US09040922B2

A THz frequency range antenna is provided which comprises: a semiconductor film (3) having a surface adapted to exhibit surface plasmons in the THz frequency range. The surface of the semiconductor film (3) is structured with an antenna structure (4) arranged to support localized surface plasmon resonances in the THz frequency range.
US09040917B2

An efficient method for the extraction of hemodynamic responses in Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) systems is proposed to increase the spatial and temporal resolution without hardware overhead. The performance improvement is attributed to high Signal-to-Noise-Ratio (SNR) receivers, a modulation scheme, and a Multi-Input-Multi-Output (MIMO) based data extraction algorithm. The proposed system shows an over 2× increment in the figure of merit (FOM) compared to conventional designs. Experimental results support the validity of the proposed system.
US09040907B2

An apparatus includes an electrostatic ion trap and electronics configured to measure parameters of the ion trap and configured to adjust ion trap settings based on the measured parameters. A method of tuning the electrostatic ion trap includes, under automatic electronic control, measuring parameters of the ion trap and adjusting ion trap settings based on the measured parameters.
US09040898B2

The invention provides a Silicon Photomultiplier (SiPM). The SiPM includes a plurality of microcells, a nonlinear element integrated in each one of the plurality of microcells, and a trigger line for outputting a summated current of the plurality of microcells, wherein the nonlinear element provides for a separated timing and energy signal.
US09040896B2

A probe card for wafer-level testing a plurality of optoelectronic devices on a wafer is provided. The probe card has both electrical and optical functionality. The probe card comprises a plurality of lenslets aligned with the plurality of optoelectronic devices to improve the optical coupling efficiency between each of the plurality of optoelectronic devices and a plurality of optical waveguides located on a probe head.
US09040895B2

A photoelectric conversion apparatus of the present invention includes a first semiconductor region functioning as a barrier against signal charges between a first and a second photoelectric conversion element, and a second semiconductor region that has a width narrower than that of the first semiconductor region and functions as a barrier against signal charges between a first and the third photoelectric conversion element. A region with a low barrier is provided at least a part between the first and the second photoelectric conversion element.
US09040889B2

An analog-to-digital (ADC) converter is disclosed that uses aspects of a single-slope ramp ADC, but with jump steps in the ramp voltage to increase speed. A programmable ramp generator can be used to dynamically modify a voltage level associated with the jump step. By programming a voltage level of the jump, a user can dynamically modify the speed of the ADC during operation.
US09040888B2

A solid state image sensor includes a plurality of pixels, each having a photoelectric conversion section formed in the inside of a substrate and a light-receiving section formed on the side of a light-receiving surface of the substrate. At least a part of the plurality of pixels is ranging pixels. The light-receiving section of each of the ranging pixels is equipped with a guided mode resonant filter adapted to reflect incident light getting into the inside of the light-receiving section at a specific incident angle. The normal line of the guided mode resonant filter is inclined relative to the principal ray of the flux of light entering the guided mode resonant filter.
US09040882B2

Apparatus and method are provided for making the longitudinal temperature distribution of the bulbous end of a longitudinally oriented workpiece, such as a rail's head, generally uniform when the head has a non-uniform longitudinal temperature distribution. A combination of crown and skirt electric inductors is used to achieve the generally uniform temperature distribution by modulating the magnetic field intensity produced by current flow through one or more of the combination of crown and skirt inductors as required for the non-uniformly heated regions of the rail's head.
US09040869B2

A system is provided that includes a torch power unit, wherein the torch power unit includes a motor and a digital device coupled to the motor and configured to control the motor. A method of operation is provided that includes controlling one or more aspects of a torch power unit via a microprocessor, a digital signal processor, or a field programmable gate array, or a combination thereof. In another embodiment, a system is provided that includes a torch power unit that includes a torch, one or more components comprising a generator, a power converter, a compressor, a motor, a wire feeder, or a combination thereof, and a microprocessor configured to control the one or more components.
US09040866B2

There is provided a spot welding apparatus. The spot welding apparatus includes a pressing force actuator that causes a movable electrode to move to a pressing force applying position where the movable electrode applies a pressing force to a workpiece together with a fixed electrode, a control pressing force applying actuator that causes a receiving unit to move to a control pressing force applying position where the receiving unit is located adjacent to the fixed electrode and comes into contact with the workpiece so as to apply a control pressing force, and a welding transformer. The control pressing force applying actuator and the welding transformer are linearly aligned at a rear side of the pressing force actuator that is arranged at a front side of a support bracket.
US09040862B2

An electrode assembly for a vacuum interrupter is configured such that supporting members can support most of a contact electrode plate and a supporting electrode plate in an axial direction with coil conductors interposed therebetween. Accordingly, an impact generated between electrode assemblies upon a closing operation of the vacuum interrupter may be evenly distributed onto the supporting members, which may result in preventing each of the electrode plates and the coil conductors from being deformed. Also, the supporting members are inserted into the electrode plates and the coil conductors, thereby effectively preventing a current from flowing via the supporting members. In addition, the supporting member may be wide and large so as to simplify an assembly operation and reduce an assembly time.
US09040860B2

A sorting machine at least for flat postal items comprises a stacking module having a plurality of stacking stations, which define respective channels along which the postal products are carried and a first plurality of rollers for handling the postal products along the stacking stations, a first carrying assembly defining a second channel configured for carrying the postal products towards the stacking module and comprising a second plurality of rollers for carrying the postal products, a plurality of deviating assemblies, each of which comprises a first device selectively mobile for deviating a flat into the channel of the desired stacking station, and a second carrying assembly delimiting an outlet channel communicating with the plurality of stacking stations, wherein at least one of the first and second rollers is mobile transversely with respect to the direction of conveyance of the postal products on the machine.
US09040850B2

A mobile device has a front frame with a key opening, a first forward facing surface adjacent the key opening and a second forward facing surface adjacent the key opening. The mobile device includes a keypad with keys coupled to a flexible backing. The keypad is insertable from behind the front frame of the mobile device to position the keys into openings in the front frame and laterally expandable to position the keys on opposing lateral sides of the keypad in front of forward facing surfaces of the front frame.
US09040849B2

An electronic device, comprising a rotating switch mechanism for switching a conduction state of a predefined electronic circuit corresponding to a rotating operation of a rotating operation part rotatably provided on a housing on the predefined rotational axis, a locking mechanism for locking the rotation of the rotating operation part relative to the housing, and a switching member for switching an operating state and a non-operating state of the electronic device, wherein the locking mechanism locks the rotation of the rotating operation part relative to the housing when the electronic device is in the operating state and does not lock the rotation of the rotating operation part relative to the housing when the electronic device is in the non-operating state so that the rotation of the rotating operation part of the rotating switch mechanism provided to the electronic device can be locked with improved usability.
US09040847B2

A fastening mechanism for an electronic device, which has a shell body and a cover having a first fastening structure, includes a press portion adapted to be exposed from the shell body and pressable to extend resiliently into the shell body, and a second fastening structure adapted to engage to and disengage from the first fastening structure to prevent and permit removal of the cover from the shell body, respectively. A resilient component is adapted to be provided in the shell body, stores a restoring force when the cover is coupled to the shell body, and releases the restoring force when the second fastening structure is disengaged from the first fastening structure for biasing the cover away from the shell body.
US09040845B2

A shielding structure for a wire harness includes a seal member which has a wire through hole that allows the wire to pass therethrough while sealing a circumference of the wire. The wire has a structure where an insulating resin layer is formed on an outer circumference of a conductor, and a predetermined range in a length direction of the conductor is coated with a shield layer formed by resin plating to cover an outer circumferential surface of the insulating resin layer. A terminal portion of the wire is passed through the wire through hole of the seal member to be introduced into the shield wall to a position where the shield layer exists, whereby an inner circumference of the wire through hole is made in close contact with the shield layer to cause the shield layer and the seal member to be electrically conducted with each other.
US09040835B2

An attenuation reduction grounding structure of differential-mode signal transmission lines of a flexible circuit board includes a flexible substrate on which at least one pair of differential-mode signal lines, at least one grounding line, a covering insulation layer, and a thin metal foil layer are formed. At least one via hole extends through the thin metal foil layer and the covering insulation layer and corresponds to a conductive contact zone of the grounding line. The via hole is filled with a conductive paste layer to electrically connect the thin metal foil layer to the conductive contact zone of the grounding line to provide an excellent grounding arrangement. The thin metal foil layer includes a plurality of openings formed at locations corresponding to top angles of the differential-mode signal lines.
US09040831B2

A printed circuit board is manufactured by forming on a top surface of a support base, in a pattern having a predetermined width, a first metal layer for defining boundary ends between adjacent printed circuit boards in a printed circuit board assembly, forming on top of the first metal layer a wiring structure portion having an insulating layer and a conductive layer for each printed circuit board in the printed circuit board assembly, forming, in the wiring structure portion, grooves having a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the first metal layer to expose the first metal layer, forming a second metal layer on the wall surface of the grooves in the wiring structure portion, and cutting the first metal layer on the bottom surface of the grooves to separate each printed circuit board.
US09040828B2

Disclosed are polymeric compositions with improved breakdown strength. The polymeric compositions contain a polyolefin and a voltage stabilizing agent. The voltage stabilizing agent contains a triazine. The triazine may include a substituent that enables keto-enol tautomerism, which provides the voltage stabilizing agent with additional energy dissipation capacity. The present polymeric compositions exhibit improved breakdown strength when applied as an insulating layer for power cable.
US09040825B2

A metal-clad cable assembly comprising a metal sheath disposed around a conductor assembly. The metal sheath contains spaced apart crowns and valleys defining an outer surface of the metal sheath. The cable assembly includes coded information formed within the metal sheath, the coded information providing a characteristic and/or an intended application of the metal-clad cable assembly.
US09040813B2

A solar cell module includes a plurality of solar cells each comprising a substrate, an emitter region placed at the substrate, and an anti-reflection region placed on the emitter region. The anti-reflection region includes a first opening region through which part of the emitter region is exposed and one or more second opening regions through which part of the emitter region is exposed. A first electrode is connected to the exposed emitter region of the first opening region through the anti-reflection region by metal plating and a first bus bar is connected to the exposed emitter region of one or more second opening regions through the anti-reflection region by metal plating.
US09040810B2

The solar cell module includes a solar panel that includes a transparent substrate and is configured by aligning solar cells, a reinforcing frame arranged on the back surface of the solar panel, and a shock absorbing unit arranged between the solar panel and the reinforcing frame, where the shock absorbing unit has the first main surface facing the solar panel, which is a flat surface, and a second main surface facing the reinforcing frame, which is a curved surface bowed in the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing frame, having an arc shape in cross section, and convexed toward the reinforcing frame side.
US09040808B2

The present invention is that of a solar energy system that uses a light-guide solar panel (LGSP) to trap light inside a dielectric or other transparent panel and propagates the light to one of the panel edges for harvesting by a solar energy collector such as a photovoltaic cell. This allows for very thin modules whose thickness is comparable to the height of the solar energy collector. This eliminates eliminating the depth requirements inherent in traditional concentrated photovoltaic solar energy systems. A light guide solar panel has a deflecting layer, a light guide layer and a solar cell in optical communication with the light guide layer. The deflecting layer receives light at a first surface and inputs the light into the light guide layer. The light guide layer propagates the light to the solar cell, which is aligned generally parallel to the input surface.
US09040801B2

A music reproduction apparatus includes: a reproduction section for reproducing user-selected music piece data; a generation section for generating control information including music piece information identifying a music piece reproduced by the reproduction section and reproduced position information indicative of a currently-reproduced position; a modulation section for outputting, on the basis of the generated control information, an audio signal of a predetermined frequency band for carrying the control information; and an output section for transmitting to outside the audio signal generated by the modulation section. An information processing apparatus stores a plurality of sets of displaying content, receives the audio signal, demodulates the control information from the received audio signal to extract the music piece information and reproduced position information, identifies displaying content from the extracted music piece information, and displays a part of the identified displaying content in accordance with the extracted reproduced position information.
US09040791B1

A wheat variety designated W030377L1, the plants and seeds of wheat variety W030377L1, methods for producing a wheat plant produced by crossing the variety W030377L1 with another wheat plant, and hybrid wheat seeds and plants produced by crossing the variety W030377L1 with another wheat line or plant, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of variety W030377L1. This invention also relates to methods for producing other wheat varieties or breeding lines derived from wheat variety W030377L1 and to wheat varieties or breeding lines produced by those methods.
US09040768B2

A method and device for limiting the degassing of tritiated waste issued from the nuclear industry are provided. The method reduces an amount of generated tritiated hydrogen (T2 or HT) and/or tritiated water (HTO or T2O) including at least one piece of tritiated waste from the nuclear industry. The method includes placing the package in contact with a mixture including manganese dioxide (MnO2) combined with a component that includes silver; and placing the package in contact with a molecular sieve.
US09040756B2

A process for the production of 1,4-butanediol and tetrahydrofuran by catalytic hydrogenation of dialkyl maleates includes the following steps: a) hydrogenating a stream of dialkyl maleate in a first stage of reaction over suitable catalysts to produce dialkyl succinate; b) further hydrogenating the dialkyl succinate in a second stage of reaction, by using a different suitable catalyst, for producing mainly 1,4-butanediol, together with gamma-butyrolactone and tetrahydrofuran as co-products. In both stages of reaction the conditions, as hydrogen/organic feed ratio, pressure and temperature, are such to maintain the reactors in mixed liquid/vapor phase.
US09040754B2

An improved method for recovering a purified polyether polyol comprising the steps of providing an aqueous solution of a polyether polyol containing an alkali metal catalyst residual formed from a transesterification process, contacting the aqueous solution with a stoichiometric excess of magnesium sulfate to form a second aqueous solution, removing water from said second aqueous solution at a temperature above the melt temperature of said polyether polyol to produce a dehydrated slurry containing a molten polyether polyol phase essentially free of residual alkali metal and a precipitated solid phase comprising sulfate and/or sulfite salts of the alkali metal catalyst, magnesium hydroxide, and excess magnesium sulfate and/or sulfide, passing the dehydrated slurry of through a filtration system comprising a filtration press to separate the molten polyether polyol phase from the precipitated solid phase, wherein the filtration press is treated with a filter aid that is essentially free of transition metal oxide content, separating the molten polyether polyol phase substantially free of water, residual alkali metal catalyst and transition metal contaminants from the precipitated solid phase and recovering polyether polyol from the separated polyether polyol phase.
US09040752B2

The invention relates to a process for producing ketones or hydrocarbon base oil from fatty acids preferably derived from a biological origin or other renewable source. The process is directed at making an aliphatic ketone or a mixture of aliphatic ketones having 14 to 52 carbon atoms, comprising a ketonization reaction of a fatty acid in a vapor phase with a decarboxylation-coupling catalyst to provide ketones, which can be deoxygenated to give saturated hydrocarbons, unsaturated hydrocarbons, and mixtures thereof. Base oils and transportation fuels may be produced from the process herein.
US09040751B2

The invention relates to a method for preparing ring-halogenated N,N-dialkylbenzylamines and intermediates obtainable therefrom for preparing agrochemicals and pharmaceutically active ingredients.
US09040748B2

Disclosed is a process for the production and purification of glycolic acid or glycolic acid derivatives by the carbonylation of aqueous formaldehyde. The water in the hydrocarboxylation zone is reduced via reaction with the ester bonds in a recycle stream comprising glycolic acid oligomers and/or methyl glycolate oligomers.
US09040741B2

A catalytic process for dehydration of an aliphatic C2-C6 alcohol to its corresponding olefin is disclosed. The process continuously flows through a reaction zone a liquid phase containing an aliphatic C2-C6 alcohol to contact a non-volatile acid catalyst at a reaction temperature and pressure to at least partially convert the aliphatic C2-C6 alcohol in the liquid phase to its corresponding olefin. The reaction pressure is greater than atmospheric pressure and the reaction temperature is above the boiling point of the olefin at reaction pressure, but below the critical temperature of the alcohol, and the olefin product is substantially in the gaseous phase. After the contacting step, the olefin containing gaseous phase is separated from the liquid phase. The invention also relates to catalytic processes such as a hydrolysis of an olefin to an alcohol, an esterification, a transesterification, a polymerization, an aldol condensation or an ester hydrolysis.
US09040740B2

This disclosure relates to a method for preparing alkyl lactate with high yield and high selectivity, comprising the step of reacting glycerol with water or alcohol in the presence of a catalyst.In addition, the present invention provides a method for efficiently preparing lactamide using the alkyl lactate.
US09040737B2

The present invention relates to norbornene-ester-based derivatives, to a method for preparing same, and to the uses thereof. This compound may be used as a plasticizer which can replace a phthalate-based plasticizer.
US09040733B2

An improved multi-reaction zone process provides for improved nitrile product quality and yield. In a first reaction zone, 1,3-butadiene is reacted with hydrogen cyanide in the presence of a catalyst to produce pentenenitriles comprising 3-pentenenitrile and 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile. In a second reaction zone, 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile, recovered from the first reaction zone, is isomerized to 3-pentenenitrile. In an optional third reaction zone, 3-pentenenitrile recovered from the first and second reaction zones is reacted with hydrogen cyanide in the presence of a catalyst and a Lewis acid to produce adiponitrile. A portion of the first catalyst is purified and recycled. Zero valent nickel is added to the purified first catalyst before it is recycled.
US09040732B2

The invention provides a process for preparing diaryl carbonates from dialkyl carbonates and aromatic hydroxyl compounds using at least two reaction columns, a process section for recovering the dialkyl carbonate used in the reaction and for removing the alcohol of reaction, one or more process steps for removing the by-products obtained in the process which have a boiling point between that of the dialkyl carbonate and that of the alkyl aryl carbonate formed during the preparation of the diaryl carbonate, and a process step for further purification of the diaryl carbonate obtained from the reaction columns.
US09040731B2

The invention relates to a method for preparation of platinum siloxane compounds containing at least one CO ligand molecule (Pt carbonyl siloxanes). The method comprises reacting gaseous carbon monoxide (CO) with a platinum siloxane compound, preferably a platinum vinyl-cyclosiloxane compound, in solution with an organic solvent. The method is straightforward and applicable to industrial scale. With this method, specific isomers of platinum carbonyl vinylcyclosiloxanes are prepared, in which the two η-2-ethenyl groups coordinated to the Pt atom are bonded in trans-configuration relative to the cyclosiloxane backbone. The Pt compounds obtained by the method are used as catalysts for hydrosilylation and for crosslinking and curing of siloxanes and silanes.
US09040726B2

An improved process for the N-alkylation of tertiary morphinan alkaloid bases to form the corresponding quaternary morphinan alkaloid derivatives.
US09040723B2

The present invention relates to methods of synthesizing oligomeric compounds, and more particularly, to methods of synthesizing oligomer compounds comprising polyethylene glycol moieties. The present invention provides improved methods for synthesizing oligomers comprising polyethylene glycol moieties. Methods according to embodiments of the present invention may utilize reaction conditions that are milder, efficacious than those taught by conventional methods.
US09040716B2

A copper catalyzed click chemistry ligation process is employed to bind azides and terminal acetylenes to provide 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazole triazoles. The process comprises contacting an organic azide and a terminal alkyne with a source of reactive Cu(I) ion in human blood plasma to form by cycloaddition a 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazole. The source of reactive Cu(I) ion can be, for example, a Cu(I) salt, Cu(II) ion in the presence of a reducing agent, or copper metal.
US09040710B2

The present disclosure relates to a compound comprising an aryloxy-phthalocyanine compound of Group IV metals, a method for preparing aryloxy-phthalocyanine compound of Group IV metals and an article of manufacture made therefrom.
US09040698B2

Disclosed is a method for preparing optically pure (+)-ambrisentan and (+)-darusentan, comprising: firstly catalyzing the asymmetric epoxidation of a β-unsaturated alkene using a chiral ketone derived from fructose or a hydrate thereof as a catalyst, and then subjecting the product to an epoxy compound ring-opening reaction and substitution reaction successively to obtain optically pure (+)-ambrisentan and (+)-darusentan.
US09040695B2

The present invention relates to a novel acid addition salt of risperidone, wherein acid counterion is selected from the group consisting of pamoic acid, caproic acid, cypionic acid, decanoic acid, camphor sulfonic acid, enanthic acid, palmitic acid, fusidic acid, gluceptic acid, gluconic acid, lactobionic acid, lauric acid, levulinic acid and valeric acid, a process for the preparation and pharmaceutical composition comprising the same. Further, the invention relates to the use of said pharmaceutical composition comprising the acid addition salt of risperidone in the treatment of patient suffering from psychotic disorders.
US09040691B2

This invention relates to novel 5-[(hydroxymethyl)aryl]-substituted pyrrolo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazin-4-amines of formula (I), to processes for the preparation of such compounds, to pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, and to the use of such compounds or compositions for treating angiogenesis-related disorders, in particular angiogenesis-related ocular disorders.
US09040684B2

This invention provides cellulose ester interpolymers, and methods of oxidizing cellulose interpolymers and cellulose ester interpolymers. The invention also provides routes to access carboxylated cellulose ester derivatives with high acid numbers wherein the carboxyl group is attached directly to the cellulose backbone by a carbon-carbon bond. Through functionalization of an intermediate aldehyde, the corresponding cationic or zwitterionic cellulose ester derivatives can also be accessed. The interpolymers of the present invention have a number of end-use applications, for example, as binder resins in various types of coating compositions and as drug delivery agents.
US09040680B2

Non-ionic water-soluble cellulose ethers modified with 3-azido-2-hydroxypropyl groups bound via an ether link are provided having a molar degree of substitution MSAHP in the range from 0.001 to 0.50. Exemplary cellulose ethers are alkyl celluloses, including methyl, hydroxyalkyl (e.g. hydroxyethyl or hydroxypropyl) or alkylhydroxyalkyl cellulose (e.g. methylhydroxyethyl). Reaction products with alkyne compounds are also provided, resulting in a terminal alkyne group. The reaction of azide with the alkyne proceeds as a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction, advantageously with Cu(I) or ruthenium catalysts. A multiplicity of cellulose ethers can be obtained from the conversion reaction. Variations in the macroscopic properties can be achieved by controlled modification, ranging from increased or reduced viscosity. The reaction, taking place within a few seconds, requires only minimal catalyst. Gel formation is reversible by adjustment of the pH such that a monophasic system (high-viscous fluid) arises again from a biphasic system (gel+low-viscous water phase).
US09040674B2

The present disclosure provides reagents that can be used to label synthetic oligonucleotides with rhodamine dyes or dye networks that contain rhodamine dyes.
US09040670B2

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) having thyroid stimulating activity (TSAb), especially full or considerably agonistic activity, or thyroid blocking activity (TBAb), which are obtainable by genetic immunization of mice, or fragments (F(ab′)2, Fab or Fv) or humanized forms of such monoclonal antibodies or single chain forms (SCA; scFv) of such fragments, which antibodies, or their fragments, compete with bovine TSH for epitopes of the human TSHr, compete with autoantibodies from sera from Graves' patients as well as with autoantibodies from sera from patients harboring blocking autoantibodies for epitopes of the human TSHr, bind to conformational epitopes of the human TSHr located in the first 281 amino acids of the human TSHr, and usually also bind to TSFR receptors (TSHr) from different animals. Various uses of such antibodies, or of peptides corresponding to variable regions of such antibodies, are also described and claimed.
US09040668B2

The invention relates to improved variants of the anti-serum albumin immunoglobulin single variable domain DOM7h-11, as well as ligands and drug conjugates comprising such variants, compositions, nucleic acids, vectors and hosts.
US09040666B2

The present application relates to antigen-binding proteins that are capable of binding to mammalian IgG. The frame-work regions of the antigen-binding proteins of the application preferably correspond to those of antibodies naturally that are devoid of light chains as may e.g. be found in camelids. The application further relates to nucleic acids that encode such antigen-binding proteins, to immunoadsorbent materials that comprise such proteins, to the uses of such immunoadsorbent materials for the purification of mammalian IgG antibodies and for therapeutic apheresis.
US09040664B2

The invention is directed to a single-step method for rapidly and efficiently preparing protein-polymer conjugates, including an insulin-polymer conjugate. According to the method of the present invention, a protein and hydrophilic polymer are contacted in the presence of at least one organic solvent and at least one metal chelator, under conditions that promote the formation of a conjugate of the protein and polymer. Thus, the invention is directed to the site-specific modification of selected proteins, such as insulin, with poly(ethylene glycol) at residue PheB1. The invention also provides a pharmaceutical formulation for encapsulating the conjugate in a biodegradable polymer.
US09040649B2

The present invention relates to coating compositions repairable by introduction of energy and comprising defined fatty acid esters, to coatings obtained therewith and repairable by introduction of energy, to methods of producing them, and to their use.
US09040646B2

A true tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) copolymer of the fine powder type is provided, wherein the copolymer contains polymerized comonomer units of at least one comonomer other than TFE in concentrations of at least or exceeding 1.0 weight percent, and which can exceed 5.0 weight percent, wherein the copolymer is expandable, that is, the copolymer may be expanded to produce strong, useful, expanded TFE copolymeric articles having a microstructure of nodes interconnected by fibrils. Articles made from the expandable copolymer may include tapes, membranes, films, fibers, and are suitable in a variety of end applications, including medical devices.
US09040639B2

A process for the continuous production of a biodegradable polyester, wherea mixture of aliphatic dihydroxy compounds, aliphatic and aromatic dicarboxylic acids or their liquid esters, and, optionally, further comonomers is mixed, without addition of a catalyst, to give a paste, and i) this mixture with at least a portion of the catalyst, is continuously esterified or, transesterified; ii) the transesterification or, esterification product obtained in i) is continuously precondensed with any remaining amount of catalyst to an intrinsic viscosity of from 20 to 70 cm3/g; iii) the product obtainable from ii) is continuously polycondensed to an intrinsic viscosity of from 60 to 170 cm3/g, and iv) the product obtainable from iii) is reacted continuously with a chain extender in a polyaddition reaction to an intrinsic viscosity of from 150 to 320 cm3/g. The invention further relates to biodegradable polyesters obtained_by this process.
US09040633B2

The present invention relates to a polymer composition, comprising: (i) a polypropylene matrix; (ii) a first elastomeric phase dispersed within the matrix and having a glass transition temperature Tg1, measured with dynamical mechanical thermal analysis according to ISO 6721-2, wherein the first elastomeric phase comprises an ethylene copolymer having comonomer units derived from C3 to C8 olefins; (iii) a second elastomeric phase dispersed within the matrix, wherein the second elastomeric phase is crosslinked and has a glass transition temperature Tg2, measured with dynamical mechanical thermal analysis according to ISO 6721-2, within the range of −70° C. to −90° C., wherein the difference between Tg1 and Tg2 is at least 15° C. and Tg1 is higher than Tg2.
US09040619B2

A 1,3-diketoamide functional monomer represented by the following formula (1): wherein R and Y are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkyl group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group having from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, and an aralkyl group having from 7 to 20 carbon atoms; and wherein X and Z are independently selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group having from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, and an aralkyl group having from 7 to 20 carbon atoms. Also disclosed are emulsion, suspension, and solution polymers comprising residues from the 1,3-diketoamide functional monomer of formula 1 and, optionally, one or more additional ethylenically unsaturated monomers. Both latex and self-curing coating compositions described herein exhibit excellent hydrolytic stability, including increased retention of 1,3-diketo functionality.
US09040609B2

The present invention relates to a solid composition containing calcium silicate hydrate and at least one water-swellable polymer which can form a hydrogel, and also to a process for preparing the composition, to the use thereof as a setting accelerator, and as a grinding aid in cement production. It also relates to building material mixtures which comprise the compositions.
US09040604B2

A facile synthesis of amphiphilic hyperbranched polymers consisting of poly(amic acid) and polyimide was developed via “A2+B3” approach from difunctional anhydride and trifunctional hydrophilic poly(oxyalkylene)triamine. Various amphiphilic hyperbranched poly(amic acid)s (HBPAAs) with terminal amine functionalities and amic acid structures were prepared through ring-opening polyaddition at room temperature, followed by thermal imidization process for the formation of hyperbranched polyimides (HBPIs), accordingly. The resulting HBPIs were analyzed by GPC, indicating the molecule weights of 5000˜7000 g/mol with a distribution of polydispersity between 2.0 and 3.8. The amine titration for HBPIs indicated the peripheral total-amine contents to be 8.32˜18.32 mequiv/g dependent on compositions.
US09040586B2

Veterinary compositions are described for controlling ecto- and endo-parasites in animals, such as bovine. The compositions contain an IGR compound(s) or a benzoyl substituted urea(s) along with a mineral mix and at least one carrier.
US09040577B2

Provided herein, in part, is a method of treating a neurological or movement disorder in a patient in need thereof, comprising subcutaneously administering to said patient a pharmaceutically acceptable composition comprising levodopa and optionally carbidopa and optionally entacapone or tolcapone, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein said composition is administered substantially continuously, and compositions that can be used in the disclosed methods.
US09040576B1

A nutritional supplement is provided comprising alpha-lipoic acid and curcumin. The nutritional supplement may be used for reducing weight or reducing weight gain, for reducing fat or reducing fat gain, for reducing loss in lean mass or maintaining lean mass, or for reducing loss of appetite or for maintaining appetite.
US09040571B2

This invention concerns a method for the preparation of a suspoemulsion formulation, which can be easily produced on an industrial scale and which allows the reproducible and effective administration of one or more water-insoluble veterinary drugs through water distribution systems. The water-insoluble veterinary drug, in finely ground form, is dispersed in a water immiscible liquid, followed by homogenization of this system into a water phase. To facilitate the preparation of a stable formulation, one or more stabilizing agents such as emulsifiers, thickeners, anti-oxidants and anti-microbials can be used. The resulting suspoemulsion shows excellent long term storage stability and a good “in use” stability after dilution in a vessel and during all handling and transport in the water distribution system.
US09040564B2

It is intended to provide a pharmaceutical composition which contains a proton pump inhibitor and is stable even if it is stored for a long time. It is also intended to provide a pharmaceutical composition which contains a proton pump inhibitor susceptible to acid, and does not dissolve in the stomach but dissolves in the intestine to release a primary drug product promptly. The object could be achieved by the pharmaceutical composition characterized in that a layer containing a proton pump inhibitor and ethyl cellulose, a layer containing an enteric polymer, and if necessary an intermediate layer composed of one or more layers are formed on a pharmacologically inactive core substance. The intermediate layer is composed of a water-insoluble polymer, a water-soluble polymer, a lubricant and the like.
US09040561B2

Cyanine dye compounds having a substituted methine moiety that are nucleic acid stains, particularly for fluorescent staining of RNA, including compounds having the formula where R1 is a C1-C6 alkyl, sulfoalkyl, carboxyalkyl or C1-C6 alkoxy; each R2 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, fused benzo, trifluoromethyl, amino, sulfo, carboxy and halogen, that is optionally further substituted; at least one of R3, R4, and R5 is an alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, cyclic, or heterocyclic moiety that is optionally substituted by alkyl, amino, aminoalkyl, carboxy, nitro, or halogen; and the remaining R3, R4 or R5 are hydrogen; X is S, O, or Se; and D is a substituted or unsubstituted pyridinium, quinolinium or benzazolium moiety.
US09040558B2

The invention is directed to novel substituted benzylamino quinolines, compounds comprising substituted benzylamino quinolines, methods of making substituted benzylamino quinolines, the use of substituted benzylamino quinolines for treating or preventing a variety of conditions or diseases associated with lipoprotein metabolism, and the use of substituted benzylamino quinolines as cholesterol ester-transfer protein inhibitors.
US09040554B2

Disclosed are solid forms of 8-chloro-N-[(2-chloro-5-methoxyphenyl)sulfonyl]-6-(trifluoromethyl)-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-2-carboxamide (Compound 1). Methods for the preparation of solid forms of Compound 1 and for the conversion of one solid form of Compound 1 into another are disclosed.Disclosed are nematocidal compositions comprising a nematocidally effective amount of a solid form of Compound 1 and at least one additional component selected from the group consisting of surfactants, solid diluents and liquid carriers. Compositions comprising a mixture of a solid form of Compound 1 and at least one other nematicide, insecticide and/or fungicide are also disclosed.Also disclosed are methods for protecting a plant from nematodes comprising applying to the plant, or portion, or seed thereof, or to the growing medium of the plant, a nematocidally effective amount of Compound 1 comprising the polymorph Form A.
US09040551B2

The present invention generally relates to use of compounds and compositions as a chemosensitizers and/or radiosensitizers and/or inhibitors of PNKP phosphatase activity. The present invention provides pharmaceutical combinations and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, kits containing such compounds and/composition and methods of using such compounds and/or compositions.
US09040550B2

The present invention provides 2,4-pyrimidinediamine compounds that inhibit the IgE and/or IgG receptor signaling cascades that lead to the release of chemical mediators, intermediates and methods of synthesizing the compounds and methods of using the compounds in a variety of contexts, including in the treatment and prevention of diseases characterized by, caused by or associated with the release of chemical mediators via degranulation and other processes effected by activation of the IgE and/or IgG receptor signaling cascades.
US09040548B2

The invention relates to quinazoline derivatives of formula (I), wherein m is an integer from 1 to 3; R1 represents halogeno or C1-3alkyl; X1 represents —O—; R2 is selected from one of the following three groups: 1) C1-5alkylR3, wherein R3 is piperidinyl-4-yl which may bear one or two substituents selected from hydroxy, halogeno, C1-4alkyl, C1-4hydroxyalkyl and C1-4alkoxy; 2) C2-5alkenylR3, wherein R3 is as defined herein; 3) C2-5alkynylR3, wherein R3 is as defined herein; and wherein any alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group may bear one or more substituents selected from hydroxy, halogeno and amino; and salts thereof; processes for their preparation; pharmaceutical compositions containing a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient.
US09040534B2

The present invention is directed to a compound of Formula (I) and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of Formula (I). Methods of making and using the compounds of Formula (I) are also within the scope of the invention.
US09040527B2

Disclosed embodiments provide pyrimidinediamine compounds useful for inhibiting kinase activity, including the activity of polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1). Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and methods of treating diseases associated with kinase activity, in particular enhanced PLK1 catalytic activity, such as diseases associated with abnormal cell proliferation, including neoplastic disorders.
US09040518B2

Compounds of Formula I and methods for treating metabolic disorders are disclosed.
US09040513B2

Described is a process for preparing platinum-carbene complexes.
US09040502B2

A method for treating an individual infected with XDR-TB, the method including administering to the individual an anti-XDR-TB drug which comprises a compound having a structure expressed by Structural Formula (1) below:
US09040500B2

This invention relates to methods for treating a hematopoietic neoplasm comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a combretastatin compound, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, to a subject having a hematological malignancy, wherein the combretastatin compound comprises a catechol or quinone moiety and is capable of forming a reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vivo. The method may further comprise co-administering a second chemotherapeutic agent.
US09040492B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel double-stranded RNA that has high resistance to nuclease and cellular uptake efficiency and that can produce an excellent RNA interference effect. The present invention provides a double-stranded lipid-modified RNA comprising an antisense strand having a nucleotide sequence complementary to a target sequence in a target gene, and a sense strand having a nucleotide sequence complementary to the antisense strand, the double-stranded RNA being capable of suppressing the expression of the target gene, and the sense strand having a double-stranded lipid bound directly or via a linker to at least one of the first to sixth nucleotides from the 5′ end.
US09040489B2

The present invention relates to a nanocrystalline photocatalyst active upon visible light irradiation, with a high degree of dispersion, stable in the form of a transparent colloidal solution in an aqueous environment, containing nanocrystals of titanium dioxide (TiO2) surface-modified via direct chemisorption of organic compounds. The present invention in turn relates to a method of producing the material as well as its use as a photosterilizer, photobacteriocide, photomycocide, and/or photocatalyst, in particular for the sterilization of glass surfaces, transparent plastics and transparent materials, in particular contact lenses, medical catheters, glass and plastic conduits as well as other surfaces, whose sterilization is desirable and/or required.
US09040481B2

Methods for treating fatty liver disease, e.g., hepatic steatosis, using peptide fragments of the C-terminal end of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), e.g., GLP-1(28-36).
US09040479B2

The present invention is directed to compounds, compositions and methods for treating or preventing HCV viral infections in human patients or other animal hosts.
US09040458B2

Herbicidal injury caused by 6-trisubstituted phenyl)-4-amino-2-pyridinecarboxylates in wheat and barley is reduced with the use of low rates of cloquintocet.
US09040456B2

To provide a method which exerts excellent controlling effects on noxious organisms in a field of soybean, corn or cotton.A method for controlling noxious organisms in a field of soybean, corn or cotton, wherein at least one PPO inhibitor compound selected from the group consisting of flumioxazin, sulfentrazone, saflufenacil, oxyfluorfen, fomesafen-sodium, and a compound represented by formula (I): is applied to the field before, at or after sowing a soybean, corn or cotton seed treated with ethaboxam.
US09040455B2

To provide a method which shows excellent effects in controlling pests in a field of soybean, corn or cotton.A method for controlling weeds in a field of soybean, corn or cotton, wherein the field of soybean, corn or cotton is treated with at least one PPO-inhibiting compound selected from the group consisting of flumioxazin, sulfentrazone, saflufenacil, oxyfluorfen, fomesafen-sodium, and the compound of the formula (I): before, at or after seeding with a seed of soybean, corn or cotton treated with one or more fungicidal compounds selected from the group consisting of tolclophos-methyl, thiram, captan, carbendazim, thiophanate-methyl, and (RS)-2-methoxy-N-methyl-2-[alpha-(2,5-xylyloxy)-o-tolyl]ace tamide.
US09040453B2

Disclosed is a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet which excels in adhesiveness to a receiving layer and solvent resistance, and a manufacturing method thereof. In the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet, which includes a porous layer, a barrier layer, a receiving layer which are stacked in this order on a substrate, the porous layer includes a binder resin and hollow particles, and the barrier layer includes (i) (A) a first acrylic resin and (B) one or more kinds of resins selected from the group consisting of polyester resins, polyvinyl pyrrolidone type resins, polyester type urethane resin, and a second acrylic resin which differs from the first acrylic resin; or (ii) a polyvinyl pyrrolidone type resin.
US09040450B2

A process for producing a composite oxide catalyst which includes a step of preparing an aqueous slurry containing at least iron and antimony and composed of a liquid phase and a solid phase, a step of drying the aqueous slurry to obtain a dried material, and a step of calcining the obtained dried material, wherein of the precipitated particles having a particle size of not less than 1 μm but less than 150 μm contained within the aqueous slurry, the proportion of precipitated particles having a particle size of not less than 1 μm but less than 10 μm is within a range from 40 to 90% by volume, and the proportion of precipitated particles having a particle size of not less than 10 μm but less than 150 μm is within a range from 10 to 60% by volume.
US09040449B2

Nanoparticle catalyst compositions and methods for preparation of same are described. The nanoparticle catalysts are platinum-free and are useful in effecting selective ring-opening reactions, for example in upgrading heavy oil. The catalyst may be of monometallic composition, or may comprise an alloyed or core-shell bimetallic composition. The nanoparticles are of controlled size and shape.
US09040444B2

A semi-continuous process and system thereof, for the synthesis of a narrow particle size distribution Zeigler Natta procatalyst for use in the manufacture of polyolefins. The process comprises: (a) mixing a reaction mixture containing a titanium compound; (b) charging a first reactor with said reaction mixture; (c) removing excess reactants from said first reactor as a filtrate; (d) feeding said filtrate to at least one further reactor; and continuously removing excess reactants from said at least further reactor.
US09040442B2

The present description relates to a refractory composition including 70 weight percent to 98 weight percent particulate refractory material and 2 weight percent to 30 weight percent of a binder phase including reactive filler and a binder, the binder phase substantially includes solely reactive andalusite as reactive filler.
US09040437B2

An elastic laminate has a coextruded film having an outer film layer formed of an elastic and sticky styrene-block copolymer and an inner film layer of lesser elasticity than the outer layer, an outer fleece or nonwoven web or overlay, an outer adhesive layer between the outer fleece web and the outer film layer adhering the outer fleece web to the outer film layer, an inner fleece or nonwoven web or overlay, and an inner adhesive layer between the inner fleece web and the inner film layer adhering the inner fleece web to the inner film layer. The inner adhesive layer forming between the inner fleece web and the inner film layer a bond that is weaker than a bond formed by the outer adhesive layer between the outer fleece web and the outer film layer such that on stretching the inner fleece layer separates locally from the inner film layer.
US09040435B2

Provided are superhydrophobic coatings, devices and articles including superhydrophobic coatings, and methods for preparing the superhydrophobic coatings. The exemplary superhydrophobic device can include a substrate component and one or more superhydrophobic coatings disposed over the substrate component, wherein at least one of the one or more superhydrophobic coatings has a water contact angle of at least about 150° and a contact angle hysteresis of less than about 1°. The one or more superhydrophobic coatings can include an ultra high water content acid catalyzed polysilicate gel, the polysilicate gel including a three dimensional network of silica particles having surface functional groups derivatized with a silylating agent and a plurality of pores.
US09040433B2

One or more techniques or systems for forming a line end space structure are provided herein. In some embodiments, a first patterned second hard mask (HM) region is formed above a first HM region. Additionally, at least some of the first patterned second HM region is removed. In some embodiments, a first sacrificial HM region and a second sacrificial HM region are formed above at least one of the first patterned second HM region or the first HM region. Photo resist (PR) is patterned above the second sacrificial HM region, and a spacer region is deposited above the patterned PR and second sacrificial HM region. In some embodiments, at least some of at least one of the spacer region, the PR, or the respective sacrificial HMs is removed. In this way, a line end space structure associated with an end-to-end space is formed.
US09040430B2

A method for stripping an organic mask above a porous low-k dielectric film is provided. A steady state flow of a stripping gas, comprising CO2 and CH4 is provided. The stripping gas is formed into a plasma, wherein the plasma strips at least half the organic mask and protects the porous low-k dielectric film, for a duration of providing the steady state flow of the stripping gas.
US09040424B2

A single crystal silicon etching method includes providing a single crystal silicon substrate having at least one trench therein. The single crystal silicon substrate is exposed to an anisotropic etchant that undercuts the single crystal silicon. By controlling the length of the etch, single crystal silicon islands or smooth vertical walls in the single crystal silicon may be created.
US09040423B2

A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. A substrate having a first area with a first poly layer and a second area with a second poly layer is provided. A nitride HM film is then deposited above the first poly layer of a first device in the first area and above the second poly layer in the second area. Afterwards, a first patterned passivation is formed on the nitride HM film in the first area to cover the nitride HM film and the first device, and a second patterned passivation is formed above the second poly layer in the second area. The second poly layer in the second area is defined by the second patterned passivation.
US09040413B2

A nonvolatile memory device contains a resistive switching memory element with improved device switching performance and lifetime by custom tailoring the average concentration of defects in the resistive switching film and methods of forming the same. The nonvolatile memory element includes a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and a resistive switching layer disposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. The resistive switching layer comprises a first sub-layer and a second sub-layer, wherein the first sub-layer has more defects than the first sub-layer. A method includes forming a first sub-layer on the first electrode layer by a first ALD process and forming a second sub-layer on the first sub-layer by a second ALD process, where the first sub-layer has a different amount of defects than the second sub-layer.
US09040406B2

A semiconductor chip includes a substrate having a frontside and a backside coupled to a ground. The chip includes a circuit in the substrate at the frontside. A through silicon via (TSV) having a front-end, a back-end, and a lateral surface is included. The back-end and lateral surface of the TSV are in the substrate, and the front-end of the TSV is substantially parallel to the frontside of the substrate. The chip also includes an antifuse material deposited between the back-end and lateral surface of the TSV and the substrate. The antifuse material insulates the TSV from the substrate. The chip includes a ground layer insulated from the substrate and coupled with the TSV and the circuit. The ground layer conducts a program voltage to the TSV to cause a portion of the antifuse material to migrate away from the TSV, thereby connecting the circuit to the ground.
US09040404B2

A method of fabricating a replacement metal gate structure for a CMOS device. The method includes forming a dummy gate structure on an nFET portion and a pFET portion of the CMOS device; depositing an interlayer dielectric between the dummy gate structures; removing the dummy gate structures from the nFET portion and the pFET portion, resulting in a recess on the nFET portion and a recess on the pFET portion; depositing a first layer of titanium nitride into the recesses on the nFET portion and pFET portion; removing the first layer of titanium nitride from the nFET portion only; depositing a second layer of titanium nitride into the recesses on the nFET portion and pFET portion; depositing a gate metal onto the second layer of titanium nitride in the recesses on the nFET portion and pFET portion to fill the remainder of the recesses.
US09040401B1

A method for forming doping regions is disclosed, including providing a substrate, forming a first-type doping material on the substrate and forming a second-type doping material on the substrate, wherein the first-type doping material is separated from the second-type doping material by a gap; forming a covering layer to cover the substrate, the first-type doping material and the second-type doping material; and performing a thermal diffusion process to diffuse the first-type doping material and the second-type doping material into the substrate.
US09040383B2

Devices having gate-to-gate isolation structures and methods of manufacture are provided. The method includes forming a plurality of isolation structures in pad films and an underlying substrate. The method further includes forming a plurality of fins including the isolation structures and a second plurality of fins including the two pad films and a portion of the underlying substrate, each of which are separated by a trench. The method further includes removing portions of the second plurality of fins resulting in a height lower than a height of the plurality of fins including the isolation structures. The method further includes forming gate electrodes within each trench, burying the second plurality of fins and abutting sides of the plurality of fins including the isolation structures. The plurality of fins including the isolation structures electrically and physically isolate adjacent gate electrode of the gate electrodes.
US09040373B2

A semiconductor structure and method of manufacturing is provided. The method of manufacturing includes forming shallow trench isolation (STI) in a substrate and providing a first material and a second material on the substrate. The first material and the second material are mixed into the substrate by a thermal anneal process to form a first island and second island at an nFET region and a pFET region, respectively. A layer of different material is formed on the first island and the second island. The STI relaxes and facilitates the relaxation of the first island and the second island. The first material may be deposited or grown Ge material and the second material may deposited or grown Si:C or C. A strained Si layer is formed on at least one of the first island and the second island.
US09040372B2

Disclosed are methods for forming a metal-containing layer on a substrate. The methods include providing a vapor and at least one reaction gas and reacting the vapor and the reaction gas with the substrate by a deposition process. The vapor may be selected from the group consisting of (Cp)V(═NtBu)(NEt2)2; (Cp)V(═NtBu)(NMe2)2; (Cp)V(═NtBu)(NEtMe)2; (Cp)V(═NiPr)(NEt2)2; (Cp)V(═NiPr)(NMe2)2; (Cp)V(═NiPr)(NEtMe)2; (Cp)V(═NC5H11)(NEt2)2; (Cp)V(═NC5H11)(NMe2)2; (Cp)V(═NC5H11)(NEtMe)2; (Cp)Nb(═NtBu)(NEt2)2; (Cp)Nb(═NtBu)(NMe2)2; (Cp)Nb(═NtBu)(NEtMe)2; (Cp)Nb(═NiPr)(NEt2)2; (Cp)Nb(═NiPr)(NMe2)2; (Cp)Nb(═NiPr)(NEtMe)2; (Cp)Nb(═NC5H11)(NEt2)2; (Cp)Nb(═NC5H11)(NMe2)2; and (Cp)Nb(═NC5H11)(NEtMe)2. The reaction gas may be selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen selenide, hydrogen telluride, carbon monoxide, ammonia, organic amine, silane, disilane, higher silanes, silylamines, diborane, hydrazine, methylhydrazine, chlorosilane, chloropolysilane, metal alkyl, arsine, phosphine, trialkylboron, oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, nitrous oxide, nitrogen monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, alcohols, plasma comprising fragments of those species, and combinations thereof.
US09040371B2

Semiconductor devices and method for forming the same. Methods for forming fin structures include forming a protective layer over a set of mandrels in a variable fin pitch region; forming first sidewalls around a set of mandrels in a uniform fin pitch region; removing the set of mandrels in the uniform fin pitch region; removing the protective layer; forming second sidewalls around the first sidewalls in the uniform fin pitch region and the mandrels in the variable fin pitch region; removing the first sidewalls and the mandrels; and etching an underlying layer around the second sidewalls.
US09040368B1

A method for fabricating a thin film transistor has the steps of: sequentially forming a buffer layer and a poly-silicon layer; forming a gate insulating layer on the poly-silicon layer, and etching the gate insulating layer to expose the poly-silicon layer needed for an ohmic contact; forming an ohmic contact layer on the gate insulating layer and the poly-silicon layer, and etching an extra portion of the ohmic contact layer to reserve the ohmic contact layer contacted with the poly-silicon layer; forming a gate electrode on the gate insulating layer; forming a dielectric layer on the gate electrode and the gate insulating layer, as well as forming through holes; and forming a source electrode and a drain electrode on the through hole.
US09040363B2

An improved finFET structure, and method forming the same, including a plurality of fins etched from a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of gates above and perpendicular to the plurality of fins, each comprising a pair of spacers on opposing sides of the gates, and a gap fill material above the semiconductor substrate, below the gate, and between the plurality of fins, wherein the gate separates the gap fill material from each of the plurality of fins.
US09040349B2

Methods and systems for a semiconductor device package with a die to interposer wafer first bond are disclosed and may include bonding a plurality of semiconductor die comprising electronic devices to an interposer wafer, and applying an underfill material between the die and the interposer wafer. A mold material may be applied to encapsulate the die. The interposer wafer may be thinned to expose through-silicon-vias (TSVs) and metal contacts may be applied to the exposed TSVs. The interposer wafer may be singulated to generate assemblies comprising the semiconductor die and an interposer die. The die may be placed on the interposer wafer utilizing an adhesive film. The interposer wafer may be singulated utilizing one or more of: a laser cutting process, reactive ion etching, a sawing technique, and a plasma etching process. The die may be bonded to the interposer wafer utilizing a mass reflow or a thermal compression process.
US09040346B2

In one embodiment, a semiconductor package includes a semiconductor chip having a first contact region on a first major surface and a second contact region on an opposite second major surface. The semiconductor chip is configured to regulate flow of a current from the first contact region to the second contact region. An encapsulant is disposed at the semiconductor chip. A first contact plug is disposed within the encapsulant and coupled to the first contact region. A second side conductive layer is disposed under the second major surface and coupled to the second contact region. A through via is disposed within the encapsulant and coupled to the second side conductive layer. The first contact plug and the through via form terminals above the first major surface for contacting the semiconductor package.
US09040333B2

The invention discloses a method for fabricating power-generating module with solar cell. The method includes the steps of providing a flexible substrate; forming a solar cell unit on the flexible substrate by using a high density plasma at a temperature lower than about 150° C.; and forming a circuit unit on the flexible substrate; wherein the solar cell unit is coupled to the circuit unit, so as to provide the power needed for the operation of the circuit unit.
US09040329B2

A manufacturing method for an LED with roughened lateral surfaces comprises following steps: providing an LED wafer with an electrically conductive layer disposed thereon; providing a photoresist layer on the electrically conductive layer; roughening a lateral surface of the electrically conductive layer by wet etching; forming a depression in the LED wafer by dry etching and roughening a sidewall of the LED wafer defining the depression; and disposing two pads respectively in the depression and the conducting layer. The disclosure also provides an LED with roughened lateral surfaces. A roughness of the roughened lateral surfaces is measurable in micrometers.
US09040327B2

A method for fabricating AlxGa1-xN-cladding-free nonpolar III-nitride based laser diodes or light emitting diodes. Due to the absence of polarization fields in the nonpolar crystal planes, these nonpolar devices have thick quantum wells that function as an optical waveguide to effectively confine the optical mode to the active region and eliminate the need for Al-containing waveguide cladding layers.
US09040324B2

A semiconductor light-emitting device according to the embodiment includes a substrate, a compound semiconductor layer, a metal electrode layer provided with particular openings, a light-extraction layer, and a counter electrode. The light-extraction layer has a thickness of 20 to 120 nm and covers at least partly the metal part of the metal electrode layer; or otherwise the light-extraction layer has a rugged structure and covers at least partly the metal part of the metal electrode layer. The rugged structure has projections so arranged that their summits are positioned at intervals of 100 to 600 nm, and the heights of the summits from the surface of the metal electrode layer are 200 to 700 nm.
US09040323B2

Pixels of a display device include a first substrate, an organic insulation layer disposed on the first substrate and having an upper surface formed in an uneven structure, an inorganic insulation layer disposed on the organic insulation layer and formed in the uneven structure, a first electrode disposed on the inorganic insulation layer and formed in the uneven structure, and a device to provide a data voltage to the first electrode, in which the first electrode includes a reflective electrode to reflect incident light.
US09040321B2

A method for manufacturing LED packages includes steps: providing a lead frame including many pairs of first and second electrodes, and first and second tie bars, the first electrodes and second electrodes each including a main body and an extension electrode protruding outward from the main body; forming many molded bodies to engage with the pairs of the first and second electrodes, the first and second main bodies being embedded into the molded bodies, and the first and second extension electrodes being exposed out from a corresponding molded body; preforming many first grooves at a bottom of each molded body; disposing LED dies in the corresponding receiving cavities; and cutting the molded bodies along edges thereof defining the first grooves in a first direction and then along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction to obtain many individual LED packages.
US09040312B2

It is possible to produce a ferroelectric thin film controlled to have the preferential crystal orientation in the (100) plane with a simple process without providing a seed layer or a buffer layer. A ferroelectric thin film is produced on a lower electrode by irradiating a surface of the lower electrode of a substrate having the lower electrode where the crystal plane is oriented in a (111) axis direction, with an atmospheric pressure plasma, coating a composition for forming a ferroelectric thin film on the lower electrode, and heating and crystallizing the coated composition.
US09040304B2

A multi-channel system and methods for sorting particles according to one or more characteristics of the particles. The system includes multiple flow cytometry units, each unit can have a nozzle for producing a fluid stream containing a desired population of particles in a mixture of particles. Each of the units may be operable to sort said desired population of particles by interrogating the fluid stream with a beam of electromagnetic radiation and classifying particles based on one or more characteristics of the particles. The system also includes a common fluid delivery system for delivering sheath fluid to each flow cytometer unit for producing respective fluid streams.
US09040292B2

Provided is constant-temperature equipment wherein maintenance is facilitated with the least failure, and highly reliable culturing and testing can be carried out. Mechanical and electrical structures are eliminated from the inside of a temperature-controlled chamber (15) by using a non-contact magnetic arrangement as a drive transmission for a sample table (5) and a sample table drive (6), thus reducing failure and enhancing maintainability. In addition, a conveyor (11) is provided with a pass box to minimize change in atmosphere during conveying. The sample table drive (6) and the conveyor (11) can be attached removably to the temperature-controlled chamber (15) to permit sterilization at high temperature.
US09040285B2

A sensing device including an inlet port for receiving a fluid, a measurement chamber for sensing the fluid, a fluid channel coupling the inlet port and the measurement chamber for transporting the fluid from the inlet port to the measurement chamber, and a fluid stop unit for stopping and controllably releasing the flow of fluid between the inlet port and the measurement chamber.
US09040283B2

A photosynthetic reactor (1) suitable for cultivating photosynthetic microorganisms, notably algae, comprising at least one photosynthetic reaction pipe (2) at least one return pipe (3), at least one means (4) for circulating the liquid culture medium, at least one gas injection means (5) and at least one exhaust means (6) positioned in the high portion of the reactor (1), wherein the placement of the gas injection means (5) and/or the conformation of the reaction pipe (2) or of the return pipe (3) are designed so that the gas injected by the injection means (5) rises again to the exhaust means (6) by circulating in the reaction pipe (2), in a low-to-high flow direction, so that the injected gas and the liquid culture medium establish a gas/liquid two-phase flow in a substantially horizontal reaction section (23) of the reaction channel (2).The present invention finds application in the field of cultivating photosynthetic microorganisms and notably algae.
US09040281B2

The invention relates to a micro-organism comprising a hydrogenase enzyme system which is capable of converting carbon dioxide into formic acid and a second enzyme system which is capable of converting formic acid into aliphatic carboxylic acids having a chain length of five or more carbon atoms. Also described are various methods for producing oil, as well as other aspects of the invention.
US09040274B2

The invention provides a simple and effective method for increasing thermal stability of a wide range of proteins, comprising fusing a self-assembling amphipathic peptide to the C- or N-terminal of target proteins. The fusion protein can have a half life up to 26 times longer than that of the wild type protein.
US09040273B2

A simple, highly efficient, and environmentally friendly method of immobilizing macromolecules, particularly the biomolecules, to a solid carrier and thus forming a bioreactor, including the following steps: (1) providing the biomolecule and a leading molecule, and linking the biomolecule and the leading molecule by microwave to form an adsorbent; (2) providing a porous support material, and mixing the porous support material and the adsorbent to form a mixture; (3) treating the mixture by a vortex process such that the adsorbent being adsorbed and immobilized on the porous support material to form a bioreactor for biological reactions and biocatalysis; and the bioreactor can be further used for constructing a biological reaction system via incorporating a buffer solution and a ligand.
US09040266B2

Disclosed is a process in which a recombinant organism, such as a yeast, expressing a heterologous S-adenosylmethionine (SAM)-dependent methyl halide transferase (MHT) protein is combined with a halide and a carbon source in a cultivation medium under conditions in which methyl formate is produced. The cell may genetically modified to express methyl formate synthase, methanol dehydrogenase and/or hydrolytic dehalogenase at levels higher than a cell of the same species that is not genetically modified. The methyl formate may be collected and used in a variety of applications. The halide may be chlorine, bromine or iodine.
US09040264B2

The invention provides microorganisms such as cyanobacteria genetically engineered to express proteins that include transcription factor domains for upregulation of lipid biosynthetic pathways. In addition to expression a gene encoding a transcription factor domain protein, the recombinant microorganisms can express at least one exogenous gene that encodes a polypeptide for the production of a fatty acid, fatty acid derivative, or triglyceride. Also included are methods of producing a fatty acid, fatty acid derivative, or triglyceride using the engineered microorganisms described herein as well as nucleic acid molecules encoding novel transcription factor domain proteins.
US09040263B2

An alcohol fermentation process and composition that includes production of alcohol esters by esterification of product alcohol in a fermentation medium with a carboxylic acid (e.g., fatty acid) and a catalyst (e.g., lipase) capable of esterifying the product alcohol, such as butanol, with the carboxylic acid to form the alcohol esters. The alcohol esters can be extracted from the fermentation medium, and the product alcohol recovered from the alcohol esters. The carboxylic acid can also serve as an extractant for removal of the alcohol esters from the fermentation medium.
US09040256B2

The present invention provides methods, compositions and kits for using a transposase and a transposon end for generating extensive fragmentation and 5′-tagging of double-stranded target DNA in vitro, then using a DNA polymerase for generating 5′- and 3′-tagged single-stranded DNA fragments without performing a PCR amplification reaction, wherein the first tag on the 5′-ends exhibits the sequence of the transferred transposon end and optionally, an additional arbitrary sequence, and the second tag on the 3′-ends exhibits a different sequence from the sequence exhibited by the first tag. The method is useful for generating 5′- and 3′-tagged DNA fragments for use in a variety of processes, including processes for metagenomic analysis of DNA in environmental samples, copy number variation (CNV) analysis of DNA, and comparative genomic sequencing (CGS), including massively parallel DNA sequencing (so-called “next-generation sequencing.)
US09040254B2

Objects of the present invention are to provide a DNA fragment encoding a limulus-derived pro-clotting enzyme, a virus harboring the DNA fragment, a cell harboring the virus, a method of producing the pro-clotting enzyme by use of the cell, and means for assaying an endotoxin or (1→3)-β-D-glucan employing the enzyme, wherein these elements are capable of producing an endotoxin or (1→3)-β-D-glucan assay reagent of satisfactory quality, steadily, at low cost, and on a large scale. In the present invention, for example, a DNA fragment encoding a protein having an amino acid sequence defined by SEQ ID NO: 4 is selected as a nucleic acid fragment encoding a limulus-derived pro-clotting enzyme, and the corresponding recombinant pro-clotting enzyme. Use of the enzyme can provide a high-sensitivity method and kit for detecting (1→3)-β-D-glucan and an endotoxin, utilizing a cascade reaction system in a horseshoe crab lysate.
US09040252B2

Method for increasing and regulating the emission of light from a chemiluminescent reaction including luminol, a peroxidase enzyme, an oxidant and an electron mediator (primary enhancer) through the use of an acylation catalyst (secondary enhancer) belonging to the class of N-azoles, i.e., a class of five-membered nitrogen heteroaromatic ring compounds containing at least one other atom of nitrogen. N-azoles, which are especially useful as secondary enhancers are imidazole, 1-methylimidazole, 1,2,3-triazole and 1,2,4-triazole. The invention also describes the use in diagnostic assays of chemiluminescent substrates containing said N-azoles, as secondary enhancers.
US09040238B2

The invention refers to polynucleotides selected from the group consisting of a) polynucleotides encoding for the polypeptide RBM20 comprising a P638L mutation for a human polypeptide RBM20, or a P641L mutation for a rat polypeptide RBM20, b) polynucleotides with a reverse complementary sequence of the polynucleotide of a) above, and c) polynucleotides with an identity at least 50% to a polynucleotide of a) or b) above.
US09040237B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide devices methods for sequencing DNA using arrays of reaction cavities containing sensors to monitor changes in solutions contained in the reaction cavities. Additional embodiments provide devices and methods for sequencing DNA using arrays of reaction cavities that allow for optical monitoring of solutions in the reaction cavities. Test and fill reaction schemes are disclosed that allow DNA to be sequenced. By sequencing DNA using parallel reactions contained in large arrays, DNA can be rapidly sequenced.
US09040234B2

The invention relates to design of short oligonucleotides and analogs thereof (such as, di-, and trinucleotide compounds) useful for various therapeutic applications. It is believed that the compounds of the invention can be used as antiviral agents, anticancer agents and so on. In certain embodiments, the compounds of the invention can modulate immune-stimulatory pathways and non-TLR pathways. The invention also relates to design modified oligonucleotides for therapeutic applications, by excluding nucleotide segments having off-target effects from the modified oligonucleotides. In another aspect, the invention provides pharmaceutical compositions including one or more compounds of the invention.It is believed that the compounds and compositions as described herein have therapeutic utility against a variety of diseases, including viral diseases, autoimmune diseases (such as, allergy, asthma, and inflammatory disorders) and cancer.
US09040228B2

A method for forming patterns of a semiconductor device includes providing a photomask that includes an array of contact holes in an active region, a plurality of first dummy contact holes for restricting pattern distortion of the contact holes in an area outside of the array of the contact holes, a plurality of first assist features for restricting pattern distortion of the first dummy contact holes disposed inside a corresponding one of the first dummy contact holes, and an array of second assist features for additionally restricting pattern distortion of the first dummy contact holes. The array of second assist features is disposed outside of the first dummy contact holes. The method also includes forming an array of contact holes and first dummy contact holes on a wafer by using the photomask as an exposure mask.
US09040224B2

A resist composition which generates acid upon exposure and exhibits changed solubility in a developing solution under action of acid, including a base component (A) which exhibits changed solubility in a developing solution under action of acid, and a photo-decomposable quencher (D0) containing a compound represented by general formula (d0) shown below. In the formula, R1 represents a hydrocarbon group of 4 to 20 carbon atoms which may have a substituent; Y1 represents a single bond or a divalent linking group; R2 and R3 each independently represents a substituent of 0 to 20 carbon atoms other than a fluorine atom; one of R2 and R3 may form a ring with Y1; Mm+ represents an organic cation having a valency of m; and m represents an integer of 1 or more.
US09040223B2

An additive polymer comprising recurring styrene units having an ester group bonded to a CF3—C(OR2)—R3 group (wherein R2 is H, acyl or acid labile group, R3 is H, CH3 or CF3) such as 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol is added to a polymer capable of increasing alkali solubility under the action of acid to formulate a resist composition. The resist composition can minimize outgassing from a resist film during the EUV lithography and form a resist film having a hydrophilic surface sufficient to prevent formation of blob defects on the film after development.
US09040219B2

The invention provides an infrared-sensitive positive-working image forming material which provides excellent development latitude, image formability and image region strength, and in which decrease in development property is prevented even when a certain time has passed after pattern exposure until development treatment; an infrared-sensitive positive-working planographic printing plate precursor which is formed from the image forming material and has excellent image formability and image region printing durability; and a method for manufacturing a planographic printing plate using the planographic printing plate precursor. The image forming material includes; on a support, a lower layer containing a polymer having carboxylic acid groups at side chains thereof, at least a part of the carboxylic acid groups forming a salt structure with a monovalent basic compound, and an infrared absorbing agent; and an upper layer whose solubility to aqueous alkaline solution is increased by heat, in this order.
US09040215B2

To provide an amine compound, represented by General Formula (I) below: [In General Formula (I), R1 and R2 represent a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group, which may be identical or different; m and n are an integer of 1 or 0; Ar1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group; Ar2 and Ar3 represent a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group; and Ar1 and Ar2 or Ar2 and Ar3 may bind to each other to form a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group including a nitrogen atom.]
US09040214B2

Provided are an electrophotographic photosensitive member in which leakage doesn't easily occur, a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus each including the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a method of manufacturing the electrophotographic photosensitive member. The electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a conductive layer including titanium oxide particle coated with tin oxide doped with a hetero element. When an absolute value of a maximum current amount flowing through the conductive layer in a case of performing a test of applying −1.0 kV including DC voltage to the conductive layer is defined as Ia, and an absolute value of a current amount flowing through the conductive layer in a case where a decrease ratio of a current amount per minute reaches 1% or less for the first time is defined as Ib, the relations of Ia≦6000 and 10≦Ib are satisfied. A volume resistivity of the conductive layer before the test is 1.0×108 Ω·cm to 5.0×1012 Ω·cm.
US09040209B2

A multilayer polyelectrolyte membrane for fuel cell applications includes a first perfluorocyclobutyl-containing layer that includes a polymer having perfluorocyclobutyl moieties. The first layer is characteristically planar having a first major side and a second major side over which additional layers are disposed. The membrane also includes a first PFSA layer disposed over the first major side of the first layer and a second PFSA layer disposed over the second major side of the first layer.
US09040205B2

A system for producing energy that includes infusing porous carbon particles produced by pyrolysis of carbon-containing materials with an off-eutectic salt composition thus producing pore-free carbon particles, and reacting the carbon particles with oxygen in a fuel cell according to the reaction C+O2=CO2 to produce electrical energy.
US09040199B2

Positive electrode active material particles for lithium ion secondary batteries include: a core particle including a first olivine-structured, lithium-containing phosphate compound which includes Fe and/or Mn and Li; and a shell layer attached to the surface of the core particle. The shell layer includes a second olivine-structured, lithium-containing phosphate compound which includes Fe and/or Mn and Li. At least the core particle includes a phosphorous compound represented by the formula (1): MemPnOp, where Me is Fe and/or Mn, 0
US09040192B2

A lithium rechargeable battery including: a bare cell including an electrode assembly disposed in a pouch, the electrode assembly including two electrodes, a separator, and first and second electrode tabs that extend from the electrodes, through a first side of the bare cell; a protecting circuit board electrically connected to the first and second electrode tabs; a first lead plate connected to the protecting circuit board and the first electrode tab, and a second lead plate connected to the protecting circuit board and the second electrode tab. The protecting circuit board is provided on a second side of the bare cell, which is adjacent to the first side. The first and second lead plates are bent to extend along the first and second sides of the pouch.
US09040191B2

A rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly, a case, a cap assembly, and a current collecting plate. The electrode assembly includes an anode, a cathode, and a separator interposed between the anode and the cathode. The case houses the electrode assembly and has an opening and has a closed end. The cap assembly is coupled to the opening of the case, and is electrically connected to the electrode assembly. The current collecting plate is electrically connected to the anode or the cathode, and has a guide portion. The guide portion bends toward the electrode assembly to be in contact with the electrode assembly.
US09040188B2

Embodiments of the present invention facilitate a winding process and enable auxiliary current collectors to be securely fixed to a main current collector, thereby minimizing deformation during battery charging and discharging and maintaining sufficient strength. The jelly roll includes a first auxiliary current collector, a second auxiliary current collector, a mandrel insulating layer, and an electrode plate. The first auxiliary current collector and the second auxiliary current collector are spaced apart from each other and each has a mandrel protrusion on an opposite end portion. The mandrel insulating layer insulates the auxiliary current collectors from each other and insulates the auxiliary current collectors from an exterior. The electrode plate is formed by layering a separator, a first electrode plate, a separator and a second electrode plate and is wound on an external surface of the mandrel insulating layer.
US09040187B2

The disclosed embodiments provide a battery pack for use with a portable electronic device. The battery pack includes a first set of cells with different capacities electrically coupled in a parallel configuration. Cells within the first set of cells may also have different thicknesses and/or dimensions. The first set of cells is arranged within the battery pack to facilitate efficient use of space within a portable electronic device. For example, the first set of cells may be arranged to accommodate components in the portable electronic device.
US09040183B2

A connecting structure for a secondary battery for electrically connecting a core pack where two or more unit cells are electrically connected and a protection circuit module made of the unit cells of the core pack and a PCB substrate. The connecting structure includes a metal plate having an electrode connecting unit connected to an electrode of each unit cell of the core pack and a circuit connecting unit connected to the protection circuit module; and a circuit terminal unit electrically connected to the circuit connecting unit by being located in a connection hole formed in the PCB substrate of the protection circuit module so that the upper and lower portions of the PCB substrate communicate with each other. The circuit connecting unit is coupled and electrically connected to the circuit terminal unit by means of a connection method which allows selective connection and separation.
US09040178B2

A TMR sensor that includes a free layer having at least one B-containing (BC) layer made of CoFeB, CoFeBM, CoB, COBM, or CoBLM, and a plurality of non-B containing (NBC) layers made of CoFe, CoFeM, or CoFeLM is disclosed where L and M are one of Ni, Ta, Ti, W, Zr, Hf, Tb, or Nb. One embodiment is represented by (NBC/BC)n where n≧2. A second embodiment is represented by (NBC/BC)n/NBC where n≧1. In every embodiment, a NBC layer contacts the tunnel barrier and NBC layers each with a thickness from 2 to 8 Angstroms are formed in alternating fashion with one or more BC layers each 10 to 80 Angstroms thick. Total free layer thickness is <100 Angstroms. The free layer configuration described herein enables a significant noise reduction (SNR enhancement) while realizing a high TMR ratio, low magnetostriction, low RA, and low Hc values.
US09040168B2

The galvannealed steel sheet includes: a galvannealed layer formed on at least one surface of a steel sheet and contains includes an amount of 0.05 mass % to 0.5 mass % of Al, an amount of 6 mass % of 12 mass % of Fe, and the balance composed of Zn and inevitable impurities; and a mixed layer formed on a surface of the galvannealed layer and includes a composite oxide of Mn, Zn, and P and an aqueous P compound, wherein the composite oxide includes 0.1 mg/m2 to 100 mg/m2 of Mn, an amount of 1 mg/m2 to 100 mg/m2 of P, and Zn, and a P/Mn ratio is 0.3 to 50, and wherein the total size of an area of the mixed layer in which an attached amount of P is equal to or more than 20 mg/m2 is 20% to 80% of a surface area of the mixed layer.
US09040166B2

A hot-pressed member includes a steel sheet, a Ni-diffusion region present in a surface layer of the steel sheet, and an intermetallic compound layer and a ZnO layer which are provided in order on the Ni-diffusion region, the intermetallic compound layer corresponding to a γ phase present in a phase equilibrium diagram of a Zn—Ni alloy, wherein a spontaneous immersion potential indicated in a 0.5 M NaCl aqueous air-saturated solution at 25° C.±5° C. is −600 to −360 mV based on a standard hydrogen electrode.
US09040164B2

Self-assembled silica condensates are described as well as their use in coating compositions. The self-assembled silica condensates can be formed from the hydrolysis of medium to long chain trialkoxy silane compounds. Coating compositions containing the self-assembled silica condensates can provide coatings having improved scratch and mar resistance and can have excellent recoat adhesion.
US09040154B2

Magnetic composite particles can be used as proppants and allow for deliberate heating by applying an alternating magnetic field.
US09040148B2

The invention relates to method for obtaining a part made of a composite of fibers embedded in a resin matrix which comprises a body and an edge. The method comprises a first step of stacking plies of fibers and further comprises a step of curing the plies. The method further comprises prior to the curing step, the step of covering the edge with at least one additional ply, in order to compensate for the migration of the resin during curing.
US09040139B2

The present invention relates to a process for producing a base material for disks of disk rolls, in which the disk roll contains a rotating shaft and a plurality of the disks fitted on the rotating shaft by insertion whereby the outer peripheral surface of the disks serves as a conveying surface, in which the process contains molding a slurry raw material containing inorganic fibers, an inorganic filler having an aspect ratio of from 1 to 25 and an inorganic binder into a plate shape; and drying the molded plate.
US09040126B2

A fabrication of a zeolite composite film includes mixing a composition of water, aluminum isopropoxide, TMAOH, and TEOS according to a set ratio, followed by stirring and heating to obtain a mixture; performing a centrifugation on the mixture to obtain an upper layer suspension; preparing a mesoporous particle suspension that includes a plurality of mesoporous particles, and each mesoporous particle includes a plurality of templating agents; vaporizing a mixture suspension formed from both the upper layer suspension and the mesoporous particle suspension to form a plurality of vaporized droplets; depositing the vaporized droplets on a heated substrate while removing the templating agents to form the zeolite composite film with a plurality of macroporous, mesoporous and microporous structures.
US09040113B2

A method for preparing a metal sulfide thin film using ALD and structures incorporating the metal sulfide thin film. The method includes providing an ALD reactor, a substrate, a first precursor comprising a metal and a second precursor comprising a sulfur compound. The first and the second precursors are reacted in the ALD precursor to form a metal sulfide thin film on the substrate. In a particular embodiment, the metal compound comprises Bis(N,N′-di-sec-butylacetamidinato)dicopper(I) and the sulfur compound comprises hydrogen sulfide (H2S) to prepare a Cu2S film. The resulting metal sulfide thin film may be used in among other devices, photovoltaic devices, including interdigitated photovoltaic devices that may use relatively abundant materials for electrical energy production.
US09040102B2

This disclosure relates to a composition for prevention or treatment of neurodegenerative disease comprising longan arillus extract, or combined extract comprising longan arillus. The composition exhibits remarkably excellent prevention or treatment effect of neurodegenerative disease by containing longan arillus extract or combined extract comprising longan arillus, and particularly, it may effectively prevent or treat neurodegenerative disease by significantly protecting dopaminergic neurons from neurotoxicity due to MPTP selectively acting on dopaminergic nervous system and neurotoxicity due to aggregation of alpha-synuclein proteins.
US09040101B2

Compositions and methods for treating diabetes are presented herein. In particular, the present disclosure teaches compositions and methods for treating diabetes utilizing a gastrointestinal microbiome modulating composition.
US09040090B2

Discrete micro and nanoscale particles are formed in predetermined shapes and sizes and predetermined size dispersions. The particles can also be attached to a film to form arrays of particles on a film. The particles are formed from molding techniques that can include high throughput and continuous particle molding.
US09040088B2

The present invention is directed to nanoparticulate compositions comprising megestrol. The megestrol particles of the composition have an effective average particle size of less than about 2000 nm.
US09040087B2

Certain embodiments disclosed herein relate to compositions, methods, devices, systems, and products regarding frozen particles. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles include materials at low temperatures. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles provide vehicles for delivery of particular agents. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles are administered to at least one biological tissue.
US09040086B2

A unit dosage form, such as a capsule or the like for delivering drugs into the body in a circadian release fashion, is comprising of one or more populations of propranolol-containing particles (beads, pellets, granules, etc.). Each bead population exhibits a pre-designed rapid or sustained release profile with or without a predetermined lag time of 3 to 5 hours. Such a circadian rhythm release cardiovascular drug delivery system is designed to provide a plasma concentration-time profile, which varies according to physiological need during the day, i.e., mimicking the circadian rhythm and severity/manifestation of a cardiovascular disease, predicted based on pharmaco-kinetic and pharmaco-dynamic considerations and in vitro/in vivo correlations.
US09040078B2

The invention provides a method for treating a subject suffering from a disease of the central nervous system which is associated with an inflammatory response, including, inter alia, multiple sclerosis, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), meningitis, Alzheimer's disease, pain, HIV-associated dementia, stroke, traumatic brain injury, encephalomyelitis, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, cerebral ischemia-induced injury or any combination thereof. This invention further provides for the use of a conjugate, or composition comprising the same, for treating the subject, wherein the conjugate comprises a lipid or phospholipid moiety bonded to a physiologically acceptable monomer, dimer, oligomer, or polymer.
US09040063B2

Provided are pharmaceutical gallium compositions that are particularly useful for oral administration. The pharmaceutical compositions include solid, liquid, and paste formulations, which have high oral gallium bioavailability and are suitable for human and veterinary applications. The compositions comprise pharmaceutically acceptable gallium compounds, such as gallium maltolate, gallium 8-quinolinolonate, or gallium nitrate, together with certain viscosity-increasing agents, such as water-soluble forms of methylcellulose or carboxymethylcellulose.
US09040057B2

A method of providing protection against pneumococcal infection in a subject is disclosed. The method includes steps of administering to the subject a composition that includes combination of three recombinant pneumococcal neuraminidases: NanA, NanB, and NanC of S. pneumoniae strains CGSP14, wherein administration of the recombinant pneumococcal neuraminidases elicits an immune response to S. pneumoniae, and treats the subject. In one embodiment, the method further includes a step of adding adjuvants to enhance the immune response. The method also includes a step of using passive antibodies, wherein said passive antibodies are anti-neuraminidase antibodies generated from neuraminidases-immunized humanized animals: NanA, NanB, and NanC. Meanwhile, this invention also provides a method for the molecular diagnosis of pneumococcal infection.
US09040046B2

Antibodies that are agonists of sodium pump (Na+/K+ ATPase; NKA) activity are provided. In particular, antibodies that specifically bind epitopes on the beta-1 (β1) subunit of NKA are disclosed. These antibodies have the ability to increase the activity of the catalytic alpha subunit of NKA upon β1 subunit binding. Due to their activity, the antibodies also have the ability to trigger a positive inotropic effect in cardiac tissues (i.e., increase cardiac contraction). The present invention thus includes, but is not limited to, NKA β1 subunit peptide epitopes, antibodies that specifically bind the epitopes, methods of agonizing NKA activity through administration of the peptides or the antibodies, and methods of treating and/or preventing heart disease through administration of the peptides or the antibodies.
US09040045B2

Methods, agents and devices for treating a patient to reduce accumulation of certain proteins in the brain are described. Such proteins include Aβ, and the methods, agents and devices are useful for reducing the accumulation of Aβ, which is a principal constituent of the plaques associated with such diseases as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Antibodies to Aβ, when delivered systemically or directly into the central nervous system, improve cognitive deficits in a transgenic mouse model of AD. However, unlike peripheral of antibodies to Aβ, which increased cerebral vascular plaques and hemorrhages, direct central administration did not result in such an increase cerebral vascular plaques and hemorrhages.
US09040044B2

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for characterizing, diagnosing and treating cancer. In particular, the present invention identifies LGR5 as a protein over-expressed in solid tumor stem cell. The present invention further identifies an interaction between RSPO1 and LGR5 as an alternative pathway for the activation of beta-catenin signaling. In certain embodiments, the present invention provides biomolecules that disrupt functional signaling via a LGR protein, including, in certain embodiments, molecules that inhibit the interaction between one or more RSPO proteins and one or more LGR proteins, such as LGR5. In certain embodiments, the present invention provides methods of treating cancer comprising disrupting functional LGR signaling and inhibiting growth of a solid tumor comprising solid tumor stem cells.
US09040040B2

Tissue fixed charge density (FCD) is identified as another potential therapeutic target for reducing brain tissue swelling. Reduction of the FCD could reduce the thermodynamic force driving water entry into the brain. The present invention discloses chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) reduces tissue FCD and reduces tissue swelling, indicating that it may be an effective treatment to reduce edema and control intracranial pressure.
US09040037B2

The present invention provides a triple vital bacteria composition, including: powder of Bifidobacterium longum, powder of Lactobacillus acidophilus, and powder of Streptococcus faecalis. The present invention further provides a method for preparing the above triple vital bacteria composition, as well as the protection agents, the fermenting culture medium and the seed culture medium used therein.
US09040036B2

The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions suitable for the treatment of chronic diseases associated with the presence of abnormal or an abnormal distribution of microflora in the gastrointestinal tract of a mammalian host, which compositions comprise viable non-pathogenic or attenuated pathogenic Clostridia. The compositions further comprise one or more additional viable non-pathogenic or attenuated pathogenic microorganisms selected from the group consisting of Bacteroides, Eubacteria, Fusobacteria, Propionibacteria, Lactobacilli, anaerobic cocci, Ruminococcus, E. Coli, Gemmiger, Desulfamonas, Peptostreptococcus, and fungi. The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions suitable for the treatment of the same chronic diseases comprising viable non-pathogenic or attenuated pathogenic Escherichia coli, at least one strain of viable non-pathogenic or attenuated pathoenic Bacteroides and at least one strain of viable non-pathogenic or attenuated pathogenic microorganism.
US09040035B2

Provided herein are methods of treatment of an individual having pain, e.g., neuropathic pain, comprising administering to the individual a therapeutically effective amount of tissue culture plastic adherent placental stem cells (PDAC™).
US09040034B2

Gel-forming block copolymers were prepared comprising i) a central hydrophilic block consisting essentially of a divalent poly(ethylene oxide) chain and ii) two peripheral monocarbonate or polycarbonate hydrophobic blocks. The hydrophobic blocks comprise one or more vitamin-bearing subunits. The vitamin-bearing subunits comprise a carbonate backbone portion and a side chain comprising a covalently bound form of a vitamin. The gel-forming block copolymers can be used to prepare various biodegradable and/or biocompatible hydrogel and organogel drug compositions, in particular antimicrobial and/or anti-tumor drug compositions. The hydrogel compositions can be suitable for depot injections. Synergistic enhancement of toxicity to microbes was observed with compositions comprising an antimicrobial cationic polymer and an antimicrobial compound.
US09040033B2

Disclosed are polymers of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) with unique degrees of substitution of hydroxypropoxy, methoxy, acetyl, and succinoyl groups. When used in making compositions comprising a low-solubility active agent and such polymers, the polymers provide increased aqueous concentrations and/or improved physical stability of the active agent.
US09040031B2

A personal care composition comprising: i) a cleaning phase comprising a cleansing anionic surfactant which is a salt and comprises an alkyl group with from 8 to 14 carbons; ii) an aqueous conditioning gel network having no overall charge or being anionic, the gel network comprising: (a) fatty material; (b) a gel network anionic surfactant comprising an alkyl group with from 16 to 30 carbons; (c) cationic surfactant; (d) an active material selected from fragrances, vitamins, sunscreens and cooling agents; and iii) a cationic deposition polymer.
US09040029B2

Present invention relates to a non-aqueous leave-in conditioning composition for hair, especially for strongly damaged hair by chemical processes such as permanent shaping, oxidative coloration and bleaching. Accordingly, conditioning compositions of present invention comprise one or more cyclomethicone at a concentration of at least 50% by weight calculated to total composition, and at least one dialkyl carbonate.
US09040026B2

A body wash composition includes sunscreen or UV screen materials. The body wash composition is formulated so that it may be applied during normal hygiene activities, such as washing. However, the composition applies an effective level of sunscreen or UV screen material to the body such that the sunscreen or UV screen continues to provide effective solar protection even after rinsing or washing of the human body. Further, the material is a non-greasy, easy to apply material that may be used during showering activities in a manner similar to using a bar soap or cleanser. The composition includes a variety of materials that assist in the processing and storage of the body wash. Effective amounts of solar protective material include octyl methoxycinnamate, octyl salicylate, and titanium dioxide. Testing shows that the product provides a solar protective level of at least approximately 14 even after multiple rinsings. Further embodiments have achieved a solar protective level of at least approximately 17.
US09040014B2

Providing a roaster that operates at temperatures in the range of 800° Celsius to 2000° Celsius with inert, optional oxidizing and reducing gases to treat graphite contaminated with radionuclides including tritium, carbon-14, and chlorine-36. The combination of temperatures and gases allow for the removal of most to substantially all the carbon-14 within the graphite while substantially limiting gasifying the bulk graphite.
US09040012B2

System and method for sustainable economic development which includes hydrogen extracted from substances, for example, sea water, industrial waste water, agricultural waste water, sewage, and landfill waste water. The hydrogen extraction is accomplished by thermal dissociation, electrical dissociation, optical dissociation, and magnetic dissociation. The hydrogen extraction further includes operation in conjunction with energy addition from renewable resources, for example, solar, wind, moving water, geothermal, or biomass resources.
US09040011B2

The present invention concerns a process for producing ammonia synthesis gas from the reforming of hydrocarbons with steam in a primary reformer (1) equipped with a plurality of externally heated catalytic tubes and then in a secondary reformer (2) together with an oxidant gas. In this process, the reaction of said hydrocarbons with said steam in said primary reformer (1) is performed at an operating pressure of at least 45 bar in the catalytic tubes and a flow of essentially pure oxygen or oxygen-enriched air is added to said secondary reformer as oxidant gas for substantially reforming together with said all the hydrocarbons content of said product gas exiting the primary reformer (1). In the case essentially pure oxygen is used as oxidant gas, a flow of nitrogen is added downstream the secondary reformer (2) to reach a N2/H2 molar ratio corresponding to or close to the stoichiometric ratio for ammonia synthesis. This process allows to obtain high synthesis gas production capacities and lower investment and energy costs.
US09040001B2

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for efficiently providing accurate temperature control of a microtiter cold plate and precise alignment of the microtiter cold plate with a microtiter plate.
US09039999B2

This disclosure is directed to an apparatus, system and method for retrieving a target material from a suspension. A system includes a processing vessel, such as an Eppendorf tube, a syringe or a test tube, and a collector. The collector is sized and shaped to fit into a primary vessel, such as a test tube. The collector funnels the target material from the suspension through a cannula and into the processing vessel. The cannula extends into a cavity at a first end of the collector that holds the processing vessel. The collector includes a funnel at a second end in fluid communication with the cannula. In one implementation, the processing vessel includes at least one displacement fluid to be expelled, such that the at least one displacement fluid pushes the target material into the collector.
US09039997B2

The present invention includes microfluidic systems having a microfabricated cavity that may be covered with a removable cover, where the removable cover allows at least part of the opening of the microfabricated cavity to be exposed or directly accessed by an operator. The microfluidic systems comprise chambers, flow and control channels formed in elastomeric layers that may comprise PDMS. The removable cover comprises a thermoplastic base film bonded to an elastomer layer by an adhesive layer. When the removable cover is peeled off, the chamber is at least partially open to allow sample extraction from the chamber. The chamber may have macromolecular crystals formed inside or resulting contents from a PCR reaction. The invention also includes a method for making vias in elastomeric layers by using the removable cover. The invention further includes methods and devices for peeling the peelable cover or a removable component such as Integrated Heater Spreader.
US09039995B2

A testing cartridge for metering of a sample to be tested. The testing cartridge includes a casing defining a casing opening and a sliding member defining a sliding member opening. The casing opening or the sliding member opening can define a specified volume, wherein the casing opening and the sliding member opening collectively define a sample application region dimensioned to accommodate receiving an amount of sample exceeding the specified volume. The sliding member is movable transversely to the casing opening by having the sliding member and the casing traverse across each other's respective openings to remove excess sample from the received amount of sample and retain the specified volume from the received amount of sample.
US09039988B2

A set of vertically stackable interacting cartridges for improving the delivery of biocide of a bulk feeder by positioning the stackable cartridges in a stacked condition within a chamber in the bulk feeder wherein the stackable cartridges are maintained in vertical interacting flow alignment with each other to provide enhanced control of the delivery of the biocide carried within each of the stackable cartridges without replacing the control valves of the bulk feeder.
US09039987B2

A ceramic mass transfer packing element that includes a planar end surface which intersects an internal wall's geometric plane at an acute angle is disclosed. A process for making the packing element and an apparatus that uses the packing element are also disclosed.
US09039984B1

Provided is a catalyst article for simultaneously remediating the nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter, and gaseous hydrocarbons present in diesel engine exhaust streams. The catalyst article has a soot filter coated with a material effective in the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) of NOx by a reductant, e.g., ammonia.
US09039974B2

A biological sample measuring device including a mounting portion to which a biological sample measuring sensor is mounted, a voltage application section that applies voltage to a counter electrode of the biological sample measuring sensor mounted to the mounting portion, amplifiers that are selectively connected to a working electrode of the biological sample measuring sensor, and a determination section that is connected to these amplifiers. The determination section has a threshold determination section that determines a voltage value obtained by voltage conversion of the current value of the working electrode, a same determination section that selectively connects the amplifiers to the working electrode depending on the determination of the threshold determination section, and identifies the sample deposited on the biological sample measuring sensor from the output of the selected amplifier, and an output section that outputs a measurement value corresponding to the identified sample.
US09039970B2

An automatic analyzer having reagent disks disposed inside and outside a reaction disk. A plurality of reagent probes are alternately accessed one by one to each of the reagent disks per cycle. Each reagent probe comprises two arms rotatable independently of each other so that the reagent probe is able to access a plurality of points and interference between the plurality of reagent probes can be avoided. A first reagent and a second reagent can be loaded on each of the reagent disks.
US09039965B2

In a copper-based slide member in which needle-shaped Mn—Si based compounds are dispersed in a brass structure, 50% or more of a total number of the needle-shaped Mn—Si based compounds having lengths of 50 μm or more in a major axis direction are constituted of a plurality of small particles. Thereby, even if the needle-shaped Mn—Si based compounds fall off during sliding, the small particles which constitute the needle-shaped Mn—Si based compounds may fall off. Thus, the frequency of falling off of the coarse needle-shaped Mn—Si based compound which damages a shaft and a bearing is decreased. Therefore, seizure hardly occurs.
US09039961B2

The invention relates to a low-nickel austenitic stainless steel with high resistance to delayed cracking and the use of the steel. The steel contains in weight % 0.02-0.15% carbon, 7-15% manganese, 14-19% chromium, 0.1-4% nickel, 0.1-3% copper, 0.05-0.3% nitrogen, the balance of the steel being iron and inevitable impurities, and the chemical composition range in terms of the sum of carbon and nitrogen contents (C+N) and the measured Md3o-temperature is inside the area defined by the points ABCD which have the following values Point Md30° C. C+N % A−80 0.1 B+7 0.1 C−40 0.40 D−80 0.40.
US09039959B2

The present invention proposes a gap-filler insert (20) for use with cooling plates (12, 12′) for a metallurgical furnace, the cooling plates (12, 12′) having a front face (14, 14′) directed towards the interior of the furnace, an opposite rear face (16, 16′) directed towards a furnace wall (10) of the furnace and four edge faces (18, 18′). In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the gap-filler insert (20) comprises a metal front plate (24) with a front side (24) facing the interior of the furnace and anchoring means (28, 28′, 30, 30′, 32, 34) for mounting the front plate (24) between two neighboring cooling plates (12, 12′) in such a way that the front plate (24) extends between the edge faces (18, 18′) of both cooling plates (12, 12′), and that the front side (26) of the front plate (24) is flush with the front faces (14, 14′) of both cooling plates (12, 12′).
US09039958B2

A refractory well (16) for melting scrap metal pieces into a molten metal bath, comprises an inlet (18) for introducing metal into said well, the inlet being located so as to cause a circular flow of molten metal in said well, an outlet (19) for the flow of metal from said well and an electromagnetic pump (22) located beneath the refractory well for pumping said molten metal from said well through said outlet.
US09039957B2

A target material refinement device may include a refinement tank to accommodate a target material, a heating section to heat the interior of the refinement tank, and an oxygen-atom removing section to remove oxygen atoms present in the target material.
US09039956B2

Provided is a cooling system for a hot-rolled steel strip capable of increasing the cooling rate for rapidly cooling a rolled steel immediately after rolling and suitable for an apparatus for manufacturing a hot-rolled steel strip having a fine-grained structure. For this purpose, guides (16A, 16B) having guiding surfaces (16a, 16b) to guide a rolled steel (W) exiting work rolls (12A, 12B) in the conveyance direction are provided at exits of the work rolls in a final stand (Sn) of a finish rolling mill line in a manner that the guides can follow a change in the diameter of the work rolls, a number of injection holes (21A, 21B) are formed in the guides, and a number of rolled steel cooling nozzles (23A, 23B) are provided to spray a large amount of cooling water through the injection holes directly onto the rolled steel.
US09039955B2

When a molded fabric body (X) is impregnated with a powder (K) of a predetermined material, there are performed a first step of dispersing the powder (K) in a liquid to prepare a slurry, and a second step of burying the molded fabric body (X) made of fiber bundles in the slurry and vibrating the slurry by use of a predetermined vibrator (M). Furthermore, in the second step, the vibrator (M) is moved along a surface of the molded fabric body (X). As a result, it is possible to improve the rate of impregnation of the powder (K) more than that in the conventional cases, irrespective of the shape of the molded fabric body (X).
US09039952B2

Method of manufacturing a fibre-reinforced composite moulding, the method comprising the steps of: (a) disposing at least one layer of fibrous reinforcing material within a mould; (b) disposing at least one pre-preg layer adiacent to the fibrous reinforcing material, the pre-preg layer comprising fibrous reinforcement at least partially impregnated with uncured first resin material, to form a laminar assembly of the at least one layer of fibrous reinforcing material and the at least one pre-preg layer within the mould; (c) applying a vacuum to the assembly; (d) infusing a flowable uncured second resin material, under the vacuum, into the at least one layer of fibrous reinforcing material; and (e) curing the first and second resin materials at least partially simultaneously to form the fibre-reinforced composite moulding which comprises at least one first structural portion formed from the fibrous reinforcement and the cured first resin material bonded to at least one second structural portion formed from the at least one layer of fibrous reinforcing material and the cured second resin material.
US09039937B1

A composition for solar cell electrodes includes a silver powder; a glass frit; and an organic vehicle, wherein the glass frit includes bismuth (Bi), tellurium (Te), and chromium (Cr).
US09039930B2

A blue phase liquid crystal display panel and a fabricating method thereof are provided. A first substrate and a second substrate are provided, and then a blue phase liquid crystal composition is filled between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the blue phase liquid crystal composition includes a blue phase liquid crystal and a reactive monomer. Next, an irradiation process is performed to induce a polymerization reaction in the reactive monomer of the blue phase liquid crystal composition, wherein a light utilized in the irradiation process has a wavelength ranged from 200 nm to 350 nm.
US09039925B2

Provided is a polishing slurry composition, including a non-ionic surfactant represented by the following formula (1) R—(OCH2CH2)x—OH  formula (1) wherein x is an integer from 1 to 50, and R is selected from a group consisting of a C3-C50 alkyl group, a C6-C55 benzylalkyl group and a C6-C55 phenylalkyl group.
US09039920B2

There are provided a permanent magnet and a manufacturing method thereof enabling carbon content contained in magnet particles to be reduced in advance before sintering even when wet milling is employed. Coarsely-milled magnet powder is further milled by a bead mill in a solvent together with an organometallic compound expressed with a structural formula of M-(OR)X (M represents V, Mo, Zr, Ta Ti W or Nb, R represents a substituent group consisting of a straight-chain or branched-chain hydrocarbon, X represents an arbitrary integer) so as to uniformly adhere the organometallic compound to particle surfaces of the magnet powder. Thereafter, a compact body of compacted magnet powder is held for several hours in hydrogen atmosphere at 200 through 900 degrees Celsius to perform hydrogen calcination process. Thereafter, through sintering process, a permanent magnet 1 is formed.
US09039919B2

The present disclosure relates to gel-type polymer electrolyte for a dye-sensitized solar cell, a dye-sensitized solar cell comprising the gel-type polymer electrolyte, and a method for manufacturing the dye-sensitized solar cell.
US09039911B2

Methods for etching a substrate in a plasma processing chamber having at least a primary plasma generating region and a secondary plasma generating region separated from said primary plasma generating region by a semi-barrier structure. The method includes generating a primary plasma from a primary feed gas in the primary plasma generating region. The method also includes generating a secondary plasma from a secondary feed gas in the secondary plasma generating region to enable at least some species from the secondary plasma to migrate into the primary plasma generating region. The method additionally includes etching the substrate with the primary plasma after the primary plasma has been augmented with migrated species from the secondary plasma.
US09039909B2

There is provided a plasma etching method for forming a hole in a silicon oxide film formed on an etching stopper layer. The plasma etching method includes a main etching process for etching the silicon oxide film; and an etching process that is performed when at least a part of the etching stopper layer is exposed after the main etching process. The etching process includes a first etching process using a gaseous mixture of a C4F6 gas, an Ar gas and an O2 gas as the processing gas; and a second etching process using a gaseous mixture of a C4F8 gas, an Ar gas and an O2 gas or a gaseous mixture of a C3F8 gas, an Ar gas and an O2 gas as the processing gas. The first etching process and the second etching process are alternately performed plural times.
US09039896B2

The present invention relates to a means of dialysis for removing protein-bound substances from a biological fluid, especially blood or blood plasma, which contains at least one means for solubilizing protein-binding substances to be removed into the biological fluid and/or dialysis fluid, and to a process for removing protein-bound substances from a biological fluid.
US09039892B2

A catalyst comprising of nano nickel-silica catalyst for dewaxing of heavy petroleum feed at a temperature 200-350° C. at 8 bar and 30 bar hydrogen pressure and in the presence of hydrogen is designed for petrochemical industries. According to a specific aspect of the invention, the nano catalyst is designed and employed to convert heavy hydrocarbon feeds of high viscosity index to low pour point and good stability in a single step.
US09039880B2

The present invention provides a device that decreases deformation during manufacturing of the device, provides a firm joint without use of an adhesive, and allows chemical modification of a channel during manufacturing of the device. The device includes two joined substrates, and a concavity is formed on at least one of the opposing surfaces of the two substrates so as to make a channel, where the two substrates are joined together by a covalent bond via a crosslinking agent (A), and the crosslinking agent (A) is exposed on an inner wall surface of the channel.
US09039879B2

In a gas sensor sensing a specific gas component contained in gas to be measured, oxygen ion conductive solid electrolyte is used in a sensing element for sensing the specific gas component. A terminal unit is used, which comprises a pair of insulators, each having an inner side surface, disposed to pinch and hold the base end portion of the sensing element on the pair of electrode-mounted surfaces of the sensing element. The terminal unit comprises two pairs of metal terminals and a spring member. The metal terminals electrically contact electrode pads of the sensing element, pair by pair, respectively, and are disposed on the inner side surfaces of the insulators. The spring members press the pair of insulators at one or more positions of electrode-mounted surfaces of the sensing element in a width direction so that the insulators are pressed to be opposed to each other.
US09039876B2

A test strip ejector system for receiving and ejecting a fluid testing medical device test strip includes a mechanism assembly supported by the device whereby user actuation of the mechanism assembly induces displacement of the test strip in at least a test strip ejection direction to eject the test strip. The mechanism assembly includes a power source and an electric motor such as a piezo-electric linear micro motor connected to the power source. The electric motor has an armature displaced when the electric motor is energized. A digital display/user interface is provided. Selection of an ejection function presented on the digital display/user interface initiates operation of the electric motor and displacement of the armature thereby displacing the test strip in the ejection direction. An operating system including a microprocessor is connected to the display/user interface. The microprocessor controls direction of operation and operating speed of the motor.
US09039861B2

A pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film of the invention comprises an optical film and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer provided on the optical film, wherein the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer has a thickness (μm) standard deviation of 0.12 μm or less. The pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film makes it possible to reduce the problem of visible unevenness caused by a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer.
US09039858B2

A composite strip and a method of manufacturing a pre-cured composite strip. A pre-cured composite strip having a thermoset resin may be placed on a surface of a portion of a composite component where a caul plate seam may be expected. Caul plates may be placed on the composite component after placing the pre-cured composite strip to form the caul plate seam. The composite component may be cured after placing the caul plates on the composite component.
US09039851B2

The present invention discloses a method of manufacturing a (plastic) card with a flexible inlay. Said method comprises following steps: manufacturing a upper housing and a lower housing; coating colloidal on inner surfaces of the upper housing and the lower housing; placing the inlay in said upper housing or the lower housing; closing the upper housing and the lower housing together to have a housing-closed card; laminating the closed housings to have a finished card. Preferably, there is provided in either the upper housing or the lower housing a slot(s) in match with the inlay(s); the inlay is placed within the slot accordingly. By means of the invention, a card with flexible inlay is manufactured, for example, an intelligent card (i.e., smart card) comprising a flexible and active circuit board and a flexible display, and properties of a new kind of card with flexible inlay are guaranteed.
US09039847B2

A multiphase steel sheet has a steel composition containing, in percent by mass, more than 0.015% to less than 0.100% of carbon, less than 0.40% of silicon, 1.0% to 1.9% of manganese, more than 0.015% to 0.05% of phosphorus, 0.03% or less of sulfur, 0.01% to 0.3% of soluble aluminum, 0.005% or less of nitrogen, less than 0.30% of chromium, 0.0050% or less of boron, less than 0.15% of molybdenum, 0.4% or less of vanadium, 0.02% or less of titanium, wherein [Mneq] is 2.0 to 2.8, the balance being iron and incidental impurities.
US09039837B2

A film deposition apparatus includes a processing chamber; a rotary table; process regions provided in the processing chamber and arranged apart from each other in the rotational direction of the rotary table; reaction gas supplying units configured to supply reaction gases of different types to the corresponding process regions; separation regions provided between the process regions; separation gas supplying units configured to supply a separation gas to the separation regions to separate the atmospheres of the process regions; and an exhaust path forming part having openings at positions corresponding to the process regions and configured to form exhaust paths for separately guiding the atmospheres of the process regions from the openings to the corresponding exhaust ports of the processing chamber for exhausting atmospheres of the process regions. The exhaust path forming part is configured such that positions of the openings in the rotational direction are changeable.
US09039827B2

An un-reacted substantially formaldehyde free curable binder solution for binding loose matter consists essentially of a solution obtainable by dissolving a reducing sugar, an ammonium salt acid precursor, optionally a carboxylic acid or a precursor thereof and optionally ammonia in water.
US09039826B2

An exemplary embodiment provides a cardanol-modified silane coupling agent, which can improve strength and toughness by improving adhesion at an interface between a filler and a cellulose resin when being used as a surface-treatment agent, a resin additive, or the like; a cardanol-modified filler subjected to a surface treatment with the cardanol-modified silane coupling agent; and a cellulose resin composition having excellent toughness. More specifically, the exemplary embodiment provides a cardanol-modified silane coupling agent obtained by reacting cardanol or a derivative thereof with an epoxy silane coupling agent or an isocyanate silane coupling agent; a cardanol-modified filler obtained by subjecting a filler to a surface treatment with the cardanol-modified silane coupling agent; a cellulose resin composition comprising the cardanol-modified filler and a cellulose resin; and a cellulose resin composition comprising the cardanol-modified silane coupling agent, a filler and a cellulose resin.
US09039824B2

An inkjet ink includes an organic solvent, a resin, a surfactant, and a colorant. The ink has a decap time of at least about 1 minute.
US09039817B2

To achieve the removal of a broad spectrum of chemical hazards, multiple layers of impregnated activated carbon and nanocrystalline materials are incorporated into the adsorbent bed. For optimum performance using the least amount of material, a two-layer configuration is used. The top layer consists of a homogeneous mixture of an MgO/CaO based nanocrystalline material (e.g., Mg/Ca) and Kureha or other petroleum pitch-based bead shaped activated carbon impregnated treated with phosphoric acid. The bottom layer is comprised of a single layer of Calgon URC carbon. The volume ratios of the components are 9:5:11 Mg/Ca, phosphoric acid treated Kureha carbon, and URC, respectively. The new configuration leads to a 30% reduction in size of the existing NIOSH CBRN CAP 1 cartridge. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
US09039813B2

The exhaust gas treatment apparatus has a sealed vessel which is vertically partitioned into two spaces by a partition. A portion of the sealed vessel lower than the partition is an absorbing liquid storage portion, and a portion of the sealed vessel upper than the partition is an exhaust gas introducing portion. The partition is provided with a large number of sparger pipes so that the sparger pipes reach inside an absorbing liquid stored in the absorbing liquid storage portion. The partition is provided with a single gas riser in communication with a space upper than the absorbing liquid in the absorbing liquid storage portion. An upper end of the gas riser passes through a top plate portion of the sealed vessel and protrudes upward.
US09039807B2

A natural gas-containing stream such as biogas from landfills and sewage treatment plants is freed of siloxane contaminants by passing the biogas through a bed containing an adsorbent having a neutral surface, which adsorbs the siloxanes. When the bed of neutral adsorbent is filled to capacity, the adsorbent bed is heated to remove the siloxanes and regenerate the bed. The neutral adsorbent reduces disadvantageous reactions between the adsorbent and siloxane and other impurities in the natural gas-containing stream.
US09039805B2

Carbothermic reduction of magnesium oxide at approximately 2200 degrees Kelvin yields a high temperature mixture of magnesium vapors and carbon monoxide gas. Previous processes have sought to cool or alter the mixture to cause the yield of pure magnesium, which is then used in subsequent processes for its reducing properties. The present invention takes advantage of the stability and inertness of carbon monoxide at elevated temperatures enabling the magnesium vapor/carbon monoxide gas mixture from the carbothermic process to be used directly for the production of other metals at high temperatures. Chromium oxide, manganese oxide, zinc oxide and sulfide, and several other metal compounds can be reduced by the magnesium vapor/carbon monoxide gas mixture at temperatures high enough to prevent the gas mixture from back-reacting to magnesium oxide and carbon.
US09039804B2

Nanomaterial preparation methods, compositions, and articles are disclosed and claimed. Such methods can provide nanomaterials with improved morphologies and reduced nitric oxide co-production relative to previous methods. Such materials are useful in electronic applications.
US09039798B2

A method for making a super-hard construction comprising a first structure comprising a first material joined to a second structure comprising a second material, in which the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and Young's moduli of the materials of each material are substantially different from each other. The method includes forming an assembly comprising the first material, the second material and a binder material arranged to be capable of bonding the first and second materials together, the binder material comprising metal; subjecting the assembly to a sufficiently high temperature for the binder material to be in the liquid state and to a first pressure at which the super-hard material is thermodynamically stable; reducing the pressure to a second pressure at which the super-hard material is thermodynamically stable, the temperature being maintained sufficiently high to maintain the binder material in the liquid state; reducing the temperature to solidify the binder material; and reducing the pressure and the temperature to an ambient condition to provide the super-hard construction.
US09039794B2

The present invention provides a reformer tube apparatus, including: an axially aligned tubular structure including a flange section, a top section, a middle section, and a bottom section; wherein the top section of the axially aligned tubular structure includes a first portion having a first wall thickness; wherein the top section of the axially aligned tubular structure includes a second portion having a second wall thickness; and wherein the top section of the axially aligned tubular structure includes a third portion having a transitioning wall thickness that joins the first portion to the second portion. The flange section includes a concentric flange disposed about a top portion thereof. The bottom section of the tubular structure includes a plurality of concentric wedge structures disposed about the interior thereof. The bottom section of the tubular structure also includes a recess disposed about the exterior thereof. The axially aligned tubular structure further includes a secondary flange section coupled to the flange section, wherein the secondary flange section includes a concentric flange disposed about a top portion thereof. Optionally, the reformer tube apparatus is disposed within a reformer used in a direct reduction process.
US09039793B2

A separation system and method for separating one or more solid fossil fuels from a contaminated source in a liquid medium, the system including primary separation means and secondary separation means, the primary and secondary separation means being arranged to operate with liquid media of differing specific gravities.
US09039792B2

A process is provided comprising subjecting a quantity of plant biomass fibers to a pretreatment to cause at least a portion of lignin contained within each fiber to move to an outer surface of said fiber, wherein a quantity of pretreated tacky plant biomass fibers is produced; and densifying the quantity of pretreated tacky plant biomass fibers to produce one or more densified biomass particulates, wherein said biomass fibers are densified without using added binder.
US09039790B2

Methods for making a fuel composition comprising contacting one or more components of a hydroprocessing feedstock, for example both a fatty acid- or triglyceride-containing component and a paraffin-rich component, with hydrogen under catalytic hydroprocessing conditions are disclosed. The methods are effective to upgrade the component(s) and provide a hydroprocessed biofuel. A representative method utilizes a single-stage process in which hydrogen-containing recycle gas is circulated through both a hydrodeoxygenation zone and a hydrocracking zone in series.
US09039782B2

The invention pertains to methods of producing artificial composite tissue constructs that permit coordinated motion. Biocompatable structural matrices having sufficient rigidity to provide structural support for cartilage-forming cells and bone-forming cells are used. Biocompatable flexible matrices seeded with muscle cells are joined to the structural matrices to produce artificial composite tissue constructs that are capable of coordinated motion.
US09039775B2

Spinal fixation plates for maintaining adjacent vertebrae in and fixed position are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the plate includes opposed superior and inferior portions that are angled in a direction anterior to an anterior face of a mid-portion of the plate. The plate also includes a curvature formed therein about a longitudinal axis in a sagittal plane thereof. In use, when the plate is attached to adjacent vertebrae, the angle of the superior and inferior portions and the curvature in the plate are effective to position one or more thru-bores formed in the superior and inferior portions at the anterior rims of the adjacent vertebrae. In another embodiment, a spinal fixation plate is provided that is adapted to engage and mate to a fusion cage or other vertebral implant disposed between adjacent vertebra. The present invention also provides spinal fixation kits or assemblies, and methods for implanting the same.
US09039771B2

The present invention provides an expandable fusion device capable of being installed inside an intervertebral disc space to maintain normal disc spacing and restore spinal stability, thereby facilitating an intervertebral fusion. In one embodiment, the fusion device includes a body portion, a first endplate, and a second endplate, the first and second endplates capable of being moved in a direction away from the body portion into an expanded configuration or capable of being moved towards the body portion into an unexpanded configuration. The fusion device is capable of being deployed and installed in both configurations.
US09039770B2

A spinal fixation device includes a housing and a plurality of blades. Each blade includes a body having a central opening configured to rotate on a shaft within the housing. Control openings on opposing sides of the central opening are sized to engage prongs of a rotating tool. At least one cutting extension with a sharp leading edge extends from the body in an orientation about an axis of the shaft. Upon rotation of the blade by the rotating tool about the shaft in a direction in which the at least one cutting extension is oriented, the at least one cutting extension will break an endplate of a vertebra and hook into the vertebra.
US09039769B2

The invention encompasses devices and methods for treating one or more damaged, diseased, or traumatized intervertebral discs to reduce or eliminate associated back pain. Specifically, the invention encompasses intervertebral nucleus and annulus implants that are resistant to migration in and/or expulsion from an intervertebral disc space. The invention further encompasses kits including the implantable devices of the invention and associated delivery tools to treat annular and nuclear tissue.
US09039761B2

Ocular implant delivery assemblies are provided which include a cannula having a lumen extending therethrough, a proximal end, a proximal end opening, a distal end, a distal end opening, and a lumen extending through the cannula. A cap is provided having a closed distal end, being in contact with the outer wall of the cannula, and covering the distal end and the distal end opening of the cannula, the cap being structured to allow the distal end and the distal end opening of the cannula to pass through the cap as the cannula is passed into an eye. An ocular implant is located in the lumen. The implant may be sealed in the cannula without the addition of a liquid carrier or it may be contained in a liquid carrier medium in the cannula. The implant may be made up of a number of microparticles having different compositions or different forms. The assembly also includes a sleeve located on the proximal end of the cannula and suitable for coupling the assembly to a syringe containing a pushing gel.
US09039759B2

A collapsible prosthetic heart valve includes a stent and a valve assembly. The stent has an annulus section with a relatively small cross-section, and an aortic section with a relatively large cross-section. The valve assembly, including a cuff and a plurality of leaflets, is secured to the stent in the annulus section such that the valve assembly can be entirely deployed in the native valve annulus and function as intended while at least a portion of the aortic section is held by the delivery device in a manner that allows for resheathing. The configuration of the prosthetic valve is such that the valve leaflets can fully coapt and the valve can function properly even when the stent and/or valve assembly become distorted upon deployment or use.
US09039754B2

A stent, having a central axis that extends in a longitudinal direction of the stent, includes a first strand group and a second strand group. The first strand group and the second strand group are woven together. The first strand group is wound in a right-handed spiral around the central axis and the second strand group is wound in a left-handed spiral around the central axis. A maximum diameter of first strands constituting the first strand group is different from a maximum diameter of second strands constituting the second strand group.
US09039750B2

A control system for controlling movement of a medical device delivery system, a stent delivery system and a method for controlling movement of a medical device delivery system are provided. The control system includes a rotatable gear operably connected to a first movable member and a second movable member movable by the rotatable gear. The first movable member is operably connected to the first shaft and the second movable member operably connected to the second shaft. The first movable member moves the first shaft and the second movable member moves the second shaft to change a position of the first shaft relative to the second shaft and to change a configuration of a medical device operably connected to the first shaft and the second shaft.
US09039749B2

A medical device for blood flow restoration and/or for use as an implantable member in a human vessel includes a self-expanding member, a guidewire, and a connection mechanism. The self-expanding member includes a plurality of cells and filaments having specific ranges of thicknesses, widths, and heights. The self-expanding member can take on a volume-reduced coiled form with overlapped edges, and can generate optimal radial forces against a vessel wall and/or thrombus when deployed and expanded.
US09039748B2

A method for securing an implantable medical device onto a balloon which includes applying a coating, which includes a film-forming polymer and at least one solvent, to the outer surface of the balloon. The solvents can include alcohol, water, ether and combinations thereof. The film-forming polymer can include a zwitterionic polymer, such as, for example a phosphorylcholine polymer. The coating can be applied to the entire balloon surface or a portion of the surface. The implantable medical device is then positioned on the outer surface of the balloon and secured. The film-forming polymer is then allowed to cure in order to define an adhesive layer between an inner surface of the implantable medical device and the outer surface of the balloon. This method prevents or reduces the leaching or redistribution of any therapeutic agents dispersed within or on the surface of the implantable medical device.
US09039744B2

The present invention is directed to implantable devices for stabilizing or fusing bone structures within the spine. More specifically, the present invention is a spinal plate assembly that includes an automatic mechanism for blocking the pathway of a bone fastener once inserted to prevent unwanted backwards migration of the bone screw.
US09039743B2

The sacral-iliac joint between an iliac and a sacrum is fused either by the creation of a lateral insertion path laterally through the ilium, through the sacral-iliac joint, and into the sacrum, or by the creation of a postero-lateral insertion path entering from a posterior iliac spine of an ilium, angling through the sacral-iliac joint, and terminating in the sacral alae. A bone fixation implant is inserted through the insertion path and anchored in the interior region of the sacrum or sacral alea to fixate the sacral-iliac joint.
US09039738B2

An internal tissue puncture closure method and apparatus. The method and apparatus provide a folded sealing plug that provides more surface area than conventional plugs to more fully cover and seal an external situs of an internal tissue puncture. The folded sealing plug may have a weave pattern that tends to cause the sealing plug to corkscrew into the internal tissue puncture as it is compressed toward an anchor placed inside of the tissue puncture.
US09039734B2

A biodegradable device for maintaining the alignment of the edges of a trocar defect, consisting of two bases joined by a connector, a first base to be positioned below the defect and a second base above. The first base has a threaded hole from its upper surface but not through the lower surface. The connector attached to the bases such that there is a hole aligned with the threaded hole in the first base allowing a device to mate with the threads in the first base. The second base has a hole aligned with the hole in the connector and wide enough to allow a device to mate with the threads in the first base. The device is arranged so the distance between the lower surface of the second base and upper surface of the first base holds but does not compress the fascia around the trocar defect.
US09039732B2

A forceps includes first and second shaft members each having a jaw member disposed at a distal end thereof. One (or both) of the first and second jaw members is moveable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween. The first jaw member includes a jaw frame fixedly engaged to the first shaft member and a disposable jaw housing releasably engageable with the jaw frame. The disposable jaw housing includes a knife assembly disposed therein. The knife assembly includes a knife blade biased toward an initial position, wherein the knife blade is disposed within the jaw housing. The knife blade is moveable between the initial position and an extended position, wherein the knife blade extends at least partially from the jaw housing to cut tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members.
US09039728B2

A combined multi-lumen central access catheter and an embolic filter, further comprising an imaging modality to facilitate intravascular imaging of the filter.
US09039726B2

Braid-balls suitable for aneurysm occlusion and/or parent vessel occlusion/sacrifice (e.g., in treating neurovascular defects) are disclosed. Especially for aneurysm treatment, but also for either one of the aforementioned treatments, the form of the ball is very important. In particular, the density of the device is paramount in applications where braid itself is intended to moderate or stop blood flow—allowing thrombosis within a volume formed by the ball.
US09039720B2

An ultrasonic surgical instrument comprises a reusable housing including an internal transducer and an internal end effector rotation assembly. An exemplary rotation assembly is a ratchet and pawl assembly, which allows the transducer to rotate in a first direction but not in a second, opposite direction. The end effector, including an integral torque wrench, is attached to the transducer to form a single unit that is rotatable relative to the housing. The transducer attaches to a stationary cable via slip rings. The cable communicates with a generator, which provides electrical power to the transducer. The transducer converts the electrical power into ultrasonic vibrational energy, which is transmitted to the end effector.
US09039715B2

A retrieval apparatus for entrapping and retaining an object located in a body for its extraction therefrom is described. The retrieval apparatus includes a snare and a snare control assembly. The snare has a proximal section and a distal section, and comprises a plurality of filaments extending from a proximal end of the proximal section towards the distal section, and then returning to the proximal end to form a plurality of loops. In the deployed state, the loops are interlaced to each other within the proximal section and are free and not interleaved within the distal section. Segments of the filaments of the distal section are bent with respect to segments of the filaments of the proximal section such that the retrieval snare in the contracted, state forms a hollow cavity extending from die distal section towards the proximal section.
US09039714B2

In various cases, an obstetrical device is provided for assisting a cesarean section delivery of a neonate having a fetal presenting part well seated within the mother's pelvis. Generally, the device comprises a tubular tail having an internal lumen and a hollow head extending from a distal end of the tail and having an internal chamber fluidly connected to the lumen. The head includes at least one aperture extending through an exterior wall. The device is operable to position the head near or in contact with the fetal presenting part to provide air into an area near and/or between contact surfaces of the fetal presenting part and a vagina and/or a cervix of the mother. Providing the air will reduce or release a suction formed between the contact surfaces such that the well seated fetal presenting part can be easily separated from the vagina and/or the cervix.
US09039708B2

This disclosure provides a system for securing a bone to a rod, the system comprising a ligature, a body, and two fasteners. The ligature has two free ends and an intermediate portion therebetween, the intermediate portion being configured to engage a bone. A portion of a rod can be fastened to the body using one of the fasteners. The ligature can be fastened to the body using another one of the fasteners. The two fasteners are distinct from one another and are adapted to fasten two free end portions of the ligature to the body independently from fastening the portion of the rod to the body.
US09039707B2

An intramedullary pin for insertion into the medullary space of the femur through the lateral compacta of the trochanter major. The pin has a proximal pin section and an adjoining distal pin section. Each pin section includes one or more bores for one or more bone screws. The proximal pin section has at least one bore running obliquely to the longitudinal axis, so that bone screws can be inserted through the bore into the head of the femur, or a screw can be inserted in the antegrade direction through the bore. The distal pin section is at least partly straight and the proximal pin section has a curvature in the lateral-posterior direction.
US09039705B2

A medical treatment device to treat body tissues for conjugation, includes at least a pair of holding members configured to hold the body tissues, an energy output portion provided in at least one of the holding members and connected to an energy source to form a joined portion by supplying energy to the body tissues held by the pair of holding members and joining the body tissues, and a conjugation coating portion to a region from a neighborhood of a joined portion to coat joined surfaces with a substance capable of preventing fluid from invading during or after the body tissues being joined by adding the energy to the body tissues.
US09039704B2

A forceps includes first and second shaft members, each having a jaw member disposed at a distal end thereof. The first and second shaft members are pivotably coupled to one another toward the distal ends thereof and are moveable relative to one another between an open position and a closed position for moving the jaw members between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position. A knife assembly including a handle and a knife extending from the handle is also provided. The knife assembly is selectively translatable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the knife extends between the jaw members. The handle is disposed between the first and second shaft members and is configured to block further closure of the first and second shaft members beyond the closed position, thereby defining a minimum gap distance between the jaw members.
US09039698B2

An RF ablation system has a hollow conductive coaxial cable comprising inner and outer coaxial tubular conductors, and an ablating member mounted at the distal end portion of the cable for delivery of radio frequency energy including microwaves to the target body tissue. The inner conductor has a central lumen and extends at least up to the ablating member. At least one electromagnetic tracking sensor coil with a magnetic core is located in the central lumen at the distal end portion of the cable, close to the distal tip of the cable, and connected to a signal processing unit. An electromagnetic field generator positioned in the vicinity of a patient undergoing treatment generates an electromagnetic field which induces a voltage in the sensor coil. The signal processing unit uses the induced voltage to calculate the position and orientation of the distal end portion or tip of the catheter in a patient's body.
US09039695B2

In accordance with various embodiments, methods for controlling electrical power provided to tissue via a surgical device may comprise providing a drive signal to a surgical device; receiving an indication of an impedance of the tissue; calculating a rate of increase of the impedance of the tissue; and modulating the drive signal to hold the rate of increase of the impedance greater than or equal to a predetermined constant.
US09039690B2

The invention relates to a combined ultrasound and HF surgical system, including at least one ultrasound generator which operatively provides an excitation signal through which an ultrasound converter can generate an ultrasound vibration, at least one HF generator which operatively generates HF energy, and at least one ultrasound and HF instrument electrically connected with the HF generator and the ultrasound generator, wherein the ultrasound vibrations and the HF energy are introducible into biological tissue through the HF instrument which includes at least one ultrasound converter and at least one HF electrode. In order to be able to use HF energy and ultrasound energy simultaneously without damaging the instrument or wearing the it out, the system includes a protective device which prevents sparks operatively generated through HF energy or reduces the probability of occurrence of the sparks.
US09039682B2

A suture securement apparatus for selectively securing one or more ends of a suture while allowing adjustments in the tension or a full release of the sutures intermittently after a prolonged period of time. The suture securement apparatus can be particularly adapted for use with a purse-string suture to close a percutaneous catheter insertion site without causing puckering or distortion of the skin at the purse string suture site. The suture securement apparatus allows for subsequent modification of the amount of tensioning or full release of the sutures at the catheter insertion site. A threading assembly for use with the suture securement apparatus and being adapted to facilitate threading of sutures along the length of the suture securement apparatus. An adhesive suture securement device to provide securing sutures to be utilized with a suture securement apparatus. An adhesive securement device to provide a cradle configured to secure a hub of a catheter or other medical instrument or device.
US09039681B2

A medical system that allows a mentor to teach a pupil how to use a robotically controlled medical instrument. The system may include a first handle that can be controlled by a mentor to move the medical instrument. The system may further have a second handle that can be moved by a pupil to control the same instrument. Deviations between movement of the handles by the mentor and the pupil can be provided as force feedback to the pupil and mentor handles. The force feedback pushes the pupil's hand to correspond with the mentor's handle movement. The force feedback will also push the mentor's hand to provide information to the mentor on pupil's movements. The mentor is thus able to guide the pupil's hands through force feedback of the pupil handles to teach the pupil how to use the system.
US09039678B2

An apparatus provides micromechanical forces on a wound bed to accelerate healing of a wound. The apparatus includes a pressure chamber having a substantially airtight plunger and an inlet fluidly connected to a first end of a conduit. A constant force spring is operatively connected to apply a constant force to the plunger. A suction cup is in fluid communication with a second end of the conduit.
US09039674B2

Cells that are in the process division are vulnerable to damage by AC electric fields that have specific frequency and field strength characteristics. The selective destruction of rapidly dividing cells can therefore be accomplished by imposing an AC electric field in a target region for extended periods of time at particular frequencies with particular filed strengths. Some of the cells that divide while the field is applied will be damaged, but the cells that do not divide will not be harmed. This selectively damages rapidly dividing cells like bacteria, but does not harm normal cells that are not dividing. Since the vulnerability of the dividing cells is strongly related to the alignment between the long axis of the dividing cells and the lines of force of the electric field, improved results can be obtained when the field is sequentially imposed in different directions.
US09039670B2

An absorbent article including a chassis having a front waist portion and a back waist portion, front side panels having an inside surface and an outside surface, back side panels having an inside surface and an outside surface, and seams adapted to attach the front side panels to the back side panels in an overlapped configuration offset toward the front waist portion, the seams made up of one or more fastening components attached to the outside surface of each of the back side panels.
US09039663B2

A medical device is disclosed that can be used to provide a space at an IV catheter site so that kinking of the IV is substantially prevented. The disclosed medical device includes a spacer and an attachment material. The attachment material maybe an elongated strap. The spacer may comprise an elongated member. The elongated strap may be elastomeric and self-adhesive.
US09039662B2

An anchor deployment apparatus for deploying an anchor about a therapy delivery element includes an anchor receiving element having an elongate member having a lumen. The lumen is configured to slidably receive at least a portion of a therapy delivery element. The anchor deployment tool further includes an anchor engagement element having (i) a body forming a channel in which the elongate member of the anchor receiving element is axially movable, and (ii) an engagement feature forming at least a part of the channel. The engagement feature is configured to engage the anchor when the anchor is disposed about the elongate member and the elongate member is moved relative to the engagement element, and to cause the anchor to move distally along the elongate member when the feature is engaged with the anchor and the elongate member is moved relative to the engagement element.
US09039652B2

A fluid management system for the treatment of ascites, pleural effusion or pericardial effusion is provided including an implantable device including a pump, control circuitry, battery and transceiver; a charging and communication system configured to periodically charge the battery and communicate with the implantable device to retrieve performance data; and monitoring and control software, suitable for use with conventional personal computers, for configuring and controlling operation of the implantable device and charging and communication system. The implantable device includes a number of features that provide automated movement of fluid to the bladder with reduced risk of clogging, with no patient involvement other than occasional recharging of the battery of the implantable device. The monitoring and control software is available only to the treating physician, such that the physician interacts with the implantable device via the charging and communication system.
US09039645B2

Orthopedic device for treating neuropathic ulcers and other injuries while allowing easy access to the wound site on the plantar surface of a patient's foot includes a base portion and a sole that is either movably connected or removably connected to either the base or to a strut member. The base or strut is maintained in position on the lower leg while the sole may be rotated, slid, or completely removed for allowing inspection and access to the plantar surface of the patient's foot.
US09039643B2

The invention relates to a fixing element (33) extending as a flat, particularly lamellar element along a preferred direction (34) and comprising a corrugated sheet metal core (18) as a central component, said core providing the fixing element (33) with the characteristic of being integrally rigid and permanently deformable by hand, and said core being covered by a cover (36, 37). For such a fixing element, a large range of use is achieved in that the corrugations of the corrugated core sheet (18) are oriented substantially parallel to the preferred direction (34), and that means (38, 39) for releasably attaching the fixing element (33) are disposed on the fixing element (33).
US09039625B2

A head unit for an ultrasonic probe includes a connecting section, an element chip and a storing section. The connecting section is configured to electrically connect the head unit to a probe main body of the ultrasonic probe. The element chip includes an ultrasonic element array having a substrate defining a plurality of openings arranged in an array pattern and a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements with each of the ultrasonic transducer elements being provided in each of the openings. The element chip is configured to be electrically connected to a processing device of the probe main body through the connecting section. The storing section is configured to store operation setting information of the processing device to be output to the processing device through the connecting section.
US09039621B2

Disclosed are various embodiments for echoperiodontal imaging. In one embodiment, a system includes a transducer configured to transmit a series of ultrasonic signals at a plurality of corresponding locations along soft tissue of a jaw and receive a plurality of echo signals; and an imaging system controller configured to obtain a plurality of echo signal data of the soft tissue and a plurality of transducer positions, where each echo signal data corresponds to one of the plurality of transducer position.
US09039614B2

A system and method of tracking activity includes a motion sensor, a light source and a light detector. The light detector is configured to capture an amount of the light that is reflected back to the light detector, at least a first portion of the light reflected back to the light detector is reflected from a blood vessel disposed under a skin of a user when the user places the skin over the heart rate monitor location on the housing. A processor is in communication with the motion sensor and the light detector and can process the reflected light to identify heart beats of the user and produce an indication of a heart rate. The indication of the heart rate can be displayed on the display screen as an option, in addition to the metrics that quantify the motion data.
US09039613B2

A stretchable belt (1) provided for medical purposes for use on the body of a patient has at least one sensor (8) for detecting at least one parameter of the patient's body. An adaptation to different body sizes and motions of the patient is provided without separate length adjusting members being necessary or without the need to stock different belt sizes. Furthermore, the belt is able to be manufactured at a low cost and makes possible simple and reliable handling, even for patients. The belt material (1) has at least one material area (2) with a lower spring rate in the longitudinal extension than at least one material area (3) with a higher spring rate of the belt (1).
US09039606B2

An encapsulated medical device guidance system, and a method of controlling the system, in which a magnetic generator acts on a magnet built into a capsulated medical device, and generates a magnetic field for controlling the position and/or posture of the capsulated medical device, and a control unit has a dynamic torque estimation unit to estimate a dynamic torque to be applied to the encapsulated medical device in a target posture, controls a magnetic field generated from the magnetic field generator so that a magnetic torque generated by the magnetic field generator becomes proportional to a dynamic torque estimated by the dynamic torque estimation unit, and controls the posture of a capsule endoscope by considering gravity applied to the capsule endoscope itself.
US09039605B2

To provide excellent illumination over entire range from near view to distant view to achieve clear observation over entire range from near view to distant view.Provided is an endoscope including an imaging optical system 3 provided in insertion portion at a distal end thereof and for observing an object to be observed, and a plurality of illumination optical systems 2a, 2b provided in the insertion portion 1 and for distributing the illuminating light emitted from a light source to the object to be observed, the illumination optical systems being directed in the same direction each other to illuminate the same field of view, wherein at least one of the plurality of illumination optical systems is a first illumination optical system 2a having a convex lens, and at least one of the others is a second illumination optical system 2b having a concave lens.
US09039598B2

Disclosed is penile rigidity device including: a chamber section having a first chamber end and a second chamber end, the chamber section configured as a substantially cylindrical unit having one of a circular or oval cross section; a floating valve section connected to the first chamber end, the valve section configured to allow fluid to selectively flow into and out of the chamber section; and a gaiter section connected to the second chamber end, the gaiter section having a bellows configured to compress in length in response to a pressing force.
US09039596B2

A surgical fastener for use in surgical procedures comprises a first member, a second member, and an anchor. Surgical materials may be secured within the surgical fastener. Methods of securing the surgical fastener to an anatomical structure are disclosed herein.
US09039592B2

A device for delivery of a radiopharmaceutical and, in some embodiments, delivery of a pharmaceutical agent are provided herein. A fluid path set comprising a confluence valve, a four-way valve, and one or more tubing sections which are designed to place some combination of a radiopharmaceutical source, a medical fluid source, and a pharmaceutical agent source in sterile fluid communication with a patient or a waste receptacle. Also provided are holders for the fluid path set, and a sterile fluid delivery kit comprising the holder and fluid path set. A fluid delivery system may accept the holder with the fluid path set installed and various sources of radiopharmaceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and medical fluids. The fluid delivery system allows for automated mixing and delivery of exact amounts of these agents to a patient while improving efficiency and safety, and reducing waste.
US09039591B2

A bag manufacturing system has at least one tube forming device which forms a tube and separates the tube into tube pieces, and at least one bottom forming device which provides the tube pieces with a bottom and thus forms the bags. The system has a storage device for storing the tube pieces on at least two levels. At least two charging and removing devices are provided with which the tube pieces can be supplied to and/or removed from at least two different points of the levels of the storage device.
US09039584B2

A martial arts training system has a solid body formed of resilient material with a front surface, a back surface, side surfaces, a top surface, and a bottom surface. The front surface has a number of holes arranged thereon for receiving at least one accessory member. The system has at least one accessory having an attachment section shaped and sized to be received in a hole of the front surface and a training section adapted to extend from the front surface to form a contact target, such as an arm, leg, or weapon.
US09039573B2

Trampolines and trampoline frames configured to support a rebounding mat that extends from a horizontal plane into a vertical plane that is below the horizontal plane. The trampoline includes a horizontal frame that connects to a first portion of the rebounding mat to hold the mat in a substantially horizontal plane and a vertical frame that connects to a second portion of the rebounding mat to hold the mat in a substantially vertical plane that extends downward from the horizontal plane.
US09039566B2

A planetary roller gear drive with a spindle nut (1) that is arranged on a threaded spindle (2) and with planets (3) that are arranged distributed around the periphery and are in rolling engagement with the spindle nut (1) and the threaded spindle (2). The planets (3) revolve on planetary orbits (P) that are arranged perpendicular to the spindle axis and the planets (3) are each divided into multiple planet parts arranged one behind the other in the axial direction.
US09039553B2

The present invention is structured by using one or both of an active wheel and a passive wheel being composed of an eccentric transmission wheel and being combined with a synchronous transmission belt for forming an eccentric wheel transmission wheel series, so that in the reciprocal treadle performed by the human's feet, when the feet input forces at different angles from the treadle shafts of the treadles to an active wheel shaft combined on the active wheel through cranks, the active wheel forms different transmission speed ratios relative to the passive wheel according to the treadle angle.
US09039548B2

A swing training device and system that includes a sequence of LED lights that are used to simulate the movement of a pitched ball along a horizontal line and act as a cue for initiating a swing. The swing training device will help develop visual skills by using the eyes to track a light source along a path to the ball such that a bat or striking object hits the ball at the same time the moving light intersects or passes over the ball. The light carrying cable is of a durable design so that the user may practice with the game used bat.
US09039545B2

A multi-piece solid golf ball having a core, an envelope layer having an inner envelope layer, intermediate envelope layer and outer envelope layer, an intermediate layer, and a cover having a plurality of dimples formed on a surface thereof, arranged in that order. The three envelope layers, intermediate layer and cover are each formed primarily of a resin material of the same or different types. The core is formed primarily of a rubber material, and has a material hardness higher than the core center hardness. One of the inner layers has a material hardness higher than either or both of the cover material hardness and the average core hardness. The golf ball lowers the spin rate on full shots with a driver, increases the distance traveled by the ball, has good controllability, maintains a straight path particularly on full shots, has a good feel on impact and excellent scuff resistance.
US09039532B2

A videogame system for use in connection with a toy, where each of the toys includes an identification device such as an RFID tag. Each of the toys is also associated with a corresponding game character or object. The toys further comprise audio, visual and other effects, wherein at least some of said effects are initially disabled, but later enabled as the user reaches certain achievements with the videogame.
US09039526B2

Disclosed are various embodiments of transparent displays for gaming machines and, more particularly, to placement of a single transparent or partially transparent display between two facing gaming machines for common play of a shared gaming machine feature.
US09039524B2

The invention generally relates to a lock-box device that requires a child or any other user to answer one or more educational questions correctly before being allowed access to one or more entertainment systems that require power such as a television, a computer, and a video game console.
US09039522B2

Various embodiments are directed to a gaming system capable of providing progressive level alerts or promotions when a progressive jackpot reaches a predetermined value. In one embodiment, the user is able to register for a progressive level alert. In another embodiment, the progressive level alert is presented on an affiliated or third party website. By providing progressive jackpot amount information, the user, who may not otherwise patronize a casino, is encouraged to visit the particular casino offering games capable of awarding a progressive jackpot prize of a predetermined amount.
US09039521B2

Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention operate a sponsored hybrid game that includes: a gambling game; an entertainment game; a game world engine constructed to communicate gameplay gambling event occurrences based upon a player's skillful execution of the entertainment game that trigger at least one wager in the gambling game; and a sponsorship module integrated with the game world engine constructed to: receive sponsorship terms involving allocation of gameplay resources during sponsored gameplay of the sponsored hybrid game between at least one player profile and at least one sponsor profile; allocate gameplay resources associated with at least one sponsor profile to at least one player profile based on the sponsorship terms for use in sponsored gameplay; and allocate gameplay resources resulting from a payout of gameplay resources during the sponsored gameplay using the sponsorship terms.
US09039520B2

Various embodiments of payout systems and methods are disclosed. One embodiment, among others, comprises providing a defined payout amount and a party adjustable payout volatility for a video gaming device, and responsive to party input, modifying the payout volatility while maintaining the defined payout amount.
US09039517B2

An illustrative method controls a gaming device that supports wagering on games. A communication is received at a gaming device coupled to the gaming network from another gaming device coupled to the gaming network. A determination is made by the gaming device if proprietary information is present in the communication or requested to be transmitted by the communication from the gaming device to the another gaming device. A determination is made by the gaming device whether the another gaming device is a trusted source. The gaming device processes the proprietary information associated with the communication only if the gaming device determines that the another gaming device is a trusted source.
US09039514B2

Creative multi-act games for the younger generation of casino players accustomed to creative simulation games such as “The Sims®” and familiar TV characters such as the cast of “Friends”. Stories unfold through acts that have been staged by the player by selecting and placing acting objects. A palette of betting opportunities may be provided in each act in accordance with the staged act to allow the player(s) to place bets. A typical storyboard may include three acts: (a) a construction act, (b) a testing act and (c) a destruction or resolution act. The unfolding of acts may be non-linear and several players may participate simultaneously, sharing the opportunity to affect a storyboard's direction through decision-making.
US09039507B2

A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some examples, the operations include detecting a side wager placed by a social network user accounts connected to a communal wagering game, detecting that a jurisdictional rule prohibits a characteristic of the side wager, and altering the characteristic of the side wager to comport with the jurisdictional rule. In some examples, the operations can further include determining a request by a first of the social network user accounts to transact an exchange of one or more non-cash items associated with the communal wagering game with a second of the social network user accounts, and transacting the exchange.
US09039506B1

A competitive solitaire game is played using a crazy-stud poker deck and scoring, and allows an inexperienced player an opportunity to win. Each hand begins by dealing pairs of cards into three columns, one face up, and one face down, for the house, and pairs of face up into three columns for the player. The player selects a column to discard from both hands. Next, a pair is added to each column, one face up, and one face down, for the house, and a pair to each column, face up, for the player. The player again selects a pair to discard from both hands. Finally, a pair is dealt to the house and to the player, face up, and the remaining six cards in each hand are scored. To win, the player must win a number N hands before the house wins a number M hands.
US09039496B2

A grinding disk in particular for rotary fine machining of surfaces has a support plate and a drive connector connecting the grinding disk to a rotary drive machine. The drive connector is provided at a top side of the support plate. An elastically deformable cushion is disposed at a bottom side of the support plate. The cushion is covered with a working medium or with an adhesive coating for detachable attachment of a working medium disk. A cover is disposed on the support plate so as to define an axial intermediate spacing, wherein the cover is embodied as a mechanically loadable structural part and is connected fixedly at least to an outer rim of the support plate. Primarily radially extending ribs are disposed between the support plate and the cover and connected at least at some locations with the support plate and the cover.
US09039492B2

An enclosed polishing apparatus include a housing, a fixing seat, a guiding mechanism, and a chain-driven polishing mechanism. The housing includes a bottom housing and a top housing connected to the bottom housing. The fixing seat is securely placed in the bottom housing. The guiding mechanism is placed in the top housing above the fixing seat. The polishing mechanism is movably mounted on the guiding mechanism above the fixing seat. The polishing mechanism is driven and guided by the guiding mechanism to follow a desired polishing contour on a workpiece.
US09039491B2

The object of the present invention is to provide a machine for blasting abrasives that has a simple structure and that solves the problem of abrasives falling when the door for the gateway for the work is opened or closed. The machine for blasting abrasives comprises a chamber 11 for processing, a nozzle 13 that is provided within the chamber 11 for shooting the abrasives (shots) S onto the work W, and a jig 15 for holding the work W at a position facing the nozzle 13. A gateway 17 with a door 19 is formed in the ceiling 11a of the chamber 11. The size of the gateway 17 enables the work W to protrude from the chamber 11 by means of the jig 15 at a position corresponding to the jig 15 that is linearly moving up and down. The door 19 is provided within the chamber 11 so as to seal the gateway by linearly moving up and down and so as to create a vacant plane on the gateway for passing the work by horizontally moving.
US09039489B2

An automated method for reconditioning a plurality of digital discs within a reconditioning apparatus is disclosed. The method comprises holding the digital discs in a load area, and then transferring each of the digital discs from the load area to at least one workstation with a disc transfer mechanism. The method also comprises reconditioning each of the digital discs transferred to the workstation with at least one worktool operable to remove a portion of the protective coating of each of the digital discs without removal of the data underlying the protective coating. The method further comprises transferring each of the digital discs from the workstation to an unload area with the disc transfer mechanism, and then holding the digital discs in the unload area for manual retrieval. Advantageously, the digital discs may be automatically reconditioned within the reconditioning apparatus without manual manipulation of the digital discs during the reconditioning process. Various exemplary embodiments of the reconditioning apparatus and associated method are provided.
US09039488B2

Flat-surfaced workpieces such as semiconductor wafers or sapphire disks are attached to a rotatable floating workpiece holder carrier that is supported by a pressurized-air flexible elastomer sealed air-chamber device and is rotationally driven by a lug-pin device. The rotating wafer carrier rotor is restrained by a set of idlers that are attached to a stationary housing to provide rigid support against abrading forces. The abrading system can be operated at the very high abrading speeds used in high speed flat lapping with raised-island abrasive disks. The range of abrading pressures is large and the device can provide a wide range of torque to rotate the workholder. Vacuum can also be applied to the elastomer chamber to quickly move the wafer away from the abrading surface. Internal constraints limit the axial, lateral and circumferential motion of the workholder. Wafers can be quickly attached to the workpiece carrier with vacuum.
US09039480B2

In some embodiments, a kit includes a slide device and an action figure coupled to the slide device. The kit also includes a tool configured to modify a shape of a base material such that a path that has a non-zero height is defined within the base material. The action figure and the slide device can collectively slide down at least a portion of the path when disposed on the path. The base material can be, for example, snow or sand. In some embodiments, the tool can include tool body having a length dimension, a width dimension and a height dimension. The length dimension can be greater than the width dimension and the height dimension can be greater than at least half a height dimension of the slide device and the action figure collectively. A handle can be coupled to the tool body.
US09039479B1

A water disc toy comprises an upper platter, a lower platter, and a plurality of supports. Both the upper platter and the lower platter comprise a plastic structure with a flat or even slightly convex outer surface which facilitates skipping the device across a water surface. The upper and lower platter are interconnected with the plurality of integral supports. Each support comprises a small cylindrical plastic structure. The area between the upper platter, the lower platter, and the supports is filled with a lightweight foam material which allows the entire device to float in water.
US09039478B2

Provided is an apparatus for manufacturing a deposition mask assembly for a flat panel display, which prevents a pattern from being distorted in a pattern mask when divided pattern masks are welded to a support fixture. An apparatus for manufacturing a deposition mask assembly for a flat panel display of the present description, which includes a frame mask forming an opening, a support fixture installed in the frame mask, and a pattern mask welded to the support fixture to have a pattern allowing a deposition material to be transmitted therethrough, includes: a welding head disposed in a side of the pattern mask; and a support member supporting the support fixture in an opposite side of the welding head with the pattern mask interposed therebetween.
US09039466B2

A crimp terminal (10) has a connecting portion (12) that is conductively connected to an electrical connection target, a crimp portion (14) that is fixed by crimping to a core (58) of a coated wire (56), and a link (16) extending between the connecting portion (12) and the crimp portion (14). The crimp portion (14) has a placement portion (36) on which the core (58) of the coated wire (56) is placed, and a core crimping portion (38) protruding from opposite edges of the placement portion (36). Extended portions (48) are provided on ends of the core crimping portions (38) toward the link (16) and at least one engaging corner (52) is formed on an upper end surface (50) of each of the extended portions (48).
US09039452B2

A connecting device is configured to be fitted into twp mating electrode connectors having power source electrodes, so that the power source electrodes are electrically connected. The connecting device for connecting the power source electrodes includes a housing member having an engaging portion having a recessed shape capable of engaging with the mating electrode connector. The connecting device includes a flat terminal with a flat plate shape being held with the housing member and a flexible braided wiring member connected to the flat terminal. The flexible braided wiring member is connected to a rear end portion of another flat terminal at both end portions thereof. The flat terminals at the both end portions of the flexible braided wiring member are held at middle portions thereof with separate housing members. Both surfaces of a front end portion of the flat terminal are exposed in the engaging portion of the housing member.
US09039451B2

In a power device and a plug structure, the plug structure includes an electrical conductor, a pin and a conductive elastic sheet. The pin is correspondingly arranged to the electrical conductor. The pin has a conducting portion and a distal end formed on the conducting portion. The conductive elastic sheet has a lateral segment and at least one longitudinal segment extending from the lateral segment. The lateral segment has a first convex portion and a second convex portion reversed from each other. The longitudinal segment has a third convex portion. The lateral segment is clamped between the distal end and the electrical conductor, the first convex portion contacts the electrical conductor, the second convex portion grasps and contacts the distal end, and the third convex portion contacts the conducting portion.
US09039448B2

An electronic interconnect device includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface. The substrate has a plurality of openings extending between the first and second surfaces. Each opening has a conductive outer via, an insulative barrier and a conductive inner via. The outer via, insulative barrier and inner via are concentric within the opening such that the insulating barrier is disposed between the conductive inner via and the conductive outer via. The conductive inner via is configured to receive a conductor to be inserted therein.
US09039442B2

A PCB assembly can be attached to hold one or more such assemblies. A resilient PCB housing holds a PCB by an interference fit while conductive wires are inserted into its wire cavity so that exposed portions of conductive wires make electrical contact with electrical traces of the PCB which is biased by wire insulation. Two conductors can be held by the PCB housing which are forced into electrical contact with the PCB when it is inserted into the resilient PCB housing which then biases such contacts. A switch can also be held by a switch interference fit with the resilient PCB housing such that its leads are biased against the PCB by the resilient PCB housing.
US09039441B2

An electrical connection terminal capable of reducing manufacturing cost of a connector and a probe, and preventing erroneous contact between the connection terminal and a continuity check pin at the time of a continuity check, and a connector using the same. The connection terminal includes a fixed piece to be fixed to a base of the connector, a coupling portion extending upward from the fixed piece, and a movable piece extending from the coupling portion in the direction facing the fixed piece. The connection terminal arranged side by side in the base further includes an extending portion for the continuity check provided in an end of the fixed piece, and a projection for the continuity check provided at an upper side of the movable piece or the coupling portion. The continuity check may be provided by use of the probe with two rows of check pins.
US09039428B2

A board-to-board connector is disclosed. The board-to-board connector comprises a first connector and a second connector. The first connector has first terminals and a first housing which has first fitting guide portions formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the first housing. The second connector has second terminals configured to make contact with the first terminals, and a second housing which has second fitting guide portions formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the second housing and configured to engage with the first fitting guide portions.
US09039419B2

A method and system for capturing expert behavior that the expert is not even necessarily conscious of, such as gaze patterns, that are tied to positive outcomes, and to create a catalog (e.g. database) of these behaviors. The system compares the current behavior of a person, for example a novice, against this catalog of expert behaviors. If the current behavior is significantly different, the system would adapt various aspects of the interface to bring the current behavior closer in line to that of the expert.
US09039417B2

A jaw implant includes an implant body comprising a top end, a base end, an axial line, an acute-angled long side, an obtuse-angled short side, a body core. An oval opening disposed at the top end comprises an opening edge lying in an opening plane inclined with an angle of inclination of 75° to 45° with respect to the axial line so that the implant body has an axial length on the acute-angled long side longer than on the obtuse-angled short side. An external thread structure comprises a lead comprising a lower side facing the base end, an upper side facing the top end, and a wedge angle disposed between the upper side and the lower side. A bisecting line of the wedge angle and the axial line of the implant body form a tilt angle which is smaller on the acute-angled long side than on the obtuse-angled short side.
US09039413B2

Surgical tool for use in guided surgery having a distal end portion having a functional element, a shank on the opposite end of the tool, and a substantially circular cylindrical guide portion. The guide portion is located between the functional element and the shank and has at least one visual marker. The at least one marker has at least one recess which is finite in the circumferential direction such that, at the axial location of the recess a section of guide portion having outer radius r is maintained.
US09039399B2

Provided is a rigid core for forming a tire, configured so that the intrusion of rubber into a gap between core segments is prevented and so that the lowering of roundness of a core body s prevented. The core body comprises a plurality of circumferentially divided core segments. Both circumferential end surfaces of each of the core segments are used as mating surfaces, and the mating surfaces adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction are abutted against each other to form the core body. At least one of the mating surfaces adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction is formed as a stepped mating surface comprising a bordering surface region extending along an outer circumferential edge of the mating surface, and a recessed surface region surrounded by the bordering surface region and recessed in a step shape from the bordering surface region so that only the bordering surface region contacts with the adjacent mating surface.
US09039384B2

A suction duct for a compressor such as a scroll compressor may include a plastic ring body with a metal screen heat staked in a window of the ring body to filter refrigerant gas entering the motor cavity. The ring body may be in surrounding relation of the motor and resiliently compressed in the housing through intermittent contact with the inner housing surface to better seal around the inlet port. Oil drain channels and stabilizing ribs may be along the outside surface of the ring body.
US09039381B2

A wind turbine for generating electrical energy may include a wind turbine blade including a plurality of vortex generators integrally formed in the outer surface of the blade. The vortex generator includes a first component that defines a portion of the outer surface of the blade and a second component defining the shape of the vortex generator and at least partially surrounded by the first component. A method of manufacturing the wind turbine blade includes disposing a first plurality of layers of structural material over a mold main body and a removable insert member with a shaped cavity. A shaped plug is then pressed into the shaped cavity, and a second plurality of layers of structural material is disposed over the plug and the mold main body to complete manufacture of a wind turbine blade with a vortex generator.
US09039380B2

A winglet for a rotor blade is disclosed. The winglet may generally include a winglet body extending between a first end and a second end. The winglet body may define a sweep and may have a curvature defined by a curve fit including a first radius of curvature and a second radius of curvature. The sweep between the first end and the second end may range from about 580 millimeters to about 970 millimeters. Additionally, the first radius of curvature may range from about 1500 millimeters to about 2500 millimeters and the second radius of curvature may range from about 1200 millimeters to about 2000 millimeters.
US09039374B2

A turbine rotor of a turbine includes a hub that serves as an axis of rotation, and a plurality of turbine blades. The turbine blades each have a line extending along a shroud-side edge of the turbine blade from the inlet to the outlet as a shroud line. The shroud line includes an entrance-side shroud line La that makes a small change from the inlet toward the outlet in a blade angle with respect to the axis of rotation, a center shroud line Lb that extends from the outlet side of the entrance-side shroud line La and makes a greater change than that of the entrance-side shroud line La, and an exit-side shroud line Lc that extends from the outlet side of the center shroud line Lb to the outlet and makes a smaller change than that of the center shroud line Lb.
US09039369B2

The present invention relates to a wind turbine nacelle having a top face with a longitudinal extension in a wind direction, comprising a cooling device extending from the top face of the nacelle and a cover having at least one inner face. The cooling device is enclosed by the top face of the nacelle and the inner face of the cover.
US09039359B2

A device for converting the kinetic energy of molecules into useful work includes an actuator configured to move within a fluid or gas due to collisions with the molecules of the fluid or gas. The actuator has dimensions that subject it to the Brownian motion of the surrounding molecules. The actuator utilizes objects having multiple surfaces where the different surfaces result in differing coefficients of restitution. The Brownian motion of surrounding molecules produce molecular impacts with the surfaces. Each surface then experiences relative differences in transferred energy from the kinetic collisions. The sum effect of the collisions produces net velocity in a desired direction. The controlled motion can be utilized in a variety of manners to perform work, such as generating electricity or transporting materials.
US09039356B1

An abrasive handling submersible pump assembly diffuser is described. An electric submersible pump assembly stage comprises a rotatable impeller, and a co-axially mounted diffuser comprising a diffuser bowl, the diffuser bowl comprising a plurality of diffuser bowl wedges having a blunted pie-shape, each of the plurality of diffuser bowl wedges protruding axially from a diffuser bowl floor into a cavity between the rotatable impeller and the co-axially mounted diffuser such that each of the plurality of diffuser bowl wedges protrudes into a path of pumped solid-laden fluid, wherein the blunted pie-shaped wedges extend radially between an inner wall and an outer wall of the diffuser bowl and a thickness of the blunted pie-shaped wedges in a circumferential direction increases towards the outer wall.
US09039347B2

Disclosed is a cross flow fan that makes uniform a distribution of wind velocity along an axial direction of the fan at an exit of an air trunk and that lessens chance of separation of an air flow on an inlet side of the fan, and there are thereby provided a cross flow fan that accomplishes a lower input and smaller noise and an air blower and an air conditioner that use the cross flow fan. A cross flow fan being rotatably placed in a horizontally-long air trunk, and including a plurality of annular rings that are substantially parallel to each other and a plurality of blades that are radially interposed between adjacent rings, each having a circular arc cross sectional shape, and a camber angle of the blade is smaller at the ring side than at a center area of the blade between the rings in a longitudinal direction.
US09039326B1

The present invention pertains to a new method and system for producing electricity from tidal energy. In one embodiment the system employs at least one underground region for collecting water percolating at a higher tide level and at least another underground region capable of fluid communication with the first underground region. The system is configured to release water at separate times from the underground regions to operate hydro turbines and generators to produce electricity.
US09039324B2

A compaction device includes at least one traveling drum rotatable about a drum shaft and having vibration exciters including unbalanced masses rotating out of phase by 180 degrees in the same direction of rotation and generating an oscillation torque about the drum shaft, and having a drive shaft running coaxial to the drum shaft for driving the vibration exciters. The drum is divided at least once and each drum part includes at least two coupled vibration exciters mounted at a distance from the drum shaft in the drum.
US09039321B2

An apparatus and method to install contraction joints in concrete slabs. The method uses a device, which inserts a strip of plastic or paper tape into freshly laced concrete, as the device is driven across a concrete slab. The tape is folded immediately prior to being inserted into freshly placed concrete, and functions to weaken the slab at the contraction joint location for the purpose of causing a crack to form in the slab. Plastic tape can be used, which functions as a moisture vapor retarder, and thereby, protects floor coverings from moisture damage, such as mold and mildew, at contraction joint locations.
US09039320B2

In a method of milling asphalt, a relative elevation of an unmilled asphalt pavement surface adjacent to an area to be milled is sensed with respect to a milling machine body and rotatable milling drum of the milling machine. An elevation of a bottom surface of the rotatable milling drum is determined using a computer processor. Based on a map, stored in a computer memory, of a design surface specifying a design elevation of a milled surface over the area to be milled, the elevation of the milling machine body and the rotatable milling drum are automatically adjusted such that the rotatable milling drum mills the asphalt surface to the design elevation over the area to be milled.
US09039318B2

A component connection includes a first vehicle component which has a male fixing element projecting from the first vehicle component, and a second vehicle component, which has a female fixing element that is intended for receiving the male fixing element. The male fixing element is inserted into the female fixing element in an insertion direction. The male fixing element has a functional head, which has partially or completely the shape of a sphere or partially or completely a shape similar to a sphere, and the male fixing element has a foot region, which is connected to the second component in a positive locking manner. The functional head has an excessive dimension in relation to the female fixing element in essence transversely to the insertion direction, so that the two vehicle components can be clamped together in a detachable manner at the fixing elements.
US09039313B2

A sheet processing device includes a cutter including a movable unit moving toward or away from a predetermined position and cutting a sheet held in the predetermined position, a door provided to a housing having an opening, the door opening and closing the opening for an operation for the cutter. The sheet processing device further includes the housing holding the cutter, a locking member locking and unlocking the door closing the opening and a locking mechanism mechanically connecting the movable unit to the locking member and causing the locking member to lock or unlock the door depending on a position of the movable unit relative to the predetermined position.
US09039310B2

An input device includes a casing, a first keyboard, and a second keyboard. The first keyboard is slidably connected to the casing. The second keyboard is connected to the casing in an obliquely slidable manner and slidably connected to the first keyboard. When the first keyboard slides toward an expanded position relative to the casing, the first keyboard drives the second keyboard to slide obliquely relative to the casing, so that the second keyboard slides upwardly relative to the first keyboard. When the first keyboard slides toward a folded position relative to the casing, the first keyboard drives the second keyboard to slide obliquely relative to the casing, so that the second keyboard slides downwardly relative to the first keyboard.
US09039309B2

An exchangeable lens includes: a mount unit at which a camera body is detachably engaged; a plurality of drive target members, conditions of which change as a drive force is applied thereto; an initialization unit that executes initialization processing for each of the plurality of drive target members; an initialization status transmission unit that transmits initialization statuses, each indicating a status of the initialization processing executed for one of the drive target members, to the camera body via a first transmission path over predetermined first cycles; and a drive condition transmission unit that transmits a drive condition of at least one drive target member among the plurality of drive target members to the camera body via a second transmission path different from the first transmission path over predetermined second cycles different from the predetermined first cycles.
US09039308B2

A focal plane shutter includes: first, second, and third boards respectively including openings through which light enters an image pickup element from an object side, and arranged in this order from the object side toward the image pickup element side; a blade arranged between the first and second boards and capable of opening and closing the openings; and a holding member arranged between the second and third boards, not coupled to the blade, and holding the second board from the image pickup element side.
US09039301B2

An optical transceiver that attenuates the EMI radiation leaked therefrom is disclosed. The optical transceiver includes a top cover and the bottom base to form a cavity into which a TOSA, a ROSA, and a circuit are set. At least one of the top cover and the bottom base provides a combed structure in a rear portion of the optical transceiver, where the combed structure has a plurality of T-shaped fins to attenuate the EMI radiation.
US09039300B2

An optical transceiver easily set within the cage of the host system. The optical transceiver of an embodiment provides a finger surrounding the housing of the optical transceiver. The finger has an rear edge, whose tip is bent downward so as to be received in the first groove of the housing, extending diagonally to the brim of the cage; and a reinforced portion with a U-shaped cross section tightly set within the second groove of the housing.
US09039290B2

A cage, which is annular, and is used in a thrust roller bearing, includes a plurality of cage segments arranged in a circumferential direction. Each of the cage segments includes an arc portion; and a bar portion that extends radially inward from the arc portion and that maintains a circumferential interval between rollers adjacent to each other. A groove portion extending along an axial direction is formed at each of end faces of the arc portions, the end faces facing each other in the circumferential direction. In the cage, elastic bodies are inserted into the groove portions and urge the arc portions in the circumferential direction, each of the elastic bodies is disposed between the end faces facing each other, and the cage segments are connected to each other by the elastic bodies.
US09039266B2

A reflective color pixel has a top surface for receiving ambient light for front lighting, a plurality of sub-pixels including a first sub-pixel, and a waveguide disposed underneath the sub-pixels for transmitting light for backlighting to the sub-pixels. The first sub-pixel includes a first luminescent material configured to absorb either the ambient light or the light for backlighting and generate light of a first color.
US09039259B2

A lighting module comprising at least one first lighting device and one second lighting device; the first lighting device comprises a support common to at least one first light emitter generating a first light strip and at least one second light emitter generating a second light strip. The first light emitter is arranged relative to second light emitter so as to generate a zone that is unlit by the first lighting device between the first light strip and the second light strip. The at least one second lighting device generates at least one third light strip that extends in the zone that is unlit.
US09039254B2

A recessed lighting system is provided. The recessed lighting system includes a light module and a driver separately coupled to a chassis. The light module includes one or more rotatable prongs for allowing the light module to pivot while the driver and chassis remain static. By being mechanically separate, the driver does not interfere with the movement of the light module. In particular, since the light module is not directly coupled to and is mechanically separate from the driver, pivoting the light module does not require space in a cavity of an associated housing to accommodate the rotation of the driver. This independent freedom of movement allows the light module to achieve a greater degree of rotation in comparison to light modules that are mechanically dependent on drivers.
US09039247B2

A backlight module includes a carrier plate, a plurality of light sources, a plurality of circular Fresnel lenses, and a plurality of cylinder Fresnel lenses. The circular Fresnel lenses are arranged in an array form on the carrier plate. The light sources correspond to the circular Fresnel lenses, and are located in a side away from the carrier plate. One cylinder Fresnel lens is set between every two adjacent circular Fresnel lenses. A length direction of each cylinder Fresnel lens is parallel to an extending direction of adjacent column of the circular Fresnel lens. The circular and cylinder Fresnel lenses are used to reflect a light incident into their surfaces, and to increase an emission angle of the reflected light.
US09039237B2

An illumination device, includes a printed circuit board, a plurality of LED light sources mounted on the printed circuit board, a hollow supporting post covering the plurality of LED light sources, a reflective cup located above the supporting post, a first lens received in a bottom portion of the reflective cup and a second lens located at a top portion of the reflective cup. The supporting post is connected to the printed circuit board, and the first lens is connected to the supporting post. The reflective cup includes a bottom portion adjacent to the LED light sources and a top portion remote from the LED light sources. The printed circuit board, the reflective cup, the first lens and the second lens are combined as a whole by the supporting post.
US09039224B2

A head-mounted pointing device is disclosed, and can be used for example for surgical training. The pointing device includes a frame or harness assembly made from a circumferential headband and a cross strap that extends over the user's (i.e. trainer's) head. A laser pointer is mounted on one side of the circumferential headband, and a battery pack is provided to power the laser pointer. An user-operated pneumatically controlled switch is used to toggle the laser pointer. By moving the user's head and by activating the switch to engage the laser pointer, the trainer can point to a given target, such as material to be surgically excised from the patient during a surgical procedure.
US09039221B2

Disclosed are a backlight unit and a display apparatus using the same. The backlight unit includes first and second reflectors, a light source module, an optical member spaced apart from the second reflector, a first cover to come into contact with the second reflector and optical member, a second cover coupled to the first cover to support the light source module, and a third cover coupled to the first and second covers. The first cover includes a bottom plate, first lateral plates facing each other with respect to a first direction, second lateral plates facing each other in a second direction, a first coupling portion disposed at each first lateral plate and coupled to the second cover, a second coupling portion disposed at each second lateral plate and coupled to the optical member, and a third coupling portion disposed at each second lateral plate and coupled to the third cover.
US09039218B2

A white LED lamp including: a conductive portion; a light emitting diode chip mounted on the conductive portion, for emitting a primary light having a peak wavelength of 360 nm to 420 nm; a transparent resin layer including a first hardened transparent resin, for sealing the light emitting diode chip; and a phosphor layer covering the transparent resin layer, the phosphor layer being formed by dispersing a phosphor powder into a second hardened transparent resin, and the phosphor powder receiving the primary light and radiating a secondary light having a wavelength longer than that of the primary light. An energy of the primary light contained in the radiated secondary light is 0.4 mW/Im or less.
US09039212B2

A solar concentrating system including a concentrator operative to track the Sun so as to concentrate incident sunlight on to a focal location, the concentrator including a support structure, and an array of concentrating reflectors mounted on the support structure, wherein at least one of the reflectors is formed with a reflective surface facing the Sun and configured as a concave surface such that the incident sunlight impinging on the reflective surface is reflected on to the focal location, the array of concentrating reflectors being mounted on the support structure in a Fresnel-like reflector arrangement thus defining the concentrator as a Fresnel reflector.
US09039209B1

A retroreflective plastic strip having conspicuity tape on its outer surface and having flanges along each lateral edge for spacing the strip from the surface of an under-ride bumper on a truck trailer. The strip has means such as zip ties or pop rivets for detachably securing the strip on the bumper to comply with Federal regulations.
US09039208B2

The invention provides, in some aspects, devices for image acquisition that use seals between concentrically disposed portions of an enclosure and an optics assembly in order to protect image acquisition components from the surrounding environment while providing adequate friction for both adjusting and locking focus. Such devices can include an image capture medium that is disposed within an enclosure and an optics assembly that is also disposed within that enclosure. The optics assembly, which includes at least a lens, can have a cylindrical outer diameter along at least a portion of its length that is received within the enclosure along a length that has a corresponding cylindrical inner diameter. A first seal is disposed between, and in contact with, the optics assembly and the enclosure. That seal permits rotation of the optics assembly for purposes of focusing the lens, while preventing contamination from the environment from entering into the enclosure.
US09039205B2

A projector system of the present disclosure includes a light source unit, an imaging unit and a projection lens. The light source unit provides projected light. The light source unit includes a number of converging lenses and a light guiding member. The converging lenses gather and converge outside light into the light guiding member, and the light guiding member is configured for guiding light converged by the converging lenses to the imaging unit. The imaging unit is configured for modulating light from the light source with image information. The projection lens is configured for projecting modulated light out of the projector system. The present disclosure also relates to an portable electronic device having the projector system.
US09039199B2

A projector includes a light modulation part modulating light generated by a light source part, a video signal processing part processing a video signal to be input, and a projection optical system projecting the light modulated by the light modulation part onto an external projection target to obtain a projected video image. The video signal processing part includes a blue light effect alleviating part alleviating effects of blue light on retinas. In a case where among a red signal, a green signal, and a blue signal included in a video signal, only a ratio of the blue signal is high, the blue light effect alleviating part generates a blue light effect alleviating signal for controlling the light source part to reduce the brightness of the projected video image as a whole.
US09039197B2

A projecting apparatus is disposed within a space defined with first, second and third imaginary planes perpendicular to one another and includes a light source, a prism, a reflecting mirror, and a reflective light valve. The light source emits a light beam propagating along a first optical path parallel with the first and second imaginary planes. The prism is disposed in the first optical path, and refracts the light beam to propagate along a second optical path. The reflecting mirror is disposed in the second optical path, and reflects the light beam to propagate along a third optical path. The reflective light valve is disposed in the third optical path, and has an active plane parallel with the second imaginary plane. Therefore, the light source can be placed horizontally with respect to the reflective light valve to reduce the space occupied by the light source.
US09039194B2

Controlling at least one video projector of a video projection system comprising multiple video projectors having a modifiable focal length and adapted to project sub-images. After determining a first calibration parameter associated with a first predetermined focal length of the video projectors, a second calibration parameter corresponding to a second predetermined focal length of the video projectors is computed, the second calibration parameter computed as a function of the first calibration parameter and the second predetermined focal length different from the first one. A display parameter is computed for a video projector, the display parameter being computed as a function of second calibration parameter, and a sub-image to be projected by the video projector is calculated according to the computed display parameter. Necessary display parameters are determined during an initial calibration step and used during a projection session whenever the user issues an “optical zoom” command, without repeating the calibration.
US09039193B2

A first light-transmissive plate is provided on an opposite surface of a first substrate of an electro-optic panel to a second substrate. The first light-transmissive plate is smaller than the first substrate, and an end portion of the first substrate is exposed from the first light-transmissive plate. In addition, a heat radiation member made of a metal material is provided so as to be overlapped with the exposed portion from the first light-transmissive plate of the first substrate.
US09039186B2

A projector includes: a light source device; a light modulation device adapted to modulate a light beam emitted from the light source device; a light transmissive substrate adapted to transmit the light beam modulated by the light modulation device; and a projection optical device adapted to project the light beam transmitted through the light transmissive substrate, wherein the light modulation device includes a first light modulation unit having a plurality of pixels arranged, the pixels having colors different from each other, and the light transmissive substrate is disposed so as to be tilted with respect to an imaginary plane perpendicular to a light axis of the light beam modulated by the first light modulation unit.
US09039178B2

This image processing apparatus includes: a planar image acquisition unit configured to acquire a planar image showing a polarization state of a subject, a tomographic image acquisition unit configured to acquire a three-dimensional tomographic image including a plurality of two-dimensional tomographic image of the subject, a display control unit configured to display, on the display unit, an index indicating a position of a tomographic image to be displayed on the display unit among a plurality of two-dimensional tomographic images, by superimposing it on a planar image showing the polarization state, and an instruction unit configured to give an instruction to change a position of the index on a planar image showing the polarization state.
US09039177B2

An eye image and video capture system (100) that includes at least one user interface from which a user may select one of a plurality of regions of an eye to image, each of the plurality of regions preferably having at least one correlated preset value for the light control components of the optics assembly and/or at least one correlated preset value for controlling the camera. A method associated with the eye image and video capture system. A slit lamp data detection system in which the slit lamp (200) preferably has a movable component that preferably has a direct relation to desired data. The slit lamp data detection system may be a slit lamp magnification data detection system for detecting magnification data. The slit lamp data detection system may be a slit lamp position data detection system for detecting position data that indicates which eye is being examined.
US09039175B2

An optical coherence eye-fundus tomography device has a high resolution and a good operability, as well as be miniaturized and be produced at a low cost. The optical coherence eye-fundus tomography device includes: a light source unit which emits a source light beam; a reference-light unit which reflects a reference light beam; an inspection unit which illuminates an object with an object scanning light beam, reflected the object scanning light beam; and a detection unit which obtains a tomographic image of the object on the basis of the interference light beam produced by interfering the reflected reference light beam with the reflected object light beam. For example, the light source unit emits the outgoing light beam that has a depth of focus of not less than 300 μm, and resolution that is 6 μm×6 μm or higher in a planar direction perpendicular to a traveling direction of the outgoing light beam.
US09039172B2

A method and system for treating Presbyopia and pre-Presbyopia are provided that do not compromise the wearer's intermediate or distance vision. The system is a lens and a lens series, wherein the power profiles of the lenses are tailored to provide an amount of positive ADD power in the near vision zone that is slightly less than that which is normally required for near vision accommodation, while also providing an amount of negative spherical aberration in the peripheral optical zone. The dynamic ocular factors of the wearer's eye work in conjunction with the positive ADD power provided by the central optical zone and with the effective ADD gained from the negative spherical aberration provided by the peripheral optical zone to induce a minimally discernible amount of blur that is tuned to maximize the wearer's depth of focus.
US09039167B2

The present invention has a technical object to provide glasses which prevent invasion of pollen, can be continuously worn without any discomfort in wearing, and can effectively block ultraviolet ray. The present invention achieves the technical object by glasses including inwardly projecting visors in rims and end pieces of a frame, and glasses in which lenses, a frame, and inwardly projecting visors formed in the frame are formed of synthetic resin containing an ultraviolet absorbing agent or an ultraviolet scattering agent.
US09039157B2

There are provided an image processing apparatus and an image processing method which can shorten a drying time of inks in an edge region of an image, and can form a sharp image without bleeding of the ink applied onto the edge region into a blank paper. The image processing method generates applying data for forming an image on a print medium by a relative scan between print heads for ejecting a first ink and a second ink having the same color with the first ink and lower in surface tension than the first ink, and the print medium. The image processing method generates first data for applying the first ink to a predetermined region that is adjacent to an edge region of the image and that is included in an inside region inward of the edge region, and generates second data for applying the second ink to the edge region.
US09039151B2

A liquid ejection apparatus includes: a head including: a reservoir tank; an inlet opening; and ejection openings; an air-discharge passage for discharging air from the reservoir tank to an outside; a first sucking device for sucking air from the reservoir tank via the air-discharge passage; a semipermeable membrane dividing a space in the reservoir tank and the air-discharge passage, into a reservoir-tank-side space and a first-sucking-device-side space and allowing communication of the air and inhibiting communication of liquid between the reservoir-tank-side space and the first-sucking-device-side space; and a first valve mechanism dividing the reservoir-tank-side space into a first space on a semipermeable-membrane side and a second space on an inlet-opening side, inhibiting fluid from flowing from the first space to the second space, and allowing fluid to flow from the second space to the first space. The first space is located above the ejection openings.
US09039136B2

A waste ink absorber for absorbing waste ink discharged from a head for ejecting ink includes layers the same in density and different in flame retardant content ratio, which are stacked.
US09039135B2

A liquid absorbent for ink contains a cellulose fiber, a heat-fusible material, and a flame-retardant material. The absorbent satisfies the relation σ1−σ0≦500, where σ0 [μS/cm] is the electric conductivity of the ink and σ1 [μS/cm] is that of a mixture of 5 g of the ink and 1 g of the flame-retardant material.
US09039133B2

An ink jet printing apparatus prints an image by employing a print head capable of ejecting ink from ejection ports. The printing apparatus comprises a cap configured to cover the ejection ports, a valve configured to open and close an atmospheric communicating portion that communicates an inside of the cap and the atmosphere, a suction unit configured to generate a suction force, and a control unit. The control unit performs a first operation where the suction unit applies a first suction force to the inside of the cap in a state where the cap covers the ejection ports and the valve closes the atmospheric communicating portion, and a second operation where the suction unit applies a second suction force, less than the first suction force, to the inside of the cap in a state where the cap covers the ejection ports and the valve opens the atmospheric communicating portion.
US09039132B2

A printing apparatus which prints an image on a transparent medium using a head which discharges ink droplets from nozzles. Two pieces of image data are prepared, one piece of image data is selected from the two pieces of image data to set the selected image data to one of a first image and a second image, and the other piece of image data is set to the other of the first image and the second image. The image data set to the first image is subjected to a processing to be mirror image data. The head prints the mirror image of the first image on the medium, prints a background image on the mirror image of the first image, and prints a real image of the second image on the background image.
US09039128B2

An image recording apparatus includes a plurality of recording heads arranged in a staggered configuration in a width direction. Adjacent ones of the recording heads have respective adjacent nozzles for ejecting ink droplets onto positions adjacent to each other in the width direction on a recording medium. For recording an image, a correction area rate less than a dot area rate of an input mage in a recording position of each of the adjacent nozzles is calculated from the dot area rate. Then, ink droplets are ejected from each of the adjacent nozzles in accordance with the correction area rate. As a result, the amounts of ink droplets ejected from the adjacent nozzles are limited. For a recording process using a head unit including the recording heads arranged in a staggered configuration, this suppresses the occurrence of unevenness in density due to an undesirable flow or bleeding of ink at the boundary between recording regions of the recording heads.
US09039126B2

A liquid ejection head substrate includes: a plurality of energy generating element arrays each including a plurality of energy generating elements configured to generate energy for ejecting liquid; a supply port array in which a plurality of supply ports configured to supply liquid to the plurality of energy generating elements are arranged between the plurality of energy generating element arrays in an arrangement direction in which the plurality of energy generating elements are arranged; a temperature detection element that is configured to detect a temperature of the liquid ejection head substrate and that is provided on one side of the supply port array; and a heating element that is configured to heat the liquid ejection head substrate and that is provided on the other side of the supply port array.
US09039120B2

An apparatus includes a print head having a plurality of nozzle arrays; a scanning unit configured to perform scanning of the print head in a first direction and in a second direction; an adjusting unit configured to adjust an amount of the ink ejection from a first nozzle unit including a predetermined number of nozzles arranged at one of end positions of a first nozzle array, the number of nozzle arrays arranged at a side of the first direction from the first nozzle array is less than the number of nozzle arrays arranged at a side of the second direction from the first nozzle array; and a control unit. The adjusting unit adjusts the amount of the ink ejection such that amount of ink ejection in the scan of the first direction is smaller than amount of ink ejection in the scan of the second direction.
US09039111B2

There is provided a temperature detection unit 28 configured to detect an activation condition temperature that is the condition temperature causing activation of a remoistenable adhesive that is coated by water, an integrated storage unit 2 configured to store an attachment maintenance time table that is the attachment maintenance time selection condition for determining the attachment maintenance time T for the remoistenable adhesive depending on the activation condition temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 28, and an integrated control unit 3 configured to drive and control the discharge unit 26 of the enclosing and sealing apparatus 20 to thereby satisfy the attachment maintenance time T determined in response to the activation condition temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 28.
US09039106B2

The present invention pertains to a modular furniture system in which a flat-foldable or easily assembled and disassembled rigid base structure composed of rectangular-cross-sectioned pieces each with specific dimensions serves variously, once assembled, as the supporting framework for a flat-foldable chair seat-and-backrest module, which configured together with the base structure serves as either an upright dining chair with armrests or as a lower and more reclined lounge chair with armrests, or alternatively as configured for supporting the connectable or foldable components of a flat planar surface module to be used for dining or to serve as a desktop, or alternatively as configured for supporting a storage cabinet module with drawers or doors.
US09039100B2

A dual wheel axle assembly includes an axle, a hub coupled to the axle, a rotor coupled to the hub, a surface of the axle assembly inboard of the hub, and an adapter. The adapter is coupled to the rotor or the hub. The adapter has an encoder ring portion positioned at a first distance from the surface of the axle assembly, wherein the first distance is substantially equal to a second distance from a corresponding surface of a single wheel axle assembly to an encoder ring portion of the single wheel axle assembly without the adapter.
US09039099B2

A quick change type bit/bit holder includes several different structures for holding the item in a bit block without the necessity of a fastener. The bit portion of the bit/bit holder combination includes a ductile steel insert with a polycrystalline diamond coated tungsten carbide bit positioned therein. The ductility of the steel insert acts as a shock absorber to allow the bit to successfully remove concrete as well as asphalt in a road milling machine.
US09039097B2

An apparatus for remotely locking a container includes a vehicle having a main frame and a tipper frame hingedly connected to the main frame, at least one of the main frame and tipper frame being configured to receive and support a container thereon; an actuator assembly for pivoting the tipper frame relative the main frame between a reclined, container loading and transport position and an inclined, dumping position; a container configured for receipt, transport and dumping of material, including a box defining a rear opening, and having a door hingedly connected with the container box to swing between an open, material dumping position and a closed position covering and sealing shut the rear opening; at least one lock mechanism connected to at least one of the box and the door; a locking assembly connected to the container; and, an actuator assembly connected to the tipper frame and physically separate from the locking assembly, and when the container is juxtaposed atop the tipper frame said tipper frame is in the transport position, the actuator assembly is operable upon actuation to engage with and cause the locking assembly to engage with the at least one lock mechanism to pull the door tightly against the box and seal closed the opening.
US09039093B2

Embodiments of the present invention include a vehicle seat having a frame member and a reinforcing member for reinforcing the frame member. The frame member has an elongated portion. The elongated portion is formed of resin and preferably has a flat-plate-like or bar-like configuration. The elongated portion includes a first portion, a front second portion and a rear second portion. The first portion may be arranged in a longitudinal manner with respect to the vehicle seat and extends vertically. The front second portion extends in the lateral direction of the vehicle seat from a front end of the first portion. The rear second portion extends in the lateral direction of the vehicle seat from a rear end of the first portion. The elongated portion is configured so that a neutral axis is positioned between the front and rear second portions.
US09039092B1

The present disclosure describes a method of manufacture and a structure for an automobile seat cover that includes a seat cover body with an outer perimeter, a seat cover skirt with a first edge sewn with an overlock stitch to the seat cover body for a majority of the outer perimeter, and a second edge, distal from the first edge, comprising a tie element extending for a majority of the second edge around a seat opening in the seat cover. A portion of the seat cover skirt and the seat cover body corresponding to a location of at least one airbag installed in an automobile seat cover over which the seat cover is to be placed are sewn together with one of a straight stitch and a lock stitch instead of the overlock stitch. In some implementations, the thread used is a brightly colored string.
US09039091B1

A composite chair includes a chair frame and a fastening assembly. The chair frame includes a front support portion, a rear support portion and two support seat tubes connecting the front support portion to the rear support portion. The rear support portion includes a holding portion and two locking holes. Each support seat tube has a first opening and a second opening faced the fastening hole. The fastening assembly includes two fastening elements inserted in the first openings, a support bar connected to the two fastening elements and two fasteners run through the locking holes and the second openings to fasten to the fastening elements. Each of the fastening elements includes a butting portion and a screw hole. Each of the fasteners includes a thread portion fastened to the screw hole and a detent block butting the holding portion. The composite chair thus formed can be assembled easily.
US09039087B2

A chair capable of allowing positions of armrests and a back plate to be simultaneously adjusted having an integrated back plate cell including a backrest portion and armrest portions extending forward from the backrest portion, a lower frame including a seat plat support portion and an armrest support portion which extends upward from the seat plat support portion and is coupled to each of the armrest portions, and a fixing lever which fixes the armrest portion to the armrest support portion, wherein the integrated back plate cell is obliquely movable relative to the lower frame.
US09039082B2

A bicycle saddle comprising: a supporting frame (2), set up for connecting the saddle to a seat post; a resting base (3), connected to the supporting frame (2) and intended for transmitting the weight of the cyclist to the supporting frame (2), which is provided with a front portion (31) and with a rear portion (32); a cover (4) that covers the resting base (3) and is intended for defining the surface of contact with the cyclist; a shock-absorbing anti-sliding insert (5), interposed between the resting base (3) and the cover (4), which protrudes at least partially from the cover (4) through an opening (41) made on the cover (4).
US09039080B2

A sliding child seat for use with a stationary surface, generally a stationary group dinging surface such as a kitchen counter-top, bar, or fixed table in a restaurant. In various embodiments, a sliding child seat for use with a stationary surface generally includes a frame member to receive a child seat, said frame member being connected to the stationary surface by sliding means, said frame member being switchable between a retracted position and an extended position, said frame member defining an aperture and having an inner perimeter, and a child seat to sit in said frame member when said frame member is in said extended state, said child seat having a lower portion and an upper portion, said lower portion fitting through the aperture defined by said frame member, said lower portion having an outer perimeter smaller than the inner perimeter of said frame member.
US09039074B1

A wheel liner comprises a rigid frame with relatively large openings rather than a continuous surface. Non-woven fibers or potential other similar materials which are often less rigid than the frame are inserted over the openings of the frame. The resulting wheel liner is less expensive, lighter, more aesthetically pleasing, and possessing superior sound dampening capabilities than a conventional prior art wheel liner.
US09039068B2

A deployable air dam for an automotive vehicle has panel, a plurality of four-bar linkages coupling the panel to a front of the vehicle, and an electric clutched actuator coupled to the four-bar linkages for moving the panel of the air-dam between a deployed and an undeployed position wherein the panel extends vertically down from a bottom of a bumper of the vehicle when in the deployed position.
US09039067B2

This disclosure relates an attachment structure of a door sash of the vehicle door. The vehicle door of this disclosure includes: a door sash; a bracket, which joins the door sash to an inner panel; and a patch, which is joined to the bracket and the door sash and which sandwiches the door sash in cooperation with the bracket, thereby reinforcing the bracket.
US09039042B2

Construction is achieved that is capable of maintaining the holding force by which a support bracket 12a holds an outer column 13a. One pivoting friction plate 25 for telescopic mechanism is held between the inside surface of a support plate section 20a of the support bracket 12a and the outside surface of a displacement bracket 18a that is fastened to the outer column 13a. When adjusting the forward-backward position of a steering wheel, the pivoting friction plate 25 for telescopic mechanism pivots around a support pin 33 as an adjustment rod 22a displaces along a long hole 19a for telescopic mechanism and a long guide hole 32.
US09039038B2

Aspirator for an airbag deploying into a vehicle passenger compartment in order to protect a driver of the vehicle during an accident, includes a housing having an innermost and an outermost wall and defining an outlet at a distal end leading to an airbag and coaxial flow passages between the innermost and outermost walls into which air from a passenger compartment flows to inflate the airbag. An aspiration system is coupled to the housing and configured to direct gas into the flow passages to mix with the air from the passenger compartment in the flow passages. The aspiration system includes openings on an inner side of the outermost wall and on an outer side of the innermost wall. These openings are configured such that the gas is directed therefrom into the flow passages in a direction substantially parallel to a flow direction of air into the flow passages.
US09039037B2

In an inflated and expanded state of a side airbag, a forwardly extending portion, provided at an upper portion of a rear side bag portion, extends from a side of a shoulder portion of a seated passenger toward a vehicle front side and is disposed above a front side bag portion. A dimension in a vehicle transverse direction of this forwardly extending portion is set to be smaller than that of the front side bag portion, and a vehicle transverse direction inner side surface at an upper end side of the front side bag portion is inclined or curved so as to rise-up while heading toward a vehicle transverse direction outer side. An upper arm portion is pushed-up due to sliding contact with this surface. Even when the seated passenger inertially toward an oblique front of a vehicle, the shoulder portion can be restrained by the forwardly extending portion.
US09039024B1

A bicycle seatpost includes a first part and a second part. A curvature radius of the first part is r1, and an arc length of the first part is equal to or greater than πr1 and smaller than 2πr1, the first part is set toward a head of a bicycle. The second part is connected to the first part, wherein a curvature radius of the second part is greater than the curvature radius of the first part, the second part is set toward an end of the bicycle.
US09039023B2

In an outer tube for a front fork, a metal upper collar to which an upper vehicle body attaching bracket is connected is fitted and attached to an upper end portion of the plastic pipe, a metal sleeve is fitted and attached between an intermediate portion and a lower end portion of the plastic pipe, and the sleeve is provided with a lower collar to which a lower vehicle body attaching bracket is connected, and a seal case for inserting and supporting the inner tube.
US09039022B2

A reconfigurable fixed position suspension and support structure attached to the trailer body using a locking device consisting of pins, bolts and/or other fastening devices. The support structure has a removable locking device that when attached to the support structure locks the support structure and suspension into a fixed position relative to the trailer body. When the trailer is not in operation, the locking device can be removed allowing the suspension group to be reconfigured, and each suspension to be repositioned relative to the trailer body. The removable locking device is then reattached to the suspension support structure locking the support structure and suspension into a new fixed position relative to the trailer body.
US09039021B2

A control arrangement for a hydropneumatic suspension system and a hydropneumatic suspension system are provided. The control arrangement has a pressure supply connection, a return connection, a piston chamber connection adapted to be connected to the piston chamber of a suspension cylinder of the hydropneumatic suspension system, an annular chamber connection adapted to be connected to the annular chamber of the suspension cylinder, and at least one controllable valve arrangement comprising a plurality of switch positions via which the pressure supply connection and the return connection are connectable to the piston chamber connection and the annular chamber connection. The annular chamber connection is in flow connection with the return connection via a pressure-limiting line having a hydraulically controllable pressure-limiting element. The pressure-limiting element has a control input adapted to be acted upon via a control line by a control pressure which is limitable to a predefinable pressure limit.
US09039020B2

An end member for a gas spring assembly is dimensioned to receivingly engage an end of a flexible wall. The end member can be formed from polymeric material and can include a side wall receiving the end of the flexible wall. The end member can also include a base wall extending transverse to the side wall and dimensioned to abuttingly engage a jounce bumper of the gas spring assembly. The end member can include a mounting ridge or a mounting channel for engaging an associated structural component. A gas spring assembly including such an end member is also included.
US09039017B2

A hand ice skating mechanism in conjunction with an athletic protective mechanism utilizing a glove portion including a front portion and a rear portion, wherein the rear portion includes a blade retaining portion and a blade assembly in communication with the blade retaining portion.
US09039015B2

A device for use in a vehicle steering system, said device comprising at least one actuator affixed to a wheel linkage of at least one wheel of said vehicle steering system. The actuator comprises a rotation assembly engagable with a first wheel linkage segment, an electric motor for actuating movement of the rotation assembly via a gear box and one or more sensors integrally contained in the actuator for sensing one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of force, speed, turns and rotation. Rotation of the rotation assembly actuates linear movement of said first wheel linkage segment into and out of said actuator to thereby adjust one or more wheel parameters of said at least one wheel, and wherein said one or more sensors provide real time data to an actuator control unit integral to said actuator to self-adjust rotational parameters of said rotation assembly.
US09039013B2

A hydrodynamic non-contacting seal wherein the sealing surface of a rotatable sealing member is grooved in a spiral pattern such that the depth of the grooves decreases in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the rotatable sealing member.
US09039008B2

A sheet processing apparatus, including: a stacking section; a first alignment section which aligns both end portions in a sheet conveyance direction of the sheet stacked in the stacking section; a second alignment section which aligns both end portions in a width direction, that is orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction, of the sheet aligned by the first alignment section; a sheet ejection section which ejects the sheet stacked in the stacking section outside the stacking section; and a control section which moves a pair of horizontal alignment plates away from the both end portions in the width direction of the sheet after operating a gripping section so as to grip the sheet in a state where the pair of horizontal alignment plates contacts the both end portions in the width direction of the sheet supported by a supporting section.
US09038995B2

A vibration isolator includes an inner tube (11), an outer tube (12) surrounding the inner tube (11) from a radial outer side of the inner tube, and an elastic body (13) coupling the inner tube (11) and the outer tube (12). Multiple pressure-absorbing fluid chambers (35, 36), whose walls are partly formed by the elastic body (13), are disposed inside the outer tube (12), and include a pair of first pressure-absorbing fluid chambers (35) interconnected through first restricting passages (37), and a second pressure-absorbing fluid chamber (36) connected to an auxiliary fluid chamber (28), in which a fluid is filled, through a second restricting passage. The pair of first pressure-absorbing fluid chambers (35) are disposed to sandwich the inner tube (11) therebetween. The second pressure-absorbing fluid chamber (36) is arranged in parallel to the inner tube (11) in an orthogonal direction (C) perpendicular to both an axial direction of the inner tube (11) and a sandwiching direction (B) in which the inner tube (11) is sandwiched between the pair of first pressure-absorbing fluid chambers (35). The inner tube (11) runs along overall lengths of the pair of first pressure-absorbing fluid chambers (35) and the second pressure-absorbing fluid chamber (36) in the axial direction.
US09038991B2

A carbonator tank assembly is disclosed for use in a beverage machine wherein the beverage dispensed therefrom is a carbonated beverage. The carbonator tank includes walls defining a carbonator tank interior. A probe assembly is provided for coupling in a gaseous and fluid-type manner to the walls of the carbonator tank. The probe assembly has no floats but includes elongated probes having removed ends configured to extend into the interior of the carbonator tank and near ends exposed exteriorly. An electronics module is adapt to fluidly enclose an electronics assembly therein. The electronics module includes walls adapted to receive an electrical cable carrying electrical energy from a remote source.
US09038989B2

A boom mountable robotic arm for temporarily supporting an elongate conductor includes a rigid member such as a beam or beam assembly adapted for mounting onto the upper end of a boom for example using a boom adaptor, at least one electrically insulated support post mounted to the rigid member, where each post temporarily supports an elongate electrical conductor, and at least two rotation devices for selectively controllable rotation of the rigid member and the electrically insulated support posts about at least two corresponding axes of rotation.
US09038986B2

A valve assembly having a valve-seal on a valve member that moves between an open and a closed position within a valve support housing for controlling fluid flow, particularly for use as a shut-off valve. In many embodiments, advancing the valve member sealingly engages the valve-seal with a valve seating area of the housing to close the valve and shut-off fluid flow through the housing, while retracting the valve member moves the valve-seal away from the seating area to allow fluid flow around the valve-seal and through the valve-seating area. In many embodiments, the valve member includes a proximal handle and angled ramp that engage with a helical ramp of the housing to translate rotation of the handle into axial movement of the member between open and closed positions.
US09038982B1

A device is provided for hanging a frame member against a wall includes a crossbar and first and second vertical arms oriented perpendicular to the crossbar. The crossbar has a longitudinal track and a leveling bubble. The first and second vertical arms each have a linear track that extends along the length, and a marker on the rearward surface thereof. The vertical arms are retained to the crossbar by knuckles having a guide for slideably engaging the linear track of the vertical arms and the first vertical arms are retained perpendicular to the crossbar and are longitudinally moveable perpendicular to the linear edge.
US09038981B2

A seat slide apparatus for a vehicle includes a first rail, a second rail, a lock member, a biasing member, the lock member being rotatably connected to the second rail in a state where a support shaft fixed to one of the second rail and the lock member is positioned within an elongated hole formed at the other of the second rail and the lock member to be movable in first and second directions of the relative movement and is biased by a support shaft biasing member in a direction orthogonal to the first and second directions, and a restriction portion restricting the support shaft from moving within the elongated hole in the first and second directions in a case where a load applied in one of the first and second directions is smaller than a predetermined value.
US09038975B2

The floral vase anchor is preferably formed from a single strip of plastic or metal, and includes a tri-planar surface, wherein the central portion includes a series of notches on either side, and upper and lower sections extend at obtuse angles away from the plane of the central portion. The upper section and lower section each include floral insert slots at the distal ends thereof for receiving the stems from a floral arrangement. In use, a florist may insert the stems into the floral insert slots until the stems are positioned within the rounded portion of the slots. Then rubber bands may be used to secure the stems to the anchor, and the assembly may be placed into a vase. A securing mechanism may be used to fix the anchor to the vase, and may also be used to secure the vase to the ground or a monument.
US09038974B2

A connecting structure received in a main device for connecting an auxiliary apparatus. The connecting structure includes a retracting part formed on a bottom board of the main device and close to a sidewall of the main device and a clamping part. The clamping part is pivotablly mounted on the bottom board and pivotally connected to the retracting part. The retracting part drives the clamping part to extend out of the main device via an opening defined on the sidewall for connecting the auxiliary apparatus when the auxiliary apparatus needs to be mounted on the main device. The retracting part retracts the clamping part into the main device when the auxiliary apparatus is unmounted from the main device.
US09038970B2

A vibration-dampening clamp for clamping long, narrow articles such as pipes includes a pipe clamp member made of hard resin that has pipe clamp portions for restraining the long, narrow articles, a mounting member made of hard resin that has a mounting portion for mounting to the fastened member, and an elastic connection member made of soft resin that is packed between the pipe clamp member and the mounting member. The pipe clamp member and the mounting member do not make direct contact, so that detachment of the pipe clamp member from the mounting member is inhibited. The detachment inhibiting structure incorporates a T-shaped portion that comprises a flat plate portion and a prism portion formed in a mounting member, and an arm portion formed in the pipe clamp member that extends about the periphery of the flat plate portion of the T-shaped portion.
US09038967B2

A fluid line clamp includes one or more blocks with holes for receiving fluid lines therein. The fluid line clamp further includes a first backing plate, a second backing plate, and a shielding plate. The first and second backing plates are spaced apart from each other to receive the blocks therebetween. The shielding plate is disposed at a distance from the blocks and includes an inner surface, and an outer surface. The inner surface of the shielding plate is rigidly attached to the backing plates. The outer surface of the shielding plate is configured to rigidly attach to a hot body of a machine.
US09038965B2

A sequential monitoring system is for an interlocking logic system and a track circuit system including a plurality of track circuits. The sequential monitoring system includes an interface between the interlocking logic system and the track circuit system; and a processor structured to monitor a state of each of the track circuits, validate a sequence of state changes of the track circuits, and interrupt and correct invalid track circuit state indications between the track circuit system and the interlocking logic system. The interface normally passes inputs from the track circuit system to outputs to the interlocking logic system. When an out of sequence event occurs, the processor applies a quarantine to a minimum of three of the track circuits in a quarantined area, thereby inhibiting use of an unoccupied track circuit in the quarantined area.
US09038961B2

A method for simulating the movement behavior of a fluid in a closed moving container is provided. The simulation is based on the determination of the potential movement path of the center of gravity of the volume of the fluid as an elliptical trajectory situated in a disturbance plane having certain semi-axes.
US09038960B2

A device for thermal monitoring a piece of equipment, which is integrated on a craft placed in a forced vacuum environment, an outside part of the equipment projecting outside of a wall of the craft and being subjected to a solar radiation flux, includes an absorbent screen that is suitable for being placed between the outside part of the equipment and the wall of the craft, whereby this absorbent screen has—on at least one portion of its front face, designed to be placed on the side removed from the wall of the craft—an absorptivity αSOLAR that is the largest possible in the field of solar radiation, coupled to a low emissivity εIR in the infrared spectrum. The absorbent screen is made of a very heat-conductive material and has—on at least a portion of its rear face, suitable for being oriented toward the wall of the craft—a high emissivity εIR in the infrared spectrum, typically greater than or equal to 0.7.
US09038957B1

A system has a plurality of spacecraft in orbit around the earth for collecting energy from the Sun in space, using stimulated emission to configure that energy as well defined states of the optical field and delivering that energy efficiently throughout the region of space surrounding Earth.
US09038956B1

Certain embodiments described herein are directed to devices configured to retain, at least for some period, and provide pre-launch support kites such as stunt kites. In certain instances, the device positions stunt kites of various sizes and design, including, for example, delta wing kits, diamond kits and foil kits, in a reclined position to provide pre-launch stability and wind flow/spill-over across the face of the kite to help prevent unintentional or premature launch. If desired, optional control line upright supports can be present that permit minimum control line pull-back thereby reducing the recline of the kite to bring the face of the kite into the wind and thereby launch the kite. The control line upright supports may also prevent the kite from falling completely face down on the surface, thereby requiring a reset of the kite on the device.
US09038953B2

The invention provides an arrangement and methods for thermally insulating aircraft, particularly but not exclusively for when the aircraft is operating in extremely hot or cold conditions, and describes an aircraft skin construction including a foam-stiffened CFC sandwich panel forming part of the aircraft outer skin mounted to an underlying load bearing aircraft structure, wherein the panel at the mounting to the structure includes two outer layers of CFC material with an inner layer of foam material sandwiched therebetween.
US09038949B2

An assembly for shielding an aircraft from electromagnetic energy may include a window mounting configured to be conductively coupled to an aperture in a fuselage of an aircraft. The window mounting may include a window pane having an electromagnetically-reflective coating for reflecting electromagnetic energy. The window pane may remain electrically isolated from the fuselage prior to the electromagnetic energy exceeding a frequency of approximately 1 GHz. The window mounting may further include a capacitive gasket capacitively coupling the window pane to the fuselage after the frequency of the electromagnetic energy reflected by the window pane exceeds approximately 1 GHz.
US09038934B2

A fly reel comprises a housing having a back plate, a spindle extending from the back plate, a spool rotatably mounted on the spindle, an adjustable drag assembly fixed to the spool and rotatably mounted with the spool, the adjustable drag assembly is adapted to provide controlled friction against the spool during rotation of the spool, a crank member for rotating the spool in a first direction, and a one way clutch operatively associated with the spindle for permitting rotation of the crank member in the first direction only whereby the spool is adapted to rotate independent of the crank in a second direction that is opposite the first direction. In addition, the drag adjustment knob of the reel is disposed on the same side as the reel crank handle and the drag components may be sealed within a cartridge.
US09038924B2

A nozzle assembly for a sprinkler is revealed. The nozzle assembly includes a main channel having a water inlet on one end and a water outlet on the other end thereof The nozzle assembly features on that: an adjustment member for control of water flow is disposed on the main channel, located between the water inlet and the water outlet. The adjustment member is arranged around the main channel. The displacement direction of the adjustment member and the water flow direction of the main channel are not along the same axis, or not parallel to each other. Thus when the nozzle assembly is applied to underground sprinklers; it is hidden from view and is able to prevent others from changing outlet water flow purposely.
US09038923B2

The present disclosure generally relates to systems and devices for spraying fluid materials such as paints, stains, and the like, and more specifically, but not by limitation, to a fluid level indicator for an airless fluid sprayer. In one example, an airless fluid sprayer is provided and includes a fluid container, a controller, and a fluid level indication module implemented by the controller to generate an indication of a level of fluid material in the fluid container.
US09038922B1

A spray containment device comprising: a threaded adapter, a conical body having a threaded aperture wherein the threaded aperture is adapted to cooperate with said threaded adapter, and (c) at least one threaded nut adapted to thread onto the threaded adapter above the conical body so as to secure the conical body to the threaded adapter. Also included is a sprayer device comprising a liquid container and a spray wand to which the spray containment device may be attached. The threaded adapter and nut system could be utilized to attach threads to other types of pipes, rods or similarly shaped pieces.
US09038920B2

An electro-hydrodynamic wind energy conversion system is presented. The system includes a wind passage allowing wind flow. Further, the system includes a reservoir having an opening in communication with the wind passage and configured to hold a liquid. The system also includes an agitator coupled to the reservoir and configured to convert the liquid into droplets. Additionally, the system includes a charging system disposed substantially opposite the reservoir opening and configured to deposit an electrostatic charge on the droplets and draw the droplets into the wind passage. Moreover, the system includes a charge collector disposed at a distal end of the wind passage and configured to collect the electrostatic charge from the droplets.
US09038916B2

The invention proposes a smart card which comprises a digital signal processing receiver that can automatically identify the type of a smart card reader based on the error vector magnitude of signals received from the reader. The digital signal processing receiver is able to reconfigure itself at runtime in order to optimally minimize its power consumption in dependence on the type of reader it is communicating with. Furthermore, the invention proposes a new preamble structure that comprises a basic part and an optional additional part.
US09038909B2

A method includes generating a machine readable code using each ink color implemented at a printer, printing the machine readable code on a first side of the medium, analyzing the machine readable code printed on the first side of the medium at a verification unit and detecting a side mismatch if the verification unit does not verify the machine readable code printed on the first side of the medium.
US09038903B2

A method includes transmitting from at least one of the imaging sensors to a controller a short frame data that is collected by the at least one of the imaging sensors when the illumination source is activated to provide the illumination light toward the target object with a first illumination level. The method further includes transmitting subsequently from the at least one of the imaging sensors to the controller a regular frame data that is collected by the at least one of the imaging sensors when the illumination source is activated to provide the illumination light toward the target object with a second illumination level that is determined based upon the short frame data. The size of the regular frame data being at least 50 times larger than the size of the short frame data.
US09038901B2

An optical device includes a housing containing a plurality of lenses. At least one of those lenses includes a reticle. An optical device and a processor are also located in the housing. A wind speed sensor is mounted to the housing and configured to send a wind speed signal corresponding to a wind speed to the processor. The processor calculates a wind speed based at least in part on the wind speed signal, and wherein the processor sends an output signal corresponding to the calculated wind speed to the output device.
US09038897B2

A system and approach for conveying engineering and license data with a handheld or mobile device via a multi-dimensional code. Engineering data from a page such as a schematic may be generated, formatted, and encoded with a multi-dimensional code. The code in a visual presentation may be embedded in the schematic. A mobile device may scan the code. The device with an appropriate application may decode and un-format the engineering data from the code for a consumer or user. License data may be generated, encrypted, and encoded in a multi-dimensional code. The code in a visual presentation may be scanned and decrypted by the mobile device with an appropriate application, for a consumer or user.
US09038888B2

Credit applicants may apply for instant credit, and use an instant account number (“IAN”) to make purchases after the instant credit has been granted. Fraud control methods may be used in authorizing the instant credit. When the IAN is issued to purchase airline tickets, it can be ensured that the applicant's last name matches the passenger's last name for the airline ticket being purchased, and that the ticket will not be renamed or sold. When the IAN is issued in conjunction with a partner's loyalty or rewards program, the applicant's account information with the rewards program is captured. It is ensured that the applicant has some tenure with the partner and that data submitted by the applicant is consistent with data on file with the partner.
US09038887B1

System, including a code scanner, for using multi-function codes, such as multi-function QR codes, MobiTags, ShotCodes, 2-dimensional bar codes, 3-dimensional bar codes, or images to open multiple ports of a telephone device. One of the ports is a text port, enabling the system to obtain the telephone number of a device that reads a code associated with an item and then generate a lead for follow-up by an agent. The lead is sent to the agent via a text or email message. The system may also pass the lead to other agents if the first agent doesn't respond, and it may also send additional information to the telephone device. The system may include a database of item-associated information and the capability of accessing the item-associated information for inclusion in outgoing messages to the agents and/or the telephone device.
US09038885B2

The Dollar Coin Converter is an annular attachment to a United States dollar coin, which semi-permanently converts the coin into a size that is tactilely and visually, more easily distinguished from the United States quarter coin. It allows advertising and marketing on the faces of the annular attachment to provide incentives to circulate the coin, saving billions of dollars. The Dollar Coin Converter is made of inexpensive, one-piece or two-piece construction. It holds a dollar coin securely, and will tolerate normal handling, cash transactions, flipping, or jostling in a coin purse, pocket or money bag without unintentional release of the coin. The coin may be easily removed or replaced even by a child or a person with long finger nails for use in a vending machine. The converted dollar coin retains the inherent magnetic and electrical, anti-counterfeiting characteristics of the dollar coin.
US09038882B2

A circular stapling instrument including a stapling forming assembly that is actuated independently from actuation of the cutting assembly is provided. The instrument includes a handle assembly, an elongate body extending from the handle assembly, a cartridge assembly mounted on a distal end of the elongate body. The cartridge assembly includes a pusher and a knife assembly. The knife assembly is selectively fixed relative to the pusher.
US09038880B1

An exemplary surgical apparatus may include a shaft defining a lumen therein; articulation bands extending through and slidable generally longitudinally within the lumen of the shaft; an end effector affixed to the articulation bands; and generally annular segments positioned about the articulation bands along at least a portion of the length of the articulation bands to define an articulated region, where the segments laterally constrain the articulation bands.
US09038874B2

The present invention relates to a vehicle rack arrangement (10) comprises a load carrying bar (29 and at least a first clamp rack load carrier foot (50). The first clamp rack load carrier foot (50) comprises a grip member (80), a body (55), an attachment arrangement (90) and optionally an intermediate member (70). The load carrier foot (50) comprises a connection arrangement (50) which interacts with a stop surface (25a, 25b) of a load carrying bar (20) in a retaining manner to thereby, when operating the attachment arrangement (90), impart a force component to the load carrying bar (20) towards the body (55). A stop surface (25b) of the load carrying bar (20) prevents the connection arrangement (51) from displacement in a direction parallel with the longitudinal direction (X) of the load carrying bar (20), after assembly therewith. The present invention provides for a load carrier foot (50) having very few distinct components, which is cheap to manufacture and which enables an end user to connect the clamp rack load carrier foot (50) to a load carrying bar (20) in a simple and easy manner.
US09038868B2

A soft structured baby carrier designed to carry two babies on wearer at the same time. The carrier includes two individual pouches possessing a top upwardly curved edge, a bottom edge, and two opposing side edges creating a pouch. Each pouch bottom edge is fixed to the top edge of a wide padded hip belt adapted to connect each pouch together and then encircle the lumbar region of hips of wearer. There are two padded shoulder straps that buckle to the pouches and can be conjoined by a chest strap that is slide-able secured connecting each shoulder strap together. There are four carry positions for this carrier. Two babies can be worn on the front of wearer with one baby mounted in each pouch in the Front Carry Position. One baby mounted in one pouch on front of wearer and one baby mounted in one pouch on back of wearer in the Front and Back Carry Position. The carrier can be split into two carriers so one adult can carry one baby in a Pouch each on the front of wearer in the Individual Carry Position. The carrier can also utilize both Shoulder Straps on one Pouch to carry one baby on one wearer in a traditional style soft structure buckled baby carrier in the Single Baby Carry Position.
US09038863B2

The present invention relates to a nozzle structure of a dispenser pump button. According to the present invention, the nozzle structure of the dispenser pump button is designed in such a way that an outer nozzle with a discharge hole forwardly moves by the pressure of the content, and the content is discharged through the discharge hole distanced from an inner nozzle, thereby preventing the deformation of the nozzle. Therefore, the inflow of air into a cosmetic container is blocked, and thus the deterioration of the content can be prevented.
US09038845B1

A container lid with a first cavity is provided. The lid includes a continuous outer coupling trough for attachment of the lid to the open top of a container. The lid also includes a straw-hole planar surface with a hole for drinking a liquid in the container. A riser wall may extend away from the straw-hole planar surface and defines a first planar surface above the straw-hole planar surface. The first planar surface includes a the first cavity that has side walls connected to the first planar surface and extending from the first planar surface to a position lower than the first planar surface and a bottom connected to the side walls. A second planar surface is also disclosed that has a second cavity formed therein. The first cavity may be adapted to receive a condiment container and the second cavity to receive a food container.
US09038841B2

A tamper-evident closure for a container comprises two or more parts and is movable from a first position to a second position in an opening event, the movement to the second position generating two or more gaps between and/or within the parts, the closure further comprising means for preventing closing of the gaps whereby to confirm the opening event has occurred.
US09038839B2

A box includes a first cover and a second cover have engaging mechanisms which engage the one end of the first cover to the one end of the second cover, and have retaining mechanisms which retain the other end of the first cover to the other end of the second cover. The first cover and the second cover are fit to each other in a normal state when the engaging mechanisms are engaged with each other and the retaining mechanisms are retained normally. When an engagement between the engaging mechanisms is in an abnormal state, a projection abuts against at least the other of the one end of the first cover and the one end of the second cover so that a gap is formed and the interior component housed in the internal space can be seen through the gap.
US09038831B2

A system for use with a computing rack that prolongs operation of computing devices mounted within the rack in the event of a contaminant (e.g., liquid, debris) related event (e.g., natural disaster, activation of an overhead sprinkler system, etc.) by channeling or diverting contaminants attempting to enter a top portion of the rack towards an outer periphery of the rack before such contaminants have a chance to contact the computing devices. The disclosed system may include a plurality of channeling devices (e.g., sheets, panels, plates) secured to the rack framework at an angle thereto and generally adjacent the top of the rack (e.g., or at least above the highest location at which a computing device is to be mounted) for routing contaminants (e.g., via gravity) away from the computing devices.
US09038829B2

The present invention is a method and material for using a sorbent material to capture and stabilize mercury. The method for using sorbent material to capture and stabilize mercury contains the following steps. First, the sorbent material is provided. The sorbent material, in one embodiment, is nano-particles. In a preferred embodiment, the nano-particles are unstabilized nano-Se. Next, the sorbent material is exposed to mercury in an environment. As a result, the sorbent material captures and stabilizes mercury from the environment. In the preferred embodiment, the environment is an indoor space in which a fluorescent has broken.
US09038827B2

A packaging box with test strips is provided for a gripper to grip the test strips, and the gripper has a gripping section and a conductive terminal in the gripping section, and the packaging box includes a main body and a test strip. The main body has an embedded groove including a port with a shape corresponding to the shape of the gripping section, and the port is provided for inserting the gripping section. The test strip has a conductive area defined on a surface of the test strip, and the test strip is contained in the embedded groove, wherein the gripping section is coupled to the port, and the conductive terminal is electrically coupled to the conductive area. With the packaging box, the test strips can be taken out conveniently and quickly.
US09038811B2

An arrangement including two conveyor screws which are arranged rotatably moveably relative to each other for processing a pasty material like a foodstuff product or the like, having a first conveyor screw and a second conveyor screw which have interengaging helical flights and which in particular are drivable in opposite relationship. The conveyor screws are of different size diameters and/or the conveyor screws have a different number of flights. In addition, the surfaces of the interengaging flights are so shaped and matched to each other that they are in contact with each other along a substantially continuous contact line extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of both conveyor screws to hinder, preferably prevent a return flow of the pasty material.
US09038790B2

A shock absorber is disclosed herein with a frequency sensitive damping force that includes a cylinder containing a damping medium, a piston rod which is axially movable in the cylinder, and a piston assembly arranged for axial movement in the damping medium. The piston assembly is connected to the piston rod and divides the cylinder in a working space on each side of the piston. The piston assembly includes a flow path fluidly coupled to a frequency sensitive element movable relative to the piston assembly.
US09038774B2

Embodiments of thermal-acoustic sections for an aircraft for reducing noise along an acoustic path produced from an acoustic source are provided herein. The thermal-acoustic section comprises a first porous layer having a first characteristic acoustic impedance. A second porous layer is disposed adjacent to the first porous layer and has a second characteristic acoustic impedance that is greater than the first characteristic acoustic impedance. The thermal-acoustic section is configured to be positioned along the acoustic path such that at least a portion of the noise from the acoustic source is directed through the first porous layer to the second porous layer to promote absorption of the noise.
US09038773B2

An acoustic protective cover assembly comprising a porous membrane and an acoustic gasket is disclosed. The porous membrane is bonded to the acoustic gasket at a peripheral region, the membrane is left unhanded at a central region. The acoustic gasket comprises a composite of a porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) polymer matrix of polymeric nodes interconnected by fibrils, resilient expandable microspheres embedded within the matrix.
US09038770B1

Embodiments of a firearm suppressor are disclosed herein. According to various embodiments, the firearm suppressor can include a housing. The housing can include an outer surface, an inner cavity, and an attachment mechanism that attaches the housing to a barrel of a firearm. The inner cavity can accommodate a baffle. The firearm suppressor also can include a lighting attachment. The lighting attachment can include a power source and a lighting mechanism.
US09038768B2

A printing device includes a case, a printing unit arranged inside the case, and a sound absorbing body arranged inside the case. The sound absorbing body has parts with different densities including a dense part with a higher density and a non-dense part with a lower density. The non-dense part includes a fibrillated part that is fibrillated into fiber form, and an unfibrillated part that is not fibrillated into fiber form.
US09038766B2

An acoustic attenuator assembly for an acoustic tool for performing acoustic investigation of a subterranean formation is disclosed. The acoustic attenuator assembly includes a first end portion (205) and a second end portion (210) having a bore therethough to enable passage of an electrical line. The acoustic attenuator assembly further includes a fiber portion (230) disposed between the first and second end portion so that the fiber portion attenuates at least a portion of acoustic energy when the acoustic energy is received by one or both of the first (205) and second (210) end portions. The fiber portion (230) includes a continuous flexible portion that allows relative deflection of the first (205) and second (210) end portions.
US09038760B1

A vehicle including an active front steer system including a locking mechanism having a solenoid actuated locking pin and a spring for biasing the pin toward an extended or locked position for engaging a locking disc of the active front steer system wherein the active front steer system further includes a current sensor for sensing the motion of the pin of the solenoid when the engine of the vehicle is shut down and pulse width modulated current to the solenoid is reduced and when the pin movement is sensed, the pulse width modulated current is increased (fed forward duty cycle) to reduce the movement of the pin to reduce the noise made when the metal pin makes when contacting the metal locking disc. The end of the pin and/or the locking disc may also include an insulating material to further reduce any remaining noise made when the metal pin makes when contacting the metal locking disc.
US09038759B2

[Problem] To provide a hybrid work vehicle which is simple in configuration, good in ease of mounting on a vehicle and capable of efficiently transmitting motive power.[Solution] The hybrid work vehicle includes: an engine (1); a hydraulic pump (4) which is driven by the engine; a work device (5) which is disposed at the front of the vehicle and performs work using the hydraulic pump as a drive source; a motor/generator (6) which generates electric power by use of the torque of the engine; and a travel drive device which causes the vehicle to travel by rotating and driving wheels by use of the electric power generated by the motor/generator. The hybrid work vehicle is steered while the vehicle bends by way of a center joint (15). The travel drive device includes: a plurality of electric motors (21 and 22); and a propeller shaft (8) which is linked with the plurality of electric motors and transmits motive power from the plurality of electric motors to the wheels. The plurality of electric motors are disposed at the front and rear sides of the center joint with the center joint being disposed therebetween.
US09038752B2

A rotary drag bit has one or more fixed composite cutting structures formed from a plurality of discrete prefabricated cutters that abut each other along complementary side surfaces, the composite cutting structure being placed and oriented on the cutting face of the rotating body so that the composite cutting structure presents a cutting profile that does not expose any portion of the cutting face that is between or behind the composite cutting structure, with respect to the direction of travel of the composite cutting structure during boring, to the uncut earth formation as the body is rotated during boring.
US09038748B2

Expandable apparatus for use in subterranean boreholes include at least one member configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position. A latching member disposed in the tubular body may selectively retain the at least one member in the retracted position. Methods of operating an expandable apparatus include securing at least one member of the expandable apparatus in a retracted position by engaging an inner wall of a tubular body with at least one latch member disposed in at least one aperture formed in a latch sleeve.
US09038746B2

A method for determining position of a wellbore in the Earth's subsurface includes actuating a plurality of seismic energy sources each disposed at a known geodetic position. Seismic energy from the sources is detected at a selected location along the wellbore. The geodetic position at the selected location is determined from the detected seismic energy. A corresponding method includes actuating a seismic energy source at a selected position within the wellbore. The seismic energy is detected at a plurality of known geodetic positions. The geodetic position of the source is determined from the detected seismic energy.
US09038737B2

The present invention relates to an inflow control device for controlling the flow of fluid into a well tubular structure arranged in a borehole, comprising a tubular part for mounting as part of the well tubular structure, an aperture provided in a wall of the tubular part, and a hollow valve member rotatably received inside the tubular part, the hollow valve member comprising an orifice in a wall thereof, and an outer surface of the hollow valve member being spherical and the orifice being adapted to fluidly communicate with the aperture when the inflow control device is in an open position, whereby the aperture is in fluid communication with an inside of the tubular part, wherein the hollow valve member comprises a spherical first valve part and a spherical second valve part adapted to be assembled inside the tubular part. The present invention furthermore relates to a method of assembling an inflow control device according to the invention and to a completion system comprising an inflow control device according to the invention.
US09038725B2

A method of servicing a wellbore that includes, transporting a fluid treatment system to a wellsite, accessing a water source proximate to the wellsite, introducing a water stream from the water source into the fluid treatment system, irradiating at least a portion of the water stream within the fluid treatment system, forming a wellbore servicing fluid from the irradiated water stream, and placing the wellbore servicing fluid into the wellbore. The portion of the water stream is irradiating by exposing the portion of water stream to ultraviolet light emitted from at least one pulsed ultraviolet lamp.
US09038700B2

The present disclosure is directed to a refractory metal core for use in forming varying thickness microcircuits in turbine engine components, a process for forming the refractory metal core, and a process for forming the turbine engine components. The refractory metal core is used in the casting of a turbine engine component. The core is formed by a sheet of refractory metal material having a curved trailing edge portion integrally formed with a leading edge portion.
US09038686B2

Positioning system of sectors of a device for producing an airplane fuselage in which a lamination mandrel comprises a plurality of sectors borne by a supporting structure and mobile along guides between: an expanded lamination position and a contracted disassembling position. Each guide comprises a fixed part borne by the supporting structure and a mobile part sliding along/with respect to the fixed part in a rectilinear direction H. Between a portion of each mobile part facing towards the respective sector and a stiffening structure of the sector a positioning device is provided which allows adjustment of the position of the sector with respect to the guide in two directions which lie in a plane RP perpendicular to the axis H of the guide.
US09038674B2

A paint can lid assembly having a universal paint cup port member adapted to receive and retain a paint spray cup in an inverted position such that unused paint will drain from the paint spray cup back into the paint can. The paint cup port member has a tubular main body that extends through the upper surface of the mixing lid, the internal bore of the main body being sufficiently sized so as to receive the mating spout of any type or brand of paint spray cup. In a preferred embodiment, the paint cup port member is provided with an annular locking shoulder to better secure paint spray cups possessing retention clip members.
US09038669B2

A device for controlling fluid flow pressure and flow rate is disclosed. The device includes a first orifice plate, a second orifice plate housed in a tubular structure. The first orifice plate includes a first orifice of a first diameter (d1) and the first orifice is positioned near an edge of the first orifice plate. The second orifice plate includes a second orifice of a second diameter (d2) and the second orifice is positioned near an edge of the second orifice plate. The tubular structure has an effective diameter (D) comprising the first orifice plate and the second orifice plate placed at perpendicular direction to the fluid flow within the tubular structure, separated by an optimum distance (X).
US09038663B2

To provide an opening degree detection device for an automatically operated valve which is easily assembled into an automatically operated valve, makes it easy to ensure detection accuracy at the time of assembling the opening degree detection device, and is easily applicable to an existing automatically operated valve. The opening degree detection device includes: a base plate 4 which is detachably mounted on an automatically operated valve 2; a displacement sensor 5; and a target 6 having an inclined detection surface 6a which is detected by the displacement sensor 5. The target 6 is fixed to the base plate 4. The displacement sensor 5 is supported on a valve stem 14 by way of a sensor support member 21, and the sensor support member 21 is supported on the base plate 4 by way of a guide means.
US09038658B2

A stepper-motor gas valve control is disclosed that includes a main diaphragm in a chamber that controllably displaces a valve relative to an opening in response to changes in pressure, to adjust fuel flow through the valve. A servo-regulator diaphragm is provided to regulate flow to the main diaphragm, to thereby control the rate of fuel flow. A stepper motor is configured to move in a stepwise manner to displace the servo-regulator diaphragm, to control fluid flow to the main diaphragm. A controller mounted on the stepper-motor regulated gas valve control receives and converts an input control signal from a heating system to a reference value between 0 and 5 volts, and selects a corresponding motor step value. The control responsively moves the stepper-motor in a step wise manner to displace the servo-regulator diaphragm and thereby regulates the rate of fuel flow through the valve.
US09038657B2

According to the present disclosure, a fuel supply system having a recirculation loop is provided. The fuel supply system comprises a fuel tank; a return line coupled fluidly to the fuel tank; a fuel manifold; and a recirculation loop, wherein the return line is coupled fluidly to the recirculation loop at a first node to return fuel from the recirculation loop to the fuel tank, and the recirculation loop comprises a heat exchanger positioned downstream of the fuel manifold and upstream of the first node. The recirculation loop may comprise an orifice positioned upstream of the heat exchanger and downstream of the fuel manifold. Additionally, the fuel supply system may further comprise a supply line coupled fluidly to the fuel tank and further coupled fluidly to the recirculation loop at a second node positioned upstream of the fuel manifold and downstream of the first node.
US09038654B2

The present invention discloses a novel double-handle faucet comprising two valve seats, two spools, two inlet pins, two handles, an outlet pipe, a connecting tube, an upper panel, a lower panel, a cladding member, and two caps, the two valve seats, the connecting tube, the cladding member, and two caps are all made of a plastic material, each of the valve seats is provided with an upper annular flange and a lower annular flange, each of the inlet pins is further provided with a connecting ring, the cladding member comprises two first enveloping parts and a second enveloping part, the two first enveloping parts are located at both sides and are both provided with a chamber for accommodating the valve seats at respective side, the chamber is provided with a positioning step at the bottom, the connecting ring is abutted against the positioning step, the second enveloping part covers the outer side of the connecting tube, each of the caps is provided with a cover body and a circular engaging edge which is formed along the periphery of the cover body. As compared with the prior art, the present invention not only avoids lead contamination, but also has a low cost.
US09038649B2

Disclosed herein is an improved method for reversed flow through a self-adjustable (autonomous) valve or flow control device (2), comprising the step of providing an overpressure on the side of the valve (2) opposite of the side of the inlet (10) exceeding a predetermined biasing force of the resilient member (24) causing lifting of the inner body part (4a) within the outer body part (4b) against said biasing force from a first position of fluid flow between an inner and an outer side of the valve (2) via the flow path (11) and to a second position of reversed fluid flow between said inner and outer side through the second flow path (25). An improved self-adjustable (autonomous) valve or flow control device (2) and use of said improved valve or flow control device are also disclosed.
US09038646B2

A cleaning machine for containers, containing a housing in which various treatment stations, including a feed station and a discharge station, are accommodated, whereby the housing has two side walls located opposite each other. In order to simplify the installation of the cleaning machine, a modular construction is used, whereby at least the discharge station is formed as a module.
US09038644B2

Method of applying phase transition substance to impart reduced ignition propensity to a smoking article comprising a tobacco column and a wrapper surrounding the tobacco column and having a porous structure with a base permeability. The method comprising forming a pattern of phase transition material on the wrapper such that, when subjected to the heat of the tobacco column burning firecone, the phase transition material at least partially fills the wrapper porous structure in the vicinity of the burning firecone to form an area on the wrapper having reduced permeability lower than that of the wrapper base permeability. The reduced permeability of the wrapper in the vicinity of the burning firecone imparts reduced ignition propensity such that there is insufficient air flow to sustain combustion of the firecone or insufficient air flow to sustain an intensity of the burning firecone necessary to ignite the substrate.
US09038643B2

An orally-enjoyable tobacco product includes a portion of smokeless tobacco comprising an active ingredient and either: (1) a collection of tobacco particles at least partially enclosed by a coating comprising a water-soluble non-crosslinked component and a substantially water-insoluble cross-linked component, or (2) a pouch comprising smokeless tobacco enclosed in a water-permeable wrapper. The active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of a mercaptan, camphor, borneol, isoborneol, bornyl acetate, isobornyl acetate, mono-bornyl succinate, mono-isobornyl succinate, mono-bornyl formate, and mono-isobornyl formate. The active ingredient is present in an amount effective to reduce or eliminate the sensory irritation arising from the smokeless tobacco. Also disclosed is a method of making such a product.
US09038642B2

An electronic cigarette is provided, comprising a cigarette rod (100) with smoke liquid and a battery, a cigarette holder (200) and a atomizer (300), the cigarette rod (100), the atomizer (300) and the cigarette holder (200) are connected successively, the battery provides power for the atomizer (300) to heat and atomize the smoke liquid, the atomized smoke liquid is discharged through the cigarette holder (200), wherein, a pressure-regulating valve component (400) is provided between the cigarette rod (100) and the atomizer (300) to adjust the flow of the smoke liquid, the pressure-regulating valve component is installed between the cigarette rod and the atomizer to control the flow of the smoke liquid of the electronic cigarette, enabling to adjust the amount of atomizing smoke liquid inhaled by user, and thus the taste of smoking can be adjusted to satisfy different users' need, and the tobacco bar inflows from the battery and control panel can be prevented to extend the life of the electronic cigarette.
US09038636B2

A device for maintaining an airway in a patient comprises mask having a peripheral portion that forms a seal with the larynx when the mask is positioned in the laryngo pharynx to thereby prevent ingress of extraneous fluids into the larynx airway tube connected to or formed with the mask for passing gas to the larynx when the mask is properly inserted into the laryngo pharynx. The peripheral portion of the mask includes a soft, flexible portion that contacts tissues surrounding the laryngeal opening when the device is inserted into a patient, the soft, flexible portion being arranged whereby application of pressurized gas to the airway tube urges the soft, flexible portion into contact with the tissues surrounding the laryngeal opening or the pharyngeal wall.
US09038627B2

An artificial oral airway, an esophageal blocker, and a pharyngeal airway assembly are disclosed. The artificial oral airway includes a main body and an airway. The airway penetrates the main body, and the main body has a body front end. The esophageal blocker is slidably connected to the artificial oral airway and penetrates the main body to contact the esophagus of a patient. The esophageal blocker has an opening portion, an esophageal blocking portion, and a slice body. The opening portion touches the body front end, and the esophageal blocking portion is used for blocking the esophagus of the patient. The slice body is used for connecting the opening portion and the esophageal blocking portion.
US09038623B2

A pull-out guide for a baking oven. The pull-out guide includes a guide rail fixed in a position and configured as a hollow profile. The pull-out guide further includes a running rail movably mounted on the guide rail, and a bar inserted is into the guide rail, at least in sections.
US09038608B2

Embodiments for an engine system are provided. One example internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder head and at least two cylinders, in which each cylinder has at least one inlet opening for the supply of combustion air into the cylinder, comprises an intake line leading to each inlet opening, an overall intake line where the intake lines of at least two cylinders merge, such that a distributor junction point is formed, and a heating device arranged in the overall intake line which has at least one strip-like heating element, a first narrow side of a cross section of which faces toward intake combustion air flow, wherein the heating device is arranged adjacent to the distributor junction point at which the intake lines merge to form the overall intake line, a spacing between the heating device and the distributor junction point being smaller than the diameter of a cylinder.
US09038605B2

A vapor purge valve in an engine is provided. The vapor purge valve includes a purge valve inlet, a purge valve outlet, and a muffler including a housing at least partially enclosing a diffuser in fluidic communication with the purge valve inlet and the purge valve outlet.
US09038604B2

An electromagnetically actuable valve, e.g., a fuel injector for fuel-injection systems of internal combustion engines, includes an electromagnetically actuable actuating element having a solenoid coil, a fixed core, a valve jacket, and a movable armature for actuating a valve-closure element, which cooperates with a valve-seat surface provided on a valve-seat body. A sleeve-shaped guide element is introduced into an inner longitudinal bore of the armature and into an inner flow bore of the internal pole, the guide element being firmly fixed in place in the armature or the inner pole, and loosely guided in the respective other component.
US09038591B2

An intake control system for a multi-cylinder combustion engine with control valves positioned within intake passageways that can vary the cross-sectional area of the intake runners to increase air intake velocity at low engine speeds. The control system includes an inner frame that can be inserted into a lower manifold after manufacture. The inner frame includes a plurality of flapper valves that are actuated by a four-bar link design, which is driven by a hypoid gear-set. The control system controls an internal DC electric motor that actuates a worm-drive gear-set, which in turn drives the hypoid gear-set to either engage or retract the flapper valves within the intake passageways.
US09038588B2

A continuously variable valve lift mechanism for an internal combustion engine includes a cam, a cam follower, a valve follower, a rocker shaft, and a rocker arm. The cam follower includes a first roller driven by the cam and a second roller. The valve follower includes a driven face in contact with the second roller of the cam follower and a driving face. The rocker shaft contacts the valve follower. Rotational movement of the rocker shaft about a rocker shaft rotational axis results in movement of the driven face with respect to the second roller. The rocker arm has a pivot axis and is in contact with the driving face of the valve follower.
US09038577B1

An evaporator surface structure of a circulating fluidized bed boiler having a furnace that is enclosed by sidewalls and has a bottom and a ceiling. The evaporator surface structure includes at least one vertical and separate evaporator surface unit that is spaced apart from the sidewalls of the furnace. The at least one evaporator surface unit (i) is formed of planar water tube panels that extend from the bottom of the furnace to the ceiling of the furnace, and (ii) consists of two cross-wise joined vertical water tube panels.
US09038570B2

A tube bird feeder comprising a seed tube having a side wall and at least one feed opening in the side wall, a top ring mounted on a top marginal edge of the seed tube, a cover removably engaged with the top ring, at least one perch mounted on the seed tube proximate the feed opening, and a base member removably secured to the seed tube adjacent the bottom marginal edge, the base portion having a protrusion engaging with an aperture in the seed tube proximate the bottom marginal edge.
US09038569B2

A birdseed dispenser and birdfeeder incorporating the same are provided. The dispenser has a base assembly mounted to a first opening formed in the sidewall of the birdseed reservoir, including a front plate having a second opening formed therein, a flange extending around the second opening and projecting away from the front plate, and an end wall supported by the flange such that the flange and end wall together define a chamber. The dispenser also includes an apertured piece received in the chamber having a first seed aperture of a first configuration and a second seed aperture of a different configuration. The apertured piece is moveable between a first orientation, which places the first seed aperture in a seed accessible state permitting birds access to the seed, and a second orientation to place the second seed aperture in the seed accessible state.
US09038568B2

An advancement system for an in ovo injection apparatus is provided. Such an advancement system is configured to advance an egg carrier carrying a plurality of avian eggs to an injection assembly. The advancement system includes a guide assembly configured to receive the egg carrier and provide support thereto during advancement of the egg carrier. A manual advancement device slidingly engages the guide assembly such that the manual advancement device is movable along the guide assembly. The manual advancement device is capable of interacting with a trailing end of the egg carrier to advance the egg carrier to an injection position. At least one stop is positioned to interact with the manual advancement device during advancement of the egg carrier so as to prevent progression of the manual advancement device beneath the injection assembly, thereby locating the egg carrier at the injection position. An associated method is also provided.
US09038566B2

A capacitive coupling plasma processing apparatus includes a process chamber configured to have a vacuum atmosphere, and a process gas supply section configured to supply a process gas into the chamber. In the chamber, a first electrode and a second electrode are disposed opposite each other. The second electrode includes a plurality of conductive segments separated from each other and facing the first electrode. An RF power supply is configured to apply an RF power to the first electrode to form an RF electric field within a plasma generation region between the first and second electrodes, so as to turn the process gas into plasma by the RF electric field. A DC power supply is configured to apply a DC voltage to at least one of the segments of the second electrode.
US09038564B2

A method for perfusing a biocompatible material graft with a perfusion liquid includes the steps of: introducing the graft (100) in a perfusion chamber (2), arranging a transfer chamber (3) partly filled with the perfusion liquid (101), coupling in a tight manner the perfusion chamber (2) and the transfer chamber (3) for establishing a fluid communication between them, lowering the pressure in the transfer chamber (3) for transferring therein part of the air existing in the perfusion chamber (2), increasing the pressure within the transfer chamber (3) for injecting in the perfusion chamber (2) the perfusion liquid (101) existing in the transfer chamber (3). A perfusion kit includes a perfusion chamber (2) apt to contain a graft (100) to be perfused with a liquid (101) and a transfer chamber (3) apt to contain a liquid (101) to be perfused, the perfusion chamber (2) being connectable in a tight manner with the transfer chamber (3) for allowing a fluid exchange between the two chambers (2, 3) and inhibiting a fluid exchange between the two chambers (2, 3) and the external environment.
US09038556B2

A concealable fender assembly comprising a fender; a cover having an external surface form compatible with the lateral surface form of the boat hull in closed position; mechanism for actuating the cover for closing and opening thereof with respect to the boat hull lateral surface; wherein the cover is associated with the fender such that when the cover is in open position, the fender outwardly extends from boat hull lateral surface.
US09038554B2

The present invention discloses an inside mobile ballast arrangement for sailboats, said arrangement using a dense material and being preferably in a watertight/gas-tight compartment, the whole system on low friction bearings and being close to the bottom of the hull, this arrangement being able to move longitudinally from front to rear and vice versa, along the X axis, independently or simultaneously with a perpendicular displacement, i.e. from port to starboard and vice versa, along the Y axis.
US09038551B2

A waste disposal plant includes a combustion chamber (2) inside which waste laid on a combustion grate (3) is burnt. The grate permits the entrance of an adequate quantity of combustion air in the chamber through it. The combustion grate includes at least a handling group formed by fire bars or plates (7), which move alternatively one with respect to the other by advancing the waste on the grate. A handling group allows the alternate movement of the fire bars (7) which are divided in movable fire bars (7a) and fixed fire bars (7b), alternately disposed one with respect to the other, on transversal rows resting one upon the other according to a longitudinal placement with alternate steps.
US09038550B2

A grate bar for an incinerator having a grate bar base body and a high temperature resistant cover plate covering the grate bar base body at least on a surface portion which in operation points to a combustion chamber. The cover plate is separated from the grate bar base body by a thermal insulating material. In the grate bar base body a cavity is inserted in a side pointing to the cover plate and/or in the cover plate in the side pointing to the grate bar base body, which cavity is at least partially filled with a ceramic fiber insulating material. The invention further relates to a method for producing such a grate bar.
US09038528B2

A device for the pulsed release of an amount (3) of fluid that is stored in a storage housing (2) includes a piston (5) biased by a first spring (4) and movable within the storage housing (2) to dispense the fluid by the spring bias, when triggered by an actuator (6) to release a lock holding the piston in place (7). The lock (7) has individual catches (8) keeping the piston (5) in its pretensioned position and, when actuated by the actuator (6), releases the piston (5).
US09038525B2

A firearm can have a bolt having a plurality of locking lugs that are configured to have a shear area that is at least approximately 1.3 times that of a standard M16/M4. A piston can be formed on the bolt and can have a plurality of rings that are configured to cooperate with the piston to mitigate gas leakage past the piston. Each of the rings can have a key formed thereon and a gap formed therein such that the gap of one ring is configured to receive at least a portion of the key of another ring. The bolt carrier can have a double cut cam.
US09038505B2

A wrench includes a body having a working end which has a first toothed portion, a first room, a second room, a third room and a first pivot cavity. The second and third rooms open through the top of the body. A driving unit is pivotably connected to the working end and has a first recess and a second recess for receiving a first pawl and a second pawl therein. The first pawl has teeth engaged with the first toothed portion, and the second pawl has teeth engaged with a second toothed portion of a first teeth disk in the first room. A second teeth disk is pivotably located in the second room and has a forth toothed portion which is engaged with a third toothed portion of the first teeth disk. A shaft is pivotably located in the third room and is connected to the second teeth disk.
US09038500B1

An arrangement for adjusting the position of handlebars on a vehicle including a first mechanism for effecting rotation of the handlebars about a first axis in response to a first control signal; a second mechanism for effecting translation of the handlebars along a longitudinal axis in response to a second control signal; and a control system for providing the first and second control signals. In the illustrative embodiment, the inventive system includes a first support secured to the vehicle; a second support operationally coupled to the first support and adapted for rotational movement about a first axis; a first actuator for rotating the second support over an angular extent about the first axis; a third support coupled to the second support for translational movement along a second axis, the second axis being coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the third support and transverse to the first axis; a second actuator for effecting movement of the third support relative to the second support; and a control system for driving the first and second actuators.
US09038496B2

An adjusting device is equipped with a rod and a holder disposed movably in the direction of the length of the rod at an end of the rod, and adjusts the allowance length of the inner cable coupled to the rod and (or) holder. The adjusting device is provided with a lock-discriminating member protruding from the periphery of the holder and a cover covering the periphery of the holder including the lock-discriminating member and the lock. The lock piece does not protrude from the periphery of the holder in the lock state and protrudes to the same height with the lock-discriminating member in the unlock state.
US09038491B2

A vibratory device comprises a rotor and an eccentric weight. The eccentric weight is mounted to the shaft and has a center of mass that is offset from the shaft axis. The vibratory device is configured such that the eccentric weight is in a first rotational orientation relative to the shaft and rotates with the shaft when the shaft rotates in a first direction about the shaft axis and such that the eccentric weight is in a second rotational orientation relative to the shaft when the shaft rotates in an opposite second direction about the shaft axis. The vibratory device is further configured such that the eccentric weight automatically transitions from the first rotational orientation to the second rotational orientation when the shaft is switched from rotating in the first direction to rotating in the second direction.
US09038489B2

A control system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a fuel system diagnostic module and a pump control module. The fuel system diagnostic module performs a diagnostic test on a fuel system when a vacuum pump is switched off to prevent flow through the vacuum pump and thereby seal a portion of the fuel system from an atmosphere. The vacuum pump includes a cam ring, a rotor that rotates within the cam ring, and vanes that slide into and out of slots in the rotor as the rotor rotates. The pump control module switches on the vacuum pump for a predetermined period to force the vanes out of the slots and into contact with the cam ring to seal the vacuum pump before switching off the vacuum pump for the fuel system diagnostic test.
US09038481B2

Apparatus configured detect a physical quantity, for example a density, of a flowing fluid, the apparatus including: a sensor body (2) configured to extend into the flowing fluid, the sensor body comprising a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) of a fiber Bragg grating sensor (3, 7, FBG), for generating a detector signal relating to vibration of at least part (2B) of the sensor body (2); and a processing unit, configured to process the detector signal, and to determine the physical quantity based on detected vibration at a mechanical eigenfrequency of the flexible part (2B) of the sensor body (2).
US09038480B2

An integrated circuit includes a pulse generator to provide an excitation pulse to an output terminal and a comparator to receive a signal in response to the excitation pulse and for comparing the signal to a threshold to produce a comparator output signal corresponding to oscillations in the signal. The integrated circuit further includes a counter to count pulses in the comparator output signal and a discriminator circuit to compare a count value of the counter to a damping threshold and for providing an output signal having a first value when the count value is equal to or exceeds the damping threshold and otherwise having a second value.
US09038474B2

The present invention employs a photoacoustic measuring apparatus including: a laser light source; a forming unit for forming a second light beam by dividing or deforming a laser light beam; an optical member for guiding the second light beam to the surface of a subject; a probe for obtaining a photoacoustic wave generated when the subject is irradiated with the second light beam; and a buffering member that contacts the surface of the subject and transmits light, wherein the optical member overlaps areas of the second light beam having a small light intensity on the surface of the subject, the probe and the optical member are positioned on an identical side of the buffering member relative to the subject, and the optical member refracts the second light beam such that the second light beam enters the subject through the buffering member while avoiding the probe.
US09038469B2

A method and apparatus for identifying an inconsistency. A number of waves that propagate through a structure are generated. A response signal is generated in response to detecting at least a portion of the number of waves that propagate through the structure. A determination is made as to whether the response signal includes a reflected component. A presence of the inconsistency in the structure is indicated when the response signal includes the reflected component.
US09038468B2

An apparatus and a method for determining a damage state of a wheel bearing (12), in which a wheel (15) with a tire (9) arranged on a rim (8) in such a manner that the wheel can be rotated on an axle, in a motor vehicle, in particular during maintenance work on the motor vehicle. In order to avoid the wheel bearing (12) being accessed unnecessarily, a sensor unit (1) which communicates with an evaluation unit and is removably fastened radially outside a screw circle (11) of the rim (8) is provided for the purpose of determining the damage state.
US09038466B2

A micromechanical component is described having a substrate which has at least one stator electrode fixedly mounted with respect to the substrate, a movable mass having at least one actuator electrode fixedly mounted with respect to the movable mass, and at least one spring via which the movable mass is displaceable. The movable mass is structured from the substrate with the aid of at least one separating trench, at least one outer stator electrode spans at least one section of the at least one separating trench and/or of the movable mass, the at least one actuator electrode protrudes between the at least one outer stator electrode and the substrate, and at least one inner stator electrode protrudes between the at least one actuator electrode and the substrate. A related manufacturing method is also described for a micromechanical component.
US09038465B2

Disclosed herein is a method of setting valid output sections of a 3-axis acceleration sensor mounted within a tire of a vehicle, including setting an output signal of the 3-axis acceleration sensor in the z-axis direction as a reference signal, setting a specific section of the output signal in the z-axis direction as a valid section where a part of the tire where the 3-axis acceleration sensor is mounted contacts a road surface, and setting sections of output signals of the 3-axis acceleration sensor in the x-axis and y-axis directions corresponding to the valid section in the z-axis direction as valid sections in the x-axis and y-axis directions. The method sets precise valid sections applied to detect information between the tire and a ground surface so as to minimize a component of a noise section by connecting output signals in the x-axis, y-axis and z-axis directions.
US09038463B2

An electronic device includes a base body, a functional element that is placed on the base body, and a lid body, formed from silicon, that is placed over the base body so as to cover the functional element. A hole portion and a sealing member that closes the hole portion are disposed in the lid body, in the hole portion, the area of a second opening disposed on a side opposite to a first opening is larger than the area of the first opening disposed on the base body side, and the ratio of the volume of the sealing member to the volume of the hole portion is equal to or higher than 35% and is equal to or lower than 87%.
US09038449B2

A manipulator assembly for moving and displacing a tire undergoing tire testing, including: a linear actuator for moving and displacing the tire along a local vertical z-axis; a linear actuator for moving and displacing the tire along a local lateral y-axis that is substantially perpendicular to the local vertical z-axis; a rotary actuator for cambering the tire within a local coordinate system partially defined by the local vertical z-axis and the local lateral y-axis; and a linear actuator for moving and displacing the tire along a global lateral y-axis that is substantially perpendicular to the local vertical z-axis such that the local coordinate system is moved and displaced along the global lateral y-axis. Specifically, the linear actuator for moving and displacing the tire along the global lateral y-axis moves and displaces an origin of the local coordinate system along the global lateral y-axis.
US09038444B2

In an ink jet printing apparatus of the present invention, a moisture content of a print sheet is estimated without decreasing productivity of the printing apparatus and appropriate conditions of printing operation in the subsequent printing process are specified. More specifically, by measuring a change in thickness of the print sheet after printing, a state of moisture content is estimated. Estimating a state of moisture content allows determination of appropriate conditions of printing operation such as a minimum drying time required for printing a high-quality image on various types of print sheets such as print coated paper or coated paper.
US09038443B1

Determination of fluid properties is important in a variety of research and industrial applications. Real-time measurements in operating fluidic systems are performed for monitoring, diagnosis, and feedback-control. A simplified, microfabricated resonant sensor for separate density and viscosity measurements of a fluid with a common sensor is disclosed. The sensor is micron-scale, so as to produce a minimum of perturbation to the fluid under test, and may be arrayed to probe viscosity and density across a flowstream or vessel. Measurement is performed at resonance peaks, and geometry or operating conditions of sensor are varied to produce different resonance responses useful for separate sensing of density and viscosity of a fluid. Another embodiment includes a method for reducing quiescent in-plate elastic strain in a plate or membrane so as to allow bending-stiffness dominated behavior of a resonator.
US09038438B2

A method is described for detecting the independent running and/or the start/stop of an internal combustion engine, in which parameters of the internal combustion engine characterizing the combustion process, especially pressure changes or vibrations, are evaluated for this detection.
US09038436B2

An improved alcohol fuel cell sensor and alcohol breath tester assembly where wires for connection to the electrodes are bent to have a generally planar base portion which may be positioned toward the center of the electrodes and an upright that then extends to the outside of the case. The uprights are generally perpendicular to the base allowing the wires to exit the housing toward the center, as opposed to toward an edge.
US09038435B2

The ratio of carbon to hydrogen in hydrocarbon samples is determined using gas chromatography and atomic emission detection. Comparison of the carbon to hydrogen ratio from different samples allows for qualitative determination of relative hydrogen content. Establishing a carbon to hydrogen ratio for a reference sample allows a further quantitative determination of carbon to hydrogen ratio.
US09038433B2

A pressure compensator for a subsea device for performing a pressure compensation between an ambient medium surrounding the subsea device and a liquid medium filling a volume of the subsea device is provided. The pressure compensator has at least one outer bellow and a first chamber enclosed by the outer bellow. It further has at least one inner bellow which is arranged inside the first chamber, and a second chamber enclosed by the inner bellow. Between the outer bellow and the inner bellow, a compensation volume is confined, which is provided with a fluid connection to the volume of the subsea device.
US09038431B2

The invention resides in a hydraulic cylinder (23) for a hydraulic drawing cushion (20) of a drawing press (10). The hydraulic cylinder (23) includes a first operating chamber (47), a second operating chamber (48), and a third operating chamber (53). An annular piston (45) with a first piston surface area (49) and a second piston surface area (50) separates the first operating chamber (47) from the second operating chamber (48). The first and the second piston surfaces (49, 50) have the same size. A front surface of the piston rod (33) forms a third piston surface (54) which is larger than the first and second piston surfaces. The third piston surface (54) delimits the third operating chamber (53) of the hydraulic cylinder (23). The first and the second operating chambers (47, 48) are provided for controlling the position and/or the movement of the piston rod (33). The third operating chamber (53) serves to control the metal sheet clamping force of the drawing press via the piston rod (33).
US09038430B2

The invention relates to a cluster arm arrangement for the intermediate roll sets of 18 HS roll stands, wherein arranged between the chock at the operating side and the chock at the drive side are cluster arms which are pivotable laterally of the intermediate roll and in which the lateral backing rolls are integrated for support of the working rolls in the stand. In that case, arranged between the chock (1) and the cluster arm (2) is a pivot pin (3), which is fixedly connected with the cluster arm and about the axis of which the cluster arm (2) is pivotable, and a locking means for the cluster arm (2) as well as an abutment (6) with a restoring spring (6) are operatively arranged on the pivot pin (3) as a compact unit in the region between the cluster arm (2) and chock (1).
US09038429B2

The invention provides a method for producing grain-oriented silicon steel with single cold rolling, comprising: 1) smelting, refining and continuous casting to obtain a casting blank; 2) hot rolling; 3) normalization, i.e. normalizing annealing and cooling; 4) cold-rolling, i.e. single cold rolling at a cold rolling reduction rate of 75-92%; 5) decarburizing annealing at 780-880° C. for 80-350 s in a protective atmosphere having a due point of 40-80° C., wherein the total oxygen [O] in the surface of the decarburized sheet: 171/t≦[O]≦313/t (t represents the actual thickness of the steel sheet in mm), the amount of absorbed nitrogen: 2-10 ppm; 6) high temperature annealing, wherein the dew point of the protective atmosphere: 0-50° C., the temperature holding time at the first stage: 6-30 h, the amount of absorbed nitrogen during high-temperature annealing: 10-40 ppm; 7) hot-leveling annealing. The invention may control the primary recrystallization microstructure of steel sheet effectively by controlling the normalization process of hot rolled sheet to form sufficient favorable (Al, Si)N inclusions from nitrogen absorbed by slab during decarburizing annealing and low-temperature holding of high-temperature annealing, facilitating the generation of stable, perfect secondary recrystallization microstructure of the final products. In addition, the invention avoids the impact of nitridation using ammonia on the underlying layer in prior art, and thus the formation of a good glass film underlying layer is favored.
US09038427B2

A lock cylinder includes a housing and first and second key plugs rotatably received in the housing about an axis. The first and second key plugs are axially spaced in the housing and each includes a keyway for insertion of a corresponding key. The keyways of the first and second key plugs are aligned with each other along the axis. The lock cylinder further includes a blocking core fixedly mounted in the housing and between the first and second key plugs along the axis. The blocking core includes a through-hole aligned with the keyways of the first and second key plugs along the axis. The lock cylinder can effectively prevent an illegal picking tool from inserting into the keyways of the first and second key plugs and from turning the key plugs, thereby providing an enhanced anti-theft effect.
US09038423B2

A porous preform production apparatus having a reaction vessel which includes an upper deposition chamber having an air supply inlet and an exhaust outlet, a lower deposition chamber having an air supply inlet, and a top chamber disposed on top of the upper deposition chamber and adapted to lift and store a porous preform formed by deposition, characterized in that the floor of the upper deposition chamber is disposed at a height between the lower end of a straight body part and the deposition tip of the porous glass preform during deposition, and a connection opening which connects the upper deposition chamber with the lower deposition chamber, is provided on the floor of the upper deposition chamber, and that when the aperture diameter of the connection opening is designated as A and the diameter of the porous preform passing through the connection opening as B, the ratio B/A satisfies the expression 0.05≦B/A≦0.6.
US09038419B2

A method of making a heat treated (HT) substantially transparent coated article to be used in shower door applications, window applications, tabletop applications, or any other suitable applications. Certain embodiments relate to a method of making a coated article including heat treating a glass substrate coated with at least layer of or including carbon (e.g., diamond-like carbon (DLC)) and an overlying protective film thereon. The protective film may be of or include both (a) an oxygen blocking or barrier layer, and (b) a release layer of or including zinc oxynitride (e.g., ZnOxNz). Following and/or during heat treatment (e.g., thermal tempering, or the like) the protective film may be entirely or partially removed.
US09038404B2

A cooling system has a cabinet and a plurality of separate cooling stages including an upstream cooling stage and a downstream cooling stage. At least the upstream cooling state is a variable capacity cooling stage. Each cooling stage has a cooling circuit. Evaporators of the cooling circuits are arranged in the cabinet so that air passes over them in serial fashion. A controller when a Call for Cooling first reaches a point where cooling is needed, operating the upstream cooling circuit to provide cooling and not the downstream cooling circuit. When the Call for Cooling has increased to a second point, the controller additionally operates the downstream cooling circuit to provide cooling. The cooling capacity at which the upstream cooling circuit is being operated is less than its full capacity when the Call for Cooling reaches the second point.
US09038402B2

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for separating droplets from vaporized refrigerant. The droplet separator according to the invention has a separation vessel, where the droplets gravitationally separate from the vaporized refrigerant. A partition plate has been arranged in the separation vessel, which partition plate divides the separation space into two separation parts. Thereby the refrigerant is arranged—to pass firstly through the first separation space on the first side of the partition plate, —then to transfer to the second side of the partition plate, i.e. to the second separation space—then to pass through the second separation space on the second side of the partition plate.
US09038393B2

A fuel gas cooling system for a combustion basket spring clip seal support is disclosed. The fuel gas cooling system may be formed from one or more fuel gas supply channels terminating proximate to a spring clip at the intersection between a combustor basket and a transition section such that fuel gas may be supplied to the hot gas path proximate to the intersection between the combustor basket and the transition section. The fuel gas supply channel may create an intermediate fuel gas burn at this intersection, which may reduce the firing temperature at the fuel nozzles and reduce NOx emissions.
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