US09013545B2

A wireless signal transmission device of the present invention includes a wireless signal transmission section for, when an image display device displays a 3D image, (i) a sync signal indicative of timing at which a right-eye image and a left-eye image included in the 3D image are switched and (ii) an optical shutter control signal for controlling optical shutters of 3D image glasses which optical shutters alternately transmit and shut the right-eye image and the left-eye image, and for, when the image display device displays an image other than a 3D image, periodically transmitting a certain signal which does not include at least optical shutter control data.
US09013541B2

Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for broadcasting a local signal B that corresponds to a coverage hole in a remote signal B. The system includes a first transmitter at a first location and a second transmitter at the first location that transmits local signal B corresponding to remote signal B transmitted from a remote transmitter. The second transmitter broadcasts the local signal B to at least part of a coverage hole in a coverage area of remote signal B. Also disclosed is a method for consolidating allocated wireless spectrum. The method includes identifying a guard band in an allocated band of wireless spectrum, reassigning an existing channel occupying a portion of the allocated band of wireless spectrum to the guard band via selective single frequency network infill to yield a reassigned channel, and freeing the portion of the allocated band of wireless spectrum.
US09013539B1

A method and computing system for scheduling a multi-session video conference for a host. A plurality of discrete video conference sessions are linked to the multi-session video conference. The multi-session video conference is executed. The host is transferred between two or more of the discrete video conference sessions during the multi-session video conference.
US09013535B2

An information processing apparatus may include a detecting unit to detect a pointing object in a captured image, and a generation unit to generate pointing information based on detection of the pointing object by the detecting unit. The pointing information may indicate a position of the pointing object determined using a pointable range set based on a user in the captured image. The apparatus may further include a communication unit to transmit the pointing information to an external apparatus.
US09013532B2

A light source control apparatus which controls, based on image data input, light emission of a light source which forms an electrostatic latent image on an image bearing body in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is disclosed, including a pattern generating unit which generates an internal pattern for position aligning and concentration correcting according to the image data; and a mirroring processing unit which performs a process of mirroring the image data and the internal pattern at a later stage of the pattern generating unit.
US09013517B2

Provided is a liquid crystal display device, including: a data line; a plurality of pixel circuits; an output grayscale value generating circuit for outputting an output grayscale value obtained by correcting a display grayscale value indicating a grayscale potential having one of positive polarity and negative polarity; and a data-line driving circuit for selectively outputting an output potential having one of positive polarity and negative polarity corresponding to the output grayscale value to the data line. The data-line driving circuit outputs the potential so that the positive-polarity output potential corresponding to a smallest output grayscale value becomes lower than a positive-polarity grayscale potential indicated by a smallest one of the display grayscale values and that the negative-polarity output potential corresponding to the smallest output grayscale value becomes higher than a negative-polarity grayscale potential indicated by the smallest one of the display grayscale values.
US09013515B2

An apparatus providing a viewer with a blend of displayed and reflected content. The apparatus includes an emissive display device with a display screen operable providing digital content. The emissive display device includes a light source selectively articulating and transmitting light through the display screen at a particular illumination level to display digital content such as text and graphics. The apparatus includes a thematic overlay positioned over the display screen with a front surface configured to provide diffuse reflection of light striking the front surface from a viewer space such that the front surface appears substantially opaque to the viewer and the viewer cannot see the display screen when the light source is inactive or at low brightness. When the light source is in active mode, the displayed content is visible as emissive display content concurrently with the diffuse reflection content but the display screen remains hidden from view.
US09013512B2

Systems, methods, and computer readable media for dynamically setting an executing application's display buffer size are described. To ameliorate display device overscan operations, the size of an executing application's display buffer may be set based on the display device's extent and a display mode. In addition, contents of the executing application's display buffer may be operated on as they are moved to a frame buffer based on the display mode. In one mode, for example, display buffer contents may be scaled before being placed into the frame buffer. In another mode, a black border may be placed around display buffer contents as it is placed into the frame buffer. In yet another mode, display buffer contents may be copied into the frame buffer without further processing.
US09013510B2

A method for rendering one or more user interface elements on a display screen of a device is disclosed. The method includes receiving a request for rendering a first user interface element without an orientation preference, and identifying a type of the device. The method also includes, in accordance with a determination that the type of the device is a first device type corresponding to television devices and the first user interface element corresponds to a first user interface element type, rendering the first user interface element as a vertical user interface element in a first display region of the display screen.
US09013509B2

The present invention provides a user interface for manipulating digital images. The interface includes a display arranged to display at least one digital image. The at least one image has a front side and at least one opposing side displayable to a user, the front and each one of the opposing sides having at least one detection portion. The detection portion is arranged to detect a manipulation request by the user and, on detection of the request, initiate a routine whereby a displayed side is rotated from view and at least one opposing side is displayed.
US09013508B2

Embodiments provide a method and a terminal device for filtering objects. By using the technical solutions provided by the embodiments, the terminal device can display filtered objects, and problems in the prior art that a long time is needed to retrieve subsequent objects and that errors easily occur if the terminal device needs to display a lot of objects can be avoided, thereby effectively increasing the efficiency and reliability of displaying objects.
US09013506B2

An information processing apparatus includes a rendering processor that renders a plurality of objects on a page in a parallel process, an overlap determiner that determines a plurality of objects overlapping each other in accordance with coordinate information of each object on the page and acquires coordinate information of an overlap area between the objects, a timing controller that controls a timing of the rendering of each object in the parallel process of the rendering processor in accordance with the coordinate information of the overlap area, and a renderer that renders a lower-layer object in the overlap area in accordance with timing information generated by the timing controller prior to rendering an upper-layer object on the lower-layer object in a superimpose fashion.
US09013505B1

A mobile data service is delivered to a mobile device having a camera for capturing a live scene, a GPS receiver for determining geographic coordinates of the mobile device, and a display for displaying the live scene. A wireless network exchanges data signals with the mobile device. A server stores a database of virtual objects defined within a geographic space. The server receives the geographic coordinates of the mobile device. The server identifies one or more virtual objects within a field of view in the geographic space determined in response to the geographic coordinates of the mobile device. The server transmits representation image data to the mobile device corresponding to the one or more virtual objects as would be seen according to the field of view. The mobile device generates a representation on the display in response to the representation image data.
US09013501B2

A display controller having only three color channels per pixel is used to control a display system having four or more color channels. Mapping of the possible luminance values for each color channel of each pixel to the 2n intervals represented by the n bits in each color channel are provided according to a function that is based on human color perception, so as not to generate artifacts.
US09013499B2

A method for a computer system including receiving a file comprising textures including a first and a second texture map, which can be regular or irregular texture maps, and metadata, wherein the metadata includes identifiers associated with texture maps and includes adjacency data, associating the first texture map with a first face of an object in response to an identifier associated with the first texture map, associating the second texture map with a second face of the object in response to an identifier associated with the second texture map, determining an edge of the first texture map is adjacent to an edge of the second texture map in response to the adjacency data, and performing a rendering operation with respect to the first and second faces of the object to determine rendering data in response to the first and second texture maps.
US09013496B2

Some implementations disclosed herein provide techniques and arrangements to render global light transport in real-time or near real-time. For example, in a pre-computation stage, a first computing device may render points of surfaces (e.g., using multiple light bounces and the like). Attributes for each of the points may be determined. A plurality of machine learning algorithms may be trained using particular attributes from the attributes. For example, a first machine learning algorithm may be trained using a first portion of the attributes and a second machine learning algorithm may be trained using a second portion of the attributes. The trained machine learning algorithms may be used by a second computing device to render components (e.g., diffuse and specular components) of indirect shading in real-time.
US09013481B2

A polygon-meshed surface of a product is divided into regions, and a texture GA is mapped in an initial region A. The boundary line of an adjacent region B is multiplexed outward, and an overlapped region D is provided between the initial region and the adjacent region, and a region X to be processed is projected onto a two-dimensional plane and a texture GB is allocated. An optimal boundary line FS in which the difference between the pixel values of the textures GA and GB becomes minimal in the overlapped region is obtained, and the texture GB is mapped in the region X being processed so that the texture is connected to the texture GA at the optimal boundary line. The apexes of the polygon mesh displaced on the basis of the textures mapped in all the regions are connected to obtain grain-given polygon data.
US09013480B2

Methods and systems for generating surface data from polygonal data are disclosed. The methods and systems receive polygonal data which describe discrete points on an object. The methods and systems analyze and use the data to calculate and define a continuous BREP object which accurately represents the original polygonal object. In some embodiments, the BREP object is modified and certain details of the modification operations are recorded. The polygonal data may be edited and a new BREP object created based on the edited polygonal data. The new BREP object may be automatically modified by automatically reperforming the recorded modification operations.
US09013476B2

A method and apparatus are provided for displaying a three dimensional (3D) image by a mobile terminal. The method includes receiving an object for displaying; identifying attribute information of a content item or application associated with the object; determining a depth of the object based on the attribute information; and displaying the object to reflect the depth.
US09013472B2

In one embodiment of the invention, a stereophonic display device is provided. The stereophonic display device includes a pixel unit including a plurality of subpixels, wherein the subpixels include at least two right eye subpixels and two left eye subpixels, a barrier with a plurality of apertures formed on the pixel unit, wherein the smallest distance between the locations of the apertures projected onto the pixel unit and boundaries of the pixel unit is equal to or greater than a quarter of the width of the pixel unit, and a display image processor controlling the pixel unit rendering of the right eye subpixel block and the left eye subpixel block sequentially.
US09013470B2

In a method for displaying information, particularly in a vehicle, at least one object for conveying a portion of gross information is represented graphically in at least one first display mode with the aid of a display mounted, e.g., in the vehicle, and as a function of a control signal of a control device, graphic data are generated which alter the representation of the graphical object such that the graphical object changes over to at least one second display mode. In the second display mode, the object is shown swiveled about an axis in a perspective or three-dimensional manner relative to the first display mode of the object, and the portion of the gross information conveyed by the object is greater in the second display mode than the portion of the gross information conveyed by the object in the first display mode. A corresponding display device is adapted to perform the method described above.
US09013469B2

A method and device for displaying a three-dimensional view of the surface of a viewed object is disclosed, wherein a subset of the three-dimensional data from the entire image of the viewed object in a region of interest is determined and displayed to provide enhanced detail in the region of interest.
US09013465B2

An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display is disclosed. According to one aspect, the OLED display includes pixels including an OLED and a driving transistor for supplying a driving current according to an image data signal to the OLED. The display includes a sensor configured to sense a first current flowing to the driving transistor corresponding to a source data input signal. An operation voltage of a saturation region of the driving transistor is measured based on performance information of the OLED by using the same current amount as the first current. A voltage controller is configured to determine a minimum electroluminescence voltage for driving the pixels based on information received from the sensor. A power supply is configured to control a power source voltage applied to the pixels according to the determined electroluminescence voltage, and supply the determined power source voltage.
US09013458B2

A display device and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. More specifically, a three-foldable display device and a method for controlling the same are disclosed, wherein the three-foldable display device has two cameras at previously set locations with different resolutions different from each other and controls a location for providing a preview interface in accordance with an activated one of the two cameras.
US09013449B2

An optical touch system comprises a first imaging device configured to be directed toward a side surface of a target on a touch surface and a processing device. The first imaging device sequentially generates a first picture having an image of the target and a second picture having an image of the target. The computing device is configured to calculate a first dimension of the target using the first picture and a second dimension of the target using the second picture, and to determine whether the target is formed by one object or two objects by the first and second dimensions.
US09013447B2

Disclosed are an electrostatic capacity change sensing method and apparatus, and a recording medium in which a program executing the method is recorded, a touch sensing method and apparatus, and a recording medium in which a program executing the method is recorded. The electrostatic capacity change sensing method and apparatus are capable of sensing the change in the electrostatic capacity without using the sensing frequency. The touch sensing method and apparatus are capable of sensing touch without using the sensing frequency.
US09013438B2

A system for enabling a tablet input object is described. A tablet input object can take various inputs from touch, a mouse, and a pen and sends their information to an application or operating system. Also, a pen message pathway may also be used to handle touch messages, thereby reusing an existing pen message pathway for messages created by something other than a pen.
US09013437B2

Negative pixel compensation in a touch sensor panel is disclosed. The panel can compensate for a negative pixel effect in touch signal outputs due to poor grounding of an object touching the panel. To do so, the panel can reconstruct a captured touch image to remove negative pixel values indicative of the negative pixel effect and compute a composite image from the captured image and the reconstructed image to replace the captured image. In addition or alternatively, the panel can reconstruct a captured touch image to remove negative pixel values indicative of the negative pixel effect and replace the captured image with the reconstructed image.
US09013435B2

A method includes: detecting a first touch at a first location on a touch-sensitive display; detecting a second touch at a second location on the touch-sensitive display; and displaying a navigation indicator on the touch-sensitive display in response to detecting the second touch while first touch contact is maintained.
US09013433B2

A flexible display device and a data displaying method thereof are disclosed. The device includes a touch sensor to generate touch events according to touch actions, a flexible sensor to generate a bend signal as one side of the device is bent, a storage unit to store a function table, and a controller to control the components of the device. The function table is configured to define control operations to reproduce currently output contents based on the touch events and the bend events.
US09013429B1

A system comprises a processing device and a capacitive sense array that includes a plurality of electrodes. The system receives a first signal from a first scan of electrodes in a capacitive sense array. The system processes the first signal using a first set of sequences to detect a stylus. The system receives a second scan from a second scan of electrodes in a capacitive sense array. The system processes the second signal using a second set of sequences to detect the stylus.
US09013425B2

Methods, devices, and systems for a touch sensor or a capacitive sensing device to interact with external objects. One method utilizes a capacitive profile on the external object. Another method involves the further use of a capacitive sensor array for wireless communication with the external object.
US09013404B2

A locating device is for locating a pointing device. The pointing device is configured to capture a plurality of images, to measure an angular rate of the pointing device, and to generate and output current coordinate data associated with an orientation of the pointing device when at least one of the images contains infrared light from a light source module. The locating device is configured to receive the current coordinate data and the angular rate from the pointing device, to generate a cursor signal based on one of the current coordinate data and the angular rate, and to transmit the cursor signal to a computing device, which is configured to move a cursor on a display unit, according to the cursor signal.
US09013392B2

A gamma-voltage generator is provided to generating a plurality of first gamma voltages and second gamma voltages. At least one of the first gamma voltages generated by DACs of the gamma-voltage generator within a first frame period and at least one of the second gamma voltages generated by the DACs within a second frame period are outputted from a same one of the gamma buffers of the gamma-voltage generator, whereby the transmitted gamma voltages have substantially equal offset. Therefore, the display quality approaches an ideal condition.
US09013389B2

A controller outputs a row rewriting control signal and a column rewriting control signal as well as a data signal. The row rewriting control signal is a signal selecting whether a selection signal is supplied to a first scan line, and the column rewriting control signal is a signal selecting whether a selection signal and a data signal are supplied to the second scan line and the signal line, respectively. The row rewriting control signal and the column rewriting control signal are thus output from the controller, which makes it possible to select whether a data signal is rewritten in each of a plurality of pixels arranged in matrix. Consequently, even in the case of displaying an image having a specific area, the display of which is often changed, a high-quality image can be displayed with reduced power consumption.
US09013383B2

We describe circuits and methods for compensating for gate kickback in electro-optic displays, in particular electrophoretic displays. In embodiments the method comprises compensating gate kickback comprising a change in voltage between a pixel electrode and a common electrode of the display arising from capacitive coupling between a gate drive line and the pixel electrode by offsetting a value of a common voltage on the common electrode by an offset value dependent on a difference between a magnitude of said positive gate voltage and a magnitude of said negative gate voltage.
US09013376B2

A method of driving a pixel circuit is provided. The pixel circuit includes a light emitting element that emits light by receiving a driving current, a driving transistor that generates the driving current, and a light-emission control transistor of the same conductivity type as that of the driving transistor, the light-emission control transistor being arranged on a path through which the driving current flows from the driving transistor to the light emitting element. The method includes setting the gate potential of the light-emission control transistor so that the light-emission control transistor is turned on in the saturation region for a light emitting period during which the light emitting element is allowed to emit light.
US09013375B2

An organic light-emitting display apparatus, including: a plurality of pixels each including an organic light-emitting diode (OLED); and a power supply voltage driving unit generating a first power supply voltage have a first level that varies according to time and a second power supply voltage having a second level that varies according to time, the power supply voltage driving unit supplying the first and the second power supply voltages to the plurality of pixels, wherein the power supply voltage driving unit includes: a first resistor connected to a gate of a second transistor for pulling-down the first power supply voltage, and a second resistor connected to a gate of a fourth transistor for pulling-down the second power supply voltage.
US09013374B2

A pixel circuit for an organic light emitting diode display is disclosed. The pixel is configured to provide fast response time and good isolation from data transition coupling.
US09013371B2

A display apparatus including a light emitting body to improve external appearance thereof. The light emitting body is disposed inside a bezel to emit light. The bezel has a reflective surface to reflect light emitted from the light emitting body in front of the display apparatus. The bezel also has a light interruption groove to prevent light emitted from the light emitting body from affecting an image formed on the display module. The light emitting body is operatively connected to a user interface unit. A user manipulates a manipulation panel or a remote control to set an operation mode of the light emitting body from a menu item on an on screen display, and the light emitting body emits light in various forms based on the set mode.
US09013368B1

A foldable mobile device and a method for controlling a display of the same are disclosed herein. Herein, the foldable mobile device includes a first display unit configured to display a first image or a first zoomed-in first image while the foldable mobile device is in a folded state, a second display unit configured to display a second image corresponding to a predetermined display mode or a second image including a second zoomed-in first image when the foldable mobile device is unfolded, and a controller configured to control a display of the first display unit and the second display unit.
US09013364B1

An electromagnetically operational micro-truss structure and methods are disclosed. A micro-truss structure comprises a grid of interlocking elements, and a metallic coating selectively coats the grid. The metallic coating is configured to resonate an electromagnetic energy.
US09013361B1

A method of forming overlapping antenna subarrays includes forming one or more first-level subarrays by combing multiple elements. Each first-level subarray may have a phase center. One or more second-level subarrays may be formed by arranging a number of the first-level subarrays to form each first-level subarray. One or more third-level subarrays may be formed by arranging a number of the second-level subarrays to form each second-level subarray. The first-level, second-level, and third-level subarrays may include overlapping antenna subarrays. Each element may include an antenna element. Some of the first level, second-level, or third level subarrays may have an interlocking feature that allows interlocking of each subarray with another one of the same subarray. Arranging subarrays may include interlocking subarrays.
US09013357B2

The present invention provides a mobile broadband device, and relates to the field of communications technologies. The mobile broadband device includes a casing, a Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA), and an antenna. The antenna and the PCBA are both set in the casing, and the PCBA can be slidably pulled out or retracted back along the casing. The antenna is fixedly set on an inner side of the casing and forms a hollow space for accommodating the retracted PCBA, there is a contact point set on the antenna, and the contact point is electrically connected to a feed point of the PCBA. With the mobile broadband device, the antenna does not individually occupy part of space in the casing without affecting the performance of the antenna; therefore, the volume and length of the mobile broadband device are effectively reduced, and the portability of the mobile broadband device is effectively improved.
US09013351B2

Assisted-GPS for a portable biometric monitoring device is provided. The portable biometric monitoring device may obtain updated ephemeris data from an associated secondary device via a short-range, low-power communication protocol. The secondary device may be a computing device such as a smartphone, tablet, or laptop. Various rules may control when the ephemeris data is updated. The ephemeris data may be used in the calculation of the global position of the portable biometric monitoring device. Additionally, the portable biometric monitoring device may communicate downloaded position fixing data to the associated secondary device. The associated secondary device may then calculate the global position from the position fixing data.
US09013346B2

A radar system including a switching mode power converter. A pulse radar unit is configured to transmit RF pulses with a pulse repetition frequency. The power converter includes a switching controller that is configured to control at least one switching element. The switching controller is configured to receive a frequency modulated input signal. The modulation frequency of the input signal is configured to be derived from the pulse repetition frequency of the radar unit.
US09013342B2

A sigma-delta converter may include an input node, a switched capacitor input stage integrating a difference signal between an input signal from the input node and a feedback signal representing an output signal, and a switched capacitor adder coupled downstream from the switched capacitor input stage and generating a sum signal based upon the input signal with a signal generated by the switched capacitor input stage. The sigma-delta converter may include a switched capacitor output stage amplifying the sum signal and generating an analog amplified signal, a quantization stage coupled in cascade to the switched capacitor output stage and generating the output signal as a digital replica of the analog amplified signal, and a circuit generating the feedback signal as an analog replica of the output signal.
US09013333B2

Time Triggered Geo-fencing. At least some of the example embodiments are methods including: receiving a set of variables related to a geo-fence to be established at repeating intervals lasting for a preset duration, each instance of the repeating intervals at a predetermined time; establishing the geo-fence at the predetermined time, the geo-fence established for the preset duration; receiving signals indicative of a location of a vehicle, the receiving by an onboard device coupled to the vehicle; determining if the vehicle has crossed the geo-fence within the preset duration; and if the vehicle has crossed the geo-fence within the preset duration sending an alert related to the location of the vehicle.
US09013328B2

An electrically activated latch for aircraft stowage bins includes an overhead stowage bin module having a stationary support structure and a movable stowage bin portion. An electrically operated stowage bin latch mechanism latches the movable stowage bin portion in a closed position and unlatches the movable stowage bin portion to an open position. An electrically operated stowage bin activation switch operates the stowage bin latch mechanism, allowing the aircraft stowage bins to be locked by independently controlling the overhead stowage bins through the aircraft cabin management system, or by control of the latch by the stowage bin activation switch.
US09013320B2

Provided are a home appliance and its system. The home appliance include: an input unit for inputting driving information; a data unit for storing a diagnosis logic; a control unit for diagnosing a state of the home appliance and whether a failure occurs according to the diagnosis logic on the basis of product information including the driving information inputted from the input unit, operation information detected during an operation, and failure information occurring during an operation, in order to generate a diagnosis result including the operation information and the failure information, and encoding transmission information including predetermined data for a diagnosis, which are selected from the driving operation, and the diagnosis result and outputting the encoded transmission information; a modulator for converting the encoded transmission information; and a sound output unit for outputting the transmission information converted by the modulator as a sound including a plurality of frequencies.
US09013315B2

A person support apparatus includes a frame and a support surface cooperating with the frame to support a person. The person support apparatus also has a sensor coupled to one of the frame and the support surface. The sensor detects at least one characteristic associated with the person. A controller is coupled to the sensor. In response to at least one of a condition of the frame, a condition of the support surface, a position of the person, or a condition of the person, the controller operates to control the sensor by at least one of changing a gain of the sensor and changing a manner in which a signal from the sensor is filtered. In some instances, the controller turns the sensor off.
US09013314B2

An indicating system and method having a parent unit communicable with a child unit is provided. In an embodiment for the indicating system and method of the present invention, the child unit may be responsive to receiving a signal from the parent unit for communicating instructions (e.g., traffic signal based, protective based etc.) which may result in a visual, and/or audio and/or tactile indication being provided to the user of the child unit. In an embodiment of the present invention, the system may communicate instructions, praise or other information, educational or otherwise to a child unit via actuators on the parent unit or by an auto mode feature utilizing signal strength detection/proximity sensing technology. Safety enhancing features, entertainment and encouragement features may be incorporated into the system.
US09013313B2

Improvements in a bed pre exit patient monitor to determine when a patient has moved to an edge of a bed prior to the patient leaving the bed by measuring load on a single wheel by slightly lifting the wheel with load sensing rods that measure the wheel load. A variety of different alarm signals are used signal to warn a care giver. The device is self-contained, self-secures and removes itself from a variety of different diameter wheels. The device can auto calibration when the wheel is initially lifted and also calibrate when a patient is resting on a bed. The monitoring establishes a threshold load without a patient and with a patient to allow the software to determine when the on an edge of a bed and also when a patient has completely left the bed. Software filtering rejects patient movement to prevent false alarms.
US09013312B2

Among other things, an entry monitor has circuitry to detect when a person enters a monitored space and an indicator perceptible to other people in the space to indicate a cleanliness state of the hands of the person who has entered the space.
US09013311B2

A Method and system for a RFID transponder with configurable feed point for RFID communications is provided. In this regard, an RFID transponder may receive RF signals via a leaky wave antenna and modulate an amplitude of a backscattered signal associated with the received RF signals by switching between a plurality of feed points of the leaky wave antenna to vary an input impedance of said RFID transponder. Each of the plurality of feed points may be located in a different position in the resonant cavity of the leaky wave antenna. The input impedance may be controlled by switching a load in and out of a receive path of the RFID transponder. The leaky wave antenna may be integrated within and/or on an integrated circuit, an integrated circuit package, or a combination thereof.
US09013295B1

Techniques are described for handling an event where a control panel or an alarm signaling device is tampered with or destroyed by a disablement tactic, e.g., a “crash and smash intrusion.”
US09013292B2

An indicator system for regenerative slowing of a hybrid or electric vehicle includes at least one deceleration indicator positioned on the rear of a vehicle, a vehicle deceleration monitor configured to monitor deceleration and produce a control output signal if deceleration exceeds a predetermined level, a vehicle braking module configured to detect application of the conventional vehicle brakes, and an indicator control module configured to actuate the deceleration indicator when a vehicle deceleration output signal exceeding the predetermined level is received and conventional vehicle brakes are not applied. An independent driver-operated regen mode switch may provide for driver-initiated regen slowing independent of the conventional vehicle brakes or gears, with the deceleration indicator being on when regen mode is initiated by the driver without application of friction brakes, and the predetermined deceleration level is exceeded.
US09013291B2

An automobile instrument panel includes display means with a display area. First and second symbols may be displayed in the display area to convey safety information. The duration of display of a symbol may be different depending upon whether it is an acute safety symbol or a normal safety symbol. An audible alarm may also be activated.
US09013281B2

This invention relates to electronic wearable articles such as clothing. The invention is an integrated wearable article (e.g. an electronic glove) that allows a user to signal to others the user intent for direction. The electronic glove includes a glove, a chevron-shaped light integrated with the glove that points away from the user when glove is on the hand of the user to indicate intended direction, and an electronic circuit including a switch mechanism with a first contact assembly on the thumb and a second contact assembly on the index finger of the glove, wherein the electronic circuit detects when the first contact assembly touches the second contact assembly to actuate the light, and a battery to power the electronic circuit.
US09013277B2

In a method of allocating digital data (55a, 55b) coming from transponders, a reader (1) receives a first signal (13) that comprises a first signal component (7) coming from a first transponder (2) and a second signal component (8) coming from a second transponder (3). The digital data (55a) coming from the first transponder (2) are encoded in the first signal component (7) and digital data (55b) coming from the second transponder (3) are encoded in the second signal component (8). Second and third signals (10, 11) are generated by subjecting the first signal (13) to an in-phase and to an in-quadrature demodulation. The digital data (55a, 55b) of the first and second transponders (2, 3) are encoded in the second and third signals (10, 11). Clusters (51-54) of the digital data (55 a, 55b) associated with a constellation diagram, which is related to the second and third signals (10, 11), are allocated to the first and second transponder (2, 3).
US09013275B2

A system and method of adjusting the transmission strength emitted by an integrated RFID reading device by an EIR terminal. The EIR terminal scans a signal of decodable indicia, locates the decodable indicia within the signal, decodes the decodable indicia into a decoded message, which is an identifier for said physical object. The EIR terminal then makes contact with the physical object and stores the location of this contact as a point of origin and then, moves through three dimensional and receives values from its motion sensing device representing the location of said EIR terminal in three dimensional space relative to the point of origin. Then, the EIR terminal determines the distance of the RFID reading device from the point of origin and adjusts the power level of said RFID reading device relative to this distance.
US09013272B2

A security document is disclosed which includes an electrical circuit embedded in a document substrate, where the electrical circuit includes a power source with at least one electroactive polymer power generator, and an optical display including at least one electroluminescent display element and at least one nanohole array which forms a layer of the electroluminescent display element. Security features comprising nanohole arrays are also provided. A method of authenticating a security document is disclosed, including illuminating an encoded nanohole array in the security document with a focused light beam or laser light source emitting at least one defined wavelength of incident light, detecting a transmitted portion of the incident light transmitted through the nanohole array with an optoelectronic sensor, analyzing at least one wavelength of the transmitted portion of light to produce a detected signal, and comparing the detected signal with an authentication signal to authenticate the security document.
US09013269B2

A lock release apparatus in a vehicle includes a vehicle unit and a portable device, for an exchange of the first and second reference signals transmitted therebetween from the portable device through human body of the driver toward the right and left hands of the driver onto the first and second interfaces. The signals received by the interfaces are used to set the first and second determination conditions. At a time of a shift lever operation, an interface on a shift lever is used to receive the first determination signal for determining the first determination condition, together with the second determination signal from the other interface for releasing the lock of the shift lever.
US09013261B2

The present disclosure provides a high-power variable inductor and a filter employing the same. A provided variable inductor comprises a first inductor and a second inductor. The first inductor is connected to a first input terminal and to a first output terminal of a two-port circuit. The second inductor is connected to a second input terminal and to a second output terminal of the two-port circuit. The first inductor and the second inductor are symmetrical to each other and jointly surround an adjustable area for varying an inductance of the variable inductor.
US09013260B2

A cable for winding of an electromagnetic device. The cable includes a conductor, and a layer including a magnetic material having a relative permeability in the range 2 to 100000, wherein the layer at least partly surrounds the conductor.
US09013259B2

A multi-phase coupled inductor includes a magnetic core formed of a powder magnetic material and first, second, third, and fourth terminals. The coupled inductor further includes a first winding forming at least one turn and at least partially embedded in the core and a second winding forming at least one turn and at least partially embedded in the core. The first winding is electrically coupled between the first and second terminals, and the second winding electrically is coupled between the third and fourth terminals. The second winding is at least partially physically separated from the first winding within the magnetic core. The multi-phase coupled inductor is, for example, used in a power supply.
US09013253B2

A relay includes two stators each having a fixed contact, and a movable element having movable contacts. Each of the stators includes a stator proximity plate portion adjacent to the movable element, and the movable element includes a movable element proximity plate portion adjacent to the stators. A direction of current flowing in the stator proximity plate portions is set to be same as a direction of current flowing in the movable element proximity plate portion to generate an inter-plate attraction force for attracting the movable element proximity plate portion onto the stator proximity plate portions. The movable element proximity plate portion is biased by the inter-plate attraction force toward a direction for bringing the movable contacts into contact with the fixed contacts.
US09013248B2

A bandpass filter includes a multilayer body, which includes a plurality of dielectric layers stacked on top of one another, a first inductor and a second inductor connected in series with each other, and a third inductor connected to a connection point between the first and second inductors, and a ground potential. The first inductor is defined by substantially open-loop-shaped first electrode patterns provided on the dielectric layers being superposed with one another in the stacking direction of the multilayer body. The second inductor and the third inductor are defined by second electrode patterns and third electrode patterns provided on the dielectric layers being superposed with one another in the stacking direction.
US09013247B2

In an elastic wave demultiplexer having excellent isolation characteristics, a first ground wiring electrode is connected to a second ground wiring electrode, via first ground via-hole electrodes. The first ground wiring electrode is connected to ground land electrodes via second ground via-hole electrodes. The second ground wiring electrode is connected to a ground terminal via third ground via-hole electrodes. The number of the first ground via-hole electrodes is greater than the number of the second ground via-hole electrodes and the number of the third ground via-hole electrodes.
US09013243B2

A resonator element includes a substrate vibrating in a thickness-shear vibration mode, a first excitation electrode disposed on one principal surface of the substrate, and has a shape obtained by cutting out four corners of a quadrangle, and a second excitation electrode disposed on the other principal surface of the substrate, and a ratio (S2/S1) between the area S1 of the quadrangle and the area S2 of the first excitation electrode fulfills 87.7%≦(S2/S1)<95.0%.
US09013242B2

A resonator element includes a substrate including a first principal surface and a second principal surface respectively forming an obverse surface and a reverse surface of the substrate, and vibrating in a thickness-shear vibration mode, a first excitation electrode disposed on the first principal surface, and a second excitation electrode disposed on the second principal surface, and being larger than the first excitation electrode in a plan view, the first excitation electrode is disposed so as to fit into an outer edge of the second excitation electrode in the plan view, and the energy trap confficient M fulfills 15.5≦M≦36.7.
US09013231B1

In a bandgap voltage reference with low package shift, a proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) voltage is generated using a single diode biased at two different current levels at two different times. Using the same diode for both current density measurements removes the absolute value of the base-emitter junction voltage (Vbe) and any package shift in the PTAT voltage. The bandgap voltage reference can be implemented in a single or differential circuit topology. In some implementations, the bandgap voltage reference can include circuitry for curvature correction.
US09013224B2

A switching system for a combustion engine ignition system comprises a switching device switchable between an accumulation condition and a transfer condition to activate an ignition element. The switching system comprises control logic that provides a control signal for controlling the switching device, measures a progress indicator indicative of progress in switching the switching device from the transfer condition to the accumulation condition, and causes the control signal to vary with a first variation rate during a first stage until the progress indicator reaches a first progress condition. The control logic causes the control signal to vary with a second variation rate, lower than the first variation rate, during a second stage until the progress indicator reaches a second progress condition, and causes the control signal to vary with a third variation rate, higher than the second variation rate, during a third stage of the preliminary switching.
US09013223B2

A level conversion circuit including a first level shifter and a second level shifter is provided. The first level shifter converts a first control voltage into a second control voltage during a voltage conversion period. The second level shifter is coupled to the first level shifter. The second level shifter converts the second control voltage into a third control voltage during the voltage conversion period to control a next stage circuit. The first level shifter is configured to detect a voltage level of a power domain where the third control voltage operates and generate a plurality of middle voltages based on the detection result. The second level shifter is configured to generate the third control voltage based on the middle voltages. Furthermore, a voltage level conversion method is also provided.
US09013219B2

A flip flop circuit has a first stage and a second stage. The first stage and the second stage each have interleaved filters.
US09013217B2

In an embodiment of the invention, a dual-port negative level sensitive data retention latch contains a clocked inverter and a dual-port latch. Data is clocked through the clocked inverter when clock signal CKT goes high, CLKZ goes low and retention control signal RET is low. The dual-port latch is configured to receive the output of the clocked inverter, a second data bit D2, the clock signals CKT and CLN, the retain control signals RET and the control signals SS and SSN. The signals CKT, CLKZ, RET, SS and SSN determine whether the output of the clocked inverter or the second data bit D2 is latched in the dual-port latch. Control signal RET determines when data is stored in the dual-port latch during retention mode.
US09013213B2

A digital fractional frequency divider for fractionally dividing a digital frequency signal can include a plurality of clock division counter modules, a plurality of sampling modules, and a summing module. The plurality of clock division counter modules can each receive an input clock signal that is phase-shifted from a remaining plurality of input clock signals. Each clock division counter module can generate a long periodic pulse from the received input clock signal. Each sampling module can couple to an output of one of the plurality of clock division counter modules and can generate a short periodic pulse from the long periodic pulse. The summing module can sum the plurality of short periodic pulses to generate a fractional frequency clock signal.
US09013207B2

In some embodiments, provided is a processor chip including self deactivation logic to deactivate the processor chip after a threshold of qualified events have been monitored.
US09013206B2

A system for connecting an electric vehicle to a high voltage power source is disclosed. The system including an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) having an electrical plug compatible with a high voltage power outlet, the plug connected to a power cord. The power cord is connected to a housing containing a number of electrical components configured to control the power flow to an electric vehicle to recharge the vehicle's batteries. The power cord extends from the housing and is connected to a standard electric vehicle connector compatible with battery electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). The EVSE further includes safety measures, such as a relay that controls the flow of power to the vehicle connector, a ground fault interrupter, and a circuit tester to protect users from high voltage electric shocks.
US09013203B2

The invention relates to an apparatus and method for tracking energy consumption. An energy tracking system comprises at least one switching element, at least one inductor and a control block to keep the output voltage at a pre-selected level. The switching elements are configured to apply the source of energy to the inductors. The control block compares the output voltage of the energy tracking system to a reference value and controls the switching of the switched elements in order to transfer energy for the primary voltage into a secondary voltage at the output of the energy tracking system. The electronic device further comprises an ON-time and OFF-time generator and an accumulator wherein the control block is coupled to receive a signal from the ON-time and OFF-time generator and generates switching signals for the at least one switching element in the form of ON-time pulses with a constant width ON-time.
US09013193B2

An object of the present invention is to accurately detect concentrations of mixtures in a fluid. An internal electrode 23 is disposed on the inner side of an external electrode 22 coaxially with the external electrode 22, and a plurality of points in the length direction of the internal electrode 23 are supported by a casing 21 via supporting members 28a and 28b. The state of a fluid S passing through a passage 26 between the external electrode 22 and the internal electrode 23 is detected based on electrostatic capacitance between the external electrode 22 and the internal electrode 23.
US09013189B2

An electrical joint monitoring device including a mounting assembly and a wireless transponder unit. The mounting assembly includes a first conductive contact structured to electrically connect to a first conductive member of an electrical joint and a second conductive contact structured to electrically connect to a second conductive member of the electrical joint. The wireless transponder unit includes a control unit electrically connected to the first and second conductive contacts and an antenna electrically connected to the control unit. The wireless transponder unit is configured to sense a voltage difference between the first and second conductive contacts, to generate information based on the voltage difference, and to output the information to a wireless reader unit via the antenna.
US09013178B2

In a resolver for determining the relative angular position between two subassemblies, each subassembly includes a winding, the winding being situated inside a housing made up of two housing shells. The housing shells have tabs which are oriented with an axial directional component and joined in interlocking manner with axial overlap at a mutual offset in the circumferential direction.
US09013168B2

A system for transferring energy from an energy source includes a first energy source, a DC link coupled to a DC load, a first DC-to-DC voltage converter coupled to the DC link, and a second DC-to-DC voltage converter coupled to the first energy source. A controller is coupled to the first and second DC-to-DC voltage converters and configured to determine a voltage level of the first energy source and of the DC link. If the voltage level of the DC link is less than the voltage level of the first energy source, the controller controls the second DC-to-DC voltage converter to draw energy from the first energy source to cause the DC voltage output from the first energy source and supplied to the first DC-to-DC voltage converter to be below the DC load voltage supplied to the DC link via the first DC-to-DC voltage converter.
US09013167B2

A Hall effect device includes a Hall element and a voltage regulator. The Hall element has first and second bias terminals, or nodes. The Hall effect device maintains, or regulates, a voltage at a point within the Hall element between the first and second bias terminals at about a constant voltage level, while generating a Hall effect voltage. In particular embodiments, the Hall effect voltage is, thus, prevented from substantially varying with the temperature of the Hall element.
US09013154B2

A firing circuit configured for complete discharge of a storage capacitor is provided with a storage capacitor, an inductor, a diode, a transistor switch having a gate to which the inductor and the diode are connected in series, the inductor and the capacitor being configured for inductor capacitor ringing, the inductive capacitive ringing creating upon initiation of the circuit a gate voltage at the gate above an initial capacitor voltage of the storage capacitor; and the diode blocking the discharge of the gate voltage ensuring that the capacitor can be fully discharged.
US09013151B2

A state-of-charge estimation apparatus connected to a power storage device having cell batteries, and estimating a state of charge of the power storage device, the apparatus including a first SOC computation unit computing a current integration value based on a total current from a current detector detecting the total current flowing to the storage device from a power conversion device using a previous SOC value as an initial value, and outputting the integration value as a first state-of-charge estimated value, and a second SOC computation unit estimating, after discharge suspension in the storage device, an open-circuit voltage based on a total voltage on a connection point between the conversion device and the storage device, a previous value of the total voltage, and a gain with time passage after discharge suspension in the storage device, and outputting the open-circuit voltage as a second state-of-charge estimated value.
US09013149B2

The present invention provides an electronic device that can operate as long as possible even if the battery level is low and that can avoid an unexpected shutdown as much of the time as possible while data is being transmitted to, or received from, an external device.The electronic device has a particular mode of operation in which the electronic device is connected to an external device and can accept a request to read and/or write information sent by the external device. The electronic device includes: a battery; an interface, which is connected to the external device so as to get power from the external device and which accepts the request sent by the external device; and a control section for changing conditions for enabling that particular mode of operation according to a supply value, which is at least one of the values of current and voltage supplied by the external device, and a value representing a level of the battery.
US09013146B2

A secondary battery pack of the present invention includes a secondary battery block 3 in which a plurality of unit blocks 2 are connected in series; battery adjustment sections 5 that are each provided for each of the unit blocks 2 and have a function of monitoring the voltage of secondary batteries and a function of adjusting the balance; a charge switch 8; and a discharge switch 9. The secondary battery pack includes transmission sections 17 that receive information from the corresponding battery adjustment sections 5. The transmission sections are connected to the preceding or subsequent transmission sections and are so set that at least either information input from the preceding transmission sections or information input from the battery adjustment sections 5 is output to the subsequent transmission sections. The transmission sections are equipped with a constant current transmission section that transmits with a constant value of current; and a current detection section that can detect the value of the constant current.
US09013144B2

A power system adapted for supplying power in a high temperature environment is disclosed. The power system includes a rechargeable energy storage that is operable in a temperature range of between about seventy degrees Celsius and about two hundred and fifty degrees Celsius coupled to a circuit for at least one of supplying power from the energy storage and charging the energy storage; wherein the energy storage is configured to store between about one one hundredth (0.01) of a joule and about one hundred megajoules of energy, and to provide peak power of between about one one hundredth (0.01) of a watt and about one hundred megawatts, for at least two charge-discharge cycles. Methods of use and fabrication are provided. Embodiments of additional features of the power supply are included.
US09013142B2

A vehicle and a power source are connected to each other at the time of charging by a charging cable including a signal line for transmitting a pilot signal for communication of information and a power line for transmitting electric power. The pilot signal has voltage changeable between a high level and a low level having a lower potential than the high level. The charging connector is provided with a power terminal to be supplied with the electric power from the power line, a signal terminal receiving the pilot signal transmitted from the signal line, and a light emitting diode having one end coupled to a signal of the signal line and the other end coupled to a node of a higher potential than the low level, with the forward direction thereof from the other end to the one end.
US09013139B2

Disclosed is a method for charging a rechargeable battery that includes at least one rechargeable electrochemical cell is disclosed. The method includes measuring at least one electrical characteristic of the battery, and determining a charging current to be applied to the battery based on the at least one measured electrical characteristic.
US09013137B2

In a system for driving an inverter, a superimposing element superimposes, on an output voltage of the inverter. The high-frequency voltage signal is correlated with a measured high-frequency component value of a current flowing in the rotary machine. A calculating element calculates a rotational angle of the rotary machine based on the measured high-frequency component value. A dead-time compensating element shifts a start edge and an end edge of an on duration for each of first and second switching elements of the inverter by a preset same time to compensate for an error due to dead time. A current manipulating element manipulates a current flowing in the rotary machine to maintain an accuracy of calculation of the rotational angle.
US09013128B2

A brushless motor drive device switches energization modes for supplying power to two phases of a three-phase brushless motor, based on an induced voltage induced in a non-energized phase. In a case in which a target duty ratio Dt, which is a duty ratio of a PWM signal according to a manipulated variable of the brushless motor becomes less than a detection limit value Dlim, which is the lower limit of a duty ratio capable of detecting an induced voltage, there is set a detection timing (1/N) for detecting an induced voltage according to the cycle of a PWM signal, and a detection time duty ratio D1, which is a duty ratio of the PWM signal at the detection timing, is restricted to Dlim.
US09013126B2

In order to store excess kinetic energy, an energy storage device and an operating method are described, in which the kinetic energy can be partially converted into electrical energy by a first electric machine using at least two electric machines arranged on a shaft and can be partially converted into additional kinetic energy, such as rotational energy, by a second electric machine. The method for energy storage of excess kinetic energy provides for converting kinetic energy partially into electric energy and partially into additional kinetic energy, such as rotational energy.
US09013121B2

Various systems and methods are provided for autotensioning conductors of transmission lines. In one embodiment, among others, an autotensioner system includes tensioning assemblies coupled between a structure and corresponding conductors and a tension controller that controls a tensioning assembly to adjust a tension of the corresponding conductor to within a predefined tolerance of a corresponding tension setpoint. In another embodiment, a method includes receiving a current conductor tension for each of multiple conductors and adjusting the conductor tension of one of the conductors by remotely controlling a corresponding tensioning assembly. The adjustment may be based at least in part upon the current conductor tensions and a tension setpoint.
US09013120B2

A method for driving an LED lighting device includes receiving an input voltage from a battery unit and converting the input voltage into a driving current to drive the LED lighting device. The method further includes detecting whether the battery unit is in a low battery state. When the low battery state of the battery unit is detected, the driving current is reduced.
US09013117B2

Disclosed is a color lamp driving apparatus for generating illumination light of various colors by using a plurality of Red (R), Green (R), and Blue (B) lamps together with each other, having a color controller for generating a color control signal, which indicates driving time rates of R, G, and B lamp arrays, according to color information of required illumination light, and a lamp driving module for outputting a driving signal for driving each of R, G, and B lamp arrays according to the color control signal output from the color controller. The driving signal is set to apply driving times for the R, G, and B lamp arrays based on one among a start time point, a middle time point, and an end time point of each corresponding period ΔT within one light-emitting period T.
US09013111B2

The configurations of an electronic ballast are provided in the present invention. The proposed electronic ballast includes a filter circuit having a first and a second output terminals, a rectifier circuit having a first input terminal, a second input terminal coupled to the second output terminal of the filter circuit, and a first output terminal, and a continuous-conduction-mode charge pump PFC circuit including a first inductor having a first terminal coupled to the first input terminal and a second terminal coupled to the first output terminal of the filter circuit, a second inductor having a first terminal and a first capacitor having a first terminal coupled to the first terminal of the first inductor and a second terminal coupled to the first terminal of the second inductor.
US09013107B2

A load driving apparatus relating to light-emitting-diodes (LEDs) is provided. In the invention, a compensation voltage on a compensation pin (CMP) of a control chip would not be changed in response to (or with) the variation (i.e. enabling and disabling) of a pulse-width-modulation (PWM) signal for dimming. In other words, the compensation voltage on the compensation pin (CMP) of the control chip would be maintained in unchanging regardless of whether the PWM signal for dimming is enabled or disabled. Therefore, an LED string at the current switching transient does not have the generation of over-shoot current.
US09013103B2

A high-pressure discharge lamp having a starting aid and having a discharge vessel is disclosed, wherein the discharge vessel has two ends with seals, in which electrodes and possibly power supply lines are fastened, wherein the starting aid includes a wire system consisting of a core wire and a wrapping wire applied thereto, wherein the wrapping wire is a flat-pressed or flattened wire.
US09013094B2

An organic light emitting display apparatus including sub pixels, each of the sub pixels including: first and second electrodes, the second electrode extending over the first electrode; and an intermediate layer disposed between the first and second electrodes, the intermediate layer including an emission layer, wherein a first portion of the first electrode, the second electrode, and the intermediate layer extends within a weak resonance region, the weak resonance region being configured to induce a first resonance of light generated by the emission layer between the first and second electrodes, and a second portion of the first electrode, the second electrode, and the intermediate layer extends within a strong resonance region, the strong resonance region being configured to induce a second resonance of light generated by the emission layer between the first and second electrodes, the second resonance being stronger than the first resonance.
US09013091B2

Acoustic waves and photoacoustic waves are detected efficiently in a photoacoustic imaging apparatus configured to obtain acoustic images as well, to enable obtainment of high quality acoustic images and photoacoustic images. A probe for a photoacoustic imaging apparatus is equipped with: first piezoelectric bodies that detect acoustic waves reflected by a subject after the acoustic waves are irradiated onto the subject; and second piezoelectric bodies that detect photoacoustic waves generated within the subject due to irradiation of light after the light is irradiated onto the subject. Piezoelectric bodies made from an inorganic material are employed as the first piezoelectric bodies, and piezoelectric bodies made from an organic material are employed as the second piezoelectric bodies.
US09013086B2

A stator for an electric motor includes a stator core including a yoke and a plurality of arms extending radially from the yoke. The stator includes an end piece secured to a radial end of each arm of the stator core. The stator core has a length defined along a longitudinal axis of the stator, and each end piece has a length defined along the longitudinal axis of the stator. The length of each end piece is greater than the length of the stator core.
US09013071B1

A power cord management system for managing flexible electrical power cords associated with hair or bathroom handheld appliances includes a power cord storage body. A pair of spaced apart cord wrapping elements are coupled to the power storage body about which the flexible electrical power cord may be wrapped for storage. At least one of the cord wrapping elements is movable between a storage and release position. The cord wrapping elements are configured to retain the wrapped power cord upon the power cord storage body when the at least one of the cord wrapping elements is in the storage position and wherein the wrapped power cord may be removed from the power cord storage body without unwrapping the wrapped power cord when the at least one of the cord wrapping elements is moved to the release position. A power cord coupling mechanism is coupled to the power cord storage body for facilitating releasable retaining of a free end or other portion of the flexible electrical power cord to the power cord storage body.
US09013061B2

A multisource power system utilizing output isolated DC-DC converters in a serial input, parallel output arrangement provides uniform input voltage distribution and selective maximum power tracking wherein embodiments include maximum power tracking (“MPT”) with a single MPT controller, a battery dominated output voltage bus, and a regulated output voltage bus.
US09013057B2

A starter circuit includes a battery, a starter electrically coupled with the battery, a relay disposed between the battery and the starter, and a starter switch mounted remotely from the starter. The starter includes a switch assembly and a starter motor. The switch assembly includes an actuator and a start signal switch. The relay is configured to operate to provide current to the switch assembly to close the start signal switch in response to a received signal. The starter switch closes in response to the start signal switch being closed, whereby the battery delivers current to the starter motor when the starter switch is closed. A starter unit is also disclosed.
US09013053B2

A multi-type wind turbine is provided such that a plurality of arms are combined with one tower in a radial direction, and a unit generator having a blade is provided at the plurality of arms, respectively, and at least two of the unit generators are rotated in opposite directions to each other. Furthermore, both ends of the arm may be located both sides thereof on the basis of the height directional central line of the tower to be fixed thereto or both ends of the arm may be located at one side of the tower to be rotatably combined therewith. Furthermore, the rotation speed and tilt angle of the blade of the unit generator may controlled in an individual manner or controlled in a grouped manner. Furthermore, the unit generator may include a main blade and a sub-blade which is smaller than the main blade.
US09013050B2

Provided is a hybrid construction machine including: a hydraulic actuator; a hydraulic pump which discharges hydraulic fluid for driving the hydraulic actuator; a generator-motor which performs an electric generator action of generating electric power and an electric motor action of generating motive power; an engine connected to the hydraulic pump and the motor-generator; an electrical storage device; and a controller which causes the generator-motor to perform the electric generator action and charge the electrical storage device and causes the generator-motor to perform the electric motor action by electric power discharged from the electrical storage device to assist the engine. The controller causes the generator-motor to start the electric generator action when an engine output becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined engine lower limit output, and controls the electric generator action to keep the engine output no lower than the engine lower limit output.
US09013049B2

To provide a resin composition for sealing an optical semiconductor, which is a raw material for a sealing resin layer having good curability and excellent storage stability; preferably a raw material for a sealing resin layer further having excellent weather resistance. The surface sealant for an optical semiconductor of Embodiment 1 according to the present invention contains epoxy resin (a) having two or more epoxy groups in a molecule, and metal complex (b1) which contains at least one metal ion selected from the group consisting of Zn, Bi, Ca, Al, Cd, La and Zr, a tertiary amine capable of forming a complex with the metal ion and having no N—H bond and an anionic ligand having a molecular weight of 17 to 200, in which the surface sealant has a viscosity of 10 to 10000 mPa·s, as measured by E-type viscometer at 25° C. and 1.0 rpm.
US09013047B2

A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor element, a capacitor, a first resin, lead frames and a second resin. The first resin forms a resin molding which covers the semiconductor element and the capacitor. The lead frames are attached to two surfaces of the resin molding and are connected to the semiconductor element and the capacitor. The second resin directly covers the capacitor and has a rigidity lower than a rigidity of the first resin. An outside of the second resin is directly covered with the first resin.
US09013042B2

An interconnection structure for being formed on bonding pads of a substrate in a semiconductor package is provided. The interconnection structure includes a nickel layer formed on each of the bonding pads, a metal layer formed on the nickel layer, and a solder material formed on the metal layer. The metal layer is made of one of gold, silver, lead and copper, and has a thickness in the range of 0.5 to 5 um. As such, when the solder material is reflowed to form solder bumps, no nickel-tin compound is formed between the solder bumps and the metal layer, thereby avoiding cracking or delamination of the solder bumps.
US09013040B1

A memory device with die stacking is provided. A plurality of substrates layers are stacked together into a stack. Each substrate layer may include a substrate having a plurality of cavities to receive integrated circuit components within the thickness of the substrate. A plurality of conductive spheres are arranged between at least two adjacent substrate layers and are electrically coupled to the integrated circuit components in at least one of the two adjacent substrates. The two adjacent substrate layers of the stack include: (a) a first substrate having a first plurality of cavities to receive integrated circuit components, and (b) a second substrate having a second plurality of cavities to receive integrated circuit components, wherein the first plurality of cavities is offset from a second plurality of cavities.
US09013039B2

A method for handling and supporting a device wafer during a wafer thinning process and the resulting device are provided. Embodiments include forming a plurality of solder bumps on a first surface of a substrate having a first and a second surface; removing a portion from a periphery of the first surface of the substrate; forming a temporary bonding material on a first carrier; bonding the first surface of the substrate with the temporary bonding material of the first carrier; affixing the second surface of the substrate to a second carrier; and removing the temporary bonding material.
US09013036B2

A sealing member is disclosed, which includes a first structure and a second structure. The first structure includes a groove with an opening towards the outside of the sealing member, wherein the second structure is disposed in the groove. The first structure includes a first material, and the second structure includes a second material, wherein the water absorption rate of the second material is greater than the water absorption rate of the first material. Also, an electronic device using the sealing member is disclosed.
US09013032B2

A plastic SON/QFN package for high power has a pair of oblong metal pins exposed from a surface of the plastic, the pins straddling a corner of the package; each pin has a long axis, the long axes of the pair forming a non-orthogonal angle.
US09013017B2

A method of making image sensor devices may include forming a sensor layer including image sensor ICs in an encapsulation material, bonding a spacer layer to the sensor layer, the spacer layer having openings therein and aligned with the image sensor ICs, and bonding a lens layer to the spacer layer, the lens layer including lens in an encapsulation material and aligned with the openings and the image sensor ICs. The method may also include dicing the bonded-together sensor, spacer and lens layers to provide the image sensor devices. Helpfully, the method may use WLP to enhance production.
US09013016B2

A magneto-resistive device having a large output signal as well as a high signal-to-noise ratio is described along with a process for forming it. This improved performance was accomplished by expanding the free layer into a multilayer laminate comprising at least three ferromagnetic layers separated from one another by antiparallel coupling layers. The ferromagnetic layer closest to the transition layer must include CoFeB while the furthermost layer is required to have low Hc as well as a low and negative lambda value. One possibility for the central ferromagnetic layer is NiFe but this is not mandatory.
US09013015B2

A micro-electromechanical semiconductor component is provided with a semiconductor substrate, a reversibly deformable bending element made of semiconductor material, and at least one transistor that is sensitive to mechanical stresses. The transistor is designed as an integrated component in the bending element.
US09013011B1

A staggered die MEMS package includes a substrate having a converter cavity formed therein. A converter electronic component is mounted within the converter cavity. Further, a MEMS electronic component is mounted to both the substrate and the converter electronic component in a staggered die arrangement. By staggering the MEMS electronic component directly on the converter electronic component instead of locating the MEMS electronic component in a side by side arrangement with the converter electronic component, the total package width of the staggered die MEMS package is minimized. Further, by locating the converter electronic component within the converter cavity and staggering the MEMS electronic component directly on the converter electronic component, the total package height, sometimes called Z-height, of the staggered die MEMS package is minimized.
US09013008B2

A semiconductor structure has embedded stressor material for enhanced transistor performance. The method of forming the semiconductor structure includes etching an undercut in a substrate material under one or more gate structures while protecting an implant with a liner material. The method further includes removing the liner material on a side of the implant and depositing stressor material in the undercut under the one or more gate structures.
US09013007B2

A depletion type MOS transistor includes a well region having a first conductivity type and formed on a semiconductor substrate, a gate insulating film formed on the well region, and a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film. Source and drain regions having a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type are formed on respective sides of the gate electrode and within the well region. A first low concentration impurity region has the second conductivity type and is formed below the gate insulating film between the source and drain regions and within the well region. A second low concentration impurity region has the first conductivity type and is formed below the first low concentration impurity region between the source and drain regions and within the well region.
US09013005B2

According to an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a second semiconductor layer provided on a first semiconductor layer and including first pillars and second pillars. A first control electrode is provided in a trench of the second semiconductor layer and a second control electrode is provided on the second semiconductor layer and connected to the first control electrode. A first semiconductor region is provided on a surface of the second semiconductor layer except for a portion under the second control electrode. A second semiconductor region is provided on a surface of the first semiconductor region, the second semiconductor region being apart from the portion under the second control electrode and a third semiconductor region is provided on the first semiconductor region. A first major electrode is connected electrically to the first semiconductor layer and a second major electrode is connected electrically to the second and the third semiconductor region.
US09012995B2

A memory element includes a FinFET select device and a memory element. In some embodiments a memory cell has a contact element coupled between a surface of the fin and the memory element.
US09012983B2

A semiconductor device includes the following elements. A semiconductor substrate has a device formation region. The device formation region is defined by first and second device isolation regions which extend in first and second directions, respectively. The device formation region has a first gate groove which extends in the second direction. A first gate insulating film is disposed in a lower portion of the first gate groove. A first gate electrode is disposed on the first gate insulating film. The first gate electrode is disposed in the lower portion of the first gate groove. A buried insulating film is disposed over the first gate electrode. The buried insulating film is disposed in an upper portion of the first gate groove.
US09012982B2

A recessed transistor and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The recessed transistor may include a substrate, an active pin, a gate pattern and source and drain regions. The substrate may include an isolation layer that establishes an active region and a field region of the substrate. The substrate may include a recessed structure having an upper recess formed in the active region and a lower recess in communication with the upper recess. An active pin may be formed in a region between side surfaces of the isolation layer and the lower recess and an interface between the active region and the field region. The gate pattern may include a gate insulation layer formed on an inner surface of the recessed structure and a gate electrode formed on the gate insulation layer in the recessed structure. The source/drain regions may be formed adjacent to the active region and the gate electrode.
US09012971B2

A semiconductor device includes a channel layer protruding from a substrate and having protrusions extending from a sidewall thereof. Floating gates surrounding the channel layer are provided between the protrusions. Control gates surrounding the floating gates are stacked along the channel layer. Interlayer insulating layers are interposed between the control gates stacked along the channel layer. A level difference exists between a lateral surface of each of the floating gates, and a lateral surface of each of the protrusions.
US09012969B2

A device isolation film has a first height in a first area and a second height higher than the first height in a second area. The first area includes a first end of a dummy memory transistor facing a memory string and a part of a device isolation film adjacent thereof. The second area includes a second end of the dummy memory transistor facing a select transistor and a part of the device isolation film adjacent thereof.
US09012965B2

The invention discloses a novel MOSFET device fabricated by a gate last process and its implementation method, the device comprising: a substrate; a gate stack structure located on a channel region in the substrate, on either side of which is eliminated the conventional isolation spacer; an epitaxially grown ultrathin metal silicide constituting a source/drain region. Wherein the device eliminates the high resistance region below the conventional isolation spacer; a dopant segregation region with imlanted ions is formed between the source/drain and the channel region, which decreases the Schottky barrier height between the metal silicide source/drain and the channel. At the same time, the epitaxially grown metal silicide can withstand a second high-temperature annealing used for improving the performance of a high-k gate dielectric material, which further improves the performance of the device. The MOSFET according to the invention reduces the parasitic resistance and capacitance greatly and thereby decreases the RC delay, thus improving the switching performance of the MOSFET device significantly.
US09012960B2

A photo detector comprising a first doped impurity region (adapted to receive a first voltage) disposed in or on a substrate; a body region, juxtaposed the first doped impurity region; a gate (adapted to receive a second voltage) spaced from a first portion of the body region; a light absorbing region, juxtaposed a second portion of the body region, includes a material which, in response to light incident thereon, generates carrier pairs including a first and second type carriers; a contact region (adapted to receive a third voltage) juxtaposed the light absorbing region; wherein, in response to incident light, the gate attracts first type carriers of the carrier pairs to the first portion of the body region which causes second carriers from the first doped impurity region to flow to the contact region, and the contact region attracts second type carriers.
US09012958B2

A semiconductor device of the invention includes an n-GaN layer provided on a substrate, a channel layer provided in contact with the upper surface of the n-GaN layer, an electron supply layer which is provided on the channel layer, and a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode which are provided on the electron supply layer. The gate electrode is in contact with an underlying layer made from a nitride semiconductor. The semiconductor device has a ratio defined by the equation L/d1≧7, where L is the width of the gate electrode in contact with the underlying layer in a direction between the source electrode and drain electrode; and d1 is the distance between a surface of the n-type gallium nitride layer and a boundary between the gate electrode and the underlying layer.
US09012938B2

Apparatuses and methods for producing light emitting devices maximizing luminous flux output are disclosed. In one possible embodiment, a light emitting device comprises a substrate and a reflective layer at least partially covering the substrate. The reflective layer is non-yellowing, and may be substantially light transparent. One or more light emitting diode (LED) chips are disposed on the substrate. The light emitting device may emit white light. The reflective layer may comprise a silicone carrier with light reflective particles dispersed in the silicone carrier. A light diffusion lens may also be disposed on the substrate and surrounding the LED chips. Furthermore, one or more microspheres, light scattering particles, and/or phosphor particles may be dispersed in the lens. In one possible method for producing a light emitting device, a substrate is provided. One or more LED chips are coupled with the substrate, and a high reflective, non-yellowing coating is applied on at least a portion of the top surface of the substrate. The coating comprises a carrier with reflective particles dispersed throughout.
US09012937B2

An emitter package comprising a light emitting diode (LED) emitting light at a wavelength within a wavelength range and a plurality of phosphors. Each of the phosphors absorbs at least some light from the LED and re-emits a different wavelength of light. The package emits a combination of light from the LED and the plurality of phosphors, with the phosphors having excitation characteristics such that the emitter package emits light within a standard deviation of a target color for LEDs emitting at the wavelengths with the wavelength range. A method for fabricating emitter packages comprising fabricating a plurality of LEDs, each of which emits at a wavelength within a range of wavelengths. Each of the LEDs are arranged in a respective package with a plurality of conversion materials so that at least some light from each of the LEDs is absorbed and re-emitted by its corresponding conversion materials. The plurality of conversion materials have excitation characteristics that compensate for different LED emission wavelengths within the LED range of wavelengths such that each of the LED packages emits light within a standard deviation from a target color.
US09012936B2

The sapphire substrate has a principal surface for growing a nitride semiconductor to form a nitride semiconductor light emitting device and comprising a plurality of projections of the principal surface, wherein an outer periphery of a bottom surface of each of the projections has at least one depression. This depression is in the horizontal direction. The plurality of projections are arranged so that a straight line passes through the inside of at least any one of projections when the straight line is drawn at any position in any direction in a plane including the bottom surfaces of the plurality of projections.
US09012927B2

Provided is a display device including: a substrate; and multiple pixels provided on the substrate, the pixels each having an organic EL element obtained by laminating a lower electrode provided on the substrate, an organic compound layer, and an upper electrode in the stated order, and the lower electrode including an electrode independently placed for each of the pixels, in which: the lower electrode is formed of a first lower electrode layer provided on the substrate and a second lower electrode layer provided on the first lower electrode layer; the organic compound layer and the upper electrode cover the first lower electrode layer and the second lower electrode layer; and charge injection property from the second lower electrode layer into the organic compound layer is larger than charge injection property from an end portion of the first lower electrode layer into the organic compound layer.
US09012925B2

A solid-state imaging device according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes a light receiving unit, a first charge holding film, and a second charge holding film. The light receiving unit converts the incident light to an electric current. The first charge holding film is formed above the light receiving unit and holds electric charges. The second charge holding film is formed on the first charge holding film and holds electric charges. Further, concentration of oxygen in the second charge holding film is higher than concentration of oxygen in the first charge holding film.
US09012924B2

Provided is a spectrum detector capable of being miniaturized and which does not require complicated optical axis alignment. The spectrum detector of the present invention comprises: a substrate; a photodetector formed on the substrate and including a semiconductor having a plurality of convex portions; and a wavelength detection circuit for detecting a wavelength of light transmitted through the plurality of convex portions, from light incident on the photodetector. According to the present invention, a small-sized spectrum detector can be provided which can easily detect a peak wavelength distribution included in light of an unknown wavelength, without the use of optical equipment such as a grating or prism, thus dispensing with the need for the optical axis alignment of a complex optical system.
US09012922B2

A substrate is provided with a main surface having an off angle of 5° or smaller relative to a reference plane. The reference plane is a {000-1} plane in the case of hexagonal system and is a {111} plane in the case of cubic system. A silicon carbide layer is epitaxially formed on the main surface of the substrate. The silicon carbide layer is provided with a trench having first and second side walls opposite to each other. Each of the first and second side walls includes a channel region. Further, each of the first and second side walls substantially includes one of a {0-33-8} plane and a {01-1-4} plane in the case of the hexagonal system and substantially includes a {100} plane in the case of the cubic system.
US09012909B2

An oxide semiconductor includes zinc (Zn), tin (Sn), and at least one of Ag and Au.
US09012904B2

In the transistor including an oxide semiconductor film, a gate insulating film of the transistor including an oxide semiconductor film has a stacked-layer structure of the hydrogen capture film and the hydrogen permeable film. At this time, the hydrogen permeable film is formed on a side which is in contact with the oxide semiconductor film, and the hydrogen capture film is formed on a side which is in contact with a gate electrode. After that, hydrogen released from the oxide semiconductor film is transferred to the hydrogen capture film through the hydrogen permeable film by the heat treatment.
US09012899B2

This invention relates to electroluminescent metal complexes of the formula (I) wherein the ring A, represents an optionally substituted aryl group which can optionally contain heteroatoms, the ring B, represents an optionally substituted nitrogen containing aryl group, which can optionally contain further heteroatoms, or the ring A may be taken with the ring B binding to the ring A to form a ring; the group C, represents an acyclic carbene, or a cyclic carbene (ring C), which can optionally contain heteroatoms, the ring D, represents an optionally substituted aryl group which can optionally contain heteroatoms, n1 is an integer of 1 to 3, m1 is an integer of 0, 1 or 2, m2 is an integer 0 or 1, M1 is a metal with an atomic weight of greater than 40, L3 is a monodentate ligand or a bidentate ligand, Y is —C(═O)— or —C(X1)2—, wherein X1 is hydrogen or C1-4alkyl, especially hydrogen and y is 0 or 1, especially 0; a process for their preparation, electronic devices comprising the metal complexes and their use in electronic devices, especially organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), as oxygen sensitive indicators, as phosphorescent indicators in bioassays and as catalysts.
US09012897B2

An organic EL element comprises: an anode; a cathode; a functional layer that is disposed between the anode and the cathode and includes at least a light-emitting layer; a hole injection layer disposed between the anode and the functional layer; and a bank. The hole injection layer contains tungsten oxide, and has a recessed portion. A UPS spectrum of the hole injection layer, obtained from a UPS measurement, has a protrusion appearing near a Fermi surface and within a region corresponding to a binding energy range lower than a top of a valence band. The tungsten oxide contained in the hole injection layer satisfies a condition, determined from an XPS measurement, that a ratio in a number density of atoms other than tungsten atoms and oxygen atoms to the tungsten atoms does not exceed approximately 0.83.
US09012893B2

A display apparatus includes a substrate including a display area, an encapsulation member facing the substrate, a pad unit around the display area of the substrate, the pad unit including a contact area and an exposure area that is spaced apart from the contact area, and a flexible printed circuit (FPC) that is connected to the contact area of the pad unit and is curved towards the encapsulation member.
US09012892B2

The present teachings provide methods for forming organic layers for an organic light-emitting device (OLED) using an inkjet printing or thermal printing process. The method can further use one or more additional processes, such as vacuum thermal evaporation (VTE), to create an OLED stack. OLED stack structures are also provided wherein at least one of the charge injection or charge transport layers is formed by an inkjet printing or thermal printing method at a high deposition rate. The structure of the organic layer can be amorphous, crystalline, porous, dense, smooth, rough, or a combination thereof, depending on deposition parameters and post-treatment conditions. An OLED microcavity is also provided and can be formed by one of more of the methods.
US09012883B2

A semiconductor nanowire device includes at least one semiconductor nanowire having a bottom surface and a top surface, an insulating material which surrounds the semiconductor nanowire, and an electrode ohmically contacting the top surface of the semiconductor nanowire. A contact of the electrode to the semiconductor material of the semiconductor nanowire is dominated by the contact to the top surface of the semiconductor nanowire.
US09012882B2

A graphene nanomesh includes a sheet of graphene having a plurality of periodically arranged apertures, wherein the plurality of apertures have a substantially uniform periodicity and substantially uniform neck width. The graphene nanomesh can open up a large band gap in a sheet of graphene to create a semiconducting thin film. The periodicity and neck width of the apertures formed in the graphene nanomesh may be tuned to alter the electrical properties of the graphene nanomesh. The graphene nanomesh is prepared with block copolymer lithography. Graphene nanomesh field-effect transistors (FETs) can support currents nearly 100 times greater than individual graphene nanoribbon devices and the on-off ratio, which is comparable with values achieved in nanoribbon devices, can be tuned by varying the neck width. The graphene nanomesh may also be incorporated into FET-type sensor devices.
US09012881B2

Resistive-switching memory elements having improved switching characteristics are described, including a memory element having a first electrode and a second electrode, a switching layer between the first electrode and the second electrode comprising hafnium oxide and having a first thickness, and a coupling layer between the switching layer and the second electrode, the coupling layer comprising a material including metal titanium and having a second thickness that is less than 25 percent of the first thickness.
US09012877B2

A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor layer extending in a first direction on a substrate, a plurality of second semiconductor layers spaced apart in the first direction on the first semiconductor layer, and an insulation layer structure surrounding side walls of the first semiconductor layer and the plurality of second semiconductor layers. The first semiconductor layer may have a first conductivity type, and the plurality of second semiconductor layers may have a second conductivity type.
US09012875B2

A method and an inspection system that exhibiting speckle reduction characteristics includes a light source arranged to generate input light pulses, and diffuser-free speckle reduction optics that include a beam splitter, for splitting an input light pulse from the light source into multiple light pulses that are oriented at angles in relation to each other when exiting the beam splitter, and at least one optical element for directing the multiple light pulses to impinge on an inspected object at different angles.
US09012874B2

An ion implantation system and process, in which the performance and lifetime of the ion source of the ion implantation system are enhanced, by utilizing isotopically enriched dopant materials, or by utilizing dopant materials with supplemental gas(es) effective to provide such enhancement.
US09012849B2

A system for measuring the absorption spectrum of a sample is provided that includes a broadband light source that produces broadband light defined within a range of an absorptance spectrum. An interferometer modulates the intensity of the broadband light source for a range of modulation frequencies. A bi-layer cantilever probe arm is thermally connected to a sample arm having at most two layers of materials. The broadband light modulated by the interferometer is directed towards the sample and absorbed by the sample and converted into heat, which causes a temperature rise and bending of the bi-layer cantilever probe arm. A detector mechanism measures and records the deflection of the probe arm so as to obtain the absorptance spectrum of the sample.
US09012841B2

A specimen holder and method for controlling the same, which can mount a specimen to allow observation of the specimen. The specimen holder includes: a body; a specimen mounting part formed at an end of the body; elasticity means located inside the body; and a stand detachably joined with the body. The stand includes: a base part; and a joining part protrudingly formed on an upper face of the base part and having a through hole to receive at least a part of the specimen mounting part. The specimen mounting part includes: a movable push rod connected with the elasticity means; a lever connected with the push rod and rotatable on a central shaft; a specimen pressing plate connected to an end portion of the lever for fixing one surface of the specimen; a lever spring connected to the lever; and a fixing jaw.
US09012833B2

The present invention provides a terahertz wave measuring apparatus and measurement method capable of improving the quantitativeness of obtained frequency spectrum information. In a measurement method in which a terahertz wave measuring apparatus is used, the terahertz wave measuring apparatus measures a time waveform of a terahertz wave relating to a calibration sample whose shape of a calibration spectrum is already known and obtains a measurement spectrum by transforming the time waveform. The calibration spectrum and the measurement spectrum are compared, and, on the basis of results of the comparison, time intervals of measurement data that form a time waveform are adjusted in order to calibrate the terahertz wave measuring apparatus.
US09012831B2

A rotary encoder includes a housing and a shaft, which has an axis. A graduated disk is fixed in place on the shaft in torsionally fixed manner. The shaft is adapted for the positionally accurate attachment to a first machine part. Furthermore, a scanning device for scanning the graduated disk is fixed in place on the housing, the housing being arranged such that an outer surface forms a positionally accurate rigid stop on a second machine part in the radial direction. The housing includes a housing body and a cover, the housing body and the cover being connected to each other by press-fitting. The housing has a mechanically flexible element which is deformed as a result of the press-fitting.
US09012830B2

A particle detection system is provided. The particle detection system includes at least one tapered optical fiber, a light source configured to transmit light through the at least one tapered optical fiber, a photodetector configured to measure a characteristic of the light being transmitted through the at least one optical fiber, and a computing device coupled to the photodetector and configured to determine whether a nanoparticle is present within an evanescent field of the at least one tapered optical fiber based on the measured light characteristic.
US09012818B1

A beverage warming assembly (8) with a non-ferromagnetic, transparent heat carafe (10) having an induction heating assembly (38) attached to the bottom (24) by a threaded fastener (46) formed of a generally planer, induction ferromagnetic heating element (42) with a top and a bottom, and an insulating member (44) interposed between the carafe bottom (24) and the bottom of the induction heating element (42) to thermally insulate the bottom (24) from he induction heating element (42), to enable relative movement between the induction heating element (42) and the bottom (24) and to seal a fastener hole (48) against leaks. Different levels of heating are achieved by connecting a high frequency voltage signal from a generator (64) to different inputs along the length of the coil induction coil (40) in response to actuation of heating level selection switches (59, 60, 62). An AC power circuit breaker (70) removes power in response to actuation of a power switch (56) or when an input current detector (72) senses a current level that exceeds a preselected level.
US09012816B2

The present invention provides a stretch-resistant light-emitting or heat-emitting structure. The wirelessly-chargeable stretch-resistant light-emitting structure includes a woven member, conductive twisted cables, a light-emitting element, and a receiver circuit. The woven member is mounted to the article. Each conductive twisted cable includes a stretch-resistant wire and a electrically conductive wire twisted together. The conductive twisted cables are woven in the woven member. The light-emitting element, which is arranged inside the woven member, includes a light emission section and two conductive pins. The conductive pins are respectively and electrically connected to the electrically conductive wires of the conductive twisted cables. The wirelessly-chargeable stretch-resistant heat-emitting structure includes a carrying member, an electrical heating element mounted to the carrying member, conductive twisted cables that are in electrical connection with the electrical heating element, and a receiver circuit that is in electrical connection with the conductive twisted cables. The carrying member is woven in the article.
US09012809B2

A welding device applies weld material between two work pieces such that the work pieces are connected mechanically with one another. The welding device includes a welding head and a central element. The welding head performs a welding action during transport thereof along an operating direction between the work pieces. Two primary sensor members are arranged on the central element upstream of the welding head relative to the operating direction. The sensor members register geometric properties of a spacing between the work pieces in which spacing the weld material is to be applied. Each sensor member is configured to maintain contact with a respective wall of the two work pieces adjoining the spacing while allowing variation of lateral distances between the central element and the adjoining wall. This is accomplished by the sensor members being pivotally attached to the central element via at least one pivoting axis oriented essentially perpendicular to the operating direction.
US09012808B2

A method for controlling and/or regulating a welding apparatus with a welding wire, wherein after ignition of an electric arc, a cold metal transfer welding process is conducted. For creating more various possibilities for controlling heat introduction into the work piece and/or for introducing filler material, it is provided that during at least some short-circuit phases, polarity of the welding current I and/or the welding voltage U is switched, wherein the amplitude of the welding current I and/or the welding voltage U is adjusted to a defined value so that melting-through of the welding wire and the short-circuit bridge, respectively, is prevented. There is also a safe re-ignition of the electric arc when lifting the welding wire off the work piece. It is also possible to reignite the electric arc only by the welding current I and/or the welding voltage U without any auxiliary voltage, at the end of the short-circuit phase or at the beginning of the electric-arc phase.
US09012800B2

A gas circuit breaker is provided, avoiding change in the position of a cover member and without weakening of the blow of gas to the arc in an arc discharge cavity even when a surface of the cover member in contact with the arc discharge cavity is damaged. The gas circuit breaker includes a contact ring, a holder attached to the contact ring, and extending to a path of arc-extinguishing gas that extinguishes an arc, and an electrically insulative cover member attached to the holder.
US09012796B2

An electrical switch which includes a top metal support plate, a triggering member bearing on a bottom of a recess, a bottom metal contact plate having a fixed central contact region, and an adhesive fixing insulating sheet. The adhesive insulating sheet is arranged between a peripheral portion of the bottom face of the top support plate and a peripheral portion of the top face of the bottom contact plate and the adhesive insulating sheet adheres, by its two opposite faces, to each of said two annular portions to form a means for fixing the top support plate to the bottom contact plate.
US09012793B2

Methods, systems and devices are described for detecting a position-based attribute of a finger, stylus or other object with a touchpad or other sensor having a touch-sensitive region that includes a plurality of electrodes. Modulation signals for one or more electrodes are produced as a function of any number of distinct digital codes. The modulation signals are applied to an associated at least one of the plurality of electrodes to obtain a resultant signal that is electrically affected by the position of the object. The resultant signal is demodulated using the plurality of distinct digital codes to discriminate electrical effects produced by the object. The position-based attribute of the object is then determined with respect to the plurality of electrodes from the electrical effects.
US09012781B2

The present invention discloses electrical cables containing a cable core and a plurality of conductive elements surrounding the cable core. The cable core contains at least one composite core, and each composite core contains a rod which contains a plurality of unidirectionally aligned fiber rovings embedded within a thermoplastic polymer matrix, and surrounded by a capping layer.
US09012767B2

A solar cell system includes a number of P-N junction cells, a number of inner electrodes, a first collecting electrode and a second collecting electrode. The number of the P-N junction cells is M. M is equal to or greater than 2. The M P-N junction cells are arranged from a first P-N junction cell to an Mth P-N junction cell along a straight line. The P-N junction cells are arranged in series along the straight line. The number of the inner electrodes is M−1. At least one inner electrode includes a carbon nanotube array. A first collecting electrode located on an outside surface of the first P-N junction cell. A second collecting electrode located on an outside surface of the Mth P-N junction cell. A photoreceptive surface is parallel to the straight line.
US09012763B2

A stretchable photovoltaic device, a stretchable photovoltaic module and a carrier for facilitating formation of a stretchable photovoltaic device and/or module are provided. The stretchable photovoltaic device includes a stretchable part, at least one photovoltaic cell and a surface over which that at least one photovoltaic cell is disposed. The stretchable part has a given length that is operable to change in response to a force being applied to the device. The given length may, for example, elongate when the force causes the device to elongate. Alternative and/or additionally, the given length may compress when the force causes the device to compress.
US09012753B2

A music instruction apparatus includes a string adapted to be wound into a tuning peg of a string instrument, a tension indicator disposed on the string proximate to an end of the string, the tension indicator representing a predetermined level of tension in the string when the end of the string is wound into the tuning peg up to the position of the tension indicator, and a note indicator disposed on the string, the note indicator representing a musical note.
US09012751B2

A percussion instrument is disclosed that may include a body having a longitudinal axis extending from a butt end to a striking end thereof and at least one hole extending through the thickness of the body substantially along or through an axis that is different from the longitudinal axis; and a grasping mechanism having a first grip plate at a first end thereof and a second grip plate at a second end thereof, and at least one shaft extending through the hole. The percussion instrument may further include a compliance mechanism disposed between the first and second grip plates, enabling the first and second grip plates to move closer together in response to a compressive force applied. One or more recesses or bores may be used for a more compact design, and the at least one hole may be on an angle to accommodate different drumming styles.
US09012749B2

A music box includes a plurality of star wheels, a plurality of vibration valves, a plurality of anchoring members, a plurality of electromagnets, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to control one or more of the plurality of the electromagnets to be a first state by supplying a first electricity and control each of the plurality of electromagnets to be a second state by supplying a second electricity. Each of the plurality of anchoring members is configured to engage with one of the plurality of protruding parts in the second state. The one or more of the plurality of anchoring members is configured to rotate about a second axis extending parallel to a first axis in the first state, and the one or more of the plurality of anchoring members is positioned remote from the electromagnet with a gap therebetween in the first state.
US09012745B1

A novel maize variety designated PH18VF and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH18VF with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH18VF through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH18VF or a locus conversion of PH18VF with another maize variety.
US09012737B1

A novel sorghum variety designated PHAROLYKE and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a plant that comprise crossing sorghum variety PHAROLYKE with another plant. Methods for producing a plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHAROLYKE through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the sorghum seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid sorghum seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the sorghum variety PHAROLYKE or a locus conversion of PHAROLYKE with another sorghum variety.
US09012729B2

The present invention relates to a process of producing male sterile monocotyledonous plants by introducing into said plants fragments of a nucleotide sequence coding for a protein which provides for male sterility and reconstituting the complete protein which provides for male sterility by intein-mediated trans-splicing.
US09012728B2

Isolated polynucleotides are provided. Each of the isolated polynucleotides comprise a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 80% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 121, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 95 or 96, wherein the polypeptide is capable of regulating cotton fiber development. Also provided are methods of using such polynucleotides for improving fiber quality and/or yield of a fiber producing plant, as well as methods of using such polynucleotides for producing plants having increased biomass/vigor/yield.
US09012726B2

This invention is intended to be used to search for a transcription factor having novel functions of increasing the weight of an individual plant, increasing the weight of a given tissue per individual plant, or improving the productivity of a given substance per individual plant and to improve such properties in the plant. The weight of an individual plant is increased, the weight of a given tissue per individual plant is increased, the productivity of a given substance per individual plant is improved, or the content of a given substance per given tissue of a plant is increased via expression of a transcription factor that has been modified to suppress transcription accelerating activity.
US09012713B2

The present invention provides a process for removing oxygenate from an olefin stream comprising oxygenate, comprising providing to an oxygenate recovery zone the olefin stream comprising oxygenate and a solvent comprising ethanol, treating the olefin stream comprising oxygenate with the solvent, and retrieving from the oxygenate recovery zone at least one oxygenate-depleted olefinic product stream comprising olefin and a spent solvent comprising at least part of the oxygenate.
US09012703B2

The invention relates to a process for removing one or more undesired (hydro)halocarbon compounds from a (hydro)fluoroalkene, the process comprising contacting a composition comprising the (hydro)fluoroalkene and one or more undesired (hydro)halocarbon compounds with an aluminum-containing absorbent, activated carbon, or a mixture thereof.
US09012700B2

The invention relates to a method for producing nitrobenzene, in which crude nitrobenzene is first produced by nitrating benzene and said crude nitrobenzene is then washed in succession in at least one acid wash, in at least one alkaline wash and in at least one neutral wash, at least one additional wash with an aqueous solution of a potassium salt being interposed between the last alkaline wash and the first neutral wash.
US09012695B2

A process for neutralizing an unneutralized polyether polyol prepared using a base catalyst according to the invention comprises the steps of addition of a polyprotic acid to the unneutralized polyether polyol, the highest pKa-value of the polyprotic acid being less than 3.5, wherein, per kilogram of unneutralized polyether polyol, “A” moles of said polyprotic acid are added to the unneutralized polyether polyol, such that (n−1)*A
US09012692B2

Processes for the preparation of 2,5-dihydroxybenzenesulfonic acid salts of formula (I) and a crystalline form of potassium 2,5 2,5-dihydroxybenzenesulfonic acid are provided.
US09012687B2

The present invention provides a process for isolating kukoamine by solid phase extraction using a polyamide or a derivative thereof as an adsorbent. Said process is convenient, economical and environmental-friendly, and obtains highly purified kukoamines with a high yield.
US09012686B2

Technical grade acrylic acid derived from renewable resources utilizing a homogeneous nickel catalyst system by a process including reacting lactide with acetic acid to form 2-acetoxypropionic acid in the presence of a homogeneous nickel catalyst, pyrolyzing, with or without a catalyst, the 2-acetoxypropionic acid to acrylic acid and acetic acid, condensing and collecting the pyrolysis products in the presence of polymerization inhibitor(s) and purfying the acrylic acid by distillation in the presence of polymerization inhibitor(s). Acrylic acid and methyl acrylate are produced from methyl 2-acetoxypropionate which comes from fermentation derived lactic acid. The disclosed process will produce a “green” (i.e. renewable resources derived) acrylic acid and methyl acrylate ester.
US09012666B2

The invention discloses a method for producing 30-halogenated betulinic acid. Betulin is used as a raw material and selectively oxidized and halogenated to generate 30-betulinic acid, and the selected oxidation and halogenation agent has high selectivity and does not affect C-3 hydroxyl or carbon-carbon double bonds. Oxidation and halogenation are completed in one step, so the process route is short, the treatment method is simple, and the product is purified easily.
US09012665B2

The present invention is directed to an amorphous form of cabazitaxel, which can be prepared by dissolving a solid form of cabazitaxel in an organic solvent, and removing the organic solvent to dryness. The amorphous form of cabazitaxel is characterized by DSC as in FIG. 1 and/or X-ray powder diffraction pattern as in FIG. 2.
US09012662B2

Intermediates of the following formulae for the preparation of lubiprostone:
US09012661B2

Organophosphorus compounds, catalytic systems comprising a metallic element forming a complex with the organophosphorus compounds and methods of hydrocyanation and of hydroformylation employed in the presence of the catalytic systems are described.
US09012658B2

Provided are methods for making and using chiral, non-racemic protected organoboronic acids, including pinene-derived iminodiacetic acid (PIDA) boronates, to direct and enable stereoselective synthesis of organic molecules. Also provided are methods for purifying PIDA boronates from solution. Also provided are methods for deprotection of boronic acids from their PIDA ligands. The purification and deprotection methods may be used in conjunction with methods for coupling or otherwise reacting boronic acids. Iterative cycles of deprotection, coupling, and purification can be performed to synthesize chiral, non-racemic compounds. The methods are suitable for use in an automated chemical synthesis process. Also provided is an automated small molecule synthesizer apparatus for performing automated stereoselective synthesis of chiral, non-racemic small molecules using iterative cycles of deprotection, coupling, and purification.
US09012657B2

A method for producing a pyrazole compound of the general formula (5) includes reacting a 2-acyl-3-aminoacrylic acid ester of the general formula (1) with a hydrazine of the general formula (4) in the presence of a base where R1, R2, R3 and R4 each independently represent an alkyl group wherein R5 represents an alkyl group or an aryl group wherein R1, R4 and R5 have the same meanings as above. It is possible by this production method to produce the 1,3-disubstituted pyrazol-4-carboxylic acid ester at a high yield and selectivity and with less discoloration.
US09012655B2

Among other things, in general, antimicrobial and/or adjuvant compounds are provided according to Formula Ia: (Ia) in which E and R1-11 have the meanings described herein; and prodrugs and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Other formulae and methods of use are also provided.
US09012649B2

Disclosed is a method for producing an optically active 2-arylpiperidinium salt, comprising asymmetrically hydrogenating a pyridinium salt in the presence of an iridium complex and hydrogen, the 2-arylpiperidinium salt being represented by the following general formula (1): wherein R1, R2, X, *, and m are as described in Description, the pyridinium salt being represented by the following general formula (2): wherein R1, R2, X, and m are as described in Description, and the iridium complex being represented by the following general formula (3): IrH(Z)(Q)(PP*)  (3), wherein Z, PP*, and Q are as described in Description, or the following general formula (4): [{IrH(PP*)}2(μ-Z)3]Z  (4), wherein Z and PP* are as described in Description.
US09012637B2

Disclosed herein are substituted pyrazinyl acrylic acids of Formula (IV): and compositions thereof, which may be useful as inhibitors of PAS Kinase (PASK) activity in a human or animal for the treatment of diseases such as diabetes mellitus.
US09012635B2

Compounds useful in the treatment of mammalian cancers and especially human cancers according to Formula I are disclosed. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treatment employing the compounds disclosed herein are also disclosed.
US09012634B2

The present invention is related to novel compounds of formula (I) that inhibit the activity of the Fab1 enzyme which are therefore useful in the treatment of bacterial infections. It further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds, and chemical processes for preparing these compounds.
US09012619B2

Detection probes are provided that are capable of detecting a sequence to be detected containing a mutation even when a sequence not to be detected containing no mutation coexists with the sequence to be detected containing a mutation, which are different only in a single base from each other. At least one oligonucleotide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 2˜16 is used as a probe. Even in a sample containing an abl gene in which a mutation has occurred and an abl gene in which no mutation has occurred, the use of such probes in, for example, Tm analysis allows the mutation to be detected.
US09012618B2

The invention is related to a nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide encoding a modified filovirus glycoprotein (GP) having at least one amino acid change located in a relatively conserved region of said GP that decreases in vitro cytotoxicity and retains immunogenicity when compared to in vitro cytotoxicity and immunogenicity of a wild type filovirus GP, and related modified filovirus GPs, plasmid DNAs, recombinant viruses, adenoviruses, pharmaceutical compositions, vaccine compositions, antibodies that are specifically reactive with the modified filovirus GPs, and related methods of making and using the same.
US09012614B2

Provided is a method for rapid nucleic acid purification. The method includes allowing the nucleic acid isolated from the biological sample to be adsorbed on a silica membrane; separating contaminants from the nucleic acid-adsorbed silica membrane by using paper chromatography; and eluting only high-purity nucleic acid from the silica membrane from which the contaminants are isolated by using a buffer, or applying at least one selected from direct PCR, RT-PCR, real-time PCR, and real-time RT-PCR to the nucleic acid bound onto the silica membrane.
US09012608B2

An immunoglobulin of the G class (IgG) directed against the protective antigen (PA) of the anthrax toxin, includes: a light-chain variable region including an amino-acid sequence having at least 90% amino-acid identity with the sequence SEQ ID No1 such as defined in the description, and a heavy-chain variable region including an amino-acid sequence having at least 90% amino-acid identity with the sequence SEQ ID No2 such as defined in the description, characterized in that it consists of an IgG1 or an IgG2.
US09012605B2

Crystalline formulations of therapeutic peptides, along with methods for making and using the same, are provided.
US09012588B2

An organohydrogenpolysiloxane comprising at least two structural units of —(HR1SiO)a— wherein R1 is a monovalent hydrocarbon group, and a is an integer of 2-50, which are connected together via a SiH-free structural unit, is a novel crosslinking agent. A silicone composition comprising an alkenyl-containing organopolysiloxane, the organohydrogenpolysiloxane, and a catalyst is curable through addition reaction, adherent to plastic substrates, and useful for coating purposes.
US09012578B2

Copolymers comprising ethylene and propylene and methods for producing such polymers are provided. The polymers are blocky copolymers having semicrystalline ethylene sequences and amorphous or low crystallinity propylene sequences. The polymers are preferably prepared using metallocene-based catalyst systems but without the use of a chain shuttling agent. The polymers may have higher melting temperatures than previously known random copolymers or blocky copolymers prepared with chain shuttling agents having similar comonomer contents. The polymers include both ethylene-rich and propylene-rich copolymers.
US09012568B2

A method of preparing a reaction mixture comprising a styrene monomer, an antioxidant, and a reaction rate improving additive, contacting the reaction mixture with an antioxidant reactive compound, and placing the reaction mixture under conditions suitable for polymerization of the styrene monomer to a styrenic polymer wherein the polymerization occurs at an overall reaction rate that is increased by equal to or less than 20% when compared to an otherwise similar polymerization process carried out in the absence of the reaction rate improving additive. The reaction rate improving additive can be a sodium or calcium salt of an organic acid.
US09012557B1

Disclosed is a method of making sporting surfaces, particularly animal racing surfaces such as horse racing tracks, comprising mixing a polysiloxane polymer or polymers with a mixture of solid materials. This invention overcomes many of the problems associated with prior art surfaces, and can be used to modify or repair such prior art surfaces, or can be incorporated into newly manufactured surfaces to greatly enhance their physical properties. The invention imparts highly desirable physical characteristics to manufactured sporting surfaces, extends the temperature range throughout which these surfaces can be used, and provides a more consistent, reliable and long lasting surface.
US09012538B2

The present invention relates to a binder for composite materials comprising cellulose- or lignocellulose-containing materials, which is based on the components (i) at least one binder from the series consisting of organic resins, isocyanates, natural or near-natural binders and (ii) at least one composition based on an aminoalkylsilane. The invention furthermore relates to a composite material which is at least based on a cellulose- or lignocellulose-containing material and the abovementioned binder, a process for the production of such a composite material and the use of the binder system according to the invention for the production of wood-based materials.
US09012534B2

A resin composition comprising a polyolefin, carbon nanotubes and poly(hydroxy carboxylic acid). The invention also covers a process for preparing a resin composition comprising a polyolefin, carbon nanotubes and poly(hydroxy carboxylic acid) by (i) blending a poly(hydroxy carboxylic acid) with carbon nanotubes to form a composite (ii) blending the composite with a polyolefin. The use of poly(hydroxy carboxylic acids) as a compatibilizer to blend carbon nanotubes into polyolefins is also claimed.
US09012533B2

A fiber-reinforced resin composite and method of making the same. The fiber-reinforced resin composite includes a polymeric resin matrix and a plurality of fibers coated with a first distortional polymeric resin. The polymeric resin matrix has a first von Mises strain. The first distortional polymeric resin has a second von Mises strain in a range of approximately 0.25 to approximately 0.45. The plurality of fibers coated with the first distortional polymeric resin are disposed in the polymeric resin matrix. The second von Mises strain is greater than the first von Mises strain.
US09012531B2

Hardenable compositions are described comprising at least one multifunctional ethylenically unsaturated isocyanurate monomer and at least one multifunctional ethylenically unsaturated tricyclodecane monomer. In favored embodiments, the compositions further comprise filler and are suitable dental restorations.
US09012525B2

In a tire constituted with a thermoplastic material and a material different from the thermoplastic material, the thermoplastic material and the material different from the thermoplastic material are easily and efficiently separated. While a tire 10 formed of a thermoplastic material is being turned, heated air is ejected from a nozzle 46 of a heating apparatus 44, and the surface of a crown portion 16 is melted. An end portion of a cord 26 embedded in a helical arrangement, which is formed of a material different from the thermoplastic material, is extracted from the melted region, and is sequentially wound onto a reel 58.
US09012523B2

Systems and methods for producing a synthetic natural gas are provided. A syngas can be separated into a first syngas, a second syngas, and a third syngas. The first syngas can be methanated to produce a first effluent. The first effluent can be mixed with the second syngas to produce a first mixed effluent. The first mixed effluent can be methanated to produce a second effluent. The second mixed effluent can be methanated to produce a third effluent. The third effluent can be cooled to produce a first cooled effluent. The first cooled effluent can be cooled to produce a synthetic natural gas.
US09012518B2

The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutical agent and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, which carrier comprises a protein, for example, human serum albumin and/or deferoxamine. The human serum albumin is present in an amount effective to reduce one or more side effects associated with administration of the pharmaceutical composition. The invention also provides methods for reducing one or more side effects of administration of the pharmaceutical composition, methods for inhibiting microbial growth and oxidation in the pharmaceutical composition, and methods for enhancing transport and binding of a pharmaceutical agent to a cell.
US09012517B2

Disclosed herein are cohesive soft tissue fillers, for example, dermal and subdermal fillers, based on hyaluronic acids and optionally including proteins. In one aspect, hyaluronic acid-based compositions described herein include zero-length cross-linked moieties and optionally at least one active agent. The present hyaluronic acid-based compositions have enhanced flow characteristics, hardness, and persistence compared to known hyaluronic acid-based compositions. Methods and processes of preparing such hyaluronic acid-based compositions are also provided.
US09012515B2

This invention is based on unexpected effect of at least one thickener to maintain suspension or dispersion of solid particles in an oil medium. Such effect of thickener enables significant higher weight ratio of solid particles in such suspension composition as compared to previously known compositions. As a consequence, the suspension compositions provided herein enable more active ingredient in the solid particle to be present in a fixed volume or weight of such composition as compared to previously known compositions. One advantage of the suspension composition provided herein can be for aerial spraying of active ingredient such as herbicides, insecticides, or other growth regulating compounds.
US09012512B2

Method of treating hypertension with a trans-aconitic acid containing composition (e.g., a water extract derived from a monocotyledon plant).
US09012511B2

Described are compositions of stable nanoparticulate cinacalcet or a salt thereof, and methods of making and using them. The compositions exhibit an improved dissolution rate, improved bioavailability, and reduced difference in absorption when administered orally under fed as compared to fasting conditions.
US09012501B2

A pharmaceutical formulation comprising at least one omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid in free acid form or a pharmacologically acceptable derivative thereof is contained in a soft gelatin capsule characterized in that the capsule comprises gelatin extracted by an extraction process comprising acid pre-treatment of a collagen source. One advantage of the present invention over a soft to gelatin capsule containing the same formulation but comprising gelatin extracted by an extraction process comprising alkali pre-treatment of the collagen source is that the present invention does not harden significantly over time and thus has a longer shelf life.
US09012498B2

The present invention relates to a cationic lipid having one or more biodegradable groups located in the mid- or distal section of a lipidic moiety (e.g., a hydrophobic chain) of the cationic lipid. These cationic lipids may be incorporated into a lipid particle for delivering an active agent, such as a nucleic acid. The invention also relates to lipid particles comprising a neutral lipid, a lipid capable of reducing aggregation, a cationic lipid of the present invention, and optionally, a sterol. The lipid particle may further include a therapeutic agent such as a nucleic acid.
US09012495B2

The disclosure relates to new crystalline forms of genistein. The disclosed crystalline forms include crystalline genistein sodium salt dihydrate; crystalline genistein potassium salt dihydrate; crystalline genistein calcium salt; crystalline genistein magnesium salt; crystalline genistein L-lysine salt; crystalline genistein N-methylglucamine salt; crystalline genistein N-ethylglucamine salt; crystalline genistein diethylamine salt; and crystalline genistein monohydrate. The disclosure also relates to the novel genistein salts represented by these crystalline forms. Therapeutic compositions containing at least one of these crystalline forms of genistein and/or a genistein salt and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier are described. The disclosure also relates to methods of treating cancer comprising the step of administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a therapeutic composition containing the compounds of the disclosure, of a crystalline form of genistein, or of a genistein salt.
US09012492B2

The present application relates to novel apocynin-lipoic acid covalent conjugates, compositions comprising these compounds and their use, in particular for the treatment of diseases, disorders or conditions that are mediated by oxidative stress. In particular, the present application includes compounds of Formula (I), and compositions and uses thereof.
US09012491B2

Disclosed herein are antimicrobial compounds compositions, pharmaceutical compositions, the use and preparation thereof. Some embodiments relate to cyclic boronate compounds and their use as therapeutic agents.
US09012488B2

The present invention relates to polymorphic forms of a compound of formula A: This compound is useful as a glucagon receptor antagonist and serves as a pharmaceutically active ingredient for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and related conditions, such as hyperglycemia, obesity, dyslipidemia, and the metabolic syndrome. Hydrates, hemihydrates, anhydrates and similar polymorphic forms are included.
US09012487B2

A compound having formula (I): wherein: R, A, R1 and R2, are as defined in the specification, and pharmaceutical formulas thereof, and methods of use thereof, as Kinase inhibitors.
US09012484B2

An object is to provide means for improving the solubility of luliconazole. Disclosed is a crystal consisting of luliconazole and short chain alcohol having a number of carbon atom or atoms of 1 to 4.
US09012479B2

The present invention relates to a compound of formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, R11, R12, R13, Q, Z, and p are as described herein. Compounds of the present invention are useful for the treatment of cancers.
US09012477B2

A method for treating subjects experiencing neuropathic pain is provided. The method involves the application of a solid-forming local anesthetic formulation to a skin surface of the subject experiencing the neuropathic pain and then maintaining the formulation on the skin surface for a period of time sufficient to allow itself to transdermally deliver the local anesthetic to the subject thereby providing relief from the neuropathic pain within about 45 minutes.
US09012476B2

This invention relates to a new salt of Pridopidine, a drug substance currently in development for the treatment of Huntington's disease. More specifically the invention provides the pharmaceutically acceptable hydrobromide salt, pharmaceutical compositions comprising this salt, and uses of this salt as a drug substance.
US09012473B2

Compounds of the present invention, and pharmaceutically acceptable compositions thereof, are useful as modulators of ATP-Binding Cassette (“ABC”) transporters or fragments thereof, including Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (“CFTR”). The present invention also relates to methods of treating ABC transporter mediated diseases using compounds of the present invention.
US09012466B2

The present invention relates to substituted tricyclic pyrazolo-pyrimidine compounds and methods of synthesizing these compounds. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing substituted tricyclic pyrazolo-pyrimidine compounds and methods of treating cell proliferative disorders, such as cancer, by administering these compounds and pharmaceutical compositions to subjects in need thereof.
US09012463B2

Described herein are kinase inhibitor compounds of Formula IV: wherein Rb, R6, T, Y, and Z are defined herein. Also described herein are methods for synthesizing such inhibitors, and methods for using such inhibitors in the treatment of diseases. Further described herein are methods, assays and systems for determining an appropriate inhibitor of a protein, including a kinase.
US09012460B2

The invention relates to compounds of formula I: where a, and R1 through R6 are as defined in the specification, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The compounds of formula I are serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds; methods of using such compounds; and process and intermediates for preparing such compounds.
US09012458B2

An antitumor agent for combined use of a compound or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof represented by Formula (I) and a compound or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof represented by Formula (II) exhibits an excellent antitumor effect compared to cases where these are individually used, and exhibits antitumor effects against various cancer types: wherein R1 is azetidinyl and the like, R2 to R5 is a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom, R6 is C3-8 cycloalkyl and the like, R7 is a hydrogen atom and the like, and R8 is a halogen atom and the like.
US09012457B2

The present invention relates to a compound of formula (I), and to pharmaceutical compositions containing said compound and to the use of said compound in therapy, for instance in treating cognitive disorders, as well as to intermediates useful in the preparation thereof.
US09012454B2

This document provides methods and materials related to treating mammals (e.g., humans) having a sexual dysfunction that is refractory to treatment with a PDE V inhibitor. For example, methods and materials related to the use of an ACE inhibitor and/or an angiotensin II receptor blocker with a PDE V inhibitor to treat mammals having a sexual dysfunction (e.g., erective dysfunction) that is unresponsive to treatment with a PDE V inhibitor are provided.
US09012450B2

Provided are substituted heteroaryl aldehydes and derivatives thereof that act as allosteric modulators of hemoglobin, methods and intermediates for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the modulators, and methods for their use in treating disorders mediate by hemoglobin and disorders that would benefit from increased tissue oxygenation.
US09012444B2

Tumor growth and metastases in cancer patients are inhibited by administration of a combination therapy including effective amounts of 5-Fluorouracil and a methylol transfer agent such as taurolidine, taurultam or mixtures thereof.
US09012434B2

Estrogen and progesterone replacement therapies are provided herein. Among others, the following formulations are provided herein: solubilized estradiol without progesterone; micronized progesterone without estradiol; micronized progesterone with partially solubilized progesterone; solubilized estradiol with micronized progesterone; solubilized estradiol with micronized progesterone in combination with partially solubilized progesterone; and solubilized estradiol with solubilized progesterone.
US09012433B2

The present invention pertains to tetracycline compounds of formula (VIIa): R5*, R5*′, R7r*, and R9m* are defined herein. These tetracycline compounds can be used to treat tetracycline compound-responsive states, such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
US09012430B2

Disclosed are compositions and formulations comprising glucosamine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for use in the treatment of joint conditions and adapted for use in a bath or soak or bath beads, powders, salts, and oils, kits, and methods of treatment using the same. Also disclosed are lozenges, suppositories, patches, and topical creams comprising glucosamine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for use in the treatment of joint conditions and methods of treatment using the same. In some embodiments the joint conditions include osteoarthritis.
US09012425B2

The present invention relates to a method for treating a Leber congenital amaurosis in a patient harboring the mutation c.2991+1655 A>G in the CEP290 gene, comprising the step of administering to said patient at least one antisense oligonucleotide complementary to nucleic acid sequence that is necessary for preventing splicing of the cryptic exon inserted into the mutant c.2291+1655 A>G CEP290 mRNA.
US09012420B2

Provided are an aptamer bound to chymase to inhibit activity of chymase; an aptamer containing a nucleotide sequence represented by X1GAUAGAN1N2UAAX2 wherein X1 and X2 are the same or different and each is A or G, and N1 and N2 are the same or different and each is A, G, C, U or T; a complex containing the aptamer and a functional substance (e.g., affinity substance, labeling substance, enzyme, drug delivery medium, drug and the like); a pharmaceutical or a reagent containing the aptamer or complex; a detection and a purification methods of chymase using the aptamer or complex and the like.
US09012414B2

The invention relates to novel eucomic acid (2-(4-hydroxybenzyl)malic acid) derivatives or plant extracts comprising such derivatives, and also to cosmetic or dermatological compositions containing these compounds or these extracts, and to cosmetic care methods using said compositions. Exemplary compounds are represented by formula (I) below: in which, with the proviso that R1, R2 and R3 are not simultaneously a hydrogen atom, R1 and R3 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a saturated or unsaturated, preferably C1-C12, hydrocarbon-based chain comprising an aromatic group, preferably a phenyl, said aromatic group being preferably substituted with a group comprising a sugar, preferably a monosaccharide or disaccharide, said chain optionally also comprising one or more heteroatoms preferably chosen from O, S and N, and R2 represents a hydrogen atom or a sugar, preferably a monosaccharide or disaccharide, said sugar being optionally substituted, in particular with a residue comprising a saturated or unsaturated, preferably C1-C12, hydrocarbon-based chain itself comprising an aromatic group, preferably a phenyl, said hydrocarbon-based chain optionally also comprising one or more heteroatoms preferably chosen from O, S and N.
US09012412B2

The present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I), or a form thereof, wherein A, R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 are as defined herein, useful as dual SGLT1/SGLT2 inhibitors.
US09012410B2

A method of treating intrauterine inflammation in a subject associated with intrauterine bacterial infection includes administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a toll-like receptor 4 antagonist. The therapeutically effective amount administered to the subject is an amount effective in reducing intrauterine inflammation in the subject.
US09012409B2

B7-H5 costimulatory polypeptides, nucleic acids encoding such polypeptides, and methods for using the polypeptides and nucleic acids to enhance a T cell response are provided herein.
US09012408B2

The invention relates to methods and compositions for treating undifferentiated arthritis (UA) and/or preventing the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in subjects with UA by administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of soluble CTLA4 molecule.
US09012402B1

A drug-delivery system is described which can serve as a platform for the topical delivery of a wide variety of therapeutic agents to the skin. Specifically, a topical external analgesic gel contains ketoprofen, a skin penetration enhancer/cosolvent, a thickening agent and a base to adjust pH. The formulation uses a relatively small number of safe components and is easy to prepare with a high yield of finished product. The chemical stability of ketoprofen in the gel and the physical stability of the gel itself ensure a satisfactory shelf-life for the product. The gel is aesthetically pleasing (i.e., easy water-washability, non-irritating to skin, non-staining of clothing, etc.) and has proven to provide rapid relief of musculoskeletal pain, thereby helping to ensure patient compliance.
US09012398B2

This invention provides Exendin-4 compounds derivatized at a lysine 14 residue to give an acylated lysine, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and the use of such compositions for treating diabetes.
US09012396B2

In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of suppressing, inhibiting, preventing, or treating conjunctivitis in a subject, comprising the step of administering an effective amount of a lipid or phospholipid moiety bound via an ester or amide bond to a physiologically acceptable monomer, dimer, oligomer, or polymer, and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a pharmaceutical product thereof to a subject with conjunctivitis.
US09012386B2

The invention provides a grease composition for a hub unit bearing employing an angular contact ball bearing, containing (a) as a thickener a mixture of diurea compounds represented by formula (I): R1—NHCONH—R2—NHCONH—R1, formula (II): R1—NHCONH—R2—NHCONH—R3, and formula (III): R3—NHCONH—R2—NHCONH—R3 wherein R1 is cyclohexyl group, R2 is a divalent aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 15 carbon atoms, R3 is a straight-chain or branched alkyl group having 12 to 20 carbon atoms, and (R1/(R1+R3))×100=85 to 95 mol %; (b) a base oil; (c) a molybdenum dialkyldithiocarbamate; and (d) a calcium sulfonate. The grease composition of the invention, when used in the hub unit bearing, shows minimum leakage, excellent anti-flaking properties and satisfactory bearing lubrication life.
US09012377B2

Removing an asphaltene particle from a substrate includes contacting a silicate nanoparticle with a chemical group to form a functionalized silicate nanoparticle, the chemical group includes a first portion; and a second portion comprising an aromatic moiety, the first portion being bonded to the silicate nanoparticle; contacting the asphaltene particle with the functionalized silicate nanoparticle, the asphaltene particle being disposed on the substrate; interposing the functionalized silicate nanoparticle between the asphaltene particle and the substrate; and separating the asphaltene particle from the substrate with the functionalized silicate nanoparticle to remove the asphaltene particle. A composition includes a functionalized silicate nanoparticle comprising a reaction product of a silicate nanoparticle and an aromatic compound; and a fluid. The aromatic compound includes a chemical group that includes a first portion, the first portion being directly bonded to the silicate nanoparticle in the functionalized silicate nanoparticle; and a second portion including an aromatic moiety.
US09012371B2

Described are methods for producing libraries of cells expressing at least two separate single polypeptide chain binding proteins, in which the binding proteins have different target epitopes. Such libraries are made by integration of the nucleic acid sequences encoding the polypeptide chains into the genome of the host cell, and selecting for cells that have successfully integrated these nucleic acids. The selected cells are preferably subjected to a cloning step. Mixtures of binding proteins are produced without having to individually produce each of the components of the mixture. A library of cells wherein essentially each cell encodes at least two single polypeptide chain binding proteins having different target epitopes is also herewith provided, as well as methods for producing a composition comprising at least two separate single polypeptide chain binding proteins having different target epitopes.
US09012362B2

The present invention relates to compositions, in particular within a fungicide composition, which comprises (A) a dithiino-tetracarboximide of formula (I) and a further fungicidally active compound (B). Moreover, the invention relates to a method for curatively or preventively controlling the phytopathogenic fungi of plants or crops, to the use of a combination according to the invention for the treatment of seed, to a method for protecting a seed and to the treated seed.
US09012358B2

A monolith catalyst carrier for insertion in a tube of a tubular reactor has a container for holding a monolith catalyst in use. The container has a bottom surface closing the container and a skirt extending upwardly from the bottom surface of the container to a position below the location of a seal and spaced therefrom. The skirt is positioned such that there is a space between an outer surface of the monolith catalyst and the skirt. A seal is located at or near a top surface of the monolith catalyst and extends from the monolith catalyst by a distance which extends beyond an outer surface of the skirt.
US09012357B2

This invention relates to a particulate extraction material for the extraction of lithium from a geothermal brine or lithium containing solution. The particulate material includes an inorganic or polymer based substrate that includes a lithium aluminate intercalate layer applied to the exterior of the substrate, wherein the lithium aluminate intercalate layer is operable to capture lithium ions from solution.
US09012354B2

Disclosed is a method for forming a photocatalyst thin film, which is characterized in that a photocatalyst thin film containing a niobium-alkali metal complex oxide is formed by forming and then firing a layer containing a niobia nanosheet on the surface of a base containing an alkali metal.
US09012349B1

A method for synthesizing catalyst beads of bulk transmission metal carbides, nitrides and phosphides is provided. The method includes providing an aqueous suspension of transition metal oxide particles in a gel forming base, dropping the suspension into an aqueous solution to form a gel bead matrix, heating the bead to remove the binder, and carburizing, nitriding or phosphiding the bead to form a transition metal carbide, nitride, or phosphide catalyst bead. The method can be tuned for control of porosity, mechanical strength, and dopant content of the beads. The produced catalyst beads are catalytically active, mechanically robust, and suitable for packed-bed reactor applications. The produced catalyst beads are suitable for biomass conversion, petrochemistry, petroleum refining, electrocatalysis, and other applications.
US09012344B2

A method of producing an electrocatalyst article using porous polymers. The method creates a porous polymer designed to receive transition metal groups disposed at ligation sites and activating the transition metals to form an electrocatalyst which can be used in a fuel cell. Electrocatalysts prepared by this method are also provided. A fuel cell which includes the electrocatalyst is also provided.
US09012341B2

Continuous treadmill belt comprising a continuous first foamed layer (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) made of thermoplastic foamed material, with an upper side (25, 26) and an under side (34, 35, 36), wherein a first pulling body (41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 48) is arranged on the under side (34, 35, 36) and comprises a first textile layer and a pulling body under side (54, 56, 58), and wherein no layer is arranged between the continuous foamed first layer (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) and the first pulling body (41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 48), which hinders a local shearing displacement of the first pulling body (41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 48) parallel to the under side (34, 35, 36) or stiffens said pulling body.
US09012334B2

A method of forming a material on a substrate is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes forming a tantalum nitride layer on a substrate disposed in a plasma process chamber by sequentially exposing the substrate to a tantalum precursor and a nitrogen precursor, followed by reducing a nitrogen concentration of the tantalum nitride layer by exposing the substrate to a plasma annealing process. A metal-containing layer is subsequently deposited on the tantalum nitride layer.
US09012333B2

A method, in one embodiment, can include forming a tunnel oxide layer on a substrate. In addition, the method can include depositing via atomic layer deposition a first layer of silicon nitride over the tunnel oxide layer. Note that the first layer of silicon nitride includes a first silicon richness. The method can also include depositing via atomic layer deposition a second layer of silicon nitride over the first layer of silicon nitride. The second layer of silicon nitride includes a second silicon richness that is different than the first silicon richness.
US09012329B2

A nanogap of controlled width in-between noble metals is produced using sidewall techniques and chemical-mechanical-polishing. Electrical connections are provided to enable current measurements across the nanogap for analytical purposes. The nanogap in-between noble metals may also be formed inside a Damascene trench. The nanogap in-between noble metals may also be inserted into a crossed slit nanopore framework. A noble metal layer on the side of the nanogap may have sub-layers serving the purpose of multiple simultaneous electrical measurements.
US09012327B2

A low defect chemical mechanical polishing composition for polishing silicon oxide containing substrates is provided comprising, as initial components: water, a colloidal silica abrasive; and, an additive according to formula I.
US09012326B2

A lower layer of a microelectronic device may be patterned by forming a first sacrificial layer on the lower layer; patterning a plurality of spaced apart trenches in the first sacrificial layer; forming a second sacrificial layer in the plurality of spaced apart trenches; patterning the second sacrificial layer in the plurality of spaced apart trenches to define upper openings in the plurality of spaced apart trenches; and patterning the lower layer using the first and second sacrificial layers as a mask to form lower openings in the lower layer.
US09012323B2

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, includes: alternately performing (i) a first step of alternately supplying a first raw material containing a first metal element and a halogen element and a second raw material containing a second metal element and carbon to a substrate by a first predetermined number of times, and (ii) a second step of supplying a nitridation raw material to the substrate, by a second predetermined number of times, wherein alternating the first and second steps forms a metal carbonitride film containing the first metal element having a predetermined thickness on the substrate.
US09012320B2

Example embodiments relate to a three-dimensional semiconductor memory device including an electrode structure on a substrate, the electrode structure including at least one conductive pattern on a lower electrode, and a semiconductor pattern extending through the electrode structure to the substrate. A vertical insulating layer may be between the semiconductor pattern and the electrode structure, and a lower insulating layer may be between the lower electrode and the substrate. The lower insulating layer may be between a bottom surface of the vertical insulating layer and a top surface of the substrate. Example embodiments related to methods for fabricating the foregoing three-dimensional semiconductor memory device.
US09012316B2

A method for forming an ultra-shallow boron dopant region in a substrate is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes depositing, by atomic layer deposition (ALD), a boron dopant layer in direct contact with the substrate, where the boron dopant layer contains an oxide, a nitride, or an oxynitride formed by alternating gaseous exposures of a boron amide precursor and a reactant gas. The method further includes patterning the dopant layer and forming an ultra-shallow dopant region in the substrate by diffusing boron from the boron dopant layer into the substrate by a thermal treatment.
US09012306B2

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a single crystal of nitride by epitaxial growth on a support (100) comprising a growth face (105), the method comprising the steps of formation of a sacrificial bed (101) on the support (100), formation of pillars (102) on said sacrificial bed, said pillars being made of a material compatible with GaN epitaxial growth, growth of a nitride crystal layer (103) on the pillars, under growing conditions such that the nitride crystal layer does not extend down to the support in holes (107) formed between the pillars, and removing the nitride crystal layer from the support.
US09012305B1

Methods of dicing semiconductor wafers, each wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits, are described. In an example, a method of dicing a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits involves forming a mask above the semiconductor wafer, the mask including a layer covering and protecting the integrated circuits. The mask is patterned with a laser scribing process to provide a patterned mask with gaps, exposing regions of the semiconductor wafer between the integrated circuits. Subsequent to patterning the mask, the exposed regions of the semiconductor wafer are cleaned with an anisotropic plasma process non-reactive to the exposed regions of the semiconductor wafer. Subsequent to cleaning the exposed regions of the semiconductor wafer, the semiconductor wafer is plasma etched through the gaps in the patterned mask to singulate the integrated circuits.
US09012304B2

In one embodiment, a method of singulating semiconductor die from a semiconductor wafer includes forming a material on a surface of a semiconductor wafer and reducing a thickness of portions of the material. Preferably, the thickness of the material is reduced near where singulation openings are to be formed in the semiconductor wafer.
US09012303B2

Provided is a method for fabricating a semiconductor device, including the following steps. A substrate having a plurality of pillars is provided, wherein a plurality of trenches are formed around each pillar. A doped region is formed in the substrate and below each pillar. The doped region below each trench is removed to form an opening such that the doped regions below the adjacent pillars are separated from each other. A shielding layer is formed in each opening.
US09012295B2

In one embodiment a method of forming a compressive polycrystalline semiconductive material layer is disclosed. The method comprises forming a polycrystalline semiconductive seed layer over a substrate and forming a silicon layer by depositing silicon directly on the polycrystalline silicon seed layer under amorphous process conditions at a temperature below 600 C.
US09012288B2

A III-N device is described with a III-N material layer, an insulator layer on a surface of the III-N material layer, an etch stop layer on an opposite side of the insulator layer from the III-N material layer, and an electrode defining layer on an opposite side of the etch stop layer from the insulator layer. A recess is formed in the electrode defining layer. An electrode is formed in the recess. The insulator can have a precisely controlled thickness, particularly between the electrode and III-N material layer.
US09012286B2

Disclosed herein are various methods of forming FinFET semiconductor devices so as to tune the threshold voltage of such devices. In one example, the method includes forming a plurality of spaced-apart trenches in a semiconducting substrate to define at least one fin (or fins) for the device, prior to forming a gate structure above the fin (or fins), performing a first epitaxial growth process to grow a first semiconductor material on exposed portions of the fin (or fins) and forming the gate structure above the first semiconductor material on the fin (or fins).
US09012282B2

A self-align method of preparing semiconductor gates for formation of a silicide, such as a cobalt silicide (CoSi) layer, is disclosed. Deposition of silicon nitride (SiN) and low-temperature oxide (LTO) liner types, the SiN liner having an overhang structure, prevent damage to the gates while forming a self-aligned source. The undamaged gates are suitable for CoSi deposition.
US09012281B2

A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a first region and a second region, first and second gate electrodes disposed on the first and second regions, respectively, and first and second source/drain regions disposed on at least one side of the first and second gate electrodes, respectively. The device further includes first and second silicide regions in the first and second source/drain regions, respectively. A contact area between the first silicide region and the first source/drain region is differs in size from a contact area between the second silicide region and the second source/drain region. Methods of fabricating such devices are also provided.
US09012273B2

A flat panel display device having increased capacitance and a method of manufacturing the flat panel display device are provided. A flat panel display device includes: a plurality of pixel areas, each located at a crossing region of a gate line, a data line, and a common voltage line; a thin film transistor (TFT) located at a region where the gate line and the data line cross each other, the TFT including a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode; and a storage capacitor located at a region where the common voltage line and the drain electrode cross each other, the storage capacitor including first, second, and a third storage electrodes.
US09012272B2

The present application discloses an MOSFET and a method for manufacturing the same. The MOSFET comprises: a semiconductor substrate; a first insulation buried layer disposed on the semiconductor substrate; a back gate formed in a first semiconductor layer which is disposed on the first insulation buried layer; a second insulation buried layer disposed on the first semiconductor layer; source/drain regions formed in a second semiconductor layer which is disposed on the second insulation buried layer; a gate disposed on the second semiconductor layer; and electric connections to the source/drain regions, the gate and the back gate, wherein the back gate comprises first back gate regions of a first conductivity type which are disposed under the source/drain regions and a second back gate region of a second conductivity type which is disposed under a channel region, the first back gate regions adjoins the second back gate region, the first conductivity type is opposite to the second conductivity type, and the electric connection to the back gate comprise a conductive via contacted with one of the first back gate regions. The MOSFET, of any conductivity type, can have adjustable threshold voltage and reduced leakage current via the back gate between the source/drain regions by using the back gate in the form of a PNP junction or an NPN junction.
US09012269B2

Fan-out wafer level packaging includes an integrated circuit having a top surface, a bottom surface, a plurality of side surfaces, and a bond pad defined on the top surface. A layer of encapsulant substantially surrounds the side surfaces of the integrated circuit, the layer of encapsulant having a height substantially equal to a height of the integrated circuit. A bump is spaced apart from the integrated circuit, and a redistribution layer electrically couples the bond pad of the integrated circuit to the bump.
US09012262B2

A method of making a tiled array of semiconductor dies includes aligning and flattening. One end of each semiconductor die has attached thereto a respective printed circuit board. The aligning aligns the semiconductor dies into the tiled array in such a way that the semiconductor dies rest on a vacuum plate and the one end of each die extends beyond an edge of the vacuum plate. The flattening flattens the semiconductor dies against the vacuum plate with a vacuum after the semiconductor dies are aligned.
US09012257B2

A vapor deposition apparatus, which is capable of performing a thin film deposition process and improving characteristics of a formed thin film, includes a chamber having an exhaust opening; a stage located in the chamber, and including a plurality of mounting surfaces on which the plurality of substrates may be mounted; and an injection unit having at least one injection opening for injecting a gas into the chamber in a direction parallel with surfaces of the plurality of substrates.
US09012256B2

A process for producing a photovoltaic device that can improve the power generation characteristics of a solar cell having a heterojunction composed of a p-type crystalline Ge (substrate), an i-type amorphous silicon semiconductor layer, and an n-type amorphous silicon semiconductor layer. A process for producing a photovoltaic device (100) comprising a heterojunction cell (1) prepared by sequentially stacking an i-type amorphous silicon semiconductor layer (12) and an n-type amorphous silicon semiconductor layer (13) on top of a substrate (p-type crystalline Ge (11)), the process comprising a PH3 exposure treatment stage of adjusting the temperature of the substrate (11), from which a surface oxide film has been removed, to a prescribed temperature, and subsequently placing the substrate in a vacuum chamber and exposing the substrate to PH3, an i-layer deposition stage of depositing the i-type amorphous silicon semiconductor layer (12) on the PH3-exposed substrate, an n-layer deposition stage of depositing the n-type amorphous silicon semiconductor layer (13) on the i-type amorphous silicon semiconductor layer (12), and an electrode formation stage of forming electrodes (2, 3, 4) on the surface of the n-type amorphous silicon semiconductor layer, and on the back surface of the substrate (11).
US09012254B2

Methods for forming an enclosed liquid metal (LM) drop inside a sealed cavity by formation of LM components as solid LM component layers and reaction of the solid LM component layers to form the LM drop. In some embodiments, the cavity has boundaries defined by layers or features of a microelectronics (e.g. VLSI-CMOS) or MEMS technology. In such embodiments, the methods comprise implementing an initial microelectronics or MEMS process to form the layers or features and the cavity, sequential or side by side formation of solid LM component layers in the cavity, sealing of the cavity to provide a closed space and reaction of the solid LM components to form a LM alloy in the general shape of a drop. In some embodiments, nanometric reaction barriers may be inserted between the solid LM component layers to lower the LM eutectic formation temperature.
US09012252B2

This invention is about a method to be used in the fabrication of an electroluminescent diode and a diode fabricated with this method. The temperatures needed for the crystalline LEDs produced presently under specified temperatures in a furnace, will be provided within the semiconductor by the Joule effect. As an alternative to the commercial LEDs, whose costs are suitable only when they are produced in the order of centimeters, our process renders the fabrication of LEDs over very large surfaces of the order of meters, with the temperature raised by applying electric current without any requirements of high temperature furnace treatments. The effects of the chemical processes experienced during the Joule heating are permanent and the diode is able to luminesce.
US09012243B2

Exemplary embodiments are directed to controlling CD uniformity of a wafer by controlling trim time on temperature in a plasma processing system. The plasma processing system has a wafer support assembly including a plurality of independently controllable temperature control zones across a chuck and a controller that controls each temperature control zone. The controller receives process control and temperature data associated with at least one wafer previously processed in a plasma chamber of the plasma processing system. The controller also receives critical device parameters of a current wafer to be processed in the plasma chamber. The controller calculates a target trim time and a target temperature profile of the current wafer based on the process control and temperature data of the at least one previously processed wafers and the critical device parameters of the current wafer. The current wafer as subjected to a trimming operation for a duration of the target trim time while controlling temperatures in the temperature control zones to thereby control temperature of each device die location based on the target temperature profile.
US09012230B2

The present disclosure relates to a sulfonated benzene compound emitting fluorescence by reaction with hydrogen peroxide, aqueous-dispersed fluorescent nanoprobes applicable for real-time detection of hydrogen peroxide, and a fluorescent nanoprobe fabrication method. The fluorescent nanoprobe contains the following sulfonated benzene compound and water.
US09012226B2

The present invention relates to the propagation of covalently closed circular recombinant DNA molecules such as plasmids, cosmids, bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs), bacteriophages, viral vectors and hybrids thereof, and more particularly is strain modifications that improve strain viability, plasmid stability, plasmid production yield, and plasmid-directed protein production yield, using said DNA molecules in fermentation culture.
US09012222B2

Noncultured Wharton's Jelly stem cells and methods of their purification, storage and use are provided.
US09012213B2

Methods are described for the delivery of one or more small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to a eukaryotic cell using a bacterium or BTP. Methods are also described for using this bacterium to regulate gene expression in eukaryotic cells using RNA interference, and methods for treating viral diseases and disorders. The bacterium or BTP includes one or more siRNAs or one or more DNA molecules encoding one or more siRNAs. Vectors are also described for use with the bacteria of the invention for causing RNA interference in eukaryotic cells.
US09012207B2

A biomolecular assay includes a substrate with a metallic layer on at least one surface thereof. The metallic film includes nanocavities. The nanocavities are configured to enhance signals that are representative of the presence or amount of one or more analytes in a sample or sample solution, and may be configured to enhance the signal by a factor of about two or more or by a factor of about three or more. Such signal enhancement may be achieved with nanocavities that are organized in an array, randomly positioned nanocavities, or nanocavities that are surrounded by increased surface area features, such as corrugation or patterning, or nanocavities that have quadrilateral or triangular shapes with tailored edge lengths, or with a plurality of nanoparticles. Methods for fabricating biomolecular substrates and assay techniques in which such biomolecular substrates are used are also disclosed.
US09012204B2

The use of nanostructures to monitor or modulate changes in cellular membrane potentials is disclosed.
US09012202B2

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for arrays, systems, and methods for the analyzing cells, methods of making arrays, and the like.
US09012198B2

The present invention relates to a method for producing and purifying a wild type, an attenuated and/or a recombinant Orthopoxvirus. The present invention relates to a purified wild type, attenuated and/or recombinant Orthopoxvirus obtained by the method of the invention and to a pharmaceutical composition, preferably a vaccine, comprising said purified Orthopoxvirus for the treatment and/or the prevention a cancer, an infectious disease and/or an autoimmune disorder, and uses thereof. The present invention also relates to the use of an immortalized avian cell line obtained from an avian cell belonging to the Anatidae family, in particular Cairina moschata immortalized avian cell lines comprising a nucleic acid sequence coding a telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and optionally an E1A nucleic acid sequence, for the production of a wild type, attenuated and/or recombinant Orthopoxvirus according to the process of the invention.
US09012190B2

The invention relates generally to the field of industrial microbiology and alcohol production. More specifically, the invention relates to the use of thiamine, biosynthetic precursors of thiamine, nicotinic acid, nicotinamid, nicotinic acid riboside, nicotinamid riboside, or other biosynthetic precursors of nicotine adenine dinucleotide (NAD) to improve butanol production. Butanol production can be improved by providing sufficient amounts of thiamine, biosynthetic precursors of thiamine, nicotinic acid, nicotinamid, nicotinic acid riboside, nicotinamid riboside, or other biosynthetic precursors of nicotine adenine dinucleotide (NAD) in the production media.
US09012182B2

Methods for producing purine nucleosides, and purine nucleotides, such as inosine and 5′-inosinic acid are provided which include using a bacterium belonging to the genus Bacillus or to the genus Escherichia wherein the purine nucleoside productivity of said bacterium is enhanced by increasing an activity of the YdhL protein. Also disclosed is the amino acid sequence of the YdhL protein from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and the gene encoding it.
US09012174B2

The present invention relates to a method for characterizing the antibiotic resistance of a microorganism, said method comprising the steps of (a) providing a reference mass spectrum of an antimicrobial compound, its enzymatic modification product, its molecular target, or of a substrate compound of a its modifying enzyme; (b) exposing a microorganism, a cell lysate thereof, or a growth medium supernatant thereof, to said antimicrobial compound or said substrate compound in aqueous liquid to thereby provide an exposed sample; (c) acquiring a mass spectrum of the exposed sample; (d) comparing the mass spectrum acquired in step c) with the reference mass spectrum of step (a), and (e) determining from said comparison whether modification of said antimicrobial compound, its modification product or its molecular target or of said substrate has occurred following said exposure, and establishing that said microorganism is potentially resistant to said antimicrobial compound when said modification is observed.
US09012172B2

The present invention provides high throughput assays for identifying compounds that modulate a contractile function, as well as devices suitable for use in these assays.
US09012171B2

Systems for measuring protein translation and methods for measuring overall translation activity in viable cells or subcellular compartments is disclosed. The methods identify general ribosomal activity, if desired at sub-cellular resolution, thereby providing a signal indicating the rate of any of the steps of protein synthesis selected from initiation, elongation, termination or recycling. The translation system can be used to identify translation modulators in high-throughput-screening (HTS).
US09012170B2

An imaging method utilizing a split peroxidase is described herein. Imaging methods involve contacting a cell with a split peroxidase and a substrate thereof to allow conversion of a substrate into a product via an enzymatic reaction catalyzed by the reconstitute split peroxidase. Also disclosed herein are split peroxidases, related products and kits.
US09012169B2

The invention is concerned with the identification of compounds as flavors or fragrances, their precursors, or as modulators of the perception of fragrances or flavors. The method comprises a reaction of a compound with a metabolic enzyme expressed in the nose, mouth or respiratory tract, followed by a method of identification of the compound or its metabolites as a fragrance or flavor, their precursor, or a modulator of their perception or of the perception of their respective leads.
US09012154B2

The present invention relates to methods for detecting Ficolin-3 dependent activation of the lectin pathway of complement, methods for identifying abnormalities in Ficolin-3, and methods for screening for deficiencies/and or identifying abnormalities in any downstream components of the Ficolin-3 dependent activation of the lectin pathway of 5 complement using an acetylated Ficolin-3 ligand, said methods generally comprising the steps of: (a) providing a sample of blood, serum, plasma, another body fluid or an extract thereof; (b) (optionally) preventing in the sample activation of the classical pathway and/or the alternative pathway and/or any non-Ficolin-3 mediated activation of the lectin pathway; (c) acetylating a molecule; (d) contacting said acetylated molecule 10 with said sample, in conditions that permit specific binding of Ficolin-3 to said acetylated molecule, and, (e) detecting and quantifying specific binding of the Ficolin-3 to said acetylated molecule, (f) determining in the sample complement activation and/or deposition by the detection of a C2, C3, C4 and/or a C5 cleavage product and/or by detecting any of the terminal complement complex components C6, C7, C8 or C9 or 15 the C5b-9 terminal complement complex as such. The present invention also provides assays and kits comprising the methods of the invention.
US09012137B2

The present invention refers to a method of processing a biological fluid which comprises cellular components by a freezing/thawing treatment. The method is particularly useful for preparing biological samples for analyte detection.
US09012134B2

The invention provides methods of isolating CD127lo/− immunosuppressive regulatory T cells which can be greatly enriched for FoxP3, methods of expanding the isolated cells, pharmaceutical compositions of such cells, and methods of their use in the treatment of autoimmune and other immune system mediated disorders.
US09012133B2

An adhesion promoter layer is formed on a surface of a substrate as an adhesion promoter layer, on which a photoresist is applied. The photoresist is lithographically exposed. Soluble portions of the lithographically exposed photoresist are dissolved in a developer solution including tetraalkylammonium hydroxide. Tetraalkylammonium hydroxide salts are formed in crystalline forms on surfaces of the substrate. A water-soluble acidic polymer layer is applied over the surfaces of the substrate to dissolve the tetraalkylammonium hydroxide salts. The water-soluble acidic polymer layer is rinsed off by water, thereby providing clean surfaces that do not include the tetraalkylammonium hydroxide salts on the substrate. Subsequent processes can be performed on the substrate, which is covered by remaining portions of the developed photoresist and has clean surfaces in regions not covered by the photoresist.
US09012131B2

The invention provides a method for fabricating a liquid crystal display, including: providing a first substrate and a second substrate, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are disposed oppositely to each other; filling a mixed solution between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the mixed solution comprises a plurality of liquid crystal molecules and a plurality of monomers; performing a UV light irradiation process to the mixed solution, wherein the monomers are polymerized to form a first alignment control layer on a surface of the first substrate facing the liquid crystal molecules, and form a second alignment control layer on a surface of the second substrate facing the liquid crystal molecules, and the thickness of the first alignment control layer and that of the second alignment control layer have a ratio of about 1/2-2/1.
US09012126B2

The invention relates to a novel positive working photosensitive composition having: at least one photoacid generator; at least one novolak polymer; at least one polymer, having a polymer backbone, said polymer comprising a structure of the following formula: wherein R1-R5 are, independently, —H or —CH3, A is a linear or branched C1-C10 alkylene group, B is a C1-C12 alkyl or alicyclic group, D is a linking group that may be a chemical bond, a carboxylate group, wherein the carbonyl carbon is bonded to the polymer backbone, or a —COOCH2— group, wherein the carbonyl carbon is bonded to the polymer backbone, Ar is a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group or heteroaromatic group, E is a linear or branched C2-C10 alkylene group, G is an acid cleavable group. The invention further relates to a process for using the novel composition for forming an image.
US09012125B2

A resist composition including a base component (A), which exhibits changed solubility in a developing solution under the action of acid and can be used in a lithography process that employs light having a wavelength of 193 nm or less as the exposure light source, an acid generator component (B) which generates acid upon exposure, and a polymeric compound (C) having a structural unit (c0) represented by general formula (c0) shown below, wherein the amount of the polymeric compound (C) is less than 25 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the base component (A). In the formula, R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms or a halogenated alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and R1 represents an organic group having one or more primary or secondary alcoholic hydroxyl groups, or a chain-like tertiary alcoholic hydroxyl group.
US09012119B2

A liquid developer includes a toner that contains a binder resin and a release agent, and a carrier liquid that has a difference (ΔSP (tc)) in SP value from the binder resin of from 1.5 to 7.0, wherein the release agent is not eluted in the carrier liquid at a temperature lower than a glass transition temperature of the binder resin.
US09012116B2

A toner including a binder resin having a glass transition temperature (Tg) observed at least at one point from 25 to 65° C. in a differential scanning calorimeter at a rate of temperature increase of 5° C./min, wherein the toner has a structure in which a structure appearing as a high phase difference image is dispersed in a structure appearing as a low phase difference image in a two-dimensional phase difference image observed by tapping mode AFM, and an X-ray diffraction chart in which a peak originated from an crystalline resin is observed in a range of a diffraction angle 2θ of from 20 to 25°, and wherein a ratio (I1/I2) of an intensity of the peak originated from an crystalline resin to an intensity (I2) of a halo originated from an amorphous composition is from 0.2 to 1.
US09012099B2

The present invention concerns an electrochemical system (100) including a stack of series connected electrochemical units (102). The system is controlled by a control circuit (104) and includes a plurality of differential amplifiers (114), each connected by two inputs to the terminals of an electrochemical unit, in order to supply a voltage representative of the potential difference present between the terminals of said electrochemical unit. Each representative voltage is sent to a control unit (106) arranged for converting said representative voltage into a numerical value transmitted to the control circuit. The system further includes, between each differential amplifier and the control unit, a buffer means (116) controlled by the control circuit. The buffer means is capable of saving the voltage representative of the potential difference present between the terminals of the electrochemical unit to which it is connected. The voltage is saved simultaneously by all of the buffer means.
US09012097B1

A regenerative fuel cell is provided by the present invention. In the methods and systems described herein, a source of fuel is partially oxidized to release protons and electrons, without total oxidation to carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide. The partially oxidized fuel can be regenerated, by reduction, when the fuel cell is reversed. Other variations of the invention provide a convenient system for hydrogen storage, including steps for both release and recapture of hydrogen.
US09012091B2

An as-prepared cathode for a secondary battery, the cathode including an alkaline source material including an alkali metal oxide, an alkali metal sulfide, an alkali metal salt, or a combination of any two or more thereof.
US09012082B2

The present invention relates to a negative active material for a rechargeable lithium battery, which includes a silicon-based composite having a silicon oxide of the form SiOx where x≦1.5 and at least one element selected from the group consisting of B, P, Li, Ge, Al, and V, and a carbonaceous material. The negative active material of the present invention can improve the cycle-life and high-rate charge/discharge characteristics of a rechargeable lithium battery.
US09012080B2

A needle-like structure of silicon is provided. A crystalline silicon region is formed over a metal substrate by an LPCVD method, whereby whisker-like crystalline silicon which is a polycrystalline body and grows in the <110> direction or the <211> direction with {111} the plane as a twin boundary can be obtained. Whisker-like crystalline silicon grows while forming a twin crystal (introducing stacking faults), and an initial nucleus is provided so that the normal direction <111> of the twin boundary is always included in the plane perpendicular to the growth direction of whisker-like crystalline silicon (in a transverse cross section). Such a material is used as a negative electrode active material of a lithium-ion secondary battery and for a photoelectric conversion device such as a solar battery.
US09012076B2

Disclosed herein is an organic radical polyimide, represented by Formula 1 below: The organic radical polyimide can be applied to a cathode, an anode or the like, and can be widely applied to an organic solar cell, an organic transistor, organic memory or the like. Further, the organic radical polyimide can be used to manufacture a secondary battery having high energy density because it has high radical density. Further, the organic radical polyimide can be formed into an ultrathin film such as a polymer film and can be used to manufacture a flexible next-generation battery because it does not include metal components and causes a stable oxidation-reduction reaction.
US09012068B2

A battery module may include a plurality of battery cells aligned in one direction, each of the plurality of battery cells including: a first electrode terminal and a second electrode terminal, a bus bar for electrically connecting the plurality of battery cells, the bus bar being fastened to the first electrode terminal or the second electrode terminal of any one of the plurality of battery cells, and the first electrode terminal or the second electrode terminal of an adjacent one of the plurality of battery cells, and a housing accommodating the plurality of battery cells electrically connected by the bus bar. The first electrode terminal and the second electrode terminal of adjacent battery cells may be spaced differently, for example, a battery cell may have first and second electrode terminals spaced at different distances from a center of a top side of the respective battery cell.
US09012067B2

Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing a battery cell having an electrode assembly of a cathode/separator/anode structure disposed in a battery case made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy together with an electrolyte in a sealed state, the method including (a) anodizing an entire surface of the battery case in a state in which a connection opening section, to which charge pins used to activate the battery cell are connected, is formed at a bottom of the battery case, (b) mounting the electrode assembly in the battery case and connecting a cap plate to an open upper end of the battery case by laser welding, (c) injecting an electrolyte through an electrolyte injection port of the cap plate and activating the battery cell, and (d) replenishing the electrolyte and sealing the electrolyte injection port.
US09012066B2

A secondary battery capable of improving the cycle characteristics and the swollenness characteristics is provided. The secondary battery includes a cathode, an anode, and an electrolytic solution. The anode includes an anode active material layer having a plurality of fine pores on an anode current collector. The anode active material layer contains an anode active material and an anode binder. A change rate of a mercury intrusion into the plurality of fine pores measured by mercury penetration technique is distributed to show a peak in the pore diameter range from 30 nm to 10000 nm, both inclusive.
US09012060B2

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, an assembly of tubular cell insulator casings is provided. The assembly includes a plurality of tubular cell insulator casings, wherein each cell insulator casing is open at a top end and configured to surround at least one of a plurality of electrically interconnected electrochemical cells, wherein said plurality of tubular cell insulator casings comprises a monolithic unit. The battery pack also includes a plurality of insulator plugs and a sump plate configured to support said plurality of insulator plugs.
US09012059B2

A secondary battery includes at least two electrode assemblies, each electrode assembly including a first electrode plate, a separator, and a second electrode plate, a case accommodating the at least two electrode assemblies, electrode terminals electrically connected to the at least two electrode assemblies, a cap plate sealing the case and exposing the electrode terminals to the outside, and at least one insulation member between the at least two electrode assemblies, the insulation member defining a space between the at least two electrode assemblies.
US09012057B2

A battery cell assembly is provided. The battery cell assembly includes a battery cell housing having first and second side members coupled together defining an interior region, and a battery cell disposed within the interior region. The battery cell assembly further includes a cable carrier assembly having a carrier member with a first aperture extending therethrough. The carrier member is disposed between first and second end portions of the first and second side members, respectively, and extends outwardly from the battery cell housing. A first cable extends from the interior region of the battery cell housing and through the first aperture of the carrier member to an electronic module disposed on the carrier member.
US09012052B2

A battery pack includes a battery cell; a case housing the battery cell; and an adhesion sheet surrounding at least a portion of an exterior surface of the case, wherein the adhesion sheet includes a base part and an adhesion part, the base part having a bending line corresponding in position to an edge of the case, and the adhesion part being on a bottom surface of the base part and including air exhaustion paths.
US09012046B2

According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording medium is formed by performing gas ion irradiation by using a magnetism deactivating gas on a stack including a perpendicular magnetic recording layer, an Ru nonmagnetic underlayer containing a magnetism deactivating element selected from chromium, titanium, and silicon, and a nonmagnetic substrate. Before gas ion irradiation, the perpendicular magnetic recording layer contains platinum and at least one of iron and cobalt. Gas ion irradiation is performed using nitrogen gas alone or a gas mixture of nitrogen gas and at least one gas selected from the group consisting of helium, hydrogen, and B2H6.
US09012043B2

A medical implant device or component thereof comprising a metal substrate and a coating layer structure provided on the substrate. The coating layer structure comprises an outermost layer of a ceramic material. A bonding structure is deposited between the metal substrate and the coating layer structure. The bonding structure comprises a chromium rich layer, which is deposited onto the metal substrate surface and has a higher concentration of chromium than the metal substrate, as well as a gradient layer having a composition gradient from the chromium rich layer towards the surface of the device providing increasing proportions of a gradient material which has structural correspondence with the layer of the coating layer structure that is most adjacent to the bonding structure.
US09012040B2

The present invention relates to a novel anthracene derivative and an organic electronic device using the same. An anthracene derivative that is represented by the following Formula 1: The anthracene derivative can act as a hole injecting, hole transporting, electron injecting and transporting, or light emitting material in an organic light emitting device and an organic electronic device. In particular, the anthracene derivative can act as a light emitting host. The organic electronic device according to the present invention has excellent characteristics in views of efficiency, the driving voltage, and the stability.
US09012033B2

An aluminum alloy clad sheet for heat exchangers includes a core material, a cladding material 1, and a cladding material 2, one side and the other side of the core material being respectively clad with the cladding material 1 and the cladding material 2, the core material containing 0.5 to 1.2% of Si, 0.2 to 1.0% of Cu, 1.0 to 1.8% of Mn, and 0.05 to 0.3% of Ti, with the balance being Al and unavoidable impurities, the cladding material 1 containing 3 to 6% of Si, 2 to 8% of Zn, and at least one of 0.3 to 1.8% of Mn and 0.05 to 0.3% of Ti, with the balance being Al and unavoidable impurities, and the cladding material 2 containing 6 to 13% of Si, with the balance being Al and unavoidable impurities, the cladding material 1 serving as the outer side of the aluminum alloy clad sheet during use.
US09012024B2

The invention relates to a glazing comprising a transparent glass substrate containing ions of at least one alkali metal and a transparent layer made of silicon oxycarbide (SiOxCy) having a total thickness E with (a) a carbon-rich deep zone, extending from a depth P3 to a depth P4, where the C/Si atomic ratio is greater than or equal to 0.5, and (b) a carbon-poor surface zone, extending from a depth P1 to a depth P2, where the C/Si atomic ratio is less than or equal to 0.4, with P1
US09012018B2

A security film including a support (1) and a laser markable layer (3), wherein the laser markable layer includes i) a laser additive; ii) a polymer selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polycarbonate and styrene acrylonitrile; iii) an initiator; and iv) at least 15 wt % of radiation curable compound based on the total dry weight of the laser markable layer, wherein the radiation curable compound has a viscosity of less than 100 mPa·s at 25° C. and at a shear rate of 100 s−1. A security document and a method for preparing the security film are also disclosed.
US09012012B2

An apparatus for forming a bend in a composite panel is provided. An angle and a radius bend are identified for a bend. A location of the bend in the composite panel is identified. A slot is cut having a curved flange in the composite panel at the identified location in a single pass through the composite panel with a tool, wherein the curved flange has a shape with a bend allowance width and a bend slot width. The bend allowance width is BA=2π*A/360, wherein BA is the bend allowance width, R is a corner radius, and A is a bend angle. The bend slot width is BS=BA−2K(R−T), wherein K is Tan(A/2) and T is a thickness of the composite panel.
US09011998B2

Phase separated blends of polyaryl ether ketones, polyaryl ketones, polyether ketones, polyether ether ketones and mixtures thereof with at least one polysulfone etherimide, wherein the polysulfone etherimide has greater than or equal to 50 mole % of the polymer linkages contain at least one aryl sulfone group are described. Such blends have improved load bearing capability at high temperature. In another aspect a high crystallization temperature, especially at fast cooling rates, is achieved.
US09011991B2

A lengthy stretched film made of a thermoplastic resin, having, over the width direction of at least 1300 mm, a value of an orientation angle θ to a take-up direction in a range of 40° to 50° and fluctuation thereof of 1.0° or less, and a value of an average Nz coefficient in a range of 1.3 to 2.0 and fluctuation thereof of 0.10 or less. A lengthy circularly polarizing plate constituted by laminating the lengthy stretched film with a lengthy polarizer. A reflective display type liquid crystal display device provided with the circularly polarizing plate constituted by trimming the lengthy circularly polarizing plate to a desired size.
US09011990B2

The invention relates to a liquid crystal display utilizing a vertically aligned state of liquid crystal molecules when no voltage is applied and to a method of manufacturing the same.The liquid crystal display includes a monofunctional monomer having a structure expressed by X-R (where X represents an acrylate group or a methacrylate group, and R represents an organic group having a steroid skeleton). A liquid crystal material is sandwiched between substrates which is then irradiated with ultraviolet rays to cure the monofunctional monomer, thereby forming a polymer film at an interface of a substrate. The monofunctional monomer has a hydrophobic skeleton such as an alkyl chain and a photoreactive group on one side of the skeleton.
US09011983B2

A process for producing polymeric films by applying a liquid composition onto a surface of a substrate under vacuum conditions in a vacuum chamber. The composition has a first component which is polymerizable or crosslinkable in the presence of a sufficient amount of an acid; and a cationic photoinitiator which generates an acid upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation, electron beam radiation or both to cause polymerizing or crosslinking of the first component. A gas which emits ultraviolet radiation upon exposure to electron beam radiation is introduced into the vacuum chamber. The composition and the gas are exposed to electron beam radiation to cause the cationic photoinitiator to generate an amount of an acid to cause polymerizing or crosslinking of the first component. The composition is exposed to both electron beam radiation and gas-generated ultraviolet radiation and cured.
US09011981B2

A textile coating is made from a web of fibers including a first area and a second area. The first area is a cohesion area where the fibers of the web are integrated into a tight entanglement holding the fibers and located on only a portion of the thickness of the web. A method for making the textile coating includes: applying an alternating electric field to the web having at least one face bearing a heat-meltable powdery binder, thereby introducing said powdery binder into the web, so as to concentrate the binder at the first area, then melting the binder by supplying heat, and leaving the binder to cure or causing it to cure.
US09011976B2

The present invention provides a titanium sheet covered with a protective film superior in high temperature oxidation resistance and high temperature salt damage resistance and a method of production of the same and an automobile exhaust system using the same. The titanium sheet covered with a protective film is formed on its surface with a protective film of a thickness of 1 to 100 μm where flake-shaped metal Al with an average thickness of 0.1 to 5 μm and average width or average length of 1 to 50 μm or grain-shaped metal Al with an average size of 0.1 to 30 μm is dispersed in 20 to 60 mass % silicone resin or silicone grease and comprised of Si: 15 to 55 mass % and C: 10 to 45 mass % and having a balance of unavoidable impurities. Preferably the titanium sheet of the substrate contains one or both of 0.5 to 2.1 mass % of Cu and 0.4 to 2.5 mass % of Al. The method of production is to brush or spray the above composition of a silicone resin on a titanium sheet to form a protective film and heat it at 150 to 300° C. for 5 to 60 minutes.
US09011967B2

There is provided a process of forming a regular array of rows of subpixels on a workpiece. The subpixels having 3 different colors, and a subpixel pitch s. Of the three colors, q colors are formed by printing and r colors are formed by a non-printing method. The process includes the steps: (1) providing a printing head having z nozzles arranged in a row with a spacing between the nozzles of p, where z=3n1 and p=2s, the printhead being at a first position relative to the workpiece; (2) providing q different printing inks, one for each of the q printed colors; (3) supplying each of the printing inks to the nozzles in a regular alternating pattern; (4) printing a first set of z rows of subpixels with the printing head; (5) moving and printing in a first pattern with the steps: (a) moving the workpiece laterally relative to the printing head by a distance d1, where d1=3n2; and (b) printing a set of z rows of subpixels with the printing head; (6) moving and printing in a second pattern with the steps: (c) moving the workpiece laterally relative to the printing head by a distance d2, where d2=3n3, such that d1+d2=pz; and (d) printing a set of z rows of subpixels with the printing head; (7) repeating steps (5) and (6) multiple times in the same order; and (8) applying r colors by a non-printing method.Variables include: n1, an integer greater than 0; n2 and n3, odd integers, such that n2+n3=2n1; q, an integer from 1-3; and r, an integer, such that q+r=3.
US09011944B2

A polyphenol composition derived from Camellia sinensis and contains flavonol aglycones and flavonol glycosides, in a weight ratio [(B)/(A)] of the following total contents (B) to (A) is from 0.01 to 18, wherein (A) total content of the flavonol aglycones contained in solids of the polyphenol composition after hydrolysis as measured by high-performance liquid chromatography, and (B) total content of the polyphenols contained in solids of the polyphenol composition as measured by the ferrous tartrate method.
US09011941B2

Compositions and methods for alleviating an allergy condition while also reducing a drying effect of an allergy treatment composition or another anti-mucosal composition. In some embodiments and implementations, a composition may be provided comprising an allergy treatment composition comprising an antihistamine in a therapeutically effective amount for treating the allergy condition in the human having the allergy condition. The composition may further comprise an anti-drying composition comprising at least one of xylitol, erythiritol, mannitol, maltitol, tibitol, arabitol, ribose, and xylose in one or more therapeutically effective amounts for reducing nasal dryness caused by the allergy treatment composition. The composition may be delivered into at least one of the human's nose, eyes, mouth, and throat.
US09011922B2

Provided are electrokinetically-altered fluids (gas-enriched electrokinetic fluids) comprising an ionic aqueous solution of charge-stabilized oxygen-containing nanostructures in an amount sufficient to provide modulation of at least one of cellular membrane potential and cellular membrane conductivity, and therapeutic compositions and methods for use in treating diabetes and diabetes-associated conditions or disorders (e.g., insulin resistance), or symptoms thereof. Provided are electrokinetically-altered ionic aqueous fluids optionally in combination with other therapeutic agents. Particular aspects provide for regulating or modulating intracellular signal transduction associated with said responses by modulation of at least one of cellular membranes, membrane potential, membrane proteins such as membrane receptors, including but not limited to G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCR), and intercellular junctions (e.g., tight junctions, gap junctions, zona adherins and desmasomes). Other embodiments include particular routes of administration or formulations for the electrokinetically-altered fluids (e.g., electrokinetically-altered gas-enriched fluids and solutions) and therapeutic compositions.
US09011913B2

The present invention provides methods of detecting a cancer cell in an individual, methods of grading a cancer, and methods of treating a cancer. The methods involve use of functionalized magnetic nanoparticles that comprise a moiety that provides for selective association with, and/or metabolic uptake into, a cancer cell.
US09011912B2

Oral dosage forms for poorly soluble amine drugs are provided. Such dosage forms include an ionizable compound such as an organic acid, an amphiphilic polymer and a release rate-controlling membrane. Such dosage forms allow for the consistent release of the active agent in both gastric pH conditions and in the intestine. Methods of making such dosage forms are also provided.
US09011911B2

The present invention pertains to a high drug load tablet comprising an active ingredient Compound I of formula or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in an amount from about 30% to 80% in weight of the active moiety based on the total weight of the tablet.
US09011908B2

Fill materials for hydrophobic drugs, such as progesterone, and methods of making and using thereof are described herein. The fill material contains the hydrophobic drug dissolved in one or more fatty acids. The concentration of the hydrophobic drug is typically from about 7% to about 50% by weight of the fill material. The concentration of the one or more fatty acids is from about 60% to about 95% by weight of the carrier. The formulation also contains an organic acid and one or both of one or more pharmaceutically acceptable alcohols and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable mono-, di-, or triesters of medium or long chain fatty acids. The fill material can be encapsulated in a hard or soft capsule. The formulations described herein have a higher dissolution rate and faster onset of dissolution compared to micronized progesterone suspended in an oil and thus should have increased bioavailability in vivo.
US09011904B2

Self-breaking core tablets and functionally coated tablets and capsule formulations are provided. Methods for production of these tablet and capsule formulations and their administration are also provided.
US09011899B2

Devices and methods for transplanting cells in a host body are described. The cell comprises a porous scaffold that allows ingrowth of vascular and connective tissues, a plug or plug system configured for placement within the porous scaffold, and a seal configured to enclose a proximal opening in the porous scaffold. The device may further comprise a cell delivery device for delivering cells into the porous scaffold. The method of cell transplantation comprises a two step process. The device is incubated in the host body to form a vascularized collagen matrix around a plug positioned within the porous scaffold. The plug is then retracted from the porous scaffold, and cells are delivered into the vascularized space created within the porous scaffold.
US09011896B2

The present invention is related to scoring or cutting balloon catheters carrying at least on a portion of their surface at least one oxidation-insensitive drug or oxidation-insensitive polymer-free drug preparation and at least one lipophilic antioxidant at a ratio of 3-100% by weight of the at least one lipophilic antioxidant in relation to 100% by weight of the drug, wherein the at least one oxidation-insensitive drug is selected of taxanes, thalidomide, statins, corticoids and lipophilic derivatives of corticoids, and the at least one lipophilic antioxidant is selected of nordihydroguaiaretic acid, resveratrol and propyl gallate.
US09011891B2

A formulation containing conidia of non-toxigenic strains of fungi is a useful biocontrol agent for preventing toxin contamination in agricultural commodities, especially those for human and animal consumption such as peanuts, corn, cotton and tree nuts. The formulation of the invention is a water dispersible granule formulation suitable for spraying and includes non-toxigenic and/or non-aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus strains capable of inhibiting growth of fungi which produce aflatoxin and further capable of suppressing production of aflatoxin by the toxigenic fungi. A method of preparing the formulation is shown.
US09011886B2

A leave-on type hair cosmetic composition having the following two layers A and B: Layer A of an oil layer containing the following component (a) in an amount of 0.5-40% by mass in the hair cosmetic composition, (a) a highly polymerized silicone selected from dimethicone and dimethiconol and having a number average degree of polymerization of 1,000-20,000; and Layer B of a water layer containing the following components (b) and (c), (b) a water-soluble polymeric thickening agent, and (c) water.
US09011884B2

Described herein are apparatus, compositions, systems and methods for occluding vascular structures and vascular malformations with radiopaque hydrogel filaments. The filaments can contain no support members and can be CT and MR compatible. Methods of forming such filaments are also disclosed.
US09011879B2

Sympathetic nerves run through the adventitia surrounding renal arteries and are critical in the modulation of systemic hypertension. Hyperactivity of these nerves can cause renal hypertension, a disease prevalent in 30-40% of the adult population. Hypertension can be treated with neuromodulating agents (such as angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II inhibitors, or aldosterone receptor blockers), but requires adherence to strict medication regimens and often does not reach target blood pressure threshold to reduce risk of major cardiovascular events. A minimally invasive solution is presented here to reduce the activity of the sympathetic nerves surrounding the renal artery by locally delivering neurotoxic or nerve-blocking agents into the adventitia. Extended elution of these agents may also be accomplished in order to tailor the therapy to the patient.
US09011868B2

The present invention relates to the use of an immunogenic composition that comprises a porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) antigen for treatment of several clinical manifestations (diseases). Preferably, the clinical manifestations are associated with a PCV2 infection. Preferably, they include lymphadenopathy, lymphoid depletion and/or multinucleated/giant histiocytes. Moreover, the clinical symptoms include lymphadenopathy in combination with one or a multiple of the following symptoms in pigs: (1) interstitial pneumonia with interlobular edema, (2) cutaneous pallor or icterus, (3) mottled atrophic livers, (4) gastric ulcers, (5) nephritis and (6) reproductive disorders, e.g. abortion, stillbirths, mummies, etc. Furthermore the clinical symptoms include Pia like lesions, normally known to be associated with Lawsonia intracellularis infections.
US09011863B2

The present invention provides methods of treating cancer by administering a compound of formula I, optionally as a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate and/or hydrate thereof, in combination with an inhibitor that targets HER2 and/or HER3.
US09011855B2

The present weed reducing material reduces the necessary weed control work by making joint filling sand a hostile substrate for plant and fungus growth by using an environmentally acceptable slow release mineral additive. The additive, having similar grain size distribution, mechanical and rheological properties, forms an integral part of the joint filling sand. The specific gravity of the additive is lower than quartz sand imparting a tendency for the additive to migrate towards the top part of the joint. The additive leads to pore waters rich in sodium and at high pH, both qualities being maintained over long periods. The mixture of additive and sand is handled and applied using conventional laying techniques and equipment, observing usual precautions for mortar or cement mixes with sand. In the environment, reaction with CO2 in the air or in the soil porosity inactivates the causticity, yielding harmless carbonate salts.
US09011854B2

Novel modulators, including antibodies and derivatives thereof, and methods of using such modulators to treat proliferative disorders are provided.
US09011850B2

The present invention provides a method of suppressing the formation of a soluble association of an antibody in a solution; a method of suppressing the formation of a chemically degraded product of an antibody in a solution; and a method of stabilizing an antibody in a solution. The present invention also provides a solution-type antibody preparation in which the formation of a soluble association is suppressed; a solution-type antibody preparation in which the formation of a chemically degraded product is suppressed; a solution-type antibody preparation in which the formation of a soluble association, the formation of a chemically degraded product and the formation of an insoluble aggregate are suppressed; an agent for suppressing the formation of a soluble association of an antibody; an agent for suppressing the formation of a chemically degraded product of an antibody; and a stabilizing agent for an antibody.
US09011845B2

Methods and therapeutic treatments of diseases such as viral infections are provided including applying peg-Arginase I. Methods are provided that treat inflammation mediated diseases with peg-Arginase I.
US09011843B2

Disclosed are alginate formulations that help protect digestive enzymes in the formulations from denaturation during passage through the acidic stomach environment, and from other sources, following ingestion. The formulation changes consistency to permit release of the enzymes in the less-acidic gut. They contain monovalent alginate salts (sodium, potassium and ammonium alginate) but are designed to not include significant quantities of compounds which would generate divalent ions and thereby convert the monovalent alginate to a divalent alginate when exposed to aqueous solution. A buffering agent that does not react with the digestive enzymes or the monovalent alginate, and which does not generate divalent ions on exposure to aqueous solution, can be included. A chelating agent which binds divalent ions may be administered with the formulation. Additionally, the formulation may be admixed with inert excipients suitable for oral delivery. It is preferable that the ingredients are dried before formulation.
US09011838B2

Methods and compositions are hereby disclosed for reducing the numbers of E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella or other pathogens in an animal. The methods include administering to the animal a lactic acid producing bacterium at a relatively low dosage in combination with a lactate utilizing bacterium, followed by administration of the lactic acid producing bacterium at a relatively high dosage. The disclosed methods help achieve pre-harvest food safety and enhance feed performance while keeping the total cost relatively low. The preferred lactic acid producing bacterium is Lactobacillus acidophilus/animalis and the preferred lactate utilizing bacterium is Propionibacterium freudenreichii.
US09011834B1

Disclosed herein are therapeutic compositions containing non-pathogenic, germination-competent bacterial spores, for the prevention, control, and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, disorders and conditions and for general nutritional health.
US09011821B2

In some aspects, the invention provides compositions and methods for inhibiting viral infection. In some aspects, the invention provides compositions and methods useful for identifying antiviral compounds.
US09011818B2

Water soluble InAs(ZnCdS) semiconductor nanocrystals with bright and stable emission in the near infrared (NIR) wavelength range have been prepared. The NIR semiconductor nanocrystals can be functionalized to enable imaging of specific cellular proteins. In addition, the utility of the NIR region for in vivo biological imaging is clearly demonstrated by the superior ability of InAs(ZnCdS) semiconductor nanocrystals to image tumor vasculature.
US09011799B2

The invention relates to a laboratory sample instrument with a cable holding space in which a printed circuit board cable device is arranged. The printed circuit board cable device has at least one printed circuit board with first and second sides and, arranged in succession, at least one first circuit board section, at least one second circuit board section and at least one third circuit board section, and with a number of conductor tracks arranged in parallel with respect to one another and extending from a first track section arranged in the first circuit board section, via the second circuit board section to the third circuit board section, in which a second track section is arranged, wherein, in the second circuit board section, at least one conductor track is arranged on the first side of the board and at least one track is arranged on the second side.
US09011793B2

The present invention relates to a blood glucose monitoring system, a strip accommodation device, a strip storage device, and an automated blood collection device, wherein the blood glucose monitoring system has the strip accommodation device formed integrally therewith, the strip accommodation device being configured to convert a rotary motion of a cover of an operating member into an upward linear motion and to eject one of a plurality of strips through an ejection hole, thereby easily storing the strips therein, preventing the contamination of the strips from the foreign matters like outside moisture, and accurately and easily measuring the concentration of the glucose in the blood.
US09011792B2

An isolator includes a work chamber, a sterilizing substance supply unit, a gas flow channel pressure adjustment unit, a work chamber barometer, and a controller. The controller is configured to control execution of a gas flow channel leak test for checking a gas leak in a gas flow channel based on a detection result by the work chamber barometer after making the gas flow channel pressure adjustment unit increase or decrease the pressure in the gas flow channel, and is configured to control supply of the sterilizing substance by the sterilizing substance supply unit. The controller performs heating of a heater, which accompanies the supply of the sterilizing substance, in parallel with the gas flow channel leak test.
US09011788B2

A Fischer Tropsch (“FT”) unit that includes an FT tube that is packed with a catalyst. The catalyst is designed to catalyze an FT reaction to produce a hydrocarbon. An insert that is positioned within the FT tube. The insert comprises at least one cross-piece that contacts an inner surface of the FT tube and at least one cross-fin extending from the cross-piece. There may be a corresponding second cross-fin adjacent each cross-fin. Both the cross-fins and the second cross-fins may be disposed radially outwardly such that the edge of the cross-fins are closer to the inner surface of the FT tube than is the base of the cross-fins.
US09011787B2

A sterilization, sanitization and/or decontamination device 1 comprising at least a humidifier unit, an ozone generator unit 60, at least one discharge outlet 16 and a controller for controlling the humidifier and ozone generator units, the at least one discharge outlet 16 comprising at least two at least partially converging plates 72, 74 between which substances are discharged.
US09011779B1

Described is a personal device and methods for measuring the concentration of an analyte in a sample of gas. The device and method may utilize a chemically selective sensor element with low power consumption integrated with circuitry that enables wireless communication between the sensor and any suitable electronic readout such as a smartphone, tablet, or computer. In preferred form, the sensor circuitry relies upon the quantum capacitance effect of graphene as a transduction mechanism. Also in preferred form, the device and method employ the functionalization of the graphene-based sensor to determine the concentration of ethanol in exhaled breath.
US09011778B2

A hydrogen sensitive composite sensing material based on cerium oxide with or without additives to enhance sensitivity to hydrogen, reduce cross-sensitivities to interfering gases, or lower the operating temperature of the sensor, and a device incorporating these hydrogen sensitive composite materials including a support, electrodes applied to the support, and a coating of hydrogen sensitive composite material applied over the electroded surface. The sensor may have in integral heater. The sensor may have a tubular geometry with the heater being inserted within the tube. A gas sensor device may include a support, electrodes applied to the support, and a dual sensor element to cancel unwanted effects on baseline resistance such as those resulting from atmospheric temperature changes. The hydrogen sensitive composite material or other gas sensitive materials may be used in the dual element gas sensor device.
US09011773B2

An automated smear making apparatus used to prepare and smear samples on glass slides. In one embodiment, there is provided a smearing subsystem that generally includes a smear cartridge having: an input reel; at least one roll bar; a take-up reel; and a smearing tape. The smearing tape is initially wound within the input reel and coupled to the take-up reel such that the smearing tape can be drawn from the input reel and into the take-up reel. The smearing tape may include a plurality of perforations formed therein. The smearing tape may then be wrapped around the roll bar such that each of the plurality of perforations forms a blade that extends from the smearing tape to expose a smear surface as the smearing tape is drawn into the take-up reel. Alternatively, the smearing tape may be bent such that an edge of the smearing tape forms a smear surface between two roll bars. A slide transport surface is also provided to move a slide across the smear surface.
US09011770B2

The present invention provides a device for detecting the presence of an analyte in a liquid sample. The device has an opening for introducing the liquid sample into a first chamber for collecting the liquid sample, and a second chamber connected to the first chamber by a passageway and containing a test element. The device also has a third chamber connected to the second chamber by a channel and containing a movable member having first and second positions. The third chamber is divided by the movable member into first and second zones, and the first zone has a vent hole. The movable member is in contact with at least one wall of the third chamber to prevent gas communication between the first and second zones.
US09011769B2

A blood reservoir may be used in combination with other elements such as a heart lung machine (HLM), oxygenator, heat exchanger, arterial filter and the like to form an extracorporeal blood circuit that may be employed in a procedure such as a bypass procedure. The blood reservoir may be configured to receive, filter and store blood from a number of sources including vent blood (from within the heart), venous blood (from a major vein), purge blood (from a sampling line) and cardiotomy or suction blood (from the surgical field).
US09011767B2

The disclosed invention relates to a portable, vacuum assisted decontamination unit. The invention also relates to a vacuum assisted decontamination process. The decontamination unit may be ruggedized for use in hostile environments such as those that may be anticipated for military applications.
US09011762B2

The invention relates to a sintering method for manufacturing structures by sintering. In addition, the invention relates to a sintered product, an electronic module, and new uses. In the method, a particle material containing conductive or semiconductive encapsulated nanoparticles is sintered, in order to increase its electrical conductivity, by applying a voltage over the particle material. In the method, a substrate is typically used, one surface of which is at least partly equipped with a layer containing nanoparticles. The method is based on thermal feedback between the voltage feed and the nanoparticles. The invention permits the manufacture of conductive and semiconductive structures and pieces by sintering at room temperature and at normal pressure.
US09011754B2

The present invention refers to an apparatus and a method for the manufacture of a three-dimensional scaffold at low temperatures and the respective use of this method and apparatus.
US09011750B2

The injection molding device of the present invention is provided with a supply pipe which supplies a heat medium to a mold, a discharge pipe which discharges the heat medium from the mold, a mold temperature adjustor to which the supply pipe and the discharge pipe are connected to adjust the temperature of the mold, and a discharge rate adjusting unit which is provided with a variable flow control valve installed on the discharge pipe to adjust a flow rate of the heat medium, a discharge pipe variable flow control valve bypass pipe for bypassing the variable flow control valve and a discharge pipe bypass on-off valve installed on the bypass pipe to change a flow rate of the heat medium and which is installed at a position upstream from the mold temperature adjustor on the discharge pipe.
US09011746B2

The invention is a method for preparing a finished part in a mold wherein the finished part includes n mold inputs, the method comprising the steps of (a) providing a mold having n mold stations, (b) simultaneously adding a mold input at each mold station to create a finished part and n−1 part portions, (c) removing the finished part and each part portion from each mold station, (d) transferring the finished part to a finished part holding area and transferring each part portion to a different mold station, and (e) repeating steps (b) through (d).
US09011738B2

Monomer beads which can be obtained according to a process in which i. one or more aromatic tetraamino compounds are mixed with one or more aromatic carboxylic acids comprising at least two acid groups per carboxylic acid monomer in an extruder and melted at 190° C.-270° C.; ii. the melt is dropletized at 190° C.-270° C. by means of a die located at the extruder outlet; iii. the liquid droplets are collected, cooled and allowed to solidify. The monomer beads are particularly suited to the production of a proton-conducting polymer membrane based on polyazoles.
US09011733B2

Green compositions and technologies are provided. In an embodiment, the present invention provides a method of providing dielectric fluids, heat transfer fluids or cooling fluids. The dielectric fluid, heat transfer fluid, or cooling fluid can comprise one or more by-product or co-product containing glyceride and fatty acid mixtures extracted from an ethanol process. In an embodiment, the present invention provides compositions of dielectric fluids, heat transfer fluids or cooling fluids. The dielectric fluid, heat transfer fluid, or cooling fluid can comprise one or more glyceride and fatty acid mixtures extracted from an ethanol process.
US09011730B2

There is described a coating composition useful for forming a transfer member suitable for use with an image forming system. The composition includes coating an ultraviolet (UV) curable mixture comprising a chlorinated polyester resin, a reactive diluent, conductive species and a photoinitiator on a substrate. The UV curable mixture is cured with ultraviolet energy. The cured mixture is then removed from the substrate.
US09011727B2

Blending an electrically active, anodically coloring, electrochromic polymer with a non-electrochromic, non-electrically conductive binder polymer greatly enhances the performance of the anodically coloring, electrochromic polymer in an electrochromic device over time. In addition to improved physical characteristics of the blend, e.g., film build, durability etc, the coloristic properties, including color space and color strength, of the device comprising the blend are more durable than when using the neat polymer, and in certain instances, the color space and color intensity provided by the blend is superior to that available from the neat polymer.
US09011723B2

In a method for treating alternative, carbon-containing, low-caloric waste materials for use in furnace systems, in particular rotary tubular kilns for the production of clinker, the carbon-containing, alternative fuels are subjected to high-temperature gasification under anoxic conditions at temperatures above 1000° C., wherein water, water vapor or CO2 is injected to ensure a reaction forming CO and H2. The waste heat from a clinker cooler is used for the high-temperature gasification.
US09011719B2

A white-light LED red phosphor and method of manufacturing the same are provided. The luminescent materials are represented by the general formula: Ca1-y-m-e-rYyMmXx-pPpZzNn:Eue, Rf, wherein M is at least one selected from Sr, Ba, Sc, Li, Na and K; X is at least one selected from B, Al and Ga, and Al must be contained; Z is at least one selected from Si, V and Nb, and Si must be contained; R is at least one selected from Dy, Er, Tm and Lu, and Dy must be contained; 0.001≦y≦0.2, 0.001≦m≦0.2, 0.5≦x≦1.5, 0.5≦z≦1.5, 0.001≦p≦0.1, 2≦n≦4, 0.001≦e≦0.2 and 0.001≦r≦0.1. The phosphor according to the present invention has features such as good chemical stability, high luminous efficiency, and good anti-luminous attenuation performance, etc.
US09011712B2

Disclosed is a microetching solution, a replenishment solution added to said microetching solution and a method for production of a wiring board using said microetching solution. The microetching solution for copper consists of an aqueous solution containing a cupric ion, an organic acid, a halide ion, a polymer and a nonionic surfactant. The polymer is a water-soluble polymer including a polyamine chain and/or a cationic group and having a weight average molecular weight of 1000 or more. In the microetching solution of the present invention, a value of A/B is 2000 to 9000 and a value of A/D is 500 to 9000, where a concentration of the halide ion is A % by weight, a concentration of the polymer is B % by weight and a concentration of the nonionic surfactant is D % by weight. Using this microetching solution, adhesion to a resin or the like can be uniformly maintained even with a low etching amount.
US09011711B2

The invention relates to a heat transfer method using a ternary composition containing 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, 1,1-difluoroethane and difluoromethane, as a heat transfer fluid in refrigeration systems, to replace the R-410A mixture.
US09011702B2

One of objects is to reduce the effect caused by the volume expansion of an active material. An embodiment is a method for manufacturing an electrode for a power storage device which includes an active material over one of surfaces of a current collector. The active material is formed by forming a conductive body functioning as the current collector; forming a mixed layer including an amorphous region and a microcrystalline region over one of surfaces of the conductive body; and etching the mixed layer selectively, so that a part of or the whole of the amorphous region is removed and the microcrystalline region is exposed. Thus, the effect caused by the volume expansion of the active material is reduced.
US09011698B2

A method and devices comprise a low frequency high energy ultrasound system having at least one sonotrode projecting into a reactor vessel through which the liquid passes via at least one inlet orifice and at least one outlet orifice. To avoid cavitation at the sonotrode, in a close region of the oscillation-transducing sonotrode surface a pressure/amplitude combination close to or above the pressure-amplitude characteristic line is generated at which considerably reduced or no cavitation occurs and in the adjacent region in the vessel at least in a region and at least at times a pressure/amplitude combination is maintained below the pressure-amplitude characteristic line at which cavitation is generated. A device has an inlet orifice arranged such that the liquid impacts directly onto the oscillation-transducing sonotrode surface, and is shaped that in the close region of the oscillation-transducing sonotrode surface a pressure close to or above the pressure-amplitude characteristic line prevails.
US09011697B2

A method for the treatment of fluid including the step of exposing the fluid to a pulsed plasma discharge. The pulsed plasma discharge will be generated using a suitable electrode configuration to generate the plasma discharge in the fluid. Apparatus useful in the method may include a vessel, at least two electrodes for generating a plasma discharge in water, and a flow inlet and a flow outlet to allow water to be passed through the vessel. Also described is an in-line water treatment, where a pulsed plasma discharge is used in a pipe carrying moving water. Plasma based fluid treatment system may have many advantages in comparison to other treatment methods, such as very minimal maintenance, low operating power, and minimal pressure loss through the device.
US09011693B2

The invention provides a process for separating a solution from magnetic resin portions, particles and/or fines by passing a solution containing the resin portions, particles and/or fines through a bed of particulate magnetic material.
US09011691B2

Disclosed herein are methods for recovering diphosphite-containing compounds from mixtures comprising organic mononitriles and organic dinitriles, using liquid-liquid extraction. Also disclosed are treatments to enhance extractability of the diphosphite-containing compounds.
US09011681B2

A self-contained water polishing system includes at least a first containment basin that has an inlet for inflow of water from a collection source and contains calcium carbonate for treatment of water flowing through the system; at least a first polishing basin in communication with the containment basin and that contains at least a first pollutant collection substrate for treatment of water flowing through the system; and a vacuum pumping system in fluid communication with the containment and polishing basins that draws water through the polishing system.
US09011680B2

Oil boom (1) having an elongated buoyancy body (8) carrying a skirt (9) that is hanging down in the sea as a barrier against water surface pollution. The boom (1) is arranged for being towed by its ends, in a U shape, for collecting pollution, in particular mechanically dispersed oil. The boom is designed in such a way that conditions for concentrating the pollution arise in the inner area of the boom, and in that at least parts of said inner area are provided with a means (6, 10) for coalescence of pollution drops.
US09011667B2

One embodiment of the invention includes an assembly of metal oxide comprising valve metal oxide nanotubes.
US09011663B2

The present teachings relate to microfluidic valves and pumping systems, which may be suitable for controlling and facilitating liquid flow. Electrodes are disposed proximately to volumes containing a liquid. The liquid flow can be facilitated by electrowetting forces. Processes for controlling the flow of liquids, as well as for pumping liquids, are also disclosed.
US09011662B2

The invention provides droplet actuator assemblies and systems and methods of manufacturing the droplet actuator assemblies. In certain embodiments, two-piece enclosures are used to form a droplet actuator assembly that houses a droplet operations substrate. In certain other embodiments, one-piece enclosures are used to form a droplet actuator assembly that houses a droplet operations substrate. In the plastic injection molding process for forming substrates of the droplet actuator assemblies of the present invention may utilize insert molding (or overmolding) processes for forming a gasket in at least one substrate, thereby avoiding the need for providing and installing a separate gasket component. Further, the droplet actuator assemblies may include features that allow ultrasonic welding processes to be used for bonding substrates together. The manufacturing systems of the present invention for fabricating the droplet actuator assemblies may utilize continuous flow reel-to-reel manufacturing processes.
US09011659B2

A sensor apparatus includes a first electrode and a second electrode at a predefined distance from one another. The sensor apparatus includes a substrate arranged in a predefined first region of the sensor carrier such that the first electrode and the second electrode are substantially electrically decoupled from one another if the outer side of the sensor carrier is substantially free of particles. A third electrode is coupled to a solid electrolyte that is additionally coupled to the second electrode. A diffusion barrier is coupled to the third electrode in a predefined third region and the exhaust gas is applied to the third electrode only in the third region via the diffusion barrier.
US09011658B2

The present invention relates to a sampling plate. In particular the invention relates to a sampling plate for measuring certain selected properties of a liquid sample, such as the glucose levels in a blood sample. Sampling plates of the present invention have a sample zone (20) for receiving a liquid sample and an overflow reservoir (26) linked to the sample zone (20) via an overflow channel (26a), so that excess blood sample can be redirected away from the sample zone (20) and contained.
US09011641B2

Fibrous structures that exhibit a Free Fiber End Count greater than the Free Fiber End Count of known fibrous structures in the range of free fiber end lengths of from about 0.10 mm to about 0.75 mm as determined by the Free Fiber End Test Method, and sanitary tissue products comprising same and methods for making same are provided.
US09011630B2

The present invention relates to curable compositions comprising at least one specific blocked amine, at least one surface-deactivated polyisocyanate that is solid at ambient temperature and optionally water or a water-producing substance. Compositions of this type are characterized by an extremely high storage stability as long as they are not heated. Hot curing compositions that cure with the action of heat can thus be produced. Heat-activated compositions can also be produced. When heat is applied the latter compositions are not cured but are activated so that they are able to cure under the influence of moisture. The curable compositions are particularly suitable for use as adhesives.
US09011606B2

Devices and methods for the effective clearing of artificial tubes, especially in-situ clearing of artificial tubes in a living being are covered in this disclosure. An elongated clearing member includes either a fixed or an adjustable element that selectively defines the portion of the elongated clearing member that is insertable within the artificial tube. The proximal end of the clearing member is releasably secured to the driving mechanism and the driving mechanisms may comprise a wide variety of repetitive motion drivers such as voice coil motors, piezoelectric actuators, pneumatic actuators, DC motors, etc. These devices/methods may comprise a free-standing console for hands-free operation or may comprise hand-held versions. The distal working end of the clearing member may comprise tips of differing functions, including an irrigation/aspiration feature.
US09011601B2

A substrate processing apparatus capable of forming an oxide film on a substrate by forming a layer on the substrate by supplying a source gas into a process vessel accommodating the substrate via the first nozzle, and simultaneously supplying an oxygen-containing gas through a second nozzle and a hydrogen-containing gas through a first nozzle into the process vessel having an inside pressure thereof lower than atmospheric pressure; mixing and reacting the oxygen-containing gas with the hydrogen-containing gas in a non-plasma atmosphere within the process vessel to generate atomic oxygen; and oxidizing the layer with the atomic oxygen to change the layer into an oxide layer is disclosed.
US09011600B2

A chemical vapour deposition system, including: a process tube for receiving at least one sample, the process tube being constructed of silicon carbide, impregnated with silicon, and coated with silicon carbide; a pumping system to evacuate the process tube to high vacuum; one or more gas inlets for introducing one or more process gases into the evacuated process tube; and a heater to heat the process tube and thereby heat the one or more process gases and the at least one sample within the process tube to cause a material to be deposited onto the at least one sample within the process tube by chemical vapour deposition.
US09011597B2

A method for preparing a composite material from a waste appearing as sludge is provided. The method comprises a step consisting in putting said waste appearing as sludge in contact with a dry cement mixture. Also provided are the thereby obtained composite material and the use of such a method for treating and/or inertizing wastes and notably industrial and/or radioactive wastes.
US09011585B2

A treatment solution for an insulation coating of grain-oriented electrical steel sheets includes at least one selected from phosphates of Mg, Ca, Ba, Sr, Zn, Al and Mn; colloidal silica in a proportion of 0.5 to 10 mol in terms of SiO2; and a water-soluble vanadium compound in a proportion of 0.1 to 2.0 mol in terms of V, relative to PO4:1 mol in the phosphates.
US09011569B2

A wall flow type particulate filter (24) adapted to be arranged in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine in which combustion is performed in an excess of oxygen carries a solid acid. The solid acid has an acid strength which is higher than the acid strength of sulfurous acid and lower than the acid strength of sulfuric acid.
US09011551B2

A left atrial appendage occlusion device is provided that acts in conjunction with a wireless transponder unit. The occlusion device provides a seal of the left atrial appendage opening, while the transponder is inserted into the left atrial appendage to sense one or more physiological conditions and relay the sensed information over wireless communication. Further, all or part of the left atrial appendage may be filled using a biocompatible inert filling material injected into the left atrial appendage as part of deployment of the transponder unit.
US09011547B2

A knee prosthesis system for total knee replacement procedures includes a plurality of distinctly-sized femoral components, a plurality of distinctly-sized fixed tibial components, a plurality of distinctly-sized mobile tibial components, a plurality of fixed inserts, and a plurality of mobile inserts. Each of the mobile inserts is sized and shaped such that each may be optimally matched to one of the femoral components and may be used with any one of the mobile tibial components. Each of the fixed inserts is sized and shaped such that each may be optimally matched to one of the femoral components and may be used with any one of the fixed tibial components.
US09011540B1

A spinal implant and an overlay for interlocking with the face of the implant. Grooves and/or channels of the overlay interlock with the face of the implant. The overlay assists in securing the implant within the surgically created cavity.
US09011534B2

Methods for fixation of a soft tissue graft in a bone including: forming in the bone a tunnel defining an entrance opening and an exit opening at opposite ends of the tunnel, the tunnel including an anterior wall surface and a posterior wall surface opposite to the anterior wall surface; positioning the soft tissue graft within the tunnel such that the soft tissue graft extends through both the entrance opening and the exit opening of the tunnel; inserting a graft fixation apparatus into the tunnel and driving spikes of the graft fixation apparatus into the posterior wall surface to mount the graft fixation apparatus to the posterior wall surface of the tunnel such that the graft fixation apparatus is anterior to the posterior wall surface and is not recessed beneath the posterior wall surface; and securing the soft tissue graft inside the tunnel with the graft fixation apparatus.
US09011533B2

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction methods and devices are designed to achieve an anatomically accurate double bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction by using a single femoral and tibial tunnel. The method and devices reconstruct the two bundles of the anterior cruciate ligament in a single femoral and tibial tunnel using a bone-patellar tendon-bone graft. The methods and devices enable an accurate anatomical reconstruction of the anteromedial and posterolateral bundles by creating a single femoral and tibial tunnel as opposed to creating two tunnels in the tibia and femur.
US09011527B2

A prosthetic heart valve includes a stent having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition. The stent includes a plurality of cells, each cell being formed by a plurality of struts, and a plurality of commissure features. The heart valve further includes a valve assembly secured to the stent and including a cuff and a plurality of leaflets, each leaflet being attached to adjacent commissure features and to the stent struts and/or the cuff.
US09011523B2

Methods and apparatus are provided for repairing or replacing a defective cardiac valve including a prosthetic leaflet assembly having an expandable frame with one or more anchors configured to engage a predetermined region of the defective cardiac valve in an expanded deployed state, and at least one prosthetic leaflet coupled to the expandable frame. The prosthetic leaflet assembly is configured such that the prosthetic leaflet is suspended within a flow path of the defective cardiac valve and coapts with, and improves functioning of, one or more native leaflets of the defective cardiac valve.
US09011522B2

In a surgical method for improving cardiac function, an implantable scaffold or valve support device is inserted inside a patient's heart and attached to the heart in a region adjacent to a natural mitral or other heart valve. The scaffold or valve support device defines an orifice and, after the attaching of the scaffold or valve support device to the heart, or temporary support while native valve leaflets and/or subvalvular structures are captured, a prosthetic or bio-prosthetic valve seated in the orifice, and the native valve may be retracted into the scaffold/replacement assembly to create a gasket for sealing the complex.
US09011521B2

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for endovascularly replacing a patient's heart valve. The apparatus includes a replacement valve and an anchor having an expandable braid. In some embodiments, the expandable braid is fabricated from a single strand of wire. In some embodiments, the expandable braid comprises at least one turn feature. The anchor and the valve preferably are configured for endovascular delivery and deployment.
US09011513B2

Catheter for delivery of a medical device such as a stent or filter includes an inner tubular member and an outer tubular member movable relative to the inner tubular member. The outer tubular member is disposed at the distal end of the inner tubular member. The inner tubular member includes a fluid lumen defined therein, the fluid lumen having a fluid flow port directed to the exterior surface of the inner tubular member. A pressure chamber is defined by the inner tubular member, the outer tubular member, a proximal seal and a distal seal, and is in fluid communication with the fluid flow port, wherein fluid introduced through the fluid flow port and into the pressure chamber applies a force on the proximal seal to move the outer tubular member in a proximal direction allowing the medical device constrained by the outer tubular member to be released.
US09011509B2

Method and apparatus for optically stimulating neurons of a plurality of auditory nerve pathways of a person to provide auditory sensations for the person including generating a plurality of pulsed light signals having one or more successive pulses; delivering the plurality of pulsed light signals to one or more auditory nerve pathways of the cochlea of the person; selectively controlling the plurality of light signals to optically stimulate and trigger nerve action potentials (NAPs) in the one or more auditory nerve pathways, wherein the selectively controlling includes empirically testing the delivering of the plurality of light signals and determining which optical-stimulation parameters used during the testing are most effective for optically stimulating the auditory nerve pathways of the person, and using results of the testing such that the delivering includes delivering the plurality of light signals with the optical-stimulation parameters that were determined to be most effective for optically stimulating.
US09011504B2

The apparatus and method is directed to a pair of self-tapping, interconnecting, externally and internally threaded devices that, when installed between two separate pieces of material, will draw and hold the material together as a single threaded unit. While the pair of threaded devices are being fastened into the host material, due to the unique design of their threads, no radial outward forces are produced that could cause cracking or splitting of the sections of the material into which they are installed. The external threads are helically defined into the exterior of each half of the device with a right hand thread defined into one half and a left hand thread into the other half. When the two halves are being fastened together, the increased thread pitch on one of the halves continuously draws the halves into each other even when the internal threads have already been maximally tightened.
US09011503B2

An implantable fixation system for fusing a joint between a first bone and a second bone. The system may include an anchor, standoff, bolt, and cortical washer. The system may be implanted across the joint along a single trajectory, the length of the system adjustable to provide compressive force between the anchor and the cortical washer. The system may be implanted across a tibiotalar joint with the anchor positioned in the sinus tarsi. A spacing member may be inserted between the two bones and the fixation system implanted to extend through an opening in the spacing member. The spacing member may be anatomically shaped and/or provide deformity correction. An ankle arthroplasty system may include a tibial plate, a talar plate, and a bearing insert. The plates may be anchored to the tibia and talus along a single trajectory. The ankle arthroplasty system may be revisable to a fusion system.
US09011500B2

The present disclosure generally relates to a fixation device for positioning and immobilizing at least two adjacent vertebrae. In particular, in one or more embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an anterior clivus plate that immobilizes at least two adjacent vertebrae.
US09011499B1

Correction of a scoliotic curve in a spine comprises the steps of implanting an expanding rod isolated completely under the skin and attached to selected portions of the scoliotic curve of the spine at opposing ends of the rod; and producing a controlled force by means of expansion of the rod over at an extended time period under external control until a desire spinal curve is obtained. An incremental force is generated to stretch the scoliotic curve of the spine between the selected portions where attachment of the rod is defined. The controlled force is provided steadily for at least one month or alternatively 1-3 months. Multiple rods may be employed each associated with a different scoliotic curve of the spine or a different portion of the scoliotic curve.
US09011498B2

The present application discloses methods for treating a spinal deformity. In one embodiment, an elongated member is attached to vertebral members with fasteners. A separate fastener may attach the elongated member to each of the vertebral members. The elongated member may apply a force to limit growth on one side of the vertebral members, such as a convex side of a scoliotic spine. Each fastener may be constructed to limit a direction of growth of the vertebral member thereby applying a specific, corrective force to the vertebral member. The fasteners may allow relative motion between adjacent vertebral members without losing the attachment between the vertebral members and the fasteners. The net result may be controlled modulation of growth to reduce and/or eliminate the spinal deformity through redirection of growth potential.
US09011485B2

An implantable biodegradable device consisting of an inner button attached to a cylindrical segment, and an outer button attached to a retainment feature. The cylindrical segment is threaded on one end, with a surface groove. The retainment feature consists of radial strips with bent ends. The diameter of the radial strips is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cylinder. The bent ends fit into the groove. An insertion tool can attach to the threads in the cylinder and push the inner button through a wound, then, holding the inner button in place, push the outer button toward the inner button until the bent ends engage with the groove. The top of the threaded end of the cylindrical segment is adjacent to the back surface of the outer button when the bent ends of the retainment feature are engaged with the groove.
US09011484B2

A medical instrument having a force-limiting apparatus that, upon reaching the borderline force, ensures maintenance of the applied resistance force. It is proposed that the force-limiting apparatus should include a housing in which two components that can move in opposite directions to one another in the longitudinal direction of the housing are disposed in such a way that both components are disposed so that they can slide axially in the housing against the force of at least one spring element disposed in the housing, such that the two components are coupled with one another by at least one force transmission element that is acting on both components.
US09011479B2

An intravascular filter configured for bidirectional retrieval and a method for retrieving the filter from a patient's vena cava through the patient's femoral vein.
US09011473B2

A dermatological skin treatment device is provided. The device comprises a handpiece and a cutting tool, wherein the tool is inserted through the conduit and percutaneously inserted into a tissue disposed within a recessed area of the handpiece. The device and method cut the fibrous structures under the skin that cause cellulite at an angle substantially parallel to the surface of the skin and replace these structures with a non-cellulite forming structure by deploying a highly fibrous mesh through a single needle hole to create a highly fibrous layer directly or through wound healing processes.
US09011472B2

Systems and methods are provided for passively dissipating a rotational speed of a fluid-driven rotatable shaft. In particular, a dissipation member is provided for dissipating the rotational speed of a shaft having an end effector formed thereon. As the rotational speed of the shaft increases, the dissipation member will apply a counter-torque to the shaft, thereby limiting the rotational speed of the shaft. In an exemplary embodiment, the counter-torque has a non-linear dependence on the rotational speed of the shaft, such that the counter-torque increases at a rate greater than a rate of increase in the rotational speed.
US09011458B2

An orthopaedic surgical instrument includes an anchor configured to be coupled to a prosthetic tibial component, a shaft coupled to the anchor, and a separator coupled to the shaft. The separator is configured to move along the shaft between a first position in which the separator is spaced apart from the prosthetic tibial component and a second position in which the separator is positioned between the tibial tray and the sleeve of the prosthetic tibial component.
US09011457B2

An aiming guide aligns a surgical tool with a hole in a bone plate. The aiming guide includes an arm portion having a longitudinal axis, top and bottom surfaces, and first and second ends. The aiming guide further includes a handle portion having upper and lower ends. The handle portion is, at its lower end, connected to the bone plate. The handle portion is, at its upper end, connected to the arm portion. Bores extend from the top surface to the lower surface of the arm portion. Each bore is configured and dimensioned to receive a tool guide in at least two different preset positions which locates the channel in at least two different hole positions. The bore includes two diametrically opposed slots extending along at least a portion of a length of the bore, the slots configured and dimensioned to mate with diametrically opposed knobs extending radially outward from a tool guide. The tool guide has a head and a sleeve portion, which has a centered channel. The sleeve portion and channel are eccentric with respect to the head portion. The tool guide is inserted in a first preset position in order to align a surgical tool with one portion of a two-portion bone plate hole, or in a second preset position rotated 180 ° from the first preset position, in order to align a surgical tool with the second portion of a two-portion bone plate hole.
US09011444B2

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for shaping bone voids during revision procedures of total knee replacements. The systems disclosed herein generally include a cannulated reamer assembly, a reaming guide assembly, a guide tube assembly, a trial stem assembly, and an optional insertion/removal tool. Metaphyseal reconstruction devices can be used to fill the bone voids in conjunction with the systems and methods disclosed herein.
US09011442B2

A disposable reamer designed to improve bone and tissue removal efficiency is described. The reamer device comprises a reamer body shell, a series of reamer blades and a reamer shaft interface. The reamer body shell has a hemispherical structure having a concave interior surface and a convex outer surface. The series of reamer blades have a cutting portion comprised of a series of discrete cutting edges that is bent at an angle from the planar portion of the blade. The reamer blades are positioned along the curved concave interior surface of the hemispherical shell or along the curved convex outer surface of the shell. The reamer blades are positioned along the hemispherical shell such that their leading edges lie parallel to and tangent a bisecting plane.
US09011432B2

An irrigation catheter device, in particular an ablation catheter, including a catheter body in which a central lumen extends from a proximal region into a distal region, wherein a large number of irrigation channels extend away from the lumen, the outlet openings of which out of the catheter body are distributed across the distal end region thereof, wherein sensors are assigned to the central lumen and/or the individual irrigation channels for pressure measurement and/or to measure the flow velocity, to which evaluation means are connected, which are designed to determine the open or closed state of a portion of the irrigation channels on the basis of measured values registered by the sensors.
US09011430B2

A device and method suitable for remodelling the internal surface of a hollow vessel at least partially occluded by a mass is provided. The device comprises an elongate body having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end comprising a tip portion located at the distal terminus of the body, and at least one heating element located proximally to the tip portion within the distal end. The at least one heating element is configured to be greater in dimension proximally than distally and thereby tapers towards the distal end. Furthermore, the at least one heating element is arranged so that it can be deployed outwardly from the body of the device and in so doing exert an expansion force on the hollow vessel. The at least one heating element is capable of delivering sufficient energy to remodel the internal surface, and if necessary caused localized ablation, of the hollow vessel without inducing closure of the hollow vessel.
US09011429B2

An instrument includes a handle portion, an actuator, a shaft, a rigid member, and an angular control mechanism. The shaft has a proximal end and a distal end with an electrode region, and a flexible region in between. Moving the actuator causes portions of the flexible region distal of a pivot region to bend such that an angular orientation and a radial offset of the electrode region reach a maximum angular orientation and a maximum radial offset, respectively, when the actuator reaches the end position. A distal portion of the rigid member defines the pivot region. Moving the rigid member along the shaft causes the pivot region to translate. The maximum radial offset varies depending on the position of the pivot region. The angular control mechanism is configured to control the angular orientation such that the maximum angular orientation is same regardless of the position of the rigid member.
US09011425B2

An ablation device comprising a positioning catheter adapted to be positionable in a heart and comprising a fixation mechanism for fixing the positioning catheter in the heart, and an ablation catheter adapted to ablate material of the heart using the ablation catheter, wherein the ablation catheter is designed to ablate tissue along an isthmus of the heart, wherein the positioning catheter and the ablation catheter are provided to be movable relative to one another.
US09011416B2

A system for dental tissue treatment includes a system for directing a laser beam to an area of dental tissue to be treated, and a fluid-delivery system for directing and controlling a flow of a fluid. The fluid is directed to at least a portion of the area to be treated and the fluid flow is controlled to substantially prevent both a change in laser energy absorption by the dental tissue and attenuation of treatment efficiency due to fluid interference with the laser beam. The fluid present in at least a portion of the area to be treated may prevent or reduce the likelihood of melting of enamel in that area.
US09011413B2

A Foley catheter assembly is disclosed. The Foley catheter assembly includes a Foley catheter, which includes an insertion tip inserted into the bladder and a drainage tube extending from the insertion tip and draining urine from the bladder, and a catheter support cover, which covers the outer surface of the Foley catheter before insertion of the Foley catheter into the bladder to prevent contamination and allows smooth insertion of the insertion tip into the bladder at a constant speed. The catheter support cover includes a pair of support main bodies that are detachably coupled to each other and accommodate the drainage tube and a pair of transport rollers disposed at both sides of the insertion tip at upper portions of the support main bodies to be rotatable for inserting the insertion tip into the bladder.
US09011409B2

A non-coring needle that includes a sharpened and hardened tip having a tapered back region against which a length of tubing is pressed and welded, brazed or soldered. A Luer Lock hub may be attached to the other end of the tubing.
US09011408B2

Delivering a blood processing solution to blood in a blood bag includes coupling a first tube to a vented spike at one end and to a Y-shaped tube connector at a second end. An in-line microbiotic barrier filter is coupled to the first tube between its ends. A second tube is coupled to a transfer bag at one end and to the Y-shaped tube connector at its other end. A third tube is coupled to the output of the Y-shaped tube connector and sealed at its distal end. The blood bag includes a fourth tube that is sealed at a distal end. The third tube is welded to the fourth tube using a sterile tubing welder, wherein a functionally-closed, sterile flow path through which the blood processing solution can flow into the blood bag is maintained.
US09011400B2

An individually packaged absorbent article assembly including a tri-folded absorbent article having two end portions and an intermediate portion, and a pouch containing the tri-folded absorbent article, the pouch being structured and arranged to enable a user to selectively open the pouch to thereby expose a garment-facing surface of the intermediate portion of the absorbent article prior to exposing a garment-facing surface of either of the end portions of the absorbent article.
US09011397B2

An absorbent article is configured for controlled deformation when insulted by a user and includes an absorbent body having a body-facing surface, a garment-facing surface, and a first graphic visible at the body-facing surface; and a deformable top component positioned adjacent to the body-facing surface, the top component having a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction, a longitudinally-extending centerline, a transverse-extending centerline, and a peripheral edge, wherein the top component includes an attached region and a cantilevered region, and wherein the cantilevered region includes a translucent portion through which the first graphic is at least partially visible. The article also includes a fluid shrinkable string attached to the deformable top component in a pattern capable of providing forces to the top component when insulted by a user.
US09011396B2

A disposable wearing article has a skin-contactable sheet moveable relative to a chassis. The chassis includes an inner sheet, an outer sheet and a liquid-absorbent panel interposed between these inner and outer sheets. The absorbent panel lies at least in the crotch region and extends into the front and rear waist regions in the longitudinal direction. In the rear waist region, a skin-contactable sheet adapted to come in contact with the wearer's skin is attached to the inner surface of the inner sheet. The skin-contactable sheet has front and rear ends extending in the transverse direction and lateral portions extending in the longitudinal direction and only the lateral portions are bonded to the inner sheet.
US09011395B2

A drainable ostomy pouch includes a closure system, which includes four closure members and a two-part fastening system. The closure system is arranged on a neck portion of the drainable pouch, and configured such that the pouch can be securely sealed after the neck portion is folded up three times and closed using the two-part fastening system.
US09011392B2

The invention provides for microneedle devices for delivering agents across biological barriers. The microneedles include agent reservoirs integrated into the bodies of the microneedles, themselves.
US09011386B2

The present invention relates to a device for the delivery of predetermined doses of liquid medicament to a patient, which medicament is intended to be inhaled by the patient or intended to be injected into the body of the patient. The device is adapted to be in a medicament delivery state and in a medicament non-delivery state. When the device is in a medicament delivery state, said device is adapted to drive a piston into a cartridge containing the liquid medicament to be delivered, with a force that is above or equal to a predetermined minimum force value and below a predetermined maximum force value. The minimum force value is the lowest force value needed to deliver the predetermined dose and the maximum force value is the first force value at which it exists a risk of damaging the cartridge or the components of the device.
US09011380B2

A positionable, direct-injection catheter that can access a specific region of the heart or other organ. The catheter is provided with one or two needle shafts, which may be located within respective sheaths that extend axially along the interior of the lumen of a main catheter shaft. Each needle shaft carries, at a distal end thereof a penetrable element or “needle” that is normally retracted within the distal tip of the main shaft during travel to the target organ, but is subsequently deployed by action of a handle-mounted trigger mechanism to extend the needles into the organ's wall. Each extended needle is curved to relative to the shaft's axis to enter the organ wall in a flattened trajectory that both reduces the chance of puncture through the wall and anchors the needles into the wall during injection (for reduced chance of pullout under pressure). A plurality of apertures which provide for more complete agent delivery rapidly, while maintaining a low delivery velocity to effect treatment delivery in as short a period of time as possible without the problems caused by high velocity delivery. The needles are typically arranged to exit the tip at contralateral orientations relative to each other.
US09011376B2

The present invention provides a drug delivery device comprising a drug reservoir chamber (15) containing a substance (16) to be delivered in fluid connection with a drug administration means (17) and (18), and a hydraulic control chamber (9) containing an electrically controlled, non-gassing, volume changing means (13), a coupling means (14) coupling said hydraulic control chamber (9) to said drug chamber (15), the arrangement being such that a change in the electrical control means (11) causes a change in the volume of the volume changing means (13), the volume change being conveyed by the coupling means (14) to the drug chamber (15) such that the substance (16) is expelled from the drug chamber (15) towards the drug administration means (17) and (18).
US09011372B2

A manual breast pump comprising a pump housing defining an inlet orifice, an outlet orifice, and a pump orifice all in fluid communication with one another, the pump housing including a pump chamber, a repositionable actuator disposed within the pump chamber and repositionable within the pump chamber between a retracted position and an extended position, and a resilient band concurrently mounted to the pump housing and operatively mounted to the repositionable actuator.
US09011356B2

A foot massaging device having a plurality of parallel cylindrical rollers mounted within a frame. The frame includes adjustment slots allowing the rollers to be relocated within the frame to present various massaging configurations. The foot massaging device is adjustable by seating the rearwardly disposed rollers between a raised and lowered position to configure the rollers to contact different portions of a user's foot.
US09011354B2

A lower limb orthotic device includes a thigh link connected to a hip link through a hip joint, a hip torque generator including a hip actuator and a first mechanical transmission mechanism interposed between the thigh link and the hip link, a shank link connected to the thigh link through a knee joint, a knee torque generator including a knee actuator and a second mechanical transmission mechanism interposed between the thigh link and the shank link, and a controller, such as for a common motor and pump connected to the hip and knee torque generators, for regulating relative positions of the various components in order to power a user through a natural walking motion, with the first and second mechanical transmission mechanisms aiding in evening out torque over the ranges of motion, while also increasing the range of motion where the torque generators can produce a non-zero torque.
US09011347B2

One or more respiratory characteristics of a patient are measured by coupling patient monitor apparatus (e.g., a photoplethysmograph (“PPG”)) to the patient in order to produce a patient monitor signal that includes signal indicia indicative of effort the patient is exerting to breathe. A breathing or respiratory effort signal for the patient is extracted from the patient monitor signal. A respiratory characteristic signal is extracted (at least in part) from the effort signal. This may be done, for example, on the basis of an amplitude feature of the effort signal and a relative time of occurrence of that amplitude feature. Alternatively, the respiratory characteristic signal may be based on a relationship between two amplitude features of the effort signal, with or without regard for specifics of the times of occurrence of those amplitude features. A breath air flow meter may also be coupled to the patient, if desired, in order to produce a flow signal. One or more of the respiratory characteristic measures may also be partly based on the flow signal.
US09011345B2

A microradio is provided with a hysteretic switch to permit an optimum range increasing charging cycle, with the charging cycle being long relative to the transmit cycle. Secondly, an ensemble of microradios permits an n2 power enhancement to increase range with coherent operation. Various multi-frequency techniques are used both for parasitic powering and to isolate powering and transmit cycles. Applications for microradios and specifically for ensembles of microradios include authentication, tracking, fluid flow sensing, identification, terrain surveillance including crop health sensing and detection of improvised explosive devices, biohazard and containment breach detection, and biomedical applications including the use of microradios attached to molecular tags to destroy tagged cells when the microradios are activated. Microradio deployment includes the use of paints or other coatings containing microradios, greases and aerosols. Moreover, specialized antennas, including microcoils, mini dipoles, and staircase coiled structures are disclosed, with the use of nano-devices further reducing the size of the microradios.
US09011344B1

A monitoring device for monitoring the vital signs of an infant is disclosed herein. The monitoring device is preferably comprises an article, an optical sensor, an accelerometer and processor. The optical sensor preferably comprises a photodetector and a plurality of light emitting diodes. A sensor signal from the optical sensor is processed with a filtered accelerometer output signal from the accelerometer to create a filtered vital sign signal used to generate a real-time vital sign for the infant which is preferably sent to a mobile communication device.
US09011339B2

When a tomographic image is displayed, the operator of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is allowed to know the timing to optimize the image quality and decide by him- or herself whether optimization needs to be done now or not.The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: an ultrasonic probe for sending out an ultrasonic wave toward a vital tissue and receiving a reflected wave of the ultrasonic wave reflected from the tissue; an image constructing section for constructing an image frame representing a tomographic image of the tissue by calculating the magnitudes of displacements at multiple measuring sites on the tissue based on the reflected wave; a display section for displaying the image frame thereon; and a processing section for analyzing an image feature quantity of the image frame and comparing the image feature quantity to a predetermined reference feature quantity. Based on a result of the comparison, the apparatus gives a notification that it is time to decide whether its operator wants the image quality of the image frame to be optimized now or not.
US09011333B2

Wireless molecular sensor methods and systems integrate radio frequency (RF) technology to interrogate, power, operate and/or readout signals corresponding to levels of molecules of interest from microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) implanted within the body. Various alternative embodiments are disclosed.
US09011326B2

A surgical shield protects collateral soft tissue from damage during a trans-orbital surgical procedure in the head of a patient. The shield may be provided as an elongated flexible sheath having one or more thin flexible sidewalls that can conform to the tissue around or bearing on the shield. Other areas or sidewalls of the shield may be thicker to better resist perforation by surgical instruments, and/or to better maintain the access lumen of pathway to the surgical site.
US09011318B2

A highly articulated robotic probe (HARP) is comprised of a first mechanism and a second mechanism, one or both of which can be steered in desired directions. Each mechanism can alternate between being rigid and limp. In limp mode the mechanism is highly flexible. When one mechanism is limp, the other is rigid. The limp mechanism is then pushed or pulled along the rigid mechanism. The limp mechanism is made rigid, thereby assuming the shape of the rigid mechanism. The rigid mechanism is made limp and the process repeats. These innovations allow the device to drive anywhere in three dimensions. The device can “remember” its previous configurations, and can go anywhere in a body or other structure (e.g. jet engine). When used in medical applications, once the device arrives at a desired location, the inner core mechanism can be removed and another functional device such as a scalpel, clamp or other tool slid through the rigid sleeve to perform. Because of the rules governing abstracts, this abstract should not be used to construe the claims.
US09011317B2

The teachings provided herein are directed to a methods and devices for treating a hemorrhoid in a subject in a manner that produces substantially less post-procedural pain in the subject, the method minimizing or avoiding a removing or a necrosis of a rectal tissue fold.
US09011316B2

Systems and methods for interactive treatments of female sexual disorders are presented. A programmable sexual stimulation device is provided, which transmits and receives data relating to the use and function of the device. The sexual stimulation device may be programmed to implement a particular combination of mechanical actions which have been customized by a user or a health care professional involved in the treatment or preference of the user. The device may also collect data on the type of mechanical actions input by the user and transmit the data to a remote location for viewing by the user or the healthcare professional. The device may also communicate with external devices which aid in the treatment programs, such as audio or image display devices which can coordinate the function of the sexual stimulation device with the presentation of audio or visual information to provide additional sources of sexual arousal to the user.
US09011314B2

A system for implanting a catheter in a urethra. The system includes a catheter having a valve disposed at a distal portion of the catheter. The valve may be operable in response to an external magnetic field. The system also includes a tool having a tip member extending into an opening at the distal portion of the catheter to couple the tool to the catheter. the system also includes an element extending from the tool. The catheter has an internal path that provides a conduit for the element to be extended through the valve to engage a proximal portion of the catheter. The tool is adapted use the element to stress the catheter and stiffen the catheter along the length of the catheter. Stiffening the catheter facilitates implantation of the catheter in the urethra by enabling pull forces, push forces, and torque forces to be transmitted from the tool through the catheter to the proximal portion of the catheter without undue stress on the urethra. The element is extendible and retractable to position the catheter between stressed and relaxed states while maintaining engagement to the catheter proximal portion. The tool, element and tip member are removable from the catheter after implantation of the catheter in the urethra.
US09011309B2

An electromagnetic radiation activated device comprises a property changing material and at least one functionalized fullerene that upon irradiation of the functionalized fullerenes with electromagnetic radiation of one or more frequencies a thermally activated chemical or physical transformation occurs in the property changing material. The thermal activated transformation of the property changing material is triggered by the heating or combustion of the functionalized fullerenes upon their irradiation. The device can include a chemical agent that is embedded in the property changing material and is released when the material is heated by the functionalized fullerenes upon irradiation.
US09011305B2

Embodiments of the current invention are directed towards solving the need for weightlifting wraps which prevent slippage, increase rebound potential, allow simpler application, and provide greater stability. An embodiment of the invention comprises: gripper wraps made of stretchable material; the gripper wraps having exposed rubber strands on one outer surface of the gripper wraps; the exposed rubber strands arranged in an offset lattice configuration, wherein the exposed rubber strands have a coefficient of friction sufficient to grip the previous layer of wrap.
US09011303B2

A wheeled exercise device includes a first wheel part and a second wheel part coupled to the first wheel part, with the first and second wheel parts coupled together on a central axle therethrough so as to form a central main wheel with a generally flat center circumference and angled outer circumferential sides. The device includes a pair of handles, each handle extending outward and downward at an angle from the central axle from a corresponding wheel part.
US09011298B2

Exercise apparatus having a slidable weight bar assembly with hand brake assemblies is provided for engaging and disengaging the weight bar assembly with a support frame. The exercise apparatus can be configured as a squat machine or a bench press. The exercise apparatus can include an adjustable back support that facilitates proper positioning and support of the operator's upper and lower back while performing squat exercises. The exercise apparatus can further include spring assemblies that increase the kinetic load during downward movements of the slidable weight bar assembly. Alternatively, the spring assemblies can be incorporated into exercise apparatus having a slidable weight bar assembly without the hand brake system.
US09011291B2

An apparatus and method concurrently present one or more visible tracings on a display, each of the one or more visible tracings being based upon one of a plurality of available paths actually taken by a member of an exercise device.
US09011288B2

A multi-stage transmission with eight forward and one reverse gear, including input and output shafts, planetary gear sets, gear stages shift elements and shafts. The input shaft couples the carrier of gearset (P1) and, via clutch (15), can couple shaft (5), which couples the ring gear of gearset (P2) and which, via clutch (58), can couple shaft (8), which couples the sun gear of gearset (P3). The ring gear of gearset (P1) couples shaft (6) and the sun gear of gearset (P2). Shaft (3) couples the sun and ring gears of respective gearsets (P1, P3) and can couple, via brake (03), the housing (G). The carrier of gearset (P2) couples shaft (4), which can couple the output shaft via the gear stage (S1) and clutch (24). The carrier of gearset (P3) couples shaft (7), which couples gear stage (S2) and the output shaft. Clutch (46) can block gearset (P2).
US09011284B2

A transmission comprises a transmission input shaft, a transmission output shaft, and three power paths situated between the transmission input shaft and a main gear set. The main gear set comprises two single planetary gear sets a first, a second, a third and a fourth shafts. An electric motor is connected with at least one of the four shafts. The first shaft can be connected with the first power path via a first switching element and with the third power path via a second switching element. The second shaft can be connected with the first power path via a third switching element and with the third power path via a fourth switching element. The third shaft is constantly connected with the transmission output shaft. The fourth shaft can be connected with the second power path via a fifth switching element and can be fixed by a sixth switching element.
US09011281B2

A device and method introduces the use of conventional ammunitions to the archery/bow hunting industry. The device achieves stealthy delivery of firearm munitions and increases the firepower of standard arrows resulting in deeper penetration into a target. The device consists generally of a cylindrical housing threaded internally on one end for attachment to a firing pin. A cartridge is loaded into the housing until the flange on the cartridge casing abuts an interior shoulder. In an alternate embodiment, the interior of the housing further includes an annular retaining tab. The retaining tab separates the cartridge from the firing pin to prevent inadvertent discharge. A cap or nosecone may be included to further protect the device from accidental discharge of the cartridge and to provide aerodynamic advantages. The housing may further include a set of stabilizing vanes.
US09011279B2

A throwing dart having a handle that provides a user with tactile biofeedback. The handle includes a handle body having an exterior body surface defined by a first octant, a second octant, a third octant, a fourth octant, a fifth octant, a sixth octant, a seventh octant, and an eighth octant. The handle includes at least a first tactile reference indentation, or projection, that extends longitudinally along the exterior body surface and is confined to a first tactile octant. The first tactile reference indentation, or projection, is formed with dimensions specifically tailored to harness the user's natural attributes of sensibility, proprioception, and neuromuscular memory to improve a user's accuracy.
US09011278B2

The present invention provides for the first time a barrier support structure comprising at least one removable closed-loop resilient coilable frame having a perimeter. The removable closed-loop coilable frame comprises at least one connection member. A support base comprises at least one attachment member. The attachment member removably attaches to the connection member of the removable coilable frame. The attachment member maintains a predetermined angle between the removable coilable frame and the support base.
US09011274B1

The Fox Sharpshooter putter grip is a putter grip that has two unique features. First it contains a chart to help the golfer to determine the how hard to strike the golf ball when putting. Second it features a cap containing a bubble level to help the golfer to hold the putter shaft vertically, which will give the golfer a consistent vertical line with which to compare to the slope of the green. This will help the golfer to determine which direction the ball will roll (the break.) When the chart and the bubble level are used together, they help the golfer to “read” a putt with great accuracy. The Fox Sharpshooter putter grip conforms to USGA rules when the cap with the bubble level is removed.
US09011262B2

Disclosed is a billiard table ball pick-up box, comprising a bottom bracket and a side cover located above the bottom bracket, wherein the side cover comprises a cover plate, a left side plate and a right side plate located on both sides of the cover plate, and a scoreboard located on the top of the cover plate. The left side plate, the right side plate and the scoreboard are all hinged with the cover plate, or one side of the left side plate and the right side plate is spliced with both sides of the cover plate respectively. The side cover of the present utility model can be unfolded to be flat or disassembled during transport, so that the same container can accommodate more side covers, thus reducing the transportation cost.
US09011258B2

A balloon firecracker device includes a bottom plate mounted on a platform, a support post mounted on the bottom plate, a top plate slidable on the support post and provided with a spike board, a top rack mounted on the support post, a covering net mounted between the top rack and the bottom plate, a plurality of balloons received in the covering net and located between the spike board and the bottom plate, a fixing seat secured on the top plate, at least one pulley mounted on the top rack, and a pull cord extended through the pulley and connected with the fixing seat. Thus, when the top plate falls down, the spike board is moved downward to pierce and break the balloons so as to simulate the audio effect of firecrackers.
US09011254B2

A method includes discovering, via a device, a peer-to-peer gaming service of a peer-to-peer network offered by a peer device, wherein the peer-to-peer gaming service facilitates a user of the device to select, access, and play a plurality of specific networked games of the peer device, wherein the specific networked games are not already installed on the device, selecting, via the device, a networked game from the plurality of specific networked games of the peer device, and downloading a program by the device, wherein the program is configured to execute the selected networked game on a processor of the device, wherein downloading the program comprises downloading the program from a third party computing arrangement and receiving from the peer device, authentication for access to the third party computing arrangement, wherein the authentication limits the downloaded program for play of the networked game with only the peer device.
US09011239B2

One object is to provide a video game system that can technically restrain real money trade. In accordance with one aspect, a server device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a determination unit 58 configured to determine whether an exchange of exhibited game contents and bid game contents is concluded based on a game content parameter value characterizing the exhibited game contents and the game content parameter value characterizing the bid game contents; and an updating unit 61 configured to update an owned game content storage unit 52 such that, only when the determination unit 58 determines that the exchange is concluded, the exhibited game contents are stored in association with player identification information of a bidder player and the bid game contents are stored in association with player identification information of an exhibitor player.
US09011236B2

A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled mobile devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, is described. The gaming system can be configured to convert a presentation of an outcome of a wager-based game played on an electronic gaming machine (EGM) into a social media presentation that can be uploaded to a social media site. In one embodiment, a copy of an image showing the outcome of the wager-based that is output on an EGM can be incorporated into the social media presentation. Then, the social media presentation can be uploaded from the EGM to a player's mobile device or directly to a social media site.
US09011234B2

Embodiments described herein allow the users to influence various aspects of a game by selecting digital objects associated with a user's digital object collection to be integrated into customized digital object holders to provide a slot machine like functionality. Each of the digital object holders can have a number of positions, and each position can have a digital object associated with it. The user can choose which digital objects are associated with each digital object holder, in accordance with a rule set which can control which digital object can be associated with the digital object holder.
US09011232B2

A gaming machine executes a normal mode game to rearrange symbols on the first display, based on at least one first table for determining symbols to be rearranged in the normal mode game, and triggers a chance mode game including a plurality of chance rounds when the rearranged symbols satisfies a first condition. The gaming machine closes the door when the chance mode game is triggered, and determining a chance type of the chance mode game. The gaming machine executes each chance round of the chance mode game to rearrange the symbols based on a second table for the determined chance type among a plurality of second tables, by controlling opening or closing of the door and displaying an object image on the display panel according to the determined chance type.
US09011226B2

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a multiplayer card game with multiple fold options and interrelated bonuses. In one embodiment, the gaming system enables a player to input either a first fold input or a second different fold input should the player desire to fold the player's hand during a play of the card game. If the gaming system receives the first fold input from the player, the gaming system: (a) folds the player's hand, (b) automatically removes the player from the virtual table, and (c) automatically assigns the player to a second different virtual table for at least one subsequent play of the card game. If, on the other hand, the gaming system receives the second fold input from the player, the gaming system folds the player's hand and does not remove the player from the virtual table.
US09011225B2

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a video poker card game having community cards. Upon receiving a wager, the gaming system provides the player with a quantity of player hands. The gaming system enables the player to discard one or more of the player hands. The gaming system then displays an initial quantity of community cards to the player. The gaming system further enables the player to discard one or more player hands, prior to displaying the remaining community cards. The remaining player hands are each evaluated by combining with the community card against a paytable, to determine an award, if any, won by the player.
US09011220B2

A tractor cab HVAC system has a blower (22) which draws air into the system via air intake means (13) in the roof (14) of the cab (10). Ducting (15) in the roof of the cab directs air drawn in via the intake means down the center of one or more hollow adjacent pillars (16) of the cab to an air filter (18) contained in a housing (20) located between the adjacent pillars. Further ducting (19) extends from the air filter housing to an HVAC unit (11), the HVAC unit processing the air drawn into the system prior to discharging the processed air into the cab. The filter housing (20) is of generally rectangular form and is connected at opposite ends to the two hollow adjacent pillars (16) of the cab via inlet openings (20a) in the housing to allow the passage of intake air from the pillars to the filter (18).
US09011214B2

The present disclosure relates to a coin sorter wherein a flexible rim (606) is used for engaging a coin (706) to be sorted and bring the coin in abutment with a circular border (620) of the coin sorter in a path across a plurality of circularly arranged coin openings.
US09011197B2

An apparatus for suspending and positioning marionettes. The apparatus includes a thin, planar support membrane such as a plastic sheet. A tender vehicle is positioned on the upper side of the support membrane. A motor or other drive mechanism selectively positions the tender vehicle relative to the support membrane. The apparatus includes a puppeteer vehicle from which a marionette is suspended. The puppeteer vehicle is positioned proximate to the lower side of the support membrane opposite the tender vehicle. To support the puppeteer vehicle, one or both of the vehicles includes one or more rotatable magnetic elements such that the attractive forces support the weight of the puppeteer vehicle and the marionette. Typically, the puppeteer vehicle is a passive follower, and the drive mechanism of the tender vehicle includes motors to move the magnetic elements and position the tender and following puppeteer vehicle with its marionette to provide a show.
US09011189B2

A chain terminal is configured that a plurality of terminals are arranged in a chain shape by being connected to a side edge portion of a strip plate-shaped carrier through bridging sections respectively, and the terminals are configured to be cut and separated from the carrier when the bridging sections are cut out along a preset cutting line. Both side edges of each of the bridging sections are formed as slanted edges that are slanted with respect to lines respectively being perpendicular to the cutting line so that the width of each of the bridging sections at a terminal side is large and the width of each of the bridging sections at a carrier side is small.
US09011185B2

An electrical plug-in contact, having a first region for electrical contact with an electrical connection and a second region for electrical contact with an electrical conductor, wherein the two regions are connected to each therein an electrically conductive manner. To provide a plug-in contact that has a simpler design and is more reliable in use, the second region is designed as a plug-in sleeve, in particular a cylindrical plug-in sleeve, which, in the contact region thereof with the electrical conductor, has an elongated hole parallel to the longitudinal axis of the plug-in sleeve, and a longitudinal slot located diametrically opposite of the elongated hole. Furthermore, a system is provided, consisting of an electrical plug-in contact and an electrical conductor, in particular a current bar, wherein an angular, in particular quadrangular, hole for receiving the, in particular cylindrical, plug-in sleeve in the inserted position thereof is formed in the electrical conductor.
US09011183B2

An electronic device having a housing and a receptacle connector. The receptacle connector includes an opening at an exterior surface of the housing. A plurality of contacts are arranged in a two dimensional array positioned within the opening of the receptacle connector. The receptacle connector is configured to concurrently mate with multiple plug connectors where each mated plug connector electrically connects to different and mutually exclusive subsets of contacts in the plurality of contacts. Switching circuitry is coupled to the plurality of contacts and configured to detect when one or more plug connectors are mated with the receptacle connector and electrically connect circuitry within the electronic device to contacts in the one or more plug connectors via subsets of contacts from the plurality of contacts.
US09011182B2

Patch cords include a communications cable that has first through eighth conductors that are arranged as four twisted pairs and a plug attached thereto. The plug includes a housing that receives the cable, first through eighth plug contacts, and a printed circuit board that includes first through eighth conductive paths that connect the first through eighth conductors to the respective first through eighth plug contacts. The plug further includes a first crosstalk injection circuit between the second conductive path and the sixth conductive path and a second crosstalk injection circuit between the first conductive path and the sixth conductive path.
US09011175B2

A connector socket has an insulation body having thereon multiple terminals, a metal body having a receiving hole defined to receive therein the insulation body, spring clips formed on side faces thereof and having protrusions formed on the spring clips for extension and accommodation in the windows of the connector plug so as to enhance engagement with the connector plug and a protection casing for receiving therein the metal body and the insulation body to block electromagnetic interference to/from the terminals.
US09011173B2

A multi-connected connector 1 includes a plurality of first connectors 110a, 110b, 110c and 110d and a second connector 20 having a plurality of connector fitting chambers 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d arranged in a row in a transverse direction to fit the first connectors. The first connectors include a connector whose length is different from the other connector of the first connectors in a fitting direction of the first connectors. Butting walls 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d as positioning parts that determine fitting completed positions of the first connectors respectively in the connector fitting chambers 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d are arranged in accordance with lengths in the fitting direction of the first connectors to be connected so that rear end surfaces of the plurality of first connectors which are normally completely fitted are aligned so as to be flush.
US09011167B2

A busbar of the present invention increases yield per metal material in comparison to plate-shaped bus bars, enables provision of protrusions on a member located inside relative to a conductor, and enables formation of the busbar in a bent shape. The busbar of the present invention is provided with a busbar insulator (22), a busbar conductor (23), a busbar insulator (24), a busbar conductor (25), and a busbar insulator (26) formed outside of a busbar center conductor (21). These conductors and insulators are arranged alternately from the inner side towards the outer side in a radial direction (R) that intersects at right angles with the axial direction (A) of the bus bar. The busbar conductors (23, 25) are provided with openings (23o, 25o) along the whole length in the axial direction (A) thereof.
US09011162B2

A rotary connector device that can certainly cut a flat cable is disclosed. The rotary connector device comprises a rotor, a stator forming an annular space between the rotor and the stator, and a flat cable provided in the annular space for establishing a connection between the side of the rotor and the side of the stator. The stator includes an annular wall surrounding the annular space, the flat cable has one end which is pulled outside of the annular space through an opening provided in the annular wall, and a first projection portion and a second projection portion are provided in a side edge portion of an opening in the annular wall to project toward the side of the side edge portion positioned at the opposite side centered on the opening.
US09011148B2

A surgical guide system for dental implantology has a plate (10) provided with a guide sleeve (2) delimiting a through hole with an axis oriented to a predetermined direction. A drill (4) for osteotomy has a spindle connected to a handpiece with drilling portion (41), the drill (4) being for association with the guide sleeve (2) during osteotomy. The diameter (d41) of the drilling head portion (41) is larger than the inner diameter (d2) of the guide sleeve (2) and the spindle is of smaller diameter, such that the association of the drill (4) to any of the guide sleeves (2) can be performed only by inserting the spindle through a gingival side of the sleeves. Upon association of the drill with the sleeve, the drilling head (41) protrudes from the gingival side (2G) thereof. The surgical guide has a void (100) accommodating the drilling head (41) of the drill.
US09011144B2

A palatal t-bar for preventing movement of selected teeth during corrective movement of other teeth through the use of an orthodontic appliance such as orthodontic braces. The t-bar comprises an elongate stem having an anchorage end arranged for affixation to the palatal bone of a patient by means of a temporary bone anchorage device, e.g., a miniscrew implant, and a free end extending in an anterior direction from the anchorage end. The stem is shaped to conform to the palatal surface of the patient. A cross-bar extends laterally from the free end of the stem and is arranged to engage one or more selected maxillary anterior teeth to retain the teeth non-mobile and non-rotational during corrective movement of other teeth utilizing an orthodontic appliance such as orthodontic braces.
US09011143B2

The method according to the invention for operating a PFR lime kiln having at least two shafts, which each have a preheating zone, a combustion zone and a cooling zone, and an overflow channel which connects the two shafts, substantially comprises the following method steps: the two shafts are operated alternately as a combustion shaft and exhaust gas shaft, combustion air and fuel are supplied to the combustion shaft, a corresponding flame length being formed, and the hot gases which are produced in the combustion shaft reach the exhaust gas shaft via the overflow channel, at least one parameter of the hot gases which is characteristic of the formation of the flame length being established by means of direct or indirect measurement in the region of the overflow channel and the ratio of fuel to combustion air being adjusted in accordance with this parameter in order to adjust a predetermined flame length.
US09011135B2

A film patterning system includes: a first rotary member having a first shaft that defines a first axis, and a cylindrical first screen mold that is rotatable about the first axis; a second rotary member spaced apart from the first rotary member, having a second shaft that defines a second axis parallel to the first axis, and rotatable about the second axis; a second screen mold trained on the first and second rotary members and circumferentially stacked on the first screen mold; and a suctioning box mounted in the first rotary member for suctioning the film that is guided onto the second screen mold.
US09011129B2

In a liquid resin molding apparatus including a mold, an injection machine, a metering/supplying mechanism for metering a liquid resin material and supplying a metered amount of liquid resin material to the injection machine, and a pump for pressure-feeding the liquid resin material to the metering/supplying mechanism, the pump is a piston pump having a piston and an actuator for reciprocating the piston, and a discharge pressure of the piston pump is set to be at least 1.5 times a supply pressure with which the liquid resin material is supplied to the metering/supplying mechanism. A pressure reducing valve is disposed in a supply path extending from the piston pump to the metering/supplying mechanism, so as to reduce a pressure of the liquid resin material from the discharge pressure to the supply pressure.
US09011113B2

A magnetic-force interactive fan includes a base, a plurality of clamp portions, an actuating portion, a main blade, and at least one interactive blade. The actuating portion has a fixed terminal and a moveable terminal; the fixed terminal is connected to one of the clamp portions. The main blade has a free terminal and a connection terminal; the connection terminal is connected to the moveable terminal of the actuating portion and a main magnet is disposed on the free terminal. The interactive blade has a top terminal and a bottom terminal; the bottom terminal is connected to another clamp portion and an interactive magnet is disposed on the top terminal. The main magnet is disposed corresponding to the interactive magnet and the main blade is driven by the actuating portion to swing, thus producing wind by synchronously swinging the main blade and the interactive blade.
US09011108B2

The invention relates to an intelligent online closed-loop balance adjusting system for a pumping unit. The system comprises a connecting rod, balance weights, a transmission device, a balance weight displacement adjusting motor and a control device used for driving the motor to adjust and control the weight displacement. The transmission device and the balance weight displacement adjusting motor are arranged above a walking beam. The balance weight displacement adjusting motor is connected with one end of the connecting rod through the transmission device, and the other end of the connecting rod is connected with balance weights. One end of the walking beam away from the horse-head is connected with the middle part of the connecting rod. The invention can realize automatic weight adjustment without shutting the machine down, and the balance weights can be adjusted with the precision of ±10%.
US09011104B2

An article, such as a bucket, a blade, a nozzle, a vane, a strut, a fuel nozzle, a combustion casing, and a transition piece, the article having a damping coating comprising approximately 8 wt % to approximately 15 wt % Y2O3 and approximately 19 wt % to approximately 28 wt % Ta2O5 with the balanced weight of ZrO2 is presented.
US09011103B2

The invention relates to a rotor blade (10) of a wind power plant and a method for fabricating a rotor blade (10) of a wind power plant and a manufacturing mold (54, 50) for a belt (28-31). The invention is characterized by a belt pair (28, 29, 30, 31) in which two belts (28, 29, 30, 31) are connected together in a form-fit and/or force-fit and material fit connection, where the belts (28-31) have a complementary shape in a joining area (50).
US09011101B2

A turbine bucket is provided including a bucket airfoil having an airfoil shape, the bucket airfoil having a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in Table 1 wherein the Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z are non-dimensional values from 0% to 100% convertible to dimensional distances in inches by multiplying the Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z by a height of the airfoil in inches, and wherein X and Y are distances in inches which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z, the airfoil profile sections at Z distances being joined smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil shape.
US09011089B2

A turbine assembly can include a turbine wheel, a shroud component, a turbine housing, and an expansion seal that includes a lower lip, an upper lip, and a wall that extends between the lower lip and the upper lip and that is disposed between an outer seal surface of the shroud component and an inner seal surface of the turbine housing. Various other examples of devices, assemblies, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
US09011085B2

A Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMC) airfoil for a gas turbine engine includes at least one CMC ply which defines a suction side, an outer platform, a pressure side and an inner platform with a continuous “I”-shaped fiber geometry.
US09011076B2

A gas turbine engine includes a shaft defining an axis of rotation. An inner rotor directly drives the shaft and includes an inner set of blades. An outer rotor has an outer set of blades interspersed with the inner set of blades. The outer rotor is configured to rotate in an opposite direction about the axis of rotation from the inner rotor. A gear system couples the outer rotor to the shaft and is configured to rotate the inner set of blades at a lower speed than the outer set of blades.
US09011074B2

A device and a method for turning stacks of sheet-shaped material include a device for transporting the stacks into a pivot fork. The pivot fork is part of a turning unit and includes upper grippers, lower grippers and a stack stop. The pivot fork is open on one side to receive the stacks. The pivot fork is supported at its other end to pivot on a horizontal pivot shaft that extends in a direction transverse to a direction of introduction of the stacks and is disposed off-center relative to the pivot fork.
US09011070B2

The present invention relates to a loading station for a storage frame. In the loading station, the storage frame serves for temporarily holding and transporting rod-like elements, in particular smoking rods, on which sausage-shaped products, like sausages, are stored, and comprises two side parts, wherein each side part has two supports being substantially parallel to each other and wherein the side parts are connected with each other by at least one cross beam, and horizontally arranged trays for accommodating rod-like elements. The loading station comprises at least one position defining device for defining a predetermined position of the storage frame. Moreover, at least one locking device is provided for releasably locking of the storage frame in its predetermined position.
US09011064B2

A device and method for holding a substrate, e.g., a semiconductor wafer, during a process, e.g., a liquid meniscus process, the substrate having a first side and a second side. The device includes one or more holding components, e.g., fingers, configured to contact a second side of the substrate without significantly contacting the first side of the substrate. At least one of the holding components may be configured to be moved during the process so as to prevent the at least one holding components from effecting the process, e.g., contacting the liquid meniscus. Such an arrangement may be employed when the substrate includes a top side having at least one structure or feature thereon, it being desirable that the holding components avoid contact with the structures or features during the process.
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