US08922736B2
An illumination device including a plurality of light source modules. Each of the plurality of light source modules includes a substrate, a plurality of wiring lines provided on the substrate, and a plurality of LED devices implemented in the wiring lines. The plurality of LED devices include a plurality of red LED devices, a plurality of green LED devices, and a plurality of blue LED devices, wherein the plurality of wiring lines include a wiring line having the plurality of red LED devices implemented in series, a wiring line having the plurality of green LED devices implemented in series, and a wiring line having the plurality of blue LED devices implemented in series. The plurality of wiring lines are connected in parallel and are driven by a single power voltage.
US08922732B2
A light emitting diode (“LED”) backlight assembly. The LED backlight assembly has a bottom container which has a bottom plate and a side edge surrounding the bottom plate, a plurality of light emitting diode printed circuit boards (“LED-PCBs”) on the bottom plate, and a connector which is closely located to edge located LEDs. The connector of the LED-PCB is closely located to an LED driving board, which is disposed at a lateral space of a lateral part of the bottom container to limit a vertical thickness of the backlight light assembly.
US08922718B2
A method, apparatus, and computer program product are described that utilizes spatial modeling to represent foreground objects of an event to allow virtual graphics to be integrated into a background of the event in the presence of dynamic objects. The present invention detects a presence of dynamic objects within a region of interest from a video depicting the event. The present invention produces a suppression key corresponding to the dynamic object when present in the video or a suppression key with a default value when and where no dynamic object is present in the video.
US08922697B2
Provided are a polarization beam splitter 69 disposed between a subject side finder window 16 and a photographer side observation window 17 and disposed to be obliquely inclined at 45 degrees with respect to an optical axis L of an incident light from the subject side finder window 16, a polarizing filter installed at the incident light entering side of the polarization beam splitter 69 and configured to reflect or cut the s-polarized wave of the incident light; and a display device 61 configured to project a display information of the s-polarized wave on the polarization beam splitter 69 and project the display information reflected from the polarization beam splitter 69 in a direction of the photographer side observation window 17.
US08922696B2
This portable terminal comprises a main unit having a microphone, a key operation unit, and a radio sending/receiving function of image and sound, a rotation axial unit having a video camera and an operation dial, an image display unit with a touch panel capable of displaying an image taken by the video camera, a received image and a screen for input operation, and a flip unit having the image display unit, a CCD camera, a speaker and an operation button. The rotation axial unit further includes an opening/shutting axis for connecting the main unit and the flip unit in a mutually rotatable way and a rotation axis for connecting the flip unit in a way of rotating the flip unit across the above rotation in the horizontal direction, and when the flip unit is opened and rotated across, it is used as a video camera with a monitor.
US08922687B2
A solid-state imaging device including pixels, each pixel having a reset transistor, a selection transistor, an amplification transistor, and a photoelectric conversion unit. The photoelectric conversion unit has a photoelectric conversion film which performs photoelectric conversion, a pixel electrode formed on the surface of the photoelectric conversion film that faces the semiconductor substrate, and a transparent electrode formed on the surface of the photoelectric conversion film that is opposite to the pixel electrode, and the amplitude of a row reset signal applied to the gate of the reset transistor is smaller than at least one of (a) the maximum voltage applied to the drain of the amplification transistor, (b) the maximum voltage applied to the gate of the selection transistor, (c) the power source voltage applied to an inverting amplifier, and (d) the maximum voltage applied to a transparent electrode.
US08922685B2
A solid-state image sensing device includes: a pixel part in which pixels are arranged in a matrix; and a pixel signal readout part including an AD conversion part that analog-digital (AD)-converts a pixel signal read out from the pixel part. Each of the adjacent pixels or one of the pixels of the pixel part is formed as divided pixels divided into regions with different photosensitivity or amounts of accumulated charge, photosensitivity or exposure time conditions are set for the divided pixels and the photosensitivity or exposure time conditions of the divided pixels provided to be opposed in diagonal directions are set to the same conditions, the pixel signal readout part reads out divided pixel signals of the respective divided pixels of the pixel, and the AD conversion part obtains a pixel signal of one pixel by AD-converting the respective read out divided pixel signals and adding the signals.
US08922683B2
According to an aspect of the present invention, the first filters, which correspond to the two or more first colors that contribute to obtaining a brightness signal more than the second colors, are disposed within each pixel line in first direction to the fourth direction of the color filter arrangement, and it is configured so that the ratio of the number of pixels of the first colors corresponding to the first filters is larger than the ratio of the number of pixels of each color of the second colors corresponding to the second filters of two or more colors other than the first colors. Accordingly, the degree of reproducibility of the synchronization processing in a high-frequency wave area can be increased and the aliasing can be suppressed.
US08922676B2
A video frame buffer may enable a high resolution image sensor video stream to be transmitted on a standard communication link at a high frame rate. The buffer may include an image stream input for receiving image frames from the image sensor, and a memory for buffering image frames. A frame processor manipulates portions of each image frame before passing the modified image frame to the memory which selectively buffers the frames before outputting the frames to a communication output. The video frame buffer may be implemented in a FPGA along with a DDR SDRAM memory. The communication link may be a USB2 communication link.
US08922670B2
A portable hand-held device is provided having a digital camera and a processor. The digital camera has two image sensors respectively arranged to capture corresponding images of the same scene. The processor image processes the images captured by the image sensors so as to output three dimensional stereoscopic images. The processor has two interfaces for respectively receiving the images captured by the image sensors.
US08922668B2
In a solid-state image sensing element which includes a pixel array portion in which a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric converter are arranged two-dimensionally, and readout circuits which read out analog pixel signals from the pixel array portion by column, and in which each of the readout circuits includes an A/D conversion circuit which converts the analog pixel signal from the pixel array portion into a digital pixel signal, and the A/D conversion circuit performs A/D conversion by comparing, by a comparison unit, a signal level of the analog pixel signal from the pixel array portion with a temporally changing reference level, a frequency band characteristic of the comparison unit is switched in accordance with the signal level of the analog pixel signal from the pixel array portion.
US08922665B2
A device may generate a media stream to be shared with other users by building a media graph, comprising a series of interconnected processing units that perform various processing tasks. However, the time involved in generating the media graph may delay the initialization of the media stream, and adjusting properties of the media stream (such as resolution or codec) may result in an interruption of the media stream while a new media graph is built. Instead, a media graph cache may be provided to cache a set of media graphs, which may be interchangeably selected for rapid initialization and adjusting of media stream properties. The media component (e.g., a video camera) may also be configured to promote rapid adjustments to some media stream properties, while maintaining other properties (e.g., field of view and white balance) for a smooth transition between media stream property sets.
US08922655B2
A vehicle front grille assembly includes a vehicle grille, an emblem, a camera support and a camera. The vehicle grille includes an emblem mounting portion having a first mounting structure. The emblem includes an outer surface and an inner surface that is opposite the outer surface. The inner surface has a second mounting structure that directly mates with the first mounting structure of the emblem mounting portion. The camera support has an attachment portion and an extension portion. The attachment portion is sandwiched between the emblem mounting portion of the vehicle grille and the inner surface of the emblem. The attachment portion includes at least one opening and one of the first and second mounting structures extends through the at least one opening of the attachment portion. The camera is fixedly mounted to the extension portion of the camera support.
US08922654B2
A method of adaptive downsampling includes the steps of: (a) receiving input data having a first spatial resolution and a first grid spacing; (b) resampling the input data using an automatically adjustable kernel; and (c) providing output data having a second spatial resolution and a second grid spacing. The second spatial resolution, advantageously, is substantially constant across the second grid spacing. The input data may include image data, and the output data may include resampled, or downsampled image data. The image data may be images of the Earth at a first spatial resolution and a first grid spacing; the output data may be resampled data of the images of the Earth at a second spatial resolution and a second grid spacing.
US08922651B2
A moving object detection method and an image processing system thereof are provided. First, a pixel-wise distance of a received image to a reference image is computed to obtain a distance map. A histogram analysis is performed on the distance map to obtain a distance distribution. An entropy value of the distance distribution is computed and a peak distance value which is with a maximum occurrence probability in the distance distribution is searched out. Then, by using a mapping rule, the entropy value and the peak distance value are transformed into a decision threshold value. The decision threshold value is applied in classifying the pixels of the distance map into a group of foreground attributes and a group of background attributes and thereby moving objects in the current image are obtained.
US08922649B2
A surveillance video processing method including selecting at least one target object from a surveillance area, capturing image information of the surveillance area, detecting motion has occurred in the surveillance area using the captured image information, extracting feature data of an object causing the detected motion, comparing the extracted feature data of the object causing the detected motion and feature data of the at least one target object, and determining whether or not to perform a recording operation for recording the captured image information based on a result of the comparing step.
US08922646B2
A method of calculating a drop delay in a stream of a flow cytometer. In one embodiment the method includes the steps of determining a widths plot by measuring the width of a stream based on an image of the stream and setting drop delay based on the widths plot. In another aspect the invention relates to a flow cytometer system for automatically calculating drop delay. In one embodiment the flow cytometer system includes means for determining a widths plot based on an image of the stream; and means for calculating drop delay based on the widths plot.
US08922645B1
A environmental reproduction system multiplexes information from a variety of sources to reproduce a target environment having visual and/or auditory impediments. The visual impediments may include one or more environmental conditions, such as rain, sleet, snow, darkness, brightness, or any other type of environmental condition. The auditory impediments may include loud noises, such as construction noises, or sounds that are too low, such as an emergency vehicle sound not being heard. The environmental reproduction system may determine the environmental condition from one or more sources, such as an internal microphone, an external microphone, temperature sensor, a camera, a weather receiver, or other types of sensors. The environmental reproduction may be in communication with an environmental condition database and operative to apply a signal processing action to a recording (video and/or audio recording) of the target environment based on the determined environmental condition.
US08922644B2
Methods, devices, and systems are presented for determining a distance to an object using a color camera and special markers mounted on the object that refract or reflect different colors depending on the angle at which they are viewed. Different colors can be refracted or reflected using lenticular lenses or other technologies. The color received by the camera reveals the orientation of the markers. The orientation information can be combined with the perceived angular distance between the markers and the known distance between the markers to determine the actual distance to the object.
US08922630B2
A projector includes a discharge lamp, a discharge lamp driver that supplies the discharge lamp with a current, and a controller that controls the discharge lamp driver. The controller controls the discharge lamp driver in such a way that the absolute magnitude of the current is relatively small in the first period and relatively large in the second period. In the second period, the controller carries out a second-period AC control process in which an AC current is supplied to the discharge lamp. In the first period, the controller carries out a first-period control process in which in a third period, the absolute magnitude of the current becomes a minimum in the first period and in a fourth period, the absolute magnitude of the current becomes an intermediate value between the minimum and a maximum absolute magnitude of the current in the second period.
US08922626B2
A stereo camera apparatus for obtaining distance information of an object includes a camera unit that includes a left image sensor and a right image sensor respectively obtaining a left-side image and a right-side image, each being composed of a frame including plural pixels of plural rows and plural columns, the left image sensor and the right image sensor sequentially exposing the pixels of the rows from upper to lower in the frames, respectively; a shift amount detection unit that detects a relative positional shift amount in the vertical direction between a left-side image and a right-side image; and a timing control unit that changes the starting time of exposing the frame by the left image sensor or by the right image sensor based on the positional shift amount in the vertical direction detected by the shift amount detection unit.
US08922605B2
The image processing device stores a fixed horizontal resolution and a fixed vertical resolution established in advance for use in resolution conversion of an input image. The first resolution converter of the image processing device converts the input image to a fixed resolution-converted image so that at least a horizontal resolution of the fixed resolution-converted image is equal to the fixed horizontal resolution. The second resolution converter of the image processing device converts the fixed resolution-converted image output from the first resolution converter to the display resolution-converted image having the desired horizontal and vertical resolutions.
US08922602B2
A display apparatus includes a display panel, a timing controller, data and gate driving parts. The display panel includes first and second substrates, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second substrates, and displays an image. The timing controller includes a data compensating unit that outputs compensated grayscale data in an n-th pixel row, based upon a coupling capacitance generated according to a grayscale data variation between an (n−1)-th pixel row and the n-th pixel row, n′ being a natural number. The data driving part converts the compensated grayscale data to an analog data voltage, and outputs the analog data voltage to data lines.
US08922596B2
A liquid crystal display (LCD) overdriving method, an LCD overdriving device and an LCD are disclosed. The LCD overdriving method improves displaying quality and a response speed of the LCD comprising the following steps of: receiving by a scaling controller, a previous frame image grayscale value stored into a frame buffer of the scaling controller; receiving a next frame image grayscale value by the scaling controller and sending the previous frame image grayscale value and the next frame image grayscale value to a time schedule controller so that the time schedule controller looks up a lookup table and outputs an overdriving grayscale value. The present disclosure can effectively save the cost by eliminating the need of providing an additional frame buffer in the time schedule controller. Furthermore, as image grayscale values of only two pixels need to be stored in the time schedule controller, it can save more memory spaces.
US08922595B2
A degradation compensation unit including a first operation unit receiving downscaled gray data of each pixel for one frame at set or predetermined intervals and calculating a degradation time of each pixel corresponding to the downscaled gray data; an accumulation operation unit receiving the degradation time of each pixel from the first operation unit and calculating an accumulated degradation time of each pixel by accumulating the degradation time of each pixel; a weight calculation unit receiving the accumulated degradation time of each pixel from the accumulation operation unit and calculating a degradation compensation weight for each pixel based on the accumulated degradation time of each pixel; and a second operation unit producing compensated gray data for each pixel corresponding to the degradation compensation weight for each pixel, which is received from the weight calculation unit, and providing the compensated gray data for each pixel to a data driver.
US08922593B2
An image may be divided into multiple portions or sub-images using division lines. To facilitate this process, the division lines may be drawn with user input in a single direction. The image may then be rotated to allow a user to draw lines extending in other directions using the same user input direction. In some instances, rotation may be automatically performed upon drawing of a division line, deletion of a sub-image, receiving a specified user command or type of user input and the like. Additionally or alternatively, upon rotating the image a first time in one direction, a subsequent rotation of the image may be performed in an opposite direction. The first rotation and the subsequent rotation may be of the same rotation amount. If a sub-image is deleted, a remaining sub-image or sub-images may be resized or otherwise modified to fit within the display.
US08922590B1
A system for providing an augmented reality interface comprising a head mounted display having a wireless data interface, a camera and a display, the head mounted display configured to receive user interface data and to generate a user interface using the display and to receive image data from the camera and to transmit the image data over the wireless data interface to a wireless network. A wireless device configured to generate the wireless network, to transmit the user interface data to the head mounted display, to receive the image data from the head mounted display and to generate modified user interface data as a function of the image data.
US08922589B2
An embodiment of the invention relates to an apparatus and related methods for providing a person with an augmented reality, the apparatus comprising: a projector that projects light that generates an augmenting visual image (AVI); optics that directs to a camera a portion of the projected light and a portion of light arriving from a scene so that a combined image comprising an image of the scene and the AVI are generated in a photosensor in the camera; and a controller that processes the combined image to compare positions of homologous features in the image of the scene with positions of corresponding location markers in the AVI, and renders an adjusted AVI based on the comparison, so that the location markers and the corresponding homologous features are substantially coincident in the combined image.
US08922545B2
A display system that presents three-dimensional content to a viewer is described herein. The display system includes a screen assembly having one or more adaptable display characteristics relating to the presentation of three-dimensional content, first circuitry that at least assists in producing reference information corresponding to at least one aspect of a viewing reference of the viewer, and second circuitry that causes modification of at least one of the one or more adaptable display characteristics, the modification corresponding at least in part to the reference information. The viewing reference of the viewer may comprise one or more of a location of the viewer relative to the screen assembly, a head orientation (tilt and/or rotation) of the viewer, and a point of gaze of the viewer. The first circuitry may comprise, for example, viewer-located circuitry and/or other circuitry that is communicatively connected to the second circuitry for providing the referencing information thereto.
US08922543B2
The invention discloses a PWM voltage regulator circuit, a regulating method using the same, and a liquid crystal display comprising the same. The PWM voltage regulator circuit comprises a PWM voltage regulating module, a feedback module connected with the PWM voltage regulating module, and a control module connected with the feedback module. The control module comprises a programmable image processing chip; and the programmable image processing chip comprises at least one memory bank (bank) and an access circuit. A feedback comparing reference voltage data of the PWM voltage regulating module is stored in a memory bank (bank), and the memory bank (bank) is connected with the feedback module by the access circuit. The invention can quickly regulate a PWM chip output voltage, increase IC generality, and reduce the product cost.
US08922542B2
A chip-on-film package and a display device, the package including a base film that includes an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface facing the upper surface; an integrated circuit chip on the upper surface of the base film; an alignment line on the base film and being spaced apart from the integrated circuit chip; a heat discharge plate on the lower surface of the base film and having a plate shape; and at least one via pattern penetrating through the base film and electrically connecting the alignment line to the heat discharge plate.
US08922539B2
An image display device employs an interface protocol wherein integrated image plus control data is transmitted from a signal controller circuit to each of a plurality of master data driving circuits. The integrated image plus control data includes display control data as well as image-defining data. The signal controller circuit determines which of a plurality of data driving circuits is to function as a master data driving chip and which as a slave data driving chip. The signal controller circuit directly transmits respective integrated image plus control data signals to corresponding ones of the master data driving chips. Each master data driving chip then forwards part of the received integrated image plus control signal to its corresponding slave data driving chip.
US08922537B2
The liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate provided with a terminal portion, a switching transistor, a driver circuit portion, and a pixel circuit portion including a pixel transistor and a plurality of pixels, a second substrate provided with a common electrode electrically connected to the terminal portion through the switching transistor, and liquid crystal between a pixel electrode and the common electrode. In a period during which a still image is switched to a moving image, the following steps are sequentially performed: a first step of supplying the common potential to the common electrode; a second step of supplying a power supply voltage to the driver circuit portion; a third step of supplying a clock signal to the driver circuit portion; and a fourth step of supplying a start pulse signal to the driver circuit portion.
US08922529B2
A touch sensor system using vibration at touch point is provided, which includes a first sensor bar having a piezoelectric grid formed on a side surface thereof, a second sensor unit having a piezoelectric grid formed on a side surface thereof, and connected at one end to an end of the first sensor bar in a perpendicular relation, a signal processing unit connected to the first and second sensor units to receive an electric signal, and a touch point calculating unit which calculates a location of touch with respect to a screen through which the touch is inputted, based on the electric signal received at the signal processing unit.
US08922523B2
Disclosed embodiments relate to a force detection system that detects force exerted on a flexible display based upon changes in resistance and/or capacitance. In one embodiment, a method includes measuring a baseline comprising a baseline resistance or a baseline capacitance or both of a force measurement layer disposed within or overlaid on the display panel. The method further includes detecting a change in the baseline resistance or the baseline capacitance or both and calculating a change location where the change in the baseline resistance or the baseline capacitance or both occurred. The method also includes calculating a magnitude of the change in the baseline resistance or the baseline capacitance or both.
US08922519B2
A sensor panel device that can generate and use a stimulus signal having multiple different waveforms for detecting events on or near the sensor panel is disclosed. Among other things, such a stimulus signal can be used to reject environmental noise present in the device. In some embodiments, the stimulus signal has multiple waveforms having different frequencies. Logic circuitry can generate representative values from output of the different waveforms applied to one or more sensing nodes in the sensor panel device. From the representative values, a final value can be generated that represents whether an event occurred at or near the one or more sensing nodes.
US08922513B2
An exemplary multi-monitor method includes controlling a first position determining unit and a second position determining unit of a corresponding monitor to emit signals. Then, the method determines which of the first position determining unit and the second position determining unit of the corresponding monitor has received the signal. The method next determines the position of the corresponding monitor among all of the monitors, and determines a new coordinate range of the corresponding monitor in the Cartesian coordinate system. Then the method determines which point has been touched in response to a user touch on the touch unit, and determines the new set of coordinates in the Cartesian coordinate system corresponding to the touched point. Next, the method determines one or more touched monitors, and controls the determined one or more touched monitors to execute the corresponding operation.
US08922499B2
Selection of input of a touch sensing surface is provided. Contacts on or near a surface are tracked to obtain touch information of the contacts. A first gesture is detected corresponding to first touch information of a number of contacts performing an activity, and a first input corresponding to the first gesture is selected. A second gesture is detected corresponding to second touch information of a number of contacts performing an activity. A determination of whether to select a second input corresponding to the second gesture is made. The second input is selected if third information satisfies a predetermined criteria, and the first input is maintained if the third information does not satisfy the predetermined criteria.
US08922490B2
A device displays a text entry area with an insertion point and detects activation of a first physical key in a physical keyboard. In response to a determination that the activation of the first physical key lasts more than a first predefined time period, the device displays a character selection area; while displaying the character selection area, the device detects activation of a second physical key in the physical keyboard; in response to a determination that the activated second physical key is an arrow key, the device moves a current character focus in accordance with a direction of the arrow key; and, in response to a determination that the activated second physical key is the first physical key, the device enters in the text entry area a single instance of a character that has the current character focus, and ceases to display the character selection area.
US08922483B2
An information system includes a camera located at a central position in a horizontal direction in front of two users who face the camera and who are aligned side by side, a gesture recognizing unit configured to recognize a gesture of a hand of a user based on a target image captured by the camera, a determining unit that determines whether a central point in a width direction of an arm in the target image is at a right side or at a left side with respect to a center of the hand in the target image, and an operation user configured to determine that a performer of the gesture is a right side or a left side user.
US08922471B2
A driving device comprises: a first driver driven by a first input signal and generating a first interim output signal controlled by a first clock signal; a second driver driven by a second input signal and generating a second interim output signal controlled by a second clock signal; and a plurality of shift registers including a buffer driven by the first interim output signal and the second interim output signal and generating an output signal controllable by the first clock signal and the second clock signal. The buffer includes a second transistor connected to a gate electrode of a first transistor for transmitting a voltage with a first level with the output signal and transmitting a voltage with a second level for turning off the first transistor.
US08922466B2
In the present invention, there is provided a display panel driving method of the type wherein the total light emitting period length within a one-field period is controlled to variably control the peak luminance level of a display panel, the driving method including a step of variably controlling, where the one-field period has N light emitting periods disposed therein, N being equal to or greater than 2, the light emitting period length of a particular one of the light emitting periods and the other light emitting period or periods to provide a difference in luminance between the particular light emitting period and the other light emitting period or periods so that the particular light emitting period is visually observed as the center of light emission.
US08922461B2
A display device includes: a display element including a plurality of sub-elements connected to retention capacities, respectively; a plurality of writing transistors arranged corresponding to the sub-elements, respectively, and writing an image signal to the retention capacities; and a plurality of driving transistors driving the sub-elements, respectively based on the image signal written through the writing transistors. The writing transistors, the driving transistors or both of them are aligned along a source-drain alignment direction in which a drain electrode and a source electrode of each transistor in the writing transistors and driving transistors are aligned, and the writing transistors, the driving transistors or both of them are arranged so that drain electrodes or source electrodes in a pair of transistors are immediately adjacent to each other, the pair of transistors being a pair of the writing transistors or the driving transistors, and being immediately adjacent to each other.
US08922460B2
Disclosed is a level shift circuit that includes a first transistor of a first conductivity type connected between a first power supply line and a first node, and second and third transistors of a second conductivity type connected in series between a second power supply line and the first node. A first control signal is supplied in common to a gate of the first transistor and a gate of one of the second and third transistors. A gate of the other of the second and third transistors is connected to an input terminal to which an input signal with an amplitude lower than a power supply amplitude of the first and second power supplies is supplied. The level shift circuit includes a clocked inverter connected between the first node and a first output terminal and controlled to be turned on or off by a second control signal, an inverter with an input thereof connected to the first output terminal, and a switch connected between the first node and an output of the inverter and controlled to be turned on or off by a third control signal. The clocked inverter and the inverter are both arranged between the first and second power supply lines.
US08922450B2
A signal converting circuit includes: a first switching circuit; a second switching circuit; and a first balance-unbalance circuit (Balun) having a first signal terminal coupled to an antenna, a second signal terminal coupled to the first switching circuit, and a third signal terminal coupled to the second switching circuit; wherein when the first balance-unbalance circuit operates in a first signal converting mode, the first switching circuit and the second switching circuit are arranged to couple the second signal terminal and the third signal terminal, respectively, to a first signal processing circuit, and when the first balance-unbalance circuit does not operate in the first signal converting mode, the first switching circuit and the second switching circuit are arranged to couple the second signal terminal and the third signal terminal, respectively, to a reference voltage.
US08922448B2
A communication device includes a system circuit board, a ground plane, a first antenna, a second antenna, a first metal element, and a second metal element. The ground plane is disposed on the system circuit board. The first metal element is substantially located between the first antenna and the second antenna. The first metal element is coupled to the ground plane such that a system ground plane is formed. The second metal element is adjacent to the first metal element and substantially located between the first antenna and the second antenna. The second metal element is coupled to the system ground plane. The first antenna, the second antenna, and the first metal element are substantially located at an edge of the system circuit board.
US08922444B2
This disclosure provides an antenna device including an antenna coil having a plate-shaped magnetic core with first and second main surfaces and a coil conductor wound around the magnetic core, and a flat conductor adjacent to the antenna coil. For instance, the flat conductor can be a ground electrode formed on or within a circuit substrate. The coil conductor includes a first conductor portion adjacent to the first main surface of the magnetic core and a second conductor portion adjacent to a second main surface thereof. The first conductor portion of the antenna coil is closer to an end portion of the flat conductor than the second conductor portion, with the second main surface of the magnetic core facing the flat conductor.
US08922440B2
A space efficient magnetic antenna is disclosed for use in tracking, positioning and other applications. In a preferred embodiment, a space efficient magnetic antenna system comprises a first magnetic antenna with a first null axis aligned within a predetermined plane and a second magnetic antenna having a second null axis aligned substantially orthogonal to a first null axis. A second magnetic antenna system lies in a minimal coupling orientation with respect to a first magnetic antenna system. Additionally, a first magnetic antenna may further comprise a plurality of interconnected magnetic antenna elements. A space efficient magnetic antenna system may include an RF module. In further embodiments, the antenna system may enclose a substantial majority of the device including the RF module; the RF module may be enclosed substantially or wholly within one or more antennas of the antenna system.
US08922436B2
An aircraft communications system may include a RF-transparent enclosure, a plasma antenna element and a controller. The RF-transparent enclosure may be disposed substantially conformal with a portion of the aircraft. The plasma antenna element may be housed within the RF-transparent enclosure. The controller may be operably coupled to the plasma antenna element to provide control of operation of the plasma antenna element. The plasma antenna element may include one or more RF-conductive plasma devices that are selectively ionized to a plasma state under control of the controller.
US08922430B2
In a network-based Wireless Location System (WLS), geographically distributed Location Measurement Units (LMUs) must be able to detect and use reverse channel (mobile to network) signals across multiple BTS coverage areas. By using Matched Replica correlation processing with the local and reference signals subdivided into discrete segments prior to correlation, the effects of mobile clock drift and Doppler shifts can be mitigated allowing for increased processing gain. By using historical network and real-time data about the radio signal and/or radio channel, the segmentation and computation scheme may be optimized to reduce latency and enhance capacity while maximizing location accuracy.
US08922428B1
A system includes a memory with columns and rows. A sampler samples a first portion of a signal during first periods to obtain sets of samples, respectively. The sets of samples include a first set having first samples and a second set having second samples. A first controller writes each set in the sets of samples in a respective one of the columns. The first controller writes: the first samples in a first column such that each of the first samples is stored in a respective one of the rows; the second samples in a second column such that each of the second samples is stored in a respective one of the rows; and the second samples in the second column subsequent to writing the first samples in the first column. A second controller reads third samples stored in a first row and fourth samples stored in a second row.
US08922423B2
This disclosure provides a radar apparatus, which includes an antenna for discharging a transmission beam with frequencies corresponding to elevation/depression angles with respect to a particular surface and receiving a reflection echo from a reflective body and a reception module for detecting an elevation/depression angle of the reflective body based on a frequency component of a reception signal received by the antenna and detecting a distance of the reflective body based on a time component of the reception signal.
US08922419B2
A method for allocating system resources includes receiving, by a processor, an assignment list that includes a first assignment and a second assignment, each assignment is assigned a priority and includes tasks associated with each assignment, assigning each assignment to a system resource according to the assigned priority of each assignment, populating a tree for the system resource, the tree including each assignment assigned to the system resource ordered by the relative priority of the assignments, generating task roots associated with each task associated with each assignment in the tree, associating each task root with a task score, defining a first system resource root that includes the task roots having the lowest task scores, calculating a first system resource root score as a function of the task scores of the first system resource root, and saving the first system resource root as the current best estimate system resource root.
US08922399B2
Illustrative embodiments of force sensitive input devices and methods are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, an input device may comprise a first input key configured to output a first analog signal as a function of force applied to the first input key, a second input key configured to output a second analog signal as a function of force applied to the second input key, a third input key configured to output a third analog signal as a function of force applied to the third input key, a fourth input key configured to output a fourth analog signal as a function of force applied to the fourth input key, and a controller configured to output movement data including both direction and magnitude in response to the first, second, third, and fourth analog signals, where the movement data is formatted for presentation to a driver of a computing device.
US08922394B2
Disclosed is an apparatus and a method for parking position display of a vehicle. The apparatus includes a processor configured to detect objects around a vehicle by analyzing sensor values obtained by a distance sensor that is installed in the vehicle and surrounding images captured by imaging devices that are disposed in the vehicle. The processor is also configured to locate the detected objects based on the sensor values and the surrounding images. Additionally, the processor is configured to control display elements corresponding to the detected objects to be output on the surrounding images based on the positions of the detected objects.
US08922393B2
Methods and systems for a complete vehicle ecosystem are provided. Specifically, systems that when taken alone, or together, provide an individual or group of individuals with an intuitive and comfortable vehicular environment. The present disclosure builds on integrating existing technology with new devices, methods, and systems to provide a complete vehicle ecosystem.
US08922392B1
An external adaptive control system and method control a traffic signal controller assembly. The external adaptive control system determines a non-linear schedule with one or more states corresponding to one or more individual phases with each state having a start time and a duration. The external adaptive control system generates presence data for reception by the controller assembly for each state and its associated duration.
US08922386B2
A marine lighting apparatus includes a decking material, a frame supporting the decking material, and a substantially sealed light device attached to a source of electrical power. At least a portion of the frame is located above water. The substantially sealed light device is attached to at least one of the frame and the decking material at a position below the decking material. A method for locating a mooring position in a marina includes sending a code, or a waypoint for locating the rented mooring position to a device of a mooring position user. The code is sent from the device of the mooring position user when the user is in the proximity of the mooring position. A waypoint may be entered into a gps to locate the slip. A unique vessel identifier broadcast from a vessel can also be used to enable a mooring position locator.
US08922382B2
Aspects of the present disclosure include a sensor configured to store in memory indications of sensor use information and formulas or indications of formulas for determining the useful life of a sensor from the indications of sensor use information. A monitor connected to the sensor monitors sensor use and stores indications of the use on sensor memory. The monitor and/or sensor compute the useful life of the sensor from the indications of use and the formulas. When the useful life of the sensor is reached, an indication is given to replace the sensor.
US08922379B1
The present invention provides a centralized water leak detection system for detecting water leaks in residential and commercial buildings. The water leak detections system provides central station monitoring and point identification data of water leaks. The centralized water detection system includes a plurality of address modules connected to a plurality of sensors for assigning an identifier to each sensor. The address modules are connected to a central control for processing detected sensor signals. A water alarm annunciator is remotely installed in a central monitoring station for displaying point identification data showing detection and location of water leaks.
US08922377B2
A method for automating complex alerts includes receiving, at a complex alert interface, first parameters from at least one medical device and a first comparison operator. The first parameters and the first comparison operator are indicative of a first condition. The method further includes receiving, at the complex alert interface, second parameters from the at least one medical device and a second comparison operator. The second parameters and the second comparison operator are indicative of a second condition. The method further includes generating, at the complex alert interface, a complex alert expression based on a mathematical aggregate of the first condition and the second condition. The method further includes evaluating the complex alert expression to initiate display of at least one alert.
US08922374B2
A nanoscale RFID arrangement comprised of a foraminous substrate having a signal sensing nanoscale antenna extending therefrom, which RFID arrangement is incorporated into an RFID utilizing product.
US08922372B2
A secure peripheral device, coupled to a computer, capable of enabling a user to use a peripheral device such as a microphone, speakers, headset or video camera when the device is in operational state, while giving to the user a clear visual indication that the device is enabled. The device simultaneously disables the user peripheral device; and turns off the visual indication when the secure peripheral device is in secure state. The operational state is activated by the user by pressing a momentary push-button switch. A timer resets the device to a secure state after a short preset time. The device has anti-tempering functionality and becomes permanently disabled if tempered with. Optionally the device is coupled to the computer via a USB port that powers it.
US08922370B2
Electrified access-control technology devices for a door, particularly electrified locks for a door, having embedded circuitry therein, and methods of making the same. One or more printed circuit boards (PCBs) having various electronic circuitry are secured inside a housing that encases an access-control device, particularly a lock, for a door. The one or more PCB(s) may be embedded on an internal surface of the housing such that the embedded PCB resides inside the housing along with the lock itself. The embedded PCB(s) avoid interference of both any working components of the lock inside the housing and any openings residing in the housing.
US08922367B2
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a medicament storage case including: a case body securable to a wall; a door connected to the body; a sleeve to contain an epinephrine injector; a medicament lock including a hook, wherein the hook is positioned to engage the sleeve when in a first position and is positioned to disengage the sleeve when in a second position; an actuator including a solenoid, wherein the solenoid, upon activation, moves the hook from the first position to the second position; a microphone configured to receive first audio as input; a speaker configured to output second audio; a communication unit configured to provide Internet connectivity; a button; and a processor configured to: in response to pressing the button: establish communication between the local user and a remote site, receive an unlock message, and in response to receiving the unlock message, activate the solenoid to release of the sleeve.
US08922365B2
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to systems and methods for monitoring and alerting a body temperature of a person under guardianship. A wireless signal emitting body temperature sensor is configured to transmit a wireless signal including a detected temperature value. The wireless signal is received by a wireless signal receiving chip of a wireless signal receiving and processing precaution device carried by a guardian, and processed by a central processing chip. If the detected value is over the maximum value or is under the minimum value, an alarming signal will timely notify the guardian about abnormality in the body temperature of the person under guardianship.
US08922363B2
Disclosed herein are an animal training apparatus for locating a collar transceiver using a Global Positioning System (GPS), and a method of controlling the the same. The animal training apparatus includes a portable device, and a collar transceiver. The portable device includes a portable device GPS reception unit, a key input unit, a portable device control unit, a display unit, and a portable device wireless communication unit. The collar transceiver includes a collar wireless communication unit, a collar GPS reception unit, a photodetector, a light output unit, a beep tone output unit, and a collar control unit.
US08922362B2
A plurality of hazard alarm devices are in spatially diverse locations and coupled together with an input-output bus. An interconnect protocol enables non-originating alarm devices to synchronize their audible alert tone pulses with audible alert tone pulses from an originating alarm device in a local hazard alarm condition. Hence, all audible alert tone pulses start sounding substantially together with allowances for signal contention and arbitration between the spatially diverse alarm devices.
US08922351B2
A wireless output unit of a remote controller 2 having a touch pad 23 or a touch panel wirelessly outputs a coordinate value associated with a continuous contact input for the touch pad 23 to a television 1. A reception unit of the television 1 wirelessly receives the coordinate value associated with the continuous contact input output from the wireless output unit. A display processing unit displays on a display unit 14 a pointer 3 moving on the basis of the coordinate value received by the reception unit. An output unit outputs, when the continuous contact input is finished, acceptance information indicating that an input for an object T displayed on the display unit 14 is accepted at a final coordinate value for the pointer 3 displayed on the display unit 14.
US08922349B2
A control circuit and system for controlling operation of a device is provided. The control circuit includes a storage means for storing a group identifier associated with a group of devices to be controlled. The control circuit further includes a control communication interface circuit for communicating with at least one other control circuit thereby enabling one or more the control circuits to be programmed as belonging to the group. The system comprises a master control circuit for transmitting a control command, and a slave control circuit for receiving the control command. The slave control circuit is coupled to the device for controlling the device in accordance with the control command.
US08922347B1
An R.F. energy collection circuit, provides a low-loss R.F. front end tuned to minimize lost power in R.F. bands commonly used for communications for passing substantially coherent R.F. signals received therefrom, a rectifier circuit coupled to receive coherent R.F. energy from the front end, and an energy storage circuit coupled to receive energy from the rectifier circuit.
US08922345B2
This disclosure discloses an RFID tag communication system comprising: a communication antenna that performs wireless communication using a plurality of communication formats with a plurality of types of RFID circuit elements, each of the RFID circuit elements having an IC circuit part configured to store information and a tag antenna configured to transmit and receive information, each type of the plurality of types of RFID circuit element having a different compatibility factor and lacking communication compatibility; a format switching portion that sequentially switches the plurality of communication formats in a switching order that corresponds to the frequency of use results of each of the plurality of communication formats used in the past; and an information acquisition portion that performs an acquisition process to acquire information by wireless communication from the RFID circuit elements using each of the communication formats that are sequentially switched by the format switching portion.
US08922344B2
A method and system for detecting rogue radio frequency based devices includes a plurality of radio frequency based tags disposed at different locations within an area and operable to periodically broadcast information in a beacon, the information including each tag's unique identity information. A map of the area specifies identified radio frequency based tags and their respective locations within the area. A mobile device reads beacons in proximity to the radio frequency based tags and sends location update messages to a server that detects rogue radio frequency based devices within the area based on the location update messages and the map.
US08922340B2
A vehicle door latch assembly includes a first proximity sensor on a first side of a door handle and a second proximity sensor on a second side of the door handle. The assembly also includes a latch operative to latch the door closed and to unlatch the door to allow the door to open. The assembly further includes control circuitry for activating the latch to unlatch the door based on an object such as an operator's hand sensed with both the first and second proximity sensors.
US08922339B2
A system and method for receiving signals from a tire pressure monitoring (TPM) system, a remote keyless entry (RKE) system, and a passive entry system in a manner that reduces the occurrence of signal interference includes transmitting at least a first signal to a receiver on the vehicle. The receiver is configured to have multiple channels for receiving the TPM signal, the RKE signal and/or the passive entry signal. The method also includes receiving the first signal on a first receiver channel. The method further includes selecting a second receiver channel for receiving at least a second signal when the second signal is or will be generated.
US08922336B2
An entry/exit controlling system includes a comparison data generating terminal and an entry/exit controlling device. The comparison data generating terminal includes a storing portion storing one or more shared codes shared between visitors as information used in entry/exit authorization evaluations, and a comparison data generating portion generating comparison data including the shared code and personal information of the visitor. The shared code includes an authorization level that indicates regions where the visitors are authorized to enter/exit using the shared code. The entry/exit evaluating portion evaluates entry/exit authorization of the visitor at the region through comparing the shared code included in the comparison data to entry/exit evaluation information stored in the entry/exit controlling device. The comparison data is obtained from a recording medium by a reader disposed at the region. The entry/exit evaluating portion controls entry/exit of the visitor at the region based on a result of the entry/exit authorization evaluation.
US08922332B2
Electronic equipment, including a GPS dongle and a PC, compares an acquired current location position of the electronic equipment with an acquired planned installation position of a machine tool to determine whether or not the current location position is within a predetermined range from the planned installation position. Further, the electronic equipment determines, if it is determined that the current location position is within the predetermined range from the planned installation position, whether or not a predetermined condition has been satisfied. The electronic equipment also performs, if it is determined that the predetermined condition has been satisfied, information input processing on the machine tool to remove activation restriction on the machine tool. In this manner, the electronic equipment can prevent illegal removal of activation restriction on the machine tool.
US08922317B2
A coil component including: a magnetic core which is formed by a magnetic material and which has a top surface, a bottom surface facing the top surface and a side surface continuous approximately perpendicularly to the top surface and the bottom surface; a coil which is buried inside the magnetic core and whose end portion protrudes from the side surface of the magnetic core; a flat-shaped terminal which protrudes from the side surface of the magnetic core, is bent toward the bottom surface of the magnetic core and is connected with the end portion of the coil, wherein there is formed an opening portion at a position corresponding to the place which is bent for the flat-shaped terminal from the side surface to the bottom surface of the magnetic core.
US08922300B2
A filter and a layout structure of the filter are provided. The filter includes a substrate, three capacitors, and three inductors. The three capacitors and the first and second inductors are disposed on a top surface of the substrate. The third inductor is disposed on a lateral surface of the substrate. First electrodes of the first and third capacitors and a first terminal of the first inductor are connected to a first I/O terminal of the filter. A first electrode of the second capacitor, a second electrode of the third capacitor and a first terminal of the second inductor are connected to a second I/O terminal of the filter. A first terminal of the third inductor is connected to second electrodes of the first and second capacitors.
US08922292B2
A device for compensating impedance and gain of a transmission interface is provided. The device includes a correcting and compensating unit, a clock data recovering unit, a decoder, a calculating unit, and an adaptive control unit. The correcting and compensating unit is used to receive a channel signal, and compensate the channel signal according to a control signal to generate a compensation signal. The clock data recovering unit is used to receive the compensation signal and generate a data signal. The decoder is used to decode the data signal and perform detection to generate error information and correct information. The calculating unit is used to count times of generating the error information and times of generating the correct information to accordingly generate reference data. The adaptive control unit is used to receive the reference data and perform calculation to generate the control signal.
US08922289B2
An oscillation circuit including a reference voltage generation circuit that adds a proportional-to-absolute-temperature (PTAT) output, which increases in proportion to an absolute temperature, to a complementary-to-absolute-temperature (CTAT) output, which decreases in proportion to an absolute temperature, to generate and output a reference voltage. The oscillation circuit generates an oscillation signal having a desired and fixed frequency.
US08922285B2
The invention relates to a radiofrequency oscillator which incorporates: a spin-polarized electric current magnetoresistive device (6), a terminal (18) for controlling the frequency or amplitude of the oscillating signal, a servo loop (34) connected between the output terminal and the control terminal for applying a control signal to the control terminal in order to slave a characteristic of the oscillating signal to a reference value, the servo loop (34) comprising: a sensor (36) of the amplitude of the oscillating signal oscillations, and a comparator (38) capable of generating the control signal according to the measured amplitude and the reference value.
US08922271B1
A voltage-current conversion circuit for automatic test equipment (ATE) or a tester converts a low voltage, low current output from a power supply of the tester to a high voltage and/or high current output to be coupled to a device under test (DUT) while maintaining the sense capability of the tester power supply. In some embodiments, the voltage-current conversion circuit is implemented as a current only conversion circuit.
US08922267B2
An electronic device which includes a first stage having an input capacitance, a switch, a buffer and a second stage having an input sensitive to charge injection and/or voltage glitches. An input of the buffer and the input of the second stage are coupled together at a first node which is configured to be coupled to a voltage source for supplying a reference voltage to the input of the first stage having the input capacitance. In a first configuration of the switch, the switch is arranged to either connect the input of the first stage to the first node and to disconnect the input of the first stage from an output of the buffer. In a second configuration of the switch, to connect the input of the first stage to the output of the buffer and to disconnect the input of the first stage from the first node.
US08922264B1
Clock alignment circuitry may include phase comparator circuitry with a first input terminal that receives as first clock signal from a first clock tree and a second input terminal that receives a second clock signal from a second clock tree. The phase comparator circuitry may compare the first and second clock signals and generate different control signals based on the first and second clock signals. The integrated circuit may further include phase interpolator circuitry that generates an output clock signal based on at least one of the control signals received from the phase comparator circuitry. Edges of the generated output clock signal may align with edges of either the first clock signal or the second clock signal.
US08922253B2
A circuit may include an oscillator configured to generate an output signal based on an analog signal and a digital signal and a controller configured to generate an offset signal based on a comparison of a first analog control signal and a second analog control signal. The circuit may also include a divider configured to generate a feedback signal based on the output signal and the offset signal. The circuit may also include an analog control signal unit configured to generate the second analog control signal based on the feedback signal and a reference signal and a coupling unit configured to select either the first analog control signal or the second analog control signal as the analog signal.
US08922247B2
A power control integrated circuit is provided having a voltage switching device and a retention switching device that has an input from an overdrive voltage supply such that in a retention enabled configuration a retention switching device is switched on more strongly relative to being both coupled to and driven from the voltage supply input signal associated with the voltage switching device. An overdriven retention switching device is provided as a separate entity from the voltage switching device itself and a computer readable storage medium is provided storing a data structure comprising a standard cell circuit definition for use in generating validating the circuit layout of a circuit cell of an integrated circuit. The circuit cell comprising an overdriven retention switching device. A further data structure corresponding to a standard cell is provided comprising an overdriven retention switching device and a voltage switching device and yet a further standard cell data structure is provided comprising an overdriven voltage switching device.
US08922244B2
An integrated circuit die stack comprises a first die and a second die connected to each other. Each of the first and second dies comprise a functional circuitry, a plurality of first contacts on a first surface of the respective die, a plurality of second contacts on a second surface of the respective die, and a programmable array coupled to the functional circuitry and the plurality of first and second contacts. The programmable array includes a plurality of programmable connection elements in the first and second dies. The programmable connection elements are programmed to bypass one of the first and second dies.
US08922239B2
One embodiment of the invention includes a quantum processor system. The quantum processor system includes a first resonator having a first characteristic frequency and a second resonator having a second characteristic frequency greater than the first characteristic frequency. A qubit cell is coupled to each of the first resonator and the second resonator. The qubit cell has a frequency tunable over a range of frequencies including the first characteristic frequency and the second characteristic frequency. A classical control mechanism is configured to tune the frequency of the qubit cell as to transfer quantum information between the first resonator and the second resonator.
US08922237B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a plurality of semiconductor chips coupled to one another through vias, wherein a lowermost semiconductor chip of the plurality of semiconductor chips is configured to generate a first test pulse signal and transmit the first test pulse signal through the via, an uppermost semiconductor chip of the plurality of semiconductor chips is configured to generate a second test pulse signal while substantially maintaining a time difference with the first test pulse signal, and to transmit the second test pulse signal through the via, and the plurality of semiconductor chips are configured to generate test result signals for determining whether the vias are defective in response to the first test pulse signal and the second test pulse signal.
US08922234B2
A probe card for conducting an electrical test on a test subject includes a substrate body including a first surface, which faces toward the test subject, and a second surface, which is opposite to the first surface. A through electrode extends through the substrate body between the first surface and the second surface. A contact bump is formed in correspondence with the electrode pad and electrically connected to the through electrode. An elastic body is filled in an accommodating portion, which is formed in the substrate body extending from the first surface toward the second surface. The contact bump is formed on the elastic body.
US08922232B2
[Problems to be solved] To provide a test-use individual substrate capable of improving testing accuracy and connecting reliability.[Means for solving the Problems] A test-use individual substrate 30 which is used for testing a semiconductor wafer, comprises a main body portion 31, thin portions 321, 322 extending from the main body portion 31 and being relatively thinner than the main body portion, and bumps 33 provided on the thin portions 321, 322.
US08922223B2
A timer circuit is provided with a comparator CMP1, a control unit and a comparator CMP2. The comparator CMP1 compares a potential of the capacitance element with the potential of a reference voltage VREF_H, and if the potential of the capacitance element reaches the potential of the reference voltage VREF_H, outputs a pre-specified time-up signal. The control unit performs control such that the potential of the capacitance element is higher than a potential of a reference voltage VREF_S, which is higher than the ground potential and lower than the potential of the reference voltage VREF_H. The comparator CMP2 compares the potential of the capacitance element with the potential of the reference voltage VREF_S, and if the potential of the capacitance element is lower than the potential of the reference voltage VREF_S, outputs a short circuit detection signal indicating that a short circuit state of the capacitance element has been detected.
US08922219B2
A photo ionization detector (PID) is provided for selectively determining various compounds or gases present in a breath sample. The PID, comprises a substrate comprising a gas ionization chamber, at least one pair of ion sensing electrodes, and at least one amplifying circuit; and an ultraviolet (UV) ionization source to transmit a UV light beam into the gas ionization chamber. A system comprises the PID is also provided. A method of detecting a response pattern for various compounds or gases in breath using PID is also provided.
US08922216B2
The invention relates to a device for measuring battery voltage including an accumulator (Ai), characterized in that said measuring device comprises: an alternating current generator (II), at least one first diode (D1i) and at least one second diode (D2i) arranged in series such that said first diode (D1i) is connected to the positive pole (+) of said accumulator (Ai) by means of the cathode thereof and to the cathode of said second diode (D2i) by means of the anode thereof and such that said second diode (D2i) is connected to the negative pole (−) of said accumulator (Ai) by means of the anode thereof and to the anode of said first diode (D1i) by means of the cathode thereof, a reading capacitor (C1) connected to the central point (N) between said first (D1i) and second (D2i) diodes and to a means (3) for determining the voltage across the terminals of said accumulator (Ai) from the voltage variation at the central point (N).
US08922213B2
In a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment, a transmitting coil applies a radio-frequency magnetic field to a subject placed in a static magnetic field. A receiving coil receives a magnetic resonance signal emitted from the subject owing to an application of the radio-frequency magnetic field. A balun is connected to the receiving coil, and suppresses an unbalanced current induced in the receiving coil. An overheat protection circuit indicates that the balun is abnormal when a temperature of the balun exceeds a temperature threshold. An imaging control unit stops imaging when the overheat protection circuit indicates an abnormality of the balun.
US08922209B2
A magnetic resonance imaging method comprises performing imaging where more than one polarizing magnetic field strength is used during scanning and processing at least one image resulting from the scanning to yield an enhanced contrast image.
US08922208B1
An active device is provided that is energized by an optical source and uses an active paramagnetic medium to transfer this energy to a resonant circuit enabling new classes of electronic components.
US08922204B2
A fail detecting device for a rotation angle sensor, for detecting a fail of the rotation angle sensor even if the number of rotation angle sensors is one. A cam is configured to be driven to rotate in one direction by an electric motor to reciprocate a push rod. An output voltage of an angle sensor is set so that the region equal to or lower than a first predetermined voltage and the region equal to or higher than a second predetermined voltage higher than the first predetermined voltage are recognized as a dead zone. The elapsed time after the transition to the dead zone is measured by a timer and it is determined that the angle sensor is in the fail state if the output voltage corresponding to the dead zone is detected although the estimated time of the passage through the dead zone has elapsed.
US08922203B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward a system that includes a turbomachine blade monitoring system having an eddy current proximity probe assembly. The eddy current proximity probe assembly includes an eddy current proximity probe having a probe tip and a probe tip shroud disposed about the probe tip, wherein the probe tip shroud comprises a non-metallic material. The eddy current proximity probe is configured to provide a signal indicative of a presence of a turbomachine blade, wherein the eddy current proximity probe assembly is configured to be disposed within a turbomachine casing. The turbomachine blade monitoring system also includes a monitor coupled to the eddy current proximity probe assembly, wherein the monitor is configured to monitor a parameter of the turbomachine blade based on the signal.
US08922200B2
The invention relates to a method for determining the actual angle position of a rotatable magnetic component in an electric drive (10) having an odd number of pole pairs. An actual angle measurement value (φAMR,k) of the rotatable component is measured using an angle sensor (28) which only measures the actual angle measurement value (φAMR,k) within a predefined reduced angular area, and an associated device (20) for determining an actual angle position of a rotatable magnetic component in an electric drive (10). According to the invention, the actual angle measurement value (φAMR,k) measured exclusively for the reduced angular area is converted using the direction and the sign of the magnetic field of the rotatable magnetic component in a clear angular position in non-reduced angular area, the direction and sign of the magnetic field of the rotatable magnetic element (12) being determined by applying first test impulses (Ua, Ub, Uc) to the electric drive (10) and by evaluating the resulting second test impulses (I1, I2, Ia, Ib, Ic) which are produced in the electric drive (10) in reaction with the applied first test impulses (Ua, Ub, Uc).
US08922199B2
A method and system for magnetic measurement of elongation of a fastener includes a means for providing a magnetic field gradient along an axis of the fastener, such as one or more permanent magnets. A magnetic sensor is mounted in the fastener in the magnetic field gradient. Magnetic field measurements taken by the magnetic sensor are dependent on a length of the fastener and are sufficiently sensitive to monitor loading during a service life of the fastener. The fastener may be equipped with a signal reader and a data interface for offloading measurement values.
US08922195B2
A current clamp meter includes a current meter body and a jaw assembly. The jaw assembly is configured so that the current clamp meter may be used to reach and readily single-out a desired wire from amongst adjacent wires.
US08922193B2
Apparatus, usable to measure current in a multiple-conductor cable having supply and return conductors spaced apart by a nominal conductor spacing and carrying respective supply and return currents in opposite directions, includes (1) a non-magnetic body having a cable-engaging portion defining a location and an orientation axis of the multiple-conductor cable relative to the apparatus when the cable-engaging portion engages the cable during use, (2) a planar, multi-turn wire coil supported by the body immediately adjacent to the location and lying in a plane parallel to the orientation axis, the wire coil having a coil diameter at least four times the nominal conductor spacing, and (3) signal conditioning circuitry operative in response to a voltage signal developed across output ends of the wire coil to generate a conditioned voltage signal having a voltage magnitude determined by and indicative of a magnitude of the supply current during use.
US08922191B2
A peak current controlled switching voltage regulator system and method for providing a self-power down mode. An on-chip voltage regulator integrated into an on-chip digital logic circuit provides a core supply voltage to the on-chip digital logic circuit along with an off-chip inductor. An off-chip regulator connected to the on-chip digital logic circuit provides an external core supply voltage with respect to the on-chip digital logic circuit. A start-up circuit operates the on-chip voltage regulator in a self-power down mode for a pre-determined time period when the on-chip regulator is not connected to the off-chip inductor in order to maintain an equilibrium voltage supply with respect to the on-chip digital logic circuit.
US08922187B2
A buck switching regulator includes a feedback control circuit including a balanced feedback network including first and second gain circuits configured to generate first and second feedback signals, respectively, indicative of the regulated output voltage; a ripple generation circuit configured to inject a first ripple signal to the first gain circuit and a second ripple signal to the second gain circuit; an operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) configured to receive the second feedback signal and a reference signal and to generate an output signal being coupled to a node in the feedback control circuit; and a comparator configured to receive the first feedback signal and a comparator reference signal and to generate a comparator output signal. The output signal of the OTA is applied to the feedback control circuit to cancel a voltage offset in the regulated output voltage due to the injected ripple signal to the first gain circuit.
US08922183B2
An analog closed-loop, negative feedback system that adapts feedback compensation during operation thereof to improve dynamic performance thereof. Using a pure analog control loop with digital assist provides speed and simplicity of an analog control loop with the flexibility of digital control. Adapting the compensation allows the system to accurately predict and adjust, at all DC operating points, (1) the margin of stability of the converter, against closed loop oscillation, and (2) the frequency-domain and time-domain responses to perturbations in the input voltage and/or the output current. Operational transconductance amplifiers (OTAs) and digitally controlled digital-to-analog converters (IDACs) are used to dynamically change the operating parameters of the analog closed-loop of the negative feedback system. The negative feedback system may be a switch mode power supply (SMPS).
US08922179B2
A low dropout (LDO) voltage regulator includes a voltage regulation loop for providing a gate drive signal to an output device, the gate drive signal proportional to an output current. The voltage regulation loop includes a current bias input for receiving a bias current. The LDO voltage regulator further includes a current bias control circuit for providing the adaptive bias current at a first value that is proportional to current limit value lab and the width-to-length ratio of transistors of the transconductance amplifier when the output current less than or equal to a threshold and increases the bias current from a threshold to a current limit value. The output current varies substantially linearly over a range of output current values between the threshold and the current limit value.
US08922173B2
A DC chopper comprising a control unit and a power circuit and a DC chopping method for a DFIG (doubly fed induction generator) system are provided. The input terminal of the control unit is coupled to a DC capacitor of a converter to detect a DC voltage. The power circuit includes input terminals, an overvoltage protection module, a rectifier module and output terminals. The overvoltage protection module comprises at least one discharge unit formed from a discharge resistor and a switch element, and the rectifier module is coupled in parallel to the overvoltage protection module. When a grid voltage drops, the control unit outputs a corresponding control signal to drive the switch element to be ON or OFF, and the output terminal of the power circuit absorbs a portion of rotor inrush current, so as to impose over-current protection.
US08922171B2
The present invention suppresses a decrease in the capacity of a lithium ion battery. A polymer forming agent or a sacrificial reducing agent is added to a nonaqueous electrolytic solution. A voltage is then applied to between a battery container and an anode. Thus, lithium ions can be inserted into the anode to recover the capacity of the battery.
US08922168B2
The present invention relates to a battery management system and a battery management method. The battery management system for managing a battery including at least one cell comprises: an SOH (State of Charge) estimating unit for determining estimation parameters for estimating an SOC of the battery; and a controller for updating a pattern table for estimating a pattern of use on a charge and discharge cycle of the battery, based on the estimation parameters. The pattern table includes a plurality of pattern counters, and the plurality of pattern counters correspond to a plurality of estimation ranges, respectively. The controller determines to which estimation range from among the plurality of estimation ranges the estimation parameters correspond, and updates a value of a pattern counter corresponding to the determined estimation range from among the plurality of pattern counters.
US08922165B2
Embodiments of an electronic circuit for monitoring a battery stack enable cell balancing while conserving pin-count of the circuit package. The illustrative electronic circuit comprises a battery monitoring integrated circuit configured for monitoring a plurality of cells in the battery stack. The battery monitoring integrated circuit is arranged to share a common node pin between two adjacent battery cells in the battery stack for the purpose of cell balancing.
US08922159B2
A battery pack features a housing with a battery cell positioned within the housing. A pair of terminals attached to the battery cell and are adapted to provide power to a cap lamp and/or other device(s). Charging circuitry is positioned within the housing and attached to the battery cell. The charging circuitry provides a charging current to the battery cell when the battery pack is connected to a charger. A microprocessor is positioned within the housing and operatively connected to the charging circuitry.
US08922151B2
Provided is a regenerative medium voltage inverter, the inverter being such that regenerative operation is enabled by changing structure of input terminal of a unit power cell at a series H-bridge medium voltage inverter, and a dynamic braking resistor is not required to reduce the size of a DC-link capacitor over that of a conventional medium voltage inverter.
US08922149B2
The invention relates to a method for detecting blocking or sluggishness (M1, M3) of a DC motor (2). The method comprises the following steps: applying a voltage pulse (Uv,t=Os) to the DC motor (2); monitoring a motor current (IMotor) flowing through the DC motor (2); detecting a maximum value of the motor current (IMotor) following the application of the voltage pulse; checking whether a change in the motor current (IMotor) after reaching the maximum value exceeds a specific amount; signalling the blocking or the sluggishness (M1, M3) of the DC motor (2) if the change in the motor current (IMotor) after reaching the maximum value exceeds the specific amount.
US08922144B2
Methods and systems of processing sensor signals to determine motion of a motor shaft are disclosed. This disclosure relates to the processing of sequences of pulses from a sensor for computing the motion of an electric motor output shaft. Furthermore, this disclosure relates to the processing of two sequences of pulses from sensor outputs, which may be separated by only a few electrical degrees, to compute the motion of an electrical motor output shaft while using a limited bandwidth controller. Motor shaft direction, displacement, speed, phase, and phase offset may be determined from processing the sensor signals.
US08922143B2
An estimation section estimates a time period required for a norm of a difference vector between a current flowing to a motor/generator and a command current to attain a threshold level r in each switching mode provisionally set by a mode setting section. A mode determination section determines the switching mode of the longest required time period to be a final switching mode. A drive section controls an inverter to operate in the switching mode determined by the mode switching section.
US08922140B2
An actuator having two or more potentiometers for setting an address for use with a communications bus or the like. An adjustment or setting of the potentiometers may be accessible at two or more sides outside of a housing enclosing the actuator. One potentiometer may be set to a direction of control and a range of addresses. Another potentiometer may be set to one of several addresses within a range of addresses and direction of control selected on the first potentiometer.
US08922135B2
A light emitter driving device has a decoder portion which monitors a rectified voltage and generates a dimming signal, and a drive current control portion which controls a drive current to a light emitter according to the dimming signal. The decoder portion has a comparator which compares the rectified voltage with a predetermined threshold voltage to generate a comparison signal, a sampling counter which measures high-level and low-level periods of the comparison signal, a duty calculation portion which calculates the duty of the rectified voltage based on the output of the sampling counter, a filter calculation portion which excludes sporadic variation in duty by applying digital filtering to the output of the duty calculation portion, and a dimming signal generation portion which generates the dimming signal based on the output of the filter calculation portion.
US08922133B2
A two-wire smart load control device, such as an electronic switch, for controlling the power delivered from a power source to an electrical load comprises a relay for conducting a load current through the load, a controller for rendering the relay conductive and non-conductive, and an in-line power supply coupled in series with the relay for generating a supply voltage across a capacitor when the relay is conductive. The power supply controls when the capacitor charges asynchronously with respect to the frequency of the source. The capacitor conducts the load current for at least a portion of a line cycle of the source when the relay is conductive. The controller is operable to determine when the magnitude of the supply voltage reaches a maximum supply voltage threshold, and render the relay non-conductive immediately after the supply voltage reaches the maximum supply voltage threshold.
US08922119B2
A flash lamp is disclosed including an insulative envelope containing a gas and housing a pair of arcing electrodes and characterized by an instance of isolated conductive material being formed at a predetermined location on the inside of the envelope adjacent an electrode. Further disclosed is a corresponding method of manufacturing a flash lamp and apparatus for the same.
US08922112B2
A light emitting element includes a reflective layer disposed in a substrate, a first electrode disposed through the reflective layer, a second electrode having translucent reflectivity, a plurality of organic material layers including a light emitting layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a light emitting region defined by the first electrode, the second electrode, and the light emitting layer. A first organic material layer of the plurality of organic material layers has a first layer thickness in a first sub region within the light emitting region and has a second layer thickness, which is different from the first layer thickness, in a second sub region within the light emitting region.
US08922108B2
Remote component devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In one aspect, remote component devices, systems, and methods can include a body for lockably securing the remote component to a housing. Devices, systems, and methods can also include one or more light emitting devices disposed over the body. An optical material can be remotely located at least a first distance away from the one or more light emitting devices. Remote component devices, systems, and methods disclosed herein can be used as replacements and/or equivalent light products for standard filament light bulbs and compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) bulbs.
US08922103B2
A spark plug (1) includes a metallic shell (3) and a ground electrode (27) resistance-welded to the metallic shell (3). The ground electrode (27) is formed from a metal material in which precipitates PR containing at least one of an oxide, an intermetallic compound, etc., are precipitated in grain boundaries. The diameter of an equivalent circle of a precipitate PR having the greatest area is 50 μm or less, and the shortest distance between the precipitates PR is 2 μm or greater. The area occupied by the precipitates PR on the section of the heat-affected zone 27A is equal to 65% or more the area occupied by the precipitates PR (the diameter of an equivalent circle of a precipitate PR having the greatest area) on a section of the normal zone 27B.
US08922099B2
The present invention provides piezoelectric surface mount devices in which the area of the mounting terminals is reduced, leading to reduction of manufacturing cost. A piezoelectric device comprises a package base (120) including a bottom surface having a long edge and a short edge and a pair of mounting terminals formed on respective short edges of the package base. The pair of mounting terminals are separated by a predetermined longitudinal distance (X3) and are arranged as close as possible to the longitudinal center line of the package base. The predetermined distance is sufficient to prevent electrical short when mounting the piezoelectric device onto the printed substrate. The maximum width (Z2) of each mounting terminal measured in a direction parallel with the short edges of the package base is less than one half the width of the short edge (Z1).
US08922090B2
A rotating electrical machine having a shaft, an iron core having slots, an armature winding inserted into the slots, a commutator provided to the shaft and having a plurality of commutator segments that should have same potential. An equalizer connected at one end to a commutator segment among the commutator segments where the commutator segment is in contact with a brush reaches a rear side of the iron core by passing through a slot positioned at a center of a magnetic pole of the rotating electrical machine and returns to the front side by passing through another slot positioned at a center of another magnetic pole so that the equalizer is connected at the other end to a commutator segment where the commutator segment is in contact with a brush of a same polarity as the firstly-mentioned brush.
US08922083B2
A laminated core of a rotor includes an inner core portion and a plurality of outer core portions. The inner core portion axially extends in a cylindrical shape in a region located more radially inward than magnets. The outer core portions are arranged in a circumferential direction in a region located more radially outward than the inner core portion. The plurality of outer core portions and a plurality of the magnets are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction. Accordingly, magnetic flux generated from a pair of magnetic pole surfaces of the plurality of magnets can be effectively used. In addition, the laminated core includes caulking portions in each of the inner core portion and the plurality of outer core portions. Accordingly, a plurality of thin plate cores are firmly fixed.
US08922081B2
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for incorporating a plurality of independently rotating rotors made from high-strength materials with a high-temperature superconductive (HTS) bearing technology into an open-core flywheel architecture to achieve a desired high energy density in the flywheel energy storage devices and to obtain superior results and performance.
US08922068B2
A primary for a linear drive motor has first and second stacks, each with inner and outer teeth and a bearing mount. A magnet is disposed between the first and second stacks, and a coil wrapped is between the first and second stacks. A bearing is operatively mounted to at least one of the bearing mounts of the first and second stacks. The outer teeth of the first and second stacks may have a projection comprising the bearing mount. The bearing mount may be embedded within the stacks. The stacks may be assembled in a housing and the housing may have a first bearing outboard of the first stack, a second bearing outboard of the second stack, and a third bearing in staggered relationship with the first and second bearings across the housing in an arrangement bilaterally symmetric about an axis transverse to the direction of travel.
US08922063B2
A circuit for rendering an energy storage device parallelable comprised of an energy storage device connected to a power adapter that converts the potential of the energy storage device into a potential that follows a predetermined function of the state of charge of the energy storage device. When multiple assemblies are paralleled, they may be charged and discharged as a whole with individual storage devices maintaining equal states of charge. The energy storage devices can be batteries with different cell counts, configurations, and energy discharge profiles. In some cases, the power adapters are comprised of DC to DC converters and system controllers that are used to translate each battery's energy discharge profile into a user-determined energy discharge profile that is a predictable function of the battery's state of charge and independent of temperature or other external conditions.
US08922060B2
The power supply apparatus a main power device, an auxiliary power unit, and controlling means. Each of the main power device and the auxiliary power unit is configured to supply DC power to a DC supply line. The main power device is configured to generate DC power by use of power supplied from a secondary cell. The controlling means is configured to, when a measurement (a magnitude of a current flowing through the DC supply line) exceeds an optimal current magnitude, send an instruction to the main power device such that a current supplied from the main power device to the DC supply line has the same magnitude as the optimal current magnitude. The optimal current magnitude is defined as a magnitude of a current supplied to the DC supply line from the main power device operating so as to maximize a proportion of power supplied from the main power device to the DC supply line to the sum of power supplied from the secondary cell to the main power device and loss caused by an internal resistance of the secondary cell. The main power device is configured to adjust the magnitude of the current supplied to the DC supply line on the basis of the instruction received from the controlling means.
US08922055B2
Provided is a light emitting diode (LED) driving circuit for driving a plurality of LED groups. The LED driving circuit includes: a voltage converter, for converting an input voltage into an output voltage, the output voltage coupled to a respective first terminal of each of the LED groups; and a controller, coupled to the voltage converter for controlling the voltage converter, the controller including a plurality of output channel terminals respectively corresponding to a plurality of output channels, one or more of the output channels are enabled and one or more of the output channels are disabled. One or more of the output channel terminals corresponding to the one or more enabled output channels are coupled to second terminals of corresponding ones of the LED groups, and one or more of the output channel terminals corresponding to the one or more disabled output channels are coupled to a reference voltage.
US08922052B2
A power supply device generating source powers to be outputted to an inverter and external supply destinations includes: a first power supply transformer including a first primary winding and a plurality of first secondary windings wound on an outer side of the first primary winding; and a second power supply transformer including a second primary winding electrically connected to one of the first secondary windings and a plurality of second secondary windings wound on an outer side of the second primary winding. The second secondary windings are connected to the external supply destinations. The first secondary windings include an upper gate winding connected to an upper-gate power supply circuit for switching on and off a switching element of an upper arm of the inverter, and the upper gate winding is wound on an outermost side to be separated away from the one of the first secondary windings.
US08922051B2
A current control module is used in a vehicle having a marker or tail lamp, a stop lamp, a left turn signal and a right turn signal. The current control module includes a circuit board and at least one wire coupled to the circuit board, the at least one wire corresponding to one of the marker or tail lamp, stop lamp, left turn signal or right turn signal. The current monitoring circuit includes a current sense resistor, a current sense amplifier, a voltage comparator, and a transistor coupled to the voltage comparator for turning off and preventing current from being delivered to the at least one wire corresponding to one of the marker or tail lamp, stop lamp, left turn signal or right turn signal.
US08922049B2
A system is disclosed for extracting electrical power from a plurality of batteries of an electric vehicle for use by an electric device. The system may include a power inverter configured to convert a DC power output of the batteries to an AC power output usable by the electric device. The system may also include a power cable having a first end electrically connected to the batteries and a second end electrically connected to the power inverter such that the DC power output of the batteries is transmitted through the power cable to the power inverter. Additionally, the first end of the power cable may include a charger plug configured to be connected to the batteries through a charging receptacle of the electric vehicle.
US08922028B2
The present invention relates to a semiconductor package, comprising a carrier, a semiconductor device, a first wire and a second wire. The carrier has a first electrically connecting portion and a second electrically connecting portion. The semiconductor device has a plurality of pads. The first wire electrically connects one of the pads of the semiconductor device and the first electrically connecting portion of the carrier, and the first wire has a first length. The second wire electrically connects one of the pads of the semiconductor device and the second electrically connecting portion of the carrier, and the second wire has a second length. The second length is larger than the first length, and the diameter of the second wire is larger than that of the first wire. Thus, the material usage for the wire is reduced, and the manufacturing cost is reduced.
US08922023B2
Upon forming a complex metallization system, the parasitic capacitance between metal lines of adjacent metallization layers may be reduced by providing a patterned etch stop material. In this manner, the patterning process for forming the via openings may be controlled in a highly reliable manner, while, on the other hand, the resulting overall dielectric constant of the metallization system may be reduced, thereby also significantly reducing the parasitic capacitance between stacked metal lines.
US08922019B2
Disclosed is a semiconductor device wherein an insulation layer has a via opening with an aluminum layer in the via opening and in contact with the last wiring layer of the device. There is a barrier layer on the aluminum layer followed by a copper plug which fills the via opening. Also disclosed is a process for making the semiconductor device.
US08922010B2
Disclosed is a semiconductor device suppressed in decrease of reliability. The semiconductor device comprises an electrode pad portion (2) formed on the upper surface of a semiconductor substrate (1), a passivation layer (3) so formed on the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate (1) as to overlap a part of the electrode pad portion (2) and having a first opening portion (3a) where the upper surface of the electrode pad portion (2) is exposed, a barrier metal layer (5) formed on the electrode pad portion (2), and a solder bump (6) formed on the barrier metal layer (5). The barrier metal layer (5) is formed such that an outer peripheral end (5b) lies within the first opening portion (3a) of the passivation layer (3) when viewed in plan.
US08922004B2
A work piece includes a copper bump having a top surface and sidewalls. A protection layer is formed on the sidewalls, and not on the top surface, of the copper bump. The protection layer includes a compound of copper and a polymer, and is a dielectric layer.
US08922000B2
Chip carriers are provided. The chip carrier includes a carrier body having a cavity therein and at least one conductive through silicon via (TSV) penetrating the carrier body under the cavity. The cavity includes an uneven sidewall surface profile. The at least one conductive through silicon via (TSV) is exposed at a bottom surface of the carrier body opposite to the cavity. Related methods are also provided.
US08921997B2
According to one embodiment, an electrical component comprises a substrate, an element, a first layer, and a second layer. The element is formed on the substrate. The first layer forms a cavity accommodating the element on the substrate and includes through holes. The second layer is formed on the first layer and seals the through holes. The first layer includes the first film formed on the lower side and the second film which is formed on the first film and has a lower coefficient of thermal expansion than the first film.
US08921995B1
An integrated circuit (IC) package is disclosed comprising a substrate including a plurality of substrate contacts; a semiconductor die including a plurality of die contacts; and a plurality of conductors for providing direct connections between substrate contacts and die contacts, respectively. By having the conductors directly route the connections between the die contacts and substrate contacts, many improvements may be realized including, but not limited to, improved package routing capabilities, reduced die and/or package size, improved package reliability, improved current handling capacity, improved speed, improved thermal performance, and lower costs.
US08921993B2
A semiconductor package includes a substrate, a semiconductor chip located on a top surface of the substrate, signal lines formed on the top surface of the substrate and configured to allow different types of signals to input/output thereto/therefrom, a ground line unit formed on the top surface of the substrate and configured to divide the signal lines into signal lines to/from which the same types of signals are input/output to be isolated from one another, barrier walls configured to contact the ground line unit, and a heat dissipation unit disposed on the semiconductor chip, wherein the ground line unit includes diagonal ground lines located in diagonal directions of the substrate about the semiconductor chip, and the heat dissipation unit includes a thermal interface material (TIM) located on a top surface of the semiconductor chip, and a heat dissipation plate configured to cover the TIM and the substrate.
US08921989B2
Power electronics modules having solder layers with reduced thermal-stress are disclosed. In one embodiment, a power electronics module includes a power electronics device having a first surface, a second surface, a first edge, and a second edge opposite the first edge. The power electronics device has a device length measured from the first edge to the second edge. A first solder layer is adjacent to the first surface of the power electronics device, and a second solder layer is adjacent to the second surface. The first solder layer and the second solder layer have a maximum thickness T along a length that is less than the device length of the power electronics device. A first thermally conductive layer is adjacent to the first solder layer, and a second thermally conductive layer is adjacent to the second solder layer. In some embodiments, the first and second solder layers have tapered portions.
US08921988B2
A galvanically-isolated device and a method for fabricating the same are provided. The galvanically-isolated device includes a lead frame including a first die-attach pad, a first lead and a second lead. A substrate is disposed on the first die-attach pad. A high-voltage semiconductor capacitor formed on the substrate includes an interconnection structure. The interconnection structure includes an inter-metal dielectric layer structure. A first plate, a second plate and a third plate are formed on the inter-metal dielectric layer structure, separated from each other. The first plate, the second plate and a first portion of the inter-metal dielectric layer structure are composed of a first capacitor. The first plate, the third plate and a second portion of the inter-metal dielectric layer structure are composed of a second capacitor connected in series with the first capacitor.
US08921979B2
A method for producing a semiconductor layer is disclosed. One embodiment provides for a semiconductor layer on a semiconductor substrate containing oxygen. Crystal defects are produced at least in a near-surface region of the semiconductor substrate. A thermal process is carried out wherein the oxygen is taken up at the crystal defects. The semiconductor layer is deposited epitaxially over the near-surface region of the semiconductor substrate.
US08921968B2
Solar cells and methods for their manufacture are disclosed. An example solar cell may comprise a substrate comprising a p-type base layer and an n-type selective emitter layer formed over the p-type base layer. The n-type selective emitter layer may comprise one or more first doped regions comprising implanted dopant and one or more second doped regions comprising diffused dopant. The one or more first doped regions may be more heavily doped than the one or more second doped regions. A p-n junction may be formed at the interface of the base layer and the selective emitter layer, such that the p-n junction and the selective emitter layer are both formed during a single anneal cycle.
US08921965B2
An optical communication device includes a planar optical waveguide, a substrate and an optical-electric element. The planar optical waveguide includes a first side surface and a light guide portion formed in the planar optical waveguide. The substrate includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall facing away from the first sidewall. The first sidewall is substantially parallel with the second sidewall. The substrate defines a light guide hole running through both the first sidewall and the second sidewall. The first sidewall is connected to the first side surface, with the light guide hole aligning with the light guide portion. The optical-electric element includes an optical surface. The optical-electric element is assembled to the second sidewall, with the optical surface aligning with the light guide hole and the light guide portion.
US08921961B2
An improved PMA STT MTJ storage element, and a method for forming it, are described. By inserting a suitable oxide layer between the storage and cap layers, improved PMA properties are obtained, increasing the potential for a larger Eb/kT thermal factor as well as a larger MR. Another important advantage is better compatibility with high processing temperatures, potentially facilitating integration with CMOS.
US08921957B1
A MEMS microphone. The MEMS microphone includes a back plate, a membrane, a support structure, a substrate, and an overtravel stop. The membrane is coupled to the back plate. The support structure includes a support structure opening and a first side of the support structure is coupled to a second side of the back plate. The substrate includes a substrate opening and a first side of the substrate is coupled to a second side of the support structure. The overtravel stop limits a movement of the membrane away from the back plate and includes at least one of an overtravel stop structure coupled to the substrate, an overtravel stop structure formed as part of a carrier chip, and an overtravel stop structure formed as part of the support structure in the support structure opening.
US08921955B1
In one embodiment, a miniaturized, multi-function, highly integrated and high performance semiconductor device or package includes a microphone implemented using a MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System) die. The semiconductor device includes a leadframe and a body collectively defining a port hole. The port hole facilitates the exposure of a diaphragm of the MEMS die in the semiconductor device.
US08921954B2
A method for providing a semiconductor structure includes forming a sacrificial structure by etching a plurality of trenches from a first main surface of a substrate. The method further includes covering the plurality of trenches at the first main surface with a cover material to define cavities within the substrate, removing a part of the substrate from a second main surface opposite to the first main surface to a depth at which the plurality of trenches are present, and etching away the sacrificial structure from the second main surface of the substrate.
US08921945B2
The power transistor configured to be integrated into a trench-isolated thick layer SOI-technology with an active silicon layer with a thickness of about 50 μm. The power transistor may have a lower resistance than the DMOS transistor and a faster switch-off behavior than the IGBT.
US08921943B2
Methods and apparatus for ESD structures. A semiconductor device includes a first active area containing an ESD cell coupled to a first terminal and disposed in a well; a second active area in the semiconductor substrate, the second active area comprising a first diffusion of the first conductivity type for making a bulk contact to the well; and a third active area in the semiconductor substrate, separated from the first and second active areas by another isolation region, a portion of the third active area comprising an implant diffusion of the first conductivity type within a first diffusion of the second conductivity type and adjacent a boundary with the well of the first conductivity type; wherein the third active area comprises a diode coupled to the terminal and reverse biased with respect to the well of the first conductivity type.
US08921922B2
This technology relates to a nonvolatile memory device and a method for fabricating the same. The nonvolatile memory device may include a pipe connection gate electrode configured to have a lower part buried in a groove formed in a substrate, one or more pipe channel layers formed within the pipe connection gate electrode, pairs of main channel layers each coupled with the pipe channel layer and extended in a direction substantially perpendicular to the substrate; and a plurality of interlayer insulating layers and a plurality of cell gate electrodes alternately stacked along the main channel layers. In accordance with this technology, a lower part of the pipe connection gate electrode is buried in the substrate. Accordingly, electric resistance may be reduced because the pipe connection gate electrode may have an increased volume without a substantial increase of the height.
US08921918B2
Three-dimensional semiconductor devices may be provided. The devices may include a stack-structure including gate patterns and an insulation pattern. The stack-structure may further include a first portion and a second portion, and the second portion of the stack-structure may have a narrower width than the first portion. The devices may also include an active pattern that penetrates the stack-structure. The devices may further include a common source region adjacent the stack-structure. The devices may additionally include a strapping contact plug on the common source region.
US08921916B2
A single poly electrically erasable programmable read only memory (single poly EEPROM) device is provided, including: a semiconductor on insulator (SOI) substrate having a P-type semiconductor layer over an insulator layer; a P-well region formed in a portion of the P-type semiconductor layer; a trench isolation formed in the P-type semiconductor layer, surrounding the P-well region; an NMOS transistor formed over a portion of the P-type semiconductor layer of the P-well region; a P+ doping region formed over another portion of the P-type semiconductor layer of the P-well region; and a control gate formed in another portion of the P-type semiconductor layer, adjacent to the trench isolation.
US08921911B2
A vertical semiconductor charge storage structure includes a substrate, at least one lower electrode, a dielectric layer and an upper electrode. The lower electrode includes a lower conductor, and a first side conductor and a second side conductor connected to the lower conductor. The first side conductor and the second side conductor are parallel to each other and form an included angle with the lower conductor. A height of the first side conductor from the substrate is greater than a height of the second side conductor from the substrate. The dielectric layer and the upper electrode are sequentially formed on surfaces of the substrate and the lower electrode. Accordingly, by forming the first side conductor and the second side conductor at different heights, an aperture ratio is increased to reduce difficulty in filling or deposition in subsequent processes to further enhance an overall yield rate.
US08921909B2
The invention includes methods for utilizing partial silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology in combination with fin field effect transistor (finFET) technology to form transistors particularly suitable for utilization in dynamic random access memory (DRAM) arrays. The invention also includes DRAM arrays having low rates of refresh. Additionally, the invention includes semiconductor constructions containing transistors with horizontally-opposing source/drain regions and channel regions between the source/drain regions. The transistors can include gates that encircle at least three-fourths of at least portions of the channel regions, and in some aspects can include gates that encircle substantially an entirety of at least portions of the channel regions.
US08921903B2
On a p− epitaxial layer, an n-type epitaxial layer and a gate region are formed in this order. A gate electrode is electrically connected to the gate region, and a source electrode and a drain electrode are spaced apart from each other with the gate electrode sandwiched therebetween. A control electrode is used for applying to the p− epitaxial layer a voltage that causes a reverse biased state of the p− epitaxial layer and the n-type epitaxial layer in an OFF operation.
US08921897B2
A first linear-shaped conductive structure (LSCS) forms gate electrodes of a first p-transistor and a first n-transistor. A second LSCS forms a gate electrode of a second p-transistor. A third LSCS forms a gate electrode of a second n-transistor, and is separated from the second LSCS by a first end-to-end spacing (EES). A fourth LSCS forms a gate electrode of a third p-transistor. A fifth LSCS forms a gate electrode of a third n-transistor, and is separated from the fourth LSCS by a second EES. A sixth LSCS forms gate electrodes of a fourth p-transistor and a fourth n-transistor. An end of the second LSCS adjacent to the first EES is offset from an end of the fourth LSCS adjacent to the second EES, and/or an end of the third LSCS adjacent to the first EES is offset from an end of the fifth LSCS adjacent to the second EES.
US08921868B2
A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor layer disposed above a substrate; an insulating film formed by oxidizing a portion of the semiconductor layer; and an electrode disposed on the insulating film, wherein the insulating film includes gallium oxide, or gallium oxide and indium oxide.
US08921866B2
An electroluminescent display panel and method of fabricating the same are provided. The electroluminescent display panel includes a first multiple-layered structural layer, a second multiple-layered structural layer, a passivation layer and a third patterned conductive layer. The first multiple-layered structural layer includes a first patterned conductive layer, a first patterned insulation layer and an oxide semiconductor layer, and the first patterned conductive layer, the first patterned insulation layer and the oxide semiconductor layer have substantially the same shape. The second multiple-layered structural layer includes a second patterned conductive layer. The passivation layer has a plurality of through holes. A portion of the through holes expose the top surface and the lateral surface of the oxide semiconductor layer and the lateral surface of the first patterned conductive layer. The third patterned conductive layer is in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer and the first patterned conductive layer via the through holes.
US08921849B2
A power MISFET using an oxide semiconductor is provided. A drain electrode and a gate electrode having a trapezoidal cross section are formed with a semiconductor layer provided therebetween, a semiconductor layer is formed on a side surface of the gate electrode, and a source electrode is in contact with the semiconductor layer at a portion which overlaps with the top of the gate electrode. Between the drain electrode and the source electrode of such a power MISFET, a power source of 500 V or more and a load are connected in series, and a control signal is input to the gate electrode. Other structures and operating methods are also disclosed.
US08921847B2
The invention relates to an OLEEC component and to a production process therefor. This component has an active layer including a novel emitter complex. This complex is formed by the coordination of low molecular weight semiconductors around a central cation. The complexation allows wet-chemical processing of low molecular weight semiconductors. This also allows formation of emitter complexes from effective hole or electron transport materials.
US08921846B2
The present invention aims at providing an organic EL device that emits light by an alternating current, has a simple structure and provides little increase of production processes, while downsizing an overall configuration and a simplifying a method for producing said organic EL device. The organic EL device includes a power feeding part and an organic-EL-element forming part. The organic-EL-element forming part includes a plurality of unit EL elements formed on a substrate. There is provided a plurality of series-connected parts each formed by a plurality of the unit EL elements that are electrically connected in series in a forward direction. A plurality of the series-connected parts are electrically connected to the power feeding part in parallel. The series-connected parts that are connected in parallel include a series-connected part that is connected to the power feeding part so as to have a reverse polarity.
US08921844B2
An optoelectronic materials for OLED is represented by formula (I): wherein R1 is selected from a group consisting of formulas (II)-(VI): wherein R2 and R3 are identical and selected from a group consisting of formula (VII) and formula (VIII): The optoelectronic materials possesses superior luminescent performance and thermal stability and is suitable to be a new type of ambipolar materials for OLED elements.
US08921831B2
A thin film deposition apparatus that includes a thin film deposition assembly incorporating: a deposition source that discharges a deposition material; a deposition source nozzle unit that is disposed at a side of the deposition source and includes a plurality of deposition source nozzles arranged in a first direction; a patterning slit sheet that is disposed opposite to the deposition source nozzle unit and includes a plurality of patterning slits arranged in the first direction; and a barrier plate assembly including a plurality of barrier plates that are disposed between the deposition source nozzle unit and the patterning slit sheet in the first direction, and partition a space between the deposition source nozzle unit and the patterning slit sheet into a plurality of sub-deposition spaces, wherein each of the barrier plates is separate from the patterning slit sheet.
US08921830B2
In one embodiment, the present invention includes an apparatus having a substrate, a buried oxide layer formed on the substrate, a silicon on insulator (SOI) core formed on the buried oxide layer, a compressive strained quantum well (QW) layer wrapped around the SOI core, and a tensile strained silicon layer wrapped around the QW layer. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08921825B2
A field effect transistor device includes a nanowire, a gate stack comprising a gate dielectric layer disposed on the nanowire, a gate conductor layer disposed on the dielectric layer and a substrate, and an active region including a sidewall contact portion disposed on the substrate adjacent to the gate stack, the side wall contact portion is electrically in contact with the nanowire.
US08921814B2
A laser driven light source comprises laser and focusing optics. These produce a beam of radiation focused on a plasma forming zone within a container containing a gas (e.g., Xe). Collection optics collects photons emitted by a plasma maintained by the laser radiation to form a beam of output radiation. Plasma has an elongate form (L>d) and collecting optics is configured to collect photons emerging in the longitudinal direction from the plasma. The brightness of the plasma is increased compared with sources which collect radiation emerging transversely from the plasma. A metrology apparatus using the light source can achieve greater accuracy and/or throughput as a result of the increased brightness. Back reflectors may be provided. Microwave radiation may be used instead of laser radiation to form the plasma.
US08921812B2
A position measurement device measures the position of a position measurement mark formed on the lower surface of a reticle, thereby measuring the position of the reticle. A position measurement device measures the position of the position measurement mark formed on the lower surface of a lower lid, thereby measuring the position of the lower lid. The relative displacement of the reticle and lower lid is known when the position of the reticle and the position of the lower lid are known. Therefore, when the lower lid having the reticle loaded thereon is carried with a carrying device and set in an exposure device, the stop position of the lower lid is determined by taking this displacement into account. As a result, the reticle can be correctly set in the exposure device.
US08921799B2
A method and article of manufacture of intermixed tunable resistance composite materials. A conducting material and an insulating material are deposited by such methods as ALD or CVD to construct composites with intermixed materials which do not have structure or properties like their bulk counterparts.
US08921789B2
A tunable metamaterial structure, comprises a flexible substrate capable of being strained, a metamaterial pattern on a surface of the flexible substrate, and a metal layer on the metamaterial pattern. The flexible substrate of the tunable metamaterial structure is a strained and relaxed substrate which has been strained to a degree sufficient to register a resonant response upon relaxation that is shifted relative to the resonant response of the flexible substrate prior to being strained. The application of strain to the flexible substrate of the metamaterial structure enables tuning of the resonant frequency.
US08921787B2
A transmission electron microscope includes an electron beam source to generate an electron beam. Beam optics are provided to converge the electron beam. A specimen holder is provided to hold a specimen in the path of the electron beam. A detector is used to detect the electron beam transmitted through the specimen. The transmission electron microscope may be adapted to generate two or more images that are substantially incoherently related to one another, store the images, and combine amplitude signals at corresponding pixels of the respective images to improve a signal-to-noise ratio. Alternatively or in addition, the transmission electron microscope may be adapted to operate the specimen holder to move the specimen in relation to the beam optics during exposure or between exposures to operate the transmission electron microscope in an incoherent mode.
US08921776B2
The present invention provides a small-sized ion detecting device that quickly and simply performs mass analysis under atmospheric pressure. Accordingly, electrodes are arranged and held in the ion detecting device so as to be able to detect water clusters in ambient air with a high sensitivity. Thereby, ions can be detected even in a spatially-restricted place.
US08921756B2
A photo-detector and method for operating same: the photo-detector comprises a photomultiplier tube comprising a plurality of electrodes, each having a photocathode, an anode, a first dynode, intermediate dynodes and a last dynode; and a biasing circuit that comprises a sequence of voltage follower elements, a voltage divider and a current source. The voltage divider is coupled across a high voltage power supply and different dynodes are coupled to different ones of the voltage follower elements, control inputs of which are coupled to different junctions of the voltage divider. The current source is coupled to the voltage divider, to the sequence of the voltage follower elements and to the cathode. The anode is coupled to a load element coupled to a positive pole of the high voltage power supply and arranged to receive an output signal of the anode and convert it to an output signal of the photo-detector.
US08921749B1
A perpendicular drive mechanism for a missile control actuation system employs an electric motor and power shaft operatively coupled to a first spur gear. A lead screw is coupled to a second spur gear. The lead screw is oriented parallel to the motor and perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis. The first and second spur gears meshingly engage such that the second spur gear rotates in the opposite direction as the first spur gear. A lead nut threadingly engages with and is configured to move linearly along the central axis of the lead screw. A crank arm is coupled on one end to the lead nut and on the other end to the canard shaft of a canard assembly. As the lead nut moves linearly along the central axis of the lead screw, the crank arm follows the lead nut and causes the canard assembly to actuate.
US08921746B2
An inductively-heated applicator system including a heating module and applicator or applicator pen. The heating module includes a dock for seating the applicator. The heating module includes circuitry to selectively generate an electromagnetic field to wirelessly provide energy to the applicator when it is positioned in the dock. The heating module may also include temperature control circuitry to at least one of monitor and control the temperature of the applicator. The applicator pen includes a heating element that may be heated through energy provided by the electromagnetic field. The heating element may be directly inductively heated by the electromagnetic field. The heating element may be a roller element that heats and applies the product. Alternatively, the applicator may include a secondary in which electrical power is induced when the electromagnetic field is present. In this alternative, the power may be applied to the heating element to produce resistive heat.
US08921745B2
An impeder for use in an electric induction welding process is provided. A cooling medium is circulated centrally through the impeder's magnetic material with the impeder entry and exit passages for the cooling medium located on opposite sides of the impeder.
US08921737B2
A shielded metal arc welding electrode for depositing a high strength weld metal bead on a workpiece which satisfies the strength requirements under America Welding Society A5.5 standard's E11018M classification with no chromium added to the composition of the electrode.
US08921735B2
A system, in one embodiment, may include a chassis, an engine coupled to the chassis, a generator coupled to the engine, and a rotary screw compressor coupled to the chassis independent from the engine. The engine may be configured to drive both the generator and the rotary screw compressor. A method, according to another embodiment, may include isolating a rotary air compressor from an engine and a generator in a common chassis. The isolating may include separately mounting the rotary air compressor and the engine with a resilient or distance adjustable connection in between. The isolating also may include resiliently mounting the engine, or the rotary air compressor, or both.
US08921729B2
A wire electrical discharge machine is capable of step machining by setting only a position located anterior to a step portion of the workpiece during a setup operation before machining, without setting an inclination finishing position of a wire electrode after passing the step portion. A machining program is read, and when a wire electrode reaches a preset inclination starting position in front of a step position, inclination control of the wire electrode is started. Then, when the wire electrode has passed the position of the step portion, the inclination control of the wire electrode is finished.
US08921728B2
A switch suitable for DC applications includes: two fixed conductive contacts with first contact areas; a movable conductive bridge with two second contact areas for being connected to the two first contact areas in the on-status and for being disconnected from the two the first contact areas in the off-status; and two arc-extinguishing units configured to extinguish electric arcs occurring between the first and second contact areas after disconnecting the second contact areas from the first contact areas. First conductive arc-guiding elements extend from each first contact area into the corresponding arc-extinguishing unit and at least one second conductive arc-guiding element extends into the arc-extinguishing units suitably shaped to guide the electric arcs from each of the second contact areas of the movable bridge into the arc-extinguishing units.
US08921723B2
A slider is slidably held in a body and is pushed by insertion of an object to slidingly move. Terminals are provided with fixed contact points disposed on a surface, facing the slider, of the body along a sliding movement direction. The armature is attached to the slider and is provided with moving contact points that slide on a fixed contact point disposition surface of the body in association with sliding movement of the slider. The slider has an armature mounting surface with a side wall protrudingly formed in one end in the sliding movement direction. The body has a facing surface facing an end surface of the side wall in an entire range of sliding movement. At least any one of an end in the sliding movement direction of the end surface of the side wall and an end in the sliding movement direction of the facing surfaces of the body has a foreign substance elimination groove formed therein.
US08921722B2
An assembly receptacle capable of separating includes an assembly set which has a first assembling slot, a second assembling slot and a third assembling slot, a first connection set with a first connecting element which is installed in the first assembling slot and includes a connecting portion and at least one plug connecting portion, a second connection set with a first connecting portion installed in the second assembling slot and a second connecting portion installed in the third assembling slot, and an actuation portion to control electric connection or disconnection between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion. The second connecting portion is connected to the plug connecting portion.
US08921719B2
A multi-directional switch device includes: an operation shaft to which an operation knob is mounted to perform a rotating operation and a tilting operation; and a housing, which supports the operation shaft. In the housing, a circuit board which has a second fixed contact on the lower surface, a wafer which has a first fixed contact, a rotation holder which rotates integrally with the operation shaft while allowing oscillation of the operation shaft, a rotation slider which rotates integrally with the operation shaft and slides during the tilting operation, a first movable contact, and a second movable contact are arranged. When the operation shaft is rotated and thus the rotation holder is rotated from a rotation neutral position by about 180 degrees, a first signal is output. When the operation shaft is tilted while the rotation holder is rotated by about ±45 degrees, a second or third signal is output.
US08921715B2
A cable bushing assembly and a method of sealing a cable penetration through a housing are provided. The bushing assembly includes an interior shell, a central cavity and at least one aperture between a first face and a second face. At least one cable passes through the bushing assembly. The bushing assembly also includes an exterior shell at least partially circumscribing the interior shell. A clasp is located between the interior shell and the exterior shell to prevent separation of the exterior shell from the interior shell. Packing material seals the at least one cable within the interior shell. A method of sealing a cable penetration includes providing a housing with an opening, inserting a bushing assembly into the opening, and securing the cable bushing.
US08921709B2
An RF shielding device for mobile devices includes a conductive grid having horizontal and vertical wire traces in electrical contact with each other; a conductive trace disposed around the perimeter of the conductive grid, the conductive trace being in electrical contact with both ends of each of the horizontal and vertical wire traces; a first insulating film disposed on a top surface of the conductive grid; and a second insulating film disposed on a bottom surface of the conductive grid and the conductive trace. The first insulating film and the second insulating film are of a transparent material. The first and second insulating films are transparent, thus allowing viewing of the display of a mobile device on which the RF shielding device is disposed. The vertical and horizontal wire traces are spaced to form a grid that is opaque to signals in the frequency ranges utilized for mobile communication.
US08921704B2
A patterned conductive structure includes a transparent substrate having a substrate surface. A conductive polymer layer is formed on the substrate surface. The conductive polymer layer has electrically conductive areas and deactivated areas that are less electrically conductive than the conductive areas. The conductive areas and the deactivated areas form a conductive pattern in the polymer layer. One or more transparent dielectric patches that are less electrically conductive than the deactivated areas are formed over at least a portion of one or more deactivated areas and one or more conductive wires are formed over at least one of the dielectric patches.
US08921701B2
A modular insulator for an electrical conductor is provided. The modular insulator includes a first end member configured to couple to a support rail of an electrical power distribution system and a second end member configured to couple to the support rail. The modular insulator further includes at least one intermediate member comprising a groove and configured to releasably couple to at least one of the first and second end members such that the intermediate member is positioned between the first and second end members. The groove is configured to receive a portion of the electrical conductor.
US08921693B2
A box (1) for accommodating and laying optical waveguides and/or copper conductors includes at least one housing (10) and at least one cover (20). The cover (20) is attached to the housing (10) such that it can pivot and can be detached. The cover (20) has at least one receptacle for a pin element (90). The housing (10) has at least one pin element (90). The at least one pin element (90) can be displaced parallel to a pivot axis relative to the holding element (80) to move into and out of the receptacle.
US08921689B2
There is provided a dye-sensitized solar cell high in power generation efficiency.A dye-sensitized solar cell 10 includes: a transparent substrate 12; a conductive substrate 14; a porous semiconductor layer 16 containing a dye adsorbed thereto; and a conductive metal layer 18 arranged in contact with a side of the porous semiconductor layer 16 opposite to the transparent substrate 12 and serving as an anode electrode.The conductive metal layer 18 is formed of a metallic porous body having through-holes, and a multitude of holes of the metallic porous body are isotropically communicated with one another. The metallic porous body has a specific surface area of 0.1 m2/g or larger, a porosity of 30 to 60 vol. %, and a pore diameter of 1 μm to 40 μm, and is formed of a metal material, such as Ti, W, Ni, Pt or Au.
US08921684B2
In a solar cell module and a manufacturing method thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention, a solar cell (55) composed of a transparent electrode film, a photoelectric conversion layer and a back face electrode film is laminated on a light-transmitting insulating substrate (51). On the back face electrode film of the solar cell (55), an insulated lead wire (62, 63) and a back film (65) having an opening (65a) for drawing out an output lead portion (62a, 63a) of the lead wire (62, 63) are sequentially laminated. In such a solar cell module, an insulating sheet (11) is disposed between the back face electrode film of the solar cell (55) and the back film (65) so as to completely cover the opening (65a) of the back film (65). The insulating sheet (11) is disposed so as to cover the entire perimeter of the edge of the opening (65a) of the back film (65).
US08921679B2
The disclosure provides a thermoelectric module and a method for fabricating the same. The thermoelectric module includes a plurality of p-type and n-type segmented thermoelectric elements disposed in a planar array, wherein the p-type and n-type segmented thermoelectric elements are coupled in series via a plurality of first electrodes and second electrodes. Each segmented thermoelectric element includes at least two vertically homogeneous thermoelectric segments, and at least two adjacent thermoelectric segments have a fusion-bonding layer therebetween. The fusion-bonding layer includes a tin-containing material and a plurality of spacers disposed among the tin-containing material, wherein the melting point of the spacers is higher than the liquidus temperature of the tin-containing material.
US08921676B2
A key for a keyboard instrument, which makes it possible to easily attach a weight to a synthetic resin-made key body while securing a desired touch weight to be given during key depression, and can be manufactured at low costs. The key includes a pivotally movable key body made of a synthetic resin, extending in a front-rear direction, and having a recess open downward, and a weight made of a material whose main component has an elasticity, and attached to the key body in a state received in the recess. The recess has a locking portion formed at an opening edge portion in a manner projecting therefrom such that the locking portion allows the weight to be received into the recess while being elastically deformed when the weight is attached to the key body, and locks the received weight in a state prevented from falling out.
US08921672B1
A novel maize variety designated PH24DS and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH24DS with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH24DS 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 PH24DS or a locus conversion of PH24DS with another maize variety.
US08921662B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated S110147. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety S110147. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety S110147 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety S110147 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08921659B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1026784. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1026784. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1026784 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1026784 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08921648B2
Methods for increasing yield of fermentable sugars from plant stover are provided. The methods include using plants homozygous for two brown midrib mutations, bm1 and bm3. The methods also include using plants homozygous for a mutation in a gene that results in reduced cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase activity, and a mutation in a gene that results in reduced 5-hydroxyconiferaldehyde/5-hydroxyconiferyl alcohol O-methyltransferase activity. The methods also include using transgenic plants that have reduced cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase activity and reduced 5-hydroxyconiferaldehyde/5-hydroxyconiferyl alcohol O-methyltransferase activity in comparison with wild-type plants.
US08921647B2
The present invention provides methods and compositions for the identification and selection of loci modulating phenotypic expression of a herbicide tolerance trait in plant breeding. In addition, methods are provided for screening germplasm entries for the performance and expression of this trait.
US08921646B2
The invention relates to methods and compositions for identifying and selecting maize plants with enhanced resistance to Exserohilum and/or northern leaf blight. Maize plants generated by the methods of the invention are also a feature of the invention.
US08921644B2
A method is for providing plants belonging to the Brassicaceae family with elevated levels of anticarcinogenic glucosinolates. The plants are obtained by 1) the production of a Brassica oleracea plant with elevated levels of anticarcinogenic glucosinolates in the edible parts and 2) the use of the Brassica oleracea plant produced under 1) as a starting material for breeding Brassica varieties with elevated levels of anticarcinogenic glucosinolates.
US08921643B2
Disclosed are a method for acquiring a germ line chimeric fish having fish haploid germ cells, a germ line chimeric fish having haploid germ cells obtained by the aforesaid method, and a genetically identical gamete, said gamete having been derived from a donor haploid germ cell, produced by a germ line chimeric fish obtained by the aforesaid method.
US08921642B2
Described are transgenic animals for conditional and inducible cell targeting, that express a dimerizable conditional-STOP caspase 3 transgene.
US08921638B2
The invention relates to the treatment of carbonaceous radioactive waste, comprising the delivery of waste to one or more radioactive isotope separation stations isotopes, said isotopes being among at least carbon 14, chlorine 36, and tritium. Advantageously, the delivery to each of the stations occurs in wet form, with water being a common medium for conveying the waste to each of the separation stations.
US08921634B2
A new family of aluminosilicate zeolites designated UZM-44 has been synthesized. These zeolites are represented by the empirical formula. NanMmk+TtAl1-xExSiyOz where “n” is the mole ratio of Na to (Al+E), M represents a metal or metals from zinc, Group 1, Group 2, Group 3 and or the lanthanide series of the periodic table, “m” is the mole ratio of M to (Al+E), “k” is the average charge of the metal or metals M, T is the organic structure directing agent or agents, and E is a framework element such as gallium. UZM-44 has catalytic properties for carrying processes involving contacting at least one low carbon number aliphatic hydrocarbon having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms per molecule with the catalytic composite comprising UZM-44 to produce at least one aromatic hydrocarbon.
US08921631B2
The invention relates to a process for selectively hydrogenating an alkyne to the corresponding alkene comprising a step of contacting a gaseous feed comprising hydrogen and 0.1 to 20 mass % of alkyne with a catalyst comprising at least one Group 10 element on a boron-modified support. The process shows high conversion and good selectivity, and can be stably operated also if the feed comprises more than 2 mass % of alkyne.
US08921622B2
A process for the selective dehydrofluorination of hydrochlorofluoroalkanes and novel hydrochlorofluoroalkenes is described wherein an effective amount of a catalytically active metal compound is applied which is selected from the group consisting of AlF3−δ, MgAlxF2+3x−δ and MgZryF2+4y−δ, wherein x and y have, independently of one another, values in the range of from 0 to 0.33 and δ has a value in the range of from 0 to 0.1. Certain hydrofluorochloroalkenes are also described, as well as their use as intermediates in chemical reactions.
US08921620B2
A mutant hydrolase optionally fused to a protein of interest is provided. The mutant hydrolase is capable of forming a bond with a substrate for the corresponding nonmutant (wild-type) hydrolase which is more stable than the bond formed between the wild-type hydrolase and the substrate. Substrates for hydrolases comprising one or more functional groups are also provided, as well as methods of using the mutant hydrolase and the substrates of the invention. Also provided is a fusion protein capable of forming a stable bond with a substrate and cells which express the fusion protein.
US08921613B2
Provided is a polynuclear poly(phenol)family represented by general formula (1). In general formula (1), R1s are each independently C1-8 alkyl group, C1-8 alkoxy group, an aromatic hydrocarbon group, or a C1-8 saturated hydrocarbon group having an aromatic hydrocarbon group; n is 0 or an integer of 1 to 3; X is a hydroxyphenyl group represented by general formula (2); and A is a tetravalent carbon atom group or a tetravalent saturated hydrocarbon group having two or more carbon atoms, with the proviso that when A is a tetravalent saturated hydrocarbon group having two or more carbon atoms, two carbon atoms in the A group are each bonded to two phenyl groups.
US08921606B2
3-[3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenyl]propionaldehyde is a key intermediate for the preparation of cinacalcet hydrochloride. The present invention provides a novel process for the preparation of 3-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]propionaldehyde. The present invention also provides an improved process for preparation of cinacalcet hydrochloride in high yields. The present invention further provides a process for purification of cinacalcet hydrochloride.
US08921602B2
The invention relates to an improved method for synthesizing bis[3-(N,N-dialkylamino)propyl]ethers from acrylonitrile, comprising the following reactions: first addition reaction of a water molecule and an acrylonitrile molecule to produce 3-hydroxypropionitrile (reaction 1), second addition reaction of a 3-hydroxypropionitrile molecule obtained by reaction 1 and an acrylonitrile molecule to produce bis(2-cyanoethyl)ether (reaction 2), hydrogenation reaction of the bis(2-cyanoethyl)ether to conduct a reduction of the nitrile functions to primary amine functions in order to produce bis(3-aminopropyl)ether (reaction 3), aminoalkylation reaction of the bis(3-aminopropyl)ether to produce bis[3-(N,N-dialkylamino)propyl]ether (reaction 4).
US08921594B2
A process for phosgenating an amine comprising employing a plug-flow type reactor with internal recycle is disclosed. The process can be continuous, which makes it possible to prepare, in a single stage, a (poly)isocyanate with a good yield, without formation of byproducts and on simplifying the plant in order to carry out the process so as to promote safety.
US08921591B2
A production process for substituted phenylacetic acids or ester analogs thereof is disclosed. In this process toluene or toluene substituted with various substituents, an alcohol, an oxidant and carbon monoxide are used as raw materials to obtain compounds comprising structure of phenylacetic acid ester or analogs thereof by catalysis of the complex catalyst formed from transition metal and ligand, and such compounds are hydrolyzed to obtain various substituted phenylacetic acid based compounds. This type of compounds and their derivatives serve as important fine chemicals used widely in the industries of pharmaceuticals, pesticides, perfume and the like.
US08921588B2
Suggested is a process for preparing sulfates and/or sulfonates by adding sulfur trioxide to a compound comprising at least one hydroxyl function and/or at least one double bond, which is characterized in that (i) the reaction is performed in a micro-reaction system (μ-reactor), (ii) the sulfation/sulfonation agent used is a liquid sulfur trioxide, and (iii) the reaction is conducted in the presence of 0 to 20 Vol.-% of air, inert gas or organic solvents.
US08921587B2
The present invention relates to a shaped catalyst body for preparing ethylene oxide, which comprises at least silver and rhenium applied to an alumina support, and also to a process for producing it, wherein the alumina support has the geometry of a hollow cylinder and the shaped catalyst body has a rhenium content CR and CR/ppm by weight, based on the wall thickness of the hollow cylinder dW in mm, and calculated as element, in the range 120≦CR/dW≦200.
US08921583B2
The invention relates to crystalline peptide keto epoxide compounds, methods of their preparation, and related pharmaceutical compositions. This invention also relates to methods for the preparation of amino acid keto-epoxides. Specifically, allylic ketones are stereoselectively converted to the desired keto epoxides.
US08921582B2
This invention is directed to oligofurans, process of preparation and uses thereof.
US08921579B2
Pendant dipodal silanes having formula (I) and methods for their synthesis are provided. In formula (I), R is an organic radical other than methyl and X may be a halogen, an alkoxy group, an acetoxy group, or a dialkylamino group. Films, adhesives, and composites formed from the inventive dipodal silanes generally demonstrate significantly greater hydrolytic resistance and film-forming ability than conventional silanes. RSiX2CH2SiX3 (I)
US08921567B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing an N-substituted 1H-pyrazole-5-carbonylchloride compound of the formula (I) in which R1 is hydrogen, halogen, cyano, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-fluoroalkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C3-C8-fluorocycloalkyl, C2-C6-alkenyl, C2-C6-fluoroalkenyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, C1-C6-fluoroalkoxy, C1-C4-fluoroalkoxy-C1-C4-alkyl, phenyl and the like; each R2 is independently selected from halogen, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-fluoroalkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C3-C8-fluorocycloalkyl, C2-C6-alkenyl, C2-C6-fluoroalkenyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, phenyl and the like; r is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; comprising the steps of i) deprotonating a compound of the formula (II) in which the variables R1, R2 and r are each as defined above, with a base selected from lithium-organic base having a carbon or nitrogen bound lithium or with a magnesium-organic base having a carbon bound magnesium; and ii) subjecting the product obtained in step (i) to a chlorocarbonylation by reacting it with a reagent selected from the group consisting of phosgene or a phosgene equivalent, to obtain a compound of formula (I).
US08921565B2
Compounds useful in the treatment of mammalian cancers and especially human cancers according to Formula I are disclosed. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treatment employing the compounds disclosed herein are also disclosed.
US08921561B2
The present invention provides an efficient process for the preparation of hexahydroisoquinolines from amides. In particular, the invention provides a good yielding, one-pot process for the synthesis of hexahydroisoquinolines.
US08921557B2
The present invention relates to a novel process for preparing opiates or salts thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to oxidizing the starting material in a continuous flow reactor, followed by either an isolation of the intermediate, or a direct reduction reaction.
US08921541B2
The invention relates to an improved nanofiltration process for separating and recovering components, such as sugars and sugar alcohols from multicomponent mixtures. The process of the invention is characterized by collecting the nanofiltration retentate/permeate in several fractions with different purity, optional recycling of at least one of the collected nanofiltration retentate/permeate fractions to the nanofiltration and recovering the desired component from the nanofiltration permeate/retentate fractions by different methods. In one embodiment of the invention, the process comprises a combination of nanofiltration and chromatography.
US08921539B2
The invention provides pipette tip columns and automated methods for the purification of nucleic acids such as plasmids from unclarified cell lysates containing cell debris as well as methods for making and using such columns. The columns typically include a bed of medium positioned in the pipette tip column, above a bottom frit and with an optional top frit.
US08921538B2
The invention provides the isolated promoter polynucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 from perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), and fragments and variants thereof. The invention also provides constructs, plant cells and plant genetically modified to contain the promoter polynucleotide. The invention also provides methods for producing plants with altered gene expression and traits via genetic transformation of plants with the promoter polynucleotide.
US08921534B2
The invention relates to reagents and methods for enhancing an immune response using CD36 binding region/antigen hybrid polypeptides or polynucleotides encoding the hybrid polypeptides.
US08921527B2
An antibody-containing solution formulation comprising an organic acid and a surfactant as stabilizers; a method for suppressing the formation of visible insoluble matter and/or insoluble particles due to the presence of metal ions in an antibody-containing solution formulation, which comprises adding an organic acid to the solution; a method for suppressing the formation of visible insoluble matter and/or insoluble particles during shaking and freezing-thawing of an antibody-containing solution, which comprises adding a surfactant to the solution; and a method for stabilizing an antibody-containing solution, which comprises adding an organic acid and a surfactant.
US08921524B2
The present invention relates to the manufacture of a diverse repertoire of functional heavy chain-only antibodies that undergo affinity maturation, and uses thereof. The invention also relates to the manufacture and use of a diverse repertoire of class-specific heavy chain-only antibodies and to the manufacture and use of multivalent polypeptide complexes with antibody heavy chain functionality, preferably antibody heavy chain binding functionality, constant region effector activity and, optionally, additional effector functions.The present invention also relates to a method of generation of fully functional heavy chain-only antibodies in transgenic mice in response to antigen challenge. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for the generation of human antigen-specific, high affinity, heavy chain-only antibodies of any class, or mixture of classes and the isolation and expression of fully functional VH antigen-binding domains.
US08921510B1
A compound having: one or more of the below repeat units, one or more terminating Ar—NH— groups bound to carbon radicals, and one or more terminating —H groups bound to nitrogen radicals. Each R is an organic group and each Ar is an aromatic group. The compound is not a thermoset. A method of: mixing an aromatic amine having the formula Ar—NH2 with a phthalonitrile compound, heating the mixture to form the compound described above, and cooling the mixture before the onset of gelation.
US08921509B2
Provided is a composition with partially aromatic polyester polymers having an It.V. of at least 0.50 dL/g, produced in an ester exchange melt phase process, having from zero or greater than zero to less than 5 ppm titanium, from zero or greater than zero to less then 10 ppm germanium, and from zero or greater than zero to less than 20 ppm manganese.
US08921508B2
In one aspect, the present disclosure encompasses polymerization systems for the copolymerization of CO2 and epoxides comprising 1) a catalyst including a metal coordination compound having a permanent ligand set and at least one ligand that is a polymerization initiator, and 2) a chain transfer agent having two or more sites that can initiate polymerization. In a second aspect, the present disclosure encompasses methods for the synthesis of polycarbonate polyols using the inventive polymerization systems. In a third aspect, the present disclosure encompasses polycarbonate polyol compositions characterized in that the polymer chains have a high percentage of —OH end groups and a high percentage of carbonate linkages. The compositions are further characterized in that they contain polymer chains having an embedded polyfunctional moiety linked to a plurality of individual polycarbonate chains.
US08921495B2
Solid compositions of organosiloxane block copolymers are disclosed having a refractive index greater than 1.5. The organosiloxane block copolymers comprise: 40 to 90 mole percent disiloxy units of the formula [R12SiC2/2] 9 10 to 60 mole percent trisiloxy units of the formula [R2SiO3/2] 0.5 to 35 mole percent silanol groups [≡SiOH] where R1 is independently a C1 to C30 hydrocarbyl, R2 is independently a C1 to C20 hydrocarbyl, wherein; the disiloxy units [R12SiC2/2] are arranged in linear blocks having an average of from 10 to 400 disiloxy units [R12SiC2/2] per linear block, the trisiloxy units [R12SiC3/2] are arranged in non-linear blocks having a molecular weight of at least 500 g/mol, and at least 30% of the non-linear blocks are crosslinked with each other, each linear block is linked to at least one non-linear block, and the organosiloxane block copolymer has a molecular weight (Mw) of at least 20,000 g/mole.
US08921491B2
Embodiments of the invention provide an impact modified composition comprising ethylene/α-olefin interpolymers. The ethylene/α-olefin interpolymers are characterized by an average block index, ABI, which is greater than zero and up to about 1.0 and a molecular weight distribution, Mw/Mn, greater than about 1.3. In addition or alternatively, the block ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer is characterized by having at least one fraction obtained by Temperature Rising Elution Fractionation (“TREF”), wherein the fraction has a block index greater than about 0.3 and up to about 1.0 and the ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer has a molecular weight distribution, Mw/Mn, greater than about 1.4.
US08921486B2
A catalyst composition comprising a polymer functionalized with a ligand for binding a transition metal containing compound to form a transition metal complex, wherein said functionalized polymer has a number average molecular weight of about 5,000 to 30,000 g/mol and a polydispersity index of about 1.0 to 2.0. The catalyst is used in a hydroformylation reaction, preferably one in which the liquid phase has been volumetrically expanded with a compressed gas, is readily recyclable using nanofiltration.
US08921485B2
The present invention relates to a moisture-curable adhesive composition applicable to production of automobile interior parts, having excellent adhesion to polyolefins such as polypropylene and polyethylene, and having excellent heat resistance. More specifically, the present invention relates to an adhesive composition comprising: a styrene block copolymer (A) having at least one unsaturated bond, a hydrogenated styrene block copolymer (B) having a styrene content of 15% by weight or more, a silane compound (C) having an unsaturated bond, an acid-modified polyolefin resin (D), and a polymerization initiator (E).
US08921484B2
Disclosed herein is a polymeric composition. The polymeric composition includes: (A) a propylene-based polymer; (B) an ethylene/a-olefin polymer; (C) a block composite comprising: i) a propylene-based crystalline polymer; ii) an ethylene/a-olefin polymer; and iii) a block copolymer comprising a propylene-based crystalline block and an ethylene/a-olefin block. The polymeric composition provides improved heat seals when formed into film, film layer, or flexible containers such as retort pouch.
US08921481B2
The composition for forming a non-flammable coating comprising (a) 50.4-64.8 wt % of at least one type of a binder resin selected from aqueous or waterborne acrylic resin and aqueous or waterborne vinyl resin; (b) 19.6-25.2 wt % of water; (c) 6-26 wt % of expanded graphite; and (d) 2-4 wt % of kerosene and a non-flammable coating obtained from the composition are disclosed herein. The composition for forming a non-flammable coating according to the invention is superior in terms of drying rate and long-term storage properties, and this composition can be used to form a dense non-flammable coating of a resin-expanded graphite composite on the surface of a base easily so that the non-flammable coating with superior water resistance, heat resistance and mechanical strength may be formed.
US08921474B2
A hot melt adhesive composition, comprising a blend of components including about 5% to about 50% by weight of an olefin block copolymer; about 10% to about 70% by weight of a first tackifying resin having a softening point of at least about 95° C.; about 0 to 65% of a second tackifying resin that is different than the first tackifying resin; about 0% to about 60% by weight of a plasticizer; about 0% to about 20% by weight of an aromatic reinforcing resin having a softening point equal to or higher than 115° C.; about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of a stabilizer; and about 1% to about 40% by weight of a secondary polymer that is different from the olefin block copolymer, the first and second tackifying resins and the reinforcing resin, having relatively low crystallinity, which low crystallinity is equal to or less than 250 Joules/gram, wherein the components total 100% by weight of the composition, and the viscosity of the composition is equal to or less than about 20,000 mPa·s at 163° C. Laminates, especially those used in disposable soft goods, and methods of making such laminates using the hot melt adhesive composition are also described. The adhesive composition and/or laminate may be used in making a variety of end products such as a disposable diaper, a sanitary napkin, a bed pad, a bandage, a surgical drape, a tape, a label, a plastic sheet, a nonwoven sheet, a paper sheet, a cardboard, a book, a filter, or a package.
US08921466B2
A process of modifying propylene polymers via melt grafting of polyfunctional monomer (PFMs) involving pre-initiative step thereby facilitating perfect absorption of PFMs on polymer matrix and initiate their grafting prior to reactive extrusion without using free radical initiators so that branching can be introduced in propylene polymer matrix. The modified propylene polymers showed enhanced shear sensitivity, increase in molecular weight, broadening of molecular weight distribution and strain hardening.
US08921462B2
A rubber composition with disperse phase particles containing poly(phenylene ether) can be formed by a method that includes melt blending an uncured rubber with a poly(phenylene ether) composition containing a poly(phenylene ether) and an oil to form an uncured rubber composition, then curing the uncured rubber composition. Before being blended with the rubber, the poly(phenylene ether) composition exhibits a glass transition temperature of about 40 to about 140° C., and during blending with the rubber, the oil component of poly(phenylene ether) composition migrates from the poly(phenylene ether) composition to the rubber, leaving a poly(phenylene ether)-containing disperse phase that gives rise to a second hysteresis peak temperature of about 160 to about 220° C. as measured by dynamic mechanical analysis of the cured rubber composition. Also described are the poly(phenylene ether) composition used in the method, a cured rubber composition formed by the method, and a tire containing the cured rubber composition.
US08921452B2
[Problems] To provide a resin composition containing ultrafine silver particles and having excellent antibacterial property as well as excellent deodorizing power against both the nitrogen type smelling components and the sulfur-containing smelling components.[Means for Solution] A resin composition obtained by heating and mixing a resin composition, a silver carboxylate and a carboxylic acid together. A thermoplastic resin, the silver carboxylate and the carboxylic acid are heated and mixed together at a temperature lower than a temperature at which the silver carboxylate starts decomposing but not lower than a melting point of the thermoplastic resin.
US08921450B2
The invention relates to a radically polymerizable monomer of formula (I) wherein W1 and W2 in each case independently represent H or X—R—Y—PG, wherein at least one of W1 and W2 represents X—R—Y—PG, X in each case independently is missing or represents an ether, ester, amide, urethane or urea group, Y in each case independently is missing or represents an ether, ester, amide, urethane or urea group, R in each case independently is missing or represents a C1-C16 alkylene radical which can be interrupted by one or more O atoms, wherein R can be missing only if X and/or Y is simultaneously also missing, and PG in each case independently represents a cyclic, ring-opening polymerizable group, a, b, c and d independently of each other can take the values 3 to 10. The invention also relates to polymerizable compositions which comprise the monomers according to the invention, as well as their use as dental materials and for the preparation of dental materials, in particular composites, cements, adhesives or coatings.
US08921433B2
Process for the conversion of carbon oxide(s) and hydrogen containing feedstocks into alcohols in the presence of a particulate catalyst.
US08921422B2
Processes for enhancing ability to learn in a puppy or kitten comprising orally administering to the puppy or kitten a composition comprising an essential fatty acid component comprising a therapeutically effective amount of docosahexaenoic acid. Processes for enhancing ability to learn in a puppy or kitten comprising orally administering to a respective maternal animal a composition comprising an essential fatty acid component comprising a therapeutically effective amount of docosahexaenoic acid during gestation, nursing, or weaning of the puppy or kitten. Kits comprising a composition comprising an essential fatty acid component comprising a therapeutically effective amount of docosahexaenoic acid; and information that use of the composition will enhance ability to learn in a puppy or kitten.
US08921417B2
A method for treatment and or/prevention of dyslipidemia is provided. The invention relates to reducing low density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration by using naturally occurring diterpene (16α-hydroxycleroda-3,13(14)Z-dien-15,16-olide, a compound having formula (1)) isolated from leaves of Polyalthia longifolia.
US08921410B2
Compounds, pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds, and methods of preparation and use thereof are disclosed. The compounds are amide compounds which can be prepared from certain heteroaryl carboxylic acids and certain diazabicycloalkanes. The compounds exhibit selectivity for, and bind with high affinity to, neuronal nicotinic receptors of the α4β2 subtype in the central nervous system (CNS). The compounds and compositions can be used to treat and/or prevent a wide variety of conditions or disorders, particularly CNS disorders. The compounds can: (i) alter the number of nicotinic cholinergic receptors of the brain of the patient, (ii) exhibit neuroprotective effects, and (iii) when employed in effective amounts, not result in appreciable adverse side effects (e.g. side effects such as significant increases in blood pressure and heart rate, significant negative effects upon the gastrointestinal tract, and significant effects upon skeletal muscle).
US08921407B2
Compounds of formula (I), pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of formula (I) and methods of inhibiting Hsp90 in a cell, treating or preventing a proliferation disorder in a mammal and treating cancer in a mammal comprising administering a compound of formula (I) to a patient or a cell. Variable R5 is an optionally substituted heteroaryl; an optionally substituted 6 to 14-membered aryl; a bicyclic 9-member heterocycle optionally substituted at any substitutable nitrogen or carbon atoms; or a substituent R18, defined herein. Ring A is an aryl or a heteroaryl optionally further substituted with one or more substituents in addition to R3. Substituent R3 is defined herein.
US08921398B2
The present invention relates to compounds of general formula I, wherein R1, LP, HetAr, Ar, and n are as defined in the application, which have valuable pharmacological properties, and in particular bind to the GPR119 receptor and modulate its activity.
US08921394B2
Compounds of structural formula (I) are inhibitors of prolylcarboxypeptidase (PrCP). The compounds of the present invention are useful for the prevention and treatment of conditions related to the enzymatic activity of PrCP such as abnormal metabolism, including obesity; diabetes; metabolic syndrome; obesity related disorders; and diabetes related disorders.
US08921388B2
The present invention relates to a compound having the general formula (Di), (Dii), or (Diii), optionally in the form of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, polymorph, codrug, cocrystal, prodrug, tautomer, racemate, enantiomer, or diastereomer or mixture thereof,which are useful in treating, ameloriating or preventing a viral disease. Furthermore, specific combination therapies are disclosed.
US08921377B2
The present application relates to novel substituted 5-fluoro-1H-pyrazolopyridines, to processes for their preparation, to their use alone or in combinations for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, and to their use for producing medicaments for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, in particular for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of cardiovascular disorders.
US08921372B2
The invention provides compounds of formula (I): wherein the variables are defined in the specification, or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, that are inhibitors of replication of the hepatitis C virus. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, methods of using such compounds to treat hepatitis C viral infections, and processes and intermediates useful for preparing such compounds.
US08921369B2
Provided herein are compounds, pharmaceutical compositions and combination therapies for inhibition of hepatitis C.
US08921361B2
The invention relates to novel therapeutic agents and diagnostic probes. The invention also relates to phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor triazine-, pyrimidine- and pyridine-based compounds^ Formula (I), their stereoisomers, geometric isomers, tautomers, solvates, metabolites, N-oxide derivatives, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, and prodrugs thereof compositions of the new compounds; either alone or in combination with at least one additional therapeutic agent, with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; and uses of the new compounds, either alone or in combination with at least one additional therapeutic agent, for treating disorders mediated by lipid kinases. •Methods of using compounds of Formula (I) for in vitro, in situ, and in vivo diagnosis, prevention or treatment of such disorders in mammalian cells, or associated pathological conditions, are disclosed. (Formula I)
US08921352B2
The present invention relates to the field of pharmaceutical technology and in particular to novel dosage forms of medicaments containing as active ingredients simvastatin and ezetimibe, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The present pharmaceutical compositions are characterized in that the contact of the compositions with oxygen is substantially reduced, such as by coating the composition, providing a medicament useful for the treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis and related conditions, in an environment having an essentially reduced oxygen or humidity, respectively, content.
US08921350B2
Compounds and methods are provided for the treatment of, inter alia, Type II diabetes and other diseases associated with poor glycemic control. The compounds of the invention are orally active.
US08921348B2
The present invention provides a method for optimizing levels of mifepristone in a patient suffering from a mental disorder amenable to treatment by mifepristone. The method comprises the steps of treating the patient with seven or more daily doses of mifepristone over a period of seven or more days; testing the serum levels of the patient to determine whether the blood levels of mifepristone are greater than 1300 ng/mL; and adjusting the daily dose of the patient to achieve mifepristone blood levels greater than 1300 ng/mL.
US08921343B2
The present invention is directed to fluorophosphates, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof, which are inhibitors of intestinal apical sodium/phosphate co-transport and are useful in the treatment of hyperphosphatemia, in reducing blood phosphate levels, and in treating hypertension.
US08921341B2
The disclosure is related to anti-viral compounds, compositions containing such compounds, and therapeutic methods that include the administration of such compounds, as well as to processes and intermediates useful for preparing such compounds.
US08921327B2
Provided are novel methods and formulations for topically controlling ectoparasite infestations in animals using spinetoram, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US08921326B2
Sustained-release compositions wherein a water-soluble physiologically active peptide is substantially uniformly dispersed in a microcapsule comprised of a lactic acid polymer or a salt thereof, and the physiologically active substance is contained in an amount of 15 to 35 wt/wt % to the total microcapsules and weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of the lactic acid polymer is about 11,000 to about 27,000, which is characterized by having a high content of the physiologically active substance, and suppression of the initial excessive release within one day after the administration and a stable drug sustained-release over a long period of time, and method for producing the same.
US08921322B2
The present invention relates to the use of at least one botulinum neurotoxin for the production of a medicament for treating or preventing pain induced by a medicament used for treating the AIDS virus.
US08921321B2
The invention relates to therapeutic agents for use in the prevention or treatment of Alzheimer's disease. In particular the invention relates to use of inhibitors of cell cycle reentry and progression to the G1/S transition or inhibitors of progression of the cell cycle through the G1/S transition point in the prevention or treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
US08921317B1
A fibrin-based hemostatic agent suitable for both civilian and military use is disclosed. The hemostatic agent comprises (i) nanoparticles to which a plurality of Knob-A recognition sequences are attached, and (ii) coiled-coils of recombinantly-produced human fibrinogen α and chains and the γ chain globular domain. A delivery system for the hemostatic agent also is disclosed, which additionally comprises means for delivering (i) and (ii) to a wound site. The delivery means may be a CO2 canister or a shaker jet.
US08921315B1
The present invention provides methods for increasing survival in a subject, and/or preserving bone marrow function, and/or promoting hematopoietic recovery or restoration. The methods include administering a dose of IL-12 to the subject following an acute exposure to non-therapeutic whole body ionizing radiation. Formulations and kits are also provided.
US08921312B2
Provided is a method of stimulating collagen synthesis and proteoglycan (lumican and keratocan) accumulation. Collagenase isolated keratocytes were cultured with or without insulin with or without ascorbate. Insulin stimulates the synthesis of collagen but does not affect the accumulation of lumican and keratocan. Insulin plus ascorbate, however, stimulates the synthesis of collagen and increased the accumulation of these proteoglycans. The accumulation of PGDS, a KSPG that does not interact with collagen, is not affected by ascorbate. Only the collagen made in the presence of ascorbate was pepsin resistant. EDB overrode the effects of ascorbate on pepsin resistance and proteoglycan accumulation.
US08921310B2
The present invention relates to an agent for improving lipid metabolism, a food/drink, and a feed, containing αs-casein as an active ingredient thereof. In addition, the present invention relates to an agent for suppressing body weight gain, an agent for reducing body fat, and an agent for reducing blood lipid, containing the agent for improving lipid metabolism.
US08921309B2
The present invention pertains generally to the field of therapeutic compounds, and more specifically to certain lipopeptide compounds comprising a cyclic peptide bearing a lipid side chain (for convenience, collectively referred to herein as “LP compounds”), which, inter alia, are antimicrobial, particularly antibacterial. The present invention also pertains to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and the use of such compounds and compositions, both in vitro and in vivo, to provide an antimicrobial function, particularly an antibacterial function, and in the treatment of diseases and conditions that are mediated by microbes, particularly bacteria, that are ameliorated by the antimicrobial function, particularly an antibacterial function, including bacterial diseases, optionally in combination with another agent, for example, another antibacterial agent.
US08921308B2
The instant invention refers to an antibacterial peptide with all amino acids in D-configuration, possessing strong antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and Candida strains. The peptide can be in linear form multimerised on a skeleton of polyacrylamide, of dextrane units or on a skeleton of ethylene glycol units. The peptide is resistant proteolysis especially when synthesized in the tetra-branched form where identical peptide sequences are linked together by an appropriate molecular scaffold.
US08921297B2
The need for a liquid hand dishwashing detergent composition, having excellent low temperature stability and delivering good cleaning and long-lasting suds, is met by incorporating a branched, alkoxylated nonionic surfactant, in combination with ethoxylated anionic surfactants having little or no branching, into the composition. Surprisingly, such a combination also provides an excellent sudsing profile during direct application dishwashing methods.
US08921295B2
A biodegradable concentrated neutral detergent composition comprises various chelate compounds, various corrosion inhibitors, an alkaline compound, at least one sequestrant, various surfactants and hydrotropes, and water. The detergent can be highly concentrated, has a good long term shelf life, and when diluted is very effective in cleaning metals such as surgical instruments and prevents corrosion resistance of the metal even in a hard water environment.
US08921283B2
Methods and apparatuses for generating microscopic patterns of macromolecules such as proteins on a solid surface are described. Pulsed laser light is used to alter surface portions of a solid surface substrate in a predetermined pattern, by removing macromolecules from surface portions of the substrate where the light is focused. The same wavelength light at lower intensity can be used to visualize the removal by its reflection from the specimen surface along the path to the detector. Select macromolecules introduced to the substrate selectively adhere to select surface portions, thereby depositing macromolecules in the predetermined pattern on the solid surface.
US08921276B2
The phase transition temperature, at which the crystal lattice of LMO that constitutes an oxide layer as an intermediate layer or as a part of an intermediate layer becomes cubic, is lowered. A substrate for a superconducting wire rod includes an oxide layer (LMO layer (22)) which contains, as a principal material, a crystalline material represented by the compositional formula: Laz(Mn1−xMx)wO3+δ (wherein M represents at least one of Cr, Al, Co or Ti, δ represents an oxygen non-stoichiometric amount, 0
US08921275B2
A tape-shaped base for a superconducting wire, which simplifies the intermediate layer and thus enables production of a superconducting wire at lower cost, and which is capable of improving the characteristics (such as electrical conduction and handling properties) of a superconducting wire; and a superconducting wire. Specifically disclosed is a tape-shaped base for a superconducting wire, which is obtained by forming an intermediate layer on a metal substrate. In the tape-shaped base for a superconducting wire a biaxially oriented layer of the intermediate layer is configured of a niobium monoxide (NbO) layer that is formed by depositing vapor deposition particles from a vapor deposition source on a film formation surface.
US08921272B2
Many herbicidal compositions have been developed and are presently used. However, weeds to be controlled are various in types and their emergence extends over a long period. Accordingly, it is desired to develop a herbicidal composition which has a broad herbicidal spectrum, a high activity and a long lasting effect. The present invention provides a herbicidal composition comprising, as active ingredients, (a) flazasulfuron or its salt, and (b) amicarbazone or its salt.
US08921268B2
Provided are technologies for controlling weeds, specifically, a herbicidal composition including as active ingredients isoxaflutole, cyprosulfamide, and one or more compounds selected from Group A has weed control effects,Group A:a group consisting of flumioxazin, sulfentrazone, saflufenacil, oxyfluorfen, fomesafen, and a compound represented by formula (I)
US08921264B2
A children's coloring pad may incorporate thermochromic pigments that are specially formulated to develop color and clear color by respective applications of cold and hot temperatures. The pad may be used in a similar manner as with respect to finger painting, but without the residual mess.
US08921261B2
Disclosed are a catalyst for synthesizing glycerol carbonate from glycerol and a method for producing the catalyst. The method includes adding an aqueous NaOH solution, an aqueous KOH solution, or a mixture of an aqueous NH4(OH) solution and an aqueous NaOH solution to an aqueous solution of a mixture of zinc nitrate and aluminum nitrate, aging the mixture, filtering and washing the aged mixture to obtain a solid, and calcining the solid under an oxygen, nitrogen or helium atmosphere. The use of the catalyst enables the synthesis of glycerol carbonate from glycerol and urea with high conversion rate, selectivity and yield. Further disclosed is a method for synthesizing glycerol carbonate from glycerol using the catalyst.
US08921260B2
A catalytic nanoparticle includes a porous, hollow core and an atomically thin layer of platinum atoms on the core. The core is a porous palladium, palladium-M or platinum-M core, where M is selected from the group consisting of gold, iridium, osmium, palladium, rhenium, rhodium and ruthenium.
US08921258B2
Disclosed is a catalyst which can convert ammonia contained in exhaust gas from an engine of a vehicle equipped with a Urea-SCR (Urea-Selective Catalytic Reduction) system, to nitrogen, and a method for preparating the same. The catalyst can convert ammonia which is failed to participate in a conversion reaction of NOx to N2 and slipped out of the SCR catalyst, to nitrogen via a SCO (Selective Catalytic Oxidation) reaction, before the ammonia is released to the air.
US08921254B2
A method of preparing a hydroprocessing catalyst that may have a high metals loading and has a particularly high activity for hydrodenitrogenation. The method uses several metal impregnations in combination with different intermediate treatment steps so as to provide a catalyst composition that includes a mix of different types of catalytically active sites. The method of the invention allows for the optimization and control of the relative ratio of the different types of active catalyst sites on the catalyst composition in order to give certain desired results and improved catalytic performance. The catalyst composition comprises a one or more active metals or active metal precursors that are incorporated onto a support material.
US08921243B2
A fabric comprising one or more photocatalysts to produce singlet oxygen from ambient oxygen. In certain embodiments, the fabric further comprises a compound to reversibly react with singlet oxygen to form an endoperoxide.
US08921242B2
A light weight, durable, easily recyclable pool cover includes a fabric covering with reinforcing and attachment straps wherein, the reinforcing and attachment straps are attached to said fabric in a criss-crossed pattern. The fabric covering and the straps are produced from a single polymer consisting of polypropylene. The pool cover is entirely recyclable at end of service life by chopping the pool cover components in a simple machine producing granules useful for injection molding of polypropylene products. The pool cover fabric is produced by subjecting three layers of polypropylene sheet material to heat and pressure forming a strong durable fabric wherein the top layer and bottom layer are a solid fabric and the middle layer is multi-filament mesh of polypropylene threads.
US08921240B2
An ion implantation method includes generating CmHy+ ions (m is such an integer as 4≦m≦6, and y is such an integer as 1≦y≦2m+2) using an ion generating material expressed by CnHx (n is such an integer as 4≦n≦6, and x is such an integer as 1≦x≦2n+2), and implanting the ions into a wafer.
US08921237B2
A method of depositing a film using an atomic layer deposition (ALD) method while rotating a turntable provided inside a chamber and including a substrate mounting portion, onto which a substrate can be mounted, to cause the substrate to pass through first and second process areas, into which different gases to be mutually reacted are respectively supplied, including coating the turntable with the film under a state where the wafer is not mounted onto the turntable, the turntable is rotated, and the substrate mounting portion has a predetermined temperature; and processing to deposit the film on the wafer under a state where the wafer is mounted onto the turntable, the turntable is rotated, and the substrate has a temperature equal to or less than the predetermined temperature.
US08921235B2
A method of forming and controlling air gaps between adjacent raised features on a substrate includes forming a silicon-containing film in a bottom region between the adjacent raised features using a flowable deposition process. The method also includes forming carbon-containing material on top of the silicon-containing film and forming a second film over the carbon-containing material using a flowable deposition process. The second film fills an upper region between the adjacent raised features. The method also includes curing the materials at an elevated temperature for a period of time to form the air gaps between the adjacent raised features. The thickness and number layers of films can be used to control the thickness, vertical position and number of air gaps.
US08921234B2
Methods of etching exposed titanium nitride with respect to other materials on patterned heterogeneous structures are described, and may include a remote plasma etch formed from a fluorine-containing precursor. Precursor combinations including plasma effluents from the remote plasma are flowed into a substrate processing region to etch the patterned structures with high titanium nitride selectivity under a variety of operating conditions. The methods may be used to remove titanium nitride at faster rates than a variety of metal, nitride, and oxide compounds.
US08921229B2
A method of polishing copper wiring surfaces of in ultra large scale integrated circuit, the method including: a) preparing a polishing solution including between 35 and 80 w. % of a nano SiO2 abrasive, between 12 and 60 w. % of deionized water, between 1 and 3 w. % of an oxidant, between 1 and 4 w. % of an active agent, and between 0.5 and 1.5 w. % of a chelating agent; and b) polishing using the polishing solution under following conditions: between 2 and 5 kPa pressure; between 20 and 50° C.; between 120 and 250 mL/min slurry flow rate; and at between 30 and 60 rpm/min rotational speed.
US08921224B2
According to one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, includes: forming, on a first surface of a semiconductor substrate containing silicon, a ring-like insulating film having a ring-like shape; laminating a first insulating film, a first silicon film and a first metal film on the first surface and the ring-like insulating film; forming an opening which passes through the semiconductor substrate, the first insulating film and the first silicon film from a second surface of the semiconductor substrate by use of the first metal film as a stopper, as well as passing through the inside of the ring of the ring-like insulating film, to reach the surface of the first metal film; forming a second insulating film so as to cover an inner wall of the opening; and embedding a second metal film into the opening, to form a through electrode.
US08921223B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a plurality of contact surfaces, an interlayer dielectric layer formed over the substrate and having a first open portion which exposes a part of the contact surfaces and a second open portion which exposes the other contact surfaces, a storage node contact (SNC) plug filling the first open portion, and a damascene structure filing the second open portion and including a bit line, a spacer formed on both sidewalls of the bit line, a capping layer formed over the bit line and the spacer, and an air gap formed between the bit line and the spacer. The bit line includes a conductive material of which the volume is contracted by a heat treatment to form the air gap.
US08921220B2
A method for forming a selective ohmic contact for a Group III-nitride heterojunction structured device may include forming a conductive layer and a capping layer on an epitaxial substrate including at least one Group III-nitride heterojunction layer and having a defined ohmic contact region, the capping layer being formed on the conductive layer or between the conductive layer and the Group III-nitride heterojunction layer in one of the ohmic contact region and non-ohmic contact region, and applying at least one of a laser annealing process and an induction annealing process on the substrate at a temperature of less than or equal to about 750° C. to complete the selective ohmic contact in the ohmic contact region.
US08921216B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes defining a curved active region by forming a plurality of trenches over a semiconductor substrate, forming an insulating layer to fill the plurality of trenches, and forming a pair of gate lines crossing the curved active region, so that it is possible to prevent leaning of an active region by forming a curved active region.
US08921214B2
A method for fabricating a variable resistance memory device includes forming an oxygen-deficient first metal oxide layer over a first electrode, forming an oxygen-rich second metal oxide layer over the first metal oxide layer, treating the first and second metal oxide layers with hydrogen-containing plasma, forming an oxygen-rich third metal oxide layer, and forming a second electrode over the third metal oxide layer.
US08921209B2
A method of forming a strained semiconductor material that in one embodiment includes forming a cleave layer in a host semiconductor substrate, and contacting a strain inducing material layer on a surface of a of the host semiconductor substrate. A handle substrate is then contacted to an exposed surface of the stress inducing material layer. The transfer portion of the host semiconductor substrate may then be separated from the host semiconductor substrate along the cleave layer. A dielectric layer is formed directly on the transfer portion of the host semiconductor substrate. The handle substrate and the stress inducing material are then removed, wherein the transferred portion of the host semiconductor substrate provides a strained semiconductor layer that is in direct contact with a dielectric layer.
US08921203B2
A method for forming a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate having a first major surface and a second major surface, removing a first portion of the substrate to form a cavity at the first major surface of the substrate, bonding the first major surface of the substrate to a carrier substrate after forming the cavity, and reducing a thickness of the substrate. The method further includes forming a first accelerometer device at the second major surface such that at least a portion of the first accelerometer device is over the cavity and forming a second accelerometer device at the second major surface such that the second accelerometer device is not disposed over the cavity.
US08921199B1
A method for fabricating a resistor in a dielectric layer of an integrated circuit (IC) is disclosed. The method may include creating a trench with a first side, a second side opposing the first side, and a bottom, in the dielectric layer, and depositing a conformal film onto the first side, the second side and the bottom of the trench. The method may also include removing the conformal film from the bottom and the second side of the trench, and filling the trench with an insulator. The method may also include removing the conformal film from the first side of the trench to form a receptacle adjacent to the insulator, and depositing electrically resistive material into the receptacle to form a resistor.
US08921188B2
One illustrative method disclosed herein includes forming a trench within an isolated region of a bulk semiconductor substrate, forming a region of an insulating material in the trench and forming a semiconductor material within the trench and above the upper surface of the region of insulating material. A substrate disclosed herein includes an isolated substrate region in a bulk semiconductor substrate, a region of an insulating material that is positioned within a trench defined in the isolated substrate region and a semiconductor material positioned within the trench and above the upper surface of the region of insulating material.
US08921186B2
A semiconductor device has a buried oxide layer formed over a substrate. An active silicon layer is formed over the buried oxide layer. A drain region is formed in the active silicon layer. An LDD drift region is formed in the active silicon layer adjacent to the drain region. The drift region has a graded doping distribution. A co-implant region is formed in the active silicon. A source region is formed in the co-implant region. A shallow trench insulator is formed along a top surface of the LDD drift region. The shallow trench isolator has a length less than the LDD drift region. The shallow trench insulator terminates under the polysilicon gate and within the LDD drift region. A polysilicon gate is formed above the active silicon layer between the source region and LDD drift region and at least partially overlapping the shallow trench insulator.
US08921180B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, an active region including a plurality of unit active regions and disposed over and spaced from the semiconductor substrate, a pair of word lines formed on a top surface and sides of the unit active region, a dummy word line disposed at a contact of the unit active regions and formed on top surfaces and sides of the unit active regions, a source region in the unit active region between the pair of word lines and electrically connected to the semiconductor substrate, drain regions formed in the unit active region between the pair of word lines and the dummy word line, and first storage layers formed on the drain regions and electrically connected to the drain regions.
US08921176B2
A semiconductor fabrication method includes forming a gate dielectric stack on a semiconductor substrate and annealing the gate dielectric stack. Forming the stack may include depositing a first layer of a metal-oxide dielectric on the substrate, forming a refractory metal silicon nitride on the first layer, and depositing a second layer of the metal-oxide dielectric on the refractory metal silicon nitride. Depositing the first layer may include depositing a metal-oxide dielectric, such as HfO2, using atomic layer deposition. Forming the refractory metal silicon nitride film may include forming a film of tantalum silicon nitride using a physical vapor deposition process. Annealing the gate dielectric stack may include annealing the gate dielectric stack in an oxygen-bearing ambient at approximately 750 C for 10 minutes or less. In one embodiment, annealing the dielectric stack includes annealing the dielectric stack for approximately 60 seconds at a temperature of approximately 500 C.
US08921167B2
A method of forming an electronic fuse including providing an Mx level including a first Mx metal, a second Mx metal, and an Mx cap dielectric above of the first and second Mx metal, forming an Mx+1 level above the Mx level, the Mx+1 level including an Mx+1 metal and a via electrically connecting the second Mx metal to the Mx+1 metal in a vertical orientation, and forming a nano-pillar from the Mx cap dielectric at a bottom of the via and above the second Mx metal, the nano-pillar having a height less than a height of the via.
US08921155B2
A resistive random access memory cell uses a substrate and includes a gate stack over the substrate. The gate stack includes a first copper layer over the substrate, a copper oxide layer over the first copper layer, and a second copper layer over the copper oxide layer.
US08921152B2
A raw material solution containing an organic semiconductor material and a solvent is supplied onto a substrate 1 and dried, forming an organic semiconductor film 4. A contact member 7 is used, which is provided with multiple contact faces 6a for contacting the raw material solution. The contact member is positioned such that the contact faces have a certain relationship with the surface of the substrate, and multiple droplets 3 of the raw material solution is formed on the substrate, thereby establishing a droplet-retaining state, in which the contact faces retain the respective droplets. The solvent is evaporated to form organic semiconductor films at the locations on the surface of the substrate that correspond to the multiple contact faces. The method can be performed with simple solution processes and can produce organic semiconductor films of high charge mobility.
US08921142B2
Provided is a method and an apparatus for manufacturing an organic EL device which make it possible to manufacture organic EL devices capable of suppressing quality degradation. The method for manufacturing an organic EL device, in which constituent layers of an organic EL element are formed over a substrate in the form of a strip by deposition, while the substrate is being moved in the longitudinal direction, includes: a constituent layer-forming step of performing deposition over one surface of the substrate, while the substrate is being moved in the longitudinal direction, sequentially in an upward deposition unit and a lateral deposition unit provided along the moving direction of the substrate by discharging a vaporized material from an evaporation source. The constituent layer-forming step includes an upward deposition step, a laterally deposition step, and a direction changing step.
US08921133B2
A method of forming a sampled grating includes the steps of preparing a substrate; preparing a nano-imprinting mold including a pattern surface on which projections and recesses are periodically formed; preparing a mask including a light obstructing portion and a light transmitting portion that are alternately provided; forming a photoresist layer and a resin portion in that order on the substrate; forming a patterned resin portion having projections and recesses by pressing the pattern surface of the mold into contact with the resin portion and hardening the resin portion while maintaining the contact; exposing a portion of the photoresist layer by irradiating the photoresist layer with exposing light through the mask and the patterned resin portion; forming a patterned photoresist layer by developing the photoresist layer; and etching the substrate using the patterned photoresist layer.
US08921122B2
The present invention provides systems and methods for assessing migration behavior of biological particles, such as neutrophils, under the effect of a gradient. The systems can include one or more migration chambers, one or more gradient sources configured to generate particular gradients, e.g., of chemokines or the like across the width of the migration chamber, and a detection arrangement that is configured to determine spatial profiles across the migration chamber that indicate the extent of migration.
US08921117B2
A method for determining the amount of hydrocarbons in a composition including hydrocarbons and water is provided. The method includes adding a chemical agent to the composition in order to form an emulsion of water and hydrocarbons, taking a sample of the emulsion and dissolving this sample in a common solvent for water and hydrocarbons in order to form a solution, and measuring the amount of hydrocarbons in the solution. An installation suitable for implementing this method is also provided.
US08921111B2
The present invention provides a methodology for transfecting cells in vitro. In particular, cationic polymers and polynucleotide containing polyplexes comprising such polymers are provided.
US08921109B2
A cell-support matrix having narrowly defined uniformly vertically and non-randomly organized porosity and pore density and a method for preparation thereof. The matrix suitable for preparation of cellular or acellular implants for growth and de novo formation of an articular hyaline-like cartilage. A gel-matrix composite system comprising collagen-based matrix having a narrowly defined porosity capable of inducing hyaline-like cartilage production from chondrocytes in vivo and in vitro.
US08921107B2
The present invention provides a method for differentiating human neural progenitor cells into dopaminergic neurons, comprising the step of culturing human neural progenitor cells in a medium containing fusaric acid. In addition, the present invention provides a medium for differentiation of human neural progenitor cells into dopaminergic neurons.
US08921103B2
Compositions and methods for creating a laminar construct for tissue-engineered dermal equivalent are provided. One composition provided herein comprises a hydrogel matrix comprising two or more hydrogels layers and a population of stem cells. Associated methods are also provided.
US08921094B2
A system and method for the processing of nucleic acids containing fluids involving manipulation of magnetically responsive particles contained therein are disclosed. In the system, a holder holds a plurality of containers containing the fluids, a heating device applies thermal energy to the fluids for incubation, and a separating device magnetically separates the particles. The heating and separating devices move into at least one operative position for processing the fluids and at least one inoperative position with respect to the containers, in which the containers are kept stationary at least during and in-between incubating the fluids and manipulating the magnetically responsive particles.
US08921089B2
According to the present invention new isolates of Bradyrhizobium japonicum have been isolated and possess unique properties. These Bradyrhizobia are plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR), possess superior tolerance/resistance to desiccation, and enhance the overall performance of leguminous plant growth.
US08921078B2
A method for transforming iota-carrageenan into alpha-carrageenan by a new class of 4S-iota-carrageenan sulfatase. The invention also relates to carrageenans obtained by the conversion method. The invention can be especially applied to the agro-food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.
US08921073B2
The present invention comprises systems and devices for isothermal amplification of polynucleotide sequences to produce DNA cluster arrays.
US08921065B2
A reagent composition containing GDH-PQQ as an enzyme-co-factor and screen-printed on working and counter electrodes of electrochemical biosensors, maintains activity of the enzyme reagents by proper selection of components. A preferred composition includes hydrophilic polymers, amorphous untreated silica, buffers, surfactants, and a mediator. For example, the biosensor is useful in the amperometric determination of glucose.
US08921049B2
The present invention provides for determining relative copy number difference for one or more target nucleic acid sequences between a test sample and a reference sample or reference value derived therefrom. The methods facilitate the detection of copy number differences less than 1.5-fold.
US08921047B2
The present invention relates generally to the field of investigational bioinformatics and more particularly to secondary structure defining databases. The present invention further relates to methods for interrogating a database as a source of molecular masses of known bioagents for comparing against the molecular mass of an unknown or selected bioagent to determine either the identity of the selected bioagent, and/or to determine the origin of the selected bioagent. The identification of the bioagent is important for determining a proper course of treatment and/or irradication of the bioagent in such cases as biological warfare. Furthermore, the determination of the geographic origin of a selected bioagent will facilitate the identification of potential criminal identity.
US08921042B2
Parkinson's disease is caused by the preferential loss of substantia nigra dopamine neurons. A Parkin Interacting Substrate, PARIS (ZNF746) is identified. The levels of PARIS are regulated by the ubiquitin proteasome system via binding to and ubiquitination by the E3 ubiquitin ligase, parkin. PARIS is a KRAB and zinc finger protein that accumulates in models of parkin inactivation and in human brain Parkinson's disease patients. PARIS represses the expression of the transcriptional co-activator, PGC-1α and the PGC-1α target gene, NRF-1 by binding to insulin response sequences in the PGC-1α promoter. Conditional knockout of parkin in adult animals leads to progressive loss of dopamine (DA) neurons that is PARIS dependent. Overexpression of PARIS causes selective loss of DA neurons in the substantia nigra, which is reversed by either parkin or PGC-1α co-expression. The identification of PARIS provides a molecular mechanism for neurodegeneration due to parkin inactivation.
US08921039B2
Nucleic acid oligomers specific for human parvovirus genomic DNA are disclosed. An assay for amplifying and detecting human parvovirus genotypes 1, 2 and 3 nucleic acid in biological specimens is disclosed. Compositions for amplifying and detecting the presence of human parvovirus genotypes 1, 2 and 3 genomic DNA in human biological specimens are disclosed.
US08921035B2
A polymer washout solvent for developing a flexographic printing plate comprising: —an ester hydrocarbon component, —an ether hydrocarbon component, —an alcoholic hydrocarbon component. The washout solvent of the invention has less hazardous properties than the known solvents. Use of a polymer washout solvent for developing a flexographic printing plate in a washing step.
US08921032B2
A self-assemblable polymer is disclosed, having first and second molecular configurations with the first molecular configuration has a higher Flory Huggins parameter for the self-assemblable polymer than the second molecular configuration, and the self-assemblable polymer is configurable from the first molecular configuration to the second molecular configuration, from the second molecular configuration to the first molecular configuration, or both, by the application of a stimulus. The polymer is of use in a method for providing an ordered, periodically patterned layer of the polymer on a substrate, by ordering and annealing the polymer in its second molecular configuration and setting the polymer when it is in the first molecular configuration. The second molecular configuration provides better ordering kinetics and permits annealing of defects near its order/disorder transition temperature, while the first molecular configuration, with a higher order/disorder transition temperature, provides low line edge/width roughness for the pattern formed on setting.
US08921028B2
A salt represented by the formula (I) and a resist composition containing the salt are provided, wherein Q1, Q2, L1, ring W1, Re1, Re2, Re3, Re4, Re5, Re6, Re7, Re8, Re9, Re10, Re11, Re12, Re13 and Z are defined in the specification.
US08921027B2
A radiation-sensitive resin composition includes an acid-labile group-containing resin, and a compound shown by the following general formula (i). R1 represents a hydrogen atom or the like, R2 represents a single bond or the like, R3 represents a linear or branched unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms or the like, and X+ represents an onium cation.
US08921024B2
A photosensitive polysiloxane composition for forming a protective film having superior sensitivity is disclosed. A protective film formed from the photosensitive polysiloxane composition and an element including the protective film are also disclosed. The photosensitive polysiloxane composition includes a polysiloxane, an o-naphthoquinonediazidesulfonic acid ester, a urethane(meth)acrylate compound having at least six (meth)acryloyl groups in a molecule, and a solvent.
US08921019B2
Disclosed are a positive photosensitive resin composition that includes (A) an alkali soluble resin including a polybenzoxazole precursor, a polyimide precursor, or a combination thereof, (B) a photosensitive diazoquinone compound, (C) a phenol compound, (D) at least one organic dye having an absorption wavelength of about 400 nm to about 700 nm, and (E) a solvent, wherein the organic dye (D) is included in an amount of about 1 to about 40 parts by weight based on about 100 parts by weight of the alkali soluble resin (A), and a photosensitive resin layer and a display device using the same.
US08921015B2
A method for repairing masks includes performing a first repair process to a mask by etching unwanted opaque regions from the mask, applying a plasma passivation process to the mask, and performing a second repair process to the mask by etching away additional unwanted opaque regions.
US08921003B2
A solid oxide fuel cell including a metal frame, a pre-treated porous metal substrate, an anode layer, an electrolyte layer, a cathode interlayer and a cathode current collecting layer is provided. The pre-treated porous metal substrate is disposed inside the metal frame. The anode layer is disposed on the porous metal substrate. The electrolyte layer is disposed on the anode layer. The cathode interlayer is disposed on the electrolyte layer. The cathode current collecting layer is disposed on the cathode interlayer. The anode layer is porous and nano-structured. Moreover, a manufacturing method of the solid oxide fuel cell mentioned above is also provided.
US08920997B2
A fuel cell system includes at least one fuel cell stack, a fuel inlet conduit, and a fuel heat exchanger containing a fuel reformation catalyst. The fuel heat exchanger is connected to the fuel inlet conduit and to at least one fuel cell system exhaust conduit which in operation provides a high temperature exhaust stream to the fuel heat exchanger.
US08920977B2
A negative electrode material for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, where the negative electrode contains a carbon material A and a carbon material B. Carbon material A is a multilayer-structure carbon material containing a graphitic particle having an amorphous carbon surface covering, where the interplaner spacing of 002 planes, by wide-angle XRD, is 3.37 Å or less, Lc is 900 Å or more, the tap density is 0.8 g/cm3 or more, and the Raman R value is from 0.25 to 0.6. Carbon material B is a graphitic particle where the interplanar spacing of 002 planes, by wide-angle XRD, is 3.37 Å or less, Lc is 900 Å or more, the tap density is 0.8 g/cm3 or more, the Raman R value is from 0.2 to 0.5, and the average degree of circularity, determined by a flow-type particle analyzer, is 0.9 or more.
US08920974B2
Disclosed is a cathode material comprising a mixture of an oxide powder (a) defined herein and an oxide powder (b) selected from the group consisting of an oxide powder (b1) defined herein and an oxide powder (b2) defined herein and a combination thereof wherein a mix ratio of the two oxide powders (oxide powder (a):oxide powder (b)) is 50:50 to 90:10. The cathode material uses a combination of an oxide powder (a) and 50% or less of an oxide powder (b) which can exert high capacity, high cycle stability, superior storage stability and high-temperature stability, thus advantageously exhibiting high energy density and realizing high capacity batteries.
US08920962B2
A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly comprising a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate, and a separator located between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate; a case accommodating the electrode assembly; and a cap assembly coupled to the case, wherein the cap assembly comprises a cap plate sealing the case and having a short-circuit hole, an inversion plate in the short-circuit hole of the cap plate, a connection plate covering the short-circuit hole of the cap plate, and an insulation layer on the inversion plate or the connection plate.
US08920955B1
A battery module with high thermal conductivity and its assembling method are disclosed. The battery module includes multiple battery cells, a primary retaining frame, a secondary retaining frame, common electrodes and a heatsink device. The primary and second retaining frames are combined together to constitute accommodation chambers for housing the battery cells and formed with interference flanged to secure the battery cells in position. Upon being inserted into the accommodation chambers, the battery cells are electrically connected to the common electrodes. The heatsink device is then coupled to the primary retaining frame and/or the secondary retaining frame, such that the heatsink device abuts against the top common electrode and/or the bottom common electrode of the battery cells.
US08920953B2
A lithium ion secondary battery includes: an electrode assembly including a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator; and an elastic member. The electrode assembly is wound around an axis into a flat shape having a curved end defining a corner portion. The elastic member is arranged inside the electrode assembly and into at least the corner portion of the electrode assembly such that at least a portion of the elastic member is positioned between at least a portion of one of the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate and at least a portion of the separator in a direction perpendicular to the axis. The elastic member is made of a material having porosity.
US08920947B2
Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and Hc are enhanced in magnetic devices with a Ta/M1/M2 seed layer where M1 is preferably Ti, and M2 is preferably Cu, and including an overlying (Co/Ni)X multilayer (x is 5 to 50) that is deposited with ultra high Ar pressure of >100 sccm to minimize impinging energy that could damage (Co/Ni)X interfaces. In one embodiment, the seed layer is subjected to one or both of a low power plasma treatment and natural oxidation process to form a more uniform interface with the (Co/Ni)X multilayer. Furthermore, an oxygen surfactant layer may be formed at one or more interfaces between adjoining (Co/Ni)X layers in the multilayer stack. Annealing at temperatures between 180° C. and 400° C. also increases Hc but the upper limit depends on whether the magnetic device is MAMR, MRAM, a hard bias structure, or a perpendicular magnetic medium.
US08920940B2
In a light emitting element using an organic metal complex which can convert an excited triplet state into a light emission, a red color light emitting element exhibiting a high light emission efficiency and an excellent color purity is provided. A material used in a hole transporting layer and a host contained in a light emitting layer and an electron transporting layer has a triplet excitation energy larger than a triplet excitation energy of the organic metal complex which is a light emitting substance to enable a current efficiency and an external quantum efficiency of the light emitting element to be improved. It is possible to obtain a current efficiency of 2.0 cd/A or more and an external quantum efficiency of 5% or more. The color purity is excellent. The CIE chromaticity coordinate is X≧0.7 and Y≦0.3 to make it possible to exceed an NTSC standard.
US08920934B2
Hybrid solder for solder balls and filled paste are described. A solder ball may be formed of a droplet of higher temperature solder and a coating of lower temperature solder. This may be used with a solder paste that has an adhesive and a filler of low temperature solder particles, the filler comprising less than 80 weight percent of the paste. The solder balls and paste may be used in soldering packages for microelectronic devices. A package may be formed by applying a solder paste to a bond pad of a substrate, attaching a hybrid solder ball to each pad using the paste, and attaching the package substrate to a microelectronic substrate by reflowing the hybrid solder balls to form a hybrid solder interconnect.
US08920923B2
A process for the production of a lignocellulose-containing material, in which, based in each case on the lignocellulose-containing material: A) from 30 to 95% by weight of lignocellulose particles; B) from 1 to 25% by weight of expanded plastic particles having a bulk density in the range from 10 to 150 kg/m3; C) from 1 to 50% by weight of a binder selected from the group consisting of aminoplast resin, phenol-formaldehyde resin and organic isocyanate having at least two isocyanate groups, and optionally D) additives are mixed and are then pressed at elevated temperature and under elevated pressure, wherein the component B) comprises a curing agent for the component C).
US08920918B2
A fill material is for use within a closed interior chamber of a gelatin paintball capsule. The fill material includes a polyethylene glycol and an oil. Each one of the polyethylene glycol and the oil is present in a respective amount that is substantially less than about 90% by weight of the fill material. The fill material additionally includes at least a first additive that is selected from the group consisting of an emulsifier, a dye, a density agent, a thickener, and a surfactant. Preferably, a starch may be used as the density agent, as the emulsifier, and/or as the thickener. Suitable starches may include corn starch, rice starch, potato starch, modified starch, and combinations thereof, among others.
US08920917B2
A polypropylene resin composition which can produce an expansion-molded article showing excellent low-temperature impact properties even when expanded at an increased expansion rate; an expansion-molded article using the polypropylene resin composition, which has excellent low-temperature impact properties, is light in weight, and has good appearance; and a process for producing the expansion-molded article. Using a polypropylene resin composition comprising 100 weight of a polypropylene resin and 1 to 4 parts by weight of a polyethylene wax having a viscosity average molecular weight of 2400 to 3400, an expansion-molded article which is expanded at an expansion rate of 1.5 to 3 times is produced by injection expansion molding by means of a gas counter pressure technique.
US08920908B2
A sheet material (1) includes a stiffness-increasing concave-convex part (20). A first reference plane (K1), an intermediate reference plane (K3), and a second reference plane (K2) serve as a reference system. First unit areas (241) and second unit areas (242) are defined in the intermediate reference plane (K3). Each of the first unit areas (241) and the second unit areas (242) contains first virtual squares (243) and second virtual squares (244). Icosagonal areas that contain only adjacent first virtual squares (243) are designated as first reference areas (213), and icosagonal areas that contain only adjacent second virtual squares (244) are designated as second reference areas (223). The concave-convex part (20) contains first areas (21), which are formed based on the first reference areas (213), as well as second areas (22) and/or plane areas (23), which are formed based on the second reference areas (223).
US08920907B2
A resin molded article according to the present invention includes a base portion and an erected wall which is erected from the base portion, wherein, in an upper end surface of the erected wall, there is exposed a gate portion formed through an injection of a resin material during resin molding. Further, in an inner surface of the erected wall which is opposite from an externally-appearing side thereof, at opposite portions beside the gate portion, there is formed a reduction surface which gradually reduces the erected wall in wall thickness toward the upper end surface of the erected wall.
US08920905B2
A fibrous product (10, 20, 20b, 30), especially tissue paper product, non-woven products or a hybrid thereof, and preferably hygiene and cleaning product has at least one first ply (42; 62; 84; 104) with at least one embossing pattern including embossed depressions starting from a base plane of the ply; the embossed pattern being characterized by the following features: the embossing pattern has a minimum motive surface area of at least 3 cm×3 cm; the pattern includes a high number of embossed depressions which are sized and/or positioned such as to form a motive element covering the motive surface area; wherein at least some of the embossed depressions are sized and/or positioned such that minimum distances between pairs of consecutively arranged embossed depression vary. A method for producing such a fibrous product is also described.
US08920902B2
Fasteners are generally described. In some examples, a fastener may include at least one hook. The at least one hook may include an arcuate portion and a linking portion. The arcuate portion may be connected by the linking portion to a pivot point. The pivot point may be located with respect to the first member so that, as the linking portion pivots around the pivot point, the arcuate portion moves along an arcuate path between a non-fastening position and a fastening position. In the fastening position the arcuate portion may extend beyond the first member to engage with the second member to secure it to the first member.
US08920901B2
A blow molded assembly includes an attachment fastener portion integrated with a plastic component portion, and is formed by a blow molding process. The attachment fastener portion has a shaft and a base, where the base has at least one aperture and a bearing surface. The shaft extends from the bearing surface. The at least one aperture is configured to allow plastic for the plastic component portion to flow sufficiently through the base during the blow molding process such that the attachment fastener portion and the plastic component portion are integrated. The base of the attachment fastener portion may be substantially embedded within the plastic component portion. The shaft of the attachment fastener portion may be configured to receive a matable fastener such that the blow molded assembly may be attached to a structure. To accomplish this, the shaft may be threaded.
US08920898B2
An inlaid stone composite broadly includes a stone body and a stone inlay assembly secured to the stone body. The inlaid stone composite is constructed by forming a groove in the stone body, with the groove extending inwardly from an edge surface of the stone body, securing a plurality of stone segments relative to one another exteriorly of the groove to provide the stone inlay assembly, and securing the stone inlay assembly within the groove to form an inlaid margin.
US08920894B2
Disclosed is a vulcanized rubber laminate, wherein a thermoplastic resin layer and an unvulcanized epichlorohydrin rubber composition layer containing a specific maleimide compound, vulcanizing agent, and acid acceptor are heated and bonded. Specifically disclosed is a laminate configured by heating and bonding an unvulcanized epichlorohydrin rubber composition layer (A) and a thermoplastic resin (B), wherein the unvulcanized epichlorohydrin rubber composition contains: an epichlorohydrin rubber (a), a compound containing one or more maleimide group within the molecule (b), a vulcanizing agent (c), and an acid acceptor (d).
US08920881B2
For producing a component, especially a gas turbine component, coated with a wear-protection, corrosion-protection or erosion-protection coating, a method includes the following steps: providing a component (10) to be coated on a component surface (13); at least partially coating the component (11) on its component surface with an at least two-layered protective coating (14), which includes at least one relatively soft layer (15) and at least one relatively hard layer (16); and then surface densifying the at least partially coated component on its coated component surface by ball blasting or shot peening.
US08920876B2
A method for producing a building panel. The method includes forming a mix including wood particles, a solvent, a binder and optionally at least one additive, wherein the binder and optionally said at least one additive are homogenously distributed in the mix by means of the solvent and wherein the binder impregnates the wood particles, drying the mix, applying the mix on a substrate, and forming a layer by applying heat and pressure to the mix.
US08920869B2
This invention provides an Osseo-inductive metal implant for a living body and the producing method thereof and, more particularly, the Osseo-inductive metal implant for a living body according to the present invention is produced by forming, on the surface of the metal implant, the layer of metal oxide and the layer of bio-active material injected.
US08920868B2
A process for preparing a ceramic body having a surface roughness, said process comprising the step of depositing particles of a ceramic material on the surface of a ceramic basic body. The process is characterized in that separate agglomerates comprising at least two particles and a binder binding the particles together are deposited on the surface of the basic body by projecting the agglomerates towards the basic body.
US08920866B2
A metal implant, in particular a dental implant, with a hydrophilic surface for at least partial insertion into a bone, and a method for the production of said implant are described. A particularly advantageous hydrophilic surface for improved osteointegration properties is made available if it is briefly treated, at least in some areas, in a weakly alkaline solution. These excellent osteointegration properties can be achieved in a method in which, optionally after a preceding mechanical surface modification by material removal and/or chemical surface modification, at least the areas exposed of this surface exposed to bone and/or soft tissue are chemically modified in an alkaline solution.
US08920864B2
The present invention provides masking compositions that include a lower alkyl carboxylic acid, e.g. acetic acid. Also provided is a masking composition that includes (a) a lower alkyl carboxylic acid (e.g. acetic acid), a warming sensate (e.g. vanillin or vanillyl butyl ether) and/or a cooling sensate (e.g. menthol or isopulegol).
US08920860B2
A pronged clamp apparatus for attaching a soda bottle to a soda machine includes prongs to attach the bottle to the soda machine and a locking mechanism to lock the bottle to the machine at least during carbonation. The apparatus also comprises a flexible seal to facilitate a closed carbonation environment and a ring to constrict the prongs underneath a ringed extension of the bottle thereby lifting the bottle towards the seal to clamp the bottle to the flexible seal.
US08920851B2
The present invention relates to the use of selenate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in methods and compositions for enhancing the activity of the protein phosphatase PP2A. Methods of reducing phosphorylation of tau protein, inhibiting activity of GSK3 and treating or preventing neurodegenerative diseases are also described.
US08920849B1
A skin treatment method which includes ionizing oxygen and then mixing the ionized oxygen with saline solution to produce an energized saline solution is disclosed. The method further includes applying the energized saline solution to the skin as a mist-like spray to treat the skin. The system used to carry out the method includes an oxygen concentrator for generating oxygen and an ionizer for imparting an electric charge to the oxygen to produce ionized oxygen. The system also includes a bag of saline solution as well as a peristaltic pump for pumping the saline solution from the bag to a spray nozzle mounted in a handheld wand. The concentrator further includes apparatus for pumping or delivering the oxygen and ultimately the ionized oxygen to the spray nozzle. The spray nozzle mixes and atomizes the ionized oxygen and saline solution to produce a spray-like mist of the same which is then applied to an individual's skin.
US08920844B2
Methods for enhancing the release and/or absorption of poorly water soluble active agents are described herein. The method involves dissolving, melting, or suspending a poorly water soluble active agent in one or more molten fatty acids, conjugated fatty acids, (semi-) solid surfactants of high HLB value, and/or hydrophilic polymers. The molten active agent mixture is then suspended and homogenized in a hydrophilic or lipophilic carrier to form microparticles suspended in the hydrophilic or lipophilic carrier. The particles suspended in the hydrophilic or lipophilic carrier can be encapsulated in a hard or soft gelatin or non-gelatin capsule. It is believed that the microparticles produced by the method described above will exhibit enhanced dissolution profiles. In vitro release studies of formulations containing cilostazol and fenofibrate showed 100% dissolution of cilostazol in 15 minutes and over 90% dissolution of fenofibrate in 35 minutes.
US08920843B2
Particles of an organic acid salt of an amino acid amide or ester local anesthetic are employed as agents for the improved alleviation of pain. Particularly, the particles find use with surgically created wounds, where the particles may be administered directly into the bed of the wound or topically for transdermal transport.
US08920838B2
Provided are methods for the treatment of a rheumatic disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosating spondylitis and/or polymyalgia rheumatic, by administering a delayed-release dosage form of a glucocorticoid to a subject in need thereof wherein the treatment is administered once daily for at least about two weeks. Also provided are methods for the treatment of osteoarthritis by administering a delayed-release dosage form of a glucocorticoid to a subject in need thereof wherein the treatment is administered once daily for at least about two weeks.
US08920834B2
Disclosed is a misuse preventative, controlled release formulation comprising a core comprising a first layer and a second layer. The core comprises a superabsorbent material (for example, polycarbophil), and a plurality of controlled release microparticles having a pharmaceutically active agent (for example, an opioid analgesic) disposed within the core. When crushed, either intentionally or accidentally, and exposed to an aqueous medium, the superabsorbent material present in the core swells to create a hard gel that traps the microparticles. The hard gel and microparticles provide controlled release of the pharmaceutically active agent. Also disclosed is a method of using the misuse preventative, controlled release formulation to deliver a pharmaceutically active agent to a mammal, for example, a human, in need thereof.
US08920833B2
Disclosed is a misuse preventative, controlled release formulation comprising a core comprising a superabsorbent material (for example, polycarbophil), a controlled release coat surrounding the core, and a plurality of controlled release microparticles having a pharmaceutically active agent (for example, an opioid analgesic) disposed within the core, the coat, or both the core and the coat. When crushed, either intentionally or accidentally, and exposed to an aqueous medium, the superabsorbent material present in the coreswells to encapsulate the microparticles, which remain substantially intact thereby retarding the release of the pharmaceutically active agent from the formulation. Also disclosed is a method of using the misuse preventative, controlled release formulation to deliver a pharmaceutically active agent to a mammal, for example, a human, in need thereof.
US08920822B2
A skin beautifier contains sphingomyelin, which is a phospholipid, as an effective ingredient. In addition, skin-beautifying food or feed contains sphingomyelin as an effective ingredient. The present invention provides a skin beautifier and skin-beautifying food or feed supplying effects on beauty, such as skin-moisturizing and protecting effects, skin-roughness-preventing and improving effects, and a wrinkle-preventing effect, by oral ingestion thereof.
US08920806B2
The present invention relates generally to a method of modulating an inflammatory response in a mammal and to agents useful for same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of modulating an inflammatory response in a mammal by modulating the functional activity of activin and thereby modulating the pro-inflammatory mediator cascade. The method of the present invention is useful, inter alia, in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of conditions characterized by an aberrant, unwanted or otherwise inappropriate inflammatory response including, inter alia, sepsis and inflammation of the airway. The present invention is further directed to methods for identifying and/or designing agents capable of modulating activin mediated regulation of the inflammatory response.
US08920804B2
The present invention provides monoclonal antibodies that are specific for the Dengue non-structural glycoprotein NS1 in monomeric and/or oligomeric (primarily dimeric) form, together with methods, including ELISA and lateral flow assays, that employ the disclosed antibodies for the early detection of Dengue virus infection. Diagnostic kits for the detection of Dengue infection are also provided, such kits including the disclosed monoclonal and/or polyclonal antibodies.
US08920800B2
The present invention provides methods of treating a patient having a cancer comprising administering to the patient a soluble Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 1 (FGFR1) fusion protein such as an extracellular domain of an FGFR1 polypeptide linked to an Fc polypeptide or another fusion partner. The fusion protein may be administered at a dose of at least about 2 mg/kg body weight. In some embodiments, the patient has a fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) plasma concentration of at least 6 pg/ml. In some embodiments, the cancer is characterized by a Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 2 (FGFR2) having a ligand-dependent activating mutation.
US08920791B2
Provided is a novel and creative dental tissue regeneration method for regenerating dental tissue after pulpectomy or the enlargement and cleaning of an infected root canal. After pulpectomy or the enlargement and cleaning of an infected root canal, a root canal filler (200) having an extracellular matrix (210) containing the cells (220) enriched for dental pulp stem cells, is inserted into the apical side of the root canal of a target tooth (100). The cells including dental pulp stem cells include at least one of the following: dental pulp SP cells, CD31-negative and CD146-negative cells, CD24-positive cells, CD105-positive cells, and CD150-positive cells. For instance, dental pulp SP cells are CD31− and CD146− negative. Even if pulpitis due to deep caries occurs, appropriate dental pulp regeneration and recovery of dental pulp function are possible.
US08920790B2
Methods for enhancing or stimulating hematopoiesis including the step of administering Interleukin-12 (IL-12) to yield hematopoietic recovery in a mammal in need. Preferred methods include the step of administering IL-12 as an adjuvant therapy to alleviate the hematopoietic toxicities associated with one or more treatment regimens used to combat a disease state. Other methods include administering IL-12 to ameliorate various hematopoietic deficiencies. Still other methods are directed to uses of IL-12 for in-vivo proliferation of hematopoietic repopulating cells, hematopoietic progenitor cells and hematopoietic stem cells. Other disclosed methods are directed to uses of IL-12 for bone marrow preservation or recovery.
US08920786B2
The invention relates to a cosmetic preparation that contains (a) at least one surfactant selected from anionic, zwitterionic or amphoteric surfactants, (b) a microemulsion and (c) at least one cationic polymer.
US08920784B2
The present invention provides an antibacterial artificial nail composition which can form a cured article having an antibacterial effect by applying the composition on a surface of a natural nail or an artificial nail and polymerizing the composition, using an artificial nail technique of forming a cured article on a natural nail or an artificial nail.Disclosed is an antibacterial artificial nail composition comprising (A) a compound having at least one radical polymerizable unsaturated double bond and an antibacterial group in the molecule and/or (B) an antibacterial filler, (C) a compound having at least one radical polymerizable unsaturated double bond in the molecule, and (D) a polymerization initiator.
US08920781B2
A powder for use in a dry powder inhaler includes active particles and carrier particles for carrying the active particles. The powder further includes additive material on the surfaces of the carrier particles to promote the release of the active particles from the carrier particles on actuation of the inhaler. The powder is such that the active particles are not liable to be released from the carrier particles before actuation of the inhaler. The inclusion of additive material in the powder has been found to give an increased respirable fraction of the active material.
US08920775B2
The present invention relates to a novel composition and method for loading delivery systems such as liposome compositions with radionuclides useful in targeted diagnostic and/or therapy of target site, such as cancerous tissue and, in general, pathological conditions associated with leaky blood vessels. The composition and methods of the invention find particular use in diagnosing and imaging cancerous tissue and, in general, pathological conditions associated with leaky blood vessels in a subject. The present invention provides a new diagnostic tool for the utilization of positron emission tomography (PET) imaging technique. One specific aspect of the invention is directed to a method of producing nanoparticles with desired targeting properties for diagnostic and/or radio-therapeutic applications.
US08920767B2
An array of titanium dioxide nanostructures for solar energy utilization includes a plurality of nanotubes, each nanotube including an outer layer coaxial with an inner layer, where the inner layer comprises p-type titanium dioxide and the outer layer comprises n-type titanium dioxide. An interface between the inner layer and the outer layer defines a p-n junction.
US08920760B2
The present invention provides compositions comprising a metal amidoborane and an amine, and processes for preparing the metal amidoborane compositions. In particular, the process comprises contacting ammonia borane with a metal amide in the presence of an amine solvent to form the metal amidoborane composition. The invention also provides methods for generating hydrogen, wherein the method comprises heating the metal amidoborane composition such that hydrogen is released.
US08920759B2
One embodiment includes an oxidation catalyst assembly formed by applying a washcoat of platinum and a NOx storage material to a portion of a substrate material.
US08920758B2
A method for operating an exhaust gas aftertreatment system is provided that comprises at least one first SCR device and at least one second SCR device. Furthermore, a dosing device for reactant for supplying the SCR devices is provided upstream of the first SCR device in the exhaust gas flow direction. In one embodiment, a target overall efficiency ηDes of the SCR devices is specified. Using modeling of the exhaust gas aftertreatment system, depending on the target overall efficiency ηDes a target value ⊖1,Des is determined that represents the degree of charge of the first SCR device with reactant. The dosing of the reactant is adjusted accordingly to achieve the target value ⊖1,Des.
US08920755B2
Methods for converting an H2SO4 alkylation unit to an ionic liquid alkylation system configured for performing ionic liquid catalyzed alkylation processes may comprise connecting at least one component configured for ionic liquid catalyzed alkylation to at least one component of the H2SO4 alkylation unit, wherein the at least one component of the H2SO4 alkylation unit is retained, modified or adapted for use in the ionic liquid alkylation system. Ionic liquid catalyzed alkylation systems derived from existing conventional alkylation units, and ionic liquid catalyzed alkylation processes are also disclosed.
US08920753B2
A valve unit and an apparatus having the same include a plug which includes a phase change material in a solid state at a room temperature and a plurality of fine heat-dissipating particles dispersed in the phase change material. The fine heat-dissipating particles dispersed in the phase change material dissipate heat by absorbing an electromagnetic wave energy generated by electromagnetic wave radiation from the outside and block fluid flow in a path formed by a channel. As an external energy source irradiates an electromagnetic wave on the plug, the plurality of fine heat-dissipating particles dissipate heat and the phase change material becomes molten, thus opening the path to allow the fluid to flow.
US08920744B2
Disclosed is a food sterilization method capable of heat-sterilizing foods uniformly by heating steam irrespectively with a shape of an apparatus. The food sterilization method includes introducing the food into the inside of the heat-sterilizing chamber through the opening of the opening and closing part; discharging the air in the inside of the heat-sterilizing chamber through the air discharging part, close contacting the sealing cover and the heat-sterilizing chamber by absorption force of the air to seal the inside of the heat-sterilizing chamber, and then reducing a pressure in the inside of the heat-sterilizing chamber; closing the air discharging part, supplying the steam from the steam supplying part to the inside of the heat-sterilizing chamber to close contact the sealing cover and the opening of the opening and closing part by a pressure of the steam and thereby seal the opening and closing part and the inside of the heat-sterilizing chamber, and then heat-sterilizing the food introduced into the inside of the heat-sterilizing chamber by the steam supplied from the steam supplying part and at the same time, discharging some of the steam in the inside of the heat-sterilizing chamber through the steam discharging part during the heat-sterilization; closing the steam supplying part, and discharging the steam in the inside of the heat-sterilizing chamber through the steam discharging part; and taking the food out of the heat-sterilizing chamber through the opening of the opening and closing part.
US08920743B2
A faucet mountable water conditioning devices include a relatively simple configuration that allows for reduced cost, easy installation, and a pleasing aesthetic. In one or more implementations, a faucet mountable water conditioning device includes a universal faucet mounting mechanism. The universal faucet mounting mechanism allows the faucet mountable water conditioning device to connect and seal to a wide variety of faucet designs and sizes simply by pressing the mounting mechanism over the faucet. The faucet mountable water conditioning device can also include a base configured to hold a water conditioning source. In one or more implementations a connector can couple the base to the mounting mechanism; thereby, allowing the base to move between active and inactive positions.
US08920737B2
A system includes a reactor-adsorber configured to receive a gas, a regenerator configured to receive a saturated CO2 adsorption material from the reactor-adsorber, a first solids pressurizing feeder configured to convey the saturated CO2 adsorption material from the reactor-adsorber to the regenerator, and a second solids pressurizing feeder configured to convey a regenerated CO2 adsorption material from the regenerator to the reactor-adsorber. The reactor-adsorber includes a catalyst material configured to catalyze a water gas shift reaction of the gas to generate a hydrogen-rich gas, and a CO2 adsorption material configured to adsorb CO2 from the hydrogen-rich gas to generate the saturated CO2 adsorption material. The regenerator is configured to regenerate the saturated CO2 adsorption material to provide the regenerated CO2 adsorption material and CO2. The first and second solids pressurizing feeders are configured to at least substantially reduce or prevent fluid flow between the reactor-adsorber and the regenerator.
US08920716B2
This patent discloses a novel and effective device and process, which combines the advantages of refrigeration in a synergistic manner with the advantages of hydrogen peroxide and other organic and inorganic peroxygen compounds, resulting in an enhanced ability to reduce and/or eliminate microbial activity and mitigate malodors. This device and process is suitable for the continuous in-situ sanitation and deodorization of enclosed or semi enclosed spaces, which may contain foodstuffs or other putresable items, which would be otherwise adversely affected by the activity of bacteria, mold, mildew or malodors. In particular this invention has application in environments such as refrigerators, cool rooms and freezers, where products are stored for the purpose of extending their shelf life and preventing damage by the activity of microorganisms.
US08920714B2
A corrosion prevention and control composition and method comprises combining primarily two-component polyurethane foam formed by reacting polyols with an isocyanate compound, and a 2 to 10 percent by weight of either an organic or inorganic gas-phase corrosion inhibitor. The closed cell foam provides a barrier protection for the underlying corrodible surface, while the inhibitor protects the metal from the absorbed moisture vapor, thereby preventing corrosion from occurring at the foam/metal interface. The resulting foam and inhibitor composition maintains better adhesion to the underlying corrodible structure in corrosive environments.
US08920691B2
Disclosed herein is a production method capable of efficiently producing a carbonized film wound into a roll without the occurrence of fusion bonding between the layers of the film. The method includes a carbonization step in which a polymer film wound around a core is placed in a heating furnace and carbonized by heat treatment to obtain a carbonized film wound around the core. The carbonization step is performed by increasing a temperature of the heat treatment from an initial temperature through a pyrolysis onset temperature to a pyrolysis end temperature. In the carbonization step, the heating furnace is decompressed when the temperature of the heat treatment is lower than the pyrolysis onset temperature, and after the temperature of the heat treatment reaches the pyrolysis onset temperature, the heating furnace is not decompressed or the heating furnace is decompressed so that an absolute pressure in the heating furnace is in a range of 21.3 kPa to 101.29 kPa.
US08920690B2
A lens for placement in a human eye, such as intraocular lens, has at least some of its optical properties formed with a laser. The laser forms modified loci in the lens when the modified loci have a different refractive index than the refractive index of the material before modification. Different patterns of modified loci can provide selected dioptic power, toric adjustment, and/or aspheric adjustment provided. Preferably both the anterior and posterior surfaces of the lens are planar for ease of placement in the human eye.
US08920684B2
The present invention discloses an Al—Sb—Te phase change material used for PCM and fabrication method thereof. Said phase change material, which can be prepared by PVD, CVD, ALD, PLD, EBE, and ED, is a mixture of three elements aluminum (Al), antimony (Sb) and tellurium (Te) with a general formula of Alx(SbyTe1)1-x, where 0
US08920680B2
Methods and apparatus relate to methods of making carbonaceous material or coating from a precursor. Oxidation of hydrocarbons forming the precursor occurs upon adding an oxidation agent to a mixture of the precursor and a solvent for the precursor. The oxidation of the hydrocarbons yields constituents that are insoluble in the solvent and may not melt. The constituents that are insoluble in the solvent may further coat solid particles, if the solid particles are provided in the mixture. Carbonization of solids recovered by separation from liquids in the mixture increases carbon weight percent of the constituents that are insoluble in the solvent. The methods result in products that provide the carbonaceous material or coating and are suitable for use in electrodes.
US08920675B2
Preparation of semiconductor nanocrystals and their dispersions in solvents and other media is described. The nanocrystals described herein have small (1-10 nm) particle size with minimal aggregation and can be synthesized with high yield. The capping agents on the as-synthesized nanocrystals as well as nanocrystals which have undergone cap exchange reactions result in the formation of stable suspensions in polar and nonpolar solvents which may then result in the formation of high quality nanocomposite films.
US08920662B2
A nozzle plate manufacturing method that offers excellent protection against discharge liquid and that enables a nozzle plate having high nozzle-hole accuracy to be manufactured with good yield. The invention also provides a nozzle plate, a droplet discharge head manufacturing method, and a droplet discharge head.
US08920659B2
Disclosed herein are centrifuge-free self-contained systems for aseptically separating components of whole blood comprising at least one cassette for receiving whole blood; at least one red blood cell exclusion filter; at least one leukocyte reduction filters; at least one platelet exclusion filter; a plurality of product cassettes; and optionally a plurality of pumps and valves; and wherein the filters, pumps, valves, and cassettes are fluidly connected by tubing and the system does not include a centrifuge. Also disclosed are methods for obtaining blood components using the system.
US08920654B2
Forward osmosis membranes having a hydrophilic support layer and a polyamide rejection layer in a thin film composite membrane are considered. Preferred support layer materials include aramid polymers and PVDF. A woven or non-woven mesh can be incorporated into the support layer to improve handling properties of the membrane. Flat sheet and hollow fiber configurations are possible. Antifouling techniques are provided. The polyamide layer can be formed on the hydrophilic support layer by interfacial polymerization. Applications include forward osmosis and pressure retarded osmosis applications, such as industrial product and/or waste concentration, hydration bags, energy/pressure generation, and controlled delivery of chemicals (e.g., for pharmaceutical applications).
US08920648B2
Improvements to “no filter, no run” fluid filtration systems are described. In one example, a filter includes a movable pin cage that has a first pre-installation position adjacent the bottom end plate and is temporarily connected thereto by a snap connection system, and a second position adjacent the upper end plate where it performs a valve interaction function. In another example, a filter includes non-centered valve pins that are rotatable relative to an upper end plate of the filter.
US08920644B2
A method of producing drinking water from wastewater comprises ozonating the wastewater and treating the wastewater with powdered activated carbon (PAC). The ozonated wastewater and the PAC are mixed together in a contacting zone. The mixture of PAC and wastewater is directed through a membrane filtration unit that separates a PAC rich concentrate from treated water. The PAC rich concentrate is recirculated to the contacting zone to increase the concentration of PAC in the contacting zone.
US08920635B2
Desulfurization of hydrocarbon feeds is achieved by flashing the feed at a target cut point temperature to obtain two fractions. A first fraction contains refractory organosulfur compounds, which boils at or above the target cut point temperature. A second fraction boiling below the target cut point temperature is substantially free of refractory sulfur-containing compounds. The second fraction is contacted with a hydrodesulfurization catalyst in a hydrodesulfurization reaction zone operating under mild conditions to reduce the quantity of organosulfur compounds to an ultra-low level. The first fraction is contacted with gaseous oxidizing agent over an oxidation catalyst having a formula CuxZn1-xAl2O4 in a gas phase catalytic oxidation reaction zone to convert the refractory organosulfur compounds to SOx and low sulfur hydrocarbons. The by-product SOx is subsequently removed, producing a stream containing a reduced level of organo sulfur compounds.
US08920634B2
Methods and systems relate to treating an oil-in-water emulsion with an electron beam to decrease aromatic content therein for subsequent recovery of diesel products with upgraded cetane number. The method includes passing the emulsion formed of water and a hydrocarbon stream, such as light cycle oil, through an electron beam. The electron beam causes radiolysis of the water into intermediates that react with and open rings of aromatic compounds from the hydrocarbon stream. Separation of the water from the emulsion after the treating with the electron beam provides the diesel products, which may be hydroprocessed to remove oxygenates.
US08920633B2
High energy (e.g., ultrasonic) mixing of a liquid hydrocarbon feedstock and reactants comprised of an oxidation source, catalyst and acid yields a diesel fuel product or additive having substantially increased cetane number. Ultrasonic mixing creates cavitation, which involves the formation and violent collapse of micron-sized bubbles, which greatly increases the reactivity of the reactants. This, in turn, substantially increases the cetane number compared to reactions carried out using conventional mixing processes, such as simple mechanical stirring. Alternatively, an aqueous mixture comprising water and acid can be pretreated with an oxidation source such as ozone and subjected to ultrasonic cavitation prior to reacting the pretreated mixture with a liquid hydrocarbon feedstock.
US08920632B2
The present invention describes a process for the production of gasoline and for the co-production of propylene employing a catalytic cracking unit having at least one principal reactor operating in riser mode or in downer mode, processing a conventional heavy feed, and in which the principal reactor further processes a feed primarily constituted by olefinic C4, C5 and C6 cuts introduced upstream or as a mixture with said heavy feed, said olefinic feed deriving from the inter-stage of the wet gas compressor, i.e. upstream of the separation section of the catalytic cracking unit.
US08920631B2
The invention relates to a method for removing sulfur from crude oils using a catalytic hydrotreating process operating at moderate temperature and pressure and reduced hydrogen consumption. The process produces sweet crude oil having a sulfur content of between about 0.1 and 1.0 wt % in addition to reduced crude density. The method employs least two reactors in series, wherein the first reactor includes a hydroconversion catalyst and the second reactor includes a desulfurization catalyst.
US08920630B2
A system comprising a riser reactor comprising a gas oil feedstock and a first catalyst under catalytic cracking conditions to yield a riser reactor product comprising a cracked gas oil product and a first used catalyst; a intermediate reactor comprising at least a portion of the cracked gas oil product and a second catalyst under high severity conditions to yield a cracked intermediate reactor product and a second used catalyst; wherein the intermediate reactor feedstock comprises at least one of a fatty acid and a fatty acid ester.
US08920629B2
A diesel oil composition is provided which, while having a low sulfur content, has an excellent oxidative stability even under the higher temperature conditions that can be expected for the operating environments of the future. The diesel oil composition has a fluorenes content of at least 200 ppm by mass and an acenaphthylenes content of at most 2000 ppm by mass.
US08920623B2
Methods are disclosed for replenishing tin and its alloying metals in an aqueous electrolytic plating bath using an acidic solution containing stannous oxide. During electroplating of tin or tin alloys the stannous ions and alloying metal ions are depleted. To maintain continuous and efficient electroplating processes predetermined amounts of the plating bath containing tin and its alloying metals are bailed out. The bail out is then mixed with a predetermined amount of acidic solution containing stannous oxide and any alloying metals. The mixture is then retuned to the plating bath to return the stannous ions and alloying metal ions to their steady state concentrations.
US08920621B2
A pump includes a flow passage through which a liquid containing an electrolytic solution is conveyed, a pair of electrodes in the flow passage to apply an electric field along the direction in which the liquid is conveyed, and a conductive member connected to one of the pair of electrodes and in contact with the liquid in the flow passage. The conductive member includes a sidewall portion that locally divides a flow of the liquid in the flow passage. The conductive member connected to one of the pair of electrodes may be a polyhedron or a column that is convex toward the electrode to which the conductive member is not connected.
US08920612B2
The innovation process describes the process and results for fabrication of a magnetron sputter deposited fully dense electrolyte layer (8YSZ/GDC/LSGM) embedded in a high performance membrane electrolyte assembly (MEA) (Unit Cell) of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell. A single cell with airtight electrolyte layer (8YSZ/GDC/LSGM) is prepared via thin film technique of magnetron sputter deposition, combined with SOFC-MEA processing methods (such as tape casting, lamination, vacuum hot pressing, screen printing, spin coating, and plasma spray coating) and sintering optimization conditions. The gas permeability of the electrolyte layer is below 1×10−6 L/cm2/sec and the open circuit voltage/power density of the single cell performance test exceeds 1.0 V and 500 mW/cm2.
US08920609B2
The device and method are provided to increase anhydrosugars yield during pyrolysis of biomass. This increase is achieved by injection of a liquid or gas into the vapor stream of any pyrolysis reactor prior to the reactor condensers. A second feature of our technology is the utilization of sonication, microwave excitation, or shear mixing of the biomass to increase the acid catalyst rate for demineralization or removal of hemicellulose prior to pyrolysis. The increased reactivity of these treatments reduces reaction time as well as the required amount of catalyst to less than half of that otherwise required. A fractional condensation system employed by our pyrolysis reactor is another feature of our technology. This system condenses bio-oil pyrolysis vapors to various desired fractions by differential temperature manipulation of individual condensers comprising a condenser chain.
US08920599B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a plasma chamber having a coil assembly which improves plasma uniformity and improves power coupling to the plasma. One embodiment provides a plasma chamber. The plasma chamber includes a chamber body having sidewalls and a lid, wherein the chamber body defines a processing volume. The plasma chamber further includes a coil assembly disposed over the lid configured to generate inductively coupled plasma within the processing volume, wherein the coil assembly comprises two or more horizontal coils arranged in a common horizontal plane.
US08920592B2
A method of making a display assembly includes the steps of (a) attaching a first substrate and a second substrate with an optically clear heat activated adhesive to form a laminate. Each of the first and second substrate has opposing major surfaces. At least one of the first and second substrate has a three dimensional surface topography covering at least a portion of one of its major surfaces or is distortion sensitive. At a heat activation temperature, the adhesive is pressure sensitive. The method also includes heating the laminate to the heat activation temperature of the adhesive causing the adhesive to flow. The activation temperature is greater than 40° C. and less than 120° C.
US08920587B2
A small-diameter composite tube may be formed by hand rolling. A slip sheet may be placed on a work surface, and then a composite sheet may be placed on the slip sheet. A mandrel may be placed at a first edge of the composite sheet, and a portion of the slip sheet may be folded over the mandrel, and the first edge of the composite sheet, such that the mandrel is enclosed in the slip sheet. A compression bar may then be placed on the folded-over portion of the slip sheet and force may be applied, causing the slip sheet to contact the mandrel. Then, the folded-over portion of the slip sheet may be pulled away from the mandrel while force is maintained on the compression bar. As the folded-over portion of the slip sheet is pulled, the composite sheet may wind around the mandrel, forming the composite tube.
US08920585B2
A method and apparatus for elimination of lamination defects on progressive addition lenses. The lamination method uses a flexible bladder designed to apply pressure evenly across the lens surface. A spacer is positioned between a Hard Multi-Coat carrier and the flexible bladder. The spacer is located in a region of the carrier which is designated to deliver a coating to a section of the lens which is farthest from the carrier. The spacer asymmetrically increases the pressure applied to the carrier to eliminate lamination defects.
US08920580B2
In solder paste of the present invention, a first metal powder, a second metal powder, and a third metal powder are dispersed in a flux or a thermosetting resin. The first metal powder includes a first metal material such as Cu, Ag, Au, or Pd that serves as a base metal. A second metal material such as Sn or In that has a melting point lower than that of the first metal material is coated on the surface of the first metal material. The second metal powder is made of a metal material such as Sn or In that has a melting point lower than that of the first metal material. The third metal powder such as a Cu, Ag, Au or Pd powder has an average particle diameter smaller than that of the first metal material and can form compounds with the second metal material and the second metal powder. Accordingly, the likelihood of unreacted components remaining after a heat treatment can be suppressed, and even when a reflow treatment is repeated a plurality of times, a decrease in the bonding strength of solder bonding can be prevented.
US08920577B2
A method of treating a substrate comprises, in one aspect, placing a substrate having material on a surface thereof in a treatment chamber; directing a stream of a liquid treatment composition to impinge the substrate surface; and directing a stream of water vapor to impinge the substrate surface and/or to impinge the liquid treatment composition. A preferred aspect of this invention is the removal of materials, and preferably photoresist, from a substrate, wherein the treatment composition is a liquid sulfuric acid composition comprising sulfuric acid and/or its desiccating species and precursors.
US08920575B2
Foreign matter is removed from a digital hydraulic pressure controller having two portions connectable to each other and each including two valve arrays with a plurality of individually switchable valve means having different flow cross-sections and connected in parallel within a valve array. One valve array of each pressure controller portion can connect a supply line to a controller output line and the other valve array can connect the output line to a drain line. The two pressure controller portions are connected, the valve means having the largest flow cross-section of the valve array of the one portion on the supply line side is opened, the valve means having the largest flow cross-section of the valve array of the other portion on the drain line side is opened and the opened flow path is flushed through the pressure controller with pressurized working fluid, while the other valve means are closed.
US08920574B2
An instrument reprocessor for cleaning, disinfecting, and/or sterilizing a medical instrument is disclosed. To reprocess instruments having one or more channels defined therein, the reprocessor can include one or more flow control systems configured to control a fluid flow through each channel. In various embodiments, a flow control system can include a differential pressure sensor and a proportional valve for controlling the fluid flow in a channel. The reprocessor can also include, one, a fluid circulation pump configured to supply the flow control systems with fluid and, two, a system for controlling the pressure of the fluid supplied to the flow control systems. The reprocessor can also include a system for supplying a metered amount of fluid to the fluid circulation system. The system can include a reservoir having a fluid height sensor to monitor the amount of fluid therein and a pump configured to supply the reservoir with fluid.
US08920572B2
A device for cleaning a fixed abrasive polishing pad includes a main body having a surface facing the polishing pad, an inlet coupled to an end of the main body and configured to supply a cleaning liquid, an inject orifice coupled to the inlet for injecting the cleaning liquid and being provided on the surface of the main body, an outlet coupled to the end of the main body, and a recycle orifice coupled to the outlet, and being provided on the surface of the main body.
US08920564B2
A substrate support may include a body; an inner ring disposed about the body; an outer ring disposed about the inner ring forming a first opening therebetween; a first seal ring disposed above the first opening; a shadow ring disposed above the inner ring, extending inward from the outer ring and forming a second opening between the shadow and outer rings; a second seal ring disposed above the second opening; a space at least partially defined by the body and the inner, outer, first, second, and shadow rings; a first gap defined between a processing surface of a substrate when present and the shadow ring; and a plurality of second gaps fluidly coupled to the space; wherein the first gap and the plurality of second gaps are configured such that, when a substrate is present, a gas provided to the space flows out of the space through the first gap.
US08920560B2
A method for manufacturing an epitaxial wafer includes: a step of pulling a single crystal from a boron-doped silicon melt in a chamber based on a Czochralski process; and a step of forming an epitaxial layer on a surface of a silicon wafer sliced from the single crystal. The single crystal is allowed to grow while passed through a temperature region of 800 to 600° C. in the chamber in 250 to 180 minutes during the pulling step. The grown single crystal has an oxygen concentration of 10×1017 to 12×1017 atoms/cm3 and a resistivity of 0.03 to 0.01 Ωcm. The silicon wafer is subjected to pre-annealing prior to the step of forming the epitaxial layer on the surface of the silicon wafer, for 10 minutes to 4 hours at a predetermined temperature within a temperature region of 650 to 900° C. in an inert gas atmosphere. The method is to fabricate an epitaxial wafer that has a diameter of 300 mm or more, and that attains a high IG effect, and involves few epitaxial defects.
US08920559B2
The present disclosure relates to crystallizing a chemical substance(s) using ultrasound. Methods are provided for screening a chemical substance according to its solid forms by using ultrasound to generate new or unusual solid forms. Methods are also provided for crystallizing a chemical substance by novel techniques that include sonication. The present disclosure also relates to cocrystallization using ultrasound. Methods are provided for preparing cocrystals of an active agent and a guest by sonicating and crystallizing. Methods are also provided for screening a sample according to solid state phases (such as cocrystals and salts) and include generating a cocrystal from the sample using ultrasound.
US08920555B2
The present invention relates to a gallium-doped phosphocalcic compound of formula (I): Ca(10.5-1.5x)Gax(PO4)7 (I) wherein 0
US08920553B2
The present disclosure is directed to cellulose ether compositions for film-forming coating applications. A coating composition is provided which contains an aqueous solution of either a very low viscosity cellulose ether or a low-hydroxypropyl cellulose ether, the coating composition having low color, The low viscosity of the cellulose ether component enables the coating composition to contain a high concentration of cellulose ether. Provision of these high concentration cellulose ether coating solutions improves production efficiency by reducing the time required to coat a substrate.
US08920550B2
The present invention relates to a new mineral matter particle hydrophobization agent and to its various uses for the surface treatment of mineral matter particles.
US08920543B2
The invention provides for the use of copolymers comprising 1 to 99 mol % of structural units of the formula (1) in which R1 is hydrogen or C1-C6-alkyl, A is C2-C4-alkylene groups and B is C2-C4-alkylene groups, with the proviso that A is different than B, and x, y are each independently an integer of 1-100, and 1 to 99 mol % of structural units of the formula (3) in which R6 is hydrogen or C1-C6-alkyl, D is C2-C4-alkylene groups and z is an integer of 1-50, in amounts of 0.01 to 2% by weight, based on the water phase, as gas hydrate inhibitors.
US08920539B2
The invention relates to a Method of generating oxygen and nitric oxide. The method comprises the steps of: guiding an oxygen comprising gas to a primary side of a dense membrane (42), heating the membrane (42) to a temperature at which it is permeable for oxygen, creating a pressure difference between the primary side of the membrane (42) and a secondary side of the membrane (42), wherein a stream of oxygen is generated at the secondary side of the membrane (42) and a stream of oxygen depleted gas is generated at the primary side of the membrane (42). The method according to the invention further comprises the steps of: providing a flow of nitrous oxide comprising gas and heating the nitrous oxide comprising gas to a temperature at which nitric oxide is generated. Thereby, according to the invention, heat generated in the process of operating the membrane is used. According to the invention it is possible to generate both oxygen and nitric oxide in one device making use of several synergistic effects, thus being energy saving.
US08920535B2
A separation and recovery method that enables titanium and tungsten to be separated and recovered from a used DeNOx catalyst in high yield. Specifically, a method of separating and recovering metal elements that includes a first heating step of heating a DeNOx catalyst containing titanium, tungsten, vanadium and iron in a chlorine atmosphere, thereby removing the vanadium and the iron from the DeNOx catalyst, and a second heating step, performed after the first heating step, of heating the DeNOx catalyst in a chlorine atmosphere while the catalyst is exposed to a gas of a hydrocarbon compound (excluding CH4) or an oxygen-containing carbon compound, thereby volatilizing the tungsten and the titanium from the DeNOx catalyst, and recovering the tungsten and the titanium from the DeNOx catalyst.
US08920531B2
The present invention relates to device and method for reducing soot particles.The device for reducing soot particles includes a first filter provided to an exhaust gas flow passage through which exhaust gas from a diesel engine flows to have a predetermined volume of a plurality of grains to be operated as a volumetric filtration system, and a second filter provided to a predetermined position of the second filter to be operated as a surface filtration system.
US08920526B1
The disclosure provides a gasification process for the production of a methane-rich syngas at temperatures exceeding 700° C. through the use of an alkali hydroxide MOH, using a gasification mixture comprised of at least 0.25 moles and less than 2 moles of water for each mole of carbon, and at least 0.15 moles and less than 2 moles of alkali hydroxide MOH for each mole of carbon. These relative amounts allow the production of a methane-rich syngas at temperatures exceeding 700° C. by enabling a series of reactions which generate H2 and CH4, and mitigate the reforming of methane. The process provides a methane-rich syngas comprised of roughly 20% (dry molar percentage) CH4 at temperatures above 700° C., and may effectively operate within an IGFC cycle at reactor temperatures between 700-900° C. and pressures in excess of 10 atmospheres.
US08920511B2
Embodiments of the present invention encompass graft assemblies, and methods for their use and manufacture. An exemplary bone graft assembly includes first and second bone pieces having respective mating features which, when combined, define non-uniform press fit. Related embodiments encompass graft assemblies having enclosed or hidden mating features.
US08920510B2
A medical device for implantation in a hip joint of a patient is provided. The medical device comprises a first and second piece and a releasing member adapted to, in a first state hold the first piece attached to the second piece, and in a second state release the first piece from the second piece. The releasing member is adapted to change from the first state to the second state when a pre-determined strain is placed on the releasing member.
US08920506B2
A spinal implant having a series of sections or units hinged together and a balloon connected to at least some of the sections, the balloon having a curved configuration. The implant has a first delivery configuration and a second curved placement configuration, wherein it has a more linear configuration in the first delivery configuration than in the second curved configuration. The implant assumes the first delivery configuration during delivery to the disc space and maintains the curved configuration after placement within the disc space. The curved configuration can result from filling or expanding the balloon.
US08920500B1
Systems and methods are described for correcting sagittal imbalance in a spine including instruments for performing the controlled release of the anterior longitudinal ligament through a lateral access corridor and hyper-lordotic lateral implants.
US08920499B2
Methods of using implant devices are provided herein. The implant devices of the methods herein have an articular end and a stem, the stem having an oval-shaped cross-section. The articular end has an upper surface, a side surface, and a lower surface. The upper surface and lower surface each intersect the side surface. The upper surface has a first surface curvature, a central surface curvature, and a second surface curvature. The stem extends from the lower surface in a direction away from the upper surface of the articular end.
US08920490B2
A medical device is provided with a porous region including a reservoir zone including a polymer and a protective zone between adjacent tissue and the reservoir zone that restricts the tissue from direct contact with the polymer.
US08920488B2
The present invention relates to an endoprosthesis having a web structure that is expandable from a contracted configuration to an expanded configuration and that includes a plurality of longitudinally adjacent web rings. Each of the web rings is defined by web elements disposed circumferentially around a longitudinal axis, which are adjoined one to the other at junction bends. A first junction bend in a first web ring is coupled to a second junction bend in a second web ring by a connector which includes three or more struts of essentially equal length that extend circumferentially in essentially parallel directions. The struts of the connector are adjoined in sequence by coupling segments that, in one embodiment of the invention, are arcuate in shape.
US08920466B2
An oral stimulatory device is configured for soothing gums, for instance, the gums of a teething infant. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the oral stimulatory device includes a tubular body. In certain embodiments, the tubular body is configured for being at least partially positioned in an oral cavity of a user, such as an infant, and is adapted for being deformed. Although the oral stimulatory device may be fabricated from any suitable material, in certain embodiments, the tubular body of the oral stimulatory device is fabricated from a material comprising silicone. In certain embodiments, the oral stimulatory device includes at least one stimulatory element, for example, a plurality of stimulatory elements, which elements may be adapted for soothing the gums of an infant when positioned in an oral cavity (e.g., mouth) of the infant.
US08920452B2
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.
US08920444B2
Described are medical devices useful for applying a bolster material to a surgical fastening device such as a stapler, and related methods of manufacture and use. The devices include an applicator element for receipt between arms of the stapler, and a bolster material, desirably a remodelable extracellular matrix material, coupled to the applicator element. In certain embodiments, the bolster material is held by the applicator element, for example having at least a portion looped around or received through or over a portion of the applicator element. Also described are unique implantable materials including coatings of dried, reversible adhesive.
US08920436B2
An endoscopic tissue anchor deployment device includes a handle, an elongated shaft defining an internal lumen, and an end effector attached to the distal end of the elongated shaft. A tissue anchor catheter is removably inserted through the lumen of the elongated shaft, the catheter having a tissue anchor assembly that is deployable from its distal end. The handle may include a pin and track assembly that define a series of handle actuation steps corresponding to deployment steps for the deployment device end effector and the tissue anchor catheter. In some embodiments, the handle includes a catheter stop member that prevents movement of the tissue anchor catheter under certain circumstances, and a handle stop member that prevents actuation of the handle under certain circumstances.
US08920433B2
A manipulator includes a control unit (1), with handle (4) and control buttons (4a-4d), and a connecting arm (2) which, at its proximal end (2a), carries the control unit (1) and, at its distal end (2b), carries a work unit (3). The control buttons (4a-4d) control at least a first inclination motor, which causes a movement of inclination of a tool support (5) of the work unit (3) about a transverse inclination axis (11), and they control the actual rotation of the tool support (5) about its direction of inclination (II) and control the orientation of the direction of inclination (II) about the longitudinal axis (I-I) of the connecting arm (2). A particularly ergonomic manipulator is thus obtained which is easy to learn to use and which efficiently separates the stresses arising from movements of the tool support (5) and the stresses arising from holding and moving the manipulator itself.
US08920425B2
A medical inserter tool is provided for introducing medical implants into a surgical site, preferably using minimally invasive techniques. The inserter tool can have a variety of configurations, but in general, the inserter tool should be effective to engage and manipulate the implant into two or more positions. In an exemplary embodiment, the tool includes an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends and defining a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, and a pivoting element that is coupled to the distal end of the shaft and that is adapted to engage a spinal implant. In use, the pivoting element is movable between first and second positions to allow an implant to be introduced through a percutaneous access device in a lengthwise orientation, and to be manipulated subcutaneously to be positioned in a desired orientation.
US08920424B2
A surgical cutting blade for cutting bone material when the blade is coupled to a hand-held surgical saw having protrusions extending therefrom that interface with the cutting blade. The cutting blade includes a distal end comprising a plurality of cutting teeth and a shank portion adjacent the distal end. It also includes a proximal end adjacent the shank portion. The proximal end is shaped to attach to the surgical saw and includes an upper substantially planar surface and a lower substantially planar surface and a side edge extending between the upper and lower planar surfaces. The side edge at least in part defines an outer perimeter extending about the proximal end. The outer perimeter includes a plurality of indentations forming openings configured to receive and interface with the protrusions of the surgical saw in a manner that the protrusions cooperatively impart motion to drive the blade.
US08920420B2
Scissors (1) for an endoscope includes a treatment section (5) provided with a pair of scissor elements (10, 11) which are pivotably supported by a pivoting shaft (support pin (13)) and are pivotally displaced between an open position and a closed position; an operation wire (3) connected to the treatment section (5), and an operation section for displacing the scissor elements (10, 11) between the open position and the closed position by advancing and retracting the operation wire (3). A stopper (14) is provided to the treatment section (5). In the open position, the stopper (14) restricts the relative movement between the pair of scissor elements (10, 11) in the opening direction, and in the closed position, the stopper (14) restricts the relative movement between the pair of scissor elements (10, 11) in the closing direction, thereby to restrict excessive opening and closure of the scissor elements.
US08920416B2
The tissue ablation device includes a tissue ablation probe having an elongated probe shaft and electrodes carried by the distal end of the probe shaft. The device further comprises a cannula with a central lumen extending along a longitudinal axis for removably receiving the probe shaft. The cannula further comprises concentric inner and outer tubes extending along the longitudinal axis, wherein the outer is tube is translatable relative to the inner tube. The inner and outer tubes further comprise inner and outer apertures, respectively, that are aligned by translating the outer tube. When the inner and outer apertures are aligned, electrodes are deployed through the inner and outer apertures. One method includes introducing a cannula and a tissue ablation probe to a tissue site and operating the tissue ablation probe and the cannula to deploy the electrodes and ablate tissue.
US08920405B2
A penis erection stimulation system 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 reservoir and a pump are also 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 is arranged for advancing and retracting the tip end of the infusion needle such that it penetrates the housing in at least one penetration area, preferably 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. The drive unit is provided for implantation remote from the injection area and comprises a mechanical drive element for transmitting kinetic energy from a remote location within the patient's body to the at least one infusion needle.
US08920404B2
A catheter tip designed to reduce the outflow velocity and/or directional momentum of fluid being infused by a catheter having such a tip. In one variation, a plurality of channels is provided at the distal portion of the catheter to increase the outflow cross-sectional area. In another variation, the diameter of the catheter at its distal portion where the fluid exits is increased. In yet another variation, a bullet-shaped nose is implemented which may decrease turbulence at the distal end of catheter tip. The low velocity outflow catheter tip may also be implemented on a dual lumen catheter, such as a hemodialysis catheter, to reduce recirculation rate. Various device configurations and methods for such implementations are also disclosed.
US08920402B2
A device suitable for removing material from a living being is provided, featuring at least an aspiration pump, powered by a motor. The aspiration pump and any optional infusate pump preferably feature a helical pumping mechanism, and operate at a high rate of rotation, thereby ensuring adequate pumping performance and flexibility. The helical pumping mechanism may be a helical coiled wire about a central core tube. The helical coil wire, whether together with, or independent of, the core tube, may be rotated to cause a pumping action. Additionally, a narrow crossing profile is maintained, ensuring that the device may reach more tortuous regions of the vasculature. In one embodiment, the system comprises a wire-guided mono-rail catheter with a working head mounted on a flexible portion of the catheter that can laterally displace away from the guide wire to facilitate thrombus removal. The working head may be operated to separate and move away from the guide wire to come within a closer proximity of the obstructive material to more effectively remove it from the vessel.
US08920384B2
A medical injector has a body with a displaceable plunger. The plunger includes a plurality of spaced-apart ratchet teeth disposed along the length thereof. At least one indexer is provided to engage the plunger, wherein the indexer is configured to allow the plunger to displace distally toward a distal end of the body but not proximally toward a proximal end of the body. The medical injector also includes an actuator having an engagement portion formed to engage one or more of the ratchet teeth. The actuator is displaceable to a ready state, the engagement portion being displaced proximally relative to the plunger with the actuator being displaced to the ready state. The indexer prevents proximal movement of the plunger, thereby allowing the engagement portion to bypass one or more of the ratchet teeth with the actuator being displaced to the ready state. In addition, the actuator is displaceable from the ready state to cause actuation of the medical injector. The displacement from the ready state causes distal displacement of the engagement portion with the engagement portion engaging one or more of the ratchet teeth and causing distal displacement of the plunger with the engagement portion.
US08920373B2
The present invention provides an improved injection assisting device wherein the improvement comprises an injection lock indicator located between the first and the second outer shell and the outside of the indicator window, configured to indicate to a user whether the injection locking member is in a locked state, and configured to substantially contrast in color with both the first outer shell and the second outer shell, which first and second outer shells contrast in color with each other, and configured to be substantially shielded from a view of a user in the presence of the predetermined amount of compression force on the second outer shell.
US08920372B2
An IV line temperature controlled warming device includes a housing and a fluid cassette or cartridge that receives fluid from an IV line and includes intravenous line tubing arranged in a preformed configuration. The configuration includes tubing sections arranged in generally circular and concentric portions and a central serpentine tubing section that basically reverses fluid flow and facilitates flow in opposing directions within adjacent tubing sections. The fluid cassette is retained within the device on a base plate partially disposed within a device housing interior, while a housing cover is selectively opened and closed to permit access to the base plate. The base plate includes a heater plate disposed thereon, while the cover and heater plate each include heating elements to apply heat to opposing surfaces of the tubing cassette. The heating elements are controlled by a controller in response to measured temperatures of the heater plate and fluid.
US08920362B2
A dialysis system includes a dialysis instrument and a disposable cassette. The dialysis instrument includes three pump actuators. The disposable cassette includes three dialysate pump chambers. The three dialysate pump chambers are positioned and arranged to operate with the three dialysate pump actuators of the dialysis instrument.
US08920356B2
A coupler includes a conductive polymer material that is so constructed and arranged to join tubing, wherein the conductive polymer material includes a conductive polymer component selected from the group consisting of polyaniline, polypyrrole, polythiophenes, polyethylenedioxythiophene, poly(p-phenylene vinylene) and mixtures thereof.
US08920351B2
A hip-girdling pelvic sling device for maintaining a desired amount of tension surrounding a person's hips and pelvis to securely support and stabilize a pelvis that has been fractured. Areas of mating types of fastener material such as mating hook-bearing fastener material and loop pile fastener material are arranged on the device to enable a strap to be secured at various effective lengths to provide a wide range of adjustability. The device may include inflatable bladders, stays, and a chin support and may be wrapped around a patient's neck as a cervical support collar.
US08920343B2
A diagnostic system for collecting, processing, recording and analyzing sounds associated with the physiologic activities of various human organs. The system includes a plurality of transducers placed on the body surface at the operator's discretion. The transducers are coupled to analog/digital signal processing circuitry for enhancement of the desired signal and exclusion of ambient noise. An A/D converter digitizes the incoming data and transmits data, which is divided into a multitude of discrete blocks, received over very finite intervals of time, to a computer workstation and moved through an analysis program sequentially. The program is displayed as a series of icons which depict operations that the program performs and which allow the operator to reprogram the system at any time. The data is finally displayed in graphical format and stored in memory as the program processes each block sequentially.
US08920336B1
A biopsy device, comprising a flexible coaxial structure, comprising an obturator within a sheath, the obturator being adapted to be displaced with respect to the sheath along the coaxial axis by a force applied at a proximal end; a disruptor, at a distal end of the obturator, adapted to disrupt a tissue surface to free cells therefrom, having a first position covered within the sheath and a second position freely extending beyond the sheath; an element, having a fixed position on the obturator, and a close clearance with respect to an inner surface of the sheath, such that a retraction of the obturator within the sheath causes an associated change in pressure in a space between the obturator distal to the element and the sheath, to thereby draw fluid proximate to an end of the sheath within the sheath.
US08920335B2
Systems and methods for determining a volume of the posterior segment of an eye during a fluid-to-gas exchange are described. The determined volume of the posterior segment may be used to determine the volume of pure tamponade gas to be introduced into the posterior segment resulting in a desired tamponade gas to other gas (e.g., air) ratio, such as during an ophthalmic surgical procedure. Particularly, the systems and methods may provide for improved gas utilization, less waste, and reduced surgery time, for example, by accurately measuring the volume of the posterior segment of the eye and only using the amount of pure gas required to produce the desired ratio. Further, in some implementations, mixing of a tamponade gas is accomplished intrinsically within the posterior segment of the eye, thereby avoiding manual mixing and reducing surgery time.
US08920331B2
According to the invention, a pulse wave measuring device includes: a connector that is disposed on a main unit; an external sensor that includes an external light-emitting module radiating light to a human body to be measured and an external light-receiving module receiving at least one of reflected light and transmitted light originating from the external light-emitting module and the human body so as to measure a pulse wave; an first controller that switches the external light-emitting module ON and OFF; an second controller that switches the external light-receiving module ON and OFF; and an external sensor connection determination section that determines a connection between the external sensor and the connector in accordance with a transient response of the external light-receiving module, wherein, after the external sensor connection determination section determines that the external sensor is connected to the connector, a measurement of the pulse wave by using the external sensor is started.
US08920323B2
The determination of axial and lateral displacement in a material subject to compression is determined by fitting a multi-dimensional model function to the match between corresponding portions of the material in two states of compression. In one embodiment, iso-contour lines in a correlation between a reference kernel and a target kernel are fit to an ellipse whose center defines the maximum correlation and hence the displacement.
US08920308B2
A surgical implant for treating female urinary incontinence includes a suburethral support, first and second soft tissue anchors, and an elongated member. The first and second soft tissue anchors are connected to first and second opposite ends of the suburethral support, each anchor having a central portion, a proximal end, and a tip on a distal end of the anchor, and a plurality of projections extending from the central portion at longitudinally spaced locations along a length extending between the proximal and distal ends of the central portion. The elongated member extends between the proximal end of the first soft tissue anchor and the first end of the suburethral support to connect the anchor to the support and enable the position of the anchor with respect to the support to be adjusted.
US08920307B2
An apparatus for providing a restriction and sensing a parameter associated with an anatomical structure comprises a restriction device and a sensing device. The restriction device is secured around a portion of anatomical structure and is operable to form a restriction within anatomical structure. The restriction may be formed or adjusted in response to a bolus located within anatomical structure. The restriction may be formed in response to bolus such that the restriction is formed before bolus reaches restriction device. Once the bolus passes and no more boluses are present, the restriction relaxes and loosens anatomical structure. The restriction device may comprise a gastric band, among other things, and the sensing device may comprise a strain gauge that is configured to detect a bolus passing down an esophagus.
US08920303B2
The invention, in one embodiment, is directed to systems and methods for adjusting support to an anatomical location using an expandable chamber.
US08920301B2
Equipment for the comprehensive care of critical neonates that ventilates, incubates, monitors and facilitates medical procedures. This equipment includes a thermal ring keeping the neonatal bubble tempered, and that slides longitudinally through its axis to leave exposed the neonate during its care. The inside of the thermal ring includes circular heaters surrounding said ring. Inside the cabin there is a closed recipient with water that takes advantage of the heat of said bubble to humidify air passing through the inlet door and outlet pipeline, which carry humidified and hot air to neonate. Furthermore, the equipment includes a water container, open at its upper part and placed out of the bubble, that allows simultaneously limiting the gas pressure of inspiration and expiration and the gas pressure of the neonate through two pipes.
US08920300B2
This invention proposes a robotic applicator device to be deployed internally to a patient having a capsule (also referred to as a cassette) and aperture with a means of alternately occluding and exposing a radioactive source through the aperture. The capsule and aperture will be integrated with a surgical robot to create a robotic IORT (intra-operative radiation therapy) applicator device as more fully described below. The capsule, radiation source, and IORT applicator arm would be integrated to enable a physician, physicist or technician to interactively internally view and select tissue for exposure to ionizing radiation in sufficient quantities to deliver therapeutic radiation doses to tissue. Via the robotic manipulation device, the physician and physicist would remotely apply radiation to not only the tissue to be exposed, but also control the length of time of the exposure. Control means would be added to identify and calculate margin and depth of tissue to be treated and the proper radiation source or radioactive isotope (which can be any particle emitter, including neutron, x-ray, alpha, beta or gamma emitter) to obtain the desired therapeutic effects. The invention enables stereotactical surgery and close confines radiation therapy adjacent to radiosensitive tissue.
US08920299B2
The present invention relates to a device for the production of paper cushioning from a paper web (8) rolled up into a supply roll (12), wherein the device has a machine comprising a support device for the pivoted support of the supply roll, a reshaping device (22, 22′, 22″) for reshaping the paper web, and a device for the production of the paper cushioning. A bracket (30) that can be pivoted between a contact position and a releasing position is provided in a region in front of the paper web infeed into the reshaping device, wherein the bracket rests on the paper web in the contact position.
US08920298B2
A method and apparatus of moving printed material web includes two processing arrangements arranged one above the other that are optional in operation. A material web is processed either in the upper, first processing arrangement or in the lower, second processing arrangement. In the processing section belonging to the first processing arrangement, the material web is folded about a line parallel to its advancement direction. In the processing section belonging to the second processing arrangement, the material web is separated, along a line parallel to its advancement direction, into two material-web strands, which are then positioned one above the other. The two processing sections having in common a pair of braking rollers and a pair of drawing rollers and also a longitudinal-cutter.
US08920295B2
A cutter-changing device includes a cutter-magazine carrying cutters, a rotary telescopic cylinder, and a clamping sub-assembly. The clamping sub-assembly includes a cutter-changing arm, and a pair of clamping assemblies. The rotary telescopic cylinder drives the cutter-changing arm to rotate, extend and retract. Each clamping assembly includes a mounting member, an elastic member, a piston, and at least one resisting member. The mounting member is mounted on the cutter-changing arm, and defines at least one mounting hole through the sidewall thereof. The elastic member and the piston are sleeved with the mounting member, and the two opposite ends of the elastic member press against the piston and the mounting member. The resisting member is mounted between the elastic member and the mounting member, and capable of being resisted by the piston to be partially exposed from the mounting hole.
US08920292B1
An apparatus and methods of attaching an exercise device to a chair to provide for a user of the chair to perform exercises. The apparatus generally includes a chair support section configured to be attached to the chair, and an exercise device that includes a support that is positioned on the floor. The chair support section and exercise device are configured to be engaged together when the user is exercising.
US08920291B2
A supporting structure for a treadmill includes an outer tube, an inner tube and a spring means. The outer tube has an inner wall and a protrusion. The outer tube at where the protrusion exists has an outer-tube internal diameter r. The protrusion and the inner wall are separated by a vertical distance L. The inner tube is telescoped within the outer tube and has a positioning hole. The inner tube at where the positioning hole exists has an inner-tube external diameter R, wherein (R+L)
US08920289B2
A form assembly and method is provided for use in making a jump pit having a cover. The form assembly comprises at least one frame member structured to form a ledge for receiving the cover and a removable form member removably secured to the frame member. The method comprises providing a frame member and removably securing a removable form member to the frame member.
US08920281B2
A transmission has an input member, an output member, at least four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes actuatable in combinations of three to establish a plurality of forward gear ratios and one reverse gear ratio.
US08920278B2
A gear transmission comprises a crankshaft that eccentrically rotates one of an internal gear and an external gear. A first gear is attached to one end of the crankshaft. A ring gear having internal teeth meshes with the first gear. An intermediate gear meshes with external teeth of the ring gear. A second gear is attached to one end of an output shaft of a motor and meshes with the intermediate gear. The motor and the crankshaft are positioned, relative to the intermediate gear, on the same side in the axial direction of the gear transmission.
US08920272B2
A guide plate 4 is disposed on the outermost side in the width direction of a silent chain 1 comprising link plates 2 which are pivotably linked by means of linking pins 3. The guide plate 4 has a pair of pin holes 41 into which the linking pins 3 are inserted, and also has side end parts 42 which are disposed at both ends in the longitudinal direction thereof, and an upper end part 43 and a lower end part 44 which link the side end parts 42 in the longitudinal direction. The upper end part 43 and the lower end part 44 are formed with a tapered transverse section, and become steadily thinner toward the tip end.
US08920263B2
A high performance golf ball includes a resin inner core, a rubber outer core, and a cover. The resin inner core is made of a blend of highly neutralized polymers and a low flexural modulus ionomer, and may include a blend of different highly neutralized polymers. The layers of the ball have specified compression values and relationships. The cover is a single layer ionomer cover, and may be made from a blend of different grades of the ionomer. The ball as a whole has properties to maximize performance and aesthetic properties, such as backspin off the irons, feel, and sound.
US08920261B2
The present disclosure concerns embodiments of a badge or insert for a golf club head that can eliminate undesired gaps between the insert and the peripheral sidewall of the cavity that receives the insert. In one embodiment, a golf club head comprises a main body comprising a cavity, which defines a central surface and an inner peripheral surface at least partially surrounding the central surface. An insert comprises a central portion and a deflectable portion coupled to and extending along a peripheral edge section of the central portion. The deflectable portion has a shape corresponding to and contacting a corresponding section of the inner peripheral surface of the cavity. The deflectable portion forms a press-fit engagement with the corresponding section of the inner peripheral surface of the cavity that retains the deflectable portion in a deflected state relative to the central portion.
US08920259B2
An iron golf club head according to this invention includes a head body and a face member. The face member includes a front portion forming portion which forms the front portion of a sole portion. The head body includes a sole forming portion thicker than the front portion forming portion. The end surface of the sole forming portion on the side of a face portion includes a lower region attached to the end surface of the front portion forming portion on the back side, and an upper region above the lower region. An elastic body is disposed in the gap between the upper region and the back surface of the face member.
US08920257B2
Embodiments of face plates for golf club heads are disclosed herein. Other examples, and related methods are also disclosed herein.
US08920250B2
A mass balancing unit having a hollow balancing shaft, at least one balancing weight which is provided on the balancing shaft and at least one roller bearing which has an outer bearing ring and a plurality of roller members. A longitudinal portion of the balancing shaft forms an inner bearing ring, the roller members being received between the outer bearing ring and the longitudinal portion of the balancing shaft. Adjacent to the longitudinal portion, the balancing shaft has at least one recess in order to reduce the rigidity of the longitudinal portion of the balancing shaft in a radial direction.
US08920239B2
Various embodiments disclosed herein are directed to methods, gaming machines, and gaming systems with multiple displays having interchangeable display content. According to one embodiment, a gaming machine includes a first display for presenting a primary game, a second display for presenting secondary display content to a player, and a player input device for receiving player input to configure content displayed on the first display and the second display such that the first display presents the secondary display content and the second display presents the primary game.
US08920232B2
An event management architecture (EMA) for managing gaming events includes a plurality of sub-events associated with a gaming event. Each sub-event has at least one sub-event participant and provides a sub-event score to each sub-event participant according to a set of sub-event rules during a sub-event interval. A scheduling coordinator schedules, for each sub-event, the sub-event interval. A registration coordinator registers, for each sub-event, each participant. A scoring processor records, for each sub-event, the sub-event score for each participant, where the sub-event score is converted into a standard format. Each sub-event may be associated with a generic sub-event container, which takes advantage of the common characteristics or functionality requirements of the sub-events to facilitate the management of the sub-events. The EMA minimizes the need to administer the events individually, and can be scalably used to manage complex arrangements of interdependent sub-events of varying types.
US08920221B2
A stuffing tube centering device for concentric alignment of the stuffing tube to a casing stick and a corresponding method, and where two oppositely disposed centering members movable towards each other between which the stuffing tube can be held and centered.
US08920215B2
A machine for the flow finishing of mechanical pieces is described. The machine has a rotary vat for containing finishing media and a unit for moving pieces having at least one mechanical arm for moving the pieces being machined, said mechanical arm being associated to means for rotating the pieces within the rotary vat, the rotary vat has at least two separate sections formed by concentric circular crowns.
US08920210B2
A method and method for processing grit used for abrasive blasting may include receiving grit blasted onto a surface, where the grit includes moisture content. Air in which the grit being recycled is being processed may be heated. The moisture content may be evaporated from the grit using the heated air to produce dry recycled grit. The dried recycled grit may be stored.
US08920207B2
The present invention is directed toward a toy building block system that includes a building portion having a housing with a surface and a building component. The building component is extendable from the housing and movable relative to the housing surface. The building component and the housing surface define a configuration of the building portion that is changeable during play. The toy building block system further includes a play component which is engageable with the building component.
US08920204B2
A fin plug assembly, for a surfcraft, including: a fin plug including a flat upper portion having an external perimeter and top and bottom surfaces, at least one fin cavity for receiving a base element of a surfcraft fin extending inwardly from at least one opening in the top surface, a base portion extending from said bottom surface and surrounding said at least one fin cavity; and a high density foam body having an upper surface with a fin plug cavity in said upper surface and a continuous side wall; wherein the base portion of the fin plug is located within said fin plug cavity and said fin plug is firmly affixed to said high density foam body.
US08920203B2
A marker buoy for marking a location vertically above an anchor deployed in a body of water, the marker buoy including a housing having a substantially watertight compartment and a spool mounted in an adjacent spool bay. A line for attachment to the anchor is wound onto the spool. When a force of tension on the line falls below the selected tension, a center of mass of the housing rotates about an axis of rotation of the housing. A control device responsive to such rotation causes energization of an electric motor coupled to the spool that operates until the force of tension on the line is again within the selected range of line tensions. The marker buoy is capable of autonomous operations, during lowering of the anchor, during operations to maintain a location vertically above the anchor, during retrieval of the anchor and during docking.
US08920201B2
A wire terminal is provided for conductively engaging a conductive wire having a generally round cross section. The wire terminal includes an electrical receptacle portion with first and second forwardly-projecting portions that conductively contact opposite sides of the conductive wire. The forwardly-projecting portions each include a respective wire-engaging contact portion, each of which is configured to contact the conductive wire at a respective elongated contact location along opposite sides of the conductive wire.
US08920194B2
An electrical connector including a housing; ground contacts; and signal contacts. The signal contacts are differential signal pairs. The electrical connector is a right angle connector. First ends of the ground contacts are in a center row. First ends of a first one of the each differential signal pair are on a first side row at a first side of the center row. First ends of a second one of the differential signal pairs are on a second side row at a second opposite side of the center row. At least one of the first ends of the ground contacts is provided between the first ends of two of the differential signal pairs. An assembly is provided including the electrical connector and a printed circuit board having the electrical connector mounted thereon. The printed circuit board includes through-holes with a shared single antipad one of the differential signal pair.
US08920191B2
A mobile outlet apparatus and process for providing electrical current by means of a clamp-on outlet extender attached to an object and connected to a stationary source of electric current is provided. A description of several possible clamping systems for attaching the mobile outlet to an object is provided, as well as a description of different voltage conversion and outlet options on the mobile outlet. In one configuration the mobile outlet is particularly designed to provide a flat profile and to allow quick attachment and detachment by means of a ratchet system. The mobile outlet is also designed to allow attachment of various faceplates for purposes of decor matching and branding purposes.
US08920183B2
To prevent, with a simple structure, deformation such as a twist of an actuator at the time of moving operation and easily check the operation state of an actuator to easily and reliably establish an electrical connection, inclined surface parts are provided at both end portions in a longitudinal direction in end faces on a rotational radial outer side of the actuator pinching or freeing a signal transmission medium to approximately uniformly act an entire pressing force of an operator over a full length of the actuator. With this, a situation that the actuator is pressed as being twisted is eliminated to achieve an excellent action of pinching the signal transmission medium and an easy and reliable visual check of the state of rotation of the actuator.
US08920179B2
A connector 10 comprises a base member 100 and a connection film 200 which consists of an insulator film 300 and conducive portions 400 formed thereon. Openings 130 formed in the base member 100 extend in a direction crossing the pitch direction of contacts 15. The conductive portions 400 attached to elastic support portions 120 of the base member 100 face the openings 130, respectively. Therefore, the extension length of each conductive portion 400 of the connection film 200 can be larger than the pitch of the contacts 15 so that the height of each contact 15 can be made higher.
US08920173B1
A system for comparing energy usage of different vehicle platforms is provided. The system may include a processor to execute routines stored in a memory device. Further, in one embodiment the routines include routines configured to receive selection of a driving style by a user and to select a virtual test drive based on the received selection. Also, the routines may include routines configured to output the selected virtual test drive and to output a comparison of multiple vehicles having different characteristics based on the selected virtual test drive. Other systems, methods, and manufactures are also disclosed.
US08920170B2
An abutment for supporting a prosthesis relative to an implant includes an implant engaging portion configured to engage with a dental implant and a component supporting portion having a key feature on an external surface portion thereof. The key feature is configured to provide keyed mating engagement with a complimentary key feature on a component to be engaged with the abutment.
US08920154B2
A head assembly (10) is provided for use in a rotary head extruder (12) for extruding a food product. The head assembly (10) includes an annular-shaped stator plate (20) and a rotating blade plate (22). The blade plate (22) preferably includes at least six blades, each with a wedge shaped profile, and the stator plate (20) includes extrusion channels that extend at an angle in the range of 20°-50° from tangent to a circle defined by an inner surface (30) of the plate (20).
US08920150B2
A pin having a light guide for an injection mold includes an outer sleeve having a hollow portion, an inner sleeve fixed to the hollow portion of the outer sleeve, a bundle sleeve fixed to a hollow portion of the inner sleeve, a bundle fiber fixed to a hollow portion of the bundle sleeve. A leading end portion of the bundle sleeve has a substantially cone-shaped caulked portion. A portion of the hollow portion of the inner sleeve which is brought into contact with the cone-shaped caulked portion of the bundle sleeve has a tapered shape that coincides with the shape of the portion of the bundle sleeve. A shoulder portion is formed at a rear end portion of the hollow portion of the outer sleeve and a rear end of the inner sleeve is engage with the shoulder portion.
US08920147B2
A sealing system of rotary piston machines, the rotor excludes rotor discs which are arranged next to one another, and which are seated on the common rotor axle and are pressed apart from one another by acting spring and/or gas forces in the joints between the discs in such a way that the end sides of the discs which point towards the side walls of the housing bear sealingly against the latter and thus prevent the access of the medium to the axles. Assemblies comprising movable shaped lamellae which adapt to the changing joint widths and prevent an inner flow around the rotor are present in the part joints between the discs.
US08920143B2
An electronically commutated DC motor for a liquid pump, comprising a pump housing, a suction connection and a pressure connection, a substantially disk-shaped pump rotor mounted rotatably in the pump housing, the rotor comprising an impeller having a plurality of pump vanes and a permanent magnet, a partition separating a pump space from a dry space, wherein the partition is disposed in an axial gap between the pump rotor and a plurality of axially parallel oriented stator poles of the DC motor, which are each provided with an insulating body and a stator winding, the stator poles adjoin a stator yoke, which is connected to a metallic heat-conducting body, and the stator containing the stator poles, the stator windings, the stator yoke and the heat-conducting body is disposed in a motor housing made of plastic material. By providing that the stator is surrounded by a flexible foil, and at least a large part of the foil is disposed inside the motor housing radially around the stator windings, a simple solution ensures good shielding against interference in an existing electronically commutated DC motor, without requiring modifications to the existing design.
US08920135B2
A multipurpose gravity air compressor employs a piston (40) traveling down a cylinder (129) by the force of gravity compressing compressible fluid (140) in one or more compressible fluid chambers (137). Compressed fluid is emptied out of compressible fluid chambers (137) through compressible fluid exit (118) for use locally or downstream. A transporter such as transporter assembly 50 grabs piston (40) and recovers it back to opening (124) at predetermined intervals and deposits piston (40) into cylinder (129) to start another cycle. Multipurpose gravity air compressor through the generation of heat through compressing compressible fluid (140) also enjoys being a heat source. Air compressor 200 can provide a means for producing energy through compressing compressible fluid (140) and a source of heat for generating steam to produce electricity on-site or downstream. Water (condensation), possibly thousands of gallons a year, could be another rainfall-independent water source advantage enjoyed.
US08920132B2
A blower system includes a blower motor and an inverter in electrical communication therewith. The blower motor is mechanically coupled to a blower configured to generate an airstream having an airflow rate. The inverter is configured to provide a motor drive signal to the motor. A flow rate calculator is configured to determine a calculated airflow rate from motor operating parameters of the blower motor using a mathematical model of the airflow rate.
US08920130B2
A circulation pump assembly (1) includes an electric drive motor (6) and a control device (10, 12) for the control of the drive motor (6). The control device (12) includes a communication interface (13) designed for connection to at least one external sensor (38, 50, 52, 54, 56) and/or at least one further assembly (40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 58, 62, 64, 66, 68) to be controlled by the control device, as well as to a heating installation and/or air conditioning installation with such a circulation pump assembly (1).
US08920129B2
A locking nut assembly including a bearing nut having a plurality of external serrations, a shaft nut having a plurality of external serrations, and a locking collar having a plurality of internal serrations. The bearing nut and the shaft nut are threadedly installed on a shaft assembly having an impeller, a bearing, and a spline adapter installed within the impeller. The plurality of serrations of the bearing nut align with the plurality of serrations of the shaft nut when they are installed on the impeller. The locking collar is installed on the bearing nut and the shaft nut so that the aligned plurality of serrations of the bearing nut and the plurality of serrations of the shaft nut engage the plurality of serrations of the locking collar. The locking collar is retained on the bearing nut and shaft nut by a retaining ring.
US08920128B2
Gas turbine engine cooling systems having hub-bleed impellers and methods for the production thereof
Embodiments of a gas turbine engine cooling system for deployment within a gas turbine engine are provided, as are embodiment of a method for producing a gas turbine engine cooling system. In one embodiment, the gas turbine engine cooling system includes an impeller having a hub, a plurality of hub bleed air passages, and a central bleed air conduit. The plurality of hub bleed air passages each have an inlet formed in an outer circumferential surface of the hub and an outlet formed in an inner circumferential surface of the hub. The central bleed air conduit is fluidly coupled to the outlets of the plurality of hub bleed air passages and is configured to conduct bleed air discharged by the plurality of hub bleed air passages to a section of the gas turbine engine downstream of the impeller to provide cooling air thereto.
US08920123B2
An air cooled turbine blade including leading and trailing edges, and pressure and suction side walls extending between the leading and trailing edges. Leading and trailing edge cooling circuits extend spanwise adjacent to the leading and trailing edges, respectively. A forward flow mid-section serpentine cooling circuit extends spanwise and is located between the leading and trailing edge cooling circuits. An axial tip cooling circuit extends in the chordal direction and is located between a tip cap of the blade and the serpentine cooling circuit at an outer end of the serpentine cooling circuit. The axial tip cooling circuit has a forward end receiving cooling air from a final channel of the serpentine cooling circuit and discharges the cooling air adjacent to the trailing edge.
