US08901887B2

A mobile electric appliance is disclosed. The mobile electric appliance includes at least one battery bay for accommodating a battery with at least one voltage-generating cell and a battery-side charge status indicator, an electrical consumer, a power connector, as well as a charging device for charging the at least one battery. In addition, the mobile electric appliance includes means for detecting the charge status of the at least one battery and a device-side charge status indicator arranged on the mobile electric appliance. The battery may also include an interface, which is prepared to relay the charge status determined to an external processing unit.
US08901886B2

The present inventions, in certain aspects, are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to charge a battery the method comprises (i) charging the battery via a charging sequence, wherein charging the battery includes: (a) applying a plurality of charge signals, and (b) applying one or more discharge signals wherein, in response thereto, the battery outputs electrical energy. In certain embodiments, the electrical energy output by the battery in response to the discharge signals is stored (for example, in a capacitor and/or second battery). The present inventions are also directed to, among other things, an apparatus to charge a battery comprising charging circuitry including: (i) a current source to generate a plurality of charge signals, and (ii) a current sink to generate one or more discharge signals, wherein, in response thereto, the battery outputs electrical energy. The apparatus may also include control circuitry, a storage device (for example, in a capacitor and/or second battery), to store the energy output by the battery in response to the one or more discharge signals, and/or an ambient environmental device to adjust the ambient environment or conditions of the battery using the energy output by the battery in response to the one or more discharge signals.
US08901883B2

Disclosed herein is a charger for electric vehicles, which has a wide output voltage range. The charger is a slow charger having an improved configuration to respond to a wide output voltage range as well as output change. The charger may achieve limited switching loss and reduced noise via soft-switching operation, thereby enabling high-efficiency large-power Power Factor Correction (PFC) and increasing conversion efficiency of a DC/DC converter.
US08901880B2

Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless power transfer. A portable wireless power charger includes an antenna configured to generate a magnetic near-field for coupling of wireless power to a wireless powered device including a receiver. The antenna is substantially disposed around the perimeter of the charging pad. The portable wireless power charger further includes a feeder cable for coupling the input power to the charging pad.
US08901865B2

A current limiting device includes a switching portion, a reflux portion connected to a connection point of the switching portion and an output terminal, and supplying a current to a motor generator while the switching portion is cutting off the current, a current measurement portion that measures the current flowing from the output terminal to the motor generator, and a current control portion that controls the switching portion to switch ON/OFF according to a current value measured by the current measurement portion. When the motor generator is motor-driven using electric power of a condenser, the current control portion limits the current to the motor generator by controlling the switching portion to switch ON/OFF in a case where the measured current value is equal to or exceeds a predetermined current value.
US08901864B2

Proposed is a driver having dead-time compensation function. The driver having dead-time compensation function generates an output voltage according to a voltage command and a frequency command. The driver includes an inverter, an output current detector and a control unit. The inverter receives a DC voltage and operates with a pulse width modulation mode so that the driver outputs the output voltage and an output current. The output current detector detects the current value of the output current to generate a output current detecting signal. The control unit outputs a switching control signal to inverter according to the voltage command and the frequency command. The control unit corrects a reference command according to dead-time and the output current detecting signal related to the output current so that amplitude and waveform smoothness of the output voltage and the output current are compensated.
US08901863B2

A motor control device has a motor driving circuit for driving a motor, a current detection circuit for detecting a motor current flowing through the motor driving circuit, and a controller for calculating a detected value of the motor current based on an output of the current detection circuit, comparing the detected value with a target value of the motor current, and generating a command value for allowing a motor current of the target value to flow through the motor based on a deviation therebetween, to output the command value to a motor driving circuit. The current detection circuit is configured of a first current detection circuit having a positive first gain and a second current detection circuit having a negative second gain obtained by inverting the first gain.
US08901850B2

An adaptive anti-glare light system including a sensor, a color selection engine, a controller, and a plurality of light sources each configured to emit a source light. The sensor transmits a source color signal designating a reflected light characterized by a detected color and a discomfort glare rating. The color selection engine determines a dominant wavelength of the detected color, and a combination of the light sources that the controller may operate to emit a combined wavelength that matches the dominant wavelength of the detected color. A method of adapting light as a countermeasure to glare comprises receiving the detected color, determining a subset of the plurality of light sources that may be combined to form an adapted light that matches the detected color, and operating the light sources with a white light to emit the adapted light at or above a threshold discomfort glare level.
US08901847B2

A driving device includes a switching power supply circuit to convert input power to output power; a first switching element which opens and closes a circuit of a load; an output capacitor connected in parallel to the load and the first switching element; a selection switch disposed between the inductor and the output capacitor, the selection switch switching between a first selection state where the load is electrically connected to the inductor and the second selection state where a reference potential portion is electrically connected to the inductor; a timing controller which operates the switching power supply circuit while the first switching element is closed; and a controller which puts the selection switch into the second selection state before the first switching element is closed.
US08901843B2

A light driving apparatus includes a first rectifying unit for receiving AC power and rectifying the AC power into DC, a switching element controlled to turn on or off by a control signal, a transforming unit having a transformer and an inductor connected to a primary side of the transformer in parallel, a second rectifying unit for rectifying a secondary side output of the transforming unit and supplying an output voltage thereof to a LED unit, and a control unit provided in the primary side to give a constant-current control function so that a secondary side output is maintained consistently. According to the present disclosure, it is possible to simplify the circuit structure of the secondary side and improve the efficiency by controlling the secondary side current at the primary side without secondary side feedback information.
US08901841B2

The disclosure relates to an AC LED dimmer and dimming method thereof. The AC LED dimmer includes a rectifier receiving AC voltage from an AC voltage source and full-wave rectifying the AC voltage; a direct current (DC)/DC converter receiving the full-wave rectified voltage from the rectifier, generating a full-wave rectified stepped-up voltage, and generating a pulse enable signal; a pulse width modulation controller receiving the full-wave rectified stepped-up voltage and generating a pulse width modulation signal to dim an AC LED in response to the pulse enable signal; a switch driving the AC LED under control of the pulse width modulation signal, and an electromagnetic interference (EMI) filter to be connected between the AC voltage source and the switch to eliminate electromagnetic interference from the AC voltage source. Accordingly, the dimmer can perform an efficient and linear dimming function and suppress harmonics.
US08901835B2

LED controllers, LED lighting systems and control methods capable of providing an average luminance intensity independent from the variation of an AC voltage. LEDs are divided into LED groups electrically connected in series between a power source and a ground. A disclosed LED controller has path switches, a management center and a line waveform sensor. Each path switch is for coupling a corresponding LED group to the ground. The management center controls the path switches. When turning off an upstream path switch, the management center controls a downstream path switch for a downstream LED group to make the driving current passing the upstream LED group substantially approach a target value. The line waveform sensor is coupled to the power source, sensing the waveform of the input voltage of the power source. The line waveform sensor is configured to decrease the target value when the input voltage increases.
US08901825B2

Illumination sources are turned ON and turned OFF in response to detected levels of illumination in an ambient environment reaching respective thresholds, which may be user set. The detection of these turn ON and turn OFF events is verified, for instance against expected events or conditions for the particular location, date and/or time. An alert or log entry may be generated if a detected event or condition appears to be invalid. For instance, if an amount of illumination in the environment is different than predicted by a threshold amount or if a time that the event occurs or is detected is different than expected or predicted by more than a threshold amount. A level of illumination may be decreased to some non-zero level after a specified time after turn ON, and increased at some specified time before turnOFF. Use of information from external sources (e.g., satellites, cell towers) may allow times to be using local time, including daylight savings if applicable.
US08901822B2

The invention relates to a lighting arrangement with an operating device (3) and with an LED light source (4) which is controlled by said operating device and which is formed by at least two LEDs (4a, 4b, 4c), which emit light of different colors and together emit a white total light. The operating device (3) drives some of the LEDs (4a, 4b, 4c) forming the LED light source (4) which are intended to emit monochromatic (non-white) light in such a way that said LEDs emit light signals representing certain operating parameters.
US08901815B2

An organic light emitting device and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The organic light emitting device includes an opaque substrate having one or more holes, and an organic emissive unit interposed between first and second electrodes positioned on the opaque substrate.
US08901803B2

The present invention provides a composite substrate comprising a piezoelectric substrate that is a single-crystal lithium tantalate or lithium niobate substrate, a support substrate that is a single-crystal silicon substrate, and an amorphous layer containing argon and joining together the piezoelectric substrate and the support substrate. The amorphous layer includes, in order from the piezoelectric substrate toward the composite substrate, a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. The first layer contains a larger amount of a constituent element of the piezoelectric substrate than the second and third layers, the third layer contains a larger amount of a constituent element of the support substrate than the first and second layers, and the second layer contains a larger amount of argon than the first and third layers.
US08901779B2

A medical device-powering wireless receiver for use with a first electromagnetic resonator coupled to a power supply. The wireless receiver includes a load configured to power the medical device using electrical power, and a second electromagnetic resonator adapted to be housed within the medical device and configured to be coupled to the load, at least one other electromagnetic resonator configured with the first electromagnetic resonator and the second electromagnetic resonator in an array of electromagnetic resonators to distribute power over an area, wherein the second electromagnetic resonator is configured to be wirelessly coupled to the array to provide resonant, non-radiative wireless power to the second electromagnetic resonator from the first electromagnetic resonator.
US08901771B2

Described herein are systems, methods and apparatuses for providing power to an irrigation controller. In one implementation, an apparatus comprises an alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) voltage converter configured to convert an input AC voltage into a DC voltage. An AC voltage generator is coupled to the AC to DC voltage converter, wherein the AC voltage generator is configured to generate an output AC voltage using the DC voltage. The AC voltage generator is further coupled to the irrigation controller, and the AC voltage generator is configured to supply the output AC voltage to the irrigation controller.
US08901768B2

A wastegate control system includes a wastegate control module configured to operate in one of a first PWM mode and a second PWM mode. A first transistor includes a control terminal connected to the wastegate control module, a first output terminal, and a second output terminal. A clamp circuit is connected to the first output terminal and the second output terminal of the first transistor. A second transistor includes a control terminal connected to the wastegate control module, a first output terminal, and a second output terminal. A diode has an anode connected to the second output terminal of the first transistor and a cathode connected to the first output terminal of the second transistor.
US08901767B2

A preferred embodiment includes a system for power generation through movement of fluid having a variety of configurations and implementations. One preferred embodiment includes a system for power generation through movement of fluid includes a power generating cell with a generally cylindrical housing a ring for rotating disposed in said housing, one or more impellers fixedly coupled to said ring, and a generator operably coupled to said ring for receiving energy from the one or more impellers in which fluid is disposed about one or more impellers for creating energy.
US08901757B2

An efficient energy conversion system and method for converting a gas product produced by electrolysis into electricity. The system may include an electrolysis fuel cell, an engine and a generator. In an exemplary embodiment, the generator may be a superconducting generator and may be cooled using a refrigeration system.
US08901751B2

A semiconductor device, includes: a connection member including a first pad formed on a principal surface thereof; a semiconductor chip including a circuit-formed surface on which a second pad is formed, the chip mounted on the connection member so that the circuit-formed surface faces the principal surface; and a solder bump that connects the first and second pads and is made of metal containing Bi and Sn, wherein the bump includes a first interface-layer formed adjacent to the second pad, a second interface-layer formed adjacent to the first pad, a first intermediate region formed adjacent to either one of the interface-layers, and a second intermediate region formed adjacent to the other one of the interface-layers and formed adjacent to the first intermediate region; Bi-concentration in the first intermediate region is higher than a Sn-concentration; and a Sn-concentration in the second intermediate region is higher than a Bi-concentration.
US08901750B2

Provided is a semiconductor package including multiple semiconductor chips, and separate groups of leads connected to the semiconductor chips. The leads are exposed to the outside of the semiconductor package. The plurality of leads may include a first lead group for a first chip group and a second lead group for a second chip group. The first and second chip groups are part of the package.
US08901741B2

A method for forming an interconnect structure with nanocolumnar intermetal dielectric is described involving the construction of an interconnect structure using a solid dielectric, and introducing a regular array of vertically aligned nanoscale pores through stencil formation and etching to form a hole array and subsequently pinching off the tops of the hole array with a cap dielectric. Variations of the method and means to construct a multilevel nanocolumnar interconnect structure are also described.
US08901733B2

In accordance with the objectives of the invention a new method is provided for the creation of metal bumps over surfaces of I/O pads. Contact pads are provided over the surface of a layer of dielectric. The aluminum of the I/O pads, which have been used as I/O pads during wafer level semiconductor device testing, is completely or partially removed over a surface area that is smaller than the surface area of the contact pad using methods of metal dry etching or wet etching. The contact pad can be accessed either by interconnect metal created in a plane of the contact pad or by via that are provided through the layer of dielectric over which the contact pad has been deposited. The process can be further extended by the deposition, patterning and etching of a layer of polyimide over the layer of passivation that serves to protect the contact pad.
US08901724B2

Embodiments of the present invention describe a semiconductor package having an embedded die. The semiconductor package comprises a coreless substrate that contains the embedded die. The semiconductor package provides die stacking or package stacking capabilities. Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention describe a method of fabricating the semiconductor package that minimizes assembly costs.
US08901715B1

A method for manufacturing a marked single-crystalline substrate comprises providing a single-crystalline substrate comprising a first material, the single-crystalline substrate having a surface area; forming a marking structure on the surface area of the single-crystalline substrate, wherein the marking structure comprises a first semiconductor material; and depositing a semiconductor layer on the marking structure and at least partially on the surface area of the single-crystalline substrate, wherein the semiconductor layer comprises the second semiconductor material, and wherein the marking structure is buried under the second semiconductor material.
US08901711B1

A horizontal metal-insulator-metal capacitor including a first metal spacer and a second metal spacer laterally separated by a dielectric material portion is provided within a single opening within at least one layer of dielectric material. A diffusion barrier material portion laterally separates sidewall surfaces of each metal spacer from a corresponding sidewall surface of the at least one layer of dielectric material provided by the opening. Each diffusion barrier material portion, each metal spacer and the dielectric material portion within the opening containing the horizontal metal-insulator-metal capacitor has a bottommost surface that is in contact with a recessed surface of the at least one layer of dielectric material.
US08901708B2

This disclosure provides (a) methods of making an oxide layer (e.g., a dielectric layer) based on yttrium and titanium, to have a high dielectric constant and low leakage characteristic and (b) related devices and structures. An oxide layer having both yttrium and titanium may be fabricated either as an amorphous oxide or as an alternating series of monolayers. In several embodiments, the oxide is characterized by a yttrium contribution to total metal that is specifically controlled. The oxide layer can be produced as the result of a reactive process, if desired, via either a PVD process or, alternatively, via an atomic layer deposition process that employs specific precursor materials to allow for a common process temperature window for both titanium and yttrium reactions.
US08901707B2

A capacitor of a semiconductor device includes a capacitor structure configured to include electrode layers and dielectric layers alternately stacked, edge regions each stepwise patterned, and a central region disposed between the edge regions, sacrificial layers disposed within the respective electrode layers in the edge regions of the capacitor structure, and support plugs formed in the central region of the capacitor structure and configured to penetrate the electrode layers and the dielectric layers.
US08901706B2

A trench structure that in one embodiment includes a trench present in a substrate, and a dielectric layer that is continuously present on the sidewalls and base of the trench. The dielectric layer has a dielectric constant that is greater than 30. The dielectric layer is composed of tetragonal phase hafnium oxide with silicon present in the grain boundaries of the tetragonal phase hafnium oxide in an amount ranging from 3 wt. % to 20 wt. %.
US08901705B2

The present invention relates to an electronic component, that comprises, on a substrate, at least one integrated MIM capacitor, (114) an electrically insulating first cover layer (120) which partly or fully covers the top capacitor electrode (118) and is made of a lead-containing dielectric material, and a top barrier layer (122) on the first cover layer. The top barrier layer serves for avoiding a reduction of lead atoms comprised by the first cover layer under exposure of the first cover layer to a reducing substance. An electrically insulating second cover layer (124) on the top barrier layer has a dielectric permittivity smaller than that of the first cover layer establishes a low parasitic capacitance of the cover-layer structure. The described cover-layer structure with the intermediate top barrier layer allows to fabricate a high-accuracy resistor layer (126.1) on top.
US08901703B2

The electronic device comprises a network of at least one thin-film capacitor and at least one inductor on a first side of a substrate of a semiconductor material. The substrate has a resistivity sufficiently high to limit electrical losses of the inductor and being provided with an electrically insulating surface layer on its first side. A first and a second lateral pin diode are defined in the substrate, each of the pin diodes having a doped p-region, a doped n-region and an intermediate intrinsic region. The intrinsic region of the first pin diode is larger than that of the second pin diode.
US08901690B2

A semiconductor structure for photon detection, comprising a substrate composed of a semiconductor material having a first doping, a contact region fitted at the frontside of the substrate, a bias layer composed of a semiconductor material having a second doping, which is arranged on the backside of the substrate at a distance from the contact region, wherein the contact region at least partly lies opposite the bias layer, such that an overlap region is present in a lateral direction, a guard ring, which is arranged at the frontside of the substrate and surrounds the contact region, wherein a reverse voltage can be applied between the contact region and the guard ring. In order to enable more cost-effective production, the overlap region has a lateral extent amounting to at least one quarter of the distance between contact region and bias layer.
US08901688B2

A glass-based, high-performance 60 GHz/mm-wave antenna includes cavities disposed in a phased-array antenna (PAA) substrate. The cavities are disposed below planar antenna elements. Emitter traces are disposed on the PAA substrate opposite the planar antenna elements and the emitter traces, the cavities, and the planar antenna elements are vertically aligned.
US08901683B2

Provided is a structure for improving performance of a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) microphone by preventing deformation from occurring due to a residual stress and a package stress of a membrane and by decreasing membrane rigidity. A MEMS microphone according to the present disclosure includes a backplate formed on a substrate; an insulating layer formed on the substrate to surround the backplate; a membrane formed to be separate from above the backplate by a predetermined interval; a membrane supporting portion configured to connect the membrane to the substrate; and a buffering portion formed in a double spring structure between the membrane and the membrane supporting portion.
US08901680B2

Semiconductor nano pressure sensor devices having graphene membrane suspended over cavities formed in a semiconductor substrate. A suspended graphene membrane serves as an active electro-mechanical membrane for sensing pressure, which can be made very thin, from about one atomic layer to about 10 atomic layers in thickness, to improve the sensitivity and reliability of a semiconductor pressure sensor device.
US08901675B2

A method is provided for fabricating a CMOS device. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a first active region and a second active region. The method also includes forming a first trench on the first active region using a first barrier layer and a second substitute gate electrode layer to protect a gate region on the second active region, followed by forming a first work function layer and a first metal gate in the first trench. Further, the method includes forming a second trench on the second active region using a second barrier layer to protect the first metal gate structure, followed by forming a second work function layer and a second metal gate in the second trench.
US08901671B2

The invention relates to semiconductor components, in particular to a scalable construction for lateral semiconductor components having high current-carrying capacity. A transistor cell according to the invention comprises a control electrode (203), a plurality of source fields (201) and a plurality of drain fields (202). The control electrode completely encloses at least one of the source fields or drain fields. A transistor according to the invention comprises a plurality of transistor cells on a substrate, each of which comprises a source contact field (206) and/or a drain contact field (207). The source contact fields are conductively connected to each other on the other side of the substrate and the drain contact fields are likewise conductively connected to each other on the other side of the substrate. The method according to the invention for producing a transistor comprises the following steps: providing a substrate; forming a plurality of transistor cells on the substrate, each of which comprises a control electrode, a plurality of source fields and a plurality of drain fields; conductively connecting the control electrodes to each other; forming a source contact field and/or a drain contact field in each transistor cell; conductively connecting the source contact fields of each transistor cell to a source contact field; conductively connecting the drain fields of each transistor cell to a drain contact field; forming at least one bump (208) on each of the source contact fields and on each of the drain contact fields; providing a circuit board; conductively connecting the bumps of the source contact fields to each other by means of conductive tracks on the circuit board; and conductively connecting the bumps of the drain contact fields to each other by means of conductive tracks on the circuit board. The arrangement of the bumps and the conductive tracks on the circuit board makes a low semiconductor surface assignment by wiring possible. The arrangement according to the invention of the source fields, drain fields and control electrodes relative to the bumps makes a low heat resistance possible between the active transistor regions and the bumps.
US08901670B2

A method of forming a semiconductor device is provided that in some embodiments encapsulates a gate silicide in a continuous encapsulating material. By encapsulating the gate silicide in the encapsulating material, the present disclosure substantially eliminates shorting between the gate structure and the interconnects to the source and drain regions of the semiconductor device.
US08901664B2

A device and method for fabrication of fin devices for an integrated circuit includes forming fin structures in a semiconductor material of a semiconductor device wherein the semiconductor material is exposed on sidewalls of the fin structures. A donor material is epitaxially deposited on the exposed sidewalls of the fin structures. A condensation process is applied to move the donor material through the sidewalls into the semiconductor material such that accommodation of the donor material causes a strain in the semiconductor material of the fin structures. The donor material is removed, and a field effect transistor is formed from the fin structure.
US08901663B2

A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a device isolation pattern and a passive circuit element. The device isolation pattern is located on the substrate, delimits an active region of the substrate, and includes a recessed portion having a bottom surface located below a plane coincident with a surface of the active region. The passive circuit element is situated in the recess so as to be disposed on the bottom surface of the recessed portion of the device isolation pattern.
US08901659B2

Non-planar semiconductor devices including at least one semiconductor nanowire having a tapered profile which widens from the source side of the device towards the drain side of the device are provided which have reduced gate to drain coupling and therefore reduced gate induced drain tunneling currents.
US08901650B2

A semiconductor device of the present invention includes an n-channel first thin film transistor and a p-channel second thin film transistor on one and the same substrate. The first thin film transistor has a first semiconductor layer (27), and the second thin film transistor has a second semiconductor layer (22). The first semiconductor layer (27) and the second semiconductor layer (22) are formed from one and the same film. Each of the first semiconductor layer (27) and the second semiconductor layer (22) has a slope portion (27e, 22e) positioned in the periphery and a main portion (27m, 22m) which is a portion excluding the slope portion. A p-type impurity is introduced into only a part of the slope portion (27e) of the first semiconductor layer with higher density than the main portion (27m) of the first semiconductor layer, the main portion (22m) of the second semiconductor layer, and the slope portion (22e) of the second semiconductor layer. Accordingly, a driving voltage of the semiconductor device provided with the n-type TFT and the p-type TFT can be reduced.
US08901648B2

Some of the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) device comprising a drain region, a gate region surrounding the drain region and formed in a loop around the drain region, a plurality of source regions arranged around the gate region, wherein each source region is situated across from a corresponding side of the drain region, and a plurality of bulk regions arranged around the gate region, wherein one or more of the plurality of source regions separate one or more of the plurality of bulk regions from the gate region. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08901643B2

A semiconductor device includes a channel region extending in a vertical direction perpendicular to a substrate and having a nitrogen concentration distribution, a plurality of gate electrodes arranged on a side wall of the channel region and separated from each other in a vertical direction, and a gate dielectric layer disposed between the channel region and the gate electrodes. The nitrogen concentration distribution has a first concentration near an interface between the channel region and the gate dielectric layer.
US08901640B2

The object of the invention is to provide a semiconductor device realizing high-speed operation of surrounding gate transistors (SGTs), which are three-dimensional semiconductors, by increasing the ON current of the SGTs. This object is achieved by a semiconductor element being provided in which a source, a drain and a gate are positioned in layers on a substrate, the semiconductor element being provided with: a silicon column; an insulating body surrounding the side surface of the silicon column; a gate surrounding the insulating body; a source region positioned above or below the silicon column; and a drain region positioned below or above the silicon column; wherein the contact surface of the silicon column with the source region is smaller than the contact surface of the silicon column with the drain region.
US08901625B2

Devices and methods for providing JFET transistors with improved operating characteristics are provided. Specifically, one or more embodiments of the present invention relate to JFET transistors with a higher diode turn-on voltage. For example, one or more embodiments include a JFET with a PIN gate stack. One or more embodiments also relate to systems and devices in which the improved JFET may be employed, as well as methods of manufacturing the improved JFET.
US08901623B2

According to an embodiment, a super junction semiconductor device may be manufactured by introducing impurities of a first impurity type into an exposed surface of a first semiconductor layer of the first impurity type, thus forming an implant layer. A second semiconductor layer of the first impurity type may be provided on the exposed surface and trenches may be etched through the second semiconductor layer into the first semiconductor layer. Thereby first columns with first overcompensation zones obtained from the implant layer are formed between the trenches. Second columns of the second conductivity type may be provided in the trenches. The first and second columns form a super junction structure with a vertical first section in which the first overcompensation zones overcompensate a corresponding section in the second columns.
US08901609B1

A transistor includes a substrate, wherein a top portion of the substrate is doped with p-type dopants to a dopant concentration ranging from about 1×1018 ions/cm3 to about 1×1023 ions/cm3. The transistor further includes a graded layer on the substrate and a channel layer on the graded layer. The transistor further includes an active layer on the channel layer, wherein the active layer has a band gap discontinuity with the channel layer.
US08901608B2

A high electron mobility transistor includes a T-type gate electrode disposed on a substrate between source and drain electrodes and insulating layers disposed between the substrate and the T-type gate electrode. The insulating layers include first, second, and third insulating layers. The third insulating layer is disposed between the substrate and a head portion of the T-type gate electrode such that a portion of the third insulating layer is in contact with a foot portion of the T-type gate electrode. The second insulating layer is disposed between the substrate and the head portion of the T-type gate electrode to be in contact with the third insulating layer. The first insulating layer and another portion of the third insulating layer are sequentially stacked between the substrate and the head portion of the T-type gate electrode to be in contact with the second insulating layer.
US08901603B2

A protection circuit for metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) that are used as active bypass diodes in photovoltaic solar power systems is disclosed. The protection circuit comprises, a detection circuit for detecting the start of a surge event, a switch disposed to connect the MOSFET's drain to it's gate in response to the start of the surge, a diode in series with the switch, a bistable circuit for keeping the switch closed during the surge, and a means of resetting the bistable circuit after the surge.
US08901597B2

Disclosed are a light emitting device and a light emitting device package having the same. The light emitting device includes a light emitting structure including a first conductive semiconductor layer, a second conductive semiconductor layer, and an active layer interposed between the first conductive semiconductor layer and the second conductive semiconductor layer, an electrode electrically connected to the first conductive semiconductor layer, a reflective layer under the second conductive semiconductor layer, a protective layer disposed around a lower surface of the second conductive semiconductor layer, and a buffer layer disposed on at least one of top and lower surfaces of the protective layer.
US08901588B2

Disclosed herein are LED devices having lenses and methods of making the devices. The LED devices are made using an optical layer comprising a plurality of lens features. The optical layer is disposed relative to the LED die such that at least one LED die is optically coupled to at least one lens feature. A lens can then be made from the lens feature and excess optical layer removed to provide the device.
US08901584B2

A light emitting diode including a compound semiconductor layer having at least a pn junction-type light emitting unit and a strain adjustment layer stacked on the light emitting unit, wherein the light emitting unit has a stacked structure containing a strained light emitting layer having a composition formula of (AlXGa1-X)YIn1-YP (wherein X and Y are numerical values that satisfy 0≦X≦0.1 and 0.39≦Y≦0.45 respectively) and a barrier layer, and the strain adjustment layer is transparent to the emission wavelength and has a lattice constant that is smaller than the lattice constants of the strained light emitting layer and the barrier layer. The light emitting diode has an emission wavelength of not less than 655 nm, exhibits excellent monochromaticity, high output and/or high efficiency, and has a fast response speed.
US08901576B2

Processing for a silicon photonics wafer is provided. A silicon photonics wafer that includes an active silicon photonics layer, a thin buried oxide layer, and a silicon substrate is received. The thin buried oxide layer is located between the active silicon photonics layer and the silicon substrate. An electrical CMOS wafer that includes an active electrical layer is also received. The active silicon photonics layer of the silicon photonics wafer is flip chip bonded to the active electrical layer of the electrical CMOS wafer. The silicon substrate is removed exposing a backside surface of the thin buried oxide layer. A low-optical refractive index backing wafer is added to the exposed backside surface of the thin buried oxide layer. The low-optical refractive index backing wafer is a glass substrate or silicon substrate wafer. The silicon substrate wafer includes a thick oxide layer that is attached to the thin buried oxide layer.
US08901573B2

A semiconductor device includes a silicon carbide semiconductor substrate, a transistor formed in a cell region of the semiconductor substrate, and a voltage-breakdown-resistant structure formed in a region which surrounds an outer periphery of the cell region. The semiconductor substrate includes a first conductivity type substrate, a first conductivity type drift layer on the first conductivity type substrate, a second conductivity type layer on the drift layer, and a first conductivity type layer on the second conductivity type layer. The voltage-breakdown-resistant structure includes a first recess which surrounds the outer periphery of the cell region and reaches the drift layer, a trench located at a side surface of the recess on an inner periphery of the recess, and a second conductivity type buried layer buried in the trench to provide the side surface of the first recess.
US08901565B2

A semiconductor device adapted for being disposed on a substrate is provided. The semiconductor device includes a pixel electrode, a drain, a semiconductor channel layer, a source, a gate insulation layer and a side-gate. The pixel electrode is disposed on the substrate. The drain is disposed on the pixel electrode and exposes a portion of pixel electrode. The semiconductor channel layer is disposed on the drain. The source is disposed on the semiconductor channel layer. The gate insulation layer is disposed on the substrate, at least covers the source and surrounds the semiconductor channel layer. The side-gate is disposed on the gate insulation layer and extendedly covers the substrate along at least one side of the gate insulation layer. An extending direction of a portion of the side-gate is identical to a stacking direction of the drain, the semiconductor channel layer and the source.
US08901562B2

There are provided a transistor and a radiation imaging device in which a shift in a threshold voltage due to radiation exposure may be suppressed. The transistor includes a first gate electrode, a first gate insulator, a semiconductor layer, a second gate insulator, and a second gate electrode in this order on a substrate. Each of the first and second gate insulators includes one or a plurality of silicon compound films having oxygen, and a total sum of thicknesses of the silicon compound films is 65 nm or less.
US08901555B2

A light sensing device is disclosed. The light sensing device includes a first light sensor and a second light sensor. The first light sensor formed on a substrate includes a first metal oxide semiconductor layer for absorbing a first light having a first waveband. The second light sensor formed on the substrate includes a second metal oxide semiconductor layer and an organic light-sensitive layer on the second metal oxide semiconductor layer for absorbing a second light having a second waveband.
US08901548B2

Provided is a dual-mode display including a substrate, and a plurality of sub pixels on the substrate. Each of the sub pixels may include an emissive device, a reflective optical filter provided on a surface of the emissive device, and an optical shutter provided on other surface of the emissive device.
US08901544B2

Articles utilizing strengthened glass substrates, for example, ion-exchanged glass substrates, in combination with organic molecules or polymers are described along with methods for making the articles. The articles are useful in electronics-based devices that utilize organic thin film transistors.
US08901535B2

A semiconductor nanoparticle assembly including semiconductor nanoparticles having a core/shell structure, and wherein the semiconductor nanoparticles are bonded by means of amide bonds.
US08901532B2

Provided is a non-volatile programmable device including a first terminal, a first threshold switching layer connected to part of the first terminal, a phase change layer connected to the first threshold switching layer, a second threshold switching layer connected to the phase change layer, a second terminal connected to the second threshold switching layer, and third and fourth terminals respectively connected to a side portion of the phase change layer and the other side portion opposite to the side portion of the phase change layer.
US08901530B2

Embodiments of the invention generally include a method of forming a nonvolatile memory device that contains a resistive switching memory element that has improved device switching performance and lifetime, due to the addition of a current limiting component disposed therein. The electrical properties of the current limiting component are configured to lower the current flow through the variable resistance layer during the logic state programming steps by adding a fixed series resistance in the resistive switching memory element of the nonvolatile memory device. In one embodiment, the current limiting component comprises a tunnel oxide that is a current limiting material disposed within a resistive switching memory element in a nonvolatile resistive switching memory device. Typically, resistive switching memory elements may be formed as part of a high-capacity nonvolatile memory integrated circuit, which can be used in various electronic devices, such as digital cameras, mobile telephones, handheld computers, and music players.
US08901526B2

A variable resistive memory device capable of reducing contact resistance by including a contact layer having low contact resistance, the variable resistive memory device including a substrate comprising an active region; a gate line on the substrate; a first contact layer electrically connected to the active region; a memory cell contact plug electrically connected to the first contact layer; and a variable resistive memory cell electrically connected to the memory cell contact plug, wherein the first contact layer has less contact resistance with respect to the active region than the memory cell contact plug.
US08901521B2

A module for producing extreme ultraviolet radiation includes a supply configured to supply droplets of an ignition material to a predetermined target ignition position and a laser arranged to be focused on the predetermined target ignition position and to produce a plasma by hitting such a droplet which is located at the predetermined target ignition position in order to change the droplet into an extreme ultraviolet producing plasma. Also, the module includes a collector mirror having a mirror surface constructed and arranged to reflect the radiation in order to focus the radiation on a focal point. A fluid supply is constructed and arranged to form a gas flow flowing away from the mirror surface in a direction transverse with respect to the mirror surface in order to mitigate particle debris produced by the plasma.
US08901511B2

An electrostatic charged particle beam lens includes an electrode including a flat plate having a first surface having a normal line extending in a direction of an optical axis and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the electrode having a through-hole extending from the first surface to the second surface. When an opening cross section is defined as a cross section of the through-hole taken along a plane perpendicular to the normal line and a representative diameter is defined as a diameter of a circle obtained by performing regression analysis of the opening cross section, a representative diameter of the opening cross section in a first region that is on the first surface side and a representative diameter of the opening cross section in a second region that is on the second surface side are smaller than a representative diameter of the opening cross section in a third region that is a region in the electrode disposed between the first surface and the second surface.
US08901510B2

A particle beam device has a first column with a first beam axis, the first column having a first particle beam generator and a first objective lens for focusing the first particle beam on an object. A second column with a second beam axis is provided, the second column having a second particle beam generator and a second objective lens for focusing the second particle beam on the object. A detector, having a detection axis, detects interacting particles and/or radiation. The first beam axis and the second beam axis define a first angle, different from 0° and from 180°. The first and second beam axes are situated in a first plane. The detection axis of the detector and the first beam axis are situated in a second plane. The first plane and the second plane define a second angle having an absolute value in the range of 65° to 80°.
US08901503B2

A radiation detector system/method that simultaneously detects alpha/beta, beta/gamma, or alpha/beta/gamma radiation, within an integrated detector is disclosed. The system incorporates a photomultiplier tube with radiation scintillation materials to detect alpha/beta/gamma radiation. The photomultiplier tube output is then shape amplified and fed through discriminators to detect the individual radiation types. The discriminator outputs are fed to anti-coincidence and pulse width and timing analysis module that determines whether individual alpha/beta/gamma pulses are valid and should be counted by corresponding alpha/beta/gamma pulse radiation counters. The system may include a radiation detection method to affect alpha/beta/gamma radiation detection in a variety of contexts. The system/method may be implemented in a variety of applications, including but not limited to whole body radiation contamination detectors, laundry radiation scanners, tool/article radiation detectors, and the like.
US08901501B2

A scintillation device is disclosed and can include a scintillator and a pliable encapsulating barrier completely surrounding the scintillator. The scintillation device can be used within a detector device. The detector device can include a housing and a photosensor within the housing. The scintillation device can be within the housing adjacent to the photosensor.
US08901494B2

A sample analyzer is offered which creates a ternary scatter diagram representing a concentration ratio distribution of three elements out of several elements to be analyzed. This three-dimensional graph is created by adding an axis to the ternary scatter diagram and representing concentration information about the two additional elements on the added axis. The sample analyzer performs elemental analysis of a sample by scanning a primary beam over the sample and detecting a signal emanating from the sample. The added axis intersects the plane of the ternary scatter diagram.
US08901491B2

The invention proposes a method for the collective ejection of ions from a 3D RF ion trap with a ring electrode and two end cap electrodes, which comprises the following steps: (a) the RF voltage of a high-quality resonant circuit applied to the ring electrode is replaced with a second RF voltage at the two end cap electrodes which can be changed or switched faster than the high voltage at the ring electrode, keeping the ions stored, (b) the second RF voltage at the end cap electrodes is then switched down or off abruptly, releasing the ions, and (c) the released ions are ejected through an opening in one of the end cap electrodes by switching on a DC voltage on at least one of the end cap electrodes.
US08901489B2

Looped ionization sources for ion mobility spectrometers are described. The ionization sources can be used to ionize molecules from a sample of interest in order to identify the molecules based on the ions. In an implementation, an electrical ionization source includes a wire that is looped between electrical contacts. The wire is used to form a corona responsive to application of voltage between the wire and the walls of an ionization chamber. The corona can form when a sufficient voltage is applied between the wire and the walls. A difference in electrical potential between the wire and a wall forming an ionization chamber, in which wire is contained, can be used to draw the ions away from the wire. In embodiments, the wire can be heated to reduce the voltage used to strike the corona. The ions, subsequently, may ionize the molecules from the sample of interest. The looped corona source can also be used in mass spectrometers (MS).
US08901484B2

The present invention relates to a method for the quantitative determination of an impurity present in a peptide product, wherein the impurity cannot be separated from other impurities or the main product. The method particularly involves the use of high resolution mass spectrometry (MS) detection with or without high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The method can be used for the investigation of the quality of peptides and proteins, particularly of pharmaceutical peptides and proteins.
US08901478B2

An optical fiber assembly includes a prism, a light emitting element, an optical fiber, and a light detector. The prism includes an incident surface, an emergent surface, a first reflecting surface, a second reflecting surface, and a third reflecting surface. A collimating portion is positioned on the incident surface. The light emitting element faces the collimating portion for emitting light beams. The optical fiber faces the emergent surface. The light detector faces the incident surface. The collimating portion collimates the light beams to parallel first and second light beams. The first light beams are projected to the first reflecting surface, reflected to the emergent surface, and are reflected to the fiber optical. The second light beams are projected to the second reflecting surface, reflected to the third reflecting surface, and reflected to the light detector.
US08901477B2

According to the present invention, an electromagnetic wave detection device includes an optical waveguide, an electromagnetic wave input unit, and a phase difference measurement unit. According to the thus constructed electromagnetic wave detection device, an optical waveguide is a nonlinear crystal, and includes a branching portion for receiving a probe light pulse, and causing the probe light pulse to branch into two beams of branching light, and two branching light transmission portions for receiving the branching light from the branching portion, and transmitting the branching light. An electromagnetic wave input unit inputs an electromagnetic wave having a frequency equal to or more than 0.01 [THz] and equal to or less than 100 [THz] tilted by an angle generating Cherenkov phase matching with respect to a travel direction of the branching light into one of the two branching light transmission portions.
US08901469B2

An apparatus for preparing a food item in a microwave oven comprises a tray including an interior space defined by a base and an upstanding peripheral wall, and a cover pivotably connected to the tray for pivoting the cover relative to the tray between an open position and a closed position. The tray and/or cover includes a plurality of protrusions extending into the interior space. A microwave energy interactive material overlies the protrusions on the tray and/or cover.
US08901468B2

A heating system for hot water and conditioned air uses electromagnetic energy created by one or more magnetrons operated by high voltage transformers. The heating system includes oil cooled transformers and magnetrons. Using radiators in the form of heat exchangers, heat recovered from the transformers and magnetrons is dissipated directly into the path of the return air and the air handler blower. The magnetron heating system includes a coiled conduit sized to allow complete heating of the fluid flowing therethrough. The conduit has a conical shape to allow upper magnetrons to heat the outside of the conduit and lower magnetrons to heat the inside of the conduit.
US08901467B2

A multi-layer rod shaped ceramic igniter includes an elongated tapered electrode having a central core of resistant material and two annular segments. One of the segments in on one side of the core and the other on an opposite side and connected to two slightly converging facets extending along the core. The multi-layered rod shaped ceramic igniters disclosed herein may be manufactured by slip-casting, injection molding or extruding a green annular body and removing material from opposite sides of the green body to form two almost parallel but slightly converging facets that extend over the heater igniter between the back surface and the tip of the igniter. After removing material between the annular segments the igniter is air dried and then heated in a vacuum at atmospheric pressure to approximately 900° C. in order to burn off the organic binder. The ceramic is then held in an inert atmosphere and heated to a temperature of 1600° C. and under an isotatic pressure of greater than 10 mega pascales for sintering the layer into a unitary monolithic structure.
US08901464B2

A layered heater is provided that includes at least one resistive layer having a resistive circuit pattern, the resistive circuit pattern defining a length, a width, and a thickness, wherein the thickness varies along the length of the resistive circuit pattern and/or the width of the resistive circuit pattern for a variable watt density. The present disclosure also provides layered heaters having a resistive circuit pattern with a variable thickness along with a variable width and/or spacing of the resistive circuit pattern in order to produce a variable watt density.
US08901462B2

A heating unit and a method of fabricating the heating unit are provided. The heating unit includes a heating member provided in a tube, with an outer surface of the heating member spaced apart from an inner surface of the tube. The heating member may be connected to an external power source by a metal piece, rod, and a connecting unit sequentially coupled to the heating member. The heating member, connecting unit and rod provide a stable positioning of the heating member in the tube during thermal expansion of the heating member, thus preventing contact therebetween.
US08901457B2

Provided is a heat-transfer-medium heating apparatus including: a first heat-transfer-medium circulating box and a second heat-transfer-medium circulating box, which are attached to each other in a fluid-tight manner, in which heat-transfer-medium circulating paths are formed therein in close contact with both surfaces of a PTC heater; an electrical-component cooling wall member that is provided in, for example, the first heat-transfer-medium circulating box so as to be located adjacent to the heat-transfer-medium circulating path; and an electrical component that is fixed on the electrical-component cooling wall member, wherein a protruding portion is formed on the surface at the heat-transfer-medium circulating path side of the electrical-component cooling wall member so as to be positioned at exactly behind an installation position of the electrical component and to extend towards the heat-transfer-medium circulating path.
US08901456B2

The invention relates to methods and an apparatus for cutting planar substrates charged with pharmaceutically active agents. In particular, the planar substrates comprise transdermal systems or orally dissolvable films.
US08901451B2

A plasma torch is provided having an electrode with a frustoconical end portion. The electrode is received by a plunger during a contact start sequence of the plasma torch and is self-releasing from the torch. The electrode may include a shoulder portion that provides concentric alignment and centering of the electrode with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the components. Other components of the torch include a nozzle, a swirl ring, and retaining cup, such that the consumables of the torch may be toollessly removed and installed.
US08901444B2

The present invention discloses a current switching device and a method for manufacturing the same. The current switching device comprises a cover, a base, a plurality of metal terminals, a switching element, and at least two contact pieces; the base and the cover are combined with each other to form an accommodating space; the plurality of metal terminals are arranged in an asymmetrical shape and buried in the base; the switching element is disposed in the accommodating space; the two contact pieces are disposed on the switching element and comprises at least two contact points respectively, wherein all the contact points contact different metal terminals, and then each contact piece can conduct electricity between two metal terminals; the contact positions between the two contact pieces and the plurality of metal terminals can be changed by the rotary swing of the switching element, so as to switch the current direction.
US08901434B2

A board unit includes a board that has a through hole penetrating the board from a first side of the board to a second side of the board and having a conductive inner wall surface a first electronic component that has a first connection pin to be press-fitted in the through hole from the first side of the board, and a conductive member that is disposed in the through hole to connect the inner wall surface of the through hole to the first connection pin.
US08901428B2

A cover apparatus is provided for covering an electrical insulator and a conductor. The cover apparatus includes a first cover portion extending along a first axis. The first cover portion includes a first segment covering a first portion of the electrical insulator and a second segment coupled to the first segment and covering a first portion of the conductor. The cover apparatus includes a second cover portion extending along a second axis. The second cover portion includes a third segment movably attached to the first segment and a fourth segment coupled to the third segment and covering a portion of the conductor. An example method of forming a cover apparatus for covering an electrical insulator and a conductor is also provided.
US08901426B2

A flame-retardant cable includes at least one conductor and at least one coating made from a flame-retardant composition. The flame-retardant composition includes: (a) at least one crystalline propylene homopolymer or copolymer; (b) at least one copolymer of ethylene with at least one C3-C12 alpha-olefin, having a density of from 0.860 to 0.904 g/cm3 and a Molecular Weight Distribution Index not higher than 5; (c) at least one ethylene homopolymer or copolymer of ethylene with at least one C3-C12 alpha-olefin having a density of from 0.905 to 0.970 g/cm3; and (d) at least one flame-retardant filler.
US08901420B2

A housing for a connecting unit, particularly an electronic unit, includes at least one plug connector having a plug axis. The housing also includes a strip. The longitudinal axis of the strip is in a spatial plane with the plug axis of the plug connector.
US08901418B2

A frame for a cabinet is provided. The frame includes a side-to-side beam, a front-to-back beam connected to the side-to-side beam, and a vertical post connected to the side-to-side beam. The front-to-back beam is inset relative to the vertical post to form a cable-routing area along a side of the frame.
US08901410B2

An electronic system includes an electronic system cabinet housing at least one electronic system component and a power generation system. The power generation system includes a cooling system having a cooling medium that generates a cooling energy. The power generation system further includes a thermoelectric conversion element having a first side and a second side. The first side is in a heat exchange relationship with the at least one electronic system component and the second side is in a heat exchange relationship with the cooling medium. Heat energy generated by the at least one electronic system component raises a temperature of the first side and the cooling energy generated by the cooling medium lowers a temperature of the second side to establish a temperature difference. The thermoelectric conversion element produces an electro-motive force based on the temperature difference.
US08901407B2

An index calculating unit calculates a tonality index of a signal component of each area of an input signal transformed into a time frequency domain based on intensity (for example, power spectrum) of the signal component and a function (quadratic function) obtained by approximating the intensity of the signal component. A music determining unit determines whether or not each area of the input signal includes music based on the tonality index. The present technology can be applied to a music section detecting apparatus that detects a music part from an input signal in which music is mixed with noise.
US08901399B2

A novel soybean variety, designated XB32M13 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB32M13, cells from soybean variety XB32M13, plants of soybean XB32M13, and plant parts of soybean variety XB32M13. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB32M13 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XB32M13, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB32M13, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XB32M13. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB32M13 are further provided.
US08901394B1

A novel soybean variety, designated 97R21 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety 97R21, cells from soybean variety 97R21, plants of soybean 97R21, and plant parts of soybean variety 97R21. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety 97R21 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety 97R21, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety 97R21, and methods of characterizing soybean variety 97R21. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety 97R21 are further provided.
US08901390B2

The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1037492. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1037492. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1037492 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1037492 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08901383B2

The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1036218. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1036218. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1036218 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1036218 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08901380B1

A novel canola variety designated VR 9559 G and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred canola varieties. Methods for producing a canola plant that comprises crossing canola variety VR 9559 G with another canola plant. Methods for producing a canola plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into VR 9559 G through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the canola seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the canola variety VR 9559 G, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of canola variety VR 9559 G. This invention further relates to methods for producing canola varieties derived from canola variety VR 9559 G.
US08901379B2

According to the invention, there are provided novel canola cultivars, seeds of canola cultivars, to the plants, or plant parts, of novel canola cultivars and to methods for producing canola plants produced by crossing the novel canola cultivars with themselves or another canola cultivar, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of the canola cultivars. The novel canola cultivar(s) include canola plants having a desired trait that includes an oleic acid value of about 70%, an α-linolenic acid value of less than about 3%, and a yield greater than about 2100 kg/ha.
US08901370B1

A novel maize variety designated PH1W1F and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1W1F with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1W1F through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1W1F or a locus conversion of PH1W1F with another maize variety.
US08901369B2

Methods are provided to select plants and populations of epigenetically fixed crop plants with improved yield.
US08901367B2

The present invention relates to absorbent articles, such as diapers and sanitary napkins, and cores useful for such articles. More specifically, the invention relates to an absorbent article having a longitudinal centerline and a transverse centerline, the absorbent article comprising an absorbent core, the core comprising a storage layer and a wearer facing side oriented towards a wearer when the article is being worn and an opposed garment facing side, the absorbent article further comprising a liquid pervious topsheet on the wearer facing side of the core and a liquid pervious backsheet on the garment facing side of the core, the core further comprising a first core wrap sheet covering the wearer facing side of the storage layer and a second core wrap sheet covering the garment facing side of the storage layer the first core wrap sheet being joined to the second core wrap sheet along at least one transverse stripe of juncture, wherein the stripe of juncture covers a total area and the stripe of juncture provides a bond strength of at least 1 N/cm between the first core wrap sheet and a second core wrap sheet as measured as tensile strength in the longitudinal direction and wherein the stripe of juncture comprises an open area of at least 20% of the total area.
US08901356B2

The present invention relates to methods of producing ingenol-3-angelate (I) from ingenol (II). Furthermore, the invention relates to intermediates useful for the synthesis of ingenol-3-angelate (I) from ingenol (II) and to methods of producing said intermediates.
US08901340B2

The present invention relates to compounds containing perfluoroalkyl-cyano-alkoxy-borate anions or perfluoroalkyl-cyano-alkoxy-fluoro-borate anions, ((per)fluoro)phenyl-cyano-alkoxy-borate anions or ((per)fluoro)phenyl-cyano-alkoxy-fluoro-borate anions or phenyl-cyano-alkoxy-borate anions which are monosubstituted or disubstituted with perfluoroalkyl groups having 1 to 4 C atoms or phenyl-cyano-alkoxy-fluoro-borate anions which are monosubstituted or disubstituted with perfluoroalkyl groups having 1 to 4 C atoms, the preparation thereof and the use thereof, in particular as part of electrolyte formulations for dye sensitized solar cells.
US08901338B2

Methods for preparing phosphonium salts by reacting a primary phosphine or a secondary phosphine with an ester compound selected from the group consisting of: a phosphate triester; a phosphonate diester; a sulfate diester; and a sulfonate ester; to form a phosphonium salt of formula VII wherein each of RQ, RX, RY, and RZ is independently hydrocarbyl and X− is a phosphate, phosphonate, sulfate, or sulfonate are provided herein. These phosphonium salts may find utility in a wide range of applications, including as surfactants, as polar solvents (ionic liquids), as antimicrobial agents, and as a component of spinning finish in polyamide fiber processing.
US08901335B2

A method of purifying crude organometallic compounds using a stripping column and a gas stream is provided. This method removes relatively more volatile impurities as compared to the organometallic compound.
US08901334B2

Phosphoranimide-metal catalysts are disclosed. The catalysts comprise first row transition metals such as nickel, cobalt or iron. The hydrocarbon-soluble catalysts have a metal to anionic phosphoranimide ratio of 1:1, have no inactive bulk phase and no dative ancillary ligands, and are active for a range of commercially important reductive transformations. A method of synthesis of these catalysts by reduction of a precursor of these catalysts is also disclosed.
US08901333B2

Coated fluorescent semiconductor nanoparticles having an organic surface layer of multi-functional surface ligands that include a nanocrystal binding center and one or more covalently attached functional groups or reactive functional groups are described as well as water-dispersible nanoparticles having an organic surface layer or multi-functional surface ligands and methods for the preparation and use of such coated nanoparticles.
US08901330B2

Alkyl esters boiling largely within the specification range for jet fuel may be made from triglycerides without a water-washing step, by centrifugation in a timely manner and at a sufficiently high time/G-force/distance product so as to bring about separation of a transitory second phase containing the residual catalyst. The esters or fractions thereof may be combined with jet or diesel fuels to lower the freezing and cloud points respectively.
US08901319B2

A process for the synthesis and purification of F-series prostaglandin compounds and synthetic intermediates used to prepare them. The synthetic intermediates are solid and may be purified by precipitation and therefore may form the representative F-series prostaglandin compounds such as latanoprost, bimatoprost, fluprostenol, cloprostenol, and substituted analogs therefrom in highly pure forms.
US08901317B2

The synthesis and evaluation of gastroprotective effect of different tryptamine derivatives. Tryptamine derivatives have been synthesized by formation of amide or ester with some known anti oxidant molecules. These derivatives show excellent antioxidant property in vitro. Among all the derivatives the compound SEGA (3a), that was prepared by the combination of serotonin with gallic acid shows the greater antioxidant property than the other synthesized compounds both in vivo and in vitro. SEGA(3a) shows the gastroprotective effect against NSAIDs (indomethacin or diclofenac)-induced gastropathy in dose dependent manner and also accelerates the healing from injury. It prevents the NSAIDs-induced mitochondrial oxidative stress in vivo. This derivative prevents NSAID-induced mitochondrial oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis in vivo by preventing the activation of caspase 9 and caspase-3 and restores NSAIDs-mediated collapse of mitochondroial transmembrane potential and dehydrogenase activity. SEGA (3a) plays an important role as an iron chelator as well as intra mitochondrial ROS scavenger. Thus, SEGA (3a) is a potent antioxidant antiapototic molecule, which efficiently prevents NSAID-induced gastropathy and stress or alcohol-mediated gastric damage.
US08901309B2

The present invention provides a heterocycle derivative having a superior amyloid β production inhibitory activity and/or a superior γ-secretase modulation activity, and use thereof. A compound represented by the formula (I): wherein each symbol is as defined in the present specification, or a salt thereof.
US08901302B2

The object of the present invention is to provide a compound which is useful as a production intermediate of pyrazine carboxamide derivative such as 6-fluoro-3-hydroxy-2-pyrazine carboxamide. The present invention provides a pyrazino[2,3-d]isoxazole derivative represented by the formula (I): wherein X represents a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group or a sulfamoyloxy group, and Y represents —C(═O)R or —CN; wherein R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkoxy group an aryloxy group, an alkyl group, an aryl group or an amino group.
US08901298B2

The present invention relates to condensed aromatic compounds with multiple ring bridging of the general formulae (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5). The invention furthermore relates to the use of the compounds according to the invention in an organic electronic device and to a process for the preparation of the compounds according to the invention. The invention furthermore relates to an electronic device which comprises the compounds according to the invention.
US08901284B2

Disclosed are methods, compositions and kits for the isolation of exosomes from biological fluids and tissues. Volume-excluding polymers are used to precipitate exosomes from biological samples thereby allowing exosome isolation by low-speed (benchtop) centrifugation or filtration. Further fractionation of exosomes after precipitation is also described.
US08901283B2

Described herein are anti-NKG2A antibodies suitable for human therapy, including humanized versions of murine anti-NKG2A antibody Z270, as well as related methods and materials for producing and using such antibodies. Exemplary complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) sequences and sites for optional amino acid back-substitutions in framework region (FR) and/or CDRs of such antibodies are also described.
US08901282B2

The present invention provides antibodies that differentially react with allelic variants of a polymorphic protein, methods of identifying same, an antigen binding fragment comprised therein, proteins, cells, viral particles, compositions, and kits comprising same. The invention also provides methods for determining a haptoglobin type of a subject and methods for testing a subject for susceptibility to diabetic complications.
US08901278B2

The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of an epithelial tumor in a human, said pharmaceutical composition comprising an IgG1 antibody specifically binding to human CEA, wherein the variable region of said IgG1 antibody comprises at least (i) a CDR-H1 having the amino acid sequence “SYWMH” (SEQ ID NO: 29) and a CDR-H2 having the amino acid sequence “FIRNKANGGTTEYAASVKG” (SEQ ID NO: 28) and a CDR-H3 having the amino acid sequence “DRGLRFYFDY” (SEQ ID NO: 27) or (ii) a CDR-H1 having the amino acid sequence “TYAMH” (SEQ ID NO: 31) and a CDR-H2 having the amino acid sequence “LISNDGSNKYYADSVKG” (SEQ ID NO: 30) and a CDR-H3 having the amino acid sequence “DRGLRFYFDY” (SEQ ID NO: 27). Furthermore, processes for the production of said pharmaceutical compositions as well as medical/pharmaceutical uses for the IgG1 antibody molecules bearing specificities for the human CEA antigen are disclosed.
US08901273B2

An amorphous copolyester comprising the reaction product of (a) a monomer of formula I wherein R1, R2, R3, and R5 are each independently a C1-3 alkyl group, a is 0-1, b is 0-4, c is 0-4 and d is 0-3, and each R4 is independently hydrogen or a C1-3 alkyl group; (b) a terephthalyl component selected from terephthalic acid, a di(C1-3 alkyl) terephthalate, and combinations thereof, derived from a terephthalyl-containing polyester; and (c) 1,4-cyclohexane dimethanol; wherein the monomer (a) units are present in an amount from 7 to less than 12 mole % of the copolyester based on the total moles of repeat units in the copolyester; and the copolyester has a glass transition temperature of at least 107° C., an intrinsic viscosity of at least 0.7 dl/g, and a molded sample has a Notched Izod value of at least 290 J/m determined in accordance with ASTM D256.
US08901269B2

The invention relates to cross-linkable or cross-linked silicone compositions that can be used, in particular, to form a non-stick water-repellent coating for flexible substrates, for example paper or similar, in the form of natural or synthetic polymer films.
US08901264B2

To provide a copolymer which can impart sufficient dynamic water repellency, after air-drying water repellency and friction durability to a surface of an article, and which has low impact on the environment, a method for producing the same, a water repellent composition and an article excellent in dynamic water repellency, after air-drying water repellency and friction durability. A copolymer which is characterized in that it has structural units based on the following monomer (a) and structural units based on the following monomer (b), wherein the content of structural units based on the monomer (a) is from 5 to 95 mass % in the total structural units (100 mass %), the content of structural units based on the monomer (b) is from 5 to 60 mass % in the total structural units (100 mass %) and the sum of the contents of structural units based on the monomer (a) and structural units based on the monomer (b) is at least 65 mass % in the total structural units (100 mass %), and a water repellent composition which comprises the copolymer: Monomer (a): a (meth)acrylate having no Rf group and having a C20-30 alkyl group; Monomer (b): a halogenated olefin.
US08901261B2

The invention refers to a process for preparing a Group 2 metal/transition metal olefin polymerisation catalyst component in particulate form free of conventional phthalate electron donors and the use thereof in a process for polymerising olefins.
US08901257B2

Flexible members for use in imaging devices comprise a polyphenylsulfone and a polyetherimide; and optionally, a polysiloxane surfactant.
US08901251B2

A method for making an electrode active material of a lithium ion battery is disclosed. In the method, elemental sulfur is mixed with a polyacrylonitrile to form a mixture. The mixture is heated in vacuum or a protective gas at a heating temperature of about 250° C. to about 500° C., to form a sulfur containing composite. The sulfur containing composite is reacted with a reducing agent for elemental sulfur in a liquid phase medium to remove part of the elemental sulfur from the sulfur containing composite.
US08901240B2

[Object] To provide a polypropylene resin composition for use in the formation of a microporous membrane having excellent heat resistance and low thermal shrinkage ratio.[Solution] A polypropylene resin composition for use in the formation of a microporous membrane according to the present invention comprises as an essential component a propylene homopolymer (A) that satisfies the following requirements (1) to (4) and (7): (1) the intrinsic viscosity [η] is 1 dl/g or more and less than 7 dl/g; (2) the mesopentad fraction ranges from 94.0% to 99.5%; (3) the integral elution volume during heating to 100° C. is 10% or less; (4) the melting point ranges from 153° C. to 167° C.; and (7) in an elution temperature-elution volume curve, the maximum peak has a peak top temperature in the range of 105° C. to 130° C. and a half-width of 7.0° C. or less.
US08901234B2

An adhesive composition of the present invention contains, as a main composition, a polymer obtained by copolymerizing a monomer composition containing a monomer having a maleimide group, and further contains a thermal polymerization inhibitor. As a result, it is possible to provide an adhesive composition that allows forming an adhesive layer that is excellently dissolved after the adhesive layer has been subjected to a high-temperature process.
US08901226B2

A phenolic resin molding compound, which is thermally stable in a heating cylinder, is provided. By using the phenolic resin molding compound, moldings with an excellent dimensional precision can be obtained. The phenolic resin molding compound comprises: (A) a novolac phenolic resin with an o/p ratio (ortho/para ratio) of 0.7 to 0.9; (B) a novolac phenolic resin with an o/p ratio of 1.1 to 1.3; (C) talc; and (D) a polyethylene or polyethylene/polypropylene copolymer. The amount of (D) the polyethylene or polyethylene/polypropylene copolymer relative to a total weight of the phenolic resin molding compound is 0.5 to 1.5 weight %. It is preferable that the total amount of (A) and (B) is 20 to 40 weight %, and the amount of (C) is 5 to 15 weight %.
US08901225B2

A photosensitive resin composition which can impart insulating properties and light-shielding properties against light having a wavelength lying in an ultra-violet range, a visible range and a near-infrared range to a substrate more readily when applied onto the substrate, wherein the substrate has such properties that the permeability to light having a wavelength of 400 to 900 nm inclusive is less than 3.0% and the maximum value of the permeability to light having a wavelength of longer than 900 nm and not longer than 1300 nm is 3.0% or more. The photosensitive resin composition is characterized by comprising (a) an alkali soluble resin, (b) a specific tungsten oxide and/or a specific composite tungsten oxide, (c) a photopolymerizable compound having at least two polymerizable groups, (d) an oxime-type photopolymerization initiator, and (e) a solvent.
US08901220B2

Styrene-butadiene-based aqueous dispersions and methods for their preparation are described herein. The aqueous dispersions include water and a binder comprising a styrene-butadiene-based copolymer and an epoxysilane. Further described herein are binder formulations and methods for their preparation and use.
US08901203B2

The present invention relates to a stable pyrithione salt polyol dispersion containing a pyrithione salt(s) in particulate form, a polyol and a stabilizer such as a rheological additive. The dispersion can be incorporated into existing polyurethane formulations without additional formula adjustment. Polyurethane foams produced from the composition containing pyrithione salt polyol dispersion of the present invention have more open cell structures, than those produced with a typical commercially available pyrithione salt thus providing a soft comfortable feeling.
US08901202B2

Herein described is a biocompatible material comprising a polymer matrix based on hyaluronic acid derivatives and poly-εCaprolactone, the process for preparing this material, a prosthetic device constituted by this biocompatible material and a reinforcing material, the process for preparing the prosthetic device, and its use for the partial or total replacement of meniscus, and regeneration of the meniscal fibrocartilage.
US08901194B2

A durable ambient light curable waterproof liquid rubber coating with volatile organic compound (VOC) content of less than 450 grams per liter made from ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM) in a solvent, a photoinitiator, an additive, pigments, and fillers, and a co-agent and a method for making the formulation, wherein the formulation is devoid of thermally activated accelerators.
US08901189B2

A foam article, for use in a seat such as a seat cushion, includes an open cell, polyurethane foam material that includes a plant oil-based polyol material content greater than five percent and is produced from the reaction of a base polyol formulation blend including at least a portion of a plant oil-based polyol, a copolymer polyol including at least a portion of a plant oil-based polyol, water, a cross-linking agent, a catalyst, cell opener and a surfactant that are reacted with an isocyanate material for producing the seat cushion having performance specifications that are equivalent or better than the performance characteristics for a traditional petroleum oil-based polyol material seat cushion.
US08901185B2

The invention concerns a preparation process of a hybrid organic-inorganic material including the following successive steps: a) preparation of a neutral organosilicon sol in at least one organic solvent, b) incorporation of a doping agent into the neutral organosiliconsol, and production of a doped sol, c) incorporation into the doped sol, of an accelerating agent in order to activate the subsequent gelation of the sol, d) condensation of the sol in order to obtain a crosslinked gel, e) drying of the gel and production of a stable doped gel. and the material obtainable by such a method.
US08901181B2

Particulate, expandable polymer which can be processed into a foam having a fine cell structure and a low density and which, in order to improve the thermal insulation value thereof, contains a carbon-based thermal insulation value-increasing material. A method for preparing particulate, expandable polymer as well as to a foam material obtained therewith.
US08901171B2

The present invention provides a medicament that suppresses (or mitigates) various neurological symptoms caused by a peripheral nerve disorder induced by an anti-cancer agent.
US08901170B2

Compounds of formula (I) wherein the symbols have the meaning given in the specification, as well as processes for preparing the compounds (I), pesticidal compositions and synergistic mixtures comprising compounds (I), methods for the control of insects, acarids or nematodes by contacting the pests or their food supply, habitat or breeding grounds with a pesticidally effective amount of compounds formula (I), and a method for treating, controlling, preventing or protecting animals against infestation or infection by parasites which comprises orally, topically or parenterally administering or applying to the animals a parasiticidally effective amount of compounds of formula (I).
US08901157B2

The present invention discloses compositions and a method of improving the pharmacokinetics of pharmaceutical agents (or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, and prodrugs thereof) which are metabolized by cytochrome P450 monoxygenase comprising coadministering ritonavir or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, and prodrug thereof.
US08901153B2

This document discloses molecules having the following formula (“Formula One”): and processes related thereto.
US08901149B2

The present invention relates to hydroxamate compounds which are inhibitors of histone deacetylase. More particularly, the present invention relates to imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine containing compounds and methods for their preparation. These compounds may be useful as medicaments for the treatment of proliferative disorders as well as other diseases involving, relating to or associated with enzymes having histone deacetylase activities (HDAC).
US08901144B2

The invention relates to fluorinated compounds and their use as integrin receptor antagonists. Novel fluorinated 3-(2-oxo-3-(3-arylpropyl)imidazolidin-1-yl)-3-arylpropanoic acid derivatives and pharmaceutically acceptable salts or solvates thereof and their use are described.
US08901143B2

A compound of the following formula: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, T, U, V, X, Y, Z, G, and Z are defined herein. It also discloses a method of treating an angiogenesis-related disorder, e.g., cancer or age-related macular degeneration, with such a compound.
US08901141B2

There is provided a compound of the formula (I′): wherein X is a nitrogen or CRx, Rx is a hydrogen, etc., R1 is an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group, etc., R2 is an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group, etc., ring A is 5- to -8-membered heterocyclic ring, etc., and each of Y1, Y2 and Y3 is an optionally substituted carbon or a nitrogen, etc.; or ‘a salt thereof or a prodrug thereof, which have CRF receptor antagonistic activity and use thereof.
US08901140B2

6-amino quinazoline or 3-cyano quinoline derivatives, preparation methods and pharmaceutical uses thereof are disclosed. Specifically, the present disclosure discloses novel 6-amino quinazoline or 3-cyano quinoline derivatives presented by general formula (I), or tautomers, enantiomers, diastereomers, racemates or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, or metabolites, metabolic precursors or prodrugs thereof, and their uses as treatment agents especially as protein kinase inhibitors, in which each substitutent group of general formula (I) is as defined in the specification.
US08901133B2

Compounds and pharmaceutical compositions that modulate kinase activity, including PI3 kinase activity, and compounds, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of treatment of diseases and conditions associated with kinase activity, including PI3 kinase activity, are described herein.
US08901131B2

An ophthalmic gel of gatifloxacin and the preparation method thereof are disclosed. The gel comprises gatifloxacin or its pharmaceutical salts, matrix and water. Said matrix is one or more selected from carbomer, mixture of carbomer and HPMC, and sodium hyaluronate.
US08901122B2

Methods for preventing, ameliorating, or reducing dermatological signs of aging are provided which employ cosmetic composition comprising novel active agents that enhance collagen production in the skin.
US08901119B2

The present invention relates to a compound of Formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, corresponding pharmaceutical compositions, compound preparation and treatment methods directed to bacterial infections and inhibition of bacterial peptide deformylase (PDF) activity.
US08901117B2

The invention relates to small molecules which function as inhibitors of the interaction between p53 and MDM2. The invention also relates to the use of these compounds for inhibiting cell growth, inducing cell death, inducing cell cycle arrest and/or sensitizing cells to additional agent(s).
US08901115B2

The present invention provides compounds of Formula (Ia): or stereoisomers, tautomers, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein all the variables are as defined herein. These compounds are selective factor XIa inhibitors or dual inhibitors of FXIa and plasma kallikrein. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and methods of treating thromboembolic and/or inflammatory disorders using the same.
US08901111B2

Certain aryl-substituted heterocyclic urea compounds are described, which are useful as FAAH inhibitors. Such compounds may be used in pharmaceutical compositions and methods for the treatment of disease states, disorders, and conditions mediated by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) activity, such as anxiety, pain, inflammation, sleep disorders, eating disorders, energy metabolism disorders, and movement disorders (e.g., multiple sclerosis).
US08901110B2

Provided herein are biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma and uses thereof.
US08901105B2

In part, the present disclosure is directed to prodrug derivatives of (E)-N-methyl-N-((3-methylbenzofuran-2-yl)methyl)-3-(7-oxo-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1,8-naphthyridin-3-yl)acrylamide compounds with significant solubility and bioavailability profiles.
US08901095B2

The present invention relates to the selective inhibition of protein expression of CAG repeat-related disease proteins such as Huntingtin using nucleic acid analogs. Peptide nucleic acids and locked nucleic acids are particularly useful analogs.
US08901091B2

A method of treating herpes simplex virus infection or varicella zoster virus infection is disclosed. The method includes topically applying a composition containing an effective amount of one or more macrocyclic lactone compounds, including avermectin compounds or milbemycin compounds and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier to the affected area of an individual suffering from herpes simplex virus infection or varicella zoster virus infection.
US08901090B2

A method of treating otitis externa is disclosed. The method includes topically applying an otic composition containing an effective amount of one or more macrocyclic lactone compounds, including avermectin compounds or milbemycin compounds and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier into the external auditory canal and the auricle of an affected ear of an individual suffering from otitis externa.
US08901088B2

Disclosed is a composition for preventing or treating poliosis or vitiligo comprising a Pueraria genus plant extract or puerarin as an active ingredient.
US08901081B2

The present invention is related to a anticancer composition comprising full length GRS protein or a fragment thereof, a nucleic acid encoding the GRS protein or a fragment thereof. Since the GRS proteins or fragments thereof have activity to induce apoptosis of cancer cell specifically, a composition comprising the GRS proteins or fragments thereof or a nucleic acid encoding thereof may be useful to treatment of cancer.
US08901080B2

This invention discloses a new conjugate compound that comprises at least one HA oligomer derivatized through one thiolated linker, whereby it binds to at least one metal nanoparticle, such as, for example, a gold nanoparticle. Moreover, it discloses methods of obtaining it, as well as the use thereof in a cosmetic treatment, and cosmetic compositions that contain them.
US08901077B2

The invention relates to a composition comprising albumin and a therapeutic agent, particularly a gene therapy vector. The composition is useful in the treatment of glioma.
US08901068B2

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.
US08901061B2

A cleaning composition comprising a choline salt and a surfactant or solvent. Also, a method of cleaning using the cleaning composition.
US08901060B2

The present invention relates to an acidic, aqueous composition which comprises a thiodiglycol alkoxylate for treating metallic surfaces. The invention furthermore relates to the use of one or more compound(s) of the general formula (I) as a corrosion inhibitor.
US08901059B2

A hand dishwashing detergent composition comprising a chelant and branched surfactants to provide superior grease cleaning and shine.
US08901049B2

The purpose of the present invention is to provide: a sliding member having a lubricating film formed on the sliding surface thereof, and capable of exhibiting friction-reducing performance; and a friction reduction method for the same. To that end, the present invention entails coating the sliding surface with a titanium nitride-based material (for example, titanium carbon nitride, titanium nitride, or titanium aluminum nitride), adding a molybdenum dithiocarbamate with molybdenum in the amount of 600-1000 ppm to diesel engine oil, setting the arithmetic mean roughness of the sliding member to 2-10 nm, and upon converting the Sommerfeld number viscosity to Pa·s, the speed to s−1, and the load to mean Hertzian stress (Pa), then the lubrication conditions for use are within the range of 2.12365×10−19 to 5.94509×10−19.
US08901039B2

Methods and compositions to temporarily delay the ripening, maturation, senescence and pathogen infection of produce such as fruits, vegetables and ornamental plants are provided. The methods involve the application of a photosynthetic pigment and/or membrane stabilizing chemical (e.g. glycine betaine) to produce which is identified as in need of such delay. Application may be prior to harvest, at or during harvest or post-harvest.
US08901037B2

A composition having a germination-preventing activity, comprising, as active principle, allyl isothiocyanate alone or in combination with other substances having a synergic action, in the form of emulsifiable formulates or as a microencapsulate in which allyl isothiocyanate is englobed in a polymeric-based system for the controlled release of the active principle. The microcapsule membrane represents a weight percentage of 5-25%, the surfactant 2-10% and allyl isothiocyanate a weight percentage not lower than 70%.
US08901033B2

In one aspect, structural catalyst bodies comprising one or more gradients of catalytic material are provided herein. In some embodiments, a structural catalyst body described herein comprises an inner partition wall having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the inner partition wall having a gradient of catalytic material along the width of the inner partition wall.
US08901031B2

Novel brominated poly(2,6-diphenyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) compounds are synthesized and found to have improved carbon dioxide separation properties, including improved carbon dioxide permeability and improved carbon dioxide/nitrogen selectivity.
US08901025B2

The present invention describes a combustion zone for a regenerative catalytic unit for the continuous regeneration of catalyst, said combustion zone having an annular shape and being divided into at least two combustion stages, each stage being divided into a number N of radial sectors, which are substantially equal, the catalyst flowing under gravity from one sector of the first combustion stage to the sector located in vertical alignment with the second combustion stage by means of drop legs, and the movement of the combustion gas being such that the combustion gas passes in succession through all of the sectors of the first combustion stage in any order, then all of the sectors of the second stage in any order.
US08901018B2

The present invention is a composite encapsulating material which consists of silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, yttrium oxide and zinc oxide and has glass transition temperature between 694° C. and 833° C. as well as expansion coefficient between 7.0 and 8.5×10−6/° C. The ratio of the number of moles of silicon dioxide plus aluminum oxide (yttrium oxide or zinc oxide) to the total number of moles is 41.88˜62.22% (10.48˜26.67% or 11.11˜47.64%); the ratio of the number of moles of aluminum oxide to the total number of moles is 5.23˜17.78%. The ratios of aluminum oxide to silicon dioxide, yttrium oxide to silicon dioxide, and zinc oxide to silicon dioxide are 0.14˜0.40, 0.29˜0.60, and 0.25˜1.30, respectively.
US08901015B2

A method and apparatus for depositing a material layer, such as encapsulating film, onto a substrate is described. In one embodiment, an encapsulating film formation method includes delivering a gas mixture into a processing chamber, the gas mixture comprising a silicone-containing gas, a first nitrogen-containing gas, a second nitrogen-containing gas and hydrogen gas; energizing the gas mixture within the processing chamber by applying between about 0.350 watts/cm2 to about 0.903 watts/cm2 to a gas distribution plate assembly spaced about 800 mils to about 1800 mils above a substrate positioned within the processing chamber; maintaining the energized gas mixture within the processing chamber at a pressure of between about 0.5 Torr to about 3.0 Torr; and depositing an inorganic encapsulating film on the substrate in the presence of the energized gas mixture. In other embodiments, an organic dielectric layer is sandwiched between inorganic encapsulating layers.
US08901014B2

Provided is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having a structure in which an oxide film and a nitride film are stacked. The method includes forming a stacked film having an oxide film and a nitride film stacked therein on a substrate in a processing container by alternately performing a first cycle and a second cycle a predetermined number of times, the first cycle comprising forming the oxide film by supplying a source gas, a nitriding gas and an oxidizing gas to the substrate in the processing container a predetermined number of times, and the second cycle comprising forming the nitride film by supplying the source gas and the nitriding gas to the substrate in the processing container a predetermined number of times, wherein the forming of the oxide film and the forming of the nitride film are consecutively performed while retaining a temperature of the substrate constant.
US08901002B2

Provided are a polishing slurry for metal films and a polishing method which restrain the generation of erosion and seams, and makes the flatness of a surface polished therewith or thereby high. The slurry and the method are a polishing slurry, for metal films, comprising abrasive grains, a methacrylic acid based polymer and water, and a polishing method using the slurry, respectively.
US08900997B2

Forming a dual damascene structure includes forming a first insulation layer and a second insulation layer, forming a resist mask, forming a via hole down to a lower end of the first insulation layer, forming a hardmask layer in the via hole and on the second insulation layer using a spin-coating method, forming a resist mask, forming a first trench hole down to a lower end of the second insulation layer, respectively removing a part of the hardmask layer in the via hole and a part of the hardmask layer on the second insulation layer, forming a second trench hole by removing a part of the first insulation layer between a top corner of the hardmask layer remaining in the via hole and a bottom corner of the first trench hole, removing the hardmask layer, and filling the via hole and the second trench hole with a conductive material.
US08900996B2

A method of fabricating a through silicon via (TSV) structure is provided, in which, a first dielectric layer is formed on the substrate, the first dielectric layer is patterned to have at least one first opening, a via hole is formed in the first dielectric layer and the substrate, a second dielectric layer is conformally formed on the first dielectric layer, the second dielectric layer has at least one second opening corresponding to the at least one first opening, and the second dielectric layer covers a sidewall of the via hole. A conductive material layer is formed to fill the via hole and the second opening. The conductive material layer is planarized to form a TSV within the via hole. A TSV structure is also provided, in which, the second dielectric layer is disposed within the first opening and on the sidewall of the via hole.
US08900995B1

A semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. In one embodiment of the manufacturing method of the semiconductor device, a through electrode is formed on a semiconductor die, and a dielectric layer such as a photopolymer is coated on the through electrode to cover the through electrode. Under exposure is performed on the dielectric layer, thereby partially removing the dielectric layer by development. As a result, a top end of the through electrode is exposed to the outside or protrudes through the dielectric layer. The dielectric layer remaining on the top end of the through electrode may be removed by performing a plasma descum process, if needed.
US08900992B2

Methods for forming ruthenium films and semiconductor devices, such as capacitors, that include the films are provided.
US08900983B1

A vertical semiconductor power device includes a top surface and a bottom surface of a semiconductor substrate constituting a vertical current path for conducting a current there through. The semiconductor power device further includes an over current protection layer composed of a material having a resistance with a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) and the over current protection layer constituting as a part of the vertical current path connected to a source electrode and providing a feedback voltage a gate electrode of the vertical semiconductor power device for limiting a current passing there through for protecting the semiconductor power device at any voltage.
US08900980B2

MOSFET transistors having localized stressors for improving carrier mobility are provided. Embodiments of the invention comprise a gate electrode formed over a substrate, a carrier channel region in the substrate under the gate electrode, and source/drain regions on either side of the carrier channel region. The source/drain regions include an embedded stressor having a lattice constant different from the substrate. In a preferred embodiment, the substrate is silicon and the embedded stressor is SiGe. Implanting a portion of the source/drain regions with Ge forms the embedded stressor. Implanting carbon into the source/drain regions and annealing the substrate after implanting the carbon suppresses dislocation formation, thereby improving device performance.
US08900978B1

A method for making a semiconductor device includes forming at least one gate stack on a layer comprising a first semiconductor material and etching source and drain recesses adjacent the at least one gate stack. The method further includes shaping the source and drain recesses to have a vertical side extending upwardly from a bottom to an inclined extension adjacent the at least one gate stack.
US08900977B2

A method for making epitaxial structure is provided. The method includes providing a substrate having an epitaxial growth surface, placing a graphene layer on the epitaxial growth surface, and epitaxially growing an epitaxial layer on the epitaxial growth surface. The graphene layer includes a number of apertures to expose a part of the epitaxial growth surface. The epitaxial layer is grown from the exposed part of the epitaxial growth surface and through the aperture.
US08900974B2

High yield substrate assembly. In accordance with a first method embodiment, a plurality of piggyback substrates are attached to a carrier substrate. The edges of the plurality of the piggyback substrates are bonded to one another. The plurality of piggyback substrates are removed from the carrier substrate to form a substrate assembly. The substrate assembly is processed to produce a plurality of integrated circuit devices on the substrate assembly. The processing may use manufacturing equipment designed to process wafers larger than individual instances of the plurality of piggyback substrates.
US08900966B2

Provided is an apparatus that includes an integrated circuit located in a first region of a substrate having first and second opposing major surfaces and an alignment mark located in a second region of the substrate and extending through the substrate between the first and second surfaces.
US08900965B2

A method of manufacturing a nonvolatile memory device that is a variable resistance nonvolatile memory device, which has good consistency with a dual damascene process that is suitable for the formation of fine copper lines and which enables large capacity and high integration. This method includes: forming a variable resistance element, a contact hole and a line groove; and forming a current steering layer of a bidirectional diode element above interlayer insulating layers and a variable resistance layer to cover the line groove without covering a bottom surface of the contact hole.
US08900961B2

A method of selectively forming a germanium structure within semiconductor manufacturing processes removes the native oxide from a nitride surface in a chemical oxide removal (COR) process and then exposes the heated nitride and oxide surface to a heated germanium containing gas to selectively form germanium only on the nitride surface but not the oxide surface.
US08900958B2

The embodiments of mechanisms for forming source/drain (S/D) regions of field effect transistors (FETs) descried enable forming an epitaxially grown silicon-containing material without using GeH4 in an etch gas mixture of an etch process for a cyclic deposition/etch (CDE) process. The etch process is performed at a temperature different form the deposition process to make the etch gas more efficient. As a result, the etch time is reduced and the throughput is increased.
US08900954B2

A method that forms a structure implants a well implant into a substrate, patterns a mask on the substrate (to have at least one opening that exposes a channel region of the substrate) and forms a conformal dielectric layer on the mask and to line the opening. The conformal dielectric layer covers the channel region of the substrate. The method also forms a conformal gate metal layer on the conformal dielectric layer, implants a compensating implant through the conformal gate metal layer and the conformal dielectric layer into the channel region of the substrate, and forms a gate conductor on the conformal gate metal layer. Additionally, the method removes the mask to leave a gate stack on the substrate, forms sidewall spacers on the gate stack, and then forms source/drain regions in the substrate partially below the sidewall spacers.
US08900953B2

A crystal manufacturing apparatus capable of manufacturing a crystal in a desired position on a substrate is provided. A spring has one end fixed to a mount and the other end coupled to a magnetic body. The magnetic body has one end coupled to the spring and the other end coupled to a piston. A coil is wound around the magnetic body and electrically connected between a power supply circuit and a ground node (GND). The piston has a linear member inserted in a cylinder. The cylinder has a hollow columnar shape and a small hole at a bottom surface. The cylinder holds a silicon melt. A substrate is supported by an XY stage to be opposed to the small hole of the cylinder. The power supply circuit passes pulse shaped current through the coil to move the piston in an up-down direction (DR1). As a result, a droplet is discharged toward the substrate from the small hole at an initial speed of 1.02 m/s.
US08900950B2

A fabrication method of a high cell density trench power MOSFET structure is provided. Form at least a gate trench in a silicon substrate and a gate dielectric layer on the silicon substrate. Form a gate polysilicon structure in the gate trench and cover by a passivation layer. Form a first-conductive-type body region in the silicon substrate and implant impurities with a second conductive type thereof to form a source doped region. Expose the gate polysilicon structure and the source doped region. Form a dielectric spacer having a predetermined thickness on a sidewall of the gate trench. Deposit metal on the gate polysilicon structure and the source doped region. A first and a second self-aligned silicide layer are respectively formed on the gate polysilicon structure and the source doped region. The dielectric spacer forms an appropriate distance between the first and the second self-aligned silicide layer.
US08900943B2

A process for fabrication of a power semiconductor device is disclosed in which a single photomask is used to define each of p-conductivity well regions and n-conductivity type source regions. In the process a single photomask is deposited on a layer of polysilicon on a wafer, the polysilicon layer is removed from first regions of the power semiconductor device where the p-conductivity well regions and the n-conductivity type source regions are to be formed, and both p-conductivity type and n-conductivity type dopants are introduced into the wafer through the first regions.
US08900938B2

A manufacturing method of the array substrate includes the steps: A. A first mask manufacturing process is adopted to from scan lines and thin film transistor (TFT) gates on a surface of a substrate. B. A second mask manufacturing process is adopted to form scan lines and data lines of the array substrate, a source electrode and a drain electrode of TFT and a conducting channel positioned between the source electrode and the drain electrode. C. A photoresistor formed in the second mask manufacturing process is incinerated, and then, an a-Si film is paved on the surface of the array substrate. D. The photoresistor is stripped to form an undoped active layer. E. A third mask manufacturing process is adopted to form a transparent conducting layer on the surface of the drain electrode of the TFT. Only three mask manufacturing process in the present disclosure are needed to manufacture the entire array substrate.
US08900936B2

A fin field-effect transistor (finFET) device having reduced capacitance, access resistance, and contact resistance is formed. A buried oxide, a fin, a gate, and first spacers are provided. The fin is doped to form extension junctions extending under the gate. Second spacers are formed on top of the extension junctions. Each second spacer is adjacent to one of the first spacers to either side of the gate. The extension junctions and the buried oxide not protected by the gate, the first spacers, and the second spacers are etched back to create voids. The voids are filled with a semiconductor material such that a top surface of the semiconductor material extending below top surfaces of the extension junctions, to form recessed source-drain regions. A silicide layer is formed on the recessed source-drain regions, the extension junctions, and the gate not protected by the first spacers and the second spacers.
US08900933B2

A semiconductor module includes a plurality of semiconductor elements, a first tabular electrode coupled to one face side of the plurality of semiconductor elements, a second tabular electrode coupled to the other face side of the plurality of semiconductor elements, and a molding material that encapsulates the plurality of semiconductor elements between the first electrode and the second electrode. A protrusion extending toward the second electrode is provided in a circumferential edge portion of the first electrode, and the protrusion surrounds the molding material.
US08900931B2

A flip chip semiconductor packaging device and method that incorporates in situ formation of cavities underneath selected portions of a die during a flip chip die bonding process. A method of flip chip semiconductor component packaging includes providing a die having a first surface, forming a barrier on first surface of the die, the barrier at least partially surrounding a designated location on the first surface of the die, bonding the die to a substrate in a flip chip configuration, and flowing molding compound over the die and over at least a portion of the substrate. Bonding the die to the substrate includes causing contact between the barrier and the substrate such that flow of the molding compound is blocked by the barrier to provide a cavity between the die and the substrate, the cavity being proximate the designated location on the first surface of the die.
US08900923B2

Packaged microelectronic devices and methods of manufacturing packaged microelectronic devices are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a microelectronic device includes forming a stand-off layer over a plurality of microelectronic dies on a semiconductor workpiece, and removing selected portions of the stand-off layer to form a plurality of stand-offs with the individual stand-offs positioned on a backside of a corresponding die. The method further includes cutting the semiconductor workpiece to singulate the dies, and attaching the stand-off on a first singulated die to a second die.
US08900918B2

Graphene-channel based devices and techniques for the fabrication thereof are provided. In one aspect, a semiconductor device includes a first wafer having at least one graphene channel formed on a first substrate, a first oxide layer surrounding the graphene channel and source and drain contacts to the graphene channel that extend through the first oxide layer; and a second wafer having a CMOS device layer formed in a second substrate, a second oxide layer surrounding the CMOS device layer and a plurality of contacts to the CMOS device layer that extend through the second oxide layer, the wafers being bonded together by way of an oxide-to-oxide bond between the oxide layers. One or more of the contacts to the CMOS device layer are in contact with the source and drain contacts. One or more other of the contacts to the CMOS device layer are gate contacts for the graphene channel.
US08900917B2

An embodiment is to include a staggered (top gate structure) thin film transistor in which an oxide semiconductor film containing In, Ga, and Zn is used as a semiconductor layer and a buffer layer is provided between the semiconductor layer and a source and drain electrode layers. A metal oxide layer having higher carrier concentration than the semiconductor layer is provided intentionally as the buffer layer between the source and drain electrode layers and the semiconductor layer, whereby an ohmic contact is formed.
US08900909B2

An embodiment of the invention discloses a manufacture method of a sensor comprising: preparing gate scanning lines on a substrate; depositing a gate insulating layer on the gate scanning lines; sequentially depositing a gate insulation thin film, an active layer thin film, an ohmic contact layer thin film, a first conducting layer thin film and a photoelectric conversion layer thin film, and after the depositing, processing a lamination structure of the thin films with a gray-tone mask plate to obtain switch devices and photoelectric sensing devices; and then sequentially preparing a first passivation layer, bias lines and a second passivation layer.
US08900905B1

A method for forming a MEMS device is provided. The method includes the following operations of providing a substrate having a first portion and a second portion; fabricating a membrane type sensor on the first portion of the substrate using a double-side process; and fabricating a bulk silicon sensor on the second portion of the substrate.
US08900895B2

A method of manufacturing an LED package including steps: providing an electrode, the electrode including a first electrode, a second electrode, a channel defined between the first electrode and the second electrode, the first electrode and the second electrode arranged with intervals mutually, a cavity arranged on the first electrode, and the cavity communicating with the channel; arranging an LED chip electrically connecting with the first electrode and the second electrode and arranged inside the cavity; providing a shield covering the first electrode and the second electrode; injecting a transparent insulating material to the cavity via the channel, and the first electrode, the second electrode, and the shield being interconnected by the transparent insulating material; solidifying the transparent insulating material to obtain the LED package.
US08900892B2

A method for depositing a layer of phosphor-containing material on a plurality of LED (light-emitting diode) dies on a wafer includes disposing a layer of dry photoresist film over a plurality of LED dies on a wafer, disposing a mask layer over the dry photoresist film, and patterning the dry photoresist film to form a plurality of openings in the dry photoresist film to expose a top surface of each of the LED dies. The method also includes depositing a phosphor-containing material on the exposed top surface of each the LED dies using a screen printing process, and removing the patterned dry photoresist film.
US08900891B2

A method for manufacturing interdigitated back contact photovoltaic cells is disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes providing on a rear surface of a substrate a first doped layer of a first dopant type, and providing a dielectric masking layer overlaying it. Grooves are formed through the dielectric masking layer and first doped layer, extending into the substrate in a direction substantially orthogonal to the rear surface and extending in a lateral direction underneath the first doped layer at sides of the grooves. Directional doping is performed in a direction substantially orthogonal to the rear surface, thereby providing doped regions with dopants of a second dopant type at a bottom of the grooves. Dopant diffusion is performed to form at the rear side of the substrate one of the emitter regions and back surface field regions between the grooves and the other at the bottom of the grooves.
US08900888B2

An optoelectronic semiconductor chip includes a semiconductor layer sequence. The semiconductor layer sequence contains at least one active layer for generating primary radiation. In addition, the semiconductor layer sequence includes a plurality of conversion layers, the conversion layers being designed to absorb the primary radiation at least partially and to convert it into secondary radiation of a longer wavelength than the primary radiation. Furthermore the semiconductor layer sequence comprises a roughening which extends at least into the conversion layers.
US08900870B2

A method of forming a hybridoma cell includes acoustically focusing antibody producing cells in a first channel having a first acoustic field so as to produce a single file line of antibody producing cells; acoustically focusing immortal cells in a second channel having a second acoustic field so as to produce a single file line of immortal cells; flowing the acoustically focused single file lines of antibody producing cells and immortal cells to a third channel having a third acoustic field configured to bring at least one antibody cell and at least one immortal cell into close enough proximity to permit them to fuse; and fusing the antibody producing cell and the immortal cell together by at least one of a chemical and an electrical means to form at least one hybridoma cell.
US08900866B2

A method for forming a nerve graft includes the following steps. A carbon nanotube structure is provided. A hydrophilic layer is formed on a surface of the carbon nanotube structure. The hydrophilic layer is polarized to form a polar surface on the hydrophilic layer. A number of neurons are formed on the polar surface of the hydrophilic layer to form a nerve network. The neurons connect with each other.
US08900865B2

Bone cages are disclosed including devices for biocompatible implantation. The structures of bone are useful for providing living cells and tissues as well as biologically active molecules to subjects.
US08900860B2

The present invention relates to a novel method for expanding mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in low-density and hypoxic condition as compared to normal air conditions traditionally used in cell culture. The present method provides rapid and efficient expansion of human MSCs without losing cellular proliferation and stem cell properties, including increase in proliferation, decrease in senescence, and increase in differentiation potential both in vitro and in vivo. The expanded MSCs by the present method may maintain normal karyotyping, and will not form tumor when transplanted into mammal.
US08900859B2

The subject of the present invention is a bioactive cell homogenate produced from cells belonging to the MIC-1 stem cell line derived from growing deer antlers (Cervidae) deposited at the DSMZ under the accession DSM ACC2854, a method of producing and using it. The present invention also encompasses a pharmaceutical or cosmetic composition containing the above-mentioned homogenate.
US08900856B2

Compositions and methods are disclosed for automated storing, tracking, retrieving and analyzing biological samples, including dry storage at ambient temperatures of nucleic acids, proteins (including enzymes), and cells using a dry storage matrix that permits recovery of biologically active materials. RFID-tagged biological sample storage devices featuring dissolvable or dissociable matrices are described for use as supports of biological samples, which matrices can be dried and subsequently rehydrated for sample recovery. Also disclosed are computer-implemented systems and methods for managing sample data.
US08900855B2

A pH sensing bioreaction system is provided. The system includes a bioreaction container having a plastic wall and a pH sensor attached to the plastic wall. The pH sensor includes a sensor body having a flange that is sealingly attached to the plastic wall. The sensor body has a reference electrolyte therein and a first sensing element disposed in the reference electrolyte. The first sensing element is configured to contact both the reference electrolyte and a sample solution inside the bioreaction container. A second sensing element is positionable into an interior of the bioreaction container. The pH sensor has a plurality of configurations that include a booted configuration in which at least one sensing element is isolated from the interior of the bioreaction container, and a service configuration in which the at least one sensing element is fluidically coupled to the interior of the bioreaction container.
US08900839B2

Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.
US08900832B2

The present invention relates to a method for the production of fat with a principal application as transportation biofuel or a component or raw material therefor. According to the method, cell masses, cell suspensions and/or liquid phases formed in the production of single cell oil, and/or biomass-containing side streams or microorganism cell masses for another purpose and/or originating from other sources, are contacted with a fat-production capable microorganism and the organism is allowed to produce fat. The resulting fat is recovered or the microorganism mass is passed to a single-cell oil production process. By means of the invention, the organic matter present in the cell mass and side streams of single-cell oil can be re-utilized for the production of the single-cell oil, thereby improving a total fat yield, as well as reducing an organic load of the side streams.
US08900831B2

The invention relates to an optimized method for cultivating microorganisms of the genus Thraustochytriales, according to which the microorganisms are cultivated in a low salt medium without adding sodium salts and chloride salts, the total salt content being less than 3.5 g/L (corresponding to less than 10 percent of sea water salt content), whereupon the PUFAs are isolated from the microorganisms and/or the medium. The invention especially relates to novel optimized media having a substantially reduced total salt content, above all a particularly reduced NaCl content. The production of PUFAs can be substantially improved and significantly simplified by using a novel combination of different salts as a media composition in which the overall weight ratios of ions do not exceed 1.75 g/L. Furthermore, said medium preferably contains no added sodium salt and chloride salt at all, which helps prevent environmental damages caused by wastewaters containing salt.
US08900827B2

The invention relates to a chimeric monomer-dimer hybrid protein wherein the protein comprises a first and a second polypeptide chain, the first polypeptide chain comprising at least a portion of an immunoglobulin constant region and a biologically active molecule, and the second polypeptide chain comprising at least a portion of an immunoglobulin constant region without the biologically active molecule of the first chain. The invention also relates to methods of using and methods of making the chimeric monomer-dimer hybrid protein of the invention.
US08900820B2

The present invention provides protein and gene expression profiles indicative of whether a patient afflicted with non-small cell lung cancer is likely to be responsive to treatment with a therapeutic compound that is a EGFR-TK inhibitor. By identifying such responsiveness, a treatment provider may determine in advance those patients who would benefit from such treatment, as well as identify alternative therapies for non-responders. The present invention further provide methods of using the gene and protein expression profiles, and assays for identifying the presence of a gene or protein expression profile in a patient sample.
US08900814B2

The present invention provides a versatile mutant reverse transcriptase with high thermal stability, a nucleic acid thereof and a method for producing a mutant reverse transcriptase, a versatile kits for reverse transcription and detection, a method for improving thermal stability of a nucleic acid-related enzyme, which significantly improves thermal stability of a nucleic acid-related enzyme, and a reverse transcription method, which efficiently performs a reverse transcription. An amino acid residue in a nucleic acid interaction region of a wild-type enzyme is substituted with a positively-charged amino acid residue or a nonpolar amino acid residue, to form a nucleic acid interaction region having a positive effective charge larger than the nucleic acid interaction region of a wild-type enzyme.
US08900812B2

The present invention provides a method for identifying polymorphism of nucleic acids in a sample solution in which the concentration or number density of the observed nucleic acids is lower than that of conventional photometric analysis technologies. It includes: preparing a sample solution comprising a first nucleic acid probe, which specifically hybridizes with a single-stranded nucleic acid molecule including a first type of base sequence, and a target nucleic acid molecule; forming a hybrid of the nucleic acid molecules in the sample solution; calculating a number of molecules of the hybrid including the first nucleic acid probe in the sample solution by the scanning molecule counting method; and identifying polymorphism of the target nucleic acid molecule based on the calculating result. The sample solution includes an oligonucleotide having a base sequence complementary to a base sequence different from the first type of base sequence in the polymorphic sequence.
US08900804B2

Described herein are compositions and methods particularly useful in the medical arts. The compositions and methods may be used in connection with the preservation of a portion of a mammal, for example, tissues, organs, appendages, limbs, extremities, stem cells, myocytes, bone marrow, skeletal muscle as well as an array of other medical procedures, such as cardiac surgery, transplantation and/or preservation. In various embodiments, the inventive composition may be hyperoxygenated and be formulated to resemble the biochemistries of natural intracellular fluids. The inventive composition includes active ingredients to reduce ischemic, hypothermic and reperfusion injury during transplantation, thereby resulting in improved post-transplant graft function and quality, when used in connection with organ transplantation and storage procedures, for example cardiac transplantation.
US08900801B2

A method is provided for producing a LED device, comprising a stack of layers comprising a light producing layer the light producing layer not being the top or bottom layer of the stack, wherein a layer at the top or bottom of the stack is subjected to a texturization aimed at enhancing the light extraction efficiency of the LED, wherein the texturization comprises the step of producing on the top or bottom surface a plurality of surface features, the surface features being arranged according to a pattern defined by starting from a regular pattern of features and subjecting each feature of the regular pattern to a deviation from the location in the regular pattern, the deviation being in a random direction and/or having a random amplitude. According to another embodiment, a random deviation is applied to one or more dimensions of the features in the regular pattern.
US08900793B2

There is disclosed a polymer having a repeating unit shown by the following general formula (1). There can be, in a photolithography using a high energy beam such as an ArF excimer laser beam and an EUV as a light source, (1) a polymer that gives a resist composition having an appropriate adhesion with a substrate and being capable of forming a pattern having excellent resolution, especially an excellent rectangular pattern profile, (2) a chemically amplified resist composition containing the said polymer, and (3) a patterning process using the said chemically amplified resist composition.
US08900787B2

A process includes forming particles in a latex by emulsion polymerization of a mixture including one or more monomers in an emulsion, and about 4 percent or less by weight of the mixture of a non-surfactant-based charge control agent, the non-surfactant-based charge control agent is distributed within a matrix of the particles, and forming toner particles from the particles in the latex, the toner particles supporting a sufficient triboelectric charge for use under A-zone environmental conditions in a single-component development system.
US08900780B2

Disclosed are a photosensitive resin composition for a color filter and a color filter using the same. The photosensitive resin composition for a color filter includes (A) a dye represented by the following Chemical Formula 1, (B) an alkali soluble resin, (C) a photopolymerizable monomer, (D) a photopolymerization initiator, and (E) a solvent.
US08900772B2

A fuel cartridge with which liquid leakage through an air induction hole from a fuel tank is able to be prevented and safety is able to be improved is provided. Switching drive for opening and closing an air induction hole 12 is performed by a valve 13 capable of controlling the switching drive according to a control signal. Thereby, air introduction to a fuel tank 100 containing a fuel is able to be controlled. Thus, for example, at the time of high temperature or fuel disorder, by closing the air induction hole 12 by the valve 13, fuel leakage from the fuel tank through the air induction hole of an existing check valve is able to be prevented, and safety is able to be improved.
US08900761B2

Triethylboron is a useful precursor for depositing films in an atomic layer deposition process. This precursor is useful for depositing boron containing films. Boron containing films are excellent lubricating coatings for zinc powders, improving their flow properties and simplifying powder handling. This makes the coated zinc powders especially useful for battery applications in which a zinc powder is used as an anode material.
US08900754B2

The present invention provides an electrode comprising a carbon material obtained from an azulmic acid and a current collector and/or a binder.
US08900753B2

A cathode material with excellent capacity and output characteristics and safety, and a lithium ion secondary battery using the same is provided. The invention relates to a cathode material which includes a mixture of a cathode active material having a large primary particle size with excellent capacity characteristics and represented by the composition formula: Lix1Nia1Mnb1Coc1O2, where 0.2≦x1≦1.2, 0.6≦a1, 0.05≦b1≦0.3, 0.05≦c1≦0.3, and another cathode active material having a small primary particle size with excellent output characteristics and represented by the composition formula: Lix2Nia2Mnb2Coc2O2, where 0.2≦x2≦1.2, a2≦0.5, 0.05≦b2≦0.5, 0.05≦c2≦0.5. The invention also relates to a lithium ion secondary battery using the cathode material.
US08900744B2

A battery case comprises a tray member (20), a cover member (22), a first holding member (24) of a metal arranged to contact a tray flange (32) with its outer circumferential edge portion projecting outward from the tray flange by a predetermined length, a second holding member (26) of a metal arranged to contact a cover flange (36) with its outer circumferential edge portion projecting outward from the cover flange by a predetermined length, and a fastening means (28, 29) fastening the first and second holding members together at a predetermined location outwardly away from the tray and cover flanges.
US08900730B2

A magnetic data storage medium comprising: an ion doped magnetic recording layer having a continuous grading of coercivity or anisotropy, wherein the coercivity or anisotropy is at a minimum substantially at one side of the magnetic recording layer, and having substantial portion of maximum coercivity or anisotropy at the other side of the magnetic recording layer. Also, a method of fabricating a magnetic data storage medium is included.
US08900727B2

A condensed polycyclic compound represented by the following general formula [1], wherein, in General Formula [1], R1, R6, R7, and R12 each are independently selected from a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an aryl group, the aryl group may have an alkyl group and a fluorine atom as a substituent, and R2 to R5 and R8 to R11 each are independently selected from a hydrogen atom and an alkyl group.
US08900726B2

Provided is an organic electroluminescent element which includes a pair of electrodes composed of a positive electrode and a negative electrode, with at least one of the electrodes being transparent or semi-transparent, and an organic compound layer interposed between the pair of electrodes and containing one or more charge transporting polyesters represented by the following formula (I) [in the formula (I), A1 represents at least one selected from structures represented by the following formula (II); and in the formula (II), X represents a group represented by the following formula (III)]:
US08900721B2

A bronze alloy includes copper, tin, bismuth, nickel and sulfur and a metal structure of the bronze alloy has an eutectoid phase including α-copper having a lamellar structure including a flaky copper-tin intermetallic compound precipitated and metal particles including the bismuth dispersedly precipitated therein.
US08900709B2

An elastic device includes a first elastic supporter; a second elastic supporter and a carbon nanotube film. The second elastic supporter is spaced from the first elastic supporter. The carbon nanotube film has a first side fixed on the first elastic supporter and a second side opposite to the first side and fixed on the second elastic supporter. The carbon nanotube film includes a plurality of carbon nanotube strings separately arranged, located side by side and extending substantially along a first direction from the first side to the second side and one or more carbon nanotubes located between adjacent carbon nanotube strings. The carbon nanotube film is capable of elastic deformation along a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.
US08900708B2

Disclosed is a resin-coated metal pigment comprising 100 parts by weight of a metal pigment and 0.1 to 50 parts by weight of a resin, wherein the resin is attached on the surface of the metal pigment. The resin-coated metal pigment is produced by circulating a portion of a slurry solution containing the metal pigment in an external-circulation type vessel during the resin coating treatment in a reaction vessel and applying a vibration to the external-circulation type vessel with an ultrasonic wave.
US08900706B2

A process for producing cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) involves providing a cellulosic material, contacting the cellulosic material with an inorganic persulfate at an elevated temperature to produce CNCs, and recovering the CNCs. The process permits one-step production of CNCs from vegetative biomasses such as flax and hemp. Cellulose nanocrystals produced by the process with carboxylic groups are more uniform and have higher aspect ratios than CNCs produced by prior art processes.
US08900689B2

A method for producing a resin plated product includes: a molding step of forming a resin molded product as a resin molded product to be plated that includes integrally a main body part with a form of a molding and a sacrifice part arranged in the vicinity of an edge part not to come into contact with the edge part; an electro-less plating step of applying an electro-less plating process to the resin molded product, an electroplating step of immersing the resin molded product in an electroplating bath provided with an anode electrode, applying an anode voltage to the anode electrode and applying a cathode voltage to the resin molded product to carry out an electroplating process; and a removing step of removing the sacrifice part from the resin molded product. The sacrifice part is preferably extended from a non-designed surface of the main body part.
US08900687B2

Disclosed is a polyamide resin film which has excellent dimensional stability with respect to moisture absorption, excellent mechanical characteristics and sliding properties under high temperature and high humidity conditions, and excellent handling properties. Specifically disclosed is a biaxially stretched polyamide resin film, to which 0.3-10% by weight of an inorganic material including a layered compound is added. The biaxially stretched polyamide resin film is characterized in that the layered compound is in-plane oriented, and that the film has a haze of 1.0-20%, an elastic modulus in the longitudinal direction of 1.7-3.5 GPa at a relative humidity (RH) of 35%, a surface roughness (Sa) of 0.01-0.1 μm, and a coefficient of static friction (F/B) of 0.3-1.0 at a normal stress of 0.5 N/cm2.
US08900686B2

A second mold is placed on a planar surface of a first mold to form a first mold cavity, which is filled with a first material slurry containing a first material powder and the molded slurry is caused to set, thereby forming a first molded part on the planar surface of the first mold. A third mold is placed on the planar surface of the first mold from which the second mold is removed and on which the first molded part is formed, thereby forming a second mold cavity. The second mold cavity is filled with a second material slurry which contains a second material powder different from the first material powder so as to mold the slurry in contact with the first molded part. The molded slurry is caused to set, thereby forming a second molded part on the planar surface of the first mold.
US08900683B2

A rapid access fire protection panel system for applications requiring fire protection against severe fire situations. The system is a panel system that can be rapidly installed and rapidly removed for periodic maintenance or inspection. The panel system includes a special expandable insulation. A first preferred embodiment of the present invention includes: insulated sub-frame channels, corner support brackets, intermediate clips, insulated panels including a rigidized metal outer layer, cover strips, cover plates, insulated light panels and cable gland recess penetrations. A preferred embodiment of the present invention is specifically designed to meet the N-30 requirements of the United States Navy.
US08900681B2

The layered product of the present invention has a base, and a gas barrier layer stacked on the base. The gas barrier layer is formed of a composition that includes a hydrolyzed condensate of a compound (L) containing a hydrolyzable characteristic group, and a neutralized product of a polymer (P) containing at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of carboxyl group and carboxylic acid anhydride group. The compound (L) includes a compound (L1) and a compound (L2). The compound (L1) and the compound (L2) each contains a silicon atom to which the hydrolyzable characteristic group is bonded. The compound (L1) contains an organic group having amino group. The compound (L2) does not contain an organic group having amino group. At least part of the —COO— group in the at least one functional group contained in the polymer (P) is neutralized with a divalent or higher valent ion (E) of a metal element that has a higher electronegativity than calcium.
US08900680B2

A packaging material comprises a plurality of magnetisable portions thereon, the magnetisable portions comprising at least one spot per package to be formed from the packaging laminate. The packaging material further comprises at least one preparation feature for enhancing finishing of packages, wherein the at least one preparation feature is aligned with a magnetic field mark in the at least one magnetisable portion. Methods for writing and reading, respectively, a magnetic mark on a packaging material are also disclosed.
US08900676B2

A polarizing plate protective film forming a polarizing plate by sandwiching a polarizer with two of the polarizing plate protective films, wherein at least one of the two polarizing plate protective films exhibits Ro defined by Expression (I) of 0 to 10 mm and Rt defined by Expression (II) of −20 to 20 mm, and also at least one of the polarizing plate protective films has a hard coat layer: Expression (I): Ro=(nx−ny)×d; Expression (II): Rt={(nx+ny)/2−nz}×d; wherein nx is a refractive index in a delayed phase axis direction in a plane of the polarizing plate protective film, ny is a refractive index in a direction at right angles to the delayed phase axis in the plane, nz is a refractive index in a film thickness direction, and d is a film thickness (nm).
US08900665B2

Forming a hardmask layer with an increased etch resistance based on alternating nanolayers of TiN with alternating residual stresses is disclosed. Embodiments include depositing a first nanolayer of TiN, and depositing a second nanolayer of TiN on the first nanolayer, wherein the first and second nanolayers have different residual stresses.
US08900663B2

Methods and systems for coating articles are described herein. The methods and systems described herein include, but are not limited to, steps for actively or passively controlling the temperature during the coating process, steps for providing intimate contact between the substrate and the support holding the substrate in order to maximize energy transfer, and/or steps for preparing gradient coatings. Methods for depositing high molecular weight polymeric coatings, end-capped polymer coatings, coatings covalently bonded to the substrate or one another, metallic coatings, and/or multilayer coatings are also disclosed. Deposition of coatings can be accelerated and/or improved by applying an electrical potential and/or through the use of inert gases.
US08900661B2

A method of fabricating a ceramic component includes initially partially filling pores of a porous structure using one of a first processing technique or a second, different processing technique to form a preform body with residual porosity. The first processing technique produces a first ceramic material in the pores of the porous structure and a second processing technique produces a second ceramic material in the pores of the porous structure. When the first processing technique is used to initially partially fill the pores of the porous structure, the second processing technique is used thereafter to at least partially fill the residual porosity with the second ceramic material. When the second processing technique is used to initially partially fill the pores, the first processing technique is used thereafter to at least partially fill the residual porosity.
US08900657B2

A transferring medium manufacturing method uses a base material, a recording material, and a non-recording material and causes the recording material to adhere to the base material. The transferring medium manufacturing method includes a recording material applying operation in which the recording material is applied to the base material. In a first non-recording material applying operation, the non-recording material is applied to a peripheral part of a recording material applied area. The peripheral part is located along an edge of the recording material applied area. The recording material applied area is an area of the base material where the recording material is applied. In a second non-recording material applying operation, the non-recording material is applied to an inner area, which is surrounded by, and/or located at a relatively inner area position in comparison with an area position of, the peripheral part of the recording material applied area.
US08900655B2

A method of fabricating a patterned perpendicular magnetic recording medium comprises steps of: (a) providing a layer stack including a magnetically soft underlayer (“SUL”) and an overlying non-magnetic interlayer; (b) forming a masking layer on the non-magnetic interlayer; (c) forming a resist layer on the masking layer; (d) forming a pattern of recesses extending through the resist layer and exposing spaced apart surface portions of the masking layer; (e) extending the pattern of recesses through the masking layer to expose spaced apart surface portions of the interlayer; and (f) at least partially filling the pattern of recesses with a magnetically hard material to form a perpendicular magnetic recording layer.
US08900643B2

The present invention provides a composition suitable for intranasal administration comprising capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, and nordihydrocapsaicin in the form of capsicum used as a therapeutic agent.
US08900641B2

An antimicrobial composition prepared by mixing a polymer-ammonium salt formulation comprising one or more polymers and one or more ammonium salts with alkali and a chlorine source in a molar ratio of chlorine (as Cl2) to ammonium ion of about 1:10 to about 10:1 and methods of using the composition to control biofouling of aqueous systems.
US08900635B2

The present invention is directed to formulations of genistein and methods for making and using the same. In particular embodiments, the formulations described herein include suspension formulations of nanoparticulate genistein.
US08900628B2

This invention provides a hard capsule that has excellent stability even when filled with a solvent for dissolving poorly soluble drugs, and that also achieves reduction in disintegration time, thereby ensuring excellent solubility.Specifically, the hard capsule of the present invention has a film comprising: (A) a polymer or copolymer obtained by polymerizing or copolymerizing, in the presence of polyvinyl alcohol and/or a derivative thereof, at least one polymerizable vinyl monomer represented by Formula (1): H2C═C(R1)—COOR2  (1) wherein R1 represents hydrogen or methyl, and R2 represents hydrogen or alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and (B) native gellan gum.
US08900624B2

The present invention comprises methods and compositions for antimicrobial silver compositions comprising silver nanoparticles. The present invention further comprises compositions for preparing silver nanoparticles comprising at least one stabilizing agent, one or more silver compounds, at least one reducing agent and a solvent. In one aspect, the stabilizing agent comprises a surfactant or a polymer. The polymer may comprise polymers such as polyacrylamides, polyurethanes, and polyamides. In one aspect, the silver compound comprises a salt comprising a silver cation and an anion. The anion may comprise saccharinate derivatives, long chain fatty acids, and alkyl dicarboxylates. The methods of the present invention comprise treating devices with the silver nanoparticle compositions, including, but not limited to, such devices as woven wound care materials, catheters, patient care devices, and collagen matrices. The present invention further comprises treatment of humans and animals wacr6ith the antimicrobial devices described herein.
US08900623B2

The present invention is directed to a composition, kit and method for delivering a soft flowable gel to a flock of poultry in barns, but can also be used in hatcheries or free range farms, for treating poultry with a therapeutic agent. The soft flowable gel comprises water, a gelling agent, a therapeutic agent and between about 0.05% and 0.15% xanthan gum.
US08900614B2

The present invention relates to an intra-oral device including a carrier that has an outside wall, an inside wall and an occlusal wall connecting the outside wall to the inside wall. The carrier has at least one inset and at least one insert carrying a beneficial agent that is adapted to fit the inset, and the beneficial agent is capable of promoting weight loss. The intra-oral device is positioned in a user's mouth so that the intra-oral device is in contact with the user's cheeks, lips and/or tongue and the beneficial agent passes through the mucosal membrane of the user's mouth.
US08900607B1

The present invention relates to compositions including anhydrous compositions which include dimethicone crosspolymer and/or dimethicone elastomer gum and one or more skin care products which may include retinoic acid, retinoic acid derivatives, retinal, retinol and/or retinyl esters.
US08900592B2

The invention relates to a protein construct, comprising (i) a targeting moiety that is capable of binding to a target cell, and (ii) an effector immunogenic moiety that is capable of triggering an existing, vaccine-induced or natural, immune response. The protein construct, that is preferably in the form of a heteromultimeric protein, is useful for redirecting an immune response that was pre-existing in a patient, toward an undesired target cell.
US08900591B2

There is provided a G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) or a polynucleotide encoding said GPCR for use as a vaccine. There is also provided methods of antagonizing or agonizing A GPCR in vivo comprising the administration of a GPCR or a polynucleotide encoding a GPCR to a subject. The invention further provides a GPCR for use in inhibiting an activity of a GPCR binding partner in a subject.
US08900588B2

The present disclosure is directed to methods of treating and preventing breast cancer or recurrence of breast cancer with compositions comprising anti-progastrin antibodies.
US08900587B2

Antibodies which block binding of hPD-1 to hPD-L1 or hPD-L2 and their variable region sequences are disclosed. A method of increasing the activity (or reducing downmodulation) of an immune cell through the PD-1 pathway is also disclosed.
US08900577B2

A stable aqueous pharmaceutical formulation comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody, polysorbate 80, a buffer which inhibits polysorbate oxidation is described along with methods of making the preparation. Also described are formulations with high antibody concentrations which maintain fixed volumes and which may be used on patients of variable weight.
US08900575B2

The present invention comprises methods and compositions for the reduction of oxalate in humans. For example, the invention provides methods and compositions for the delivery of one or more oxalate-reducing enzymes embedded in particle compositions. The compositions of the present invention are suitable in methods of treatment or prevention of oxalate-related conditions including, but not limited to, hyperoxaluria, absorptive hyperoxaluria, enteric hyperoxaluria, primary hyperoxaluria, idiopathic calcium oxalate kidney stone disease (urolithiasis), vulvodynia, oxalosis associated with end-stage renal disease, cardiac conductance disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and patients who have undergone gastrointestinal surgery and bariatric surgery (surgery for obesity), and/or who have undergone antibiotic treatment.
US08900570B2

The invention covers a novel treatment strategy that considerably improves conventional probiotic treatments of inflammatory bowel diseases, irritable bowel syndrome and other gastrointestinal disorders. Both probiotic microorganisms and the carrier of the probiotic microorganisms in form of a fermented cereal gruel are used as treatment effectors. Phospholipids may also be an effector. The novel treatment strategy is capable of removing the symptoms of inflammatory bowel diseases regardless of a mild, moderate or severe stage of the disease.
US08900568B2

According to the invention there is provided a strain of lactic acid bacteria of the species Bifidobacteria pseudolongum obtainable by isolation from resected and washed canine gastrointestinal tract having a probiotic activity in animals. Methods of use and compositions comprising the Bifidobacteria pseudolongum of the present invention are also provided.
US08900561B2

Cosmetic compositions include in a cosmetically acceptable medium at least one thickening agent and at least one 4-morpholino-methyl-substituted silicone of formula (V), in which A represents structural unit (I), (II) or (III) or an O-bound oligomeric or polymeric radical including structural units of formulae (I), (II) or (III) or half of a connecting O-atom to a structural unit (III) or represents —OH; wherein * represents a bond to one of the structural units (I), (II) or (III) or an end group B (Si-bound) or D (O-bound); B represents a group —O—Si(CH3)3, —O—Si(CH3)2OH, —O—Si(CH3)2OCH3; D represents a group —Si(CH3)3, —Si(CH3)2OH, —Si(CH3)2OCH3; a, b and c represent integers between 0 and 1000, with the proviso a+b+c>0; m, n and o represent integers between 1 and 1000.
US08900556B2

Thermally responsive compositions that include a thermally responsive viscosity modifier, a polymerizable component, and water are provided. The compositions, which optionally may be hardened, are useful for application to a surface of a body.
US08900548B2

An aspect of the invention relates to a method of synthesizing a crystalline molecular sieve having an MSE framework type, the method comprising crystallizing a reaction mixture comprising a source of water, a source of an oxide of a tetravalent element, Y, selected from at least one of silicon, tin, titanium, vanadium, and germanium, optionally but preferably a source of a trivalent element, X, a source of an alkali or alkaline earth metal, M, a source of a first single-nitrogen-containing cyclic ammonium organic cation, Q1, and optionally a source of a second multiple-nitrogen-containing organic cation, Q2, which can include multiple-nitrogen-containing monocations and/or multiply ionic species containing two or more ammonium cations in the same molecule.
US08900527B2

A pipetting device is described comprising more than one pipetting unit, wherein said pipetting units are independently movable in Y and Z direction and comprise at least one module arranged in a staggered manner compared to the adjacent pipetting unit.
US08900519B2

An apparatus (100 and/or 200) and corresponding method (500) for air sterilization and disinfection can include an electronics and control module (110 and/or 210), a means for drawing air from the surrounding environment into the apparatus (120 and/or 220), an air management chamber (130 and/or 230), and a housing (170 and/or 270). The means for drawing air from the surrounding environment into the apparatus (120 and/or 220) mobilizes latent pathogens in the environment and draws them into the apparatus (100 and/or 200) for sterilization and disinfection. The air management chamber (130 and/or 230) provides for exposure of the airborne pathogens to UV radiation, via UV LEDs (150 and/or 250), with a dosage sufficient to penetrate the cell walls and destroy the pathogens. The electronics and control module (110 and/or 210) powers the apparatus (100 and/or 200) and interfaces with the electronic components. The housing (170) forms the outer shell of the apparatus (100).
US08900518B2

This invention provides a healthcare cum optimal illumination device. The inventive device includes at least one frame, at least one light source, and at least one layer of treated filter cover. The light source is disposed in the frame. The light source emits infrared radiation, visible light radiation, and ultraviolet radiation. The visible radiation is used for illumination, and the invisible infrared and ultraviolet radiation is harnessed to improve indoor air quality. The layer of the filter cover is treated with substances of air cleaning properties and encloses the frame. The treated filter cover has at least one opening where air in the frame heated by the infrared radiation flows out from the device and cooler ambient air surrounding the device is drawn through the filter cover into the frame replacing the heated air that has flown out of the device to form air circulation and to perform air purification.
US08900506B2

A plasticizing screw for injection molding according to the present invention is installed in an injection molding machine that performs injection molding by plasticizing thermoplastic resin feedstock containing reinforcement fibers, and includes a shaft, a main flight, and a sub-flight. The protrusion height of the main flight from the circumferential surface of the shaft is formed to be constant in at least an area in which the sub-flight is provided. The sub-flight includes a flat surface portion which is provided on the rear end side in a winding direction and in which a protrusion height from the circumferential surface of the shaft is lower than that of the main flight and is constant, and an inclined surface portion which is provided to extend continuously from a leading end in the winding direction of the flat surface portion and in which a protrusion height from the circumferential surface of the shaft gradually increases toward the leading end side in the winding direction and is less than the protrusion height of the main flight.
US08900479B2

Provided is a liquid crystal composition satisfying at least one of characteristics such as high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, low minimum temperature of the nematic phase, small viscosity, suitable optical anisotropy, large negative dielectric anisotropy, large specific resistance, high stability to ultraviolet light and high stability to heat, or having a suitable balance regarding at least two of the characteristics. Also provided is an AM device having a short response time, a large voltage holding ratio, a large contrast ratio, a long service life and so forth. The liquid crystal composition contains a specific compound having a polymerizable group as a first component, a specific compound having a large negative dielectric anisotropy and a low minimum temperature as a second component, or a specific compound having a small viscosity or a large maximum temperature as a third component, and a liquid crystal display device contains the composition.
US08900477B2

Provided are a metal-polishing liquid that comprises an oxidizing agent, an oxidized-metal etchant, a protective film-forming agent, a dissolution promoter for the protective film-forming agent, and water; a method for producing it; and a polishing method of using it. Also provided are materials for the metal-polishing liquid, which include an oxidized-metal etchant, a protective film-forming agent, and a dissolution promoter for the protective film-forming agent.
US08900472B2

A liquid agent for the surface treatment of monocrystalline wafers, which contains an alkaline etching agent and also at least one low-volatile organic compound. Systems of this type can be used both for the cleaning, damage etch and texturing of wafer surfaces in a single etching step and exclusively for the texturing of silicon wafers with different surface quality, whether it now be wire-sawn wafers with high surface damage or chemically polished surfaces with minimum damage density.
US08900460B2

A method for processing interface emulsion, water, and solids contained within a separator vessel that comprises the steps of continually extracting those components from the vessel and then passing them through a gas flotation cell. The cell, which is preferably a vertical induced gas flotation cell, separates the oil and water contained in the interface emulsion and discharges recovered oil from an upper portion of the cell and treated water from a bottom portion of the cell. The recovered oil and treated water may be further processed and recycled to the vessel or sent elsewhere. The treated water may also be recycled to the cell or sent to a process sewer. Fuel gas residing in an upper portion of the cell may be cooled and passed through a splitter. All the steps of the method comprise a closed system with no air emissions.
US08900459B2

Systems and methods for versatile water purification. The methods may include floating a raft on a source of water to be purified. The raft may provide inlet for the water. The methods may include pumping the water and selectively pre-treating the pumped water by chemical injection prior to filtration. The methods may include passing the pumped water, sequentially, through a multi media filter to produce filtered water, into a plurality of reverse osmosis columns to produce osmosis water, and into a buffer tank. The methods may include injecting ozone into water pumped from the tank, and selectively returning the ozone-injected water to the tank via a first valve. Via a second valve, the ozone-injected water may be passed to a bottle washing station for washing and sterilization of receptacles to receive purified waters pumped from the tank. Methods may include Ultra Violet and chemical treatment of water prior to dispensing.
US08900455B2

A filter assembly for filtering a fluid. The filter assembly at least one filter in a housing, an inlet lid mounted over the filter housing and including an inlet for the inlet of fluid into the housing, and an outlet lid mounted over the filter housing and including an outlet for the outlet of fluid from the housing. The assembly also includes an inlet plunger adapted for sealing flow from the inlet when the inlet plunger is biased to a first sealing position, and an outlet plunger adapted for sealing flow to the outlet when the outlet plunger is biased to a first sealing position.
US08900449B2

A magnetic filter employs a magnetic core assembly that incorporates a plurality of exchangeable holder sleeves, each enclosing permanent magnets. Neither the sleeves nor magnetic bars are mechanically fixed to the filter housing. The magnet bars and holder sleeves are individually accessible. The number of holder sleeves in the magnetic core assembly is flexible. The magnetic filter in equipped with a screen that partially encloses the elongated holder sleeves to treat streams that contain degradation sludge, iron containing particles or flakes, and non-magnetic polymeric materials. In operation, a feed stream initially contacts the magnetic core assembly where paramagnetic contaminants become deposited onto the exterior surface of the holder sleeves under direct influence of strong magnetic field generated by the magnet bars. The mesh screen cylinder subsequently captures non-magnetic and weakly magnetic contaminants of a certain size before the cleaned stream exits the magnetic filter.
US08900447B2

A method and a product made by treating a sulfur-containing hydrocarbon heavy feed, e.g., heavy crude asphaltene reduction is disclosed herein. The method comprises the steps of: mixing the sulfur-containing hydrocarbon heavy feed with a hydrogen donor solvent and an acidified silica to form a mixture and oxidizing the sulfur in the mixture at a temperature between 50° C. and 210° C., wherein the oxidation lowers the amount sulfur in the sulfur-containing hydrocarbon heavy feed by at least 90%.
US08900446B2

In a catalytic treatment process, mercaptans in sour hydrocarbon are oxidized to disulfide oils using an aqueous treatment solution containing a chelated polyvalent metal catalyst, alkali metal hydroxide, and the alkali metal salt of at least one alcohol in a non-dispersive mixing apparatus wherein an upgraded hydrocarbon containing the disulfide oils is produced.
US08900445B2

A process for the catalytic conversion of hydrocarbons to convert petroleum hydrocarbons in a higher yield for light olefins, particularly propylene is disclosed, the process involving a hydrocarbon-converting catalyst comprising zeolite, phosphorous and a transition metal, as defined herein.
US08900441B2

An ionic probe is provided according to the invention. The ionic probe includes an active electrode configured to generate a measurement signal for an external test fluid, a first reference electrode configured to generate a first reference signal, and an at least second reference electrode configured to generate at least a second reference signal. The measurement signal is compared to the first reference signal and the at least second reference signal in order to determine an ionic measurement of the external test fluid.
US08900436B2

The present invention relates to an electrolyte for the electrochemical deposition of palladium or palladium alloys on metallic or conductive substrates. The invention likewise relates to a corresponding electroplating process using this electrolyte and specific palladium salts which can be advantageously used in this process.
US08900431B2

Electrochemical sensors for measuring an analyte in a subject are described. More particularly, devices for measurement of an analyte incorporating a sensor comprising a hydrophilic polymer-enzyme composition covering an electroactive surface providing rapid and accurate analyte levels upon deployment are disclosed.
US08900430B2

A biosensor includes a working electrode 101, a counter electrode 102 opposing the working electrode 101, a working electrode terminal 103 and a working electrode reference terminal 10 connected to the working electrode 101 by wires, and a counter electrode terminal 104 connected to the counter electrode 102 by a wire. By employing a structure with at least three electrodes, it is possible to assay a target substance without being influenced by the line resistance on the working electrode side.
US08900421B2

A method of fabricating a variable resistance layer of a resistance memory is disclosed. The method includes placing a substrate in a sputtering chamber that has a copper target and a silicon oxide (SiO2) target or has a complex target made from copper and silicon oxide therein. Thereafter, a co-sputtering process is performed by using the copper target and the silicon oxide target, or a sputtering process is performed by using the complex target, so that a compound film is deposited on a surface of the substrate, wherein the compound film serves as a variable resistance layer of a resistance memory, and the mole percentage of Cu/(Cu+Si) of the compound film is 1-15%.
US08900417B2

This invention provides a method for purifying HFO-1234yf by removing HF from a mixture of HFO-1234yf and HF under simple and economically advantageous conditions. According to the present invention, this is a purification method for 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, (1) the purification method comprising the step of subjecting a mixture comprising 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and hydrogen fluoride to extractive distillation in a distillation column A using an extractant, thereby obtaining a fraction I that contains 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and has a lower ratio of hydrogen fluoride to 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene than that of the mixture, while obtaining a fraction II that contains hydrogen fluoride and has a lower ratio of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene to hydrogen fluoride than that of the mixture; (2) the extractant comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of: (i) alcohols represented by ROH, wherein R is a C1-5 alkyl group, (ii) ethers represented by ROR′, wherein R and R′ are the same or different, and each is a C1-4 alkyl group, (iii) fluorinated alcohols represented by RfOH, wherein Rf is a C1-3 fluoroalkyl group, (iv) ketones represented by RCOR′, wherein R and R′ are the same or different, and each is a C1-4 alkyl group, (v) esters represented by RCOOR′, wherein R and R′ are the same or different, and each is a C1-4 alkyl group, (vi) polyols represented by R(OH)n, wherein R is a C1-4 alkyl group, and n is an integer of 2 to 3, and (vii) ethylene glycols represented by R1O(CH2CH2O)nR2, wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different, and each is hydrogen or a C1-4 alkyl group, and n is an integer of 1 to 3.
US08900410B2

A fine fibrous cellulosic material containing cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, in which the fine fibrous cellulosic material has a width of 1 μm or less and a length of 5,000 μm or less and is used for glycation reaction by hydrolysis.
US08900404B2

A plasma processing system with improved component temperature control is disclosed. The system may include a plasma processing chamber having a chamber wall. The system may also include an electrode disposed inside the plasma processing chamber. The system may also include a support member disposed inside the plasma processing chamber for supporting the electrode. The system may also include a support plate disposed outside the chamber wall. The system may also include a cantilever disposed through the chamber wall for coupling the support member with the support plate. The system may also include a lift plate disposed between the chamber wall and the support plate. The system may also include thermally resistive coupling mechanisms for mechanically coupling the lift plate with the support plate.
US08900399B2

An anodic etching system for simultaneously etching a multiplicity of substrates comprises: an etching tank for containing therein an etchant solution; a power supply connected between a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode and the second electrode being immersible in the etchant solution and positioned at opposite ends of the tank; and a plurality of support plates serially arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode and sealed to walls of the tank, wherein each of the plurality of support plates is configured to support at least one of the multiplicity of substrates, and wherein any consecutive pair of the plurality of support plates defines an isolated volume of the tank for containing a portion of the etchant solution. The plurality of support plates may be susceptors configured for holding the multiplicity of substrates in a chemical vapor deposition tool.
US08900393B2

A high bulk laminated board is produced using one or more embossed plies. A method of producing the laminated board comprises: embossing first and second plies to produce first embossed projections extending from first sides of the first and second plies; placing adhesive on the first embossed projections on the first side of each of the first and second embossed plies; bringing the first and second plies together such that the first embossed projections on the first and second embossed plies are aligned; applying pressure to the first side of each of the first and second embossed plies to cause the first and second embossed plies to adhere together to form a composite ply; and adhering first and second flat outer plies onto first and second sides of the composite ply. Corresponding apparatus is provided.
US08900390B2

The present disclosure relates to a method for making a graphene/carbon nanotube composite structure. In the method, at least one graphene film is located on a substrate. At least one carbon nanotube layer is combined with the at least one graphene film located on the substrate to form a substrate/graphene/carbon nanotube composite structure. The at least one graphene film is in contact with the at least one carbon nanotube layer in the substrate/graphene/carbon nanotube composite structure. The substrate is removed from the substrate/graphene/carbon nanotube composite structure, thereby forming a graphene/carbon nanotube composite structure.
US08900389B2

A method for producing a pneumatic tire according to the present invention can use existing facilities without change and does not make the spliced parts of an inner liner easily opened even if the tire is produced with use of an inner liner having a low adhesion.In a method for producing a pneumatic tire having steps of winding an inner liner 8′ around a tire building drum 21 to form a cylindrical body, the cylindrical body is formed by attaching a winding-starting end 8′a of the inner liner 8′ to the building drum 21 via an uncured tacky member 9′, winding the inner liner 8′ attached to the building drum 21 around the building drum21, and splicing a winding-finishing end side of the wound inner liner 8′ with the winding-starting end 8′a of the inner liner 8′ via the uncured tacky member 9′.
US08900383B2

A method of producing a high tenacity metal wire material having improved bending and torsional properties as well as high toughness and excellent fatigue resistance is provided without losing tenacity and elongation property. In the method, when a heat treatment is performed at a temperature range of 90-300° C. on a metal wire material of high-carbon steel containing 0.5-1.1% by mass of carbon atoms and having a processing strain of 2.5 or greater and tensile strength of 3,000 MPa or greater, a relationship between heat treatment time t(s) and heat treatment temperature T(K) at said temperature range represented by the equation: 0.1≦Ln(t)−10100/T+20≦11 is satisfied.
US08900382B2

The invention concerns a cold work steel having the following chemical composition in weight-%: 0.60-0.85 C from traces to 1.5 (Si+Al) 0.1-2.0 Mn 3.0-7.0 Cr 1.5-4.0 (Mo+), however max. 1.0 W 0.30-0.65 V max. 0.1 of each of Nb, Ti, and Zr max. 2.0 Co max. 2.0 Ni balance essentially only iron and unavoidable impurities.
US08900376B2

There is provided a water-soluble flux composition for soldering which is excellent particularly in heat resistance and flux residues after soldering of which can be easily removed by washing with water or warm water. The flux composition for soldering contains a compound of formula (1): wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 independently of one another are a hydrocarbon group or hydrogen atom, and A1, A2 and A3 independently of one another are hydroxy group or an organic group of formula (2): and at least one of A1, A2 and A3 is an organic group of formula (2).
US08900374B2

A substrate is moved below a substrate cleaning module in a direction extending from a leading edge to a trailing edge of the substrate cleaning module. A cleaning material is dispensed downward toward a top surface of the substrate along the leading edge of the substrate cleaning module. A rinsing material is dispensed downward toward the top surface of the substrate along the trailing edge of the substrate cleaning module to generate a rinsing meniscus. Vacuum suction is applied at a vacuum suction location along a bottom surface of the substrate cleaning module and parallel to the leading and trailing edges of the substrate cleaning module. The vacuum location is positioned between a dispense location of the cleaning material and a dispense location of the rinsing material. A plenum region located between the dispense location of the cleaning material and the vacuum location is vented.
US08900369B2

Embodiments of the present invention overcome the well-known recalcitrance of lignocellulosic biomass in an economically viable manner. A process and a system are provided for the efficient fractionation of lignocellulosic biomass into cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. The cellulose and hemicellulose thus obtained are highly amorphous and can be readily converted into highly concentrated mixtures of five and six carbon sugars using known methods. Typical yields of sugars exceed 100 grams of sugars per liter of sugar solution. Other products, such as alcohols, can easily be prepared according to methods of the invention. The modest process conditions and low solvent/solid ratios of some embodiments of the invention require relatively low capital and processing costs.
US08900343B1

A liquid hydrocarbon slug-containing vessel for incorporation into a system integrating a low-pressure separator with a vapor recovery process system, and a method for regulating the temperature of a gas to be compressed by a two stage compressor so as to prevent liquification of the gas and to prevent over-heating of the compressor.
US08900341B2

A method and system for producing an aluminum-silicon alloy are provided and include preheating silica to a predetermined temperature and combining aluminum with the preheated silica to melt the aluminum and produce an aluminum-silicon alloy.
US08900340B2

A tubular target is formed of molybdenum or a molybdenum alloy which has an oxygen content of less than 50 μg/g, a density of greater than 99% of the theoretical density and an average grain size of less than 100 μm. The molybdenum or molybdenum alloy tube may be produced by extrusion and it is formed with walls having a wall thickness that increases towards the ends of the tube. The molybdenum tube has a backing tube of titanium or titanium alloy that is attached inside with a material bond connection. Alternatively, the backing tube is formed of austenitic steel or a copper alloy.
US08900325B2

Hybrid terrain-adaptive lower-extremity apparatus and methods that perform in a variety of different situations by detecting the terrain that is being traversed, and adapting to the detected terrain. In some embodiments, the ability to control the apparatus for each of these situations builds upon five basic capabilities: (1) determining the activity being performed; (2) dynamically controlling the characteristics of the apparatus based on the activity that is being performed; (3) dynamically driving the apparatus based on the activity that is being performed; (4) determining terrain texture irregularities (e.g., how sticky is the terrain, how slippery is the terrain, is the terrain coarse or smooth, does the terrain have any obstructions, such as rocks) and (5) a mechanical design of the apparatus that can respond to the dynamic control and dynamic drive.
US08900323B2

An antibiotic delivery system including an intramedullary stem that is adapted to be removably mounted into a medullary canal of a bone. The stem includes a body having an inlet adapted to be in fluid communication with a source of liquid-borne antibiotic and a plurality of outlets disposed along the stem. A channel extends between the inlet and the plurality of outlets for delivering a fluid-borne antibiotic from the inlet to the plurality of outlets so as to distribute the antibiotic along the medullary canal in a controlled fashion.
US08900321B2

An anchor for securing an implant within bone. In one embodiment, the anchor is used to aid in securing an acetabular cup within an acetabulum. The anchor may be implanted within an ischial defect of the pelvis, and is attached to an outer surface of the acetabular cup shell. The anchor is made at least in part of, and may be made entirely of, a porous metal material to facilitate the ingrowth of surrounding bone into the anchor for osseointegrating the anchor into the surrounding bone. The anchor may be secured to the acetabular shell by a screw fastener or by cement, for example. The anchor may be secured to the acetabular shell before the anchor and the acetabular shell are together implanted into the acetabulum, or the anchor may be implanted into the ischial defect, followed by seating the acetabular shell in the acetabulum and then securing the acetabular shell to the anchor.
US08900315B2

A knee joint prosthesis includes a femoral component having a first condylar bearing surface and a second condylar bearing surface. Each of the first and second condylar bearing surfaces has a cross-section in a coronal plane that exhibits at least two different radii. The prosthesis also includes a tibial component and an insert component associated with the tibial component. The insert component has bearing surfaces that are complementary to the first and second condylar bearing surfaces, wherein a contact point is established between the bearing surfaces of the insert component and the first and second condylar bearing surface. In accordance with the present invention and as a result of the above construction, varus and valgus rotation of the femoral component relative to the insert component causes the contact point to move laterally as the knee is rotated. By shifting the contact pointy laterally/outwardly, the knee stability (i.e., stiffness) gradually increased.
US08900309B2

Disclosed are improved spinal implants that are configured to help prevent post-operative migration of the implant. In some embodiments, the implant system includes multi-axial tooth geometry and other geometrical configurations such as but not limited to peripheral curvatures that aid in the prevention of such post-operative migration. Also disclosed are asymmetrical implants having superior and inferior surfaces with different angulations relative to the sagittal midline.
US08900308B2

A spacer for insertion between two vertebrae includes a variable axial length and comprises a first member having a hollow interior and a tubular wall and a second member having a hollow interior and a tubular wall the second member being slidable within the first member in an axial direction for adjusting an overall length. At least the first member or the second member comprises an access opening in its wall, the opening having a size which is adapted for inserting bone grafts through the opening into the interior. The spacer further comprises a length adjustment structure being engageable with an expansion tool for telescoping the second member relative to the first member and a locking structure for fixing the axial length. The access opening, the length adjustment structure and the locking structure are arranged so as to be accessible from the same side of the spacer. The spacer allows in situ filling of bone grafts into its interior and an improved handling.
US08900306B2

Devices and methods for preventing the migration or expulsion of a nucleus disc replacement implant are provided. In one embodiment, an anti-expulsion device includes a body that is movable between a compressed configuration where it is adapted to fit through an opening in an annulus of a spinal disc, and an expanded configuration where it has a size that is larger than a size of the opening in the annulus of a spinal disc. The body can also include one or more mating features that allow the body to interact with a nucleus disc replacement implant and/or an annular wall of an annulus. As a result, since the body is larger than the opening of the annulus in the expanded configuration, the interlocking connection between the body and the nucleus disc replacement implant and/or annular wall will allow the body to prevent the nucleus disc replacement implant from being expulsed from the opening in the annulus.
US08900302B2

A surgical device and method is used in attaching a tendon or a ligament to bone. In a preferred form, the device is a crimp configured to reduce the thickness of the free end of the tendon or the ligament to facilitate insertion of the tendon or the ligament into an opening formed in the bone.
US08900297B2

Disclosed are soft, high refractive index, acrylic device materials. The materials contain a hydrophilic side-chain macromer for glistening resistance.
US08900296B2

Methods of designing corneal implants, such as inlays, to compensate for a corneal response, such as epithelial remodeling of the epithelial layer, to the presence of the implant. Additionally, methods of performing alternative corneal vision correction procedures to compensate for an epithelial response to the procedure. Methods of compensating for a corneal response when performing a vision correction procedure to create a center near region of the cornea for near vision while providing distance vision peripheral to the central near zone.
US08900285B2

Medical devices and methods for delivery or implantation of prostheses within hollow body organs and vessels or other luminal anatomy are disclosed. The subject technologies may be used in the treatment of atherosclerosis in stenting procedures or be used in variety of other procedures. The systems may employ a self expanding stent restrained by one or more members released by an electrolytically erodable latch. Such release means do not connect directly to the implant, though one or more portions may contact it.
US08900283B2

Methods, devices and systems for delivering light therapy to human or non-human animal subjects. Included are shapeable light therapy devices which are formable into different shapes suitable for delivery of therapeutic light to different regions of the subject's body and will retain the desired shape without a need for the use of a strap or other shape-retaining apparatus. Also included are light therapy devices that, in at least some modes of operation, deliver light that is not visible to the human eye and which include indicator(s) to indicate to a user and/or to the subject being treated when non-visible light is actually being emitted.
US08900281B2

FIG. 1 shows an inventive implant 1. It has a central fillet 2 extending along a longitudinal axis L. The fillet 2 has openings 3 which are formed at regular intervals. At the level of the openings 3 and extending at right angles on both sides are clamps 4, which, when the implant is inserted, are brought into mutual engagement with a tubular bone and clamped to it. The fillet 2 is formed so as to be bendable in three-dimensions. It can be bent in two planes relative to the longitudinal axis L of the fillet 2 and torqued about the longitudinal axis L. Thus, a simple implant 1 with an overall regular structure is provided which can be cut with a cutting pliers to a desired length.
US08900276B2

Embodiments of an adjustable occipital plate is provided. The plate includes a fixation plate, at least one lateral rod configured to be coupled to the fixation plate, at least one sliding link configured to be coupled to the at least one lateral rod, and at least one posterior cervical rod configured to be coupled to the at least one sliding link using at least one rod connector.
US08900275B2

The present invention relates to a brace installation instrument placement that is mounted to anchors secured in an animal subject. The installation instrument includes anchor extensions coupled to the anchors. The instrument is movable with respect to the anchors to position a brace in a position more proximate the anchors. The brace can be indexed for insertion at a predetermined orientation with respect to the installation instrument. Methods and techniques for using the installation instrument are also provided.
US08900270B2

A facet joint replacement system includes an inferior implant with an inferior articular surface, a superior implant with a superior articular surface, and an optional crossbar. The inferior implant and the superior implant are each polyaxially adjustably connected to fixation elements which anchor the implants to adjacent vertebrae. The optional crossbar may be polyaxially adjustably connected to bilateral implants. The system components may be provided in kits which provide components of various sizes and shapes. A set of surgical instruments may facilitate implantation of the facet joint replacement system by providing tools for bone preparation, trialing, implant insertion, implant alignment, and lock-out of modular interconnections.
US08900268B2

An endoluminal and intracorporeal negative pressure, wound care treatment, and prophylaxic system 10 and method includes a pressure distributor 40 for placement substantially within an internal organ or tissue abscess 34. A fluidic communication means 22 is provided between the pressure distributor 40 and a negative pressure source 20. A collection canister 24 is provided between the negative pressure source 20 and the pressure distributor 40 for collecting any effluents 36 that may be drawn from the abscess 34 during application of negative pressure. An introducing conduit 44 is provided for introducing the pressure distributor 40 into the abscess 34. A positioning conduit 46 is provided to properly position the pressure distributor 40 within the abscess 34. Negative pressure is applied to the pressure distributor 40 in order to provide negative pressure therapy within the abscess 34.
US08900266B2

A tourniquet cuff has a body configured for being wrapped around a limb. The body has an unpressurized state and a pressurized state. A securing portion on the body is releasably engageable to the body. The cuff also has an indicator that operates in response to movement of the securing portion for locating where the securing portion engages the body in order to apply a predetermined amount of force sufficient to secure the body to a limb without causing significant venous occlusion at the limb when the body is in the unpressurized stated.
US08900262B2

A dermatological skin treatment device is provided. The device comprises a handpiece and a cutting tool, wherein the tool is inserted through the conduit and percutaneously inserted into a tissue disposed within a recessed area of the handpiece. The device and method cut the fibrous structures under the skin that cause cellulite at an angle substantially parallel to the surface of the skin and replace these structures with a non-cellulite forming structure by deploying a highly fibrous mesh through a single needle hole to create a highly fibrous layer directly or through wound healing processes.
US08900260B2

A surgical milling cutter includes a milling cutter bracket, a locking device and a bottom electric motor connected successively. The milling cutter bracket includes a fixing seat with a through hole. A finger guide apparatus with an L-type first bracket at the top end thereof is provided on the upper part of the fixing seat. The end of the L-type first bracket's short side is provided with a downward projection. The lowest point of the projection is lower than that of the milling cutter's cylindrical head when the milling cutter is working normally. The surgical milling cutter utilizes the projection to prevent the possibility of an object contacting with the cylindrical head, thus avoiding an object being cut unevenly. Meanwhile, the L-type bracket can be driven by the finger guide apparatus to rotate so as to change the running direction of the milling cutter, thus facilitating surgical procedures.
US08900259B2

A surgical instrument that may include a housing, a transducer engaged with the housing which can produce vibrations, and an end-effector engaged with the transducer. The surgical instrument can include an adjustable sheath extending from the housing where the sheath is movable relative to the distal tip of the end-effector and where the distance between the distal tip of the sheath and the distal tip of the end-effector can enable the sheath to act as a depth stop. The sheath can be adjusted such that, when the distal tip of the sheath contacts the tissue or bone being incised, the surgeon can determine that the appropriate depth of the incision has been reached. In other embodiments, the end-effector can be moved with respect to the sheath to adjust the distance between the distal tip of the end-effector and the distal tip of the sheath.
US08900257B2

Systems, devices, and processes for aspirating, fragmenting and extracting removable material from hollow bodies. A guide wire (11) is inserted into the hollow body (1) via an opening. Material is removed by means of a reducing catheter (3) having a working head (6) with stator (8) and rotor (9) that is connected to a feed screw (10). The stator (8) has a lateral inlet opening (8a) which is formed as two circular holes arranged in axial succession. Material forced into the inlet openings (8a) is sheared and/or fragmented. A flexible sleeve (7) serves to discharge the ablated material. Prior to this, a sheathing catheter (4) is inserted into the hollow body (1) until in front of the material to be removed. The cross-section of the hollow body (1) is occluded by the sheathing catheter (4), preventing detached fragments from being accidentally washed away.
US08900252B2

Devices, systems and methods for compressing, cutting, incising, reconfiguring, remodeling, attaching, repositioning, supporting, dislocating or altering the composition of tissues or anatomical structures to alter their positional or force relationship to other tissues or anatomical structures. In some applications, the invention may be used to used to improve patency or fluid flow through a body lumen or cavity (e.g., to limit constriction of the urethra by an enlarged prostate gland).
US08900250B2

The present embodiments provide apparatus and methods suitable for removing lymph nodes or providing a tissue anchor during a translumenal procedure. In one embodiment, an apparatus suitable for facilitating removal of a lymph node comprises an expandable device including at least one deployable member having contracted and expanded states. The deployable member may be delivered in the contacted state to a location distal to the lymph node using an insertion tool adapted to be disposed beyond the lymph node. In the expanded state, the deployable member comprises a configuration sized to at least partially circumferentially surround and engage the lymph node. In an alternative embodiment, the deployable member may anchor into an outer portion of a visceral wall to promote stabilization of a system during a medical procedure.
US08900245B2

An impactor for connection to a concave surface of an implant has a shaft extending along a first axis from a first end to a second end. The shaft first end includes a pivot surface surrounding an internal shaft bore. The internal bore extends along the first axis and is open at the first end and extends towards the second end about the first axis. The internal bore has a pin extending through the shaft and intersecting the bore. A resilient element is mounted in the shaft bore spaced towards the shaft second end. A post is mounted in the shaft bore along the first axis. The post has a first end engaging a threaded bore in the concave surface of the implant. The post has a second end engaging the resilient element and a slot therein slidably engaging the pin and a collar pivotally mounted on the shaft.
US08900244B2

A method for inserting an acetabular cup into an acetabulum of a patient includes inspecting a preoperative plan including a three-dimensional image of a patient's acetabulum, selecting at least one of a patient-specific anteversion angle and a patient-specific abduction angle, and approving the preoperative plan. The method also includes preparing the patient's acetabulum for implantation, positioning a patient-specific first surface of an acetabular guide around a matched acetabular rim surface of the patient, and inserting an acetabular cup through an opening of the acetabular guide, the opening having a cylindrical inner surface oriented at the selected at least one of the patient-specific anteversion angle and patient-specific abduction angle.
US08900243B2

A method for creating space in a joint, the method comprising: applying force to a body part so as to distract the joint and create an intrajoint space; inserting an expandable member into the intrajoint space while the expandable member is in a contracted condition; expanding the expandable member within the intrajoint space; and reducing the force applied to the body part so that the joint is supported on the expandable member.
US08900240B2

A minimally invasive and open surgery surgical system for implanting spinal screw assemblies to be connected by a spinal rod is disclosed. In one form, the system includes an improved tool device for inserting a cap insert into an initial and final locking of a screw assembly and securing a spinal rod inserted through an incision to a vertebra. In another form, the system also includes a screw fixation system that allows greater variability in thread diameter for orthopedic implant for in the spine, iliac crest, or bones.
US08900233B2

An elongated rod for insertion into a bowed canal of a bone such as a femoral medulla of a femur bone, wherein the canal is bowed in one plane. The rod has a longitudinal axis disposed on a first plane and one or more cutouts formed in at least a portion of a length of the rod and on opposite sides of the first plane. The rod is flexible along a second plane which is co-planar with the bowed canal plane and which is disposed on the longitudinal axis and perpendicular to the first plane.
US08900221B2

An apparatus for treating an eye with laser radiation exhibits the following: a laser radiation source (12) for generating laser radiation (14), means (20, 24, 40, 42, 44) for directing the laser radiation (14) onto the eye (10) for the purpose of an ophthalmological intervention on or in the eye, a controller (50) for controlling the laser radiation (14) in space and time in relation to the eye (10) in accordance with a treatment program (52) which is oriented towards a center (Z) of the eye, a camera (46) which records a feature of the eye (10), and an image-processing unit (50a) which derives information about the center (Z) of the eye (10) from the recording of the camera and enters this information into the controller (50), as a result of which the controller (50) controls the laser radiation (14, 14′) in accordance with the treatment program and in a manner depending on the center of the eye derived in step e).
US08900218B2

An at least partly implantable system for injecting a substance into a patient's body, in particular a penis erection stimulation system, comprises an infusion device (11) adapted for implantation inside the patient's body and at least one reservoir (R1, R2) adapted for implantation inside the patient's body in fluid connection with the infusion device to supply to the infusion device a substance to be injected into the patient's body. The reservoir comprises at least one first compartment accommodating or adapted to accommodate a first substance and at least one second compartment accommodating or adapted to accommodate a second substance, in particular a drug for stimulating penis erection. As a penis erection stimulation system, the infusion device preferably comprises one or more infusion needles disposed within and implanted along with one or more housings adjacent the patient's left and right corpora cavernosa. A pump may be implanted inside the patient's body to supply the infusion needle with infusion liquid. A drive unit also adapted for implantation inside the patient's body may be arranged for advancing and retracting the tip end of the infusion needle such that it penetrates the housing at least in two different penetration areas either simultaneously or in immediate time succession, thereby injecting drugs along with the infusion liquid into the patient's body for stimulating penis erection.
US08900211B2

The present invention provides a disposable wearing article adapted to inhibit sweating and an uncomfortable stuffiness. Front and rear waist regions of a disposable wearing article have inner surfaces thereof at least partially formed of elastic sheets. The elastic sheets are made of a mixture of elastic fibers and inelastic fibers and formed with ridges and grooves. The elastic sheets have a thickness in the ridges repetitively reduced and restored as the elastic sheets repeat elastic stretch and contraction in the waist circumferential direction.
US08900210B2

A kit including an absorbent article and a wrapper for the absorbent article. The wrapper is defined by a boundary. The wrapper includes at least one slit which partitions the wrapper to define a strip thereof. The strip is arranged such that the absorbent article may be rolled and/or folded within the wrapper and retained in a rolled and/or folded configuration by using the strip. Also, a method for disposal of an absorbent article.
US08900207B2

Each arterial bifurcation lesion has a fingerprint-like pattern related to varying amounts of plaque and degree of obstruction in the main vessel proximal to, within the bifurcation itself, and the distal limbs of the main branch and side branch(es) and related to the angle of the bifurcation. A new device and with it a new technique is described to optimize treatment of bifurcation (and trifurcation) lesions. The invention and related method use a catheter capable of delivering two or more guide wires exiting at the distal end of the catheter allowing treatment of lesions more safely and efficaciously. Safety is increased by allowing both guide wires to remain in place throughout the entire procedure. Efficacy is increased, particularly in the long-term, by providing a result that maximizes vessel coverage and normal flow dynamics in the entire bifurcation area. Contemplated is the use not only of multiple guide wires but also modified balloon with a tapered design to optimize flow dynamics at the bifurcation in the final result.
US08900204B2

An injection device comprising: a base member (102); a plunger (104) for driving a piston in a distal direction; a driving member (106); and a gear mechanism (108) providing a gearing between the driving member (106) and the plunger (104) such that then the driving member (106) is moved at a first speed relative to the base member (102), the plunger (104) is moved at a second speed relative to the base member (102); wherein at least two of the base member (102), the plunger (104) and the driving member (106) are pivotally connected to the gear mechanism (108).
US08900196B2

A retainer comprises a first member and a second member. The first member can define at least a portion of a channel. The channel can have a longitudinal axis and be configured to receive at least a portion of a medical article. The second member can be moveable with respect to the first member, between locked and unlocked positions. The second member can contact the portion of the medical article received by the channel at least when in the locked position so as to inhibit longitudinal movement of the medical article relative to the retainer.
US08900191B2

Disclosed is an expandable transluminal sheath, for introduction into the body while in a first, low cross-sectional area configuration, and subsequent expansion of at least a part of the distal end of the sheath to a second, enlarged cross-sectional configuration. The sheath is configured for use in the vascular system and has utility in the introduction and removal of balloon counterpulsation catheters. The access route is through the femoral arteries and the iliac arteries into the aorta, where an intra-aortic balloon pump catheter is positioned to provide cardiac support. The distal end of the sheath is maintained in the first, low cross-sectional configuration during advancement to the arteries into the aorta. The distal end of the sheath is subsequently expanded using a radial dilatation device.
US08900188B2

An infusion pump assembly is disclosed. The infusion pump assembly includes a reservoir for receiving an infusible fluid, a pump assembly for pumping a quantity of infusible fluid from the reservoir to an exit, a first valve assembly configured to selectively isolate the pump assembly from the reservoir, a second valve assembly configured to selectively isolate the exit from the pumping assembly, and a split ring resonator antenna having a resonant frequency comprising a plurality of planar metallic layers.
US08900169B2

A method and device for reducing the damaging effects of radiant energy, blast, or concussive events includes applying pressure to at least one jugular vein to reduce the egress of blood from the cranial cavity during or before the incidence of the imparting event. Reducing blood outflow from the cranial cavity increases intracranial volume and/or pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid to reduce the risk of traumatic brain injury and injuries to the spinal column. Reducing blood outflow further increases the intracranial pressure and volume, and thereby increases the pressure and volume of the cochlear fluid, the vitreous humor and the cerebrospinal fluid to thereby reduce the risk of injury to the inner ear, internal structure of the eye and of the spinal column. In addition, increasing intracranial pressure and volume reduces the likelihood of brain injury and any associated loss of olfactory function.
US08900167B2

Gait training apparatus and method for use thereof for providing leg swing assistance to a patient. The apparatus comprises a support structure and one or more leg orthoses attached to the support structure, each leg orthosis comprising a thigh member attached to the support structure at a hip joint, and a shank member attached to the thigh member at a knee joint. Both members have respective connectors for securing them to the corresponding body parts of the patient. The hip joint and knee joint are each biased by biasing members. The support structure may comprise a frame defining a patient activity region, including a base, a back support, a pair of support handles, and a weight support member mounted above the activity region. A method of using the device comprises selecting parameters for the biasing members using information about the patient.
US08900164B2

An apparatus for determining an optimal amount of tissue compression for applying a surgical element to tissue is disclosed. The apparatus includes a device for compressing tissue which supports a measuring device adapted to detect a tissue parameter upon the compression of tissue. The measuring device communicates with an indicator. Upon compressing tissue, when the measuring device determines that the compressed tissue parameter reaches a predetermined threshold, the measuring device sends a signal to the indicator such that the indicator provides an indication to a surgeon that the threshold has been reached. The measuring device may include a load cell and the tissue parameter may be a viscoelastic reactive force of the tissue per unit time.
US08900161B2

A tissue sampling device includes a cannula having an elongate tubular body with a sharpened coring tip. A shaft extends within the cannula and is coupled with a cutter having an axially advancing wire extending between a distal end of the shaft and the sharpened coring tip. The axially advancing wire is movable in a cutting path defining an arc about the longitudinal axis, by way of rotating the shaft relative to the cannula.
US08900147B2

Embodiments for performing an image process and a size measurement upon a three-dimensional ultrasound image are disclosed. In one embodiment, by way of non-limiting example, an ultrasound system comprises: a user input unit configured to receive input information for setting at least one seed point on a two-dimensional ultrasound image from a user; an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from a target object including a plurality of objects of interest and output ultrasound data; and a processing unit configured to form volume data based on the ultrasound data, form the two-dimensional ultrasound image and a three-dimensional ultrasound image based on volume data, detect at least one object of interest corresponding to the input information from the three-dimensional ultrasound image, and perform an image process and a size measurement of the detected object of interest upon the three-dimensional ultrasound image.
US08900146B2

A three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound imaging system (10) for assessing scoliosis, the system (10) comprising: an ultrasound scanner (11) to capture ultrasound images; a spatial sensor (13) to record the position and orientation of the captured ultrasound images; and a software module (21) to mark features of vertebra in the captured ultrasound images, and the marked features (41) are connected with lines (42) in order to calculate angles and distances between the marked features (41) for the calculation of the Cobb angle and spinal rotation angle based on the calculated angles and distances; wherein the marked features (41) are a reflection of the surfaces of the vertebra.
US08900143B2

An intraocular pressure detecting device includes an image capturing unit, a processor, and a pressure detection unit. The image capturing unit, coupled to the image capturing unit, is capable of acquiring an eye image. According to the eye image, the processor can determine an intraocular pressure detection area. After the pressure detection unit detects the intraocular pressure detection area, the intraocular pressure is calculated by the processor of the intraocular pressure detecting device.
US08900142B2

Systems and methods described herein use near field communications to locate a radiating transponder, such as a pill swallowed by a patient. The system can be triggered to turn on and transmit an amplitude shift keyed waveform (or other type of waveform) to a set of antennas attached to, coupled with, or near the patient at roughly known locations. The magnetic field emitted by the transponder can be measured by the receiving antennas, for example, using principles of mutual inductance. The differential phase and/or time shifts between the antennas can contain sufficient information to find the location of the transponder and optionally its orientation relative to body coordinates. The system can display the location and/or orientation of the transponder and may optionally provide other information about the movement, flow, or other characteristics of pill to assist clinicians with diagnosis.
US08900140B2

A differential or relative measurement between an orthogonal measurement vector and another measurement vector can be used to determine the location where fluid accumulation is occurring or the local change in such fluid accumulation. This can help diagnose or treat infection or hematoma or seroma at a pocket of an implanted cardiac rhythm management device, other implanted medical device, or prosthesis. It can also help diagnose or treat pulmonary edema, pneumonia, pulmonary congestion, pericardial effusion, pericarditis, pleural effusion, hemodilution, or another physiological condition.
US08900137B1

An anterior cervical retractor comprises a retractor body having a base arm and a moving arm and a pair of retractor blades having a side loading blade and a top loading blade. The base arm includes a first track and a side loading connector. The first track extends perpendicularly from a proximal end of the base arm and the first track includes an articulating arm post and a gear teeth. The moving arm is located opposite to the base arm and includes a first track receptacle and a top loading connector. The moving arm is advanced along the first track by means of a knob extending from the base arm. The side loading blade includes a first blade portion and a first connection post and the top loading blade includes a second blade portion and a second connection post.
US08900136B2

In a first aspect of the subject invention, an iris expander is provided which includes a non-metallic, unitary, multi-segmented body which is expandable from a first state to a second state. The second state defines a larger footprint than the first state with the body being defined by a plurality of segments connected by living hinges. In a further aspect, an iris expander is provided which includes a multi-segmented body that is expandable from a first state to a larger-footprint second state. At least one aperture is formed in the body with a channel extending therefrom embedded in the body such that no portion thereof is exposed externally of the body. The channel is formed to accommodate a portion of an instrument for causing adjustment of the body with avoidance of direct contact of the instrument with the tissue of the iris.
US08900131B2

A medical system provides navigation assistance to a surgeon so that the surgeon may navigate a flexible medical device through linked passages of an anatomical structure to a target in or adjacent to the anatomical structure. As the medical device moves through the linked passages, images are captured by an image capturing element at its distal end and pose and shape information for the medical device are received from sensors disposed in the medical device. A 4-D computer model of the anatomical structure is registered to the medical device using one or both of 4-D shape registration and virtual camera registration so that the captured image and a virtual image generated from the perspective of a virtual camera are registered to each other and displayed while providing an indication of a navigational path to the target.
US08900128B2

An otoscanner including an otoscanner body, the body comprising a hand grip, the body having mounted upon it an ear probe, a tracking illumination emitter, a plurality of tracking illumination sensors, and a display screen, the otoscanner body having mounted within it an image sensor; wherein the image sensor operates at a video frame rate that is twice a standard video frame rate; a laser light source is strobed during capture by the image sensor of alternate video frames; video frames are captured by the image sensor when only the non-laser video illumination illuminates the scanned ear; and images for constructing 3D images are captured by the image sensor only when the strobed laser light illuminates the scanned ear.
US08900127B2

An otoscanner including an otoscanner body, the body comprising a hand grip, the body having mounted upon it an ear probe, a tracking illumination emitter, a plurality of tracking illumination sensors, and a display screen, the otoscanner body having mounted within it an image sensor; the ear probe comprising a wide-angle lens optically coupled to the image sensor, laser light source, a laser optical element, and a source of non-laser video illumination; the plurality of tracking illumination sensors disposed upon the otoscanner body so as to sense reflections of tracking illumination emitted from the tracking illumination emitter and reflected from tracking targets installed at positions that are fixed relative to the scanned ear; the image sensor coupled for data communications to a data processor, with the data processor configured so that it functions by constructing a 3D image of the interior of the scanned ear.
US08900126B2

A device for scanning a body orifice or surface including a light source and a wide angle lens. The light from the light source is projected in a pattern distal or adjacent to the wide angle lens. Preferably, the pattern is within a focal surface of the wide angle lens. The pattern intersects a surface of the body orifice, such as an ear canal, and defines a partial lateral portion of the pattern extending along the surface. A processor is configured to receive an image of the lateral portion from the wide angle lens and determine a position of the lateral portion in a coordinate system using a known focal surface of the wide angle lens. Multiple lateral portions are reconstructed by the processor to build a three-dimensional shape. This three-dimensional shape may be used for purposes such as diagnostic, navigation, or custom-fitting of medical devices, such as hearing aids.
US08900118B2

An implantable device controls the movement of fluid to an inflatable portion of a gastric band. The implantable device includes a body. The body has an inlet, an outlet and a valve seat positioned between the inlet and the outlet. The body defines a fluid passage from the inlet to the outlet. The implantable device also includes a diaphragm. The diaphragm has one or more edges coupled to the body. The diaphragm is made of an elastomeric material and capable of being moved between a closed position that blocks the valve seat and does not allow the fluid to move from the inlet to the outlet and an open position that does not block the valve seat and allows the fluid to move from the inlet to the outlet.
US08900116B2

A stomal implant comprising a longitudinal portion configured to envelop at least a section of the bowel or ileal conduit, said longitudinal portion comprising: a proximal end for positioning at a stomal opening; a distal end for positioning within an abdomen; and a reversibly pressure-exerting device providing an ascending pressure gradient from the distal end to the proximal end, such that pressure exerted at the proximal end provides complete closure of the bowel or urethra.
US08900108B2

The present invention provides a sheet conveying roller which requires a smaller number of ingredients than a prior art sheet conveying roller, has an excellent weather resistance, is less liable to suffer from reduction in friction coefficient attributable to accumulation of paper dust and sheet conveying failure attributable to the reduction in friction coefficient, and ensures proper sheet conveyance for a longer period of time. The invention further provides a rubber composition for the sheet conveying roller. The rubber composition comprises an ethylene-propylene-diene rubber and an epoxylated natural rubber as a rubber component. In the rubber composition, the epoxylated natural rubber is present in a proportion of 10 mass % to 90 mass % based on the overall amount of the rubber component including the two rubbers. The sheet conveying roller includes a roller body formed from the rubber composition.
US08900102B2

An exercise machine for strengthening the foot and for treating plantar fasciitis includes a foot pad for receiving a patient's foot and a resistance member associated with the foot pad. As the patient pivots the foot pad on a pivot pin located near the heel section of the foot pad, a resistance is applied to the toe section of the foot pad thereby providing strengthening for the plantar fasciitis band of tissue.
US08900097B1

An apparatus providing an assist force to user moved weights of a existing weight exercise or rehab machine or stand can be supplied as a kit including servo motor/transmission/reel assembly. A cable has a first end securable to the reel and a second end configured to be coupled directly or indirectly with the user moved weights of the existing machine/stand. A control interface accepts input of variable parameters for assist control including entry of at least a user selected assist force. The kit also has a servo drive and a main digital controller connected with at least the servo motor, motor drive and control interface, the controller programmed to provide a user selected non-zero assist force essentially only during part of an exercise.
US08900070B1

A golf club head having a center of gravity located at a point close to the face and the sole is disclosed herein. In particular, the golf club head comprises a hollow body including a weight lip and face component, and the weight lip extends from the sole inside the body towards the face component without making contact with the face component. The golf club head is preferably a wood-type or hybrid-type golf club head. In other embodiments, the golf club head, which may be an iron-type golf club head, comprises a weight bar disposed within the hollow body proximate the face component, and the weight bar bridges at least a portion of the sole. The weight bar may be movable within the hollow body to allow for center of gravity adjustment.
US08900066B2

Embodiments of adjustable length golf clubs and methods of manufacturing adjustable length golf clubs are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08900060B2

In the case of a shaft arrangement having a shaft (7) which extends within a casing (1) filled with a fluid and which can be actuated by means of a drive (8) from outwith the casing (1), the shaft (7) having on its outer peripheral surface a surface structure which conveys the fluid in a flow direction (30) in the longitudinal direction of the shaft during rotation, a sleeve (19) is provided according to the invention, which can rotate with the shaft and has at least one conveying element (20) for conveying the fluid in a counterflow direction opposite to the flow direction. As a result, a bubble-free conveyance of the fluid along the shaft (7) is facilitated.
US08900059B2

A gaming network is disclosed which includes point to point cabling infrastructure connectable to at least one first gaming machine and connectable to at least one second gaming machine. Each first gaming machine is arranged to communicate using a master/slave protocol, and each second gaming machine is arranged to communicate using a point to point protocol. The gaming network also includes an interface device having a communications bus connectable to a master/slave control device and to the point to point cabling infrastructure such that each first gaming machine is connected to the communications bus and is controllable by the master/slave control device through the point to point cabling infrastructure. The point to point cabling infrastructure is also connectable to a point to point control device such that at least one second gaming machine is controllable by the point to point control device through the point to point cabling infrastructure.
US08900043B1

A computer-generated puzzle game can enable any appropriate image (e.g., a still image, video, or animation) to be used as a puzzle image. The puzzle game can utilize a framework including a portion of the puzzle image such that the user can determine where to place the puzzle pieces without having to see a version of the final image, which can save display real estate as well as provide suspense and additional challenge for the user. The puzzle pieces also can include a portion of the image, such that the player can determine where the pieces are to be placed in the framework without having to worry about rotating or properly positioning the pieces, which can be difficult on at least certain computing devices.
US08900034B2

A control unit that relatively moves a headstock and tailstock and a tool to thereby machine a peripheral surface of a workpiece in a radial direction executes control such that a relative feed speed of the tool in the radial direction in a transitional state where an amount of warpage of the workpiece in the radial direction at a machining position increases is faster than a relative feed speed of the tool in the radial direction in a steady state where an amount of warpage of the workpiece in the radial direction at the machining position is constant. By so doing, it is possible to reduce a machining time at the time of the start of machining.
US08900021B2

The present invention relates to an electrical contact terminal adapted to be mounted to an electrical cable including at least one connection portion adapted for mounting the electrical cable and at least one contact portion. The connection portion is provided with at least one reactive film including at least two materials in a reactive form. This film is adapted to react after reception of a suited activation energy thereby producing heat and thus causing a bonding between the connection portion and a cable.
US08900019B2

A solar cell module terminal box includes a contact electrically connectable to an external terminal of a solar cell module, a connector member electrically connected to the contact, and a box main body. The box main body has an accommodating portion for accommodating the contact, an attaching portion accommodating the connector member and a wall member which partitions the accommodating portion and the attaching portion from each other. The wall member includes a connector insertion hole. The connector member is inserted in the connector insertion hole in tight/gapless contact therewith along the entire perimeter thereof.
US08900009B2

A mount for supportably engaging an article. The mount includes a bulbous member that may include a convexly shaped surface area. The convexly shaped surface area may be supportively contactable with a first interconnect portion of a carrier member. An attachment member that is operatively associable with a device may be removably engageable with a second interconnect portion of the carrier member. The carrier member may be moved throughout a continuum of positions defined by the convexly curved surface area of the bulbous member. Additionally, the bulbous member may be supportably engaged by a variety of embodiments of support structures for supporting or mounting the mount.
US08900004B2

A slim line mechanism is provided and includes a first body having a stationary track coupled thereto, a first mechanism, which is supportable between the stationary track and the first body and configured to be driven in a first direction, a second mechanism, which is configured to be driven by the first mechanism in a second direction transverse with respect to the first direction, a system by which the first and second mechanisms are coupled to one another and connectors by which the first body is supportively connectable with the first and second mechanisms such that movements thereof in the first and second directions, respectively, are permitted.
US08900002B2

An adjustable busway joint for coupling two longitudinally aligned busway sections is disclosed. The adjustable joint has a first plurality of electrically conductive splice plates defining a splice plate adjustment slot, and a second plurality of electrically conductive splice plates defining an aperture, wherein each splice plate of the second plurality of splice plates is disposed to overlap a portion of a corresponding splice plate of the first plurality of splice plates to form an electrical joint, and wherein the aperture is sized and disposed to overlap at least a portion of the first splice plate adjustment slot. The joint additionally has a first clamping member disposed through the splice plate adjustment slot and the aperture such that the first and said second pluralities of splice plates are operably movable with respect each other between a first compressed position and a second extended position.
US08899997B2

An electrical connector includes an insulative housing having a top surface, a bottom surface opposite to the top surface and a number of receiving holes penetrated the top surface and the bottom surface, a number of terminals receiving in the receiving holes and a number of solder balls assembled to the receiving holes from a bottom surface thereof and contacting with the corresponding terminals. The receiving hole includes an inner wall and a core, the inner wall has a pair of ribs extending toward to the core and the movement of the solder ball in a vertical direction is limited by the pair of ribs in a vertical direction and the solder ball is positioned by the terminal.
US08899996B2

A stacked connector comprises a dielectric housing comprising a first receptacle and a second receptacle, a first set of differential pairs that each include a plurality of first terminals each having a contact portion extending within the first receptacle and an extension portion, a second set of differential pairs that each include a plurality of second terminals that each have a contact portion extending within the second receptacle and an extension portion, and a shield terminal including a plate portion and two contact portions separately extending within the first receptacle and the second receptacle. The plate portion can separate the extension portions of the terminals of one differential pair from the extension portions of another differential pair.
US08899993B2

The disclosure relates to interposer assembly plates with large numbers of closely spaced contact apertures extending through the plates and contact members inserted into and retained in the apertures.
US08899992B2

A connector adapted to be disposed in a mobile device to electrically connect with a signal terminal of an electronic device is provided. The connector includes a casing, a tube, a pin and a terminal set. The casing has a first side, a second side and a through hole, and the tube is disposed in the second side. The pin has a first end and a second end. The first end is slidably disposed in the through hole and the second end protrudes out of the tube. The terminal set includes a first terminal and a second terminal, and the second terminal is movably connected with the first terminal. When the mobile device is assembled to the electronic device, the signal terminal of the electronic device leans against the pin, so that the pin leans against the first terminal to separate the first terminal and the second terminal.
US08899991B2

A rotatable electrical coupling comprising a male connector having at least one electrical contact member for conducting or transmitting a supply current or a low-frequency control signal, and a further electrical contact member for conducting or transmitting a high-frequency and/or a high-speed data signal. The coupling further comprises a female connector for receiving the male connector such that the male connector is adapted for rotation relative to the female connector. The female connector includes complementary electrical contact members configured to maintain uninterrupted electrical contact with each of the respective contact members of the male connector throughout a relative rotational movement between the male and female connectors preferably at least about 180°. An electrical connector for such a rotatable electrical coupling, as well as a swivel or pivot joint of a mounting arm for supporting or suspending technical equipment, wherein the joint incorporates such an electrical coupling.
US08899990B2

Mounting systems can releasably secure display devices to preexisting surfaces for convenient installation and removal without external tools. A mounting system can comprise lower magnetic assemblies, upper magnetic assemblies, and a mounting sheet. The lower magnetic assemblies can be secured to a rear surface of a display device, for releasably attaching the display device to a preexisting surface. A bottom portion of the mounting sheet can be secured to the rear surface of the display device, while a top portion of the mounting sheet can remain loose from the rear surface. The upper magnetic assemblies can be provided along the loose top portion of the mounting sheet, for releasably attaching the display device to the preexisting surface. The upper magnetic assemblies can retain their connection to the preexisting surface as the display device is pulled away from the preexisting surface, until a threshold condition is met.
US08899981B2

A dental implant has a body with a porous metal portion for engaging bone. The porous metal portion has an outer coronal to apical height and an outer diameter. Both the height and diameter are about 4 mm to about 6 mm. This permits the implant to be placed on a jaw with a reduced bone volume.
US08899975B2

A combustor having wake air injection is provided. The combustor includes a fuel nozzle, first and second vessels formed and disposed to define a flow path along which a first fluid flows in first and second opposite directions toward the fuel nozzle, a vane disposed in the flow path and an injector to inject a second fluid into wake formed by an obstruction disposed in the flow path upstream from the vane.
US08899966B2

A multilayer molded product is formed by a multilayer molding apparatus including: a plurality of injection units on the part of a fixed platen; a moving platen caused to open and close the molds by a mold clamping unit; and a rotary platen mounted with different mold cavities on its surfaces facing the fixed platen and the moving platen respectively and having a mechanism enabling to move between the fixed platen and the moving platen in a mold opening/closing direction in conjunction with a mold opening/closing operation, stop at an arbitrary position, and rotate. The multilayer molded product is formed according to a multilayer molding method of switching the cavity to be formed by a mold core mounted on the fixed platen and a mold cavity mounted on the rotary platen by rotating the rotary platen, and performing injection-filling into the respective cavities from the plurality of injection units in accordance with preset injection patterns.
US08899965B2

A melt distribution manifold for use with first and second mold portions moveable with respect to each other, the melt distribution manifold including a melt inlet means for receiving melt from an injection molding machine, a first manifold portion connected to the first mold portion, wherein the first manifold portion is stationary with respect to the first mold portion, a second manifold portion connecting the first manifold portion to the hot runner nozzle, wherein the second manifold portion is moveable with respect to the first manifold portion such that when the first mold portion moves with respect to the second mold portion, the second manifold portion remains connected to the first manifold portion and to the hot runner nozzle, a hinged joint connecting the first manifold portion to the second manifold portion. Each of the first manifold portion, the second manifold portion, and the hinged joint having respective melt distribution bores in fluid communication with each other.
US08899964B2

An edge-gated injection molding apparatus is disclosed for distributing a melt stream to a plurality of mold cavities aligned on opposing sides of an injection manifold assembly. The injection manifold assembly includes melt outlets aligned on opposing sides thereof with a nozzle seal in fluid communication with each melt outlet for transferring the melt stream to a corresponding mold cavity. A sliding relationship between each nozzle seal and its respective melt outlet while the nozzle seal is securely held relative to the mold gate permits misalignment between the nozzle seal and its respective melt outlet in the cold condition without causing stress on the nozzle seal. Under operating conditions, the sliding relationship permits subsequent alignment between the nozzle seal and its respective melt outlet. The nozzle seal has a two-piece gate seal with components thereof threadably coupled to each other such that relative rotation therebetween applies a sealing preload.
US08899963B2

A hot nozzle for spraying of plastic components. The hot nozzle includes a multipart nozzle body including a tip inset including a tip element having a tip section protruding outwardly beyond a circumferential surface of the multipart nozzle body into a molding plate. The tip section of the tip element is penetrated by a shut-off needle which is movable in a reciprocating manner by a drive. The shut-off needle is movable between a position in which the shut-off needle closes off a feed borehole in the molding plate and a position in which the shut-off needle opens the feed borehole.
US08899962B2

There is provided a stripper assembly (212) for use in a mold stack (202) for forming a preform (210) suitable for blow-molding into a final-shaped container. The stripper assembly (212) comprises a stripper plate (214) connectable, in use, to a stripper plate actuator; neck rings (220) configured to cooperate to define a portion a neck region (226) of the preform (210); a stripper ring (230) configured to define at least a portion of a top sealing surface of the neck region (226) of the preform (210); the stripper plate (214) being configured to actuate the neck rings (220) and the stripper ring (230), in unison, along substantially the whole length of a complete ejection path, which is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the mold stack (202); and wherein the neck rings (220) are configured for movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mold stack, over at a portion of the complete ejection path, the stripper ring (230) having an air channel (236) configured to directed a flow of fluid towards the preform.
US08899958B2

A shuttle for a feedbox of a block machine has a shuttle slide with shuttle rodding. The shuttle slide connects to the drive via a connecting rod. The connecting rod has an interconnecting bar, an articulated swing arm, and a driving reciprocating link connected to the drive. The interconnecting bar is attached to the shuttle slide via a first articulation and to the articulated swing arm via a second articulation. The articulated swing arm is attached to a static bearing via a third articulation. The driving reciprocating link is attached to the articulated swing arm via a fourth articulation.
US08899951B2

A displacement pump, including a pump chamber and a regulating chamber which are separated from each other by a piston, wherein the pump has a device with which fluid flowing from the pump chamber toward the regulating chamber can be drained.
US08899944B2

In a piezoelectric micro-blower, a vibration plate assembly includes a piezoelectric element attached to a diaphragm, with an intermediate plate interposed there between. A blower chamber plate includes a circular opening in a center thereof. A blower chamber defined by the diaphragm, a flow path plate, and the opening of the blower chamber plate is sized to allow internal pressure to be substantially uniformly changed by vibration of the diaphragm. The blower chamber plate and the flow path plate are provided with a first outlet and a second outlet, respectively. Compressive fluid pressurized in the blower chamber is blown out through the first and second outlets.
US08899942B2

A system and method for controlling the volume ratio of a compressor is provided. The system can use a port (88) or ports in a rotor cylinder to bypass vapor from the compression chamber to the discharge passage of the compressor. A control valve (90) can be used to open or close the port or ports to obtain different volume ratios in the compressor. The control valve (90) can be moved or adjusted by one or more valves that control a flow of fluid to the valve. A control algorithm can be used to control the one or more valves to move the control valve to obtain different volume ratios from the compressor. The control algorithm can control the one or more valves in response to operating parameters associated with the compressor.
US08899931B2

A hub is supported rotatably about an axis of rotation, and the diameter thereof increases from upstream to downstream sides along a fluid flow. A plurality of impeller blades extend radially outward from an outer circumferential surface of the hub. A shroud is formed in a cylindrical shape whose diameter increases from the upstream to downstream sides along the fluid flow and joins outer circumferential ends of the plurality of impeller blades. The impeller blades are composed of upstream blade segments and downstream blade segments bonded at a bonding surface extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The upstream blade segments are integral with at least a portion of the shroud, and the downstream blade segments are integral with at least a portion of the hub. This improves the reliability and performance of an impeller and a compressor.
US08899926B2

A gearbox assembly includes a first face gear driveable about a face gear axis in a first direction by at least one first pinion gear and a second face gear driveable about the face gear axis in a second direction opposite the first direction by at least one second pinion gear. A thrust bearing is located between the first face gear and the second face gear. The first face gear is configured to drive rotation of a first shaft in the first direction and the second face gear is configured to drive rotation of a second shaft in the second direction. Further disclosed is a power train for a rotary wing aircraft having a gearbox including a first face gear rotatable in a first direction and a second face gear rotatable in a second direction opposite the first direction.
US08899922B2

A blade for a rotor of a wind turbine is divided into a root region closest to the hub and an airfoil region with a lift generating profile furthest away from the hub. A transition region has a profile gradually changing in the radial direction from the circular or elliptical profile of the root region to the lift generating profile of the airfoil region, and includes at least a first longitudinal segment extending along at least 20% of a longitudinal extent of the airfoil region. A base part has an inherent non-ideal twist, such as no twist, or a reduced twist compared to a target blade twist, so that an axial induction factor of the first base part at a design point deviates from a target axial induction factor. A number of flow altering devices are arranged so as to adjust the aerodynamic properties of the first longitudinal segment.
US08899921B2

A wind turbine blade is configured such that the lift force from the blade airfoil is always normal, or nearly normal, to the shaft torque. This condition maximizes energy conversion. This objective may be achieved by a) having the airfoil chord always aligned to the actual wind direction (subject only to small angle of attack variations), and b) slowing the turbine rotation rate so that no blade twist is needed. As a result, blade tip speed due to shaft rotation is less than the wind speed, and preferably much less. This low tip speed eliminates any hazard to birds. The lift force from the blade airfoil directly drives the torque on the shaft, so the control problem simplifies to adjusting the blade angle of attack to keep the lift constant across varying wind speeds.
US08899919B2

A method for repairing a rotor system (2) of a turbomachine, having a rotor (4) which has a groove (26) extending in the circumferential direction (58) of the rotor for accommodating an annular section (18; 28). The method has the following steps: chamfering a notch (40) in the groove (26); introducing a recess (44) into the groove (26); and inserting the annular section (18; 28) into the groove (26). At least one engagement element (48; 49) formed on the annular section (18; 28) engages in the recess (44) in order to form a lock against rotation in the circumferential direction (58).
US08899911B2

The invention provides a heat-dissipating system and a control method thereof. The heat-dissipating system has a plurality of fans and is configured for adjusting rotation-speeds of the fans. The control method includes following steps: obtaining a plurality of rotation-speed values of the fans; computing out a rotation-speed reference value according to the rotation-speed values; when the rotation-speed reference value is greater than a first threshold value, decreasing the rotation-speeds of the fans through a corresponding fan control signal; when the rotation-speed reference value is less than a second threshold value, increasing the rotation-speeds of the fans through the corresponding fan control signal.
US08899909B2

The present application provides a steam turbine system. The steam turbine system may include a high pressure section, an intermediate pressure section, a shaft packing location positioned between the high pressure section and the intermediate pressure section, a source of steam, and a cooling system. The cooling system delivers a cooling steam extraction from the source of steam to the shaft packing location so as to cool the high pressure section and the intermediate pressure section.
US08899907B2

An ejection mechanism, which in one embodiment selectively ejects pipe joints to either side of a pipe arm and method for manufacturing the same. A pipe arm contains a plurality of pipe receptacles for receiving pipe joints. Pipe ejection arms are operatively connected to an ejection control mechanism. In one embodiment, at least one torsional member and/or at least one hydraulic actuator allow an operator to selectively eject pipe joints to either lateral side of the pipe arm as needed during drilling and production operations.
US08899894B2

A device for fastening a component to a fastening stud includes a holding member and a holding disk for contacting first and second surfaces of the component, respectively. The holding member and holding disk are preliminarily connected with one another, without the fastening stud, each in the state contacting the component. The holding disk has fastening projections and at least one elastic member which prohibits the fastening projections from contacting the second surface of the component, so that the device is moveable with regard to the component in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the fastening stud through a through hole of the holding disk. The elastic member is elastically deformed upon mounting of the fastening stud through the through holes of the holding disk and the component, such that the fastening projections contact the second surface of the component.
US08899892B2

Described is a device that can be used in conjunction with a pick-up truck to keep items from shifting during transit. The device is designed to hook under the bottom edge of the truck tail gate when the tailgate is in the closed position.
US08899889B2

A table unit for a machine tool includes a tilting table provided on a base and configured to be swingably indexable around a horizontal axis, a rotary table provided on the tilting table and configured to be rotatably indexable around a vertical axis orthogonal to the horizontal axis, and at least one motor disposed in the tilting table and configured to be driven to rotate the rotary table. An axis of a motor shaft of the motor is arranged in a plane formed by the horizontal axis and the vertical axis.
US08899888B2

What is provided is a tip dresser (10) capable of smoothly discharging shavings (70) by a breaker (60) provided on a cutter (40). The tip dresser includes a cutter (40) having cutting blades (47) for cutting the tip end portions (2) of a pair of electrode tips (1) and an attaching hole (50), a holder (20) to which the cutter is attached by screwing an attaching screw (55) inserted through the attaching hole, and a rotary drive portion that holds rotatably the holder. On the surface side (46) of the cutter, the breaker (60) for discharging shavings is disposed. The breaker is formed into a plate shape having an insertion hole (62) through which the attaching screw is inserted to tighten the breaker together with the cutter by an attaching screw. The breaker has, on the periphery of an attaching substrate portion (61) extending in a substantially plane shape from the peripheral edge of the insertion hole, inclined guide surfaces (65) that guide the shavings (70) produced from the portions of the cutting blades away from the surface side (46) are formed to bulge from flat portions (49) near the cutting blades while inclining from the flat portions.
US08899885B2

A method for handling material in a pneumatic materials handling system, in which material is input from an input aperture of an input point and is handled with a rotary shaper, arranged in connection with the input point, to be more compact and is transferred onwards. The rotary shaper includes a rotatable handling device with an aperture, which is arranged eccentrically with respect to the axis of rotation. The rotary shaper includes at least one stationary handling device, in which case the material to be handled is conducted into and through the rotary shaper at least partly by gravity, by suction, or by a pressure difference, or at least partly by a combination of two or more of the gravity, the suction, and the pressure difference.
US08899881B2

An offshore structure comprises a hull having a longitudinal axis and including a first column and a second column moveably coupled to the first column. Each column has a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end. In addition, the offshore structure comprises an anchor coupled to the second end of the second column and configured to secure the hull to the sea floor. The first column includes a variable ballast chamber and a first buoyant chamber positioned between the variable ballast chamber and the first end of the first column. The first buoyant chamber is filled with a gas and sealed from the surrounding environment. The second column includes a variable ballast chamber. Further, the offshore structure comprises a topside mounted to the hull.
US08899879B2

A structure-supported Jackup system comprising a Jackup drilling unit with a main deck structure and a plurality of legs movably coupled with the main deck structure, two or more support base structures disposed on seabed, and a plurality of movable supports, wherein each of the plurality of movable supports is securely coupled with either the main deck structure or one of the two or more support base structure.
US08899872B2

A screed die box includes a screed die bucket, a screed die box gate, a screed die box lever, a screed plate, and a positioning member. The screed die box gas is slidably connected at the bottom of the screed die bucket. The screed die box lever is rotatably connected to the screed die bucket and the screed die box gate for sliding the screed die box gate between an open position and a closed position. The screed plate is slidably connected along an aft side of the screed die bucket and includes a positioning aperture. The positioning member is located in the screed die bucket and engages the screed plate, the positioning member sliding the screed plate as the positioning member is rotated.
US08899866B2

A ring binder mechanism for holding loose-leaf pages has a housing having a cavity formed in the underside of a central portion of the housing. A pair of hinge plates are disposed between the sides for pivoting movement relative to the housing to open and close rings of the mechanism. The mechanism has an actuator moveable relative to the housing for opening and closing the rings. The actuator has a body, an opening arm extending from the body, a closing arm extending from the body, and a locking finger extending from the body. The closing arm extending into a space between the hinge plates and the central portion of the housing. The hinge plates extend between the opening and closing arms. The locking finger extends into the cavity in the central portion of the housing when the actuator is in the closed position.
US08899864B2

A ring binder has an elongate body and rings. Each ring includes ring members moveable between open and closed positions. The ring members and body can suitably formed together as one piece from a moldable polymeric material. The binder suitably includes a retaining system operable to selectively and releasably hold the ring members in the closed position. When the ring members are in their open position, loose-leaf pages can be added or removed from the rings. Loose-leaf pages can also be moved from one ring member to another when the ring members are in their open position.
US08899854B2

A tape printer control method including: (a) performing printing operation by driving a printing head while feeding a printing tape using a feed roller to which normal rotation power of a motor is transmitted via a gear train; (b) suspending the printing operation; (c) driving the motor slightly in the reverse rotation direction after the suspension of the printing operation to eliminate play in the reverse rotation direction produced by the backlash of the gear train without rotating the feed roller; (d) performing cutting operation for the printing tape using a tape cutter on the downstream side of the printing head in the tape feed direction; (e) driving the motor slightly in the normal rotation direction before restart of the printing operation to eliminate play in the normal rotation direction produced by the backlash of the gear train without rotating the feed roller; and (f) restarting the printing operation.
US08899852B2

A keyboard comprises a plurality of keycap-bearing physically-discrete segments that are hingeably coupled to one another. When in a non-deployed configuration, the keycap-bearing physically-discrete segments are disposed on a back side of a corresponding housing such that the keys face outwardly away from that back side of the housing. When in a deployed configuration, the keycap-bearing physically-discrete segments are disposed substantially planar with respect to that same housing and face outwardly away from a front side of the apparatus.
US08899850B2

Disclosed are lens cap assemblies wherein a removable lens cap may include a lens cap body that is configured to be removably attached to an end of a lens. The lens cap can further include a cap communication interface configured to receive lens information from a lens communication interface while the lens cap is in an attached position. The lens cap can include a display to allow for the displaying of lens characteristics and information.
US08899834B2

Systems and methods for braking and releasing one or more pivot joints used in an X-ray positioning device are described. The systems and methods use a support arm that extends between a main assembly of the x-ray positioning device and an X-ray imaging assembly with an X-ray source and an X-ray detector that are disposed nearly opposite to each other. The support arm includes one or more pivot joints (such as horizontal, lateral, and/or orbital pivot joints) that allow the imaging assembly to move with respect to the main assembly. The pivot joints can each be connected to an automated braking system that is capable of selectively locking and unlocking a corresponding pivot joint, as indicated by a user-controlled switching mechanism. The braking systems containing multiple pivot joints can be individually controlled by separate switching mechanisms or simultaneously controlled by a single switching mechanism. Other embodiments are described.
US08899831B2

A radiographic apparatus includes an image acquisition controller for controlling operation of more than one electronic cassette. For signal communication between the image acquisition controller and the electronic cassettes, each electronic cassette may be connected to a communication cable. These communication cables are connected to a switching hub that intermediates communication between the electronic cassettes and the image acquisition controller. The radiographic apparatus includes multiple power supplies corresponding in number to the electronic cassettes. Each electronic cassette may be connected to one power supply through a power cable separately from the communication cable.
US08899827B2

A thermal analysis apparatus and method, including a sample space with a sample carrier, and heating devices, and an inert gas. Flow devices generate an inert gas flow to the sample carrier. Getter devices and/or oxygen traps disposed in the inert gas flow remove residual oxygen.
US08899808B2

A luminaire module includes at least one light-emitting element (LEE); a light guide (LG) extending in a first direction from a first end of LG to a second end of LG to receive at the first end light emitted by the LEE and configured to guide the light to the second end; and an optical extractor (OE) optically coupled to LG at the second end to receive light from the LEE guided from the first end to the second end of LG. OE includes a first interface configured to reflect a first portion of the light exiting the LG and transmit a second portion of the light exiting the LG so that the second portion of the light exits OE to an ambient environment in the first direction, and a second interface configured to transmit light incident thereon to the ambient environment in a direction different from the first direction.
US08899806B2

A vehicle light is capable of preventing gaps (areas darker than peripheral areas) from being formed in between a plurality of illumination areas that are independently controlled to be illuminated with light or not to be illuminated with light, or suppressing the generation of such gaps. The vehicle light can include a projection lens and a light source unit disposed behind the rear-side focal plane of the projection lens. The light source unit can include a plurality of tubular portions each having a reflective inner peripheral surface, and a plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements. Exit openings of the plurality of tubular portions can be arranged side by side in a substantial horizontal direction behind the rear-side focal plane of the projection lens. Adjacent ones of the plurality of exit openings of the tubular portions can be defined and partitioned by a common vertical edge.
US08899805B2

A light bar assembly mounted on the roof or rear door of an emergency vehicle. The assembly includes a light bar support shaped for the particular make and model of a vehicle on which the assembly is installed or alternately a support configured for mounting on two or more different vehicle models. The support has openings formed in it, each corresponding to the location of a preexisting opening formed in the vehicle for electrical wiring and mounting fasteners that can be used to attach the support to the vehicle so that no additional openings or other alterations are required. This allows the light bar assembly to be readily mounted on the vehicle without modifications to the vehicle or the assembly being required. Lights are mounted on the support. The lights are selectively illuminated in accordance with the use of the vehicle in emergency or other situations.
US08899800B2

An intelligent light device for a vehicle includes a light body, a light-controlling unit, a light-emitting unit and a condensing lens. The light-controlling unit has a MCU and a PWM. The light-controlling unit is used to sense a first illumination level of a surrounding area of a light projection region. Wherein when the MCU receives a signal of the first illumination level, the MCU generates one command of a difference value between a preset illumination level and the first illumination level; and then, the MCU transmits one command to the PWM; thereafter, the PWM adjusts a second illumination level of the light-emitting unit according to one command from the MCU so as to achieve a third illumination level of the light projection region.
US08899799B1

A stroller safety light assembly fittable and releasably securable to a frame of an extant stroller wherein a plurality of LEDs illuminate the frame of the stroller and a pair of headlights, disposed proximal the stroller front wheels, directs illumination forwards and a pair of taillights, disposed proximal to the stroller rear wheels, directs illumination rearwards whereby said stroller is made more visible to road users and passersby.
US08899795B2

In a lamp device 12 using a GX53-type cap 31 and also using an LED 56 as a light source, there is regulated an appropriate configuration of a metallic cover 32. A cap 31 and a lighting device 36 are arranged on an upper surface side of the metallic cover 32, and a substrate 33 on which the LED 56 is mounted is arranged on a lower surface side thereof. The metallic cover 32 has an approximately cylindrical shape with a maximum outer diameter D of 80 to 150 mm, a height H of 5 to 25 mm, and 2π (D/2) H/W, that is, an area of the outer peripheral surface per gross input power W to the lamp device 12 being in a range of 200 to 800 mm2/W. The gross input power W is 5 to 20 W.
US08899792B2

Embodiments described herein provide an optical system having a light source (e.g., LED) and a high numerical aperture multi-element optical stack. According to one embodiment, the optical stack can reimage an entrance aperture. The multi-element optical stack can include a number of optical elements forming a series of lenses. The series of lenses comprises, a first lens positioned to receive light emitted in a first beam angle and a second lens more distal from the LED than the first lens, the second lens defining a second lens exit aperture that has at least a minimum area necessary to conserve radiance for the emission beam angle in air. The lenses in said series of lenses are configured, in combination, to successively reduce a beam angle of light from the first beam angle to the emission beam angle.
US08899788B2

The present invention provides a light source fixing device for fixing a light emitting element. The light emitting element comprises a light source and a supporting plate for supporting the light source. The light source fixing device comprises a heat dissipating support which comprises a receiving recess. The receiving recess is adapted to receive the supporting plate. The light source fixing device further comprises an elastic element disposed in the receiving recess, and the elastic element is adapted to apply an elastic force on the supporting plate so that the supporting plate is fixed in the receiving recess. The present invention further provides a light source assembly and an assembling method thereof. The light source assembly features a simple assembling process, high reliability and a low cost.
US08899787B2

The present disclosure discloses an apparatus for thermally protecting an LED device. The apparatus includes a substrate. The apparatus includes a plurality of light-emitting devices disposed over the substrate. A selected one of the plurality of light-emitting devices is at least partially surrounded by the rest of the plurality of light-emitting devices. The apparatus includes a feedback mechanism electrically coupled to the selected light-emitting device. The feedback mechanism is operable to detect a change in a temperature of the selected light-emitting device. The feedback mechanism is also operable to adjust an electrical current through at least the selected light-emitting device in response to the detected change in the temperature.
US08899772B2

An LCD device includes a backlight module, a liquid crystal layer, a brightness detecting module and a control unit. The backlight module includes a light guide plate and light sources. The light guide plate includes a light-mixing part and a light-homogenized part. Protrusions are positioned on the light guide plate. A density of the protrusions in the light-mixing part is greater than that in the light-homogenized part. The liquid crystal layer includes an adjustable part corresponding to the light-mixing part and a nonadjustable part corresponding to the light-homogenized part. The brightness detecting module acquires a brightness distribution data of the liquid crystal layer. The control unit makes a brightness of the adjustable part coincide with a brightness of the nonadjustable part according to the brightness distribution data.
US08899764B2

A distortion free image capture mirror assembly, and more particularly one which can be associated with side view mirrors for use by drivers on all type of vehicles. The distortion free image capture mirror assembly includes a support or housing, a distortion free mirror, and image channeling horizontal surfaces in the form of an image channeling awning disposed above the distortion free mirror, and an image channeling sill mounted below the distortion free mirror. In addition, side beams to the right and left sides of the distortion free mirror are provided. The two horizontal surfaces will serve to eliminate distracting background view and direct or channel the image from the critical blind spot area with a clear non-distorted view toward the driver.
US08899763B2

A device for concentrating solar radiation (4) with longitudinal mirrors (7) and a longitudinal receiver (1), has mirrors with a circular cross-section with a radius of curvature that is twice the transverse distance from the center (35) of each mirror to the central point (3) of the receiver. The width of the receiver is 1% of the transverse distance from the central point to the center (89) of the furthest mirror (32). The width of each mirror is determined according to the drift of the rays reflected when the mirror focuses the sun, prescribing an equal width for all mirrors, which is: equal to the width of the active face (2) of the receiver when mounted according to the meridian; and triple the width of the active face (2) of the receiver when mounted according to the parallel of latitude. The mirrors are installed in a contiguous manner and the receiver is installed at a height on columns (8).
US08899762B2

An exterior sideview mirror system includes an exterior sideview mirror assembly including a reflective element having a rearward field of view when attached to a side of an automobile. The reflective element includes has a plano reflective element and a separate auxiliary reflective element having a curvature. The plano reflective element and the auxiliary reflective element are supported adjacently at a backing plate element having a first support portion supporting the plano reflective element and a second support portion supporting the auxiliary reflective element. The auxiliary reflective element is positioned at an outboard portion of the reflective element assembly when the exterior sideview mirror assembly is attached to the side of the automobile. When the exterior sideview mirror assembly is attached to and operated at the side of the automobile, the field of view of the auxiliary reflective element overlaps with the field of view of the plano reflective element.
US08899751B2

A method for obtaining a tomographic image of a fundus by optical coherence tomography includes the steps of setting a line, based on which the fundus tomographic image is to be obtained, on a first front image of the fundus, the first front image being a still image, establishing a positional correspondence between a second front image of the fundus and the first front image by matching the first and second front images, specifying a line on the second front image based on positional information on the line set on the first front image, and the established positional correspondence, and obtaining the fundus tomographic image that corresponds to the lines on the first and second front images by scanning measurement light with the use of an optical scanner provided to an interference optical system.
US08899745B2

Described are methods for covalently attaching one or more functional compounds to an ophthalmic lens. The method involves (a) contacting the lens with a functional compound, wherein the functional compound comprises at least one group capable of forming a covalent bond with the lens upon exposing the lens to irradiation and/or heat; and (b) irradiating and/or heating the lens produced in step (a) to covalently attach the functional compound to the lens. Also described herein are ophthalmic lens produced by the methods described herein.
US08899743B2

A frame with an outer lens having a slit that stagnantly sealingly conforms to the user's face to create a stagnant air barrier that creates air resistance against airborne particles entering the slit, traversing the interior space, and then contacting the user's eyes. The user can see through the slit even if airborne particles deposited on the outer lens obscure the user's vision. Alternatively, a frame with an outer lens having slits for a user's eyes and a protective inner lens having transparent portions has an inlet communicating with the interior space created between the inner and outer lenses. A portable compressed air source introduces compressed air into the interior space to create an air stream that flows outwardly through the slits. The air stream prevents airborne particles from entering through the slits and into the interior space and contacting the inner lens, to maintain transparency. The user can carry the compressed air source and move freely.
US08899737B2

An approach is provided for controlling ultraviolet-curable gel ink spread of a printed image. The approach involves causing, at least in part, one or more inks to be applied to a first substrate image area by one or more inkjets in a printing zone of a printer, the one or more inkjets being configured to form one or more first ink spots on the first substrate image area. The approach also involves determining a temperature of at least the first substrate image area in the printing zone. The approach further involves determining a first spot size of at least one of the one or more first ink spots. The approach additionally involves causing, at least in part, a temperature of at least a second substrate image area in the printing zone to be based, at least in part, on the determined first spot size.
US08899735B2

A method of supplying ink to an inkjet printhead having multiple ink color channels. The method includes the steps of: supplying black ink to a black color channel of the printhead; and supplying yellow ink to a yellow color channel of the printhead. The black ink is supplied to the printhead at a lower pressure than the yellow ink.
US08899731B2

An ink jet printing device includes a pressure chamber, a first actuator membrane being arranged to form a first flexible wall of the pressure chamber, a first piezo-electric part being operatively connected to a surface of the first actuator membrane, a second actuator membrane being arranged to form a second flexible wall of the pressure chamber and a second piezo-electric part being operatively connected to a surface of the second actuator membrane, wherein the second flexible wall is mechanically decoupled from the first flexible wall.
US08899728B2

A droplet discharge head includes a nozzle plate provided with a nozzle opening which discharges an ink drop, an actuator substrate which forms a pressurized liquid chamber communicating with the nozzle opening, and is provided with a pressure generator changing a pressure in the pressured liquid chamber, and a common liquid chamber-forming substrate which forms a common liquid chamber to which ink which is supplied to the pressurized liquid chamber is supplied, the common liquid chamber-forming substrate includes a first plate made of a metal material, a second plate made of a resin material provided on one surface of the first plate, and a third plate made of a resin material provided on the other surface of the first plate, and the first plate, the second plate, and the third plate being integrally molded in a thickness direction.
US08899719B2

An image forming method includes discharging an inkjet ink including a water-dispersible colorant, a wetter, a surfactant, a penetrant water-dispersible polyurethane resin having a median diameter of from 0.01 to 0.10 μm water and at least one of a polyethylene wax and a paraffin wax on the surface of the recording medium on which the inkjet ink is discharged.
US08899718B2

To provide printed seamless cans in small lots having many kinds of designs, the printed seamless cans excellently reproducing the density of the area solidly printed all over the surface and forming vivid images.[Means for Solution] A printed seamless can forming at least a printed layer and a finishing varnish layer on at least the body portion on the outer surface of the seamless can, the printed layer having an image formed by the plate-type printing and an image formed by the ink-jet printing, and being covered with the finishing varnish layer.
US08899710B2

A liquid discharge apparatus which causes a liquid to be discharged through a first nozzle by applying a driving signal to a first driving element, and causes a liquid to be discharged through a second nozzle by applying the driving signal to a second driving element, and which, with respect to the first nozzle, determines on the basis of an image formed by causing the liquid to be discharged through the first nozzle whether or not the first nozzle causes a liquid discharge failure, and, with respect to the second nozzle, determines on the basis of a detection signal which is obtained by applying the driving signal to the second driving element whether or not the second nozzle corresponding to the second driving element causes a liquid discharge failure.
US08899706B2

A recording apparatus, including: a tank mount on which a tank is mountable; a first casing; a second casing provided with the tank mount, connected to the first casing with a shaft, and pivotable between a close position and a distant position about the shaft; a judging section configured to judge whether a tank mount state is a middle-of-mounting state; a limitation portion configured to establish a limitation state for limiting the pivotal movement of the second casing at the close position and a release state for allowing the pivotal movement at the close position; and a limitation control section configured to control the limitation portion to establish the limitation state when the tank is in the middle-of-mounting state, and control the limitation portion to establish the release state when the tank is not in the middle-of-mounting state.
US08899702B2

An electronic apparatus includes a shell base, a shell cover and a latch mechanism including an operating component, a pivot axle and a driving axle. The operating component has an access portion and two support portions extending through the shell cover. The pivot axle extends through the support portions, and has two end parts disposed at opposite lateral sides of the support portions and coupled rotatably to the shell cover. The driving axle extends through the support portions and is received in a limit groove of the shell base. The access portion is pivotable about the pivot axle from a closed position to an open position while the driving axle is positioned in the slide direction, thereby moving the pivot axle and the shell cover relative to the shell base.
US08899697B2

A system including: a liquid-pressure source device that can supply working fluid to a brake device; and an ABS valve device. The system executes a first control in which a supply pressure of the working fluid becomes a target supply pressure and a second control for making the supply pressure fall within the target range. In this system, when the valve device is not being operated, the first control is executed. When the valve device is being operated, the second control is normally operated, and when the supply pressure is higher than a threshold value, the first control is executed. Where completion of the operation of the valve device is estimated, the system performs at least one of reducing the threshold value, reducing an upper limit value of the target range, increasing an electric power supplied to a pressure-reduce linear valve during the first control when the valve device is being operated, and reducing the target supply pressure.
US08899691B2

Disclosed are methods for solution mining of evaporite minerals, such as trona, comprising drilling an access well and at least two lateral boreholes; injecting a fluid; circulating the fluid through the lateral boreholes with a controlled fluid flow; and collecting a pregnant solution. Also disclosed are methods of solution mining that include injecting an aqueous solution into an underground trona cavity at a temperature sufficient to maintain at least a portion of the solution in the cavity in the Wegscheiderite solid phase region; removing aqueous solution from the cavity; and recovering alkaline values from the removed aqueous solution. Also disclosed are methods of solution mining that include injecting an aqueous solution into an underground trona cavity; removing aqueous solution from the cavity, wherein the temperature of the removed aqueous solution is at about the TWA point temperature; and recovering alkaline values from the removed aqueous solution.
US08899680B2

The invention relates to a mechanism (2) designed for a chair, in particular for a rotatable office chair having a gas spring (12) vertically arranged in the underframe (1), the gas spring having a telescopically extendible piston rod so that the height of the seat (9) can be adjusted. The tilting adjustment of the seat (9) between the rest position (S0) and the relaxation position (Smax) occurs in synchronization with the adjustment of the backrest (96) between a rest position (R0) and a relaxation position (Rmax) inclined backward. The mechanism (2) has a shell (30), through which a stationary first rotational axis (D1) extends and on which a seat carrier (80) capable of being inclined is mounted. A front-side connection means (33) is arranged between the seat carrier (80) and the shell (30), the front-side connection means being connected to the shell (30) in an articulated manner in a second rotational axis (D2) and being connected to the seat carrier (80) in an articulated manner in a third rotational axis (D3). A rear-side connection means (60) is provided, which is connected in an articulated manner in the first rotational axis (D1) and in a fourth rotational axis (D4), which extends through the seat carrier (80). A spring system (46) acting between the shell (30) and the seat carrier (80) is provided. The mechanism (2) has a force adjuster (39), which can be actuated from the outside and which is designed to change the preloading of the spring system (46) by means of a transmission arrangement (390,51,52,53). The transmission arrangement (390,51,52,53) comprises movable means (52,53) having inclined surfaces provided thereon, wherein a rear-side bearing (462,464,465) of the spring system (46) is supported on said inclined surfaces.
US08899675B2

A heat ventilating chair includes a backrest unit, a seat unit, and a connecting unit connecting the backrest unit to the seat unit. One of the backrest unit and the seat unit includes a hollow member having an air pump, a pressure valve, and a channel that communicates fluidly the air pump and the pressure valve. The connecting unit is connected between the air pump and the other one of the backrest unit and the seat unit. The connecting unit drives the air pump to expel hot air in the channel to the ambient via the pressure valve when the backrest unit is forced to incline rearward. The connecting unit drives the air pump to draw ambient cool air into the channel via the pressure valve when the backrest unit is restored from a rearwardly inclined state.
US08899674B2

A chair with a seat portion and a base portion fixed to a floor surface. A seat back is mounted to the seat portion through a hinge portion for rotation with respect to the seat portion with a guide groove formed on side surfaces thereof. The guide groove has a guide pin movably fitted so as to be movable in the front-and-rear direction together with the seat portion with respect to the base portion. A foot stand is rotatably mounted to a front end portion of the seat portion through a second hinge portion with a connecting rod with one end portion rotatably mounted to the foot stand through a third hinge portion and the other end portion rotatably mounted to a lower end portion of the seat back through a fourth hinge portion so as to connect the foot stand and the seat back to each other.
US08899672B2

A linkage for a foldable high chair comprises at least a front strut frame, a rear strut frame, a chair back frame, a seat support frame, a pair of arm rests, a first link, a second link and third link assembled by pivoting with each other and a locking mechanism for keeping the foldable high chair in a use position. The seat support frame is driven by the chair back frame and drives the first slidable connector through the first link and the third link, and then the first slidable connector may drive the rear strut frame through the second link, thereby rotating the rear strut frame to the front strut frame.
US08899666B1

A vehicle body having a reinforcement structure includes a side outer panel on an outer side of the vehicle body, a side inner panel on an inner side of the vehicle body at a predetermined distance from the side outer panel, a door hinge box attached to an upper portion of an inner side of the side inner panel, a door lower hinge reinforcement plate attached to a lower portion of the inner side of the side inner panel, vertically at a predetermined distance from the door hinge box, a bulk head attached to an upper end of the door lower reinforcement plate, with one end attached to an inner side of the side outer panel and the other end attached to an outer side of the side inner panel, and a reinforcement bracket disposed in an up-down direction to connect the door hinge box and the bulk head.
US08899665B2

A side structure for an automobile body has an A-pillar having a first portion which has a closed cross section and which is connected to a side sill and extends upwards, and a second portion which has a closed cross section and which is continuous with the first portion and extends along a slope therefrom, and a roof rail side member which has a closed cross section and which is continuous with the A-pillar and is connected to a B-pillar. The side reinforcing member having a closed cross section and a shape which is bent three-dimensionally and which is constituted by a single member in the axial direction and has undergone high frequency quenching is disposed so a to extend at least inside the second portion and inside the roof rail side member to be positioned to the rear of the connection with the B-pillar.
US08899664B2

A crossmember assembly for a vehicle may include an upper panel; a pair of lower panels assembled at a lower side of both end portions of the upper panel to form a first box, a center lower panel, a middle portion of which is assembled to a lower middle portion of the upper panel, and a front side lower arm mounting panel and a rear side lower arm mounting panel that are disposed at a lower front side and a lower rear side of the crossmember assembly, respectively, and mounted to the both end portions of the upper panel to house a lower arm.
US08899663B2

A vehicle body structure is obtained that can ensure ease of ingress/egress in a structure in which an energy absorbing member is disposed at a vehicle width direction outer side with respect to a skeleton member that forms a lower edge of an opening for ingress/egress. A vehicle body structure (10) has a rocker (20) that is long in a front-rear direction and at which a cross-section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is a closed cross-sectional portion (20C); an outer panel (55) that covers the rocker (20) from a transverse direction outer side; and an EA member (54) for a side collision that is disposed between the rocker (20) and the outer panel (55). An opening flange (80) is formed by joining of a standing flange (60), that is disposed at a vehicle width direction outer side with respect to the closed cross-sectional portion (20C) at the rocker (20), and a standing flange (62) of the outer panel (55).
US08899660B1

The invention provides an aerodynamic system and a method for controlling airflow over a land vehicle by self-adaptive aerodynamic means alternatively to essentially impenetrable obstructions. The system comprises at least one aerodynamic skirt disposed under the vehicle body. Each aerodynamic skirt is an assembly of airflow-controlling elements forming a surface of the skirt. The elements obstruct only a part of the surface area and create openings over the remaining part of the area. The airflow-controlling elements are configured to reduce the vehicle air drag and mitigate detrimental impacts of side winds on the vehicle by generating optimum air streams over the openings and away from the openings, creating backward air streams under the body and generating aerodynamic vortex shields.
US08899656B1

This invention uses fixed number of randomly generated pulses to turn on/off headlamp(s) and viewing screen simultaneously in each base time interval. The percentage of total “on” time during each base interval, the duty cycle, is low. This method dims the oncoming headlights by at least a half without dimming any objects illuminated by own vehicle's headlights. The system is independent and anonymous, meaning in order to make the system work, there is no need for other vehicles to install anything nor will drivers of other vehicles notice anything different in the vehicle with such system installed.
US08899650B2

An adsorbent in a board conveying hand includes: a pad for adsorbing a board in contact with the board; and an elastic member interposed between the fork and the pad and provided with an adsorption passage for allowing an adsorbing fluid to pass between the fork and the pad, wherein a part of the elastic member is deformed, thus arbitrarily varying a projection amount of the pad from the fork.
US08899643B2

Apparatus are provided for collecting pet waste. In embodiments a grapple coupled to a housing is selectively operable between a closed position in which the grapple and housing substantially enclose a body compartment and an open position in which the grapple and housing define a mouth in communication with the body compartment. A handle is coupled to the housing, and a grapple control on the handle is configured to selectively operate the grapple between the open and closed positions. The grapple control may comprise a grip lever. A bag roll may be supported inside the body compartment by an axle mount. Bags may be unspooled from the bag roll and, without being torn from the bag roll, placed over a portion of the housing and the grapple to provide a sanitary barrier between the apparatus and pet waste.
US08899640B2

A handle assembly includes a support fixable to the door of a vehicle, a grip carried by the support tilting between a rest position and a working position, in which it is at least partially turned transversally with respect to the support, and a mechanical motion transmission device connecting in use the grip to a door locking device for releasing the latter when the grip is in the working position. The handle assembly further includes a counter-weight carried by in the support transversally movable to the same between a first position, in which it is arranged facing, but away from the mechanical motion transmission device, and a second position, in which it intercepts the motion transmission device for stopping the same along at least part of their movement path thus preventing the release of the door locking device.
US08899637B2

A tailgate latching mechanism for a round bale that utilizes action of the tailgate lift cylinders to release the latch to allow the tailgate to be opened and an independent spring action to cause the mechanism to catch and latch the tailgate into position upon closure of the tailgate.
US08899636B2

A flip cover latch assembly includes a base component, and a flip cover pivotally connected to the base component and configured to pivot between an opened position and a closed position. A first magnet is disposed on the base component at the closed position. The first magnet has a polarity that attracts the flip cover. A second magnet is disposed on the base component at an intermediate position between the closed position and the opened position. The second magnet has a polarity that repels the flip cover. A third magnet is disposed on the base component at the opened position. The third magnet having a polarity that attracts the flip cover.
US08899633B2

The present disclosure relates to a lock device, such as for safety functions, which includes a displaceable lock bolt, which can cooperate with a receiver in order to provide a locked position and unlocked position. The lock bolt includes a guide portion in a second lock bolt portion which, in response to a guiding device applying a force to the lock bolt, guides the lock bolt from the unlocked position to the locked position. The guiding device, in the locked position, is prevented from displacing the lock bolt to the unlocked position. The lock bolt is arranged to be displaced from the locked position to the unlocked position through influence of an external force applied to a first lock bolt portion.
US08899631B2

A Brunnian link is a link formed from a closed loop doubled over itself to capture another closed loop to form a chain. Elastic bands can be utilized to form such links in a desired manner. A disclosed kit includes a template for mounting an initial band and a hook utilized for attaching additional bands to the initial bands placed on the template. The template includes pins that hold the initial band in place while additional bands are linked onto each other. The kit further includes a clip utilized to attach ends once the desired length is formed.
US08899630B1

A subsea pipe connection assembly has a first flange, a nut magazine positioned against a side of the first flange and having a plurality of nuts therein corresponding to the plurality of holes of the first flange, a second flange having a plurality of holes in alignment with the holes of the first flange, and a plurality of studs extending through holes of the first and second flanges such that the nuts in the nut magazine are affixed to the ends of the studs. A sleeve is affixed to and extending from the second flange. An ROV-delivered frame can be supported on the sleeve of the pipe such that a torquing tool connected to the frame can apply torque to a nut on the stud. The sleeve has a guide surface thereon so as to direct the torquing tool to nuts on the plurality of studs.
US08899628B2

A coupling component is provided for a plug-in connection for media-carrying lines, and includes a flow channel that has an inner cross-section that is enlarged in steps in order to allow the formation of a reflux zone when carrying the media, and a vent opening. The step-like enlargement is asymmetrically formed over the circumference of the inner cross-section so as to achieve an improved separation capacity.
US08899614B2

A collapsible child support apparatus includes a frame supporting a seat for the child, the frame and the seat having an open condition for seating a child in the seat and a collapsed condition. The frame includes left and right frame assemblies, each frame assembly comprising a front member, a rear member and a handle member pivotally mounted together by a hinge member to allow pivotal movement of the frame members between open and collapsed conditions. The seat includes a seat base supported by the front frame members, a seat back suspended to the handle members and a seat pivot to allow the seat back and seat base to pivot between open and closed conditions, wherein the seat back is suspended to the handle members to allow the seat back to pivot to any one of a plurality of reclined positions relative to the seat base in the open condition. Each frame assembly comprises a strut of fixed length which is connected between the seat pivot and the handle member for resisting movement of the seat pivot relative to the frame in the open condition.
US08899613B2

A baby stroller for transporting a child is disclosed. This baby stroller has a folding mechanism to facilitate folding for easier stowing and transporting. The folding mechanism, a unique feature of the design is directed toward compactness, ease of use, reliability, and reduction in manufacturing costs.
US08899608B2

An interchangeable hitch assembly including a hitch member supported on a hitch post, the hitch member including plural hitches each in a separate radial position, where the hitch member is rotable to place one of the hitches in a selected position for attachment, a locking assembly adapted to hold the one of the hitches in said selected position.
US08899598B2

A compressed air supply installation for operating a pneumatic installation, especially an air suspension installation of a vehicle, includes an air supply unit and an air compression unit for supplying a compressed air supply unit with compressed air, a pneumatic connection, especially a bleeding line, comprising a bleeding valve and a bleeding port for bleeding air, and a pneumatic connection, especially a compressed air supply line having an air drier and a compressed air port for supplying the pneumatic installation with compressed air The air drier has a drier container through which compressed air can flow and which contains a desiccant. The drier container has a wall forming a desiccant-free recess, and at least part of the bleeding valve system is arranged in the recess.
US08899594B2

An adjustable seal apparatus for mounting a mixing apparatus having a movable shaft in sealed engagement with a wall of a vessel and in a selected orientation with respect to the wall of the vessel. The adjustable seal apparatus includes a seal mechanism for creating a gas-tight seal between the shaft of the mixing apparatus and the wall of the vessel and an adjustable mounting mechanism for selectively positioning the shaft in a desired orientation.
US08899585B2

A lottery game apparatus includes a distribution section (discharge section) that discharges a ball that has been discharged in response to an operation input performed using an operation section, a plurality of open areas that receive the ball that has fallen from the distribution section, a plurality of lottery sections that implement a lottery using the ball, a moving path that guides the ball that has fallen into a first open area to a first lottery section, a moving path that guides the ball that has fallen into a second open area to a second lottery section, and a moving path that guides the ball that has fallen into a third open area to a third lottery section. The distribution section changes the discharge position or the discharge direction of the ball.
US08899578B2

An image forming apparatus which may include an apparatus body, a feed tray, an image forming unit, an eject section and a first transport mechanism forming a first transport path extending between the feed tray and the eject section via the image forming unit. The image forming apparatus may also include a second transport mechanism forming a second transport path that extends between a branch position located downstream of the image forming unit on the first transport path and a merge position located upstream of the image forming unit on the first transport path. The second transport mechanism may be configured to transport the recording medium along the second transport path and reintroduce the recording medium to the first transport path from the merge position. At least one part of the second transport mechanism and the feed tray may be incorporated in a detachable unit.
US08899570B2

Disclosed are a moving rail assembly and a bill receiving and dispensing apparatus which are configured such that an angle at which a carriage unit moves along a rail can be adjusted to various angles. The moving rail assembly includes a moving body, a main rail and a sub-rail. The moving body includes a main rotating roller and a sub-rotating roller disposed at a different widthwise position from the main rotating roller. The main rail has a first path for guiding the main rotating roller, and a second path for guiding the sub-rotating roller. The first path and the second path extend parallel to each other. The sub-rail branches off from the second path and extends in a different direction from the main rail. The sub-rail guides the sub-rotating roller.
US08899562B1

Apparatus for dispersing impact forces are provided. An apparatus for dispersing impact forces includes a housing having a contact end with an aperture; a contact member located at least primarily inside the housing; a biasing member biasing the contact member toward the housing aperture; and a sensor. The housing contact end is secured to an impact receiving surface. The sensor initiates an alert when an impact force received on the impact receiving surface causes the contact member to shift a predetermined distance from an initial position.
US08899558B2

A water level sensor is closely adhered to a storage tank, and a heat exchanger sterilizing and humidifying apparatus allows the water level sensor to be mounted at the outside of the storage tank, thus having a simple configuration. The water level sensor may include a holder, a cap connected to the holder so as to reciprocate within the holder, a case connected to the cap so as to reciprocate within the holder, a sensor part attached to the case to sense the water level in the storage tank, and a spring located between the holder and the cap, wherein the sensor part mounted at the outside of the storage tank and attached to the case by restoring force of the spring when the storage tank contacts the case may be closely adhered to the storage tank and thus may sense a level of water stored in the storage tank.
US08899551B2

A valve assembly includes a valve body having a body recess and a bonnet including a bonnet recess having a bonnet mating surface. The valve assembly further includes a valve cage disposed within an interior of the valve body, the valve cage including a body portion extending along a longitudinal axis and a circumferential mating protrusion extending from an outer surface in a transverse direction, the mating protrusion including an upper mating surface and a lower mating surface. The upper mating surface is disposed within the bonnet recess to be aligned with the bonnet mating surface, and the lower mating surface is disposed within the body recess to be aligned with the body mating surface, wherein the upper and lower mating surface are not parallel. Accordingly, clamping forces acting on the mating protrusion include a longitudinal and tangential component, allowing for increased clamping forces without plastically deforming the mating protrusion.
US08899550B2

A connector for removably connecting two fluid channels which includes a first element and a second element that fit into one another and wherein the first element includes a body connected with the second element when the second element and the first element are at least partially fitted into one another following a combined relative rotational and translational movement, by a first link between at least one locking pin and at least one locking slot, and wherein the first element includes a single ring mounted around the body and wherein the body and the ring are linked following a combined relative rotational and translational movement by a second link between at least one guiding pin and at least one guiding slot.
US08899545B2

An apparatus for affixing an object to a rail includes, but is not limited to at least one base body, at least one locking body and at least one operating element. The locking body is held so as to be movable relative to the base body and is connected to the operating element by way of at least one bearing. The operating element is arranged so as to be rotatable in the base body, includes, but is not limited to a cam that acts on the base body, and when rotated moves the locking body towards the base body. In this way apparatus is created which makes possible the manual affixing and undoing, without the need for tools, of an object on and from a rail, for example, if needed, in order to reposition displaceable monuments in a cabin of an aircraft.
US08899544B2

A hold-down apparatus (10) for holding an associated cable tray on an associated support rod member includes a main body portion (100), U-shaped expansion and fixed clamp portions (102, 104), and first and second indicia (330, 332). The expansion clamp portion (102) is configured to loosely engage hold an associated bead of the cable tray relative to the associated support rod member and the fixed clamp portion (104) tightly holds the members together. The first indicia (330) is carried on a side of the main body portion (100) opposite from the fixed clamp portion (104) and the second indicia (320) is carried on a side of the main body portion (100) opposite from the expansion clamp portion (102). The indicia (330, 332) are visually distinguishable from the main body portion (100) for indicating an orientation of the fixed and expansion clamp portions (102, 104) relative to the associated cable tray.
US08899541B2

An adjustable fastener includes a base having a first surface and an opposing second surface. At least two flanges extend outwardly from the second surface. The flanges are spaced-apart along a longitudinal axis of the base. At least one tab is movably attached to the base. The tab is positioned between the two flanges and includes at least one rib extending outwardly therefrom. A carriage is movably attachable to the base. The carriage is directly attachable to at least a portion of an object. The carriage includes at least one elongated extension having a plurality of complementary spaced-apart ribs for engaging the rib of the tab of the base to locate and retain the elongated extension on the base.
US08899538B2

An apparatus to hang a game trophy on a support structure and to facilitate adjustment of the orientation of the game trophy relative to the support structure comprising a first member, having a dog and a protruding peg with an enlarged head, and a saddle portion adjacent to the enlarged head, and a second member having a bay opening, a bay, a recess adjacent to the bay opening, and a plurality of generally adjacent dog recesses. A method of hanging a game trophy comprises receiving the enlarged head of the peg through the bay opening to align the saddle portion of the first member with the throat of the bay of the second member, and by then receiving the dog into an aligned dog recess of the second member to releasably couple the second member to the first member.
US08899525B2

An aircraft store ejector systems and subsystems thereof. Embodiments can include a two-reservoir re-pressurization system wherein a remote reservoir is used to maintain desired pressure in a local ejector reservoir. The system can include a release valve having a vent valve and valve piston. The release valve can control release of pressurized gas to a pitch control valve. The pitch control valve can be configured to distribute the pressurized gas between two or more ejector piston assemblies. One or more of the ejector piston assemblies can include multiple concentric piston stages and piston chambers, the piston chambers configured to contain a volume of gas. The ejector piston assemblies can be configured to compress the volume of gas within the piston chambers as the piston stages are extended out from the aircraft. Such compression can provide a return force to the piston stages.
US08899523B2

This invention provides a fuselage of an aircraft or space vehicle with a fuselage section having an outer skin, wherein at least the outer skin of the fuselage section consists of a glass-fiber reinforced aluminum laminate to form a safety zone for passengers in the event of a fire.
US08899520B2

An airplane includes a wing mounted mid-level on a tubular fuselage. The wing includes carry-through that passes transversely through the fuselage and divides a cabin deck into fore and aft sections. At least one longitudinal passageway in the carry-through structure allows passenger/crew walk-through between the fore and aft sections of the deck.
US08899515B2

An air vehicle, as well as a method for folding an air vehicle for storage, may include a fuselage and a wing connected to the fuselage. The wing may include two ends positioned opposite from each other, and the wing may be substantially perpendicular to the fuselage. At least one of the ends may define a space therebetween the fuselage and the wing. The space may be sized to receive a potion of the wing when the wing is wrapped around the fuselage.
US08899496B2

The invention concerns an agricultural sprayer with an arm comprising multiple segments, which are pivotable relative to each other, whereby the arm is pivotable out of a transport position into an operating position and/or back into a transport position, whereby the complete arm is attachable to a drawing vehicle, such as a tractor, and pivotable around a first horizontal swiveling axis, whereby at least one of the segments of the arm is pivotable around a second swiveling axis, which is in general vertically aligned in the transport position and whereby the discrete segments comprise units, which are arranged relative to each other per segment such, that a work plane through those units is in general vertically aligned in the transport position, wherein the complete arm is pivoted out of the transport position in the operating position around the first swiveling axis, such that the work plane is generally horizontally aligned. The invention concerns further a system with a tractor and such an agricultural sprayer, wherein a middle segment of the arm is positioned in the operating position on a support surface on the tractor. The invention concerns further a method for pivoting an arm comprising of a multitude of segments, whereby the arm is fully pivoted out of horizontally oriented operation position in a vertically oriented intermediate position and thereafter the discrete enlarging segments, sticking away from the middle segment (4), are pivoted in the direction of the middle section in a transport position.
US08899494B2

In certain embodiments, a fuel injector includes a wall separating a fuel passage from an air passage. The fuel injector also includes a fuel injection port extending from a first side of the wall to a second side of the wall for injecting a flow of fuel from the fuel passage into a flow of air in the air passage. In addition, the fuel injector includes first and second feedback lines extending from a downstream end of the fuel injection port to an upstream end of the fuel injection port. The first and second feedback lines are disposed on opposite sides of the fuel injection port. In addition, the first and second feedback lines are disposed entirely within the wall.
US08899487B2

A card authenticates a cardholder. The card includes a substrate, a sensor module, a wireless transceiver module, and a power circuit. The sensor module includes (a) a biometric sensor adapted to detect biometric information from a person's body, (b) a processor unit adapted to authenticate the person in response to the detected biometric information and generate an authentication signal representing an authentication result, and (c) a memory adapted to store biometric information of a specific individual associated with the card. The wireless transceiver module transmits signals received from the processor unit and receives a wirelessly-transmitted power signal. The power circuit generates at least one supply voltage from the received power signal and provides the supply voltage to the sensor module. An electronic passport is embedded with the card, and a terminal module is used for wirelessly transmitting power to and receiving signals from the electronic passport.
US08899479B2

A method for monitoring the flow and usage of a plurality of medical devices (4) in a hospital (2) environment, in which before shipping the medical devices (4) to a hospital (2) identification tags (17) are connected to said medical devices (4) which are detectable at a distance and contain a medical device identification code and, upon receiving the medical devices (4) in the hospital (2) store (13; 14), they are scanned to detect and store the medical device identification codes of the received medical devices (4) as entrance codes in a data base (31;28) and, when medical devices (4) leave the hospital (2) store (13;14) towards an operation theater block (9) or clinical department, they are scanned to detect and store the medical device identification codes of the medical devices (4) which left the hospital store (13; 14) as exit codes in the data base (31;28) and a medical device stock level in the hospital store (13, 14) is calculated on the basis of the previously stored medical device identification entrance codes and medical device identification exit codes.
US08899478B2

A system for transferring medical data includes a computer network upon which an electronic medical record of a patient is stored. A mobile computer presents a bar code on a graphical display. A medical device is communicatively connected to a bar code scanner and receives patient information and mobile computer information from the bar code scanner. The medical device further performs a medical test to generate test result data. The test result data is transmitted to the mobile computer based upon the received mobile computer information. A method of medical data transfer includes receiving a medical data transfer request. A bar code is scanned to input the patient information and mobile computer information into the medical device. A medical test is performed with the medical device to produce test result data that is transmitted to the mobile computer based upon the mobile computer information.
US08899475B2

A media presenter is described. The media presenter comprises: a chassis including a nose coupled thereto, and including (i) a presenting end distal from the chassis, and (ii) a presenting track extending from the chassis to the presenting end. The media presenter also includes a carriage mounted on the presenting track for movement therealong, and comprising a carriage body coupled to a carriage plate by a linkage, the carriage plate including a cam follower. The media presenter also includes a cam block defining a cam track and being operable to engage with the cam follower to move the carriage between an open position at which media items can be placed on the carriage plate, and a closed position for clamping media items between the carriage plate and the carriage body.
US08899469B2

A method of performing a wire bonding operation is provided. The method includes the steps of: (a) performing a wire bonding operation between a portion of wire and a bonding location using a bonding tool; (b) raising the bonding tool to a desired height; (c) performing a test to determine if the portion of wire is sufficiently bonded to the bonding location; and (d) automatically performing another wire bonding operation between the portion of wire and the bonding location using the bonding tool if, during step (c), it is determined that the portion of wire was not sufficiently bonded to the bonding location in step (a).
US08899468B2

Disclosed is a friction stir welding tool (10) equipped with a probe (13) and a holder (16). At the tip of the probe (13) there is a pin part (11) and at the base there are probe-side protrusions (24) and probe-side recesses (25). At the tip of the holder (16) there are holder-side recesses (27) which mate with the probe-side protrusions (24), and holder-side protrusions (28) which mate with the probe-side recesses (25). External force applied to the probe (13) is transmitted from the probe-side protrusions (24) to the holder-side recesses (27) and from the probe-side recesses (25) to the holder-side protrusions (28).
US08899461B2

A surgical instrument for surgically joining a tissue is disclosed. The surgical instrument comprises a handle assembly, an elongate portion extending distally from the handle assembly, a pair of opposed jaw members, and a tissue stop. The tissue stop is mechanically engaged with a first jaw member and is configured to retain the tissue between jaw members. The tissue stop is movable between a first position, where a stopping portion of the tissue stop is disposed between a tissue-contacting surface of the first jaw member and a tissue-contacting surface of the second jaw member, and a second position, where the stopping portion is between the tissue-contacting surface of the first jaw member and a lower surface of the first jaw member. A portion of the tissue stop is made of stamped metal section and a portion of the tissue stop is made of an overmolded plastic section.
US08899456B2

A lightweight bicycle carrier that is easily adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of sizes and shapes of bicycles and other equipment. The bicycle carrier of the present invention is easily assembled and installed onto the hitch receiver of a vehicle. The bicycle carrier can also be partially disassembled to allow access into the rear of the vehicle without interfering with the vehicle tailgate. The bicycle carrier includes adjustable angular support arms to support bicycles during transport.
US08899441B2

The present invention relates to a heat-isolating cup sleeve, which comprises a main body and at least one fixer disposed on the main body and able to be folded inwards to insert between a cup and the cup sleeve. The present invention employs a die-cutting part and folds inwards the die-cutting part to form the fixer similar to a wedge, so as to increase inner tensile forces of the cup sleeve sleeving a cup so that the cup sleeve is in a tensioning state and closely attaches with the cup. Therefore, the cup sleeve is difficult to slide from the cup. When the beverage is cooled, the cup sleeve is conveniently taken down from the cup, and is simple and environmental.
US08899438B2

A chafing dish with handles allows a safe, efficient, and professional-appearing exchange and serving of food, keeping the servers hands away from the outer edge of the chafing dish where hot steam rises from the water pan. The chafing dish handles of the present invention are formed as part of a closed loop frame. The frame consists of rail members that are configured to align with and to be positioned beneath the chafing dish ledge. The rail members form a rectangular, depending on the shape of the chafing dish, structure. Handle members extend from the rail members on opposed sides of the frame and extend in a manner that does not prevent the lid placement or the nesting of chafing dishes in storage.
US08899436B2

The packaging for a food product is provided with a container having an opening delimited by a frame, the frame having a radially inner side wall, and a lid. The lid can move between an open position and a closed position in which it closes off the opening. A measuring utensil with a bowl can be positioned in the plane of the frame. The inner side wall of the frame is provided with a retaining member which has a base extending from the frame towards the central axis of the container and that is extended by a tab extending upwards some distance from the inner side wall. The retaining member delimits, with the inner side wall, a slot-like housing capable with a small amount of clearance of accommodating a wall portion of the bowl.
US08899434B2

A clamshell packaging system having a first side portion, a second side portion, and a base portion is provided with a three-dimensional hinge structure and a standing feature. The first side portion is attached to the base portion via a first hinge joint and the second side portion is attached to the base portion via a second hinge joint wherein the second side portion is closeable upon the first side portion to provide an enclosed clamshell. The base portion further includes a third hinge joint and a fourth hinge joint each of which extends between the first hinge joint and the second hinge joint in a direction that is generally transverse to at least a portion of each of the first hinge joint and the second hinge joint. The base portion additionally has at least one flat portion disposed between the third hinge joint and the fourth hinge joint upon which the clamshell packaging system is standable.
US08899432B2

A while-in-use electrical box cover includes a base and a hood. The base has a box-like structure and an open front face and includes a base hinge mount. The hood has a front wall for covering the open front face of the base and includes a hood hinge mount. A hinge pin joins the base hinge mount and the hood hinge mount in a pivoting configuration. An accepting member including a first contact surface extends from the base hinge mount. A load dispersing member included on the hood has a second contact surface configured to engage the first contact surface when the hood pivots to a fully open position. Engagement of the first contact surface and the second contact surface creates a stress in the hood, and the load dispersing member disperses the stress away from the hood hinge mount.
US08899419B2

A package for accommodating, storing, displaying and transporting an article, such as, pharmaceutical products. The package has a receptacle mountable to a paperboard. The mountable receptacle has a clamshell for receiving, for example, one or more blister cards. The clamshell has a first portion having a first edge and a second portion having a second edge, which opposes the first edge. The mountable receptacle has an extension connected at least to the second edge through a breakable mechanism. The extension is attached to a surface of the paperboard, such that the clamshell can be detached from the paperboard by breaking the breakable mechanism.
US08899417B1

A tool box contains: a body, a lifting mechanism, at least one holder, and a controlling mechanism. The lifting mechanism is fixed on the body and includes a rotating assembly and a guiding member. The rotating assembly has a first end disposed in the body and a second end mounted in the guiding member so as to rotate on the body. The at least one holder is used to hold at least one tool set and is mounted on the rotating assembly of the lifting mechanism, such that the at least one holder is driven by the rotating assembly to lift and rotate. The controlling mechanism includes at least one resilient element for driving the rotating assembly to rotate and a control member disposed in the body, such that the rotating assembly of the lifting mechanism is positioned on the body.
US08899415B2

An electronic device holder includes a front panel, a back panel, and a spine connecting the front panel and the back panel. A strap includes a first end coupled to an exterior surface of the front panel. The strap extends from the first end across the spine and through a friction buckle coupled to the back panel. The strap may be pulled through the friction buckle such that a distance between the first end of the strap and the friction buckle is variable. The friction buckle can hold the strap at any location along the strap such that any distance between the first end of the strap and the friction buckle may be maintained.
US08899411B2

A holder for cards, including a housing which tightly fits around a stack of at least three cards and has at least one card opening to locate and remove cards, while opposite the card opening in the housing there is a card remove feature through which the cards through the card opening can be slid out the housing, characterized in that at the inner side of the housing near the card opening at least one side a friction element is provided which exerts a friction force to the bearing side of each individual card which is at least partly contained in the housing, with the result that the card has such a stable position relative to the housing, that the card can not slide due to gravity, but indeed due to a with the finger tips exerted force.
US08899408B2

Aspects of the present invention generally provide tensioner for varying tension applied to a continuous drive member based on temperature changes. In one embodiment, a temperature compensating chain tensioner is provided. The temperature compensating chain tensioner includes a fixed support member, a first idler sprocket coupled to the fixed support member, a support arm having a proximal end pivotably coupled to the fixed support member, a second idler sprocket coupled to a distal end of the support arm, and a spring form coupled intermediate of the fixed support member and the support arm, wherein the spring form has a spring constant that increases with increasing temperature, which causes the distal end of the support arm to move relative to the fixed support member.
US08899389B2

Embodiments of a thermally-conductive vibration isolator are provided, as are embodiments of a spacecraft isolation employing a plurality of thermally-conductive vibration isolators. In one embodiment, the thermally-conductive vibration isolator includes a first end portion, a second end portion substantially opposite the first end portion, and first and second load transfer paths from the first end portion to the second end portion. The first and second load transfer paths comprise a main spring and a damper in parallel with the main spring, respectively. An elongated thermal conduit, which has a thermal conductivity exceeding that of first load transfer path and the second load transfer path, extends from the first end portion to the second end portion.
US08899387B2

A valve assembly including a housing (24′) provided with an inlet port (12′), a delivery port (14′), and an exhaust port (16′), the valve assembly further including a first movable element (32′), a first valve member (34a′) and a second valve member (26a′), the first movable element (32′) being engageable with the first valve member (34a′), engagement of the first valve member (34a′) and first movable element (32′) substantially preventing flow of fluid between the inlet port (12′) and the delivery port (14′), and the first movable element (32′) also being engageable with the second valve member (26a′), engagement of the second valve member (26a′) with the first movable element (32′) substantially preventing flow of fluid between the delivery port (14′) and the exhaust port (16′), the valve assembly further including a second movable element (26′) which divides the housing (24′) into a control chamber (22′) and a main chamber (30′) and which is movable relative to the housing (24′) under the influence of fluid pressure in the control chamber (22′) and main chamber (30′), wherein the first valve member (34a′) extends from the housing (24′) towards the first movable element (32′) through an aperture provided in the second movable element (26′).
US08899380B2

A restraint system for restraining a worker to a platform of an aerial device comprises a restraint liner and a platform strap. The restraint liner includes four sidewalls, a floor, a lip, an interior anchor, and an exterior anchor. The floor may be coupled to one end of the four sidewalls, while the lip may be coupled to the opposing end of the four sidewalls and may extend therefrom. The interior anchor may be positioned on an interior surface of a first sidewall and operable to couple to a liner strap coupled to a worker. The exterior anchor may be positioned on an exterior surface of the first sidewall. The platform strap may be coupled to the exterior anchor and operable to couple to the platform.
US08899375B2

A device is provided for damping hydrosound in liquid emitted from a sound-emitting body in the liquid. The device includes a plurality of envelope bodies distributed in the liquid in an area of the hydrosound-emitting body and at a distance from each other. A material, diameter and pressure of each envelope body is configured such that a natural frequency of the envelope body corresponds to an emitted frequency range of the hydrosound so as to dampen the hydrosound. The device also includes at least one mass body disposed in the liquid. The envelope bodies are connected to the mass bodies so as to prevent the envelope bodies from rising up in the liquid.