US08957881B2
To reduce power consumption of a display device with the use of a simple structure and a simple operation. The display device includes an input device. Input of an image signal to a driver circuit is controlled in accordance with an image operation signal output from the input device. Specifically, input of image signals at the time when the input device is not operated is less frequent than that at the time when the input device is operated. Accordingly, display degradation (deterioration of display quality) caused when the display device is used can be prevented and power consumed when the display device is not used can be reduced.
US08957876B2
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a display with a touch panel, a camera and an image recognition module. The image recognition module recognizes a type of an object used for inputting to the touch panel in an image acquired by the camera. The image recognition module comprises a first narrowing module and a second narrowing module. The first narrowing module extracts an image to be used for recognizing the type of the object from acquired images based on timing information indicating timing of the inputting. The second narrowing module selects a recognition range to be used for recognizing the type of the object from a photographing region of the extracted image based on positional information indicating an input position on the touch panel. The timing information and the positional information is included in the input information obtained from the touch panel.
US08957875B2
The present application relates to a method for adjusting the sensitivity of a touch panel. A look up table is built. The look up table includes a charging station look up table and a discharging station look up table. The charging station look up table includes a threshold value (V0m) of a touch signal, an electrical quantity (A0i) corresponding to the threshold value (V0m), and a computational method g1. The discharging station look up table includes the threshold value (V0m), the electrical quantity (A0i), and a computational method g2. The current electrical quantity and whether the capacitive touch panel is charging are detected. According to the current electrical quantity, the state of charging or discharging, and the computational method g1 or g2, the threshold value (V0m) is adjusted.
US08957872B2
The present invention discloses a touch-sensing method, applied to a touch-sensing circuit, wherein the touch-sensing circuit includes a detection circuit and a comparison circuit. The touch-sensing method includes: enabling a receiving node to be coupled to a ground during a first discharge period, wherein the receiving node is coupled between the detection circuit and the comparison circuit; enabling the receiving node to obtain a first reference voltage during a first charge period; enabling the receiving node to be coupled to the ground during a second discharge period; and enabling the receiving node to obtain a second reference voltage and producing a sensing result according to the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage by the comparison circuit during a second charge period, wherein the sensing result represents whether a touch event occurs at a first node of the touch-sensing circuit.
US08957866B2
Multi-axis navigation techniques are described. In implementations, a user interface is output by a computing device, the user interface includes a first axis and a second axis that include parameters that are navigable via one or more gestures. One or more items are chosen by the computing device for concurrent display with the first and second axes that correspond to a first one of the parameters of the first axis and a second one of the parameters of the second axis.
US08957864B2
A coordinate input apparatus inputs detection signals output from a plurality of detection units configured to detect an input coordinate position on a coordinate input region. In a case where a plurality of signal change ranges occur in each of detection signals output from the plurality of detection units, the coordinate input apparatus selects one of a plurality of coordinate positions corresponding to the plurality of signal change ranges according to which hand an operator uses to input a coordinate position.
US08957863B2
A user interface (200) for a portable electronic device (100) is configured to transition from a first state to a second state to present a plurality of mode-based user actuation targets to a user. The user interface (200) includes a segmented electro-optical device (407) configured to open and close shutters, thereby revealing and hiding the user actuation targets. The user interface includes a first polarizer (401) disposed above the segmented electro-optical device (407) and a colored reflective polarizer (405) disposed beneath the segmented electro-optical device. The colored reflective polarizer (405), which may include a colored dichroic polarizer (601) and a reflective polarizer (602), causes the user interface (200) to exhibit a predetermined color.
US08957862B2
Disclosed is an operation input system including: an operation display device; and a display device, wherein in case that the operation display device receives input of security information, the operation display device sets input keys in the key arrangement on a screen of the display unit and displays the operation window in which the input keys or at least contents of the input keys cannot be visually recognized, and the operation detecting unit receives the operation for the set input keys, and the display device controls display contents of the second display unit so as to display a state in which a virtual image of the input keys is combined with a situation in which an operator operates the display unit in accordance with an image shot by the camera so as to match a position of the virtual image with the set input keys.
US08957854B2
A method is described for activating an application without specific positioning of a mouse or clicking a mouse button (“zero-click activation”). This is done by evaluating motion of an input device with regard to predetermined criteria; detecting a rapid, multi-directional motion (a shaking motion) of the input device, and initiating a preconfigured application in response thereto. In an embodiment, the input device is a mouse, and the method is performed without actuating a button on the mouse. The preconfigured application may be a search function, and in particular may be a Web search invoked when a shaking action is detected while the user is viewing a Web site.
US08957849B2
An optical scrolling module includes a prism, a light source, an image sensor and a first condenser. The prism is disposed at an opening of an upper shell of a mouse and has a light incident surface, a reflective surface, a contact surface and a light emitting surface. The contact and light incident surfaces are respectively connected between the reflective and light emitting surfaces. The contact surface is exposed by the opening. A light beam from the light source is transmitted to the contact surface via the light incident and reflective surfaces. When an object with a pattern structure puts on the contact surface, the light beam is scattered and a portion of the light beam is transmitted to the image sensor via the first condenser. When the object is removed from the contact surface, the light beam is reflected to the light emitting surface by the contact surface.
US08957848B2
A data input device includes: an operation section including an electrostatic capacitance type touch sensor; and a control circuit section which determines if a data input operation is true or false and sends an output data corresponding to a sensed data only when the data input operation is determined as true. When one or more of the sensed data are entered into the control circuit section, a coordinate is identified which determines the data input operation as true based on invalidation determination region information previously prepared for each of coordinates corresponding to the sensed data, wherein while the sensed data for the coordinate indentified is entered, the data input operation, which is implemented to a coordinate other than the identified coordinate to determine the data input operation as true among a group aggregate of the coordinates corresponding to the sensed data within an invalidation determination region, is determined as false.
US08957847B1
A low distraction interface can be provided for an electronic device by monitoring information such as a gaze direction of a user. A device can be configured to only display information to a user when the user is looking substantially toward the device, and can be configured to present that information in a way that is of minimal distraction to others nearby. The user can control aspects of the display by looking away from the device, continuing to look at the device for a period of time, or otherwise providing input without physically interacting with the device. Such an approach can be beneficial for settings such as business meetings where a user might want to obtain information from the device but does not want to appear inconsiderate by picking up and checking information on the device.
US08957845B2
An image processing unit (2 in FIG. 1) discards a high gray level side of input image data (RiGiBi) in accordance with a chroma coefficient (Csc), thereby to generate a signal of lowered chroma, and it expands the signal into output image data (RoGoBo) of full scale. Besides, the image processing unit (2) generates an image adjustment parameter (Th) and performs a control so as to reduce power of backlight (6), in interlocking with the full-scale expansion.
US08957840B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel, a timing controller, a compensation unit and a panel drive circuit. The liquid crystal panel has a plurality of color pixels, each of the color pixels including two sub-pixels which represent two different colors. The timing controller generates a sub-pixel data stream of two sub-frame format. The sub-pixel data stream of two sub-frame format includes a first sub-pixel data for a first sub-frame and a second sub-pixel data for a second sub-frame. The first sub-pixel data and the second sub-pixel data have different gamma characteristics. The compensation unit is operable to compensate the first sub-pixel data and the second sub-pixel data with different rates. The panel drive circuit drives the sub-pixels on the liquid crystal panel and supplies the sub-pixels with the compensated first sub-pixel data for the first sub-frame and the compensated second sub-pixel data for the second sub-frame.
US08957837B2
A pixel is capable of securing enough threshold voltage compensating time in high resolution and high frequency driving and of compensating for the IR drop of a first power source ELVDD, and an organic light emitting display includes the pixel.
US08957835B2
Head-mounted display systems and methods of operation that allow users to couple and decouple a portable electronic device such as a handheld portable electronic device with a separate head-mounted device (e.g., temporarily integrates the separate devices into a single unit) are disclosed. The portable electronic may be physically coupled to the head-mounted device such that the portable electronic device can be worn on the user's head. The portable electronic device may be operatively coupled to the head-mounted device such that the portable electronic device and head mounted device can communicate and operate with one another. Each device may be allowed to extend its features and/or services to the other device for the purpose of enhancing, increasing and/or eliminating redundant functions between the head-mounted device and the portable electronic device.
US08957832B2
Disclosed herein is an electronic apparatus that can use not only an LCD monitor provided as a standard component, but also a DVI monitor. The apparatus incorporates a BIOS. The BIOS acquires display parameters from the DVI monitor if the DVI monitor is connected to the apparatus and causes the DVI monitor to function as display device of the apparatus.
US08957826B2
An antenna device to be inserted in a memory card slot of an electronic device, includes an insulating layer, an antenna element formed on one surface of the insulating layer, and a ground element formed on the other surface of the insulating layer, the antenna element and the ground element being formed such that at least a part of the antenna element and at least a part of the ground element protrude from the memory card slot of the electronic device when the antenna device is inserted in the memory card slot, respectively; and a ground pattern extending in parallel relationship with the antenna element to be electrically connected to at least the ground element.
US08957805B2
A balanced signal processing circuit includes: a comparator; a first capacitor having a first end connected to a non-inverting input terminal of the comparator; a second capacitor having a first end connected to an inverting input terminal of the comparator; a first switch configured to apply a voltage signal to the first end of the first capacitor; a second switch configured to apply a voltage signal to the first end of the second capacitor; an operation state detection section configured to detect an operation state of the comparator; and an offset voltage correction section configured to apply a predetermined offset voltage to a second end of the first capacitor and a second end of the second capacitor when the operation state detection section detects an abnormal operation state of the comparator.
US08957804B2
The successive approximation A/D converter includes: switch groups 105—1 to 105—x each of which is connected to the other end of each corresponding capacitor of capacitors 106—1 to 106—x to selectively switch a capacitor to be applied to a successive comparison in response to a switch group control signal Ct1; a comparator 104 for making a successive comparison of a comparison voltage VSN based on a holding voltage on each corresponding capacitor, selected through the switch groups from among the capacitors, with a predetermined reference voltage VC in synchronization with a timing control signal CLK to obtain a judgment output according to the comparison result; and a voltage application part 107 for applying a predetermined voltage to the comparison voltage based on a form-of-voltage application control signal Ct2 for a predetermined period when a predetermined time has elapsed after the successive comparison.
US08957801B2
The subject matter discloses a flash analog to digital converter arranged in a tree of signal amendment units, each comprises an amplifier and an offset adder. The output signals of the tree are even partitioned and compared to comparators, to reduce the level of accuracy required from the comparators. The subject matter also discloses a cascade of amplifiers connected in series and operate in delay one relative to the other, each amplifier comprises a reset unit to reset the amplifier responsive to receipt of a signal.
US08957777B2
A method for establishing a connection between a first electronic computing device and a second electronic computing device includes moving the second electronic computing device so that it is proximal to the first electronic computing device. When the first electronic computing device detects the proximity of the first electronic computing device relative to the second electronic computing device, a radio on the first electronic device is set to a connectable and discoverable state. A wireless connection is automatically established between the first electronic computing device and the second electronic computing device. Data is transmitted between the first electronic computing device and the second electronic computing device.
US08957776B2
Generally, smart sensors, logic to process messages from smart sensors, and smart sensor systems are described herein. Embodiments may comprise logic such as hardware and/or code to communicate events as messages via a messaging system to post the messages to a messaging account. The messaging system may be a texting service like Twitter™ that captures the messages and then re-broadcasts the messages, e.g., immediately as a tweet or a cellular text message. In some embodiments, the smart sensor comprises a communications module with a Twitter™ application program interface (API) on a communications platform with a software/hardware framework to interconnect with one or more pluggable monitors with sensors. In other embodiments, the communications module may be integrated with one or more monitors. Further embodiments comprise a smart-device, which can provide status updates and event notifications to a user.
US08957773B1
A bookmark with timer and alarm to promote reading includes an electronic circuit that alerts the reader to continue reading a book, magazine, etc. after a specified elapsed time. A controller, such as a microcontroller unit, is associated with a light sensor, such as a CdS light sensor, a light source and/or a sound source. When the light sensor senses light, an interior timer resets to an initial time, and when the light sensor senses dark, or does not detect a minimum threshold amount of light, the timer starts counting for a user specified waiting time of a first time period. If the user does not begin reading the book in a lit environment for a second time period during the count of the first time period, at least one alarm of the light source and/or sound source is activated to alert the user, according to user specified settings.
US08957763B2
A method of operating a memory in an RFID application includes locating a memory pointer at a fixed read/writeable memory location in the memory, determining a range of a pedigree buffer, initializing the memory pointer to a lowest value in the range, providing a second memory location that serves as a trigger address for an indirect write, and writing to a next location in the pedigree buffer by directing write data to the trigger address, which is then automatically written at a location pointed to by the memory pointer.
US08957759B1
A system, method, and computer-usable medium are disclosed for providing information relating to damage incurred by a vehicle in an accident. A first plurality of markers with a first set of identifiers is embedded in a coating applied to a component of a first vehicle and a second plurality of markers with a second set of identifiers is embedded in a coating applied to a component of a second vehicle. Markers from the first vehicle are transferred to the second vehicle upon impact during an accident. The transferred markers are read by a marker reader and then processed to determine the identity of the first vehicle.
US08957758B2
A cleaning appliance is provided including at least one authorization carrier with an access authorization which is provided thereon and is required for accessing the cleaning appliance, just one receptacle in which the at least one authorization carrier is positionable, and a detection unit, situated at the receptacle, for contact-based detection of the access authorization of an authorization carrier positioned in the receptacle, the detection unit having at least one detection contact element which contacts the access authorization. To provide a cleaning appliance of this type which is usable with greater versatility, it is proposed that the cleaning appliance include two or more authorization carriers with access authorizations provided thereon which are linked to different authorization profiles, wherein a range of functions dependent on the authorization profile linked to an access authorization can be provided to an operator by the cleaning appliance.
US08957754B2
A wound transformer core is provided with at least one core loop made of a magnetic material. The transformer core includes multiple thin amorphous band-like iron sheets which are concentrically stacked around at least one center axis. A lower yoke section, an upper yoke section, and at least two limb sections are formed. The transformer core includes a modular plate-like support structure which is affixed upright to the center axis on both face sides of the lower yoke section and on both face sides of each limb section such that neighbored iron sheets are affixed together at their outer edge. The modular plate-like support structure includes, for each face side of the corresponding core sections, at least two plate-like modules, which are each connected to each other by a first or second plug-in connection.
US08957751B2
A shunt plate is provided that is associated with a first side of a multi-pole magnetic structure. The shunt plate provides a magnetic short between opposite polarity magnetic sources on the first side of said magnetic structure, the magnetic short causing a magnetic flux of said opposite polarity magnetic sources to be routed from said first side of the magnetic structure through said magnetic structure to the second side of said magnetic structure. The thickness of the shunt plate is selected by determining the integrated flux across a magnetic source of the magnetic structure such that the corresponding flux density in the shunt plate does not substantially exceed the flux density saturation level of a cross section of the shunt plate.
US08957749B2
A linear solenoid includes a collar, which limits relative movement between a first stationary core and a second stationary core. The first stationary core includes a bearing portion and a fixing portion, which are formed integrally as a single integral member. The bearing portion supports the shaft. The fixing portion is fixed to the yoke while the collar is clamped between the fixing portion and the second stationary core in the axial direction.
US08957746B2
Provided is a printed circuit board configured to remove undesired signals generated in a transmission line, the signals having frequencies that are integral multiples of a basic frequency. Two ¼ wavelength lines 5 and 6 each having a length that is ¼ of a basic frequency corresponding to a data rate of coded digital signal are arranged at a signal wiring layer, which is one of surface layers of a substrate 8, along a transmission line 3 for transmitting the digital signal. One end 15a of the first ¼ wavelength line 5 is opened, and another end 15b is grounded to a ground 7. Both ends 16a and 16b of the second ¼ wavelength line 6 are opened.
US08957743B2
A communication unit comprises a controller and a radio frequency signal path having a plurality of delay elements operably coupled to a series of respective amplifier stages, wherein the controller is arranged to individually enable the respective amplifier stages. In response thereto a number of the plurality of delay elements are selectively inserted into or by-passed from the radio frequency signal path thereby adjusting a phase shift applied to signals provided through the radio frequency signal path.
US08957739B2
The present disclosure relates to a device and method to reduce voltage headroom within a voltage-controlled oscillator by utilizing trifilar coupling or transformer feedback with a capacitive coupling technique. In some embodiments of trifilar coupling, a VCO comprises cross-coupled single-ended oscillators, wherein the voltage of first gate within a first single-ended oscillator is separated from the voltage of a second drain within a second single-ended oscillator within the cross-coupled pair. A trifilar coupling network is composed of a drain inductive component, a source inductive component, and a gate inductive component for a single-ended oscillator, wherein a coupling between drain inductive components and gate inductive components between single-ended oscillators along with a negative feedback loop within each single-ended oscillator forms a cross-coupled pair of transistors which reduces the drain-to-source voltage headroom to approximately a saturation voltage of a transistor within the cross-coupled pair. Other devices and methods are also disclosed.
US08957733B2
In accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, systems and methods are provided for multi-modal power amplification. In certain implementations, an adjustable power amplifier amplifies an input signal, and the amount of amplification is varied based on the input signal. A variable impedance unit receives an amplified input signal, and the amount of load impedance at the variable impedance unit is varied based on the input signal.
US08957731B2
Methods and apparatus for Class-D amplifier circuits with D.C. offset control/correction. A Class-D amplifier is described having an output stage, such as a full H-bridge or half bridge, with a plurality of switches operable to provide a plurality of output states comprising at least a positive output state and a negative output state. Control circuitry is configured to receive a first signal based on the input signal and produce a digital control signal, which is used to determine the switch state of the output stage. A digital integrator is configured to receive a feedback signal indicative of the output state of the output stage and to sample the feedback signal at a sample rate and produce an integrated output signal (INT, IVC) indicating the difference in number of instances of the positive output state and the negative output state. Correction circuitry subtracts the integrated output signal from the input signal to produce a D.C. offset corrected signal.
US08957729B2
A method and apparatus for memory modeling in a pre-distortion architecture are disclosed. In one embodiment, a memory model has a plurality of branches. Each branch receives a different output basis function signal. Each branch includes at least one delay element. Each delay element causes a pre-determined delay of the output basis function signal received by the branch. The amount of a pre-determined delay is different for each of at least two branches.
US08957723B2
A method includes obtaining a standard value for a characteristic of a power switch and obtaining a measured value of the characteristic, via a gate drive unit connected to a gate terminal of the power switch. The method also includes determining a health state of the power switch by comparing the measured value to the standard value of the characteristic.
US08957720B2
A sampling clock generator circuit includes a reference clock generator, a sampling hold circuit, a sampling clock generator to delay an output clock signal from the reference clock generator by a predetermined delay amount to generate and supply a sampling clock signal to the sampling hold circuit, a phase determining element to compare phases of a drive clock signal for an image reading unit and the sampling clock signal to output a result of the phase comparison, the drive clock signal generated according to the output clock signal of the reference clock generator, and a controller to adjust the delay amount of the sampling clock generator on the basis of the result of the phase comparison so that a phase difference between the drive clock signal and the sampling clock signal becomes zero.
US08957707B2
A positive/negative sampling and holding (S/H) circuit is disclosed herein. The positive/negative S/H circuit includes an operational amplifier, a first capacitor, a second capacitor being parallel with the first capacitor and forming an integration circuit with the operational amplifier, and several discharge switches correspondingly connecting discharge paths of the first and the second capacitors to control the first and the second capacitors to output a first sampling signal and a second sampling signal respectively, and herein, the first and the second sampling signals has the same magnitude but opposite voltage polarities.
US08957705B2
Described is an apparatus comprising: a first phase frequency detector (PFD) to determine a coarse phase difference between a first clock signal and a second clock signal, the first PFD to generate a first output indicating the coarse phase difference; and a second PFD, coupled to the first PFD, to determine a fine phase difference between the first clock signal and the second clock signal, the second PFD to generate a second output indicating the fine phase difference.
US08957703B2
Circuitry comprises a high voltage rail providing a high voltage level corresponding to a higher voltage domain, an intermediate voltage source, a low voltage rail, and devices that operate in a lower voltage domain. First devices in an upper voltage region are powered between the high voltage rail and an intermediate voltage rail powered by the intermediate source. Second devices in a lower voltage region are powered between the intermediate and low rails. On power up, the intermediate source is powered before the high voltage rail. An isolating circuit connects the intermediate source to a node when the high voltage rail is powered and isolates the node from the intermediate source when the high voltage rail is not powered to impede current flow from the intermediate source to the high voltage rail.
US08957700B2
Apparatus and method for digital configuration of integrated circuits (ICs) are provided herein. In certain implementations, an IC includes an impedance sensing circuit and at least one pin used for digital configuration. The impedance sensing circuit can detect an impedance value of an external passive network electrically connected to the pin, and can digitally configure the IC based on the detected impedance. For example, an end-user can connect an external resistor of a particular resistance to the pin, and the impedance sensing circuit can sense or detect the external resistor's resistance and digitally configure the IC based on the detected resistance. Accordingly, an end-user can digitally configure the IC by connecting a passive external component corresponding to a desired digital configuration to the pin. In certain implementations, the IC includes multiple pins, and the digital configuration is based on the impedances detected on each of the pins.
US08957688B2
An apparatus for determining at least one dielectric property of a capacitor arrangement, and especially for capacitive examination of a moving elongated test subject such as yarn. It contains an alternating signal generator for applying an electric alternating signal to the capacitor arrangement. The capacitor arrangement is uncoupled from the alternating signal generator by means of an amplifier in such a way that it does not relevantly influence the basic frequency and the signal shape of the applied alternating signal. Detection means detect an electric measuring variable of an electric signal tapped from the capacitor arrangement. The alternating signal generator is set up in such a way that at least one of the basic frequency and the signal shape of the applied alternating signal can be changed.
US08957684B2
A method for detecting a fault of an operating switch connected to an evaluating unit by at least one signal. The switch having at least a first switch circuit for initiating a vehicle function. A signal that specifies the switch position is sensed by the evaluating unit. The first switch circuit is connected to a first potential of the vehicle electrical system and to the signal line to form a first contact branch. The first switch circuit is bridged by a diode device in the non-conducting direction with respect to the first potential, the evaluating unit generates a test voltage, which is greater than the first potential, the test voltage is applied to the signal line, and, the potential being applied to the signal line of the first contact branch is evaluated by means of the evaluating unit in order to detect a fault.
US08957674B2
A pump comprising an electrical motor drive (2) and a pump engine (3), the pump engine having a stator portion (32) and an axially and rotatably movable rotor portion (30) mounted in the stator portion. The electrical motor drive comprises a rotor (6) with a permanent magnet (20), a stator (4) with a magnetic circuit (10) and one or more coils, and a position sensor (8) comprising at least one magnetic field detector (24a, 24b) positioned in the proximity of the rotor permanent magnet and configured to detect both rotational and axial movement of the rotor.
US08957670B2
A stroke amount detection device includes a yoke, a magnetic flux generation section, and a magnetism detection section. The yoke has a protruding section that protrudes to outside the yoke. The magnetic flux generation section is located in the yoke. The magnetism detection section is disposed between the magnetic flux generation section and the protruding section. The magnetism detection section is disposed at a fixed position with respect to the magnetic flux generation section. The magnetism detection section outputs a signal in accordance with a magnetic flux density generated due to a relative movement of the yoke with respect to the magnetism detection section.
US08957667B2
An electric measuring apparatus is constructed in such a way as to include a signal processing circuit equipped with at least a polarized light separating unit, Faraday rotators, a light source, a photoelectric conversion element, and optical fibers for a sensor. The optical fibers for the sensor are placed around the periphery of an electrical conductor through which electric current to be measured flows. Furthermore, the rotation angle of each Faraday rotator at the time when the magnetism of each Faraday rotator is saturated is set to 22.5°+α° at a temperature of 23° C., thereby changing the rotation angle of each Faraday rotator by α° from 22.5°.
US08957661B2
Disclosed is a DC-DC converter, including: a switch unit configured to generate output voltage for driving a load; an output voltage monitoring unit including a reference voltage generator generating reference voltage and a reference voltage capacitor maintaining the reference voltage when power of the reference voltage generator is interrupted and configured to generate a signal for setting the output voltage as the reference voltage; a switch controlling unit configured to control the switch unit by being operated in a pulse width modulation (PWM) mode or a pulse frequency modulation (PFM) mode by using the signal of the output voltage monitoring unit; and a mode determining and power interrupting unit configured to set an operating mode of the switch controlling unit as the PWM mode or the PFM mode according to a magnitude of the load and interrupt power of the reference voltage generator when operated in the PFM mode.
US08957660B2
The present invention discloses a current balance circuit for a multiphase DC-DC converter. The current balance circuit comprises a current error calculation circuit, for generating a plurality of current balance signals indicating imbalance levels of a plurality of inductor currents of a plurality of channels of the multiphase DC-DC converter according to a plurality of current sensing signals of the plurality of channels, a time shift circuit, for adjusting pulse widths of a plurality of clock signals according to the plurality of current balance signals, and a ramp generator, for deciding shift levels of a plurality of ramp signals according to the plurality of clock signals.
US08957653B2
A power supply control circuit includes a main controller, a current detection unit electronically connected to the main controller, and a mode switch unit electronically connected to the main controller. The current detection unit cooperates with the main controller in detecting a value of an output current of a power supply circuit. The main controller determines whether the power supply circuit is operating in a discontinuous conduction mode or in a continuous conduction mode according to the value of the output current of the power supply circuit, and controls the mode switch unit to switch the power supply circuit to the continuous conduction mode when the power supply circuit operates in the discontinuous conduction mode.
US08957645B2
A method for providing non-resonant zero-voltage switching in a switching power converter. The switching power converter converts power from input power to output power during multiple periodic switching cycles. The switching power converter includes a main switch and an auxiliary capacitor adapted for connecting to the main switch, and an inductor connectible to the auxiliary capacitor. When the main switch is on, a previously charged (or previously discharged) auxiliary capacitor is connected to the main switch with auxiliary switches. The main switch is switched off with zero voltage while discharging non-resonantly (charging) the auxiliary capacitor by providing a current path to the inductor. The auxiliary capacitor is disconnected from the main switch.
US08957643B2
A method of maximum power point tracking for a photovoltaic module system is disclosed. The photovoltaic module system may comprise a photovoltaic module array comprising a plurality of identical photovoltaic modules, and the tracking method may comprise: detecting system parameters and environmental parameters of the photovoltaic module array; estimating a first voltage coefficient of one photovoltaic module according to the system parameters and the environmental parameters; estimating a plurality of second voltage coefficients of the photovoltaic module array according to the first voltage coefficient with different shading ratios; estimating a plurality of local maximum power point powers according to corresponding second voltage coefficients; and determining a whole maximum power point by comparing the local maximum power point powers with one another.
US08957637B2
A shunt system for a stack of series connected electrochemical units. The system includes shunt circuits each connected between a positive pole and a negative pole of an electrochemical unit and a control circuit to send a control signal to at least one of the shunt circuits to cause it to shunt the electrochemical unit between the poles to which it is connected. The control system includes control modules each having its own voltage reference, each of the shunt circuits belonging to one of the modules. Each control circuit includes plural shunt circuits and the shunt circuits belonging to a control module are connected between the poles of contiguous electrochemical units, so that the control modules subdivide the stack into plural groups of electrochemical units. Each control module includes a mechanism to communicate with the control circuit, so that the control circuit can control the shunt circuits belonging to different control modules.
US08957634B2
A system and method are provided for the collaborative charging of electric vehicles. The collaborative charging manages the disbursement of power from a neighborhood transformer so as to increase the efficiency of electric vehicle charging at the residences without significantly altering the existing power distribution and residential infrastructures. Time-flexible loads are shed in order to efficiently allocate energy distribution without compromising the comfort or security of the user. The identities of individual residential power demands can be concealed to protect the user's privacy or made available to further optimize power allocation. The power allocation negotiation may be performed in a residential local demand management client separate from the residential charging station.
US08957626B2
A method for replacing a container of input energy for a drive motor of a motor vehicle including at least one iteration of a phase including the following: recognizing the type of container to be deposited; making, if needed, at least one tool suitable for the container type; using the at least one tool to take down the container; depositing the container; and using the at least one tool to mount a new container. The making at least one tool suitable for the container type includes dismantling, on the at least one tool, a first device for activating and deactivating a first mechanism for locking the container onto the motor vehicle and mounting, on the at least one tool, a second device for activating and deactivating a second mechanism for locking the container onto the motor vehicle.
US08957625B2
A method for balancing multiple battery cells which are grouped into multiple battery modules includes: obtaining cell parameters of the battery cells, respectively; calculating an average cell parameter for each of the battery modules according to the cell parameters; identifying a donator module and a receiver module from the battery modules based upon the average cell parameter; and transferring energy from the donator module to the receiver module to balance the battery cells.
US08957624B2
Rechargeable battery systems and rechargeable battery system operational methods are described. According to one aspect, a rechargeable battery system includes a plurality of rechargeable battery cells coupled between a plurality of terminals and charge shuttling circuitry configured to couple with and shuttle electrical energy between individual ones of the rechargeable battery cells, and wherein the charge shuttling circuitry is configured to receive the electrical energy from one of the rechargeable battery cells at a first voltage and to provide the electrical energy to another of the rechargeable battery cells at a second voltage greater than the first voltage.
US08957622B2
The present invention provides a small fuel cell system including a secondary battery, in which deterioration in the secondary battery is suppressed regardless of a temperature condition. A control unit adjusts the supply amount of a liquid fluid of a fuel pump so that charging current I2 to a secondary battery becomes smaller than a predetermined maximum charging current value Imax. Consequently, for example, even in the case of using a small secondary battery, the charging current I2 is limited to be smaller than a predetermined upper limit value (maximum charging current value Imax). In addition, a temperature detecting unit detects temperature T1 of the secondary battery and the control unit controls the maximum charging current value Imax in accordance with the detected temperature T1 of the secondary battery. In such a manner, the operation of limiting the charging current I2 in accordance with the temperature T1 of the secondary battery at that time is performed.
US08957621B2
An actuator comprising at least one multiphase motor having phases facing a rotor secured to an outlet shaft associated with a braking member and provided with a connection to a movable element that is to be moved, the motors and the braking member being connected to at least one motor control unit for controlling the motors by powering their phases. The motor has at least four phases wound in such a manner as to avoid a neutral point, and in that the control unit has one single-phase inverter per phase and is arranged to implement a nominal, three-phase mode of control, and a degraded mode of control that enables the rotor to be driven in rotation by powering two non-collinear phases thereof.
US08957618B2
In an electric vehicle, a throttle spring restores a throttle opening on the side of a minimum opening when the accelerator is not operated. A driving section drives a motor according to the throttle opening. The throttle spring pushes an accelerator grip to a creep speed reference opening so as to reduce the throttle opening. A creep speed control section supplies a motor driving instruction to the driving section so that the electric vehicle is advanced at minute vehicle speed. The electric vehicle can also be backed at predetermined minute vehicle speed when the throttle opening is smaller than the creep speed reference opening.
US08957615B2
There is provided a motor driving apparatus capable of optimizing driving efficiency by adjusting a phase difference between current applied to a motor and voltage detected from the motor and performing the adjustment of the phase difference when a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal has a set duty. The motor driving apparatus includes: a driving unit driving a motor according to driving control; a driving controlling unit controlling the driving of the motor by the driving unit, based on an adjusted phase correction signal; and a phase correcting unit correcting a phase difference between a motor detection signal having motor rotation speed information and a current detection signal having detection information regarding current flowing in the motor when a duty of a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal driving the motor satisfies a preset reference duty, and providing the phase correction signal to the driving controlling unit.
US08957614B2
A modularized control circuit with a signal-capturing function for a fan motor is disclosed. The modularized control circuit includes a driven circuit and a microcontroller integrated circuit. The driven circuit is electrically connected to the fan motor to produce at least one analog driven voltage signal, thus driving the fan motor. The microcontroller integrated circuit is electrically connected to the driven circuit and includes a signal-capturing module, a control unit, and a driven signal generator. The signal-capturing module receives an external pulse signal to produce a cycle-capturing signal. The control unit is connected to the signal-capturing module and receives the cycle-capturing signal to produce a control signal. The driven signal generator is connected to the control unit to receive the control signal, thus producing a plurality of switch driven signals for controlling the driven circuit.
US08957610B2
A multi-port reconfigurable battery has at least one bank of statically joined series connected battery cells, each including a positive and negative pole connected through switches to respective output connections on at least one port. Processor controlled switches reconfigure the cells to provide power for electrical loads on one or more ports and simultaneously provide charging on one or more other ports. An alternative configuration divides groups of series connected cells into separate battery banks that permit other configurations. Ports are configurable to share one electrically common connection with other ports providing a simplified configuration (multi-tap reconfigurable battery). Applications include selectable motor speed control and battery regeneration schemes matched to motor output, and single or multiphase AC power output at selectable frequencies for use as an Uninterruptible Power Supply. The battery is also described as a power source for a forced-air induction system (e.g. electric supercharger) for a combustion engine.
US08957594B2
Disclosed herein is a lighting apparatus which varies a light emission pattern of a light emitting unit based on external stimuli, such as sounds, and is aesthetically pleasing to a user through variation in light emission pattern. A lighting apparatus includes a housing having a plurality of light irradiation regions, a light emitting unit including a substrate disposed within the light irradiation regions in the housing and a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted on the substrate so as to correspond to the light irradiation regions, an electronic module to supply power to the light emitting unit, a sound sensing unit to sense a sound, and a controller to control at least one of ON/OFF, a light emission sequence, a light emission cycle, a quantity of light and a light emission time of the light emitting diodes based on a level of the sensed sound.
US08957588B1
A lighting controller comprising a control module is disclosed. The control module transmits electrical current to various sets of lights in accordance with scheduling data for each set of lights. The scheduling data may include start date and stop data for each set of lights.
US08957587B2
In some embodiments, a signal of light may be emitted from an illumination source of a first transceiver. A second transceiver may detect a signal of light from the first transceiver that exceeds a threshold luminosity; and activate, in response to the detecting of the signal of light that exceeds the threshold luminosity, an illumination source of the second transceiver to illuminate. An intensity of the illumination source of the first transceiver may then be reduced in response to the activating of the illumination source of the second transceiver to illuminate.
US08957581B2
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, which includes a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, an electroluminescent body, a phase shift layer and a metal layer, is disclosed. The electroluminescent body is disposed on the first electrode layer. The second electrode layer is disposed on the electroluminescent body. The phase shift layer has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The second electrode layer is disposed on the second surface. The metal layer is disposed on the first surface of the phase shift layer. An environmental incident light enters a surface of the metal layer to form a first reflective light on the first surface and form a second reflective light on the second surface. The first reflective light has a phase difference from the second reflective light.
US08957575B2
The present invention provides a new phosphor with a controllable emission wavelength without using a number of rare and expensive raw materials in forming the composition. The phosphor includes a compound including a fluorescent ion and having a garnet structure including a rare earth element, aluminum, and oxygen. The compound has such a composition that a combination of the rare earth element and the aluminum of the compound is partially replaced with a combination of alkaline earth metal and zirconium (Zr) or alkaline earth metal and hafnium (Hf).
US08957573B2
Wire-suspended thermionic cathodes provide lower power, further reduction in size, better stability and accuracy, and higher loading then conventional art. The cathodes are too small for use with conventional heaters and so are heated from behind by an electron beam or an intense light beam, such as laser light transmitted via optical fiber to the back of the cathode. The cathodes are electrically isolated from the focus electrode, thus allowing beam cutoff and modulation.
US08957569B2
A GT-cut crystal resonator that can be provided with a support portion having a small and simple configuration without adverse effect on vibration characteristics includes: a crystal plate formed in an elliptical shape with a major axis and a minor axis respectively corresponding to vibration directions of two longitudinal vibration modes orthogonal to each other in a GT-cut; and a support portion that supports the crystal plate, the support portion being connected to a position on an outer periphery of the crystal plate where a minimum vibration displacement is obtained when the two longitudinal vibration modes are coupled.
US08957568B2
An electronic component includes an electronic component body having a plurality of electrodes and a sealing film sandwiching the electronic component body from both surfaces. The sealing film is sealed along its entire periphery. Extraction electrode portions are formed on an inner surface of the sealing film which is in contact with the electronic component body, and at positions corresponding to the electrodes, and are in contact with the electrodes.
US08957567B2
A method and deformation compensated flexural pivots structured for precision linear nanopositioning stages are provided. A deformation-compensated flexural linear guiding mechanism includes a basic parallel mechanism including a U-shaped member and a pair of parallel bars linked to respective pairs of I-link bars and each of the I-bars coupled by a respective pair of flexural pivots. The basic parallel mechanism includes substantially evenly distributed flexural pivots minimizing center shift dynamic errors.
US08957565B2
An acoustic wave device includes a first electrode film arranged on a top surface of a piezoelectric substrate and defining electrodes including IDT electrodes and a second electrode film arranged to extend from the top surface of the piezoelectric substrate to a portion of a top surface of the first electrode film. The second electrode film defines electrodes including a wiring electrode 9 and pad electrodes and is made of a layered metal film including a plurality of metal films deposited in layers. The lowermost layer of the second electrode film is made of a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum-copper alloy, nickel-chromium alloy, aluminum-silicon alloy, aluminum-titanium alloy, titanium, and copper, and the lowermost layer of the second electrode film is arranged to extend to a side surface of the second electrode film.
US08957562B2
A stator includes a core having a plurality of slots and a plurality of U-shaped conductors, which are inserted in the corresponding slots. Each of the conductors has a pair of legs and a joint portion that connects the legs together. Each slot receives four legs and each of the legs in the slot is one leg of the corresponding one of the conductors. Two of the four conductors corresponding to the four legs inserted in each slot are overlapped with each other at the joint portions as viewed at least circumferentially.
US08957559B2
A housing for an actuator for receiving an electric motor and further functional units of the actuator, wherein a can is integrally molded to an inner face of the housing that is designed to receive the electric motor and wherein means of fastening are integrally molded to the can that are designed to position and fix the electric motor accommodated in the can.
US08957558B2
A linear vibration generator is disclosed. The linear vibration generator in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a stationary part, which has a polygonal-prism-shaped coil and in which the polygonal-prism-shaped coil induces a magnetic field by having an electric current supplied, a vibrating part, which has a polygonal-prism-shaped magnet and in which a portion of the polygonal-prism-shaped magnet is inserted into the coil, an elastic member, which is coupled to the stationary part and elastically supports the vibrating part such that the vibrating part can move linearly, and a lubricating band, which is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the magnet.
US08957556B2
A drive device includes a motor, a control unit and a holder. The motor has a motor case, a stator, a winding wire, a rotor and a shaft. The control unit includes a semiconductor module, a receiving member, and a cover. The control unit is arranged on a side of the motor in an axis direction of the motor. The holder is arranged between the motor and the control unit, and has a wall portion extending toward the control unit and fitting with the control unit.
US08957548B2
An apparatus and method is disclosed to control antenna characteristic of a near field communications (NFC) device. The apparatus and method may tune a resonant frequency of an antenna module of the NFC device to compensate for manufacturing tolerances of the antenna module. The NFC device may cause the antenna module to operate in a first configuration for a first period of time that is characterized by a compensation resonant frequency and a second configuration for a second period of time that is characterized by an actual resonant frequency. The NFC device causes the antenna module to continuously switch between the first configuration and the second configuration such that on average, a resonant frequency of the antenna module is approximately equal to an expected resonant frequency of the antenna module.
US08957545B2
There is provided a prioritization circuit which selects one of a system power supply and a secondary battery unit as a selected supply source and the other as a non-selected supply source and which causes supply of electric power with a higher priority from the selected supply source to a power supply unit, wherein the non-selected supply source is connected to the power supply unit through a diode element which generates a voltage drop and the selected supply source supplies electric power to the power supply unit without passing through a diode element.
US08957540B2
A device (10) includes a turbine (22, 34) having an impeller (22), and an electric generator (12, 24) having a stator (12) provided with stator windings distributed around a cylindrical surface (X) coaxial to the impeller (22), and a permanent magnet (24) which is rotatable relative to the stator (12) and is drivingly connected for rotation with the impeller (22). The impeller (22) is housed inside the permanent magnet (24) and the assembly formed by the impeller (22) and by the permanent magnet (24) is housed inside the stator (12). The permanent magnet (24) is made as a single hollow cylindrical body of high magnetic density material with diametrical magnetization.
US08957537B2
A method of operating a wind turbine having a rotor with a plurality of blades, and one or more pitch mechanisms for rotating the blades including a sub-nominal zone of operation and a supra-nominal zone of operation for wind speeds above the nominal wind speed wherein the sub-nominal zone of operation includes a first, a second and a third operational range. The first operational range extends from a cut-in wind speed to a first wind speed, wherein the rotor speed is kept substantially constant at a first value. The second operational range extends from the first wind speed to a second wind speed, wherein both the rotor speed and generator torque are varied as a function of wind speed. The third operational range extends from the second wind speed to the nominal wind speed, wherein the rotor speed is kept substantially constant at a second value, and wherein in the second operational range, the generator torque, T, is determined in accordance with T=k·co2, wherein co is the generator speed and k is non-constant over the second operational range.
US08957530B2
An integrated circuit packaging system includes: an integrated circuit device; a conductive post adjacent the integrated circuit device, the conductive post with a contact surface having characteristics of a shaped platform removed; and an encapsulant around the conductive post and the integrated circuit device with the conductive post extending through the encapsulant and each end of the conductive post exposed from the encapsulant.
US08957522B2
According to one embodiment, the semiconductor device in the embodiment has an assembly substrate, a semiconductor chip, and a jointing layer. The semiconductor chip is joined to the assembly substrate via the jointing layer. An intervening diffusion barrier layer may be interposed between the chip and jointing layer. The jointing layer is an alloy layer mainly made of any metal selected from Sn, Zn and In or an alloy of Sn, Zn and In, and any metal selected from Cu, Ni, Ag, Cr, Zr, Ti and V or an alloy of any metal selected from Cu, Ni, Ag, Cr, Zr, Ti and V and any metal selected from Sn, Zn and In, where the alloy has a higher melting temperature than that of Sn, Zn and In or an alloy of Sn, Zn and/or In.
US08957519B2
The problem of poor adherence of a dielectric coating on a patterned metal structure can be solved by forming an adhesion layer on exposed surfaces of such metal structure prior to deposition of such dielectric. According to an embodiment, the invention provides a method to form a self-aligned adhesion layer on the surface of metal interconnect structure within an integrated circuit by exposing the metal structure to a controlled atmosphere and a flow of nitrogen-containing gas.
US08957516B2
A low cost and high performance flip chip package is disclosed. By assembling the package using a substrate panel level process, a separate fabrication of a substrate is avoided, thus enabling the use of a coreless substrate. The coreless substrate may include multiple stacked layers of laminate dielectric films having conductive traces and vias. As a result, electrical connection routes may be provided directly from die contact pads to package contact pads without the use of conventional solder bumps, thus accommodating very high density semiconductor dies with small feature sizes. The disclosed flip chip package provides lower cost, higher electrical performance, and improved thermal dissipation compared to conventional fabricated substrates with solder bumped semiconductor dies.
US08957514B1
Manufacturing a DC-DC converter on a chip includes: providing a die having a p-type top side and an n-type bottom side; removing an interior portion, creating a hole; flipping the interior portion; inserting the interior portion into the hole; fabricating high-side switch cells in the interior portion's top side and low-side switch cells in the exterior portion's top side; sputtering a magnetic material on the entire top side; burrowing tunnels into the magnetic material; and applying conductive material on the magnetic material and within the tunnels, electrically coupling pairs of high-side and low-side switches, with each pair forming a micro-power-switching phase, where the conductive material forms an output node of the phase, and the conductive material in the burrowed tunnels forms, in each phase, a torodial inductor with a single loop coil and, for the plurality of phases, a directly coupled inductor.
US08957513B2
A semiconductor device comprising: a lower semiconductor package that comprises a first set of one or more semiconductor dies, an upper semiconductor package that is stacked on the lower semiconductor package, the upper semiconductor package comprises a second set of one or more semiconductor dies, and a first interconnect pad that is embedded in a top side of the lower semiconductor package to couple the upper semiconductor package to the lower semiconductor package.
US08957504B2
An integrated structure with a silicon-through via includes a substrate, a through-silicon via penetrating the substrate, a conductive protective structure surrounding the through-silicon via and a first and a second conductive dummy patterns with different shapes disposed between the through-silicon via and the conductive protective structure.
US08957503B2
A package includes a semiconductor device including an active surface having a contact pad. A redistribution layer (RDL) structure includes a first post-passivation interconnection (PPI) line electrically connected to the contact pad and extending on the active surface of the semiconductor device. An under-bump metallurgy (UBM) layer is formed over and electrically connected to the first PPI line. A seal ring structure extends around the upper periphery of the semiconductor device. The seal ring structure includes a seal layer extending on the same level as at least one of the first PPI line and the UBM layer.
US08957500B2
A high-voltage metal capacitor with easy integration into existing semiconductor manufacturing processes can provide isolation capacitors up to several kilovolts. The capacitor includes a support layer with internal structure, including a lower place, a bond pad on the support layer, an upper plate disposed on the support layer, the upper plate being arranged above the lower plate, a dielectric layer, at least part of which is between the lower and upper plates, and a passivation layer, at least part of which covers at least part of the upper plate and part of the dielectric layer. A first opening extends from the surface through the passivation and dielectric layers to the lower plate, and a second opening extends from the surface through the passivation layer to the upper plate. A method of manufacturing the capacitor.
US08957492B2
In one embodiment of a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a plurality of substantially columnar trenches are formed along a region for forming a dicing line in a semiconductor substrate having first surface and second surfaces opposed to each other, from the first surface. The substrate is subjected to a heat treatment. At least one hollow portion is formed in the substrate by migration of a material which composes the substrate. Semiconductor devices are formed in semiconductor regions of the substrate which are surrounded by the region for forming the dicing line. The semiconductor regions are provided on a side of the first surface. A portion of the substrate is removed from a side of the second surface until the thickness is reduced to a predetermined value. The substrate is divided into chips along a dicing line from at least the one hollow portion as a starting point.
US08957487B2
A tunneling magneto-resistor reference unit for sensing a magnetic field includes a first MTJ (magnetic tunneling junction) device and a second MTJ device connected in parallel. The first MTJ device has a first pinned layer having a first pinned magnetization at a pinned direction, and a first free layer having a first free magnetization parallel to the pinned direction in a zero magnetic field. The second MTJ device has a second pinned layer having a second pinned magnetization at the pinned direction, and a second free layer having a second free magnetization anti-parallel to the pinned direction in a zero magnetic field. Major axes of the first and second MTJ devices have an angle of 45 degrees to a direction of an external magnetic field when sensed.
US08957484B2
Improved methods, and related systems and devices, for fabricating selectively patterned piezoelectric substrates suitable for use in a wide variety of systems and devices. A method can include providing a piezoelectric substrate having a protrusion of substrate material, depositing an electrically conductive coating so as to cover a portion of a side of the substrate and protrusion, and removing a portion of the coated protrusion.
US08957480B2
In a semiconductor device, an active region includes: a first impurity region to which a predetermined voltage is applied; second and third impurity regions forming a pair of conductive electrodes of an insulated gate field effect transistor; and at least one impurity region disposed between the first and second impurity regions. A voltage that causes electrical conduction between the second and third impurity regions is applied to a gate electrode disposed between the second and third impurity regions. All gate electrodes disposed between the first and second impurity regions are configured to be electrically connected to the first impurity region constantly. All impurity regions disposed between the first and second impurity regions are electrically isolated from the first and second impurity regions and maintained in a floating state.
US08957466B2
A semiconductor device may include, but is not limited to: a semiconductor substrate; a memory capacitor; and a first compensation capacitor. The semiconductor substrate has at least first and second regions. The memory capacitor is positioned over the first region. The memory capacitor may include, but is not limited to: a first lower electrode; and a first dielectric film covering inner and outer surfaces of the first lower electrode. The first compensation capacitor is positioned over the second region. The first compensation capacitor includes, but is not limited to: a second lower electrode; a second dielectric film covering an inner surface of the second lower electrode; and a first insulating film covering an outer surface of the second lower electrode.
US08957456B1
Fabrication methods, device structures, and design structures for a heterojunction bipolar transistor. A trench isolation region and a collector are formed in a semiconductor substrate. The collector is coextensive with the trench isolation region. A first semiconductor layer is formed that includes a of single crystal section disposed on the collector and on the trench isolation region. A second semiconductor layer is formed that includes a single crystal section disposed on the single crystal section of the first semiconductor layer and that has an outer edge that overlies the trench isolation region. The section of the first semiconductor layer has a second width greater than a first width of the collector. The section of the second semiconductor layer has a third width greater than the second width. A cavity extends laterally from the outer edge of section of the second semiconductor layer to the section of the first semiconductor layer.
US08957455B1
A heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) having an emitter, a base, and a collector, the base including a first semiconductor layer coupled to the collector, the first semiconductor layer having a first bandgap between a first conduction band and a first valence band and a second semiconductor layer coupled to the first semiconductor layer and having a second bandgap between a second conduction band and a second valence band, wherein the second valence band is higher than the first valence band and wherein the second semiconductor layer comprises a two dimensional hole gas and a third semiconductor layer coupled to the second semiconductor layer and having a third bandgap between a third conduction band and a third valence band, wherein the third valence band is lower than the second valence band and wherein the third semiconductor layer is coupled to the emitter.
US08957452B2
A light emitting diode (LED) structure includes a substrate, an LED element, a reverse current protection element, a third conductor, and a fourth conductor. The LED element includes a first N-type semiconductor layer, a first lighting layer, a first P-type semiconductor layer, a first transparent conductive layer, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The reverse current protection element is located on the substrate and surrounds the LED element. The reverse current protection element includes a stack layer, a first conductor, and a second conductor. The stack layer is formed on the substrate by sequentially stacking a second N-type semiconductor layer, a second lighting layer, and a second P-type semiconductor layer. The third conductor is electrically connected to the first conductor and the second electrode. The fourth conductor is electrically connected to the second conductor and the first electrode.
US08957450B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting device includes a semiconductor layer, a first electrode, a second electrode, an insulating layer, a first interconnect layer, a second interconnect layer, a first metal pillar, a second metal pillar, a film covering a side face of the first metal pillar and a side face of the second metal pillar, and a resin layer. The semiconductor layer includes a light emitting layer, a first major surface, and a second major surface formed on a side opposite to the first major surface. The film has a solder wettability poorer than a solder wettability of the first metal pillar and a solder wettability of the second metal pillar. The resin layer covers at least part of the film.
US08957449B2
A method of manufacturing a light emitting diode, includes a process of forming an n-type nitride semiconductor layer, a light emitting layer, and a p-type nitride semiconductor layer on a temporary substrate, a process of forming a p-type electrode on the p-type nitride semiconductor layer, a process of forming a conductive substrate on the p-type electrode, a process of removing the temporary substrate to expose the n-type nitride semiconductor layer, a process of forming a nanoimprint resist layer on the n-type nitride semiconductor layer, a process of pressing the nanoimprint mold on the nanoimprint resist layer to transfer the nano-pattern onto the nanoimprint resist layer, and a process of separating the nanoimprint mold from the nanoimprint resist layer having the nano-pattern and etching a portion of the nanoimprint resist layer having the nano-pattern to form an n-type electrode.
US08957442B2
A technique of manufacturing a display device with high productivity is provided. In addition, a high-definition display device with high color purity is provided. By adjusting the optical path length between an electrode having a reflective property and a light-emitting layer by the central wavelength of a wavelength range of light passing through a color filter layer, the high-definition display device with high color purity is provided without performing selective deposition of light-emitting layers. In a light-emitting element, a plurality of light-emitting layers emitting light of different colors are stacked. The closer the light-emitting layer is positioned to the electrode having a reflective property, the shorter the wavelength of light emitted from the light-emitting layer is.
US08957440B2
A light emitting diode die that when encapsulated within an overmolded hemispherical lens has a packaging factor less than 1.2. The light emitting diode die may include a stacked structure including a metal overlay, a composite high reflectivity mirror on the metal overlay, a transparent conductive oxide layer on the composite high reflectivity mirror, and a diode structure on the transparent conductive oxide layer. The diode structure may include a roughened surface opposite the transparent conductive oxide layer, a submount connected to the composite high reflectivity mirror and a bond metal between the submount and the metal overlay. A conductive via may extend through the composite high reflectivity mirror and electrically connect the transparent conductive oxide and the bond metal.
US08957439B2
A light emission diode (LED) assembly, comprising a LED die (10), a phosphor layer (12), and a filter layer (14), wherein said filter layer (14) is developed in such a manner that light rays with a wavelength of about 400 nm to 500 nm, preferably of about 420 nm to 490 nm, emitted from the LED die (10) are at least partially reflected depending on their emission angle to the normal on the filter layer (14). With the inventive LED assembly it is possible to provide a LED assembly which solves the yellow ring problem without a reduction of the efficiency of the LED assembly.
US08957436B2
A getter composition including a moisture absorbing material and a binder having a volatility of 400 ppm or less when heated to a temperature in the range of 60° C. to 120° C. for 2 hours and an organic light emitting diode device including the getter composition.
US08957435B2
A light emission package includes multiple colored solid state emitters each having a different non-white dominant wavelength in the visible range, and at least one lumiphor arranged to receive emissions from at least one other solid state emitter, with each emitter arranged on or adjacent to a common submount. The at least one other emitter and lumiphor may be arranged in combination to emit white light. Each emitter is independently controllable, permitting color and/or color temperature of a lighting device to be varied during operation of the device. At least one white emitter may be combined with red, green, and blue LEDs.
US08957428B2
The present invention relates to the field of a light emitting device (1), comprising a light emitting diode (2) arranged on a submount (3), said device having a lateral circumference surface (6) and a top surface (8), and an optically active coating layer (7), said coating layer (7): covering along at least a part of said circumference surface (6), extending from the submount (3) to said top surface (8), and essentially not covering the top surface (8). A method for producing the device is also disclosed.
US08957427B2
A method of forming a ZnO layer on a substrate and an LED including a ZnO layer formed by the method are provided. The ZnO layer is formed by using a Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction (SILAR) process. The SILAR process includes: applying a first solution to a substrate comprising GaN, to form an inner ionic layer on the substrate and an outer ionic layer on the inner ionic layer; performing a first washing operation on the substrate to remove the outer ionic layer; and applying a second solution to the washed substrate to convert the inner ionic layer into a ZnO oxide layer.
US08957422B2
There is provided a thin film transistor having improved reliability. A gate electrode includes a first gate electrode having a taper portion and a second gate electrode with a width narrower than the first gate electrode. A semiconductor layer is doped with phosphorus of a low concentration through the first gate electrode. In the semiconductor layer, two kinds of n−-type impurity regions are formed between a channel formation region and n+-type impurity regions. Some of the n−-type impurity regions overlap with a gate electrode, and the other n−-type impurity regions do not overlap with the gate electrode. Since the two kinds of n−-type impurity regions are formed, an off current can be reduced, and deterioration of characteristics can be suppressed.
US08957416B2
Disclosed herein is a thin film transistor including: a channel layer made of a crystalline oxide semiconductor having a bixbyte structure, in which (222) planes of the channel layer are roughly parallel to the carrier travel direction.
US08957414B2
A semiconductor device for high power application in which a novel semiconductor material having high mass productivity is provided. An oxide semiconductor film is formed, and then, first heat treatment is performed on the exposed oxide semiconductor film in order to reduce impurities such as moisture or hydrogen in the oxide semiconductor film. Next, in order to further reduce impurities such as moisture or hydrogen in the oxide semiconductor film, oxygen is added to the oxide semiconductor film by an ion implantation method, an ion doping method, or the like, and after that, second heat treatment is performed on the exposed oxide semiconductor film.
US08957411B2
An object is to improve reliability of a light-emitting device. A light-emitting device has a driver circuit portion including a transistor for a driver circuit and a pixel portion including a transistor for a pixel over one substrate. The transistor for the driver circuit and the transistor for the pixel are inverted staggered transistors each including an oxide semiconductor layer in contact with part of an oxide insulating layer. In the pixel portion, a color filter layer and a light-emitting element are provided over the oxide insulating layer. In the transistor for the driver circuit, a conductive layer overlapping with a gate electrode layer and the oxide semiconductor layer is provided over the oxide insulating layer. The gate electrode layer, a source electrode layer, and a drain electrode layer are formed using metal conductive films.
US08957409B2
Disclosed are a double-sided luminescent organic light emitting device and the manufacturing method thereof. The double-sided luminescent organic light emitting device comprises a transparent substrate (21), an anode (22), a transparent cathode (25), and at least two organic light emitting structures (23a, 23b) and at least a charge-generation layer (24) set between the anode (22) and the transparent cathode (25), and the charge-generation layer (24) is set between the two neighboring organic light emitting structures (23a, 23b), the charge-generation layer (24) and the organic light emitting structures (23a, 23b) are alternately arranged. The charge-generation layer (24) includes an n-type semiconductor layer (241) and a p-type semiconductor (242) layer combined with the n-type semiconductor layer. Said double-sided light emitting organic light emitting device requires low driving current, and has high luminescence efficiency, high brightness, and high light extraction efficiency. In addition, said device enables nearly 360 degrees omnidirectional illumination, enlarges the illumination area and the application range, and has long lifetime, simple preparation procedures and low production cost.
US08957399B2
A variable resistance nonvolatile memory element includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a variable resistance layer including: a first oxide layer including a metal oxide having non-stoichiometric composition and including p-type carriers; a second oxide layer located between and in contact with the first oxide layer and a second electrode and including a metal oxide having non-stoichiometric composition and including n-type carriers; an oxygen reservoir region located in the first oxide layer, having no contact with the first electrode, and having an oxygen content atomic percentage higher than that of the first oxide layer; and a local region located in the second oxide layer, having contact with the oxygen reservoir region, and having an oxygen content atomic percentage lower than that of the second oxide layer.
US08957396B2
The invention comprises a charged particle beam path coupling an injector, synchrotron accelerator, beam transport system, targeting system, and/or patient interface method and apparatus. Preferably, the injector comprises: a negative ion beam source, a two phase ion source vacuum system, an ion beam focusing lens, and/or a tandem accelerator. Preferably, the synchrotron comprises turning magnets, edge focusing magnets, magnetic field concentration magnets, winding and correction coils, flat magnetic field incident surfaces, and/or extraction elements. Preferably, the synchrotron, beam transport system, targeting system, and patient interface combine to allow multi-axis/multi-field irradiation, where multi-axis control comprises control of horizontal and vertical beam position, beam energy, and/or beam intensity and multi-field control comprises control of patient rotation and distribution of delivered energy in and about the tumor in a time controlled, targeted, accurate, precise, dosage controlled, and/or efficient manner.
US08957395B2
The invention relates to a charged particle beam lithography system comprising: a charged particle optical column arranged in a vacuum chamber for projecting a charged particle beam onto a target, wherein the column comprises deflecting means for deflecting the charged particle beam in a deflection direction, a target positioning device comprising a carrier for carrying the target, and a stage for carrying and moving the carrier along a first direction, wherein the first direction is different from the deflection direction, wherein the target positioning device comprises a first actuator for moving the stage in the first direction relative to the charged particle optical column, wherein the carrier is displaceably arranged on the stage and wherein the target positioning device comprises retaining means for retaining the carrier with respect to the stage in a first relative position.
US08957381B2
A shockproof gas sensor includes a gas detector, an infrared source, an infrared detector a circuit board and at least one shockproof unit. The gas detector defines a chamber, a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion. The infrared source is disposed in the chamber proximate to the first end portion while the infrared detector is disposed in the chamber and proximate to the second end portion. The circuit board is respectively electrically connected to the infrared source and the infrared detector. The shockproof unit is coupled to the gas detector and the circuit board, and the gas detector is secured on the circuit board by the shockproof unit.
US08957379B2
Suspended wideband planar skirt antenna having low thermal mass for detection of terahertz radiation
A novel and useful THz radiation detector comprising a suspended wideband planar skirt antenna for achieving low thermal mass and high electrical performance. The antenna comprises only the perimeter or “skirt” of the antenna. The antenna has multiple loops where each loop comprises a conductor that covers the perimeter or skirt and includes multiple inner and outer arms. The total length of each loop has a length substantially one wavelength. One or more ports or load impedances are connected at the center of the antenna and shared by one or more loops. A thermal sensor detects the heat generated in the load resister and converts the heat energy to an electrical signal which is transmitted to read out circuitry via signal lines that run together with a holding arm. The holding arm functions as both a path for the read out signals as well as providing mechanical support for and effectively suspending the antenna.
US08957377B2
An apparatus for analyzing, identifying or imaging an target including first and second laser beams coupled to a pair of photoconductive switches to produce CW signals in one or more bands in a range of frequencies greater than 100 GHz focused on and transmitted through or reflected from the target; and a detector for acquiring spectral information from signals received from the target and using a multi-spectral heterodyne process to generate an electrical signal representative of some characteristics of the target. The lasers are tuned to different frequencies and a frequency shifter in the path of one laser beam allows the terahertz beam to be finely adjusted in one or more selected frequency bands.
US08957374B2
Systems and methods of for measuring birefringence and stress in a sample made of ion-exchanged glass or a ceramic are disclosed, wherein the method includes digitally capturing TE and TM angular spectra of intensity versus pixel number for the sample. The TE and TM angular spectra are processed to minimize differences between respective regions of the TE and TM angular spectra. The amount of shift in pixels that best overlaps the processed TE and TM spectra is determined. The birefringence B is calculated by multiplying the pixel shift by the index resolution. The stress is calculated by multiplying the birefringence by the stress-optic coefficient.
US08957373B1
Present novel and non-trivial system, device, and method for preventing artifacts in an electromagnetic imaging system are disclosed. A processing unit may be configured to receive or derive exposure data corresponding to an exposure of electromagnetic radiation; identify each cell of the exposure data exceeding a maximum exposure limit; generate address data representative of an address of each identified cell; and send the address data to a modifiable medium such as (1) an array of reflecting devices that are modifiable through repositioning techniques, (2) an array of transmissive devices that are modifiable to prevent the passage of radiation, and/or (3) an occulting disk whose position is modifiable to prevent the passage of radiation. The exposure data could be comprised of actual exposure data received from a radiation detector. Alternatively, the exposure data could be comprised of calculated exposure data.
US08957371B2
Producing images of a specimen includes introducing a specimen into a specimen chamber of a particle-beam device, selecting a specific position on the surface of the specimen, supplying a contrast-agent precursor on the specific position, providing a particle beam and/or a light beam, guiding the particle beam and/or the light beam onto the specific position, applying a contrast-agent layer to the specific position as a result of the interaction of the particle beam and/or the light beam with the contrast-agent precursor, leaving the contrast-agent layer on the surface of the specimen for a predetermined amount of time. During the predetermined amount of time, a first part of the contrast-agent layer diffuses into the specimen and a second part of the contrast-agent layer remains on the surface of the specimen. The specimen is imaged using an optical device and/or a particle-optical device and/or using the particle beam.
US08957369B2
A tandem mass spectrometer and method are described. Precursor ions are generated in an ion source (10) and an ion injector (21, 23) injects ions towards a downstream ion guide (50, 60) via a single or multi reflection TOF device (30) that separates ions into packets in accordance with their m/z. A single pass ion gate (40) in the path of the precursor ions between the ion injector (21, 23) and the ion guide (50, 60) is controlled so that only a subset of precursor ion packets, containing precursor ions of interest, is allowed onward transmission to the ion guide (50, 60). A high resolution mass spectrometer (70) is provided for analysis of those ions, or their fragments, which have been allowed passage through the ion gate (40). The technique permits multiple m/z ranges to be selected from a wise mass range of precursors, with optional fragmentation of one or more of the chosen ion species.
US08957368B2
An ion guide is disclosed comprising a plurality of axial groupings of electrodes, wherein each axial grouping of electrodes comprises a ring or annular electrode which has been radially segmented into a plurality of electrode segments.
US08957363B2
Systems and methods for measuring a light intensity. An example photodetector measurement circuit comprises a photodetector that receives a light and generates a photodetector current indicative of the light intensity. The measurement circuit includes a first integrator coupled along a first signal path to the photodetector to generate a first voltage signal at a first integrator output indicative of an integral of the photodetector current level. A second integrator is configured to generate a second voltage signal at a second integrator output indicative of an integral of the photodetector current level. A differential amplifier receives the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal and generates a third output signal at a differential amplifier output indicative of a difference between the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal. The differential amplifier outputs the third voltage signal to an analog-to-digital conversion function (“ADC function”) input.
US08957353B2
A heat generation system and a method of curing an adhesive for an electrical generator rotor during a rotor rewind operation are provided. The heat generation system includes a heating source in contact with a pole of the electrical generator rotor to heat the pole, thereby reducing heat loss from the adhesive to the pole. The heat generation system also includes at least one holding arrangement holding the heating source in contact with the at least one pole. The method includes applying an adhesive onto an electrical generator rotor and utilizing a heat generation system to provide heat to the electrical generator rotor. The method further includes placing a heating source in contact with the pole, holding the heating source in contact with the pole using a holding arrangement, heating the pole by activating the heating source, and heat curing the adhesive.
US08957352B2
Provided is a heat treatment furnace, which includes a processing vessel configured to accommodate at least one object to be processed, a heat insulating member configured to cover a periphery of the processing vessel, and a heating unit configured to be arranged along an inner peripheral surface of the heat insulating member. The heat insulating member includes an inner heat insulating member and an outer heat insulating member formed independently of the inner heat insulating member. The outer heat insulating member contains a finely-powdered compressed silica material, and at least an outer surface thereof is covered with an anti-scattering member configured to prevent the finely-powdered compressed silica material from being scattered.
US08957349B2
A laser machining device is provided with a laser light source, a spatial light modulator, a driving unit, a control unit, and a condensing optical system. The control unit selects a basic hologram corresponding to each basic machining pattern included in a whole machining pattern in a workpiece from a plurality of basic holograms stored by the storage unit, and determines a display region of the basic hologram in the spatial light modulator so that the deviation of the value of “Iη/n” becomes small for the selected respective basic hologram when the intensity of a laser beam input to a display region of the basic hologram in the spatial light modulator is defined as I, the diffraction efficiency of the laser beam in the basic hologram is defined as η, and the number of condensing points in a basic machining pattern corresponding to the basic hologram is defined as n.
US08957347B2
A method of detecting a condensing spot position in a laser beam processing apparatus, including: a detection position setting step of setting a plurality of Z-axis directional positions in a range from a starting point to an ending point of detection positions into which the condenser is positioned; a laser beam processed groove forming step of sequentially positioning the condenser into the detection positions in the range from the starting point to the ending point, performing a predetermined interval indexing feeding by operating indexing feeding means each time the detection position for the condenser is changed, and forming a laser beam processed groove of a predetermined length in the plate-shaped body at each of the detection positions for the condenser; and a laser beam processed groove imaging step of imaging the laser beam processed grooves formed in the plate-shaped body by imaging means.
US08957333B2
A thin keyboard structure includes a circuit board and a keycap assembly board located on the circuit board. The circuit board has a plurality of command portions to receive contact and generate command signals. The keycap assembly board has a frame with a plurality of press zones corresponding to the command portions. Each press zone has at least one press portion corresponding to one command portion and depressible to move towards the command portion. Each press zone also has a deformation portion centered on the press portion and coiled and extended continuously from the press portion towards the frame at a preset interval to provide deformation and return force for the press portion during movement towards the command portion. The press portion and deformation portion replace the driven mechanism used in the conventional keyboard, hence total thickness of the keyboard can be reduced to make the keyboard thinner.
US08957325B2
The present disclosure relates to a method of optimizing via cutouts, including selecting a geometry of a via cutout on a first ground reference layer adjacent to a first differential trace, the geometry selected to provide an extension region extending in the direction of the first differential trace. Additionally, the method includes the steps of selecting a geometry of the first differential trace, wherein a spacing of the first differential trace in the extension region is different from a spacing of the first differential trace outside the extension region, and selecting a radial dimension of a first and second via cutout on a second ground reference layer adjacent to and between the first and second differential traces, the radial dimension of the first via cutout and the second via cutout selected such that the second ground reference layer remains intact in the area adjacent the second differential trace.
US08957320B2
A printed wiring board includes a substrate having an accommodation section having multiple opening portions, multiple electronic components accommodated in the opening portions, respectively, a filler resin provided in the opening portions in the substrate such that the electronic components are secured in the opening portions in the substrate, a resin insulation layer formed over the substrate and the electronic components, a conductive layer formed on the resin insulation layer, and via conductors formed in the resin insulation layer and connecting the conductive layer and the electronic components. The opening portions are connected to each other.
US08957316B2
Example electrical component assemblies are described. In some examples, the electrical component assembly may include a printed board and an electrical component on the printed board, the electrical component defining a first surface adjacent the printed board and one or more second surfaces other than the first surface. The assembly may also include a thermal bridge comprising a plurality of vias extending through the thermal bridge, and a thermally conductive member interposed between the one or more second surfaces of the electrical component and the thermal bridge. In some examples, the thermally conductive member extends at least partially through the plurality of vias of the thermal bridge. During operation of the electrical component, the assembly configuration may facilitate thermal transfer from a first direction defined by the thermally conductive member to a second direction defined by the thermal bridge to transfer thermal energy away from a surface of the electrical component.
US08957307B2
A photoelectric conversion element module 1 comprises a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements 10 each having a first electrode 15 and a second electrode 25 that oppose each other, and a conductive member 30 electrically connecting the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements 10 to each other; the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements 10 are arranged in planar form such that directions from the first electrodes 15 toward the second electrodes 25 are the same; the first electrode 15 and second electrode 25 have extended portions 15a, 25a respectively which extend to outside a region encompassed by an outer periphery of a sealing member 17; and in adjacent photoelectric conversion elements 10A and 10B, the conductive member 30 connects the extended portion 15a of one of the photoelectric conversion elements 10A and the extended portion 25a of the other photoelectric conversion element 10B; and the extended portion 25a has flexibility.
US08957306B2
A solar cell having a first subcell including a germanium (Ge) substrate having a diffusion region doped with n-type dopants including phosphorus and arsenic, wherein the upper portion of such diffusion region has a higher concentration of phosphorus (P) atoms than arsenic (As) atoms, and a second subcell including a layer of either gallium arsenide (GaAs) or indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) disposed over the substrate.
US08957305B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an electrolyte for a photoelectric conversion element that can achieve superior moisture resistance, and a photoelectric conversion element and a dye-sensitized solar cell using the electrolyte. The electrolyte for a photoelectric conversion element of the present invention includes an organic solvent (A) and a lamellar clay mineral (B). The organic solvent (A) has a boiling point of 150° C. or higher, and a relative dielectric constant of 20 or higher.
US08957300B2
A substrate 1 for a photoelectric conversion device includes a first transparent conductive layer 5 formed on at least a part of the surface region of a transparent substrate 3, the first transparent conductive layer 5 having at least an opening portion 7 exposing the substrate 3.
US08957299B2
A thermoelectric material including a thermoelectric matrix; and nano-inclusions in the thermoelectric matrix, the nano-inclusions having an average particle diameter of about 10 nanometers to about 30 nanometers.
US08957290B2
A shoulder support for a musical instrument is provided, including a holding device, an arm, and a shoulder abutment element. The arm is held on the holding device by a first joint device and/or the shoulder abutment element is held on the arm by a second joint device. The first joint device is associated with a first fixing device, by which a relative position between the arm and the holding device can be fixed. The second joint device is associated with a second fixing device, by which a relative position between the shoulder abutment element and the arm can be fixed. A part of the first joint device is configured as a fixing element for releasable fixing of the arm on the holding device and/or a part of the second joint device is configured as a fixing element for releasable fixing of the shoulder abutment element on the arm.
US08957286B2
Provided are a plant capable of bearing seedless fruits stably over several generations, a seedless fruit generated from this plant, a method of producing a variety capable of readily and reliably bearing seedless fruits, a variety produced by this production method, and a seedless fruit generated from the thus produced variety. Particularly provided is a plant capable of bearing seedless fruits, wherein the plant is obtained by a crossing method comprising a step (a) of selecting a first filial generation plant which is capable of bearing seedless fruits as well as having a male sterile trait and a parthenocarpic trait from the group of first filial generation plants generated by crossing between a plant of a male sterile line and a plant of a parthenocarpic line, and a step (b) of crossing the thus selected first filial generation plant with a plant of a fixed line which is capable of sustaining the parthenocarpic trait and the male sterile trait of the plant, as a pollen parent, to thereby generate a progeny plant having the parthenocarpic trait and the male sterile trait.
US08957283B1
A novel alfalfa variety designated 09W08PY and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing an alfalfa plant that comprise crossing alfalfa variety 09W08PY with another alfalfa plant. Methods for producing an alfalfa plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into 09W08PY through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the alfalfa seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Alfalfa seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing alfalfa variety 09W08PY or a trait conversion of 09W08PY with another alfalfa plant or population. Alfalfa populations derived from alfalfa variety 09W08PY, methods for producing other alfalfa populations derived from alfalfa variety 09W08PY and the alfalfa populations and their parts derived by the use of those methods.
US08957282B2
Polynucleotides and polypeptides incorporated into expression vectors have been introduced into plants and were ectopically expressed. The polypeptides of the invention have been shown to confer at least one regulatory activity and confer increased yield, greater height, greater early season growth, greater canopy coverage, greater stem diameter, greater late season vigor, increased secondary rooting, more rapid germination, greater cold tolerance, greater tolerance to water deprivation, reduced stomatal conductance, altered C/N sensing, increased low nitrogen tolerance, increased low phosphorus tolerance, or increased tolerance to hyperosmotic stress as compared to the control plant as compared to a control plant.
US08957274B2
The present invention relates to a process to make light olefins and aromatics, in a combined XTO-OC process, from an oxygen-containing, halogenide-containing or sulphur-containing organic feedstock comprising: a0) providing a first portion and a second portion of said oxygen-containing, halogenide-containing or sulphur-containing organic feedstock, a) providing a catalyst comprising zeolitic molecular sieves containing at least 10 membered ring pore openings or larger in their microporous structure, b) providing an XTO reaction zone, an OC reaction zone and a catalyst regeneration zone, said catalyst circulating in the three zones, such that at least a portion of the regenerated catalyst is passed to the OC reaction zone, at least a portion of the catalyst in the OC reaction zone is passed to the XTO reaction zone and at least a portion of the catalyst in the XTO reaction zone is passed to the regeneration zone; c) contacting the first portion of said oxygen-containing, halogenide-containing or sulphur-containing organic feedstock in the XTO reactor with the catalyst at conditions effective to convert at least a portion of the feedstock to form a XTO reactor effluent comprising light olefins and a heavy hydrocarbon fraction; d) separating said light olefins from said heavy hydrocarbon fraction; e) contacting said heavy hydrocarbon fraction and the second portion of said oxygen-containing, halogenide-containing or sulphur-containing organic feedstock in the OC reactor with the catalyst at conditions effective to convert at least a portion of said heavy hydrocarbon fraction and oxygen-containing, halogenide-containing or sulphur-containing organic feedstock to light olefins and aromatics.
US08957269B2
The invention relates to a method of producing olefinic monomers for the production of a polymer. The invention particularly relates to the production of tall oil-based biopolymers, such as polyolefins. In the stages of the method bio oil, with a content of over 50% of fatty acids of tall oil and no more than 25% of resin acids of tall oil, and hydrogen gas are fed into a catalyst bed (7); the oil is catalytically deoxygenated in the bed by hydrogen; the flow exiting the bed is cooled down and divided into a hydrocarbon-bearing liquid phase (10) and a gas phase; and the hydrocarbon-bearing liquid (13) is subjected to steam cracking (4) to provide a product containing polymerizing olefins. The deoxygenation in the bed can be followed by a catalytic cracking or, with a suitable catalyst, the deoxygenation and cracking can be simultaneous. The separated hydrogen-bearing gas phase can be circulated in the process.
US08957261B2
Provided are a novel fullerene derivative which can adsorb quickly and efficiently an allergen which may cause a pollen allergy without releasing the allergen again, does not contain a metal or the like which may cause a harmful effect to a human body, and is easily applicable, impregnable, or chemically bondable onto surface of various materials; and a process for producing the same. The fullerene derivative is characterized in that a halogen group and many hydroxyl groups are bonded directly to a fullerene nucleus. In the case that the halogen group is chlorine, the fullerene derivative can be synthesized by a partial hydroxylation of a chlorinated fullerene or a partial chlorination of a hydroxylated fullerene.
US08957260B2
The invention relates to a process for the oxidation of mesitol with singlet oxygen, which is released from hydrogen peroxide, this release taking place in the presence of a bismuth compound as catalyst. In the process, 2,4,6-trimethylquinol is formed in high yield and selectivity as product, which can be used in further reactions for the synthesis of vitamins and in particular of vitamin A and vitamin E.
US08957251B2
This disclosure describes the molecular cloning of a pactamycin biosynthetic gene cluster from Streptomyces pactum ATCC 27456, characterization of individual genes in the gene cluster and the proteins encoded thereby as well as uses thereof. The pactamycin gene cluster is located within an 86.35 kilobases genetic locus and includes 53 open reading frames, 26 of which are considered to be the core cluster directly involved in the biosynthesis of pactamycin. The present disclosure also relates to the use of the pactamycin biosynthetic genes located within the identified gene cluster for drug design and development purposes, including the development of pactamycin analogs that are more efficacious and less toxic. Also provided are drugs and antibiotics so produced, as well as methods of their use.
US08957248B2
A production process of acetic acid comprises a reaction step for continuously allowing at least one member selected from the group consisting of methanol, dimethyl ether, and methyl acetate to react with carbon monoxide in a catalyst system comprising a rhodium catalyst, an iodide salt, and methyl iodide in the presence of acetic acid and water in a plant compromising a reactor 1; a flasher 2; and a distillation column 3; wherein part of the vaporized stream is introduced into a heat exchanger 7. The process achieves a production of acetic acid with a high purity in a resource-saving and energy-saving equipment by efficiently removing a reaction heat even in a large-sized plant.
US08957241B2
A method for producing a carbonyl compound of the present invention comprises a step (X) of reacting a specific compound having a urea bond with a carbonic acid derivative having a carbonyl group (—C(═O)—) under heating at a temperature equal to or higher than the thermal dissociation temperature of the urea bond to obtain the carbonyl compound.
US08957240B2
The present invention provides a method for the purification of a prostaglandin by supercritical fluid chromatography, said method comprising the use of a stationary phase and a mobile phase comprising carbon dioxide, provided that when the stationary phase is unmodified silica gel, the prostaglandin is not luprostiol. The invention also provides prostaglandins obtainable by the method.
US08957237B2
An improved industrial method for the direct synthesis of alkylhalogenosilanes is described. Specifically, a method is described for preparing alkylhalogenosilanes by reacting, in a fluidized bed reactor, and alkyl halogenide, preferably CH3Cl, with a solid body, which is referred to as a contact body and which includes powdered silicon and a catalytic system including at least one copper catalyst and β1 and β2 promoter activities.
US08957236B2
The compounds represented by the following general formula have excellent properties as a charge transport material. In the formula, R1 to R3 represent a substituent, n1 and n2 indicate an integer of from 0 to 5, n3 indicates an integer of from 0 to 4, X represents a linking group of —O—, —S—, —SO2—, —CS—, —R4—, —C(R5)(R6)—, —PO(R7)—, —Si(R8)(R9)—, >PO—, >Si(R10)— or >Si<, m is an integer of from 2 to 4, R4 represents an aliphatic cyclic linking group, and R5 to R10 represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, etc.
US08957235B2
This disclosure provides a process for making transition metal carboxylate compositions by combining in an polar aprotic first solvent a transition metal precursor and a Group 1 or Group 2 metal carboxylate under substantially acid-free and substantially anhydrous conditions, to generate a mixture comprising the transition metal carboxylate composition. Optionally, the transition metal carboxylate composition can be purified, for example, by substantially removing the first solvent provide a residue comprising the transition metal carboxylate composition, and also optionally, further by extracting the transition metal carboxylate composition from the residue with a non-coordinating second solvent to provide an extract comprising the transition metal carboxylate composition.
US08957231B2
An efficient and simple process to obtain a concentrate that includes over 80% in weight of ethyl esters of ω-3 fatty acids based on a composition of matter that contains esters of ω-3 fatty acids or free ω-3 fatty acids that comprises the stages of: a) contacting the composition of matter with ethanol of at least 96% in weight and a hydroxide of an alkali metal at a temperature between 60 and 200° C. to form a liquid mixture that includes alkaline salts of fatty acids; b) cool the liquid mixture to a temperature between 50 and −20° C. to form a solid phase and a liquid phase and separate the liquid phase from the solid phase; c) contact the separated liquid phase of stage b) with an acid to form an acidified mixture with a water content under 10%, where the mixture consists of a solid phase that includes the alkali metal salt of the acid and a liquid phase that comprises ω-3 fatty acids; d) heat the mixture of stage c) between 50 to 150° C. in the presence of an esterification catalyst to form a mixture that includes ethyl esters of ω-3 fatty acids; e) contact the mixture of stage d) with an alkali to form a neutralized mixture; f) distill the neutralized mixture to obtain a distillate that includes over 80% in weight of ethyl esters of ω-3 fatty acids.
US08957230B2
The present invention provides a method for preparing Cleistanthin A, a diphyllin glycoside, derivatives thereof and intermediates thereto. In particular the present invention provides in one of the aspect a method for synthesis of compound of formula D a key intermediate of diphyllin, which can be carried out in a shorter duration and at an ordinary temperature.
US08957229B2
A mixture of cyclic diesters derived from lactic acid and in cases a mixture of a racemate of dilactide may be produced in several different processes. In some instances, the process can thereby start from the corresponding alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acids, the corresponding cyclic diesters or oligomers of the corresponding alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acids.
US08957225B2
Compounds and methods for controlling the surface properties are described. Compounds of the invention can form radicals upon exposure to irradiation, which can then react with nearby molecules to alter the surface properties of various substrates. The invention can provide surfaces that are resistant to dewetting, surfaces that have immobilized molecules such as carbohydrates and polymers immobilized, and surfaces that have metals deposited on the surface. The invention can be utilized in a wide range of application, such as sensors, microreactors, microarrays, electroless deposition of metals, and the like.
US08957208B1
A heteroleptic iridium complex of a formula (I): where R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen, alkyl, fluoroalkyl, or aryl, X is C-X1 or nitrogen, X1 being hydrogen or phenyl, L1 is a monoanionic bidentate ligand, and L2 is a neutral bidentate ligand.
US08957199B2
The present inventors focused on siE sequences that have been thought to show RNAi activity against HCV viral RNAs, and mainly selected the D5-50 and D5-197 regions present within the IRES region, and carried on the analysis. As a result, the present inventors successfully identified siRNA sequences that exhibit a more effective RNAi activity against hepatitis C virus RNAs. Furthermore, the siRNAs were demonstrated to have a significant inhibitory effect on HCV propagation in an in vivo system.
US08957183B2
The present invention concerns yarns comprising copolymer derived from the copolymerization of para-phenylenediamine, 5(6)-amino-2-(p-aminophenyl)benzimidazole; and terephthaloyl dichloride wherein the ratio of moles of 5(6)-amino-2-(p-aminophenyl)benzimidazole to the moles of para-phenylenediamine is 30/70 to 85/15; the yarn having a sulfur content greater than 0.1%; and the hydrolytic strength retention of the yarn is greater than 60%. The invention also concerns processes for making such yarns.
US08957174B2
A process for preparing an aqueous polymer dispersion of a polymer P by radically initiated aqueous emulsion polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated compounds, which comprises radically initiated aqueous emulsion polymerizing a monomer composition. The use of the aqueous polymer in tile adhesives is also provided.
US08957171B2
Catalysts comprising salan ligands with carbazole moieties. Also, catalyst systems comprising the catalyst and an activator; methods to prepare the ligands, catalysts and catalyst systems; processes to polymerize olefins using the catalysts and/or catalyst systems; and the olefin polymers prepared according to the processes.
US08957163B2
Provided is a polymer-based detergent builder which is capable of effectively suppressing deposition of a surfactant, and effectively preventing soil re-deposition, even in washing using high hardness water. Provided is a graft polymer with a hydrocarbon group made by graft polymerization of monomer components containing a hydrophilic monomer having an anionic group or a hydroxyl group, on a polyoxyalkylene-based compound represented by the following formula (1):
US08957161B2
New catalyst systems for metathesis reactions, in particular for the metathesis of nitrile rubber, are provided.
US08957154B2
A disk-like nanoparticle includes a core layer that comprises a cross-linked multi-vinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon and a shell layer that comprises tri-block copolymer chains, each having a first, a second, and a third block. The first and third blocks of the tri-block copolymer chains comprise vinyl aromatic monomer units and are crosslinked with the core. The second block comprises conjugated diene monomer units and comprises a top and bottom axial surface of the disk-like nanoparticle. In the case of a nanoparticle having A-B-C tri-block copolymer chains, the third block comprises a top and bottom axial surface of the disk-like nanoparticle.
US08957147B2
Organosiloxane block copolymers, curable compositions, and solid compositions derived from these block copolymers are disclosed. The organosiloxane block copolymers comprise: 40 to 90 mole percent disiloxy units of the formula [R12—SiO2/2] 10 to 60 mole percent trisiloxy units of the formula [R2SiO3/2] 0.5 to 35 mole percent silanol groups [≡SiOH] where R1 is independently a C1 to C30 hydrocarbyl, R2 is independently a C1 to C20 hydrocarbyl, wherein; the disiloxy units [R12SiO2/2] are arranged in linear blocks having an average of from 10 to 400 disiloxy units [R12SiO2/2] per linear block, the trisiloxy units [R2SiO3/2] are arranged in non-linear blocks having a molecular weight of at least 500 g/mol, and at least 30% of the non-linear blocks are crosslinked with each other, each linear block is linked to at least one non-linear block, and the organosiloxane block copolymer has a molecular weight (Mw) of at least 20,000 g/mole.
US08957145B2
A hydrogel having excellent mechanical properties and capable of being produced simply by using and mixing an industrially easily obtainable polymer having high versatility and clay particles, and to provide a method of producing the hydrogel. A hydrogel-forming composition is characterized by containing a polyelectrolyte, clay particles, and a dispersant for the clay particles.
US08957144B2
A polycarbonate resin composition having improved chemical resistance and solvent resistance while maintaining the impact resistance, heat resistance, thermal stability, and the like inherent to the polycarbonate resin which comprises 100 parts by weight of polycarbonate resin and 0.01 to 20 parts by weight of a specific alkyl ketene dimer, and inhibits problems such as cracking, and the like, even when solvents or various chemicals such as hand creams and detergents adhere to the molded article obtained from the resin composition.
US08957143B2
The present invention is directed to a composition that includes a poly(arylene ether), a radial block copolymer of an alkenyl aromatic monomer and a conjugated diene, a linear block copolymer of an alkenyl aromatic monomer and a conjugated diene, one or more optical enhancing agents, and a hydrocarbon resin. The composition is characterized by at least one of the following properties: a multiaxial impact of at least 20 joules as measured by ASTM D 3763-08, a percent haze of 15 percent or less as measured by ASTM D 1003-00, and a percent transmittance of 75 percent or more as measured by ASTM D 1003-00.
US08957138B2
The present teachings disclose a composite. The composite includes a cellulose material dispersed in a fluoropolymer. The cellulose material is present in an amount of from about 1 weight percent to about to about 30 weight percent of the composition. A method of manufacturing a composite article and coating is described.
US08957130B2
Styrene-acrylic dispersants for use in pigment dispersions have lower viscosities than benchmark formulations such as nitrocellulose, dimer-acid based polyamides, and thermoplastic polyurethanes, prepared under otherwise identical conditions. Lower viscosities allow for the preparation of similarly viscous dispersions and inks with the styrene-acrylics when compared to traditional dispersants, at either (a) lower solvent levels, or if solvent levels are to be maintained, (b) higher pigment and solids loadings.
US08957126B2
The present application provides dental compositions, and methods of making and using dental compositions that include a calcium and phosphorus releasing glass. Such dental compositions can be useful for delivering ions to the oral environment.
US08957124B2
A laser can be used to modify a glazing 100, 300 so as to improve its suitability for use with a signal-receiving device 350 or a signal-transmitting device 350. This is done by using the laser to provide a region of reduced opacity 110, 202, 340 to the signal within the glazing. Preferably, the laser is be used to reduce the opacity of a selected region 340 of a tinted interlayer in situ. The glazing may be for a vehicle, especially an automotive vehicle.
US08957116B2
To provide a solution for forming a double eyelid which enables extremely easy formation of a natural and ideal double eyelid without giving a displeased feeling or an uncomfortable feeling to a user, and a method for forming a double eyelid using the solution for forming a double eyelid. A solution for forming a double eyelid 1 according to the present invention is formed by dissolving, into a solvent having volatility, a fibrous material which forms a film 1a onto a skin 5a of an eyelid 5 and shrinks with vaporization of the solvent. By applying the solution 1, in a successive-curve form, over an imaginary line I forming a fold 5d of a double eyelid in the eyelid 5 onto which a user want to make a fold and vaporizing the solvent so as to shrink the film 1a, successive concaved groove-like constricted part 5c is formed on the imaginary line I and the fold 5d of a double eyelid along the constricted part 5c is formed.
US08957103B2
The present invention relates to 3-(Indolyl)- and 3-(azaindolyl)-4-phenylmaleimide compounds of formula (I) wherein R1, R2 and R3 are as defined in the description, and the physiologically acceptable salts, solvates and solvates of the salts of the compounds of formula (I). The compounds of formula (I) are suitable for treating tumors.
US08957093B2
The invention provides molecular entities that bind with high affinity to PPARG (PPARγ), inhibit kinase-mediated, e.g., cdk5-mediated, phosphorylation of PPARG, but do not exert an agonistic effect on PPARG. Compounds of the invention can be used for treatment of conditions in patients wherein PPARG plays a role, such as diabetes, insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, pre-diabetes, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, obesity, or inflammation. In methods of treatment of these conditions using a compound of the invention, the compound can avoid producing side effects of significant weight gain, edema, impairment of bone growth or formation, or cardiac hypertrophy, or any combination thereof, in the patient receiving the compound. Methods of preparation of the compounds, bioassay methods for evaluating compounds of the invention as non-agonistic PPARG binding compounds, and pharmaceutical compositions are also provided.
US08957090B2
A series of fused bicyclic pyridine and pyrazine derivatives, substituted directly on the pyridine or pyrazine ring by a functional group attached via a sulphur-containing linkage, being selective inhibitors of P13 kinase enzymes, are accordingly of benefit in medicine, for example in the treatment of inflammatory, autoimmune, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, metabolic, oncological, nociceptive or ophthalmic conditions.
US08957086B2
Nitrated and non-nitrated compounds capable of protecting brain tissue from injury and useful as therapeutic agents to treat neurodegenerative diseases and conditions are disclosed. Methods of using the compounds in therapeutic treatments, and methods of preparing the compounds, also are disclosed.
US08957085B2
A compound of formula I is disclosed. Compounds of formula I are useful as analgesics, anti-inflammatory agents, anti-diarrheal agents, anticonvulsants, antitussives and anti-addiction medications.
US08957084B2
The application is directed to compounds of Formula I-A and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and solvates thereof, wherein Cy, R1a-R3a, R4a, and R4b are defined as set forth in the specification. The invention is also directed to use of compounds of Formula I-A to treat disorders responsive to the modulation of one or more opioid receptors, or as synthetic intermediates. Certain compounds of the present invention are especially useful for treating pain.
US08957082B2
The subject invention provides compounds of formula (I): Including monomers and multimers thereof that are inhibitors of human neutrophil elastase (HNE) activity and are useful in the treatment of diseases or conditions in which HNE plays a part.
US08957081B2
The invention provides novel pyrimidine and pyridine derivatives and pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods for using such compounds. For example, the pyrimidine and pyridine derivatives of the invention may be used to treat, ameliorate or prevent a condition which responds to inhibition of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) activity, focal adhesion kinase (FAK), zeta-chain-associated protein kinase 70 (ZAP-70), insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1R), or a combination thereof.
US08957080B2
The present disclosure provides compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof that are tyrosine kinase inhibitors, in particular BLK, BMX, EGFR, HER2, HER4, ITK, TEC, BTK, and TXK and are therefore useful for the treatment of diseases treatable by inhibition of tyrosine kinases such as cancer and inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, and the like. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and processes for preparing such compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
US08957073B2
Unsaturated nitrogen heterocyclic compounds of formula (I): as defined in the specification, compositions containing them, and processes for preparing such compounds. Provided herein also are methods of treating disorders or diseases treatable by inhibition of PDE10, such as obesity, Huntington's Disease, non-insulin dependent diabetes, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and the like.
US08957072B2
A high-yielding method for the N-demethylation of oxycodone- and oxymorphone-N-oxides by the reaction of these compounds with cyclodehydration reagents has been performed. This method has been utilized to improve the synthesis of various morphine analogs, such as naltrexone, nalbuphone and naloxone.
US08957070B2
The present invention provides a glucokinase activator containing a compound represented by the formula (I): wherein each symbol is as defined in the specification, or a salt thereof or a prodrug thereof. According to the present invention, a glucokinase activator useful as a pharmaceutical agent such as agent for the prophylaxis or treatment of diabetes, obesity and the like, and the like can be provided.
US08957068B2
The invention is directed to a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1-R6 are defined herein. The invention is also directed to compositions containing a compound of formula (I) and to the use of such compounds in the inhibition of mutant IDH proteins having a neomorphic activity. The invention is further directed to the use of a compound of formula (I) in the treatment of diseases or disorders associated with such mutant IDH proteins including, but not limited to, cell-proliferation disorders, such as cancer.
US08957067B1
A pharmaceutical composition comprising a drug substance consisting essentially of a pharmaceutically acceptable organic acid addition salt of an amine containing pharmaceutically active compound wherein the amine containing pharmaceutical active compound is selected from the group consisting of racemic or single isomer ritalinic acid or phenethylamine derivatives and the drug substance has a physical form selected from amorphous and polymorphic.
US08957063B2
Compounds which modulate the CB2 receptor are disclosed. The compounds are useful for treating CB2 receptor-mediated diseases such as pain.
US08957060B2
Disclosed herein are solutions and kits for tumescent antibiotic delivery. Embodiments of the solution comprise an antibiotic component, an anesthetic component and a vasoconstrictor component. In addition, a method of use is disclosed comprising subcutaneous delivery of the solution. The disclosed solution, kit and method of subcutaneous delivery can be used for a variety of surgical procedures including liposuction, mastectomy and others. The tumescent antibiotic solution can be administered to a patient in situations where establishing IV access is difficult, impossible, or undesirable. A variety of delivery methods appropriate for surgical settings, as well as for use by first responders are likewise disclosed.
US08957055B2
Sterol derivatives of formula (I) and a method for the production of the compounds, a medicament using one of the compounds and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the medicament.
US08957052B2
The present invention provides methods and compositions for the treatment of fluid accumulation in and/or under the retina.
US08957047B2
The present disclosure relates generally to compositions and methods for treating cancer with a glucopyranosyl lipid A (GLA) in the absence of antigen.
US08957045B2
A nucleoside compound having activity against hepatitis C virus is disclosed.
US08957037B2
The present invention relates to antisense oligonucleotides that modulate the expression of and/or function of a Reprogramming factor, in particular, by targeting natural antisense polynucleotides of a Reprogramming factor. The invention also relates to the identification of these antisense oligonucleotides and their use in treating diseases and disorders associated with the expression of Reprogramming factors.
US08957033B2
Disclosed is a compound of formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, polymorph, enantiomer or racemic mixture thereof, wherein R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen, —OH, alkyl, —CF3, —OCHF2, —OCF3 or halogen; R3 is cycloalkyl, —OCH2CF3, —OCH2CHF2, —OCH2CH2F or —OCH2CH3; R4 is hydrogen, —OH, —O aryl, —OCH2 aryl, alkyl, cycloalkyl, —CF3, —OCHF2, —OCF3, —OCH2CF3, —OCH2CHF2, —OCH2CH2F or halogen; A is —CX1X2, wherein X1 and X2 are each independently H, F and Cl, and when both X1 and X2 are H, R3 is not —OCH2CH3. The compound has an activity of inhibitors of sodium-dependent glucose transport protein. Also disclosed is a method for preparing the compound, a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound, use of the compound and pharmaceutical composition thereof in preparing medicaments of SGLT2 inhibitors and treating related diseases.
US08957031B2
The invention relates to methods for modulating the immune function through targeting of CLIP molecules. The result is wide range of new therapeutic regimens for treating, inhibiting the development of, or otherwise dealing with, a multitude of illnesses and conditions, including autoimmune disease, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, allergic disease, transplant and cell graft rejection, HIV infection and other viral, bacterial, and parasitic infection, and AIDS. Methods are also provided for preparing a peptide having the property of being able to displace CLIP by feeding one or more peptide sequences into software that predicts MHC Class II binding regions in an antigen sequence and related products.
US08957029B2
The present invention relates to novel peptides capable of binding to action. The peptides are useful in methods for detecting actin in vitro or in living cells.
US08957027B2
The present invention relates to deacetylase inhibitor (e.g., histone deacetylase inhibitor) therapies and demonstrates that individuals with low electrolyte levels may have increased susceptibility to certain unwanted side effects such as cardiac side effects. In some embodiments, the invention provides methods of administering DAC or DAC inhibitor therapy that includes electrolyte supplementation.
US08957023B2
The present invention relates to novel methods of making soluble proteins having free cysteines in which a host cell is exposed to a cysteine blocking agent. The soluble proteins produced by the methods can then be modified to increase their effectiveness. Such modifications include attaching a PEG moiety to form pegylated proteins.
US08957022B2
The present invention provides a multimeric form of a Tie 2 binding peptide monomer, wherein the multimeric form has Tie 2 agonist activity. The multimeric form, preferably a tetramer, stimulates angiogenesis and promotes wound healing. The present invention also features pharmaceutical compositions comprising the multimeric Tie 2 agonists, including those suitable for topical or systemic administration. Methods of using the multimeric Tie 2 agonists of the invention for stimulating angiogenesis and for promoting healing of wounds, such as diabetic ulcers or skin grafts, are also provided.
US08957021B2
The present invention relates to compositions comprising glucose regulating peptides linked to extended recombinant polypeptide (XTEN), isolated nucleic acids encoding the compositions and vectors and host cells containing the same, and methods of making and using such compositions in treatment of glucose regulating peptide-related diseases, disorders, and conditions.
US08957013B2
The invention provides for a receptor, capable of binding to a target molecule, linked to a hygroscopic polymer or hydrogel; and the use of this receptor in a device for detecting the target molecule in a gaseous and/or liquid phase. The invention also provides for a method for detecting the presence of a target molecule in the gas phase using the device. In particular, the receptor can be a peptide capable of binding a 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) or 2,4,-dinitrotoluene (DNT).
US08957007B2
A metal-safe dissolving composition for cured resins, comprising a solvent blend that includes a metal safe solvent mixture with addition of a soluble alkali that exhibits a pKa value ≧12. The solvent mixture may include the preferred solvent for metal safety, gamma-butyrolactone (GBL), and the preferred soluble amine, 1,8-diazabicyclo(5.4.0)undec-7-ene (DBU). The solvent, n,n-dimethylacetamide (DMAC) or others, are chosen for high penetration and solvency to polar resins. To this mixture, a surfactant, inhibitor, and cellulose derivative may be added to produce a gel-form property. The product may be used to remove coatings and sealants present on vertical and horizontal surfaces and hard to reach areas commonly encountered when performing maintenance on aviation fuel tanks and similar equipment. Of key importance for the remover is its safety to aluminum and aluminum alloy substrates as demonstrated by modified test methods for sandwich corrosion, for example, ASTM F1110.
US08957001B2
The invention relates mainly to a particle comprising at least one biopolymer which is degradable under the effect of an electromagnetic wavelength, notably the wavelength of which is in the spectrum of the wavelengths emitted by the sun, this biopolymer comprising nucleosides. The invention also relates to compositions containing such particles with the aim of delivering an active principle.These particles can be used mainly in cosmetics, in dermatology, in pharmacy, in agri-food or en agro-industrials.
US08956998B2
An emulsifiable concentrate herbicidal composition that contains Prodiamine herbicide and fenoxaprop-p-ethyl that shows excellent spreadability and stability and is particularly suitable for effective control of weeds in general residential and commercial landscaped areas.
US08956991B2
A concentrated solution of mixed alkaline-earth alkoxide compounds M(OCH2R6)2-x(OR7)x and an aluminum compound Al(OCH2R6)3-y(OR7)y, in aprotic solvents, wherein M is an alkaline-earth metal selected from among Mg, Ca, Ba, Sr; OCH2R6 is an alkoxide group comprising at least 3 and at most 40 C atoms and having a branch at the 2-position relative to the O-function, in other words R6 is CHR8R9, wherein R8, R9 are alkyl groups C1-C18 independently of each other; R7 is an alkyl group having 2-15 C atoms that is either linear or has a branch at ≧the 3-position; and the sum of x and y is a number between 0.01 and 0.8.
US08956987B2
The invention relates to glass-ceramics based on the lithium disilicate system which can be mechanically machined easily in an intermediate step of crystallization and, after complete crystallization, represent a very strong, highly-translucent and chemically-stable glass-ceramic. Likewise, the invention relates to a method for the production of these glass-ceramics. The glass-ceramics according to the invention are used as dental material.
US08956985B2
A ballistic panel is described that comprises a ballistic-resistant component and a cover that comprises a laminate comprising (i) a substrate layer and (ii) an inner bonding layer. The cover is bonded to at least one surface of the ballistic-resistant component by the inner bonding layer of the laminate, and is bonded around the perimeter of the ballistic resistant component to form a perimeter seal. A method for making the ballistic panel is also described.
US08956979B2
Disclosed are systems and methods for improving front-side process uniformity by back-side metallization. In some implementations, a metal layer can be formed on the back side of a semiconductor wafer prior to certain process steps such as plasma-based processes. Presence of such a back-side metal layer reduces variations in, for example, thickness of a deposited and/or etched layer resulting from the plasma-based processes. Such reduction in thickness variations can result from reduced variation in radio-frequency (RF) coupling during the plasma-based processes. Various examples of wafer types, back-side metal layer configurations, and plasma-based processes are disclosed.
US08956978B1
Nanotube devices and approaches therefore involve the formation and/or implementation of substantially semiconducting single-walled nanotubes. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, substantially semiconducting single-walled nanotubes couple circuit nodes in an electrical device. In some applications, semiconducting and metallic nanotubes having a diameter in a threshold range are exposed to an etch gas that selectively etches the metallic nanotubes, leaving substantially semiconducting nanotubes coupling the circuit nodes.
US08956971B2
Metallic layers can be selectively deposited on surfaces of a substrate relative to a second surface of the substrate. In preferred embodiments, the metallic layers are selectively deposited on copper instead of insulating or dielectric materials. In preferred embodiments, a first precursor forms a layer or adsorbed species on the first surface and is subsequently reacted or converted to form a metallic layer. Preferably the deposition temperature is selected such that a selectivity of above about 90% is achieved.
US08956969B2
A hole formation method including applying a pillar-forming liquid to a base material, to thereby form a pillar; applying an insulating film-forming material to the base material on which the pillar has been formed, to thereby form an insulating film; removing the pillar to form an opening in the insulating film; and heat treating the insulating film in which the opening has been formed.
US08956967B2
A method of forming an interconnection structure includes forming an opening in an insulation film by a dry etching process that uses an etching gas containing fluorine; cleaning a bottom surface and a sidewall surface of the opening by exposing to a superheated steam; covering the bottom surface and the sidewall surface of the opening with a barrier metal film; depositing a conductor film on the insulation film via the barrier metal film to fill the opening with the conductor film; forming an interconnection pattern by the conductor film in the opening by polishing the conductor film and the barrier metal film underneath the conductor film by a chemical mechanical polishing process until a surface of the insulation film is exposed.
US08956966B2
A device includes a substrate having a front side and a backside, a through-via extending from the backside to the front side of the substrate, and a conductive pad on the backside of the substrate and over the through-via. The conductive pad has a substantially planar top surface. A conductive bump has a non-planar top surface over the substantially planar top surface and aligned to the through-via. The conductive bump and the conductive pad are formed of a same material. No interface is formed between the conductive bump and the conductive pad.
US08956965B2
A method of manufacturing a display panel having a display part and a terminal part each formed on a different area on a TFT substrate, comprising: a step of forming the display part on the TFT substrate; a step of forming a conductive layer of a conductive metal oxide or a metal on an area where the terminal part is to be formed; a step of forming a chemical vapor deposition layer of an inorganic compound by a chemical vapor deposition method so that the chemical vapor deposition layer covers the display part and comes into contact at least with an upper surface of the conductive layer and so that the upper surface of the conductive layer alters; and a step of removing a portion of the chemical vapor deposition layer on the conductive layer.
US08956964B2
Semiconductor devices and fabrication methods are provided. A fin can be formed on a semiconductor substrate, a gate can be formed across the fin, and sidewall spacers can be formed across the fin on both sides of the gate. A dummy contact can be formed across the fin and on each of the both sides of the sidewall spacers. After forming an interlayer dielectric layer on the semiconductor substrate, the dummy contact can be removed to form a contact trench. The dummy contact is made of a material having an etch selectivity sufficiently higher than the fin such that the removing of the dummy contact generates substantially no damage to the fin. A conductive material can be filled in the contact trench to form a trench metal contact.
US08956958B2
A method for producing a substrate with buried layers of getter material, including: making a first stack including one layer of a first getter material, arranged on a first support; making a second stack including one layer of a second getter material, arranged on a second support; and bringing the first stack into contact with the second stack and performing thermocompression, the layers of the first and of the second getter material being arranged between the first and the second support, at a temperature greater than or equal to a lowest temperature among thermal activation temperatures of the first and of the second getter material, to bond the layers of the first and second getter materials together.
US08956939B2
A method for forming a resistive random access memory (RRAM) device is disclosed. The method comprises forming a first electrode, forming a resistive switching oxide layer comprising a metal oxide by thermal atomic layer deposition (ALD) and forming a second electrode by thermal atomic layer deposition (ALD), where the resistive switching layer is interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. Forming the resistive switching oxide may be performed without exposing a surface of the switching oxide layer to a surface-modifying plasma treatment after depositing the metal oxide.
US08956929B2
In a semiconductor device including a transistor in which an oxide semiconductor layer, a gate insulating layer, and a gate electrode layer on side surfaces of which sidewall insulating layers are provided are stacked in this order, a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer are provided in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer and the sidewall insulating layers. In a process for manufacturing the semiconductor device, a conductive layer and an interlayer insulating layer are stacked to cover the oxide semiconductor layer, the sidewall insulating layers, and the gate electrode layer. Then, parts of the interlayer insulating layer and the conductive layer over the gate electrode layer are removed by a chemical mechanical polishing method, so that a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer are formed. Before formation of the gate insulating layer, cleaning treatment is performed on the oxide semiconductor layer.
US08956928B2
One device includes first and second spaced-apart active regions formed in a semiconducting substrate, a layer of gate insulation material positioned on the first active region, and a conductive line feature that has a first portion positioned above the gate insulation material and a second portion that conductively contacts the second active region. One method includes forming first and second spaced-apart active regions in a semiconducting substrate, forming a layer of gate insulation material on the first and second active regions, performing an etching process to remove a portion of the gate insulation material formed on the second active region to expose a portion of the second active region, and forming a conductive line feature that comprises a first portion positioned above the layer of gate insulation material formed on the first active region and a second portion that conductively contacts the exposed portion of the second active region.
US08956926B2
Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a self-aligned metal oxide thin film transistor. According to the present invention, a metal oxide semiconductor layer having a high carrier concentration is formed, and then a channel region which is self-aligned with a gate electrode is oxidized by a plasma having oxidbillity so that the channel region has a low carrier concentration and the source and drain regions have high carrier concentrations while the resulting transistor has a self-aligned structure. In addition, the threshold voltage of the transistor is controlled by the conditions under which the channel region of the transistor is subsequently oxidized by plasma having oxidbillity at a low temperature. Therefore, the controllability of the characteristics of the transistor is improved significantly, and the manufacturing process is simplified.
US08956920B2
Embodiments of a method for preparing a leadframe for integrated circuit (IC) die packaging in a molded package with an exposed die pad are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method involves producing a leadframe with a die pad, wherein the die pad has a top surface, a bottom surface, and a perimeter edge. The die pad is then planarized to flatten burrs that may exist at the perimeter edge of the die pad, wherein planarizing the die pad comprises embedding tool markings in the die pad at the perimeter edge of the die pad, the tool markings including a series of peaks and valleys that run parallel to the perimeter edge at all locations around the perimeter edge. Embodiments of a leadframe for IC die packaging in a molded package are also disclosed.
US08956914B2
An integrated circuit package system comprising: forming a substrate having a solder mask with a support structure formed from the solder mask; mounting a first integrated circuit device over the support structure; connecting the substrate and the first integrated circuit device; and encapsulating the first integrated circuit device and the support structure.
US08956912B2
To improve productivity of a transistor that includes an oxide semiconductor and has good electrical characteristics. In a top-gate transistor including a gate insulating film and a gate electrode over an oxide semiconductor film, a metal film is formed over the oxide semiconductor film, oxygen is added to the metal film to form a metal oxide film, and the metal oxide film is used as a gate insulating film. After an oxide insulating film is formed over the oxide semiconductor film, a metal film may be formed over the oxide insulating film. Oxygen is added to the metal film to form a metal oxide film and added also to the oxide semiconductor film or the oxide insulating film.
US08956910B2
A method for fabricating a photoanode for a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) is provided. The method includes the following steps. A particle colloid is electrospun to form a first electrospun thin film layer on a substrate. The particle colloid includes titanium dioxide nanopartictes, a polymer material, a dispersing agent and a solvent. The first electrospun thin film layer is then sintered to form a main titanium dioxide layer. A photoanode manufactured by the method mentioned above is also provided.
US08956903B2
A method of forming at least one Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) cavity includes forming a first sacrificial cavity layer over a wiring layer and substrate. The method further includes forming an insulator layer over the first sacrificial cavity layer. The method further includes performing a reverse damascene etchback process on the insulator layer. The method further includes planarizing the insulator layer and the first sacrificial cavity layer. The method further includes venting or stripping of the first sacrificial cavity layer to a planar surface for a first cavity of the MEMS.
US08956899B2
A display device includes: a substrate; a plurality of light-emission elements arranged, on the substrate, in a first direction and a second direction intersecting each other, each of the light-emission elements having a first electrode layer, an organic layer including a luminous layer, and a second electrode layer which are laminated in that order; and a separation section disposed, on the substrate, between the light-emission elements adjacent to each other in the first direction, the separation section having two or more pairs of steps. The first electrode layers in the light-emission elements are separated from each other, and the organic layers as well as the second electrode layers in the light-emission elements adjacent to each other in the first direction are separated from each other by the steps included in the separation section.
US08956887B2
The invention is directed to the provision of a method for manufacturing a semiconductor light-emitting element that eliminates the need for preparing a plurality of different fluorescent sheets. The method for manufacturing the semiconductor light-emitting element containing an LED die includes the steps of arranging the LED die on a fluorescent sheet containing a fluorescent substance and adjusting the amount by which the LED die is depressed into the fluorescent sheet so that the semiconductor light-emitting element has a desired color emission.
US08956882B1
According to one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a magnetoresistive element, the method includes forming a first non-magnetic layer on a first magnetic layer, forming a second magnetic layer on the first non-magnetic layer, forming a second non-magnetic layer on the second magnetic layer, forming a third magnetic layer on the second non-magnetic layer, patterning the third magnetic layer by a RIE using an etching gas including a noble gas and a nitrogen gas until a surface of the second non-magnetic layer is exposed, and patterning the second non-magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer after patterning of the third magnetic layer.
US08956881B2
A lower electrode film, a ferroelectric film, and an upper electrode film are formed on an insulation film covering a transistor formed on a semiconductor substrate. Furthermore, a Pt film is formed as a cap layer on the upper electrode film. Then, a hard mask (a TiN film and an SiO2 film) of a predetermined pattern is formed on the Pt film, and the Pt film and the upper electrode film are etched. Then, an insulating protective film is formed on an entire surface, and a side surface of the upper electrode film is covered with the insulating protective film. Next, the ferroelectric film and the lower electrode film are etched, thus forming a ferroelectric capacitor.
US08956880B2
The present invention concerns methods for detecting the presence of a micro-organism in a fluid, gaseous and solid samples, together with apparatus for use in same. The invention comprises the use of a plurality of hollow fibers to filter the fluid and the capture of the micro-organisms on the membrane by means of a specific binding pair.
US08956876B2
There is provided a method for quantitatively detecting 8-oxo 2′-deoxyguanosine in an aqueous sample solution with high sensitivity. A method for quantitatively detecting 8-oxo 2′-deoxyguanosine in an aqueous sample solution, including the steps of 1) immobilizing a fluorescent probe molecule showing a fluorescence response specific to 8-oxo 2′-deoxyguanosine on surfaces of fine particles via a spacer unit and bringing the sample solution into contact with the fine particles, and 2) measuring a physical property of the fine particles before and after the contact with the sample solution to determine a change in the physical property.
US08956868B2
The present invention provides a method for producing iPS cells, comprising reacting cells with at least one connexin inhibitor and at least one TGFβ signaling inhibitor; iPS cells comprising at least one connexin inhibitor; an iPS cell inducer comprising at least one inhibitor selected from the group consisting of connexin inhibitors and TGFβ signaling inhibitors; a medium for inducing iPS cells, comprising at least one inhibitor selected from the group consisting of connexin inhibitors and TGFβ signaling inhibitors; and a kit for inducing iPS cells, comprising at least one inhibitor selected from the group consisting of connexin inhibitors and TGFβ signaling inhibitors.
US08956866B2
The present invention concerns RPE cells obtainable by directed differentiation from stem cell, particularly, human stem cells. It has been specifically found that culturing stem cells in the presence of one or more member of the TGFβ superfamily, such as Activin A) induced directed differentiation into mature and functional RPE cells. This was evidenced by the expression of markers specific to mature RPE cells, including MiTF-A, RPE65 or Bestrophin). In accordance with one particular embodiment, the cells are a priori cultured with nicotinamide (NA) which was found to augment the cells' response to the inductive effect of the one or more member of the TGFβ superfamily. The invention also provides methods of performing the directed differentiation, as well as methods for use of the resulting RPE cells.
US08956864B2
Intact, bacterially-derived minicells can safely introduce therapeutically effective amounts of plasmid-free functional nucleic acid to target mammalian cells. To this end, functional nucleic acid can be packaged into intact minicells directly, without resort to expression constructs, the expression machinery of the host cell, harsh chemicals or electroporation.
US08956862B2
The present invention discloses a method of isolation, pooling and further culturing of Mesenchymal Stem cells (MSC) for clinical application. Present invention also discloses the method of establishing Master Cell bank, followed by Working Cell Bank from which the final therapeutic composition referred to as Investigational Product/Investigational Medicinal Product comprising of allogenic bone marrow-derived MSC is formulated for clinical applications.
US08956854B2
A zero-discharge landfill process is disclosed herein. The process described in the present invention recycles the exhaust gases from a combustion engine which reheats the landfill and provides moisture. Additionally, the CO2 from the exhaust gases releases additional methane. Methane production in landfills can thus be enhanced by the method of the present invention. Furthermore, a portion of the exhaust gas can be used to cultivate algae in a cultivation tank. The cultivation of the algal species is enhanced in the presence of water, CO2, CO, and the elevated temperatures. Optionally, a first portion of the cultivated algae can be passed through the landfill to increase methane production in the landfill and a second portion of the cultivated algae can be transferred to a biodiesel production tank, for the conversion of the one or more algal oils and lipids to a biodiesel or a biofuel by a transesterification reaction.
US08956853B2
A method for degumming an oil composition comprises the steps of (a) providing an oil composition containing a quantity of phospholipids, (b) contacting said oil composition simultaneously with one or more phospholipase A enzymes and one or more phospholipase C enzymes, under conditions sufficient for the enzymes to react with the phospholipids to create phospholipid reaction products, and (c) separating the phospholipids reaction products from the oil composition, the remaining oil composition after the separation being a degummed oil composition, whereby during step (b) the reaction of said one or more phospholipase A enzymes proceeds at a faster rate than it would in the absence of said one or more phospholipase C enzymes.
US08956847B2
The invention provides a single chain, polypeptide fusion protein, comprising: a non-cytotoxic protease, or a fragment thereof, which protease or protease fragment is capable of cleaving a protein of the exocytic fusion apparatus of a target cell; a Targeting Moiety that is capable of binding to a Binding Site on the target cell, which Binding Site is capable of undergoing endocytosis to be incorporated into an endocome within the target cell; a protease cleaving site at which site the fusion protein is cleavable by the protease, wherein the protease cleavage site is located between the non-cytotoxic protease or fragment thereof and the Targeting Moiety; and the translocation domain that is capable of translocating the protease or protease fragment from within an endosome, across the endosomal membrane and into the cytosol of the target cell.
US08956845B2
The invention relates to recombinantly produced β-glucosidase variants with enhanced thermoactivity compared to naturally occurring proteins. The invention also provides methods for producing a variant β-glucosidase polypeptide with improved thermoactivity by identifying performance sensitive positions in a target β-glucosidase polypeptide and substituting the residue at that position with a thermoactivity enhancing residue.
US08956838B2
The present invention relates to a polynucleotide encoding an enzyme having carboxyl esterase [E.C. 2.1.1.1] activity.
US08956831B2
Fully human monoclonal Abs includes (i) an antigen-binding variable region that exhibits very high binding affinity for IL-1α and (ii) a constant region that is effective at both activating the complement system though C1q binding and binding to several different Fc receptors.
US08956827B2
The invention relates to the technical field of the histological preparation of biological tissue comprising a method and means for preparing transparent biological specimens for examination under a light microscope.
US08956823B2
An anti-antibody reagent for use in a competitive or sandwich simplex or multiplex assay, said reagent comprising one or more labeled anti-antibodies for the primary antibodies to be determined in the assay, the reagent further comprising a corresponding unlabeled anti-antibody in an excess or near excess concentration with respect to their binding partners.
US08956821B2
The invention relates to a method of identifying an Aspergillus terreus or an Aspergillus niger fungal species in patient tissue or body fluid and to primers and probes for use in such a method.
US08956819B2
The invention is directed to isolated genomic polynucleotide fragments that encode human carboxypeptidase M and human mouse double minute 2 homolog, vectors and hosts containing these fragments and fragments hybridizing to noncoding regions as well as antisense oligonucleotides to these fragments. The invention is further directed to methods of using these fragments to obtain human carboxypeptidase M and human mouse double minute 2 homolog and to diagnose, treat, prevent and/or ameliorate a pathological disorder.
US08956818B2
The identification of novel Syndecan-2 splice variants and their use in the diagnosis and therapeutic intervention of Alzheimer's disease and other amyloid diseases. In addition the use of new animal models expressing or devoid of syndecan-2 splice variants to effectively screen and identify potential therapeutic compounds for Alzheimer's disease.
US08956817B2
A simple, rapid, inexpensive, and promising commercial biomarker assay method for multiple diseases is described herein. The present invention detects miRNA-based biomarkers in human stool specimens. The method of the present invention amplifies miRNA directly from stool specimens without any prior miRNA extraction. Differential expression of specific microRNAs in stool of colorectal cancer CRC and adenoma patients suggest fecal microRNAs as a novel potential biomarker for colorectal neoplasia detection. The method of the present invention has diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic relevance for gastroenterological cancers/colorectal cancer and as well as further acquired or hereditary GI diseases.
US08956810B2
An undercoat agent usable in phase separation of a layer formed on a substrate, the layer containing a block copolymer having a plurality of polymers bonded, the undercoat agent including a resin component, and 20 mol % to 80 mol % of all the structural units of the resin component being a structural unit derived from an aromatic ring-containing monomer; and a method of forming a pattern of a layer containing a block copolymer, the method including: step (1) coating the undercoat agent on a substrate (1), thereby forming a layer (2) composed of the undercoat agent, step (2) forming a layer (3) containing a block copolymer having a plurality of polymers bonded on the surface of the layer (2) composed of the undercoat agent, and subjecting the layer (3) containing the block copolymer to phase separation, and step (3) selectively removing a phase (3a) of at least one polymer of the plurality of copolymers constituting the block copolymer from the layer (3) containing the block copolymer.
US08956807B2
A resist pattern-forming method capable of forming a resist pattern excellent in pattern collapse resistance in the case of development with the organic solvent in multilayer resist processes. The method has the steps of: (1) providing a resist underlayer film on a substrate using a composition for forming a resist underlayer film; (2) providing a resist film on the resist underlayer film using a photoresist composition; (3) exposing the resist film; and (4) developing the exposed resist film using a developer solution containing no less than 80% by mass of an organic solvent, in which the composition for forming a resist underlayer film contains (A) a component that includes a polysiloxane chain and that has a carboxyl group, a group that can generate a carboxyl group by an action of an acid, an acid anhydride group or a combination thereof.
US08956803B2
The present invention provides a sulfonium salt used in a resist composition that can give a pattern having a high resolution, especially an excellent rectangularity of a pattern form and a small roughness, while not readily generating a defect, in the photolithography using a high energy beam as a light source; a resist composition that contains the sulfonium salt; and a patterning process using this resist composition, wherein the sulfonium salt is shown by the following general formula (1a), wherein each of R and R0 independently represents a hydrogen atom, or a linear, branched, or cyclic monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms which may be optionally substituted by a heteroatom or interposed by a heteroatom.
US08956800B2
A method of forming a resist pattern, including: step (1) in which a resist composition containing a base component (A) that exhibits increased solubility in an alkali developing solution and a compound represented by general formula (C1) is applied to a substrate to form a resist film, step (2) in which the resist film is subjected to exposure, step (3) in which baking is conducted after step (2), and step (4) in which the resist film is subjected to an alkali development, thereby forming a negative-tone resist pattern; and the resist composition used in step (1): wherein R1 represents a group which forms an aromatic ring together with the two carbon atoms bonded to the R1 group; R2 represents a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group; and R3 represents a hydrogen atom, a carboxy group or a hydrocarbon group of 1 to 15 carbon atoms.
US08956797B2
A process for forming toner using an emulsion/aggregation scheme wherein particle aggregation occurs in a batch reactor and coalescence occurs in a continuous reactor. In embodiments, a continuous reactor comprises four sections joined in series.
US08956793B2
An electrophotographic photoreceptor includes a conductive support, an undercoat layer that is provided on the conductive support and that has a thickness of from 15 μm to 40 μm and has light transmittance of 20% or less with respect to light having a wavelength of 450 nm when the thickness is at least 15 μm, a charge generation layer that is provided on the undercoat layer, and a charge transport layer that is provided on the charge generation layer and that has a thickness of from 15 μm to 40 μm and has light transmittance of 30% or less with respect to light having a wavelength of 450 nm when the thickness is at least 15 μm.
US08956791B2
According to one embodiment, an exposure tolerance estimation method is disclosed. The method can include setting a plurality of regions along a first surface of a substrate. The method can form a plurality of patterns for estimation by performing exposure on each of the regions using at least three levels of exposure condition using an exposure mask. The method can measure dimensions of the patterns for estimation and find relationships between the exposure condition and the dimensions. The method can select a first region from the regions. In the first region, a first dimension of a first pattern for estimation formed by exposure using a first exposure condition of an intermediate level out of the at least three levels falls within a previously set range. In addition, the method can calculate an exposure tolerance from a relationship between the first exposure condition and the first dimension.
US08956790B2
Disclosed is a positive photosensitive resin composition that includes (A) at least one dissolution controlling agent selected from a compound including a repeating unit represented by the following Chemical Formula 1, a compound including a repeating unit represented by the following Chemical Formula 2, or a combination thereof, (B) a polybenzoxazole precursor, (C) a photosensitive diazoquinone compound, and (D) a solvent. An organic insulator film for a display device manufactured using the same and a display device are also disclosed. In Chemical Formulae 1 and 2, each substituent is the same as defined in the detailed description.
US08956782B2
A curable composition comprising: (i) 2.5 to 50 wt % crosslinker comprising at least two acrylamide groups; (ii) 20 to 65 wt % curable ionic compound comprising an ethylenically unsaturated group and an anionic group; (iii) 15 to 45 wt % solvent; and (iv) 0 to 10 wt % of free radical initiator; wherein the composition has a pH of 0.8 to 12. The compositions are useful for preparing ion exchange membranes.
US08956780B2
A solid oxide fuel cell has a stack structure in which sheet bodies and separators for separating air and fuel gas are stacked in alternating layers. Each of the sheet bodies includes an electrolyte layer, a fuel electrode layer formed on the upper surface of the electrolyte layer, and an air electrode layer formed on the lower surface of the electrolyte layer, wherein these layers are stacked and fired in such a manner that the electrolyte layer is sandwiched between the fuel electrode layer and the air electrode layer. The thickness of the electrolyte layer is 0.3 μm or more and 5 μm or less, and the electrolyte layer is composed of a single particle of YSZ in the thickness direction. Thus, the electrolyte layer is extremely thin, and further, the grain boundary in the thickness direction is small. Accordingly, the IR loss (electric resistance) of the electrolyte layer can remarkably be reduced.
US08956775B2
A fuel cell system and an abnormality detecting method therefore is provided. The fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell that includes at least one fuel-cell cell having an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte membrane, an anode-side passage supplying and exhausting fuel gas to and from the anode, a cathode-side passage supplying and exhausting oxidation gas to and from the cathode, a voltage detecting unit detecting a fuel cell voltage, a suppressing unit setting a suppression state where, after terminating normal power generation, introduction of the fuel and oxidation gas to the anode-side and cathode-side passages and emission of the fuel and oxidation gas from the anode-side and cathode-side passages to outsides are suppressed as compared with those during the normal power generation; and an abnormality detecting unit, after setting the suppression state, detecting abnormality of the fuel cell system based on the detected voltage or a variation thereof.
US08956773B2
In at least one embodiment, a purge system for a fuel cell stack is provided. The system comprises a blower, a differential pressure sensor and a purge valve. The blower delivers a recirculated gas back to the stack at varying electrical power levels and blower speeds. The differential pressure sensor senses pressure of the recirculated gas across the blower. The purge valve purges the recirculated gas based on at least one of a blower power level, a blower speed, and the pressure of the recirculated gas.
US08956766B2
A non-aqueous electrolyte battery has a positive electrode, a negative electrode, an insulating layer present between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and an electrolytic solution holding layer that composes the insulating layer and includes an electrolytic solution and a porous polymer compound, in which the electrolytic solution is held in the pores in the porous polymer compound and swells the porous polymer compound, the material of the porous polymer compound includes a vinylidene fluoride polymer, the vinylidene fluoride polymer is a vinylidene fluoride homopolymer or a copolymer including a vinylidene fluoride monomer unit and a hexafluoropropylene monomer unit, the mass composition ratio of the monomer units of the vinylidene fluoride polymer, or vinylidene fluoride monomer units:hexafluoropropylene monomer units, is 100:0 to 95:5, and the weight average molecular weight of the vinylidene fluoride polymer is 500,000 or more to less than 1.5 million.
US08956763B2
An electricity-storing device electrode includes a current collector foil, an active material layer formed on a surface of the current collector foil, and a high-resistance layer formed on the surface of the current collector foil so as to be adjacent to and in direct contact with the active material layer. At at least a portion of the interface between the active material layer and the high-resistance layer, mixed phase is formed where constituents from the two layers intermingle.
US08956759B2
Disclosed herein is a 3V class spinel oxide with improved high-rate characteristics which has the composition Li1+x[MyMn(2−y)]O4−zSz (0≦x≦0.1, 0.01≦y≦0.5, 0.01≦z≦0.5, and M is Mn, Ni or Mg). Further disclosed is a method for preparing the 3V class spinel oxide by carbonate coprecipitation of starting materials, addition of sulfur, followed by calcining. The 3V class spinel oxide is spherical and has a uniform size distribution. A lithium secondary battery including the 3V class spinel oxide has a constant plateau at a potential of 3V and shows superior cycle characteristics.
US08956756B2
A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly having a first electrode plate, a separator, and a second electrode plate, a collecting plate electrically connected to the electrode assembly, a case configured to accommodate the electrode assembly and the collecting plate, a cap plate configured to seal the case, and an electrode terminal part disposed through the cap plate and electrically connected to the collecting plate, the electrode terminal part including a first electrode terminal, a second electrode terminal, and a third electrode terminal.
US08956754B2
An electrode plate of a secondary battery includes an electrode current collector, an active material coated portion on at least one surface of the electrode current collector, and an uncoated portion on the electrode current collector, the uncoated portion including pressed portions extending from a boundary of the active material coated portion and the uncoated portion to a distance on the uncoated portion in a widthwise direction of the electrode current collector.
US08956751B2
A battery pack includes first and second end plates spaced apart from each other along a first direction, a plurality of battery cells aligned along the first direction between the first and second end plate, each battery cell having an electrode terminal thereon, and a side plate extending along side surfaces of the battery cells and coupled to the first and second end plates, the side plate having first coupling portions along upper edges of the side plate, the first coupling portions being bent to extend away from the battery cells, and second coupling portions along lower edges of the side plate, the second coupling portions being bent to extend away from the battery cells and to face the first coupling portions, the second coupling portions being positioned to at least partially correspond to respective first coupling portions.
US08956742B2
A battery separator includes a porous base material and a heat-resistant layer. The porous base material includes a first surface, a second surface opposed to the first surface, and a hole. The hole is formed in the porous base material and causes the first surface and the second surface to communicate with each other. The heat-resistant layer is configured to cover at least the first surface and a surface of the hole. The heat-resistant layer is formed of an inorganic material and deposited by an atomic layer deposition method.
US08956741B1
Media may be produced with narrow c-axis dispersion while having small grain size and high grain density. A dual seed layer design and a substrate bias voltage may be applied during deposition of the seed layer are used in the media. In some embodiments, the first seed layer is an amorphous material because of a high content of elements with large atomic sizes. Application of the substrate bias during deposition of the second seed layer may reduce the grain size and may narrow c-axis dispersion.
US08956740B2
A film-forming ink includes: film-forming materials containing a π-conjugated compounds; and a liquid medium which is capable of dissolving or dispersing the film-forming material and containing a compound represented by the following formula (I), wherein the compound is one in which the substituent of at least one of R1 to R6 is a linear or branched alkyl group, and the molecular structure of the one substituent is larger than the molecular structure of another substituent, and thus, the molecular weight of the whole molecule is biased towards the side where the one substituent is present.
US08956738B2
An OLED device including a cathode, a light emitting layer and an anode, in that order, and, having located between the cathode and the light emitting layer, a further layer containing an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt of a 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)phenanthroline derivative, according to Formula (MC) below. Such devices exhibit reduced drive voltage while maintaining good luminance.
US08956737B2
The invention relates to a red phosphorescent compound represented by the following Formula (1) and an organic electroluminescent (EL) device using the same: wherein
US08956736B2
An organic electroluminescent device for emitting red light is disclosed, including: an anode; a cathode; and an organic layer including a light emitting layer provided between the anode and the cathode, wherein the light-emitting layer contains a red light-emitting guest material and a host material composed of a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compound having a skeleton with a 4 to 7 membered ring, and a photosensitizing layer containing a light-emitting guest material which generates blue light is provided adjacent to the light-emitting layer.
US08956735B2
A mating-type connecting part can be obtained by stamping and surface-roughening a copper sheet into a predetermined shape with depressions as a plurality of parallel lines. The copper sheet then has a roughness of from 0.5 μm to 4.0 μm parallel to a sliding direction upon connection, a mean projection-depression interval of from 0.01 mm to 0.3 mm in that direction, a skewness less than 0, and a protrusion peak portion height of 1 μm or less. The copper sheet is then plated with Cu and Sn, followed by reflowing. The result is a connecting part having a Sn surface coating layer group as a plurality of parallel lines, and a Cu-Sn alloy coating layer adjacent to each side of each Sn surface coating layer.
US08956733B2
A filling material of power transmission bus bar, composed mainly of a silicone and an inorganic material, wherein weight ratio of said silicone and said inorganic material is between 1:0.1 and 1:9. As such, the resilience of the silicone can increase the buffering capability of said power transmission bus bar in facing pressure of strong winds; also stiffness of said inorganic material can increase the stability of said power transmission bus bar in a same situation. Said filling material of power transmission bus bar is able to protect metallic conduction element of said power transmission bus bar from getting in touch with moisture and dust, that may reduce its efficiency in transmitting power.
US08956718B2
Substantially transparent conductor layers in touch sensing systems may be formed by forming a barrier layer between an organic layer and a substantially transparent conductive layer. For example, a barrier layer can be formed over the organic layer, and the transparent conductor layer can be formed over the barrier layer. The barrier layer can reduce or prevent outgassing of the organic layer, to help increase the quality of the transparent conductor layer. In another example, a combination layer of two different types of a transparent conductor may be formed over the organic layer by forming a barrier layer of the transparent conductor, and forming a second layer of the transparent conductor on the barrier layer. Outgassing that can occur when forming the barrier layer can cause the transparent conductor of the barrier layer to be of lower-quality, but can result in a higher-quality transparent conductor of the second layer.
US08956706B2
A flexible tubing material includes a radiation crosslinked blend of a first elastomeric polymer including a styrenic thermoplastic elastomer, an ethylene vinyl acetate elastomer, a polyolefin elastomer with a second elastomeric polymer including a polyolefin elastomer, a diene elastomer, or combination thereof, with the proviso that the first elastomeric polymer and the second elastomeric polymer are different. In an embodiment, a method of making a material includes providing the first elastomeric polymer, providing the second elastomeric polymer, blending the first elastomeric polymer and the second elastomeric polymer, extruding or injection molding the blend, and crosslinking the blend with radiation.
US08956688B2
A method of making a battery electrode includes the steps of dispersing an active electrode material and a conductive additive in water with at least one dispersant to create a mixed dispersion; treating a surface of a current collector to raise the surface energy of the surface to at least the surface tension of the mixed dispersion; depositing the dispersed active electrode material and conductive additive on a current collector; and heating the coated surface to remove water from the coating.
US08956678B2
The present invention relates generally to sweetener compositions comprising non-caloric or low-caloric high-potency sweeteners and methods for making and using them. In particular, the present invention relates to different sweetener compositions comprising at least one non-caloric or low-caloric natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener, at least one sweet taste improving composition, and at least one preservative. The present invention also relates to sweetener compositions and methods that can improve the tastes of non-caloric or low-caloric natural and/or synthetic, high-potency sweeteners by imparting a more sugar-like taste or characteristic. In particular, the sweetener compositions and methods provide a more sugar-like temporal profile, including sweetness onset and sweetness linger, and/or a more sugar-like flavor profile.
US08956673B2
The present invention includes a method for extending the shelf-life of one or more foods by exposure to one or more pulses of microwave radiation for at least seven (7) seconds. The present invention may also be used to reduce pathogenic organisms in food. The one or more foods may be packaged within a container, sealed and stored.
US08956672B2
A capsule for the production of a beverage in a beverage production machine comprising a capsule holder with relief and recessed elements. The capsule includes an inverted cup-shaped body forming a chamber containing beverage ingredients; a bottom injection wall; a sidewall; and a delivery wall which is sealed to the body. The delivery wall is configured and dimensioned to include a calibrated orifice or perforating means to provide a calibrated orifice with the beverage delivery wall not being tearable against the capsule holder during extraction. The wall also provides through the restriction created by the calibrated orifice a certain back pressure which generates an elevated pressure in the capsule during extraction. Also, a system and method for producing a beverage from the capsules of the invention.
US08956671B1
The present invention provides for passive VOC recovery in the fermentation process that does not affect or minimally affects the conditions within the fermentor vessel and does not affect or minimally affects the conditions within the headspace of the fermentor vessel itself while using the production of CO2 emitted during the fermenting process as the source of driving energy to move a portion of the gaseous/vaporous material in the headspace of the fermentor through an appropriately sized conduit to a chilled surface condensing device to condense the VOCs (principally ethanol) for recovery and to exhaust the CO2 to the atmosphere or to recover the CO2 for other uses. The conduit from the headspace of the fermentor to the condenser is sized to provide a flow restriction in a selected range such that the headspace equilibria are not affected while allowing a portion of the gaseous/vaporous material in the headspace to move through the conduit in response to the generation of the CO2 during the fermentation process.
US08956670B2
There is provided a process for the prevention and/or reduction of acrylamide formation and/or acrylamide precursor formation in a foodstuff containing (i) a protein, a peptide or an amino acid and (ii) a reducing sugar, the process comprising contacting the foodstuff with an enzyme capable of oxidizing a reducing group of the sugar.
US08956668B2
A cosmetic composition in the form of an emulsion and a cold-processing method for preparing the cosmetic composition are provided. The cosmetic composition includes a hydrating active ingredient, at least one gelling agent, and at least one thickener. The hydrating active ingredient is present at a concentration, by weight, of about 0.1% to about 90%, based upon weight of the composition. The at least one gelling agent is present at a concentration, by weight, of about 0.01% to about 5%, based upon weight of the composition. The at least one thickener is present at a concentration, by weight of about 0.1% to about 5%, based upon weight of the composition.
US08956661B2
The invention relates to a method for making composite active particles for use in a pharmaceutical composition for pulmonary administration, the method comprising a milling step in which particles of active material are milled in the presence of particles of an additive material which is suitable for the promotion of the dispersal of the composite active particles upon actuation of an inhaler. The invention also relates to compositions for inhalation prepared by the method.
US08956656B2
The present invention relates to a method for producing particles of a compound of interest. In a method according to the invention a solution is provided of the compound of interest in a solvent. This solution is thickened or gelled and particles are formed. The invention further relates to a particle that is obtainable by the invention.
US08956653B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing effervescent dosage forms comprising at least one antibiotic of cephalosporin group. The present invention also relates to effervescent formulations and preparations comprising antibiotics of second generation cephalosporin.
US08956647B2
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.
US08956641B2
Effective treatments of pain and/or inflammation from tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, tarsal tunnel syndrome, osteoarthritis, bursitis and/or an oral-facial disease are provided. Through the administration of an effective amount of at least one alpha adrenergic agonist at or near a target site, one can reduce, prevent or treat pain and/or inflammation from tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, tarsal tunnel syndrome, osteoarthritis, bursitis and/or an oral-facial disease.
US08956638B2
A method is provided for the preparation of a poly(amic acid) in which ring opening polymerization is employed to react the monomers ethylenediaminetetraacetic dianhydride and paraphenylenediamine in an aprotic solvent. The resulting poly(amic acid) composition is suitable as a biocompatible material, such as a biomedical implant, implant coating material, tissue scaffold material, controlled release drug delivery vehicle, and cellular growth substrate.
US08956629B2
Disclosed is a dental composition, comprising unsaturated double bond-containing monomers and/or oligomers, a catalytic amount of polymerization initiator to initiate polymerization, and a filler, wherein the dental composition comprises an organic nanotube containing an antibacterial or anticariogenic material to inhibit or prevent tooth decay.The dental composition comprises an organic nanotube containing an antibacterial or anticariogenic material, thus uniformly and continuously exhibiting anticariogenic and antibacterial activities, while avoiding deterioration in physical properties required for the dental material.
US08956627B2
The present invention relates to a method of inducing the production in a patient of anti-HIV antibodies. The method comprises administering to a patient in need thereof an amount of at least one liposome-peptide conjugate in an amount sufficient to effect that induction. The peptide comprises a membrane external proximal region (MPER) epitope and the liposome comprises lysophosphorylcholine or phosphatidylserine.
US08956624B2
Compositions for treating skin containing at least one extract from the genus Trametes and at least one viscosity enhancing synthetic polymer, and methods for whitening skin, treating skin for improvement, or treating skin disorders associated with pigmentation such as uneven pigmentation, skin mottling, or age spots or other dermatological disorders such as eczema, rosacea, hyperkeratinization, and so on.
US08956612B2
The present invention relates to a streptococcal octapeptide AXYLXXLN, and preferably to the octapeptide AXYLZZLN, designated as peptide associated with rheumatic fever (PARF) that, through its interaction with human collagen, plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of rheumatic fever. PARF therefore represents a marker for rheumatic fever associated strains and provides a target for therapies, and in particular preventive therapies.
US08956608B2
The disclosure provides novel molecules related to growth and differentiation factor-8 (GDF-8), in particular mouse and humanized antibodies, and antibody fragments, including those that inhibit GDF-8 activity and signaling in vitro and/or in vivo. The disclosure also provides methods for diagnosing, treating, ameliorating, preventing, prognosing, or monitoring degenerative orders of muscle, bone, and insulin metabolism, etc., in particular amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In addition, the disclosure provides pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of such disorders by using the antibodies, polypeptides, polynucleotides, and vectors of the invention.
US08956605B2
The present invention relates to use an agent for the prevention and/or treatment of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) or multiple organ failure (MOF) comprising interleukin-22 (IL-22) as an effective ingredient. The present invention is applicable to prevention of or therapy for diseases from sepsis, septic shock, liver failure, to multiple organ dysfunction syndromes. More particularly, the present invention is useful for an emergency medical service, for treatment of injury caused by a traffic accident, burns, heat attacks, hypercytokinemia or severe infective diseases.
US08956602B2
Formulations of drugs and crystalline side chain polymers to provide controlled and/or sustained release drug formulations.
US08956601B2
The invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions and formulations comprising polymeric myrcene. More particularly, the invention relates to compositions comprising an isolated fraction of polymeric myrcene in a hydrophobic carrier and formulations which maintain the biological activity of the active polymer.
US08956596B1
The present invention is drawn to a process for improving the efficiency of sunscreens using a series of polyesters based upon sorbeth ethoxylates esterified with fatty acids, then crosslinked with dimer acid. These polyesters exhibit a synergistic interaction with sunscreen actives improving the efficiency providing a “shield” for the body from the harmful effects of the sun. These sorbitol alkoxylates are then reacted with dimer acid, resulting in a series of novel polyesters. The linking of the two spider esters together with dimer provide an amphilic macromolecule possessing both hydrophilic and hydrophobic portions covalently bonded to the same molecule, this provides both a boost in sun protection factor (SPF) and the ability for the sunscreen actives to be applied to wet skin.
US08956595B2
Calcium peroxyphosphate compounds and dental compositions comprising these compounds that combine both whitening/stain removal of teeth with remineralization are disclosed. The calcium peroxyphosphate compounds are capable of releasing, in an aqueous environment, whitening and remineralization effective amounts of calcium ion, phosphate ion, and active oxygen. Preferred compounds are calcium peroxymonophosphate or calcium diperoxymonophosphate compounds. These compounds may be used in humans and other animals, including other mammals.
US08956588B2
Method for the selective dealumination of the aluminum within the 12-membered ring channels of a zeolite of structure type MOR. The method includes the steps of (i) loading a MOR zeolite in the hydrogen or ammonium form with a univalent metal to obtain a metal loaded zeolite; and (ii) treating the metal loaded zeolite with steam at a temperature of at least 400° C. to obtain a metal loaded dealuminated zeolite.
US08956572B2
What is described is a process of forming lipid-nucleic acid nanoparticles simply and reproducibly under aseptic conditions comprising single use components.
US08956571B2
A miniature lower cost optical sensing apparatus and method are provided for determining the concentration and/or hazard from a target gas by means of IR or visible photon monitoring one or more sensors that responds to carbon monoxide. The apparatus comprises a photon source optically coupled to the sensor and at least a portion of the photon intensity passing through the sensor is quantified by one or more photodiode(s) in a system, so that the photon flux is a function of at least one sensor's response to the target gas, e.g., transmits light through the sensor to the photodiode. The photo current from the photodiode is converted to a sensor reading value proportional to the optical characteristics of the sensors and is loaded into a microprocessor or other logic circuit. In the microprocessor, the sensor readings may be differentiated to determine the rate of change of the sensor readings and the total photons absorbed value may be used to calculate the CO concentration and/or dose.
US08956563B2
A molding method includes drawing cross-section elements of a three-dimensional object as a molding target on a drawing surface of a drawing stand with a liquid whose curing is precipitated by receiving activation energy as cross-section patterns; applying the activation energy to the liquid configuring the cross-section patterns in a state in which the cross-section patterns is pinched between the drawing stand and a molding stand; and detaching the cross-section patterns after being applied with the activation energy from the drawing stand and transferring the cross-section patterns to the molding stand side, wherein the drawing surface has a liquid repellent area that is an area representing liquid repellency for the liquid and a lyophilic area that is independently formed in an island shape within the liquid repellent area and is an area representing lyophillicity stronger than that of the liquid repellent area for the liquid.
US08956557B2
The present invention is directed to a thick film silver paste comprising (i) silver, (ii) copper, and (iii) a Pb—Te—O all dispersed in an organic medium. The present invention is further directed to an electrode formed from the paste and a semiconductor device and, in particular, a solar cell comprising such an electrode. The electrodes provide good electrical performance.
US08956556B2
The present application is directed to dielectric isolators for use in aircraft fuel systems to control lightning induced current and allow dissipation of electrostatic charge. The dielectric isolators are configured to have a high enough impedance to limit lightning currents to low levels, but low enough impedance to allow electrostatic charge to dissipate without allowing buildup. Although the dielectric isolators may develop a potential difference across the dielectric length due to the effects of lightning currents and its inherent impedance, they are configured to withstand these induced voltages without dielectric breakdown or performance degradation. In one embodiment, the dielectric isolator includes a tube constructed of a composition including a thermoplastic organic polymer (e.g., PEEK) and carbon nanotubes, and a pair of fittings attached to opposing ends of the tube. In another embodiment, the dielectric isolator includes a tube, an outer annular portion, and an interconnecting web, each constructed from the composition including a thermoplastic organic polymer (e.g., PEEK) and carbon nanotubes. This later embodiment is an integrally formed one-piece structure. The dielectric isolator is capable of exhibiting an electrical resistance from about 105Ω to 108Ω at an applied potential of greater than 500 volts DC when measured from one fitting to the other fitting.
US08956544B2
A method for manufacturing a micromechanical structure, and a micromechanical structure. The micromechanical structure encompasses a first micromechanical functional layer, made of a first material, that comprises a buried conduit having a first end and a second end; a micromechanical sensor structure having a cap in a second micromechanical functional layer that is disposed above the first micromechanical functional layer; an edge region in the second micromechanical functional layer, such that the edge region surrounds the sensor structure and defines an inner side containing the sensor structure and an outer side facing away from the sensor structure; such that the first end is located on the outer side and the second end on the inner side.
US08956538B2
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for desalination of salt water based on an engineered acoustic field that causes constructive and destructive interference at pre-computed spatial positions. The engineered acoustic field can cause high-pressure and low-pressure regions where desalination membranes are located. The induced pressure from the acoustic field can force pure water through the membranes leaving ionic and dissolved molecular species behind.
US08956537B2
Disclosed are a hollow fiber membrane module, a filtration apparatus based on the same, and a method for manufacturing the filtration apparatus. The hollow fiber membrane module includes two headers respectively provided with a permeate collecting unit therein, wherein each of the headers has grooves on its two sides, the grooves being extended in a length direction of the hollow fiber membrane. Since one slide rod can simultaneously be inserted into grooves of two adjacent hollow fiber membrane modules, the hollow fiber membrane modules can mutually serve as guides for insertion/ejection thereof. Also, since the grooves formed on the header can serve as insertion holes into which a clamp is inserted, the clamp can be used for coupling between the hollow fiber membrane module and another element and reinforcement of the coupling.
US08956536B2
Devices for sorting components (e.g., cells) contained in a liquid sample are provided. In certain aspects, the devices include a magnetic separation device and an acoustic concentrator device fluidically coupled to magnetic separation device. Aspects of the invention further include methods for sorting cells in a liquid sample, and systems, and kits for practicing the subject methods.
US08956534B2
Disclosed is a chromatographic system and method which includes a passive pre-heater assembly. In the inventive system and method a fluid mixture is supplied from an injector to the pre-heater assembly and then to a chromatographic column having an active heating source. The pre-heater assembly includes a convoluted tube with first and second ends and a fluid passage extending centrally therebetween, first and second end fittings attached respectively to the first and second ends of the convoluted tube, and a thermally conductive film attached to an outer surface of the convoluted tube. The first end fitting is adapted for fluidly connecting the first end of the convoluted tube to the injector and the second end fitting is adapted for fluidly connecting the second end of the convoluted tube to the chromatographic column. The thermally conductive film conveys heat from an active heating source of a chromatographic column to the convoluted tube when the pre-heater assembly is positioned adjacent to the active heating source. The central fluid passage in the convoluted tube has a series of bends which function to create a secondary fluid flow field that is substantially orthogonal to a primary flow field established when fluid is traversing the fluid passage in the tube.
US08956531B2
A filter device may include a filter housing having at least one filter element configured to separate the filter housing into a raw side and a clean side. A bypass valve may control a bypass for circumventing the at least one filter element, wherein the bypass valve may have a valve member for controlling a bypass opening connecting the clean side of a coupling chamber of the bypass valve with the raw side. The valve member may be configured to close the bypass opening via a pretension generated by a closing spring. The bypass valve may be an actuating device for changing the pretension acting on the valve member and the actuating device may be coupled with at least one control chamber and configured to set the pretension acting on the valve member based at least in part on a control pressure of the control chamber.
US08956530B2
A system for separating bodily fluid constituents is disclosed. The system includes a first substrate which, in a first main surface, has a first cavity for holding a bodily fluid sample, a second substrate, which, in a first main surface facing the first substrate, has a second cavity) for holding constituents separated from the bodily fluid sample, which second cavity lies opposite to the first cavity, a filter layer, which is arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate and which is designed to separate constituents of the bodily fluid sample in the first cavity and to pass the separated constituents to the second cavity, and a first thermoplastic connection layer, which is arranged between the first substrate and the filter layer, interconnects the first main surface of the first substrate and the filter layer in a fluid-tight manner and has a cutout lying opposite to the first cavity.
US08956525B2
Disclosed are electrolysis catalysts formed from cobalt, oxygen and buffering electrolytes (e.g. fluoride). They can be formed as a coating on an anode by conducting an electrolysis reaction using an electrolyte containing cobalt and an anionic buffering electrolyte. The catalysts will facilitate the conversion of water to oxygen and hydrogen gas at a range of mildly acidic conditions. Alternatively, these anodes can be used with cathodes that facilitate other desirable reactions such as converting carbon dioxide to methanol.
US08956524B2
Modular anode assemblies are used in electrolytic oxide reduction systems for scalable reduced metal production via electrolysis. Assemblies include a channel frame connected to several anode rods extending into an electrolyte. An electrical system powers the rods while being insulated from the channel frame. A cooling system removes heat from anode rods and the electrical system. An anode guard attaches to the channel frame to prevent accidental electrocution or damage during handling or repositioning. Each anode rod may be divided into upper and lower sections to permit easy repair and swapping out of lower sections. The modular assemblies may have standardized components to permit placement at multiple points within a reducing system. Example methods may operate an electrolytic oxide reduction system by positioning the modular anode assemblies in the reduction system and applying electrical power to the plurality of anode assemblies.
US08956517B2
Disclosed are nanocomposite-based biosensors. The biosensors include an electrode, a nanocomposite over the surface of the electrode, the nanocomposite comprising a population of carbon nanotubes and a population of magnetic nanoparticles dispersed in the population of carbon nanotubes, wherein the magnetic nanoparticles comprise a ferromagnetic metal or compound thereof, and one or more biomolecules over the surface of the electrode, wherein the biomolecules are capable of undergoing a redox reaction with a target molecule. Also disclosed are nanocomposites, modified electrodes, kits, and methods for using the biosensors.
US08956513B2
There is provided a substrate processing method, in which a throughput can be improved even in case the time for recovery processing for restoring the state of a processing chamber is longer than the time for predetermined processing to be performed in the processing chamber. Substrates are alternately transferred to two processing chambers C, D, and the same film forming processing is performed on the substrates in the processing chambers C, D in parallel with each other. When the number of substrates processed in the processing chamber C has reached a predetermined number (11 substrates), dummy sputtering processing in the film forming chamber C is started and also 23rd-25th substrates of the first lot are transferred to the film forming chamber D to thereby perform film forming processing until the dummy sputtering processing is finished.
US08956511B2
A method for reducing the optical loss of the multilayer coating below a predetermined value in a zone by producing coating on a displaceable substrate in a vacuum chamber with the aid of a residual gas using a sputtering device. Reactive depositing a coating on the substrate by adding a reactive component with a predetermined stoichiometric deficit in a zone of the sputtering device. Displacing the substrate with the deposited coating into the vicinity of a plasma source, which is located in the vacuum chamber at a predetermined distance from the sputtering device. The plasma action of the plasma source modifying the structure and/or stoichiometry of the coating, preferably by adding a predetermined quantity of the reactive component to reduce the optical loss of the coating.
US08956502B2
The objective of this invention is a method for separating cellulosic fibres, hemicellulose and lignin from parts of plants containing these, such as stems, leaves and seed coats or hulls of cereal, oilseed, fibre or grassy plants. After appropriate pre-treatments the material is heated in an alkaline solution at lower temperatures than used in the traditional cellulose manufacturing. After this heat treatment, the fibrous and other undissolved materials are separated from the solution and subsequently ground in wet condition, using preferably chafing treatments. For improving the separation, surface active substances can be included in the alkaline heat treatment solution.
US08956499B2
An object is to provide a plasma processing device capable of accurately judging whether or not the proper maintenance time has come which is necessary for maintaining an operation state of a device in the best condition.A discharge detection sensor 23, in which a dielectric member 21 and a probe electrode unit 22 are combined with each other, is attached to an opening portion 2a provided in a lid portion 2 composing a vacuum chamber. A change in the electric potential induced in the probe electrode 22b according to a change in plasma discharge is received and whether or not the maintenance work is necessary is judged by comparing a counted value, which is obtained when a leak discharge wave-form counter 39 counts the number of times of the detection of detecting a V-type wave form of a V-shaped specific pattern, which is caused by leak discharge correlated with the attachment of foreign object in the vacuum chamber, by a V-type wave-form detecting portion 35, with an allowable value which has been previously set by a maintenance judging portion 44.
US08956497B2
A method for producing biodisintegratable composite foils with an aqueous polyurethane dispersion adhesive. The method involves adhesive-bonding a first substrate to a second substrate with use of the aqueous polyurethane dispersion adhesive. At least one of the first substrate and the second substrate is made of a biodisintegratable polymer foil, and at least 60% by weight of the polyurethane contains diisocyanates, polyesterdiols, and bifunctional carboxylic acids. The bifunctional carboxylic acids are dihydroxycarboxylic acids or diaminocarboxylic acids.
US08956494B2
A method for adhering a major substrate to which nano sized concave and convex structures are formed without damaging the concave and convex structures can be used in a production method of a microfluidic device including nano sized fluidic channels. The substrates may be adhered under heat free and adhesive agent free environment by exciting the substrate surface including hard silicone resin with atmospheric plasma or vacuum ultraviolet light, then juxtaposing and pressurizing the surface of the hard silicone resin substrate and glass substrate. The silicone rubber composition is applied on the contact face of the cover substrate and then the silicone rubber composition is cured to form the silicone rubber layer and then the ultraviolet light is exposed under the condition that the surface of the major substrate being formed with concave and convex structures is contacted closely to the silicone rubber layer of the cover substrate.
US08956491B2
A method is provided for manufacturing a partially coated carrier structure including a carrier tape coated by a coating. A protective film is applied to at least a portion of the coating, the coating is partially removed from the carrier tape, and the protective film is removed from the coating. A device for manufacturing a partially coated carrier structure by a method of this type includes a first conveying facility for conveying a carrier tape coated by a coating, an application facility for application of a protective film to at least a portion of the coating, and at least one tool that can be used to partially remove the coating from the carrier tape.
US08956488B2
Diamine is used to enhance adhesion between polyurethane and polyolefinic material or ionomeric material.
US08956485B2
A method of producing an electrical component includes forming a stack of ceramic green films, where the stack has a hole that is accessible from external to the stack, inserting a cover into the hole, and sintering the stack together with the cover. The method may also include boring the hole through the stack of ceramic green films.
US08956484B2
Disclosed herein are methods for bonding refractory substrates, such as zircon substrates, without the use of a bonding agent. Exemplary methods include (a) providing a plurality of refractory components, each component having at least one surface to be bonded, (b) polishing each surface to be bonded to a surface roughness (Ra) of 200 nm or finer, (c) contacting the surfaces to be bonded to form an unbonded refractory substrate, (d) firing the unbonded refractory substrate, and (e) subjecting the surfaces to be bonded to a compressive force during firing. Methods for making refractory forming bodies are also disclosed herein.
US08956482B2
A ceramics composite member includes a structure in which a first ceramic member and a second ceramic member are integrated with a joint portion. The joint portion has a texture in which a silicon phase having an average diameter of 0.05 μm or more and 10 μm or less is continuously provided in a network form in interstices of silicon carbide particles having an average particle diameter of 0.1 μm or more and 0.1 mm or less.
US08956481B2
The present invention relates to a method of assembling carbon parts using a braze based on silicon carbide. The invention also relates to the parts assembled using such a method.
US08956479B2
A composite material having utility for removing sulfur from a feedstock comprises a ceramic matrix having a relatively low melting point metal such as tin, zinc, lead or bismuth nanodispersed therein. The material may be prepared from a mixture of particles of a precursor of the ceramic matrix and precursor of the metal. The precursors are selected such that the melting point of the precursor of the ceramic is less than the melting point of the precursor of the metal. The mixture of precursor materials is heated to a temperature sufficient to melt the precursor of the ceramic material so as to coat it onto the precursor of the metal. The ceramic precursor is then reacted so as to convert it to a ceramic. Thereafter, the precursor of the metal is converted to a free metal which is retained within the ceramic matrix so as to prevent agglomeration.
US08956477B2
Elastically stretchable diaper closure elements that each comprise an inelastic and reinforced attachment region for securing a closure component and an adjacent elastic stretch region can be punched from a textile web. A plurality of pairs of elastic film strips of an elastically stretchable polymer are inserted between two cover layers of nonwoven with the film strips parallel and spaced laterally from one another. Between each pair of elastic film strips a strip of a reinforcement film is inserted that has a support layer and an outer layer of polyethylene on at least one side between the cover layers with each reinforcement-film strip overlapping each of the respective elastic film strips at a respective overlap region. The reinforcement-film strips are bonded to the elastic film strips in the overlap regions, and the nonwoven cover layers are bonded to the reinforcement film strips by ultrasonic or thermal welding.
US08956474B2
A pressure resistant and corrosion resistant copper alloy contains 73.0 mass % to 79.5 mass % of Cu and 2.5 mass % to 4.0 mass % of Si with a remainder composed of Zn and inevitable impurities, in which the content of Cu [Cu] mass % and the content of Si [Si] mass % have a relationship of 62.0≦[Cu]−3.6×[Si]≦67.5. In addition, the area fraction of the α phase “α”%, the area fraction of a β phase “β”%, the area fraction of a γ phase “γ”%, the area fraction of the κ phase “κ”%, and the area fraction of a μ phase “μ”% satisfy 30≦“α”≦84, 15≦“κ”≦68, “α”+“κ”≧92, 0.2≦“κ”/“α”≦2, “β”≦3, “μ”≦5, “β”+“μ”≦6, 0≦“γ”≦7, and 0≦“β”+“μ”+“γ”≦8. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing a brazed structure made of the above pressure resistant and corrosion resistant copper alloy.
US08956466B2
A process for treating a substrate comprised of sorptive material is provided herein. The sorptive material may be an absorbent synthetic material such as polyester. The material is designed to be used for cleaning surfaces in an ultraclean environment. The process first comprises unwinding a roll of sorptive material as a substrate into a cleaning system. The cleaning system utilizes several sections. These include a pre-washing section, an acoustic energy washing section, and a drying section. Preferably, the process of moving the substrate through the cleaning system is continuous. The acoustic energy washing section employs one or more acoustic energy generators. In one aspect, the process also includes cutting the substrate into sections to form wipers after moving the substrate through the drying section. Thereafter, the wipers are placed into a bag and the bag is sealed. An integrated treating system for a sorptive material is also provided herein.
US08956457B2
A thermal processing system and method for curing a dielectric film. The thermal processing system is configured to treat the dielectric film with ultraviolet (UV) radiation and infrared (IR) radiation in order to cure the dielectric film. The thermal processing system can include an array if IR and UV light-emitting devices (LEDs) configured to irradiate a substrate having a low dielectric constant (low-k) film. The method dries the dielectric film to remove contaminants from the film and exposes the dielectric film at a single stage to ultraviolet radiation and IR radiation.
US08956436B2
Disclosed are ceramic bodies comprised of composite cordierite aluminum magnesium titanate ceramic compositions and methods for the manufacture of same.
US08956431B2
A cyclone separator (1) for separating particles from a gas flow, includes: a first housing component (3) with a guiding apparatus (7) for providing the inflowing gas flow with an angular momentum, a second housing component (4) with an immersion tube (10) through which the cleaned gas flow can be discharged, and a cyclone tube (9) which surrounds the immersion tube (10) and on which at least one opening (11) is formed for discharging the particles that are separated from the gas flow. The cyclone tube (9) is formed on the second housing component (4).
US08956428B2
A process for treating offshore natural gas includes processing the natural gas on an off-shore processing facility by, (i) liquefying and fractionating the natural gas to generate a liquefied natural gas stream and a higher hydrocarbon stream, (ii) vaporizing at least a portion of the higher hydrocarbon stream, (iii) passing the vaporized higher hydrocarbon stream and steam over a steam reforming catalyst to generate a reformed gas mixture comprising methane, steam, carbon oxides and hydrogen, (iv) passing the reformed gas mixture over a methanation catalyst to generate a methane rich gas, and (v) combining the methane-rich gas with the natural gas prior to the liquefaction step.
US08956411B2
The present invention relates to a method of preparing a tissue matrix and its subsequent use in the replacement and/or repair of a damaged or defective meniscus. The invention also provides meniscal tissue that is substantially decellularised.
US08956407B2
Implants or systems of implants apply a selected force vector or a selected combination of force vectors within or across the left atrium, which allow mitral valve leaflets to better coapt. The implants or systems of implants make possible rapid deployment, facile endovascular delivery, and full intra-atrial retrievability. The implants or systems of implants also make use of strong fluoroscopic landmarks.
US08956402B2
A delivery assembly for delivering a prosthetic heart valve can include a first elongate component and a second elongate component. The delivery assembly can include a temporary valve location to which the prosthetic heart valve can be releasably mounted and an implantation location to which the prosthetic heart valve can also be releasable mounted. The delivery assembly can move from a delivery state with the prosthetic heart valve mounted to the temporary location to an implantation state with the prosthetic heart valve repositioned from the temporary location to the implantation location. The prosthetic heart valve can subsequently be deployed from the implantation location. The position of the prosthetic heart valve relative to the first elongate component at the temporary location is different than a position of the prosthetic heart valve relative to the first elongate component at the implantation location.
US08956396B1
An improved prosthesis and method for stimulating vision nerves to obtain a vision sensation that is useful for the patient that has lost vision due to AMD, RP, and other diseases. The invention utilizes infrared light to cause action potentials in the retinal nerves similar to those which result from rods and cones stimulated by visible light in healthy retinas. In some embodiments, the invention provides a prosthesis that generates a stimulation pattern of infrared light from an external stimulator array through the eye and focusing the stimulation pattern of infrared light on the retina, especially the fovea. Some embodiments the invention provides improved resolution down to a group of nerves, or even the individual nerve level, with sufficient energy density so as to cause a desired action potential.
US08956393B2
Systems for repairing acetabulum fractures can include a bone plate that has openings therein and one or more bolts sized to fit through the openings. The bone plate can cooperate with the head portions of the bolts to prevent them from spinning within the holes as screws are attached to the bolts. Such arrangements can assist in reverse implantation methods in which the bone plate is introduced into the true pelvis of a patient.
US08956390B2
The present invention provides, in certain aspects, medical systems that are useful for applying bolster material to patient tissue. One such system includes a surgical fastening apparatus that is comprised of a first arm having a first arm working surface; and a cutting element operable along a cutting path. This system also includes at least one piece of bolster material having a portion received in the cutting path, and a retaining element retaining the at least one piece of bolster material in association with the first arm working surface, wherein the retaining element has one or more segments received in the cutting path and includes portions residing between the first arm working surface and the at least one piece of bolster material. The invention also provides medical devices that are useful for applying bolster materials to surgical fastening apparatuses, as well as methods for preparing and using such devices.
US08956389B2
The invention relates to a sealing device for repair of cardiac and vascular defects or tissue opening such as a patent foramen ovale (PFO) or shunt in the heart, the vascular system, etc. and particularly provides an occluder device and trans-catheter occluder delivery system. The sealing device would have improved conformity to heart anatomy and be easily deployed, repositioned, and retrieved at the opening site.
US08956384B2
Everting filter devices and methods for using the devices, including using the devices as intra-vascular filters to filter thrombus, emboli, and plaque fragments from blood vessels. The filter devices include a filter body nominally tubular in shape and having a large proximal opening. The filter body can extend from a proximal first end region distally over the non-everted exterior surface of the filter, further extending distally to a distal-most region, then converging inwardly and extending proximally toward the filter second end region, forming a distal everted cavity. The degree of eversion of the filter can be controlled by varying the distance between the filter first end region near the proximal opening and the closed second end region. Bringing the filter first and second end regions closer together can bring filter material previously on the non-everted filter exterior to occupy the distal-most region.
US08956381B2
A device for delivering an occlusive element includes an elongate sheath. A distal blocking member is located at the distal end of the elongate sheath and includes an aperture therein. An elongate releasing member is disposed within a lumen of the elongate sheath. The elongate releasing member includes a proximal end and a distal end with the distal end terminating in at least one retaining member. The device includes an occlusive element such as, for example, a vaso-occlusive coil that has a securing member located at a proximal end thereof. The securing member of the occlusive element passes through the aperture of the distal blocking member and the at least one retaining member is releasably secured to the securing member.
US08956376B2
The invention generally relates to method and apparatus for crossing an obstruction in a tubular member, and more particularly to a medical device method for crossing of a chronic occlusion in a subintimal or interstitial space of an artery.
US08956369B2
A parallel drill guide and system which maintains contact on the bone at various angles. The parallel drill guide comprises a fixed sleeve and a parallel, axially slidable, sleeve for guiding the insertion of two parallel wires or pins into bone at any angle while maintaining contact between the bone and the guide. The drill guide is also provided with a locking mechanism that locks the slidable sleeve into position at any lateral distance relative to the fixed sleeve, using a novel off-axis locking device.
US08956367B2
A system and method for shaping an anatomical component having an existing shape and a desired reconstructed shape include an applicator for depositing material on the anatomical component and a controller in communication with the applicator, the controller controlling the deposition of material by the applicator based on a relationship between the applicator and the existing shape of the anatomical component to create the desired reconstructed shape.
US08956359B2
A bone saw including a flexible, rectangular saw blade having a central longitudinal axis and a cutting edge at a distal tip, and a shaft. The shaft has a central longitudinal axis, and a blade passage within the shaft that houses the saw blade, where the central longitudinal axis of the saw blade, of the shaft, and of the blade passage, are parallel. Further included is a blade opening located through a distal end of the shaft and of the blade passage, the blade opening being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. Also, a curved abutment can exist within the blade passage, aligning the saw blade with the blade opening. Distally translating the saw blade within the blade passage can cause the saw blade to conform to the curved abutment and exit the blade opening with the cutting edge essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.
US08956358B2
Devices, systems, and methods are provided for cutting bone and collecting bone debris. A disclosed device includes a receptacle having a proximal opening, a cutting tool having a connector on a proximal end, and a space between the cutting tool and receptacle. In use, bone debris produced by the cutting tool is received by the receptacle into the space. A distal opening of the receptacle may have dimensions corresponding to those of the cutting tool. The receptacle may be shaped so that it does not extend beyond the outer periphery of the cutting tool.
US08956356B2
A bone fixation system includes a bone fixation device, including a first element having a first channel extending therethrough and a second element including a proximal portion sized and shaped to be received within the first channel such that the longitudinal axes of the first and second elements are substantially coaxial and a distal portion including a bone engaging structure, a proximal end of the second element slidably locked within the first channel such that the first and second elements are longitudinally movable relative to one another between a permitted range of motion. The system also includes a driving tool, including an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve slidably received therethrough, a distal end of the outer sleeve configured to engage the proximal end of the first element to prevent relative rotation therebetween, a distal end of the inner sleeve configured to engage the proximal end of the second element.
US08956354B2
The present invention relates to a non-stick coated electrosurgical diathermy instrumentation, comprising: a handle portion; an isolation tube, connected to the handle portion by one end thereof; an instrument portion, connected to another end of the isolation tube, wherein an anti-sticking layer is formed on the surface of the instrument portion; and an electrode, connected to the handle portion and an external conductive member. In the present invention, the instrument portion is able to generate heat when the conductive member conducts electricity to the instrument portion.
US08956351B2
A minimally invasive surgical assembly broadly includes an outer hollow needle which has an outer diameter, a longitudinal axis, and a sharp distal end. An insulating member extends through the hollow needle and is movable relative to the hollow needle. An elongated member extends through the insulating member and is movable relative to both the insulating member and the hollow needle. A resilient wire projects from the elongated member and is retractable within and extendable outside of the insulating member and the hollow needle. The insulating member, elongated member, and resilient wire are movable relative to the needle using first and second moving means whereby the surgical assembly assumes various configurations having different operational functions.
US08956349B2
In accordance with various embodiments, a surgical generator for providing a drive signal to a surgical device may comprise a first transformer and a second transformer. The first transformer may comprise a first primary winding and a first secondary winding. The second transformer may comprise a second primary winding and a second secondary winding. The surgical generator may further comprise a generator circuit to generate the drive signal. The generator circuit may be electrically coupled to the first primary winding to provide the drive signal across the first primary winding. The surgical generator may also comprise a patient-side circuit electrically isolated from the generator circuit. The patient-side circuit may be electrically coupled to the first secondary winding. Further, the patient-side circuit may comprise first and second output lines to provide the drive signal to the surgical device. In addition, the surgical generator may comprise a capacitor. The capacitor and the second secondary winding may be electrically coupled in series between the first output line and ground.
US08956338B2
A wearing article has crotch-elastic elements extending in a longitudinal direction. Front and rear waist members and the crotch member are bonded one another by front and rear bonded regions. The front bonded region is contoured by first and second ends and both side edges obliquely extending in the longitudinal direction so as to intersect with the first and second ends and, outboard of the both side edges in a transverse direction, non-bonded regions in which the crotch member and the front waist member are not bonded to each other are defined. Front waist-elastic elements extend between both side edges of the front waist member. The crotch-elastic elements extend from a front end to a rear end of the crotch member in the longitudinal direction. In the front bonded region, the front waist-elastic elements and the crotch-elastic elements substantially intersect one another and interlock with one another.
US08956337B2
NuChain supply chain and disposal chain apparatus are created by NuPurposing containers, conditioning and transforming such containers from fluent material delivery containers into waste collection containers. Novel structural features of the waste collection systems allows bottle docking for the ingress of collection material into fluent material distribution containers as well as operation as a canister waste ingress collection system. The application of counter opposing forces on a canister and a lid operates in sealing and the unsealing and assembly and disassembly. A reduced pressure configured to be drawn away from said container inducing ingress of air into said container by a source of reduced pressure.
US08956325B2
Disclosed herein is a microfluidic pumping device having a piezoelectric member positioned above a displaceable membrane. A voltage is applied across the piezoelectric member causing the piezoelectric member to displace the membrane. Displacement of the membrane increases and decreases pressure in a cavity that is below the membrane. The increases and decreases in pressure actuate cantilevered check valve members to facilitate unidirectional liquid flow through the pumping device.
US08956307B2
An object is to provide a blood collection set configured such that a sampling holder and a needlestick-preventive needle cover are more difficult to disengage from each other than conventional. A blood collection set (500) includes a sampling holder (100) and a needlestick-preventive needle cover (200). The sampling holder (100) includes a tubular body (110), a lid (130), and a fitting portion (140) having a circumferential rib as a rib portion and a catching portion. The needlestick-preventive needle cover (200) includes an engaging portion (250) that is engageable with the catching portion of the sampling holder (100).
US08956306B2
A biopsy device is provided for obtaining a tissue sample, such as a breast tissue biopsy sample. The biopsy device includes a disposable probe assembly with an outer cannula having a distal piercing tip, a cutter lumen, and a cutter tube that rotates and translates past a side aperture in the outer cannula to sever a tissue sample. The biopsy device also includes a reusable handpiece with an integral motor and power source to make a convenient, untethered control for use with ultrasonic imaging. The reusable handpiece incorporates a probe oscillation mode to assist when inserting the distal piercing tip into tissue. An integral vacuum motor assists prolapsing tissue for effective severing as well as facilitating withdrawal of the tissue samples and bodily fluids from the biopsy site into a detachable, self-contained canister for transporting the separated biopsy samples and fluid for pathology assessment, avoiding biohazards in a clinical setting.
US08956300B2
A method for needle visualization for an ultrasound imaging device, the method comprising alternately acquiring a tissue frame followed by a needle frame at a temporal spacing to form a frame sequence, spatially compounding the frame sequence, and outputting an image frame resulting from spatial compounding.
US08956298B2
Embodiments for providing an ultrasound spatial compound image are disclosed. In one embodiment, by way of non-limiting example, an ultrasound system comprises: an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from a target object to output first ultrasound data and a plurality of sets of second ultrasound data corresponding to a region of interest (ROI); a user input unit configured to receive input information for defining the ROI; and a processing unit in communication with the ultrasound data acquisition unit and the user input unit, the processing unit being configured to form volume data based on the plurality of sets of second ultrasound data, compare the first ultrasound data with the volume data to detect geometric information therein, form a two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound image based on the first ultrasound data, and a first three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound image and a second 3D ultrasound data based on the volume data in consideration of the geometric information, and perform a spatial compound upon the 2D ultrasound image, the first 3D ultrasound image and the second 3D ultrasound image based on the geometric information to form an ultrasound spatial compound image.
US08956293B2
Graphical ‘mapping system’ for continuously monitoring a patient's vital signs, motion, and location
The invention provides a body-worn monitor that measures a patient's vital signs (e.g. blood pressure, SpO2, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature) while simultaneously characterizing their activity state (e.g. resting, walking, convulsing, falling). The body-worn monitor processes this information to minimize corruption of the vital signs by motion-related artifacts. A software framework generates alarms/alerts based on threshold values that are either preset or determined in real time. The framework additionally includes a series of ‘heuristic’ rules that take the patient's activity state and motion into account, and process the vital signs accordingly. These rules, for example, indicate that a walking patient is likely breathing and has a regular heart rate, even if their motion-corrupted vital signs suggest otherwise.
US08956290B2
Methods and systems for providing a lifestyle companion system are provided. The lifestyle companion system can provide a platform to conduct a user interview. Based on the user interview responses, the system can suggest activities, references, and/or plug-in modules. During performance of activities, the system can provide audio and/or visual cues related to the activities and collect data indicative of the user's performance. Based on the collected data, the system can dynamically adapt the user's goals and/or activities the user is performing or will perform. In some embodiments of the present invention, the lifestyle companion system of the present invention can be applied to fitness, nutrition, and/or medical modules. The system also can be used to facilitate synchronous group activities.
US08956285B2
A retraction apparatus and method are disclosed that provide optimized access to a surgical site. In one form, a retraction frame has a retraction opening with two sets of blades operating therein. The blades are used to sequentially retract the tissue from about an incision. The sequential retraction of the blades generates only narrow gaps between the blades so that tissue and blood encroachment during the surgical procedure are minimized.
US08956282B2
A composite anoscope for ano-rectal diagnostic and surgery, wherein the anoscope (2) also comprises an internal component (1), to be inserted therein, and a suitably shorter external component (3), ending with a conic frustum mantle (18), wherein the anoscope (2) is to be inserted. The three components (1, 2, 3) are all conic frustum shaped hollow bodies having circular cross-section. The internal component (1), when inserted in the anoscope (2), forms therewith a single body having a compact and smooth external surface and an ogival tip. The external component (3) is provided close to its mouth with slotted wings (19, 20), to be fixed to the perianal skin for securing the whole composite anoscope during the diagnostic and surgical operations.
US08956272B2
The invention is a method of processing tarry or resinous liquids. Tarry liquids include wet scrubber liquids containing tars and chars derived from gasification, pyrolysis or drying of biomass. Resinous liquids include those derived from processing coniferous biomass. Tarry or resinous liquid is processed by a horizontal axis centrifuge having a discharge chamber containing a scraper to prevent centrifuge clogging or fouling. The removed tar and char can be used as solid fuel or recycled to the gasification or pyrolysis process. Polymers, for instance cationic polymers, can be added to the tarry or resin containing liquid prior to centrifugation to assist in solids/liquids separation. Removed resin can be recycled for further use. Tar, char or resin depleted wet scrubber liquid can be recycled for further use or more easily treated prior to disposal.
US08956261B2
An electric motor is arranged on a reduction device, and a wet braking device which gives braking force to a motor shaft is arranged on an upper end side of the electric motor. The wet braking device has a brake case which accommodates an upper end portion of the motor shaft, an adapter which is detachably disposed to the motor shaft in the brake case, a plurality of rotating side brake disks and a plurality of non-rotating side brake disks arranged on an outer peripheral side of the adapter and a brake piston which gives braking force to the motor shaft by frictionally engaging the rotating side brake disks and the non-rotating side brake disks with each other. At the time of performing a maintenance operation for the wet braking device, the wet braking device alone can be solely removed while keeping the electric motor assembled to the reduction device.
US08956251B2
A golf ball comprising a core and at least one cover layer disposed about the core; the core comprising a geometric center and an outer surface, the core further comprising an untreated region extending radially from the geometric center a distance DUTr and a treated region disposed about the untreated region and extending inward from the outer surface a depth DTr, said treated region having been exposed to and comprising a fatty acid and/or fatty acid salt composition, the core further comprising an intermediate untreated region disposed about the untreated region and adjacent the treated region, the intermediate untreated region having a third hardness, wherein the first hardness is different than the second hardness and the third hardness, wherein the core comprises a first core layer extending radially from the geometric center and a second core layer disposed about the first core layer, and wherein the first core layer comprises the untreated region and the intermediate untreated region, and wherein the second core layer comprises the treated region. In another embodiment, the core comprises a first core layer extending radially from the geometric center, a second core layer disposed about the first core layer and a third core layer disposed about the second core layer, wherein the first core layer comprises the untreated region, the second core layer comprises the intermediate untreated region, and the third core layer comprises the treated region. The golf ball may alternatively comprise a core and a cover, the core comprising a geometric center and an outer surface, the outer surface comprising a fatty acid and/or fatty acid salt composition, the geometric center having a hardness (Hg) and the outer surface having an extrapolated hardness (HE) and an actual hardness (HOS) wherein HE is derived from a five point extrapolation within three quarters of an outer core diameter and HOS as measured on the curved surface of the core, and the cover has a hardness (HC), wherein HC
US08956243B2
The present invention discloses an iron-type golf club head having features that permit adjustment to the principal moment of inertia angle, the center of gravity location, turf interaction, loft, and overall club forgiveness. In particular, the golf club head includes a rear cavity sized to receive a weight cartridge composed of one or more materials, the adjustment of which changes one or more of the mass properties of the golf club head and also changes the interaction of the golf club head with turf during play. The weight cartridge may comprise one or more high density materials, and may be located in or proximate the sole.
US08956240B2
A golf club head includes a body defining an interior cavity. The body includes a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion, and a skirt positioned around a periphery between the sole and crown. The body has a forward portion and a rearward portion. The club head includes a face positioned at the forward portion of the body. The face defines a striking surface having an ideal impact location at a golf club head origin. Embodiments include club heads for a fairway wood that at least one of a high moment of inertia, a low center-of-gravity, a thin crown and a high coefficient of restitution.
US08956227B2
An example image processing method for rendering an object arranged in a virtual space, the method being implemented by a computer executing: acquiring a captured image of a subject captured by an imaging device; determining an imaging direction of a virtual camera arranged in the virtual space, such that the imaging direction is changed in conjunction with motion of the imaging device; specifying, in information for performing predetermined image processing on the captured image, a particular piece of information determined according to the imaging direction of the virtual camera determined in the determining; an image processing of performing the predetermined image processing on the captured image acquired in the acquiring, by using the piece of information specified in the specifying; and causing a display device to display the captured image subjected to the predetermined image processing in the image processing.
US08956226B2
A target region detector detects a target region in a display of a first device. A communicator receives positional information of an object, transmitted from the first device. An image generator generates an image including an object, in the detected target region, of the received positional information, and displays the image on an image display. In response to a predetermined selection operation on an object displayed on the image display, the controller generates selection information of the object, and then transmits the selection information to the first device via the communicator.
US08956210B2
A method and system for playing jackpot and live baccarat games are provided. One feature of the jackpot method involves the use of card combinations that includes at least one zero-point card. Another feature of the jackpot method involves initial jackpot contribution from the banker who operates the baccarat game. It is also provided a software program or a set of software program for carrying out any or all the steps of the disclosed gaming method.
US08956209B2
An example game system includes a game apparatus, an operating device, and a hand-held device. The game apparatus receives first operation data from the operating device and second operation data from the hand-held device, and performs a predetermined game control process. Furthermore, the game apparatus generates a first game image of a virtual game space representing a result of the game control process, based on a first virtual camera, and the game apparatus also generates a second game image based on a second virtual camera. The first game image is outputted to a first display device provided independently of the hand-held device. The second game image is outputted to a second display device of the hand-held device. Moreover, the game apparatus performs as the game control process a process for controlling an attitude of the first virtual camera based on the first operation data and a position of the first virtual camera based on the second operation data.
US08956208B2
A system for removing plant material from harvested crops includes a pinch roller conveyor including pairs of rotatable pinch rollers whose longitudinal axes are aligned with a length of the conveyor, the pinch rollers forming nips in which plant material can be caught and pulled down through the conveyor as the pinch rollers rotate, wherein first ends of the pinch rollers are laterally displaceable so that the pinch rollers can laterally separate from each other to facilitate passage of plant material.
US08956207B2
A zone damper having a first portion responsive to the static pressure in a HVAC system to open and bleed an amount of conditioned air past the damper when the static pressure of the system increases above a selected level, a second portion controlled by a actuator to move between an open and a closed position in response to a zone thermostat, and a coupling mechanism coupling the first and second portions to limit the relative movements of the two portions with respect to each other, and a biasing mechanism exerting a torque against the system static pressure differential. The first portion can be a single one-piece undivided blade pivotally mounted with a shell surrounding the zone damper.
US08956197B1
A foot-operated antler rattling simulator device having a base and a moveable pedal moving a pair of sound plates having a plurality of protuberances extending therefrom to simulate the sound of antlers smashing together and rattling while engaged. The sound plates are selectively removable to tailor the antler sound to specific species of antlered animals. An optional embodiment includes a deer grunt, also actuated by the foot apparatus independent of operation of the antler rattle, allowing a hunter to simulate antler noises and grunting of two bucks fighting.
US08956196B2
A bath apparatus for play and/or bathing having a reservoir, a plurality of substantially co-planar bottom release holes, and a top control aperture. Upon submerging the bath toy, water flows into the reservoir through the release holes as air escapes through the control aperture. When the control aperture is sealed with a thumb or finger and the toy is raised from the water, water in the reservoir is retained in the reservoir. When the control aperture is unsealed, water in the reservoir flows out through the release holes. The control aperture is offset from the top of the reservoir by approximately 12° to be ergonomically located and oriented to allow a thumb to produce an airtight seal when the reservoir is held in a single adult-size hand, or to allow a finger to produce an airtight seal when the reservoir is held by child-size hands in both hands.
US08956189B2
A connection structure includes a shield shell enclosing a part of a plurality of wires, a braided shield collectively covering the plurality of wires, a belt-shaped clamping member sandwiching the braided shield between it and an outer surface of the shield shell so as to press the braided shield against the shield shell by a clamping force thereof, and an annular member disposed between the braided shield and the clamping member and having an elasticity to be deformed by the clamping force of the clamping member. The clamping member presses the braided shield against the shield shell through the annular member.
US08956187B2
An electrical connector includes an insulating body, a plurality of terminals integrated in the insulating body, a strengthening structure and a shell mounted around the insulating body. The insulating body has a base portion and a tongue portion extending forward from a front face of the base portion. A top face of the tongue portion is concaved downward to form a receiving groove passing through a front end of the tongue portion. The strengthening structure has a base plate and two holding arms which oppositely extend from two opposite side edges of a rear of the base plate. A front edge of the base plate is bent downward to form a protecting eave. The base plate is molded in the receiving groove of the tongue portion and the holding arms are embedded in the base portion. The front end of the tongue portion is wrapped by the protecting eave.
US08956182B2
A jack housing (110) for a plug and jack connector system (120, 110) comprises a plurality of integrated cable retention hooks (114) about which to wrap a cable (124) of a cabled accessory (120). The integrated retention hooks (114) retain the cable (124) so as to avoid inadvertent disconnect of the plug (122) from the jack (116). The integrated retention hooks (114) can accommodate a variety of different diameter cables or multiple cables.
US08956176B1
The present invention is related to a connector for a lead wire for a electrode. The present invention is further related to the use of a connection element to provide mechanical and electrical connections with a physiological electrode. The present invention is further related to the use of a helical connection element to provide mechanical and electrical connections with the node of a physiological electrode. In various embodiments, the invention comprises an expander that can stretch the connection element so that it may fit over the head of a male connector of an electrode and release to secure the connection element around the neck of the male connector of the electrode. When secured to the electrode, the connection element preferably makes contact with the electrode at multiple points in order to increase electrical connectivity with the electrode and decrease mechanical force in a single direction on the electrode.
US08956175B2
An attachable device for preventing disengagement of a male plug connected to a female plug is provided. The device includes an elongated portion having a first end with a first connector and a second end with a second connector, each connector having a cord extending therefrom and the first connector is connected to one of the cords extending from the male and female plugs and the second connector is connected to the other cord such that the device prevents disengagement of the male and female plugs when the cords are pulled in a direction away from each other.
US08956174B2
A locking electrical receptacle includes a housing having a pair of openings and contains a pair of prong clips adapted to be connected to a source of electricity and to engage a pair of male prongs inserted through the pair of openings. A push button having a pair of locking surfaces, a pair of unlocking surfaces and a pair of ramp surfaces is positioned in the housing and extends out of the housing. A pair of locking elements are positioned within the housing and movable between a locked position, where the pair locking elements are adapted to lock a pair of male prongs inserted through the pair of openings in the housing, and an unlocked position, where the male prongs are unlocked and may be removed from the pair of openings. The pair of locking elements engage the pair of locking surfaces of the push button when in the locked position, the pair of unlocking surfaces when in the unlocked position and the pair of ramp surfaces when moving between the locked and unlocked positions.
US08956173B2
A security adapter for an electronic device comprises a body, a device connector and host connectors that include a male connector and a female connector and an interlocking structure. The host connector is capable of engaging with a host, and the device connector is capable of engaging with an electronic device. In a first position, the interlocking structure is configured to lock an unlocked engagement of the interlocking structure to the device connector, and in a second position, the interlocking structure is configured to unlock a locked engagement of the interlocking structure to the device connector. Electronic circuitry of the security adapter is operable to identify the security adapter to the host. The electronic circuitry communicates with an access control application running on the host for controlling data access operations between the host and a device that is connectable to the security adapter.
US08956167B2
A cable end connector includes an insulating housing defining a rear cable-location portion thereof, a plurality of conductive terminals including contacting portions and terminal portions located in the rear cable-location portion, a plurality of cables each having wires and a connecting bar defining a first touching end and a second touching end. The wires of the cable overlap the terminal portions one by one except one wire and one terminal portion. The first touching end overlaps one terminal portion and the second touch end overlaps said one wire so as to establish an electrical connection through the connecting bar between said one terminal portion and one wire.
US08956160B2
An oral care agent delivery device is provided which comprises a permanently deformable backing layer, an anchor layer overtop the backing layer, and an oral care layer overtop the anchor layer. The device is sized to fit over a plurality of teeth in an upper or lower dental arch of a subject. The oral care layer comprises at least one oral care agent and at least one hydrophilic polymer. The oral care layer is in contact with the anchor layer and forms an adhesive bond with the anchor layer; however, the oral care layer is minimally invested in the anchoring layer. When hydrated, the oral care layer has an adhesiveness relative to the surface of a user's teeth that is sufficient to retain the device on the user's teeth when placed thereon. The device can also have an oral care agent which is activated on hydration of the oral care layer, or an oral care layer which releases the oral care agent over time.
US08956151B2
A method and apparatus for low pressure molding are disclosed. The molding apparatus comprises a frame, a mold assembly and a transmission assembly. The mold assembly may comprise a first mold and a second mold, the second mold being coupled to the frame. The transmission assembly may be coupled to the frame and to the first mold. A motor may be coupled to the transmission assembly for moving the first mold relative to the second mold. A pneumatic actuator may also be coupled to the transmission assembly for increasing clamping pressure between the first mold and the second mold.
US08956150B2
Disclosed herein is, amongst other things, a molding apparatus that includes a core ring (140, 340, 440, 540, 640, 740) that is configured to seat, in use, around a core insert (120, 320, 420, 620) in a mold stack (116, 216, 316, 416, 516, 616, 716). The core ring (140, 340, 440, 540, 640, 740) is configured to be received, at least in part, within a pocket (152) that is defined within a split insert (150) of the mold stack (116, 216, 316, 416, 516, 616, 716). The core ring (140, 340, 440, 540, 640, 740) is also configured to define at least a portion of a molding cavity (119) having a core ring-to-split insert parting line (180) that is within the pocket (152) of the split insert (150).
US08956147B2
An inner mold body includes a first pair of side walls opposite one another, each of the first pair of side walls having a pair of engagement members attached thereto, a second pair of side walls opposite one another; wherein each of the second pair of side walls is adjacent to each of the first pair of side walls, and a separation mechanism in contact with each of the second pair of side walls.
US08956143B2
A lithography system includes at least two lithography apparatuses disposed on the same fixed base, each of which includes an object, a moving body, and a vibration isolation unit. A control unit configured to control the lithography apparatuses controls a vibration isolation unit included in a first lithography apparatus based on driving instruction information to be given to a moving body included in a second lithography apparatus, and a control indicator regarding vibration directed onto an object to be vibration-isolated included in the first lithography apparatus due to a moving operation of the moving body.
US08956142B2
The invention relates to a method and to a device for producing strand-shaped goods in the form of small bands, fiber strands, monofilaments, or films, which are extruded from a polymer melt. After cooling in a cooling bath, a thermal treatment occurs between rolling feed units, wherein the goods are brought into contact with a hot medium. In order to be able to perform an individual thermal treatment depending on the thermoplastic material, the hot medium is provided optionally in the form of hot air or hot water according to the invention. For this purpose, the heating apparatus is formed from a forced-air oven and a water bath apparatus, which can be optionally activated to thermally treat the goods.
US08956140B2
The present invention relates to a device for producing three-dimensional models by a layering technique, at least one print head (8) being provided for selective dispensing of at least one material onto a target surface in the form of droplets. The print head (8) is in engagement with a receptacle at two points spaced a distance apart, the position and alignment of the print head (8) relative to the target surface is steplessly adjustable in all spatial directions via these two points, and the receptacle and the target surface are movable in relation to each other.
US08956139B2
A mold system for forming a multilevel block is disclosed which comprises a multilevel mold box insert for forming a multilevel block, a mold box frame adapted for receiving therein the multilevel mold box insert, a multilevel plunger assembly, and a press head plate adapted for receiving thereon the multilevel plunger assembly.
US08956134B2
A fixed vane positive displacement rotary device is disclosed that includes a primary rotor and one or more scavenging rotors rotatably disposed in a rotor encasement. The primary rotor includes a plurality of protrusions. And each of the scavenging rotors includes a first curved surface that is configured to move adjacent to the primary rotor between the protrusions as the primary rotor and scavenging rotors rotate, a protrusion-receiving groove extending that is configured to receive one of the plurality of protrusions therein so that at least a tip of that protrusion moves adjacent to the protrusion-receiving groove as the primary rotor and scavenging rotors rotate, and a second curved surface and a third curved surface extending away from a center of the protrusion-receiving groove on opposing sides of the protrusion-receiving groove that are configured to move adjacent to a leading side and a trailing side of the one protrusion, respectively.
US08956131B2
A scroll compressor includes a fixed scroll, an orbiting scroll and an injection passage. Each scroll has an end plate and a spiral lap. The scrolls mesh with each other to form a compression chamber. The injection passage supplies intermediate pressure refrigerant and refrigeration oil separated from discharged refrigerant to the compression chamber. At least one of the scrolls has a bottom land facing the lap of the other of the scrolls. The bottom land has an intermediate bottom region facing a part of the compression chamber communicating with the injection passage, and a suction side bottom region located closer to an outer end of the lap than the intermediate bottom region. A clearance between the suction side bottom region and the end face of the lap is larger than a clearance between the intermediate bottom region and the end face of the lap.
US08956130B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a sump pump system that pumps fluid. The system can include a base with one or more inlets and one or more outlet. The system can also include a first cartridge coupled to the base and removable from the base. The first cartridge can include a first electric motor. The system can further include a second cartridge coupled to the base and removable from the base. The second cartridge can include a second electric motor. The first cartridge and/or the second cartridge can be capable of operating at any given time in order to propel fluid from inlets to the outlets.
US08956129B2
An electric compressor is provided with a hermetic terminal wherein the number of components and the number of steps and amount of time required for assembling the hermetic terminal and for machining the components are reduced, to thereby improve production efficiency. The hermetic terminal (41) is located in a through hole (2c) provided to a motor housing (2). A terminal main body (42) of the hermetic terminal (41) is provided with a flange portion (42b) located inside the motor housing (2) to prevent the hermetic terminal (41) from falling off to outside through the through hole (2c). Moreover, movement of the hermetic terminal (41) to an inner side of the motor housing (2) is restricted by a shaft supporting member (21) which faces thereto through a cluster block (44) interposed therebetween.
US08956127B2
A control valve includes a body having a crankcase communicating port, a discharge chamber communicating port and a suction chamber communicating port, which are arranged in this order from one end side of the body, a solenoid, provided at the other end side of the body, for driving a main valve in accordance with the amount of current supplied, a power element, provided in an inner space surrounded by the body and the solenoid, capable of exerting the drive force to resist the solenoidal force created by a displacement of a pressure-sensing member of the power element, and a shaft by which the drive force of the power element is adjustable by adjusting the fixed position of one end side of the shaft, the shaft being fixed to one end of the body and the other end of the shaft being joined with the power element.
US08956126B2
A sump water evacuation system that operates automatically without reliance on electricity or floats and without any need for oversight or manual intervention, using domestic water supply as the sole motive force to evacuate sump water either into a washbasin or to the exterior of the building; the system is easily installed for use with Radon remediated sump pits. A pneumatic stagnation pressure automatically signals a rising water level in a sump pit and this signal is communicated to a housing wherein the low-pressure signal is mechanically amplified to activate a tilt valve mechanism, thereby converting the pneumatic signal to a hydraulic force which in turn opens a check valve, allowing a high-pressure domestic water supply to flow through to a commercially available Venturi siphon device, causing the sump water to be suctioned out and expelled into either a washbasin or to the exterior of a building.
US08956123B2
A small scale, high speed turbomachine is described, as well as a process for manufacturing the turbomachine. The turbomachine is manufactured by diffusion bonding stacked sheets of metal foil, each of which has been pre-formed to correspond to a cross section of the turbomachine structure. The turbomachines include rotating elements as well as static structures. Using this process, turbomachines may be manufactured with rotating elements that have outer diameters of less than four inches in size, and/or blading heights of less than 0.1 inches. The rotating elements of the turbomachines are capable of rotating at speeds in excess of 150 feet per second. In addition, cooling features may be added internally to blading to facilitate cooling in high temperature operations.
US08956119B2
A turbine wheel including a plurality of blades, each of the blades presenting an airfoil, a platform, and an attachment member, a disk having the blades mounted at the periphery thereof, the attachment member of each blade being engaged in a housing that opens into a periphery of the disk and extending axially between two opposite faces of the disk, the housings being separated by teeth, and an axial retention device for retaining the blades. The disk includes a first stop member, and the platform of the blade includes a projection projecting axially beyond one of the faces of the disk. The projection includes a second stop member. The axial projection, the second stop member, and the face of the disk together form a groove facing towards the axis of the disk, the groove serving to receive the axial retention device.
US08956116B2
A gas turbine component for example a turbine blade or a rotor disk is provided. In order to extend the service life of the corresponding component by reducing the thermally or mechanically induced stress concentration in the direct surroundings of a duct opening onto a surface, at least one groove-like recess is provided near the effective zone of the opening.
US08956106B2
An apparatus is provided having a first zone with a fluid flow at a first pressure, and a second zone with a fluid flow at a second pressure. A sump cavity is provided in fluid communication with the first zone and a sump vent. An eductor system may be provided with a fluid flow path therethrough and in fluid communication with the second zone and the sump vent. The eductor system may be provided with an altitude sensing valve and may also be provided with gage pressure sensing valve. The eductor system may further be provided with a second gage pressure sensing valve and may also be provided with an orifice plate. The gage pressure sensing valves may react to the gage pressure of the second zone.
US08956104B2
A bucket assembly is disclosed. The bucket assembly includes an airfoil having a generally aerodynamic contour and defining a tip, and a lower body portion extending generally radially inward from the airfoil. The bucket assembly further includes a tip shroud disposed on the tip of the airfoil and comprising a main body and a rail. The rail includes an exterior surface. The exterior surface defines a microchannel. The bucket assembly further includes a cover layer configured on the exterior surface.
US08956098B2
A clean stocker includes a storage rack storing an article, a load port holding a case and including a loading and unloading space to load and unload the article to and from the held case, a transferring apparatus including a holding space to hold the article and transfer the article between the holding space and the storage rack and between the holding space and the case held in the loading and unloading space, the holding space being kept clean, and a first shield closing the holding space and traveling together with the transferring apparatus.
US08956093B1
An arrangement for sealing a pressurized coolant system for a drawbar cylinder rod and a spindle drawbar in a machine tool utilizes a stationary mounting plate for supporting a piston plate and a drawbar cylinder rod. A pulley is mounted on the spindle for driving the spindle and a rotary seal that rotates with the spindle is mounted to the spindle. A non-rotating seal is mounted on the mounting plate. A planar sealing surface is formed by the contact between the non-rotating seal and the rotary seal, whereby a reliable fluid seal is formed between the rotating and the non-rotating structures of the pressurized coolant system.
US08956090B2
Milling cutter and method of operating same, and other machine tools, and an adjustment mechanism therefor. A cutting insert is adjusted by moving a resilient web with an adjusting screw.
US08956083B2
The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for injecting a material into soil. A material (3) which expands as a consequence of a chemical reaction is injected into the soil (2) through an injection bar (5). During injection, a quantity related to a feed volume flow of the injectable material (3) is monitored. When the quantity indicates that the feed volume flow has dropped below a determined limit value, a reaction regarding a procedure related to the injection follows.
US08956079B2
The present invention relates to a tubular installation system (10) for J-laying tubulars comprising a J-lay tower structure (100), a tubulars supply system and a loader device (20) comprising tubular grippers (21a-c) and a boom (24) for transporting a tubular, an accessory supply system (200, 201, 202) and accessory handling means (29) for transporting an accessory between the essentially horizontal accessory supply position and the firing line. According to the invention, the accessory handling means (29) are distinct from the tubular grippers (21a-c) and are attached to the boom (24) of the loader device, at a different position than the tubular grippers, such that the loader device can be used as desired for transporting a tubular or an accessory between the respective supply position and the firing line.
US08956078B2
A method for reel-laying pipelines from a vessel includes reel laying a first pipeline by unwinding a first reel, and guiding the pipeline via a guide wheel through a tensioners and a hang off clamp into the sea; closing the hang off clamp to support the first pipeline; connecting an end portion of the first pipeline to a retaining system; replacing the first reel by a second reel; providing a temporary connection between an end portion of the second pipeline and the end portion of the first pipeline; disconnecting the first pipeline from the retaining system; opening the hang off clamp; continuing reel laying by unwinding the second reel; closing the hang off clamp; removing the temporary connection between the first and second pipeline; and connecting the first and second pipeline end to end between the tensioners and the hang off clamp.
US08956077B2
A portable, water-filled barrier emulates a sandbag dike or wall without requiring sand or intensive labor to install. The barrier is made of a light, flexible material that can include nanofiber. Some embodiments are formed from a plurality of interlocked water-filled cells, with a forward-facing water barrier sheet. Other embodiments are unitary shells that are internally divided into cells, with internal openings that permit water to flow between cells. Automatic valves can seal the filled cells, so that a punctured cell will not cause cells below and behind to deflate. A row or rows of cells can project below the base into a stabilizing trench. Cells can include internal or external rods or plates that support the horizontal structure. Embodiments can be initially filled with air, positioned, and then filled with water while the air escapes through a pressure valve. Barrier end structures can enable interlocking of adjacent units.
US08956071B2
A frame joint system including a first frame member and a second frame member. The frame members include laterally opening channels running axially thereof. The frame members are adapted to be rigidly secured together by quick release coupling. Embodiments of the frame joint system include mitered corner, end-to-face, face-to-face and end-to-end joints. The quick release coupling includes at least a first sleeve member and a gripping member. The gripping member is nested within the first sleeve member, and the first sleeve member is nested within the first frame member. The gripping member includes gripping elements that mate with a slot in a box rail element fixedly associated with the second frame member. Activating the gripping elements pulls the two frame members together into a rigid joint.
US08956065B2
An applicator for delivering a surgical prep solution onto a bodily surface includes a hollow member having a reservoir, an absorbent pad that is attached to a portion of the hollow member and in communication with the reservoir, a timer operably connected to the hollow member, and a gating mechanism in electrical communication with the timer and for coordinating application of the surgical prep solution with activation of the timer.
US08956061B2
One exemplary aspect comprises a keyboard apparatus comprising: a collapsible keyboard comprising five substantially rigid frames, the frames comprising a central frame, two end frames, and two intermediate frames, each intermediate frame located between an end frame and the central frame; each pair of adjacent frames being relatively pivotably connected together along a folding axis, the folding axes being substantially mutually parallel; and a plurality of keys mounted on the frames. Another exemplary aspect comprises a keyboard apparatus as above, further comprising a collapsible cradle assembly detachable from the collapsible keyboard.
US08956058B2
The invention concerns a device for releasing a transceiver, fixed in a housing via a connection, from the housing, wherein the device is releasably connectable and insertable into a plug contour of the transceiver via first means and wherein the device has second means for releasing the connection between the transceiver and the housing.
US08956044B2
For acquiring an image of a moving region of interest of an object, a corresponding X-ray image acquisition apparatus may include a semitransparent X-ray transmitting device comprised in a collimator which is positioned within a beam of irradiating X-rays thereby at least partly shielding regions on a surface of a detector. After acquiring an X-ray image by detecting X-rays transmitted through the object, the position of the device is automatically adjusted based on image information included in the at least partly shielded region on the detector surface. Taking into account X-ray absorption properties of the device, a virtual image may be calculated, the virtual image corresponding to an X-ray image as if there was no X-ray absorption within the collimator. From this virtual image, the region of interest may be derived, and wedges of said device may be positioned to continuously follow the region of interest.
US08956041B2
A timepiece includes: a frame; a mobile body of a finishing gear train; and a tourbillon mechanism including a holder supporting a balance and at least one escapement. The tourbillon mechanism includes: an outer ring rotatably mounted onto the frame about a first axis; at least one inner ring inside the outer ring and rotatable relative to the outer ring about a second axis, the holder being pivotably mounted in the inner ring and secured to a shaft around which the inner ring is freely and rotatably mounted about a third axis; a first toothed member mounted onto the frame; a first pinion secured to the shaft of the holder to engage with the first toothed member to rotate the holder; and a unit driving the inner ring, engaging with the movable body of the finishing gear train and arranged to move the inner ring and, consequently, the outer ring.
US08956027B2
A projector lens of a vehicular headlamp has a shape of a convex lens in which the upper and lower portions are cut by a predetermined amount. A light source is disposed above optical axis Ax of the projector lens while a light emission surface is inclined downwardly. A first reflecting mirror has an elliptical reflective surface, and is adjusted in size such that almost all the light reflected from the reflective surface is incident on the projector lens. A shield plate is disposed in the vicinity of the focus of the first reflecting mirror to form a horizontal cutoff line. A second reflecting mirror is disposed to reflect light that is not incident on the first reflecting mirror. The third reflecting mirror is disposed above the upper end of the shield plate at a position that does not interfere with the light reflected from the first reflecting mirror.
US08956022B2
A laser light reflection device for an aircraft-installed laser apparatus with which, when a function check is performed on the aircraft-installed laser apparatus by emitting laser light from a parked aircraft to a body exterior, the emitted laser light can be reflected in a desired direction safely and efficiently. A reflection mirror is capable of autorotation about at least an in-plane horizontal axis thereof, and a support ring is attached to the reflection mirror to be capable of rotating about an in-plane vertical axis and the in-plane horizontal axis of the reflection mirror. A laser pointer unit formed by inserting a laser pointer into a sleeve pipe is attached to the support ring so as to be oriented toward an in-plane of the reflection mirror. A guide scope is attached to the support ring such that an optical axis thereof matches an optical axis of the laser pointer unit.
US08956016B2
The annular-arranged lamp capable of backward projecting by concave sphere provided by this invention is mainly provided with a side of an annular heat dissipation device being installed with light emitting devices (102) wherein the lamp is installed with two or more than two light emitting devices (110) arranged in a circular or polygonal means, and the light projecting axial line of each light emitting device (110) is projected towards a reflection device with concave sphere (103) disposed above the annular heat dissipation device (101), light beams of the light emitting devices (110) are reflected by the reflection device with concave sphere (103) then refracted to a preset projection range, thereby forming a unified light source.
US08956010B2
A diffusing lens includes a first surface and a second surface facing away from the first surface. The first surface has a first negative Fresnel structure for diffusing light from a point light source. The second surface has a second negative Fresnel structure aligning with the first negative Fresnel structure and for further diffusing the light of the point light source.
US08956006B2
An elongated LED lamp suitable for replacing a fluorescent lamp in a lamp fixture comprises a chassis having a first chassis end with two electrodes adapted to be respectively coupled to two electrodes in the lamp fixture supplying AC power, and a second chassis end. A light source depends from the chassis. A power regulating circuit is mounted to the chassis and is coupled to the two electrodes for providing DC power to the first light source. A first light collector conditions the light it collects light from the first light source for TIR propagation within a side-light distribution arrangement. An elongated side-light distribution portion depends from the chassis and receives light exiting the first light collector. Light-extraction structure extract light from the side of the first portion, along a length of the first portion, in a different direction from the direction of light received from the first light collector.
US08956005B2
The invention provides an elongated lighting fixture with multiple light emitting diodes (LEDs) arrayed in two groups that are angled to each other. The fixture provides an extremely broad light emitting angle and includes an elongated housing having a pair of side walls. Each side wall has a support member extending upward at angle from the side wall, wherein the side walls terminate at a central wall. A generally transparent cover is connected to the housing and extends between opposed ends of the housing. A first group of LEDs and a second group of LEDs are mounted to the first support member and the second support member, respectively. PCB boards assemblies are affixed to respective support members beneath the group of LEDs by tension clips. When the PCBs are energized by a power source, current travels from the PCBs to each LED for illumination.
US08956000B2
A rain gutter illumination system including an inverted U-shaped hanger, an illuminable surface attached to a stem of the hanger and including an aperture, an L-shaped base including a foot at one end, the end of the base opposite the foot being attached to the end of the illuminable surface opposite the hanger. A light source and one of various removable decorative inserts and optionally a diffusing panel are arranged so that the light source projects light through the aperture of the illuminable surface.
US08955992B2
A mirror adjustment device, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising a mirror foot for mounting on a motor vehicle and a mirror housing adjustably connected with the mirror foot, wherein the mirror housing is adjustable between a folded-in position in which the mirror housing is situated substantially along the motor vehicle and a folded-out position in which the mirror housing is situated substantially transversely to the motor vehicle. The mirror housing is adjustable between a first position in which a slit is present between neighboring surfaces of the mirror housing and the mirror foot and a second position in which the neighboring surfaces of the mirror housing and the mirror foot substantially abut against each other. The mirror adjustment device comprises an elastic element for biasing the mirror housing towards the first position and is provided with cooperating elements for, under the influence of the elastic element, bringing the mirror housing into the first position when adjusting the mirror housing between the folded-in position and the folded-out position.
US08955989B2
Systems for and methods of creating a visual display associated with a mobile robot within a data storage library and libraries including such systems and utilizing such methods.
US08955986B2
Provided are a projection system, a lighting device, and a method for controlling thereof. The projection system includes: a light source unit including a first light source and a second source for projecting a first color corresponding to that of the first light source; a sensing unit for measuring a temperature of each of the first and second light sources; and a driver IC for driving at least one of the first light source and the second light source according to a temperature value measured by the sensing unit.
US08955981B2
A projector includes: a main body section including a light source, a display surface illuminated by light from the light source, and an emission optical system adapted to emit light from the display surface; and a projection unit adapted to project light from the display surface toward an irradiated surface, the light being emitted from the emission optical system, wherein the projection unit includes an image plane control optical system adapted to change the light emitted from the emission optical system to light forming an image plane of the display surface tilted with respect to the display surface, and an angle-widening mirror with a concave surface having positive power and adapted to reflect light forming an image plane of the display surface tilted with respect to the display surface and widen an angle of the light.
US08955980B2
An image display apparatus includes: a laser light source for outputting a laser beam; a diffusion optical element for diffusing the laser beam; a drive unit for oscillating the diffusion optical element; and an image conversion unit for converting the laser beam output from the diffusion optical element into an image. The diffusion optical element disposed in the drive unit is oscillated and operated in a state where an amplitude of the drive of the drive unit, which is, for example, an amplitude that is driven in a direction of the arrow X in a plane that is perpendicular to an optical axis, is not constant.
US08955977B2
A projection-type image display apparatus includes a color separation element including a color separation surface, a light modulation element configured to receive the light divided by the color separation element, a polarizing beam splitter disposed between the color separation element and a projection optical system to separate a light path of a light modulated by the light modulation element according to a polarization direction and guide the resulting light to the projection optical system, and a phase difference plate disposed between the color separation element and the light modulation element. An optic axis of the phase difference plate and the normal of the color separation surface are substantially parallel or perpendicular to each other, in a cross section parallel to a normal of the color separation surface and a normal of the light modulation element.
US08955969B2
A system for performing at least one of quasi-elastic light scattering and fluorescent ligand scanning on a subject's eye includes a light source configured to transmit light toward the subject's eye, a lens configured to focus light sent from the source and received from the subject's eye, a measurement reflector disposed to receive at least a portion of the focused light and configured to reflect a first portion of the received light, a camera configured and disposed to receive the first portion of the received light and configured to provide indicia of an image corresponding to the first portion of the received light, and a processor coupled to the camera and configured to analyze intensities of light in the image to determine a location of a reference point corresponding to an interface of a portion of the eye.
US08955966B2
There is provided a recording apparatus including a recording section and a transport mechanism, which has a guide surface, a driving roller, and a driven spur. A length X (mm) of a front end surface of the driven spur and an angle Y of the driven spur are configured to be within a first area surrounded by a mathematical expression 1 which is X>0, a mathematical expression 2 which is Y>0, a mathematical expression 3 which is Y=40.1X+1.6, a mathematical expression 4 which is Y=−9.0X+5.6, a mathematical expression 5 which is Y=−12.1X+6.0, and a mathematical expression 6 which is Y=−14.7X+7.1.
US08955962B2
An image forming apparatus includes a recording head, a carriage, a sheet cutting device, a cutter position detecting device, and a notification device. The carriage mounts the recording head and is reciprocally movable in a width direction of a sheet perpendicular to a sheet feed direction. The sheet cutting device includes a cutter and a cutter holder. A movement area of the carriage overlaps, in a thickness direction of the sheet, a movement area of the cutter holder in which the cutter holder moves to cut the sheet with the cutter. The cutter holder, after cutting the sheet, is movable in the width direction of the sheet with the cutter holder being retracted from the sheet feed path in the thickness direction of the sheet. The notification device notifies a user of an abnormality of the cutter holder based on a detection result of the cutter position detecting device.
US08955956B2
In a printing apparatus improvement of drying ability and reduction of consumed power are concurrently achieved by improving the efficiency of drying ink. More concretely, hot air is blown onto a print medium printed by ink, and a portion of the blown hot air is recovered and blown again. Before the hot air is blown, the print medium is heated by a preheating unit, making it higher than the dew point temperature of the blown hot air.
US08955950B2
An ink cartridge for use in a printer includes a second ink chamber in which a liquid can be stored, an ink flow path that leads the ink to an ink supply port through which the ink is supplied from the second ink chamber to outside, and a prism unit disposed in the ink flow path configured to detect an amount of the ink inside. A portion of the ink flow path downstream of the prism unit is defined by a first wall and a first seal film, and the first wall is lower than a second wall constituting the second ink chamber.
US08955945B2
An image forming device includes a drive transfer device that selectively transmits a driving force of a first drive source to one of liquid feed pumps, a suction part of a maintenance recovery device and an air-vent opening part. The air-vent opening part is arranged to have a maximum driving-force transmission path leading to the drive transfer device among the liquid feed pumps, the suction part and the air-vent opening part. The maintenance recovery device, the drive transfer device and the liquid feed pumps are arranged in order in a sheet transport direction. The suction part of the maintenance recovery device and the drive transfer device are arranged on opposite sides of a cap of the maintenance recovery device in the sheet transport direction.
US08955941B2
An image forming apparatus includes a printing device; a printing medium conveying unit to convey a printing medium, a first electric charger to charge the printing medium conveying unit, a second electric charger to charge the printing medium conveyed by the printing medium conveying unit, a first surface potential detector to detect a surface potential of the printing medium bearing the electric charge, a second surface potential detector to detect a surface potential of the printing medium bearing the electric charge, and a controller to adjust a power supply voltage supplied to each of the first and second electric chargers in accordance with each of surface potentials detected by the first and second surface potential detectors. The first and second surface potential detectors are located at different positions in a conveying direction in which the printing medium is conveyed by the printing medium conveying unit.
US08955938B2
An inkjet recording device includes: first and second pairs of rollers for conveying a sheet while nipping the sheet; and a recording head disposed between the first and seconds pairs of rollers. The recording head performs an image recording on the sheet by ejecting ink droplets onto the sheet when the sheet is stopped in an intermittent conveyance of the sheet. The recording head performs the image recording in accordance with a first image-recording data, before a trailing end of the sheet passes through the first pair of rollers that is disposed on an upstream side of the second pair of rollers. The recording head performs the image recording in accordance with a second image-recording data which is based on the first image-recording data and which has a higher image resolution than the first image-recording data, after the trailing end of the sheet passes through the first pair of rollers.
US08955929B2
A catching locking mechanism for pieces of furniture, including an adjustable wheel that has a catching structure in at least some areas, and a mating catch that cooperates with the catching structure of the adjustable wheel. The mating catch is made of a sheet metal part, and is designed to be resilient, preferably in the form of a springy tongue.
US08955926B2
An electronic device enclosure includes a receiving case, a bracket rotatably attached to the receiving case, and a positioning member secured to the bracket. The receiving case includes a sliding rail. The positioning member includes a positioning portion, and the positioning portion is deformable. The positioning portion slidably engages with the sliding rail, for preventing the bracket from rotating relative to the receiving case.
US08955925B2
The present invention generally provides a wheel replacing traction assembly which uses, for propulsion, a longitudinally extending traction band disposed around and cooperating with a sprocket wheel, a supporting structure, and idler and/or road wheels. The supporting structure of the traction assembly comprises an independent suspension generally replacing the suspension of the vehicle. In use, the suspension of the vehicle is replaced by a rigid member that can be adjustable in length in a further embodiment. The presence of a suspension in the supporting structure of the traction assembly decreases its unsprung mass.
US08955920B2
According to the present invention, a thermally conductive ring for a wheel assembly, which is inserted over a stud bolt that fixes a brake drum or disc of a vehicle to a wheel, is provided with a cylindrical main body having a cutaway portion in the lengthwise direction, and a heat-dissipating portion formed on at least one side of a surface and edge of the main body to increase the surface area. The thermally conductive ring of a wheel assembly facilitates the transfer of heat generated during braking and driving to the wheels and enables heat dissipation, to retain the initial design specifications of the vehicle while reducing the uneven wear of tires and one side brake, and improving cornering and ride quality.
US08955919B2
An excavation apparatus is disclosed. The excavation apparatus includes a chassis having a length that extends from a front end to a rear end of the chassis. The chassis also has a width oriented perpendicular to the length. A boom is pivotally attached to the rear end of the chassis. A cutting component mounted to the boom. A shroud structure at least partially covers the cutting component. A source of vacuum is in fluid communication with an interior of the shroud structure for drawing air containing dust from the interior of the shroud structure. A filter filters the air drawn from the interior of the shroud structure by the source of vacuum. A dust barrier projects downwardly from the shroud structure and extends along at least a portion of a perimeter of the shroud structure. The dust barrier has a construction that is pervious to debris generated by the cutting component and that provides gradually reduced restriction to inward air flow through the dust barrier as the dust barrier extends downwardly from the shroud structure.
US08955917B2
A method for increasing the yield of a deposit including a rock which including at least one valuable mineral to be exposed by comminuting the rock and at least one further mineral, may include the following steps: performing a boring operation using a boring device prior to extracting the rock, determining at least one predetermined boring parameter for the boring device, determining at least one measured value characterizing a current boring behavior of the boring device, and performing a computational elimination of a dependency of the at least one measured value on the at least one boring parameter, wherein at least one rock texture-dependent characteristic value is obtained, and wherein the at least one characteristic value is used as a measure for a mineral particle size of the at least one valuable mineral in the rock and for setting an optimum degree of comminution when comminuting the rock.
US08955913B2
A head restraint is supported by a vehicle seat assembly having a support structure including a guide. The head restraint is movable between a design position and a stowed position. The head restraint has a support member that is received in the guide, a head restraint body attached to the support member, and a locking mechanism. The support member moves with respect to the guide to translate the body with respect to the support structure. The body rotates with respect to the support member. The locking mechanism locks the body in the first or second position.
US08955910B2
A recliner heart spacer ring includes a body portion having a substantially consistent inner diameter. First and second inner cutouts are diametrically opposed from one another. First and second pairs of retention features are diametrically opposed from one another and are adapted to engage a swing gate of a recliner heart. The recliner heart spacer ring guides the swing gate as the swing gate transitions between a range of positions associated with a seat back.
US08955908B2
A seat load detection apparatus includes: a load detector detecting part of a load acting on a vehicle seat which is capable of changing the posture of a seatback forward from the first stage position as a most upright position of a seatable position to the forwardly inclined position which is a forwardly inclined position on which the passenger cannot be seated; a load body determination unit determining a load body acting on the vehicle seat on the basis of a detected load detected by the load detector; a seat posture detector detecting the forwardly inclined position of the seatback; and a state determination unit determining the state change of the vehicle seat on the basis of the variation of the detected load and restrict the determination of the state change of the vehicle seat on the basis of an output from the seat posture detector.
US08955907B2
A seat back pad 70 has a groove 73 for tucking a skin material therein, formed at borders between a central portion 71 and side portions 72. A hole (slot hole 74) is formed in a bottom of the groove 73 along the groove 73. A tuck-in wire 76 for tucking the skin material in includes a plurality of tuck-in portions 76A provided along the groove 73, and a connecting portion (detour portion 76B) detouring around the hole and connecting the tuck-in portions 76A. With this configuration, when an upper body of an occupant P subsides into a seat back S2 in a rear-end collision of a vehicle, the central portion 71, defined by the groove 73 as a border, is easily and sufficiently moved rearward relative to the left and right side portions 72. Furthermore, the tuck-in wire 76 is not exposed through the hole, and thus adhesion between the seat back pad 70 and the tuck-in wire 76 can be improved.
US08955895B2
A roof lining and a front pillar trim are mounted on a roof panel and a front pillar inner panel respectively, an end portion of the roof lining and an end portion of the front pillar trim are connected to each other, a washer hose feeder line and a tether belt are disposed from a space between the front pillar trim and the front pillar inner panel to a space between the roof lining and the roof panel, a projecting piece projecting toward the roof panel or the front pillar inner panel is provided on the end portion of at least one interior material out of the roof lining and the front pillar trim, and the washer hose feeder line and the tether belt are disposed to keep clear of the projecting piece.
US08955889B2
The invention relates to a lock for a motor vehicle with a locking mechanism including a catch and a pawl. The object of the invention is to simplify the locking of a lock of the type mentioned above. To achieve the object of the invention, a catch of the claimed lock comprises a stop projecting upwards, e.g., in the form of a pin extending from the catch. Furthermore, a bracket is provided, which can be moved against the stop by means of a motor such that the catch is moved in this way from the first position and into the primary position. It is thus possible to move from the first position to the primary position in a motorized manner, which makes it easier to close the vehicle door.
US08955886B2
A hydraulic duct for feeding fluid at high pressure includes a rigid tube and a flexible hose connected to the rigid tube by a connecting assembly. The connecting assembly includes an endform in communication with the rigid tube over which the flexible hose extends. The endform includes a primary annular projection extending outwardly from a periphery of the endform and at least one auxiliary annular projection extending outwardly from the periphery of the endform. The primary annular projection includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, a landing region that extends axially from the trailing edge toward the leading edge and a stop bead that extends outwardly from the leading edge beyond the landing region.
US08955878B2
The present invention relates to an airbag for a vehicle including: an inflator which discharges high-pressure gas; an airbag cushion which has a vent hole so as to discharge a part of the high-pressure gas; a vent hole cover which is installed to shield the vent hole; and an operating unit which allows the vent hole cover to shield the vent hole when a predetermined time has passed at the time of deploying the airbag cushion, and provides advantages in that the severity of a neck injury to an occupant is reduced, and regulation satisfaction by the United States New Car Assessment Program (US-NCAP) is improved.
US08955873B2
An airbag apparatus or the like in which the form of breaking of a tear line can be made more stable, and the deployment positions of an airbag cover and a bag portion can be made more stable is provided.An airbag apparatus includes a bag portion formed of a base cloth panel in a bag shape and deployed and inflated in front of a driver by being supplied with gas for deployment, an inflator that generates the gas for deployment, a retaining container in which the bag portion not in use is housed and at the top of which an opening is provided, and an airbag cover that substantially covers the opening of the retaining container when not in use and a front portion of which rises to uncover the opening when the bag portion is deployed and inflated. The airbag apparatus is provided in front of a seat of a saddle-ride type vehicle. The airbag cover has a tear line that is provided in the vicinity of the front end and extends substantially along the vehicle width direction and that is broken by input from the bag portion when the bag portion is deployed and inflated, and an opening is provided in the middle of the tear line in the vehicle width direction.
US08955869B2
The invention relates to a seat attachment for a stroller, single stroller and double strollers. Such a seat attachment may be used to reversibly convert a single stroller into a double stroller. More specifically, versions of the seat attachment relate to a seat attachment for a stroller capable of supporting a seat such as, but not limited to, a stroller seat, a baby seat, bassinet, a pram, a car seat, or a baby carrier, for example. The seat may be supported in front of a permanent seat of the stroller.
US08955859B1
A blast resistant vehicle is disclosed that includes a structural frame member, a first frame coupled to the structural frame member and configured to receive a first axle assembly and a first suspension assembly, a second frame coupled to the structural frame member and configured to receive a second axle assembly and a second suspension assembly, and a cab assembly having a front portion and a rear portion and having a floor panel, a front firewall, a rear body panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. The cab assembly is isolated from the structural frame member, the front sub-frame, and the rear sub-frame.
US08955857B1
A carcass transportation cart is provided for moving a dead pig from a confinement area to a disposal location.
US08955856B2
A stroller for assembling with an infant safety seat having a first engaging portion. The stroller includes a second engaging portion and a covering component. The second engaging portion is for engaging with the first engaging portion; the covering component includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is for covering the second engaging portion. The second portion is surrounding the first portion, and the first portion is clamped between the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion the infant safety seat is assembled with the stroller via the first engaging portion being engaged with the second engaging portion. It is not needed to form an opening on the covering component to implement engagement between the stroller and the infant safety seat, so as to solve a problem of fingers of an infant on the stroller being clipped by the opening.
US08955841B2
An actual sheet interval from a preceding sheet to a succeeding sheet is detected by a top sensor. A registration roller is accelerated or decelerated such that the sheet interval from the preceding sheet to the succeeding sheet is an ideal value by the time that the leading edge of the succeeding sheet reaches a transfer nip part. Note that a time period during which acceleration or deceleration is applied and a sub-scan synchronization signal output timing are determined from the actual sheet interval. Note that a recording sheet P does not stop at the registration roller.
US08955833B2
A recording apparatus includes a case. In the case, a feeding unit configured to feed a recording medium in a feeding direction, a feeding path through which the recording medium is fed, a recording unit configured to record on the recording medium, and an ink tube connected to the recording unit and an ink cartridge for supplying ink to the recording unit are provided. A first opening is provided in a face of the case for allowing the recording medium disposed in the feeding path to be removable. A second opening is provided in the face where the first opening is provided for allowing the ink cartridge to be installed. An operating unit is provided above the first opening.
US08955829B2
A carburetor improves the starting performance of an engine. The carburetor includes a main body, a pump oil ball and a fuel-air mixing channel which extends through the main body. The pump oil ball is mounted to an air strangler spindle via a spiral groove. When the pump oil ball is pressed, the air strangler spindle is driven to rotate by the spiral groove and thus to control the air strangler spindle between the fully open state and the fully closed state. The carburetor dramatically improves the starting performance of the engine.
US08955827B2
A tool configured to engage a work piece includes an elongated body portion and a generally U-shaped hook extending from a first end of the body portion. The generally U-shaped hook may have first and second leg portions and a bight portion connected between the leg portions. The tool is devoid of structure above the bight portion of the generally U-shaped hook, thus enabling a work piece to be received within the generally U-shaped configuration. The first leg portion includes a scraper edge terminating the generally U-shaped hook. The generally U-shaped hook also includes a pivot configured to translate a pulling of the body portion into a prying action against the work piece by the first leg portion.
US08955824B2
A fluid filter device (1) includes an opening (14) for draining the fluid (33), a first counter thread (13), a closure element (12) for a fluid-tight closure of the opening screwed in with a thread (11) thereof into the first counter thread (13), a second counter thread (17) into which a connecting element (21) with a thread (22) thereof is screwable for simultaneously unscrewing the closure element (12) from the first counter thread (13) and thereby releasing the opening (14) for draining the fluid (33).
US08955822B2
The present invention is directed to novel optical sensors and novel methods for sensing optical radiation. The novel optical sensors and the novel optical sensing methods are used, for example, for controlling the operation of automatic faucets and flushers. The novel sensors and flow controllers (including control electronics and valves) require only small amounts of electrical power for sensing users of bathroom facilities, and thus enable battery operation for many years. A passive optical sensor includes a light detector sensitive to ambient (room) light for controlling the operation of automatic faucets or automatic bathroom flushers.
US08955819B2
A cinch valve includes a first plate with a first aperture, an orbital plate with a second aperture that is substantially aligned with the first aperture. The first plate is arranged to rotate relative to the first plate between a first (open) position and a second (closed) position. The cinch valve includes multiple cables, each of which has a first end coupled to the first plate and a second end coupled to the orbital plate. Rotation of the orbital plate from the first position to the second position causes the plurality of cables to converge and form a woven closure. One or more elastic devices are arranged such that when the plurality of cables converges to form the woven closure, each elastic device urges a corresponding one of the cables in a direction that tends to open the woven closure.
US08955808B2
Support systems for supporting an item on railings of a deck or other structures are disclosed. According to an aspect, a support system is attached to the railings at one end and at least one more additional point. The other end of the support system extends outwardly from the railing to support an item, such as a torch, a lamp, a lantern, a candle, and a plant basket.
US08955806B1
The present invention relates to an apparatus for holding bags in a dishwasher rack for cleaning by a dishwasher. The apparatus comprises a flexible base with optional vertical supports for holding the opening of a reusable bag open, configured for biased engagement of prongs in the dishwasher rack. This invention holds the bag open, in place and upright while in the dishwasher to prevent collapse and to facilitate cleaning and re-use.
US08955805B2
A pivot bin assembly configured to receive luggage and be positioned in the interior of an aircraft. The pivot bin assembly includes an upper housing that includes a strongback and first and second side panels, a bucket that cooperates with the upper housing to define a bin interior, a first pivot mechanism operatively associated with the first side panel and the bucket, and a second pivot mechanism operatively associated with the second side panel and the bucket. The first and second pivot mechanisms are axially aligned along a pivot axis such that the bucket pivots about the pivot axis with respect to the upper housing between an open position and a closed position.
US08955796B2
An aft aerodynamic fairing for a pylon for attaching an aircraft propelling assembly, including a caisson structure, a heat-shield floor, as well as a support structure for this floor comprising linking parts arranged to link two side edges of this floor to the caisson structure. The linking parts of each side edge of the floor are configured so as to allow travelling motion of the side edge relative to the caisson structure in a corresponding direction included in a plane orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the fairing. The linking parts form a sliding link between the floor and the caisson structure, reducing the stresses induced by the deformations of these elements in use.
US08955795B2
A motor pylon system adapted for use with an airborne power generations system is disclosed. The pylons may support turbine driven generators for wind based electrical power generation which also function as electric motors in some aspects. The pylons may be designed to provide side force useful for turning a tethered flying wing flying in a circular cross wind flight path. The pylons may be designed to minimize air flow disruptions over the main wing.
US08955793B2
Aircraft landing gear comprised of a wheel hub motor/generator includes alternating rotors and stators mounted with respect to the wheel support and wheel. The invention in certain embodiments can provide motive force to the wheel when electrical power is applied, e.g. prior to touch-down, thus decreasing the difference in relative velocities of the tire radial velocity with that of the relative velocity of the runway and reducing the sliding friction wear of the tire. After touchdown the wheel hub motor/generator may be used as a generator thus applying a regenerative braking force and/or a motorized braking action to the wheel. The energy generated upon landing may be dissipated through a resistor and/or stored for later use in providing a source for motive power to the aircraft wheels for taxiing and ground maneuvers of the aircraft. Methods and apparatuses for nose gear steering and ABS braking using the disclosed invention are described.
US08955787B2
A filament winding apparatus that prevents excessive unraveling of a fiber bundle due to variations in the speed at which the fiber bundle is wound includes a hoop winding device having a wrapping table, a bobbin support unit, a braking unit, a slack removal unit, a detector, and a controller. The slack removal unit absorbs slack caused by the difference between winding and unraveling speeds of the fiber bundle. The detector detects whether the amount of slack absorbed is equal to or greater than or is less than, a predetermined amount. When the amount of slack is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount, the controller increases the braking force of the braking unit for braking rotation of a bobbin. When the amount of slack is less than the predetermined amount, the controller reduces the braking force of the braking unit for braking rotation of the bobbin.
US08955777B2
A salt dust generator and method for producing salt dust that is used in salt therapy are described where salt dust is generated when salt particles that are moved in an air flow collide with each other and with certain parts of a salt dust generator. By regulating the speed of the air flow, thus changing its capability to carry the salt particles, and using obstacles, for instance nets that are placed into the salt dust generator vessel, it is possible to increase the amount of the collisions of the salt particles and thus make the formation of the salt dust more efficient.
US08955775B2
A valve system is described for high-pressure fuel injection, including a pilot valve which has a pilot valve needle, a pilot valve seat and a pressure chamber, an electromagnetic actuator for actuating the pilot valve needle, and a main valve which has at least one spray hole, a closing element, a support piston and a pressure compensating chamber, the closing element having a receiving chamber for the purpose of accommodating the support piston and the pressure compensating chamber being provided in the receiving chamber of the closing element, the pilot valve seat being provided on the closing element, and the pilot valve establishing a connection between the pressure chamber and the pressure compensating chamber for the purpose of reducing an opening force for the main valve.
US08955772B2
The present invention provides a shower apparatus which allows a user to enjoy spray of water with a voluminous feel even when a small volume of water is discharged as well as with a comfortable stimulus sensation of an instantaneous flow rate of the spray varying greatly. The shower apparatus periodically varies a volume of air taken into an aeration unit by periodically changing a traveling direction of a water stream ejected to the aeration unit from a throttle unit and produces pulsating spray by varying the instantaneous flow rate of bubbly water discharged from a nozzle unit.
US08955770B2
Apparatus and methods for spraying a liquid relating to a gravity-fed spray gun are disclosed. Disclosed gravity fed spray guns may comprise a body and an attachment point located at a top portion of the body; and a spray nozzle located at a front portion of the body. An apparatus may further comprise a fluid reservoir configured to contain a fluid to be sprayed through the spray nozzle, the fluid reservoir comprising a container comprising an open end; a lid for cooperative engagement with the open end of the container, the lid comprising a connector to couple the fluid reservoir to the attachment point of the spray gun and an aperture through which the fluid can flow from the fluid reservoir to the spray nozzle in use; and a filter positioned to filter the fluid before reaching the spray nozzle.
US08955766B2
A heatable injector for fuel injection in an internal combustion engine, the injector having an injector housing, a fuel space which is situated inside the injector housing, an adjustable injector needle which is arranged in the injector housing for opening and closing a fuel discharge opening of the injector housing, and a heating device which is arranged inside the injector housing with a heating element for heating the fuel which is situated in the fuel space. The heating element is configured as a coating of a boundary face of the injector with respect to its fuel space, the coating being composed of a carbon nanoparticle material.
US08955762B2
A resettable thermal pressure relief device (TPRD) is disclosed. The TPRD includes a piston, a housing adapted to receive the piston and allow movement between an open and a closed position. The housing includes an actuator having a temperature sensitive material disposed therein. The temperature sensitive material volumetrically expands, increasing a length of the actuator and forcing a lever from a first position to a second position. The piston is held in the closed position by the lever in the first position. When the lever moves to the second position, the piston is allowed to move to the open position, allowing a fluid to flow through the TPRD from a high pressure vessel in communication therewith.
US08955748B2
The present invention relates to a radio-frequency identification communications system, RFID communications system, for monitoring the inventory of a live storage system, comprising at least one first and one second stationary RFID antenna (5, 6) for transmitting data; and an RFID transponder (2) attached to an object or a group of objects (1), wherein the RFID transponder (2) electronically stores a code of the object or the group of objects (1), and wherein the first RFID antenna (5) is placed in an input region, and the second RFID antenna (6) is placed in an output region of a storage track of the live storage system, in order to register the object or the group of objects (1) on the basis of the code of the RFID transponder (2).
US08955741B2
One method involves payment of money to a recipient traveling to one or more foreign countries by entering into a remote computer money transfer information from a sender. The money transfer information comprises recipient identification information, at least one country where the money is to be received, and a payment amount in an originating currency. The money transfer information is transmitted to a host computer system. When ready to receive payment in the designated country, recipient identification information along with a request to withdraw a portion of a possible payment amount is entered into a payout computer. The recipient identification information and the request to withdraw is transmitted to a host computer system, and the requested withdrawal is provided to the recipient in the local currency.
US08955736B2
A carton for containing a plurality of articles. The carton comprises a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels comprises a first top panel, a second top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. The first top panel and the second top panel are at least partially overlapped to form a top wall of the carton. A handle extends in at least the top wall. The handle can comprise at least a first handle portion of the first top panel and a second handle portion of the second top panel. The first handle portion can at least partially overlap the second handle portion at a rounded corner of the carton.
US08955731B2
In a multiple endless belt type band sheet coiling tension applying apparatus in which a coiling tension is applied to slit band sheets a by a frictional force generated by slippage between belt pressing surfaces 4a, 5a and internal belt surfaces 1a of endless belts 1, a friction plate 8 made of a thin metallic sheet having heat conductivity equal to or better than that of the belt pressing units 4a, 5a is detachably installed on a front surface of each of the belt pressing units 4a, 5a.
US08955713B2
An automated magazine feeder device is provided for supplying a manufacturing operation with elongate members of varying sizes in an assembly order dictated sequence. An apparatus for dispensing elongate members may include a magazine and a rotatable support member. The magazine may contain a plurality of elongate members including an elongate member in a first location and an elongate member in a second location immediately adjacent the elongate member in the first location. The first rotatable support member may include a first arm and a second arm. The first arm of the first rotatable support member supports the elongate member in the first location when the first rotatable support member is in a first position. The elongate member in the first location is ejected from the magazine by the second arm of the first rotatable support member in response to the first rotatable support member being rotated from the first position to a second position. The second arm of the first rotatable support member supports the elongate member in the second location in response to the first rotatable support member being rotated to the second position.
US08955711B2
According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed liners, linings, tanks including the same, and methods of providing liners and linings for tanks. In an exemplary embodiment, a liner or lining includes a bottom sheet and a plurality of side sheets. At least one pair of adjacent side sheets is joined by an extrusion weld along an interface between the pair of adjacent side sheets. The extrusion weld is coupled to at least one mechanical fastener which is coupled to at least one structural component such that the pair of adjacent side sheets is anchored to the structural component.
US08955710B2
A waste container stabilization system for stabilizing a waste container for easy insertion and removal of trash bags. The waste container stabilization system generally includes a container having a base, at least one sidewall extending upwardly from the base and an interior cavity formed by the base and the at least one sidewall, wherein the at least one sidewall has an upper edge surrounding an upper opening within the container, and wherein the at least one sidewall, and at least one suction cup attached to a bottom surface of the base, wherein the at least one suction cup is removably attachable to an upper surface of a floor using negative fluid pressure.
US08955708B2
An insulating container for controlling the transfer of heat from a hot object contained therein, the insulating container including a first half-shell and a second half-shell configured to couple together to form a sealed enclosure. The container further includes a first insert and a second insert sized and shaped to be received within the first half shell and the second half shell, respectively, and having inner surfaces that are shaped to surround and substantially conform to the hot object enclosed within the sealed enclosure, and wherein the first insert and the second insert are built up from a plurality of planar pieces of insulating material.
US08955707B2
A portable triple container is provided, which enables food and beverages to be separately accommodated therein, thereby enabling convenient carrying and storage during an outdoor activity. The present invention implements a novel triple container in which two separate spaces are formed so as to enable the food and beverages to be separately accommodated in the container, and which also enables the food to be extracted and consumed through a simple operation. Thus, the food and beverages may be simply and conveniently carried and stored, and may be extracted without using an additional utensil so as to be conveniently consumed. The portable triple container is configured such that an operation cap part arranged at the bottom of the container may be selectively fixed so as to not only restrict the rotation structure of an inner case according to need but also to ensure that the container is airtight.
US08955705B2
A closure is provided that is configured to fit over a mouth of a receptacle to form a container. The closure includes a body having an open bottom formed of a skirt that defines an outer periphery of the body and an end wall defining at least one body dispensing aperture. A cover has two or more cover dispensing apertures and is rotatably coupled to the body and movable between a dispensing position with at least one of the cover dispensing apertures aligned with the body dispensing aperture, and a closed position. A handle has segments extending between each of the cover dispensing apertures, and one or more cover position stops provide a tactile or an audible indication when the cover is moved to either of the dispensing position or the closed position.
US08955704B2
A foldable utility box which includes an upper loop formed in a rectangular shape; a pair of side supports each rotatably connected to two sides of the upper loop facing each other to thereby be in a first state in which they are in parallel with the upper loop or a second state in which they are vertical to the upper loop; and a shell member includes at least one door part so as to approach the pair of side supports and formed to enclose the upper loop and the pair of side supports to thereby be folded in the first state and have a hexahedral shape in the second state.
US08955689B2
A propulsive element usable for producing a jet of fluid using a pressurized fluid. An inlet receives the pressurized fluid; a propulsive element passageway extends from the inlet; two main outlets are in fluid communication with the propulsive element passageway and are configured and sized for releasing each a respective main jet portion when the pressurized fluid is injected in the inlet, the two main jet portions being each substantially divergent, the two main jet portions creating a low pressure zone therebetween.
US08955688B2
A sorting installation and a sorting method use a gripping tool for gripping sorted articles, particularly sorted flat mail items. During sorting, the articles are transported in holding apparatuses having two lateral faces each. Each lateral face is preferably formed with one cutout. A supply station puts each article into one holding apparatus, with the result that the article is situated between the lateral faces and is held by the holding apparatuses. A transport apparatus transports the articles to a removal station and produces a sequence of holding apparatuses with articles being held thereby. The removal station has a gripping tool with at least two gripper arms in a gripper arm sequence. These gripper arms grip between filled holding apparatuses and draw a plurality of held articles from these holding apparatuses simultaneously.
US08955687B1
The present invention may be used for separation of plant extract material from plant material. A tubular container with an open first end and a closed second end may be constructed of a rigid material. A plant material may be place in the tubular container. The tubular container may be inserted in a tubular screening container having an open first end and a screen covered second end to position the screen covered second end over the open first end of the tubular container. The separation apparatus may then be shaken with the screen covered second end over a surface for receipt of extract material. A frozen material, for example, dry ice, may be placed in the tubular container with the plant material as part of the process method.
US08955685B2
Green compositions and technologies are provided. In an embodiment, the present invention provides a method of separating a first material from a second material. For example, the method can comprise mixing the first material and the second material in a slurry with a beneficiation composition. The beneficiation composition can comprise one or more glyceride and fatty acid mixtures extracted from an ethanol process. Air bubbles can be provided in the slurry to form bubble-particle aggregates with the first material and the bubble-particle aggregates can be allowed to be separated from the second material.
US08955683B2
The group of inventions relates to the food industry, more specifically to embodiments of a packaging for pre-portioned confectionery goods consisting of one or a number of portions. A packaging for confectionery goods consisting of a number of portions comprises a lid and a base that is provided with at least one raised flat section for holding trays corresponding to the number of portions of the goods in question. Each tray has a means for the removal thereof from the packaging, in the form, for example, of a tongue situated on the side that faces the edge of the packaging base, and at least one tray anchoring projection with a widened part is provided on the base between each pair of adjacent trays. Furthermore, pairs of projections may be provided along the edges of the raised section to restrict the movement in a horizontal plane both of the tongues and of the trays with the confectionery goods. The trays are designed so that they can be attached to at least part of the base of the confectionery goods by means of an adhesive food substance. The technical effect of the invention is an increase in the reliability with which confectionery goods are secured inside a packaging, and an increase in the ease of handling of the confectionery goods by the user during consumption.
US08955682B2
The invention relates to a packaging box (1) for substantially oblong products (2), each product having an intermediate part (3) of overall width which is greater than those of its ends (4, 5), comprising a bottom (6, 111, 112) and a lid (7; 109, 110, 112) made of cardboard sheet or corrugated cardboard material. The lid (7) comprises two lateral walls (8, 9; 110, 112) connected to one another by an upper wall (110, 109), the bottom and the upper wall having a width which is smaller than or equal to said overall width and the lateral walls (8, 9) being perforated by apertures (11) spaced apart at regular intervals opposite one another, arranged to allow the respective intermediate parts (3) of said products to be tightly packed.
US08955674B2
A package comprising a carrier holding at least one container. The carrier can comprise a bottom panel, first and second inner side panels foldably connected to the bottom panel, first and second outer side panels foldably connected to the respective first and second inner side panels, and first and second top panels foldably connected to the respective first and second outer side panels. At least one container-receiving feature can comprise a first retaining feature extending in at least the first inner side panel and an opposing second retaining feature extending in at least the second inner side panel. A top portion of the at least one container can be at least partially retained by the first and second retaining features. The bottom panel can be at least partially disposed between the top portion of the at least one container and at least one of the first and second top panels.
US08955667B1
A bulk material handling system and method use a horizontal boom frame supporting a conveyor mechanism for bulk material that is slidable relative to the horizontal boom frame. The conveyor mechanism is positioned such that, with bulk material received at a fixed location, or loading axis, on the horizontal boom frame, a portion of the conveyor mechanism will always be positioned to receive bulk material. The horizontal boom frame can also be made rotatable about the loading axis. By rotating the horizontal boom frame and advancing or withdrawing the conveyor mechanism, the discharge point for bulk materials relative to the loading axis can be altered radially and angularly without interrupting the flow of bulk materials through the system. A supply bridge assembly can be employed to bring the bulk materials to the loading axis of the boom.
US08955660B2
Wheel hub, in particular bicycle rear wheel hub, comprising hub shell and freewheel shell both supported by bearings to be rotatable relative to the hub axle, where the hub shell is slidingly coupled through spline coupling with a freewheel coupling ring provided with axial pawl teeth on its axial face, wherein an annular permanent magnet (6) is seated in the freewheel coupling ring (3), and another permanent magnet (5) is arranged coaxial to the permanent magnet (6) in the hub shell (1), while the axial pawl teeth (B) of the freewheel coupling ring (3) intermesh with the axial pawl teeth (C) of the freewheel shell (4), and also the inner ring of the bearing (7a) disposed in the hub shell (1) abuts against a hub axle (2) collar (16) and the outer ring of the bearing (7a) is urged towards the said hub axle (2) collar (16) by an adjusting screw (10) screwed in the hub shell (1) from the non-drive side, while the inner ring of the bearing (7b) abuts against the hub axle collar (17) and its outer ring abuts on the other side against the axial lip (18) in the hub shell (1) interior, and from the drive side of the hub, the axial face of spacer sleeve (14) abuts against the bearing (7d) and whose other axial face abuts against the collar of the end-cup (9) received in the hub axle (2) bore.
US08955657B2
The invention relates to a mining vehicle and method for its energy supply. The mining vehicle has a carriage, driving equipment for moving the carriage, and at least one mining work device. Further, the mining vehicle has at least one electric motor for operating a main function of the mining vehicle, and at least one electric motor for operating an auxiliary function of the mining vehicle. The mining vehicle further has a power-generating auxiliary unit. When necessary, the power-generating auxiliary unit supplies at least part of the power required by the electric motor operating the auxiliary function.
US08955649B2
An elevator according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a guide rail installed in an elevator hoist way in a vertical direction, an elevator car that ascends and descends along the guide rail, an elevator guide device, and a cleaning jig for an elevator guide device. The elevator guide device is fixed to the elevator car, and guides the running elevator car along the guide rail without bringing the elevator car into contact with the guide rail while a predetermined clearance is maintained with the guide rail using magnetic force generated by a magnet guide unit. The cleaning jig for an elevator guide device is installed on the guide rail to come into contact with a magnetic pole of the magnetic guide unit to remove a foreign matter attached to a surface thereof when the elevator car passes the cleaning jig for an elevator guide device.
US08955646B2
A device for lubricating an oil seal of an engine which is simple in construction and low in manufacturing cost without the need for providing piping for supplying lube oil to the oil seal and with which lube oil can be supplied sufficiently and properly to the oil seal to prevent overheating of the oil seal which induces oil leakage and occurrences of damage to the oil seal. The lubricating device has an oil seal which contacts a side face of a disk plate fixed to an end of a crankshaft of the engine and seals a gear room of the engine from outside, wherein an oil injection nozzle is attached to an end face of a crankcase of the engine such that the oil injection nozzle is in communication with a main oil gallery of the engine and oil in the main oil gallery is sprayed toward the slide contacting part of the oil seal.
