US08941119B2
A semiconductor light emitting element comprises an optical semiconductor laminated layer providing vias, an electrode that is disposed on a surface of the optical semiconductor laminated layer and separated from the second semiconductor layer in a peripheral portion of the electrode, a first transparent insulating layer that is disposed between the peripheral portion of the electrode and the optical semiconductor laminated layer, and a second transparent insulating layer that is disposed to cover the electrode, that envelops the peripheral portion of the electrode together with the first transparent insulating layer.
US08941118B1
A III-nitride transistor includes a III-nitride channel layer, a barrier layer over the channel layer, the barrier layer having a thickness of 1 to 10 nanometers, a dielectric layer on top of the barrier layer, a source electrode contacting the channel layer, a drain electrode contacting the channel layer, a gate trench extending through the dielectric layer and barrier layer and having a bottom located within the channel layer, a gate insulator lining the gate trench and extending over the dielectric layer, and a gate electrode in the gate trench and extending partially toward the source and the drain electrodes to form an integrated gate field-plate, wherein a distance between an interface of the channel layer and the barrier layer and the bottom of the gate trench is greater than 0 nm and less than or equal to 5 nm.
US08941113B2
To provide a semiconductor element in which generation of oxygen vacancies in an oxide semiconductor thin film can be suppressed. The semiconductor element has a structure in which, in a gate insulating film, the nitrogen content of regions which do not overlap with a gate electrode is higher than the nitrogen content of a region which overlaps with the gate electrode. A nitride film has an excellent property of preventing impurity diffusion; thus, with the structure, release of oxygen in the oxide semiconductor film, in particular, in the channel formation region, to the outside of the semiconductor element can be effectively suppressed.
US08941109B2
Timely testing of die on wafer reduces the cost to manufacture ICs. This disclosure describes a die test structure and process to reduce test time by adding test pads on the top surface of the die. The added test pads allow a tester to probe and test more circuits within the die simultaneously. Also, the added test pads contribute to a reduction in the amount of test wiring overhead traditionally required to access and test circuits within a die, thus reducing die size.
US08941103B2
The present invention proposes a white organic electroluminescent element which is a multiunit element capable of emitting high intensity light that is important to a light source for lighting use, and can have an extended lifetime while suppressing deterioration in luminance. The organic electroluminescent element includes: a transparent electrode; and a first light-emitting unit including a blue fluorescent light-emitting layer containing a blue fluorescent light-emitting material; an intermediate layer; and a second light-emitting unit including a red phosphorescent light-emitting layer containing a red phosphorescent light-emitting material and a green phosphorescent light-emitting layer containing a green phosphorescent light-emitting material; and a reflecting electrode, wherein: the first and second light-emitting units are stacked having the intermediate layer interposed therebetween; and a film thickness (tR) of the red phosphorescent light-emitting layer and a film thickness (tG) of the green phosphorescent light-emitting layer satisfy a relation of 5*tR≦tG.
US08941091B2
A semiconductor device includes a gate electrode which is formed on a substrate, and contains Al and Zr, a gate insulating film which is formed to cover at least the upper surface of the gate electrode, and contains Al and Zr, and an insulator layer formed on the substrate to surround the gate electrode.
US08941079B2
The present invention relates to a light irradiation apparatus and the like which can reduce background light noise from a plurality of wells provided on a microplate. The light irradiation apparatus comprises a microplate, a light guiding member, and a light source apparatus. The light guiding member includes a plurality of light emitting units provided on a main surface in correspondence with the plurality of wells. Each light emitting unit includes depressions each having an opening on the main surface. Measurement light from the light source apparatus is inputted from a side surface, refracted and reflected at the side surface of each depression, and then outputted from the opening of each depression.
US08941074B2
A radiation imaging apparatus, comprising a sensor panel including a sensor array on which a plurality of sensors arranged in an array form and a scintillator layer provided on the sensor array, and a unit configured to perform signal processing based on a signal from the sensor array, wherein the sensor array includes a peripheral region and a central region located inside the peripheral region, the scintillator layer is disposed over the peripheral region and the central region so as to have uniform luminance efficiency with respect to the sensor array, and the unit performs the signal processing by using only signals from sensors disposed in the central region, of signals from the plurality of sensors, output from the sensor panel.
US08941070B2
An imaging system is provided. In one embodiment, an imaging system includes a radiation source and a digital detector. The imaging system may also include first and second structures, each configured to receive the digital detector. Further, the imaging system may include system control circuitry configured to control exposure of the digital detector by the radiation source and to acquire image data from the digital detector. Additionally, the digital detector may be configured to communicate its location to the system control circuitry based on receipt of the digital detector by the first or second receiving structures. Additional systems, methods, and devices are also disclosed.
US08941063B2
A thermal detector includes a substrate; a support member supported on the substrate interposed by a cavity; a heat-detecting element formed on the support member; a light-reflecting layer formed at a position spaced apart from the heat-detecting element in at least a portion of a peripheral region of the heat-detecting element on the support member; a light-absorbing layer formed on the heat-detecting element and the light-reflecting layer; and a thermal transfer member that is connected to the heat-detecting element by a connector, the thermal transfer member including a connecting portion connected to the heat-detecting element and a thermal collecting portion disposed inside the light-absorbing layer and having a surface area larger than a surface area of the connecting portion as seen in plan view, the thermal collecting portion being optically transmissive at least with respect to light of a prescribed wavelength.
US08941047B2
A carbon nanotube electronic circuit utilizing a differential amplifier is implemented on a single carbon nanotube. Field effect transistors are formed from a first group of electrical conductors in contact with the carbon nanotube and a second group of electrical conductors insulated from, but exerting electric fields on, the carbon nanotube form the gates of the field effect transistors. A signal input circuit has a first input portion and a second input portion. A first field effect transistor electrically responsive to a first incoming signal is formed on the first input portion. A carbon nanotube actuator having electrical terminals and responsive to electrical conditions is an electrical load. A current source, connected to the signal input circuit, is formed on the carbon nanotube from one or more second field effect transistors. The electrical load is connected to the signal input circuit, and the signal input circuit and current source together form a differential amplifier to operate the actuator responsive to the incoming signal.
US08941031B2
A dual-weave welding system is disclosed. The system may have a first welding device configured to create a weld joint in a gap between two or more work pieces by moving a first welding component along a first weaving path. The system may also have a second welding device configured to create the weld joint in the gap by moving a second welding component along a second weaving path. The system may further have a controller that sends commands to control the movement of the first welding device and the second welding device.
US08941027B2
A machine for machining workpieces by a laser beam. The optical fiber terminates at an optical output head (27) that defines the optical axis of the laser light beam, which vaporizes the material. The optical output head (27) is rigidly attached to the frame (49) or to the casing of the laser head so that said optical output head remains integrally fastened to said frame or casing during the rotation of the laser head about the horizontal pivot axis (B). The polluted gases generated in the machining area by the evaporation of material are collected by a suction nozzle (37) which is driven with the laser machining head during its rotation about the horizontal axis (B). A stream of clean dry gas is injected into the machining area by an injection nozzle (35) which is also driven with the laser machining head (8) during its rotation about the horizontal axis (B).
US08941025B2
Plume shield shroud (10) for a plasma gun (30) includes a substantially tubular member (14) comprising an axial length, a plume entry end (11), and a plume exit end (13). The shroud (10) is adapted to be mounted to a plasma gun (30). A method of protecting, confining or shielding of a gas plume of a plasma gun (30) includes mounting (20) a gas plume shroud (10) on the plasma gun (30) such that the shroud (10) is sized and configured to substantially surround at least a portion of the gas plume.
US08941022B2
A switching apparatus includes: a vacuum valve which houses a fixed side electrode fixed to a fixed current-carrying shaft and a movable side electrode fixed to a movable current-carrying shaft coaxially arranged with the fixed current-carrying shaft in face-to-face relation to the fixed side electrode; and a buffering mechanism which is coaxially disposed with the fixed current-carrying shaft on the fixed side of the vacuum valve and reduces a collision load at the time when the movable side electrode is close contact with the fixed side electrode.
US08941006B2
A photovoltaic cell containing at least one substrate, two electrode layers, an organic photovoltaic layer situated between the two electrode layers, and an oxygen scavenger composition.
US08941004B2
A solar cell element comprising a p-side electrode; a p-type group III-group V compound semiconductor layer; an n-type group III-group V compound semiconductor layer; an n-side group III-group V compound electrode layer; and a VxZn1-x layer. The p-side electrode is electrically connected to the p-type group III-group V compound semiconductor layer. The p-type group III-group V compound semiconductor layer, the n-type group III-group V compound semiconductor layer, the n-side group III-group V compound electrode layer, and the VxZn1-x layer are stacked in this order. The VxZn1-x layer is in contact with the n-side group III-group V compound electrode layer; x represents a value of not less than 0.3 and not more than 0.99; and the VxZn1-x layer has a thickness of not less than 1 nanometer and not more than 5 nanometers.
US08941001B1
Methods and devices are provided for improved anti-reflective texture. In some embodiments, the absorber layer for use with this anti-reflective layer is a group IB-IIIA-VIA absorber layer.
US08940999B1
A solar concentrator including a housing defining a vertical axis and including a receiving wall connected to a reflecting wall to define an internal volume and an opening into the internal volume, wherein the reflecting wall defines at least one primary optical element, and wherein at least a portion of the reflecting wall includes a layer of reflective material, the housing further including a cover connected to the receiving wall and the reflecting wall to seal the opening, and at least one receiver mounted on the receiving wall such that a vertical axis of the receiver is disposed at a non-zero angle relative to the vertical axis of the housing, the receiver including at least one photovoltaic cell.
US08940983B1
A novel maize variety designated PH1T8W and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1T8W with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1T8W 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 PH1T8W or a locus conversion of PH1T8W with another maize variety.
US08940979B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH048856. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH048856, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH048856 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH048856.
US08940973B2
A novel soybean variety, designated XB32AC13 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB32AC13, cells from soybean variety XB32AC13, plants of soybean XB32AC13, and plant parts of soybean variety XB32AC13. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB32AC13 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XB32AC13, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB32AC13, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XB32AC13. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB32AC13 are further provided.
US08940968B1
A novel soybean variety, designated XB35E13 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB35E13, cells from soybean variety XB35E13, plants of soybean XB35E13, and plant parts of soybean variety XB35E13. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB35E13 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XB35E13, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB35E13, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XB35E13. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB35E13 are further provided.
US08940967B2
A novel soybean variety, designated XB02W13 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB02W13, cells from soybean variety XB02W13, plants of soybean XB02W13, and plant parts of soybean variety XB02W13. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB02W13 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XB02W13, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB02W13, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XB02W13. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB02W13 are further provided.
US08940964B2
A soybean cultivar designated S110181 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S110181, to the plants of soybean cultivar S110181, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar S110181, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar S110181. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S110181. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S110181, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar S110181 with another soybean cultivar.
US08940956B2
Methods and systems for processing crude oil comprise adding water to the crude oil to produce an emulsion comprising brine and oil and solids; separating oil from brine including producing brine comprising a rag layer; separating the rag layer into a hydrocarbon emulsion having finer solids and brine comprising larger solids; and passing the hydrocarbon emulsion along a cross-flow filter to produce a retentate comprising brine and solids and a permeate comprising hydrocarbon.
US08940945B2
The subject invention provides a myricanol compound that is in predominant form of (+)-αR,11S-myricanol as compared to (−)-αS,11R-myricanol. In one embodiment, the (+)-αR,11S-myricanol is isolated from Myrica cerifera, and is in about 86% enantiomeric excess of (−)-αS,11R-myricanol. The subject invention also pertains to therapeutic compositions and methods for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, in particular, neurodegenerative diseases associated with abnormal accumulation of protein tau. Specifically exemplified herein is the therapeutic use of myricanol and myricanone isolated from root barks of Myrica species. Also provided are methods for preparing extracts of the subject invention from Myrica species.
US08940943B2
The invention relates to compounds of the general formula (I), where R1 is a branched alkyl(ene) radical having from 10 to 22 carbon atoms and having at least one branch in position 1, 2, 3 or 4 relative to the oxygen atom, R2 is a linear or branched alkyl(ene) radical having from 1 to 13 carbon atoms and R1 and R2 are selected so that the total number of carbon atoms in formula (I) is from 11 to 23. The compounds of the invention are suitable for preparation of or in cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical preparations, in particular as oily substances. R1—O—R2 (I)
US08940942B2
One or more embodiments of the invention are directed to the synthetic methods for making lepidopteran pheromones including navel orangeworm pheromones. The synthetic methods involve novel, efficient, and environmentally benign steps and procedures.
US08940941B2
A process for producing phenol is described in which a feed comprising alkylbenzene hydroperoxide is contacted with a cleavage catalyst under cleavage conditions effective to convert at least part of the hydroperoxide into phenol, the process is characterized in that at least a part of the deactivated catalyst is regenerated using a oxidizing material comprising hydrogen peroxide and then return to the process. A method of regenerating the cleavage catalyst is also described.
US08940936B2
The present invention relates to a compound inhibiting HF-1 activity, a preparation method of the same, and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same as an active ingredient. The compound of the present invention demonstrates anticancer activity not by non-selective cytotoxicity but by inhibiting the activity of HIF-1, the transcription factor playing an important role in cancer cell growth and metastasis. Accordingly, the compound or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof according to the present invention inhibits HIF-1 activity, and therefore can be used as a therapeutic agent for solid tumors such as colon cancer, liver cancer, stomach cancer and breast cancer. In addition, the compound or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof according to the present invention can be used as an active ingredient for a therapeutic agent for diabetic retinopathy or arthritis which may become worse when hypoxia-induced VEGF expression by HIF-1 increases.
US08940928B2
The present invention relates to the field of chemical synthesis, particularly to a method of synthesizing levorotatory p-hydroxyphenylglycine compounds, which eliminates the subsequent processes of resolution, racemization processings, etc., simplifies operational steps; and acids with small organic molecule are chosen as catalyst in the second step, which not only is conducive to the realization of a industrialized production, but also makes the ee value of the end products be 88.1˜98.0% by determining the catalyst, the reaction solvent, the reactive substance, the reaction temperature, and the reaction duration; non-aqueous solvent is used in the second step, to avoid the discharging of phenol-containing waste water, thus environmental pollution is reduced.
US08940925B2
The invention relates to a method for producing N,N-dimethylaminoethyl acrylate by the transesterification reaction of an alykl acrylate by N1N-dimethylaminoethanol, and more particularly relates to a method for purifying the azeotropic fraction generated during said reaction, thereby enabling the recycling thereof on the alkyl acrylate production unit. The aim of the method of the invention is in particular to remove the acetaldehyde and the dialkoxyethane contained in the azeotropic fraction, either by the direct distillation of the azeotropic fraction or by the distillation of the aqueous phase resulting from the water scrubbing of the azeotropic fraction.
US08940924B2
The invention relates to a catalyst for the reaction of formaldehyde with a carboxylic acid or ester to produce an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or ester, preferably α, β ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids or ester. The catalyst includes a metal oxide having at least two types of metal cations, M1 and M2, wherein M1 is at least one metal selected from group 3 or 4 in the 4th to 6th periods of the periodic table, group 13 in the 3rd to 5th periods of the periodic table, or the remaining elements in the lanthanide series and M2 is at least one metal selected from group 5 in the 5th or 6th periods of the periodic table or group 15 in the 4th or 5th periods of the periodic table. The production includes reacting formaldehyde with a carboxylic acid or esterin the presence of the catalyst effective to catalyze the reaction.
US08940920B2
The invention relates to the method of preparation of compounds of formula I, the precursors of homocitric acid lactone and its salts, by coupling of the compounds of formula II with bromoacetic acid esters of formula III.
US08940917B2
The present invention relates to the ruthenium complexes comprising paracyclophane and carbonyl ligands, methods for the preparation thereof and uses of the complexes in isomerization, hydrogenation, transfer hydrogenation, hydroformylation and carbonylation reactions.
US08940909B2
A novel indicator platform comprises a plurality of 1H-lndol-3-yl indicator compounds that are capable of converting to a signalophore compound in response to an external stimulus. In one class of indicator compounds, the resulting signalophores are 2-benzylideneindoline compounds that are formed by an intermolecular Aldol-type process; in a further class of indicator compounds, the resulting signalophores are 10H-indolo[1,2-a]indole compounds that are formed by an intramolecular Aldol-type process. The indicators can be used in a wide array of applications relating, for example, to biological systems or optical data storage.
US08940908B2
A method for preparing tetrazole methanesulfonic acid salts includes an acylation reaction using a novel 4-iodine-4H-chromene-2-carbothionic acid S-benzothiazole-2-yl ester. The method is advantageous that it can shorten a reaction time and improve safety as compared to conventional methods, and can prepare high-purity tetrazole methanesulfonic acid salts at a high yield rate without using a column chromatography method.
US08940907B2
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of phosphoric esters, and to selected compounds.
US08940901B2
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a compound of the formula I, which comprises reacting a compound of the formula IV with the compound of formula VII R15-A2-CHO and to novel intermediate compounds used therein.
US08940894B2
The present invention relates to an industrial process of preparing pharmaceutical compounds having the formula I: which are useful as certain tyrosine kinase inhibitors and more particularly as c-kit and bcr-abl inhibitors. The groups R1 and R2, identical or different, represent each a hydrogen, halogen atom, an alkyl, an alkoxy, a trifluoromethyl, an amino, an alkylamino, a dialkylamino, a solubilising group; m is 0-5 and n is 0-4; the group R3 represents an aryl or an heteroaryl group as described in claims herein.
US08940891B2
Modulators of the prostacyclin (PGI2) receptor useful for the treatment of disorders related thereto
Cyclohexane derivatives of Formula Ia and pharmaceutical compositions thereof that modulate the activity of the PGI2 receptor. Compounds of the present invention and pharmaceutical compositions thereof are directed to methods useful in the treatment of: pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and related disorders; platelet aggregation; coronary artery disease; myocardial infarction; transient ischemic attack; angina; stroke; ischemia-reperfusion injury; restenosis; atrial fibrillation; blood clot formation in an angioplasty or coronary bypass surgery individual or in an individual suffering from atrial fibrillation; atherosclerosis; atherothrombosis; asthma or a symptom thereof; a diabetic-related disorder such as diabetic peripheral neuropathy, diabetic nephropathy or diabetic retinopathy; glaucoma or other disease of the eye with abnormal intraocular pressure; hypertension; inflammation; psoriasis; psoriatic arthritis; rheumatoid arthritis; Crohn's disease; transplant rejection; multiple sclerosis; systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); ulcerative colitis; ischemia-reperfusion injury; restenosis; atherosclerosis; acne; type 1 diabetes; type 2 diabetes; sepsis; and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD).
US08940889B2
A process for producing a compound represented by formula (1), wherein each of R1, R2, R3 and R4, which may be the same or different, represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group, the process includes deprotecting a protective group (R5) of a compound represented by formula (2), wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are as defined above, and R5 represents a protective group of a hydroxy group. The process is an industrially advantageous, simple, and efficient process for producing a key intermediate of a benzo[b][1,4]diazepine-2,4-dione compound, which is a therapeutic medicine for arrhythmia.
US08940879B2
To provide a functional molecule including a modified nucleotide unit having a substituent introduced to a base thereof, wherein the substituent is removably introduced to the base; a functional molecule synthesizing amidite that has a substituent removably introduced to its base and that is used for the manufacture of the functional molecule; and a target substance analysis method including: preparing a random pool of functional molecules using a functional molecule synthesizing amidite; screening a functional molecule having affinity for a target substance from the random pool; amplifying the functional molecules having affinity for the target substance, wherein the method further comprises, prior to the amplification step, removing a substituent from the functional molecule having affinity for the target substance.
US08940878B2
Methods of purifying proteins expressed in non-mammalian expression systems in a non-native soluble form directly from cell lysate are disclosed. Methods of purifying proteins expressed in non-mammalian expression systems in a non-native limited solubility form directly from a refold solution are also disclosed. Resin regeneration methods are also provided.
US08940859B2
1,3-Dipole-functional compounds (e.g., azide functional compounds) can be reacted with certain alkynes in a cyclization reaction to form heterocyclic compounds. Useful alkynes (e.g., strained, cyclic alkynes) and methods of making such alkynes are also disclosed. The reaction of 1,3-dipole-functional compounds with alkynes can be used for a wide variety of applications including the immobilization of biomolecules on a substrate.
US08940848B2
The present invention relates to a branched conjugated diene copolymer which is useful for preparing a rubber composition, having high uniformity of a temperature dependence curve of a viscoelasticity tan δ, for a tire, a rubber composition comprising the copolymer, and a pneumatic tire produced using the rubber composition for a tire. The branched conjugated diene copolymer is composed of monomer components comprising a branched conjugated diene compound represented by a general formula (1): wherein R1 represents an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 11 carbon atoms, and an aromatic vinyl compound represented by a general formula (2): wherein R2 represents an aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms, and R5 represents a hydrogen atom or the like, and a copolymerization ratio (m) of the aromatic vinyl compound (2) is 45% by mass or more.
US08940844B2
Catalyst deactivating agents and compositions containing catalyst deactivating agents are disclosed. These catalyst deactivating agents can be used in methods of controlling polymerization reactions, methods of terminating polymerization reactions, methods of operating polymerization reactors, and methods of transitioning between catalyst systems.
US08940839B2
This invention relates to a composition comprising a multiblock polyolefin represented by the formula: PO—C(R11)(R12)—C(R13)═C(R14)—C(R15)(R16)—PO*, or isomers thereof, wherein R11, R12, R13, R14, R15, and R16, are each independently a substituted or unsubstituted C1 through C4 hydrocarbyl group or a hydrogen; PO and PO* are polyolefins; PO and PO* are each independently a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group having 9 to 4000 carbon atoms, provided that at least one of PO and PO* are C20 or greater, said polyolefin having: 1) an internal unsaturation as shown by the 13C NMR peak at between about 128 and about 132 ppm; 2) an Mn ratio “Z”=0.1 to 10 where Z is the Mn (as determined by 13C NMR) divided by Mn (as determined according to Gel Permeation Chromotography using polystyrene standards); and 3) optionally, from 0.3(J) and 0.75(J) internal unsaturations per 1000 carbons as determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy, where J is the number of reactive groups per 1000 carbons for the mixture of vinyl terminated polyolefins that become PO and PO*, before they are coupled by an alkene metathesis catalyst.
US08940837B2
The present invention is a polyolefin composition, which comprises a thermoplastic olefin polymer and a polyethylene. The thermoplastic olefin polymer (TPO) comprises a polypropylene and an olefin copolymer and is present in an amount of about 10 weight percent to about 50 weight percent; the TPO has a density in the range of about 0.85 g/cm3 to about 0.92 g/cm3 and a flexural modulus of less than about 700 MPa as measured by ISO 178. The polyethylene is either a medium density polyethylene or a high density polyethylene and present in an amount of about 50 weight percent to about 90 weight percent. The polyolefin composition is useful for preparing articles of manufacture such as sheets, roofing membranes, geomembranes, soft skins, drawn tapes, drawn fibers, and drawn filaments.
US08940831B2
The present invention provides a (meth)acrylic resin composition comprising a carboxylic acid group produced by heating a (meth)acrylic-based resin (C), wherein the (meth)acrylic-based resin (C) is obtained by polymerizing a monomer mixture (A) containing 80 to 99 wt % of a linear alkyl (meth)acrylate and 1 to 20 wt % of tertiary-butyl (meth)acrylate, in the presence of an acrylic acid ester-based crosslinked elastic particle (B) that is obtained by mixing and polymerizing 0.5 to 5 parts by weight of a polyfunctional monomer having at least two non-conjugated double bonds per molecule, with respect to 100 parts by weight of a monomer mixture containing 50 to 100 wt % of an alkyl acrylate monomer and 0 to 50 wt % of an alkyl methacrylate monomer. This composition can be used to produce a film having excellent chemical resistance (in particular, sun-screening agent resistance).
US08940825B2
There are provided a sealing composition for a hard disk drive (HDD) motor and a HDD motor fabricated using the same. The sealing composition includes: 45 to 65 parts by weight of urethane methacrylate; 35 to 50 parts by weight of methacrylate; and 2 to 4 parts by weight of acrylic acid. A sealing composition having a new composition is used as a sealing material of a flexible printed circuit (FPC) adhering part of the HDD motor, whereby a haze phenomenon due to air leak and outgas at the FPC adhering part may be improved and reliability of a HDD motor may be enhanced due to a reduction in generation of the outgas of the adhering part.
US08940815B2
A resin composition comprising a polyolefin, carbon nanotubes and poly(hydroxy carboxylic acid). The invention also covers a process for preparing a resin composition comprising a polyolefin, carbon nanotubes and poly(hydroxy carboxylic acid) by (i) blending a poly(hydroxy carboxylic acid) with carbon nanotubes to form a composite (ii) blending the composite with a polyolefin. The use of poly(hydroxy carboxylic acids) as a compatibilizer to blend carbon nanotubes into polyolefins is also claimed.
US08940814B2
Dispersion comprising functionalized metal oxide particles, polymerizable compounds and if appropriate a solvent and their use for stabilizing polymers.
US08940813B2
Disclosed is an actinic radiation-curing type ink composition comprising (Component A) a monofunctional radically polymerizable monomer and (Component B) a polyfunctional acrylate oligomer having a glass transition temperature of no greater than 20° C. and having an acrylate equivalent of at least 300 g/eq, Component A comprising (Component A-1) an N-vinyl compound and (Component A-2) an acrylamide derivative, Component A having a content of at least 70 mass % of the entire ink composition, and Component A-1 having a content of at least 18 mass % of the entire ink composition.
US08940806B2
The invention relates to the use of triazenes of formula (I) wherein Q is a direct bond or a bivalent radical —(CR8R9)—, Z1 is —O—, —NR10—, —CH2—, —(CR11R12)— or —C(═O)— and R1 to R12 are optionally substituted hydrocarbon residues, as precursors for radicals useful in reactions triggered by free radicals, such as polymerization of unsaturated monomers and degradation of polyolefins. Most of the triazenes of formula (I) are novel and claimed, too, as well as the preparation of triazenes of formula (I) and polymerizable compositions comprising them.
US08940805B2
The present invention relates to an anti-glare coating composition for preparation of anti-glare films having good anti-fingerprint properties as well as improved contrast ratio and image definition. More specifically, the coating composition comprises organic or inorganic particles, a photocurable resin, a photoinitiator, and a compound including an olefin oxide repeating unit.
US08940799B2
Drug loading of polymeric materials can be adjusted by selection of materials and/or adjusting processing steps in formation of an implantable drug-loaded device.
US08940794B2
In various embodiments, methods and compositions for treating Raynaud's disease and Raynaud's phenomenon are provided. Topical administration of a semisolid composition comprising a prostaglandin E1 compound provides the desired relief of the Raynaud's disease or Raynaud's phenomenon without the possible complications of systemic administration. The semisolid composition can be administered as needed, or in a regimen of several doses per day.
US08940792B2
An aqueous composition adapted to kill bacteria in both planktonic and biofilm states is lethal toward a wide spectrum of gram positive and gram negative bacteria as well as other microbes. The composition, which is slightly to moderately acidic, includes a significant amount of one or more surfactants and large amounts of osmotically active solutes. The composition can be applied directly to a site of bacterial growth. Even when the bacteria is in biofilm form, the surfactant component(s) begin to kill the bacteria before the macromolecular matrix is removed or dislodged from the site.
US08940791B2
This invention relates to pharmaceutical compounds and nutritional supplements that are acetylated derivatives of naturally occurring amino acids and acetylated derivatives of peptides derived from naturally occurring amino acids containing hydroxyl groups. They are as useful as anti-platelet drugs, and as nutritional supplements.
US08940784B2
This invention relates to novel analogs of the DNA-binding alkylating agent CC-1065 and to their conjugates. Furthermore this invention concerns intermediates for the preparation of said agents and their conjugates. The conjugates are designed to release their (multiple) payload after one or more activation steps and/or at a rate and time span controlled by the conjugate in order to selectively deliver and/or controllably release one or more of said DNA alkylating agents. The agents, conjugates, and intermediates can be used to treat an illness that is characterized by undesired (cell) proliferation. As an example, the agents and the conjugates of this invention may be used to treat a tumor.
US08940782B2
The present invention is directed to a non-therapeutical process for deterring vermin, which is based on the usage of the largely known beta amino-alcohol derivatives of formula (I) as described herein. Further, the present invention is directed to corresponding vermin-deterring compositions which contain these substances as the active ingredient, compounds of the formula (I) for the preparation of vermin-deterring compositions, and the use of compounds of formula (I) in the defense against vermin.
US08940781B2
A composition comprising a carboxamide compound represented by following formula (I), wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and R2 represents a methyl group, a difluoromethyl group or a trifluoromethyl group, and one or more pyrethroid compounds selected from group (A) consisting of tefluthrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, beta-cyfluthrin, permethrin, deltamethrin and bifenthrin is provided by the present invention, and this composition has an excellent pesticidal effect.
US08940766B2
The present invention provides methods for preventing and/or treating lysosomal storage disorders using 5-(fluoromethyl)piperidine-3,4-diol, 5-(chloromethyl)piperidine-3,4-diol, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, or prodrug thereof, or any combination of two or more thereof. In particular, the present invention provides methods for preventing and/or treating Gaucher's disease.
US08940765B2
The present invention is directed to N-linked quinoline amide compounds of general formula (I) which are M1 receptor positive allosteric modulators and that are useful in the treatment of diseases in which the M1 receptor is involved, such as Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, pain or sleep disorders. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds, and to the use of the compounds and compositions in the treatment of diseases mediated by the M1 receptor.
US08940763B2
Disclosed herein are pharmaceutical compositions comprising a therapeutically effective amount of extended release solifenacin, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a therapeutically effective amount of pilocarpine, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Also disclosed herein are methods of treating a patient suffering from overactive bladder, the method comprising identifying a patient in need thereof, and administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of extended release solifenacin, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a therapeutically effective amount of pilocarpine, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Also disclosed herein are methods of alleviating a side effect of treatment for overactive bladder in a patient suffering therefrom, the method comprising identifying a patient in need thereof, and administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of extended release solifenacin, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a therapeutically effective amount of pilocarpine, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US08940758B2
The present invention provides a compound which has the effect of PDE inhibition, and which is useful as an agent for preventing or treating schizophrenia. The compound is represented by the formula (I): wherein the symbols are defined in the specification.
US08940741B2
This application discloses 6-(2-Hydroxymethyl-phenyl)-2-methyl-2H-pyridazin-3-one derivatives according to generic Formula I: wherein, variables X, R, and Y4, are defined as described herein, which inhibit Btk. The compounds disclosed herein are useful to modulate the activity of Btk and treat diseases associated with excessive Btk activity. The compounds are further useful to treat inflammatory and auto immune diseases associated with aberrant B-cell proliferation, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Also disclosed are compositions containing compounds of Formula I and at least one carrier, diluent or excipient.
US08940736B2
The invention provides compounds of Formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The Formula (I) imidazotriazines inhibit protein kinase activity thereby making them useful as anticancer agents.
US08940730B2
Briefly described, embodiments of this disclosure include compounds, pharmaceutical compositions, methods of treating a host infected with a virus from the Flaviviridae family of viruses, methods of inhibiting HCV replication in a host, methods of inhibiting the binding of NS4B polypeptide to the 3′UTR of HCV negative strand RNA in a host, methods of treating liver fibrosis in a host, and the like.
US08940720B2
The present invention provides compounds of Formula (I): or a stereoisomer, a tautomer, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein all the variables are as defined herein. These compounds are selective Factor XIa inhibitors or dual inhibitors of fXIa and plasma kallikrein. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and methods of treating thromboembolic and/or inflammatory disorders using the same.
US08940711B2
The present invention relates to the identification of a microRNA family, designated miR-29a-c, that is a key regulator of fibrosis in cardiac tissue. The inventors show that members of the miR-29 family are down-regulated in the heart tissue in response to stress, and are up-regulated in heart tissue of mice that are resistant to both stress and fibrosis. Also provided are methods of modulating expression and activity of the miR-29 family of miRNAs as a treatment for fibrotic disease, including cardiac hypertrophy, skeletal muscle fibrosis other fibrosis related diseases and collagen loss-related disease.
US08940710B2
The present invention provides an anti-CD81 antibody usable as a pharmaceutical product for human. Specifically, the present invention provides an anti-human CD81 antibody capable of binding to a peptide region consisting of the amino acid sequence of the amino acid numbers 80 to 175 in the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:22.
US08940709B2
The present invention, at least in part, relates to the discovery of efficacious delivery of an RNAi agent (in preferred aspects of the invention, an siRNA) to a transplantable tissue. Organ rejection, transplantation-mediated transmission of viral infection, and triggering of apoptosis in transplanted tissues can each be minimized by the methods and compositions of the instant invention. The RNAi agent(s) of the instant invention can be delivered as “naked” molecules, or using liposomal and other modes of delivery, to transplantable tissues. Such delivery can occur via perfusion of the RNAi agent in solution through the vasculature of a whole or partial organ; or tissues including transplantable cells and cell lines may be bathed, injected or otherwise treated with RNAi agents. Preferred transplantable tissues include, for example, pancreas, liver, kidney, heart, lung, and all cells and cell lines derived from such tissues (e.g., pancreatic islet cells that may, e.g., be transplanted as a treated population).
US08940707B2
The invention relates to novel compositions and methods of using maribavir which enhance its effectiveness in medical therapy, as well as to maribavir isomers and methods of use thereof for counteracting the potentially adverse effects of maribavir isomerization in vivo in the event it occurs.
US08940702B2
The present invention pertains to PF4 muteins which comprise a substitution at position 67, e.g. a L67H substitution, compared to the sequence of the wild-type PF4 protein. Such PF4 muteins exhibit an increased anti-angiogenie activity and a reduced affinity for proteoglycans compared to the wild-type PF4 protein.
US08940698B2
Cartilage materials such as cartilage fluff and a cartilage composition comprising a particulate material are disclosed. These are suitable for stimulating chondrogenesis and/or producing cartilage regeneration. Also disclosed are processes for their preparation. Methods for regenerating articular cartilage are also disclosed, which involve, for example, placing the cartilage fluff or cartilage composition into a cartilage defect.
US08940696B2
The disclosure relates to a method for protecting a kidney from renal injury. For example, acute renal injury may be associated with decreased or blocked blood flow in the subject's kidney or exposure to a nephrotoxic agent, such as a radiocontrast dye. The methods include administering to the subject an effective amount of an aromatic-cationic peptide to a subject in need thereof.
US08940683B2
The present invention is drawn to methods and compositions for treating inflammatory disorders of the lower airways, comprising administering an effective amount of an agent, which modulates the expression and/or activity of a proinflammatory cytokine or fragment thereof, preferably in a human. The proinflammatory cytokine contemplated by the invention includes IL-1, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha. The present invention describes a kit comprising a delivery device and a pharmaceutical composition for administration of the agent. The pharmaceutical composition includes at least one proinflammatory cytokine inhibitor, optionally one or more additional active ingredients, and at least one pharmaceutically active carrier. The delivery device further comprises a nebulizer, an inhaler, a powder dispenser, an intrapulmonary aerosolizer and a sub-miniature aerosolizer.
US08940682B2
The invention discloses compositions and methods for generating alkalinity in situ. The compositions and methods relate to the use of a fabric source containing a decomposition agent to catalyze the decomposition of a dilute peroxygen source. The methods provide a highly alkaline cleaning composition produced at a desired time and place of use. Methods of cleaning are also disclosed.
US08940673B2
The present invention provides a skin cleansing composition comprising the following components (A), (B), and (C): (A) (a1) an alkenylsulfonic acid having 12 to 22 carbon atoms or its salt, (a2) an alkylsulfonic acid having 12 to 22 carbon atoms or its salt, or a mixture of them, (B) an alkyl ether carboxylic acid represented by the following formula (1) or its salt: R1—O—(CH2CH2O)n—CH2—COOX (1) wherein R1 represents an alkyl group having 4 to 22 carbon atoms, n denotes a number from 0 to 20, X represents a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal, an alkali earth metal, ammonium, or organic ammonium, and n denotes a number of 0.5 or more and less than 4 on average; and (C) water.
US08940665B2
Chemical compounds that are N-acyl amino acids or derivatives thereof having long chain N-acyl groups were found to have oil-releasing activity. Solutions containing these compounds may be introduced into oil reservoirs or onto oil-contaminated surface sites to release oil from oil-coated surfaces. The released oil may be recovered for further processing or waste disposal.
US08940660B2
The present invention involves both separated beds (or physical mixture) and a process for treating a fuel gas comprising sending the fuel gas to a separated bed (or physical mixture), in which the separated beds comprise a first bed of a sulfur sorbent and a second bed of a water gas shift catalyst (a physical mixture of a sulfur sorbent and a water gas shift catalyst). The process comprises first sending the fuel gas to the first bed to remove sulfur compounds from said fuel gas and then the fuel gas goes to the second bed to undergo a water gas shift reaction in which carbon monoxide is converted to carbon dioxide and water is converted to hydrogen. (or sending the fuel gas simultaneously to the physical mixture to remove simultaneously the sulfur compounds and to react CO with water to CO2 and hydrogen).
US08940646B1
Disclosed herein are methods of depositing layers of material on multiple semiconductor substrates at multiple processing stations within one or more reaction chambers. The methods may include dosing a first substrate with film precursor at a first processing station and dosing a second substrate with film precursor at a second processing station with precursor flowing from a common source, wherein the timing of said dosing is staggered such that the first substrate is dosed during a first dosing phase during which the second substrate is not substantially dosed, and the second substrate is dosed during a second dosing phase during which the first substrate is not substantially dosed. Also disclosed herein are apparatuses having a plurality of processing stations contained within one or more reaction chambers and a controller with machine-readable instructions for staggering the dosing of first and second substrates at first and second processing stations.
US08940645B2
A method for fabricating a nonvolatile charge trap memory device is described. The method includes subjecting a substrate to a first oxidation process to form a tunnel oxide layer overlying a polysilicon channel, and forming over the tunnel oxide layer a multi-layer charge storing layer comprising an oxygen-rich, first layer comprising a nitride, and an oxygen-lean, second layer comprising a nitride on the first layer. The substrate is then subjected to a second oxidation process to consume a portion of the second layer and form a high-temperature-oxide (HTO) layer overlying the multi-layer charge storing layer. The stoichiometric composition of the first layer results in it being substantially trap free, and the stoichiometric composition of the second layer results in it being trap dense. The second oxidation process can comprise a plasma oxidation process or a radical oxidation process using In-Situ Steam Generation.
US08940644B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor substrate product having: providing an etching liquid containing water, a hydrofluoric acid compound and an organic solvent, and applying the etching liquid to a semiconductor substrate, the semiconductor substrate having a silicon layer and a silicon oxide layer, the silicon layer containing an impurity, and thereby selectively etching the silicon oxide layer.
US08940643B2
A method of lithography patterning includes forming a first etch stop layer, a second etch stop layer, and a hard mask layer on a material layer. The materials of the first etch stop layer and the second etch stop layer are selected by the way that there is a material gradient composition between the second etch stop layer, the first etch stop layer, and the material layer. Hence, gradient etching rates between the second etch stop layer, the first etch stop layer, and the material layer are achieved in an etching process to form etched patterns with smooth and/or vertical sidewalls within the second and the first etch stop layers and the material layer.
US08940642B2
Methods of multiple patterning of low-k dielectric films are described. For example, a method includes forming and patterning a first mask layer above a low-k dielectric layer, the low-k dielectric layer disposed above a substrate. A second mask layer is formed and patterned above the first mask layer. A pattern of the second mask layer is transferred at least partially into the low-k dielectric layer by modifying first exposed portions of the low-k dielectric layer with a first plasma process and removing the modified portions of the low-k dielectric layer. Subsequently, a pattern of the first mask layer is transferred at least partially into the low-k dielectric layer by modifying second exposed portions of the low-k dielectric layer with a second plasma process and removing the modified portions of the low-k dielectric layer.
US08940641B1
Methods for fabricating integrated circuits with improved patterning schemes are provided. In an embodiment, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes depositing an interlayer dielectric material overlying a semiconductor substrate. Further, the method includes forming a patterned hard mask overlying the interlayer dielectric material. Also, the method forms an organic planarization layer overlying the patterned hard mask and contacting portions of the interlayer dielectric material. The method patterns the organic planarization layer using an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography process. The method also includes etching the interlayer dielectric material using the patterned hard mask and organic planarization layer as a mask to form vias in the interlayer dielectric material.
US08940637B2
Semiconductor devices with through silicon vias (TSVs) are formed without copper contamination. Embodiments include exposing a passivation layer surrounding a bottom portion of a TSV in a silicon substrate, forming a silicon composite layer over the exposed passivation layer and over a bottom surface of the silicon substrate, forming a hardmask layer over the silicon composite layer and over the bottom surface of the silicon substrate, removing a section of the silicon composite layer around the bottom portion of the TSV using the hardmask layer as a mask, re-exposing the passivation layer, and removing the hardmask layer and the re-exposed passivation layer to expose a contact for the bottom portion of the TSV.
US08940634B2
A method of forming overlapping contacts in a semiconductor device includes forming a first contact in a dielectric layer; etching the dielectric layer to form a recess adjacent to the first contact and removing a top portion of the first contact while etching the dielectric layer, wherein a bottom portion of the first contact remains in the dielectric layer after the recess is formed in the dielectric layer; and forming a second contact in the recess adjacent to the bottom portion of the first contact and on top of a top surface of the bottom portion of the first contact.
US08940631B1
Methods of forming coaxial feedthroughs for 3d integrated circuits that provide excellent isolation of signal paths from the substrate and from adjacent feedthroughs. One method is to form a recess in a substrate and deposit alternate layers of insulation and conductive layers and then thin the substrate to make the layers available from both sides of the substrate, with the first metal layer forming the coaxial conductor and the second metal layer forming the central conductor. Alternatively the coaxial feedthroughs may be formed using a modified pillar process to form the coaxial conductor at the same time as the center conductor is formed so that the coaxial feedthrough is formed without requiring extra steps. Both processes are low temperature processes.
US08940629B2
In a method of manufacturing a ball grid array (BGA) semiconductor package, micro balls are mounted onto a respective plurality of through-holes formed in a substrate, and a semiconductor device is mounted on a die pad portion of the substrate. The semiconductor device and the micro balls are electrically connected with bonding wires. The semiconductor device, the die pad portion, the bonding wires, and parts of the micro balls are sealed together with an insulating resin to form an encapsulation member. The encapsulation member and the substrate are then cut into individual BGA semiconductor packages.
US08940616B2
A bonded device having at least one porosified surface is disclosed. The porosification process introduces nanoporous holes into the microstructure of the bonding surfaces of the devices. The material property of a porosified material is softer as compared to a non-porosified material. For the same bonding conditions, the use of the porosified bonding surfaces enhances the bond strength of the bonded interface as compared to the non-porosified material.
US08940615B2
The present invention provides a method of forming an isolation structure. A substrate is provided, and a trench is formed in the substrate. Next, a semiconductor layer is formed on a surface of the trench. A nitridation is carried out to form a nitridation layer in the semiconductor layer. Lastly, an insulation layer is filled into the trench.
US08940611B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit device includes a lower electrode formed on a substrate, a first dielectric layer formed of a metal nitride layer, a metal oxynitride layer, or a combination thereof, on the lower electrode, a second dielectric layer formed on the first dielectric layer that includes a zirconium oxide layer, and an upper electrode formed on the second dielectric layer.
US08940605B2
A method for fabricating a high-voltage transistor with an extended drain region includes forming in a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type, first and second trenches that define a mesa having respective first and second sidewalls; then partially filling each of the trenches with a dielectric material that covers the first and second sidewalls. The remaining portions of the trenches are then filled with a conductive material to form first and second field plates. Source and body regions are formed in an upper portion of the mesa, with the body region separating the source from a lower portion of the mesa. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US08940602B2
A FinFET structure which includes a bulk semiconductor substrate; semiconductor fins extending from the bulk semiconductor substrate, each of the semiconductor fins having a top portion and a bottom portion such that the bottom portion of the semiconductor fins is doped and the top portion of the semiconductor fins is undoped; a portion of the bulk semiconductor substrate directly underneath the plurality of semiconductor fins being doped to form an n+ or p+ well; and an oxide formed between the bottom portions of the fins. Also disclosed is a method for forming a FinFET device.
US08940597B2
A method of producing a metal gate structure. The method includes forming a gate structure above a semiconductor substrate and performing one or more chemical metal planarization (CMP) processes to planarize the formed gate structure using a CMP tool. An in situ gate etching process is performed in a CMP cleaner of the CMP tool to form a gate recess. A contact etch stop layer (CESL) can then be deposited in the formed gate recess and one or more CMP processes performed to planarize the CESL.
US08940584B2
A semiconductor package including a package substrate having a chip mounting region and a peripheral region and including a ground layer formed in the peripheral region, first solder balls on the package substrate in the chip mounting region, second solder balls on the ground layer, at least one semiconductor chip stacked on the package substrate in the chip mounting region, and a package cap covering the semiconductor chip and contacting the package substrate in the peripheral region may be provided. The package cap is electrically connected to the second solder balls. Methods of fabricating the semiconductor package are also provided.
US08940583B2
In a semiconductor device, a lead frame made of a copper alloy prevents exfoliation occurring near the surface of the lead frame. A copper oxide layer is formed on the base material made of a copper alloy by immersing the base material into a solution of a strong oxidizer. The copper oxide layer serves as an outermost layer and consists of a copper oxide other than a copper oxide in the form of needle crystals.
US08940581B2
Packaged microelectronic devices and methods for manufacturing packaged microelectronic devices are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a packaged microelectronic device can include a support member, a first die attached to the support member, and a second die attached to the first die in a stacked configuration. The device can also include an attachment feature between the first and second dies. The attachment feature can be composed of a dielectric adhesive material. The attachment feature includes (a) a single, unitary structure covering at least approximately all of the back side of the second die, and (b) a plurality of interconnect structures electrically coupled to internal active features of both the first die and the second die.
US08940574B2
A method includes forming a plurality of image sensors on a front side of a semiconductor substrate, and forming a dielectric layer on a backside of the semiconductor substrate. The dielectric layer is over the semiconductor substrate. The dielectric layer is patterned into a plurality of grid-filling regions, wherein each of the plurality of grid-filling regions overlaps one of the plurality of image sensors. A metal layer is formed on top surfaces and sidewalls of the plurality of grid-filling regions. The metal layer is etched to remove horizontal portions of the metal layer, wherein vertical portions of the metal layer remain after the step of etching to form a metal grid. A transparent material is filled into grid openings of the metal grid.
US08940564B1
A method of manufacturing an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display is disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes forming a color filter on a thin film transistor substrate, forming an organic planarization layer on the color filter, and performing a vacuum heat-treatment on the color filter and organic planarization layer. The method also includes forming a first electrode on the organic planarization layer, forming an organic light-emitting layer on the first electrode, and forming a second electrode on the organic light-emitting layer. The vacuum heat-treatment is performed at a temperature in the range of about 150° C. to about 300° C. under a pressure substantially equal to or lower than about 10−3 Torr before the organic light-emitting layer is formed.
US08940557B2
A method of fabricating a wafer level package includes preparing a wafer including a plurality of first semiconductor chips, mounting a plurality of second semiconductor chips on the wafer, disposing the wafer on a lower mold and disposing an upper mold so as to surround edges of a top surface of the wafer, dispensing a molding member on the wafer, and pressurizing the molding member by using a plunger so as to fabricate a wafer level package in which a top surface of each of the plurality of second semiconductor chips is exposed.
US08940551B2
The present invention provides a method for monitoring a contact hole etching process of a TFT substrate, which includes: (1) providing a substrate having a first metal layer and a monitoring machine; (2) providing a target value of reflection rate of the substrate having the first metal layer; (3) applying a masking operation to patternize the first metal layer for forming a gate terminal; (4) forming a gate insulation layer on the gate terminal; and (5) forming a contact hole in the gate insulation layer through etching and simultaneously operating the monitoring machine to measure the reflection rate of a bottom of the contact hole, whereby when the reflection rate of the bottom of the contact hole is substantially equal to the target value, the etching operation is stopped. The variation of reflection rate of the metal layer is monitored to identify if the insulation layer is completely etched away.
US08940549B2
The present invention aims to provide an assay reagent and an assay for accurately measuring KL-6, in particular, an assay reagent and an assay for accurately measuring KL-6 in samples containing a rheumatoid factor and/or a nonspecific substance other than the rheumatoid factor. KL-6 in samples that contain a rheumatoid factor and/or a nonspecific substance other than the rheumatoid factor can be accurately measured using an immunoassay reagent comprising a solution at a pH of 4.0 to 5.5 containing a rheumatoid factor interference inhibitor and a solution of an insoluble carrier on which anti-KL-6 antibodies are immobilized.
US08940545B2
A method for screening a drug for cytochrome P450 (CYP) induction is provided and can include incubating the drug with a microsome-containing biological sample and then quantitating at least one cytochrome P450 isoform. The isoforms can be selected from 2B6, 3A4, 1A2, and 3A5 isoforms. In some embodiments, the method uses liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MSMS). A quantitated value can be compared to a threshold value and the drug can be determined to exhibit an acceptable CYP induction potential when the quantitated value does not exceed the threshold value. Isolated peptides are also provided.
US08940544B2
Analyte sensors having antioxidant protection are disclosed. By combining antioxidant and/or scavenger agents into polymer matrices that contain sensor moieties, the sensor moieties are protected from reactive oxygen species. Also disclosed are methods of making analyte sensors and methods of inhibiting oxidative degradation of sensing components in hydrated, polymerized analyte sensor systems.
US08940543B2
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for treating and analyzing a gas stream to determine the effectiveness of urea gasification. The apparatus will be capable of performing the method and will include: means for introducing an aqueous solution of urea into a reactor having hot gases therein and subjecting the aqueous to temperatures for a time to assure the gasification of the aqueous urea and form a thermal gasification product stream containing NH3 and HNCO; means for taking a sample stream from the gasification product stream; means for contacting the sample stream with a hydrolysis catalyst in the presence of sufficient water to convert HNCO to NH3 and form an ammonia sample stream; and means for analyzing the ammonia sample stream for NH3. The methods and apparatus can also be used to control a urea gasification process and/or to signal anomalous operation.
US08940537B2
The present disclosure provides methods for maintaining and propagating undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells (SC) in suspension. The methods comprise culturing such SC in a non-adherent culture dish under conditions comprising a basic serum free medium and one or more of a basic medium, a serum replacement, an extra cellular matrix component and a factor supporting expansion of said SC. A specific and preferred culture condition comprise supplementing Neurobasal™ medium with KO serum replacement (KOSR). These conditions allowed for large scale and long term propagation of undifferentiated pluripotent SC. The culture system comprising suspended undifferentiated pluripotent SC were found to have many applications including in methods for directed as well as spontaneous differentiation of the SC into somatic cells. Also disclosed herein is a method of deriving SC, preferably human embryonic SC from human embryos via the formation of cell clusters.
US08940536B2
The invention provides methods for reprogramming somatic cells to generate multipotent or pluripotent cells. Such methods are useful for a variety of purposes, including treating or preventing a medical condition in an individual. The invention further provides methods for identifying an agent that reprograms somatic cells to a less differentiated state.
US08940535B2
Methods and compositions are provided for isolation of proliferating cells. In particular, the methods enrich stem cells in a mixture of stem cells and non-stem cells, and in some cases the non-stem cells may be differentiated cells. The methods exploit the non-adherent property of stem cells, as opposed to the adherent property of differentiating cells, by serially passaging the suspended cells in liquid media.
US08940533B2
Disclosed is a mouse artificial chromosome vector, comprising: a natural centromere derived from a mouse chromosome; a mouse-chromosome-derived long-arm fragment formed by deleting a long-arm distal region at a mouse chromosome long-arm site proximal to the centromere; and a telomere sequence, wherein the vector is stably retained in a cell and/or tissue of a mammal. In addition, disclosed are cells or non-human animals comprising the vector, and use of the cells or non-human animals.
US08940526B2
Devices, containers, and methods are provided for performing biological analysis in a closed environment. Illustrative biological analyzes include nucleic acid amplification and detection and immuno-PCR.
US08940520B2
Process for growing biomass by modulating inputs to reaction zone based on changes to exhaust supply
There is provided a process of growing a phototrophic biomass in a reaction zone. The reaction zone includes an operative reaction mixture. The operative reaction mixture includes the phototrophic biomass disposed in an aqueous medium. Gaseous exhaust material is produced with a gaseous exhaust material producing process, wherein the gaseous exhaust material includes carbon dioxide. When an indication of a change in the molar rate of supply of carbon dioxide, from the gaseous exhaust material producing process, to reaction zone is sensed, at least one input to the reaction zone is modulated.
US08940515B2
The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having xylanase activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.
US08940512B2
Methods for synthesizing an ALP conjugate are provided. The methods may include activating a carboxyl group of the ALP with a carbodiimide, to generate an active ester; and adding the substance to be conjugated such that a synthetic reaction occurs between the active ester and the substance to be conjugated, to generate an ALP conjugate.
US08940508B2
The invention provides a method of producing biomass or at least one biomolecule comprising culturing a photosynthetic microorganism that comprises a disrupted Non-Photochemical Quenching (NPQ) process, and isolating biomass or at least one biomolecule from the culture.
US08940502B2
The present invention relates to methods for producing a polypeptide, comprising: (a) cultivating a fungal host cell in a medium conducive for the production of the polypeptide, wherein the fungal host cell comprises a first polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding the polypeptide operably linked to a copper-inducible promoter sequence comprising a copper-responsive upstream activation sequence activated by a copper-dependent trans-acting transcription factor and a second polynucleotide comprising one or more (several) additional copper-responsive upstream activation sequences operably linked upstream to the promoter sequence, wherein the promoter sequence is foreign to the nucleic acid sequence encoding the polypeptide and the copper-responsive upstream activation sequences are responsible for copper-induced transcription of the promoter sequence, and a third polynucleotide comprising at least one copy of a gene encoding the copper-dependent trans-acting transcription factor; and (b) isolating the polypeptide from the cultivation medium.
US08940501B2
The present invention relates to methods for ligation. The invention provides novel reagents and methods for ligating an acyl donor compound with an acyl acceptor compound. Provided acyl donor compounds comprise a transamidase recognition sequence that allows ligation with a nucleophilic acyl acceptor in the presence of transamidase. The invention further provides kits comprising acyl donor compounds and optionally comprising other reagents for ligation.
US08940498B2
The invention relates to the field of medicine. More particularly, described herein are biological markers associated with phenotypical and/or genotypical alterations in a cell and to methods for assessing mammalian cells. Also described are methods for assessing the condition of a population of cells, methods for assessing carcinogenicity of compounds and methods for quantitatively determine the quality of cell populations.
US08940491B2
The invention provides a method for detection of inflammatory disease in a subject that comprises assaying a test sample of peripheral blood from the subject for a marker of DNA damage. An elevated amount of marker present in the test sample compared to control sample is indicative of inflammatory disease activity, including sub-clinical inflammation. The method can be adapted for quantitatively monitoring the efficacy of treatment of inflammatory disease in a subject. Markers of DNA damage include single- and/or double-stranded breaks in leukocytes, oxidative DNA damage in leukocytes, or a marker of nitric oxide oxidative activity (protein nitrosylation in leukocytes). The inflammatory disease can be inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease). The invention may also be used for detection of other types of inflammatory disease, such as non-immune intestinal inflammatory disease (diverticulitis, pseudomembranous colitis), autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, uveitis, vasculitis), or non-immune lung diseases (asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease, and interstitial pneumonitis). This unexpected discovery of markers of genotoxicity present in circulating leukocytes enables detection of inflammation occurring at a localized site with a relatively simple and minimally invasive assay using peripheral blood.
US08940490B2
A method for diagnosing the development of a tissue injury in a subject comprising administering a sample of neoantibodies to the subject's tissue for the purpose of detecting the presence of neoepitopes bearing complement proteins.
US08940488B2
A method for diagnosing cancer comprising detecting ROBO1 protein is disclosed. In addition, a method for treating a disease caused by abnormal cell growth comprising administrating an antibody that binds to ROBO1, as well as a pharmaceutical composition, a cell growth inhibitor and an anticancer agent comprising an antibody that binds to ROBO1 as an active ingredient are disclosed. Further, a method for inducing cell damages in a ROBO1 expressing cell and a method for inhibiting the growth of a ROBO1 expressing cell by bringing a ROBO1 expressing cell into contact with an antibody that binds to ROBO1, are disclosed. Furthermore, a method for monitoring progression of hepatitis by detecting ROBO1 protein is disclosed.
US08940477B2
A highly sensitive method of analyzing a sample for the presence or activity of botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) or antibodies specific for botulinum neurotoxin is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of preparing primary non-human mammalian or avian spinal cord cells, and exposing the cells to a test sample, in parallel with a control sample, and examining the extent of cleavage of the intracellular neuronal target protein in both the test and control sample.
US08940468B2
Disclosed is a process for production of a decolorable toner, including: aggregating dispersed fine particles of a color material comprising at least a color-forming compound, a color-developing agent and a decoloring agent with dispersed fine particles comprising at least a binder resin comprising a polyester resin to form aggregates in an aqueous medium, adding a reactive polymer having an oxazoline group in to the aqueous medium, and fusing the aggregates in the aqueous medium. As a result, it becomes possible to produce a decolorable toner which suppresses the generation of fine powder due to the release of fine particles of an erasable color material from the toner.
US08940455B2
A fuel cell is provided that includes an anode, a cathode, a solid electrolyte layer, a barrier layer, and a buffer layer. The solid electrolyte layer includes zirconium and is provided between the anode and the cathode. The barrier layer includes cerium and is provided between the solid electrolyte layer and the cathode, with the barrier layer having pores. The buffer layer includes zirconium and cerium and is provided between the barrier layer and the solid electrolyte layer. The barrier layer has a first barrier layer provided near to the buffer layer with a first pore ratio and a second barrier layer provided between the first barrier layer and the cathode with a second pore ratio. The first pore ratio of the first barrier layer is larger than the second pore ratio of the second barrier layer.
US08940445B2
A storage battery is provided comprising a positive electrode of vanadium, a negative electrode of zinc, and an electrolyte of potassium hydroxide dissolved in alcohol or glycol. Upon charging, the vanadium oxidizes to vanadium pentoxide and zinc oxide is reduced to the metal. The reverse reactions occur during discharge.
US08940441B2
An anode capable of relaxing the stress due to expansion and shrinkage and a battery using the anode are provided. In the anode, an anode active material layer containing at least one of silicon and tin as an element is provided on both faces of a strip-shaped anode current collector. In the anode current collector and the anode active material layer, at least one penetrating portion that is cut out or slit to penetrate the anode current collector and the anode active material layer is formed to extend to include a longitudinal component of the anode current collector.
US08940438B2
A negative electrode and a lithium battery including the same, the negative electrode including nanotubes including a Group 14 metal/metalloid, disposed on a conductive substrate.
US08940435B2
A tape for fixing an electrode assembly and a method of manufacturing a battery are provided. The tape for fixing an electrode assembly can effectively fix an electrode assembly in a can by realizing a 3D shape by means of an electrolyte. Thus, the tape can be useful in preventing the electrode assembly from moving and rotating inside a can by external vibration or impact and also preventing damage of welded regions of a tab or disconnection of inner circuits.
US08940432B2
A battery apparatus of the type having a length, a width and a height, top and bottom surfaces substantially perpendicular to the height direction. First and second side surfaces, that include curved surfaces, are disposed between the top and bottom surfaces, and front and rear end portions are disposed between the top and bottom surfaces and also disposed between the first and second side surfaces. A plurality of electric contact portions are exposed through terminal windows; and a battery cell is electrically connected to at least one of the electric contact portions. The front end portion includes first and second level surfaces, with the second level surface being lower than the first level surface; and wherein the terminal windows are disposed in the second level surface.
US08940431B2
A negative current collector includes a base, which is fixed to a cover of a battery and is electrically connected to a negative external terminal, and a leg which projects from the base and is electrically connected to a negative electrode in a power generating element. There is provided a rib projecting in the same orientation as that of the leg along at least a part of the outer peripheral edge of the base.
US08940428B2
A separator, a lithium rechargeable battery using the separator, and a method of manufacturing the lithium rechargeable battery. More particularly, a separator in which a plurality of porous films having different strength from one another are disposed between a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate. A porous film having a higher tensile strength is disposed at a region adjacent to the negative electrode plate, and the other porous film is disposed adjacent the positive electrode plate. The porous film having the higher tensile strength has smaller holes and/or is thicker than the other porous film. The separator improves the stability of the battery by improving the prevention of an electrical short occurring between the two electrode plates of the electrode assembly, and a lithium rechargeable battery using the same.
US08940427B2
A rechargeable battery pack attachable to a power tool includes a display element, a remaining capacity detection device, a remaining capacity display control device, an abnormality detection device, and an abnormality display control device. The display element is provided such that a lighted state thereof can be confirmed from outside. The remaining capacity detection device detects a remaining capacity of a rechargeable battery. The remaining capacity display control device displays the remaining capacity detected by the remaining capacity detection device by controlling the lighted state of the display element. The abnormality detection device detects an abnormality of the rechargeable battery. The abnormality display control device displays the abnormality of the rechargeable battery detected by the abnormality detection device by controlling the lighted state of the display element to an abnormality display state, which is different from a remaining capacity display state controlled by the remaining capacity display control device.
US08940422B2
A battery cell includes a battery housing case formed with a through hole communicating with an interior space, a hollow rivet, and a seal rubber. The hollow rivet has a seal surface annularly extending outside the battery housing case, and a hollow portion formed with an exhaust port continuous to the inner edge of the seal surface and positioned at the through hole to allow gas in the interior space to flow out through the exhaust port. The seal rubber has a contact unit extending annularly facing the seal surface to press the seal surface and is provided so as to close the exhaust port. The contact unit is formed to project toward the seal surface so as to contact the seal surface at a position away from the inner edge of the seal surface. Such an arrangement prevents an electrolyte leakage over a long period of time.
US08940419B2
Provided are a method for production of a hard disk substrate capable of obtaining a smooth surface of a plating film by electroless NiP plating that is not degraded in, but exhibits corrosion resistance against, an acid solution and such a hard disk substrate. The method for production of a hard disk substrate including an electroless NiP plating film, includes the steps of: a first plating step of immersing a substrate in first electroless NiP plating bath containing an additive having a smoothing effect to form a lower layer of the electroless NiP plating film on a surface of the substrate, the lower layer having an average surface roughness smaller than an average surface roughness of the surface; and a second plating step of immersing the substrate on which the lower layer of the electroless NiP plating film is formed in the first plating step in a second electroless NiP plating bath to form an upper layer of the electroless NiP plating film, the upper layer having corrosion resistance against an acid solution. The resulting plating film has a smooth surface that is not degraded in, but exhibits corrosion resistance against, an acid solution.
US08940404B2
Tin-plated copper-alloy material for terminal having: a substrate made of Cu or Cu alloy; an Sn-based surface layer formed on a surface of the substrate; and a Cu—Ni—Sn alloy layer including Ni formed between the Sn-based surface layer and the substrate, in which the Cu—Ni—Sn alloy layer is made of: fine Cu—Ni—Sn alloy particles; and coarse Cu—Ni—Sn alloy particles, an average thickness of the Sn-based surface layer is not less than 0.2 μm and not more than 0.6 μm, an area ratio of the Cu—Ni—Sn alloy layer exposed at a surface of the Sn-based surface layer is not less than 10% and not more than 40%, and a coefficient of kinetic friction of the tin-plated copper-alloy material for terminal is not more than 0.3.
US08940402B2
A dental blank of the present invention has at least an inner zone (or layer) of a first color and an outer zone (or layer) of a second color wherein the inner and outer zones are concentric The inner zone can be surrounded in its entirety by the outer zone such that only the outer zone is visible on all surfaces of the blank and the inner zone is not visible on any surface of the blank Alternatively, the inner zone and the outer zone can extend to a same single surface of the blank, such that only the outer zone covers all remaining surfaces The dental blank may also have an intermediate zone between the inner and outer zones, wherein the intermediate zone is surrounded in its entirety by the outer zone and/or the intermediate zone surrounds the inner zone in its entirety.
US08940401B2
The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) relates generally to liquid-based coatings for writable-erasable surfaces, products that include such coatings, and methods for making and using the same.
US08940396B1
A glass container and a process for forming a graphene-containing coating on an exterior surface of the glass container to increase the strength of the glass container. A liquid coating composition that includes a physical mixture of a graphene material and a siloxane polymer is applied to the exterior surface of the glass container to form a precursor coating thereon. The glass container and the precursor coating are then cured to form a composite thin film of silica (SiO2) and graphene on the exterior surface of the glass container.
US08940394B2
Methods of preparing molecularly imprinted polymers are provided. In one embodiment, a method comprises providing a solution comprising a template molecule; and forming a product comprising calcium alginate in the presence of the template molecule so that the template molecule is imprinted in the product.
US08940370B2
A coating process wherein a precoated automotive substrate is OEM top coated with an aqueous two-component polyurethane top coating composition prepared by static mixing a non-aqueous hydrophobic polyisocyanate crosslinker component and an aqueous binder component having a binder solids content comprising at least one water-dilutable hydroxyl-functional binder and 5 to 30 wt.-% of a urethane compound A with at least two terminal urethane groups (—NHC(O)OR; R=hydrocarbyl residue of a monoalcohol) and having a number-average molar mass (Mn) of from 400 to 5,000.
US08940367B2
A coating installation includes at least one recipient which can be evacuated and which is provided to receive a substrate, at least one gas supply device which can introduce at least one gaseous precursor into the recipient, and at least one activation device which contains at least one heatable activation element, the end thereof being secured to a securing point on a support element. A shielding element which can protect at least the securing point at least partially against the effect of the gaseous precursor is provided. The shielding element has a longitudinal extension having a first side and a second side, the first side being arranged on the support element and a locking element being arranged on the second side of the shielding element, the locking element having at least one outlet. At least one separation wall is arranged inside the shielding element, the wall separating the inner volume of the shielding element into a first partial volume and into a second partial volume.
US08940359B2
The microacoustic component has a substrate that has at least one layer (composed of a dielectric or piezoelectric material, and a metallic strip structure. The layer is composed of a dielectric or piezoelectric material and/or the metallic strip structure have/has been produced or can be produced by the atomic layer deposition method.
US08940354B2
An edible oleogel comprising an oil, ethylcellulose and a surfactant is prepared by combining ethylcellulose with an edible oil and a surfactant, and heating the mixture to a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the ethylcellulose. Once the ethylcellulose has fully dissolved and the solution is clear, it is allowed to cool and set as a gel. The resulting oleogel is homogeneous, elastic, substantially anhydrous, and has a gelation temperature below 100° C. It can be used as a fat substitute in foods. Also provided are methods of making the oleogel, and food compositions containing the oleogel.
US08940349B2
In a process for producing half-shells (2) which are made from a dough for bakery products and are characterized by an annular orifice rim (6) with a finished surface, by producing a wafer sheet (1) comprising a plurality of half-shells (2) connected to one another by an interconnecting wall (4), by forming and baking said dough in a mold with the use of a mold formed by two complementary plates (12, 14) having respective front surfaces which, as a result of the fitting together of the two plates, can define a forming cavity having a shape generally corresponding to that of said wafer sheet (1), a mold is used wherein the front forming surface of at least one of said plates has shaped portions (26) which project towards the front surface of the other plate (12) and which can define, in the dough that is subjected to baking in the forming cavity, a notch (24) in the interconnecting wall (4) adjacent each half-shell (2), wherein the plates can be fitted together in an initial position in which the forming cavity has a volume smaller than the volume of the wafer sheet to be obtained, the dough is subjected to a first, partial baking step in the forming cavity with the molds fitted together in the initial position, while the volume of the forming cavity is kept constant until the dough is partially solidified, the dough is then subjected to finishing baking with an increase in the volume of the forming cavity, in order to obtain a wafer sheet (1) wherein the half-shells (2) are connected to the interconnecting wall (4) by an annular region (28) having a thickness which is substantially less than the thickness of the interconnecting wall (4); the half-shells can thus be separated from the wafer sheet by a slight pressure exerted in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the wafer sheet.
US08940347B2
Herein disclosed is a method of processing oil, comprising providing a high shear device comprising at least one rotor and at least one complementarily-shaped stator configured to mix a gas with a liquid; contacting a gas with an oil in the high shear device, wherein the gas is an inert gas or a reactive gas; and forming a product, wherein the product is a solution, a dispersion, or combination thereof. Herein also disclosed is a high shear system for processing oil, comprising; at least one high shear device, having an inlet and at least one rotor and at least one complementarily-shaped stator configured to mix a gas with a liquid; a gas source fluidly connected to the inlet; an oil source fluidly connected to the inlet; and a pump positioned upstream of a high shear device, the pump in fluid connection with the inlet and the oil source.
US08940342B1
A cosmetic composition is provided. The cosmetic composition may include pomace olive oil and a first moisturizing oil. The first moisturizing oil may be safflower oil, mango butter, or hemp seed oil. A second oil can also be included and may be coconut oil or grape seed oil. A bacterial control oil can also be present and may be sweet orange oil or lemongrass oil.
US08940340B2
Systems and methods for maintaining the dominance of Nannochloropsis in an algae cultivation system are provided. Exemplary methods include applying an effective amount of a disinfectant to Nannochloropsis growing in an algae cultivation system. Another method for maintaining the dominance of Nannochloropsis in an algae cultivation system includes adjusting a salinity in the algae cultivation system to between approximately 0.5 PPT and 28 PPT. In a further method, the temperature of the algae cultivation system may be adjusted to between approximately 21 and 32 degrees Celsius (“° C.”). According to yet another method for maintaining the dominance of Nannochloropsis in an algae cultivation system, a salinity in the algae cultivation system may be adjusted to below that of seawater for a first predetermined period of time, and then the salinity in the algae cultivation system may be adjusted to a higher salinity for a second predetermined period of time.
US08940331B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for hydrogels, methods of making hydrogels, methods of using hydrogels, methods of isolating, trapping, attracting, and/or killing cancer cells, and the like.
US08940328B2
An orally administrable pharmaceutical pellet formulation for the treatment of the intestinal tract is disclosed, which comprises a core and an enteric coating, the core including, as a pharmaceutical active compound, aminosalicylic acid or a pharmaceutically tolerable salt or a derivative thereof.
US08940318B2
Disclosed is a sustainedly drug-releasing hydrogel contact lens which can sustainedly release an anionic medicament such as an allergy-treating agent in a mildly irritating and effective manner while achieving vision correction. Specifically disclosed is a hydrogel comprising ionic monomers composed of at least a cationic monomer and an anionic monomer, wherein the component ratio of the ionic monomers is 5 to 20 mol % inclusive relative to the total amount of monomers that constitute the gel, and the content of the anionic monomer is 15 to 25 mol % inclusive relative to the content of the cationic monomer.
US08940305B2
A liquid aqueous pharmaceutical formulation is described which has a high protein concentration, a pH of between about 4 and about 8, and enhanced stability.
US08940292B2
The present invention provides methods and compositions of engineered cells for use in the continuous or transient delivery of growth factors and angiogenesis modulating agents, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), in conjunction with constructs for replacing or augmenting organ functions. In one aspect of the invention, the genetically engineered cells can be immature cells that are capable of differentiating and assimilating into the target region. The methods of the present invention can be used to enhance vascularization locally at a target site in need of repair, growth, or implantation through the incorporation of autologous cells which have been genetically engineered to secrete a growth factor or angiogenesis modulating agent.
US08940287B2
This invention relates to a novel method of attracting and trapping Drosophila species and a composition therefor. A method of attracting flies in the family Drosophilidae which comprises preparing an attractant which is a combination of a moistening agent, yeast and dried and powdered vegetable matter host substrate, including (but not limited to) banana, apple, pear, papaya, mango, orange, tomato, or vegetables, including (but not limited to) potato and squash, and placing this attractive lure in a trap.
US08940284B2
The present application relates to organosilicones and compositions such as consumer products comprising such organosilicones, as well as processes for making and using such organosilicones and such compositions. Such compositions comprising such organosilicones are easier to formulate, and provide more economical and superior care benefits when compared to current silicone containing compositions.
US08940281B2
Disclosed are compositions comprising crosslinked hyaluronic acid gels, preferably vinyl sulfone cross-linked hyaluronic acid known as hylan B gel, for use in topical cosmetic and dermatological formulations. The hylan B gel in these formulations provides prolonged delivery of incorporated substances to the surface of the skin, to provide a hydrated film on the surface of the skin, and to provide a substantive and compatible film on the skin.
US08940280B2
Oral care compositions containing a stannous salt and sodium tripolyphosphate are provided where stannous tripolyphosphate ionic intermediates comprise less than about 1% of the compositions Tetrasodium pyrophosphate, a methylvinyl ether-maleic anhydride copolymer and/or a silica oral polishing agent may be added for further efficacy. In a single phase blend, the oral care composition may be effectively limited to comprise less than about 10% water. In a dual-phase blend, a mixture having the stannous salt in a first phase and the sodium tripolyphosphate in a second phase may be generated from a dual chamber storage tube (with each phase provided from a separate chamber) immediately prior to dental care usage.
US08940278B2
Oral hygiene compositions suitable for use as dentifrice compositions comprising a silicon abrasive agent are provided.
US08940269B2
The present invention is directed to a method of thermochemical forming H2, O2, or a combination thereof from water, said method comprising the steps of contacting a composition comprising a spinel-type transition metal oxide of formula M3O4 with an alkali metal carbonate bicarbonate, or mixture thereof in the presence of H2O to form H2, CO2, and an alkali metal ion-transition metal oxide; hydrolytically extracting at least a portion of alkali metal ions from the alkali metal ion-transition metal oxide by the reaction with CO2 and liquid H2O; and thermochemically reducing the resulting oxidized-transition metal oxide. The thermochemical reduction of CO2 based on analogous methods is also disclosed.
US08940266B2
The present invention provides a method for producing a large substrate of single-crystal diamond, including the steps of preparing a plurality of single-crystal diamond layers separated form an identical parent substrate, placing the single-crystal diamond layers in a mosaic pattern on a flat support, and growing a single-crystal diamond by a vapor-phase synthesis method on faces of the single-crystal diamond layers where they have been separated from the parent substrate.According to the method of the invention, a mosaic single-crystal diamond having a large area and good quality can be produced relatively easily.
US08940265B2
The present disclosure is directed to a system and method of sustainable economic development, such as development through an integrated production of renewable energy, material resources, and nutrient regimes. In some embodiments, the system utilizes resources extracted from renewable energy sources to assist in the capture of energy from other renewable energy sources. In some embodiments, the system utilizes energy from renewable energy sources to extract resources from other renewable energy sources.
US08940260B2
An exhaust after-treatment system is described. Generally speaking, the system includes separate primary and secondary NOx reducing systems for delivering reductant (e.g. urea and ammonia) to an exhaust stream, a sensor system for determining relevant operating conditions and an electronic control module for activating the reducing systems. The two NOx reducing systems include flow control modules coupled to the electronic control module. Methods for reducing NOx in an exhaust stream are also described. Generally speaking, the methods include the steps of determining a need for NOx reduction in an exhaust stream, determining temperature of exhaust stream, and injecting at least one of a primary reductant and a secondary reductant into the exhaust stream based on the determined temperature of the exhaust stream. Typically, the primary reductant comprises urea and the secondary reductant comprises ammonia.
US08940258B2
This invention relates to processes for the selective removal of contaminants from effluent gases. More particularly, various embodiments of the present invention relate to selective removal and recovery of sulfur dioxide from effluent gases in a regenerative sulfur dioxide absorption/desorption process that achieves favorable energy efficiency. Energy is recovered from a wet stripper overhead gas stream produced in the desorption cycle by indirect transfer of heat from the stripper gas to a cooling medium and used to generate steam for use in stripping contaminants from the absorption liquor. The absorption zone may optionally be cooled to enhance the capacity of the absorption medium for absorption of a contaminant gas, thereby lowering the volume of absorption medium and contaminant-enriched absorption liquor that must be pumped, handled, heated and cooled in the absorption/desorption cycle.
US08940246B2
A system for diagnostic testing may include a meter for performing a diagnostic test on a sample applied to a test media, the meter having a housing and an interface for receiving a signal representing coding information, and a container configured to contain test media compatible with the meter, the container having a coding element associated therewith. Additionally, the system may provide a mechanism for removing the meter from an interconnected test container and reattaching it to a new container using on-container coding methods that can recalibrate the meter for the new container of test strips.
US08940240B2
Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for manufacturing composite nanoparticles. The apparatus comprises: a first precursor supply unit vaporizing a first precursor and supplying it to a reaction unit; a second precursor supply unit vaporizing a second precursor and supplying it to the reaction unit; the reaction unit producing composite nanoparticles by reacting the vaporized first precursor with the vaporized second precursor; an oxygen supply line supplying an oxygen source to the reaction unit; and a collection unit collecting the composite nanoparticles produced by the reaction unit. Since gas phase synthesis occurs in different stages using the U-shaped reaction chamber, aggregation is prevented and composite nanoparticles of uniform size and high specific surface area can be produced easily.
US08940234B2
Systems and methods for detecting the presence of biomolecules in a sample using biosensors that incorporate resonators which have functionalized surfaces for reacting with target biomolecules. In one embodiment, a device includes a piezoelectric resonator having a functionalized surface configured to react with target molecules, thereby changing the mass and/or charge of the resonator which consequently changes the frequency response of the resonator. The resonator's frequency response after exposure to a sample is compared to a reference, such as the frequency response before exposure to the sample, a stored baseline frequency response or a control resonator's frequency response.
US08940233B2
A cartridge for an apparatus for analyzing blood chemistry includes an apparatus frame having a compartment; a cartridge that is inserted into the compartment of the apparatus frame and includes a sensor card, a solution valve unit, and a blood introducing unit; a controller that receives a signal generated from the sensor card and processes the signal; a lever for the blood introducing unit connected to the apparatus frame; a power transmitting unit that is provided to the apparatus frame and transmits power of the lever for the blood introducing unit to open/close the blood introducing unit of the cartridge; a solution transporting unit that is provided to the apparatus frame and transports the solutions; and a driving unit that actuates the solution valve unit of the cartridge by the controller and opens or closes the tubing flowing of the solutions.
US08940229B2
In various embodiments, a device for irradiating surfaces is provided. The device may include a radiation emitter having a radiation emitter vessel, wherein the radiation emitter vessel has at least one tunnel-like passage; and a structure configured to allow a process gas to flow through the at least one tunnel-like passage.
US08940224B2
Highly crystalline metal oxide-carbon composites, as precursors to thermally stable mesoporous metal oxides, are coated with a layer of amorphous carbon. Using a ‘one-pot’ method, highly crystalline metal oxide-carbon composites are converted to thermally stable mesoporous metal oxides, having highly crystalline mesopore walls, without causing the concomitant collapse of the mesostructure. The ‘one-pot’ method uses block copolymers with an sp or sp 2 hybridized carbon containing hydrophobic block as structure directing agents which converts to a sturdy, amorphous carbon material under appropriate heating conditions, providing an in-situ rigid support which maintains the pores of the oxides intact while crystallizing at temperatures as high as 1000 deg C. A highly crystalline metal oxide-carbon composite can be heated to produce a thermally stable mesoporous metal oxide consisting of a single polymorph.
US08940215B2
A reduction of the multiple costs of manufacture, assembly use, and upkeep connected with the assembly of window frames on aircraft fuselages. To this end, the invention provides a particular shape for the frames connected to the fuselage skin according to a specific assembly method. The shape enables, among other things, the window frames to be fitted onto the skin by means of adhesion and also frames to be dispensed with between the fuselage and the window. In one embodiment, composite material window frame has a wall totally in the shape of a crown that is connected, through co-adhesion, to the inner surface of the fuselage skin, also made of composite material. The skin is cut into a window-receiving opening, and the frame has a T-shaped cross section, wherein the bar of the “T” that forms the crown includes two portions having substantially equal lengths “T.”
US08940210B2
In certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention, three-dimensional micro-mechanical devices and/or micro-structures can be made using a production casting process. As part of this process, an intermediate mold can be made from or derived from a precision stack lamination and used to fabricate the devices and/or structures. Further, the micro-devices and/or micro-structures can be fabricated on planar or nonplanar surfaces through use of a series of production casting processes and intermediate molds. The use of precision stack lamination can allow the fabrication of high aspect ratio structures. Moreover, via certain molding and/or casting materials, molds having cavities with protruding undercuts also can be fabricated. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. This abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US08940205B2
Disclosed is a process of using waste material comprising absorbent material and a thermoplastic material, such as from the manufacture of disposable absorbent articles, to produce useful articles. The process includes shearing the waste material, chopping the waste material, pelleting the waste material, and extruding or injection molding the pelleted material to create a useful article.
US08940202B2
A method and apparatus of controlling commencement of an injection of a melt stream of moldable material from an auxiliary injection unit. A sensor is placed in an injection molding system to sense a condition related to an injection of a first melt stream of a first moldable material provided by a primary injection unit. Commencement of a second melt stream of a second moldable material from the auxiliary injection unit is initiated upon the sensed condition related to the injection of the first melt stream being detected at a preselected value. The sensed condition may be a pressure, velocity or temperature of the first melt stream as provided by a direct sensor, a force or strain on a hot runner component as provided by an indirect sensor or the occurrence of a function of the injection molding system as provided by a functional sensor.
US08940199B2
The present technology provides an illustrative method for preparing fibers with desirable optical characteristics. The method includes providing a fiber that comprises a core layer and a cladding layer located around the core layer. The method further includes applying a nanostructure template to the cladding layer to form one or more photonic nanostructures having nanostructure scales and compressing the core layer to cause the core layer to bulge and form air gaps between the core layer and the one or more photonic nanostructures.
US08940197B2
A process for preparing a palladium nanoparticle ink comprises reacting a reaction mixture comprising a palladium salt, a stabilizer, a reducing agent, and an optional solvent to directly form the palladium nanoparticle ink. During the formation of the palladium nanoparticle ink, the palladium nanoparticles are not isolated from the reaction mixture.
US08940191B2
The present invention provides an electroconductive polymer solution in which the good dispersibility is maintained and the pH is arbitrarily adjusted, and an electroconductive polymer composition having an excellent heat resistance. Further, the present invention provides a solid electrolytic capacitor having an excellent reliability.The present invention is an electroconductive polymer solution, containing an electroconductive polymer in which a dopant is doped, a first compound having an amino group and a hydroxyl group, a second compound having a carboxylic acid group, and a dispersing medium.
US08940186B2
Disclosed herein are an insulating layer composition for a substrate, including a soluble type liquid crystal thermosetting oligomer, a metal alkoxide compound, and graphene oxide, and an insulating film and a substrate using the same.The insulating layer composition according to the present invention can effectively lower a coefficient of thermal expansion thereof, and thus, a dimensional change due to heat can be minimized when the insulating layer composition is used as an insulation material of the substrate, resulting in a substrate having improved thermal stability.
US08940178B2
A method of texturizing a silicon substrate comprising a) contacting the substrate with an etching solution comprising glycolic acid, b) etching a surface of the substrate thereby forming disruptions in said surface of the substrate, and c) removing the etching solution to yield a texturized substrate, said texturized substrate having a plurality of disruptions in at least one surface with a surface density of disruptions of a minimum of 60 disruptions in a 400 micron square area.
US08940176B2
A method of extracting a liquid phase from a suspension, the method comprising: injecting said suspension into a duct presenting a first section that is straight and a second section that is curved; and at the outlet from said curved section of the duct, extracting a liquid-enriched fraction of said suspension that is spatially separated from a particle-enriched fraction of the suspension; the method being characterized in that the injection flow rate of the suspension and the geometry of the duct are selected in such a manner that: in the straight section, lift forces cause particles to be superconcentrated in a ring around the longitudinal axis of the duct; and in the curved section, Dean secondary flows deform said ring and give rise to spatial separation between said liquid-enriched fraction and said particle-enriched fraction. A device for implementing such a method.
US08940175B2
Mass transfer sorption processes involve passage of a processed aqueous solution through a layer of granulated sorbent pre-filled with an organic liquid immiscible with either water or an aqueous solution under treatment. The apparatus for mass transfer of sorption processes is a vertical tank with inlet and outlet fittings loaded with a layer of sorbent disposed between the upper and the lower distribution and drainage systems. The industrial plant for separation of the components of aqueous solutions of inorganic substances includes the said apparatus and the apparatus for the separation of organic liquids from aqueous solutions. The latter has a casing with three chambers, the middle one of which is separated from the first outer one by a grid and from the other by a hydrophobic drainage layer. The emulsion to be separated is introduced into the middle chamber, and the separation results are derived from the outer chambers.
US08940171B2
A system for treating wastewater including at least one water-treatment pathway having at least one wastewater inlet, at least one oxygen-permeable, water-impermeable wall, separating an interior of the pathway from outside air, and at least one treated wastewater outlet and arranged for at least aerobic treatment of the wastewater as it flows from the at least one wastewater inlet to the at least one treated wastewater outlet, at least one wastewater supply conduit, supplying the wastewater to the at least one wastewater inlet of the water-treatment pathway and at least one treated wastewater conduit, supplying treated wastewater from the at least one treated wastewater outlet of the at least one water-treatment pathway.
US08940170B2
A dual-chambered horizontal flow water treatment system and method provides a first chamber with a first filtration system connected with a second chamber with a second filtration system in a horizontal orientation, such that influent water first passes through the first chamber and then passes through the second chamber. The influent water moves through the first chamber and second chamber in a horizontal flow path to provide for pre-filtering with the first filtration system before traveling through granular media in the second filtration system.
US08940169B2
A spiral wound module is suitable for use with high temperature water that is also very alkaline or has a high pH, for example SAGD produced water. The module uses a polyamide-based membrane with a polysulfone or polyethersulfone backing material. For other components, the module uses primarily one or more of, EPDM; polyamide; polyphenylene oxide; polyphenylene sulfide; polysulfone; polyethersulfone; polysulfonamide; polyvinylidene fluoride; mylar; fiberglass; and, epoxy. Polyester is not used. Polypropylene is not used for the feed spacer. For example, a module may use a PVDF feed spacer, a nylon permeate spacer and a polysulfone center tube. The center tube may be provided with 4 rows of 0.063″ diameter holes and be rolled under high tension.
US08940168B2
The present disclosure describes an axial bypass sleeve for use with a spiral wound membrane element. The axial bypass sleeve has a protrusion and an opening that defines a flow path to provide fluid flow communication through the axial bypass sleeve. In use, the axial bypass sleeve is wrapped around a spiral wound membrane element and both are placed in a pressure housing. A pressurized feedstock is introduced into the pressure housing. A portion of the pressurized feedstock flows through the spiral wound membrane element to produce a permeate stream and a retentate stream. A portion of the pressurized feed stock flows around the spiral wound membrane element, called bypass flow. The protrusion extends into the annular space to restrict the bypass flow. A portion of the bypass flow passes through the opening and enters into the spiral wound membrane element to increase permeate production.
US08940166B2
An electrocoagulation apparatus is disclosed integrated with a plate clarifier and sludge chamber for effluent treatment. The clarifier includes first and second tanks, an electrocoagulation reactor positioned in the first tank. The sludge chamber is defined below and integrated with the primary reaction chamber and has a selectively openable outlet.
US08940164B2
The assembly arrangement comprises a reservoir (10) on which a filling container (20) having a bottom wall (21) is mounted; and a filter(30) mounted to said bottom wall (21) which presents a seat portion (24) provided of one or more windows (25a) and bearing a stopper element (40) provided of at least one opening (41 a) and moveable between a closed position and an open position of the seat portion (24). The filter (30) is upwardly seated against the bottom wall (21) and coupled to the stopper element (40), allowing the filter (30) to be moved between a release and assembly position, with the stopper element in the closed position, and an assembled position, moving the stopper element (40) to its open position and to which remains axially hold against said bottom wall (21), communicating inlet orifices (31a) of the filter (30) to the interior of the filling container (20).
US08940157B2
Hydrodesulphurization of a gasoline cut containing hydrocarbons containing at least 2 carbon atoms per molecule and having an end point of 250° C. or less, by contacting the gasoline cut with at least one catalyst having an active phase of at least one metal from group VIII and at least one metal from group VIB deposited on a support, said catalyst being prepared using a process of: i) contacting support with precursors of group VIII and group VIB metals; ii) contacting support with at least one organic compound formed from at least one cyclic oligosaccharide composed of at least 6α-(1,4)-bonded glucopyranose subunits; iii) drying to obtain at least said metal from group VIII and at least said metal from group VIB in the oxide form; then iv) sulphurization such that said active phase is in the sulphide form; i) and ii) being carried out separately, in any order, or simultaneously.
US08940155B2
An improved system and method for processing feedstocks in an ebullated-bed hydroprocessing reactor is provided in which hydrogen gas is dissolved in the fresh and recycled liquid feedstock by mixing and/or diffusion of an excess of hydrogen, followed by flashing of the undissolved hydrogen upstream of the reactor inlet, introduction of the feed containing dissolved hydrogen into the ebullated-bed hydroprocessing reactor whereby the dissolved hydrogen eliminates or minimizes the prior art problems of gas hold-up and reduced operational efficiency of the recycle pump due to the presence of excess gas in the recycle stream when hydrogen gas was introduced as a separate phase into the reactor.
US08940152B2
A process is provided for producing electrolytic decomposition products of water by effecting a DC potential across a membrane comprising ripstop nylon interposed between an anode and a cathode. In electrolyzer mode, the electrochemical process produces hydrogen as well as oxygen products. In fuel-cell mode, the electrochemical process produces electricity from hydrogen and oxygen.
US08940146B2
A device for electro membrane extraction has a syringe holder adapted to hold a syringe having an acceptor solution, and a sample vial holder adapted to hold a sample vial having a vial cap, where the vial cap includes an inside funnel to be equipped with a prewetted hollow fiber membrane having a tube like shape sealed at the end opposite the funnel and forming a lumen, and steering guides for at least two electrodes, a first electrode to be immersed in a donor solution placed in the sample vial, a second electrode to be immersed, through the funnel in the vial cap, into the lumen of the hollow fiber membrane, and a positioning device for sliding the first electrode in and out of the donor solution in the sample vial and for sliding the second electrode in and out of the lumen of the hollow fiber membrane.
US08940138B2
The present biosensor system prevents a measurement error caused by the temperature of the environment in use. A biosensor system 100 includes a measuring instrument 101 having an operation part 306, and a sensor chip 200 insertable into and removable from the measuring instrument 101 and which accepts a blood sample. The sensor chip 200 includes a measurement part 41 that acquires Data a related to the concentration of an analyte in a blood sample based on the amount of electric current that flows in the sample due to a reaction in which an oxidoreductase with the analyte used as a substrate is involved, and a measurement part 42 that acquires, from the sample, Data b for temperature correction of Data a. The operation part 306 determines the concentration of the analyte in the sample, corrected according to the temperature of the sample based on Data a and Data b.
US08940135B2
Production of filled paper using biodegradable polyester fibers and/or polyalkylene carbonate fibers
The present invention relates to a process for producing filled paper, card and board comprising dewatering a paper stock with sheet formation and drying, wherein biodegradable polyester fibers and/or polyalkylene carbonate fibers are added to the paper stock.
US08940130B2
A method was developed for: a) improving the filterability of acid-precipitated lignin from kraft black liquors, b) increasing the dry solids content of the final lignin product, c) reducing the acid requirements and d) minimizing or eliminating TRS emissions during the acidification of black liquor to produce lignin and/or the subsequent suspension of the lignin in acid and/or the washing of the lignin with acid. No major difference in the chemical composition, MWD and main functional groups was found in the lignin of the present invention compared with lignins produced by conventional methods.
US08940126B2
A method for the production of a stiffener on a surface of an element that is to be made rigid, whereby at least one of the two is made of a composite material that is not completely polymerized, whereby the stiffener includes—in a transverse direction—two contact zones with the surface between which the stiffener and the element to be made rigid form a cavity that empties out at least one of the ends of the stiffener, includes using a core that is placed in the cavity and removed from the cavity after polymerization. The core has a first part that has a low expansion coefficient to ensure the geometric precision required and at least one second part that has a significant elongation coefficient to make possible the extraction of the part by traction on one of the ends of the second part so as to cause a contraction of its cross-section.
US08940119B2
A process for producing a beam member formed by a reinforcing fiber base material which has a web portion and at least a pair of flange portions extending to both sides via at least a branching point from the web portion, at a cross-sectional surface orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the beam member, and by a shaped filler which fills a gap having a wedge shape formed at the branching point, is provided. The shaped filler is produced by: (A) a filler supply process for supplying a filler member configured by reinforcing fibers; (B) a preshaping process for providing a preshaped filler having at least a wedge projection portion, by pressurizing the filler member by a preshaping mold; and (C) a filler deforming process for providing a shaped filler by deforming the preshaped filler.
US08940118B2
A method and device for assembling diapers of intentionally varied size. The method may comprise providing a series of waist belts having a fixed longitudinal length, and a series of chassis having a fixed longitudinal length. The waist belts may be aligned with the chassis with varying degrees of overlap, such that diapers having different lengths are manufactured by varying only the relative placement of the waist belts and chassis. The method may be used to vary diapers within a production run (e.g., to produce packs of diapers in a range of sizes) or between production runs (e.g., to produce different size diapers on the same line with reduced equipment changes or adjustments). A diaper produced according to the method is also described.
US08940107B2
A dishwasher (10) for the batch washing of wash items (20) comprises a wash chamber (24), which is arranged to accommodate wash items (20) and in which spray members ((34a-b)) for spraying out washing liquid and rinsing liquid are disposed; a wash tank (28), which is arranged to contain washing liquid which during a wash phase shall be supplied to the wash chamber (24) via the spray members ((34a-b)); a recirculating rinse tank (52), which is arranged to contain used rinsing liquid which during a rinse phase shall be supplied to the wash chamber (24) via the spray members ((34a-b)); members (62) for supplying final-rinse liquid which during a final-rinse phase shall be supplied to the wash chamber (24) via the spray members ((34a-b)); a collecting device (42, 46), which is arranged to collect liquid which has been sprayed out into the wash chamber (24) via the spray members ((34a-b)); and a pump (48), which is arranged to pump used rinsing liquid from the collecting device (42, 46) to the recirculating rinse tank (52).
US08940105B2
A photoreceptor undercoat containing a sulfonamide facilitates removal of coatings from the substrate.
US08940094B2
A method of fabricating a semiconductor processing device includes providing a susceptor including a substantially cylindrical body portion having opposing upper and lower surfaces. The body portion has a diameter larger than a wafer diameter. The method also includes providing a set of holes circumferentially disposed at a first susceptor diameter, the set of holes being evenly spaced with respect to adjacent holes and extending through the upper and lower surfaces in an area. The first susceptor diameter is larger than the wafer diameter, and holes are omitted along the first diameter in a set of predetermined orientations.
US08940093B2
A method of controlling an epitaxial growth process in an epitaxial reactor. The method includes optimizing the thermocouple offset parameter for a second run by setting up a modeled output parameter value as a linear function of the actual output parameter value, and a second thermocouple offset parameter value.
US08940089B2
An un-reacted substantially formaldehyde free curable binder solution for binding loose matter consists essentially of a solution obtainable by dissolving a reducing sugar, an ammonium salt acid precursor, optionally a carboxylic acid or a precursor thereof and optionally ammonia in water.
US08940078B2
A filter sensor to monitor an air filter in an air conditioning system is disclosed. The filter sensor includes a housing having an interior passage. The housing is located in relation to an air vent of the air conditioning system. A propeller is mounted in the interior passage. The propeller is rotated by the filtered air flow of the air conditioning system. A motion sensor is provided in proximity to the propeller or its shaft. A controller is coupled to the motion sensor to determine the rotational speed of the propeller and correlate the rotational speed of the propeller with the condition of the filter. An indicator is coupled to the controller to indicate a status of the air filter.
US08940076B2
Production method and apparatus for direct reduced iron (DRI), a.k.a sponge iron, by contacting iron oxides with recycled and regenerated hot reducing gases containing H2 & CO2. This invention decreases uncontained emission of CO2 to the atmosphere from combustion of carbon-bearing fuels in the reducing-gas heater by substituting, at least partially, a gas mainly comprising hydrogen in lieu of the usual carbon-bearing fuels. The hydrogen fuel stream, depleted of CO2 by means of a physical gas separation unit (which can be a PSA/VPSA type adsorption unit, a gas separation membrane unit or a combination of both such units) is derived from at least a portion of regenerated reducing gases being recycled to the reduction reactor. The derived hydrogen fuel stream is combusted in the reducing gas heater and/or other thermal equipment in the reduction plant, thus decreasing the CO2 emissions directly to the atmosphere.
US08940063B2
A cloth backing for an abrasive article is treated by combining a phenolic resin, a latex and a colloidal silicon oxide composition to prepare a colloidal formulation, which is then applied to the cloth backing and cured. Coated abrasive articles are formed by applying a make coat formulation to the treated cloth backing, applying an abrasive and then curing the make coat formulation.
US08940062B2
A char 7 feed rate at a rated point determined from a relationship between a current water vapor 3 flow rate and a current raw material 5 charge rate to a gasification furnace 1 is multiplied by a proper number determined from a relationship between a current gasification furnace 1 temperature and a current bed material 4 circulated rate to calculate an actual char 7 feed rate. A subtraction is performed between a gross heat value of the char 7 flowing into the combustion furnace 2 determined on the basis of the calculated char 7 feed rate and a heat value required for keeping a top of the combustion furnace 2 at a commanded temperature determined from a relationship between the commanded temperature and an air flow rate in the furnace 2 to determine a heat value required for keeping the combustion furnace 2 at the commanded temperature. An auxiliary fuel operation rate is determined from the determined heat value to perform an advanced control for an auxiliary fuel feeder 21 and is regulated such that a difference as a result of subtraction between the commanded and detected temperatures in the top of the furnace 2 becomes zero to perform a feedback control for the feeder 21.
US08940060B2
Methods and apparatuses for forming a low-metal biomass-derived pyrolysis oil are provided. In an embodiment, a method for forming a low-metal biomass-derived pyrolysis oil includes washing biomass comprising a water-soluble metal component therein with wash water that is substantially free of water-soluble metals. The washed biomass and water containing water-soluble metal are separated after washing the biomass. The washed biomass is pyrolyzed in a pyrolysis process to form a pyrolysis vapor stream. A portion of the pyrolysis vapor stream is condensed to form a condensate. The wash water is derived from the washed biomass. In an embodiment of an apparatus, the apparatus comprises a washing stage, a biomass dryer, a pyrolysis reactor, a quenching system comprising a primary condenser and a secondary condenser, and a return line that connects the quenching system to the washing stage.
US08940053B2
An interbody spinal implant including a body and an integration plate having a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing lateral sides, opposing anterior and posterior portions, and a substantially hollow center in communication with a vertical aperture. The body is recessed in a way that portions of the integration plate protrude above the top and/or bottom surface of the body to enhance the resistance of the implant to expulsion from the intervertebral space.
US08940052B2
An expandable implant for inserting within a skeletal space is provided, and a method for using the implant to expand the skeletal space. The implant is preferably designed to be inserted into an intervertebral space to replace at least part of an intervertebral disc between adjacent vertebral bodies. The expandable implant contains at least one first expansion compartment and at least one second expansion compartments, which compartments can be inflatable balloons that are inflated by a catheter. Inflating the first expansion compartment expands the implant in a first direction and inflating the second expansion compartment expands the implant in a second direction.
US08940040B2
A device and method for endovascular repair of a patient's aorta is disclosed. The device includes a frame component that has a balloon-expandable frame and a self-expanding frame secured to the balloon-expandable frame. The device also includes a valve element positioned at the proximal end of the frame component. The device may include another prosthetic component that may be secured to the frame component. The prosthetic component may include at least one conduit configured to receive a covered stent.
US08940038B2
The invention provides an improved stent design for repairing vasculature, the stent having rings including struts defining first peaks and second peaks, selected second peaks of adjacent rings being connected by links. The stent design incorporates non-linear links with undulating portions extending generally perpendicular to or circumferentially with respect to a longitudinal axis of the stent and adjacent first peaks with different longitudinal lengths such that stent flexibility is increased without sacrificing stent compression for delivery.
US08940033B2
An apparatus for whitening teeth comprises a mouth tray comprising a horseshoe-shaped trough sized to accommodate a dental ridge. A planar projection extends from the outer side of the trough so that its far end is external of the mouth. A light box containing a plurality of LEDs couples with the external end of the projection and illuminates the projection end. The mouth tray and projection are formed of a light-transmissive material to irradiate a peroxide gel in the trough to whiten the user's teeth.
US08940024B2
A bone anchoring device includes a bone anchoring element having a shaft and a head; and a receiving part for coupling a rod to the bone anchoring element. The receiving part includes a first portion with a U-shaped recess for receiving the rod, and a second portion for accommodating the head, the second portion having a free end and being flexible so as to allow introduction and clamping of the head. The bone anchoring device also includes a locking ring embracing the second portion. The head is locked by means of exerting pressure with the rod onto the locking ring resulting in compression of the second portion of the receiving part and wherein the locking ring is mounted to the receiving part from the free end of the second portion.
US08940018B2
A novel high tensile strength semi-absorbable composite suture with minimized non-absorbable mass. The suture has a core made from a bioabsorbable polymer. The core is covered by a braided sheath. The braided sheath is made from an absorbable yarn and a bioabsorbable yarn. The bioabsorbable yarn is made from a least one filament of a bioabsorbable polymer. The nonabsorbable yarn is made from at least one filament of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.
US08940015B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide medical devices and methods for treating a target site within the body, such as for treating vascular abnormalities. For example, one embodiment provides medical device including a first tubular member that includes a first portion, a second portion, and a central portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion. Each of the first and second portions have a radius that is larger than that of the central portion, and the second portion has a preset, relaxed configuration in which a portion of the second portion has a partial discoid shape defined by an inversion of a portion of a discoid into itself.
US08940012B2
An intravascular filter for a vessel includes a non-biodegradable apical hub and non-biodegradable struts extending generally distally from the hub. The struts extend radially outward from a longitudinal axis of the hub. The distal ends of the struts exert an expansile force against an interior of the vessel. One or more struts includes one or more time-degrading connectors along its length, which can be formed from a biodegradable element made from a fixation material. Prior to degradation, the fixation material rigidly connects a proximal section to a distal section of the respective strut. After degradation, the fixation material is dissolved or softened, and reveals a link that has a strong resistance to longitudinal movement of the distal section with respect to the proximal section and may have a weak resistance to rotational movement of the distal section with respect to the proximal section, such as a pair of interlocked loops.
US08940003B2
Methods for restoring blood flow in occluded blood vessels using an apparatus having a self expandable distal segment that is pre-formed to assume a superimposed structure in an unconstrained condition but can be made to take on a volume-reduced form making it possible to introduce it with a microcatheter and a push wire arranged at the proximal end, with the distal segment in its superimposed structure assuming the form of a longitudinally open tube and having a mesh structure of interconnected strings or filaments or struts. In a preferred embodiment, the distal segment has a tapering structure at its proximal end where the strings or filaments or struts converge at a connection point.
US08940001B2
Devices, systems and methods for retracting, lifting, compressing, supporting or repositioning tissues, organs, anatomical structures, grafts or other structures within the body of human or animal subjects for the purpose of treating a diseases or disorders and/or for cosmetic or reconstructive purposes and/or for research and development purposes or other purposes.
US08940000B2
A surgical instrument for surgically joining tissue is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a handle portion, an endoscopic portion, a pair of jaw members and at least one flexible member attachment structure. The endoscopic portion extends distally from the handle portion and defines a first longitudinal axis. The pair of jaw members is disposed adjacent a distal end of the endoscopic portion and extends generally distally therefrom. At least one of the jaw members is movable with respect to the other between an open position and an approximated position for engaging body tissue therebetween. The flexible member attachment structure is disposed in mechanical cooperation with at least one jaw member and is configured to facilitate the attachment of a flexible member thereto.
US08939999B2
A device for tensioning suture which includes a cannulated tube that allows a suture to be fed through at least a portion of the tube. An adjustment device (for example, a wheel or a knob) is actuated to turn a threaded post on the end of the tube. A length of suture passes through at least a portion of the cannulated tube and is secured into a forked pin attached to the adjustment device. Turning the adjustment device draws against the suture, increasing therefore the tension on the suture. The suture tensioning device may be employed in conjunction with a tensiometer.
US08939993B1
Exemplary systems for loading a pre-curved electrode array onto a stylet include a loading tool and a stylet retainer. The loading tool includes a docking assembly comprising a plurality of wing members that form a receptacle configured to receive a proximal portion of the stylet, a channel assembly comprising a channel configured to receive and allow passage therethrough of the pre-curved electrode array, the channel further configured to receive a distal portion of the stylet, and a connecting member configured to connect the channel assembly to the docking assembly. The stylet retainer is configured to couple to the loading tool to retain the stylet within the loading tool while the pre-curved electrode array is loaded onto the stylet. Corresponding methods are also described.
US08939991B2
An apparatus is provided for removing material within a body lumen that includes a catheter including a proximal end, a distal end for introduction into a body lumen, and an aspiration lumen extending therebetween; a guide member extending from the distal end and terminating in a distal tip, the guide member comprising a track adjacent a track lumen extending from the distal tip into the aspiration lumen; and an obstruction clearing device deployable from the guide member and retractable along the track. In addition or alternatively, the apparatus includes a cutting head reciprocable within the aspiration lumen adjacent the distal end for macerating material being aspirated into the aspiration lumen.
US08939987B2
An endoscope treatment tool includes a treatment portion, a manipulation portion, and a manipulation wire connecting the treatment portion and the manipulation portion, the manipulation portion includes a manipulation portion main body, a shaft, a clutch plate having a through-hole into which the shaft is slidably inserted, a manipulation member slidably attached to the manipulation portion main body, and a force adjustment member compressed in accordance with manipulation of the manipulation member, and the clutch plate is inclined with respect to the shaft in accordance with compression of the force adjustment member, and thereby the manipulation member is fixed to the manipulation portion main body by the clutch plate which is fixed to the shaft so as not to slide with respect to the shaft.
US08939986B2
Orthopaedic surgical instruments including a base trial adapted to be positioned on a proximal end of a patient's resected tibia, and a guide tower including a tower base adapted to be positioned on the base trial. A method of use is also described.
US08939983B2
A fixation device for delivery of biological material between soft tissue and bone. The fixation device includes an anchor having a first longitudinal bore and a first radial extending delivery bore and an insert having a second longitudinal bore and a second radial extending delivery bore. The first and second radial extending bores are aligned and positioned relative to a head of the anchor to deliver the biologic material between the soft tissue and the bone.
US08939981B1
A surgical blade for performing a wedge osteotomy, the blade including a body portion, having a cutting tip on a first end for initially cutting into the bone; a cutting slope comprising multiple rows of cutting teeth at multiple planes to resect bone as it enters, leaving a wedge osteotomy; a shaft of a predetermined length and width for supporting the cutting slope; and a saw attachment base on a second end of the blade for engaging a base of a saw to cause the blade to oscillate and perform the wedge osteotomy.
US08939979B2
A surgical drilling instrument with a Curved Burr Attachment having an adapter removably coupled to a drill motor and a burr attachment coupled to said adapter. The burr attachment includes a tube with a wire shaft supported therein and a coil wire surrounding said wire shaft and having each of the coils touch the outer periphery surface of the wire shaft and the inner peripheral surface of said tube to enhance cooling of said outer periphery of said tube from the heat generated by said wire shaft and attenuate vibrations while allowing said burr attachment to be bent without kinking. The burr attachment includes a proximal end support and a distal end support formed on the end of said burr attachment wherein the wire shaft is affixed to said proximal end support and rotates relative to said distal end support and includes detents formed on each of the supports for engaging balls in said adapter so as to be operatively connected thereto when the burr attachment is aligned in said adapter to couple the burr attachment to said adapter for rotary motion of said wire shaft and locating the cutter of said burr attachment to a precise location relative to the end of the adapter. The burr attachment being disposable and the adapter being re-usable.
US08939970B2
A catheter and catheter system can use energy tailored for remodeling and/or removal of target material along a body lumen, often of atherosclerotic material of a blood vessel of a patient. An elongate flexible catheter body with a radially expandable structure may have a plurality of electrodes or other electrosurgical energy delivery surfaces to radially engage atherosclerotic material when the structure expands. An atherosclerotic material detector system may measure and/or characterize the atherosclerotic material and its location, optionally using impedance monitoring.
US08939969B2
A device for forming a lesion includes a hub defining a passageway and a shaft attached to the hub and defining a lumen. The shaft has a proximal end and a distal end extending away from the hub. The shaft includes an electrically conductive material on at least a portion of an inner surface and on at least a portion on an outer surface. A conductive member has a longitudinal axis and is attached to a mounting structure mateable with mounting structure of the hub so that the conductive member extends through the passageway into the lumen so that at least near the hub the conductive member longitudinal axis is spaced from the lumen longitudinal axis to create electrical contact between the conductive member outer surface and the shaft inner surface.
US08939963B2
A flexible surgical instrument employs sheaths around tendons that actuate an end effector or other mechanisms in a distal tip of the instrument. A liquid lubricant can be introduced in the sheaths to reduce friction, and the sheaths can be porous or non-porous. The lubricant can be confined, for example, with an o-ring or a bellow seal, to keep lubricant from leaking where the tendons extend out of the sheaths. More generally, the distal end of the instrument is sealed to prevent leakage of lubricant into a patient. To further reduce risks, a non-toxic water-based lubricant can be used.
US08939962B2
The embodiments herein provide an atraumatic urinary catheter. The atraumatic urinary catheter has a first tubule, a second tubule and a third tubule. The first tubule is provided with a first channel and a second channel. The first channel is wide and extended from a proximal end to a distal end of the first tubule and the first channel is open in both ends. The second tubule comprises a third channel, which is connected to a bladder cavity. The third tubule placed on the first tubule and the second tubule as a cover, to form a catheter's balloon. In order to avoid balloon explosion, the sterile water in the balloon is drained by the self-retaining mechanism of the catheter to prevent an irritation and tissue traumatization.
US08939960B2
Methods for easy, atraumatic access to areas of the vasculature that are otherwise difficult to access, using steerable guide catheters constructed with components that are selected to provide optimal navigability, torque transfer, and push ability for a variety of typical percutaneous access routes. The catheter wall thickness in the deflecting segment of the guide catheter is about 1 French (⅓ mm) or less, and includes a slotted deflection tube, and this construction allows a very tight turning radius which in turn enables guide catheter access to regions of the vasculature that are otherwise inaccessible.
US08939959B2
A simple method and device enabling a unit dose from a reservoir is provided. The dose is drawn into the reservoir and is then expelled from the device by depressing a plunger. The plunger has features which divide the dose into discrete intervals. As the plunger is moved during delivery, the features on the plunger and features connected to a barrel interact to provide for intermittent stops to the delivery. Other aspects of the device provide for reduced dead space, safety and selective interconnection with other devices. Thus, the device divides the dose.
US08939958B2
A fluid transfer assembly comprise a first open end for connection to a syringe and a second open end for receiving a vial having a closure element. The second open end is adapted to engage and open the closure element and permit fluid in the vial to be transferred to the syringe from the vial, for example by gravity acting on the fluid in the vial.
US08939955B2
A product includes an absorbent article contained within a pouch. The absorbent article includes a first graphic and the pouch includes a second graphic which is different than the first graphic. The pouch is at least partially translucent and the absorbent article is arranged in the pouch such that at least a portion of the first graphic is visible through the pouch. The first graphic defines a first complexity value and the second graphic defines a second complexity value wherein the difference between the first complexity value and the second complexity value is at least 1.2.
US08939945B2
A lead screw (5) with a screw thread (6) is arranged in a body (1) along an axis (4) and coupled to a lead screw nut (7) with a drive feature (8), so that the lead screw is helically rotatable in the lead screw nut. The lead screw and the lead screw nut are provided with stop features (9) interfering with a rotation of the lead screw in the lead screw nut when a force is applied to the lead screw in an axial direction. The lead screw nut has a surface area facing a guide feature (10) of the body. This surface area has a slope (12) varying around the axis. The assembly interacts such that the lead screw nut rotates in one rotational direction when a force is applied to the lead screw in the axial direction.
US08939936B2
One embodiment is directed to a system for advancing a needle into a tissue structure, comprising: an elongate needle member having a tapered distal tip; an insertion member having proximal and distal ends, the distal end being coupled to the elongate needle member, and the proximal end being configured to be manipulated by an operator; and a tissue interface indentor member coupled to the insertion member and operatively coupled to the elongate needle member, the tissue interface indentor member comprising a distally protruding shape feature configured to contact one or more portions of the tissue structure adjacent to the distal tip of the elongate needle member and change an available angle of penetration between such portions and the distal tip of the elongate needle member as the distal tip is inserted into tissue structure.
US08939934B2
An auto-injector comprising a housing arranged to contain a slidably arranged syringe. The housing having a distal end and a proximal end with an orifice. Spring means is capable of, upon activation: pushing the needle into an advanced position and into an injection site, operating the syringe to inject a dose of medicament, and retracting the syringe. Activating means locks the spring means in a pressurized state prior to manual operation and capable of releasing the spring means for injection. The spring means is a compression spring grounded distally in the housing and proximally bearing against a thrust tube arranged to transmit load from the spring means via a plunger to the syringe and/or the stopper. A tubular syringe carrier is arranged for holding the syringe and supporting it at a proximal end, the syringe and the syringe carrier arranged for joint axial translation.
US08939929B2
The present invention relates to an infusion control device designed to secure the infusion control device to a drip chamber attached to an infusion tube. The infusion control device comprises a light indicator and a microprocessor. The microprocessor determines the amount of fluid in an infusion bottle providing fluid to the transparent drip chamber, and provides instructions to the light indicator to illuminate the infusion bottle when the amount of fluid in the infusion bottle is less than a predetermined first limit.
US08939920B2
The invention involves monitoring patient movement, in particular respiratory movement, of a patient (30) positioned on a couch (20) in connection with a radiation gantry (10). A 2D or 3D pattern (115) is projected onto the patient (30). At least a first portion of the pattern (115) is detected by a first detector (120) arranged on a first side of the gantry (10). At least a second portion of the pattern (115) is detected by a second detector (130) arranged on a second opposite side of the gantry (10). Pattern detection data is generated by the two detectors (120, 130) and is used for generating information representative of movement of the patient (30) on the couch (20). The information can be used, for instance, for prospective and/or retrospective gating.
US08939917B2
A method for measuring cartilage defects within a subject includes surgically exposing a joint or cartilage surface. The exposed joint or cartilage surface having at least one defect, and the method may generating a cast of the at least one defect. The method may also include measuring a parameter of the cast, thereby estimating a characteristic of the defect.
US08939912B2
A system is described having a heating device with a focused antenna array, a chair, a cabinet, at least one temperature monitoring device, a cooling system, and a controller. The system may be used to heat and monitor internal tissue and/or fluid in an individual in a non-invasive way.
US08939908B2
An ultrasonic blood vessel inspecting apparatus provided with a longitudinal cross sectional blood vessel image generating portion configured to generate a longitudinal cross sectional image of a blood vessel located below a skin of a live body, on the basis of reflected wave signals of an ultrasonic wave by using an ultrasonic probe placed on the skin of said live body, includes: an index value calculating portion configured to calculate an index value indicative of a degree of clarity of an image which represents an intima-media complex of said blood vessel and which exists within said longitudinal cross sectional image of the blood vessel.
US08939901B2
An endoscope apparatus includes: a light source device radiating at least one or more illumination lights having a predetermined wavelength band to a subject; a CCD picking up an image of a return light from the subject based on radiation of the illumination light from the light source device; an image processing section outputting a first image signal of a first wavelength band having a peak wavelength of spectral characteristic, between a wavelength band including a maximum value and a wavelength band at a minimum value with regard to an absorption characteristic of living tissue, after image pickup by the CCD; and an observation monitor performing image display on the basis of the first image signal.
US08939900B2
A flange is formed in a ferrule. A forceps stopper has a fixing member engaging with the flange and a stopper body that holds the fixing member. The fixing member has detachable first and second pieces. The stopper body has a fixing member accommodation hole that accommodates the fixing member in a combined state. The stopper body has a fixing member holding portion that holds the fixing member that is accommodated in the fixing member accommodation hole. The fixing member holding portion has an annular contact portion that comes into contact with the fixing member and a connection portion that connects the outer periphery of the annular contact portion to the opening peripheral edge portion of the fixing member accommodation hole. When the stopper body is pulled, the connection portion is broken, so that the holding of the fixing member using the fixing member holding portion is released.
US08939899B2
Each of the first hinge portions includes a first central planar portion, and first both-sides planar portion, and each of second hinge portions includes a second central planar portion, and second both-sides planar portion which is arranged on the same plane as the first both-sides planar portion. At least one of each first hinge portion and each second hinge portion includes/include an axial step portion which is provided between the first central planar portion and the first both-sides planar portion and/or between the second central planar portion and the second both-sides planar portion over the entire length of the nodal ring in the longitudinal direction and allows/allow the first central planar portion to be arranged to an outer peripheral side than the second central planar portion by a distance corresponding to a wall thickness of the nodal ring.
US08939898B2
A rotary self-advancing endoscope system which produces propulsion by rotating, with a motor, a rotating cylindrical body provided on an outer periphery side of an insertion portion main body and causes the insertion portion main body to move forward into an examinee's body, wherein the system is configured to periodically repeating a combination of a state in which the rotating cylindrical body forward-rotates at a predetermined RPM and a state in which the rotating cylindrical body is stopped from rotating and releases accumulated elastic energy and, when a drive current to the motor has reached a predetermined threshold value, reverse-rotate the motor.
US08939896B2
Provided is an attachment for an endoscope, the attachment being attached to a leading end part of the endoscope having a leading end surface on which an observation window for observing an inside of a subject's body and a first opening for jetting a constant-pressure supplied gas are formed, the attachment including: a second opening provided at a position separate from the leading end surface; a pipe conduit that communicates the first opening and the second opening with each other so as to jet the constant-pressure supplied gas from the second opening; and a region separating member that separates a jetting region of the constant-pressure supplied gas jetted from the second opening from a region of view of the observation window.
US08939895B2
An apparatus is presented for use with a biologically-compatible-fluid pressure source. The apparatus comprises an elongated carrier defining a fluid passageway and adapted to be inserted through a proximal opening of a body lumen having a main axis and certain diameter; an inflatable balloon assembly having an inflatable part self-deformable between its substantially circular geometric state and multiple elongated geometry states in which cross sectional dimensions of the inflatable balloon part are different in accordance with the diameter of the lumen, and being in fluid communication with said fluid passageway, the cross sectional dimension of the substantially circular geometric state being equal to or greater than said diameter of said body lumen; and at least one sleeve extending from at least one end respectively of said inflatable part of the balloon assembly along a central axis of said inflatable balloon part, said at least one sleeve being by its one end is rigidly coupled to the respective end of the balloon part and having one of the following configurations: (a) being by its other end fixed to the carrier at a certain location and being foldable and extendable in accordance with longitudinal deformation of the inflatable balloon part, and (b) having a fixed length and being by its other end slidable along the carrier in accordance with longitudinal deformation of the inflatable balloon part. Deformation of the inflatable part of the balloon maintains the balloon assembly orientation such that the carrier passing through the balloon assembly substantially coincides with said main axis of said lumen.
US08939894B2
The present disclosure relates to calibration target devices, assemblies and methods for use with imaging systems, such as a stereoscopic endoscope. A calibration assembly includes: a target surface extends in three dimensions with calibration markers and a body with an interface that engages an endoscope so the markers are within the field of view. A first calibration marker extends along a first plane of the target surface and a second marker extends along a second plane of the target surface. The planes are different and asymmetric relative to the field of view as seen through the endoscope. Three-dimensional targets, in particular, enable endoscopic calibration using a single image (or pair of images for a stereoscopic endoscope) to reduce the calibration process complexity, calibration time and chance of error as well as allow the efficient calibration of cameras at different focus positions.
US08939887B2
Compositions and methods useful for processing animal semen for use in assisted reproduction. A composition, or colloid formulation, for separation of spermatozoa from a semen sample, the composition including at least one salt of an alkali metal and/or an alkaline earth metal, EDTA, a zwitterion buffer, silane-coated silica particles and water, the composition having a pH of 7.0-7.35 and an osmolarity of 300-345 mOsm. A method for preparing spermatozoa from a semen sample from a non-human animal by separating the spermatozoa from other semen constituents by centrifugation through a single layer of the composition, or colloid formulation. Also, a method for separating a sperm sub-population of interest from a semen sample from a non-human animal by providing a density gradient comprising at least two layers of the composition of the invention, each layer having a different density; separating the sperm sub-populations in the semen sample by centrifugation through the density gradient; and selecting the sperm sub-population of interest. Finally, spermatozoa prepared by these methods and the use of such spermatozoa in artificial insemination, in vitro fertilisation or intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
US08939879B2
An apparatus for folding articles advancing in a machine direction including a rotatable roll having a roll surface, at least one protrusion that defines an outermost surface of the roll and at least one pocket that defines an innermost surface of the roll. The apparatus also includes a first and second vacuum conveyor assembly, each comprising two vacuum conveyors. The roll and the vacuum conveyor assemblies are cooperatively configured to fold an article. A method for folding articles by accelerating a portion of the article to create slack in the article, as may be practiced using an apparatus as described.
US08939874B2
A physical work-out apparatus comprised of a mechanism for shortening elastic bands, and one or more elastic bands that are integrated into the mechanism in such a way that enables a user to shorten or lengthen the elastic bands. The apparatus can be integrated and attached to a harness worn on the user's back and chest. The mechanism enables the user to shorten or lengthen, according to need, the elastic band or bands.
US08939872B2
A leg exercise apparatus having a supporting frame, a leg disposition assembly and a connecting panel. The supporting frame is pivotably connected to the leg disposition assembly, and an upper portion of the connecting panel is pivotably connected to the leg disposition assembly on its backside. A positioning bar passes through a lower portion of the connecting panel and is disposed in positioning grooves located on both arms of the supporting frame to secure the connecting panel. An end opening is located at an end of the supporting frame and connects to two tunnel grooves at both arms so the positioning bar can be pushed out through the tunnel grooves and end opening, which leads the leg disposition assembly to collapse into the supporting frame to form a compact and portable leg exercise apparatus.
US08939865B2
Surface indentation and oil film shortage on rollers is prevented and longer service life of a roller bearing is achieved, by preventing wear debris from being caught and accumulated in pockets of a holder of the roller bearing. Positions and dimensional relations of the diameters of inner and outer ring raceways, the inner and outer diameters of the holder, and inner and outer protrusions which are provided to pillar parts of the holder to prevent the rollers from coming off are defined such that the inner and outer protrusions of the pillar parts always do not come into contact with the outer circumferential surfaces of the rollers in the state where the rollers and the holder are incorporated between inner and outer members. As a result, lubricant oil is smoothly circulated in gaps formed between the outer circumferential surfaces of the rollers and the pillar parts of the holder.
US08939864B2
A turbine engine includes a fan shaft and at least one tapered bearing mounted on the fan shaft. The fan shaft includes at least one radially extending passage adjacent the at least one tapered bearing. A fan is mounted for rotation on the tapered bearing. An epicyclic gear train is coupled to drive the fan. The epicyclic gear train includes a carrier that supports star gears that mesh with a sun gear, and a ring gear that surrounds and meshes with the star gears. Each of the star gears is supported on a respective journal bearing. The epicyclic gear train defines a gear reduction ratio of greater than or equal to about 2.3.
US08939862B2
A drive mechanism includes a transmission including a pinion centered at an axis, a differential mechanism centered at a second axis forward of the axis, driveably connected to the pinion through a gear wheel meshing with the pinion, and a power take-off mechanism centered at a third axis rearward of the axis, driveably connected to the pinion, including a clutch that alternately opens and closes a drive connection to the pinion.
US08939861B2
A transaxle comprises a transmission differential unit including a frictional transmission mechanism and a differential mechanism. The frictional transmission mechanism includes an input shaft, a drive disc provided on the input shaft, and a driven disc whose outer peripheral edge frictionally contacts a disc surface of the drive disc. The differential mechanism includes a pair of coaxial output shafts, and a differential casing differentially connecting the output shafts to each other. The driven disc is ring-shaped and is fitted at an inner peripheral portion thereof on an outer peripheral portion of the differential casing so as to be unrotatable relative to the differential casing and so as to be slidable on the outer peripheral portion of the differential casing in the axial direction of the output shafts.
US08939856B2
Deaeration of the high pressure oil chamber of a hydraulic tensioner takes place though a helical orifice formed by opposed flanks of the threads of a threaded hole in the tensioner housing and the threads of a screw inserted into the hole. The opposed flanks are maintained in spaced relationship by a force exerted by a spring washer disposed between the head of the screw and a surface of the tensioner housing surrounding the opening of the threaded hole. The flank of the thread of the hole that forms part of the boundary of the helical orifice can have a concave curvature in order to increase the aperture of the air flow path. A groove in the surface surrounding the opening of the threaded hole prevents the washer from sealing off the flow of air. This groove is disposed with its exit end at a level above its entry end.
US08939844B2
Cross-type universal joint and a shell-type needle bearing that is used therein. The portions on the outer surface of the shell-type outer ring for which there is a possibility of coming in sliding contact with the tip end edges of at least two seal lips of a plurality of seal lips of a seal ring are selectively covered with a corrosion resistant coating. Preferably, the entire outer surface of the shell-type outer ring is covered by a chemically treated film having anti-corrosion properties.
US08939843B2
The present disclosure provides an input damper for coupling to a torque-generating mechanism. The damper includes an outer cover, a hub, and a carrier assembly coupled to the hub. The carrier assembly is movably disposed within the cover. A clutch assembly moves between an engaged position and a disengaged position and is biased towards the engaged position. The input damper further includes an angular displacement mechanism operably coupled to the clutch assembly for moving the clutch assembly between the engaged position and disengaged position. The outer cover is coupled to the carrier assembly in the engaged position.
US08939837B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a computing device having a controller to obtain a user input that was inputted into a first accessory operably coupled with the computing device where the first accessory provides a user interface for user interaction with a video game, determine a language of an intended recipient of the user input based on an identity of the intended recipient, access a multi-lingual library comprising a plurality of words associated with the video game, match the user input to one or more words of the plurality of words of the multi-lingual library to generate a translated message in the determined language of the intended recipient, and provide the translated message to a second accessory for presentation to the intended recipient in real-time. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US08939836B2
The present invention relates to an interactive game controlling method for use in a touch panel device medium. The game includes a virtual hot zone, a virtual display range, at least one self-acting virtual object displayed on the touch panel device. An interactive program that allows users to interact with the virtual object in the virtual hot zone is executed in response to a finger tapping on the virtual hot zone. The method includes the steps of: a) receiving a touch and sensing the motion of the touch; b) moving the virtual display range where the virtual object is included in a direction opposite to the direction which the touch is moving; c) executing the interactive program to allow the user to interact with the virtual object when the virtual object is relocated to the virtual hot zone and the virtual hot zone receives a change in state of touch.
US08939830B2
Example embodiments relate to a combine harvester including a straw chopper having an inlet for unchopped straw, an outlet for chopped straw in an essentially horizontal direction, and a spreader fan, connected downstream of the outlet of the straw chopper and having an essentially horizontal plane of rotation, for spreading the chopped straw over a ground surface. The combine harvester further includes a guide member, which is arranged to deflect at least a part of the stream of chopped straw material to an axial intake of the spreader fan such that a part of chopped straw material meets the blades of the spreader fan in the direction of transport of the chopped straw material through the spreader fan at an acute angle (α) relative to the plane of rotation of the spreader fan.
US08939826B2
An apparatus for heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning of an interior space includes a heat exchanger core and a heating/cooling device in fluid connection with the heat exchanger core. A recirculation port is arranged between a supply air chamber and an outside air chamber. A damper is adapted to move between a first position in which the damper blocks the recirculation port and a second position in which the recirculation port is unblocked. When the damper is in the second position, at least a portion of supply air is guided to flow from the supply air chamber through the outside air chamber to the heat exchanger core so as to defrost the heat exchanger core.
US08939818B2
An object of the invention is to provide a polishing pad which has a polishing layer with a phase-separated structure and can provide high polishing rate and high planarization property and with which scratching can be suppressed. The polishing pad comprises the polishing layer. The polishing layer comprises a product of curing reaction of a polyurethane-forming raw material composition containing: (A) an isocyanate-terminated prepolymer obtained by reaction of a prepolymer-forming raw material composition (a) containing an isocyanate component and a polyester-based polyol; (B) an isocyanate-terminated prepolymer obtained by reaction of a prepolymer-forming raw material composition (b) containing an isocyanate component and a polyether-based polyol; and a chain extender, wherein the product of curing reaction has a phase-separated structure.
US08939797B2
A connection system establishes an electrical connection between an electrical device and at least one pair of cables each of which ends with a cable terminal. The connection system comprises a fixed part including a support base adapted to be rigidly fitted to a wall of the electrical device and, for each cable, a connection screw protruding from the support base and electrically connectable to the electrical device. A mobile part includes a perimeter frame adapted to be mechanically fitted to the support base and having a passage wall defining, for each cable, a passage-through hole through which an end part of the cable passes so that the corresponding cable terminal is disposed inside the perimeter frame and aligned with the respective connection screw when the perimeter frame is mechanically fitted to the support base.
US08939789B2
An electrical device, a method of manufacturing a HVAC unit and a HVAC unit employing the electrical device are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the electrical device includes: (1) a contact configured to indicate a status of the electrical device and (2) terminals configured to terminate connections, the terminals having: (2A) a pair of functional terminals internally connected across the contact and (2B) a pair of jumpered terminals independent of the pair of functional terminals and internally connected together. Designated combinations of the terminals indicate a circuit configuration for the electrical device with each of the terminals having a particular design that dictates a specific corresponding connection header be used for each of the designated combinations.
US08939785B2
A cable connector with spring-loaded plunger comprises a sleeve and a plunger module. The sleeve is a hollow cylinder with two open ends and formed with a spring bore portion. The plunger module is disposed in the spring bore portion and comprises a plunger slidably disposed in the spring bore portion. The plunger partially penetrates the spring bore portion toward the center of the sleeve. One end of the sleeve thickens inwardly to form a plug connector retaining portion. The cable connector with spring-loaded plunger can effectively decrease the rate of unit aging in connection and disconnection.
US08939782B2
The invention relates to a device for detachably fastening a current conductor (10) to a current transformer housing (12), comprising a fastening element (18), which is fastened to a retaining element (16) arranged on the current transformer housing (12) and, when the current conductor (10) is fastened to the current transformer housing (12), rests at least partially on the surface of the current conductor (10). The invention is characterized in that the fastening element (18) is mounted pivotally on the retaining element (16).
US08939778B2
An electrical socket includes an insulating housing, a plurality of contacts, an upper film permanently attached to the top face and a lower film permanently attached to the bottom face. The insulating housing defines a top face and a bottom face, and a plurality of through holes through the top and bottom faces. The contacts are retained in the insulating housing and the contacts comprise elastic portions received in the through holes, contacting portions and connecting portions. The contacting portions and connecting portions integrally connected with opposite ends of the elastic portions respectively. The contacting portions run through the upper film and the connecting portions run through lower film.
US08939774B2
In exemplary implementations of this invention, electrical connections are fabricated between two orthogonal surfaces by electroplating. The two surfaces are separated (except for the electrical connections) by a gap of not more than 100 micrometers. Multiple electrical connections may be fabricated across the gap. In preparatory steps, conductive pads on the two surfaces may be separately electroplated to build up “bumps” that make it easier to bridge the remainder of the gap in a final plating step. Alternately, electroless deposition may be used instead of electroplating. In exemplary implementations, a 3D probe array may be assembled by inserting array structures into an orthogonal base plate. The array structures may be aligned and held in place, relative to the base plate, by mechanical means, including side hooks, stabilizers, bottom hooks, alignment parts and a back plate.
US08939762B2
The present disclosure describes a faster method of orthodontic remodeling, where a patient wears an orthodontic fixed appliance biting an orthodontic remodeling device, the orthodontic remodeling device comprising: an extraoral housing containing a power source operably coupled to an actuator operably coupled to a processor that controls the actuator and captures and communicates device usage data; the extraoral housing operably connected to an intraoral U-shaped bite plate; the bite plate having upper and lower vertical rims on a facial edge thereof to contact both arches of teeth; and wherein during use the orthodontic remodeling device vibrates at a frequency from 0.1 to 400 Hz. The patient then activates the orthodontic remodeling device for about 20 minutes daily. The method provides accelerated tooth movement as compared to without using the orthodontic remodeling device.
US08939750B2
The invention relates to a device for pelletizing at least one strand of material to be pelletized. Said device comprises a cutting device with two blades that can be displaced relative each other, at least one feed roller and at least one strand feeder for feeding the strand to the cutting device. An additional tab-shaped rectification guide is arranged downstream of the strand feeder in the region directly in front of the feed roller and next to the same, said guide being adjustable and movable in relation to the strand feeder. The rectification guide can be used to adjust the angle at which the strand is fed to the feed roller.
US08939747B2
An injection mold includes a first mold part provided with a first mold surface and a second mold part provided with a second mold surface to form a cavity together with the first mold surface. Cooling channels along which a cooling fluid flows are provided in at least one of the first mold part and the second mold part, and a heat generating layer which receives power and then generates heat is disposed on the inner surfaces of the cooling channels and serves as a heater.
US08939744B2
An Underwater pelletizer for cutting extruded plastic into a flow of liquid. The pelletizer includes a cutter hub (90) carrying at least one cutter blade (96), a cutter shaft (60) for rotationally driving the cutter hub, and a flexible torque converter (80) for connecting a motor to the cutter hub. In one embodiment, the torque converter has a first set of bushings (82) that is fastened to a face (98) of the cutter hub and a second set of bushings that is fastened to a face (64) of the cutter shaft. A shaft extension (20) can be configured to engage a motor shaft, the shaft extension having an Outer diameter having formed thereon a splined portion (38) and first (26) and second (28) sealing surfaces. A motor adapter (40) has a seal surface (44). A water chamber plate (50) may also have a seal surface (52).
US08939742B2
A compressor, characterized in that a steel is used as the base material for the other sliding material vane 10 and nitrided, a CrN or DLC film is formed on the surface by PVD treatment, and a Ni—Cr—Mo cast iron is used for the other corresponding sliding material piston 9. It is possible in such a configuration to suppress the temperature rise by sliding friction of the sliding materials, such as the vane tip region 10a and the peripheral region of piston 9 that are vigorously slid, relax decomposition of the refrigerant, and suppress corrosion by hydrogen fluoride generated in reaction with water and oxygen, and thus to provide a compressor higher in reliability.
US08939741B2
A scroll compressor is provided that may include a fixed scroll having a fixed wrap, an orbiting scroll engaged with the fixed wrap to define a compression chamber, a rotation shaft having a shaft portion eccentrically located with respect to the orbiting scroll, a pin portion located at an end of the shaft portion and having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the shaft portion, and a bearing located at an end of the pin portion, and a drive that drives the rotation shaft. The pin portion may be inserted through one of the fixed scroll or the orbiting scroll, and the orbiting scroll may be rotatably coupled to the bearing.
US08939739B2
An electric compressor includes a compression mechanism, an electric motor for driving the compression mechanism, and a drive circuit for controlling the electric motor. The drive circuit includes an external connector made of an insulating material. The external connector has a connecting terminal that is constructed to be electrically connected to an external power source. The drive circuit further includes a circuit board electrically connected to the connecting terminal and a filter element electrically connected to the circuit board. The drive circuit is accommodated in a metal housing. The filter element is integrally formed with the external connector such that contact of the filter element with the housing is prevented.
US08939738B2
A thrust shaft for a fan has a shaft body with an enlarged disk adjacent one axial end to provide a rotating surface in a pair of thrust bearings. A first cylindrical portion extends from the disk in a first direction, and a second cylindrical portion extending from the disk in a second opposed direction. The second cylindrical portion has a hollow bore, and there are a plurality of holes extending through the second cylindrical portion to communicate an outer periphery with the bore. A ratio of the diameter of the bore to a diameter of the plurality of air holes is between 6.60 and 7.00. A ratio of an overall length of the second cylindrical portion, and a distance from a face of the enlarged disk to a center of the holes is between 14.4 and 15.2. A thrust bearing assembly, a fan, a cabin air supply system, and a method are also disclosed.
US08939731B2
A character parameters obtaining method for a displacement control mechanism of a hydraulic pump and a detecting device for carrying out the method are disclosed. The method involves constructing a hydraulic system; outputting hydraulic energy by the hydraulic pump driven by a primary motor; detecting pressure of a displacement control mechanism; obtaining middle parameters by obtaining the time required for preset change of the pressure at the output end of the displacement control mechanism; obtaining character parameters of the displacement control mechanism according to the middle parameters. The method can obtain the character parameters of the displacement control mechanism by the pressure detection, so that the performance of the displacement control mechanism can be judged according to the obtained character parameters. The method avoids the need of obtaining the output flow of the hydraulic pump so as to eliminate the problem caused by using a flow meter or using an obliquity sensor to obtain the character parameters.
US08939724B2
The present invention relates to a system and method for harvesting wind energy from air exhausted by other systems. Ventilation and heat exchange systems force air movement using fans. Exhaust airflow may also be the result of a combustion system. The exhaust air is generally wasted as it is diffused back to the atmosphere. Significant energy may be recovered from this exhaust air using relatively small turbines inserted into the airflow. Careful positioning of the turbine maximizes the recovery efficiency.
US08939722B2
A mounting device for mounting a number of fans includes a rack and a number of fixing members. The rack includes a bottom wall and two sidewalls perpendicularly extending up from opposite sides of the rack. Each sidewall defines a number of vents spaced along the lengthwise of the sidewall. Each fixing member includes a board perpendicularly mounted to the bottom wall and positioned at a side of two aligning vents, and a blocking member mounted to the board and slidable along the lengthwise of the sidewalls to block a top of a fan.
US08939719B2
A centrifugal pump includes a motor having an output shaft, a volute mounted at one side of the motor and an impeller which is located inside the volute and attached to the output shaft. The volute has an inlet arranged along the axial direction, an oulet arranged along the lateral direction and a flow channel arranged along the circumferential direction. The flow channel has a spiral shape. The cross-sectional area of the flow channel increases towards the outlet.
US08939718B2
A turbocharger has a rotor housing. Said rotor housing has an insertion element. Said insertion element is configured such that the same forms an over-hanging spiral together with said rotor housing.
US08939712B2
The invention relates to a housing for covering the ends of a row of rotor blades of an axial turbomachine compressor, the housing being provided with a sealing device between the blade tips and the housing. It comprises a shell segmented along its circumference, each segment being fixed to the housing by a series of elastomeric elements in a recess in the shape of a channel cut into the inner surface of the housing. In this way, in the event of misalignment of the rotor relative to the stator, the rotor blades coming into contact with sections of the shell will be able to move to compensate for this misalignment while reducing the frictional forces generated by contact between the blades and the shell. In the event of alignment being re-established the segments of the shell will be able to resume their initial position because of the elastic behavior of the elements.
US08939703B1
A system for the shipment of less than a full load in a secured collapsible sub-container from the shipper's location to a first central hub for combination with other partial shipments to make a full load for transfer to a second hub and ultimate delivery to a destination. The sub-container being readily foldable for storage in a full load freight container without taking up freight carrying capacity.
US08939700B2
A loader for a work vehicle comprises a lift arm, a bucket, a bucket linkage, and a hydraulic bucket cylinder. The bucket and the linkage are pivotally attached to the lift arm. The linkage comprises a first link and a second link, which are pivotally attached to the bucket. The bucket cylinder is pivotally attached to the first and second links and the bucket and operable to pivot the bucket relative to the lift arm. The linkage comprises a debris guard substantially obstructing a space defined between the first and second links and between the bucket cylinder and the bucket.
US08939697B2
A transportable container apparatus includes an elongated container with an outlet port, and a trailer releasably attachable to the container at first and second trailer attachment locations corresponding to first and second orientations of the outlet port with respect to the trailer. An actuator mounted to the trailer is operative, when the trailer is attached to the container, to selectively move the container between a transport position where the container is supported on the trailer in a substantially horizontal orientation, and a working position where the container is supported on the ground in a substantially vertical orientation. The trailer can be attached to an appropriate location to position the outlet port in a desired orientation at a work site. Ballast weight can be added to the lower portion of the container to increase stability, and the ballasted tank with a maximum allowable weight can be transported to a work site.
US08939692B2
A screw having a polygonal cross section exhibits a threaded section and a forming section adjoining the threaded section and extending as far as a front rounded end of the screw and, if necessary, being free of threads. The lateral line of the forming section, if necessary free of threads, runs smoothly and without interruption from the threaded section as far as the tip at a constant curvature. The screw serves for the attachment of an element to a sheet metal component, whereby said screw engages in an existing hole in the sheet metal component and forms the thread itself. Said screw is thereby also capable of enlarging the hole and forming a raised rim hole.
US08939690B2
An attachment device having a nut member, flange member, and tabs connecting the flange member to the nut member. The nut member extends along an axis and has an axial thread-engaging bore. The flange member extends transversely to the axis and has an opening, with the flange member being spaced axially from nut member. The tabs connect the flange member to the nut member, with each tab having a first end connected to the nut member and a second end connected to the flange. The nut member includes blocks having abutment faces defining a polygonal outline with side faces, with each tab extending alongside an abutment face on a side face.
US08939676B2
A system for removing ammonia from landfill leachate comprising an economizer for producing high pressure hot water in a hot water circuit from heat exchange with a hot gas stream carrying waste heat; a boiler which is heated by the high pressure hot water to produce steam; and an ammonia stripper. The ammonia stripper has a leachate inlet connected to a leachate flow path, and an ammonia containing gas outlet. A leachate discharge outlet is connected to a leachate discharge flow path, and a steam inlet is provided which is connected to the boiler by a conduit. At a lower end of the ammonia stripper there is a forced air inlet. A randomly packed bed located between the upper end and the lower end. In use there is a flow of steam and air in one direction and of leachate in the opposite direction which releases ammonia from the leachate.
US08939667B2
A shaper for defining a tip portion of a cosmetic unit that has become worn includes a shaping surface for smoothing a surface of the tip portion and a slot in the shaping surface. The shaping surface is user-selectably placed in contact with the tip portion. An edge disposed at the slot and is engageable for removing material of the tip portion when the shaping surface is in contact with tip portion. The removed material is passed through the slot.
US08939666B2
A recording apparatus includes: a first support unit which is disposed at an intermediate location of a transport path of the target and supports the target; a second support unit which is disposed at a location of a downstream side of the transport path of the target further than the first support unit and supports the target; a tension applying member which is disposed at a location of the target transport path between the first support unit and the second support unit and pressures the target from one side thereof to apply a tension to the target; and an optical detection unit which is disposed at a location corresponding to the tension applying member to face the other side of the target and irradiates detection light to a surface of the other side of the target to which the tension is applied by the tension applying member.
US08939664B2
A medium transport apparatus includes: a transport unit transporting a belt-shaped medium having plural marks formed in line at predetermined intervals in a transport direction; a detection unit detecting the marks on the medium; and a determining unit determining that a splice exists at a position on the medium if an interval of the marks detected from the medium by the detection unit differs from the predetermined intervals, the position being identified by the marks having the interval different from the predetermined intervals.
US08939663B2
A ribbon tension control system for a printing system includes a ribbon tension control apparatus. The ribbon tension control apparatus is configured to engage a print ribbon that extends through the printing system for applying one or more inks in the print ribbon to one or more target objects as the print ribbon is pulled from an unwind spindle to a windup spindle in the printing system. The ribbon tension control apparatus also is configured to control tension in the ribbon in response to change in a torque applied to the windup spindle that is used to pull the ribbon through the printing system.
US08939660B2
An optical fiber fusion splicer includes positioning members and clamping members. Each clamping member clamps the bare fiber. A first guiding portion protrudes from the top surface of each positioning member and guides a distal end portion of the bare fiber toward the groove. A concave face of the first guiding portion has a V-shaped cross section. Each clamping member includes a second guiding portion, which guides a base portion of the bare fiber toward the groove of the corresponding positioning member, and a pressing member, which presses the bare fiber against the top surface of the fiber positioning member. A concave face of the second guiding portion has an inverted-V-shaped cross section. The fusion splicer can clamp bare fibers while the bare fibers are received by the groove.
US08939640B2
An electronic cassette that is equipped with a drive mechanism capable of accommodating a radiation detection section respectively in two casings and that is capable of changing the surface area of the radiation detection section to be externally exposed and the exposure position on the radiation detection section. Deterioration of the radiation detection section from radiation can be distributed due to control such that the same exposure position is not repeatedly employed. An electronic cassette is accordingly provided that does not suffer from uneven effects of deterioration from radiation within a single sheet radiation detection section even with repeated use.
US08939638B2
A mixer for mixing an exhaust flow with a fluid injected into an exhaust pipe includes a first mixing element including a base interconnecting first and second sidewalls and a deflection element positioned to be impacted by the injected fluid as well as a mixing fin positioned downstream of the deflection element. A second mixing element includes first and second spaced apart mounting flanges fixed to inner surfaces of the first and second sidewalls. Alternately, the mixer includes first and second mixing elements positioned within circumferentially spaced apart slots axially extending from an open end of a tubular housing.
US08939636B2
A light source assembly includes a plurality of light source modules detachably connected to one another. Each light source module includes a frame part, an electrical connection part, and at least one light emitting device. The frame part includes a female coupling disposed in one side surface thereof and a male coupling disposed on another side surface thereof and configured to be engaged with a female coupling of another light source module of the plurality. The electrical connection part is disposed on an upper surface of the frame part and extends onto the one side surface having the female coupling disposed therein and onto the other side surface having the female coupling disposed thereon. The at least one light emitting device is mounted on the electrical connection part and disposed on the upper surface of the frame part.
US08939634B2
Embodiments of the invention provide for a lighting system for illuminating aisles with shelving. A rail can include a plurality of LEDs that extend along the length of the rail. The rail can be coupled with a node that includes various components along with an egress light source. The LEDs can be used to primarily illuminate the shelving on both or one side of the aisle. The egress light can be used to illuminate the aisle during times of emergency, at night, or when egress may be required.
US08939620B2
A headlamp device (18) having left and right pairs of lamp units (20) is disposed inwardly of a front fairing (14) to enclose a front portion of an automotive vehicle. Each of the lamp units (20) is a direct lighting type and includes two light emitting portions (34, 35), on which circuit boards (30, 31) having LED chips (32, 33) mounted thereon, and two lens portions (36, 37) for projecting light, emerging from the light emitting portions (34, 35), in a direction outwardly of the vehicle widthwise direction. The front fairing (14) is so formed as to bulge gradually laterally and upwardly of the vehicle widthwise direction from a tip portion (14a) in a rearward direction, and the headlight device (18) is disposed proximate to a lower end of the front fairing (14).
US08939607B2
This invention relates to an optical device (100) for intercanopy lighting comprising a light input area (109) for receiving light, a first surface (120) having a first bezier curve, and a second surface (110) having a second bezier curve. The first and second bezier curves are independently selected with respect to each other, and arranged such that the optical device is rotational asymmetric with respect to its center axis. Received light which is reflected in the first surface is reflected in a direction towards the center axis, and received light which is reflected in the second surface is reflected in a direction away from the center axis, thereby providing vertical and horizontal homogeneous illumination distribution in a predefined area, which area is illuminated under an angle. Thus, a vertical intensity distribution can be selected to be narrow, while simultaneously the horizontal intensity can be selected to be wide, which is advantageous for providing intercanopy lighting at a desired target zone for plants. Simultaneously, the vertical intensity distribution is asymmetric, which is advantageous for meeting homogeneity criteria for lighting of plants.
US08939598B1
A light fixture includes a housing having a hollow interior and an open end. A circuit board is mounted in the hollow interior of the housing. A source of illumination is mounted on the circuit board. A light transferable cover extends across a lower end of the housing. A bracket assembly mounted to the housing includes a housing bracket and a mounting bracket that is configured for mating and subsequent relative sliding motion to releasably lock the housing bracket to the mounting bracket.
US08939577B2
The invention is related to a hydrated silicone hydrogel contact lens having a layered structural configuration: a lower water content silicone hydrogel core (or bulk material) completely covered with a layer of a higher water content hydrogel totally or substantially free of silicone. A hydrated silicone hydrogel contact lens of the invention possesses high oxygen permeability for maintaining the corneal health and a soft, water-rich, lubricious surface for wearing comfort.
US08939571B2
An ink jet recording apparatus performs recording by discharging an ink composition onto a recording medium. The apparatus includes an ink jet head including a pressure-generating chamber containing an ink composition and applying a discharge pressure to the ink composition, a discharge port from which the ink composition is discharged, and a communicating path for communicating between the pressure-generating chamber and the discharge port. The ink composition is discharged from the discharge port at a discharge rate of 5 m/sec or more and 15 m/sec or less. The communicating path has a length of 40 μm or more and 600 μm or less. The ink composition contains a self-dispersible pigment and an organic solvent having a Hansen solubility parameter of 14 (cal/cm3)1/2 or more and 16 (cal/cm3)1/2 or less.
US08939566B2
An ink jet printing ink for use in an ink jet printing method. The ink is ejected from a print head by the action of thermal energy and includes water, a self-dispersing pigment, and at least two types of resin particles. One of the at least two types of resin particles (resin particle A) and another of the at least two types of resin particles (resin particle B) have an average particle size of 80 nm or more but 220 nm or less and an acid value of 25 mgKOH/g or more but 150 mgKOH/g or less. The resin particle A has a glass transition temperature of 25 degrees Celsius or less. The resin particle B has a glass transition temperature of 25 degrees Celsius or more. A difference in glass transition temperature between the resin particle A and the resin particle B is 10 degrees Celsius or more.
US08939563B2
A filter plate has an interior cavity, at least one filter contained in the interior cavity, a first port on a first side of the plate, at least one second port on a second side of the plate, forming a flow path with the first port through the filter, wherein the second port is positioned higher on the plate than the first port. A print head has an ink reservoir having an ink supply port connected to an ink supply, and a filter plate attached to the reservoir and positioned between the ink supply port and the ink reservoir, the filter plate including an interior cavity, at least one filter contained in the interior cavity, a first filter port on a first side of the filter plate in contact with the ink supply port, and at least one second filter port on a second side of the filter plate facing the ink reservoir, wherein the second port is positioned higher on the filter plate than the first port.
US08939560B2
A liquid passage communicates a first reservoir of a main tank with a second reservoir storing a liquid supplied from the first reservoir, and has one end portion on the side communicating with the first reservoir, which joins with or detach from the main tank. To increase the liquid volume in the second reservoir up to a first predetermined volume, a controller feeds the liquid in the first reservoir to the second reservoir when the liquid volume in the second reservoir is less than a second predetermined volume. When the liquid volume in the second reservoir falls short of the first predetermined volume, the end portion of the liquid passage is detached from the main tank. Then, the controller determined whether the liquid volume in the second reservoir is equal to or more than the first predetermined volume.
US08939558B2
An image forming apparatus includes a liquid ejection head, a head tank, a liquid storage container, a liquid feed device, a supply valve, an exhaust passage, a float valve, an air release valve, and a suction device. The exhaust passage is disposed in the head tank and communicated with an ambient air. The float valve is disposed in the head tank to close the exhaust passage in response to an amount of liquid in the head tank. The air release valve opens and closes the exhaust passage of the head tank. When the suction device exhausts air from the exhaust passage with the air release valve open, the liquid feed device is driven to pressurize and feed the liquid.
US08939553B2
A head chip for a liquid jet head of a recording apparatus has liquid jet channels arranged in a longitudinal direction of the head chip, and nozzle holes that communicate with the liquid jet channels. A flow path plate covers the liquid jet channels and has first and second circulation paths that extend in the longitudinal direction of the head chip and communicate with the liquid jet channels to supply liquid thereto. First and second inflow ports are provided at opposite longitudinal ends of the head chip for inflowing liquid into the first and second circulation paths, respectively, so that liquid flows through the first and second circulation paths in opposite directions while being supplied to the liquid jet channels. The sum of pressures of liquid supplied to each liquid jet channel from the first and second circulation paths is uniform throughout the longitudinal direction of the head chip so that high image quality is realized.
US08939541B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for determining an operational range of colorant densities and heating powers that result in successful drying for a print media that is based on a drying quality of test images printed by a printing system. One embodiment comprises a printing system that applies colorant onto a continuous-form medium and applies heat to the medium based on a heating power. The printing system prints a plurality of test images onto the medium, where one or more of a colorant density and a heating power vary for each of the printed test images. The printing system determines a drying quality for the printed test images, and calculates an operational range of colorant densities and heating powers for the medium based on the drying quality of the printed test images.
US08939539B2
Whether a continuous sheet usable for printing on the basis of first print data and a continuous sheet usable for printing on the basis of second print data are the same or not is determined. If it is determined that they are the same, an image based on the first print data and an image based on the second print data are printed continuously on a continuous sheet. When an image based on the second print data is arranged at an end of a continuous sheet, the second print data is assigned to the beginning of print data to be printed on another continuous sheet.
US08939527B2
An ink jet printing apparatus can suppress vibrations to a low level without local concentration of abrasion between a carriage and a guide shaft. The ink jet printing apparatus makes the carriage reciprocate along the guide shaft without ejecting ink, thus achieving a stirring operation in which the ink stored in an ink tank is stirred. At least one of a limited range in one direction, in which the stirring operation is performed, and a portion of the guide shaft that contacts the carriage when viewed from the one direction, is changeable.
US08939525B1
A self-closing buffer and automatic rebound mechanism for a slide rail includes a buffer body, a buffer slide block, a buffer hook block, a buffer element, at least one pull-back spring, at least one push-out spring, a pressing toggle plate and a pressing block. The slide rail consists of an outer rail, a middle rail and an inner rail, and the inner and middle rails can be sequentially pulled and extended outward or pushed inwardly, overlapped and shortened. The slide rail is installed between a drawer and a cabinet for use. When the drawer is pushed inwardly to a certain degree, the drawer is pulled back automatically to a locked position, and the pushing force is damped to lower noises. After the drawer is pushed again, the drawer is rebounded automatically to a certain distance to facilitate operations that follow, so as to improve the convenience of use significantly.
US08939514B2
In an aspect, a leg support for a vehicle occupant is provided, and includes a leg support base and a leg engagement member. The leg support base is connected (or is connectable) to a center console of the vehicle. The leg engagement member may be integral with the leg support base or may be extendable from the leg support base. The leg engagement member is configured to engage the laterally outer face of a lower leg of a vehicle occupant. The leg engagement member has a leg engagement surface that has a lower edge and an upper edge. The lower edge is positioned to engage the lower leg of the vehicle occupant above the lateral malleolus of the fibula of the vehicle occupant. The upper edge is positioned to engage the lower leg of the vehicle occupant above a midpoint of the fibula and below the superior epiphysis of the fibula. The leg engagement member is positionable to support the lower leg of the vehicle occupant in such a way that the upper leg and the lower leg extend in a common plane that is substantially parallel to the sagittal plane of the vehicle occupant.
US08939511B2
A first and a second surface of a latch for a seat permit sliding passage of the latch relative to a front leg of a striker, upon contact of the front leg with either of the first and second surfaces. A third surface in a containing space of the latch stops the latch by contacting the front leg. The third surface is arranged such that a rear leg of the striker is brought in alignment with a lock groove of the latch upon contact of the front leg with the third surface. The latch can be guided along the second surface when the second surface contacts the front leg, so that the second surface slides on and past the front leg. By continuously unfolding the seat back upwards until the third surface contacts the front leg, the seat back can be set to a design reference position.
US08939503B2
An object is to provide a head and neck protection apparatus for vehicle which is simple in a structure and an operation principle and excellent in reliability and safety and can protect the head and neck part by alleviating not only a rearward impact received by the head part at a rear-end collision but also a forward impact.A head and neck protection apparatus for vehicle according to the present invention is attached to a vehicle seat, provided with a fixed frame having a mounting stay, a swing frame swingably connected with respect to the fixed frame, and a lock stopper for locking the swing frame with respect to the fixed frame, in which the swing frame has a rear-head part contact member with which the rear head part is brought into contact and a front-head part buffer member alleviating an impact of the front head part.
US08939502B2
Vehicle seats that reduce the potential for injury to occupants when the vehicle is subjected to a mine or similar explosive device. The seats are ceiling or wall mounted and include a trailing arm which allows for deflection while providing stability. The seat isolates the occupants from the chassis of the vehicle via a pneumatic or other shock absorber and/or a crushable element to provide protection from vertical and horizontal oriented blasts. These seats can also be combined with shock absorbing/isolating foot rests, appendage (leg) restrain systems and an occupant four-point harness to offer a completely integrated system. This integrated system reduces acceleration/deceleration related injuries, shock injuries to the lower legs, flailing injuries to the lower legs and internal collision injuries. Other options and alternatives are also described.
US08939495B2
A spoiler where when a weld face is inclined with respect to a pressurization direction, a weld rib is uniformly welded, and an outer member and an inner member are welded and fixed to each other at a stable strength. An inner member is welded and fixed to on an interior face side of an outer member by a vibration welding method. The outer member and/or the inner member before being welded has a weld rib formed on a face inclined with respect to a pressurization direction at the time of welding; a cross section of the rib is formed in a triangular or quadrangular shape; and in the cross section, two corners at both ends of a bottom edge each form an angle of 90 degrees or less.
US08939479B2
A bumper absorber (9) has a squared U-shaped cross section formed of: a vertical face (11) extending in a top-bottom direction and a vehicle width direction, and a top face (12) and a bottom face (13) respectively extending rearward from a top end and a bottom end of the vertical face (11). The bumper absorber (9) is configured such that the top face (12) and the bottom face (13) thereof are supported by the bumper reinforcement (10) via multiple attachment members (23 to 27), and an interval between the attachment members adjacent to each other in the vehicle width direction is set to decrease from end portions (9b) in the vehicle width direction toward a central portion (9a) in the vehicle width direction.
US08939471B2
The present subject matter provides a drain line adapter. The drain line adapter includes at least two conduits. The two conduits can be oriented or positioned relative to one another in order to facilitate drainage of the drain line adapter. The two conduits can also be oriented or positioned relative to one another in order to hinder clogging of the drain line assembly.
US08939468B2
A fixing device has at least one clamping device and at least one locking element which can be acted upon by the clamping device, and at least one counter locking element. In a closed position of the clamping device, the locking element and the counter locking element are arranged in an engagement position, and the fixing device has at least one elastic resetting element for resetting the locking element in an open position of the clamping device. The fixing device has at least one engagement element which, in the closed position of the clamping device, is in engagement by preferably plastic deformation of at least one surface of the locking element and/or of the counter locking element in a form-fitting manner with the surface.
US08939466B2
An apparatus includes a frame having multiple openings for slidably receiving multiple airbag support assemblies. Each support assembly includes an airbag coupling member slidably disposed in a one of the openings in the frame for maintaining a spring member between the frame and the airbag device. The airbag coupling member has a coupling end protruding from a first side of the frame facing the airbag device for connecting to the airbag device. Pressing the airbag device towards the frame compresses the spring member therebetween. An electrical switch assembly is connected to the frame. The electrical switch assembly includes an electrical switch for a circuit. The electrical switch has a push button that continuously engages the airbag device when the frame is connected to the airbag device via an airbag coupling member, to maintain the electrical switch between the frame and the airbag device.
US08939460B2
A foldable bicycle provided with a frame, the frame comprising a first arm having a rear end to which a rear wheel is linked, a fork with handlebar to which a front wheel is linked, a bar connecting a front end of the first arm to the fork and hinged to the first arm and a post supporting a saddle and hinged to the first arm. The first arm, the bar and the post are interconnected by transmission elements for simultaneously rotating about the axes between an operative configuration and a carrying configuration. The transmission elements comprise a first engagement angular sector rotatably coupled with said post via first linkages, and a second engagement angular sector in rotary engagement with the first engagement angular sector and rotatably coupled with the bar via second linkages.
US08939458B2
A vehicle suspension system includes a spring, a neck assembly, and a rod. The neck assembly has an outer shell housing a hollow stem having an upper end and a lower end. The stem is rotatable respect to outer shell. The upper end is coupled to an upper bracket having a control arm pivotally coupled thereto. The lower end is coupled to a lower bracket having a linkage pivotally connected thereto. The rod has a first end coupled to the spring and a second end coupled to the linkage. The rod extends through the hollow stem. The linkage is further coupled to a wheel assembly.
US08939432B1
An expanding dual disc gate valve that can be used in applications requiring double block and bleed type systems. A stem is positioned in the center of a valve body with a first and second gate arranged on opposite side of the stem with respect to each other. The first and second gates are slidingly engaged with the stem so that the stem controls their movement between an open and a closed position with respect to an inlet and an outlet of the valve body. As the gates approach the closed position they encounter a shoulder of the valve body preventing further downward movement, whereby further force from the stem wedges the first and second gates outward to create a sealing arrangement with a seat ring of the valve body.
US08939425B2
A mounting device for mounting a fan includes a base board and two fixing assemblies. The fan includes two opposite boards. The base board forms four rods. Each fixing assembly includes a receiving member and an engaging member. The receiving member includes a first pole capable of extending through a corresponding one of the boards and a first block abutting against an outer surface of the board. The engaging member includes a second pole capable of extending though the other one of the boards to be engaged in the first pole, and a second block abutting against an outer surface of the other board. Each of the first and second blocks defines a fixing hole through which a corresponding one of the rods is capable of extending.
US08939422B2
A support device is disclosed. The support device includes a connecting element and a first support frame. The connecting element is used for connecting the support device to a portable electronic device and includes a plurality of positioning protruding points. One end of the first support frame includes a positioning hole used for connecting to one of the plurality of the positioning protruding points; another end of the first support frame contacts a plane so that a clamping angle between the portable electronic device and the plane is formed, and the clamping angle is different if the positioning hole connects to different positioning protruding points.
US08939418B2
A hanger bar assembly includes a first hanger bar member that includes a first rail segment. The first hanger bar member also includes a first channel segment that includes a first channel. The first hanger bar member also includes a first transitional middle segment extending between the first rail segment and the first channel segment. The hanger bar assembly further includes a second hanger bar member that includes a second rail segment. The second rail segment is positioned in the first channel of the first channel segment. The second hanger bar member further includes a second channel segment that includes a second channel. The first rail segment is positioned in the second channel. The second hanger bar member also includes a second transitional middle segment extending between the second rail segment and the second channel segment.
US08939408B2
A spacecraft comprises a hybrid assembly equipped with at least one solar panel characterized in that said assembly comprises at least one solar cell provided with luminous energy concentration means and said assembly also comprises at least one solar cell with no luminous energy concentration means.
US08939406B2
A fuselage having a longitudinal window belt has a composite outer skin including upper and lower composite skin sections. The skin includes at least one window opening located at the window belt. The upper and lower skin sections are joined together by a longitudinal splice joint located at the window belt.
US08939402B2
Different advantageous embodiments provide a method and apparatus to increase a clearance of a cargo area of an aircraft. The apparatus and method may comprise an aircraft with a cargo area. A tray system may have a plurality of segment trays with each segment tray positioned between a plurality of floor beams located underneath a surface of the floor of the cargo area. A plurality of rollers in the tray system may be configured to allow an object to be moved across the cargo area.
US08939395B2
Apparatus and methods for controlling yaw of a rotorcraft in the event of one or both of low airspeed and engine failure are disclosed. A yaw propulsion provides a yaw moment at low speeds. The yaw propulsion device may be an air jet or a fan. A pneumatic fan may be driven by compressed air released into a channel surrounding an outer portion of the fan. The fan may be driven by hydraulic power. Power for the yaw propulsion device and other system may be provided by a hydraulic pump and/or generator engaging the rotor. Low speed yaw control may be provided by auxiliary rudders positioned within the stream tube of a prop. The auxiliary rudders may one or both of fold down and disengage from rudder controls when not in use.
US08939393B2
A vertical take off and landing (VTOL) aircraft is designed to be so efficient that it can be commercially competitive with runway dependent aircraft operating in a range of 100 to 1000 miles. Improvements include a high efficiency tilting rotor and wing design that enable both vertical takeoff and efficient high speed cruising, a high aspect ratio wing, and a variable speed propulsion system that is efficient in both hover and cruise flight. Preferred aircraft use thin inboard and outboard wings, thin rotor blades, and use efficient lightweight design to achieve unusually low empty weight fraction. Inventive methods include utilization of advanced design and analysis techniques, which allow for accurate prediction of an aircraft's physical behavior.
US08939385B2
A mounting system for a spray manifold having a plurality of spray modules arranged in a lateral array with support assemblies between adjacent modules. The mounting arrangement includes one or more mounting assemblies which each have a hub that is securable about one of the manifold support assemblies and a clamp comprising a pair of clamping arms that is securable about the hub by means of an appropriate fastener. The hub and clamping arms define complementary circular surfaces which permit the selected pivotal positioning of the hub and the spray manifold to which it is secured relative to the clamp and a machine mounting structure.
US08939384B1
An irrigation sprinkler includes a riser and a nozzle turret rotatably mounted at an upper end of the riser. A drive assembly is supported in the riser and is coupled to the nozzle turret for rotating the nozzle turret. The drive assembly has a reversing planetary gear drive, a reversing mechanism, and a manually adjustable arc setting mechanism including a pair of arc tabs. A position of one of the arc tabs is adjustable through the arc setting mechanism to change a size of an angle through which the nozzle turret oscillates back and forth. The manually adjustable arc setting mechanism is further adjustable to allow the nozzle turret to continuously rotate.
US08939380B1
A method of making an electrical connection to a railroad rail includes fastening a wire bonding assembly to a railroad rail, the wire bonding assembly including first and second spaced apart washer plates contacting the rail and a metal bar supported by the washer plates. The metal bar is electrically connected with the rail with a first conductive lead contacting a selected point on the rail and a selected point on the metal bar. A second conductive lead is connected to another selected point on the metal bar for establishing an electrical connection to the rail from an electrical device.
US08939368B2
A new technology is provided for a portable bar code verification reader and is designed to create a video image of a bar code label in accordance to strict industry bar code verification standards. The barcode verification reader will effectively capture a bar code label and then send the resulting video image to a computer. The resulting bar code label quality may be displayed on the portable verification reader via one or more LED's, an embedded display monitor, or the like.
US08939367B2
An apparatus for measuring the orientation of the longitudinal axis of a cavity comprising a signal receiver, a signal processor and analyzer and a cavity axis orientation analyzer. The signal receiver receives a reflected signal resulting from an interaction of multi-frequency irradiating signal(s) with at least one cavity. The irradiating signal may include an electromagnetic or acoustic signal above a cavity dependent cutoff frequency with a randomized or deterministic spectral component. The signal analyzer computes a power spectral density of the reflected signal. The local maxima of the power spectral density are identified and used to determine the cavity longitudinal axis orientation. The cavity may be the bore of a weapon.
US08939366B1
Systems and methods for displaying information on a targeting display are provided. A method comprises positioning a targeted object proximate a center of a targeting display image and providing a reticle below the target object. The reticle is configured to identify the targeted object to a user of the targeting display. The method further comprises providing a first plurality of data elements positioned along a vertical axis upon which the targeted object and reticle are also positioned. The first plurality of data elements include a range to the target, an azimuth to the target, and one or more error estimates relating to at least one of the range to the target or the azimuth to the target. The method further comprises providing a second plurality of data elements within a plurality of areas positioned proximate to one or more borders of the targeting display image.
US08939362B2
A system and method provide for offering a consignment of a closed-loop card/code. The method includes presenting an offer associated with a closed-loop card/code to pay an offer amount, wherein the offer is triggered based on an occurrence of an event. The system receives an acceptance of the offer from a user and performs one of deactivating and suspending of the closed-loop card/code after receiving the acceptance. When the event occurs, the system notifies the user and pays an offer amount to the user after the event occurs.
US08939359B2
Systems and methods for controlling access to wireless gaming devices and networks are provided. For example, access is controlled through one or more levels of security checks, such as a hard security check instead of or in addition to a soft security check. In a hard security check, the user employs an apparatus such as a card or other physical token that can be used to access the wireless gaming device. Such an apparatus may communicate information that identifies the user to the device or may simply be used to produce a signal without which the device is locked to users. The apparatus may further emit a time varying signal to enhance security.
US08939357B1
A single swipe system is constructed that allows a person to use a single financial card to receive loyalty benefits (or conduct other non-payment operations) concurrently with a payment transaction. In one embodiment, the user simply swipes his/her financial card and the processing system then concurrently processes a non-payment transaction along with a payment transaction. In some situations, the non-payment transaction can be blended into the payment transaction to allow for discounts and other awards from one or more databases other than the payment processing database. In one embodiment, a single swipe of a financial card connects the consumer with one or more loyalty systems and the consumer can select from the ones desired during the course of payment processing. Discounts and other advantages can be applied to the payment transaction, all based upon a single entry of the consumer's ID.
US08939356B2
The PORTABLE PRESCRIPTION PAYMENT DEVICE MANAGEMENT PLATFORM APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (“PPD”) provides a portable coupon payment device includes a substrate having surface with an image rendering thereon that corresponds to a free sample. The portable coupon payment device also has memory, in contact with the substrate, having data encoded therein including (i) an identifier for the free sample, (ii) a quantity for the free sample; (iii) a sponsor company account for a selling merchant to charge the cost of the free sample for payment to a selling merchant account to reimburse the selling merchant for the free sample; (iv) an image corresponding to the free sample; and (v) an identifier for a coupon provider donating the free sample to a consumer.
US08939348B2
After a microcrystalline layer having a grain size that is finer than that of a base member is formed on the surface of at least one of a first bonding portion and a second bonding portion, the gap between the first bonding portion and the second bonding portion is filled with a solution into which copper oxide can be eluted, so as to deposit copper oxide contained in the surface oxide film into the solution. By applying pressure and by heating at a temperature of at most the copper recrystallization temperature, the components contained in the solution are removed except for copper, so as to elute copper oxide, thereby bonding the first bonding portion and the second bonding portion via the copper thus deposited. Subsequently, the copper is solid-phase diffused into the first bonding portion and the second bonding portion.
US08939346B2
A method includes applying solder to conductive pads of a semiconductor device, applying solder to conductive pads of a substrate, aligning the solder on the semiconductor device with the solder on the substrate such that portions of the solder on the semiconductor device contact corresponding portions of the solder on the substrate, heating the semiconductor device and the substrate to liquefy the solder, and exerting an oscillating force operative to oscillate the semiconductor device relative to the substrate at a frequency.
US08939344B2
A loading unit for use with a surgical stapling apparatus is provided and includes a tool assembly having a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly that are movable in relation to one another; a surgical buttress releasably secured to a tissue contacting surface of the anvil assembly and/or the cartridge assembly, wherein each surgical buttress is secured to the anvil assembly and/or the cartridge assembly by at least one anchor; a release assembly associated with the anvil assembly and/or the cartridge assembly; and a drive assembly slidably translatable through the tool assembly between proximal and distal positions, wherein the drive assembly actuates the release assembly to thereby release the anchor to free the surgical buttress from the anvil assembly and/or the cartridge assembly.
US08939343B2
A surgical stapling device particularly suited for endoscopic procedures is described. The device includes a handle assembly and an elongated body extending distally from the handle assembly. The distal end of the elongated body is adapted to engage a disposable loading unit. A control rod having a proximal end operatively connected to the handle assembly includes a distal end extending through the elongated body. A control rod locking member is provided to prevent movement of the control rod until the disposable loading unit is fully secured to the elongated body of the stapling device.
US08939330B2
A fluid dispensing valve comprises a module, a discharge tip, a valve stem and a movable service seat. The module has a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a fluid passage connecting the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The discharge tip is removably mounted to the module and in fluid communication with the fluid outlet. The valve stem extends into the fluid passage to close-off the discharge tip. The movable service seat surrounds the valve stem within the fluid passage between the discharge tip and the fluid inlet. The service seat is configured to seal the fluid passage when the discharge tip is removed.
US08939311B2
A beverage container that includes a cylindrical main body portion having an open top and a closed bottom and that defines an interior. The bottom includes a contact surface and a continuous concave non-contact portion extending therebetween. The cylindrical main body portion defines a first volume. The container also includes a removable cover positioned at a location between the bottom and the top, and a recess defined between the removable cover and the open top. The recess defines a second volume that is between about 5% and about 50% of the first volume.
US08939308B2
A full aperture beverage end has a center panel, a countersink surrounding the center panel, a main score arranged in proximity to the countersink to define a removable aperture panel and a vent score. The beverage end is adapted for use with products that are pressurized to over 30 psi (200 kPa) when opened, and during opening the vent score is adapted to sever first, controlling the pressure differential between the external surface and internal surface of the center panel, thereby allowing the main score to tear in a controlled and reliable manner.
US08939297B2
A device for displaying a sport board, such as a skateboard, on a flat surface, such as a wall or an angled ceiling, wherein the board may be displayed at any angle to maximize the artistic impact of the design. The display device includes a mounting plate, a spacer to accommodate the curvature of the sport board, and a board mounting bracket designed to accept bolts that are screwed into the opposite ends of the existing holes on a sport board deck.
US08939294B2
A separation matrix comprises a porous surface layer; and a bulk porous support, wherein both the porous surface layer and the bulk porous support comprising a block copolymer. The block copolymer comprises A-B or A-B-A repeating units, wherein A and B at each occurrence are two different blocks of oligomer, or polymer. A structural unit of block A is derived from one or more atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP)-active monomer or oligomer and a structural unit of block B is derived from a thermoplastic ATRP-active macro initiator. A poly dispersity index of the block copolymer is at least about 2.
US08939292B2
The invention refers to a screening machine, in particular a star screening machine, comprising at least two driven shafts provided with stars and/or discs, the shafts being arranged in a screening plane parallel spaced to each other, wherein the stars and/or discs are provided on different shafts staggered or comb-like engaging with each other, with a hopper or filling area in which the material to be screened can be filled. Wherein on the side facing the filling area in a plane above the screening plane and spaced parallel from it two distribution devices are provided one after the other in the direction of screening or conveying for distributing the material to be screened on the screening plane.
US08939290B2
A retail ready container is assembled from a single container blank having a container body portion and a protective cover portion. The container body portion includes a front container body panel, a left side container body panel and a right side container body panel. The protective cover portion includes a front cover panel, a left side cover panel and a right side cover panel. The left side cover panel is frangibly attached to the left side container body panel and the right side cover panel is frangibly attached to the right side container body panel. The container blank includes a finished side and an unfinished side. The container in the assembled state is configured so that the finished sides of the left and right side cover panels are respectively positioned adjacent to and opposed from the respective finished sides of the left and right side container body panels.
US08939276B2
Disclosed is a device for storing and feeding of raw materials during production of fruit- and/or vegetable-juice, which device includes a number of storage and feed units for fruit/vegetables and/or pieces of fruit/vegetables, and a bottom element. Disclosed features are that the storage and feed units are situated on a support disc, that each of the storage and feed units is allocated an outlet aperture in the support disc, that a feed disc is situated below the support disc, that the feed disc is rotatably supported by the bottom element and is provided with a feed aperture, and that the feed disc is rotatable relative to the support disc so that the feed aperture can be brought central to any desired outlet aperture, and a unit for conveying to a juice machine the fruit/vegetables and/or pieces of fruit/vegetables fed.
US08939274B1
An envelope feeder for a printer having two aligned conveyors moving at different speeds is disclosed. An upstream conveyor moves a backwards slanted procession of envelopes having aligned upper edges onto an inline downstream conveyor that accelerates the envelopes along a curved upper edge so that by the time any single envelope arrives at the printer ingestion or feed slot, the envelope is almost completely flat yet supported upwards slightly so that the pickup roller of the printer can easily and reliably ingest the envelope for processing. Due to the speed of the downstream conveyor, envelopes are continually and reliably presented to the printer to avoid printer stalls. The configuration reduces the amount of skill and operating labor required to establish a high-speed envelope feed source for high-speed printing.
US08939270B2
A multiplate clutch assembly for use in an automotive powertrain is provided that includes a first member, a second member, a plurality of first clutch plates attached to the first member, and a plurality of second clutch plates attached to the second member. The first and second clutch plates are disposed alternatively with one another. At least two of the first clutch plates have separator portions that are configured to contact each other and provide a separation force therebetween. A clutch plate is also provided that includes an annular main body portion defining an aperature therethrough and defining and outer edge and an inner edge. Separator teeth extend from a tooth edge, the tooth edge being one of the inner and outer edges of the main body portion. Each separator tooth is bent at an acute angle with respect to the main body portion.
US08939267B2
A torque converter includes, in a case coupled to an output shaft of an engine, a torus formed from a pump, a turbine and a stator having a one-way clutch on the inside thereof, and a lock-up clutch. In addition, in this torque converter, a fluid from a pump is introduced from a space between a stator shaft (F2) and a turbine shaft (F1), and discharged from a space between a pump sleeve (23) and the stator shaft (F2) through a space where the lock-up clutch is disposed and the torus. Moreover, this torque converter further includes a seal member (80) which is disposed at a side that is closer to the engine than a spline engagement part (P2) of an inner race (52) and the stator shaft (F2), and seals a space between an inner peripheral face of the inner race (52) and an outer peripheral face of the stator shaft (F2).
US08939262B2
An elevator system includes an electronic system capable of triggering a machine room brake and an electromagnetic safety trigger with low hysteresis and with minimal power requirements that can be released to engage safeties, when car over-speed and/or over-acceleration is detected. The electromagnetic trigger may be reset automatically and may be released to engage the safeties, during the reset procedure. The system includes a processing system that is configured to decrease response time and to reduce the occurrence of false triggers caused by conditions unrelated to passenger safety, such as passengers jumping inside the elevator car.
US08939260B2
A double clutch transmission of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a clutch chamber (3) which is designed as a first oil chamber, for accommodating a double clutch, and a transmission chamber (8) which is designed as a second oil chamber, for accommodating a double clutch transmission gear set. A partition wall (9) separates the oil chambers from one another. An oil pump (11) is positioned in the transmission chamber (8) and can be driven by a drive shaft (7) which extends through the partition wall (9) from the transmission chamber (8) into the clutch chamber (3).
US08939258B2
The invention relates to a wind turbine for generating electric power by an air stream (1) onto a rotor (48) rotatable about a rotor axis (2), said rotor comprising a plurality of rotor blades (3, 4) and being coupled via a rotor shaft (5) to a generator (6), wherein a primary transmission (8) is present between the rotor shaft (5) and generator input shaft (7) for multiplication of the rotational speed, wherein the pressure-feed or force-feed lubricating system of said main transmission comprising a lubricating pump (9) enables the supply to components (46, 47) subject to wear, wherein the wind turbine (10) has an emergency pump (11) for lubricant supply, which during normal operation of the wind turbine is not operational and during spinning operation and/or a power failure can be connected and which is operated by the rotating rotor (48).
US08939257B2
The invention provides a power train mechanism capable of decreasing a rotational resistance. The power train mechanism includes: a clutch drum; a forced feed oil passage and a central oil passage for supplying oil to the clutch drum; an oil reservoir provided below the clutch drum; an outer circumferential surface surrounding member for surrounding an outer circumferential surface of the clutch drum, while facing the outer circumferential surface with a clearance therebetween to such a degree as to avoid contact with the outer circumferential surface during rotation of the outer circumferential surface of the clutch drum; and a trans-axle rear cover provided continuously to the outer circumferential surface surrounding member, for surrounding axial one end surface of the clutch drum, in which a side of the outer circumferential surface surrounding member axially opposite to the trans-axle rear cover is an open end.
US08939256B2
There is provided a collapsible ladder having several collapsible ladder sections, where each or at least part of the ladder sections comprises two hollow ladder bars arranged parallel to each other and interconnected at an upper end by a rung, and where each collapsible ladder section is telescopically inserted into a lower ladder section. Each ladder bar of a collapsible ladder section has a locking hole adjacent the lower end part of the ladder bar and an extension below the locking hole, and retaining mechanisms are provided in at least part of the rungs for locking the collapsible ladder sections relative to one another when the collapsible ladder sections are extended. Each of or part of the retaining mechanisms comprises a locking pin, which can be brought into an extended and locked position in order to engage a corresponding locking hole provided in the ladder bar of a ladder section positioned there above, and a release part for bringing the locking pin into a retracted and un-locked position. At least part of the rungs holding a retaining mechanism with a locking pin and a release part have spacers provided at the bottom, where at least part of said spacers have a release actuator with a bottom part extending below the spacer when the ladder section above the rung is locked in the extended position. The release actuator engages the release part of a retaining mechanism of the rung and is arranged to activate the release part when the bottom part of the release actuator is moved upwards through the spacer thereby bringing the locking pin into the un-locked position.
US08939250B2
Self-powered apparatus are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a front chassis portion and a rear chassis portion. The front chassis portion is to be coupled to the rear chassis portion. The front chassis portion is substantially the same as the rear chassis portion. When the front and rear chassis portions are coupled, the front chassis portion includes a first end of the apparatus and the rear chassis portion includes a second end of the apparatus.
US08939245B2
A system for connecting a set of batteries configured to supply at least one electric motor for powering a motor vehicle and configured to be accommodated inside a compartment provided on the vehicle. Each battery includes a logic processing unit, a communication module, and a mechanism for connecting to the motor. The vehicle includes a logic processing unit connected to a stationary auxiliary battery, a communication module capable of communicating with the communication module of each battery, and a mechanism for locking and blocking the batteries in position.
US08939229B2
A power tool is disclosed. The power tool has a striker, which is guided along an axis in a guide tube. A pneumatic chamber has a volume which varies with a movement of the striker. The pneumatic chamber is closed by the striker, the guide tube and a valve device. The valve device has in a flow channel a sealing element that is moveable between two positions in a bearing along the axis. The flow channel has a first cross-sectional area in a first of the two positions of the sealing element adjacent to a first mating surface of the bearing, and the flow channel has a second cross-sectional area in a second of the two positions of the sealing element adjacent to second mating surface of the bearing offset from the first mating surface along the axis. The second cross-sectional area is greater than the first cross-sectional area.
US08939228B2
In a clutch mechanism of a percussion driver drill, a plurality of engageable members held in a gear case is configured to be engageable with an end face of a final-stage internal gear, and a coil spring is configured to press the engageable members against the end face of the internal gear. The coil spring is disposed frontwardly of the engageable members between a switch member and an operating member of a vibration mechanism. A coupling member connected with the switch member and the operating member is disposed to pass through a gap between the plurality of engageable members and detour around a rear end of the coil spring.
US08939226B2
A weed-cutting gardening tool for easy cutting of plants and weeds as well as precision edge trimming. The device has an elongated handle secured to a working end with a V-shaped blade head. The blade head has an overall V-shape with a forward facing tip, two front blade edges, two rear blade edges, and two lateral blade edges. The blade edges provide a variety of cutting surfaces for a user to employ when trimming weeds. Different edges may be utilized by merely rotating the device, alleviating the need for a user to position his or her body in awkward positions. The device may also come with an elongated blade member that extends above the blade head and is useful for edge trimming along a sidewalk or garden boundary.
US08939219B2
A system and method for monitoring and controlling a snubbing unit having traveling slips and stationary slips are provided. Position sensors are associated with the slips for detecting opened and closed positions of the slips. Load sensors are associated with the slips for detecting load status of the slips. A control system receives input signals from the sensors, and confirms that either the traveling slips or the stationary slips are loaded before releasing or allowing the release the opposing set of slips, when transferring the pipe string load from the one set of slips to the other set of slips.
US08939213B2
Systems, devices, and methods for providing proper spacing and alignment of multi-well modular drilling templates and associated wells are provided. An example embodiment of a system includes a primary well upon which a multi-well modular drilling template is landed, and a second well upon which a specially configured spacer device is landed. The spacer device includes an alignment frame which engages guide arms of the template to force the spacer device into proper axial alignment. The spacer device includes an elongated arm and a guide funnel which provide the proper spacing and proper location for inserting a third well. The third well can be used as the central well for a second multi-well modular drilling template.
US08939207B2
A heater used to heat a subsurface formation includes an electrical conductor, a semiconductor layer at least partially surrounding the electrical conductor, an insulation layer at least partially surrounding the electrical conductor, an electrically conductive sheath at least partially surrounding the insulation layer. The heater may be located in an opening in the subsurface formation.
US08939202B2
A fracturing jet nozzle assembly features a series of angles nozzles on a rotatably mounted plate that operates in conjunction with a central nozzle or nozzles. The slanted nozzles are aimed into the perforation where the central nozzle is aimed directly so that the rotation of the nozzle plate from the slanted nozzles results in cyclic impacts in the perforation from where the fractures will propagate. The cyclic loading results in greater fracture formation and propagation. In another variation, relatively movable plates employing slanted nozzles rotate one plate with respect to another to get the effect of cyclic pulses of jetting fluid impingement in the perforation to enhance formation and propagation of fractures from the perforation.
US08939201B2
A space filler material is used to prevent accumulation of debris that could later foul the operation of adjacent moving parts. In one application a void space that is subsequently closed by actuated parts is initially filled with a material that is highly compressible and has voids that allow it to compress without undue resistance to part movement when the void volume is reduced. Ideally, the pores or voids in the material itself are small enough to keep most if not all the debris from entering and making the space filling material too rigid to collapse under part movement. In an alternative application, the material can be in an annular space such as a seal bore and it can keep debris from getting past the seal bore while allowing hydrostatic pressure across itself thereby helping it to maintain its position until moved such as by shifting of an inner string to which it is attached.
US08939197B2
A temperature equalization system, including an installation, a heat equalizer disposed in a natural heat carrier and being made of a material of heat conduction, a relay heat equalizer, a first fluid transmission duct disposed between the relay heat equalizer and the installation and having a first fluid contained therein for heat transmission, a second fluid transmission duct disposed between the heat equalizer and the relay heat equalizer and having a second fluid contained therein for heat transmission, a pump and a relay pump respectively connected in series with the first and second fluid transmission ducts for pumping the first and second fluid, and a control means controlling the pump to pump the first fluid through the relay heat equalizer, the fluid transmission duct and an interior of the installation, and to pump the second fluid through the relay heat equalizer, the second fluid transmission duct and the heat equalizer.
US08939195B2
A plate for the use in a heat exchanger cassette, where the plate comprises a corrugated pattern having a plurality of ridges (9) and valleys (10), and where the plate comprises a sealing gasket groove (3) encircling a heat transfer surface (8) that will be part of a contact-free fluid channel when two cassettes comprising at least one plate each are positioned adjacent each other, wherein the sealing gasket groove (3) comprises a base surface with a first, flat section (12) and a second, bent section (13), and where the bent section is angled with the angle α. The advantage of the inventive plate is that an airtight heat exchanger cassette can be obtained in an easy and cost-effective way.
US08939194B2
A continuous cast slab includes the following component: by mass %, C: 0.01˜0.3%, Si: 0.05˜0.5%, Mn: 0.4˜2%, P: 0.03% or less, S: 0.03 or less, Al: 0.005˜0.03%, Ni: 0.2˜2%, O: 0.006% or less, and N: 0.006% or less; wherein the balance is composed of Fe and inevitable impurities; wherein a structure in steel in a region within at least 2 mm from a broad surface is composed of ferrite and pearlite and a equivalent circular diameter of ferrite grains in the region is equal to or shorter than 30 μm.
US08939192B2
A method of manufacturing a golf club head can include: creating a mold of the golf club head; forming two or more portions of a model of the golf club head using the mold, each of the two or more portions of the model include a part of a body of the golf club head and at least one first alignment mechanism; assembling the model of the golf club head using the at least one first alignment mechanism of each of the two or more portions of the model to align the two or more portions of the model, the model comprises the body of the golf club head and a joined alignment mechanism, the joint alignment mechanism comprises the at least one first alignment mechanism of each of the two or more portions of the model; using the model of the golf club head to create a cast for the golf club head; removing the model of the golf club head from the cast; and using the cast of the golf club head to create the golf club head with the joined alignment mechanism; and removing the joined alignment mechanism from the golf club head. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08939191B2
A method for measuring the temperature in a mold by a fiber-optic measurement method and a correspondingly designed mold. For this purpose, light waveguides, through which laser light is conducted, are arranged in grooves in the outside surface of the copper mold plate. The temperature at several measurement points along the measurement fiber is determined by a temperature detection system. In particular, the method makes it possible to achieve much greater local resolution of the temperature measurements than that achieved by thermocouples.
US08939184B2
A tire sidewall may be formed from a composition including a rubber component and a non-ionic surfactant.
US08939180B2
Apparatus and methods for filament crimping. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a body and a filament crimp element. The filament crimp element comprises a first set of cavities disposed at a spacing which creates a first set of features and a second set of cavities disposed at a spacing which creates a second set of features. The first and second set cavities are substantially opposite one another. The first set of features are adapted to be placed at least partially within the second set of cavities and the second set of features are adapted to be placed at least partially within the first set of cavities. Methods and apparatus for the manufacture of the device are also disclosed. In addition, methods for automated placement and manufacture of assemblies using the crimp elements are also disclosed.
US08939174B2
A drop-in cartridge style, four-chamber EGR valve, includes a valve actuator, a valve stem extending from the valve actuator and having two valve heads mutually spaced on the stem, and a frame having a plurality of longitudinally extending members connected by at least first and second ring members, the frame being divided along a longitudinal axis into two mating parts.
US08939167B2
A pressure relief assembly may include an actuator stem having a plurality of retaining grooves. A relief plate may be operatively connected to the actuator stem and a diaphragm plate may be operatively connected to the actuator stem. A diaphragm may be least partially disposed between the relief plate and the diaphragm plate. A relief spring seat may be releasably attached to the actuator stem at one of the plurality of retaining grooves. The relief spring may be adjusted by moving the attachment point from one retaining groove to another retaining groove.
US08939160B2
A masking sheet for hair coloring has first and second surfaces encompassed by first and second longitudinal edges and first and second transverse edges where the first and second transverse edges embody respective substantially convex curves.
US08939158B2
Hair-coloring applicators comprising a shield to protect the scalp, polymers of tannic acid having iron ions bound thereto, hair-coloring compositions comprising same and/or melanoidin, and novel alcohol-free carriers, are disclosed, as well uses thereof for coloring hair.
US08939156B2
Wrapper for cigarette manufacture includes transversely extending band regions applied by a printing technique, such as gravure printing. The band regions comprise starch, an anti-wrinkling agent such as 1,2 propylene glycol or glycerin, and optionally calcium carbonate. Any suitable printing technique can be used to apply the aqueous solution to the banded regions. The pattern of banded regions may be bands, stripes, two-dimensional arrays, undulated regions, and the like along and/or around the tobacco rod. The pattern can be applied in one or more layers. The pattern may be configured so that when a smoking article is placed on a substrate, at least two longitudinal locations along the length of the tobacco rod have film-forming compound located only on sides of the smoking article not in contact with the substrate.
US08939150B2
Systems and methods for estimating a leak flow in a breathing assistance system including a ventilation device connected to a patient are provided. Data of a flow waveform indicating the flow of gas between the ventilation device and the patient is accessed. A specific portion of the flow waveform is identified, and a linear regression of the identified portion of the flow waveform is performed to determine an estimated leak flow in the breathing assistance system.
US08939147B2
Components of a CPAP or other patient ventilation apparatus have a remotely-readable identification tag encoded with component identification data. The flow generator controller is programmed to receive data derived from the identification tag from a tag reader, and to adapt functions of the flow controller to coordinate with the component.
US08939145B2
An apparatus and method for treating sleep apnea and/or snoring is provided. The apparatus includes an appliance sized and structured to be placed in the pharyngeal region of a human or animal and being effective in treating sleep apnea and/or snoring, for example in maintaining openness of an oropharyngeal region of a human or animal during natural sleep, advantageously while not interfering with normal functioning of the epiglottis. Preferably, the appliance is non-circumferential in form and includes rounded, spaced apart end portions.
US08939143B2
Disclosed herein is a solar array column cap that includes a main body extending between a left side and a right side to define a channel, the channel configured to at least partially receive a vertical column of a solar array support structure such that the main body surrounds the vertical column. The main body further includes a left flange extending radially outwardly from the left side of the channel and right flange extending radially outwardly from the right side of the channel. Further, the main body includes an left upper flap extending from a top edge of the left flange, and a right upper flap extending from a top edge of the right flange, the right upper flap and left upper flap being co-planar. In another embodiment, a body has an opening extending along a center axis from a bottom to a top, the opening configured to receive the vertical column such that the body surrounds the vertical column, and an upper support surface configured to receive a horizontal beam, the upper support surface being located in a plane that is non-perpendicular with the center axis.
US08939142B2
An exhaust system includes a hood structure having one or more of (i) an exhaust flow infeed surface extending downward from a lower end of the filter unit that helps to feed the thermal plume toward the filter unit, (ii) a bypass flow transition surface extending upward from the upper end of the filter unit and then forward to aid bypass flow in circulating back toward the filter aperture and (iii) a front wall structure that includes a downwardly extending wall portion with a chamfered and/or curved transition portion at its lower end and a rearwardly extending wall portion.
US08939139B2
B/D archery bow accessories which have an elastomeric vibration dampening component mounted on an elongated, rigid support. The elastomeric component has a set of integral vibration dampening elements such as ribs. The vibration dampening elements have irregular profile configurations which make these elements capable of dampening with high efficiency the sets of vibrational frequencies generated: (a) when an arrow is shot, and (b) during and after the ensuing lock-up. Vibration dampening efficiency may be promoted by making the elastomeric component from a material of the most optimal hardness that is practical and by employing end pieces at opposite ends of the elastomeric component.
US08939135B2
When an engine is in a predetermined steady operating state, a gradient accumulation average value ΔAulsa corresponding to the amount of change in the air-fuel ratio AF, detected by an air-fuel ratio sensor, over the period of time from when an upper peak is reached, at which the direction of change in the air-fuel ratio AF is inverted to when a lower peak is reached, at which the subsequent inversion of the direction occurs, is calculated (S100 to S160) and, when the calculated gradient accumulation average value ΔAulsa is greater than a predetermined threshold value ΔAref1 that is determined in advance as an upper limit (absolute value) of the range, in which it may be determined that the air-fuel ratio is even between the cylinders of the engine (S165 to S175), it is determined that the engine is in an air-fuel ratio imbalance state, in which there is an imbalance in air-fuel ratio between the cylinders of the engine.
US08939134B2
An apparatus for controlling an internal combustion engine executes air-fuel ratio feedback control based on a detection result of an exhaust gas sensor and when the engine is shut down, stops energization of a heater of the exhaust gas sensor at a predetermined timing after shutdown of the engine, heater control of the exhaust gas sensor is executed, which is suitable for a case in which shutdown time of the engine is set long, and thus the exhaust gas sensor is protected from thermal shock. The control apparatus sets timing for stopping energization of a heater of an exhaust gas sensor after shutdown of the engine, to a point in time when a predetermined time set based on outside air temperature has elapsed, or a point in time when cooling water temperature of the engine has dropped to a predetermined temperature.
US08939131B2
A PCV valve apparatus includes a PCV valve main body and a cover member. The PCV valve main body includes a first connection portion, a second connection portion, and a fastened portion. The first connection portion includes a first end and a second end. The cover member includes an attachment portion and a covering portion. The fastened portion includes a locking portion protruding toward the cover member in a state where the covering portion covers a fastening member. In a covering position where the covering portion covers the fastening member, the locking portion is received in a receiving portion, and the attachment portion is located at the second end. In a non-covering position where the covering portion does not cover the fastening member, the attachment portion is in contact with the locking portion to be locked by the locking portion and is located at the first end.
US08939128B2
The present invention shows a high-pressure injector having the following assemblies: an injector unit (1), a drive unit (2) for driving the injector unit (1), preferably a high-pressure storage unit (3) for supplying the injector unit (1) with fuel, and a high-pressure connection (4). Provision is made in this respect that the high-pressure injector has a housing (5) in which a plurality of the named assemblies are arranged behind one another in the longitudinal direction of the injector, wherein the housing (5) completely envelops at least one of the named assemblies, in particular the drive unit (2) and/or the high-pressure storage unit (3). The high-pressure injector with the injector unit can be used in all types of internal combustion engines, preferably in diesel engines.
US08939118B2
A rocker arm assembly to provide either cylinder deactivation or reduced valve lift. The rocker arm assembly includes inner and outer portions that are rotatably connected to one another. In one state, the inner and outer portions are locked together to provide traditional valve lift. In a second state, the inner portion is allowed to rotate relative to the outer portion to deactivate the cylinder or provide reduced valve lift. Bearings on both the inner and outer portions provide rolling contact with corresponding cam shaft features. A hydraulic system provides transition between the first and second states.
US08939112B2
A buckstay connecting system includes a socket part that is fixed to the horizontal buckstay being separated from a lower end of the vertical buckstay between the lower end of the vertical buckstay and the horizontal buckstay, and an insertion part that is fixed to a lower portion of the vertical buckstay, is inserted into the socket part so as to be able to slide in a vertical direction, inhibits the horizontal buckstay from being inclined, and is allowed to be fastened to the socket part.
US08939107B2
A confined pulsed laser deposition method and apparatus that includes an ablative coating between a transparent confinement layer and a backing plane, and a laser beam directed through the confinement layer to ablate the coating at generally ambient temperature and pressure, and using laser induced pressure to synthesize metaphase from the ablative coating. For example, diamond phase carbon can be synthesized from a graphite coating. The laser beam can be directed through a focus lens to control the final spot size, or through a beam diffuser to make the intensity more uniform. An XYZ-stage can position a desired target area of the ablative coating to be irradiated by the laser beam. The laser beam can have an intensity of less than about 6 GW/cm2, or less than about 4 GW/cm2. The laser beam can have an excitation wavelength of about 568 nm.
US08939094B2
The invention relates to an incineration plant with a furnace, a device for feeding back incineration residues into the furnace, a device for measuring at least one parameter of the incineration, and devices for controlling the incineration. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for controlling an incineration plant.
US08939092B2
Provided is a table system that allows for multiple table frame arrangements using various combinations of fundamental building pieces. An adjustable height table leg includes two parallel and horizontal slots adapted to receive and clamp two independent frame members of the frame. The frame members may be bent or angled in a plurality of configurations to achieve a desired shape for the table frame. Sections of the frame members may also include apertures through which fasteners may be threaded to connect two frame members at right angles.
US08939088B2
A bottom door opening-closing mechanism includes a first connecting rod, a second connecting rod, a swing rod, a bottom door opening-closing drive cylinder and a transmission shaft. The swing rod is hinged to the second connecting rod and the piston rod of the bottom door opening-closing drive cylinder. One end of the first connecting rod is hinged to the second connecting rod, and the transmission shaft is connected to the second connecting rod. The cylinder body of the bottom door opening-closing drive cylinder is fixedly connected with a first locking hook, and the swing rod is fixedly connected with a second locking hook which can be caught by the first locking hook. A bottom door device and a drop-bottom hopper car are further provided. In the present invention, the first locking hook and the second locking hook are caught with each other to achieve a secondary locking. Such an arrangement has some advantages such as a simple structure and low manufacture and maintenance costs. Further, a secondary locking may be achieved while closing the bottom door only by controlling the bottom door opening-closing drive cylinder, so that the complexity of the control system is reduced.
US08939081B1
A weapon-locating ladar system estimates a backward trajectory of an airborne target by using flow field measurements to follow the wake turbulence trailing the airborne target from a position at which the target is detected backwards until the wake is no longer observable. The system may use the backward trajectory to estimate the point-of-origin of the target. The system may also use the flow field measurements along the backward trajectory to classify the target. Target classification may be used to refine the point-of-origin estimate, to influence counter-fire or to adapt the flow field measurements.
US08939079B2
Disclosed are a printing plate and a mirror thereof, the printing plate including: printing portions for transferring an immersed solution, the printing portions being formed flat and arranged at regular intervals on one side of an upper part of the printing plate; and non-printing portions corresponding to a remaining area other than the printing portions, the non-printing portions being formed with at least two concavities and convexities respectively and arranged at regular intervals on the other side of the upper part of the printing plate.
US08939078B2
An ink supply apparatus of a printing press includes at least one inking device. In the inking device, an ink fountain roller is rotatably supported. An ink fountain main body forms a space to store an ink together with an outer surface of the ink fountain roller. A guide member slidably supports the ink fountain main body and guides the ink fountain main body between a first position where the space is formed and a second position spaced apart from the ink fountain roller than the first position. A doctor including a blade is attached to a doctor holding member between the ink fountain main body and the ink fountain roller when the ink fountain main body is located at the second position. The blade abuts against the ink fountain roller and cleans the ink fountain roller.
US08939064B2
The present invention relates to a linear actuator. A slide table of the linear actuator includes a table main body and an end plate connected to another end of the table main body. On a base portion of the table main body, four workpiece retaining holes are formed, and fitting seats are disposed respectively about the workpiece retaining holes on radial outer sides thereof. The fitting seats are formed at the same time that the table main body is formed by press molding.
US08939040B2
An analyzing apparatus comprising: a transporting device for transporting a sample; a plurality of measuring units, each measuring unit measuring a sample transported by the transporting device; a determination result obtainer for obtaining a determination result representing whether the sample requires remeasurement based on a measurement result by a predetermined measuring unit among the plurality of measuring units; a designation receiver for receiving a designation of one measuring unit for remeasuring the sample determined to be remeasured; and a transport controller for controlling the transporting device so as to transport the sample determined to be remeasured to the designated measuring unit. An analyzing method is also disclosed.
US08939037B2
Embodiments are generally directed to methods and apparatuses having electronic device cover glass that includes embedded sensors. In particular, one embodiment may take the form of a device having a device housing and a cover glass coupled to the device housing. The device includes a plurality of sensors coupled to the cover glass and configured to acquire data related to stress and strain experienced by the cover glass. The plurality of sensors is embedded within the cover glass.
US08939024B2
An angular velocity sensor includes a vibrator that vibrates with a drive signal; and a first-sensing-electrode on the vibrator that outputs a first signal containing a first-sense-component generated based on an angular velocity of the vibrator and a first-monitor-component generated based on a drive signal. The sensor includes a second-sensing-electrode on the vibrator that outputs a second signal containing a second-sense-component with a phase substantially the same as that of the first-sense-component and a second-monitor-component with a phase substantially opposite to that of the first-monitor-component; a first-signal-line one end of which is connected to the first-sensing-electrode; and a second-signal-line one end of which is connected to the second-sensing-electrode. The sensor includes a first-sensing-terminal connected to the other ends of the first- and second-signal-lines; and a disconnection-sensing-circuit that outputs a disconnection-sense-signal indicating that the first- or second-signal-line is disconnected, based on a signal from the first-sensing-terminal.
US08939023B2
Disclosed herein is an inertial sensor. An inertial sensor 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is configured to include a plate-shaped membrane 110 on which a hole 200 penetrating in a thickness direction is formed, a mass body 120 disposed on a bottom of a central portion 113 of the membrane 110, and a post 130 disposed on a bottom of an edge 115 of the membrane 110 to support the membrane 110 and surrounding the mass body 120. By the configuration, the preferred embodiment of the present invention reduces damping force due to viscosity of air at the time of vibration by forming the hole 200 on the membrane 110 to increase displacement or amplitude of the mass body 120, thereby increasing sensitivity of the inertial sensor 100.
US08939021B2
Apparatus and methods for fluid expansion in mud gas logging to determine downhole the composition of a downhole hydrocarbon fluid sample by expanding the sample using an incrementally adjustable piston or a series of fixed chambers to extract vapor containing composition components of interest.
US08939018B2
An analyzing device includes a feeder connected to a container in which a sample is contained for sucking the sample from the container and feeding the sample, and a controller for performing control for feeding from the feeder to a measurer. In measuring the sample, the controller performs control so that results of a plurality of times of measurement are obtained with respect to the single container in which the sample is contained, without changing the container. This arrangement allows quick accuracy check.
US08939015B2
A convenient method of testing imbibition of one or more imbibant fluids by a matrix of particles with a fluid already therein, comprises making a body 4 of packed particles with a matrix fluid filling the interstices between the particles, placing an imbibant fluid in each of a plurality of capillaries 6, 7, partially inserting each capillary into the body 4 so that part of the capillary with imbibant fluid therein projects from the body 4 and observing time for fluid to be taken from each capillary into the body. The method allows comparison of multiple imbibant fluids by placing each fluid in a respective capillary.
US08939002B2
A two-split seal block is enabled, when closed, to come into close contact with an abutment surface of the seal block and an outer circumferential surface of an extrusion stem or fix dummy block via a seal member pasted to the abutment surface of the seal block and a seal member provided on an inner circumferential surface of the seal block and a pressing means capable of pressing and causing a seal member provided on a container side end surface of the seal block against and to come into close contact with a stem side end surface of the container is provided movably in the extrusion direction, and the seal block is provided so as to be capable of opening and closing by rocking in a direction crossing the axial direction of the extrusion stem and at the same time, the seal block is provided so as to be capable of moving in the direction crossing the axial direction of the extrusion stem in an open state.
US08938993B2
High intensity plasma-arc heat sources, such as a plasma-arc lamp, are used to irradiate glass, glass ceramics and/or ceramic materials to strengthen the glass. The same high intensity plasma-arc heat source may also be used to form a permanent pattern on the glass surface—the pattern being raised above the glass surface and integral with the glass (formed of the same material) by use of, for example, a screen-printed ink composition having been irradiated by the heat source.
US08938987B2
Applicants provide a portable, modular table top system for dispensing chilled carbonated water, chilled non-carbonated water, and ambient (non-chilled) non-carbonated water therefrom. The table top water dispenser includes a cold plate that is chilled by evaporation of a refrigerant, which is part of a cold plate cooling circuit, which includes a compressor and a condenser. A pump and a motor move non-carbonated water through the cold plate to a dispensing valve engaged therewith. The same motor and pump typically drive non-carbonated water through the cold plate, through the carbonator where it becomes carbonated, and through the cold plate again, and out a second dispensing valve. A third dispensing valve is engaged to the remote source of pressurized water and bypasses the cold plate and, also, typically the pump for dispensing from a third dispensing valve.
US08938981B2
A dehumidification apparatus comprises an air inlet configured to receive an inlet airflow that is separated into a process airflow and a bypass airflow. An evaporator unit is operable to cool the process airflow by facilitating heat transfer from the process airflow to a flow of refrigerant as the process airflow passes through the evaporator unit. A condenser unit operable to (1) reheat the process airflow by facilitating heat transfer from the flow of refrigerant to the process airflow as the process airflow passes through a first portion of the condenser unit, and (2) heat the bypass airflow by facilitating heat transfer from the flow of refrigerant to the bypass airflow as the bypass airflow passes through a second portion of the condenser unit. The process airflow is discharged into the structure via a process airflow outlet and the bypass airflow is discharged into the structure via a bypass airflow outlet.
US08938980B2
A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, an ice maker disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, a pump fluidly connected to the ice maker and configured for pumping cooling media to the ice maker, and a motor operatively connected to the ice maker and configured to provide oscillating movement to the ice maker. The pump is operatively connected to the motor such that driving of the motor results in the pumping of the cooling media with the pump.
US08938978B2
A gas turbine engine combustor is provided and includes an array of fuel nozzles, a combustion casing assembly disposed about the array of fuel nozzles and an end cap assembly disposed within the combustion casing assembly to define with the combustion casing assembly an axis-symmetric annulus through which fluid travels into each of the fuel nozzles, at least one of the combustion casing assembly and the end cap assembly being formed with lobed, three-dimensional contouring.
US08938973B2
An aircraft air system includes a gas turbine engine, a bleed air duct directing compressed air bled from a compressor to an inner compartment within the aircraft, and an air contamination detector located downstream of the gas turbine engine compressor. The air contamination detector includes a visual indicator which detects the presence of a fluid contaminant within the bleed air.
US08938966B2
A device and a method for using overcapacities in the power grid is provided. In case of an oversupply of energy, the energy is transferred to a thermal storage device directly via a heating element and in the discharge case of the thermal storage device the heat is removed from the thermal storage device and made available to a thermodynamic cycle whereby electrical energy is produced. The heat from the thermal storage device is used to preheat air in an air feed line to a combustion chamber, or fuel is pre-heated using heat from the thermal storage device.
US08938965B1
A thermal-powered reciprocating-force motor includes a shutter switchable between a first position that passes solar energy and a second position that blocks solar energy. A shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator is coupled to the shutter to control switching thereof between the shutter's first and second position. The actuator is positioned with respect to the shutter such that (i) solar energy impinges on the SMA when the shutter is in its first position so that the SMA experiences contraction in length until the shutter is switched to its second position, and (ii) solar energy is impeded from impingement on the SMA when the shutter is in its second position so that the SMA experiences extension in length. Elastic members coupled to the actuator apply a force to the SMA that aids in its extension in length until the shutter is switched to its first position.
US08938960B2
A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine is provided that is capable of calculating a high-accuracy turbine rotational speed. A turbo supercharger which includes, in an exhaust passage, a turbine that is operated by exhaust energy of the internal combustion engine. A turbine rotational speed model which calculates a turbine rotational speed. The turbine rotational speed is corrected by an exhaust energy correction part equipped with the turbine rotational speed model.
US08938944B2
The present invention relates to an aircraft gas-turbine engine with a core engine surrounded by a bypass duct, with a radially outer engine cowling enclosing the bypass duct and being provided at its rear region with a thrust-reversing device which is moveable relative to the engine cowling, with at least one cooler element extending over at least part of the circumference being arranged in the intermediate area between the engine cowling and the thrust-reversing device.
US08938943B2
One embodiment of the present invention is a gas turbine engine with a bypass mixer. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for gas turbine engines and bypass mixers. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
US08938940B2
A crop divider (110, 112) for an agricultural harvesting head (100) is pivotally coupled to a ground engaging arm (136) that is pivotally coupled to a frame (102) of the agricultural harvesting head (100). A mechanical link (154) is also coupled to both the crop divider (110, 112) and to the frame (102) to support the crop divider (110, 112) as the ground engaging arm (136) pivots up and down.
US08938931B2
A method of mounting elements in a wind turbine tower, whereby the elements are partly or completely attached to the wind turbine tower by means of magnetic attraction forces. Wind turbine suspension units may be attached to the wind turbine tower, preferably completely or partly to the inner wall by means of magnetic attraction forces, which present structure-weakening attachments to the tower or part of the tower.
US08938926B2
Prior art rolled T-beams used in horizontal grids in suspended ceilings, serve as vertical studs in a grid that supports wallboard in a liner for a structural wall. A horizontal strut extends along, and is connected to, the studs, to unite the studs and the strut to form the vertical grid. The grid is braced from the structural wall.
US08938922B2
Fire block devices for application to a wall component. The fire-block device can be a wall component that includes a fire-resistant material strip that expands in response to sufficient heat to create a fire-resistant barrier. In some applications, the fire-block wall component is positioned to extend lengthwise along and across a gap between wallboard members. The fire-block wall component may have a U-shaped central portion and a pair of side portions extending in opposite directions from the central portion. The fire-resistant material may be positioned on the central portion of the fire-block device. The central portion may be positioned within the gap such that the fire-resistant material expands in response to sufficient heat to create a fire-resistant barrier.
US08938920B2
The present invention is premised upon an improved photovoltaic device (“PVD”) and method of use, more particularly to an improved photovoltaic device with an integral locator and electrical terminal mechanism for transferring current to or from the improved photovoltaic device and the use as a system.
US08938919B2
A solar module is disclosed that has one or more integrated electrical connectors. In addition, a solar module electrical connector holder is disclosed that has resilient wing portions and axial portions that mate with a first connector window in a frame of a solar module and allow the position of an electrical connector to be moved one of vertically, horizontally and angularly with respect to the frame. In addition, a solar module frame is disclosed that has a first connector window in one of the side frame members that is capable of accepting an electrical connection so that the electrical connection is integrated into the frame of the solar module.
US08938918B2
A raised floor pedestal including a base configured to sit on a floor; and a post extending up from the base. The post includes a metal member having a general tube shape. A top of the post forms a support surface configured to support a portion of a raised floor system thereon. A side of the post includes an integrally formed ground conductor connector piece extending therefrom. The ground conductor connector piece is configured to have an electrical ground conductor connected directly thereto.
US08938916B2
A door interlock apparatus is disclosed. The door interlock apparatus has a body configured to couple to a first one of a door and an enclosure structure, the body having one or more angled self-locating features, a locking protrusion extending from a surface of the body and configured to couple with the locking member of an interlock mechanism, and a misalignment-accommodating mechanism configured and adapted to allow motion of the body. The door interlock apparatus aligns the locking protrusion and locking member during door closing, even when the door and enclosure structure are substantially misaligned. Electrical component enclosures, door interlock assemblies, and methods of assembling a door interlock assembly are also provided, as are other aspects.
US08938912B2
A power boost assembly is disclosed that can be used with a door actuator, such as a door closer. The power boost assembly is structured to store an energy during a first movement of a door and release the stored energy during a second movement of the door. In one form the power boost assembly can be structured as a module that can be added to an existing door and door closer installation. In one form the power boost assembly is used to increase a closing force imparted to a door to ensure a latching event.
US08938910B2
A method of treatment and seeding or planting of seeds and/or plantable material in a substrate with at least one planting position, including in any order: (a) treating the seeds and/or the plantable material with a treatment substance by depositing the treatment substance in or at the planting position with the aid of treatment depositing device; and (b) depositing the seeds and/or the plantable material at the planting position with the aid of a seed and/or plantable material depositing device; (c) displacing the substrate and at least one of the treatment depositing device and the seed and/or plantable material depositing device relative to one another; (d) providing a substrate having at least two plant positions formed independently from the process in advance thereof at a pre-defined distance in the direction of relative displacement; and (e) controlling the treatment depositing device and the seed and/or plantable material depositing device for depositing at least one specimen of the seeds and/or the plantable material and a desired amount of treatment substance for deposition thereof at the pre-defined planting positions in the substrate on the basis of at least one of the group consisting of: a depositing trajectory, a depositing time, and a speed of movement from the depositing means relative to the substrate.
US08938902B2
A system and method for connecting advertising to footwear is disclosed. The system can comprise a curved rod member, a sheet, and an advertisement. The curved rod member can be mountable above a welt of a footwear. The sheet material can comprise a first curved surface and a horizontal track along the sheet, wherein the horizontal track can connect the sheet material to the curved rod member, and the advertisement can be on the convex side of the sheet material.
US08938900B1
A sign post system includes an elongated slide spike, and an impact anvil mounted to the slide spike at a location intermediate the spike ends. An elongated slide hammer column assembly slides onto the slide spike to contact the impact anvil while using the slide spike as a guide to deliver a force to the slide spike to drive the slide spike into the ground. A hollow sign post structure is configured to slide over the slide spike and cover at least a portion of the slide spike above the impact anvil, the slide spike and sign post configured to support a sign structure after installation. In an exemplary embodiment, the system parts are fabricated of plastic materials.
US08938899B2
Light apparatuses and lighting systems are described. According to one aspect, a light apparatus includes a plurality of light sources individually configured to emit light in a respective primary direction, and wherein the light sources are configured such that the primary directions of the light emitted by the light sources are at different angles with respect to a common plane, and a lens configured to direct the light from the light sources to a surface of an object which is to be illuminated.
US08938895B2
A system for coupling equipment components includes a magnetic coupling assembly. The magnetic coupling assembly couples a tooth point to an adapter. The magnetic coupling assembly is received at least partially within a recess formed in the adapter. The magnetic coupling assembly includes an insert and a magnetic coupler. The insert is placed within the recess of the adapter, and the insert includes an internal recess. The magnetic coupler is received within the internal recess of the insert.
US08938894B2
A snowthrower includes a body, a chute rotatable relative to the body among multiple chute positions, wherein the chute is configured to discharge snow from the snowthrower, a motor for rotating the chute, a chute position detector configured to detect a current chute position, a compass sensor configured to detect a snowthrower bearing, and an electronic control unit configured to, in a compass guidance operating mode, control the motor to move the chute to an appropriate chute position to maintain the chute at a preferred chute bearing in response to a comparison of the snowthrower bearing detected by the compass sensor and the current chute position detected by the chute position detector.
US08938893B2
An apparatus includes a heel section, a mid-foot section, and a toe section. The heel section, the mid-foot section, and the toe section collectively have a geometric shape having a first slope of a polarity along an inner edge of the apparatus from the toe section to the heel section and a second slope of the polarity along the inner edge of the apparatus to an outer edge of the apparatus at the toe section.
US08938874B2
A lever jig is mounted on a female connector and causes fitting force to act on the female connector and a male connector by an operation from a fitting-operation start position to a fitting-operation completion position. The lever jig includes: a connector mount portion capable of having the female connector inserted in a mounted position; slidable members that are slidably supported by the connector mount portion, hold the female connector in the mounted position, and move by a slide movement to a connector-holding release position to release the female connector from holding in the mounted position; and a lever body that is movably supported by the connector mount portion and in the fitting-operation completion position, moves the slidable members to the connector-holding release position.
US08938867B2
There is provided a transmission device comprising a rigid casing configured to be mounted perpendicularly on a pair of parallel rotatable driving and driven shafts. Annular driving and driven gears are provided in the casing. The annular driving gear is adapted for rotating simultaneously with the driving shaft, and is also adapted for forwarding rotational motion of the inner section to a transmission device. The annular driven gear is adapted for engaging and rotating simultaneously with the driving shaft and sliding over the same, and for forwarding to the inner section rotational motion received from the transmission device. The transmission device is rotatively connected to the annular driving and driven gears for transmitting rotational movement of the driving shaft to the driven shaft. There is also provided a portable boring-welding apparatus using this transmission device and a method for rotating a driven shaft using a parallel driving shaft.
US08938861B1
A removably attachable button includes a pin assembly and a cap assembly. The pin assembly has a pair of pins which releasably engage the cap assembly. The cap assembly has a front surface which has the appearance of a button and a rear surface which accepts the pin assembly. The button is utilized to embellish or to replace a missing button on a piece of clothing without needing to access sewing equipment.
US08938859B1
Disclosed is an assembly. The assembly may be comprised of a device having a first engaging member, a second member having a second engaging member engaging the first engaging member, and a third member locked in place by the first engaging member and the second engaging member. The first and second members together can serve as an attachment device. The third member, held in place by the first and second engaging members, can serve as an attachment.
US08938854B2
Hinge, to connect flat closing element to household appliance body in correspondence to a body opening, including: first supporting structure to bind to structure or front bearing wall of the body, second supporting structure to bind to flat closing element, first and second connecting elements to connect the first and second supporting structure, and elastically deformable member interacting with at least one of the two connecting elements, to push the closing element against the body opening. The first and second connecting elements and at least first and second portions respectively of the first and second supporting structure form sides of an articulated quadrilateral lying in one or more planes, perpendicular to the flat closing element. The quadrilateral for opening and closing the closing element between operative positions has hinge elements of external portions of the first and second connecting elements to the first and second portions of the supporting structures.
US08938852B2
A device for checking the door of a vehicle that includes a fixing member that is attached to a vehicle body; a checker arm, an edge of which is hinge combined with the fixing member to be rotated and is located between a door and the vehicle body; and a door checker that is attached to the door to maintain the door in a stop-state at a position on a moving path of the door while sliding in a length direction of the checker arm by accommodating the checker arm therein, wherein the door checker includes: a housing in which an accommodation space is formed; a transformation element that is accommodated in the housing and transforms a straight line motion of the checker arm into a rotational motion by being engaged with the checker arm; a rotation element that is disposed within the housing, rotates by being engaged with the transformation element, and includes a friction plate; a fixing element that is fixedly installed in the housing and restricts the rotation member by attracting the friction plate of the rotation element by an electromagnetic force when an electrical signal is applied thereto; and a control element that controls ON and OFF of the electrical signal being applied to the fixing element.
US08938842B2
A cleaning sheet that is attachable to a cleaning sheet-attaching component and is characterized in having a central part configuring a cleaning surface and at least one end provided on at least one side of the central part in a prescribed direction. The at least one end has a first part with a first elongation percentage and a second part with a higher elongation percentage than the first part. The second part is provided between the first part and the central part in the prescribed direction, and the sheet is configured so as to be detachably held on the cleaning sheet-attaching component at the boundary between the first part and the second part. Also configured is a cleaning implement provided with said cleaning sheet.
US08938840B2
The invention provides a system and method for self-cleaning a door handle (4) by utilizing the kinetic energy of opening a door (1). A cable (3), for example a multi-link chain, fixed to the door frame (2) and a gear assembly (10, 11, 12) is provided such that linear displacement of said cable is converted to potential energy in response to movement of said door. The invention provides a means for rotating a drive roller (5) to co-operate with the door handle to clean said door handle, only when the door handle is released and the door is closing or closed. The potential energy provides the energy to enable the rotation of the drive roller.
US08938837B1
Exemplary methods are provided for installing a ramp assembly into a vehicle. The vehicle includes a floor, a vehicle well disposed in the floor, and inboard and outboard ramp support members. In one embodiment, ramp assembly mounts, such as movable support fittings, are utilized for installing the ramp assembly into the vehicle.
US08938833B2
A cutlery kit configured from a laminar sheet which manifests its previous use through the detachment of its parts. The kit is comprised of two or more daily, known utensils selected from a spoon, a fork and a knife, which are jointly located in a single plane and are separated by thin, continuous dotted or cut lines. The utensils fit into each other in a complementary form, counter-form way and remain joined together by the presence of continuities in the surface where these continuities interrupt the dotted lines. Each of these cutlery utensils is detached from the others through breaking, done by the user, of these continuities on the surface.
US08938830B2
A blanket assembly for swaddling an infant (e.g., newborn baby) includes a blanket body defining a pocket between an upper layer and a lower layer of the body at one end of the blanket body, the pocket accessible via an opening selectively closeable to seal the pocket. A neck, spine and spinal cord support device of a semi-rigid material is removably insertable in the pocket of the blanket body and secured within the blanket by the pocket so as to maintain the support device in a substantially fixed position within the blanket body. The support device supports the head, neck, spine and spinal cord of a newborn baby or infant when the infant is laid on the blanket body in a supine position and wrapped in the blanket body, so as to inhibit injury to the infant's head, neck, spine and spinal cord while carried by a person.
US08938824B2
Embodiments of the invention provide covers for bed components, such as mattresses and/or box-springs, which limit bed bug access to the bed component. According to one embodiment, a cover for a bed component may include an opening that provides access to an interior of the cover and through which a bed component (e.g., a mattress or box-spring) may be inserted, a zipper coupled along the opening, a zipper mechanism slidable along the zipper to couple opposing teeth of the zipper to allow the opening to be zipped closed to enclose the bed component within the cover, a first flap foldable and securable over a distal end of the zipper, a second flap foldable and securable over the first flap, and a barrier material disposed between the second flap and the zipper for applying pressure to the zipper to minimize a gap between the zipper and the first flap.
US08938820B2
A protective device for the neck, such as a neck brace, with a substantially rigid closed structure around the neck and adapted to sit on the user's torso includes means for temporarily changing the device's shape so as to reduce the natural gap between the upper brace surface and the lower rim of the helmet, thereby creating a supplementary transmission path for compressive forces exerted upon the device towards the torso.
US08938813B2
An improved device for restraining the two ends of a necktie is described. The device, which will be referred to as a “tieloop,” consists of an elongated member having first and second ends, with first and second magnetic members positioned at those ends, respectively, enabling the ends to be coupled and uncoupled. The second magnetic member is complimentary to the first magnetic member so as to enable selective coupling between the first end and the second end. In one preferred embodiment, the first end of the tieloop is inserted into the seam of a necktie, and the second end of the tieloop couples to the first end on the opposite site of the necktie seam to selectively couple the tieloop to the necktie, thereby forming a loop.
US08943608B2
A method of storing a document on a server, including: extracting document content from a document stored on the server, using a processor on the server; dividing the document content into a plurality of document content sections; generating a parallel data structure for the plurality of document content sections based on a viewing size, where the parallel data structure includes a plurality of selectors, and the plurality of selectors includes pagination selectors; and storing the plurality of document content sections in a plurality of locations on the server. The method may further include storing the parallel data structure in a location on the server separate the plurality of document content sections; generating a table of contents based on the pagination; and rendering the plurality of document content sections into a plurality of document pages based on the plurality of selectors in the parallel data structure.
US08943599B2
Systems for server security verification include a report validation module configured to acquire a public key associated with a received report, where the received report was generated at a server, to decrypt the received report using the public key, and to determine a level of server-side security based on the decrypted report; and a processor configured to reconfigure a browser responsive to the determined level of server-side security.
US08943596B2
An improved emulator for analyzing software code, and associated method. The emulator includes a virtual execution environment in which a series of virtual processing states are represented during emulation of a first portion of the software code, and a hardware accelerator that performs an initialization of the computing hardware to directly execute a second portion of the software code under investigation without emulation thereof in the virtual execution environment. An efficiency assessment module determines a measure of efficiency of performing the executing of the second portion of the software code under investigation without emulation thereof, and an acceleration decision module performs selection of the second portion of the software code under investigation to be directly executed by the hardware accelerator module based on the determined measure of efficiency.
US08943592B1
A method for detecting software exploitation broadly comprises the steps of gathering information about processes and threads executing on a computing device, monitoring instructions executed by a thread that is currently running, performing the following steps if a function to create a process or a function to load a library is called, examining a thread information block, determining whether an address included in a stack pointer of the thread is in a range of addresses for a stack specified by the thread information block, and determining whether a first plurality of no-operation instructions is followed by shell code that is followed by a second plurality of no-operation instructions.
US08943591B2
A method of detecting and responding to an email address harvest attack at an Internet Service Provider (ISP) email system includes counting a number of failed email address look-ups during a single Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) session associated with an originating Internet Protocol (IP) address and responding to the originating IP address with a positive acknowledgement that an otherwise invalid email address exists when the count of the number of failed email address look-ups exceeds a threshold.
US08943588B1
Various embodiments describe a website analyzer that can be used for the automatic identification of unauthorized or malicious websites. A website analyzer can include heuristics for automatically identifying a collection of behaviors typical of unauthorized websites. Some embodiments automatically scan content hosted across server computers in a virtual environment and proactively identify potentially malicious websites. The embodiments can also be used to automatically scan content on public networks, such as the Internet. In particular embodiments, the website analyzer can include a semantic analysis engine and a link analysis engine. The semantic analysis engine can use the tag-level structure of HTML pages to formulate metrics which define similarity of web page content. The link analysis engine can compare the structure of embedded URIs and scripts to define metrics which quantify the difference of links between an authorized site and a potentially malicious site.
US08943586B2
Disclosed are methods of detecting a domain name server (DNS) flooding attack according to characteristics of a type of attack traffic. A method of detecting an attack by checking a DNS packet transmitted over a network in a computer device connected to the network, includes determining whether the number of DNS packets previously generated within a threshold time with the same type of message, the same specific address and the same field value as in the transmitted packet is greater than or equal to a given number, and determining the transmitted DNS packet as a packet related to the attack if the number of DNS packets previously generated within the threshold time is greater than or equal to the given number.
US08943584B2
A method for providing an operating system access to devices, including enumerating hardware devices and virtualized devices, where resources associated with a first hardware device are divided into guest physical resources creating a software virtualized device, and multiple instances of resources associated with a second hardware device are advertised thereby creating a hardware virtualized device. First and second permission lists are generated that specify which operating systems are permitted to access the software virtualized device and the hardware virtualized device, respectively. First and second sets of virtual address maps are generated, where each set maps an address space associated with either the software virtualized device or the hardware virtualized device into an address space associated with each operating system included in the corresponding permission list. The method further includes arbitrating access requests from each of the plurality of operating systems based on the permission lists and the virtual address maps.
US08943582B1
Data on a first computing device can be represented by a graphical object displayed on a screen of the first device. A user can initiate an “attach event” (e.g., a pinching gesture with respect to the object) to enable the object (e.g., the data represented by the object) to be associated and/or virtually attached to him/her. One or more cameras can view/track the user's hand/finger movement(s). Based on the viewed/tracked movement(s), the object representing the data can be moved on a screen of the first device to correspond to the movement of the user's hand/finger. The object can also be moved to a position on a screen of a second computing device when the user moves his/her hand/finger to an area corresponding to the position. A user initiated “release event” (e.g., an unpinching gesture) can end the association and enable the data to be shared with the second device.
US08943579B2
A method to identify a child process to a parent process in an operating system includes obtaining a token and login identifier from the operating system. The parent process creates a remote procedure call communications endpoint to communicate with the child process. Thereafter, a child process is spawned by the parent process. A child-initiated request to communicate with the parent process is then received by the parent process. In order to verify the identity of the child-initiated request, the parent process impersonates the child process and receives as identifier that identifies the requestor child process. The requestor process identifier and the spawned child identifier are compared. Based on the comparison, the parent process responds to the child-initiated request. In another embodiment, process identifiers are used by the parent process to verify the identity of a child process the requests communication with the parent process.
US08943576B2
Systems and methods for associating a first process with a first state and a first computing environment initialized according to a first set of parameters, wherein a first task is to be performed under a first security context. The method further comprising associating a second process with a second state and a second computing environment initialized according to a second set of parameters; in response to the first process submitting a first request, the second process spawning a third process which has the second state; wherein the third process sets a security context for the third process to the first security context and the third process sets the computing environment for the third process according to a first a set of parameters; executing the third process under the first security context and in association with the second state; and executing the first task in the first computing environment.
US08943575B2
A method and system for managing access to resources on a secured network is disclosed. The method includes reading packet information in respective packets of a packet communication received at a security node and applying one of the plurality of access rules. The method also includes determining whether the security node is to block the respective packets and/or the packet communication from reaching a resource on the secured network based on the applied access rule. If the security node is to block the respective packets and/or the packet communication, it is determined whether the applied access rule is a simulated access rule. Responsive to the applied access rule being a simulated access rule, the respective packets and/or the packet communication are passed towards the resource on the secured network and a log event is generated that indicates the security node blocked the respective packets and/or the packet communication.
US08943565B2
Novel tools and techniques for automated recovery of information from commercial web portals, including commercial web portals requiring credentials for access. In some instances images are captured and pushed to external processes for improving system performance. In some instances access to automated software agent remote control modules is balanced across a system comprising a plurality of processors hosting the automated software agent remote control modules. Some instances provide provisioning of credentials, in particular indicating credentials available for an unlimited or a select limited number of users and monitoring credential use of those credentials usable by a select number of users. Some instances provide cache management optimizes retrieval of data by external processes and ensures reliability of such data to reduce unnecessary web portal inquiries.
US08943564B2
A virtual computer service includes receiving, at a network server computer over a network, an encrypted image and user credentials for a user of a computer, and storing the encrypted image and the user credentials in an image repository that is communicatively coupled to the network server computer. The virtual computer service also includes receiving a request to initiate a session, the request including the user credentials. Upon successful validation of the user credentials, the virtual computer service includes selecting the encrypted image from the image repository, decrypting the encrypted image, activating a session for a virtual computer associated with the computer, and synchronizing session details of the session, once completed, with the image and storing a synchronized image in the image repository.
US08943562B2
The present invention is directed toward secure access systems. Specifically, a method and system is provided that enhances the security of unidirectional communication protocols used in access control systems, such as the Wiegand protocol. The enhancements may include obfuscation of data, a two-way packet-mode communications, and blind synchronization of pseudo-random number generators.
US08943561B2
Systems and method for authenticating users are presented. A system can send a passkey to a user interface of a known device. A user can then send a messaging service message with the passkey from a second device to the system. After receiving the message from the user, the system can extract the passkey from the message, and compare the received passkey against the passkey originally sent to the user. The known device and the second device can each have separate and unique device identifiers.
US08943556B2
An embodiment of the invention provides a responder such as a health care professional with quick and secure access to select information about a user. An embodiment of such quick and secure access to select information may include receiving a user request to authenticate a responder mobile phone from the responder mobile phone, separately sending a common secure data to each of the responder's mobile phone and the user's mobile phone, receiving user authorization to release select data to the responder's mobile phone, the user's authorization received from the responder's mobile phone. Other embodiments are described herein.
US08943546B1
Method and system for detecting and protecting against potential data loss from unknown applications
A system and method for detecting and protecting against potential data loss from unknown applications is described. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting, by a client computing device, that a local application has accessed a document on the client computing device, determining that the document contains sensitive data according to one or more endpoint data loss prevention (DLP) polices, determining that the local application and a type of the document is not included in a whitelist of the DLP policies, capturing visual data pertaining to one or more operations that the application performs on the document, and sending the captured visual data to a server.
US08943531B2
A hospitality establishment includes guest rooms having media devices installed therein. Each guest room has one or more in-room media devices for providing a pay-per-use media function. A media system controller dynamically associates a credit corresponding to a monetary value with a particular guest room in response to an occurrence of a first event, configures an in-room media device of the particular guest room to indicate the credit associated with the particular guest room and allow a guest of the particular guest room to utilize at least an amount of the credit toward an order of the pay-per-use media function, activates the pay-per-use media function on at least one of the in-room media devices of the particular guest room in response to a received order, and decreases the credit associated with the particular guest room according to the amount of the credit utilized toward the received order.
US08943519B2
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to progress indication and provide a method, system and computer program product for intelligent progress indication for script processing. In one embodiment, a progress indication data processing system can be provided. The system can include a script execution engine such as an ANT configured script execution engine, a history table, and a smart progress indicator coupled to the history table. The indicator can include program code enabled to compute an expected duration of execution of a script such as an ANT script by the script execution engine based upon measured observed durations of execution for annotated portions of the script, for instance, both for the current execution and for previous successful executions.
US08943518B2
A middleware system, method and program product for managing workflows among computer applications. The middleware system includes: a common construct unit and a workflow export unit. The common construct unit (i) retrieves a mapping between a component of a macro workflow of the middleware system and a micro workflow component of a first computer application and (ii) executes the macro workflow which orchestrates micro workflows of the first computer application and a second computer application. The workflow export unit generates an output that enables the second computer application to execute a workflow that corresponds to the workflow of the first computer application.
US08943512B2
A system for facilitating virtualization of a heterogeneous processor pool includes a processor allocation component and a hypervisor, each executing on a host computer. The processor allocation component identifies a plurality of physical processors available for computing and determines a set of flags, each of the set of flags identifying a type of functionality provided by each of a subset of the plurality of physical processors. The hypervisor, in communication with the processor allocation component, allocates, to at least one virtual machine, access to one of the subset of the plurality of physical processors.
US08943507B2
Described embodiments provide a packet assembler for a network processor. The network processor includes a plurality of processing modules for processing received packets into one or more processed-packet portions. A shared system memory of the network processor receives processed-packet portions corresponding to packet assemblies. Each of the packet assemblies has associated tasks. A packet assembly processor constructs an output packet for each packet assembly from the processed-packet portions in accordance with instructions from the tasks associated with the packet assembly. The packet assembly processor coordinates storage of the processed-packet portions for each output packet that is read from the system memory based on the instructions from the tasks associated with the corresponding packet assembly.
US08943500B1
A system, method, and computer readable medium for providing application isolation to one or more applications and their associated resources. The system may include one or more isolated environments including application files and executables, and one or more interception layers intercepting access to system resources and interfaces. Further, the system may include an interception database maintaining mapping between the system resources inside the one or more isolated environments and outside, and a host operating system. The one or more applications may be isolated from other applications and the host operating system while running within the one or more isolated environments.
US08943497B2
A cloud management system can track the usage of the virtual machines in order to determine the fees associated with the user's subscription to the cloud computing environment. The usage can include the resources consumed to support the virtual machines and can include the utilization of the virtual machines by the user or third parties. The cloud management system can determine the fees charged to the user for utilizing the cloud computing environment based on the tracked usage.
US08943496B2
An appliance support module can be configured to build software appliances for use in a hosted environment. The appliance support module can be configured to build the hosted appliances based on a request by a user for the hosted appliances. The appliance support module can be configured to receive a request to migrate the hosted appliances to an on-premise system. To migrate the hosted appliance, the appliance support module can be configured to convert the hosted appliances into a format capable of being supported by the on-premise systems.
US08943491B2
Embodiments comprise systems, methods and media for updating CRTM code in a computing machine. In one embodiment, the CRTM code initially resides in ROM and updated CRTM is stored in a staging area of the ROM. A logical partition of L2 cache may be created to store a heap and a stack and a data store. The data store holds updated CRTM code copied to the L2 cache. When a computing system is started, it first executes CRTM code. The CRTM code checks the staging area of the ROM to determine if there is updated CRTM code. If so, then CRTM code is copied into the L2 cache to be executed from there. The CRTM code loads the updated code into the cache and verifies its signature. The CRTM code then copies the updated code into the cache where the current CRTM code is located.
US08943490B1
In general, techniques are described for performing a controlled non-stop software upgrade (NSSU) of a network device. In some examples, a method includes receiving, by a first network device included in a virtual network device, a non-stop software upgrade (NSSU) request. The first network device is communicatively coupled to each of a computing device and a second network device. The method includes, in response to receiving the NSSU request, forwarding to the second network device, network packets that are received at the first network device and destined to the computing device. The method also includes sending a message to the computing device that instructs the computing device to stop sending network packets to the first network device. The method includes updating one or more software components within the first network device, after sending the message to the computing device and based at least in part on the NSSU request.
US08943484B2
An information processing apparatus generates first and second operation trees representing a dependency relationship among the instructions included in a first code, and computes first and second operation sequences from the first and second operation trees. Then, the information processing apparatus computes the longest ones of operation subsequences common to the first and second operation sequences, evaluates, for each longest operation subsequence, the utilization of computing resources used for executing the combinations of instructions of the first and second operation trees corresponding to the operations included in the longest operation subsequence, and selects a combination pattern of instructions indicated by any one of the longest operation subsequences on the basis of the evaluation results.
US08943476B2
Systems, methods and articles of manufacture to in-line script dependencies are discussed herein. An embodiment includes extracting test resources addressed in language defining a test web page, placing markers identifying the location of each extracted test resource within the language defining the test page, iteratively loading external resources associated with a path of each test resource, analyzing each test resource to identify one or more dynamically added dependencies, and replacing each marker with external resources and dependencies that reference their respective marker to generate updated language defining an updated test web page. The embodiment further includes adding each identified dependency after or before a top level parent resource, performing the analyzing and the adding until no new dependencies are identified and providing each new dependency with a reference to a parent marker associated with the top level parent resource.
US08943469B2
A system and method for creating and using type generic graphical programs. The method may include storing a first graphical program on a memory medium. The first graphical program may have been created based on user input. The first graphical program may include a plurality of nodes and interconnections between the nodes, and the plurality of nodes and interconnections between the nodes may be type generic. User input may be received specifying one or more data types of at least one input and/or at least one output of the first graphical program. The data types may be associated with the first graphical program in response to said user input specifying the one or more data types.
US08943463B2
Techniques are provided for representing and configuring flexible and extensible presentation patterns based on fine-grained architectural building blocks (ABBs). The techniques include defining ABBs, modeling the ABBs in a uniform manner, and creating at least one template using the ABBs, wherein the at least one template includes at least one of pre-configured static characteristics and user-specified service characteristics. In an embodiment of the invention, an exemplary method for designing and managing fine-grained ABBs can include identifying ABBs to compose an architecture for facilitating presentation and interaction between consumers and other elements in a solution, analyzing the ABBs to monitor computing resources used by individual ABBs, selecting a number of running instances of the ABBs based on (i) requests of a pertinent entity and (ii) available resources, and managing life-cycles of ABBs.
US08943462B2
The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer implemented methods for operating on type instances. One example method includes identifying a reference to a type instance during execution of a child control flow. The child control flow is associated with one or more ancestor control flows. One or more stack frames associated with the ancestor control flows are searched for a prior instantiation of the type instance. Access to the prior instantiation of the type instance in an identified stack frame associated with an identified ancestor control flow is provided in response to determining that the prior instantiation of the type instance exists in the identified stack frame. A new instance of the type instance is instantiated in a stack frame associated with the child control flow in response to determining that the prior instantiation of the type instance does not exist in the one or more stack frames.
US08943460B2
A control unit, e.g., for a motor vehicle, includes a circuit board, a high-impedance circuit component situated on the circuit board and having an impedance of 1 kΩ or higher in relation to ground of the control unit, and at least one conductive protection element electrically connected to ground and situated adjacent to the high-impedance circuit component. The protection element has a height within a protective distance from the high-impedance circuit component that is at least equal to the protective distance. A method for designing a circuit board of a control unit, and a computer program product for executing the method, include the steps of specifying a position of the high-impedance circuit component, and specifying a position of the protection element such that the protection element has a height within a protective distance from the high-impedance circuit component that is at least equal to the protective distance.
US08943459B2
A testing system for testing a layout of a power pin of a chipset on a circuit board includes a layout information obtaining module, a power pin sorting module, a transmission line sorting module, a transmission line length calculating module, and a report generating module. The layout information obtaining module obtains layout information of the printed circuit board. The power pin sorting module sorts the power pin from a number of pins of the chipset. The transmission line sorting module sorts transmission lines that are connected to the power pin and are located on outer layers of the printed circuit board. The transmission line length calculating module calculates a total length of the transmission lines sorted by the transmission line sorting module and compares the total length with a threshold length. The report generating module generates a testing report indicating whether or not the power pin is qualified.
US08943456B2
A method for determining the layout of an interconnect line is provided including: providing a required width for the interconnect line; determining a layout of the interconnect line including slotting the interconnect line to provide two or more fingers extending along the interconnect line with an elongate slot separating adjacent fingers; and determining a number of elongate apertures to be arranged across the width of the interconnect line by comparing the required width with a maximal width for a solid metal feature, and a minimal elongate aperture width. The two or more fingers and elongate slot may be of constant width and equally spaced across the interconnect line width. The method may include selecting the number of fingers and the width of the slots to optimize the layout for a given layer technology.
US08943446B2
The present invention provides a generation method of generating data of patterns of a plurality of masks used in an exposure apparatus for exposing a substrate, including a step of specifying, from a plurality of points on a grid having pattern elements to be formed on the substrate as intersections, an allowable point that allows a pattern to be transferred other than points of target pattern elements constituting a target pattern to be formed on the substrate, and a step of, for a pattern element group including a target pattern element whose distance to an adjacent target pattern element is shorter than a resolution limit of the exposure apparatus, grouping the adjacent target pattern elements on the grid a space between which is filled with the allowable point.
US08943438B2
For each smartphone application included in a smartphone, an identifier, such as a name of the smartphone application, and information on whether the smartphone application operates in cooperation with a vehicle-mounted device, are registered in a smartphone application management table. From the smartphone applications included in the connected smartphone, higher priority is given to the smartphone applications that are registered in the smartphone application management table as applications that operate in cooperation with the vehicle-mounted device. A lower priority is given to other smartphone applications. Icons of the high priority smartphone applications are arranged on a first page of a smartphone application menu, whereas icons of the low priority smartphone applications are sequentially arranged on second and following pages.
US08943436B2
A method for generating an on-screen menu comprising menu buttons and other menu items, e.g. help text, is characterized in that one or more groups of menu buttons or menu items are defined, wherein a group comprises one or more menu buttons or menu items and has associated a defined area on the screen. A state is assigned to a button, the state being “enabled” or “disabled”, wherein only an enabled button or item may be displayed, and wherein within a group not more than one button or item may be enabled. The state of a button can be changed by commands associated with other buttons.
US08943425B2
A method and apparatus is disclosed whereby the context of user activity can be used to tailor the ambient information system. The method and apparatus use both short-term context such as recent activity and long-term context such as historical patterns to highlight specific content on channels or widgets that are likely to be of most immediate interest to the user. This contextual information provided by the framework can also be used to make intelligent decisions about how to tailor the user experience after a user has interacted with the item in question. Additionally, context information accumulated on one device such as a mobile phone can be broadcasted to other devices to influence the ambient information display application on a second device such as a desktop based on enabling remote access to the local context repository.
US08943414B2
Techniques are provided for displaying a uniform resource locator (URL) to assist a user in determining whether a URL destination is what the user expects. A link is presented for selection to a user, and a URL corresponding to the link is accessed. A portion of the URL that corresponds to a hostname component of the URL may be identified, and the URL may be displayed. The hostname component of the URL is visually distinguished from other components of the URL. In addition to or as an alternative to displaying the URL and visually distinguishing the hostname component, a warning message relating to the hostname portion of the URL may be displayed. The techniques may be implemented as a software plug-in or in any type of software application that is capable of recognizing URLs.
