US08895552B2

Provided is a compound represented by formula (1) or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof. (In the formula, A is C6-10 arylene, etc.; R1a, R1b and R1c each independently is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C1-4 alkyl group, a C1-4 alkoxy group, etc.; R2 is an optionally substituted C6-10 aryl group, an optionally substituted 5- to 12-membered monocyclic or polycyclic heteroaryl group, an optionally substituted C7-16 aralkyl group, etc.; m is 0, etc.; n is an integer of 0 to 2.)
US08895546B2

The invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more benzodiazepine drugs for nasal administration, methods for producing and for using such compositions.
US08895542B2

Disclosed is a medicinal cream that includes flisidic acid which is made in situ under an oxygen-free environment using sodium fusidate. The fusidic acid is made by dissolving the sodium fusidate in a co-solvent under inert gas purging and under vacuum, and converting the sodium fusidate to fusidic acid in situ by adding an acid under stirring, The disclosed medicinal cream also includes a biopolymer and a cream base comprising at least one of each of a primary and secondary emulsifier, a waxy material, and water.
US08895538B2

The present invention relates to a topical pharmaceutical composition that comprises the combination of an antimicrobial, a glucocorticoid, an antimycotic and pharmaceutically acceptable vehicles or excipients; the method for producing the composition and the use of said composition for treating localized dermatosis ailments.
US08895535B2

Compounds of the formula I in which R1, R2, R3 and R4 have the meanings indicated in Claim 1, are inhibitors of methionine aminopeptidase and can be employed for the treatment of tumors.
US08895533B2

The invention relates to a compound, comprising a) a first starch derivative selected from the group consisting of hydroxyalkyl starch, carboxyl alkyl starch, ester starch and arbitrary mixtures thereof, wherein the starch derivative has a mean relative molar mass Mw1 and a degree of molar substitution MS1, and b) a second starch derivative selected from the group consisting of hydroxyalkyl starch, carboxyl alkyl starch, ester starch and arbitrary mixtures thereof, having a mean relative molar mass Mw2 and a degree of molar substitution MS2, characterized in that Mw1 is greater than Mw2 (Mw1>Mw2) and MS2 is greater than MS1 (MS2>MS1).
US08895528B2

The present invention relates to antisense oligonucleotides that modulate the expression of and/or function of Atonal homolog 1 (ATOH1), in particular, by targeting natural antisense polynucleotides of Atonal homolog 1 (ATOH1). The invention also relates to the identification of these antisense oligonucleotides and their use in treating diseases and disorders associated with the expression of ATOH1.
US08895527B2

The present invention relates to antisense oligonucleotides that modulate the expression of and/or function of Transcription factor E3 (TFE3) and/or Insulin Receptor Substrate 2 (IRS2) polynucleotides, in particular, by targeting natural antisense polynucleotides of Transcription factor E3 (TFE3) and/or Insulin Receptor Substrate 2 (IRS2). The invention also relates to the identification of these antisense oligonucleotides and their use in treating diseases and disorders associated with the expression of TFE3 and/or IRS2.
US08895521B2

Pharmaceutical compositions are disclosed that are of use for the treatment of uveitis. These compositions include a suppressive oligonucleotide. These compositions including an immunosuppressive oligonucleotide can be used for the treatment of uveitis, including anterior, posterior, and diffuse uveitis.
US08895516B2

Saccharide-protein conjugates having a new type of linker are described. The conjugates comprising the new linker are prepared from modified saccharides comprising a moiety of the formula (I): -A-N(R1)-L-M wherein: A is a bond, —C(O)— or —OC(O)—; R1 is selected from H or C1-C6 alkyl; L is a C1-C12 alkylene group; and M is a masked aldehyde group. The new linker is especially useful for preparing conjugates of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A saccharide. Conjugates having this new linker have improved immunogenicity compared to other types of conjugates.
US08895506B2

The present invention is directed to stabilizing Bone Morphogenetic Protein in various lyophilized formulations and compositions. The present invention comprises formulations primarily including trehalose as an excipient for lyophilized compositions and their subsequent storage and reconstitution, and can also optionally include other excipients, including buffers and surfactants.
US08895500B2

The present invention relates to a modified human tumor necrosis factor receptor-1 polypeptide which is capable of binding to a tumor necrosis factor in vivo or ex vivo, or to a fragment thereof. The modified human tumor necrosis factor receptor-1 polypeptide or the fragment thereof according to the present invention exhibit improved binding affinity to the tumor necrosis factor.
US08895498B2

The present invention relates generally to novel GIP analogs and GIP hybrid polypeptides with selectable properties, useful as agents for the treatment and prevention of metabolic diseases and disorders, for example those which can be alleviated by control plasma glucose levels, insulin levels, and/or insulin secretion, positive inotropic effects, reduction of catabolic effects, slowing of gastric emptying. Such conditions and disorders include, but are not limited to, hypertension, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, eating disorders, critical care, insulin-resistance, obesity, and diabetes mellitus of any kind, including type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.
US08895495B2

The present invention relates to a class of fragrance precursor compounds comprising one or more of the compounds derived from the reaction of X—OH and an aldehyde or ketone, the fragrance precursor compounds being of the formula X—O—C(R)(R*)(OR**) wherein R is a C6-24 alkyl group, a C6-24 aralkyl group or a C6-24 alkaryl group; R* is H or a C6-24 alkyl group, a C6-24 aralkyl group or a C6-24 alkaryl group; R** is H or X; X—O representing a moiety derived from X—OH, and wherein X—OH is a compound selected from the group consisting of surfactants, fabric softeners, softener precursor ester amines, softener precursor amido amines, hair conditioners, skin conditions, saccharides and polymers. In a second aspect it relates to a method of preparing such precusors. Further the invention relates to compositions, comprising the precursor of the invention.
US08895493B2

The need for a stable, compact composition providing improved fabric care benefit, that is also convenient to use, can be met by incorporating a cationic cellulose polymer into a non-aqueous composition, using a non-aqueous dispersant. Such compositions have good physical stability, with little or no clumping of the cationic polymer in particulate form.
US08895492B2

This application relates to a dilutable aqueous liquid cleaning composition, typically a dishwashing liquid, which comprises a plurality of surfactants, the surfactants including surfactant active components comprising from greater than 30% to up to 55% by weight, based on the weight of the composition, wherein the composition has a viscosity of 100 to 500 mPas as measured at 25° C., and the composition is dilutable with water to form a non-gelling diluted composition having up to six times the volume of the undiluted composition and a viscosity within the range of 100 to 1600 mPas as measured at 25° C. at any dilution up to the six times dilution.
US08895489B2

The invention provides a grease composition for hub unit bearing, containing (a) an aromatic diurea thickener, (b) a base oil, (c) a metal salt of oxidized wax, (d) diphenyl hydrogen phosphate, and (e) at least one rust preventive selected from the group consisting of sulfonate rust preventives and carboxylic acid rust preventives. The grease composition of the invention shows excellent anti-fretting properties at low temperature, and at the same time, exhibit excellent rust preventing properties.
US08895488B2

A sliding structural member is provided which achieves a good low frictional property. A DLC film 2 containing hydrogen is provided on one member 11 between members sliding against each other, and the one member and a counterpart member 12 are combined in such a way that the DLC film 2 provided on the one member 11 slides against the counterpart member via a lubricant 3 to which organic molybdenum compound and compound containing zinc and sulfur are added as an additive. A root mean square roughness of a surface of the DLC film 2 is set in a range from 5 nm or more to 25 nm or less, and hydrogen content of the DLC film 2 is set in a range from 4.5 at % (atomic %) or more to 30 at % or less.
US08895482B2

Degeneration of shale caused by oxygen in aqueous drilling, fracturing and completion fluids is minimized by introducing imidazolines modified so that they will be attracted efficiently to pyrites in the shale, thereby forming a protective coating on the pyrites. Inhibiting oxidation of the pyrites sharply reduces physical degradation of the shale in the presence of drilling, fracturing and completion fluids carrying oxygen. The imidazoline is an ionic salt or a beatine.
US08895478B2

The invention relates to novel polymers derived from: (A) at least one N-vinyl amide-based unit and/or at least one acrylamide-based unit, and (B) at least one unit comprising: (i) at least one hydroxyl group, and/or (ii) at least one functional group convertible to a hydroxyl group wherein at least one group is converted to hydroxyl functionality in the final polymer product, wherein the polymer comprises at least one ester group. The polymers and compositions are used in oilfield applications, such as an inhibitor of gas hydrates and/or a kinetic inhibitor of gas hydrates. The polymer can assume alternating, block, and/or random configurations of the repeating units, with at least one ester group.
US08895477B2

A method for preparing lignin graft copolymer comprising: reacting lignocellulosic materials with an acrylic compound by bulk condensation under nitrogen atmosphere in the presence of a non-oxidizing strong organic acid as catalyst; separating the reaction mixture to obtain a solid phase mainly containing lignocellulosic materials and a liquid phase containing lignin graft copolymer and unreacted acrylic compound; and removing solvent from the liquid phase to obtain the lignin graft copolymer.
US08895466B2

The present invention discloses an active metallocene catalyst system prepared with a hafnium-based metallocene catalyst system and an activating agent comprising an aluminoxane and a sterically hindered Lewis base.
US08895465B2

This invention provides activator precursor compositions and activator compositions. The activator precursor compositions are formed from a support material, an organoaluminum compound, and polyfunctional compounds having at least two aromatic groups in which at least two of said aromatic groups each has at least one polar moiety thereon. The activator compositions are formed from a support material, an organoaluminum compound, an aluminoxane, and a polyfunctional compound having at least two aromatic groups in which at least two of said aromatic groups each has at least one polar moiety thereon. Also provided are catalyst compositions, processes for forming catalyst compositions, and polymerization processes utilizing the catalyst compositions of this invention.
US08895457B2

To provide a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, including: forming a thin film different from a silicon oxide film on a substrate by supplying a processing gas into a processing vessel in which the substrate is housed; removing a deposit including the thin film adhered to an inside of the processing vessel by supplying a fluorine-containing gas into the processing vessel after executing forming the thin film prescribed number of times; and forming a silicon oxide film having a prescribed film thickness on the inside of the processing vessel by alternately supplying a silicon-containing gas, and an oxygen-containing gas and a hydrogen-containing gas into the heated processing vessel in which a pressure is set to be less than an atmospheric pressure after removing the deposit.
US08895454B2

In an etching method of a multilayer film including a first oxide film and a second oxide film, a high frequency power in etching an organic film is set to be higher than those in etching a first and second oxide films, and high frequency bias powers in the etching of the first and second oxide films are set to be higher than that in the etching of the organic film. In the etching of the first and second oxide films and the organic film, a magnetic field is generated such that horizontal magnetic field components in a radial direction with respect to a central axis line of a target object have an intensity distribution having a peak value at a position far from the central axis line, and a position of the peak value in the etching of the organic film is closer to the central axis line.
US08895451B2

A method for etching with a laser beam having a predetermined wavelength an area of a layer of a first material, said area being deposited at the surface of at least two second materials, includes: depositing a layer of a third material on the layer of the first material, the first and the third materials having a chemical affinity on application of the laser beam greater than the chemical affinity during said application between the first material and each of said at least two second materials; and applying the laser beam to an area of a free surface of the layer of third material vertically above the area of the layer of first material with a fluence of said laser beam causing the separation of said area.
US08895450B2

Embodiments described herein provide a semiconductor device and methods and apparatuses of forming the same. The semiconductor device includes a substrate having a source and drain region and a gate electrode stack on the substrate between the source and drain regions. In one embodiment, the method includes positioning a substrate within a processing chamber, wherein the substrate includes a source and drain region, a gate dielectric layer between the source and drain regions, and a conductive film layer on the gate dielectric layer. The method also includes depositing a refractory metal nitride film layer on the conductive film layer, depositing a silicon-containing film layer on the refractory metal nitride film layer, and depositing a tungsten film layer on the silicon-containing film layer.
US08895443B2

Provided are methods of depositing N-Metals onto a substrate. Some methods comprise providing an initiation layer of TaM or TiM layer on a substrate, wherein M is selected from aluminum, carbon, noble metals, gallium, silicon, germanium and combinations thereof; and exposing the substrate having the TaM or TiM layer to a treatment process comprising soaking the surface of the substrate with a reducing agent to provided a treated initiation layer.
US08895435B2

The method of forming a polysilicon layer is provided. A first polysilicon layer with a first grain size is formed on a substrate. A second polysilicon layer with a second grain size is formed on the first polysilicon layer. The first grain size is smaller than the second grain size. The first polysilicon layer with a smaller grain size can serve as a base for the following deposition, so that the second polysilicon layer formed thereon has a flatter topography, and thus, the surface roughness is reduced and the Rs uniformity within a wafer is improved.
US08895428B2

Disclosed is a manufacture method of the thin film transistor array, comprising depositing a first transparent conductive layer and a first metal layer to perform patterning for forming a common electrode, a gate electrode and a transparent electrode array; depositing an insulating layer, an active layer, an ohmic contact layer and a second metal layer to perform patterning for forming a source and a drain; depositing a second transparent conductive layer to perform patterning for forming a source contact layer, a drain contact layer and a pixel electrode array connected to the drain contact layer. The present invention simplifies the manufacture process, saves the cost and time for the manufacture.
US08895427B2

A zinc oxide transparent electroconductive oxide has been difficult to use as a substrate having a transparent electrode because the oxide, when configured as a thin film, because of increased resistivity due to air and/or moisture exposure. Though doping can inhibit increase of resistance to some extent, there has been difficulty in selecting a type and an amount of a doping substance and because doping causes high initial resistance. A substrate having a transparent electrode with stable resistivity against various environments is produced by a magnetron sputtering method using a target composed of a zinc oxide transparent electroconductive oxide containing 0.50 to 2.75% silicon dioxide by weight relative to the oxide.
US08895424B2

A process for forming a Schottky barrier to silicon to a barrier height selected at a value between 640 meV and 840 meV employs the deposition of a platinum or nickel film atop the silicon surface followed by the deposition of the other of a platinum or nickel film atop the first film. The two films are then exposed to anneal steps at suitable temperatures to cause their interdiffusion and an ultimate formation of Ni2Si and Pt2Si contacts to the silicon surface. The final silicide has a barrier height between that of the Pt and Ni, and will depend on the initial thicknesses of the Pt and Ni films and annealing temperature and time. Oxygen is injected into the system to form an SiO2 passivation layer to improve the self aligned process.
US08895422B2

Production of an integrated circuit including an electrical contact on SiC is disclosed. One embodiment provides for production of an electrical contact on an SiC substrate, in which a conductive contact is produced on a boundary surface of the SiC substrate by irradiation and absorption of a laser pulse on an SiC substrate.
US08895414B1

A method of forming an amorphous silicon film includes: forming a seed layer on a surface of a base by heating the base and supplying an amino silane-based gas to the heated base, forming the amorphous silicon film with thickness for layer growth on the seed layer by heating the base and supplying a silane-based gas containing no amino group to the seed layer on the surface of the heated base, and decreasing a film thickness of the amorphous silicon film by etching the amorphous silicon film formed with thickness for layer growth.
US08895409B2

A semiconductor wafer includes a die, an edge seal, a bond pad, a plating bus, and trace. The die is adjacent to a saw street. The edge seal is along a perimeter of the die and includes a conductive layer formed in a last interconnect layer of the die. The bond pad is formed as part of metal deposition layer above the last interconnect layer or part of the last interconnect layer. The plating bus is within the saw street. The trace is connected to the bond pad and to the plating bus (1) over the edge seal, insulated from the edge seal, and formed in the metal deposition layer or (2) through the edge seal and insulated from the edge seal.
US08895404B2

A method of back-side patterning of a silicon wafer is disclosed, which includes: depositing a protective layer on a front side of a silicon wafer; forming one or more deep trenches through the protective layer and extending into the silicon wafer by a depth greater than a target thickness of the silicon wafer; flipping over the silicon wafer and bonding the front side of the silicon wafer with a carrier wafer; polishing a back side of the silicon wafer; performing alignment by using the one or more deep trench alignment marks and performing back-side patterning process on the back side of the silicon wafer; and de-bonding the silicon wafer with the carrier wafer.
US08895400B2

A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a cell region and a peripheral circuit region defined therein. A buried word line is disposed in the substrate in the cell region and has a top surface lower than top surfaces of cell active regions in the cell region. A gate line is disposed on the substrate in the peripheral circuit region. A word line interconnect is disposed in the substrate in the peripheral circuit region, the word line interconnect including a first portion contacting the buried word line and having a top surface lower than a top surfaces of the cell active regions and a second portion that is overlapped by and in contact with the gate line.
US08895397B1

Methods are provided for manufacturing a thin film storage memory cell. The method includes forming a long select gate on a substrate, and forming thin film storage crystals overlying the long select gate and the adjacent substrate. A left and right control gate are formed on opposite sides of the long select gate, and a long select gate center portion is removed to form a left select gate and a right select gate with a gap therebetween. A drain is formed in the substrate underlying the gap, and a left and right source are formed in the substrate aligned with the left and right control gate.
US08895388B2

An object is to provide a technique for manufacturing an insulating layer with favorable withstand voltage. Another object is to provide a technique for manufacturing a semiconductor device having an insulating layer with favorable withstand voltage. By subjecting a semiconductor layer or semiconductor substrate mainly containing silicon to a high density plasma treatment, an insulating layer is formed on a surface of the semiconductor layer or a top surface of the semiconductor substrate. At this time, the high density plasma treatment is performed by switching a supply gas in the middle of the treatment from a gas containing a rare gas, oxygen, and hydrogen, to a gas containing a rare gas and oxygen.
US08895385B2

A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a through-substrate-via (TSV) structure in a substrate. The method includes forming a first etch stop layer over the TSV structure. The method further includes forming a first dielectric layer in contact with the first etch stop layer. The method still further includes forming a second etch stop layer in contact with the first dielectric layer. The method also includes forming a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor structure in contact with the second etch stop layer. The method further includes forming a first conductive structure through the first etch stop layer and the first dielectric layer, wherein the first conductive structure is electrically coupled with the TSV structure and the TSV structure is substantially wider than the first conductive structure.
US08895381B1

A method of forming a semiconductor device that includes providing a substrate including a biaxial strained semiconductor layer that is present directly on a dielectric layer, and patterning the biaxial strained semiconductor layer to provide a first conductivity region of a laterally relaxed semiconductor portion and a second conductivity region of a biaxial strained semiconductor portion, wherein the laterally relaxed semiconductor portion is present over an undercut region in the dielectric layer.A hydrogen anneal is applied to the first and second conductivity region, wherein the laterally relaxed semiconductor portion is relaxed to an unstrained state. A first semiconductor device is formed in first conductivity region and a second semiconductor device is formed in the second conductivity region.
US08895372B2

A three-dimensional (3D) integrated circuit (IC) structure includes a first layer of graphene formed over a substrate; a first level of one or more active devices formed using the first layer of graphene; an insulating layer formed over the first level of one or more active devices; a second layer of graphene formed over the insulating layer; and a second level of one or more active devices formed using the second layer of graphene, the second level of one or more active devices electrically interconnected with the first level of one or more active devices.
US08895370B2

A vertical conduction power device includes respective gate, source and drain areas formed in an epitaxial layer on a semiconductor substrate. The respective gate, source and drain metallizations are formed by a first metallization level. The gate, source and drain terminals are formed by a second metallization level. The device is configured as a set of modular areas extending parallel to each other. Each modular area has a rectangular elongate source area perimetrically surrounded by a gate area, and a drain area defined by first and second regions. The first regions of the drain extend parallel to one another and separate adjacent modular areas. The second regions of the drain area extend parallel to one another and contact ends of the first regions of the drain area.
US08895366B2

A semiconductor package and a fabrication method thereof are disclosed. The fabrication method includes the steps of providing a semiconductor chip having an active surface and a non-active surface opposing to the active surface, roughening a peripheral portion of the non-active surface so as to divide the non-active surface into the peripheral portion formed with a roughened structure and a non-roughened central portion, mounting the semiconductor chip on a chip carrier via a plurality of solder bumps formed on the active surface, forming an encapsulant on the chip carrier to encapsulate the semiconductor chip. The roughened structure formed on the peripheral portion of the non-active surface of the semiconductor chip can reinforce the bonding between the semiconductor chip and the encapsulant, and the non-roughened central portion of the non-active surface of the semiconductor chip can maintain the structural strength of the semiconductor chip.
US08895355B2

A method of arranging a diamagnetic rod includes levitating a diamagnetic rod above a contact line at which a first magnet contacts a second magnet, the first magnet and the second magnet having diametric magnetization in a direction perpendicular to the contact line.
US08895348B2

A solar cell, comprising: a doped silicon substrate, the silicon substrate comprising a front surface and a rear surface; a front phosphorous diffusion layer formed on the front surface; a front anti-reflective layer formed on the front phosphorous diffusion layer; a front metal electrode on the front surface in ohmic contact with the front phosphorous diffusion layer through the front anti-reflective layer; a rear passivation layer formed on the rear surface; a rear metal electrode in a pattern on the rear surface passing through the rear passivation layer; and a rear p+ diffusion area on the rear surface between the rear passivation layer and a boron-doped region of the silicon substrate, the rear p+ diffusion area surrounding the rear metal electrode.
US08895345B2

The present invention provides a dicing method that achieves excellent dicing properties at low costs by removing a metal film through a metal processing operation with a diamond tool and then performing pulse laser beam irradiation. The dicing method is a method of dicing a substrate to be processed, devices being formed in the substrate to be processed, a metal film being formed on one surface of the substrate to be processed. The dicing method includes: placing the substrate to be processed onto a first stage; forming a groove portion by removing the metal film through a metal processing operation with a diamond tool; placing the substrate to be processed onto a second stage; generating a clock signal; emitting a pulse laser beam synchronized with the clock signal to the groove portion of the substrate to be processed; moving the substrate to be processed and the pulse laser beam relative to each other; switching the pulse laser beam between irradiation and non-irradiation of the substrate to be processed on a light pulse basis by controlling passing and blocking of the pulse laser beam with a pulse picker in synchronization with the clock signal; and forming cracks in the substrate to be processed, the cracks reaching the substrate surface.
US08895342B2

Inverted metamorphic multijunction solar cells having a heterojunction middle subcell and a graded interlayer, and methods of making same, are disclosed herein. The present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing a solar cell using an MOCVD process, wherein the graded interlayer is composed of (InxGa1-x)yAl1-yAs, and is formed in the MOCVD reactor so that it is compositionally graded to lattice match the middle second subcell on one side and the lower third subcell on the other side, with the values for x and y computed and the composition of the graded interlayer determined so that as the layer is grown in the MOCVD reactor, the band gap of the graded interlayer remains constant at 1.5 eV throughout the thickness of the graded interlayer.
US08895331B2

Provided is a semiconductor light emitting diode having a textured structure formed on a substrate. In a method of manufacturing the semiconductor light emitting diode, a metal layer is formed on the substrate, and a metal oxide layer having holes is formed by anodizing the metal layer. The metal oxide layer itself can be used as a textured structure pattern, or the textured structure pattern can be formed by forming holes in the substrate or a material layer under the metal oxide layer corresponding to the holes of the metal oxide layer. The manufacture of the semiconductor light emitting diode is completed by sequentially forming a first semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second semiconductor layer on the textured structure pattern.
US08895329B2

Disclosed herein are a patterned substrate for a light emitting diode and a light emitting diode employing the patterned substrate. The substrate has top and bottom surfaces. Protrusion patterns are arranged on the top surface of the substrate. Furthermore, recessed regions surround the protrusion patterns. The recessed regions have irregular bottoms. Thus, the protrusion patterns and the recessed regions can prevent light emitted from a light emitting diode from being lost due to the total reflection to thereby improve light extraction efficiency.
US08895328B2

A fabrication method of a light-emitting device comprises providing a growth substrate; forming a protective layer on a first surface of the growth substrate; and forming a first semiconductor layer on a second surface of the growth substrate opposite to the first surface, wherein the coefficient of thermal expansion of the growth substrate is smaller than that of the protective layer and the first semiconductor layer.
US08895324B2

A method of determining an amount of impurities that a contaminating material contributes to high purity silicon including the step of partially encasing a sample of high purity silicon in the contaminating material. The sample encased in the contaminating material is heated within a furnace. A change in impurity content of the high purity silicon is determined after the step of heating, compared to an impurity content of the high purity silicon prior to the step of heating. A furnace for heat treating high purity silicon including a housing that defines a heating chamber. The housing is at least partially formed from low contaminant material that contributes less than 400 parts per trillion of impurities to the high purity silicon during heating at annealing temperatures for a sufficient period time to anneal the high purity silicon, and the furnace contributes an average of less than 400 parts per trillion of impurities to the high purity silicon under the same heating conditions.
US08895319B2

The present invention provides a nanohybrid type nitrogen monoxide detecting sensor and a production method therefor in which the nanohybrid type nitrogen monoxide detecting sensor includes a fluorescent semiconducting quantum dot and a transition metal compound. Employing a nanohybrid structure including semiconducting quantum dot nano-particles combined with a molecule recognizer selectively forming a bonding to nitrogen monoxide, the nitrogen monoxide detecting sensor is enabled to detect an infinitesimal amount of nitrogen monoxide by bringing about photoluminescence upon detection of nitrogen monoxide.
US08895298B2

The invention features methods for separating cells from a sample (e.g., separating fetal red blood cells from maternal blood). The method begins with the introduction of a sample including cells into one or more microfluidic channels. In one embodiment, the device includes at least two processing steps. For example, a mixture of cells is introduced into a microfluidic channel that selectively allows the passage of a desired type of cell, and the population of cells enriched in the desired type is then introduced into a second microfluidic channel that allows the passage of the desired cell to produce a population of cells further enriched in the desired type. The selection of cells is based on a property of the cells in the mixture, for example, size, shape, deformability, surface characteristics (e.g., cell surface receptors or antigens and membrane permeability), or intracellular properties (e.g., expression of a particular enzyme).
US08895291B2

Embodiments described herein generally relate to methods and systems for using an air removal chamber as a control for a process in a cell expansion system. The air removal chamber may be mounted on a fluid conveyance assembly for use with the system. Fluid is pumped into a fluid containment chamber of the air removal chamber, in which the level of fluid in the fluid containment chamber may be monitored through the use of one or more sensors. The sensors are capable of detecting air, a lack of fluid, fluid, and/or a gas/fluid interface, e.g., an air/fluid interface, at measuring positions within the air removal chamber. Protocols for use with the system may include one or more stop conditions. In an embodiment, the stopping of a process is automated based on the detection of air, a lack of fluid, and/or a gas/fluid interface in the air removal chamber.
US08895279B2

A method to recover and harvest nutrients from a liquid stream by incorporating them into microorganisms grown in a rotating photobioreactor. The method further includes optionally integrating the rotating photobioreactor with a composting or biogenic drying process.
US08895275B2

A method for producing an aqueous sugar solution from cellulosic materials comprising the steps of heating ground cellulosic materials with perchloric acid; neutralizing the heated materials with an alkali to yield a salt precipitate; and filtering the salt precipitate off to obtain the aqueous sugar solution.
US08895270B2

Disclosed is a method for producing a β-amino acid comprising a step of synthesizing a β-amino acid from an α-amino acid in the presence of an amino acid aminomutase. In this method, a β-amino acid is precipitated as a solid in the reaction solution.
US08895266B2

The present invention relates to a cell for the production of an antibody molecule such as an antibody useful for various diseases having high antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxic activity, a fragment of the antibody and a fusion protein having the Fc region of the antibody or the like, a method for producing an antibody composition using the cell, the antibody composition and use thereof.
US08895264B2

Nucleases and methods of using these nucleases for modification of an HPRT locus and for increasing the frequency of gene modification at a targeted locus and clones and for generating animals.
US08895262B1

The staining method for identification of flatworms includes placing a sample flatworm specimen on a microscope slide, mounting the flatworm specimen on the slide with a small amount of lactophenol cotton blue (LPCB) stain, waiting two to three minutes for the stain to be absorbed by flatworm tissues, covering the specimen with a cover slip, and examining the stained specimen with a microscope to identify the species-distinctive organs of the flatworm. For permanent mounting, the cover slip may be sealed to the microscope slide by nail polish. The method is effective for trematodes (flukes) and cestodes (tapeworms). Before examination, the specimen may be preserved by obtaining the flatworm from a carrier or host, washing the flatworm in saline and preserving the flatworm in alcohol, e.g. 70% alcohol.
US08895252B2

Enzyme based analyte sensors having radiation stabilizing agents are disclosed and described. More particularly, devices comprising a radiation stabilizing agent and methods for stabilizing sensors to high energy radiation sterilization are disclosed and described.
US08895245B2

The invention relates to inhibition of wild-type and certain mutant forms of human histone methyltransferase EZH2, the catalytic subunit of the PRC2 complex which catalyzes the mono- through tri-methylation of lysine 27 on histone H3 (H3-K27). In one embodiment the inhibition is selective for the mutant form of the EZH2, such that trimethylation of H3-K27, which is associated with certain cancers, is inhibited. The methods can be used to treat cancers including follicular lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Also provided are methods for identifying small molecule selective inhibitors of the mutant forms of EZH2 and also methods for determining responsiveness to an EZH2 inhibitor in a subject.
US08895244B2

Provided are a method and a kit for detecting 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in a nucleic acid. The method is a method for detecting 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in a nucleic acid, comprising the steps of: (1) oxidizing 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in a nucleic acid sample by treating the nucleic acid sample with a tungstic acid-based oxidizing agent comprising peroxotungstic acid, tungstic acid, a salt thereof, or a combination thereof with a reoxidizing agent; and (2) determining the position of the oxidized 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in the nucleic acid sample.
US08895240B2

This invention relates to a method, kit and system for collecting and processing of samples to release and treat DNA and RNA for gene sequence detection. The method described here in provides for rapid and convenient release, and recovery of DNA and RNA from tissues and cellular materials.
US08895233B2

A method of creating a region of index change in a photopolymer includes providing a photopolymer having a photosensitivity to light of a particular wavelength and creating a region of index change in the photopolymer by applying direct write lithography to expose the photopolymer of the region to light that includes the particular wavelength.
US08895225B2

A method of forming patterns includes (a) coating a substrate with a resist composition for negative development to form a resist film, wherein the resist composition contains a resin capable of increasing the polarity by the action of the acid and becomes more soluble in a positive developer and less soluble in a negative developer upon irradiation with an actinic ray or radiation, (b) forming a protective film on the resist film with a protective film composition after forming the resist film and before exposing the resist film, (c) exposing the resist film via an immersion medium, and (d) performing development with a negative developer.
US08895224B2

Lithographic printing plates and processes for preparing the lithographic printing plates are provided. The plates have excellent printing durability, staining resistance and staining resistance over time. The lithographic printing plate precursor includes: a substrate; a photosensitive layer provided on the substrate; and an extra layer optionally provided between the substrate and the photosensitive layer. The photosensitive layer or the extra layer adjacent to the substrate contains (A) a copolymer. The copolymer (A) includes: (a1) a repeating unit of formula (a1-1) below in a side chain, and (a2) a repeating unit having at least one of the structures represented by formulae (a2-1) to (a2-6) shown in the specification in a side chain. L1, Z1, R1, and R21, R22 and R23 in formula (a1-1) and the variables in formulae (a2-1) to (a2-6) are as defined in the specification.
US08895220B2

An emulsion aggregation toner formulation for electrophotography and a method for preparation thereof. The emulsion aggregation toner formulation includes a polyester resin emulsion formed using an extruded polyester binder resin having a broad molecular weight distribution. The extruded polyester binder resin is formed using a plurality of polyester binder resins. Further, the emulsion aggregation toner formulation comprises at least one colorant dispersion and a wax dispersion.
US08895214B2

An optical mask for forming a pattern is provided. The optical mask includes: a substrate including a light blocking pattern formed on portions of the substrate, wherein the light blocking pattern includes a halftone layer and a light blocking layer formed on the halftone layer, and the halftone layer and the light blocking layer overlap such that at least an edge portion of the halftone layer is exposed. A pitch of the light blocking pattern may about 6 μm, and a transmission ratio of the halftone layer may range from about 10% to about 50%.
US08895212B2

In the field of semiconductor production using charged particle beam lithography, a method and system for fracturing or mask data preparation or proximity effect correction is disclosed, wherein base dosages for a plurality of exposure passes are different from each other. Methods for manufacturing a reticle and manufacturing an integrated circuit are also disclosed, wherein a plurality of charged particle beam exposure passes are used, with base dosage levels being different for different exposure passes.
US08895210B2

An aspect of the present embodiment, there is provided a method for fabricating a pellicle, including acquiring a shape of a pellicle frame, deciding a thickness distribution of an adhesive to be coated on the pellicle frame on a basis of the acquired shape of the pellicle frame, and coating the adhesive on the pellicle frame based on the decision of the thickness distribution.
US08895206B2

A porous metal that comprises platinum and has a specific surface area that is greater than 5 m2/g and less than 75 m2/g. A fuel cell includes a first electrode, a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode, and an electrolyte arranged between the first and the second electrodes. At least one of the first and second electrodes is coated with a porous metal catalyst for oxygen reduction, and the porous metal catalyst comprises platinum and has a specific surface area that is greater than 5 m2/g and less than 75 m2/g. A method of producing a porous metal according to an embodiment of the current invention includes producing an alloy consisting essentially of platinum and nickel according to the formula PtxNi1-x, where x is at least 0.01 and less than 0.3; and dealloying the alloy in a substantially pH neutral solution to reduce an amount of nickel in the alloy to produce the porous metal.
US08895204B2

A water reactive hydrogen fueled power system includes devices and methods to combine reactant fuel materials and aqueous solutions to generate hydrogen. The generated hydrogen is converted in a fuel cell to provide electricity. The water reactive hydrogen fueled power system includes a fuel cell, a water feed tray, and a fuel cartridge to generate power for portable power electronics. The removable fuel cartridge is encompassed by the water feed tray and fuel cell. The water feed tray is refillable with water by a user. The water is then transferred from the water feed tray into the fuel cartridge to generate hydrogen for the fuel cell which then produces power for the user.
US08895195B2

Disclosed is a non-aqueous electrolyte comprising: an acrylate compound; a sulfinyl group-containing compound; an organic solvent; and an electrolyte salt. Also, disclosed is an electrode comprising a coating layer formed partially or totally on a surface thereof, the coating layer comprising: (i) a reduced form of an acrylate compound; and (ii) a reduced form of a sulfinyl group-containing compound. Further, disclosed is an electrochemical device comprising a cathode, an anode and a non-aqueous electrolyte, wherein (i) the non-aqueous electrolyte is the aforementioned non-aqueous electrolyte; and/or (ii) the cathode and/or the anode is the aforementioned electrode.
US08895192B2

A grid plate for a lead acid storage battery including a frame section having a pair of quadrangular contour shape, and longitudinal and lateral grid strands forming a frame section grid. The longitudinal and lateral grid strands have thick strands of smaller thickness than the frame section, and thin strands of smaller width and thickness than the thick strands. Strands adjacent to the thick strands are thin strands, and space allows flow of active material to sides of the thick strands. Ends of the thick strands in the thickness direction are positioned further inward from end faces of the frame section in the thickness direction, and the end portions of one end side of the thin strands in the thickness direction are positioned offset to one end side of the thick strands in the thickness direction, and active material is packed into the reverse surface side of the grid plate.
US08895187B2

Provided is a non-aqueous electrolyte-based, high-power lithium secondary battery having a long service life and superior safety at both room temperature and high temperature, even after repeated high-current charging and discharging. The battery comprises a cathode active material composed of a mixture of lithium/manganese spinel oxide and lithium/nickel/cobalt/manganese composite oxide wherein the cathode active material exhibits the life characteristics that the capacity at 300 cycles is more than 70% relative to the initial capacity, in the provision of satisfying the condition (i) regarding the particle size and the condition (ii) regarding the mixing ratio.
US08895186B2

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a lithium-ion rechargeable battery anode which can control the volume change of a primary particle of a negative-electrode active material other than a carbon-based material and that can prevent cracks due to stress caused by the volume change from occurring and extending. There is provided an anode for a lithium-ion rechargeable battery including a primary particle of a negative-electrode active material, a conductive material, and a binder, the negative-electrode active material including at least one of silicon and tin, and at least one element selected from elements that do not chemically react with lithium, in which holes are present both in an inner core region in the central region of the primary particle of the negative-electrode active material and in a periphery region that covers the inner core region.
US08895179B2

A card battery to charge and/or discharge an external electronic apparatus, the card battery including: a card battery body including a bare cell and a first substrate electrically connected to the bare cell; and a connector including a protection circuit module electrically connected to the card battery body.
US08895178B2

A battery pack including: a bare cell; a holder disposed at an end of the bare cell, having a connection groove on a side surface thereof; a protection circuit board seated in the holder; and an outer case disposed upon a side of the bare cell, having a connection protrusion mated with the connection groove, to secure the holder. Another battery pack includes: a bare cell including an electrode assembly and an cell case to accommodate the electrode assembly, including an outer casing and a inner casing, the cell case having a connection protrusion disposed at an edge of at least one of the outer and inner casings; a holder disposed at an end of the bare cell, having a connection groove to mate with the connection protrusion and thereby secure the holder; and a protection circuit board seated in the holder.
US08895170B2

A battery holder is equipped with a support unit having a battery holding hole, and a holder unit interposed between the battery holding hole and the battery. The holder unit has a first spacer and a second spacer. The first spacer has a support part that supports the battery in the support unit. The second spacer is formed using a material with a lower melting point than the melting point of the material of the first spacer, this is inserted in the heat shielding space, and when the second spacer is melted by heat and flows out from the heat shielding space, the constitution is such that the heat shielding space shifts the heat insulation space.
US08895168B2

A battery is disclosed that includes two contact areas, an electrolyte, and a conductivity mechanism to increase electron conductivity internal to the battery between the two contact areas that, in turn, deactivates the battery. In one embodiment, the conductivity mechanism is triggered external to the battery. In another embodiment, the conductivity mechanism utilizes deactivator material to increase electron conductivity through the electrolyte to deactivate the battery. In yet another embodiment, the conductivity mechanism creates multiple shorts between the two contact areas to deactivate the battery.
US08895164B2

A perpendicular magnetic recording medium, which includes a nonmagnetic substrate, and a first underlayer in the form of a soft magnetic under-layer (SUL), a second underlayer, an intermediate layer, a magnetic recording layer, a protective layer, and a lubricant layer sequentially laminated on the nonmagnetic substrate. The SUL has a plurality of SUL layers including a type-A SUL layer, a plurality of type-B SUL layers including at least two adjacent type-B SUL layers, and a nonmagnetic metal spacer layer disposed between the two adjacent type-B SUL layers. The type-A SUL layer may include a material selected from Co, Fe and Ni, a material selected from Cr, V and Ti, and a material selected from W, Zr, Ta and Nb. Each of the type-B SUL layers is in antiferromagnetic coupling, and may include a material selected from Co, Fe and Ni, a material selected from Cr, V and Ti, and a material selected from W, Zr, Ta and Nb.
US08895152B2

The invention relates to a method for generating at least one electrically contactable area on a polymer which is doped with a conductive substance, wherein a contact material is applied onto the polymer, which has a lower specific resistance at 23° C. than the polymer. According to the invention the contact material is applied onto the polymer so tightly that close contact between the contact material and the conductive substance is achieved. Due to the tight application of the contact material, which has a lower specific resistance than the polymer, the input resistance of the doped polymer is effectively reduced. The invention further concerns a formed body made of a polymer which is doped with a conductive substance, which has at least one contactable area, within which a contact material is applied onto the polymer, which has a lower specific resistance at 23° C. than the polymer. According to the invention the contact material is applied onto the polymer so tightly that it is in close contact to the conductive substance. Such formed body has a significantly reduced input resistance.
US08895144B2

Disclosed are a multifunctional thermal conducting and/or radiating particle simultaneously having at least one of various functions, such as electromagnetic wave absorbing property, flame retardency, antistatic property, insulating property, thermal resistance and electrical conductivity, as well as a thermal conductivity, a composite array having the same and a fabrication method thereof. The multifunctional thermal conducting and/or radiating particle is composed of a core and a shell, wherein the core includes a core particle having a lower thermal conductivity than that of a particle included in the shell, and the shell includes high-thermal conductive particles each having a higher thermal conductivity than that of the core particle.
US08895140B2

Provided is a vinylidene fluoride resin film that has good adhesiveness to a base material, achieves good dispersivity even when a pigment is contained in large amounts, and has excellent thermal stability during a forming process. To a resin component composed of a vinylidene fluoride resin and a methacrylic acid ester resin, a predetermined amount of a titanium oxide surface treated with alumina and silica and a predetermined amount of a fatty acid ester of polyethylene glycol and/or its derivative are added to prepare a vinylidene fluoride resin film. Alternatively, at least a front side layer and a back side layer have such a composition, the front side layer has a combination amount of the vinylidene fluoride resin and the methacrylic acid ester resin of 70:30 to 95:5 in terms of mass ratio, and the back side layer has a combination amount of the vinylidene fluoride resin and the methacrylic acid ester resin of 5:95 to 45:55 in terms of mass ratio. In each case, the total adhesion amount of alumina and silica is 5 to 11% by mass in the titanium oxide relative to the total mass of the titanium oxide.
US08895138B2

An impact resistant composite article has two or more layers of ballistic fabric and ionomer layers disposed between the fabric layers. The ionomer is highly neutralized so that it has essentially no melt flow. A process also for making such a composite article that involves deposition of an aqueous colloid of the ionomer onto the fabric, followed by drying.
US08895128B2

The present invention is an improved corkboard consisting of a small, circular, moveable and removable tack landing pad which is designed to adhere to a flat surface such as a wall or computer by an adhesive strip or to a metal surface like a refrigerator or thing cabinet via a magnetic strip. This landing pad is designed to receive papers of various sizes, shapes, and stock through puncture with a standard push pin tack without damaging walls. The landing pad consists of two components—(1) an outer donut-shaped shell that is sealed at its base and is contoured inward to a narrowing angle at its tack receiving face and (2) an inner foam core. The outer shell operates to both enclose and compress the foam core. This core compression affords the foam greater tack gripping ability as well as enhanced durability by quickly regaining its original shape upon tack removal.
US08895125B2

Multi-layer moulding having a high structural load-carrying capacity with two opposing broad faces and a laterally peripheral end face, containing, in layers, broad face on broad face, layered wood veneers and, lying between the wood veneers, adhesives. The wood veneers are layered in such a way that the grain of at least one of the wood veneers deviates from the grain of one or the other wood veneers by 45° to 90° and in that the grain of the wood veneers deviates by 22.5 to 67.5° with respect to a surface normal to an end face of the moulding.
US08895109B2

The invention describes a coated spring for mattresses that comprises a helical compression spring and a wrapping in the form of a bag containing the spring, wherein the bag containing the spring is injected with a polymeric reaction mixture, which after reacting or curing produces a polymeric foam, preferably of flexible polyurethane up to a desired volume in order to cause the spring to change its flexion or compression properties, as well as the method for its manufacturing and its use in the manufacturing of mattresses of different kinds.
US08895106B2

The present disclosure concerns a process suitable for coating discrete articles with a zinc-rich, fully alloyed layer. A known method for the corrosion-protection of such articles comprises the steps of hot-dip galvannealing, typically followed by painting. This hot-dip process has however to be performed at a high temperature, thereby submitting the articles to severe thermal stress. A novel vacuum deposition process of Zn is therefore presented. It is characterized in that, in the step of contacting the article with metallic Zn vapor, the temperature of the article is equal to or higher than the dew point of the Zn vapor. The process results in a coating having a uniform thickness, even on less accessible surfaces. The surface roughness is well adapted for the adhesion of paint.
US08895105B2

A method of growing carbon nanomaterials on a substrate wherein the substrate is exposed to an oxidizing gas; a seed material is deposited on the substrate to form a receptor for a catalyst on the surface of said substrate; a catalyst is deposited on the seed material by exposing the receptor on the surface of the substrate to a vapor of the catalyst; and substrate is subjected to chemical vapor deposition in a carbon containing gas to grow carbon nanomaterial on the substrate.
US08895093B2

A method for making a jelly confectionery comprising preparing a liquid jelly confectionery composition comprising bulk sweetener and a hydrocolloid gelling agent, cooking the liquid jelly confectionery composition, and depositing the liquid jelly confectionery composition into a mold, wherein the viscosity of the liquid jelly confectionery composition is temporarily modified for a period of time commencing prior to deposition of the liquid jelly confectionery into a mold.
US08895085B2

There is provided agglomerated oil impregnated psyllium husk and to a method for manufacturing the agglomerated oil impregnated psyllium husk. Specifically the present invention provides compositions comprising agglomerates of psyllium husks, wherein the husks have been subjected to treatment with an oily component (e.g. vegetable oil, such as rapeseed oil) prior to a drying process, such as a fluidized bed process, wherein the husks are agglomerated with a saccharide containing aqueous suspension/solution sprayed onto the husks.
US08895067B2

The composition for stimulating an immune response in a subject comprises methyl vinyl ether and maleic anhydride copolymer-based nanoparticles. Said nanoparticles may further contain an allergen or an antigen and/or an immunostimulating agent, which may be contained inside said nanoparticles and/or at least partially coating the surface of said nanoparticles, and optionally a cross-linking agent. The immune response stimulating composition is useful as an adjuvant in immunotherapy and vaccines.
US08895063B2

An oral solid dosage form containing one or several active principle(s) having analgesic properties, the composition of said dosage form being such that it prevents the misuse of said dosage form through the liquid extraction of the active principle(s) contained therein, using commonly available solvents.Said oral solid dosage form containing at least one salt of at least one analgesic active principle, and an anti-misuse system comprising at least one quenching agent, said quenching agent being suitable for inducing complexation of said analgesic active principle salt when the analgesic active principle salt is improperly extracted, notably by a drug abuser, in vitro in solution from said oral solid dosage form.
US08895062B2

The invention provides surface-layer protein coated microspheres for delivery of a therapeutic agent to the intestine. These surface-layer protein coated microspheres generally include a core encapsulated by a microsphere which is coated by surface layer protein. The core includes a therapeutic agent, such as a defensin. The invention also includes methods of making and using the surface-layer protein coated microspheres of the invention for administering therapeutic agents to a subject in need thereof. The invention also includes pharmaceutical dosage units that include the surface-layer protein coated microspheres of the invention. The invention further includes various labeled defensins for use in the study of the properties and actions of defensins, and further includes the use of defensins, particularly HD5α in the treatment of inflammatory conditions of the bowel, such as Crohn's disease.
US08895061B2

The present invention provides compositions comprising carisoprodol or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters or derivatives thereof. In certain embodiments, the invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the skeletal muscle relaxant carisoprodol and one or more additional active agents, such as one or more nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The invention further provides methods of use of such compositions in preventing, alleviating and/or treating musculoskeletal pain, muscle spasms, or other non-malignant painful conditions including methods in which the circulating levels of the active pharmaceutical form of carisoprodol are controlled by use of extended- or controlled-release formulations or by strict control of dosage regimen, so as to reduce the level of somnolence observed with other muscle relaxant compositions.
US08895059B2

The invention relates to compositions and methods for reducing cross-linking in the gelatin shell of gelatin capsules by incorporation of free amino acid into the capsule shell and by inclusion of an ester of carboxylic acid either into the capsule filling, and/or into the capsule shell and/or into the lubrication agent, or in combinations thereof. Described are soft gelatin capsules characterized by improved stability as compared with gelatin capsules that do not contain amino acid in the shell and carboxylic acid ester in the filling, shell or in the lubrication agent, or in combinations thereof.
US08895058B2

A method for effecting weight loss by administering a combination of topiramate and phentermine is provided. The phentermine is generally administered in immediate release form, in a daily dose in the range of 2 mg to 8 mg, in combination with a daily dose of topiramate selected to prevent the loss of effectiveness of phentermine alone. Methods for treating obesity, conditions associated with obesity, and other indications are also provided, as are compositions and dosage forms containing low doses of phentermine and topiramate, e.g., 3.75 mg phentermine and 23 mg topiramate.
US08895057B2

The present invention is drawn to novel topiramate compositions as well as methods for effecting weight loss, e.g., in the treatment of obesity and related conditions, including conditions associated with and/or caused by obesity per se. The present invention features an escalating dosing regimen adapted for the administration of topiramate and optionally a sympathomimetic agent such as phentermine or bupropion, in the treatment of obesity and related conditions.
US08895051B2

A flavoring system for a liquid pharmaceutical composition and pharmaceutical compositions containing such flavoring systems are disclosed. Flavoring systems of the invention include at least one sweetening agent, at least two flavored ingredients, and at least one flavor modifier selected from the group consisting of citric acid, sodium citrate, sodium chloride, and mixtures thereof. At least two of the flavored ingredients are selected from the group consisting of a vanilla flavored ingredient, a peppermint flavored ingredient, a menthol flavored ingredient, a cotton candy flavored ingredient, and mixtures thereof. The one or more sweetening agents comprise glycerin, monoammonium glycyrrhizinate, saccharin sodium, acesulfame potassium, high fructose corn syrup, and/or mixtures thereof. Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention include a flavoring system of the invention, a solvent system, and at least one pharmaceutically active agent, such as lopinavir or derivatives thereof, ritonavir or derivatives thereof, or mixtures thereof. Methods for making such liquid pharmaceutical compositions are also disclosed.
US08895050B2

The present invention relates to the discovery that certain non-naturally occurring, non-peptide amide compounds and amide derivatives, such as oxalamides, ureas, and acrylamides, are useful flavor or taste modifiers, such as a flavoring or flavoring agents and flavor or taste enhancer, more particularly, savory (the “umami” taste of monosodium glutamate) or sweet taste modifiers, —savory or sweet flavoring agents and savory or sweet flavor enhancers, for food, beverages, and other comestible or orally administered medicinal products or compositions.
US08895049B2

Biodegradable implants sized and suitable for implantation in an ocular region or site and methods for treating ocular conditions. The implants provide an extended release of an active agent at a therapeutically effective amount for a period of time between 50 days and one year, or longer.
US08895048B2

Substrates and devices for culturing cells are disclosed, along with methods of using the same. The substrates and devices include top surfaces with one or more divots disposed therein. Each divot is defined by an opening in the top surface, a rounded bottom surface spaced from the opening, and an interior side-wall surface extending between the rounded bottom surface and the opening. The top surface of the substrates and devices are optionally walled to form wells containing one or more divots. The substrates and devices may be used for reaggregating cells, for example, to form small islet cell clusters and for high throughput testing methodologies.
US08895046B2

Adult autologous stem cells cultured on a porous, three-dimensional tissue scaffold-implant for bone regeneration by the use of a hyaluronan and/or dexamethasone to accelerate bone healing alone or in combination with recombinant growth factors or transfected osteogenic genes. The scaffold-implant may be machined into a custom-shaped three-dimensional cell culture system for support of cell growth, reservoir for peptides, recombinant growth factors, cytokines and antineoplastic drugs in the presence of a hyaluronan and/or dexamethasone alone or in combination with growth factors or transfected osteogenic genes, to be assembled ex vivo in a tissue incubator for implantation into bone tissue.
US08895034B2

A topical skin care lotion includes materials for supplementing the production of collagen I and III includes a base of lipophillic or lipophobic material and at least one amino acid. The amino acids are alanine and glycine. Other components of the lotion include iron, vitamin C, manganese, silica and cherry fruit extract. Together, these components assist the body with the production of collagen and promote healing of damaged skin. Antioxidants are also provided to protect the skin from oxidative stress by ultraviolet sunlight and environmental hazards.
US08895024B2

An immunogenic composition having 13 distinct polysaccharide-protein conjugates and optionally, an aluminum-based adjuvant, is described. Each conjugate contains a capsular polysaccharide prepared from a different serotype of Streptococcus pneumoniae (1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F and 23F) conjugated to a carrier protein. The immunogenic composition, formulated as a vaccine, increases coverage against pneumococcal disease in infants and young children globally, and provides coverage for serotypes 6A and 19A that is not dependent on the limitations of serogroup cross-protection.
US08895022B2

Provided herein is a CD24 protein. The CD24 protein may include mature human or mouse CD24, as well as a N- or C-terminally fused portion of a mammalian immunoglobulin.
US08895018B2

Methods are provided for the treatment of subjects with cognitive or neuropsychiatric impairment induced by substance addiction and for increasing cognitive function in a subject with substance addiction. In some embodiments, the methods include administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule including covalently linked first, second, and third domains; wherein the first domain is an MHC class II β1 domain and the second domain is an MHC class II α1 domain; or wherein the first domain is an MHC class I α1 domain and the second domain is an MHC class I α2 domain; and wherein the third domain is covalently linked to the first domain and comprises an antigen of the central or peripheral nervous system.
US08895013B2

The invention relates to therapeutic conjugates with the ability to target various antigens. The conjugates contain a targeting antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof and an anthracycline chemotherapeutic drug. The targeting antibody and the chemotherapeutic drug are linked via a linker comprising a hydrazide moiety.
US08895009B2

The invention provides a method for producing a host cell protein-(HCP) reduced antibody preparation from a mixture comprising an antibody and at least one HCP, comprising an ion exchange separation step wherein the mixture is subjected to a first ion exchange material, such that the HCP-reduced antibody preparation is obtained.
US08895001B2

Provided are methods of suppressing growth of triple negative breast tumors and basal-like breast tumors by contacting tumor cells with an ErbB3 inhibitor, e.g., an anti-ErbB3 antibody. Also provided are methods for treating triple negative breast cancer or basal-like breast cancer in a patient by administering to the patient an ErbB3 inhibitor, e.g., an anti-ErbB3 antibody. The treatment methods can further comprise selecting a patient having a triple negative breast cancer or basal-like breast cancer and then administering an ErbB3 inhibitor to the patient. The treatment methods also can further comprise administering at least one additional anti-cancer agent to the patient in combination with the ErbB3 inhibitor.
US08894998B2

Targeted binding agents, such antibodies directed to the antigen αVβ6 and uses of such agents are described. In particular, fully human monoclonal antibodies directed to the antigen αVβ6 are disclosed. Nucleotide sequences encoding, and amino acid sequences comprising, heavy and light chain immunoglobulin molecules, particularly sequences corresponding to contiguous heavy and light chain sequences spanning the framework regions and/or complementarity determining regions (CDR's), specifically from FR1 through FR4 or CDR1 through CDR3 are disclosed. Hybridomas or other cell lines expressing such immunoglobulin molecules and monoclonal antibodies are also disclosed.
US08894985B2

This invention relates to compositions comprising carbon-based diazeniumdiolates attached to hydrophobic polymers that releases nitric oxide (NO). The carbon-based diazeniumdiolated polymers release NO spontaneously under physiological conditions without subsequence nitrosamine formation. The present invention also relates to methods of preparing the carbon-based diazeniumdiolated polymers, compositions comprising such polymers, methods of using such compositions, and devices employing such polymer compositions.
US08894981B2

Described are water based slurry compositions of cosmetic and personal care products and methods of making and using water based slurry compositions for cosmetic and personal care products such as foundations, eye shadows, lotions, and creams.
US08894976B2

The invention relates to a family of dyes which fluoresce in the UV-VIS, far red and near infrared wavelengths of the spectrum and possess asymmetric lipophilic alkyl chains. The dyes of the invention are soluble in commercially available membrane staining dyes, are useful as probes for rapidly staining lipophilic structures such as membranes in cells or isolated from cells, and are well-retained therein. Methods of utilizing the dyes to detect stained cells both in vivo and in vitro are also disclosed.
US08894969B2

A radiotherapy method, comprising positioning a predetermined amount of a radionuclide selected from the group consisting of Radium-223, Radium-224, Radon-219 and Radon-220, in proximity to and/or within a tumor of a subject, for a predetermined time period. The predetermined amount and the predetermined time period are selected sufficient for the radionuclide to administering a predetermined therapeutic dose of decay chain nuclei and alpha particles into the tumor.
US08894942B2

Electricity is suppressed from flowing to a case (4) of an electrically heated catalyst (1). Provision is made for a heat generation element (2) adapted to be electrically energized to generate heat, the case (4) in which the heat generation element (2) is contained, a mat (5) arranged between the heat generation element (2) and the case (4) to insulate electricity and at the same time to support the heat generation element (2), an electrode (6) connected to the heat generation element (2) from outside of the case (4), an insulation part (7) to plug a gap between the case (4) and the electrode (6), an electrode chamber (8) which is a space formed around the electrode (6) at an inner side of the case (4) and at an outer side of the heat generation element (2), and which is formed by providing a gap between the electrode (6) and the mat (5), and a partition part (9) arranged in the electrode chamber (8) at an upstream side of the electrode (6) in a direction of flow of an exhaust gas, in such a manner that the exhaust gas flowing through the interior of the electrode chamber (8) impinges against the partition part (9).
US08894940B2

A process and apparatus for fluid catalytic cracking feeds catalyst to a chamber of a riser. The catalyst exits the chamber and passes through a plenum and into a reaction zone through a plurality of tubes which distribute the catalyst uniformly over a cross section of the reaction zone of the riser. A hydrocarbon feed is fed to the plenum. The hydrocarbon feed passes from the plenum into the reaction zone through a plate comprising a multiplicity of openings which distribute the hydrocarbon feed uniformly over a cross section of the reaction zone of the riser. The feed is contacted with the catalyst in a reaction zone of the riser.
US08894936B2

A container with automatic cartridge activator allows automatic activation of the ethylene oxide cartridges and ampoules used in the oxide sterilization peculiar to the gas diffusion system without external human control and intervention and removal of the residual ethylene oxide from the sterilized materials at the end of the sterilization process. The container ensures safe use of the ethylene oxide without posing any danger against human health. The container also eliminates the requirement for use of sterilization bags known as Liner Bag or simply bag, traditionally used in the ethylene oxide sterilization based on gas diffusion system, also allowing instant monitoring of the sterilization conditions inside the container, the sterilization cell, from outside of the system.
US08894915B2

A honeycomb structure is made of cordierite and has a plurality of cells separated from each other by porous partition walls and functioning as fluid passages. The honeycomb structure has a thermal expansion coefficient of 0.25×10−6/° C. or less, an average pore diameter is 3 to 8 μm, and a porosity of 25% or more. The honeycomb structure is made of cordierite excellent in thermal shock resistance even with large pore diameters and high porosity.
US08894911B2

The present invention discloses a method for preparing vials, preferably medical vials by two-stage injection-stretch-blow-molding with a random copolymer of propylene having a melt index MI2 of from 1 to 3 dg/min and an ethylene content of from 2 to 3.5 wt % based on the weight of the resin, and wherein the preform injection temperature is of at least 280° C.
US08894908B2

A die for the production of a surface-structured coating (finish) which can be bonded to a sheet-like substrate, in particular a leather, an imitation leather material, a textile material or a wood surface, and which is formed by application of a liquid plastic material to the surface of the die and subsequent solidification of the plastic material, the die having a surface structure corresponding to the surface structure of the coating, the surface comprising, on a substrate, surface structure elements which are arranged in a screen and may be in the form of elevations or depressions, wherein the surface structure of the die has an identification with the surface structure differing from the environment.
US08894903B2

A method for the manufacture of a fiber-reinforced component includes heating a blank of a carbon-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic plastic material to at least a melting temperature of the thermoplastic plastic material; introducing the blank into an at least two-part molding tool; forming the fiber-reinforced component by applying pressure on the blank using the molding tool; and injecting a further thermoplastic plastic material into at least one edge region of the molding tool so as to form an edge seal.
US08894895B2

This disclosure is directed to porous ceramic processing; and in particular to a method using selected pore forming materials to avoid high exotherms during the ceramic firing process, and the green bodies formed using the selected pore forming materials. The selected pore forming materials are homogeneous wax/non-ionic surfactant particles formed by a prilling process in which the wax is melted and the non-ionic surfactant is mixed into the wax prior to prilling. The disclosure is useful in the manufacture porous ceramic honeycomb bodies including ceramic honeycomb filter traps.
US08894886B1

Exemplary embodiments provide materials and methods for forming graphene-based exfoliated products with low oxygen contents by a reductive-expansion reaction from a physical mixture containing graphite-based precursor(s) and a chemical agent. Exemplary embodiments also provide materials and methods for forming graphene-based exfoliated products with controllable amounts of nitrogen and/or other impurities incorporated in the material structure as a result of a reductive-expansion reaction from a physical mixture containing graphite-based precursor(s) and a chemical agent.
US08894876B2

The present invention relates to an etchant for etching metal wiring, and the metal wiring etchant according to the present invention includes hydrogen peroxide at about 5 wt % to about 15 wt %, an oxidant at about 0.5 wt % to about 5 wt %, a fluoride-based compound at about 0.1 wt % to about 1 wt %, a nitrate-based compound at about 0.5 wt % to about 5 wt %, and a boron-based compound at about 0.05 wt % to about 1 wt %.
US08894873B2

Provided is a Sr2-xCaxNaNb5O15 type piezoelectric ceramic composition wherein the inhibition of cracking and an improvement in the piezoelectric characteristics are attained by improving the composition uniformity and the microstructure uniformity. In the basic Sr2-xCaxNaNb5O15 composition, the (Sr, Ca)/Na ratio is changed, whereby the occupancies of Sr, Ca and Na in lattices which constitute the tungsten-bronze type structure and into which Sr, Ca, and Na can enter are reduced to facilitate the entrance of Sr into the lattices and thus inhibit the formation of a secondary phase. Further, a predetermined amount of Al and/or Si is added to lower the sintering temperature and to make the microstructure uniform. Additionally, a predetermined amount of Mn is added to make the polarization easy.
US08894868B2

A method of forming an aperture (e.g., a through via, a blind via, a trench, an alignment feature, etc.) within a substrate includes irradiating a substrate with a laser beam to form a laser-machined feature having a sidewall. The laser-machined feature is then processed to change at least one characteristic (e.g., the sidewall surface roughness, diameter, taper, aspect ratio, cross-sectional profile, etc.) of the laser-machined feature. The laser-machined feature can be processed to form the aperture by performing an isotropic wet-etch process employing an etchant solution containing HNO3, HF and, optionally acetic acid.
US08894865B2

This invention relates generally to processes for extracting iron and/or calcium from geothermal brines.
US08894855B2

A hybrid method and system of treating wastewater with reduced energy usage is disclosed. The treatment system has a sorption system and an anaerobic digester that digests or converts at least a portion of the solids or sludge from the sorption system.
US08894850B2

A drain cover with a locking mechanism which has a cylindrical body with a first end, a second end, an end wall at the first end and a peripheral sidewall that extends between the first end and the second end. The peripheral sidewall has an exterior surface and an interior surface which defines an interior bore. A wedge member positioned at the second end of the peripheral sidewall and is movable from a release position to a locking position. In the release position each wedge member is positioned at the second end of the peripheral sidewall. In the locking position each wedge member is moved up the exterior surface of the peripheral sidewall toward the first end. Means are provided for moving each wedge member from the release position to the locking position.
US08894848B2

The present invention relates to a water-filter device. This is distinguished by the provision of an adjusting medium (5) of which the volume and/or the structure change/changes by way of a liquid (6) which is in contact with the adjusting mechanism (1) and/or has flowed through the adjusting mechanism (1).
US08894837B2

The present invention provides a method for the detection of particulates in a sample, wherein the particulates are introduced into a plasma and the potential difference between a common electrode and each of a plurality of indicator electrodes is measured. The invention further provides an electrode array and an apparatus which can be used for the potentiometric detection of particulates in a sample.
US08894834B2

A water treatment system provides treated or softened water to a point of use by removing a portion of any hardness-causing species contained in water from a point of entry coming from a water source, such as municipal water, well water, brackish water and water containing foulants. The water treatment system typically treats the water containing at least some undesirable species before delivering the treated water to a point of use. The water treatment system has a reservoir system in line with an electrochemical device such as an electrodeionization device. The water treatment system has a sensor or a set of sensors for measuring at least one property of the water or an operating condition of the treatment system. The water treatment system also has a controller for adjusting or regulating at least one operating parameter of the treatment system or a component of the water treatment system to optimize the operation and performance of the system or components of the system to supply water tailored to quality requirements.
US08894832B2

The present invention relates to a sampling plate. In particular the invention relates to a sampling plate for measuring certain selected properties of a liquid sample, such as the glucose levels in a blood sample. Sampling plates of the present invention have a sample zone (20) for receiving a liquid sample which is surrounded by an air porous body (4). The air porous body (4) acts to receive air from the sample zone (20) as it is displaced by an incoming liquid sample, thereby allowing efficient spreading of the liquid sample.
US08894830B2

A low-voltage, low-energy electrochemical system and method of removing protons and/or producing a base solution comprising hydroxide and carbonate/bicarbonate ions, utilizing carbon dioxide in a cathode compartment that is partitioned into a first cathode electrolyte compartment and a second cathode electrolyte compartment such that liquid flow between the cathode electrolyte compartments is possible, but wherein gaseous communication between the cathode electrolyte compartments is restricted. Carbon dioxide gas in one cathode electrolyte compartment is utilized with the cathode electrolyte in both compartments to produce the base solution with less that 3V applied across the electrodes.
US08894812B2

A fibrillated blend of lyocell and cellulosic pulp having a degree of polymerization of 200 to 1000 as measured by ASTM Test 1975-96, a method of making the blend and materials which incorporate the blend.
US08894803B2

A process for etching the surfaces of semiconductor substrates utilizes a texturing tank which introduces a process fluid through a circulating system. The process fluid is heated to a desired temperature and maintained at a desired concentration prior to entering a processing area where laminar flow is produced to more quickly and uniformly roughen the surface of semiconductor substrates. The texturing tank permits removal of bubbles and eliminates temperature stratification in the processing area.
US08894795B2

The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device includes carrier film feeding steps including feeding long carrier films from continuous rolls, respectively; peeling steps including folding back each of the carrier films at a front end part placed on a carrier film feed path so that the optical films are peeled off from the carrier films, respectively; and bonding steps including bonding the optical films to the viewer side and back side of a liquid crystal panel, wherein in the bonding steps, the optical films are bonded to the liquid crystal panel in such a manner that the number of times the optical film is bonded to the back side of the liquid crystal panel is greater than the number of times the optical film is bonded to the viewer side of the liquid crystal panel.
US08894793B2

A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device by feeding carrier films from continuous rolls, respectively, and by bonding optical films, which are being peeled off or have been peeled off from the carrier films, respectively, to first and second panel surfaces of a liquid crystal panel, respectively, with a pressure-sensitive adhesive interposed therebetween so that the liquid crystal display device is obtained. The method includes: a first bonding step including bonding a first optical film to the first panel surface; a rotation step including rotating the liquid crystal panel; a second bonding step including bonding a second optical film to the first optical film; and a third bonding step including bonding a third optical film to the second panel surface of the liquid crystal panel.
US08894781B2

A method for forming and treating a steel article of a high strength and high ductility alloy particularly suited for use as armor plate. The method includes the steps of providing a starting material for the steel article, heating the starting material to a peak temperature range in less than ten seconds, holding the heated steel composition at the peak temperature range for between two and six seconds, quenching the heated steel composition from the peak temperature range to below 100° C. (212° F.) at a temperature rate reduction of 400 and 3000° C./sec (752 and 5432° F./sec), removing residual quench media from the surface of the quenched steel composition, tempering the quenched steel composition at a temperature of 100 to 260° C. (212 to 500° F.); and air cooling the tempered steel composition to less than 100° C. (212° F.) to form a steel having desired mechanical properties.
US08894780B2

Disclosed are a braze, such as a braze in the form of an amorphous, ductile brazing foil, having a composition consisting essentially of FeaNirestSibBcMd with 5 atomic percent≦a≦35 atomic percent, 1 atomic percent≦b≦15 atomic percent, 5 atomic percent
US08894773B2

A method of operating a sweeping machine, including a battery, a positioning receiver, a battery charge monitoring system and a computer, and having a cleaning and a transport mode of operation The method comprising the steps of: a) providing the computer with the location of a charging station, b) using the positioning receiver to provide the computer with the location of the sweeping machine, c) using the computer to provide an estimate of an amount of energy required to drive the sweeping machine from its location to the charging station in the transport mode, d) using the battery charge monitoring system to provide the computer with the amount of energy remaining in the battery, e) using the computer to compare the estimate with this amount of energy, and f) providing an operator notification when the amount of energy remaining in the battery falls below a predetermined amount of the estimate.
US08894763B2

The present invention relates to a pigment composition containing a pigment and chondroitin sulfate or its salt, in which a content of chondroitin sulfate or its salt is equal to or larger than 0.1 part by weight (pbw) over 1 pbw of the pigment, and such pigment composition is available in the use for drug medicines and the like, and exhibits better dispersibility.
US08894747B2

A system for removing carbon dioxide from an atmosphere to reduce global warming including an air extraction system that collects carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through a medium and removes carbon dioxide from the medium; a sequestration system that isolates the removed carbon dioxide to a location for at least one of storage and which can increase availability of renewable energy or non-fuel products such as fertilizers and construction materials; and one or more energy sources that supply process heat to the air extraction system to remove the carbon dioxide from the medium and which can regenerate it for continued use.
US08894743B2

A method of removing CO2 from an input gas stream, the method comprising reacting a solid sorbent with the input gas stream to remove CO2 from the input gas stream in a carboniser; reacting the solid sorbent from the carboniser in a calciner to release the CO2 into a substantially pure gas stream; exchanging heat between the carboniser and calciner; and controlling a CO2 partial pressure and temperature in the carboniser and a CO2 partial pressure and temperature in the calciner such that the temperature in the carboniser is higher than the temperature in the calciner for providing heat from the carboniser to the calciner.
US08894740B2

A process and system for recovery of gold from an ore having the steps of i) providing the ore containing the gold to be recovered, ii) leaching the ore in an oxidative chloride medium, including a nitrogen species to produce a solution comprising gold; and iii) recovering the gold from the solution. The gold in a preferred embodiment is recovered from refractory and carbonaceous ores.
US08894734B2

The present invention relates to an air cleaner for the removal of pollutants from an air flow by a filter module, the filter module of which includes at least one permeable filter layer for the accumulation of pollutants on the filter layer. A bypass channel will be provided and established such that part of the unfiltered air flow may bypass any filter layer. Such a bypass channel does not compromise the cleaning effect of the filter module, at least as long as the filter layer has not yet been clogged with pollutants since in this case the biggest part of the air flow will take the major path through the filter layer due to lack of resistance. Only if the filter layer is clogged and if resistance for the air flow increases, air will obviously flow through the mentioned bypass channel.
US08894733B2

Disclosed is a method for recycling a cerium oxide abrasive. The method may include adding a strong alkali solution to a slurry waste of the cerium oxide abrasive, adding sodium fluoride to the slurry waste, and separating a cerium oxide particle included in the slurry waste from other kinds of particles.
US08894727B2

The present invention discloses a fuel composition useful for internal combustion engine having an Octane Number from 95 to 105 comprising: (a) an unleaded and devoid of organometal compounds base gasoline having an Octane Number (RON) from 90.1 to 103: (b) one or more aromatic amines selected in the group consisting of: (b1) 2,4-dialkylaniline, wherein the alkyl groups in position 2 and 4, independently one from the other, are selected in the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, preferably both the alkyl groups in position 2 and 4 are methyl; (b2) N-Nitrosodiphenylamine. The process for preparing the above composition is also described along with the use of the aromatic amines selected between (b1) and (b2) and related mixtures for increasing the Octane Number.
US08894721B2

A method for beam welding a multi-sheet work stack includes positioning a first sheet adjacent to a second sheet, and positioning a third sheet adjacent to the second sheet such that a single common welding interface is defined. An energy beam is directed onto the interface until a fusion weld forms along the interface. The third sheet may define a flange or a tab portion. The flange portion may be placed in direct contact with the first sheet along the interface, while the tab portion may be inserted into a slot of the second sheet to contact the first sheet at the interface. The beam may be a laser or ion beam. The lower melting temperature sheet may be positioned farther from the source of the energy beam than the other sheets. The welded assembly may be a battery module, with the sheets being an interconnect member and battery tabs.
US08894718B2

The system is comprised of an interface (1) consisting of one or more electrodes capturing electromyographic (biolectric muscle activity) signals, an earphone/microphone and a radiofrequency transmitter/receiver; a nexus module (2), with means for the encoding and interpretation of the electromyographic signals which taking into account both their duration as well as their amplitude and time lapse interval, wirelessly connected to the transmitter/receiver of the interface (1); and a controller (3), consisting of means for controlling and managing the devices comprising the ambient intelligence environment of a domotic, inmotic, military or other types, the input of which is connected to the output of the nexus module (2).Additionally, the communication facilitated by the earphone/microphone is completed with glasses incorporating a device capable of projecting visual messages on the inner side thereof.
US08894708B2

The embodiments provide a spinal implant that is configured for lateral insertion into a patient's intervertebral disc space. The spinal implant may have a body having a tapered anterior portion and one or more apertures. The tapered anterior portion allows for concomitant distraction of soft tissue during insertion of the implant. In addition, at least some of the apertures are designed to permit a predetermined amount of nutation by a fixation element. The fixations elements that allow nutation enable the fixation element to toggle from one position to another, for example, during subsidence of the implant in situ.
US08894700B2

An abdominal aortic stent includes a first sub-stent and a second sub-stent each having a front end. The circumference of the front end of each sub-stent is half of the circumference of the abdominal aorta. When the circumference is gradually reduced to a rear end of each sub-stent, it has entered one side of the bilateral femoral arteries. The rear ends of the sub-stents with full circumference of the cross-sectional area of the femoral artery are included therein. The first and second sub-stents are coated with external removable membrane to compress the sub-stents to generate smaller circumferences. When the removable membrane has been removed, the sub-stents are fully extended to reconstruct the vascular flow path.
US08894693B2

An orthopaedic fixation component attachable to a femur, said femur defining a femur shaft, a femur head and a femur neck extending therebetween, said femur further defining a greater trochanter limiting laterally said femur neck, said orthopaedic fixation component comprising: a shaft section fixation portion and an end section fixation portion extending substantially longitudinally therefrom, said shaft section and end section fixation portions being respectively securable to said femur shaft and said greater trochanter; said end section fixation portion including a pair of end arms, said end arms being configured, sized and positioned to delimit a trochanter receiving recess for substantially fittingly receiving a prominent portion of said greater trochanter.
US08894687B2

A coupling assembly for use in surgical constructs comprises a first body and a second body. One of the first body and the second body includes a male member and an other of the first body and the second body includes a female member. The male member is sized and shaped to be received within the female member and the female member has an internal bore sized and shaped to receive the male member therein. A raised portion is formed on or attached to the male member. An area of decreased diameter is associated with the internal bore of the female member. The first and second bodies are coupleable to one another by an interference fit when the raised portion of the male member is positioned within the area of decreased diameter associated with the internal bore of the female member.
US08894686B2

Systems and method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention can includes an implant comprising a first wing, a spacer extending from the first wing, and a distraction guide. The distraction guide is arranged in a first configuration to pierce and/or distract tissue associated with adjacent spinous processes extending from vertebrae of a targeted motion segment. The implant can be positioned between the adjacent spinous processes and once positioned, the implant can be arranged in a second configuration. When arranged in a second configuration, the distraction guide can act as a second wing. The first wing and the second wing can limit or block movement of the implant along a longitudinal axis of the implant.
US08894683B2

A device for attaching, relocating or reinforcing tissue includes a first tissue anchoring portion having a support plate and a plurality of barbs extending from the support plate for engaging tissue at a first location, a second tissue anchoring portion having a support plate and a plurality of barbs extending from the support plate for engaging tissue at a second location which is different from the first location, and a connection element, such as a suture or a mesh structure, interposed between and interconnecting the first tissue anchoring portion and the second tissue anchoring portion. The support plate of at least one of the first tissue anchoring portion and the second tissue anchoring portion may have longitudinally axially formed therethrough a bore for receiving the connecting element so that the surgeon may pull on the end of the connecting element to adjust the distance between the first tissue anchoring portion and the second tissue anchoring portion.
US08894681B2

Devices, systems, and methods for controlling local blood pressure. In an exemplary embodiment of a device for exposing a blood vessel to increased pressure of the present disclosure, the device comprises an anchor configured for placement into a blood vessel and to expand independently from a particle held from flowing away by the anchor, the particle configured to gradually expand due to exposure to blood flow.
US08894675B2

A cutting implement includes a first tubular portion and a second tubular portion. Each tubular portion is hollow and includes a blade element at a distal end. The blade element helps define an aperture that allows access to the interior hollow portion of the tubular portion. A ligament graft element is threaded through the aperture of each tubular portion and the respective tubular portions are interoperated to cut the ligament graft.
US08894667B2

An endoscopic closure device comprises: a coupling member; a helical needle mounted to the coupling member and carrying a suture; and a plurality of grasping needles, each of said plurality of grasping needles moveable between a storage position and a deployed position. The plurality of grasping needles is configured to be (a) advanced in the storage position into a luminal defect, (b) moved into the deployed position, and (c) then refracted from the luminal defect, thus pulling and drawing tissue surrounding the luminal defect together. Then, upon rotation of the coupling member and the helical needle, the helical needle is driven into and pierces the tissue, carrying the suture through the tissue.
US08894664B2

A cartridge for an IOL delivery system that has an injector tip geometry designed to reduce stresses at the incision wound edges generated during insertion of an IOL into an eye is disclosed. The injector tip geometry includes a tubular nozzle having a modified elliptical cross section. The injector tip geometry reduces stresses generated reduce the likelihood of tearing or overstretching the wound during cartridge tip insertion and residence time in the wound while the lens is being delivered into the eye.
US08894653B2

A device for percutaneously excising tissue. In an embodiment, the device comprises an outer tubular. In addition, the device comprises an inner tubular slidingly received within the outer tubular, wherein the inner tubular has a distal end including an upper member and a lower member. Further, the device includes an open position with the distal end fully extended from the outer tubular, and a closed position with the distal end disposed within the outer tubular, wherein the upper member is biased away from the lower member and is disposed at an open angle θO relative to the lower member when the device is in the opened position.
US08894649B2

An external fixation system having at least one ball collet pivotably mounted within a movable clamp and at least one ball collet pivotably mounted within a fixed clamp, wherein a surgical pin is mounted within each ball collet. In operation, the surgical pins are screwed into bone and passed through openings through the fixed clamp, movable clamp, and ball collets. A drive knob is operable to rotate a drive screw and thereby move the movable clamp either towards or away from the fixed clamp and concomitantly move the pins secured in the movable clamp either towards or away from the pins secured in the fixed clamp. A connecting rod prevents axial rotation of the movable clamp and fixed clamp relative to each other.
US08894643B2

Electrode placement and connection systems are described which allow for the electrical connection and maintenance of one or more electrodes positioned on a substrate which is subjected to a variety of mechanical stresses. Electrodes may also be formed on flexible circuit assemblies integrated within or along the hood. The circuit assemblies may also provide structural support to the hood during delivery and/or deployment. Such a system may include an imaging hood having an aperture through which transparent fluid is flowed and one or more electrodes positioned along or about the hood. As the hood is configured between a low-profile and opened configuration, these electrodes may remain electrically coupled despite the mechanical stresses subjected to the electrodes and the connections thereto.
US08894633B2

The various embodiments disclosed herein relate to modular medical devices, including various devices with detachable modular components and various devices with pivotally attached modular components. Additional embodiments relate to procedures in which various of the devices are used cooperatively. Certain embodiments of the medical devices are robotic in vivo devices.
US08894629B2

Valves for regulating fluid flows through medical devices are provided. In some embodiments, the valves are adapted for use in high flow applications and multiple valve elements disposed across a plurality of fluid flow paths branching from and into one or more inlets and outlets.
US08894628B2

Some embodiments of a wearable infusion pump system can include a pump device having a drive system to dispense a medicine to a user, an activity sensor that detects a possible change in an activity level of the user, and a controller to activate the drive system to dispense the medicine to the user. The controller device can query the user to indicate whether a detected activity level of the user represents an actual change in the activity level of the user. The controller device can alter the medicine dispensing schedule based on the user indicated changes in activity level.
US08894627B2

A medicament transport system includes a syringe adapter assembly; and a vial adapter assembly including a base defining an opening having a seal member disposed therewithin, a stem extending from the base and defining a lumen therethrough and an opening through a wall thereof, a needle shuttle valve slidably disposed within the lumen of the stem and supporting a transfer needle and a vacuum needle; and a vacuum cup slidably supported on the stem, wherein a vacuum chamber is defined in the space between the base, the stem and the vacuum cup. The medicament transport system includes a condition where the transfer needle and the vacuum needles penetrate the seal member of the vial adapter assembly, and the vacuum cup is moved to draw a vacuum through the vacuum needle. An automation system is provided that utilizes a medicament transport system for forming a medicament solution from a liquid/non-liquid solution.
US08894603B2

Described here are systems and methods for accessing Schlemm's canal and for delivering an ocular device or fluid composition therein. The ocular devices may maintain the patency of Schlemm's canal without substantially interfering with transmural fluid flow across the canal. The fluid composition may be a viscoelastic fluid that is delivered into the canal to facilitate drainage of aqueous humor by disrupting the canal and surrounding trabeculocanalicular tissues. Tools for disrupting these tissues and minimally invasive methods for treating medical conditions associated with elevated intraocular pressure, including glaucoma, are also described.
US08894591B2

A walking assistance device includes a seating member configured to provide seating for a user to sit astride, and leg links connected to the seating member. The seating member includes: a supporting member configured to support the user sitting on the seating member from below the seating member; a movable member configured to contact an inguinal region of the user supported by the supporting member and to be movably supported by the supporting member; and at least one elastic member provided between the movable member and the supporting member and configured to be deformable in accordance with a force applied from the inguinal region of the user to the movable member.
US08894589B2

Apparatus is provided for diagnosing or treating an organ or vessel, wherein a device having at optical fiber contact force sensors disposed in a distal extremity thereof and a deflection mechanism configured to deflect the elongate body at a location proximal of the distal extremity. The optical fiber contact force sensors are configured to be coupled to processing logic programmed which computes a force vector responsive to detected changes in the optical characteristics of the optical fiber contact force sensors arising from deflection of the distal extremity resulting from contact with the tissue of the wall of the organ or vessel.
US08894583B2

A wakefulness level determination device includes a processor; and a memory. The processor executes: calculating a first feature value from a heartbeat signal of a subject; estimating, from the first feature value calculated at the calculating, a feature value of the subject when not fully awake on the basis of a correlation between a feature value of a heartbeat signal of a person fully waking and a feature value of a heartbeat signal of a person not fully waking; setting, as an index of a wakefulness level, a range from the first feature value calculated at the calculating to the feature value estimated at the estimating; calculating a second feature value from a heartbeat signal of the subject; and determining a wakefulness level of the subject by comparing the second feature value with the index of the wakefulness level that is set at the setting.
US08894568B2

A deflation device for use in deflating an inflatable or implantable balloon device, comprising, in combination: an endoscope tube, having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen; a cap disposed at the distal end of the endoscope tube and having walls defining a balloon interface chamber; a coring device disposed within the lumen and configured to travel within the lumen such that a distal end of the coring device is extendable beyond the distal end of the cap; wherein the cap is configured to provide a normal surface of a balloon relative to the orientation of the coring device as the coring device is disposed near the distal end of the cap.
US08894566B2

An endoscope system includes: an image processing portion that constructs three-dimensional data based on preoperative multi-slice image data and extracts a predetermined luminal organ; a position detection apparatus that acquires position information of an image pickup portion; a position alignment portion that makes position information of the image pickup portion correspond to coordinates of the three-dimensional data; and an image processing portion that generates trail information based on the position information of the image pickup portion, and based on a result of the position alignment portion, creates an image in which past trail information, insertion shape information including current distal end position information with respect to the image pickup portion, and determination information obtained by determining whether or not the image pickup portion passes through a duct in three-dimensional data of the predetermined luminal organ are superimposed in a distinguishable manner on three-dimensional image information of the predetermined luminal organ.
US08894565B2

An insertion device includes a channel defining portion extended through an inside of an insertion section up to a base portion toward a distal direction and defining a channel that is open to an outside of the insertion section in an opening of an outer peripheral portion of the base portion, and a driving unit extended through an inside of the channel with a driving axis being an axial center and being rotatable in directions around the driving axis when driven. The insertion device includes a driving force receiving portion connected to a gear portion in the opening of the channel, and a support unit supporting the driving unit so that the driving axis is parallel to the longitudinal axis in the gear portion.
US08894552B2

An attachment for a heavy bag to use while practicing power striking techniques in ground fighting. The attachment may be used on a bag that is hanging, resting on a free-standing base, or on a bag that has been removed from the hanger or base.
US08894551B2

An exercise device comprising a foot carriage slideably mounted on tracks, the tracks are held together parallel to one another and resistance elements provide opposition against the relative motion of the foot carriage. The foot carriage can be a frame carrying wheels and a foot support.
US08894545B2

A hydraulic control system for a transmission includes a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid that communicates with an electronic transmission range selection (ETRS) subsystem. The ETRS subsystem includes an ETRS valve, a park mechanism, a mode valve, a latch valve assembly, and a plurality of solenoids. The ETRS subsystem is configured to provide desired operating conditions during a plurality of potential failure conditions.
US08894541B2

Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, driveline operating modes may be adjusted in response to driving surface conditions. The approaches may improve vehicle drivability and reduce driveline degradation.
US08894540B2

A hybrid vehicle is provided that includes a control system that controls the time required for engine shut down. An electric machine or integrated starter-generator may be used to apply a load to the combustion engine after an engine shut down signal is received. By reducing the time required to shut down the engine in a controlled manner, the catalytic converter can be conditioned by providing a desired volume of air and fuel to the catalyst to reduce emissions and increase fuel economy. If an indication is received that it is no longer desirable to shut down the engine, the engine may be restarted conventionally or started in a quick start mode by refueling the engine is the engine operating at a sufficient speed for a quick restart.
US08894517B2

A racket may include a frame including at least one prepreg layer. The at least one prepreg layer may include reinforcing fibers. The at least one prepreg layer may also include a matrix at least partially surrounding the reinforcing fibers. The at least one prepreg layer may also include graphene material.
US08894516B2

A table tennis paddle is disclosed designed to enhance player control using a penhold grip. The paddle includes a thumb tab extending from the handle on which a player rests a thumb and, in an embodiment, a finger tab extending from the opposite side of the handle. The finger tab preferably defines a recess adjacent the handle which receives the forefinger.
US08894512B2

A training device is disclosed, which includes a ball and a biasing member, where a distal portion of the ball is connected to a proximate end of the biasing member. A support member is connected to a distal end of the biasing member, where the support member is adapted for being connected to a stationary support structure. From this configuration, the ball is capable of deflecting from an initial, rest configuration when the ball is perturbed by clubbing, punching and/or chopping, and rapidly returning to the rest configuration after the perturbation.
US08894508B2

A metal wood golf club with a striking face portion made from more than one material is disclosed. More specifically, due to the unique construction of the striking face portion having multiple materials, the present invention utilizes diffusion bonding, liquid interface diffusion, or even super plastic forming techniques to achieve the desirable bond between the more than one material used to form the striking face. The striking face portion is formed by adding a chip insert made from a secondary material that is different from the remainder of the striking face portion substantially near a geometric center of the striking face portion; wherein the secondary material has a higher Young's modulus than the remainder of the striking face portion.
US08894501B1

In one aspect, golf club heads are described herein. A golf club head described herein can comprise a hitting face, a heel positioned behind the hitting face, a top positioned between the hitting face and the heel, and a luminescent component, wherein the luminescent component is positioned to project a spot of light onto a golf ball at a point on the golf ball tangent to the hitting face of the club head and aligned with the center of the hitting face of the club head.
US08894485B2

Examples disclosed herein relate to systems and methods for validating the authenticity of one or more media associated with a gaming system. The systems and methods may utilize a public key in association with a ROM-based algorithm to validate such media. The systems and methods may: decrypt the encrypted game assets media signature; determine a verified game assets hash signature from the decrypted game assets media signature; determine a game assets verification range from the decrypted game assets media signature; calculate a game assets hash signature based on the game assets verification range; and/or determine if the game assets verified hash signature matches the game assets calculated hash signature.
US08894480B2

A tournament game, gaming machine, gaming system and method are disclosed wherein a player-interactive bonus feature is triggered and displayed simultaneously with a tournament game presentation and a bonus award is paid responsive to a player selecting a displayed bonus target, such as a balloon. The bonus award is paid in addition to any award payable based on the tournament game outcome. The award may be non-credit prizes redeemed in various ways such as printing a coupon at the player machine.
US08894469B2

A burnishing element is clamped to a lower surface of a bottom plate of a sanding machine and placed into tension through use of a first clamping mechanism and a second clamping mechanism that are positioned at two ends of the bottom plate, respectively. At least one of the first and second clamping mechanisms has a clamping element and a tensioning element which is used for tensioning the burnishing element. The bottom plate has a clamping area. The ends of the burnishing element are supported on the clamping area when the burnishing element is in placed into tension by the tensioning element.
US08894463B2

A toy figure assembly is disclosed. The toy figure assembly includes a toy figure and a toy surfboard that can be used with the toy figure. In one embodiment, the toy figure can be coupled to the toy surfboard in an upright or surfing orientation that simulates the toy figure surfing on the toy surfboard. In one embodiment, the toy figure can be coupled to the toy surfboard in a lying orientation that simulates the toy figure paddling on the toy surfboard. In one embodiment, a handle is coupleable to the toy figure to allow a user to move the toy figure into different poses.
US08894453B2

A watercraft includes a stern flotation compartment. The hull is carved out underneath the gunwales to admit a vertical cylindrical sleeve extending through the flotation compartment from top to bottom, and sealed top and bottom. A studded vertical mounting tube carrying an electric motor fits within a slotted cylindrical steering tube; the latter is carried on rotatable bearings affixed to the vertical cylindrical sleeve. A steering assembly is affixed to the slotted cylindrical steering tube and a guide tube fits closely within the vertical mounting tube. An electrical power cable is connected to the electric motor and a retraction assembly is affixed to the electric motor.
US08894451B2

A differential signal connector includes a plurality of pairs of signal contacts, a plurality of ground contacts, and an insulating housing holding the signal contacts and the ground contacts. On a first connection side for connection to a connection partner, the ground contacts are arranged on both sides of each pair of signal contacts so that a contact array of a fixed pitch is formed. On a second connection side for connection to a board, the ground contacts are arranged spaced apart from each other in a first row, while the pairs of signal contacts, which are adjacently arranged on both sides of the ground contact on the first connection side, are arranged so as to be allocated in a second row and a third row located on both sides of the first row so that the pairs of signal contacts are arranged zigzag on the second connection side.
US08894449B2

[Problem] To provide a compact terminal block.[Means for solving problem]A terminal block 1 includes: a terminal block main body 2 on which a plurality of seating surfaces 13 are provided; a plurality of fixing members 3 penetrating first and second connection terminals and fixing the first and second connection terminals to the seating surfaces 13 in a manner that the first connection terminals are connected to electronic devices, and the second connection terminals 8 to be electrically connected to the first connection terminals are overlapped with the seating surfaces 13. The seating surfaces 13 are sloped relative to a direction W that the first and second connection terminals are arranged.
US08894447B2

Patch cords include a communications cable that has a first conductor and a second conductor that form a first differential pair, and a third conductor and a fourth conductor that form a second differential pair and a plug that is attached to the communications cable. The plug includes a housing that receives the communications cable, first through fourth plug contacts that are within the housing, and a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board includes first through fourth conductive paths that connect the respective first through fourth conductors to respective ones of the first through fourth plug contacts. The plug further includes a first conductive shield that extends above a top surface of the printed circuit board that is disposed between the first differential pair and the second differential pair.
US08894437B2

Apparatus and related methods for serially and removably connecting a plurality of electrical fixtures. An exemplary apparatus includes a connector housing having a mounting surface, a first set of electrical contacts positioned, at least in part, in the connector housing, a second set of electrical contacts positioned, at least in part, in the connector housing, and a plurality of conductive member extending from the first set of electrical contacts to the second set of electrical contacts, such that a first electrical fixture removably connected to the first set of electrical contacts is in serial electrical communication with a second electrical fixture removably connected to the second set of electrical contacts.
US08894433B2

An electrical connector assembly comprises a first connector unit and a second connector. The first connector unit comprises a first connector having an insulative housing with a plurality of contacts mounted thereon. A printed circuit board, on which the first connector is seated, defines a pair of mounting sections at opposite ends thereof and locate adjacent to the first connector. An insulative cover is attached to a first surface of the printed circuit board which is opposite to the first connector. The insulative cover forms a pair of guiding posts retained in said mounting sections and a pair of stand-off sections located at opposite ends thereof for supporting the first connector during the mating process. A metallic cover is attached to the insulative cover. The second connector defines a pair of guiding apertures at opposite ends thereof for receiving said guiding posts.
US08894426B2

Socket for an electrical plug-and-socket connection comprising a socket housing having a plug-in opening for mating with a plug, a cover for closing the plug-in opening and contacts. A contact insert with receptacle contacts connected with the contacts by inserting the insert on connection ends of the contacts, the receptacle contacts being connectable with a wire each. A backshell being held in the housing and having a flexible latch for fixing in a recess of the socket housing as a snap fit. A locking slider captively attached at the backshell and comprising two arms insertable into respective slits in said housing and the backshell, the slits matching each other when the contact insert in the backshell is inserted on the connection ends of the contacts such that the arms of the locking slider inserted into the matching slits secure the backshell with the contact insert.
US08894421B2

The sheet-like connector comprises a plurality of conductive members formed on one side of sheet. Each of the conductive members comprises elastically deformable spring member wherein edge thereof moves in the thickness direction of sheet, middle member which is formed on edge of spring member, and contacting protrusion which is formed on middle member and which protrudes in the thickness direction of sheet. Middle member and contacting protrusion are formed with materials which are mutually different and thus enable selective etching.
US08894415B2

An application for a system for driver training is includes a computer with at least two graphics displays. A first graphics display simulates a windshield of a target vehicle and a second graphics display simulates a dashboard of the target vehicle. The computer generates images that simulate the dashboard of the target vehicle on the second graphics display. A touch screen interface is connected to the second graphics display and is operatively coupled to the computer thereby signaling the computer with positions of which the second graphics display is touched by a trainee. The trainee is prompted to touch an item on the dashboard (second graphic display) and the touch screen interface is read to determine if the trainee touched the appropriate item (e.g. gauge).
US08894404B2

A blowing mold array includes a blowing mold unit forming a cavity, inside of which plastic preforms are expanded to plastic containers. The blow mold unit includes a blowing mold retainer having at least two mold retainer elements for accommodating parts of the blowing mold unit, and a locking mechanism to arrest at least one part of the blowing mold unit against at least one mold retainer element. The locking mechanism includes an engagement element that can be pivoted and/or shifted relative to a default axis, which in an arrested state abuts a segment of a part of the blowing mold unit. The locking mechanism has an actuating element to loosen the arrest between the mold retaining element and the blowing mold unit. Actuation of the actuating element is coupled with actuation of the engagement element.
US08894403B2

The present invention provides an improved pressware forming apparatus. At least one of die pairs used in the apparatus can be narrowed in a cross-direction as compared to the cross-directional width of pressware forming tools used in prior an apparatus. The present invention allows addition of at least one additional die pair in the pressware forming tool when used in a standard sized pressware forming apparatus. The present invention also provides components for use in such apparatus and methods of making pressware from the apparatus herein.
US08894399B2

Embodiments of a method of injection molding with two molding steps and tools for this method are described. The transfer tool for high-volume manufacturing allows transfer of molded parts from one injection molding tool to another injection molding tool without separating the molded part from runners and without degating. The single step transfer, which can be performed without degating and without separating the molded parts from one another, can reduce cycle time as well as complexity.
US08894397B2

In a process and a device for producing blocks of expanded polystyrene, a loose mass (7) of polystyrene spheres is expanded in a mold (2-3), where a rear surface (9) of the polystyrene block (8) previously produced delimits the mold forming chamber. Therefore, through adherence the newly formed block (7-8) is joined to the rear end (9) of the block previously formed, and the block (8) made in this way is fed forward until it forms the rear end (9) for another newly expanded block (8), and so on to produce a sort of continuous block (8), which can be formed for cutting to any desired size, without producing any waste.
US08894385B2

A bi-directional pump comprises a pump housing, and the pump housing comprises a pump outlet. A fluid pressurizer is positioned in the pump housing and configured to provide fluid flow selectively in a first direction and a second direction. A first passage and a second passage are positioned in the pump housing. A junction is fluidly positioned, in the pump housing, connecting the first and second passages to the pump outlet. A flow controller is positioned in the pump housing to move relative thereto, between a first position, placing the first passage, in fluid communication, with the pump outlet via the junction when the fluid pressurizer provides fluid flow in the first direction, and a second position placing the second passage, in fluid communication with the pump outlet, via the junction when the fluid pressurizer provides fluid flow in the second direction.
US08894379B2

Compressor including a housing (2) containing a compressor element (6) that is powered by a variable speed motor (7) with a control box (8) with a set maximum number of revolutions (Nmax) for the compressor element (6), an air cooling blower (10) which sucks air from the environment via an inlet (11) and blows it back to the environment through the housing (2) via an exhaust (12) and a cooling circuit (13) for the cooling of the gas which has been compressed by the compressor element (6), further wherein the control box (8) is equipped with an algorithm (24) that reduces the maximum allowed set number of revolutions (Nmax) to a defined level as soon as the monitored environmental temperature (T20) rises above a maximum set level (Tmax), and the maximum allowed set number of revolutions (Nmax) is increased as soon as the environmental temperature (T20) falls below the maximum set level (Tmax).
US08894373B2

The present device is a vertically oriented wind turbine blade having a rectangular curvilinear shaped blade which includes a top edge, a bottom edge, an outer edge, a helical inner edge, an inner surface and an outer surface. The blade's top edge is curved and defines a radius R and the helical inner edge defines an angle theta relative to a vertical reference line. The blade further includes an L shaped outer rib with a transverse leg mounted to the inner surface and extending along the outer edge, the outer rib also includes a perpendicular leg extending perpendicular to the transverse leg.
US08894371B2

A rotor section for a rotor of a gas turbine, a rotor blade, and a blocking element are provided. The rotor section includes a rotor disk including rotor blades that are inserted thereon in holding grooves and that are secured against sliding along the holding grooves by means of a sealing element arranged at the end face. In order to specify a reliable, simple, and easy-to-design construction for the circumferential fixing of the sealing elements, it is proposed that each sealing element be secured by one blocking element, which engages in a hole arranged at the end face in the rotor blade root.
US08894369B2

A water turbine with a rotatable turbine wheel having a wheel disc, buckets fixed to the wheel disc, and nozzle expelling a water jet on the bucket. The rotatable wheel and the nozzle are arranged in a casing with a water outlet. The interior of the casing reduces splash back of discharging water and detrimental water spray on the rotatable wheel. An energy damping device is attached on stationary, water splash exposed parts inside the turbine casing to dissipate energy from water of high velocity leaving the buckets and dense pulverized water mist.
US08894368B2

A device for aligning tip shrouds includes a platform configured to connect to a blade, a first projection that extends circumferentially across at least a portion of the platform, and a first complementary alignment feature on the first projection. A method for aligning tip shrouds includes rotating a plurality of tip shrouds, wherein each tip shroud is coupled to a blade, and aligning adjacent tip shrouds by nesting a first alignment feature of a first tip shroud into a second alignment feature of a second tip shroud.
US08894345B1

The multi-functional vehicular ramp is an accessory that attaches to a trailer hitch of a pickup truck and which include foldable ramp members that fold down to enable ATVs or other wheeled objects to drive up onto a bed of a pickup truck for transport, and wherein the foldable ramp members can fold up to secure said wheeled object to said pickup truck bed. The multi-functional vehicular ramp can also adapt to attach wheels thereon for use as a trailer to be towed via one of a multitude of adaptors behind a truck or other motor-powered vehicle. The multi-functional vehicular ramp may also be adaptively used to suspend an object above the ground by extending the foldable ramp members upwardly and connection there between via a suspension member. The multi-functional vehicular ramp may also adapt for use as a workbench or as a picnic table.
US08894344B2

A wafer buffering system is provided herein. In some embodiments, a wafer buffering system may include a frame having a vertical shaft disposed therethrough; two storage platforms, coupled to the frame on either side thereof, each to receive a wafer carrier thereon; and a transfer mechanism coupled to the vertical shaft and capable of vertical movement therealong and lateral movement along an x-axis extending in either direction from the frame at least sufficient to move over the two storage platforms. The transfer mechanism may further include a telescoping fork arm capable of laterally extending in a first direction and in a second direction corresponding to lateral positions of the two storage platforms on either side of the frame.
US08894338B2

A cap has a body portion forming a central cavity, and an annular flange which extends outwardly from the body portion. The body portion is deformable between a first configuration in which the annular flange is inclined upwardly, and a second configuration in which the annular flange is inclined downwardly. A method includes applying a quantity of sealant to the annular flange in the first configuration; fitting the cap over the end of the fastener so that the fastener is enclosed by the cap; and turning down the annular flange such that the cap assumes the second configuration in which an annular pocket is formed between the flange and the base, and the sealant material fills the annular pocket; and bonding the cap to the structure with the sealant material.
US08894321B2

The disclosure is directed to a warm mix asphalt comprising a hydrated lime slurry additive, methods of producing the same, methods of producing an asphalt pavement and methods of paving a surface.
US08894305B2

An adjustable keyboard assembly and support mounts and keying layout are provided allowing a user to orient keying modules of the assembly in a variety of desired configurations. In one embodiment, the assembly includes pivoting support plates that allow the flexible adjustments. In another embodiment, at least one lift module is utilized to allow achieving multiple tenting angles expediently. In yet another embodiment, a modular support mount assembly is provided to allow the user to mount keying modules to a structure such as a chair using modular mounts that allow for easy and effective peripheral device supports and reconfiguration of the modular support mount assembly to support keying modules and peripheral devices of various sizes and shapes. Furthermore, a keying layout and assembly is provided to improve efficiency and intuitiveness of using a keying module and for programming the keying modules without use of a separate computer.
US08894298B2

A fiber optic connector has a connector outer housing and a connector inner housing. The connector inner housing has a projection to interact with a latch on an adapter into which the connector is inserted. The force required to move the connector outer housing relative to the connector inner housing is less than the force to remove the connector inner housing from the latch. A groove or opening may also be formed in the connector outer housing to effectively shorten the connector outer housing and prevent interaction of the latch with the outer housing, reducing debris.
US08894292B2

A split outer ring of a split rolling bearing, which splits in a radial direction, includes a pair of split outer ring members which are each formed into a semi-cylindrical shape and which are formed into a cylindrical shape by being butted against each other at circumferential end portions. A pair of first flat plane portions which extend from both axial end edges of the end portions towards a center in parallel with an axis and a V-shaped recess portion, positioned between the first flat plane portions and is recessed in a circumferential direction relative to the pair of first flat plane portions, are formed at one end portion of the circumferential end portions which are butted against each other, and a pair of second flat plane portions which extend from the both axial end edges in parallel with the axis.
US08894277B2

A system and method for providing greatly improved linear heat detection using fiber optic distributed temperature systems (DTS). The invention makes use of correction algorithms based on proportional-integral-derivative notions that anticipate exterior temperature increases based on the rate of measured temperature changes.
US08894262B2

A handheld test strip illumination device includes a housing. A strip connector positioned within the housing receives a first portion of a test strip in a test strip test position. A light source is positioned within the housing. A lens/light reflecting device is aligned to receive photons emitted from the light source and direct the photons onto the first portion of the test strip within the strip connector. The first portion of the test strip within the strip connector includes a longitudinal transparent layer receiving the photons emitted from the lens/light reflecting device within the housing. The photons pass through the longitudinal transparent layer and are emitted from the longitudinal transparent layer in a second portion of the test strip positioned outside of the housing, thereby illuminating a dose area of the test strip.
US08894260B2

The disclosed annular light guide illuminator (10) is operable to guide light from its entry surface (12) to its exit surface (16) for illuminating a zone (17) at its distal end (19), and comprises a truncated-cone-shaped inner cavity (18) of which base opens onto said distal end (19), and of which truncated summit (20) opposite to said base opens onto an inner hole portion (21) for back transmitting light reflected/emitted from said zone. An optical scanner implementing said illuminator is also disclosed.
US08894255B1

A model airplane illumination system is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of carbon fiber wingtip rods, a wingtip mount configured to secure at least one of the wingtip rods substantially perpendicular to each wingtip of a model airplane, and a plurality of light emitting diodes (“LED”), where at least one LED of the plurality of LEDs is secured to each end of the wingtip rods and configured to illuminate surfaces of the model airplane. In addition, the system includes a carbon fiber tail rod, a tail mount configured to secure the tail rod to a tail of the airplane and configured to illuminate the surfaces of the airplane, and at least one LED of the plurality of LEDs is secured to each end of the tail rod and configured to illuminate the tail and fuselage surfaces of the model airplane.
US08894252B2

An LED lamp includes a thermally conductive base including an appendage protruding from a center of a first end and an opening to cavity on a second end. The appendage includes a channel coupled to the cavity. The LED lamp further includes an LED assembly disposed at an end of the protruding appendage and in thermal communication with the base. The LED assembly further includes a bulb disposed on the first end, wherein the appendage protrudes in a direction towards the center of the bulb, and wherein the LED assembly is proximate to the center of the bulb. The LED assembly further includes an electrical housing, configured to house an electrical module, disposed inside the cavity of the base. An electrical wire disposed inside the channel electrically couples the LED assembly to the electrical module.
US08894241B2

The light source device includes a first light source component, a fluorescent component, a first illuminance homogenizer, and a relay optical system. The first light source component emits laser light. The fluorescent component has a phosphor. The phosphor is excited by laser light. The first illuminance homogenizer converts the laser light into laser light showing a spatially uniform light intensity distribution. The first illuminance homogenizer is disposed between the first light source component and the fluorescent component. The relay optical system guides laser light emitted from the first illuminance homogenizer to the fluorescent component. The relay optical system is disposed between the first illuminance homogenizer and the fluorescent component.
US08894239B2

The invention provides a lighting unit comprising a substantially continuous, pliable surface (10) and a plurality of light sources. The light sources (20) are arranged to generate light beams (24) with respective optical axes (O). Each of the light sources (20) is connected to the pliable surface (10) at respective surface areas (30) of the pliable surface (10), whereby orientations of the respective surface areas (20) and orientations of the respective optical axes (O) are linked. The pliable surface (10) has a profile (Z) that is pliable into different profiles with corresponding different orientations of at least part of the plurality of surface areas (30). The lighting unit can thus easily provide different illumination profiles. In this way, a flexible lighting unit is provided, as the profile of the pliable surface can be defined and, after having been initially defined, also changed in dependence on e.g. user needs.
US08894216B2

A projector for projecting diffracted light in a selectable pattern and/or animation on a display surface. The apparatus includes a light source providing one or more beams of coherent light from one or more lasers. The apparatus includes a diffraction assembly in the path of the light source to generate diffracted light by diffracting the laser light with one, two, or more diffraction grating patterns and, optionally, with a diffraction glass or other material. An active mask is provided with a raster that receives the diffracted light and that includes a plurality of optical shutter elements that are selectively operable to project a portion of the diffracted light from the active mask toward the display surface. In one example, the active mask includes a liquid crystal display panel to provide a grid of addressable programmable pixels that are turned on and off to project portions of the diffracted light.
US08894210B2

An optical element is provided with: first polarization-separation layer (13) that is laminated on first surface (12b) of light guide body (12) and that, of the light incident from light guide body (12), transmits X-polarized light and reflects Y-polarized light that is orthogonal to the X-polarized light; polarization hologram layer (14) that is laminated on first polarization-separation layer (13) and that diffracts to a prescribed diffraction angle the X-polarized light that is incident within a prescribed range of angles of incidence and converts the X-polarized light to Y-polarized light; second polarization-separation layer (15) that is laminated on polarization hologram layer (14) and that, of the light incident from polarization hologram layer (14) transmits Y-polarized light and reflects X-polarized light; reflection layer (18) provided on second surface (12c) side of light guide body (12); and phase difference layer (17) that is provided between first surface (12b) of light guide body (12) and reflection layer (18) and that imparts a phase difference before and after transmission to mutually orthogonal polarization components of the incident light.
US08894206B2

A diagnostic equipment having an auto-focusing function comprising a image detection device, a first scanning device, a mobile optical lens assembly, a focusing detection device and a first splitter assembly is provided. The image detection device comprises a first light source and a first photo detector. The first light source provides a first incident light and the first incident light incident to an object and becomes a first signal light. The first photo detector is for receiving the first signal light. The first scanning device is for adjusting a path of the first incident light and to scan the object. The mobile optical lens assembly has a lens and a mobile platform. The first splitter assembly is for transmitting the first and the second signal light to the first and the second photo detector, respectively.
US08894197B2

An ink set includes a metallic ink composition containing a metal pigment and at least one curable ink composition selected from the group consisting of a chromatic ink composition, a black ink composition, and a white ink composition.
US08894194B2

The present disclosure includes compositions, methods, and systems including an ink-jet ink comprising a liquid vehicle, a colorant dispersed or dissolved in a liquid vehicle, and self cross-linkable latex particles dispersed in the liquid vehicle. The self cross-linkable latex particle can have at least 0.1 wt % of the self cross-linkable monomer on the surface of the self cross-linkable latex particle providing cross-linking sites on the surface of the self cross-linkable latex particle, and can form an intra- and inter-particle cross-linked latex polymer film after printing the ink-jet ink on a substrate and upon at least partial depletion of the liquid vehicle or a liquid vehicle component.
US08894190B2

The invention describes a continuous inkjet printer having an ink distribution block and an ink module containing ink and filters which can be connected to the distribution block with a substantially horizontal linear sliding action. Spigots forming part of the connection are preferably provided with upward facing fluid transfer ports.
US08894187B2

A liquid application device includes: a liquid discharge head having a structure in which nozzles for performing droplet ejection of a functional liquid onto a substrate are aligned in a row in a predetermined direction, and including liquid chambers connected to the nozzles respectively and piezoelectric elements which are provided correspondingly to the liquid chambers and serve to pressurize the liquid in the liquid chambers; a relative movement unit for causing relative movement between the substrate and the liquid discharge head; and a droplet ejection control unit for operating the piezoelectric elements so as to cause the liquid to land discretely on the substrate, and controlling operation of the piezoelectric elements according to each of groups formed by grouping the nozzles correspondingly to the structure of the liquid discharge head.
US08894180B2

A wiping assembly includes a pair of guide elements located at opposite ends of a headland region of a fluid ejection assembly to extend in a second orientation generally perpendicular to a first orientation through which the opposite ends extend. Each guide element includes at least one first portion and a second portion. The at least one first portion selectively receives biased releasable engagement from a non-wiping portion of a wiping element extending along the first orientation to cause a wiping portion of the wiping element to be in generally parallel relation to, and spaced apart from, the headland region. The second portion causes the non-wiping portion to no longer be in biased releasable engagement against the guide element and causes the wiping portion to be biased in wiping relation against the headland region.
US08894176B2

A printing apparatus includes a sensor for detecting temperature of a printhead and outputting the detected temperature as a voltage, and a controller for detecting the voltage, which has been output by the sensor, via a cable and controlling driving of the printhead. The apparatus further includes a switch settable to two states, one in which current is supplied to the sensor and one in which current is not supplied to the sensor; and a correction unit that subtracts a first voltage detected by the controller in a case where the state in which current is not supplied to the sensor has been set by the switch from a second voltage detected by the controller in a case where the state in which current is supplied to the sensor has been set by the switch, thereby obtaining a correction voltage corrected for a crosstalk component produced in the cable.
US08894172B2

An image forming apparatus which includes a head for discharging colored radiation curable ink and colorless radiation curable ink that are cured upon irradiation with electromagnetic waves onto a medium, and a controller for causing dots of the colored radiation curable ink and dots of the colorless radiation curable ink to be densely arranged.
US08894169B2

An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a recording head, a sub tank, a carriage, a main tank, a liquid feed device, a displacement member, a first detector, a second detector, a detection retainer, a liquid consumption amount measuring device, and a supply controller. The measuring device measures a consumption amount of liquid in the sub tank when the displacement member displaces from a first position in a direction in which the consumption amount of liquid in the sub tank decreases. When a detection output of the first detector continues to be, for a predetermined time or number of times, in a detection state in which the first detector detects the displacement member and shifts from the detection state to a non detection state in which the first detector does not detect the displacement member, the measuring device starts measuring the consumption amount of liquid in the sub tank.
US08894164B2

In a guide arrangement with a combined deceleration and acceleration arrangement which is disposed in a carrier housing mounted on a guide track, the carrier housing includes at least two spaced engagement elements and the guide track includes corresponding counter engagement elements which, together form clamping connections wherein at least one of the carrier housing-side and the guide track-side engagement elements or in the form of projections and the corresponding engagement elements guide track or, respectively, the housing-side engagement are in the form engagement ears slidably receiving the projections.
US08894162B2

A stay for opening and closing of a door does not become a hindrance when the door is open and is visually uncluttered. The stay has: a main body mounted to a housing; an arm having one end rotatably connected to the main body; a biasing element on the main body and biasing the arm so the arm rotates in at least one direction; an arm slider mounted to the arm and slidable in the longitudinal direction of the arm; and a mounting seat installed on the door and rotatably connected to the slider. As the slider is slidable relative to the arm and rotatable relative to the mounting seat installed on the door, an opening and closing force can be transmitted to the door from the one arm without requiring two links. Thus, the stay does not become a hindrance to a user and is visually uncluttered.
US08894159B2

In a brake controlling device (20), a separating valve (60) is provided in a main flow path (45) for interconnecting a first liquid pressure circuit and a second liquid pressure circuit. When an abnormality detecting section detects an abnormality relating to brake fluid pressure, a controlling section sets the separating valve (60) to a closed state. A leakage suppressing section performs leakage suppressing processing for suppressing entry of a brake fluid, which is in the first liquid pressure circuit, into the second liquid pressure circuit after the separating valve (60) is set to the closed state. A leakage suppressing section sets a master cut valve (64) to a closed state to perform the leakage suppressing processing.
US08894158B2

The present disclosure relates to brake control systems for the control of air brakes on rail vehicles. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a unitized brake assembly including a pipe bracket coupled to a combined brake cylinder-empty/load reservoir and a control valve mounted on the pipe bracket.
US08894157B2

An electromagnetic pressure control module for a pressure-medium-actuated brake system of a motor vehicle, having at least two channels, the module being controlled electrically in undisrupted operation and pneumatically in the event of a fault in the electrics, and also from a method for operating the electropneumatic pressure control module.
US08894155B2

The invention relates to a device for machining and/or conveying materials, comprising a roller element rotatably supported about a longitudinal axis, at least one tool holder, a support element for supporting a cutting tool and a cutting tool, wherein the tool holder includes a receiver in which the support element is received in a form locking manner and the support element includes a bore hole. In order to configure the support element that is provided for holding the cutting tool engaging the material so that it can be exchanged in a much simpler manner it is proposed to arrange the fixation element coaxial with the support element, wherein the fixation element is connected with the support element through a threaded connection.
US08894154B2

A seat back includes a backrest formed of a first polymeric material for supporting an occupant. A bracket formed of a different material than the first polymeric material of the backrest is anchored to the backrest for coupling to a seat cushion. A reinforcing composite layer is connected to the backrest and is formed of a second polymeric material and a plurality of fibers impregnated in the second polymeric material. The first polymeric material of the backrest is mechanically engaged with the bracket free of melt bonding between the first polymeric material of the backrest and the bracket. The first polymeric material of the backrest is melt bonded to the second polymeric material of the reinforcing composite layer integrating the backrest, the bracket, and the reinforcing composite layer.
US08894144B2

A vehicle seat assembly having a seatback frame, an upper armature that is movable relative to the seatback frame and a head restraint mounted on the upper armature. A linkage assembly operatively interconnects the upper armature and an impact body such that movement of the impact body relative to the seatback frame acts on the linkage assembly to move the upper armature relative to the seatback frame to cause the head restraint to move toward the occupant. The linkage assembly includes a linkage and a coupler movably connected to the linkage. The coupler includes a first member movably connected to the seatback frame and a second member movably connected to the first member at a location below the upper end of the impact body.
US08894143B2

In a drive device for a vehicle seat (1), having a frame (10) which belongs to the vehicle seat (1), an output (14a, 14b) which belongs to the vehicle seat (1), is hinged to the frame (10) and is pivotable relative to the latter about an axis (A), and a geared fitting (16), the two fitting parts (16a, 16b) of which perform a relative rotational movement with superposed tumbling movement in a drive situation. One fitting part (16a) acts on the output (14a, 14b) and the other fitting part (16b) is supported on the frame (10). A transmission element (25, 35, 37) is provided between the fitting part (16a) which acts on the output (14a, 14b) and the output (14a, 14b). The transmission element (25, 35, 37) is torsionally rigid in the circumferential direction of the axis (A) and simultaneously flexible in the radial direction of the axis (A).
US08894141B2

A bicycle seat clamp assembly includes a body having opposing side faces with an arched first and second lower guide rail outwardly project therefrom, respectively. A first wing clamp is positioned on the first lower guide rail while a second wing clamp is positioned on the second lower guide rail. A primary fastener attaches the first wing clamp and the second wing clamp to the body, the primary fastener being movable between a first position wherein the first wing clamp and the second wing clamp are rigidly fixed to the body and a second position wherein the first wing clamp and the second wing clamp can freely slide along the first lower guide rail and the second lower guide rail, respectively. Structure is also provided for releasably securing a bicycle seat to the first wing clamp and the second wing clamp independent of movement of the primary fastener.
US08894136B2

A structure for a side portion of a vehicle body that is configured such that the ends of an arch member are mounted to rail members extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body and such that a roof panel is supported by the arch member. The structure includes the rail members; the arch member, which extends in the width direction of the vehicle and the ends of which are mounted to the rail members; and the roof panel supported by the arch member. In each of the rail members, an outer extension section is integrally provided to a rail outer section and an inner extension section is integrally provided to a rail inner section. The arch member is provided with an arch upper member that can be installed on the outer extension section and an arch lower member that can be installed on the inner extension section.
US08894133B2

A front pillar structure of a vehicle may include an outer side panel disposed on an outer side in a traverse direction of a vehicle, an inner side panel attached to the outer side panel with an opening formed therebetween, and a reinforcement inserted through the opening between the inner side panel and the outer side panel, wherein the reinforcement may be attached to the outer side panel and the inner side panel to close the opening to have a closed cross-section.
US08894132B2

A three-dimensionally shaped body module component and a method for the production thereof, which is assembled from a plurality of body module segments (1). The body module segments (1) are sections of continuously pultruded fiber plastic composite pultrudates, wherein each pultrudate has a basic structure consisting of endless fibers (20) laid in accordance with the force flux with respect to a predetermined geometry of the component. Furthermore, the basic structure has at least one passage (30) per body module segment (1) for receiving a connecting means (11), so as to connect at least two of the body module segments (1). The fibers (20) laid in accordance with the force flux are laid around the passage (30), and, furthermore, a stabilization structure (40) made from fibers is arranged around it.
US08894129B2

A vehicle body structure is proved that basically includes a pair of side frame members and a pair of suspension support members. The side frame members extend in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body structure and are configured to absorb energy imparted during a collision in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body structure by undergoing an axial collapse. The suspension support members are arranged parallel to the side frame members. The suspension support members serve to support a suspension link member, and are configured to bend during the collision. Each of the suspension support members includes a rotation inducing structure that is configured to induce a bending rotation of the suspension support members during the collision upon an imparted load input from the collision being equal to or larger than a predetermined value.
US08894120B2

A vehicle is provided with a center console that extends longitudinally between two rear seats and two front seats and defines a cavity with a receptacle disposed therein. An adjustment mechanism is disposed within a rearward portion of the center console, and a panel is disposed over an intermediate portion of the center console. The panel includes a proximal end that is connected to the adjustment mechanism and a rearward end supported slidably by the center console. The panel is movable in a fore-and-aft direction between a forward position over the receptacle and a rearward position for providing access to the receptacle.
US08894109B2

A flush mounted, vehicle door handle includes a housing having an outer wall defining an interior recess and a handle pivotally coupled to the housing. A first portion of the handle is configured for pressing on a first side of a fulcrum and a second portion of the handle is configured for puffing on a second side of the fulcrum. The handle is disposed within the interior recess of the housing when positioned in a first, resting position. The first portion of the door handle has a back surface provided for actuating a door latch mechanism of an existing vehicle door when the housing is mounted to a door panel of a vehicle. Thus, when the handle is pivoted about the fulcrum to a second position, the door latch mechanism is actuated causing the door latch mechanism to release the automobile door allowing the door to open.
US08894107B2

A hook lever engages with a striker which enters as far as a deep side in an entering direction of the striker to hold the striker by moving from an opening position to an engagement position while being guided by a hook shaft provided on the deep side in the entering direction of the striker, and a guide lever is guided by the hook shaft and is biased from the deep side to an entrance side in the entering direction of the striker to restrict the movement of the hook lever towards the engagement position, while the guide lever is pressed against by the striker when the striker enters in the entering direction so as to move the hook lever to the engagement position, in such a state that the guide lever is partially overlapped on the hook lever.
US08894103B2

A vehicle door opening/closing device includes: an inside handle mounted to a vehicle door and operated from a vehicle interior to perform a door opening/closing operation; an outside handle mounted to the door and operated from a vehicle exterior to perform the door opening/closing operation; a locking mechanism actuated to lock the door at a predetermined position; an open mechanism; a release mechanism; and a cancel mechanism. The open mechanism is actuated according to operation of the inside and outside handles to release the lock by the locking mechanism. The release mechanism includes an electric motor and a power-transmission member transmitting electric motor power to the open mechanism, and actuates the open mechanism to release the lock of the door. Further, the cancel mechanism is actuated by operating the inside and outside handles to interrupt transmission of the electric motor driving force to the open mechanism by the power-transmission member.
US08894099B2

A vacuum cleaner suction pipe (1) having first, second, and third pipe segments (2, 3, 4), respectively, the pipe segments (2, 3, 4) being telescopically connected to one another, the first pipe segment (2) being located between the second pipe segment (3) and the third pipe segment (4). There is a control device (5), and the pipe segments (2, 3, 4) are mechanically in interaction with one another via the control device (5) so that when the second pipe segment (3) or the third pipe segment (4) is moved manually in an axial direction relative to the first pipe segment (2) the respective other of the second or third pipe segment (3, 4) is moved at the same time by the control device (5).
US08894098B2

A security device for authenticating bank notes, documents and other items, comprises a luminescent material for producing luminescent radiation of first and second wavelengths. The security device includes an optically variable structure for controlling emission of luminescent radiation of at least one of the first and second wavelengths from the security device, the security device being arranged to permit, from an area of the optically variable structure, emission of luminescence of the first and second wavelengths from the security device. The optically variable structure causes the relative emissivity of the security device for luminescent radiation of the first and second wavelengths to change with a change m emission angle, so that the security device produces an angle-dependent color shift m the emitted luminescent radiation. The optically variable structure may comprise an optical interference stack that controls transmission of luminescent radiation therethrough in response to the wavelength of luminescent radiation.
US08894095B1

A leg restraint for side-seated vehicle occupants that includes a leg-restraining member for being mounted in proximity to a side-facing vehicle seat and selectively moveable between a deployed, laterally-extending leg-protecting position and a retracted, non-leg interfering position, and a sensor for detecting abrupt movement in the direction of forward travel of the vehicle incident to an abrupt deceleration of the vehicle and outputting a signal. A gas-inflatable bag is positioned operatively proximate the leg-restraining member and is responsive to the signal output by the sensor for inflating and deploying the leg-restraining member upon the occurrence of the abrupt deceleration of the vehicle.
US08894090B1

A stroller includes an outer frame unit, two support units connected with the outer frame unit, two linking units connected with the outer frame unit and the support units, a cross connection unit mounted between the support units and the linking units, and a positioning and folding unit mounted between the support units. Thus, the positioning and folding unit is operated to expand and collapse the stroller.
US08894085B2

A shock-absorbing seat stay for a bicycle includes a seat tube coupler having two branches each having a first joint portion, two extended parts each having a second joint portion corresponding to one of the first joint portions, two shock-absorption members made of elastic materials and each held between the corresponsive first and second joint portions, and at least two fastener units. Each of the first joint portions has at least one first through hole. Each of the second joint portions has at least one second through hole. Each of the shock-absorption members includes at least one third through hole. Each of the at least two fastener units is mounted to one set of the at least one first, second, and third through holes to further interconnect the corresponsive first joint portion, second joint portion, and shock-absorption member.
US08894084B1

A vehicle having a front wheel, a main frame member and a rear wheel assembly including a rear wheel is configured for conversion between expanded and folded arrangements. A hinge coupling enables relative pivoting of forward and rearward portions of the main frame member about a main frame pivot axis extending at an acute angle relative to a rear vertical transverse plane and at an acute angle relative to a horizontal plane. A rear wheel assembly hinge is configured to allow the rear wheel assembly to pivot relative to the main frame member within a vertical plane coincident with the rear vertical longitudinal plane. The front vertical longitudinal plane and the rear vertical longitudinal plane are spaced apart and approximately parallel, in the folded arrangement.
US08894076B2

A cart may include a frame, a plurality of wheels carried by the frame, a platform movably carried by the frame, and a lift assembly. The lift assembly may be carried at least in part by the frame and operably associated with the platform to move the platform relative to the frame. The lift assembly may include at least one hydraulic actuator having a piston rod movable under hydraulic pressure to move the platform relative to the frame.
US08894074B2

A vehicle height adjustment apparatus, includes: a front wheel side changing unit capable of changing a front wheel side relative position; a rear wheel side changing unit capable of changing a rear wheel side relative position; and a control unit for adjusting a height of the main body of the vehicle by controlling the front wheel side changing unit and the rear wheel side changing unit so as to change the front wheel side relative position and the rear wheel side relative position, in which the control unit controls the front wheel side changing unit and the rear wheel side changing unit in such a manner that a rate of change of the front wheel side relative position and a rate of change of the rear wheel side relative position satisfy a predetermined relationship.
US08894069B2

Inflatable packers are provided with one or more components to improve longevity and/or functionality. One or more of the packer components utilizes reinforced materials incorporated in a manner that enables the improved longevity and/or functionality.
US08894068B2

A multiple target electronic dart gaming machine having shared electronic components. According to certain embodiments, the multiple targets are mounted on opposite sides of a game board of a target assembly that is housed in a cabinet of the gaming machine. The gaming machine may be floor-standing or wall mountable. Either affixed above the top of the target assembly, below the bottom of the target assembly, or both, is a visual display video monitor for providing players and observers with game scores and the like. The game board may be axially rotated between at least first and second positions so as to allow game play on the different targets. Additionally, the position of the game board may be detected through the use of a detector on or in the board.
US08894067B2

A board game is provided having the theme Death and Taxes. Multiple levels of paths of spaces are indicated on a board, each level having differing rules affecting the amount of scrip currency that a player receives or loses in playing. Players' pieces are moved to differing levels dependent on the amount of currency assigned to that player (Net Worth).
US08894066B2

A configurable manual controller for manipulating images or symbols on a display is adapted for construction with matable building elements arranged by a user. The user forms the manual controller to exhibit a customized ornamental appearance reflecting the user's creative design preferences.
US08894060B2

A medium feeding apparatus includes an opening unit (a lock shaft, a lock arm, a hopper, a link member, and a rotating member) that performs an opening operation in a direction in which rollers coming into press contact with each other on a conveying path for a medium are separated from each other when a conveyance error of the medium occurs. An error release operation control unit of a controller controls the opening unit by switching whether an opening operation is performed to the degree of opening in which a conveying roller and a driven roller are separated from each other or an opening operation is performed to the degree of opening in which a separating roller and a braking roller are separated from each other, according to an entering distance of the medium on the conveying path.
US08894049B2

A fan heater with a humidifier includes a housing in which both a warm air generation mechanism for generating warm air and a humidification mechanism for generating a mist are provided. The fan heater with the humidifier is characterized by its integrated structure for effectively providing warm air and appropriate moisture at the same time, so as to prevent the air around the fan heater from being too dry.
US08894048B2

A gas diffuser including a grid of aeration pipes spaced apart and in parallel alignment within a horizontal plane is provided. The aeration pipes have improved discharge hole placement along their lengths and around their circumferences to provide improved performance and reduced fouling of membrane filtration systems associated therewith.
US08894047B2

The invention relates to a stirring arrangement having a rotating stirring body (2) for stirring fluids. The stirring body (2) has stirring blades (4) attached on a stirring body hub (3). The stirring body further includes a gas supply device (5) supplying a gas, such as air, for dispersing with the stirring body (2). The gas supply device (5) includes a distribution bushing (6) which rotates with the hub (3) of the stirring body (2) and has an interior for receiving the gas. The distribution bushing (6) and the interior thereof are in fluid communication with co-rotating outlet lines (7). Outlet openings of the outlet lines (7) are disposed in the immediate vicinity of the stirring blades (4) and within the volume swept by the stirring body (2) or in the immediate outflow zones, and discharge the gas at respective desired locations in the corresponding desired flow direction.
US08894045B2

A liquid container which contains liquid to be supplied to a liquid ejecting apparatus, includes: a containing section which contains liquid and includes a liquid delivery section, an air introduction section, and a deformation section, wherein the deformation section includes a rigid body section and a flexible section, the liquid container further includes a stop section which at least blocks the displacement equal to or greater than a predetermined amount with respect to a portion of the rigid body section, and in displacement of the rigid body section accompanying a reduction in the pressure, the air introduction section introduces the air into the containing section by transmission of displacement of the other portion of the rigid body section, the displacement of the portion of which has been blocked.
US08894032B2

A seat track assembly includes first and second tracks. The second track includes a detent. A roller engages the first and second tracks for facilitating movement of the first track relative to the second track. Movement of the first track relative to the second track at a predetermined position causes the roller to engage with the detent such that the detent resists rotation of the roller, thereby temporarily retaining the first track relative to the second track at the predetermined position.
US08894029B2

A retractor ring assembly includes a ring holder that has a first selectively engaged connection and a second selectively engaged connection. A first and second ring portion each has a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the first and second ring portions are selectively connected to the respective first and second selectively engaged connections of the ring holder. The distal end of the first ring portion has a third selectively engaged connection. The distal end of the second ring portion has a fourth selectively engaged connection. The third selectively engaged connection and the fourth selectively engaged connection are connectable to form a reinforced closed ring configuration, and are disconnectable to form an open ring configuration.
US08894019B2

A system for controlling unwanted flow separation. One or more microjets are placed to feed auxiliary fluid into a region of suspected flow separation on a surface. If the separation is intermittent, sensors can be employed to detect its onset. Once separation is developing, the microjets are activated to inject a stream of high-velocity gas in a direction that is transverse to the prevailing flow. This injected stream forms counter-rotating vortices in the prevailing flow and thereby transfers momentum from the prevailing flow into the boundary layer proximate the surface.
US08894011B1

An aircraft fuselage is constructed of a plurality of cylindrical semi-monocoque fuselage sections that are each constructed with mirrored screw threads on either their interior or exterior surfaces. The screw threads of adjacent fuselage sections are secured together end-to-end by a sleeve having complementary screw threads. The sleeve is positioned between adjacent fuselage sections that are held against rotation, but are free to move in translation towards each other. The sleeve is engaged with the screw threads of the adjacent fuselage sections and is rotated, causing the adjacent fuselage sections to move toward each other and into secure engagement in response to the rotating sleeve.
US08894008B2

The present invention relates to landing gear (5) having at least one undercarriage (10) comprising a landing gear leg (11) carrying at least one wheel (12). The undercarriage (10) includes a retraction actuator (20) having an electric motor (23), blocking means (30) for blocking the actuator in the retraction position and for enabling the retraction actuator to be positioned in the “landing gear extended” position by gravity, first monitoring means (35) for monitoring the operation of the retraction actuator (20), first control means (65) for controlling the refraction actuator (20), and second control means (75) for controlling the blocking means (30).
US08893995B2

The present invention efficiently and cost-effectively extracts and collects cells from a tissue. The inventors have discovered that the tissue can be effectively fragmented and the resulting cells can be purified using a system or kit with multiple components. An advantage of the present invention is that tissue processing takes place in a closed system such that sterility can be maintained throughout the process, even if certain components are removed during processing, for example through the use of valves, clamps, and heat seals. Furthermore, any or all of the steps can be automated or manually accomplished, according to the specific needs of the application or the user.
US08893994B2

Disclosed herein is a shredder having a device located at least partially between a shredder mechanism and an output side of the shredder housing to disperse any accumulation of shredded materials at least adjacent the output opening, as well as remove shredded materials caught in or near the cutting assembly. One device is a movable device positioned between a shredder mechanism and the output side of the shredder housing that is configured to pivot about an axis in an oscillating manner. Another device includes a fan mechanism for blowing and moving shredded materials through a passageway in the shredder housing and towards an outlet.
US08893988B2

A liquid-dispensing station comprises a liquid-holding tank and a plurality of liquid-dispensing structures. The liquid-holding tank and the plurality of liquid-dispensing structures are adjoined to form a liquid-dispensing apparatus. Liquid from within the liquid-holding tank can be dispensed through one or more of the liquid-dispensing structures, which are in fluid communication with a liquid-receiving space of the liquid-holding tank. When the liquid-holding tank is empty, the liquid-dispensing apparatus is stackable within another identically configured liquid-dispensing apparatus. Advantageously, the liquid-holding tank and the liquid-dispensing structures are jointly configured such that the liquid-dispensing structures of one liquid-dispensing apparatus do not contact the liquid-holding tank of another liquid-dispensing apparatus when stacked therein. In this regard, a plurality of the liquid-dispensing apparatuses are stackable with each other without interference from the liquid-dispensing structures.
US08893980B2

Various methods related to air moving devices in electronic systems are disclosed. Various electronic systems including controlled air moving devices are also disclosed. Thus, one example electronic system includes an air moving device, a sensor for monitoring an operating parameter of the electronic system and generating a signal representative of the operating parameter, and a controller for controlling the air moving device. The controller is configured to selectively control a rotational speed of the air moving device, to receive the signal representative of the operating parameter, and to delay changing the rotational speed of the air moving device in response to the signal representative of the operating parameter.
US08893971B1

The present invention relates to target acquisition and related devices, and more particularly to telescopic gunsights and associated equipment used to achieve shooting accuracy at, for example, close ranges, medium ranges and extreme ranges at stationary and moving targets.
US08893969B2

Various exemplary embodiments relate to an integrated circuit (IC) including: an inventoried flag configured to indicate whether the integrated circuit has been inventoried in a current inventory round; and an event detector configured to detect a tag event at the integrated circuit and reset the inventoried flag based on the tag event. In various embodiments, the IC further includes a timer circuit configured to measure a predetermined time since the inventoried flag was set and to prevent the reset of the inventoried flag until the predetermined time has expired.
US08893959B1

An automated banking machine is operable to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records. The machine includes a card reader that can read from cards, user data that corresponds to financial accounts. The machine can operate responsive to the read card data to carry out transactions that transfer and/or allocate funds between accounts. The machine can provide a transaction receipt. The machine includes a cash dispenser to dispense cash to machine users. Value of dispensed cash can be assessed to an account which corresponds to read card data. The machine also includes a check acceptor device that can receive checks from users. The machine can image a received check and then read check data from the check image. An account determined from read card data can be credited the amount of the check.
US08893957B2

Systems and methods of owner application control of an electronic device are provided. Owner application control information is stored on the electronic device and/or one or more remote servers. Owner application control information is consulted to determine if one or more required applications are available for execution on the electronic device. If not, one or more required applications not available are downloaded and installed. This could be in a manner transparent to the user of the electronic device. If one or more required applications are not available on the electronic device, the device can be functionally disabled in whole, or in part, until one or more required applications are available.
US08893953B2

A wire bonding method in a circuit device mounted on a lead frame, the wire bonding method including: counting a stop time if an operation of a capillary stops; removing a contaminated free air ball (FAB) formed on an end of the capillary if the stop time exceeds a reference time; forming a new FAB; and restarting a wire bonding process.
US08893950B2

A surgical apparatus for applying tissue fasteners is provided. The surgical apparatus includes a handle assembly, an elongated body that extends from the handle assembly, and a tool assembly mounted on the end of the elongate body. The tool assembly includes a cartridge assembly for receiving the tissue fasteners and a housing assembly for receiving a looped member. The tool assembly is configured to advance the tissue fasteners into the looped member to secure tissue between the fasteners and the looped member.
US08893946B2

A surgical instrument having opposed jaws that can be selectively moved between open and closed positions. Various embodiments include components for measuring the thickness of tissue clamped between the opposed jaws. Some embodiments are configured to ascertain the amount of compressive force that is being applied to the tissue while the thickness of the tissue is being determined. The tissue thickness data is displayed on the instrument itself and/or on a display that is remote from the instrument. The various embodiments may comprise different types of surgical instruments such as surgical staplers and graspers. A jaw arrangement with jaws shaped to define a cradle that corresponds to a cross-sectional shape of an object is also disclosed. The components that generate the thickness data may be electrically or mechanically actuated.
US08893945B2

An electric hammer has a housing having a nozzle portion, a motor and a transmission mechanism arranged in the housing, a striking device, coupled to the motor and transmission mechanism, for moving in a reciprocating manner in the nozzle portion, and a clamping device mounted to the nozzle portion and at least partially extending out of the nozzle portion. The clamping device includes an outer sleeve, an inner sleeve arranged in the outer sleeve, and at least two clamping members arranged on the inner sleeve. The inner sleeve has a first position and a second position with respect to the outer sleeve and the distance between the two clamping members in the first position is less than the distance between the two clamping members in the second position to thereby allow a nail to be released halfway, i.e., when partially struck into a workpiece, in a simple manner.
US08893943B2

A collation comprises a plurality of sleeves for supporting and carrying a plurality of fasteners through a magazine, wherein each of the plurality of sleeves have a front and a predetermined length of between about ¼ and about 0.4 inch, each of the plurality of fasteners have a predetermined length of between about ¾ inch and about 1 ½ inch and a tip located at a predetermined position from about 0.05 inch behind the sleeve front to about ¼ inch beyond the sleeve front, frangible bridges integrally connecting the plurality of sleeves together in a serial array and facilitating the separation of a leading one of the plurality of sleeves from remaining ones of the plurality of serially arranged sleeves when a drive member of the fastener driving tool drives a leading one of the fasteners disposed within the leading one of the sleeves, and a plurality of protrusions from the sleeves for engaging the rails in the magazine.
US08893942B2

An apparatus of correcting belt-meandering for a secondary battery is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes i) upper and lower rollers configured to receive a base material therebetween, wherein the base material comprises positive and negative electrode materials and an insulating material interposed between the electrode materials and ii) a driver portion configured to rotate the upper and lower rollers such that the base material is transferred in a first direction during the rotation. The apparatus may also include i) a support portion configured to support shafts of the driver portion and the upper and lower rollers and ii) a transverse moving mechanism configured to move the support portion in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.
US08893941B2

A mechanism to halt the dispensing of pressure sensitive adhesive tape from a handheld dispenser with a finger operated trigger (10) which forces lever (13) to engage brake plate (15) with cogs to mesh with the cogs on the cogged spool holder (16) to positively stop the dispensing of tape.
US08893924B2

A container for storing and/or dispensing liquid includes a body portion having a neck portion with an opening, at least one protrusion and at least one recessed portion, so that the container can utilize internal liquid pressure to provide strength for the container, so that less material is required for supporting the shape and structure of the container and so that the use of external packaging can be avoided.
US08893918B2

A container floor apparatus using wood polymer composite includes traverse supports continuously disposed to longitudinal frames at a predetermined interval, the longitudinal frames being longitudinally connected to vertical columns at four corners of the container. The longitudinal supports have a single central rail formed at upper portions of the traverse supports between the traverse frames and two side rails formed both sides of the central rail disposed parallel to and between the central rail and the longitudinal frames and further provided with a downwardly extending reinforcement piece. Convex floor members are made from wood polymer composite containing a cured mixture of about 30-50% of synthetic resin, about 50-70% of wood flour and chaff or pulp and about 2-10% of a binder. Gaskets surround each side surface portion of the floor members. Fixing means couple the floor members to the traverse supports in the block mounting spaces.
US08893913B2

A rotating tab is provided. The tab includes a body having a first end and a second end disposed opposite and distal from the first end, a nose portion located at or about the first end of the tab, a lift portion located at or about the second end of the tab, and a rivet receiving portion disposed proximate the nose portion. The rivet receiving portion includes a rivet hole. A rivet extends through the rivet hole and is staked to fasten the rivet receiving portion of the tab to a can end. The body of the tab is structured to be rotated about the rivet to align a portion of the tab with a secondary scoreline in the can end. A portion of the tab is structured to be depressed to sever the secondary scoreline to vent the can end.
US08893906B2

A closure that includes a top panel and a skirt extending downwardly from a peripheral edge of the top panel is provided. The skirt terminates in a plurality of spaced thread engagement flanges for engaging the thread of the neck of a container. The closure includes a polymer-filled channel which connects the top panel to the skirt. When engaged with the threaded neck of a container, the neck is forced into the channel and engaged by the polymer so that the channel and polymer provide lateral rigidity to the neck. This rigidity prevents the neck from deflecting from the forces resulting between the threads and thread engagement lugs when the forces therebetween are increased to the level required to adequately seal the closure to the container.
US08893905B2

A crane jib system having a main jib, an auxiliary jib, and a telescoping cylinder. The main jib is comprised of main telescoping portions and the auxiliary jib is attached to the main jib and comprises auxiliary telescoping portions. The telescoping cylinder has a first telescopic part locking unit disposed on a base portion of the telescoping cylinder. The first telescopic locking unit is adapted to selectively engage the main telescoping portions. A second telescopic part locking unit is disposed on the telescoping cylinder above the first telescopic part locking unit. The second telescopic part locking unit is adapted to selectively engage the auxiliary telescoping portions.
US08893903B2

A retrofitting system for shelves includes shelf rack inserts rack inserts each having a product slide plate with rectangular raised edges on a front and on a rear. The raised edge on the front includes a snapped-on U-rail having openings and the raised edge on the rear includes rectangular cutouts disposed opposite from the openings. At least one separating bracket has a front side and a rear side with two parallel and joined cross-bars extending between the front side and the rear side. The front side includes a horizontal pin and the rear side includes an insertion plate that is installed perpendicularly such that the separating bracket is configured to be locked in place at a lateral distance in the product slide plate by the insertion plate being inserted into a corresponding one of the cutouts and the pin being horizontally inserted into a corresponding one of the openings.
US08893902B2

A roller rail system includes an adjustment bracket including a first roller rail assembly support portion and a second roller rail assembly support portion adjacent the first roller rail assembly support portion. The first and second roller rail assembly support portions are each configured to receive a roller rail assembly such that the roller rail assembly slides within the respective first and second roller rail assembly support portion relative to the adjustment bracket. A first roller rail assembly is received by the first roller rail assembly support portion. A second roller rail assembly is received by the second roller rail assembly support portion. The roller rail system has a retracted configuration where leading ends of the first and second roller rail assemblies are closer together and an extended configuration where the leading ends of the first and second roller rail assemblies are further apart.
US08893899B1

A bicycle storage system for prominently displaying the features of a bicycle, the system including two or more ceiling-mounted swag hooks, disposed to detachably hold a load transfer bar, the load transfer bar being capable of holding two or more cable loops, which can be attached or detached, and which can descend vertically and hold a cradle in multiple locations. One or more of the cable loops can include a turnbuckle or other length-adjustor, so that the relative lengths of the cables can be adjusted, so that a rake of a bicycle part can be adjusted with respect to level. Adjusting the rake of the bicycle part can have the effect of allowing the bicycle front wheel to use gravity to maintain it aligned with the rest of the bicycle.A bicycle storage system for prominently displaying the features of a bicycle, the system including two or more ceiling-mounted swag hooks, disposed to detachably hold a load transfer bar, the load transfer bar being capable of holding two or more cable loops, which can be attached or detached, and which can descend vertically and hold a cradle in multiple locations. One or more of the cable loops can include a turnbuckle or other length-adjustor, so that the relative lengths of the cables can be adjusted, so that a rake of a bicycle part can be adjusted with respect to level. Adjusting the rake of the bicycle part can have the effect of allowing the bicycle front wheel to use gravity to maintain it aligned with the rest of the bicycle.
US08893894B2

A screen has a plurality of flattened wires. The wires are arranged longitudinally in a first direction, and of those wires there are first and second flattened wires are spaced a predetermined distance from each other or contact or appear to contact each other at spaced intervals to form a polygonic spacing to form a desired screen spacing. The deviation from the desired screen spacing is equal to or less than the standard industry tolerance as established by ASTM E2016-11, table 8. A first and second polymeric support member homogenously encase, respectively, a first and second limited selected portions of the plurality of flattened wires spaced apart. There is no additional metal material in, within, or on the first or second polymeric support members, and the desired screen spacing is maintained even when the first and second polymeric support members are applied and cured.
US08893893B2

A method of controlling operation of a froth floatation cell for separating substances comprises introducing gas into liquid in the cell, creating a froth controlling gas flow rate into the cell in order to maximize gas recovery for the cell.
US08893885B2

Specialized tool storage boxes may be produced by defining an inventory of tools to be stored in the box. The tools may be positioned in proposed desired locations. Shadows of the tools in their respective desired locations may be produced. Image of the shadows may be produced on an insert for the tool storage box. The insert may be placed in the box so that the tools can be replaced in the desired locations after being removed from the box.
US08893884B2

A sharps container includes a sub-lid that normally defines an opening into the container that is too small for a hand. Upon closure of the sub-lid, the opening is enlarged so that larger objects can be placed in the container while the closure of the sub-lid continues to prevent a hand from reaching into the container interior. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US08893881B2

A foldable organizer for restaurant waiters includes a folding case which may hold a notepad, an elongated compartment for storing paper money and receipts, a leaf having pockets for holding cards in the elongated compartment, and an exterior pocket for holding a card. The exterior pocket may be produced from a v-shaped opening integrally formed in a flexible shell that surrounds a backing. A separate insert is capable of being attached to one end of the folding case, and remains between the two halves of the folding case when in the closed position. The insert including a plurality of pages for holding cards, wherein each of the plurality of pages is joined at one end to create an accordion structure. A strap or clip for fastening the insert to the folding case is located adjacent the end opposite the one end where the plurality of pages are joined.
US08893875B2

A conveyor device for conveying flat articles on edge, for example as part of a postal sorting machine, includes a back belt and a front belt that define a first nip zone for conveying the flat articles along a first path, a conveying strip provided with a first slide plate supporting the flat articles and mounted to move between a working position in which it is situated adjacent to the first nip zone, the first slide plate being aligned with the nip zone, and a retracted position, in which it is remote from the first nip zone, the slide plate being taken out of alignment with the first nip zone for the purpose of allowing access to the first nip zone.
US08893871B1

A discharge chute for a material reducing machine having a discharge opening includes a plurality of adjacent chute segments and a linkage system. The plurality of adjacent chute segments includes a rear chute segment, an intermediate chute segment and a front chute segment, each of which is pivotally connected to an adjacent chute segment. The linkage system includes a plurality of links that interconnect the adjacent chute segments, and an actuator that is adapted to cause the discharge chute to be steered to the left by pivoting the intermediate chute segment to the left with respect to the adjacent rear chute segment, and to cause the discharge chute to be steered to the right by pivoting the intermediate chute segment to the right with respect to the adjacent rear chute segment.
US08893868B2

A viscous fluid clutch for use as a clutch for a cooling fan for a vehicle, the clutch includes an input shaft, a rotor assembly, a first housing portion, a second housing portion, a coil assembly, and a brush box. The rotor assembly is coupled to the input shaft. The first housing portion is coupled to the second housing portion and the second housing portion is rotatably disposed on the input shaft. The first and second housing portions define a fluid reservoir for receiving the rotor assembly and a viscous fluid, preferably of the magnetorheological type. The coil assembly is coupled to the first housing portion. The brush box is operably coupled to the coil assembly. When the coil assembly is energized by the brush box, a magnetic field is created that acts upon the magnetorheological fluid to vary the torque transfer of the input shaft to the housing and the fan connected thereto.
US08893860B2

A brake device for a work vehicle includes a brake unit including a brake disc plate and a piston having a slide portion slidably supported by an axle housing and a pressure portion for pressing the brake disc plate. A slack adjuster mechanism is disposed on the axially opposite side of the brake disc plate with respect to the piston while being disposed further on an inner peripheral side than the slide portion of the piston. The slack adjuster mechanism maintains a clearance between the piston and the brake disc plate at a predetermined clearance by mechanically adjusting a non-actuated position of the piston.
US08893854B2

A retractable lifeline assembly includes a housing having a first portion and a second portion separated by a plate portion having an aperture. The aperture places a first cavity of the first portion in fluid communication with a second cavity of the second portion. A shaft extends through the aperture into the first cavity and the second cavity, and a seal proximate the shaft and the plate portion seals the first cavity from the second cavity. The first portion contains a cable assembly and the second portion contains a brake assembly.
US08893852B2

A non single point of failure member slide having two members that extend from a second washer, downwardly through a sheath to a belt. The glide being slidably disposed within a track member.
US08893839B2

A battery cooling structure for a vehicle includes: a vehicle body floor part; and a battery module that is located under the vehicle body floor part, and that is arranged such that a clearance is formed between the battery module and the vehicle body floor part and an airflow that is introduced from the front side of a vehicle body into the clearance is discharged from the rear end of the clearance. At least one of the vehicle body floor part and the battery module has a wall portion that is formed so as to gradually decrease the area of a cross-section of the clearance, the cross-section being perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, along the direction toward the rear of the vehicle body.
US08893836B2

A grille shutter apparatus includes a shutter mechanism including plural of movable fins and at least one connection mechanism independently arranged to connect every two of the movable fins adjacent to one another. Accordingly, the shutter mechanism makes the movable fins operate in conjunction with one another. The grille shutter apparatus further includes a control portion controlling a flow rate of air flowing from a grille opening portion formed at a front portion of a vehicle body into the vehicle body on the basis of opening and closing operations of the shutter mechanism, and a detection device detecting an operational state of the shutter mechanism on the basis of an operation of the movable fins which correspond to a most downstream portion of a serially-arranged driving force transmission path formed at the shutter mechanism.
US08893826B2

A drilling apparatus includes a tubular body including an upper connection and a lower connection with a drill bit disposed thereon, and an axial borehole therethrough, wherein the upper connection is configured to attach to a drillstring, primary cutter blocks coupled to the tubular body and configured to selectively expand radially therefrom. The drilling apparatus further includes backup cutter blocks coupled to the tubular body and configured to selectively expand radially therefrom, and an activation system configured to selectively expand and collapse the primary and backup cutter blocks in response to changes in weight applied to the primary and backup cutter blocks.
US08893824B2

A steerable system comprises a fluid powered motor 10 having a rotor 16 and a stator 18, and a bias arrangement having a plurality of bias pads 34 connected to the stator 18 so as to be rotatable therewith, the bias pads 34 being moveable to allow the application of a side load to the steerable system.
US08893823B2

A drilling tool assembly may include a housing, a piston disposed in the housing, and a clutch assembly coupled to the housing and the piston. The clutch assembly may be configured to facilitate rotation of the piston relative to the housing. A cutting assembly may be coupled to the piston in a manner that it is rotatable relative to the piston. A method of forming a wellbore may include positioning a drilling tool in the wellbore, the drilling tool comprising a housing, a piston, a clutch assembly, and a drill head. The method may further include reciprocating the piston axially within the housing, rotating the piston relative to the housing the clutch assembly, rotating the drill head relative to the housing and the piston, and forming the wellbore.
US08893814B2

The present invention describes systems and methods which provide a moisture barrier that douses or diffuses buoyant burning debris, particularly hot embers, from a bush and/or brush fire (e.g., wildfires). By strategic placement of the devices and/or apparatus as disclosed, a method of preventing the destruction of dwellings and roof-containing structures by exploiting heat convection is provided.
US08893813B2

A fire protection sprinkler system and method of monitoring corrosion in a fire protection sprinkler system that includes a pipe network and at least one sprinkler connected with said pipe network. A corrosion monitor assembly is provided in the pipe network that includes at least one metal coupon and an oxygen depletion area defined on a surface portion of the coupon. A mounting member positions the corrosion monitor assembly to be at least partially covered with water when the sprinkler system is in an operative state.
US08893810B2

For wellbore fluid treatment, sliding sleeves deploy on tubing in a wellbore annulus. Operators deploy a plug down the tubing to a first sleeve. The plug seats in this first sleeve, and pumped fluid pressure opens the first sleeve and communicates from the tubing to the wellbore annulus. In the annulus, the fluid pressure creates a pressure differential between the wellbore annulus pressure and a pressure chamber on second sleeves on the tubing. The resulting pressure differential opens the second sleeves so that fluid pressure from the tubing can communicate through the second open sleeves. Using this arrangement, one sleeve can be opened in a cluster of sleeves without opening all of them at the same time. The deployed plug is only required to open the fluid pressure to the annulus by opening the first sleeve. The pressure chambers actuate the second sleeves to open up the tubing to the annulus.
US08893807B2

An actuation tool uses a lock that when released allows a moving magnet to move into position to repel another magnet. The repelling force on the second magnet moves it away from a locking position on a stored potential energy system where the release of the potential energy creates kinetic energy to drive an actuation assembly to set the tool. In a preferred application the tool can be a liner hanger. The release device can be a selectively energized electromagnet or a solenoid that shifts at least one magnet into alignment with at least one second magnet so as to defeat the second magnet from effectively storing the potential energy that can set the tool when the lock is defeated.
US08893806B2

An exercise tool assembly for operating a downhole tool auxiliary to a primary actuator system of the downhole tool includes a cylinder mandrel configured to be received in the central bore of the downhole tool. A piston mandrel is in and sealed with the cylinder mandrel. The exercise tool assembly is configured to couple to an actuator sleeve of the downhole tool and to couple to the downhole tool at a location apart from the actuator sleeve. The piston mandrel is responsive to a change in pressure in the central bore to translate relative to the cylinder mandrel and translate the coupling with the actuator sleeve relative to the coupling at the location apart from the actuator sleeve.
US08893805B2

Bypass valve comprising a ported housing (1) and concentrical ported sleeve (2). Ported piston (3) is slidably arranged within the sleeve. Between sleeve and piston is a control system consisting of control element (5) fixed to sleeve (2) by means of plugs (7) passing through apertures (49) and holes (68). Noses (35) protrude into recesses (34) of drive element (4). Saw teeth (31) on drive element (4) interact with teeth (29) on rotatable timing element (6). Key (27) on element (6) interacts with teeth (32) on control element (5). Lower end (70) of key is abutting against ridge (67) formed on inner surface of sleeve (2). when key (27) is engaged to teeth (32), teeth (31, 29) on elements (4, 6) are misaligned. Pressure increase results in piston (3) and drive element (4) moving downward freeing key (27) from engagement with teeth (32). Teeth (31, 29) are forced into alignment with subsequent rotation of timing element (6). In this position, ports on piston and sleeve are partially aligned. Pressure decrease results in element (6) moving up key (27) moving to next notch of teeth (32). When key (29) coincides with slot (50), piston (3) moves further down, partially occluding piston ports. When key (27) coincides with slot (52) piston (3) moves even further down totally occluding piston ports.
US08893803B1

A subsea relief valve system for use in a subsea environment has subsea piping having a first portion and a second portion, a choke cooperative with the subsea piping and movable between an open position and a closed position, a hydraulic actuator connected to the choke so as to move the choke between the open and closed positions, and a signal source cooperative with the hydraulic actuator so as to actuate the choke to the open position when an overpressure condition is detected. The open position of the choke is suitable for venting a fluid to the subsea environment. The closed position of the choke is suitable for retaining the fluid within the subsea piping.
US08893802B2

The disclosure relates to an assembly including a supporting buoy and an anchoring assembly (28) comprising a base (100) attached to the bed (12) of the expanse of water. The assembly comprises a flexible anchoring line (30) connecting the anchoring assembly (28) to the supporting buoy (26). The anchoring line (30) comprises a lower section (84) made of chain links (92). The anchoring assembly (28) comprises a device (110) for guiding the lower section (84). The lower section (84) is movably mounted in the guide device (110) relative to the base (100), between an extended configuration and a contracted configuration, and a locking member (114) which can be released from the anchor line (30) on the anchoring assembly (28).
US08893795B2

A wellbore chemical treating system include a storage vessel for containing a treating chemical. A chemical dispenser is in fluid communication between an outlet of the vessel and a well for selectively controlling the flow of the chemical from the vessel to the well. A liquid level sensor is disposed in the storage vessel. A controller is in signal communication with the liquid level sensor and is configured to operate the chemical dispenser. The controller is configured to adjust an operating time of the chemical dispenser based on changes in a liquid level measured by the liquid level sensor over a selected period of time.
US08893794B2

Systems and methods for producing from multiple zones in a subterranean formation are provided. The system can include a liner including a first frac valve, a second frac valve, and a formation isolation valve. The second frac valve can be positioned above the first frac valve, and the formation isolation valve can be positioned above the second frac valve. A completion assembly can be disposed at least partially within the liner. The completion assembly can include a valve shifting tool adapted to actuate the formation isolation valve between an open position and a closed position. The completion assembly can also include a first flow control valve in fluid communication with the first frac valve and a second flow control valve in fluid communication with the second frac valve.
US08893793B2

Hydrocarbonaceous and additional products are recovered from nonrubilized oil shale and oil/tar sands. A hole is formed in a body of oil shale or oil sand. A heater is positioned into the hole generating a temperature sufficient to convert kerogen in oil shale or bitumen in oil sand to hydrocarbonaceous products, these products are extracted from the hole as effluent gas. One or more initial condensation steps are performed to recover crude-oil products from the effluent gas, followed by one or more subsequent condensation steps to recover additional, non-crude-oil products. The subsequent condensation steps may be carried out in at least one cooled chamber having a sequence of critical orifices maintained at a negative pressure. Carbon sequestration steps may be performed wherein recovered carbon dioxide is delivered down the hole following the recovery of the hydrocarbonaceous products. Various physical parameters may be adjusted to vary the recovery of crude oil or other products or contaminants from the effluent gas.
US08893788B2

A system for recovering a fluid from a subterranean formation, including a production wellbore having a substantially horizontal production length extending through the formation, and a trench extending through the formation. A method of constructing a trench section in a subterranean formation, including providing within the formation an access wellbore having a substantially horizontal access wellbore length, introducing a trench cutting tool into the access wellbore, and advancing and retracting the trench cutting tool through the access wellbore in order to cut slots in the formation in a trench direction away from the access wellbore, repeatedly until a number of slots required to complete the trench section has been cut.
US08893766B2

The invention relates to an operating unit (1) for architectural coverings, in particular roller blinds or shades. The unit (1) includes a stationary base member (37), a rotatable driving member (39), a rotatable driven member (29) and a brake mechanism (71, 73, and 75). The brake mechanism (71, 73, and 75) automatically arrests rotation of the driven member (29) in respect of the stationary base member (37), when not rotated by the driving member (39). The brake mechanism includes a first wrap spring (73), adapted to yield a predetermined minimum brake force, and at least one second wrap spring (75), different in size from the first wrap spring (73) and adapted to yield a supplementary brake force, which together with the predetermined minimum brake force amounts to a predetermined maximum brake force.
US08893757B2

An apparatus for applying labels to containers is provided. In one embodiment, the process of applying the labels to the container is carried out by means of a laser unit. In another embodiment, a cutting unit is provided for the apparatus, which cutting unit likewise uses a laser and is arranged at least partially inside a cutting roller. In preferred embodiments, the complete application process, i.e. in particular including the bonding of the end sections of the label, is carried out by means of the laser unit.
US08893754B2

The tank opening-closing device is equipped with a tank opening forming member having a fuel path for leading fuel supplied from the fueling gun through the inlet to the fuel tank, a valve opening-closing mechanism having an opening-closing member and spring that closes in a state with the inlet sealed, and an opening-closing activation mechanism for opening and operating the opening-closing member. The opening-closing activation mechanism has an operating member pivoted at the tank opening forming member, and a pressing member for pressing the opening-closing member formed on the operating member, and is constituted so that by the operating member being pressed by the fueling gun and rotating, the opening-closing member is pressed by the pressing member and is rotated in the opening direction so as to open the inlet.
US08893744B2

A driveline component breather system that utilizes a first and a second valve assembly to control the intake and exhaustion of fluid within the driveline component to regulate internal pressures is provided. When the pressure within the driveline component increases the first valve closes or remains closed and the second valve opens and fluid is exhausted to the atmosphere. When the pressure within the driveline component decreases, the first valve opens and the second valve closes and fluid flows into the driveline component from an interior portion of an associated vehicle.
US08893743B2

The flow rate controller controlling a flow rate of gas supplied through a gas passage includes: a main gas pipe; a flow rate detecting unit detecting the flow rate of gas supplied through the main gas pipe and outputting a flow rate signal; a flow rate control valve mechanism controlling a flow rate; a conversion data storage unit storing a plurality of pieces of conversion data corresponding to a plurality of gaseous species, to indicate a relationship between a flow rate instruction signal input from outside and a target flow rate; and a flow rate control main body which selects the corresponding conversion data from the conversion data based on a gaseous species selection signal input from outside, calculates the target flow rate based on the flow rate instruction signal, and controls the flow rate control valve mechanism based on the target flow rate and the flow rate signal.
US08893742B2

A double-skin nozzle system including an internal tube for transporting a liquid, formed by a plurality of tube portions connected to one another by removable junction systems, an external tube positioned around the internal tube and formed by a plurality of tube portions connected to one another by junction systems, wherein at least two junction systems each include a blocking device for blocking, along the external tube, the flow of a liquid coming from a leak from the internal tube, and at least one drain for removing the liquid coming from the leak from the internal tube.
US08893739B2

Disclosed is a maintenance device for an elongate, tubular hollow member (2) designed to conduct a fluid. Said maintenance device comprises a sealing mechanism (4) which is to seal a working zone (9) relative to surroundings (30) of the hollow member (2) and can be moved in one direction along the hollow member (2). A side of the sealing mechanism (4) that faces the hollow member (2) forms an at least partially curved surface and can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the hollow member (2), especially in order to be placed in the sealing position. A method for servicing an elongate, tubular hollow member (2) is also claimed.
US08893738B2

A heat transfer apparatus and related methods are provided. The heat transfer apparatus and related methods more evenly distribute fluid flow in two-phase heat exchange systems by restricting fluid flow to one or more tube.
US08893733B2

A dental flossing device comprising a handle and a floss holder. The floss holder comprises a base portion and a pair of spaced-apart arms accommodating dental floss therebetween. The floss holder has greater flexibility in a direction laterally perpendicular to the direction of the length of said length of dental floss than in the direction of the floss itself. This flexibility is provided either by incorporating at least one convoluted section into either the base portion or the pair of spaced-apart arms of the floss holder, or by providing either the base portion or the pair of spaced-apart arms with a reduced cross sectional dimension in the lateral direction generally perpendicular to the floss than in the direction generally parallel to the floss, or by means of a groove in the neck by which the floss holder is attached to the handle.
US08893732B2

Disclosed herein is a makeup puff apparatus. A puff is coupled in such a way so as to be freely movable, and is very efficiently designed to have functionality including flexibility, elasticity and a restoring force, thus ensuring durability resulting from firm coupling and enabling reliable operation, and thereby considerably increasing the ease and convenience of use. Particularly, the apparatus enables flexible motion and adjustment of the puff in conformity with a variation in angle on a touch portion when the apparatus is in use, thus continuously maintaining a soft touch sensation of the puff, and allows the apparatus to be immediately restored to its original state, thus preventing the angle of the puff from deviating from a predetermined angle.
US08893727B2

Aspects of the invention relate to apparatuses and methods for improving sanitary conditions. Certain aspects relate to an apparatus having at least one protrusion for removing visible debris from a nail and at least one nail cleaning region comprising an impregnable material for containing a liquid. In one exemplary embodiment, several nail cleaning elements may be configured to each clean a different nail without cross contaminating any other nail cleaning element on the apparatus. In various exemplary embodiments, the liquid comprises an agent selected from the group consisting of: a biocide agent, moisturizing agent, a cleaning agent, and combinations thereof. Multiple nail cleaning elements may be positioned to permit the simultaneous cleaning of multiple nails without cross-contamination.
US08893726B2

An electronic cigarette includes a shell and a mouthpiece. The external wall of the shell has an air inlet. An atomizer and a liquid-supply are in contact with each other. The air inlet, atomizer, an aerosol passage, and a mouthpiece are sequentially interconnected.
US08893716B2

A disposable breathing assistance device with manometer for monitoring the pressure within the device is capable of providing CPAP and in some embodiments includes a deflection face to prevent injected jets of supplementary respirable gas from directly striking the patient's mucosa. The breathing assistance device further optionally includes a safety pressure relief valve as an additional safety against overpressure within the device. A specialized supplementary respirable gas inlet provides improved pressure characteristics.
US08893715B2

A breathing assistance apparatus and method of controlling a breathing assistance apparatus is disclosed. Particularly, the breathing assistance apparatus is controlled such that it has a drying cycle to enable drying of the tubing that supplies gases to a user and prevent the harboring of pathogens within the tube. The drying cycle is preferably operated automatically by internal controllers in the apparatus. However, it may be manually activated by pressing a button on the apparatus. The drying cycle is preferably activated at the end of a user's treatment session.
US08893713B2

A solar concentrator assembly can include mirror assemblies that are connected to pivotable frames with locating connections. The locating connections can be in the form of cam devices or tool-less connections formed by snap fitting devices as well as tool-less cam devices.
US08893703B2

A combustion chamber may include an upper and a lower chamber. The chambers may be separable to aid in loading fuel and removing spent fuel. The cross-section of the upper combustion chamber may be less than the cross-section of the lower section. Charcoal or other biomass fuel may be added into the lower combustion chamber and may be supported by a grate. Oxygen may be fed into the combustion chamber through a plurality of apertures that may be substantially shielded from direct line of site of the fuel bed. The upper combustion chamber may further include an annular constriction, to aid in constricting the view factor between the cooking vessel and the fuel bed. The constriction may also aid in radiating energy back to the fuel bed.
US08893695B2

The toy gun contains a power element electrically connected with a driver element and an electronic fire-control assembly. The electronic fire-control assembly turns on or off the driver element, which in turn engages or disengages a gear set. When the trigger is pulled, the electronic fire-control assembly controls the power element to provide electricity to the driver element which in turn engages the gear set to conduct firing. The electronic fire-control assembly incorporates a magazine detection module, a shot selection module, and a trigger on/off module. When one of the functions breaks down, a user just replaces the electronic fire-control assembly, instead of spending time and effort to inspect, disassemble, and re-assemble the toy gun.
US08893693B2

An internal combustion engine in which an anodic oxidation coating film is formed on all or a portion of a wall that faces a combustion chamber, wherein the anodic oxidation coating film has a structure that is provided with a bonding region in which each of hollow cells forming the coating film is bonded to the adjacent hollow cells, and a nonbonding region in which three or more adjacent hollow cells are not bonded to each other, and wherein a porosity of the anodic oxidation coating film is determined by a first void present in the hollow cell and a second void that forms the nonbonding region.
US08893678B2

In a valve drive arrangement of an internal combustion engine, having a first camshaft unit which comprises an outer shaft and primary cams connected to the outer shaft, a second camshaft unit which comprises an inner shaft disposed in the outer shaft, secondary cams connected to the inner shaft and disposed on the outer shaft and an adjusting unit for adjusting the two camshaft units relative to each other an adjusting unit provides for an at least two stage sequential valve stroke wherein, in a switching process, two shaft elements of a camshaft unit are displaced sequentially one after the other.
US08893674B2

In a valve train device, particularly of an internal combustion engine, which device has an actuating device for displacing at least one axially displaceable cam element and a cam element shifting gate for axially displacing the cam element and furthermore at least one switch unit with a switch element and an actuator for operating the switch element so as to engage the cam element shifting gate at least in one switching position and to move the switch element into a desired switching position, the cam element shifting gate has at least one intermediate segment for terminating a switching action.
US08893671B2

A cylinder for an internal combustion engine having co-annular dual pistons. The cylinder has a main cylinder having a main cylinder wall and a cylinder head, a first or outer piston having an annular crown, an inner cylinder wall that defines an inner cylinder, and an annular outer sidewall extending from the periphery of the crown, an inner piston having a crown, and an annular inner sidewall extending from the periphery of the crown. A solenoid-actuated pin selectively secures the outer piston with the main cylinder during a portion of each cylinder cycle. The inner piston reciprocates within the inner cylinder during both the air inlet and compression strokes, while the outer piston reciprocates within the main cylinder only during the power stroke and the exhaust stroke, to increase the piston crown surface area exposed to the combustion gases to maximize the power and efficiency.
US08893660B1

The suspended bee/bird watering device has a first embodiment specifically designed for dispensing drinking and cooling water to bees. A second embodiment is specifically designed for dispensing drinking and cooling water to birds. Both embodiments employ common features, such as a support rod, suspension hooks, insulated water reservoir, and dish-like container. Both embodiments are designed to be suspended from a support, such as a tree limb or wall. The first embodiment employs a porous, fibrous dispensing structure that allows the water to drip (in minimal amounts) from the reservoir into the dish. The second embodiment incorporates an elongate tube having an opening therein for conveying water from the reservoir to the dish.
US08893656B2

Apparatus for covering a feeding aperture (240) of an animal shelter (200) comprises at least one first curtain (120) which includes a first edge (122) from which it can be fastened to the upper edge (244) of the feeding aperture, and a second edge (124) which is dimensioned to extend at least close to the lower edge (242) of the feeding aperture when the curtain is hanging freely. The apparatus further comprises a turning mechanism (102, 106, 108, 110, 112) for moving the second edge of the curtain in the first direction towards the interior of the animal shelter and in the second direction away from the interior of the animal shelter. Preferably, the turning mechanism comprises swinging arms (110), that can be arranged to the upper edge of the feeding aperture. The second edge of the first curtain is moved by changing the position of the swinging arms.
US08893648B2

An electroless plating solution is contained in a plating tank of an electroless plating apparatus. A reference electrode and a counter electrode are immersed in the electroless plating solution. A conductive member is provided to be electrically in contact with a conductive layer formed of a long-sized substrate. The conductive member, the reference electrode, and the counter electrode are connected to a potentiostat. The potentiostat controls an electric current that flows between the conductive layer formed of the long-sized substrate and the counter electrode such that a potential of the conductive layer formed of the long-sized substrate (working electrode) is at a constant level with respect to a potential of the reference electrode.
US08893645B2

An apparatus for synthesizing highly oriented, aligned carbon nanotubes from an alcohol includes a liquid tank for retaining an alcohol; a water cooling device for cooling the liquid tank from its outside; a condensing device for cooling and condensing vapor from the alcohol; a substrate holding device having an electrode for passing an electric current through the substrate in the alcohol; an inert gas inlet for removing air; a tank sealing device to prevent the alcohol becoming gaseous in phase; and a temperature measuring device, wherein the Si substrate with a buildup thereon of the thin film or insular particles is heated by electric current to a temperature, thereby providing a temperature gradient from the Si substrate surface toward the alcohol, wherein said thin film or insular particles is a catalyst for synthesizing carbon nanotubes, and the carbon nanotubes are synthesized.
US08893642B2

In various exemplary embodiments described herein, a system and related method to provide airflow management system in a substrate production tool includes a housing to couple the substrate production tool to a fan filter unit to provide filtered air to the housing, a facility connection to couple the substrate production tool to a reduced pressure exhaust mechanism, a substrate transfer section coupled below the housing and in airflow communication with the facility connection, and a substrate process area coupled to the substrate transfer section by one or more substrate transfer slots. A chamber substantially containing the substrate transfer section and the substrate process area is coupled to the housing to receive the filtered air and to the facility connection to provide an exhaust for excess gas flow. The chamber maintains a low pressure in the substrate process area relative to the substrate transfer section.
US08893641B1

A vehicle position indicator and a method for applying same. The position indicator includes one or more members which are disposed in the user's field of view for citing an external reference to facilitate determining the position of the vehicle relative to the external reference yet without distracting the driver's view or attention. The invention contemplates the method of defining the position and location of the indicators. The exact location and orientation of the indicators are customized for the particular driver and even for the particular trip. Once the indicators are in place, the vehicle can be guided in a desired path of travel relative to the reference.
US08893638B2

This floating support for an offshore structure such as a wind generator in particular, of the type including an element in the form of a support mast (16), the upper part of winch is associated with the structure and the lower part of winch is associated with elements (18) in the form of float and with ballast-forming elements (17), is characterized in that the elements (18) in the form of a float have an overall shape winch widens out from the lower part of the element (16) in the form of a mast, allowing two stable positions of the support to be defined, one of the positions being a lying-down position and the other a position standing up on the elements in the form of a float.
US08893634B2

An anti-friction slip plate for mounting on a hull of a marine vessel to reduce skin friction drag by acoustically generating microcavitation bubbles at a wetted area of the hull. The slip plate comprises a plate-like enclosure, an energy extraction mechanism to extract power from water current flowing along the hull when underway, a power generator driven by the energy extraction mechanism to produce electrical power, an acoustic signal generator powered by the power generator to produce an acoustic signal, and a series of transducers excited by the acoustic signal to effect emission of acoustic waves that produce cavitation bubbles in the wetted area. A bottom surface of the slip plate serves as an acoustic diaphragm to impart cavitation bubbles at the wetted area interface. Optionally, a controller and/or status monitor may be provided to control and/or visual monitoring of power, acoustic frequency, intensity, duty cycle, or other parameters according to a condition of operation of the vessel or a condition of the water medium at the interface.
US08893631B2

A multi-needle sewing machine includes needle bars, presser feet, a support member configured to support the needle bars such that the needle bars can move up and down, a cutting member, a guide member configured to move between an extended position and a stand-by position, and a holding member configured to hold an end portion of a upper thread, the holding member including a fixed member that is mounted to the support member, movable members each of which is provided for one of the needle bars, and includes a guide portion formed by cutting a notch in an outer end portion on the needle bar side of the movable member, and elastic members each of which is provided for one of the movable members and configured to elastically energize the one of the movable members toward the fixed member.
US08893630B2

A system for controlling air flow within an agricultural product metering system is provided. One system for distributing an agricultural product includes an air conveyance system having a blower configured to provide an air stream for moving metered product toward a distribution device. The air conveyance system is mounted on an air cart. The system also includes control circuitry mounted on an agricultural vehicle, and configured to adjust a speed of the blower based at least partially on a product flow rate from the air cart.
US08893624B2

A railway truck is disclosed for use with a locomotive. The railway truck may have a first axle with a first end and an opposing second end, and a second axle with a first end and an opposing second end. The railway truck may also have a plurality of wheels connected to each of the first and second axles, and an equalizer operatively supported by the first and second axles in a vertical direction and constrained relative to the first and second axles in a tractive direction. The railway truck may further have a frame, at least one spring located vertically between the equalizer and the frame, and a link pivotally connected between the frame and the equalizer and configured to transfer tractive forces between the frame and the equalizer.
US08893613B2

A dryer barrel basket may include a body with a mesh surface. The dryer barrel basket may also include a door positioned proximate a bottom portion of the dryer barrel basket. The dryer barrel basket may further include a hinge which may be sized and configured to allow the door to rotate between an open and closed position. In addition, the dryer barrel basket may include a locking mechanism that is configured to secure the door to the mesh body in a closed position and allow the door to be disposed in an open position using an opening mechanism.
US08893609B2

An engine body includes a crankcase with a crank chamber therein, a cylinder block attached to the crankcase, and a breather passage which selectively permits fluid communication between the crank chamber and an area outside of the crank chamber. The engine body includes a one-way valve between the crank chamber and the breather passage, which allows a one-way flow of gases from the crank chamber to the breather passage. The one-way valve is pressure-operated and is operatively attached to a side wall of the engine body proximate a cylinder sleeve. The one-way valve may be mounted in a mounting window in a side wall of the crankcase, and a timing chamber may function as the breather passage. In an illustrative embodiment, the one-way valve includes a base plate having a valve hole formed therein, and a flexible reed valve plate with one end affixed to the base plate.
US08893607B2

An automatic or semi-automatic firearm including a trigger having a frame, at least one trigger sear extending from the frame, and a hammer having a hammer pivot axis, a head and at least one hammer sear disposed on a lateral side of the hammer between the hammer pivot axis and the head, wherein the frame includes a pivot axis and the at least one trigger sear includes a trigger sear surface, the at least one trigger sear extending from the frame such that the at least one trigger sear engages a corresponding one of the at least one hammer sear.
US08893592B2

An adjustable socket including a housing designed on a longitudinal axis, with a series of grooves extending longitudinally along the interior wall. A disc with guide slots intruding obliquely off-center from the perimeter is locked into position within the housing. Jaw members with bottom stems and cams are mounted in the disc guide slots, free to move laterally along fixed paths. An axially rotatable drive core with a cam surface is positioned within the housing, engaging the cam of each jaw. Rotation of the drive core forces the jaws to travel inwardly along the disc guide slots as dictated by the spiraling guide elements of the cam surface, to be forced against a fastener within the jaws. A locking mechanism holds the jaws in position on the fastener. Release of the locking mechanism allows rotation of the drive core in the opposite direction to release the fastener.
US08893591B2

A system for engaging fasteners includes a socket assembly and a fastener jig. The socket assembly having a socket body and a spring blade assembly, which includes a blade retaining ring and a plurality of resiliently deformable retaining blades that are movable with respect to a blade guide, between releasing and securing positions that selectively enclose and expose the socket body opening. The fastener jig includes a jig frame and at least one pair of opposing fastener jaws, which are movable between a releasing position and a securing position. The fastener jig may include a pair of opposing mounting jaws movable between a releasing position and a securing position. The socket assembly and fastener jig are configured to be operated at the distal ends of elongated tool arms, such as lineman hot-sticks.
US08893586B2

A fastener extraction device includes a body configured for attachment to a power driver tool, and allows a rotating chuck provided thereby to extend therethrough. The extraction device includes a plurality of spring-biased grasping arms that are pivotably attached to the body and are moved between opened and closed positions by an automated actuation collar that is in operative engagement with the grasping arms. The automated actuation collar includes collar magnets that are in operative communication with electromagnets that are controlled by a push button provided by the driver tool. Thus, the automated actuation collar allows the grasping arms to be selectively opened and closed in a convenient manner, allowing fasteners to be extracted without the operator having to change or release his or her grip of the driver tool.
US08893579B2

An operating pedal device for a vehicle, includes: an operating pedal disposed at a pedal support fixed to a vehicle so as to be pivotable about an axis of a support shaft, and depressed by a driver; a reaction force member connected to the operating pedal through at least one connecting portion connecting paired members in a manner such that the paired members are relatively pivotable about a connecting pin, an output in accordance with an operating force of the operating pedal being transmitted to the reaction force member, and a reaction force corresponding to the output being applied to the reaction force member; a strain detecting element disposed in an elastic portion deformed by the reaction force, the strain detecting element electrically detecting the operating force by being deformed together with the elastic portion; in one of the paired members connected by one of the at least one connecting portion, an opening provided near the connecting pin to permit the connecting pin to be relatively displaced by the reaction force; and a portion of the one of the paired members, which is elastically deformed due to displacement of the connecting pin, being used as the elastic portion.
US08893567B2

A fluid conduit element having a measurement apparatus receptacle is configured to receive a sensor unit wherein there is an insert sleeve which reaches through a receptacle gap designed in a carrier base and connects a flow channel to the sensor unit. The insert sleeve is sealed against the measurement apparatus receptacle by a sealing unit, The design is characterized by a relatively simply and operationally securely effected assembly.
US08893565B2

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to an apparatus including a first sensor arrangement configured in a first layer; a second sensor arrangement configured in a second layer; wherein the sensor arrangements are configured to vary an input signal in response to a sensed parameter; and the apparatus also including an input configured to receive an input signal and an output configured to provide an output signal that depends on each of the first and second sensor arrangements.
US08893563B1

A differential capacitance torque sensor utilizes multiple voltage sources in order to compensate for inherent electrical asymmetries in the sensor. A first voltage source having a voltage V1 is electrically connected across a longitudinally-extending, conductive proof mass, a first upper capacitor C1 and the second lower capacitor C4. A second voltage source having a voltage V2 is connected in series with the first voltage source, a second upper capacitor C3 and a first lower capacitor C2, such that the voltage V2 is given by V 2 = γ γ + 1 ⁢ V 1 , where γ is a parameter defined as γ = C 2 + C 3 C 1 + C 4 - 1.
US08893557B2

The fastener tension monitoring system provides for automatic notification when a structural tensile fastener, such as a bolt, is loosened. The system incorporates piezoelectric material in the core of the fastener shank or deposited around the shank. The piezoelectric material communicates electrically with an electrical storage device, a microprocessor, and a transmitter installed on the fastener head. Vibration or other changes in the tensile force developed by the fastener result in electrical impulses being generated by the piezoelectric material, generating electrical energy that is stored in the storage device and used to operate the microprocessor. In the event that an out of tolerance condition is sensed by the microprocessor, the transmitter is activated to send a signal to that effect. A receiver and computer are provided to monitor any such signals. The piezoelectric material may include pyroelectric material as well for the generation of electrical energy due to temperature changes.
US08893538B2

Uniform nano-scale microstructures can be reliably formed on the surface layer of this metal product while still improving the surface roughness and make the surface layer robust enough not to disappear due to wear. The surface of the metal product is repeatedly subjected to instantaneous rapid heating and rapid cooling by intermittently ejecting onto the surface of the metal product shot with a mixture of three or more approximate but different particle sizes for a high ejection density, thereby forming uniform microstructures near the surface of the metal product and forming micro-diameter dimples in the metal surface.
US08893530B2

It is an object of the present invention to provide a washing machine capable of advantageously sanitizing a boot with cleaning air. A tubular member (25) of a boot attachment (30) is inserted in the boot (70) with a sufficient clearance, and an upper end portion (43) of the tubular member (25) is exposed from a top (70B) of the boot (70). A second lower vent (34) provided in a lower portion of the tubular member (25) is directed to a toe portion (70C) in the boot (70), and a first intermediate vent (35) and a second intermediate vent (36) are provided in a vertically intermediate portion of the tubular member (25). Cleaning air supplied into a drum (8) of the washing machine is smoothly introduced into the tubular member (25) of the boot attachment (30) by the upper end portion (43) to flow down through the tubular member (25). The cleaning air flows out of the tubular member (25) through the first intermediate vent (35), the second intermediate vent (36) and the second lower vent (34) to spread inside the boot (70). Thus, the inside of the boot (70) is sanitized with the cleaning air.
US08893527B1

A method for annealing a glass disk is disclosed. The glass disk is placed on a base, whereby the bottom surface of the glass disk makes a contact with the base, and the top surface of the glass disk is exposed to air. The glass disk is heated with thermal energy supplied to the glass disk, the thermal energy comprising first thermal energy supplied from the air through the top surface and second thermal energy supplied from the base through the bottom surface.
US08893520B2

A refrigeration device containing CO2 a refrigerant to be circulated, including a compressor, a heat-rejecting heat exchanger, an expansion, and an evaporator which are connected to one another. The refrigeration device includes a first portion and a second portion, the second portion having a higher temperature relative to the first portion when the refrigeration device is in operation. A heat-reclaim heat exchanger is provided at a given location in the second portion, provided to transfer heat to a fluid for further use as a source of heated fluid.
US08893515B2

A LNG storage and regasification plant includes a reliquefaction unit in which boil-off vapors from the storage tanks are re liquefied and recycled back to the LNG storage tanks for tank pressure and Wobbe index control. Preferably, LNG cold is used for reliquefaction and operational flexibility is achieved by feeding a portion of the pressurized boil-off gas to a fuel gas header and/or to be recondensed by the sendout LNG.
US08893511B2

A gas turbine system includes a compressor operative to output an airstream and a diffuser having an inlet to receive the airstream and an outlet to output the airstream. The outlet has an area larger than the inlet to diffuse the airstream. The gas turbine system also includes a fuel nozzle operative to receive fuel and emit the fuel in a combustor and at least one bleed duct having an inlet between the compressor and the outlet of the diffuser. The at least one bleed duct is operative to direct bleed air from downstream of the compressor to the fuel nozzle.
US08893507B2

A method for warming the rotor of a gas turbine during extended periods of downtime comprising feeding ambient air to an air blower; extracting compressed air from the air blower; feeding a portion of the compressed air to one side of a heat exchanger and steam (typically saturated) from e.g. a gas turbine heat recovery steam generator; passing the resulting heated air stream from the exchanger into and through into defined flow channels formed within the rotor; continuously monitoring the air temperature inside the rotor; and controlling the amount of air and steam fed to the heat exchanger using a feedback control loop that controls the amount of air and steam feeds to the exchanger and/or adjusts the flow rate of heated air stream into the rotor.
US08893506B2

Disclosed is a method for operating an IGCC power plant, wherein the coal gas from a gasifier, comprising CO and hydrogen, is supplied to at least one shift stage, wherein this is converted primarily into CO2 and hydrogen and the coal gas is subjected to at least one gas cleaning step. The coal gas is conducted over a membrane, which at least partially selectively separates the hydrogen from the coal gas. In order to achieve driving potential in the membrane, a flushing gas is used on the permeate side. The hydrogen depleted retentate is fed to a CO2 conditioning process, while the separated hydrogen is fed together with the flushing gas to a gas turbine as fuel gas. The flushing gas used for the membrane is a component of the waste gas produced in the gas turbine after the waste gas has left the waste heat recovery boiler, which is connected downstream of the gas turbine. In the power plant, the gas turbine also functions as a means for providing the flushing gas. The power plant comprises a line from the waste heat recovery boiler connected downstream of the gas turbine to the permeate side of the membrane.
US08893503B2

The present invention relates to a deployable diverging bell (2) for a thruster, the bell comprising: a stationary first diverging bell portion (3) suitable for being connected to a stationary support of the thruster (1); a movable second diverging bell portion (4) that is movable between a retracted position and a deployed position in which it is connected to the downstream end of the first diverging bell portion (3) in order to extend it (3); and at least one deployment mechanism (6, 8) including means (6) for moving the movable second diverging bell portion (4) relative to the stationary first diverging bell portion (3) in order to deploy the movable second diverging bell portion (4) from its retracted position to its deployed position; the bell being characterized in that it includes at least one damper means (13) for damping vibration coming from the movable second diverging bell portion (4) and/or the deployment mechanism (6, 8).
US08893497B2

A power generator may include a digital programmable governor, a plurality of power modules that have working fluid including compound gas and a magneto-responsive liquid column disposed therein, a thermal generator capable of adding heat to the working fluid, one or more cooling exchangers configured to remove heat from the working fluid, at least one set of electro-hydro-dynamic actuators, and a plurality of bidirectional turbines. The set of electro-hydro-dynamic actuators are disposed proximate to the power modules to, responsive to control of the digital programmable governor and in association with a thermal cycle of adding heat to and removing heat from the working fluid, provide influence to drive reciprocal flows of the working fluid through the power modules. The bi-directional turbines are disposed to receive the reciprocal flows and perform a kinematically independent conversion of the operating medium reciprocal flows to rotary motion power output.
US08893493B2

An exhaust system for a turbocharged internal combustion engine comprises a first exhaust conduit extending between a first engine cylinder and a turbocharger inlet and is configured to conduct exhaust gas therebetween. A second exhaust conduit extends between a second engine cylinder and an in inlet for an exhaust gas recirculation system and is configured to conduct exhaust therebetween. An exhaust gas bypass extends between, and is in fluid communication with, the first and second exhaust conduits and is configured to divert exhaust gas flowing through the second exhaust gas conduit to the first exhaust gas conduit, and the turbocharger inlet, under conditions of varying exhaust gas recirculation demand of the internal combustion engine.
US08893491B2

A drive module for a hydraulic hybrid vehicle includes two variable displacement over-center bent-axis hydraulic pump/motors with respective yokes that reside and pivot within a common fluid-filled case. The cylinder barrel of each pump/motor is connected to high pressure through fluid-conducting yoke legs, and is connected to low pressure through the fluid-filled case, which is connected by a port to a low pressure source. As a drivetrain for a vehicle, one pump/motor acts primarily as a pump driven by an engine and the other pump/motor acts primarily as a motor to propel the vehicle. A removable support structure facilitates installation to a variety of vehicle chassis.
US08893490B2

A method of controlling a hydraulic system includes providing fluid to a first actuator with a first pump via a first closed-loop circuit of a machine, and providing fluid to a second actuator with a second pump via a second closed-loop circuit of the machine. The method also includes providing fluid to a third actuator with a third pump via a third closed-loop circuit of the machine, and providing fluid to a fourth actuator with a fourth pump via a fourth closed-loop circuit of the machine. The method further includes forming a combined flow of fluid including fluid from the first circuit and fluid from at least one of the second, third, and fourth circuits, and directing the combined flow to the first actuator while providing fluid to the actuator of the at least one of the second, third, and fourth circuits.
US08893486B2

A compressed-air energy storage system according to embodiments of the present invention comprises a reversible mechanism to compress and expand air, one or more compressed air storage tanks, a control system, one or more heat exchangers, and, in certain embodiments of the invention, a motor-generator. The reversible air compressor-expander uses mechanical power to compress air (when it is acting as a compressor) and converts the energy stored in compressed air to mechanical power (when it is acting as an expander). In certain embodiments, the compressor-expander comprises one or more stages, each stage consisting of pressure vessel (the “pressure cell”) partially filled with water or other liquid. In some embodiments, the pressure vessel communicates with one or more cylinder devices to exchange air and liquid with the cylinder chamber(s) thereof. Suitable valving allows air to enter and leave the pressure cell and cylinder device, if present, under electronic control.
US08893484B2

A solid SCR system includes solid state reductant, a container storing the solid state reductant, an exhaust pipe supplying gas state reductant converted from the solid state reductant and SCR catalyst disposed on the exhaust pipe, an exhaust heat recovery device disposed on the exhaust pipe and recovering waste heat from exhaust gas exhausted through the exhaust pipe and a heat exchanger connected to the exhaust heat recovery device and supplying the recovered heat to the solid state reductant.
US08893483B2

A multi-mode powertrain system employing a power-split configuration to transfer torque to a driveline includes an internal combustion engine fluidly coupled to an exhaust aftertreatment system having a catalytic device. A method for controlling the multi-mode powertrain system includes identifying permitted transition paths between a plurality of engine states. The plurality of engine states includes a default state, a pre-light-off state, a light-off state, and a post-light-off state. A preferred one of the plurality of engine states is selected in response to an output torque request and an operating temperature of the catalytic device. Engine operation is transitioned to the preferred one of the plurality of engine states via the permitted transition paths, and the engine is operated in the preferred one of the plurality of engine states.
US08893482B2

An exhaust gas treatment system for an internal combustion engine for determining a total amount of sulfur that is stored on at least one aftertreatment device is provided. The exhaust gas treatment system includes a control module that monitors operation of the internal combustion engine for an amount of fuel consumed and an amount of oil consumed by the internal combustion engine. The control module includes a sulfur adsorption module and a total sulfur storage module. The sulfur adsorption module determines a rate of sulfur adsorption in at least one aftertreatment device. The rate of sulfur adsorption is based on the amount of fuel consumed and the amount of oil consumed. The total sulfur storage module is in communication with the sulfur adsorption module. The total sulfur storage module determines the total amount of sulfur stored based on the rate of sulfur adsorption.
US08893468B2

Fuel is oxidized with air in a pressurized reaction chamber containing water. Water, fuel, or both may be communicated into the reaction chamber in a gaseous state, a liquid state, or both. For example, a liquid mixture that includes the water and/or the fuel can be evaporated to form a gas mixture, and the gas mixture can be communicated into the reaction chamber. Additionally or alternatively, the liquid mixture that includes the water and/or the fuel can be communicated into the reaction chamber and evaporated in the reaction chamber. The water and the fuel may be communicated into the reaction chamber separately or in combination.
US08893467B2

Apparatus and methods for combustion of fuel includes, in some embodiments, a fuel nozzle which injects fuel into a combustion channel of a wave rotor combustor or a pulse detonation combustor. In some embodiments the combustion process includes a backward-propagating detonation wave within a substantially closed channel which compresses discrete quantities of combustible and noncombustible mixture. Yet other embodiments include a precombustion chamber integrated into the wave rotor, the outlet stator or both.
US08893462B2

In a sickle cutting apparatus including a row of stationary knife guards and a sickle bar with a row of blade sections for reciprocating movement mounted thereon, each of the blade sections is simply removable from the sickle bar for replacement by mounting a rear plate portion on the sickle bar where each of the rear plate portions has a pair of holes bolted to mating holes in the bar and each hole in the blade is connected to an associated slot extending rearwardly in the rear plate portion from the hole to a rear edge. In this way the blade section can be pulled forwardly by loosening the bolt and sliding the bolt along the slot until the blade is released. A circular counter-bore in the blade section receives a nut when tightened to hold the blade section in place. The system can be used with pointed guards or stub guards.
US08893459B2

An apparatus for closing containers includes a supplying device for supplying a closure element to a container. The supplying device includes a cap detecting system that records a random position of the closure element and is designed to hold the closure element in the random position and to convey it in a circumferential direction while maintaining it in this random position.
US08893452B2

A connector system for a composite wall, the composite wall comprising a back-up wall and a veneer spaced apart from the back-up wall, the connector system comprising a backup wall connector and a spacer mountable on the backup wall connector. The backup wall connector comprising an inner anchoring end and an outer coupling end spaced from the inner anchoring end, the outer coupling end comprising a vertically extending slot. The spacer defines a plurality of vertically fixed positions in which a wall tie is selectively fixedly receivable.
US08893451B2

The invention relates to the construction of buildings, especially a reticulated stereo modular element that, combined with other identical elements, enables the construction of quadrangular enclosures suitable for the construction of rooms.
US08893446B2

A system provided with panels, for instance glass sheets, and with elements (1, 2) which extend along edges of the panels, comprising: —at least a first element (1) which extends along a first edge of at least one panel (P), wherein the first element (1) is manufactured from metal, and is of solid design; —at least a second element (2) which extends along a second edge of the at least one panel (P), and —a connection (3, 4) between said first and second element (1, 2) which connection comprises at least a solid metal, preferably steel connecting element (3), wherein said connection is also provided with a thermally insulating part (4), wherein the thermally insulating part (4) is preferably substantially located in a space located opposite an end face of the panel (P).
US08893438B2

A weather strip is provided. The weather strip is arranged so as to intersect a portion joined by overlapping a plurality of panels, and is provided with a tip projection portion which projects onto an extension line of the exterior side wall portion from the tip of an exterior side wall portion of an attachment portion. The tip projection portion is formed from a material which deforms easier than a material forming the sealing portion and is formed in a shape which becomes thin towards a projecting direction with a width dimension which does not exceed the thickness of the tip of the exterior side wall portion in a cross section along the width direction of the attachment portion, and when the attachment portion is attached to the flange, the tip projection portion stretches in the longitudinal direction of the attachment portion and comes into contact with the panels.
US08893431B2

A vertical gardening apparatus with an outer shell enclosing an inner structure and liquid dispensing system that allows plants to grow on a vertical surface with minimum maintenance. Multiple vertical gardening apparatus may also be arranged together in aesthetically pleasing patterns on a wall.
US08893426B2

There is disclosed an apparatus and a method for supporting a movable or stationary decoy displayed on a stake for attracting waterfowl where the decoy has a neck portion, a head portion, a body portion, and a stake that protrudes from and may be securely attached to the body portion of the decoy. A tubular receiving member having an internal channel is provided for loosely receiving the stake. The tubular receiving member can be made of black PVC conduit or other suitable materials and has an upper end that is flared to provide an opening that is larger than the internal channel in the tubular receiving member and a lower end that is sealed to prevent water from entering the tubular receiving member. The lower end of the tubular receiving member is adapted to be mounted in the ground.
US08893423B2

A dynamic ballistic effect compensating reticle and an aim compensation method for use in rifle sights or projectile weapon aiming systems includes a multiple point elevation and windage aim point field including a primary aiming mark indicating a primary aiming point adapted to be sighted-in at a first selected range (e.g., 200 yds) and a plurality secondary aiming point arrays beneath the primary aiming mark. The method for compensating for a projectile's ballistic behavior while developing a field expedient firing solution permits the shooter to express the field expedient firing solution in units of distance, (e.g., yards or meters, when describing or estimating range and nominal air density ballistic characteristics), and velocity (e.g., mph or kph, for windage hold points). The reticle aim point field permits the marksman to adjust the firing solution for momentary atmospheric effects and operational contingencies such as variations in ammunition.
US08893415B2

An improved reflective yard sign that allows a user to select their own message and gives a user the option of choosing different interchangeable messages and different interchangeable reflectors. The sign includes at least one interchangeable reflector, at least one interchangeable graphic, and a least one clear lens. Front and back covers are fastened together to retain the reflector, graphic and lens. At least one of the covers includes an aperture through which the lens, graphic, and reflector may be viewed.
US08893407B2

Footwear, such as a sports boot, including a shell or a shell element made of a rigid plastic base material whose softening point is greater than 170° C. and a method of manufacturing such footwear. At least in one local portion of the shell or shell element, the base material of the shell includes an additive having a melting temperature lower than 100° C., in a proportion of between 3% and 45% in a first embodiment and between 10% and 25% in a second embodiment. A heating machine includes a base provided to receive at least one boot along a longitudinal direction defined by the sole and a hot air blower. The heating machine includes at least two air blowing channels facing one another and located on each side of the longitudinal direction.
US08893403B2

The invention relates to a sole construction for a shoe, comprising an upper sole part, which has channels, a lower outsole part, and an air pumping device, which is connected to the channels and which is substantially formed in the upper sole part.
US08893399B2

A lint catching system is provided for a clothes dryer. The lint catching system filters lint from exhaust air expelled from the clothes dryer.
US08893394B2

A carpentry guide tool for ensuring precise and accurate measurements with regard to offsets and reveals commonly used in carpentry, particularly in the context of trim and molding around a door or window, is now disclosed. More specifically, the now disclosed carpentry tool is capable of use simultaneously in two orthogonal directions for the accurate measurement of reveals in the corner of a framed threshold and is designed for both ease of use and ease of manufacture. The now disclosed carpentry tool is of fixed dimension and static manufacture, mitigating the possibility that human error yields inconsistencies in measurement. The preferred embodiment is two concentric square prisms of differing sizes wherein every edge of one prism is congruent and parallel to an edge of the second prism, creating a reveal defined by the size differential between the two prisms.
US08893389B2

A folding tool includes a handle and an implement pivotally coupled to the handle. The implement is adapted to travel between a closed position and an open position. The implement includes a tang having a contoured surface. The folding tool also includes a locking device movable between a locked position and an unlocked position along an axis that is transverse to a plane defined by the implement. The folding tool further includes a cantilever spring having a first end coupled to the handle and a second end adapted to interact with the tang of the implement. The spring exerts a closing force on the implement when the blade is in a closed position. The spring exerts an opening force on the implement during at least a portion of the travel of the implement between the closed position and the open position.
US08893383B2

An apparatus compresses a mat against a cylindrical catalyst to provide an exhaust gas cleaning device having the catalyst and the mat wrapped around the catalyst. The apparatus has a base to which first and second rods are movably mounted, and first and second pressers connected to respective ones of the first and second rods. A first drive mechanism moves the first, but not the second, rods to bring the first pressers into contact with first peripheral surface portions of the mat so that second peripheral surface portions of the mat are formed into respective convex portions. A second drive mechanism moves the second rods to bring the second pressers into contact with the convex portions of the mat to compress the convex portions while the first pressers are maintained in pressure contact with the first peripheral surface portions of the mat.
US08893376B1

A method of forming a magnetic recording head is provided. The method comprises the steps of forming a damascene trench comprising a lower region having a substantially trapezoidal cross-section and an upper region having a substantially rectangular cross-section, and providing a magnetic material within the damascene trench.
US08893374B2

Method and Apparatus are provided for automatically disposing plural wires along predetermined trajectories, wherein the plural wires extend from coils wound in slots of dynamoelectric machine cores. Plural wires forming leads are located in predetermined positions and caused to extend along predetermined directions by means of manipulating equipment and tooling which operates automatically. In addition, the equipment and tooling cause the plural wires to become twisted and cut to form portions for connection to terminals. The tooling is provided with reference surfaces and seats which are used to bend the plural wires along the predetermined trajectories and to provide a position constraint for the portions becoming twisted. Apparatus can be provided for positioning portions of a plurality of restraining members in the spacing existing between the bridges of the coils and the end faces of a dynamo electric machine core.
US08893373B2

An assembly method suitable for assembling a portable electronic device having a housing with an undercut portion is disclosed. The method includes aligning a non-display portion of a display assembly with the undercut portion of the housing, the display assembly comprising a display, a protective top layer covering a top side of the display portion and the non-display portion and a battery module attached to an underside of the display assembly, electrically connecting the battery to a circuit previously installed in the housing, angling the display assembly in relation to a front opening of the housing in a tilted configuration such that the non-display portion is partially inserted into the undercut portion of the housing, and in the tilted configuration, performing a pre-install functional test on the display and fully inserting the display assembly into the housing only when the pre-install functional test is successfully completed.
US08893371B2

The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of a part penetrated by fluid channels or ducts for the manufacture of a mold that includes channels or ducts for the circulation and/or transfer of a fluid from the molding portion to the non-molding portion and vice versa. The part is formed and manufactured by a Stratoconception (TM) method based on the principle of decomposing the part, via a set of inter-stratum planes, into a succession of strata. After assembly, the part is formed, and channels are provided in the various inter-stratum planes for allowing a fluid to pass through the part. The invention also relates to the parts obtained by the process.
US08893365B2

A tool assembly for a rotary hammer is provided. The tool assembly includes an adapter and a drive socket removably mounted on the adapter. The adapter has a first end portion configured to be held by a chuck of the rotary hammer and a second end portion that includes a socket square drive fitting on which the drive socket is removably mounted. The socket drive fitting can have any suitable size. For example, the socket drive fitting can be a ¼ inch, a ⅜ inch, a ½ inch, or a ¾ inch square drive fitting.
US08893363B2

A conventional blind rivet tool with modified nose housing, i.e., a rivet gun with replaceable and interchangeable nosepieces, facilitates feeding and setting of multiple diameters of blind rivets with substantially shortened exposed mandrel portions extending beyond the head flange of the rivet, all while maintaining blind rivet performance and reducing total installed blind rivet costs. A rivet with a reduced exposed mandrel protrusion relative to conventional and standardized mandrels can be enabled and more easily fed through the tool.
US08893355B2

A handle for use with and/or for releasably coupling to an implement. The handle may include: a handgrip, an arm operatively coupled to the handgrip, and a collar operatively coupled to the arm remote from the handgrip. The collar may be configured to releasably receive a shaft of the implement. The collar may comprise two substantially opposing collar portions defining a shaft pathway, wherein the collar portions are displaced axially along the shaft pathway to form a keyway sized to receive the shaft when the shaft and the shaft pathway are substantially orthogonal to each other. A set of handles may also be provided, with one handle having a shorter arm length than the other.
US08893354B2

An active hinge with a reset mechanism that disables an additional degree of freedom in the hinge's movement to permit the trailing edge of a vehicle hood to lift is disclosed. The active hinge includes a deployment bracket on which a reset clip is mounted, a hood bracket for attachment to the vehicle's hood, and a body bracket for attachment to the vehicle's body. To re-lock movement between the deployment bracket and the hood bracket, an engagement tab on the reset clip enters a notch in the hood bracket whereby the reset clip rotates until a locking tab on the clip engages a hole in the deployment bracket. Curved surfaces mounted on the engagement and locking tabs provide surface-to-surface contact between the reset clip and the deployment bracket, whereby the deployment bracket is not scratched when the reset clip is rotated, thereby precluding rust from developing on the deployment bracket.
US08893352B2

Adjustable hinge for pivotably connecting two elements, said hinge comprising at least one adjustment element, which is formed as an eccentric component and is used to provide the possibility for lateral displacement of the elements against one another perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the hinge, and an adjustment element, which is used to provide the possibility for lateral displacement of the elements against one another in the longitudinal direction of the hinge and is optionally provided with a locking mechanism. The adjustment elements and optionally the locking mechanism are provided with an adjustment crown. A component of the hinge arranged in the longitudinal direction of the hinge is connectable to one of the two elements via a curved flange. Adjustment crown for an adjustment element of a hinge.
US08893351B2

A door stop having a first member and a second member, the second member reciprocally telescopically engaged with said first member with a springing element responsive to the movement of the second member.
US08893345B2

A cleaning article optionally removably attachable to a handle. The cleaning article has a layer of tow fibers and a layer of sheet material, joined together in a layered construction. The sheet has apertures therethrough, so that the tow fibers may intercept the apertures. By intercepting the apertures, the tow fibers can become entangled, promoting fluffing of the tow fibers.
US08893344B2

A brush, in particular for household or industrial applications, has a bristle carrier plate made of plastic, a multitude of bristle bundles, which are attached in the bristle carrier plate, and at least one reinforcement plate, which is likewise made of plastic and is attached to the bristle carrier plate.
US08893342B2

An underwater pool surface cleaning apparatus is provided comprising a suction head, a driving component spaced apart from the suction head, the driving component being arranged to move the apparatus underwater along a surface, and a first flexible hose to connect the suction head and the driving component together. In an example embodiment, a second flexible hose may be fitted to the driving component so as to join the driving component to a swimming pool filtration system. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a driving component for an underwater cleaning apparatus. The driving component may comprise a body defining a chamber, a first end and a second end, with a valve arrangement being housed within the body. The valve arrangement is arranged to close and open so as to cause the apparatus to move.
US08893326B2

A frame suitable for use in a cradle for small children, or in similar devices, where a structure for containing a dynamic load requires support, consists of two flexible longitudinal laminae, parallel one to another and joined by one or more crosswise laminae. The longitudinal laminae are curved in a more or less central part of their length so forming a first section that rests on the ground and a second section inclined at an angle determined in relation to the first section to sustain the containing structure. In the curved part and along the whole of the second section the longitudinal laminae are subjected to torsion opposite in sign such as to incline them towards the inside of the frame; this lessens their flexibility sufficiently to limit elongation of the flexor oscillations.
US08893323B2

An articulated sofa bed has a compact profile while folded with the seat cushions residing at a comfortable and ergonomic height and an esthetically pleasing streamlined appearance. The sofa bed takes advantage of a deployment assembly having a support frame with swinging rear arms that, when the bed is folded, occupy a small volume within the back of the sofa. The sofa bed also takes advantage of a leg assembly that is anchored within the thickness of the bed panels so as to stack the foot and middle panels closer to each other. The deployment assembly also cooperates to position the middle and foot panels of the bed in a folded position at a low height above the floor and below the seat cushions, respectively.
US08893312B2

An athletic wear 1 of the present invention is formed of first clothing fabric F1 having small elastic modulus and second clothing fabric F2 having larger elastic modulus than first clothing fabric F1. First belt part 10 is formed by second clothing fabric covering circumference of upper part of pelvis Bh in wear 1. First belt part 10 essentially continuously comprises belt front part 11, belt back part 13 and pair belt side parts 12 covering upper part of pelvis Bh. Upper edge line of belt part slopes as extends from center of belt back part to center of belt front part.
US08898807B2

A data protecting method for a mobile communication device is provided. The data protecting method includes storing first authentication information into a hidden area of a memory storage device coupled to the mobile communication device. The data protecting method also includes receiving a data packet containing a data security instruction and second authentication information via a mobile communication data network or a wireless network and determining whether the second authentication information obtained from the data packet matches the first authentication information stored in the hidden area. The data protecting method further includes, when the second authentication information obtained from the data packet matches the first authentication information stored in the hidden area, performing a data protecting operation on data stored in a storage area to prevent the data from being read. Thereby, the data can be effectively protected when the mobile communication device is lost.
US08898800B1

Example implementations described herein are directed to a trust tree that allows third party applications to operate on sensitive user data within the confines of a protected environment. The environment storing the sensitive user data prevents the third party application from receiving sensitive user data through use of an overlay, while preserving the function of the third party application. This permits the value of the application to be provided to a user without the risk of the application violating the user's privacy.
US08898799B2

Trust is established between a service provider (20) and a client (10) of the service provider (20). The client (10) is associated with a party that is known by an identity provider (50), and the identity provider (50) is trusted by the service provider (20). The identity provider (50) contacts (70) the party (80) via a predetermined medium, and requests the party to identify itself. The identity provider (50) determines whether the identity of the identifying party (80) corresponds to an identity held by the identity provider (50) for the party and shares a secret (100) with the identifying party (80) in the event that the identity provider (50) has determined that the identity of the identifying party (80) is the same as said identity held by the identity provider (50).
US08898791B2

A system and method for performing a security check may include using at least one processor to periodically check a status of a flag, generate and store a baseline representation of modules stored on the device where the flag is determined to be set to a first state, and, where the flag is determined to be set to a second state, generate an active representation of modules stored on the first device, compare the active representation of modules to the baseline representation of modules, and, responsive to a determination in the comparing step of a difference between the baseline and active representations of modules, output an alert. The flag status may depend on an association of the device with one of a plurality of authorization policies, each mapped to one of the two states. Results of the comparison may be appended to an activity log of the device.
US08898789B2

Systems, methods, devices, and machine readable media for detecting malicious software on a computing device with a mobile device are provided. One method includes causing a mobile device to mount a non-volatile memory of the computing device, scanning the non-volatile memory of the computing device with the mobile device using a low-level read operations scan, collecting data on the mobile device from the low-level read operations scan, and evaluating the data collected on the mobile device for malicious software on the computing device.
US08898767B1

A method for digital content protection comprises generating a plurality of frame keys, retrieving a plurality of frames from digital content, and at least one of encrypting and decrypting the digital content with a different frame key that dynamically changes for each frame of the plurality of frames. A storage device comprises a computer-readable medium including encrypted digital content stored thereon, wherein the encrypted digital content is encrypted with a frame key that is different for each frame of the encrypted digital content. A content player comprises a computer-readable medium including instructions stored thereon, that when executed cause a processor to decrypt encrypted digital content by reconstructing a plurality of frame keys that are different from each other that are used to decrypt each frame of the encrypted digital content.
US08898765B2

An aspect of the present invention simplifies signing-off from multiple domains. In an embodiment, upon receiving a sign-off request from a user signed-on to multiple domains, the user is signed-off from at least two, but not all, the signed-on domains in due course. According to another aspect, the domains of an enterprise are organized as groups of domains. In response to receiving a request for signing-off from a first domain, the user is signed-off from each of a group of domains corresponding to the first domain (in addition to the first domain). In an embodiment, an administrator of the enterprise specifies a master domain for each group, to facilitate identification of the group to be signed-off. According to another aspect, a user selects a set of domains to sign-off from. The user is signed-off from only the selected set of domains.
US08898753B1

Provided are mechanisms and methods for managing a risk of access to an on-demand service as a condition of permitting access to the on-demand service. These mechanisms and methods for providing such management can help prohibit an unauthorized user from accessing an account of an authorized user when the authorized user inadvertently loses login information. The ability to provide such management may lead to an improved security feature for accessing on-demand services.
US08898727B2

[Object] To enable an external device to recognize, in the case of including a communication unit configured to execute communication via a communication path made up of a pair of differential transmission paths included in a transmission path, information relating to the communication unit thereof.[Solving means] A disk recorder 210 transmits function information indicating that a communication unit (high-speed data line I/F 213) configured to execute communication with an external device via a communication path made up of a reserve line and an HPD line of an HDMI cable 350 to a television receiver 250 via a CEC line that is a control data line of the HDMI cable 350. The television receiver 250 receives function information, whereby whether or not the disk recorder 210 is an eHDMI-compatible device can be determined, and in the case of an eHDMI-compatible device, a compatible transmission format (application) can be recognized. It can also be conceived to transmit the function information from the television receiver 250 to the disk recorder 210 in the same way as described above.
US08898715B2

The present invention relates to a content item receiver module and method. The content item receiver module is operative for a content item delivery system, configured to operate in a first and second mode: said first mode operative to drive a display apparatus to display a received content item; said second mode operative for a specified time window to display on a display apparatus a sequence of linked content items in said specified time window, each of said linked content items having a duration less than said specified time window, and to respond to a prompt signal to initiate a display option.
US08898708B2

A media distribution server presenting interactive media on digital devices, such as mobile devices, PCs, TVs, ebook readers, electronic tablets, etc. and receiving user response interactively. During the presentation of interactive media the user is prompted with multiple choices for their selection, which can be provided using keys (such as softkeys) on the digital device. The media distribution server prepares the subsequent portions of the interactive media and delivers them to the digital device. In one embodiment, the necessary text, graphics, audio and video are assembled and integrated dynamically and is presented on the digital device to the user. Further the user is prompted to approve online purchases, make online appointment requests, show interest in products, etc. while browsing the interactive media on their digital device. The media distribution server supports such activities as necessary.
US08898701B2

An approach is provided for faceted browsing of video assets. A metadata file is parsed to categorize and rank attributes corresponding to a video asset, wherein the ranked attributes are based on a criterion. A set-top box provides attribute browsing to determine selection of the video asset.
US08898697B2

An emergency alert is received. Information representing a map is generated from emergence alert information that identifies an affected area. The information identifying the affected area includes primitive shapes. Customer premises equipment within the affected area is identified based upon the primitive shapes. The information representing the map is transmitted for receipt by customer premises equipment.
US08898694B2

Systems and methods for indicating media asset access conflicts using a time bar in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention are provided. A media guide display that includes at least some media asset listings and a time bar is generated. A first portion of the time bar representing a first time interval during which media assets, for which a respective media guidance function has been assigned, are scheduled for transmission is identified. A second portion, within the first portion of the time bar, which represents a second time interval during which the scheduled transmission times of the media assets overlap is identified. A first indicator is generated, for display in the first portion, to represent the first time interval. A second indicator is generated, for display in the second portion, to represent the second time interval during which the scheduled transmission times of the media assets overlap.
US08898692B2

Systems, methods, and apparatus for delivering content are provided. A request for desired content may be received by a content management server from a customer device associated with a customer. The content management server may include one or more computers. Additionally, the content management server may determine whether the customer device is in communication with one or more additional devices associated with the customer. Based at least in part upon the communication determination, the content management server may determine whether the customer device is located within a subscription area for the customer. Based at least in part upon the determination of whether the customer device is located within the subscription area, the content management server may determine access rights to the desired content.
US08898689B2

A method and arrangements at a multimedia distribution network for estimating a present user constellation of a household are suggested. A sequence of textual descriptors that are associated with a multimedia sequence that is presently provided to the household is monitored. By acquiring a set of parameters of a statistical model that is based on textual descriptors that have previously been provided to the household, and by estimating a present user constellation by correlating the sequence of textual descriptors with the parameters of the statistical model, the estimated information may be used for customization of content that is provided to the household.
US08898683B2

A disc drive unit is configured with a plurality of disc drives as one unit. At least one of a pair of opposed disc drives arranged on an identical horizontal plane is provided with a tray support member for supporting a front end of a tray of the other disc drive when the tray is ejected. The tray support member is capable of protruding from the one disc drive and withdrawing into the same.
US08898673B2

Methods, systems, and products schedule updates to stream warehouses. A plurality of execution tracks are allocated in memory, with each execution track assigned a portion of utilization of a processor and a proportionate portion of the memory. A home track is also defined in the plurality of execution tracks. When the home track is unavailable, then a different track in the plurality of execution tracks is selected, and a database update job is dispatched to the different track.
US08898666B2

A virtual machine system is provided with a processor having only two privileged modes, a low privileged mode and a high privileged mode, and achieves both a security function for protecting digital copyrighted works or the like and an operating system switching function that guarantees system reliability. The virtual machine system is provided with a first and a second processor and executes a hypervisor on the first processor in the high privileged mode. An operating system on the second processor is executed by cooperation between the hypervisor running on the first processor and a program running on the second processor in low privileged mode. This eliminates the need for running the hypervisor on the second processor in the high privileged mode, thus allowing for execution on the second processor in the high privileged mode of a program for implementing the security function.
US08898658B2

In one embodiment, Dynamic Web Resource Provisioning (DWRP) is a web services based mechanism for dynamic web services application programming interface (API) extensibility. A director network device provisions one or more agent network devices with a message in the form of a POST request to a first API. The message includes instruction configured to extend a second API in the agent network device. The director network device delivers dynamic language code to the second API by way of a PUT request.
US08898657B2

A system and method for licensing software using a clearinghouse to license only the technology modules that an end user registers. The clearinghouse maintains registration information which can be used to bill a software provider for the technology licensed to the end user. The system can be used to compensate technology owners only after the end user registers an unlicensed technology module. Thus, the system and method allows software vendors to reduce costs by licensing only the technologies that an end user actually uses. The clearinghouse can also be used to track the usage of software functionality to determine the popularity of a particular technology.
US08898655B2

A computer-based analysis of an enterprise computer system is utilized to remove bottlenecks that cause the enterprise computer system to operate in a non-optimal or risky manner. Contents of e-mails are examined to identify bottlenecks in the enterprise computer system. Upon identifying the bottlenecks, the enterprise computer system is simulated, and simulations of replacement components, which the computer-based analysis has deemed appropriate for curing the bottlenecks, are installed in the simulated system. If the computer simulation with the replacement components cures the bottlenecks and causes no new problems for the enterprise computer system, then corresponding actual replacement components are installed in the enterprise computer system.
US08898651B2

A method and system for the automatic generation of user guides. Specifically, the method of the present invention includes accessing an abstract processor model of a processor, wherein said abstract processor model is represented using a hierarchical architecture description language (ADL). The abstract processor model includes a plurality of instructions arranged in a hierarchical structure. An internal representation of the abstract processor model is generated by flattening the abstract processor model. The flattening process generates a plurality of rules grouped by common convergent instructions. Each rule describes an instruction path through the hierarchical structure that converges at a corresponding convergent instruction. An instruction-set documentation is automatically generated from the plurality of rules, wherein the instruction-set documentation is arranged convergent instruction by convergent instruction.
US08898642B2

Methods and systems are disclosed for analyzing performance of a translated code stream executing within a central processing module. One method includes, during execution of one or more native instructions corresponding to each non-native operator in the code stream by the code execution unit, counting the occurrence of the non-native operator, determining a duration of execution of the one or more native instructions, and adding the non-native operator to a trace sequence. The method also includes, after execution of the code stream within the central processing module, generating a data file of non-native operators executed within the code stream, the data file of operators including a name of each non-native operator, an elapsed amount of time within the code execution unit that the one or more native operators corresponding to the non-native operator are executed, and a number of occurrences of the non-native operator within the code stream.
US08898637B2

A computer-implemented system for managing software problem reports includes a registration sub-system to register software developers from multiple different developer organizations; an application store that makes a plurality of applications from a plurality of application developers available for acquisition by members of the public; an application bug tracker programmed to receive reports of problems with applications distributed using the application store, to receive data regarding the problems, and to associate the data with a particular application or developer of the particular application; and a report generator to produce one or more problem reports for a developer that has provided one or more applications, the problem reports including information about the data regarding the problems relating to particular applications submitted to the application store by the developer.
US08898636B1

One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for testing an application running on a virtual machine. Note that this involves the system profiling the application, and determining when the virtual machine is executing code in response to commands from the application and when a device hosting the virtual machine is executing code in response to commands from the virtual machine. During operation, the system executes the application. In response to executing the application, the system receives a code-level log associated with the application from a code-level profiler. Then, using a system-level profiler, the system creates a system-level log associated with the application. Next, the system combines the code-level log and the system-level log to produce a profile of the application. The system then analyzes the profile to determine if a problem exists in the application. Note that this can include identifying performance bottlenecks and “hot spots,” which is code that is continually or frequently executed, and thus, facilitating removing application bugs and improving application efficiency.
US08898632B2

The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates the development and execution of a software program. During runtime of the software program, the system obtains a function call associated with an overloaded function and a generic type hierarchy. Next, the system determines an applicability of an implementation of the overloaded function to the function call. Finally, the system selects the implementation for invocation by the function call based on the determined applicability and a partial order of implementations for the overloaded function.
US08898628B2

A software component, is constructed on the basis of a set of predetermined rules, and by utilizing a source object, a token value and a parameter, wherein the source object is stored in a source object repository, and wherein the source object comprises a component value and/or a token value, wherein the component value may be associated with the token value. For constructing the software component, the token value is processed and a token result, obtained by processing the token value, is utilized for constructing the software component, wherein the parameter may also be utilized for the processing of the token value and/or constructing the software component.
US08898626B2

A system for managing a software asset including asset files for inclusion in a library includes: (a) a receiving manager configured for receiving the asset, verifying source of the asset and reading an installer package into the asset to establish a received asset; (b) a build manager coupled with the receiving manager and configured for creating an application wrapper file for the received asset; the build manager creating folders in a folder structure and distributing the asset files among the folders to establish a distributed folder file; the build manager using the distributed folder file to create the application wrapper file; and (c) a peer review manager coupled with the build manager and effecting a peer review process with the application wrapper file to establish a reviewed application wrapper file; the peer review manager unit cooperating with the build manager to present the reviewed application wrapper file to the library.
US08898624B2

A method for assembling parametric information processing applications, includes: receiving a composition request; composing a processing graph for the request, wherein the processing graph represents an application that includes at least one component; identifying a deployment parameter of the component and requesting a value of the parameter; receiving the parameter value; applying the parameter value to the application; and deploying the application with the parameter value in an execution environment.
US08898617B2

The present invention allows for a robust design using manufacturability models. A method, system and/or computer usable medium may be provided in an integrated circuit design to track sensitivity to a variation of process from wafer to wafer and/or fab to fab in order to assist the designers to anticipate the variations to improve the final yield of the products.
US08898607B2

A method for using a breadboard involves receiving a circuit wiring connection layout, in which the circuit wiring connection layout includes a visual representation of circuit elements. The method further involves sending, to the breadboard, the circuit wiring connection layout, receiving a selection of a circuit element from the circuit elements to obtain a selected circuit element, sending, to the breadboard and based on the selected circuit element, a signal to activate an alert device on the breadboard indicating where a user should place the selected circuit element on the breadboard, receiving a circuit characteristic to measure from the selected circuit element, sending, to the breadboard, the circuit characteristic to measure from the selected circuit element, receiving, from the breadboard, a measurement of the circuit characteristic to obtain a measured circuit characteristic, and displaying the measured circuit characteristic.
US08898600B2

A method for laying out a target pattern includes assigning a keep-out zone to an end of a first feature within a target pattern, and positioning other features such that ends of the other features of the target pattern do not have an end within the keep-out zone. The target pattern is to be formed with a corresponding main feature and cut pattern.
US08898587B2

A portion of an electronic book is displayed and a selection of a position within the portion is received. The content of the electronic book is analyzed to determine an amount of whitespace that corresponds to the selected position. In response to the determined amount of whitespace being greater than a threshold amount, a user interface for providing inscription data is displayed. Inscription data is received and stored in association with an indication of the selected position.
US08898586B2

Methods and systems for using multiple simultaneous touchpoints of a touch-sensitive keyboard, such as an on-screen keyboard, for more efficient text input are provided. A method for generating text using a touch-sensitive keyboard may include receiving touch input from multiple simultaneous touchpoints. The method may also include determining a text character for each respective simultaneous touchpoint based on the touch input. The method may further include generating a text word based on the text characters determined from the multiple simultaneous touchpoints. A system for generating text using a touch-sensitive keyboard may include a touch input receiver, a slide detector and a text word generator.
US08898579B2

A server receives an interaction history comprising a set of one-to-one interactions between a first user and other users. The server determines an interaction score for each of the interactions, wherein each interaction score is based on a type of the respective one-to-one interaction and an age of the respective one-to-one interaction. The server then determines a friend rank for each of the other users based on the interaction history, wherein the friend rank indicates a measure of a degree of influence the other users have over the first user and stores the friend rank for each of the other users. The server then receives, from a client, a request for an advertisement to display to the first user, selects one of the other users having a friend rank satisfying a predetermined threshold, and transmits, to the client, an advertisement portraying the selected additional user.
US08898573B2

Disclosed herein are a method and apparatus for providing a toolbar service. The method for providing a toolbar service in a system connected to a user client via a network includes generating a file which can be edited by a user and includes at least one item information for defining an attribute of an interface displayed in a toolbar; receiving a request for download of a toolbar application from the user client; and transmitting the toolbar application including the file to the user client. The toolbar application installed in the user client updates the file according to a user's request for editing an item, parses the updated file to dynamically generate the interface of the toolbar. It is possible to provide a variety of interfaces according to a theme.
US08898569B2

A method of presenting digital content includes obtaining digital data representative of a succession of content items and presenting the succession of content items in a first presentation mode. In the first presentation mode, steps of making a first selection of the data representing a content item and providing the selected data to a system for rendering the data in perceptible form are carried out automatically for each content item in succession. The method further includes detecting an action by a user at the rendering system and, in response to detecting the action, causing a transition to a second presentation mode, in which second presentation mode the rendering system is caused to render a second selection, different from the first selection, of only the data representing the content item being presented when the action was detected.
US08898565B2

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an avatar engine having a controller to present a user an avatar correlated to a profile of the user, detect a communication exchange between the user and the avatar, identify from the communication exchange a directive from the user to share the avatar with an other user, and submit to an other avatar engine associated with the other user a shared avatar comprising a usage policy and at least one of a replica in whole or in part of the avatar engine or in whole or in part of characteristics of the avatar. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08898563B2

The present invention relates to an editing apparatus and an editing method for editing a plurality of files, which is recorded on a storage part and corresponds to one shot. The editing method includes a determination step of determining a generation order in time sequence of a plurality of files which correspond to one shot and include interframe coded data; and integration step of arranging the plurality of files in the generation order and integrating the arranged files. The editing method may further include a displaying step of displaying one clip corresponding to the integrated files, and editing step of editing the clip.
US08898562B2

A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to provide harmonious tiling layout for a single heterogeneous data feed with a unique and brief syntax. The approach provides solutions to fit shapes into a container without having any holes by automatically providing the most optimum harmonious layout and tile presentation “win-out” over time, and a survival of the fittest of visual presentation based on configurable metrics. A single user interface combines the action of searching and publishing as a single process whereby search results are formatted with the intention to facilitate publishing the chosen items.
US08898560B1

A method of fixing a problem with a user interface includes receiving information about the page in an optimization server. The page includes a display element. The information is received from a client with a request for code. Source data of the user interface is received by the client from a server distinct from the optimization server. The method further includes determining that an element on the user interface is associated with a known problem and associated fix. The fix includes modification of the element. An expected conversion rate of the user interface with the modified element is higher than prior to the modification. The method also includes generating code for modifying the element in accordance with the fix and providing the code to the client. The client displays the user interface with the modified element based on the source. Modifying the element does not include modifying the source.
US08898554B2

An NoC-based error correction apparatus capable of supporting a network interface that transmits a flit between Tx and Rx IP-elements includes: an encoder configured to receive a k-bit flit from the Tx IP-element and encodes the k-bit flit into n-bit data; and a decoder configured to receive the n-bit data, decode the n-bit data into the k-bit flit, and output the k-bit flit, the decoder having an error correction circuit for correcting an error in the n-bit data, wherein a t-bit adaptive error correction code having a variable error correction capability depending on the number of bits (n) of the received data is applied to the error correction circuit, the error correction capability is proportional to the number of bits (n) of the received data, and the t-bit error correction code has the number of bits proportional to the number of bits (n) of the received data.
US08898549B2

A method for implementing adaptive error correction in a memory, comprising the steps of (A) decoding a page of data read from a memory, (B) selecting one of a plurality of histograms based on a measured code word error rate of the decoded page and (C) applying an error correction code rate based on the selected histogram. The error correction code rate allows the memory to use a minimum number of error correction bits to provide reliable operation of the memory.
US08898529B2

A circuit arrangement for controlling the masking of test and diagnosis data with X values of an electronic circuit with N scan paths, wherein the test data are provided on insertion into the N scan paths by a decompressor with m inputs and N outputs (m
US08898528B2

A process and apparatus provide a JTAG TAP controller (302) to access a JTAG TAP domain (106) of a device using a reduced pin count, high speed DDR interface (202). The access is accomplished by combining the separate TDI and TMS signals from the TAP controller into a single signal and communicating the TDI and TMS signals of the single signal on the rising and falling edges of the TCK driving the DDR interface. The TAP domain may be coupled to the TAP controller in a point to point fashion or in an addressable bus fashion. The access to the TAP domain may be used for JTAG based device testing, debugging, programming, or other type of JTAG based operation.
US08898525B2

A condition monitoring system including at least one computing device also includes a memory device configured to store data associated with a monitored device and at least one input channel that is configured to receive the data associated with the monitored device. The condition monitoring system further includes a processor coupled to the memory device and the at least one input channel. The processor is programmed to determine a potential fault condition by comparing at least a portion of the data associated with the monitored device with at least one scenario programmed therein. The at least one scenario is at least partially based on at least one predetermined event associated with at least one condition of the monitored device.
US08898524B2

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing wrapper program which allows an application program, having a code to call up a porting source API, to operate on a porting destination OS, the wrapper program causes a computer to execute: an error determination step of, when the porting source API is called up by the application program, referring to a porting source error condition DB, and error condition information to be output to the calling source of the porting source API satisfies the error condition information, determining whether the porting source API satisfies the error condition information of the porting source error condition DB, and outputting the corresponding error information to the application program when the error condition information is satisfied; and an API conversion step of calling up the porting destination API of the porting destination OS corresponding to the porting source API when the error condition information is not satisfied.
US08898519B1

Example embodiments of the present invention provide asynchronous splitting of IOs from a storage array, such as a Symmetrix by EMC Corporation of Hopkinton, Mass. to a replication appliance, such as RecoverPoint by EMC Corporation of Hopkinton, Mass. The storage array may receive a plurality of IOs from a host and may store a record (e.g., in an ordered table) associated with the IOs. At a later time, the storage array may provide the IOs according to the record associated with the IOs. For example, the storage array may receive a plurality of Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) Command Descriptor Blocks (CDBs) from one or more hosts and receive data associated with the CDBs. The storage array then may write the data to respective locations in storage and create entries in the ordered table according to the order in which the CDBs were received.
US08898518B2

A checkpointing fault tolerance network architecture enables a backup computer system to be remotely located from a primary computer system. An intermediary computer system is situated between the primary computer system and the backup computer system to manage the transmission of checkpoint information to the backup VM in an efficient manner. The intermediary computer system is networked to the primary VM through a first connection and is networked to the backup VM through a second connection. The intermediary computer system identifies updated data corresponding to memory pages that have been least recently modified by the primary VM and transmits such updated data to the backup VM through the first connection. In such manner, the intermediary computer system holds back updated data corresponding to more recently modified memory pages, since such memory pages may be more likely to be updated again in the future.
US08898517B2

An apparatus for handling a failed processor of a multiprocessor system including at least two processors interconnected by processor interconnects for facilitating transactions of the processors. The at least two processors include a first processor set as a default boot processor in response to a boot up operation of the multiprocessor computer, and a second processor. The apparatus includes: a baseboard management module for detecting and receiving health information of the processors; a multiplexer coupled to the baseboard management module and respectively to the processors, the multiplexer being operative to switch between the processors; and a processor ID controller coupled to the baseboard management module and respectively to the processors. In response to the health information indicating the first processor has failed, the processor ID controller sets the second processor as the default boot processor and the baseboard management module enables the multiplexer to switch to the second processor.
US08898510B2

Systems, devices, software, hardware and networks adapted and arranged for monitoring and correcting faults in networked media player systems that include electronic displays are provided. After detection or notification of a fault in at least one networked media player in a network of at least two, or N, media players operationally connected to electronic displays, the invention provides an alternate source of signal to the affected display. In some preferred embodiments, the invention utilizes at least one additional, or N+1, media player as a backup to substitute for the failed media player. Reconfiguration of the faulted media player by means of the N+1 backup networked media player advantageously increases the reliability and efficiency of ongoing maintenance of digital visual systems operating in commercial and other environments.
US08898503B2

Transferring data from a first clock domain to a second clock domain, wherein the second clock domain has a fixed clock frequency, and the first clock domain has a variable clock frequency. The first clock domain and the second clock domain operate in a synchronous mode when the variable clock frequency is equal to the fixed clock frequency, and in an asynchronous mode when the variable frequency is lower than the fixed frequency. A first buffer and a second buffer are used for a data transfer from the first clock domain to the second clock domain. The second clock domain comprises a multiplexor connected to the first buffer and the second buffer. The multiplexor forwards data from the first buffer further into the second clock domain in the synchronous mode and from the second buffer into the second clock domain in the asynchronous mode.
US08898499B2

The present invention relates to platform power management.
US08898496B1

In an embodiment, a computing system causes a computing device to operate in a lower-power state. Data received from a first tier of low-power input source(s) is used to determine user/environmental context and activate a second tier of input source(s) that operate in a higher power range. In each tier the system is running contextual detection to assess whether to engage higher power input sources or sensors to aid the user. With this mechanism, a user is able to have access to a broad range of services without having to explicit switch them on, while the system is able to intelligently manage power and battery life across input sources.
US08898492B2

A system, a method, and a mobile terminal for sharing a battery between mobile terminals are disclosed, which can solve a problem that the battery can not be shared between mobile terminals in the prior art. In accordance with the present invention, a mobile terminal having power supplying ability is able to supply power to a mobile terminal lacking power by an external power supply line, power control circuits of the power supply end and the power utilization end are controlled, the power utilization end is able to detect an electricity quantity of the power supply end, and the sharing of a battery between two mobile terminals can be achieved, thereby greatly increasing utilization modes of the battery without external charging power supply so as to facilitate the using of a user.
US08898487B2

Mobile computing device power consumption can be reduced by using expiration window timers, state-based timers and/or the coordination of keep-alive timers. Upon detecting a trigger event causing a mobile computing device to transition from a low-power state to an active state, the device can determine whether the trigger event occurs within the expiration window of a timer, and execute tasks associated with the trigger event and the timer. Tasks associated with state-based timers can be executed if the mobile computing device or a component thereof is in (or, alternatively, not in) a specified state. A mobile computing device can execute tasks associated with multiple keep-alive timers used for maintaining communication links between the device and cloud-based service providers in a single active state. A cloud-based keep-alive service can maintain mobile computing device-service provider communication links by sending one keep-alive communication to a mobile computing device in place of multiple communications.
US08898485B2

Power transfer between devices such as laptop computers, mobile phones, personal digital assistants, media players and other devices is described. In an embodiment power transfer is achieved either from a power source at a device or to a power source at that device using a bidirectional power transfer connector. In some embodiments a power management module at the device uses context, models or other information to control factors such as the power transfer direction, duration and amount. In examples, user preferences are taken into account. In an example, the bi-directional power transfer connector is provided as a USB connection or a wireless power transfer connection.
US08898484B2

Methods, apparatus, and products for optimizing delivery of regulated power from a voltage regulator to an electrical component, operation of the voltage regulator controlled by a service processor, the voltage regulator including a number of phases, each phase rated to deliver a different maximum power to the electrical component, where optimizing delivery of regulated power includes determining, by the service processor, the present power requirements of the electrical component, and enabling, by the service processor, one or more phases of the voltage regulator in dependence upon the present power requirements of the electrical component.
US08898480B2

Field programmable gate arrays can be used as a shared programmable co-processor resource in a general purpose computing system. Components of an FPGA are isolated to protect the FPGA and data transferred between the FPGA and other components of the computer system. Transferred data can be digitally signed by the FPGA or other component to provide authentication. Code for programming the FPGA can be encrypted and signed by the author, loaded into the FPGA in an encrypted state, and then decrypted and authenticated by the FPGA itself, before programming the FPGA with the code. This code can be used to change the cryptographic operations performed in the FPGA, including keys, or decryption and encryption algorithms, or both.
US08898477B2

A system and method of operating a device to securely update the control firmware controlling the device. Downloading a firmware update package to a first microcontroller of the device. Determining a firmware update portion and an encrypted hash portion of the firmware update package wherein the encrypted hash portion is cryptographically signed by a signatory. Confirm that the encrypted hash portion conforms to the firmware update by independently computing the hash of the encrypted firmware update portion on the first microcontroller and comparing that value to the signed hash. Other systems and methods are disclosed.
US08898468B2

In some embodiments, authentication, confidentiality, and privacy are enhanced for a wireless network of cognitive radios by encryption of network management and control messages as well as data traffic, thereby protecting information pertaining to node identification, node location, node-sensed incumbent transmissions, CRN frequency channel selections, and such like. During initial network registration, a temporary ID can be issued to a node, and then replaced once encrypted communication has been established. This prevents association of initial, clear-text messages with later encrypted transmissions. Elliptic curve cryptography can be used for mutual authentication between subscribers and the base station. ECC-based implicit digital certificates can be embedded in co-existence beacons used by CRN nodes to coordinate use of frequency channels, thereby preventing denial of service attacks due to transmitting of falsified beacons. Similar certificates can be embedded within identity beacons used to protect certain incumbents from interference by the CRN.
US08898461B2

Improved handling of battery recognition tasks in an electronic device such as a cell phone, smart phone, computer system, recording device or others is facilitated. Recognition of a battery so as to enable exchange of power between the device and the battery is determined by a match between one of a plurality of number strings stored in the device and the decrypted response to an encrypted challenge derived from the one of stored number string.
US08898442B2

Methods and systems for scenario-based process modeling are described. In one example embodiment, a system for scenario-based process modeling can include a scenario module, a deviations module, a parallel tasks module, and a workflow generation engine. The scenario module is to receive a series of tasks to define a standard process flow. The deviations module is to receive a deviation from the standard process flow. The parallel tasks module is to enable identification of one or more parallel tasks. The workflow generation engine is to generate a workflow model based on the standard process flow, deviation, and one or more parallel tasks.
US08898433B2

An apparatus having a buffer and a circuit is disclosed. The buffer may be configured to store a plurality of fetch sets. Each fetch set generally includes a prefix word and a plurality of instruction words. Each prefix word may include a plurality of symbols. Each symbol generally corresponds to a respective one of the instruction words. The circuit may be configured to (i) identify each of the symbols in each of the fetch sets having a predetermined value and (ii) parse the fetch sets into a plurality of execution sets in response to the symbols having the predetermined value.
US08898421B2

An electronic device having one or more services made available to a host equipment with which it is connected. The device automatically adjusts the access capability to the services made available depending on the software platform available within the host equipment. The electronic device may include a platform identifier operating on data exchanged with the host equipment to identify the platform. The electronic device may be an electronic storage device providing access capability for reading/writing to memory, wherein the access capability is adapted to the host equipment. A memory may be partitioned into areas of memory dedicated to first and second types of software platforms available within the host equipment, and an area independent of the type of software platform. A memory may also be operated to list services authorized for a given platform, wherein a reference to this memory may be contained in a reserved memory.
US08898414B2

A storage device includes a data storage having first and second storage areas corresponding to different physical addresses. First data are stored in the first storage area. The storage device further includes a first memory that stores a reference count associated with the first data, and a controller that rearranges the first data from the first storage area to the second storage area in response to a change in the reference count of the first data.
US08898409B1

In one aspect, a method includes performing a failover in a journal-based replication system and performing a failback in the journal-based replication system without loss to journaling. In another aspect, an article includes a non-transitory machine-readable medium that stores executable instructions. The instructions cause a machine to perform a failover in a journal-based replication system and perform a failback in the journal-based replication system without loss to journaling. In a further aspect, an apparatus includes circuitry configured to perform a failover in a journal-based replication system and perform a failback in the journal-based replication system without loss to journaling.
US08898400B2

An integrated circuit includes a data bus and a first memory device coupled to the data bus. The first memory device is configured to provide a first signal in response to completing a power-up sequence of the first memory device. The integrated circuit includes a second memory device coupled to the data bus. The second memory device is configured to provide a second signal in response to completing a power-up sequence of the second memory device. The integrated circuit includes a controller configured to access the first memory device and the second memory device based on the first signal and the second signal.
US08898398B2

A dual-mode, dual-display shared resource computing (SRC) device is usable to stream SRC content from a host SRC device while in an on-line mode and maintain functionality with the content during an off-line mode. Such remote SRC devices can be used to maintain multiple user-specific caches and to back-up cached content for multi-device systems.
US08898393B2

Methods and apparatus relating to ring protocols and techniques are described. In one embodiment, a first agent generates a request to write to a cache line of a cache over a first ring of a computing platform. A second agent that receives the write request forwards it to a third agent over the first ring of the computing platform. In turn, a third agent (e.g., a home agent) receives data corresponding to the write request over a second, different ring of the computing platform and writes the data to the cache. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US08898390B2

In one embodiment, a processor includes a first cache and a second cache, a first core associated with the first cache and a second core associated with the second cache. The caches are of asymmetric sizes, and a scheduler can intelligently schedule threads to the cores based at least in part on awareness of this asymmetry and resulting cache performance information obtained during a training phase of at least one of the threads.
US08898387B1

A system, computer program product, and computer-implemented method for defining a data stripe that spans one or more of N data storage devices and one or more of M erasure code devices. The one or more N data storage devices and the one or more M erasure code devices are included within a data storage system. A data chunk to be written to the data storage system is received. At least a portion of the data chunk is written to the portion of the data stripe that spans the one or more N data storage devices. Each of the N data storage devices and the M erasure code devices is included within a unique server computer.
US08898381B2

RAID storage systems and methods adapted to enable the use of NAND flash-based solid-state drives. The RAID storage system includes an array of solid-state drives and a controller operating to combine the solid-state drives into a logical unit. The controller utilizes data striping to form data stripe sets comprising data (stripe) blocks that are written to individual drives of the array, utilizes distributed parity to write parity data of the data stripe sets to individual drives of the array, and writes the data blocks and the parity data to different individual drives of the array. The RAID storage system detects the number of data blocks of at least one of the data stripe sets and then, depending on the number of data blocks detected, may invert bit values of the parity data or add a dummy data value of “1” to the parity value.
US08898375B2

A memory controlling method, a memory controller and a memory storage apparatus are provided. The method includes identifying whether a transmission mode between the memory storage apparatus and a host system belongs to a first transmission mode or a second transmission mode and grouping memory dies of the memory storage apparatus into a plurality of memory die groups. The method also includes applying a first erasing mode to erase data stored in the memory dies when the transmission mode belongs to the first transmission mode and applying a second erasing mode to erase the data stored in the memory dies when the transmission mode belongs to the second transmission mode, wherein at least a part of the memory die groups are enabled simultaneously in the first erasing mode and any two of the memory die groups are not enabled simultaneously in the second erasing mode.
US08898366B2

An apparatus and method is disclosed for providing an extensible information handling system (IHS) bus implemented on predetermined channels of a digital video interface. IHS video signal information is multiplexed with IHS bus information by a host multiplexer for transmission across a digital video connector. The multiplexed IHS video signal and IHS bus information is received by a display multiplexer, where it is demultiplexed. Demultiplexed IHS video signal information is received by a video interface receiver, where it is used to generate an image on a digital display. Demultiplexed IHS bus information is received by a host bus interface transmitter/receiver, where it is used to support peripheral devices attached to the digital display.
US08898365B2

A chip package includes a micro-link between components disposed on a substrate. The micro-link may be an ultra-short multi-conductor transmission line with shared reference planes that results in a distribution of impedance values. Furthermore, the composite signal traces in the transmission line each can support communication of one symbol at a time by ensuring that multiple reflections reach a substantial fraction of a steady-state value within a symbol time. In this way, the micro-link may facilitate continued scaling of the communication bandwidth between the components with low latency to increase the performance of computer systems that include the chip package.
US08898359B2

Method, circuit, and system for performing an operation for regulating bandwidth, the operation comprising receiving at a memory, debug data packets and functional data packets for transmittal on a shared bus. The operation then transmits, via the shared bus, the functional data packets and one or more of the debug data packets according to a predefined ratio of debug data packets to functional data packets. The operation then drops one or more of the received debug data packets at the memory, and maintains a count of the one or more dropped debug data packets. The operation then updates the predefined ratio based on the count, and uses the updated predefined ratio to transmit the functional data packets and one or more of the debug data packets.
US08898344B2

A semantic analyzer receives a segment of content, analyzes it utilizing semantic analysis, and outputs an indication regarding whether a value related to a predicted emotional response to the segment reaches a predetermined threshold. Based on the indication, a controller selects a measuring rate, from amongst at least first and second measuring rates, at which a device is to take measurements of affective response of a user to the segment. The first rate may be selected when the value does not reach the predetermined threshold, while the second mode may be selected when the value does reach it. The device takes significantly fewer measurements while operating at the first measuring rate, compared to number of measurements it takes while operating at the second measuring rate.
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