including fine particles which are arranged along the surface is formed, and substituent molecules are bonded to the fine particles to change the fine-particle layer to a fine-particle assembly layer including the fine particles to which the substituent molecules are bonded, so that the center-to-center distance between the adjacent fine particles is increased to form a three-dimensional microstructure in which a portion of the fine-particle assembly layer is raised from the surface or the center-to-center distance between the adjacent fine particles is decreased to form a microstructure in which the fine-particle assembly layer is absent in a portion of the surface, the substrate being exposed in the absent portion.
US08859448B2
Binderless BaKX zeolitic adsorbents, methods for their production, and processes for their use in a liquid phase adsorptive separation process are provided. An adsorbent includes a binder-converted zeolite portion formed from x wt % kaolin clay binder and (100−x) wt % unconverted Zeolite X with a silica:alumina molar ratio of about 2.5. The kaolin clay binder is in the range of about 10 to about 20 wt %. Ba and K occupy cationic exchangeable sites within the adsorbent. K is in the range of about 0.25 to about 0.9% by weight and Ba is greater than about 31.6% by weight of the binderless BaKX zeolitic adsorbent. Cornstarch may be added to the Zeolite X and kaolin clay binder to increase adsorbent macro-porosity and pore volume. Productivity of the adsorbent is improved decreasing process operating costs. The mechanical strength of the adsorbent is also improved.
US08859446B2
A method for producing an α alumina sintered body for the production of a sapphire single crystal characterized in that a relative density is 60% or more, a closed porosity is 10% or less, a purity is 99.99% by mass or more, each content of Si, Na, Ca, Fe, Cu and Mg is 10 ppm or less, and a volume is 1 cm3 or more, and the α alumina sintered body can be obtained by mixing 100 parts by weight of an α alumina with 1 part by weight or more and 20 parts by weight or less of an α alumina precursor to obtain a mixture, forming a compact from the obtained mixture, and firing the obtained compact.
US08859444B2
A high-refractivity low-dispersion optical glass of which the Ta2O5 content is suppressed is provided, the optical glass comprising, by mass %, 1 to 30% of B2O3, 0.1 to 20% of SiO2, 55 to 75% of a total of La2O3, Gd2O3, Y2O3 and Yb2O3, the content of La2O3 being 15 to 55%, the mass ratio of the content of Gd2O3 to the total content of La2O3, Gd2O3, Y2O3 and Yb2O3, Gd2O3/La2O3+Gd2O3+Y2O3+Yb2O3), being 0.17 to 0.65, 0 to 13% of Ta2O5 (exclusive of 13%), and 0 to 25% of a total of Nb2O5, TiO2, WO3 and ZrO2, the content of Nb2O5 being less than 10%, and having a refractive index nd of 1.83 to 1.92 and an Abbe's number νd of 36 to 45.
US08859441B2
The present invention provides a system and method for manufacturing a semiconductor device including a substrate and a high-κ dielectric layer on the substrate. The system comprises a modular track; a substrate-forming chamber connected with the modular track for forming the substrate; and an atomic layer deposition (ALD) chamber connected with the modular track for providing the high-κ dielectric layer.
US08859424B2
A system and method for a semiconductor wafer carrier is disclosed. An embodiment comprises a semiconductor wafer carrier wherein conductive dopants are implanted into the carrier in order to amplify the coulombic forces between an electrostatic chuck and the carrier to compensate for reduced forces that result from thinner semiconductor wafers. Another embodiment forms conductive layers and vias within the carrier instead of implanting conductive dopants.
US08859419B2
One illustrative method disclosed herein includes forming a trench/via in a layer of insulating material, forming a barrier layer in the trench/via, forming a copper-based seed layer on the barrier layer, converting at least a portion of the copper-based seed layer into a copper-based nitride layer, depositing a bulk copper-based material on the copper-based nitride layer so as to overfill the trench/via and performing at least one chemical mechanical polishing process to remove excess materials positioned outside of the trench/via to thereby define a copper-based conductive structure. A device disclosed herein includes a layer of insulating material, a copper-based conductive structure positioned in a trench/via within the layer of insulating material and a copper-based silicon or germanium nitride layer positioned between the copper-based conductive structure and the layer of insulating material.
US08859415B2
A method of forming wiring of a semiconductor device includes: forming an insulating resin on a main surface of a substrate such that an opening portion defining a wiring pattern is provided in the insulating resin; forming a first wiring layer made of a first metal on a bottom surface and side surfaces of the opening portion surrounding and a surface of the insulating resin opposite to the main surface of the substrate, the first wiring layer having a bottom portion formed on the bottom surface of the opening portion and side portions formed on the side surfaces, the bottom portion having a thickness greater than a thickness of at least one of the side portions; and cutting the insulating resin and the first wiring layer such that the insulating resin and the first wiring layer are exposed.
US08859403B2
Systems, methods, and products of processes consistent with the innovations herein relate to aspects involving crystallization of layers on substrates. In one exemplary implementation, there is provided a method of fabricating a device. Moreover, such method may include placing an amorphous/poly material on a substrate and heating the material via a sub-melt laser anneal process to transform the material into crystalline form.
US08859400B2
Semiconductor structures comprising a III-nitride (e.g., gallium nitride) material region and methods associated with such structures are provided. In some embodiments, the structures include an electrically conductive material (e.g., gold) separated from certain other region(s) of the structure (e.g., a silicon substrate) by a barrier material in order to limit, or prevent, undesirable reactions between the electrically conductive material and the other component(s) which can impair device performance. In certain embodiments, the electrically conductive material may be formed in a via. For example, the via can extend from a topside of the device to a backside so that the electrically conductive material connects a topside contact to a backside contact. The structures described herein may form the basis of a number of semiconductor devices including transistors (e.g., FET), Schottky diodes, light-emitting diodes and laser diodes, amongst others.
US08859394B2
A method of fabricating a composite semiconductor structure includes providing an SOI substrate including a plurality of silicon-based devices, providing a compound semiconductor substrate including a plurality of photonic devices, and dicing the compound semiconductor substrate to provide a plurality of photonic dies. Each die includes one or more of the plurality of photonics devices. The method also includes providing an assembly substrate having a base layer and a device layer including a plurality of CMOS devices, mounting the plurality of photonic dies on predetermined portions of the assembly substrate, and aligning the SOI substrate and the assembly substrate. The method further includes joining the SOI substrate and the assembly substrate to form a composite substrate structure and removing at least the base layer of the assembly substrate from the composite substrate structure.
US08859393B2
Methods and systems are disclosed for performing a passivation process on a silicon-on-insulator wafer in a chamber in which the wafer is cleaved. A bonded wafer pair is cleaved within the chamber to form the silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer. A cleaved surface of the SOI wafer is then passivated in-situ by exposing the cleaved surface to a passivating substance. This exposure to a passivating substance results in the formation of a thin layer of oxide on the cleaved surface. The silicon-on-insulator wafer is then removed from the chamber. In other embodiments, the silicon-on-insulator wafer is first transferred to an adjoining chamber where the wafer is then passivated. The wafer is transferred to the adjoining chamber without exposing the wafer to the atmosphere outside the chambers.
US08859390B2
A structure to prevent propagation of a crack into the active region of a 3D integrated circuit, such as a crack initiated by a flaw at the periphery of a thinned substrate layer or a bonding layer, and methods of forming the same is disclosed.
US08859384B1
Methods for forming inductors. The methods include forming sidewalls around a mandrel over a conductor layer; removing material from the conductor layer around a region defined by the sidewalls; removing the mandrel; partially etching the conductor layer in a region between the sidewalls; etching the partially etched conductor layer to form separate metal segments; depositing a dielectric material in and around the metal segments; and forming conductive lines between exposed contacts of adjacent metal segments.
US08859383B2
A semiconductor device having a dielectric layer with improved electrical characteristics and associated methods, the semiconductor device including a lower metal layer, a dielectric layer, and an upper metal layer sequentially disposed on a semiconductor substrate and an insertion layer disposed between the dielectric layer and at least one of the lower metal layer and the upper metal layer, wherein the dielectric layer includes a metal oxide film and the insertion layer includes a metallic material film.
US08859382B2
Some embodiments include methods of forming memory cells. Metal oxide may be deposited over a first electrode, with the deposited metal oxide having a relatively low degree of crystallinity. The degree of crystallinity within the metal oxide may be increased after the deposition of the metal oxide. A dielectric material may be formed over the metal oxide, and a second electrode may be formed over the dielectric material. The degree of crystallinity may be increased with a thermal treatment. The thermal treatment may be conducted before, during, and/or after formation of the dielectric material.
US08859378B2
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method for manufacturing a Fin Field-Effect Transistor. When a fin is formed, a dummy gate across the fin is formed on the fin, a spacer is formed on sidewalls of the dummy gate, and a cover layer is formed on the first dielectric layer and on the fin outside the dummy gate and the spacer; then, an self-aligned and elevated source/drain region is formed at both sides of the dummy gate by the spacer, wherein the upper surfaces of the gate and the source/drain region are in the same plane. The upper surfaces of the gate and the source/drain region are in the same plane, making alignment of the contact plug easier; and the gate and the source/drain region are separated by the spacer, thereby improving alignment accuracy, solving inaccurate alignment of the contact plug, and improving device AC performance.
US08859374B1
Semiconductor devices including non-volatile memory transistors and methods of fabricating the same to improve performance thereof are provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises: (i) forming an oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO) dielectric stack on a surface of a semiconductor substrate in at least a first region in which a non-volatile memory transistor is to be formed, the ONO dielectric stack including a multi-layer charge storage layer; (ii) forming an oxide layer on the surface of the substrate in a second region in which a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) logic transistor is to be formed; and (iii) forming a high work function gate electrode on a surface of the ONO dielectric stack. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US08859371B2
Methods for manufacturing a semiconductor device having a dual gate dielectric layer may include providing a substrate including first and second regions, forming a first gate dielectric layer having a first thickness on the substrate, forming an interlayer insulating layer including first and second trenches exposing the first gate dielectric layer in the first and second regions, forming a sacrificial layer on the interlayer insulating layer and bottoms of the first and second trenches, forming a sacrificial pattern exposing the first gate dielectric layer of the bottom of the first trench, removing the first gate dielectric layer of the bottom of the first trench, forming a second gate dielectric layer having a second thickness on the bottom of the first trench, removing the sacrificial pattern, and forming a gate electrode on each of the first and second gate dielectric layers.
US08859368B2
Approaches are provided for forming a semiconductor device (e.g., a FET) having a multi-function layer (e.g., niobium carbide (NbC)) that serves as a work function layer and a gate metal layer in gate stacks of solid state applications. By introducing a single layer with multiple functions, total number of layers that needs processing (e.g., recessing) may be decreased. As such, the complexity of device integration and resulting complications may be reduced.
US08859346B2
A method for manufacturing array substrate with embedded photovoltaic cell includes: providing a substrate; forming a buffer layer on the substrate; forming an amorphous silicon layer on the buffer layer; converting the amorphous silicon layer into a polysilicon layer; forming a pattern on the polysilicon layer; forming a first photoresist pattern on the polysilicon layer and injecting N+ ions; forming a gate insulation layer on the polysilicon layer; forming a second photoresist pattern on the gate insulation layer and injecting N− ions; forming a third photoresist pattern on the gate insulation layer and injecting P+ ions; forming a metal layer on the gate insulation layer so as to form a gate terminal; forming a hydrogenated insulation layer on the metal layer; forming a first ditch in the first insulation layer; and forming a second metal layer on the first insulation layer.
US08859345B2
A III-nitride heterojunction power semiconductor device having a barrier layer that includes a region of reduced nitrogen content.
US08859341B2
A semiconductor chip which is mounted on a wiring substrate and which is electrically connected to the wiring substrate is disposed in a sealing apparatus. A sealing resin material made of a thermosetting resin composition is supplied into the sealing apparatus. The sealing resin material contains a solid foreign matter having a cured product of a thermosetting resin, and includes particulates of the thermosetting resin composition pulverized with the solid foreign matter, a granulation powder of the particulates, or a preform of the particulates. The semiconductor chip is resin sealed by using the sealing resin material.
US08859337B2
Embodiments described herein provide a chip, comprising a first device on a substrate and a second device on the substrate. The chip further comprises a heat distribution structure in thermal proximity to the first device and the second device, wherein the heat distribution structure is thermally isolated and reduces a thermal gradient between the first device and the second device.
US08859334B2
An electronic device manufacturing method includes a cutting step at which a wafer is cut to obtain chips before pattern formation and a polishing step at which cut surfaces of the obtained chips are subjected in one batch to barrel polishing. The method further includes an aligning step at which the polished chips are aligned so that front surfaces thereof face in an upward direction. The method further includes a bonding step at which the cut surfaces of the aligned chips are bonded together with an adhesive to thereby form a chip assembly. The method further includes a pattern forming step at which a circuit pattern is formed on each of the chips of the chip assembly and a melting step at which the adhesive on the chip assembly is melted to thereby separate the chip assembly into chips after pattern formation.
US08859331B2
Methods of forming an oxide material layer are provided. The method includes mixing a precursor material with a peroxide material to form a precursor solution, coating the precursor solution on a substrate, and baking the coated precursor solution.
US08859330B2
A semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor, which has stable electric characteristics and high reliability, is provided. In a method for manufacturing a transistor including an oxide semiconductor film, an implantation step where rare gas ions are implanted to the oxide semiconductor film is performed, and the oxide semiconductor film to which rare gas ions are implanted is subjected to a heating step under reduced pressure, in a nitrogen atmosphere, or in a rare gas atmosphere, whereby hydrogen or water contained in the oxide semiconductor film to which rare gas ions are implanted is released; thus, the oxide semiconductor film is highly purified.
US08859322B2
The present invention relates to cost effective production methods of high efficiency silicon based back-contacted back-junction solar panels and solar panels thereof having a multiplicity of alternating rectangular emitter- and base regions on the back-side of each cell, each with rectangular metallic electric finger conductor above and running in parallel with the corresponding emitter- and base region, a first insulation layer in-between the wafer and finger conductors, and a second insulation layer in between the finger conductors and cell interconnections.
US08859321B2
Fabrication of a tandem photovoltaic device includes forming a bottom cell having an N-type layer, a P-type layer and a bottom intrinsic layer therebetween. A top cell is formed relative to the bottom cell. The top cell has an N-type layer, a P-type layer and a top intrinsic layer therebetween. The top intrinsic layer is formed of an undoped material deposited at a temperature that is different from the bottom intrinsic layer such that band gap energies for the top intrinsic layer and the bottom intrinsic layer are progressively lower for each cell.
US08859307B2
According to an embodiment, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes a placement step and a bonding step. The placement step faces a semiconductor active portion toward a support substrate portion via a bonding portion disposed between the semiconductor active portion and the support substrate portion. The bonding portion includes a bonding layer and a light absorption layer, absorptance of the light absorption layer for laser light being higher than or equal to absorptance of the bonding layer for the laser light. The bonding step bonds the semiconductor active portion and the support substrate portion by irradiating the light absorption layer with the laser light through the support substrate portion and melting the bonding layer by thermal conduction from the light absorption layer heated by the laser light.
US08859296B2
A separation module operates to fractionate or separate an analyte into fractions according to pI, i.e., pI bands, utilizing capillary isoelectric focusing (“CIEF”) within a first microchannel. The fractions are stacked to form plugs, the number of which is determined by a number of parallel second microchannels integrally connected to the first microchannel, into which the fractions are directed according to the buffer characteristics found in each of the individual microchannels. Within the microchannels the plugs are separated into proteins according to a different chemical property, i.e., “m/z,” utilizing capillary electrophoresis (“CE”).
US08859292B2
A sensor chip is configured to measure the temperature of a blood sample and includes a capillary section and an electrode unit. The capillary section allows the blood sample to be introduced therein. The electrode unit is configured to measure the temperature of the blood sample and includes a working electrode and a counter electrode. The working electrode and the counter electrode respectively include a reaction reagent layer containing an electrolyte. Further, the electrode unit is configured to receive a predetermined voltage to be applied in measuring the temperature of the blood sample for allowing a result of the measurement to be less affected by increase and reduction in a glucose concentration and the like.
US08859291B2
The invention provides methods for isolating a target molecule from a sample. In an embodiment, the method involves contacting a sample with a capture agent, the agent comprising a siderophore and a transition metal cation, under conditions wherein the agent is capable of binding a target molecule to form a target molecule-capture agent complex, wherein the target molecule is selected from the group consisting of a phosphorylated molecule, a nitrotyrosine-containing molecule and a sulfated molecule, and separating the target molecule-capture agent complex from the sample, thereby isolating the target molecule from the sample. Also provided are methods for determining the presence of a target molecule in a sample, that involve contacting a sample with a capture agent, the agent comprising a siderophore and a transition metal cation.
US08859287B2
The present invention includes the use of a nucleic acid sequence encoding an shRNA to target RNA interference against a cellular factor where such use can enhance oncolytic adenovius replication. The nucleic acid sequence encoding an shRNA can be introduced into an oncolytic adenovius construct via a recombination event, and such nucleic acid sequence encoding an shRNA can reside in either the E1 region or Fiber region of the oncolytic adenovius construct. In particular, the oncolytic adenovius construct optionally include a prostate specific promoter or prostate specific enhancer for issue specific expression in prostate cancer cells. The oncolytic adenovius constructs of the invention provides utility for the treatment of cancers, in particular prostate cancer.
US08859282B2
Maintenance of quiescent hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC) in culture without the addition of exogenous growth factors is an important aspect in clinical hematology. A recent report described the ability of Flt3 receptor-interacting lectin (FRIL) in the maintenance of cord blood (CB) derived progenitors in vitro. Since FRIL is a mannose binding lectin, the effectiveness of four such lectins of well-characterized specificities on the preservation of HSPC of CB origin have been examined. The HSPC preservation activity of lectins was assessed by in vitro colony forming unit (CFU) and long-term culture initiating cell (LTC-IC) assays. It was found that all four lectins had a HSPC preservation activity at least up to 30 days in culture without addition of exogenous growth factors. The results indicate that use of such lectins may provide a cost effective method of HSPC maintenance for clinical use.
US08859280B2
A composition and method for in vitro fertilization is provided which uses culture media comprising elevated concentrations of lipoic acid. More specifically, the invention provides culture media for developmental cells having a lipoic acid concentration of 5 μM to 40 μM. Culture media that include lipoic acid at concentrations within the identified range are able to provide blastocysts with increased survival, increased cell numbers, increased inner cell masses and/or increased percentage of the total mass made up by the inner cell compared to blastocysts cultured in a control medium.
US08859277B2
Lambda phages that can be used to introduce recombineering functions into host cells are disclosed. Also disclosed are plasmids that can be used to confer recombineering functions to a variety of strains of E. coli and to other bacteria, including Salmonella, Pseudomonas, Cyanobacteria, Spirochaetes. These plasmids and phages can be isolated in vitro and can be used to transform bacterial cells, such as gram negative bacteria.
US08859276B2
The invention relates to recombinant novirhabdoviruses having at least one sequence encoding a polypeptide of interest added to their genome. Said recombinant novirhabdoviruses are useful as gene vectors, for producing recombinant proteins, or for producing vaccines for fish or for higher vertebrates.
US08859275B2
The invention relates to nucleic acid modifications for a directed expression modulation by the targeted insertion or removal of CpG dinucleotides. The invention also relates to modified nucleic acids and expression vectors.
US08859245B2
A lactic acid component (e.g., lactic acid or oligo (lactic acid)) can be obtained by extraction from a lactic acid fermentation liquor with a pH of 4.8 or less, using at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of toluene, xylene, mesitylene, ethylbenzene, methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, and mineral spirit. Furthermore, oligo (lactic acid) can be obtained, by heating a lactic acid fermentation liquor with a pH of 4.8 or less under reduced pressure, and washing, with water, the fermentation liquor containing a produced oligo (lactic acid). Hence, a method is provided for separating a lactic acid component from a lactic acid fermentation liquor, which is free from incorporation of impurities and which includes simple steps.
US08859244B2
The present invention relates to a method of microbial production of L-lysine from methanol and other substrates, and particularly improving the production of L-lysine from such substrates. The invention concerns a method for producing L-lysine in B. methanolicus, said method comprising overexpressing an aspartate kinase III (AKIII) enzyme in said B. methanolicus. In particular the method may concern introducing a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding an AKIII enzyme into a B. methanolicus. The invention also relates to a B. methanolicus micro-organism which overexpresses an AKIII enzyme, nucleic acid molecules which encode polypeptides having AK activity, polypeptides which have AK activity and host cells and vector systems comprising the nucleic acid molecules or vector.
US08859242B2
A method for producing a basic substance by fermentation comprising culturing a microorganism having an ability to produce the basic substance in a liquid medium contained in a fermentation tank to produce and accumulate the basic substance in the medium, wherein amount of sulfate and/or chloride ions used as counter ions of the basic substance is reduced by adjusting total ammonia concentration in the medium to be within a specific concentration range during at least a part of the total period of culture process.
US08859240B2
The present invention relates to the development of viral vectors expressing different immunogens from the West Nile Encephalitis Virus (WNV) or the Dengue virus which are able to induce protective humoral and cellular immune responses against WNV or Dengue virus infections. More specifically, the present invention relates to three (3) antigens from WNV (the secreted envelope glycoprotein (E), the heterodimer glycoproteins (pre-M-E) and the NSI protein) and from Dengue virus (the secreted envelope glycoprotein (e), the heterodimer glycoproteins (pre-m-e) and the nsl protein) and their use in vaccinal, therapeutic and diagnostic applications.
US08859238B2
The present invention provides a method that combines the construction of double-stranded target amplification products with one or two single-stranded overhangs with improved production of such target amplification products. The single-stranded overhang(s) can be used for post-amplification capture and subsequent detection/manipulation. The single-stranded overhang(s) enable capture/detection/manipulation without interference from the complementary strand in the double-stranded target amplification product.
US08859225B2
Systems and methods are provided for optically measuring ion concentrations in biological samples. The systems and methods employ polymer-based optical ion sensors that include ion-selective ionophores and a pH sensitive chromionophore. Electrodes are providing for electrically stimulating the biological samples.
US08859223B1
Molecular probes are provided for use in fluorescence microscopy procedures for monitoring beta-secretase enzyme (BACE) activity in living cells and organisms. The probes may be useful for monitoring Alzheimer's Disease-associated BACE in living cells. By fluorescing when hydrolyzed by BACE, the probes can allow for real-time spatial and temporal assessment of enzymatic activity without the need for mutated cell lines or antibodies. The molecular probes may also be used to screen libraries of potential BACE inhibitors or evaluate how external stimuli affect BACE activity.
US08859220B2
A method and kit are provided for enhancing the tolerance of an assay reagent to compounds in an assay sample, the assay reagent including a luciferase enzyme. The method includes contacting the luciferase with a tolerance enhancement agent in an amount sufficient to substantially protect luciferase enzyme activity from interference of the compound and minimize interference by at least about 10% relative to an assay not having tolerance enhancement agent.
US08859219B2
The invention provides a method of treating a polyvinyl difluoride (PVDF) membrane comprising: (a) contacting said membrane with an alcohol and a wetting agent; and (b) drying said membrane.
US08859216B2
Provided is a method for noninvasive prediction or diagnosis of inflammation and/or infection in amniotic fluid leaked through the cervix into the vagina to predict the concentration of inflammatory markers in the amniotic fluid inside uterus by measuring the concentration of inflammatory markers (various cytokines). Further provided is a method for prediction or diagnosis of inflammation and/or infection in amniotic fluid by measuring the concentration of markers (IL-6, IL-1β IL-8, MCP-1, GRO-α) in the amniotic fluid leaked through the cervix into the vagina in patients with premature rupture of membranes. The method can be performed more stably on pregnant women, as compared to the conventional method for prediction or diagnosis of inflammation and/or infection using invasively collected amniotic fluid.
US08859212B2
Provided is a technique of extracting a component in a food from the food by using a reducing agent that is inexpensive and has a mild reducing action. A component in a food is extracted by mixing the food with an extractant containing a sulfite. In addition, the resultant food extract is brought into contact with a specific antibody that specifically recognizes a substance included in a specified ingredient of interest for inspection, to thereby inspect the presence or absence and/or the amount of a specified ingredient in a food by utilizing an immunological measurement method. Further provided is a food inspection kit for inspection of the presence or absence and/or the amount of a specified ingredient in a food, including: (1) an extractant and a sulfite to be added to the extractant, or an extractant including a sulfite added; and (2) an antibody that specifically recognizes a substance included in a specified ingredient of interest for inspection.
US08859209B2
The present invention relates to methods for harvesting of antibodies from an antibody library. The antibodies are harvested by utilizing a certain epitope that is analogous to the epitope of the antigen used for immunization but that may differ in global physical and biochemical properties allowing the production of antibodies against antigens that normally can not be utilized as immunizing agents. The present invention furthermore relate to fields of use for harvested antigens in industry, agriculture and healthcare.
US08859207B2
Pharmaceutical compositions that bind to a predicted FK506 Binding Protein 52 (FKBP52) interaction surface on the androgen receptor hormone binding domain, otherwise known as FKBP52 Targeting Agents (FTAs) are provided. These compositions of the present invention are found to specifically recognize the FKBP52 regulatory surface on the androgen receptor and inhibit FKBP52 from functionally interacting with the androgen receptor. Compositions comprising the pharmaceutical composition, as well as methods of use, treatment and screening are also provided.
US08859206B2
The identification of pre-defined mutations expected to be present in a minor fraction of a cell population is important for a variety of basic research and clinical applications. The exponential, analog nature of the polymerase chain reaction is transformed into a linear, digital signal suitable for this purpose. Single molecules can be isolated by dilution and individually amplified; each product is then separately analyzed for the presence of pre-defined mutations. The process provides a reliable and quantitative measure of the proportion of variant sequences within a DNA sample.
US08859199B2
The present invention relates to a method of ensuring the effectiveness of the extraction workup from a biological sample of nucleic acid. The inventive method is able to distinguish between possible defects in the extraction of nucleic acid from a sample and possible defects in a subsequent amplification step. The present invention also relates to a packaged array for extracting nucleic acid from a biological sample.
US08859195B2
A method of lithographically patterning a substrate that has photoresist having removal areas and non-removal areas includes first exposing at least the non-removal areas to radiation effective to increase outer surface roughness of the photoresist in the non-removal areas at least post-develop but ineffective to change photoresist solubility in a developer for the photoresist to be cleared from the non-removal areas upon develop with the developer. Second exposing of radiation to the removal areas is conducted to be effective to change photoresist solubility in the developer for the photoresist to be cleared from the removal areas upon develop with the developer. The photoresist is developed with the developer effective to clear photoresist from the removal areas and to leave photoresist in the non-removal areas that has outer surface roughness in the non-removal areas which is greater than that before the first exposing. Other implementations and embodiments are contemplated.
US08859192B2
A negative pattern forming method, includes: (i) forming a film having a film thickness of 200 nm or more from a chemical amplification resist composition containing (A) a resin capable of increasing a polarity of the resin (A) by an action of an acid to decrease a solubility of the resin (A) for a developer containing one or more organic solvents, (B) a compound capable of generating an acid upon irradiation with an actinic ray or radiation, and (C) a solvent; (ii) exposing the film, so as to form an exposed film; and (iii) developing the exposed film with a developer containing one or more organic solvents.
US08859184B2
A write-only-read-many type optical recording medium includes a substrate, an organic material layer having a light absorption function that is sufficient for recording in the recording/reproduction wavelength range, the organic material layer being situated on the substrate, and a reflection layer being situated on the organic material layer. The recording medium is configured to have a Low-to-High recording property and record with a laser having a wavelength that is no greater than 500 nm.
US08859182B2
A resist composition contains (A) a resin having a structural unit represented by the formula (I), (B) an acid generator and (D) a compound represented by the formula (II), wherein R1, ring X1, R3, R4, m, and n are defined in the specification.
US08859181B2
A chemically amplified negative resist composition is provided comprising (A) an alkali-soluble base polymer, (B) an acid generator, and (C) a nitrogen-containing compound, the base polymer (A) turning alkali insoluble under the catalysis of acid. A polymer having a fluorinated carboxylic acid onium salt on a side chain is included as the base polymer. Processing the negative resist composition by a lithography process may form a resist pattern with advantages including uniform low diffusion of acid, improved LER, and reduced substrate poisoning.
US08859175B2
The invention provides a transparent toner for developing an electrostatic latent image, including a binder resin and a release agent, the difference between the endothermic peak Tm of the release agent in a temperature increasing process and the exothermic peak Tc of the release agent in a temperature decreasing process being from about 10° C. to about 50° C., where Tm and Tc are measured with a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) according to the ASTM method.
US08859173B2
An electrophotographic photoreceptor is disclosed, in which an outermost surface layer of the electrophotographic photoreceptor is made of a cured film of a composition including a compound represented by the following Formula (M1) and a charge transporting material having a chain polymerizable functional group:
US08859165B2
A membrane electrode assembly includes a proton exchange membrane and at least one electrode. The at least one electrode includes a carbon nanotube composite structure. The carbon nanotube composite structure includes a carbon nanotube structure and a catalyst material. The carbon nanotube structure includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes and the catalyst material is dispersed on the carbon nanotubes. A fuel cell using the membrane electrode assembly is also provided.
US08859158B2
The present invention provides a hybrid fuel cell system that is configured to determine if an idle stop condition has been satisfied during a normal operation mode of the hybrid fuel cell system, cut off air supply to a fuel cell to stop power generation of the fuel cell and reduce a voltage which the fuel cell outputs in response to determining that the idle stop condition has been satisfied. The voltage of a bidirectional converter, connected between a battery and a bus terminal is reduced and the output of the fuel cell is controlled, based on a first predetermined value and maintained at that first predetermined value. Subsequently, the battery is charged via the output current of the fuel cell generated by maintaining the reduced voltage of the bidirectional converter.
US08859156B2
To provide a solid oxide fuel cell capable of extending the time period over which a minimum rated output power can be maintained while restraining the advance of fuel cell module degradation.The present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell (1), having a fuel cell module (2), a fuel supply device (38), an oxidant gas supply device (45), and a controller (110); wherein the controller is furnished with a degradation determining circuit for determining degradation (110a) and a fuel correction circuit for correcting operating condition (110b); in which the fuel correction circuit executes a correction to reduce rated output power so that the fuel supply amount is reduced when a determination is made that the fuel cell module has degraded, and when degradation of the fuel cell module advances and predetermined correction switching condition is satisfied, the fuel correction circuit corrects the fuel supply amount supplied to the fuel cell module so as to maintain the reduced rated output power.
US08859148B2
Provided is an electrode active material comprising a nickel-based lithium transition metal oxide (LiMO2) wherein the nickel-based lithium transition metal oxide contains nickel (Ni) and at least one transition metal selected from the group consisting of manganese (Mn) and cobalt (Co), wherein the content of nickel is 50% or higher, based on the total weight of transition metals, and has a layered crystal structure and an average primary diameter of 3 μm or higher, wherein the amount of Ni2+ taking the lithium site in the layered crystal structure is 5.0 atom % or less.
US08859143B2
A surface-enabled, metal ion-exchanging battery device comprising a cathode, an anode, a porous separator, and a metal ion-containing electrolyte, wherein the metal ion is selected from (A) non-Li alkali metals; (B) alkaline-earth metals; (C) transition metals; (D) other metals such as aluminum (Al); or (E) a combination thereof; and wherein at least one of the electrodes contains therein a metal ion source prior to the first charge or discharge cycle of the device and at least the cathode comprises a functional material or nano-structured material having a metal ion-capturing functional group or metal ion-storing surface in direct contact with said electrolyte, and wherein the operation of the battery device does not involve the introduction of oxygen from outside the device and does not involve the formation of a metal oxide, metal sulfide, metal selenide, metal telluride, metal hydroxide, or metal-halogen compound. This energy storage device has a power density significantly higher than that of a lithium-ion battery and an energy density dramatically higher than that of a supercapacitor.
US08859137B2
A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell module, a combustor, a fuel gas supply apparatus, an oxygen-containing gas supply apparatus, a water supply apparatus, a power converter, a control device, and a casing containing the fuel cell module, the combustor, the fuel gas supply apparatus, the oxygen-containing gas supply apparatus, the water supply apparatus, the power converter, and the control device. The casing includes a casing body having an opening in the front face and a slide door that is installed onto the casing body. When the slide door slides horizontally, the opening is opened/closed. The power converter and the control device are attached onto the slide door at upper and lower positions.
US08859136B2
A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell module, a combustor, a fuel gas supply apparatus, an oxygen-containing gas supply apparatus, a water supply apparatus, a power converter, a control device, and a casing containing the fuel cell module, the combustor, the fuel gas supply apparatus, the oxygen-containing gas supply apparatus, the water supply apparatus, the power converter, and the control device. The casing includes a casing body and an open/close door that opens/closes the casing body by rotation about a vertical axis through hinges. The power converter and the control device are attached onto the open/close door at upper and lower positions.
US08859121B2
An electricity storage device according to the present invention includes a battery module having side plates and cover members assembled to both the sides of a case member of the battery module, so that gas discharge spaces are defined into which gas is emitted from the terminals of battery cells that are stored within the case member. Projecting portions are provided to the side plates respectively, and have through-holes communicating with the gas discharge spaces. The lowermost surfaces of the through-holes of the projecting portions are positioned lower than a axe of any of the battery cells. The projecting portions are connected by a tubular rubber members.
US08859120B2
A lithium-ion battery cell includes at least two working electrodes, each including an active material, an inert material, an electrolyte and a current collector, a first separator region arranged between the at least two working electrodes to separate the at least two working electrodes so that none of the working electrodes are electronically connected within the cell, an auxiliary electrode including a lithium reservoir, and a second separator region arranged between the auxiliary electrode and the at least two working electrodes to separate the auxiliary electrode from the working electrodes so that none of the working electrodes is electronically connected to the auxiliary electrode within the cell.
US08859119B2
A heating system and a method for heating a battery module are provided. The method includes generating a temperature signal indicative of a temperature level of at least one of a first battery cell group and a second battery cell group. If a temperature level is less than the threshold temperature level, then the method further includes generating first and second control signals to induce first and second switches, respectively, to each have a first operational position to at least partially discharge the first and second battery cell groups, respectively, through first and second resistors, respectively, to generate heat energy in the first and second resistors.
US08859114B2
In one aspect, coated cutting tools are described herein which, in some embodiments, can demonstrate improved wear resistance in one or more cutting applications. In some embodiments, a coated cutting tool described herein comprises a substrate and a coating adhered to the substrate, the coating comprising an inner layer deposited by physical vapor deposition and an outer deposited by physical vapor deposition over the inner layer.
US08859105B2
A coating for a reinforcing material, such as metal rebar, that increases the adhesion between the reinforcing material and a matrix, such as a cement-based mortar or concrete, in which the reinforcing material is embedded. The coating may comprise a glass frit mixed with a refractory material, such as dry Type I-II portland cement. The coating is bonded, typically by heat, to the surface of the reinforcing material. The reaction of the refractory component, e.g., portland cement, when the reinforcement, e.g., metal re-bar, is embedded in a matrix, e.g., fresh mortar or concrete, prevents the formation of soft precipitates at the interface of the matrix and its reinforcement. One coating comprises portland cement Type I-II combined with a commercial alkali-resistant glass frit. This coating is applied to a steel rebar and fired to bond to the rebar. The frit-refractory coating produces a strong bond between the metal rebar and concrete and may eliminate or significantly reduce the potential for corrosion of the rebar.
US08859097B2
The present invention provides a compound represented by the Formula I: wherein substituents R16 and R17′ are each independently selected from an electron withdrawing group have a Hammett σp value of from 0.05 to 0.85 and R17 is hydrogen.
US08859095B2
Provided is a wire rod contains, in mass %: C: 0.6 to 1.1%; Si: 0.1 to 0.5%; Mn: 0.2 to 0.6%; S: 0.004 to 0.015%; and, Cr: 0.02 to less than 0.05%; with a balance including Fe and inevitable impurities in which P is limited to 0.02% by mass or lower and Al is limited to 0.003% by mass or lower; the wire rod has a pearlite in a surface thereof; and, the wire rod has, in a peripheral portion in a cross section thereof, a {110} crystal plane of ferrite in the pearlite, an accumulation degree of the crystal plane being 1.2 or more.
US08859094B2
A structure comprising an elastic film layer and an adhesive in contact therewith is disclosed. The elastomeric film layer may include a plasticizer and greater than 7 percent by weight of a tackifier. The elastomeric film formulation provides reduced loss of adhesion strength with the adhesive over time, providing for improvement in mechanical performance of the stretch laminate over time.
US08859085B2
Described herein is a resilient floor covering made from non-vinyl materials. Also disclosed are related methods for manufacturing the resilient floor coverings described herein.
US08859080B2
The present invention relates to a laminated glass panel including two sheets of glass connected by an adhesive interlayer, wherein in that in at least one direction, the thickness of the adhesive interlayer is sequentially increasing and decreasing or decreasing and increasing.
US08859072B2
A cut-out sintered ceramic sheet including a side surface, the entire surface of which is a fracture surface having reliefs, wherein a plastic resin film is adhered onto upper and lower surfaces of the cut-out sintered ceramic sheet.
US08859069B2
A metal sheet for encapsulating an organic light-emitting display device, the metal sheet including a main body, first and second adhesive layers respectively formed on both surfaces of the main body, and first and second releasing films that respectively protect the first and second adhesive layers by covering them. A portion of an outer line of the first adhesive layer passes an inner region of the second adhesive layer.
US08859067B2
A pearlescent container comprising about 86% to about 99.99% of a thermoplastic material having a Total Luminous Transmittance value of at least about 80%, about 0.01% to about 5% of a siloxane fluid having a viscosity of no greater than about 1,000,000 cst, wherein said thermoplastic material and said siloxane fluid are immiscible, forms a lamellar structure, and have a Refractive Index difference of at least about 0.1.
US08859066B2
A coating composition, a process for producing it and substrate coated therewith are described. The composition comprises a multimodal ethylene polymer, which contains from 80 to 99.8% by weight of ethylene repeating units and from 0.2 to 20% by weight of C3-C20 α-olefin repeating units, and is a blend of at least a first and a second ethylene polymer prepared by polymerization in the presence of a single site catalyst system.The blend has a density of 0.915-0.955 g/cm3, a melt flow rate, MFR2, of 0.028-1.5 g/10 min., a molecular weight distribution, Mw/Mn, of 3-10, and a CTL 5.0 MPa-value according to ISO 6259 of at least 500 hrs.
US08859055B2
The invention provides a method for patterning a flexible substrate. The method for patterning a flexible substrate includes providing a carrier substrate. A release layer is formed on the carrier substrate. A flexible substrate film is formed on the release layer. A plurality of UV blocking mask patterns is formed covering various portions of the flexible substrate film and the release layer. A UV lighting process is performed to expose the flexible substrate film and the release layer not covered by the UV blocking mask patterns, to a UV light. A debonding step is performed so that the various portions of the flexible substrate film directly above the various portions of the release layer, which were not exposed to the UV light, are separated from the carrier substrate.
US08859054B2
One embodiment of the present invention is a unique method for depositing materials in a substrate. Another embodiment is a unique system for depositing materials in a substrate. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for depositing materials within a substrate. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
US08859052B2
Methods of making components having calcium magnesium aluminosilicate (CMAS) mitigation capability include providing a component, applying an environmental barrier coating to the component, where the environmental barrier coating includes a CMAS mitigation composition selected from the group consisting of zinc aluminate spinel, alkaline earth zirconates, alkaline earth hafnates, rare earth gallates, beryl, and combinations thereof.
US08859050B2
A method for forming a nanoporous film pattern on a substrate comprising imparting differential surface energy to a surface of a substrate to define first areas having a first surface energy conducive to maintenance of a nanoporous film thereon and second areas having a second surface energy non-conducive to maintenance of a nanoporous film thereon, said first and second areas defining a differential surface energy pattern on the substrate; depositing a nanoporous film precursor onto the differential surface energy pattern; and curing the nanoporous film precursor to form the nanoporous film pattern.
US08859047B2
Disclosed are atomic layer deposition methods using ruthenium-containing precursors to form ruthenium-containing films for use in the manufacture of semiconductor, photovoltaic, LCD-TFT, or flat panel type devices.
US08859046B2
Substrate processing apparatus, control method adopted in substrate processing apparatus and program
A substrate processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a plurality of processing chambers, discharge systems each provided in conjunction with one of the processing chambers and a common discharge system connected with the discharge systems of at least two processing chambers among the discharge systems provided in conjunction with the individual processing chambers. The common discharge allows a switch-over between a scrubbing common discharge system that discharges discharge gas from each processing chamber after scrubbing the discharge gas at a scrubbing means and a non-scrubbing common discharge system that directly discharges the discharge gas from the discharge system of the processing chamber without scrubbing at the scrubbing means. In this substrate processing apparatus, switch-over control is executed to select either the scrubbing common discharge system of the non-scrubbing common discharge system in correspondence to the type of processing executed in the processing chamber.
US08859042B2
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to methods for chemical vapor deposition (CVD) processes. In one embodiment, a method for heating a substrate or a substrate susceptor within a vapor deposition reactor system includes exposing a lower surface of a substrate susceptor, such as a wafer carrier, to energy emitted from a heating lamp assembly, and heating the substrate susceptor to a predetermined temperature. The heating lamp assembly generally contains a lamp housing disposed on an upper surface of a support base and contains at least one lamp holder, a plurality of lamps extending from the lamp holder, and a reflector disposed on the upper surface of the support base, next to the lamp holder, and below the lamps. The plurality of lamps may have split filament lamps and/or non-split filament lamps for heating inner and outer portions of the substrate susceptor.
US08859039B2
In a viscous liquid feed nozzle having a nozzle body provided with a thin and long hole with a front end serving as a feed port, a lubricative plated layer is provided by immersing the liquid feed nozzle in a plating tank containing a lubricative plating solution and forming, by electroless plating, the lubricative plated layer at least on the inside and outside of the feed port.
US08859038B2
Provided is a method for monitoring corrosion in a power plant, including: forming a film with a composition of M1FeO3 (M1 is a trivalent or tetravalent metal) or M2Fe2O4 (M2 is a divalent metal) on the inner wall surface of an apparatus of the power plant; and maintaining the film stably by controlling the amount of introduction of oxygen into the apparatus commensurate with a temperature in the apparatus.
US08859037B2
Methods are disclosed herein to fabricate high-strength ceramic matrix composite (CMC) structures by combining, in one example, pre-impregnated (prepreg) material with a pre-ceramic polymer. The prepreg is processed to a first density, and the densification is completed with repeated polymer infiltration and pyrolysis (PIP) cycles of the pre-ceramic polymer to fabricate a CMC structure. Advantageously, the present invention allows for fabrication of ceramic matrix composites more efficiently and to a larger scale than previously available.
US08859035B1
A method of enhancing the flowability of a powder. The powder is defined by a plurality of particles having an initial level of inter-particle forces between each particle. The method comprises: treating the powder, wherein the level of inter-particle forces between each particle is substantially decreased from the initial level; fluidizing the treated powder; flowing the treated powder into a plasma arc chamber; the plasma arc chamber generating a plasma arc; and the plasma arc chamber operating on the treated powder using the generated plasma arc. Preferably, the inter-particle forces are decreased by coating the particles with an organic surfactant.
US08859034B2
A method for forming a mold comprises forming a body by kneading a ceramic powder comprising a silicon nitride powder and a first binder solution; forming a slurry by adding a second binder solution to the body; and forming a release layer by attaching the slurry to a surface of a mold base. A method for manufacturing a solar cell element comprises forming a silicon ingot by solidifying a silicon melt in the mold obtained by the above-described method for forming a mold; slicing the silicon ingot into substrates each having a predetermined thickness; forming a diffusion layer on each of the substrates; and forming an electrode on a surface of the diffusion layer.
US08859031B2
A method of coating a medical prosthesis includes identifying coating points on the surface of the medical prosthesis and determining a coating pathway along which an applicator travels while coating the medical prosthesis. In some embodiments, the coating pathway minimizes the rotational movement of the medical prosthesis during the coating process. In other embodiments, the coating pathway minimizes the amount of time needed for the coating process.
US08859029B2
The invention relates to a kit of parts comprising 2 to 100 containers each containing an infant formula, wherein each infant formula is in a form suitable for administration to an infant and/or toddler or in a form suitable for administration to an infant and/or toddler after admixing with an aqueous liquid, wherein the kit of part comprises at least two different infant formulas which differ from each other in taste and/or flavor by having a different protein fraction or by being a fermented infant formula, wherein each of the different protein fractions is selected from the group consisting of intact milk proteins including cow milk proteins, intact plant proteins including soy protein, hydrolysed proteins, free amino acids, or mixtures of two or more thereof. The invention further relates to the use of such kit of parts for stimulating the acceptance and/or liking of a broad range of fruits, vegetables and/or whole grain cereal products by infants and/or toddlers or later in life. In another aspect, the invention relates to such kit of parts for increasing familiarization with multiple tastes and/or flavors and/or for reducing the risk of food refusal and/or other eating difficulties. In a further aspect the invention relates to such kit of parts for the prevention of obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure and cancer at an age of above 36 months.
US08859024B2
A container has first and second sections with an opening into hollow interiors. They mate together to form a sealed enclosure, and to form a ridge having a cross-sectionally curved outer surface. An appendage is connected to the ridge including an aperture for receiving a hook. A coating of edible material is on the outer surface of at least a portion of at least one of the first and second sections. An external flange extends around the periphery of the opening of the first section, an internal flange extends around the periphery of the opening of the second section, wherein the internal flange is sized to contact and fit inside the external flange during mating. An aperture passes through the internal flange, wherein mating the first and second sections causes the external flange to cover and seal the internal flange aperture.
US08859022B2
The present invention relates to an antihypertensive agent including a boysenberry seed extract as an active ingredient. According to the invention, there can be provided an effective and highly safe antihypertensive agent having antihypertensive effect so that the agent can contribute to the prevention and amelioration of hypertension and having very little risk of side effects even in continuous intake, and a method for producing the antihypertensive agent at low cost and efficiently.
US08859007B2
An improved composition for inducing bone growth is provided that is a mixture of DBM and a perfluorocarbon oxygen carrier. Injection/implantation of a composition of DBM and a perfluorocarbon results in enhancement of bone formation.
US08859001B2
Formulations of fenoldopam are disclosed for repeated administration or continued slow release administration, over prolonged periods of time or targeted slow and regulated delivery. The formulations include those formulations that increase the bioavailability of fenoldopam after oral intake, particularly lipid based nano dispersions and pronanodispersions and surfactant rich formulations. This may be accomplished by entrapment in nanoparticles or liposomal formulations or conjugation to a polymer or small molecule via a soft bond.
US08858996B2
The present invention is directed to drug dosage forms that release an agent that raises the pH of a patient's gastrointestinal tract, followed by a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. The dosage form is designed so that the NSAID is not released until the intragastric pH has been raised to a safe level. The invention also encompasses methods of treating patients by administering this coordinated release, gastroprotective, antiarthritic/analgesic combination unit dosage form to achieve pain and symptom relief with a reduced risk of developing gastrointestinal damage such as ulcers, erosions and hemorrhages.
US08858989B2
The present invention relates to improved methods of formulations of hydrophobic photosensitizers, and their precursors, for mucosal administration. The formulation of the invention comprises of hydrophobic photosensitizers which have been incorporated into suitably sized liposomes. Additionally, these formulations include the incorporation of PS-loaded liposomes into a copolymer matrix. The liposome of the present invention allows the hydrophobic photosensitizers to be incorporated into the thermogel matrix and thus promoting intimate contact between the formulation and the mucosal layer for enhanced drug absorption.
US08858979B1
A composite material including ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene in conjunction with a biologically active agent is described. The biologically active agent can be, for example, an anti-osteolytic agent such as a bisphosphonate. The composite material can be utilized in forming implants such as total joint replacement implants. The biologically active agent can be released from the composite material either from the bulk or from wear particles released from the surface of the implant component during use. Upon release, the biologically active agent can carry out the intended function of the agent.
US08858978B2
A method of curing and corresponding resulting non-polymeric cross-linked gel are provided. The cross-linked gel can be combined with a medical device structure. The cross-linked gel can provide anti-adhesion characteristics, in addition to improved healing and anti-inflammatory response. The cross-linked gel is generally formed of a naturally occurring oil, or an oil composition formed in part of a naturally occurring oil, that is at least partially cured forming a cross-linked gel derived from at least one fatty acid compound. In addition, the oil composition can include a therapeutic agent component, such as a drug or other bioactive agent. The curing method can vary the application of heat in both temperature and duration to achieve a desired amount of cross-linking forming the gel.
US08858974B2
Described here are paranasal sinus devices for treating paranasal sinus conditions. The devices include a cavity member, ostial member, and nasal portion. One or more of the cavity member, ostial member, and nasal portion may deliver an active agent for sustained release to treat the paranasal sinus condition. Exemplary paranasal sinus conditions are sinus inflammation due to functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) and rhinosinusitis.
US08858972B2
The invention relates to a medicotechnical product having an antimicrobial finish of a complex material of metal nanoparticles and macromolecules, the macromolecules being formed at least partially from a polyamino acid.
US08858946B2
GB virus C (GBV-C or hepatitis G virus) is a flavivirus that frequently leads to chronic viremia in humans. The invention provides compositions and methods involving an anti-GBV-C antibody or other GBV-C binding agent, or a GBV-C antigen, for inhibiting and treating HIV infections.
US08858944B2
The present invention provides an agent for the prophylaxis or therapy of autoimmune diseases or allergic diseases, which contains an anti-Embigin antibody, particularly an anti-Embigin antibody showing cytotoxicity or a cytotoxicity inducing activity, an agent for the prophylaxis or therapy of diseases involving Th17 cell, and a cytotoxic agent to Th17 cell. In addition, an agent for detection of Th17 cell, which contains an anti-Embigin antibody, a convenient detection method of Th17 cell, which uses the agent, a method of efficiently delivering a drug and the like in a Th17 cell selective manner, which uses an anti-Embigin antibody, and a drug delivery system to Th17 cell are provided.
US08858942B2
The present invention relates to antibodies including human antibodies and antigen-binding portions thereof that specifically bind to ErbB2, preferably human ErbB2. In another embodiment, the antibodies or antigen-binding portions thereof inhibit ErbB2. The invention also relates to antibodies that are chimeric, bispecific, derivatized, single chain antibodies or portions of fusion proteins. The invention also relates to isolated heavy and light chain immunoglobulins or portions thereof derived from human anti-ErbB2 antibodies and nucleic acid molecules encoding such immunoglobulins. The present invention also relates to methods of using the antibodies and compositions for diagnosis and treatment. The invention also provides gene therapy methods using nucleic acid molecules encoding the heavy and/or light immunoglobulin molecules that comprise the human anti-ErbB2 antibodies. The invention also relates to transgenic animals or plants comprising nucleic acid molecules of the present invention.
US08858936B2
The present invention provides methods of using Bv8 and EG-VEGF polypeptides and nucleic acids to promote hematopoiesis. Also provided herein are methods of screening for modulators of Bv8 and EG-VEGF activity. Furthermore, methods of treatment using Bv8 and EG-VEGF polypeptides or Bv8 and EG-VEGF antagonists are provided.
US08858931B2
This invention relates to the field of anticancer therapy, and to the identification of immunogenic peptides derived from the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). The present invention relates to polynucleotides encoding hTERT epitopes restricted to MHC class I molecule, analogs thereof and polyepitopes containing such epitopes and/or analogs. Are also included in the present invention, vector and cell comprising such polynucleotides. The present invention also concerns composition comprising hTERT polypeptides, corresponding polynucleotides, vectors and cells, for use in the treatment and/or prevention of cancer.
US08858929B2
A neural network is disclosed. The neural network comprises a plurality of optogenetically modified neural cells being three-dimensionally distributed in a hydrogel medium and being disconnected from any solid support having a shear modulus above 1 GPa.
US08858922B2
Disclosed is a new composition of matter that is a compound which also is presented as a dispersion with broad UVA and UVB spectral absorption stability, heat absorption, and insulation properties, anti-microbial, water resistance, and high SPF properties. The composition of matter is a zinc oxide complex that is provided with distilled water buffered to a pH of greater than 10 using ammonium hydroxide, L-arginine, or other buffering agents, and zinc oxide particles. The zinc oxide complex may be dried and rinsed to increase stability. An emollient, such as glycerine, and/or an emulsifier such as a combination of cetearyl alcohol and cetearyl glucoside and/or sodium stearoyl glutamate and/or cetearyl glucoside may also be added to the zinc oxide complex. The zinc oxide complex is made from natural-based, earth-derived, Ecocert® certified ingredients is non-toxic, and may be used or combined with any compound in which UVA/UVB stability is desired. The applications for the zinc oxide complex are numerous and include; roofing materials, composite building materials, automobile and aircraft parts, textiles, wire and cable insulation, use in conductor and semi-conductor technologies, as well as for sunscreens and cosmetics.
US08858912B2
Certain embodiments disclosed herein relate to compositions, methods, devices, systems, and products regarding frozen particles. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles include materials at low temperatures. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles provide vehicles for delivery of particular agents. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles are administered to at least one biological tissue.
US08858908B2
A method of producing an n-type group III nitride single crystal includes putting raw materials that include at least a substance including a group III element, an alkali metal, and boron oxide into a reaction vessel; melting the boron oxide by heating the reaction vessel to a melting point of the boron oxide; forming a mixed melt which includes the group III element, the alkali metal, and the boron oxide, in the reaction vessel by heating the reaction vessel to a crystal growth temperature of a group III nitride; dissolving nitrogen into the mixed melt by bringing a nitrogen-containing gas into contact with the mixed melt; and growing an n-type group III nitride single crystal, which is doped with oxygen as a donor, from the group III element, the nitrogen, and oxygen in the boron oxide that are dissolved in the mixed melt.
US08858898B2
The present invention provides a pipette tip member with improved seal.
US08858889B2
A contaminate control device for filtering contaminates from a gas such as air is provided. The device includes a housing having a first inlet and a first outlet. An axial flow filter is fluidly coupled between the first inlet and the first outlet, the axial flow filter has a second inlet and a second outlet. A second filter disposed about the axial flow filter and is fluidly coupled between the first inlet and the first outlet, the second filter having a third inlet on an inner diameter and a third outlet disposed on an outer diameter. A flow restrictor is fluidly coupled between the second inlet and the first inlet.
US08858882B2
There is provided a data processing method that reduces influences of air bubbles and dirt while maintaining changes in light amounts. Two scattering light photoreceivers are disposed in the forward direction. A photoreceiver 33a closer to the optical axis is taken to be a main angle photoreceiver, and a photoreceiver 33b further from the optical axis is taken to be a sub-angle photoreceiver. Noise is estimated based on the reaction process data of the sub-angle photoreceiver, and noise is reduced by subtracting the estimated noise from the reaction process data of the main angle photoreceiver.
US08858880B2
Treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning of a body by removal of a portion of the blood from the body, placing the portion in an exposure cell, exposing the portion in the cell to light of wave length and intensity that causes dissociation of carbon monoxide from hemoglobin, and returning the portion to the body. The intensity and wave length of the light is sufficient to dissociate a therapeutically-effective amount of carbon monoxide from the hemoglobin in the blood. The blood is circulated from and to the body through a concentric double lumen cannula. The wave lengths of the light are 540 and/or 570 nanometers. The cell exposes the blood to at least 9.5 Joules of dissociative light per milliliter of blood, and least 9.5 Watts of dissociative light per milliliter of blood per second. Oxygen is provided to, and the dissociated carbon monoxide is removed from the system.
US08858877B2
This invention provides sputtering target materials having high reflectance and excellent heat resistance, which are formed of Ag base alloys formed by adding a specific, minor amount of P to Ag and alloying them.
US08858864B2
The nozzle member of a fluid nozzle includes at least one through hole that is parallel to a center axis, wherein a diameter dimension of the through hole is 10 μm to 100 μm, a length-to-diameter ratio (L/D) of the through hole is 5 or above, and the nozzle member is formed of ceramics having relative density of 95% or above. The nozzle member including a plurality of minute through holes is manufactured by performing extrusion or cast molding in such a way that a molded body includes a filament of synthetic resin, carbon, or metal in a direction of the center axis of the molded body, and then defatting/sintering the molded body after removing the filament or, when the filament is formed of synthetic resin or carbon, defatting/sintering the molded body under oxidizing atmosphere to evaporate and remove the filament without removing the filament from the molded body.
US08858861B2
A method for forming an overmolded container by covering a hollow inner bottle made of resin with an injection of a molten resin which forms an outer. The method comprises steps of setting the inner bottle in a mold with a space therebetween for forming the outer and circulating a pressurized gas into and out of a hollow space of the inner bottle through an upper opening thereof. The pressurized gas is supplied through a first path which opens toward an inner wall of the inner bottle and discharged out of the inner bottle through a second path. The pressurized gas supplied into and discharged out of the inner bottle is adjusted in pressure while the molten resin is being injected to the mold.
US08858859B2
Disclosed are an apparatus and method for fabricating a flat panel display device to realize easy separation of a substrate from an imprinting mold. The apparatus includes an imprinting mold connected to a substrate to form a thin film pattern on the substrate, a first adsorption pad to vacuum-adsorb the center of the imprinting mold, a second adsorption pad to vacuum-adsorb the periphery of the imprinting mold, and a connector connected to vacuum pins to vertically move in different regions of the first and second adsorption pads.
US08858857B2
A method of fabricating a composite vessel encompassing rapid manufacturing that is applicable to composite hydrogen and other gas storage tanks, both for high-pressure cylinders, as well as low-pressure conformal tanks. The process of fabrication includes using a liner, of metal or plastic materials, over which a braided or developed preform is wrapped. The dry fiber wrapped liner is placed in a mold and resin injected into the cavity formed between the liner and the mold outer walls. The liner is flooded with heated and/or cooled pressurized fluid thus enabling complete and independent process control from within the liner for both the resin injection and the cure phases. Fiber placement control is determined through combined biaxial and triaxial braid/preform design, and by wrapping at controlled tension onto the supporting liner. Fiber tension control is further enhanced by the methodology of mold loading whereby tensioning forces are enacted during actual load and close. The process may use thermoset or thermoplastic resins and any of a variety of fibrous reinforcements such as carbon, boron, glass, natural, aramid or other fibers.
US08858853B2
A method and apparatus for manufacturing a tool for creating composite components. A sheet metal material is secured over a forming tool in an incremental sheet metal forming machine. The sheet metal material is incrementally shaped with a stylus to form a shape for the tool. The tool is removed from the incremental sheet metal forming machine when the shape for the tool is complete. Composite materials on the tool are laid up, wherein the shape of the tool provides a desired shape for a composite component.
US08858852B2
A compound plant for processing elastomeric compounds for tires with both a high quality and a high throughput includes at least one batch mixing device in combination with at least one multi-shaft continuous mixing device having a high number of shafts. For example, the multi-shaft continuous mixing device could be a ring extruder having a plurality of co-rotating screws disposed to form a ring. In operation, a first elastomeric compound is discharged from the at least one batch mixing device and processed with the at least one multi-shaft continuous mixing device to obtain a second elastomeric compound.
US08858848B2
A conductive plastic article (31) is disclosed suited for a housing that offers improved shielding against electromagnetic interference or that offers improved electrostatic discharge properties. The plastic article is made by means of low pressure injection molding. The article (31) comprises at least 0.25 volume percent of electrically conductive additives (38). The article (31) comprises a cellular structure. The cellular structure is created by the use of a blowing or foaming agent. At least 0.25 weight percent of blowing or foaming agent is used in the production of the conductive plastic article (31).
US08858841B2
An aluminum paste composition is provided, which comprises: (a) an aluminum powder, (b) a glass grit, (c) a binder, and (d) a dispersing agent. A solar cell element is further provided, which includes an electrode or wire formed by coating the aluminum paste composition on a silicon semiconductor substrate and drying and sintering it. The dispersing agent contained in the aluminum paste composition of the present invention has good moisture resistance and is capable of effectively addressing the warping problem of a solar cell and improving the adhesion between the backside aluminum paste and the silver paste of the solar cell.
US08858835B2
The embodiment provides a red light-emitting fluorescent substance represented by the following formula (1): (M1-xECx)aM1bAlOcNd (1). In the formula (1), M is an element selected from the group consisting of IA group elements, IIA group elements, IIIA group elements, IIIB group elements, rare earth elements and IVA group elements; EC is an element selected from the group consisting of Eu, Ce, Mn, Tb, Yb, Dy, Sm, Tm, Pr, Nd, Pm, Ho, Er, Cr, Sn, Cu, Zn, As, Ag, Cd, Sb, Au, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi and Fe; M1 is different from M and is selected from the group consisting of tetravalent elements; and x, a, b, c and d are numbers satisfying the conditions of 0
US08858833B2
The invention is directed to a process of combining an aqueous solution of a fluoride with an aqueous solution of a host multi-valent metal salt and an aqueous solution of a salt forming a reactant mixture resulting in a precipitate of aqueously insoluble rare-earth doped multi-valent metal fluoride nanoparticles.
US08858832B2
The invention is directed to quantum dot nanoparticles and methods of preparation. Using regioselective dendritic functionalized cellulose, quantum dots may be embedded in the modified cellulosic material. The quantum dot nanoparticles provide use for biotechnology or biomedicinal applications. Photooptical properties and morphology for use in as well as its biocompatibility were investigated.
US08858829B2
The present invention intends to provide a novel cyclohexane compound that can form a liquid crystal composition of which response speed is improved when mixed with a nematic liquid crystal and the like and to provide a specified liquid crystal composition in which a novel cyclohexane compound is mixed. The novel cyclohexane compound is represented by the following formula (1). (In the formula (1), R1 and R2 represent the same or different R, ROCO or RCOO, and the R represents an alkyl group. The alkyl group may have an unsaturated bond, and, in the group, —CH2— may be substituted with —O—, —CO— or —COO—, and a part of or an entirety of hydrogen atoms may be substituted with a halogen atom or a cyano group. X and Y each independently represents a halogen atom or a hydrogen atom and does not simultaneously represent a hydrogen atom. Further, alternatively, X represents an oxygen atom and Y represents a direct bond to the oxygen atom.)
US08858828B2
The present disclosure provides a scrubbing composition containing an aqueous solution of 2-(3-aminopropoxy)ethan-1-ol. The scrubbing composition is especially suited for use in removing acid gases, such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, from gas streams.
US08858825B2
The invention relates to a composition comprising: a heat-transfer fluid comprising from 15% to 30% ammonia and from 70% to 85% 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene; and a lubricant oil comprising a polyalkylene glycol. The invention also relates to the use of ammonia for increasing the miscibility of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene with the polyalkylene glycol, and vice versa.
US08858823B2
A composition based on 3,3,3-trifluoropropene and ammonia, and to the use thereof, especially as a heat transfer fluid. A heat-transfer composition including the composition based on 3,3,3-trifluoropropene and ammonia and also one or more additives chosen from lubricants, stabilizers, surfactants, tracers, fluorescers, odorant agents and solubilizers, and mixtures thereof. A process for heating or cooling a fluid or a body by means of a vapor compression circuit containing a heat-transfer fluid, said process successively including evaporation of the heat-transfer fluid, compression of the heat-transfer fluid, condensation of the heat fluid and depressurization of the heat-transfer fluid, in which the heat-transfer fluid is a composition based on 3,3,3-trifluoropropene and ammonia.
US08858815B2
Nanofibers are formed using electrospray deposition from microfluidic source. The source is brought close to a surface, and scanned in one embodiment to form oriented or patterned fibers. In one embodiment, the surface has features, such as trenches on a silicon wafer. In further embodiments, the surface is rotated to form patterned nanofibers, such as polymer nanofibers. The nanofibers may be used as a mask to create features, and as a sacrificial layer to create nanochannels.
US08858810B2
A suspension board with circuit includes a metal supporting board, an insulating layer formed on the metal supporting board, and a conductive pattern formed on the insulating layer and having a terminal portion connected to connecting terminals of a magnetic head mounted on a slider. A slider mounting region where the slider is disposed is defined, and a plurality of the terminal portions are spaced apart from each other in the slider mounting region, and in the metal supporting board, an opening which opens so as to expose the insulating layer where the terminal portions are disposed is formed at the slider mounting region.
US08858802B2
Methods of deoiling oily water such as SAGD and frac produce water. The oily water is treated with a natural coagulant selected from tannins and chitosan. A cationic and/or anionic flocculant may also be added to the treated oily water. The thus treated oily water may be subjected to conventional mechanical oil separation techniques such as hydrocyclonic separation, dissolved air flotation, entrapped air flotation, induced gas flotation, gravity filters, reverse osmosis filters, API, or Voraxial® bulk separators and the like.
US08858792B2
Systems and methods for hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis having integrated electrodeionization capabilities are provided. In an embodiment, the dialysis system includes a carbon source, a urease source and an electrodeionization unit. The carbon source and urease source can be in the form of removable cartridges.
US08858788B2
Method for the removal of organic components from a mixture of organic components and water, characterized in that it comprises the steps of guiding the mixture through at least one vessel (3) in which has been provided an amount of organoclay (17) in at least one removable casing (18) which is permeable to liquids and gasses but not to organoclay particles, or on a supporting structure (28) from where the organoclay particles cannot come off, such that the amount of organoclay particles is at any time part of a removable entity; and of producing a flow through the aforesaid mixture in this vessel (3) by guiding a flow of gas bubbles through this mixture.
US08858787B2
A dialysis system includes a dialyzer; a blood pump coupled operably to a dialyzer; a dialysate inlet pump couple operably to a dialysate inlet of the dialyzer; a dialysate outlet pump coupled operably to a dialysate outlet of the dialyzer; a first non-invasive fluid velocity sensor positioned to sensor of inlet flowrate of dialysate pumped to the dialysate inlet by the dialysate inlet pump; and a second non-invasive fluid velocity sensor positioned to sense an outlet flowrate of dialysate pumped from the dialysate outlet by the dialysate outlet pump.
US08858785B2
A device for processing a hydrocarbon resource may include a hydrocarbon processing container configured to receive the hydrocarbon resource therein and having a pair of opposing ends with an enlarged width medial portion therebetween. The device may also include a radio frequency (RF) source, and a spirally wound electrical conductor surrounding the hydrocarbon processing container and coupled to the RF source. The spirally wound electrical conductor may be configured to generate magnetic fields within the hydrocarbon processing container that are parallel with an axis thereof.
US08858776B2
A method of preparing graphene sheets. The method includes: immersing a portion of a first electrode and a portion of a second electrode in a solution containing an acid, an anionic surfactant, a salt, an oxidizing agent, or any combination thereof as an electrolyte, the immersed portion of the first electrode including a first carbon material and the immersed portion of the second electrode including a second carbon material or a metal; causing a potential to exist between the first and second electrodes; and recovering, from the solution, graphene sheets exfoliated from the carbon material(s). Also disclosed is a method of preparing a graphene film electrode. The method includes: dissolving graphene sheets in an organic solvent to form a solution, applying the solution on a substrate, adding deionized water to the solution on the substrate so that a graphene film is formed, and drying the graphene film.
US08858772B2
A novel electrowetting system for the smooth continuous movement of a droplet across a single circuit using a continuous applied voltage regardless of polarity. The actuation of the droplet is achieved by introducing a diode into the idealized electrical circuit of the electrowetting system. The diode is in parallel with a capacitor (dielectric) and effectively shorts the droplet on the side of a lower potential electrode so that the entire voltage drop is across the dielectric over the opposite electrode. This creates an energy imbalance that moves the droplet towards the higher potential. If the voltage polarity is reversed, the direction of actuation will reverse as well.
US08858765B2
An improved device and method for the creation of acidic electrolyzed water is described. The device has an flow-through anode chamber and a static cathode chamber. The static cathode chamber contains a fixed amount of salt-containing electrolyte, which is renewed as needed. The flow rate of water through the anode is restricted to a range of about 5 to 40 ml per ampere of current passed through the electrode. Electrolyzed water flowing from the anode is diluted to obtain the desired concentration of hypochlorous acid, and is collected in a tank or other vessel. The electrolysis reaction is terminated when a preset amount of current has passed through the anode. Water circulation may be one pass or recycling. In a preferred embodiment, the membrane is anion-selective. Preferably, the membrane and the electrodes are integrated into a preassembled format that can be attached to the anode and cathode compartments via flanges or similar devices allowing quick replacement of an electrode assembly in an electrolyzer. The anion-permeable membrane can be protected by a protection membrane, in which are provided slits or other discontinuities to allow venting of gas.
US08858763B1
Disclosed are apparatus and method embodiments for achieving etch and/or deposition selectivity in vias and trenches of a semiconductor wafer. That is, deposition coverage in the bottom of each via of a semiconductor wafer differs from the coverage in the bottom of each trench of such wafer. The selectivity may be configured so as to result in punch through in each via without damaging the dielectric material at the bottom of each trench or the like. In this configuration, the coverage amount deposited in each trench is greater than the coverage amount deposited in each via.
US08858757B2
In one embodiment, a plug plate dispensing assembly can include a first riser, a second riser, an apex cross member, a lower cross member, a central cross member, and a drive roller. The apex cross member, the lower cross member, and the central cross member can be coupled to the first riser and the second riser, and can extend from the first riser to the second riser. When the sheet stock is fed between the lower cross member and the apex cross member, over the apex cross member, and between the apex cross member and the central cross member, and when the sheet stock is frictionally engaged with the drive roller, rotation of the drive roller can cause one or more of the plurality of plug plates to at least partially detach from the sheet stock as the sheet stock passes over the apex cross member.
US08858750B2
A method of manufacturing paint roller covers is disclosed in which the paint roller covers are manufactured from a seamless, tubular knitted pile fabric sleeve that is installed onto a core member. To facilitate the manufacture of the paint roller covers, the outside of the core member is provided with an adhesive bonding material on the exterior surface thereof that has a relatively non-tacky outer surface. The knitted pile fabric sleeve is installed onto the exterior surface of the core member over the adhesive bonding material. The adhesive bonding material is then rendered tacky, whereupon the knitted pile fabric sleeve becomes adhesively secured by the adhesive bonding material to the exterior surface of the core member. The pile fabric covered core member may be finished into paint roller covers by combing and shearing the pile fabric to a desired length, beveling the edges of the paint roller covers, and vacuuming stray fibers from the paint roller covers.
US08858741B2
A method for treating high-strength, low-alloy steel includes controlling material responses, such as the crystal structure of the steel, through various processing steps. More specifically, the method includes cold treating the steel to achieve predictable increases in a minimum ultimate tensile strength or desired changes in the crystal structure of the steel. In one embodiment, cold treating the steel operates to controllably increase the minimum ultimate tensile strength of the steel within increasing a specified maximum ultimate tensile strength of the steel. Stated otherwise, cold treating the steel may reduce or narrow a minimum-to-maximum ultimate tensile strength range such that the minimum ultimate tensile strength is closer to the specified maximum ultimate tensile strength.
US08858739B2
A method and system of forming a micro-wire including heating metal feedstock to a liquid state within a glass tube, wherein the metal feedstock includes an iron based glass forming alloy comprising one or more of nickel and cobalt present in the range of 7 atomic percent to 50 atomic percent and one or more of boron, carbon, silicon, phosphorous and nitrogen present in the range of 1 to 35 atomic percent. Negative pressure may be provided to the interior the glass tube and the glass tube containing the metal feedstock may be drawn down. The metal feedstock in the glass tube may be cooled at a rate sufficient to form a wire exhibiting crystalline microstructures present in the range of 2 to 90 percent by volume in a glass matrix.
US08858726B2
A dishwasher is provided that has a door and a wash compartment that is closed off by the door. The wash compartment receives items to be treated and has a movable dish rack in which items to be cleaned are supported. The movable dish rack is moved from a treatment position in which the wash compartment is closed to an access position in which loading and unloading of dishes into the dishwasher is facilitated. The dishwasher further includes a visual display facility for visual notification of operation information and/or program information of the dishwasher. The visual display facility is assigned to the dish rack.
US08858721B2
A drain cleaner may be used on a periodic basis to clean soil residues from residential and commercial waste drains. The drain cleaner may chemically self-foam to fill a waste drain with the foam. For example, the drain cleaner may be provided in two or more parts that are physically intermixed during use of the drain cleaner. One part may include hydrogen peroxide and water while another part may include a catalase, an amylase, a protease, and an enzyme stabilizer. The drain cleaner may also include a surfactant present in at least one of the first part and the second part. Additionally, in some examples, the drain cleaner includes a sanitizing agent present in either of the two parts or in yet a third physically separate part. During use, the different drain cleaner parts can be dispensed simultaneously into a drain to generate a cleaning and/or sanitizing foam in-situ.
US08858720B2
A method for removing deposits from at least one compressor powered by an engine. The method comprises disconnecting while the engine is turned off, a high pressure downstream side of the compressor from an intercooler, or an air intake manifold for non-intercooled engines, while leaving the compressor attached to a means used in the engine to drive the compressor. The output airflow is diverted from the compressor away from the engine to a disposal or to a means of separating a cleaning fluid from air. After starting the engine and while the engine is running, the cleaning fluid is injected for a sufficient time to clean the compressor.
US08858719B2
A method for operating a water-conducting household appliance having a storage container which is connected by means of an overflow outlet in a liquid-conducting manner to a washing compartment and having a pump which is connected in the liquid-conducting manner to the washing compartment. The method includes starting the pump; filling the storage container with a liquid; monitoring a first operating parameter associated with the pump after the pump has been started; and terminating the filling of the storage container with the liquid when the first operating parameter reaches a predefined threshold value and/or the first operating parameter exceeds a predefined fluctuation range.
US08858712B2
An electrode for use in a plasma processing apparatus is provided above a lower electrode within a processing chamber so as to face the lower electrode serving as a mounting table configured to mount thereon a processing target substrate. The electrode includes an upper member provided with a plurality of gas passage holes through which a processing gas is supplied; and a lower member positioned below the upper member and provided with multiple sets of gas discharge holes through which the processing gas is discharged. Here, each gas passage hole may have a diameter larger than that of each gas discharge hole, each set of the gas discharge holes may communicate with corresponding one of the gas passage holes, and each set of the gas discharge holes may be arranged outside the rim of the corresponding one of the gas passage holes when viewed from a top thereof.
US08858710B2
An object is to suppress differences in concentration between processing gases supplied to a plurality of works in a chemical solution vaporizing tank. The chemical solution vaporizing tank includes a tank body having a plurality of vaporizing chambers formed by laterally and airtightly partitioning an internal space of the tank body, a chemical solution passage located under a liquid level in each vaporizing chamber and formed at each partition member for passing the chemical solution between the vaporizing chambers, and a gas passage located above the liquid level in each vaporizing chamber and formed at the partition member to communicate the vaporizing chambers with each other for uniformizing pressures in the respective vaporizing chambers. A quantity of the channel layer in each vaporizing chamber is controlled by managing, e.g., the liquid level.
US08858706B2
A single-crystal manufacturing apparatus according to the Czochralski method, including: a crucible that contains a raw material; a main chamber configured to accommodate a heater for heating and melting the raw material; and a pulling chamber configured to pull and accommodate a grown single crystal, the pulling chamber being continuously provided above the main chamber; an inner shield provided between the heater and the main chamber and for insulating heat radiated from the heater, and a supporting member for supporting the inner shield from below. The inner shield is supported at three or more supporting points contacting the supporting member, and a lower end of the inner shield except at the supporting points does not contact the supporting member.
US08858705B2
The invention relates to a process for the production of binders by calcinating mineral raw material mixtures. In order to improve the process and the quality of the binders, it is proposed that oil shale and/or oil sand fills are converted by targeted agglomeration into particles of a certain size and consistency, wherein the water content for the mechanical stabilization of the agglomerate is adjusted to less than 25 percent and the agglomerates are calcinated to form binders at temperatures between 800 and 1500° C. under reductive conditions over the entire process with a Lambda value <1 in a vertical shaft furnace with updraft gasification. The binding properties are adjusted by the targeted addition of CaO-containing substances and/or existing sulfur fractions of the oil sands and/or oil shales are bound by means of the CaO that is present in the starting material and/or added.
US08858688B2
An intrinsically safe, self-contained toxic gas removal and air conditioning system for use in an underground mine environment to continuously remove from air sealed in the chamber the CO2 and/or CO from exhalations of up to thirty adult occupants. The system includes an explosion-proof/fire-proof shell strong enough to withstand a 15 psi explosion outside the survival chamber in which the air-scrubbing system is installed. In the event of normal power loss, the system runs on an internal battery capable of 96+ hours of continuous operation while incapable of creating an explosion hazard. A fan motor mounted inside the external shell is driven by a fan driver circuit and is coupled to a driveshaft extending outside the external shell to drive an air scrubber fan. A fan driver/controller circuit powers the fan and detects the loss of externally-provided AC power to automatically start operation when such power loss is detected.
US08858687B2
A filter assembly for removing particles from air flow across the filter assembly with a frame around a perimeter of the filter assembly, dynamic filter media for removing particles from air flowing from an upstream side of the filter assembly to a downstream side of the filter assembly that passes from a clean filter media storage chamber to a used filter media collection chamber within the frame on a second side of the filter assembly. The dynamic filter media is moved from the output from a turbine shaft modified by a gearbox to drive a set of drive traction rollers.
US08858679B2
The present invention is directed to a method and a system for separating hydrogen or helium from gas having a mixture of gaseous components. A compressible feed stream that contains at least one target compressible component and hydrogen or helium is mixed in a substantially co-current flow with an incompressible fluid stream comprising an incompressible fluid in which the target component(s) is/are capable of being preferentially absorbed. Rotational velocity is imparted to the mixed streams, separating an incompressible fluid in which at least a portion of the target component is absorbed from a compressible product stream containing the hydrogen or helium. The compressible feed stream may be provided at a stream velocity having a Mach number of at least 0.1.
US08858661B2
A gasification system reduces volume of a bulky carbonaceous feedstock by pyrolysis to bring about a significant reduction in volume. The system includes a pyrolysis chamber, a reformer, a syngas burner, and a syngas storage tank. Flue gas is provided from the chamber to the reformer. Hot gases are introduced to the reformer from the syngas burner. The pyrolysis reaction occurs in the reformer to produce syngas of at least 1200° C. Some of the produced syngas is used to heat the pyrolysis chamber and the rest returns to the reformer with the flue gas. The syngas burner is situated horizontally at the bottom of the reformer, while the pyrolysis chamber is situated vertically at the top of the reformer. The reformer is inclined relative to each of the syngas burner and the pyrolysis chamber.
US08858649B2
A low profile prosthetic foot comprises a foot member extending at an incline from an anterior portion to a posterior portion thereof and configured to flex during motion, and an adapter mounted solely at a posterior section thereof to the posterior portion of the foot member so that the adapter's anterior section can move relative to the foot member and “roll-up” onto the foot member during motion.
US08858646B2
A hip prosthesis is provided for insertion into a femur. In one exemplary embodiment, the hip prosthesis includes a stem having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis. This stem may include anterior and posterior locking surfaces which diverge away from the longitudinal axis. A shank portion may extend distally from the anterior and posterior locking surfaces and converge at an angle distally toward the longitudinal axis.
US08858634B2
Methods and devices are disclosed for the attachment of a soft tissue structure (e.g., tendon or ligament) to bone or a prosthetic implant. In one form, the device includes a clamp having a convex tissue engaging surface. A fastener compresses the soft tissue between the tissue engaging surface and the bone or the prosthetic implant. In another form, the device includes a second clamp comprising a porous metallic material. The second clamp has a first surface, a concave tissue engaging surface opposite the first surface, and a throughhole for a fastener. The second clamp is placed adjacent the bone, the soft tissue is placed adjacent the second clamp, and the first clamp is placed adjacent the soft tissue. The soft tissue is compressed between the convex tissue engaging surface of the first clamp and the concave tissue engaging surface of the second clamp using the fastener.
US08858633B2
The disclosure describes implantable medical products, that include dry or partially hydrated biocompatible constructs comprising collagen fibers configured to expand in situ after implantation to frictionally engage a bone tunnel wall to thereby affix the construct in the bone tunnel.
US08858628B2
A tissue expansion device implanted in a non-activated state over a region of desired tissue growth. Once implanted and positioned the device is activated creating a supporting structure that creates a convex shaped dome over the underlying tissue. The convex shaped dome formed by the tissue expansion device places a tensile stress against the underlying tissue that promotes tissue growth. Alone or with the introduction of tissue enhancing agents and/or adipose tissue, new tissue within the convex shaped void grows until a balance is achieved eliminating the induced stress. Periodically the tissue expansion devices is again activated and enlarged creating an even larger void. Again, the newly enlarged void places additional tensile stress on the underlying tissue thus repeating the cycle of new tissue growth. Once the desired amount of tissue growth has been achieved the device is deactivated and removed.
US08858627B1
An accommodative intraocular lens having a soft deformable resilient inner lens portion or core with an exposed anterior inner optic surface and exposed posterior optic surface, the surfaces responsively becoming simultaneously optically steeper and moving axially away from each other. The exposed anterior and posterior surfaces of the inner lens portions may be spherically shaped or aspherically shaped and the shape of the outer lens portion may be spherically or aspherically shaped.
US08858623B2
Apparatus is provided, comprising (1) an annuloplasty structure, shaped to define a perimeter, and configured to be disposed at the annulus of the native valve of the patient; (2) a first adjusting mechanism, coupled to the annuloplasty structure, and configured to adjust the perimeter; (3) at least one longitudinal flexible member, having a first end portion, and a second end portion that is configured to be coupled to tissue of the ventricle of the heart of the patient; and (4) at least a second adjusting mechanism, coupled to the annuloplasty structure such that the second adjusting mechanism is slidable around at least part of the perimeter, coupled to the first end portion of the longitudinal flexible member, and configured to adjust a distance between the second adjusting mechanism and the second end portion of the longitudinal flexible member. Other embodiments are also described.
US08858611B2
Sterilization methods for implantable prostheses are described where a polymeric stent may be sterilized, e.g., via ETO sterilization, at a temperature below a glass transition temperature of the stent. A separate delivery catheter may be sterilized separately and the stent and delivery catheter may then be combined in an aseptic or semi-aseptic environment and sterilized as an assembled system such that the requirements for sterilizing the system are relatively lower. Additionally and/or alternatively, valve and filter assemblies may be used with an optional mandrel assembly for maintaining sterility of the internal components of a catheter system.
US08858608B2
A delivery and deployment device comprises a sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen disposed therebetween; a dilator having a distal end slidingly disposed within the sheath lumen; a valve assembly comprising a valve housing affixed to the sheath and a valve disposed within the housing between the sheath and the dilator; and a valve lubrication mechanism disposed between the valve and the dilator.
US08858600B2
The present invention provides a dynamic stabilization device positionable about a portion of a spinal column. The stabilization device may generally include a first component and a second component, where the first and second components are movably coupled to one another to define an arcuate path of motion. The stabilization device may also include one or more adjustment elements positionable within first and second adjustment openings to affect the path of motion between the first and second components and/or the behavior and characteristics of the movement. In addition, one or more resistive elements may be adjustably positionable within either and/or both of the first and second adjustment openings to provide resistance and/or dampening of the forces experienced as the first and second components move relative to one another. The stabilization device may further define a joint having three degrees of freedom to adapt to movement of a spinal column.
US08858593B2
An emergency medical device and method is provided for treatment of open wounds by enhancing clotting and arresting hemorrhaging, particularly in the area of the neck, abdomen, chest or groin. The devices includes an elongated delivery tube for insertion into a wound cavity and subsequent delivery of a space filling, sponge-like mass containing a polymerizable liquid sealant that polymerizes upon contact with body fluids after which the delivery tube is removed.
US08858590B2
Tissue manipulation and retraction devices. In various forms, the manipulation devices include a cannula that is insertable through the abdominal wall. A plurality of independently controllable manipulation members extend through the cannula and are attachable to various forms of surgical tools. The surgical tools may be manipulated and controlled by a surgeon from a position outside of the patient.
US08858576B2
A tissue fastening tool which fastens a first biological tissue and a second biological tissue adjacent to the first biological tissue, includes a first tissue fixing section which is hooked onto the first biological tissue and the second tissue fixing section which is hooked onto a second biological tissue adjacent to the first biological tissue.
US08858573B2
An apparatus for suturing body lumens is provided. The apparatus includes a flexible elongated member that has a proximal end, a distal end, a central passage and multiple needle lumens extending from the proximal end toward the distal end. The flexible elongated member further includes an elongated subsection spanning from the end of the needle lumens in the elongated member to a barrel portion that includes corresponding needle lumens on the proximal end of the elongated member. The elongated subsection provides sufficient space between the needles and the barrel portion to allow transapical insertion of the elongated member into a body lumen. The apparatus further includes needles disposed within and advanceable from the needle lumens. The apparatus also includes a handle disposed at the proximal end of the elongated member. The handle is operable to retract the needles through the needle lumens toward the handle at the proximal end.
US08858571B2
Articulation joints for use in connection with a surgical instrument that has a portion that must be passed through a trocar or similar structure and then articulated relative to another portion of the instrument received within the trocar. Various embodiments of the articulation joint include at least one flexible driven member to articulate the surgical implement relative to the handle assembly of the instrument.
US08858570B2
A skin treatment apparatus includes a handle body, a driving unit received in a receiving cavity of the handle body, a treatment head unit, and an inlet arrangement. The treatment head unit includes a supporting member provided at the front end portion of the handle body, a treatment cap detachably attached on the supporting member, a treatment shaft rotatably connected to the driving unit and extended from the driving unit into a treatment cavity, and an abrasion head integrally formed at a free end of the treatment shaft in such a manner that when the treatment shaft is driven to rotate, the abrasion head is also driven to rotate with respect to the handle body. The inlet arrangement is formed at the supporting member of the treatment head unit for providing a predetermined amount of skin treatment fluid in the treatment cavity.
US08858565B1
A positioning and installation tool for a fixation implant is inserted through a single, simple drill hole and positioned in place. The device controls the degree to which the implant is deployed and prevents accidental disengagement of the device from the implant before deployment has completed. The device also guides the components of the implant involved in active tendon compression at the aperture of the bone tunnel. The implant is deployed simply by rotating a knob, thereby creating an anchor point of high stiffness and fixation strength. When deployment has completed, the inserter is disengaged from the affixed implant by simply pulling a release mechanism.
US08858559B2
A surgical system for cutting tissue of a patient includes an outer housing and a reciprocating assembly structurally configured to carry a cutting tool in a reciprocating motion. An actuator knob is manually accessible to the user and may be fixed axially to the outer housing. The reciprocating assembly may reciprocate relative to the actuator knob. The actuator knob may be configured for rotational movement between a lock position and an unlock position. The system may also include a locking mechanism configured to retain a cutting tool within the reciprocating assembly. The locking mechanism may be responsive to movement of the actuator knob to maintain the tool within the output shaft when the actuator knob is in the lock position and permit removal of the tool when the actuator knob is in the unlock position. Surgical cutting tools, such as blades include thickness enhancing features.
US08858557B2
A method of preparing a femur and tibia in surgery on a knee joint using a navigation system and a robotic system. The navigation system tracks movement of the femur and tibia during the surgery. The navigation system may include a plurality of locating devices. The robotic system includes a base, a plurality of arms, and a cutting tool.
US08858550B2
An electrosurgical pencil adapted to receive an electrode controllable by an electrical signal for performing surgical operations. This pencil includes a housing, a circuit, and a switch that is activatable from outside the housing for closing the circuit. The housing receives the electrode. The circuit is a flexible circuit and is positioned such that it is in direct contact with the electrode when the electrode is received in the housing.
US08858535B2
The present invention is concerned with a catheter which includes an inflatable balloon operable to retain the catheter in position during use, and which is located and configured to both reduce discomfort during use by preventing contact between the end of the catheter and the urinary tract/bladder wall, and reduce the force required to remove the catheter by reducing cuffing of the collapsed balloon.
US08858529B2
A catheter shaft with an improved manifold bond and methods for making and using the same. The catheter shaft may include a sleeve disposed, for example, near its proximal end. The sleeve may include a first layer that is attached to the catheter shaft and a second layer to which a hub or manifold may be attached.
US08858527B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a catheter, whereby a tunnel infection route is closed such that infection can be prevented, by improving adhesiveness between a medical catheter and a biologically-derived adhesive (fibrin adhesive), cells, or biological tissue. The present invention provides a medical catheter which is composed of material selected from the group consisting of silicone, polyurethane, polypropylene and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), at least a portion of the surface of which is modified by plasma ion implantation.
US08858513B2
A disposable intravenous flow control device (20) includes a rigid casing (21) defining a flow passage having a fluid entrance (23) and a fluid exit (22); a flow regulator (10) disposed in the flow passage of the casing (21) and comprising an annular flange (11) extending upward, a hollow, cylindrical protrusion (12) raised upward from a central portion, the protrusion (12) being open to the bottom, an open fluid storage (13) defined between the flange (11) and the protrusion (12), and a hollow, cylindrical skirt (14) extending downward from the bottom of the protrusion (12); and a suction cup (15) releasably secured to the skirt (14) for blocking the fluid exit (22) when fluid in the casing (21) is consumed.
US08858511B2
Fluid delivery and measurement systems and methods are disclosed.
US08858506B2
A drug administration safety device having a label configured to be attached to a drug container such as a syringe or IV bag, an adhesive on the back face of the label, and a backing or substrate for holding the label and protecting the adhesive prior to the application of the label to the drug container. In one embodiment, the label includes a first drug name section in a first orientation, a second drug name section in a second orientation, a third drug name section in a third orientation, a drug concentration section, a variable information section, and a gradiation viewing section. The first orientation, second orientation, and third orientation are different from each other to enable a user to readily see the drug name regardless of the position and orientation of the drug container.
US08858504B2
The haemostatic valve assembly (10) includes a housing (14) with a chamber (16) therewithin. A flexible valve element (26) is located in the chamber (16) and supported by the housing (14). A resilient element (21), for example of foam, is located in the chamber (16) and applies a constant closing force on the valve element (26). The valve (10) can be opened by aspirating fluid held within the chamber (16), for example by means of a pump or syringe, thereby to create a vacuum therein which compresses the resilient element (21). Removal of the vacuum allows the resilient element (21) to expand again and to close the valve (10).
US08858497B2
A medical device for removing a material from a hollow anatomical structure is provided. The device includes a radially expandable capture member. The device includes a treatment segment that is positioned distally of the capture member in use and having at least one exit port adapted for delivering a fluid agent to the material. The device includes an embolic capture device that is positioned distally of the treatment segment in use and including a radially expandable filter for capturing a part of the material which travels downstream of the treatment segment. Additionally, a method is provided herein for infusing, injecting, distributing, or releasing an intended fluid into a hollow anatomical structure.
US08858494B2
Infusion pump assembly having a reverse rotation prevention system and method for operating the same
A system and method for preventing an undesirable reverse rotation of an infusion pump assembly. The infusion pump motor includes a roller assembly, a coil, a rotor, a rotor position sensor, and a controller. The rotor is in communication with the coil, and the rotor is rotationally coupled to a roller assembly. If the pump is in not pumping, then the system monitors for reverse rotation of the pump, and if reverse rotation of the pump is detected, energizes the coil in a manner that holds the rotor in place. The system may also activate an indicator if reverse rotation is detected.
US08858492B2
An ophthalmic surgery kit includes a priming vessel defining a reservoir for holding a fluid, an auxiliary aspiration channel, an irrigation channel, a handpiece channel, and an ophthalmic surgical handpiece retained by the handpiece channel. The ophthalmic surgical handpiece includes a tip disposed within the reservoir. An auxiliary aspiration tube 15 retained by the auxiliary aspiration channel with a first end disposed within the reservoir. An irrigation tube first end is retained by the irrigation channel within the reservoir.
US08858482B2
An orthopedic device has at least one flexible or rigid frame member contoured to generally correspond to an anatomical limb. The device also includes a tightening system having a dial tensioning device and at least one cable and/or strap connected to the dial tensioning device. The dial tensioning device has a rotary ratchet permitting incremental adjustment of the cable and/or strap. Adjustment of the dial tensioner in a first direction secures the frame member to the limb.
US08858481B2
A cervical collar has an anterior portion and a posterior portion having side extending portions removably connecting to the anterior portion. The posterior portion includes a rigid or semi-rigid main support piece and a resilient edge integrally secured to at least a substantial portion of a periphery of the main support piece that is substantially more flexible than the main support piece. The main support piece defines opposed upper side sections and a lower section. The upper side sections extend upwardly from the side extending portions and are oriented toward a proximal middle region and spaced apart by a first distance. The lower section extends continuously between the side extending portions and is spaced a second distance from the upper side sections.
US08858478B2
The present invention relates to a fluidized lower leg protection and support system and method. The system can include an inner positioner. The inner positioner can displace and contour three-dimensionally as though it was fluid to the sides and top of the leg while not having flow characteristics that would result in migration of the medium under the force of gravity. The system can also include an outer support which is received over the inner positioner. The outer support can be in the shape of an open boot. The outer support can include an ultra low pressure plenum. The ultra low pressure plenum is filled at a predetermined low pressure for distributing pressure along the length of the outer support, but not providing significant elevation of the lower leg and heel by itself.
US08858470B2
A therapeutic method for treating a neurological disease by accessing a neuraxial deformity and abnormal neuraxial stress. The method involves calculating a neuraxial stress, determining whether the neurological disorder is attributed at least in part to the neuraxial stress; and treating the neurological disorder by normalizing the neuraxial stress.
US08858459B2
A method is provided for internally monitoring pressure of a patient by transmitting an external light source to an implantable microsensor device. The implantable microsensor device has a microlens, a deflectable membrane responsive to a change in pressure of a surrounding environment within the patient, and an array structure disposed between the microlens and the membrane. The array structure includes a first layer that emits a first wavelength of light and a second layer that emits a second wavelength of light responsive to an external light source, where the first and second wavelengths of light are respectively transmissive through the surrounding environment and distinct from one another. Either the array structure or the microlens translates with the membrane in response to the change in pressure of the surrounding environment. The implantable microsensor is compatible with medical imaging devices and does not require an internal or external power supply.
US08858457B2
A method implemented, e.g., as software and a device operating according to the method for the automatic evaluation and analysis of a capnogram are provided. Measured values for an expired volume—volume measured values—and measured values for a carbon dioxide concentration—concentration measured values—are recorded for the breathing gas of a test subject. An automatic approximation of at least one part of the curve of the concentration measured values over the volume measured values is performed, by using three mutually adjacent straight lines for the approximation. The area is determined using the third straight line according to Fowler for the determination of the serial dead space Vds.
US08858455B2
A method of locating a tip of a central venous catheter (“CVC”) having a distal and proximal pair of electrodes disposed within the superior vena cava, right atrium, and/or right ventricle. The method includes obtaining a distal and proximal electrical signal from the distal and proximal pair of electrodes and using those signals to generate a distal and proximal P wave, respectively. A deflection value is determined for each of the P waves. A ratio of the deflection values is then used to determine a location of the tip of the CVC. Optionally, the CVC may include a reference pair of electrodes disposed within the superior vena cava from which a reference deflection value may be obtained. A ratio of one of the other deflection values to the reference deflection value may be used to determine the location of the tip of the CVC.
US08858454B2
A pulse rate sensor that includes an accelerometer for measuring periodic motion and a piezo sensor for detecting erratic motion is capable of more accurately determining pulse rate by accounting for these types of motion. The pulse rate sensor in accordance with the present invention diminishes pulse rate signal degradation due to erratic motion through a combination of algorithms that control signal boosting, waveform refinement and signal noise suppression.
US08858453B2
A sound-output-control device including an acquisition unit which acquires an anaerobic threshold, a reception unit which receives an input about exercise intensity, a calculation unit which calculates a value indicating a target heart rate of a user on the basis of the acquired anaerobic threshold and the received exercise-intensity input, a detection unit which detects a value indicating the current tempo of a physical exercise done by the user, and a control unit that controls a sound output on the basis of a result of a comparison of the target heart-rate value calculated by the calculation unit and the current physical-exercise-tempo value detected by the detection unit, so as to lead a heart rate of the user so that the heart rate of the user attains the target heart rate is provided.
US08858449B2
Characteristics of a user's heart are detected. In accordance with an example embodiment, a ballistocardiogram (BCG) sensor is used to detect heart characteristics of a user, and provide a BCG output indicative of the detected heart characteristics. The BCG output is further processed using data from one or more additional sensors, such as to reduce noise and/or otherwise process the BCG signal to characterize the user's heart function.
US08858443B2
An ultrasound image acquisition device initiates acquisition of anatomical images of a portion of patient anatomy in response to a heart rate related synchronization signal. The ultrasound image acquisition device includes multiple ultrasound transducers for generating sound waves. The ultrasound transducers are arranged in different transducer groups oriented to enable acquisition of different ultrasound imaging information used in generating a single composite ultrasound image. A synchronization processor derives the heart rate related synchronization signal from a patient cardiac function blood flow related parameter. The synchronization signal enables adaptive activation of a particular group of the different transducer groups for acquisition of ultrasound imaging information used in generating the single composite ultrasound image. A display processor presents the single composite ultrasound image, acquired by the ultrasound image acquisition device, to a user on a reproduction device.
US08858441B2
A system and method for detecting electromechanical wave propagation within a body structure of a patient in a series of image frames representing movement the body structure. Image data is acquired comprising a series of image frames corresponding to the movement of a body structure. A correlation calculation is performed on the image frames to generate a displacement map representing the relative displacement between the first and second image frames. A video is generated comprising a series of displacement maps. The parameters of movement of the body structure are detected by analysis of the displacement maps. The image acquisition may detect the movement of the body structure without inducing such movement.
US08858439B2
An ultrasound operation apparatus includes an ultrasound transducer; a drive section that drives the ultrasound transducer using a drive signal; a probe that has a proximal end section in which the ultrasound transducer is provided and a distal end section to which ultrasound vibrations are transmitted, and that performs treatment for living tissue by using ultrasound vibrations at the distal end section; a resonance frequency tracking section that drives so as to cause ultrasound vibrations to be generated at a resonance frequency; a detection section that detects a frequency component signal of a frequency component other than a resonance frequency of the drive signal; and a cavitation suppression control section that controls so as to suppress or eliminate cavitations according to the detection result.
US08858437B2
A method and device for transforming a Doppler velocity dataset into a velocity vector field, the including: (a) providing a 2D or 3D Doppler velocity dataset, acquired by means of 2D or 3D ultrasonography from an object; b) calculating a velocity vector field by assuming the velocity at each point of the dataset to be the sum of the provided Doppler velocity and an additional vector field derived from an irrotational flow velocity, and by assuming the velocity vector field to be mathematically continuous, therefore solving an elliptical equation of the Poisson type.
US08858433B2
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for monitoring pain management using measurements of physiological parameters based on a PPG signal. A reference physiological parameter may be compared against a later measurement to identify a change in condition that may indicate a pain management problem.
US08858428B2
An endoscope of the present invention includes an insertion portion including a bending portion, an operation portion separate from the insertion portion, a bending operation wire that is inserted through the insertion portion and used for bending the bending portion in a predetermined direction with tugging in a forward/backward tugging direction, and connecting mechanisms that makes it possible to couple the insertion portion and the operation portion in a manner in which the bending wire is freely tugged in the operation portion.
US08858426B2
In the present invention, an ultrasound observation apparatus includes an information reposition portion; the information reposition portion is a storage portion for storing various state information in an endoscope processor inputted from a keyboard and is configured to include a memory controller and a data memory portion. Moreover, the keyboard is configured to include a key matrix, a keyboard controller, an ultrasound key processing portion and an endoscope key processing portion. This configuration allows the ultrasound observation apparatus to easily share various state information of a plurality of apparatuses making up the system.
US08858424B2
In an endoscopic system, when an affected area of a biomedical tissue in an image is treated with a scalpel and a holding pair of forceps which movably extend from a distal portion of an endoscope through the endoscope while the image taken by the endoscope in a body cavity in a time-series manner is being observed, a treatment is performed in which the holding pair of forceps holds the affected area detached from the biomedical tissue by the scalpel. When any motion is detected in the distal portion of the endoscope included in the image, a motion direction and a motion amount of the distal portion of the endoscope attributed to the motion are detected, and the distal portion of the endoscope is curved to return the scalpel to an original treatment position.
US08858411B2
A system for loading/unloading sheets is disclosed, some of which also being of metal, and handling method thereof, serving a laser cutting center. The system includes a pair of rails (1, 2), supported at a preset height above a feeding tray (T) of the cutting center, whereon at least one Cartesian robotized hand is movably mounted, capable of moving along horizontal axes X and Y as well as along a vertical axis Z, mutually orthogonal, and including at least two bridge cranes (3, 4) sliding along the rails (1, 2) each of which supports at least one pair of robotized hands (5-8), and the robotized hands (5-8) have an electromagnetic pick-up head which may be coupled with a suction-cup device (103). Feeding tray (T) consists of bars whereon small tesserae (204) of ceramic material are fitted.
US08858409B2
A patient support apparatus generally includes a base frame and a support deck supported on the base frame, the support deck comprising a seat portion. A segmented patient support surface is slidably coupled to the support deck. A lift system is coupled to the support deck and the segmented patient support surface. The lift system raises, lowers and tilts the support deck with respect to the base frame, and pivots a torso support segment of the support surface with respect to a leg support segment of the support surface. A foot plate assembly is removably positioned proximate a free end of the support deck, the foot plate assembly receiving a patient's feet when a patient is positioned on the segmented patient support surface thereby enabling the patient to slide the segmented patient support surface relative to the support deck.
US08858404B2
An exercise weight includes a weight member, a handle member spaced apart from and substantially surrounding the weight member, and at least one attachment member joining the weight member to the handle member so that the weight member is located inside the handle member. The exercise weight has a relatively narrow profile, or width, to avoid contact with the body during exercise.
US08858399B2
We have disclosed systems and methods for annotating information collected about an individual engaged in a physical activity. The methods may include a server computer system receiving information collected about an individual from a remote computing device, the server computer system receiving an annotation associated with the information collected about the individual from the remote computing device, the server computer system generating visual display data based on the information collected and the associated annotation, and the server computer system transmitting the visual display data to a remote computing device for generating an output.
US08858395B2
A method of controlling a machine includes receiving a torque demand associated with at least one of a first parasitic load and a second parasitic load. At least the first parasitic load receives power from a power source of the machine via a transmission coupled to the power source. The method also includes providing torque from the power source to the at least one of the first and second parasitic loads in response to receiving the torque demand. In such a method wherein torque is provided to the at least one of the first and second parasitic loads based on a torque priority value associated with the at least one of the first and second parasitic loads. In addition, the torque priority value is adjustable by an operator of the machine during operation of the machine.
US08858392B2
A parking brake is controlled in concert with operation of a hydrostatic power unit of a continuously variable transmission, particularly when engaging, disengaging and shuttle shifting the transmission, to provide advantages, particularly when on hills. When particular commands are received, such as shifting to a non-moving position, the parking brake is automatically engaged to hold the vehicle position. A swash plate of the hydrostatic unit can be automatically positioned to anticipate the next command. If that command is received, the brake is automatically gradually or proportionally released and the transmission engaged to effect the commanded movement of the vehicle. If a different command is received, the brake remains engaged as the transmission is configured for the commanded movement, such that no machine movement results. Then the brake is automatically gradually or proportionally released and the transmission engaged to effect that commanded movement.
US08858391B2
A transmission disconnect clutch assembly and method are provided. The clutch assembly operates to place the transmission in a low-loss state, by decoupling the base transmission from the differential gearing, thereby maximizing fuel economy and increasing efficiency. The transmission disconnect clutch assembly may be a dog clutch assembly, which may include a dog clutch hub, a clutch apply plate, and a synchronizer. When the dog clutch is disengaged the vehicle may operate in EV mode, propelled by an electric motor and rear e-axle. When the dog clutch is engaged the vehicle may operate in hybrid mode, propelled by torque transmitted to a front axle by an engine and the torque transmitted to the rear e-axle by the electric motor. A method for transitioning a vehicle between EV mode and hybrid mode, as well as a method for transitioning a vehicle between hybrid mode and EV mode are also provided.
US08858388B2
An epicyclic gear train includes a carrier that supports star gears that mesh with a sun gear. A ring gear surrounds and meshes with the star gears. The star gears are supported on respective journal bearings. Each of the journal bearings includes a peripheral journal surface and each of the star gears includes a radially inner journal surface that is in contact with the peripheral journal surface of the respective journal bearing. The epicyclic gear train has a gear reduction ratio of greater than or equal to about 2.3.
