US07978179B2
A computer keyboard is set up a with full-scale programmable hotkeys for users. The user easily defines words/word sequences he/she frequently uses for word processing. By depressing a dedicated key, the corresponding predefined word/word sequence is immediately displayed to the user.
US07978175B2
Various embodiments provide an enhanced mobile computing experience by providing an input device in a mobile electronic device that is configured to accurately and quickly re-center a button or other user interface while providing a sensation of enhanced tactile feedback to a user. The biasing force of a magnetic re-centering mechanism is employed to overcome frictional forces acting on the button during its travel forwards and backwards and tilting to insure that the button is returned quickly and accurately to a resting position. The magnetic re-centering mechanism has a low profile, and permits the input device and the mobile electronic device within which the input device is disposed to have small form factors.
US07978173B2
A pointing device includes a moveable puck that is capable of moving over a surface in a puck field of motion. The surface includes a detent feature defined within the puck field of motion for engaging with a detent feature of the moveable puck.
US07978171B2
A control circuit of a driving circuit for controlling a light emitting diode (LED) light source having a plurality of areas is provided. The control circuit includes the error amplifiers receiving a feed back current signal and a external reference voltage, and generating an error signal; a buffer register receiving a serial digital signal and generating the parallel digital signals; a work register receiving the parallel digital signals and a trigger signal, and outputting the parallel digital signals when the trigger signal is at a relatively high level; and a switch module having the power switches, each of which receives the error signal and the parallel digital signal for generating a driving signal to control a driving current of a specific area of the light source, in order to control the brightness in each area of the LED light source.
US07978162B2
In a liquid crystal display device which inputs analogue video signals after phase development, the deterioration of display quality due to the irregularities of circuit can be reduced. To correct the irregularities due to a plurality of analogue circuits, the liquid crystal display device includes look up tables for a plurality of analogue circuits in the inside of a digital signal processing circuit. The liquid crystal display device performs the correction of irregularities of the analogue circuits based on data set in the look up tables.
US07978153B2
The plasma display device includes connecting means for connecting the X/Y electrodes of the plasma display panel and the X/Y electrode drive circuits. In the X electrode pattern and the Y electrode pattern on the printed board in the connecting means, a current path connecting the center electrodes of the plasma display panel and the X electrode drive circuit or Y electrode drive circuit is longer than a current path connecting the peripheral electrodes and the X electrode drive circuit or Y electrode drive circuit. The current paths at the plasma display panel side are in the U-shape folded in the upper part and the lower part in the periphery of the plasma display panel, respectively. Also, the current paths are first connected to the upper or lower electrodes, and then sequentially connected to the center electrodes via the upper part and the lower part.
US07978141B2
The present invention is related to a coupled-fed multi-band loop antenna. The antenna comprises a dielectric substrate, a ground plane located on the dielectric substrate and has a grounding point, a radiating portion which comprise a supporter, a coupling trip and a loop strip, and a matching circuit. The coupling strip and loop strip are both located on the supporter, with the coupling strip surrounded by the loop strip. The length of loop strip is about 0.25 wavelength of the antenna's first resonant mode. The loop strip has a first end paralleling with the coupling loop, a second end and a shorting point near the second end and electrically connected to the grounding point on the ground plane. The matching circuit is on the dielectric substrate. One terminal of the matching circuit is connected to the coupling strip, and the other is connected to a signal source.
US07978140B2
A multiband antenna for a communication device is disclosed. The multiband antenna comprises a dielectric substrate, a ground portion, and a radiating metal portion. The dielectric substrate comprises two surfaces. The ground portion comprises a first ground plane, a second ground plane, and a connecting metal strip. The first ground plane is on one of the surfaces of the dielectric substrate and has a first connecting point and a shorting point. The second ground plane is near the first ground plane and has a second connecting point. At least one part of the connecting metal strip is on one surface of the dielectric substrate. The connecting metal strip has one end connected to the first connecting point and the other end connected to the second connecting point. The radiating metal portion is connected to the dielectric substrate, without overlapping the first ground plane. The radiating metal portion comprises a radiating section having one end connected to the shorting point and the other end as an open end; and a feeding section having one end connected to a signal source and the other end as an open end, wherein the open end of the feeding section has a spacing of less than 3 mm to the radiating portion.
US07978136B2
A method of associating a universal time with time of arrival information of an identified component of a signal at a terminal of a radio positioning system is disclosed. In the method a marker signal with an associated universal time tag is obtained from a timing device (or the marker signal is obtained from an independent oscillator and a universal time tag assigned to the marker signal), and the time or phase relationship between the marker signal (or between the time of arrival information of said identified component respectively) and the oscillator is measured. The time of arrival information of said identified component relative to the oscillator is determined and the universal time corresponding to the time of arrival information of said identified component is calculated from said universal time tag and said measured time or phase relationship, before the calculated universal time is associated with said time of arrival information.
US07978134B2
A system and method of training antennas for two devices having heterogeneous antenna configurations in a wireless network is disclosed. The method includes communicating one or more estimation training sequences between two devices via a phased array antenna and a switched array antenna, wherein a beamforming vector of the phased array antenna is switched between phase vectors within a set of weight vectors while the switched array antenna is switched within a plurality of antenna sectors. The method further includes tuning at least one of the phase array and switched array antennas with an antenna parameter selected based at least in part on the one or more estimation training sequences. The method further includes communicating data messages via at least one of the phase array and switched array antennas so tuned.
US07978126B2
A system for testing radar in accordance with one embodiment comprising a target motion platform; a target motion platform controller for controlling motion of the platform; a radar responsive tag and a delay line located on the target motion platform; the radar which is being tested; and a motion measurement simulator for inputting data to the radar electronics assembly to simulate movement of the radar. In some embodiments the system further comprises a radar motion platform, wherein the radar electronics assembly is positioned on the radar motion platform; a radar motion platform controller for controlling the movement of the radar motion platform; and a master controller coupled to the radar motion platform controller and the target motion platform controller.
US07978119B2
A system and method for coordinating movement of a powered sliding door module and an access ramp for a vehicle is shown in FIG. 5 An OEM key fob (26a) is modified to send a non-OEM signal when a passenger side sliding door button is pressed A non-OE controller (70) receives the non-OEM signal and, depending on whether the passenger side sliding door is opened or closed, and whether the access ramp is stowed or deployed, sends the OEM signal to open the door before deploying the ramp, or delays sending the OE signal until the ramp is stowed In another embodiment, an OEM receiver is modified to receive a non-OEM signal and the control configured to receive the OEM signal and send or delay sending of the non-OEM signal depending on the condition of the door and ramp.
US07978118B1
A 1.5-bit algorithmic analog-to-digital converter (ADC) generates a digital value representative of an input voltage. The ADC implements a series of conversion cycles for a conversion operation. Each conversion cycle has three sub-cycles: a scaling sub-cycle, a first sample sub-cycle, and a second sample sub-cycle. In the scaling sub-cycle, the residual voltage from the previous conversion cycle is doubled to generate a first voltage. In the first sample sub-cycle, a first bit of a corresponding bit pair is determined based on the polarity of the first voltage. The first voltage is either increased or decreased by a reference voltage based on the polarity of the first voltage to generate a second voltage. In the second sample sub-cycle, a second bit of the corresponding bit pair is determined based on the polarity of the second voltage. The second voltage then is either increased or decreased by the reference voltage based on the polarity of the second voltage to generate the residual voltage used for the next conversion cycle in the series. Each bit pair is mapped to a corresponding two-bit code value and the resulting code values are used to generate the digital value.
US07978105B2
In one embodiment, a first resistor ladder includes a first voltage across the first resistor ladder. A second resistor ladder includes a second voltage across the second resistor ladder. A third resistor ladder includes a third voltage across the third resistor ladder. The calibrator receives the first voltage and third voltage and adjusts a current through the third resistor ladder to adjust the third voltage based on the received first voltage and third voltage. A buffer is configured to provide buffering for the third resistor ladder from the second resistor ladder. The third voltage of the third resistor ladder is stable even though the second voltage of the second resistor ladder is changing.
US07978102B1
A binary arithmetic decoding device may include a first and second lookup table each receive signal output from a first register. A third lookup table receives signal output from the first lookup table and a fourth lookup table receives signal output from the second lookup table. A first multiplexer receives signal output from the third and fourth lookup tables. A second multiplexer receives signal output from the first and second lookup tables and from the second lookup table where the first and second multiplexers are controlled by a same first signal. The proposed decoder may further include a second register, a first adder, a third adder, and a first comparison module coupled in series and output of the first comparison module is the first signal.
US07978084B2
An apparatus is provided for detecting the presence of an obstruction with respect to a height-adjustable bed. The apparatus includes one or more sensors coupled to the bed. At least one of the sensors has an output signal which is variable in response to changes in a weight applied to the support surface. The apparatus also includes a controller having inputs configured to receive the output signals from the sensor or sensors. The controller is configured to monitor the output signals, and turn on a room light if a change in position of a body relative to a support surface of the bed is detected.
US07978078B2
A magnetic core transceiver antenna for EAS marker detection is provided. The core includes a stack of amorphous alloy ribbons insulated from each other and laminated together. A coil winding of wire, also insulted from the ribbons, and connected to an electronic controller provides the transmitter and receiver modes. The transceiver antenna is optimized for the dual mode operation, and is smaller and uses less power than conventional air-core EAS antennas with equivalent performance. Complex core geometries, such as a sandwiched stack of different sized ribbons, can be implemented to vary the effective permeability of the core to customize antenna performance. Multiple transceiver antennas can be combined to increase the size of the generated EAS interrogation zone.
US07978077B2
A radio frequency identification reader and a radio frequency identification tag that use an ultrahigh frequency band, and action methods of the radio frequency identification reader and the radio frequency identification tag. The radio frequency identification reader includes: a data generator generating data to be transmitted to a radio frequency identification tag; if a command to control the radio frequency identification tag has to be authenticated, a reader controller controlling the data generator to generate the data including an authentication code; and a reader transmitter transmitting the data to the radio frequency identification tag. As a result, securing of communications of a specific command between the radio frequency identification reader and the radio frequency identification tag can be reinforced.
US07978065B2
A device attached to an outside surface of a shipping container for tracking the shipping container includes a solar panel, a battery, a GPS receiver module, a cellular data transceiver module, and a microcontroller for controlling the GPS receiver module and the cellular data transceiver module to periodically obtain the location of the shipping container and transmit the location to a tracking database of a central tracking computer. The solar panel, battery, GPS receiver module, cellular data transceiver module and microcontroller are integrated into a one-piece, watertight master control unit. The master control unit may further include a local wireless network master transceiver module. The local wireless network master transceiver module is for communicating with a wireless sensor located within the shipping container through the walls of the shipping container.
US07978063B2
A wireless network for monitoring a patient (10) comprises at least one wearable monitor (12, 70) including a physiological condition sensor (34, 74) coupled to the patient (10) to sense and communicate data related to one physiological function of the patient (10). A first body communication unit (16, 78) interfaces with the at least one wearable monitor (12, 70) to communicate over the patient (10) utilizing a near field capacitive body coupled protocol. A relay system (14, 50 72) includes a second body communication unit (18, 52, 80) that receives data from the at least one wearable monitor (12, 70) and communicates with the first body communication unit (16, 78) utilizing the near field capacitive body coupled protocol. An external communication unit (22) communicates the data to a remote medical monitoring station via a cell phone network or the internet.
US07978060B2
An identification system for recognizing at least one item signal emitting device operating at a first frequency and in operable communication with at least one item. The system includes at least one support member having a support surface for supporting the items thereon and a support member signal emitting device operating a second, different frequency in communication with the support member. The system includes a local signal recognition system with a signal receiving device in communication with the support member for receiving signals therefrom and a control device for receiving, processing and transmitting signals. A transferable local signal recognition system, as well as a networked identification system are also disclosed.
US07978055B2
A table designed for use in a restaurant. The table enables a patron of such restaurant to communicate with at least one of a hostess, waiter, waitress, chef and manager at such restaurant. The said table includes at least one leg member. A table top, having a predetermined configuration, is secured to the at least one leg member. Such table top includes at least one screen formed in a top surface thereof to enable viewing pre-selected information. A terminal control panel engages with the table top for at least indicating at least one of the table is in use, the table is being cleaned and the table is ready for seating a patron. Finally, there is a computer device that includes a server connected to the table for communicating with at least one of a hostess, waiter, waitress, chef and manager at such restaurant.
US07978044B2
A transformer includes a frame type iron core having plate-shaped magnetic members. At least one of the plate-shaped magnetic members has a large width and forms a magnetic circuit in which a magnetic flux is concentrated. Each of the plate-shaped magnetic members includes magnetic member pieces. Each adjacent pair of end surfaces of the magnetic member pieces are joined together to form a joint portion. Three or more joint portions, each of which is formed, by joining together adjacent end surfaces of an adjacent pair of the magnetic member pieces included in the plate-shaped magnetic member having the large width, are shifted from each other in the direction of a magnetic path of the magnetic circuit to increase an effective cross sectional area of the magnetic path. The magnetic member pieces included in the plate-shaped magnetic member having the large width have a high magnetic permeability to reduce a magnetic resistance of the magnetic circuit. This configuration contributes to suppressing an increase in the material cost of the frame type iron core and an increase in the number of processes for manufacturing the frame type iron core and reducing a no-load loss.
US07978036B2
A method and a device are disclosed for the secure operation of a switching device including at least one main contact which can be switched on and off and which includes contact pieces and a displaceable contact bridge, and at least one control magnet which includes a displaceable anchor. The anchor and the contact bridge are actively connected to each other such that the corresponding main contact can be opened or closed when switched on and off. In at least one embodiment, the method includes the following: a) the path difference, which returns the anchor after switching on and off, is recognised, b) devices which are used to open welded main contacts are released by a release device when the recognised path difference exceeds a predetermined value and a specific time duration of time has run out after switching off.
US07978032B2
A locking mechanism for protecting a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) from being faultily reset. In one embodiment, the locking mechanism has a blocking member secured onto a lateral side of the movable assembly, a resilient member, and a locking member having a first end portion positioned against the resilient member, a second end portion positioned in relation to the blocking member, and a body portion defined between the first end portion and the second end portion. When the movable assembly is in a first (tripping) position, the expanding force of the resilient member applied to the first end portion of the locking member causes the second end portion of the locking member to be positioned against the blocking member so that no movement of the movable assembly from the first position to a second (resetting) position is allowed.
US07978031B2
The present invention is provided with a high frequency module comprising a multilayered substrate, a power amplifier IC mounted on the upper surface of the multilayered substrate, first and second filters disposed substantially directly below the power amplifier IC in an inner layer of the multilayered substrate, and coupling-reducing ground vias disposed between the first filter and the second filter. At least the first filter is disposed substantially directly below the power amplifier IC. The coupling-reducing ground vias double as thermal vias for dissipating heat generated by the power amplifier IC.
US07978029B2
A multiple-layer signal conductor has increased surface area for mitigation of skin effect. Parallel extending elongated strips of conductive material are placed in parallel layers and are separated by a thin layer of dielectric. The elongated strips are conductively connected to one another by regularly spaced vias such that a single signal conductor with multiple conductive layers is formed. During high-speed signaling, the skin effect causes current to concentrate near the surfaces of conductors. The multiple-layer signal conductor, however, has increased surface area with respect to its total cross-sectional area. The effective cross-sectional area which is conductive during high-speed signaling is therefore increased, leading to positive effects on transmission line resistance, heating, signal integrity and signal propagation delay. The multiple-layer signal conductor sees special use on silicon circuit boards and can conduct signals at ten gigahertz or greater for distances of up to five inches without rebuffering or termination.
US07978025B2
There is provided a film bulk acoustic resonator which has a substrate, a lower electrode formed on the substrate, a piezoelectric membrane formed on the lower electrode, an upper electrode formed on the piezoelectric membrane, and an insulating film disposed adjacent to the piezoelectric membrane between the upper electrode and the substrate and at a position at which the upper electrode and the substrate are opposed each other. The substrate is preferably formed so as to form a void at a portion facing to the lower electrode. The lower electrode has preferably a tapered end and a part of the boundary between the piezoelectric membrane and the insulating film is disposed on an inside from the upper end of the tapered end.
US07978017B2
Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a reference signal generator, system and method. An exemplary apparatus to generate a harmonic reference signal includes a reference resonator, such as an LC-tank, a control voltage generator adapted to provide a temperature-dependent control voltage; and a plurality of variable reactance modules. The reference resonator generates a first reference signal having a resonant frequency, and each reactance module is adapted to modify a corresponding reactance in response to the control voltage to maintain the resonant frequency substantially constant or within a predetermined variance over a predetermined temperature range. A frequency controller may also be included to maintain substantially constant a magnitude of a peak amplitude of the first reference signal and maintains substantially constant a common mode voltage level of the reference resonator.
US07978011B1
Systems and methods which implement degeneration circuitry in a single-ended amplifier circuit to mitigate distortion associated with one or more amplifier components are disclosed. A degeneration circuit of embodiments adds an impedance to cancel the second-order distortion of an amplifier transistor of a single-ended amplifier circuit. A bias circuit may be provided to minimize bias offset between an amplifier transistor and a corresponding degeneration transistor.
US07978002B2
A voltage boosting circuit includes a first voltage boosting circuit configured to receive an external power supply voltage, and pump the external power supply voltage to a second boosting voltage higher than the external supply voltage in a single pumping stage, and a second voltage boosting circuit configured to receive the second boosting voltage and pump the second boosting voltage to a first boosting voltage higher than the second boosting voltage in two pumping stages.
US07977992B2
A phase generator includes a delay element configured to receive an input signal and delay the input signal by a predetermined amount to develop a delayed version of the input signal, a logic element configured to receive the input signal and the delayed version of the input signal, the logic element configured to produce a signal dependent on a phase difference between the input signal and the delayed version of the input signal, a circuit configured to generate a reference signal, and a comparator configured to receive an output of the logic element and the reference signal. The comparator is configured to generate a control signal that is dependent on the difference between the output of the logic element and the reference signal, where the control signal is applied to the delay element to determine the delay applied to the input signal.
US07977991B2
To provide an adjacent channel interference detection apparatus having high detection sensitivity and suitable for LSI integration in a small circuit size. The adjacent channel interference detection apparatus (4) includes: two sign inversion detection units (13a and 13b) that respectively detect sign inversions of an I signal (101) and a Q signal (102); a rotation judgment unit (14) that detects a direction in which a signal point rotates on an IQ plane; a counter unit (15) that counts an output of the rotation judgment unit (14); and an adjacent channel interference detection unit (16) that detects an imbalance in the number of times the signal point rotates in each direction, from the count in the counter unit (15). Adjacent channel interference is detected by an imbalance between the number of times the signal point rotates clockwise and the number of times the signal point rotates counterclockwise on the IQ plane.
US07977983B1
A method and a device having synchronizing capabilities, the device includes; (i) a first circuit that is adapted to receive a first clock signal; (ii) a second circuit that is adapted to receive a second clock signal; wherein the first and second clock signals and mutually asynchronous; and a (iii) synchronizer that is coupled between the first and second circuit and is adapted to receive the second clock signal, to receive an input signal from the first circuit and to output an output signal of definite values to the second circuit, wherein the input signal is synchronized with the first clock signal and the output signal is synchronized with the second clock signal.
US07977981B2
A serial interface apparatus comprises a driver for generating a differential communication signal and a pre-driver for driving the driver circuit. The pre-driver receives an input signal that alternates between VDD and ground and produces an output signal that alternates between a lower limit that is greater than ground and an upper limit that is less than VDD. The pre-driver comprises input circuitry and actuation circuitry, and the actuation circuitry comprises transistors of a single channel type.
US07977975B1
An integrated circuit (IC) includes a set of metastability-hardened storage circuits. Each metastability-hardened storage circuit may include: (a) a pulse width distortion circuit; (b) a first circuit powered by a nominal power supply voltage, and a second circuit powered by a higher-than-nominal supply voltage; (c) an inverter and a bias circuit, where the bias circuit provides a bias current based on an intermediate state of the inverter to resolve a metastable state of the inverter; or (d) a latch, and a dynamic bias circuit that causes current to be injected into the latch to resolve a metastable state of the latch.
US07977973B2
An electronic basic unit for a system on chip comprises a semiconductor substrate and an area on the semiconductor substrate. The area is bounded by a geometric basic shape and the electronic basic unit is formed on the semiconductor substrate and has the form of an integrated circuit. The electronic basic unit further comprises a functional circuit core which determines a function for the electronic basic unit and at least one connecting port at the edges of the geometric basic shape. The at least one connecting port is designed to be coupled to a further connecting port of a further electronic basic unit produced on the semiconductor substrate and being adjacent to the electronic basic unit. The electronic basic unit comprises also a programmable connecting-port controller for controlling data transfers between the electronic basic unit and the further electronic basic unit produced on the semiconductor substrate via the at least one connecting port.
US07977968B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a code channel for outputting a plurality of code signals based on a code control signal inputted from an external source; a termination resistor decoder for decoding a chip selection signal, an on die termination (ODT) control signal and the plurality of code signals and outputting a plurality of selection signals based on decoded signals; and an ODT block for providing an output data pad with impedance of a termination resistor which is selected in response to the plurality of selection signals.
US07977967B2
A method is provided for thermal electric binary logic control. The method accepts an input voltage representing an input logic state. A heat reference is controlled in response to the input voltage. The method supplies an output voltage representing an output logic state, responsive to the heat reference. More explicitly, the heat reference controls the output voltage of a temperature-sensitive voltage divider. For example, the temperature-sensitive voltage divider may be a thermistor voltage divider.
US07977966B2
An internal voltage generating circuit is utilized to perform a TDBI (Test During Burn-in) operation for a semiconductor device. The internal voltage generating circuit produces an internal voltage at a high voltage level, as an internal voltage, in not only a standby section but also in an active section in response to a test operation signal activated in a test operation. Accordingly, dropping of the internal voltage in the standby section of the test operation and failure due to open or short circuiting are prevented. As a result, reliability of the semiconductor chip, by preventing the generation of latch-up caused by breakdown of internal circuits, is assured.
US07977962B2
A stack of vertically-connected, horizontally-oriented integrated circuits (ICs) may have electrical connections from the front side of one IC to the back side of another IC. Electrical signals may be transferred from the back side of one IC to the front side of the same IC by means of through substrate vias (TSVs), which may include through silicon vias. Electronic apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to test and/or replace defective TSVs. Additional apparatus, systems and methods are disclosed.
US07977960B2
A cantilever type probe head, the head at least includes a probe having an introducing portion for contacting a pad of a member to be probed, the introducing portion is a conical column with its end face having a tapered portion and an extended rectangular portion, the tapered portion and the extended rectangular portion are provided in a coplanar position at the end face on the introducing portion.
US07977957B2
A contact-making apparatus for electrical connection of a unit under test to an electrical test device, having a plurality of electrical contacts which are associated with at least one holding element. The contact-making apparatus and preferably the holding element thereof, is provided with at least one marking which is in a defined position with respect to at least one of the contacts. The marking is detected for alignment of the apparatus and the unit. A corresponding method of use and a method of manufacture are also disclosed.
US07977951B1
A first physical layer (PHY) device includes an auto-negotiation module, a first cable-length measuring module, and a first control module. The auto-negotiation module exchanges data rates of the first PHY device and a second PHY device. The first PHY device is connected to the second PHY device by a cable. The first cable-length measuring module performs a first measurement of a length of the cable. The first control module selectively receives a second measurement of the length of the cable from the second PHY device, and selects a data rate of the first PHY device from the data rates of the first PHY device and the second PHY device based on (i) the first measurement of the length of the cable performed by the first cable-length measuring module of the first PHY device, or (ii) the second measurement of the length of the cable received from the second PHY device.
US07977947B1
The present invention is a low series impedance directional power detector, which may be used to measure either forward or reverse power in a radio frequency (RF) circuit. The directional power detector includes current detection circuitry to directionally measure current, voltage detection circuitry to measure voltage, and combining circuitry to combine the directional RF current measurements and the RF voltage measurements into a combined RF measurement, which is indicative of directional power. The current detection circuitry and voltage detection circuitry apply any phase-shifts that are needed to detect power in the direction of interest and ignore power in the opposite direction when the directional power detector is presented with a complex load.
US07977944B2
An apparatus to control an antenna arrangement in a magnetic resonance apparatus has an amplifier with an input connected to a radio-frequency transmission signal to be amplified. The antenna arrangement has at least one antenna element for emission of the amplified transmission signal. The antenna element has an infeed point with two terminals, wherein the amplified transmission signal is connected at the terminals. The amplifier is connected on the output side with two terminals of the infeed point. The antenna element has at the infeed point, a mounting surface to accommodate the amplifier.
US07977940B2
A receiver system (18) for an electromagnetic prospecting system is disclosed. The electromagnetic prospecting system comprises a transmitter for transmitting a primary electromagnetic field so as to generate a secondary electromagnetic field from a terrain that is being prospected, the secondary electromagnetic field having a transient, decaying time domain profile. The receiver system (18) comprises first and second sensors (20, 22) for detecting the secondary electromagnetic field, wherein the second sensor (22) is less sensitive than the first sensor (20) so as to detect the secondary electromagnetic field over a first time period, with the first sensor (20) being used to detect the secondary electromagnetic field after the first time period. Typically, each sensor (20, 22) comprises three orthogonal SQUID magnetometers, with the second sensor (22) being approximately 10 times less sensitive than the first sensor (20).
US07977928B2
A method to generate a substantially DC output having a voltage level different than a DC input, constituted of receiving a feedback signal representing at least one of the voltage level and the current level of the generated substantially DC output; relatively emphasizing the high frequency portion of the feedback signal; controlling the buck function of a cascaded buck-boost converter with a first switching signal having a first duty cycle, the first duty cycle being a first function of the received feedback signal responsive to said relatively emphasized high frequency portion; and controlling the boost function with a second switching signal having a second duty cycle, the second duty cycle being a second function of the received feedback signal, wherein the first switching signal and the second switching signal are continuously enabled to facilitate a continuous conduction mode.
US07977927B2
A DC/DC voltage converter includes an inductive switching voltage regulator and a capacitive charge pump connected in series between the input and output terminals of the converter. The charge pump has a second input terminal connected to the input terminal of the converter. This reduces the series resistance in the current path by which charge is transferred from the capacitor in the charge pump to the output capacitor and thereby improves the ability of the converter to respond to rapid changes in current required by the load.
US07977920B2
The present invention provides a voltage converter circuit for the clocked supplying of energy to an energy storage, based on an input voltage present at an input of the voltage converter circuit. The voltage converter circuit comprises an energy storage and a switch assembly, the switch assembly comprising a first switch and a second switch connected in parallel and coupled to the energy storage. The first switch of the switch assembly exhibits, according to magnitude, a smaller turn-on voltage than the second switch, wherein a control terminal of the first switch is switched such that the first switch is active in a starting phase of the voltage converter circuit in order to supply the energy storage with energy, and wherein a control terminal of the second switch is switched such that the second switch is active after the starting phase in order to supply the energy storage with energy in a clocked manner.
US07977918B2
A method of controlling a battery charge level of a hybrid electric vehicle includes: monitoring a quantity of current accumulated for a predetermined time based on a battery charge/discharge current value; calculating a regenerative charge derating constant; calculating a correction coefficient based on the quantity of current accumulated and a battery state of charge; multiplying the regenerative charge derating constant by the correction coefficient to calculate a final regenerative charge derating constant; and multiplying the final regenerative charge derating constant by a charge power to calculate a final charge power, and selectively restricting the battery charge level based on the final charge power.
US07977902B2
The invention relates to a pinch protection method and device for a motor-driven closing system. The method comprises the following steps: detecting a reduced motor speed, switching off the motor, analyzing a sensor signal for detecting a pinch situation, deciding whether a pinch situation is present, and controlling the motor depending on the detection of a pinch situation. The device for detecting a pinch situation comprises a motor, a detection unit, a control unit and at least one sensor. The device is adapted to carry out the method according to the invention.
US07977898B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for sensing currents on a plurality of phases and determining current information therefrom. The multi-phase boost converter includes a single sensor coupled to all of the plurality of phases and a controller coupled to the sensor for determining the current information in response to currents on each of the plurality of phases sensed by the sensor. The sensing method utilizes the gate drive signals and the DC current sensor output to calculate the currents on each of the plurality of phases sensed by the sensor.
US07977893B2
The IRS21681D is a fully integrated, fully protected 600V ballast control IC designed to drive all types of fluorescent lamps. The IRS21681D is based on the popular IR2166 control IC with additional improvements to increase ballast performance. PFC circuitry operates in critical conduction mode and provides high PF, low THD and DC bus regulation. The IRS21681D features include programmable preheat and run frequencies, programmable preheat time, programmable ignition ramp, programmable PFC over-current protection, and programmable end-of-life protection. Comprehensive protection features such as protection from failure of a lamp to strike, filament failures, end-of-life protection, DC bus under-voltage reset as well as an automatic restart function, have been included in the design. The IRS2168D has, in addition, closed-loop half-bridge ignition current regulation and a novel fault counter. The IRS21681D, unlike the IRS2168D, ramps up during ignition and shuts down at the first over-current fault. The IRS21681D and IRS2168D are both available in either 16-pin PDIP or 16-pin narrow body SOIC packages.
US07977890B2
Disclosed is a direct-current power supply device, including: an inductor; a switching element to intermittently supply a current to the inductor; an external terminal to which an output current of an external unit is fed back; a control circuit to generate a pulse signal having a pulse width corresponding to an output voltage of the external terminal, generate a drive signal for driving the switching element in response to the pulse signal, and output the drive signal to the switching element; a variable current source which is connected to the external terminal and which is turned on and off in response to a shutdown signal; and a discharge unit which is connected between the external terminal and a ground point and which is turned on in response to the shutdown signal so that the output current fed back to the external terminal is discharged into the ground point.
US07977885B2
In certain embodiments, a lamp is provided with an arc envelope including a ceramic, an end member including a material different from the ceramic, and a compliant seal disposed between the end member and the arc envelope. The compliant seal includes a plurality of layers having different thermal expansion characteristics in an order of gradual change between the arc envelope and the end member.
US07977884B2
Laminates, which are used for cooling the discharge vessel, are fitted to the seals of the ceramic discharge vessel. They are an integral part of the seal.
US07977877B2
A flat panel OLED device including a transparent deformable substrate having first and second sides and defining a predetermined illumination region and a non-illumination region; a moisture-sensitive OLED disposed over the first side of the transparent substrate within the illumination region and means for applying electrical signals to the OLED which causes the OLED to produce light and heat; a protective layer disposed over the OLED; a flexible encapsulating foil disposed over the protective layer, but not attached thereto; and a rigid chassis structure operatively associated with the transparent deformable substrate for dissipating the heat and providing rigidity to the transparent deformable substrate.
US07977873B2
An EL device includes a substrate; a first electrode layer; an insulating layer having an opening corresponding to a pixel; a first protective layer covering the insulating layer; an organic layer on the first protective layer and the first electrode layer in the opening; a second electrode layer on the organic layer; and a second protective layer on the second electrode layer, wherein the second protective layer covers edges of the organic layer and the second electrode layer and extends to the outside of the forming region of the organic layer and the second electrode layer to contact the first protective layer.
US07977870B2
An organic light emitting display (OLED) pixel structure is provided to improve the resolution of an OLED without significantly changing the current OLED manufacturing process. With a novel pixel arrangement and circuit layout, an organic light emitting material is evaporated onto a substrate through a mask and thus a plurality of sub-pixels are formed simultaneously while enabling each sub-pixel to correspond to different pixels. Therefore, the area of each sub-pixel is reduced and the resolution of a display is increased.
US07977868B2
A full-color active matrix organic light emitting display including a transparent substrate, a color filter positioned on an upper surface of the substrate, a spacer layer formed on the upper surface of the color filter, a metal oxide thin film transistor backpanel formed on the spacer layer and defining an array of pixels, and an array of single color, organic light emitting devices formed on the backpanel and positioned to emit light downwardly through the backpanel, the spacer layer, the color filter, and the substrate in a full-color display.
US07977866B2
According to the present invention a method of manufacturing an organic electroluminescence element and a display device is provided, wherein the method includes forming an organic light emitting medium layer inside a pixel sectioned by a partition wall, wherein an out gas from a partition wall is small, thereby damage to an organic light emitting medium layer is controlled, and wherein, in an organic electroluminescence element, there is no defect and no unevenness because a uniform film is formed without ink-repellent phenomenon on an organic light emitting medium layer.
US07977861B2
A composition is described comprising a mixture of at least two different dendrimers A and B which possess the same core and the same repeating unit or units in the dendrons. Either the generation of at least one of said dendrons in one of said dendrimers (A) is different from the generation of at least one of the dendrons in the other of said dendrimers (B), or the number of dendrons in one of said dendrimers, or both, is different from the number of dendrons in the other of said dendrimers, or both.
US07977851B2
A push button switch including a piezoelectric element (10) which is arranged between a first electrode (16) and a second electrode (18) in such a manner that, when a pressure is exerted on the piezoelectric element, an electric voltage is generated between the first and the second electrode (16, 18). The voltage generated between the first and the second electrode (16, 18) of the piezoelectric element (10) is amplified via a suitable amplifier circuit (20) and supplied, for example, to a controller of an operating device of an electronic domestic appliance.
US07977844B2
An inductor-type synchronous machine having an axial gap structure, which has a shaft portion at the center thereof, the machine includes: a field-side stator which has a yoke made of a magnetic material and a field body protruding from the yoke in an axial direction of the shaft portion to form an N pole and an S pole in a radial direction; a rotor which has N pole inductors disposed so as to be opposed to the N pole formed by the field body and S pole inductors disposed so as to be opposed to the S pole formed by the field body; and an armature-side stator in which an armature coil is disposed so as to be opposed to the N pole inductors and the S pole inductors.
US07977841B2
An electric machinery provided with a PM magnetic pole wrapped by conduction winding excited magnetic poles is related to an innovative design of having a PM magnetic pole wrapped by individual magnetic poles of conduction winding excited so to prevent the PM magnetic pole from falling off due to vibration and to prevent from weakening magnetic force by inverse excitation when the electric machinery is running.
US07977840B2
A stator winding for a slotless motor is formed by winding a magnet wire 22 into a single layer coil 24. The coil 24 is deformed e.g., by pressing, to form a double layer web 26 which is rolled up end to end to form a cylindrical stator winding 20. The coil 24 is divided into a number of phase windings 27 extending between connection tappings 25. The magnet wire 22 is a multi-core magnet wire formed from a plurality of core wires 23. Each core wire 23 is an insulated single core wire. Optionally the core wires are twisted together. The core wires 23 are electrically connected together at the connection tappings 25 to form a plurality of parallel electrical paths or sub-windings.
US07977836B2
A single bearing motor comprises a fan blade set, a motor set and a fan blade base. The fan blade set has a fan blade hub to join with a spindle fitting with a bearing on the outside thereof. The motor set is attached to the fan blade base and a hollow axial seat is provided in the center of the fan blade base to receive the bearing. Further, magnetic elements are disposed at the axial seat to avoid internal clearances being created for lack of a preset pressure acting on the bearing casing and balls therein. The balls and the bearing itself can run smoothly to effectively enhance motor operation.
US07977834B2
A vibration motor is provided, comprising a case having an upper case and a lower case which are coupled to each other; a shaft installed in the case while being supported by the case; a rotor rotatably coupled with the shaft; a stator arranged around the shaft; a first substrate installed on an upper surface of the lower case; and a second substrate coupled to a lower surface of the lower case and electrically connected to the first substrate. The lower case has a first opening and the first substrate is electrically connected to the second substrate through the first opening.
US07977833B2
A shell that mechanically supports the diode lead wires against movement both during assembly and subsequent operation of the rotor shaft. In addition, the present invention relates to a method for retaining diode lead wires in a power generator rotor by using the shell of the present invention.
US07977831B2
An electromotor has an external stator, and a ventilator vessel which is used to produce a cooling air flow for self-ventilation of the electromotor. In order to improve the cooling of an electromotors, it is proposed to use a ventilator vessel to help direct an air flow along the outer surface of the motor housing, through the inside of the housing of the electromotor and through an air gap formed between the motor housing wall and ventilator vessel.
US07977827B2
A stepper motor device has a stator and a rotor. The rotor comprises: a shaft; a rotor core associated with the shaft; and a magnet fixed to the rotor core. The stator comprises: a stator shell; a yoke disposed within the shell; a coil wound about the yoke and an end plate magnetically connecting the yoke to the stator shell. The coil is located beside the magnet in the axial direction of the motor. The stator has a number of salient poles, and the salient poles are arranged to face the magnet across a small air gap. The coil creates magnetic poles in the salient poles with a common polarity.
US07977825B2
A universal device for saving the standby power consumption of a functional group of appliances that can be constituted equally well by a set of items of computer equipment or a set of items of audiovisual equipment. The device includes at least one control device for switching on the functional group that is exclusively dedicated to the device, parts for connection to the electricity network and parts for connection to at least one main controlled appliance.
US07977824B2
A device for switching in and out a load with respect to an alternating voltage feeder has two mechanical switches connected in series in a current path between the load and the feeder and each having a by-pass branch with at least one member with ability to block current therethrough in at least a blocking direction and conduct current therethrough in at least one direction. A unit is adapted to control a procedure of a switching out and switching in by synchronization with the current in the feeder and the voltage of the feeder, respectively.
US07977823B2
In accordance with various aspects of the present invention, a method and circuit for reducing power consumption of a power module during idle conditions is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a power module is configured for reducing power during idle mode by disengaging at least one power output from a power input. A power module may include one or more power outputs and one or more power module circuits, with power input connected to the power outputs through the power module circuit(s). The power module circuit may include a current measuring system, a control circuit, and a switch. The current measuring system provides an output power level signal that is proportional to the load at the power output. If current measuring system behavior indicates that a power output is drawing substantially no power from the power input, the switch disengages the power input from the power output.
US07977822B2
Power control circuitry for controlling connection of a voltage source to a switched power rail powering an associated circuit is provided. A plurality of switch blocks are connected in parallel between the switched power rail and the voltage source, each switch block being controlled by an enable signal provided by a switch controller. The switch controller performs a turn-on sequence providing a series of enable signal patterns to the switch blocks. The switch controller applies a time varying generation operation to at least one sequence stage of a predetermined turn-on sequence to produce a corresponding enable signal pattern for that sequence stage. When the turn-on sequence is later repeated, the enable signal pattern produced for at least one of the sequence stages differs from the enable signal pattern previously produced for that sequence stage.
US07977816B2
An integrated circuit package includes a DC/DC boost converter for providing an output voltage at a program level to associated components of the integrated circuit package. The DC/DC boost converter includes a first mode of operation wherein the DC/DC boost converter is enabled responsive to an input battery voltage falling below a programmed level of the output voltage. The DC/DC boost converter also includes a second mode of operation wherein the DC/DC boost converter is disabled responsive to the input battery voltage being above the programmed level of the output voltage.
US07977813B2
A machine includes a plurality of electronic controllers electrically connected to an electrical power source along a first electrical circuit through a first relay and along a second electrical circuit through a second relay. A relay controller is directly connected to the electrical power source along a third electrical circuit, and is in communication with the first relay and the second relay. The relay controller is configured to open or close the first relay or the second relay in response to a power requirement indication.
US07977805B2
A flexible wiring substrate is provided which realizes a fine pitch of a wiring pattern and improves mechanical strength of the wiring pattern so as to prevent breaks or exfoliation of the wiring pattern. A flexible wiring substrate 3 of the present invention includes an insulation tape 6, and a wiring pattern 7 formed on the insulation tape 6. A thickness of the wiring pattern 7 is made thinner in a mounting region, where a semiconductor element is connected to, than in a non-mounting region.
US07977793B2
A metal line in a semiconductor device includes an insulation layer formed on a semiconductor substrate. A metal line forming region is formed in the insulation layer. A metal line is formed to fill the metal line forming region of the insulation layer. And a diffusion barrier that includes an amorphous TaBN layer is formed between the metal line and the insulation layer. The amorphous TaBN layer prevents a copper component from diffusing into the semiconductor substrate, thereby improving upon the characteristics and the reliability of a device.
US07977786B2
An improved MEMS device and method of making. Channels are formed in a first substrate around a plurality of MEMS device areas previously formed on the first substrate. Then, a plurality of seal rings are applied around the plurality of MEMS device areas and over at least a portion of the formed channels. A second substrate is attached to the first substrate, then the seal ring surrounded MEMS device areas are separated from each other. The channels include first and second cross-sectional areas. The first cross-sectional area is sized to keep saw debris particles from entering the MEMS device area.
US07977785B2
An electronic device and a method of packaging an electronic device are disclosed. In one embodiment, the electronic device can include a first die. The electronic device can also include a dielectric layer defining a first opening. The first die can be disposed within the first opening. Further, the electronic device can include an encapsulating material disposed adjacent to the first die. The encapsulating material can have a different composition as compared to the dielectric layer. In a particular embodiment, the electronic device can also include an electrically conductive carrier contacting the dielectric layer and the encapsulating material.
US07977784B2
A semiconductor package and a method for making the same, whereby the semiconductor package includes a substrate, a first passivation layer, a first metal layer, a second passivation layer, and second and third metal layers. The substrate has a surface having at least first and second pads. The first passivation layer covers the surface of the substrate and exposes the first pad and the second pad. The first metal layer is formed on the first passivation layer and is electrically connected to the second pad. The second passivation layer is formed on the first metal layer and exposes the first pad and part of the first metal layer. The second metal layer is formed on the second passivation layer and is electrically connected to the first pad. The third metal layer is formed on the second passivation layer and is electrically connected to the first metal layer.
US07977780B2
A package-on-package system includes: providing a bottom package module incorporating a bottom package substrate; attaching a central internal stacking module, incorporating a central interposer, on top of the bottom package module; placing a spacer on the top surface of the central internal stacking module; mounting a first top package module, incorporating a first top interposer with an opening, on the spacer; and enclosing at least portions of the bottom package module, the central internal stacking module, and the first top package module with an encapsulant.
US07977777B2
A lead frame thermoplastic package for a solar cell, and a method of manufacturing the same. The lead frame being either a single-lead frame design or a dual-lead frame design. The single-lead frame design being made up of a single-lead metal frame. The dual-lead frame design being made up of a die pad lead frame, a wire bond lead frame, and being encapsulated in a thermoplastic resin. Optionally, the single lead frame or at least one of the dual-lead frames is coated with a dielectric material. The lead frame providing connections for a semiconductor die, a diode, and the associated electrical connections. The lead frame also providing a large surface area metal pad for cooling, and mounting tabs for securing various optics systems to the package. Optionally, the lead frame is incorporated into a solar cell including the lead frame, a semiconductor die, a diode, an optics system, and an integrated electrical connection system.
US07977772B2
A semiconductor device and system for a hybrid metal fully silicided (FUSI) gate structure is disclosed. The semiconductor system comprises a PMOS gate structure, the PMOS gate structure including a first high-κ dielectric layer, a P-metal layer, a mid-gap metal layer, wherein the mid-gap metal layer is formed between the high-κ dielectric layer, the P-metal layer and a fully silicided layer formed on the P-metal layer. The semiconductor system further comprises an NMOS gate structure, the NMOS gate structure includes a second high-κ dielectric layer, the fully silicided layer, and the mid-gap metal layer, wherein the mid-gap metal layer is formed between the high-κ dielectric and the fully silicided layer.
US07977764B2
A semiconductor device that includes a metal fuse which may be used for redundancy or trimming, allowing for adjustment in the characteristics of a circuit. The fuse includes a disconnecting metal, a plurality of metal-vias that are connected under respective ends of the disconnecting metal, and a plurality of interconnections that connect to the disconnecting metal through respective metal-vias. The disconnecting metal is disconnected by a laser exposure and the metal-vias are located inside of the spot diameter of the laser used for the laser exposure, and are spaced apart from a side surface of the disconnecting metal. The disconnecting metal is formed of a material having a melting point and a boiling point that is lower than the melting point and boiling point of the metal-vias.
US07977762B1
An integrated circuit (IC) is disclosed to include a central area of the IC that is partitioned into a first section containing at least one digital circuit and a second section containing at least one analog circuit; and a guard strip (or shield) that is within the central area and that is positioned within between the digital circuit and the analog circuit. The shield or guard strip comprises of n-well and p-tap regions that separate digital and analog circuits.
US07977752B2
In a lateral bipolar transistor including an emitter, a base and a collector which are formed in a semiconductor thin film formed on an insulating substrate, the semiconductor thin film is a semiconductor thin film which is crystallized in a predetermined direction. In addition, in a MOS-bipolar hybrid transistor formed in a semiconductor thin film formed on an insulating substrate, the semiconductor thin film is a semiconductor thin film which is crystallized in a predetermined direction.
US07977748B2
A semiconductor device having a first semiconductor region and second semiconductor region including impurities formed on an insulating layer formed on a semiconductor substrate, an insulator formed between the first semiconductor region and the second semiconductor region, a first impurity diffusion control film formed on the first semiconductor region and a second impurity diffusion control film formed on the second semiconductor region, a channel layer formed on the first impurity diffusion control film and second impurity diffusion film to cross at right angles with a direction where the first semiconductor region and the second semiconductor region are extended, a gate insulating film formed on the channel layer and a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating layer.
US07977745B2
A power metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) cell includes a semiconductor substrate. A first electrode is disposed on the semiconductor substrate. A voltage sustaining layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate. A highly doped active zone of a first conductivity type is formed in the voltage sustaining layer opposite the semiconductor substrate. The highly doped active zone has a central aperture and a channel region that is generally centrally located within the central aperture. A terminal region of the second conductivity type is disposed in the voltage sustaining layer proximate the highly doped active zone. The terminal region has a central aperture with an opening dimension generally greater than an opening dimension of the central aperture of the highly doped zone. An extension region is disposed in the voltage sustaining region within the central aperture of the highly doped active zone.
US07977737B2
A semiconductor device with inherent capacitances and method for its production. The semiconductor device has an inherent feedback capacitance between a control electrode and a first electrode. In addition, the semiconductor device has an inherent drain-source capacitance between the first electrode and a second electrode. At least one monolithically integrated additional capacitance is connected in parallel to the inherent feedback capacitance or in parallel to the inherent drain-source capacitance. The additional capacitance comprises a first capacitor surface and a second capacitor surface opposite the first capacitor surface. The capacitor surfaces are structured conductive layers of the semiconductor device on a front side of the semiconductor body, between which a dielectric layer is located and which form at least one additional capacitor.
US07977736B2
A semiconductor device is provided which includes an NMOS vertical channel transistor located on a substrate and including a p+ polysilicon gate electrode surrounding a vertical p-channel region, and a PMOS vertical channel transistor located on the substrate and including an n+ polysilicon gate electrode surrounding a vertical n-channel region. The NMOS and PMOS vertical channel transistors are optionally operable in a CMOS operational mode.
US07977732B2
Provided are nonvolatile memory devices and methods of forming nonvolatile memory devices. Nonvolatile memory devices include a device isolation layer that defines an active region in a substrate. Nonvolatile memory devices further include a first insulating layer, a nonconductive charge storage pattern, a second insulating layer and a control gate line that are sequentially disposed on the active region. The charge storage pattern includes a horizontal portion and a protrusion disposed on an upper portion of an edge of the horizontal portion.
US07977715B2
An LDMOS device includes a substrate of a first conductivity type, an epitaxial layer on the substrate, a buried well of a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type in a lower portion of the epitaxial layer, the epitaxial layer being of the first conductivity type below the buried layer. The device further includes a field oxide located between a drain and both a gate on a gate oxide and a source with a saddle shaped vertical doping gradient of the second conductivity type in the epitaxial layer above the buried well such that the dopant concentration in the epitaxial layer above the buried well and below a central portion of the field oxide is lower than the dopant concentration at the edges of the field oxide nearest the drain and nearest the gate.
US07977712B2
A semiconductor structure, such as a CMOS semiconductor structure, includes a field effect device that includes a plurality of source and drain regions that are asymmetric. Such a source region and drain region asymmetry is induced by fabricating the semiconductor structure using a semiconductor substrate that includes a horizontal plateau region contiguous with and adjoining a sloped incline region. Within the context of a CMOS semiconductor structure, such a semiconductor substrate allows for fabrication of a pFET and an nFET upon different crystallographic orientation semiconductor regions, while one of the pFET and the nFET (i.e., typically the pFET) has asymmetric source and drain regions.
US07977705B2
In one embodiment, the invention provides substrates that are structured so that devices fabricated in a top layer thereof have properties similar to the same devices fabricated in a standard high resistivity substrate. Substrates of the invention include a support having a standard resistivity, a semiconductor layer arranged on the support substrate having a high-resistivity, preferably greater than about 1000 Ohms-cm, an insulating layer arranged on the high-resistivity layer, and a top layer arranged on the insulating layer. The invention also provides methods for manufacturing such substrates.
US07977703B2
A nitride semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate; a first nitride semiconductor layer provided on the semiconductor substrate; a mask layer having opening portions, provided on the first nitride semiconductor layer; a second nitride semiconductor layer selectively grown on the mask layer laterally from the opening portions; and a semiconductor lamination portion formed by laminating nitride semiconductor layers so as to form a semiconductor element on the second nitride semiconductor layer. The substrate may be made of a zinc-based compound, the first nitride semiconductor layer may be provided on, and in contact with, the substrate, and at least a substrate side of the first nitride semiconductor layer may be made of AlyGa1-yN (0.05≦y≦0.2). Additionally, the semiconductor element may be a light emitting layer in which case the mask layer may include a metal film provided on the first nitride semiconductor layer and an insulating film provided on the metal film.
US07977691B2
The present invention relates to a light emitting device and a method of manufacturing the light emitting device. According to the present invention, the light emitting device comprises a substrate, an N-type semiconductor layer formed on the substrate, and a P-type semiconductor layer formed on the N-type semiconductor layer, wherein a side surface including the N-type or P-type semiconductor layer has a slope of 20 to 80° from a horizontal plane. Further, the present invention provides a light emitting device comprising a substrate formed with a plurality of light emitting cells each including an N-type semiconductor layer and a P-type semiconductor layer formed on the N-type semiconductor layer, and a submount substrate flip-chip bonded onto the substrate, wherein the N-type semiconductor layer of one light emitting cell and the P-type semiconductor layer of another adjacent light emitting cell are connected to each other, and a side surface including at least the P-type semiconductor layer of the light emitting cell has a slope of 20 to 80° from a horizontal plane. Further, the present invention is provides a method of manufacturing the light emitting device. Accordingly, there is an advantage in that the characteristics of a light emitting device such as luminous efficiency, external quantum efficiency and extraction efficiency are enhanced and the reliability is secured such that light with high luminous intensity and brightness can be emitted.
US07977689B2
A semiconductor light emitting device of the present invention includes a plurality of light emitting elements, a package body for storing the light emitting elements, wiring patterns being electrically connected to the light emitting elements, and Au wires for electrically connecting the light emitting elements and the wiring patterns, the package body including mounting concave portions for storing the respective light emitting elements, and storing concave portion for storing the mounting concave portions and the Au wires, the mounting concave portions being aligned on a linear line and spaced from each other with an equal pitch. In the above arrangement, as the semiconductor light emitting device of the present invention, it is possible to provide a semiconductor light emitting device having a high directional characteristic of emitted light, and a backlight device for a liquid crystal display, the backlight device using the semiconductor light emitting device and having an improved brightness of the emitted light.
US07977686B2
A packaged light emitting device includes a carrier substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface, first and second conductive vias extending from the top surface of the substrate to the bottom surface of the substrate, and a bond pad on the top surface of the substrate in electrical contact with the first conductive via. A diode having first and second electrodes is mounted on the bond pad with the first electrode is in electrical contact with the bond pad. A passivation layer is formed on the diode, exposing the second electrode of the diode. A conductive trace is formed on the top surface of the carrier substrate in electrical contact with the second conductive via and the second electrode. The conductive trace is on and extends across the passivation layer to contact the second electrode.
US07977681B2
A photo sensor includes a light incidence unit including a plurality of light incidence layers, the light incidence unit having a varying light transmittance with respect to external light, and a photo sensing unit including a plurality of photo sensing elements, the photo sensing unit being configured to output electrical signals in accordance with an amount of light transmitted through the light incidence unit to determine intensity of the external light, each of the photo sensing elements being configured to output electrical signals in accordance with light transmitted through a respective light incidence layer.
US07977678B2
A semiconductor display device using a light-emitting element, which can suppress luminance unevenness among pixels due to the potential drop of a wiring, is provided. Power supply lines to which a power supply potential is supplied are electrically connected to each other in a display region where a plurality of pixels are arranged. Further, an interlayer insulating film is formed over a wiring (an auxiliary power supply line) for electrically connecting the power supply lines to each other in the display region and a gate electrode of a transistor included in a pixel; and the power supply lines are formed over the interlayer insulating film which is formed over the auxiliary power supply line and the gate electrode. Furthermore, a wiring (an auxiliary wiring) formed over the interlayer insulating film is electrically or directly connected to the auxiliary power supply line.
US07977670B2
An organic transistor having a source electrode, a drain electrode, a gate electrode, and an organic semiconductor layer, wherein the organic semiconductor layer comprises a compound represented by the following general formula [1] or [3]:General Formula [1] wherein A and B independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group. General Formula [3] wherein R1 to R10 are independently a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group which has 4 or less carbon atoms and may be substituted with a halogen atom, an alkoxyl group which has 4 or less carbon atoms and may be substituted with a halogen atom, an amino group which has 4 or less carbon atoms and may be substituted with a halogen atom, a nitro group, or a cyano group, and the compound contains at least one halogen atom.
US07977666B2
The present invention is disclosed that a device capable of normal incident detection of infrared light to efficiently convert infrared light into electric signals. The device includes a substrate, a first contact layer formed on the substrate, an active layer formed on the first contact layer, a barrier layer formed on the active layer and a second contact layer formed on the barrier layer, wherein the active layer includes multiple quantum dot layers.
US07977659B2
A luminaire assembly comprising at least one magnetron, a least one microwave-powered bulb, a luminaire reflector, at least one waveguide, and a radio-frequency screen assembly is provided. The radio-frequency screen assembly, the radio frequency gasket, and the luminaire reflector are configured to form a microwave cavity that can accommodate a microwave-powered bulb. The at least one waveguide is configured to couple energy from the at least one magnetron to the microwave-powered bulb. The radio-frequency screen accommodates at least one latching structure. The at least one latching structure is configured to sufficiently compress or to release the radio-frequency screen and the luminaire assembly. In another embodiment, a radio-frequency screen assembly comprises a frame which comprises an opening defined by a plurality of edges. The frame comprises a planar portion and further comprises a ridge at one of the edges that extends in a direction perpendicular to the planar portion.
US07977657B2
An ion radiation therapy machine provides a control of the range of the ion beam that a Bragg peak of the beam is located according to a determined gradient of the dose plan.
US07977643B2
An assembly for detecting radiation is described. The assembly includes a host matrix with particles suspended within the host matrix. The particles are capable of generating a charge carrier upon interaction with the radiation. A first electrode is disposed adjacent to a first surface of the host matrix, and a second electrode disposed adjacent to a second surface of the host matrix. A power source operatively connects to one of the first or second electrodes. The power source establishes an electric field between the first and second electrodes such that a ratio of a mobility-lifetime-field strength product of the charge carrier to the thickness of the host matrix is greater than or equal to 0.1. A radiation detector and a method for detecting radiation are also described.
US07977642B2
An imaging apparatus for x-rays includes a scintillator, overlying an array of imaging pixels on a substrate, and at least one trigger pixel array externally peripheral to the array of imaging pixels on the substrate such that the trigger pixel array is not substantially overshadowed by the scintillator from incident x-ray radiation. A layer substantially impervious to light but transparent to x-rays overlays the trigger pixel array, such that the trigger pixels are unresponsive to light but triggered by direct hits from incident x-ray photons.
US07977640B2
A scintillation article including a scintillation detector coupled to a photomultiplier tube (PMT) housing, and a PMT assembly disposed within the PMT housing. The scintillation article further includes a cap assembly selectively coupled to the PMT assembly, wherein upon moving the cap assembly from an assembled position in which the cap assembly is engaged with the housing to an extracted position in which the cap assembly is disengaged and removed from the housing, the cap assembly mechanically engages the PMT assembly and extracts the PMT assembly from the PMT housing.
US07977639B2
An remote optical gas detection device comprising a detection housing (30) connected to an electronic power supply unit and to a human-machine interface, this detection housing containing an infrared lens (46) for forming an image on an uncooled microbolometer matrix detector (50), a CCD or CMOS-type camera (64) for observing the observed region under visible light, an assembly of electronic means (68) for controlling the detector and for acquiring and digitizing the infrared signals, as well as a processor (82) for processing these signals in order to detect a gas in the observed region and to determine the concentration thereof.
US07977633B2
The invention concerns a phase plate, in particular for an electron microscope, which is disposed in an electron beam path (4), comprises at least one thin film (8, 8a-h), which thin film is at least partially permeable to electron beams, wherein the thin film (8, 8a-h) comprises electrically conductive material, is connected to a predeterminable electrical voltage (12, 12a-e) and is equipped with at least one through-hole (9, 9a-c).
US07977629B2
An ion source able to ionize both liquid and gaseous vapors from interfaced liquid separation techniques and a solids/liquid atmospheric pressure (AP) probe. The liquid effluents are ionized by electrospray ionization, photoionization or atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and the vapors released from a probe device placed in a heated gas stream in the AP source are ionized by a corona or Townsend electrical discharge or photoionization. The source has the ability to ionize compounds from both liquid and solid sources, which facilitates ionization of volatile and semivolatile compounds by applying heat from a gas stream as well as highly non-volatile compounds infused by electrospray or separated by liquid chromatography or capillary electrophoresis.
US07977627B2
An ion mobility spectrometer or other ion apparatus has two or three grid electrodes 51 and 52; 151 to 153; 106 and 107; 106′ and 107′ extending laterally of the ion flowpath. An asymmetric waveform with a dc compensating voltage is applied between the electrodes to produce a field parallel to the ion flow path that affects ions differently according to their field-dependent mobility. This filters or delays different ions selectively in their passage to an ion detector 11, 111, 111′ to facilitate discrimination between ions that would otherwise produce a similar output.
US07977624B2
A screen includes a screen main body that has a diffusion layer, a frame that is provided along the circumference of the screen main body, and to which the diffusion layer is attached through supporting members to rock, and a driving unit that is mounted on the diffusion layer and moves the diffusion layer in parallel to a surface of the diffusion layer.
US07977618B2
Testing is performed on an amplifier wafer housing a transimpedance amplifier prior to packaging the transimpedance amplifier with an external photodetector, wherein the transimpedance amplifier includes a small, auxiliary, integrated silicon photodetector provided at the input of the transimpedance, in parallel with external photodetector attachment points. To test the transimpedance amplifier, the transimpedance amplifier is stimulated by optically exciting the small auxiliary photodetector, wherein the small auxiliary photodetector is excited using short wavelength light, whereby advantages such as higher efficiency may be obtained. The testing method includes placing the amplifier wafer in a testing system, probing the power and ground connections on the amplifier wafer, illuminating the small auxiliary photodetector on the amplifier wafer, and detecting the output of the transimpedance amplifier housed on the amplifier wafer.
US07977614B2
An interception system for intercepting incoming missiles and/or rockets including a launch facility, a missile configured to be launched by the launch facility, the missile having a fragmentation warhead, a ground-based missile guidance system for guiding the missile during at least one early stage of missile flight and a missile-based guidance system for guiding the missile during at least one later stage of missile flight, the missile-based guidance system being operative to direct the missile in a last stage of missile flight in a head-on direction vis-a-vis an incoming missile or rocket.
US07977613B2
A method for onboard measurement of a deviation in orientation of an object from a desired orientation of the object. The method including: transmitting a polarized RF signal from a reference source, with a predetermined polarization plane: receiving the signal at a pair of polarized RF sensor cavities positioned symmetrical on the object with respect to the predetermined polarization plane: analyzing an output of the pair of polarized RF sensor cavities resulting from the received signal: and determining the deviation in orientation of the object relative to the predetermined plane based on the analysis. The method can further include controlling the object based on the determined deviation in orientation.
US07977608B2
A panel heating system including a support and a heating layer, which contains electrically conductive plastic, with the heating layer configured from a flexible film and the support is flexible. A heatable object is provided, such as, a panel healing system. A method for producing the heating system, in which a heating layer containing electrically conductive plastic is joined to a support. The heating layer is formed by the application of an electrically conductive, in particular expandable or expanded, plastic material to the support, and the subsequent curing of the plastic material on the support. A seat occupancy recognition system is provided that contains elements including electrically conductive plastic. A seat having a seat occupancy recognition system, in addition to a seat occupancy recognition method, according to which a change in the resistance of an electrically conductive plastic material is detected as a result of a weight load on the material.
US07977606B2
The invention provides a heat-transfer-medium heating apparatus using a PTC heater and a vehicular air-conditioning apparatus using such a heating apparatus, which have superior heat-conducting properties and ease of assembly, which can improve the heating capacity, and which can ensure sufficient electrical insulation. Included are a PTC heater having a stacked construction in which an electrode plate, an incompressible insulating layer, and a compressible heat-conducting layer are sequentially provided on each side of a PTC element so as to sandwich the PTC element; and heat-transfer-medium circulating boxes, respectively disposed in close contact with the two surfaces of the PTC heater and having circulating channels for the heat-transfer-medium formed therein. The heat transfer medium circulating inside the heat-transfer-medium circulating boxes is heated by radiant heat from the two surfaces of the PTC heater.
US07977593B2
The disclosure relates to a key plunger and a key assembly for a key of an electronic device. The plunger comprises: a stalk made of a first material allowing light to pass through and a body section connected to the top of the plinth. In the plunger, the body section is made of a second material and shaped to fit snugly within an interior of a cap for the key and to extend horizontally about the stalk. The second material is a translucent, light-diffusing material; the first material allows more light to pass therethrough than the second material. The key assembly comprises: a key plunger; a key cap shaped to fit over the key plunger; and a backlight to illuminate an interior of the key cap. The backlight may be located underneath the key plunger and to a side of the stalk.
US07977592B2
The present invention relates generally to a mechanism of a contact system for circuit breakers. More particularly, the invention encompasses a mechanism for a rotary double-break contact system, which enables a direct transfer of torque from stored energy components, such as, springs, to the contact arm in the ON-position (contacts closed) without using intermediate cam surface. The mechanism described in the invention also ensures reliable locking of the contact arm in the blow-off position using stationary means that are integral with or fixed to a crossbar module. This invention enables to achieve significant reduction or even to eliminate friction at certain critical interfaces between the contact mechanism components, thus, reducing or potentially eliminating hysteresis, and improving performance consistency, and also eliminating mechanism performance dependency on wear level and condition of an intermediate cam surface. An additional feature of this invention is a reduction of a loss of contact torque/force during over-travel in the ON position when the fixed and/or moveable contacts erode. Configurations described in this invention may also feature physical protection for the moving components of the contact mechanism assembly from flying particles resulting from short circuit shots.
US07977591B2
A liquid level monitor (100) includes a liquid bowl cavity (102) having a liquid sampling port (106). A switching device cavity (104) is formed within an upper portion of the housing (105) having an electromechanical switching device (112) therein. A separator (116) is between the liquid bowl cavity (102) and the switching device cavity (104). A venting pathway (120) including a vent passage (122) is for equalizing pressure between a region over the liquid in the liquid bowl cavity (102) and the switching device cavity (104). A liquid level indicator including a float (131) is positioned in the liquid bowl cavity (102) for indicating the height of the liquid. The liquid level indicator (131) actuates the electromechanical switching device (112) when the fluid level falls below a predetermined level. A mechanical barrier (115) is positioned in the venting pathway (120) for redirecting liquid back into the liquid bowl cavity (102).
US07977579B2
An integrated circuit package system includes forming a multi-tier substrate, and attaching a plurality of integrated circuits on the multi-tier substrate.
US07977577B2
Disclosed are a multi-layer flexible printed circuit board and a method for manufacturing the same. The multi-layer flexible printed circuit board includes an adhesion sheet from which a pressing and heating area is cut, an upper base layer, from which the pressing and heating area is cut, on the adhesion sheet, and a lower base layer under to the adhesion sheet.
US07977574B2
Cables and methods of manufacturing cables for high speed data communications, the cable including: a first inner conductor enclosed by a first dielectric layer and a second inner conductor enclosed by a second dielectric layer, the inner conductors and the dielectric layers parallel with and along a longitudinal axis; and folded conductive shield material wrapped in a rotational direction along and about the longitudinal axis around the inner conductors and the dielectric layers, including overlapped wraps along and about the longitudinal axis, the conductive shield material comprising a first conductive layer and second conductive layer separated by an inner-shield dielectric layer.
US07977568B2
A photovoltaic device includes a substrate having at least two surfaces and a multilayered film disposed on at least a portion of at least one surface of the substrate. Elongated nanostructures are disposed on the multilayered film. The device incorporates a top layer of the multilayered film contacting the elongated nanostructures that is a tunnel junction. The device has at least one layer deposited over the elongated nanostructures defining a portion of a photoactive junction. A solar panel includes at least one photovoltaic device. The solar panel isolates each such devices from its surrounding atmospheric environment and permits the generation of electrical power.
US07977565B1
Apparatus and method for seasoning stringed musical instruments comprises an electric vibration generator coupled to a string cradle. The string cradle is detachably attachable to the strings of the instrument through a plurality of flanges extending between the strings.
US07977563B2
A CPU of an overdubbing device plays back a music file recorded in a memory card of the device and outputs the file as a played-back audio signal while mixing the played-back audio signal with an external audio signal input from the outside, to thus perform overdubbing. A music file recorded through overdubbing last time is automatically set as a playback music file for the next time, and a selected state of means for selecting execution/nonexecution of overdubbing is maintained as the state of execution. As a result, overdubbing is enabled by twice operations of a record key, whereby the operation is made identical with operation performed during ordinary recording. Further, playback is performed by changing either playback speed or musical interval of the playback music file.
US07977557B2
The Pick clip increases ones ability to do multiple plucked instrument techniques without having to lose control of the pick. With the pick fixed to the thumb there is no effort wasted on holding the pick between the thumb and index finger, allowing the user to utilize the index finger and thumb independently to pluck, and tap the instrument along with using the instrument percussively.
US07977556B2
The invention relates to a music notation system that obviates the need for one to have any knowledge of conventional music notation in order to play a keyboard, including those that are a component of a conventional musical instrument, those that are a component of an electronic musical instrument and those that are configured as a user interface with a computer system and/or video game.
US07977550B2
Seeds of plants stably infected with isolated endophytes selected from the group consisting of ATCC Deposit No. PTA-6499, PTA-8827, PTA-8828, and PTA-8829 are disclosed.
US07977549B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated D5824620. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety D5824620. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety D5824620 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety D5824620 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US07977548B1
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated XB31AB09. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety XB31AB09, to the plants of soybean XB31AB09 to plant parts of soybean variety XB31AB09 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety XB31AB09 with another soybean plant, using XB31AB09 as either the male or the female parent.
US07977545B1
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated XB30H09. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety XB30H09, to the plants of soybean XB30H09 to plant parts of soybean variety XB30H09 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety XB30H09 with another soybean plant, using XB30H09 as either the male or the female parent.
US07977544B1
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated RJS49003. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety RJS49003, to the plants of soybean RJS49003 to plant parts of soybean variety RJS49003 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety RJS49003 with another soybean plant, using RJS49003 as either the male or the female parent.
US07977543B1
The present invention is in the field of soybean cultivar 04KG127412 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean cultivar 04KG127412 and its progeny, and methods of making 04KG127412.
US07977542B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated D4215895. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety D4215895. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety D4215895 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety D4215895 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US07977538B2
The invention provides Brassica plants and lines having an improved Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Disease Incidence (SSDI %) score and represented by, or descended from, ATCC accession number PTA-6777 or PTA-6781.
US07977536B2
A lettuce cultivar, designated ‘Steamboat’, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of lettuce cultivar ‘Steamboat’, to the plants of lettuce cultivar ‘Steamboat’ and to methods for producing a lettuce plant by crossing the cultivar ‘Steamboat’ with itself or another lettuce cultivar. The invention further relates to methods for producing a lettuce plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic lettuce plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to lettuce cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from lettuce cultivar ‘Steamboat’, to methods for producing other lettuce cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from lettuce cultivar ‘Steamboat’ and to the lettuce plants, varieties, and their parts derived from the use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid lettuce seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar ‘Steamboat’ with another lettuce cultivar.
US07977530B2
The present invention relates to absorbent articles that include absorbent compositions which exhibit swelling, deswelling, and reswelling behavior. More specifically, absorbent compositions of this invention swell and absorb fluids after exposure to aqueous fluids, deswell and release fluids from the swollen absorbent compositions, and can also reswell and absorb fluids. The swelling-deswelling-reswelling behavior allows enhanced liquid distribution in absorbent composites and absorbent articles.
US07977528B2
A disposable absorbent article including features facilitating toilet training of a wearer. A wetness sensation member provides a wetness sensation on the wearer's skin upon urination. Highlighting that is visible when viewing a body-facing surface of the article may be associatively correlated with the concept of toilet training and indicates the presence of the wetness sensation member in the article while providing a visual reference and topic for conversation relevant to toilet training. Refastenable side seams enable the configuration, application, and removal of the article as a pair of training pants or as a diaper, while providing an appearance like training pants when the article is worn and allowing easy inspection of the interior of the article without the necessity of pulling the article downward. The synergistic effect of each feature in combination with one or more of the other features enhances the usefulness of the article in toilet training.
US07977525B2
A process for treating an alkylation feedstock comprising olefins, n-alkanes, and iso-alkanes, the process including: contacting at least a portion of the alkylation feedstock with sulfuric acid in a reaction zone under conditions to form sulfate esters of the olefins; separating the n-alkanes and the iso-alkanes from the sulfuric acid and the sulfate esters; recovering the n-alkanes and the iso-alkanes in a first product stream; and recovering the sulfate esters in a second product stream; wherein the sulfuric acid has a strength titrating as below 75 weight percent H2SO4/water mixtures.
US07977522B2
A process of producing olefins by a metathesis reaction in a practical low temperature range by improving the reactivity of the catalyst is provided.The process of producing olefins according to the present invention allows a metathesis reaction of olefins, which uses a catalyst containing metal elements such as tungsten, molybdenum, rhenium or the like, to proceed at an industrially sufficient reaction rate in a practical low temperature range, by using a compound containing at least one metal element selected from the metals of Group Ia (alkali metals), Group IIa (alkaline earth metals), Group IIb and Group IIIa as co-catalyst and allowing hydrogen gas to co-exist with the reaction raw material.
US07977520B2
Process for telomerizing noncyclic olefins having at least two conjugated double bonds with at least one nucleophile using a catalyst containing a metal of group 8, 9 or 10 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, wherein the overall telomerization process has a process step of catalyst recycling, in which hydrogen is added via a hydrogen source to the mixture present in this process step.
US07977515B2
A process is disclosed for the synthesis of formaldehyde from methane starting with the oxychlorination of methane to produce methylene chloride. Hydrolysis of methylene chloride yields the product formaldehyde. Gaseous formaldehyde is condensed for shipment. Byproduct chloroform and carbon tetrachloride are recovered and hydrogenated to provide additional methylene chloride.
US07977514B2
The invention relates to a process for the isolation of an organic amine from a composition comprising the organic amine and an acid, or a salt of the organic amine and the acid, wherein the process comprises steps wherein ammonia or hydrazine is added to the composition thereby forming a multi-phase system comprising an organic amine-rich phase and an acid-rich phase, the organic amine-rich phase and the acid-rich phase obtained in step (i) are separated, and the organic amine is isolated from the organic amine-rich phase.
US07977513B2
An amine producing apparatus includes a reactor that reacts a mono-lower-alkylamine and an alkylene oxide, an unreacted-raw-material-recovery distillation column that separates unreacted raw materials by distillation from a product including unreacted raw materials obtained in the reactor, a non-aqueous distillation column that removes water and a light component by a distillation method from a reactive product from which unreacted raw material have been separated, and a purification and distillation column that separates by distillation a desired reactive product (mono-lower-alkylmonoalkanolamine) and residue (mono-lower-alkyldialkanolamine which is a dimer) from a reactive product from which the water and the light component have been removed.
US07977507B2
Nateglinide M-type crystals (main peaks in powder X-ray diffraction: 6.0°, 14.2°, 15.2°, 18.8° (2θ)) can be produced by dissolving nateglinide in a solvent in which nateglinide is highly soluble and then adding a solvent in which nateglinide is difficultly soluble.
US07977497B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to natural and synthetic inositolphospholipid (IPL) materials, their preparation and applications. They provide compositions of the parent IPL comprising phosphatidylinositol (PI), PI-phosphates (phosphoinositides) and derivatives and analogues, and a process for their production starting from natural IPL. The embodiments further provide functional derivatives of PI for biomedical applications including a platform for drug design and delivery to therapeutic targets in the phosphoinositide mediated cellular signaling and allied cascades. The embodiments pertain to IPL having absolute stereo-structure. The embodiments further pertain to unique IPL and PI product compositions for defined applications, particularly pharmaceutical compositions for prophylaxis and treatment of diseases related to aberrant cellular and nuclear signaling mediated by PI and PI derived phosphates, and associated phosphoinositide specific enzymes including PI-PLC and PI 3-kinase.
US07977489B2
Compounds of the following general structure for use in compositions and methods for modulating the activity of nuclear receptors are provided: The compounds are useable in compositions and methods for modulating the estrogen related receptors and are agonists, partial agonists, antagonists. or inverse agonists of ERR or ERRα.
US07977487B2
The invention relates to a method for producing the compositions cited in the title. According to this method: dipyridyl ketone is reacted with hydroxylamine; the oxime obtained thereby is reduced without intermediate isolation to form 1,1-di-(2-pyridyl)-methylamine, and; this amine is firstly reacted with 1 to 1.5 molar equivalent of picolyl chloride and then with another 1 to 1.5 molar equivalent of picolyl chloride to form the amine of formula (1). This amine is purified via the tetrafluoroborate salt and subsequently alkylated with an alkyl iodide. This method represents an improvement with regard to prior art methods for producing these compounds.
US07977481B2
The present invention provides novel pyrimidinyl-thiophene kinase modulators and methods of using the novel pyrimidinyl-thiophene kinase modulators to treat diseases mediated by kinase activity.
US07977475B2
The present invention is related to processes for the preparation of faropenem, which comprises treating the compound of Formula II, with an alkali metal salt of a substituted or unsubstituted C5-10 carboxylic acid and a catalytic amount of a palladium complex in the presence of an organic solvent, followed by the treatment of the reaction mixture of with water and a water miscible solvent, and isolating a hydrate of an alkali metal salt of faropenem from the reaction mass, wherein water is not removed from the reaction mixture in water treatment or isolation steps.
US07977474B2
The invention provides the use of a compound of Formula (I), or metallated derivative thereof, in the preparation of a medicament for killing or attenuating the growth of microorganisms by a method which does not comprise exposing the compound to a photodynamic therapy light source or a sonodynamic therapy ultrasound source Formula (I) wherein X1, X2, X3, X4, Yi, Y2, Y3, Y4 and Z have meanings given in the description. Preferably, the microorganisms are selected from the group consisting off bacteria, mycoplasmas, yeasts, fungi and viruses.
US07977468B2
Tumor suppressor genes play a major role in the pathogenesis of human lung cancer and other cancers. Cytogenetic and allelotyping studies of fresh tumor and tumor-derived cell lines showed that cytogenetic changes and allele loss on the short arm of chromosome 3 (3p) are most frequently involved in about 90% of small cell lung cancers and greater than 50% of non-small cell lung cancers. A group of recessive oncogenes, Fus1, 101F6, Gene 21 (NPRL2), Gene 26 (CACNA2D2), Luca 1 (HYAL1), Luca 2 (HYAL2), PL6, 123F2 (RaSSFI), SEM A3 and Beta* (BLU), as defined by homozygous deletions in lung cancers, have been located and isolated at 3p21.3.
US07977464B2
There is disclosed antibody molecules containing at least one CDR derived from a mouse monoclonal antibody having specificity for human TNFα. There is also disclosed a CDR grafted antibody wherein at least one of the CDRs is a hybrid CDR. Further disclosed are DNA sequences encoding the chains of the antibody molecules, vectors, transformed host cells and uses of the antibody molecules in the treatment of diseases mediated by TNFα.
US07977463B2
In certain embodiments, this present invention provides polypeptide compositions (e.g., antibodies and antigen binding portions thereof that bind to EphB4), and methods for inhibiting EphB4 activity. In other embodiments, the present invention provides methods and compositions for treating cancer or for treating angiogenesis-associated diseases.
US07977458B2
A novel granule dispersion composition which comprises water and, dispersed therein, a finely pulverized, sparingly water-soluble substance. The granule dispersion composition is prepared by dispersing in water a granular material which comprises a specific substance sparingly soluble in water, a polymer, and an oil and has an average particle diameter of 1 μm or smaller and in which the ratio of the total weight of the polymer and oil to the weight of the specific substance is 1.5 or higher.
US07977452B2
This invention provides a cost effective process and new Janus dendrimers where at least two dendrons are attached at the core (with or without a connector group) and where at least two of the dendrons have different functionality. Preferred are those Janus dendrimers where at least one dendron is a PEHAM dendron. Thus these Janus dendrimers are heterobifunctional in character and use unique ligation chemistry with single site functional dendrons, di-dendrons and multi-dendrons. Also included are Janus dendrons which may be used as intermediates to make the Janus dendrimers or to further react with another reactive moiety. These Janus dendrimers can provide several new dendrimer moieties, namely: combinatorial libraries of bifunctional structures; combined target director and signaling dendrimers; specific targeting entities for diagnostic and therapeutic applications, such as for example targeted MRI agents, targeted radionuclide delivery for diseases such as cancer, and targeted photosensitive or radiowave sensitive agents.
US07977447B2
A method for forming a monomeric carbonate includes the step of combining a monofunctional alcohol or a difunctional diol with an ester-substituted diaryl carbonate to form a reaction mixture. Similarly, a method for forming a monomeric ester includes the step of combining a monofunctional carboxylic acid or ester with an ester-substituted diaryl carbonate to form a reaction mixture. These methods further include the step of allowing the reaction mixtures to react to form a monomeric carbonate or a monomeric ester, respectively.
US07977440B2
A production method of an objective lens for optical pickup apparatus having a numerical aperture NA of image side of 0.80 to 0.90 is disclosed. The method includes steps of molding resin composition containing copolymer of α-olefin and a cyclic olefin represented by Formula (I) or (II) to form lens shape, and thermally processing the molded product under a condition at a temperature between Tg −45° C. and Tg −15° C. for 12 to 168 hours, wherein the Formula (I) and (II) is detailed in the specification.
US07977433B2
A fluororubber composition including a polyol-crosslinkable fluororubber; a cross-linking accelerator comprising a quaternary ammonium salt; and a polyol crosslinking agent; wherein the weight ratio X (quaternary ammonium salt/polyol crosslinking agent) between the cross-linking accelerator and the polyol crosslinking agent is in a range of 0.40 to 0.60; and a production method of a cross-linked fluororubber product, comprising the steps of: previously polyol-crosslinking, as required, the fluororubber composition; and subsequently heat treating the polyol-crosslinked composition, in a temperature range of 200° C. to 300° C. for 0.1 to 48 hours. The fluororubber composition has surface has a lower friction coefficient, and the surface roughness of the cross-linked fluororubber product can be increased without applying a treatment to a mold.
US07977431B2
The present invention relates to dithiocarbamic esters, their preparation and their use for regulating the degree of polymerization during the polymerization of monomers, such as during the polymerization of chloroprene to give polychloroprene, and during the polymerization of 2,3-dichlorobutadiene to give poly-2,3-dichlorobutadiene, and during the copolymerization of chloroprene with 2,3-dichlorobutadiene. The present invention further relates to polymers which are obtainable via the polymerization of monomers in the presence of the dithiocarbamic esters of the invention. The present invention also relates to polymers which contain end groups derived from the dithiocarbamic esters of the present invention.
US07977425B2
A pigment composition comprising an intimate mixture of an organic pigment and fumed silica is prepared which exhibit improved coloristic characteristics including excellent chroma, color strength and enhanced color flop when incorporated into in polymeric systems, such as plastics or surface coatings, for example inks and paints. Also provided are coating compositions and plastic articles that are pigmented with a tinctorially effective amount of the inventive pigment composition. A particular embodiment of the invention relates to pigments useful in automotive coatings.
US07977420B2
A reactive material that includes at least one binder and at least one fuel, at least one oxidizer, or combinations thereof; at least one metal and at least one fuel; or at least two fuels. The reactive material is used in a reactive material shot shell in which at least a portion of a slug, shot, or combinations thereof are formed from the reactive material.
US07977418B2
The present invention provides a bisphenol monoester-based stabilizer composition that can improve resistance to discoloration at high temperature of a thermoplastic polymer compared with a conventional one using a bisphenol monoester-based stabilizer composition including a bisphenol monoester-based compound mainly, wherein a compound represented by the following formula: is contained in an area percentage by liquid chromatography analysis of 0.1 to 3%, a thermoplastic polymer composition and a method of manufacturing the thermoplastic polymer composition, a thermoplastic polymer molded product, and a method of stabilizing a thermoplastic polymer, as well as a thermoplastic polymer composition in which resistance to discoloration at high temperature is improved by using the stabilizer composition and a method of manufacturing the thermoplastic polymer composition, a thermoplastic polymer molded product, and a method of stabilizing a thermoplastic polymer.
US07977417B2
Provided is a silicone rubber composition for extrusion molding, including: (A) 100 parts by mass of an organopolysiloxane represented by an average composition formula (1): R1nSiO(4-n)/2 (in the formula, R1 represents identical or different, unsubstituted or substituted monovalent hydrocarbon groups, and n represents a positive number within a range from 1.95 to 2.04), (B) 0 to 50 parts by mass of a vinyl group-containing silicon compound, (C) 5 to 100 parts by mass of a reinforcing silica, and (D) an effective quantity of a curing agent, in which the vinyl group content relative to the combination of the components (A) through (D) is at least 1.0×10−4 mol/g. The composition yields a cured product for which the elastic modulus increases across a temperature range from 30 to 110° C. and which is therefore capable of reducing the temperature dependency of acrylic optical fibers. The composition is suitable for extrusion molding.
US07977415B2
A thermoplastic molding composition characterized by its flame retardance and impact strength is disclosed. The composition contains (A) linear aromatic (co)polycarbonate, (B) a graft (co)polymer having core-shell morphology, the shell containing polymerized alkyl(meth)acrylate and the core containing interpenetrated and inseparable polyorganosiloxane and poly(meth)alkyl acrylate components, (C) a phosphorous-containing flame retardant compound, (D) fluorinated polyolefin and (E) a boron compound, and optionally SAN. The composition is further characterized in that it contains no polyalkylene terephthalate.
US07977413B2
A thermally responsive ink composition consisting of at least one halochromic optical-state change material, at least one base, at least one solvent, and at least one binder material. The pH of the ink composition is such that the halochromic optical-state change material remains in its basic state until it is acted upon by a thermal stimulus. The ink composition is capable of transforming from a first optical state to a second optical state upon a change in pH caused by exposure to a thermal stimulus. A thermally responsive ink composition consisting of at least one quaternary onium salt of an halochromic optical-state change material, at least one solvent, and at least one binder material is also disclosed. Coating compositions prepared using these ink compositions and optical articles comprising these coating compositions are also disclosed.
US07977412B2
An epoxy resin composition for encapsulating semiconductors which comprises as essential components (A) an epoxy resin, (B) a phenol resin, (C) a curing accelerator, (D) an inorganic filler and (E) a component comprising (e1) a butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymer having carboxyl group and/or (e2) a reaction product of (e1) a butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymer having carboxyl group with an epoxy resin, wherein the content of component (e1) in the entire epoxy resin composition is 0.01 to 1% by weight. The composition exhibits excellent releasing property in molding, continuous molding property and resistance to solder reflow.
US07977410B2
A fine pore formation agent for a porous resin film is provided which comprises inorganic particles satisfying (a) 0.1≦D50≦1.5 (μm) (D50: average particle diameter of particles in 50% cumulative total by weight from the larger particle side by micro-track FRA), (b) Da≦20 (μm) (Da: maximum particle diameter by micro-track FRA), (c) 3≦Sw≦60 (m2/g) (Sw: BET specific surface area measured by nitrogen adsorption method), (d) Ir≧1.0×105 (Ω·cm) (Ir: volume resistivity (Ω·cm).The fine pore formation agent for a porous resin film is capable of providing a resin composition giving a porous resin film useful in uses for electric parts such as capacitors and battery separators.
US07977404B2
A dental composite containing a nanoparticulate filler has a resin matrix with structural element (Ib) R is an open-chain and/or cyclic alkylene, arylene, or alkylene arylene with 1-10 C, optionally modified by oxygen, sulfur, carboxyl or amino, R1 is an open-chain and/or cyclic alkylene, arylene, or alkylene arylene with 1-10 C, optionally modified by oxygen, sulfur, carboxyl or amino; R′ is an open-chain and/or cyclic alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, alkyl aryl, or aryl alkyl with 1-20 C; B and B′ are identical or different and are a straight-chain or branched organically polymerizable group with (meth)acrylate residue; R3 are identical or different and a bond to another Si or hydrogen, alkyl with 1-10 C, or a bond to another metal atom; a is 1 or 2 and b is 0 or 1.
US07977402B2
Radiation curable ink compositions for impulse printheads are described. The compositions include a photoinitiator system, containing both a photocation polymerization initiator and a free-radical photoinitiator, an acrylate ester of a carboxylic acid ester, and at least one radiation curable material.
US07977396B2
Cushions for dynamic impact applications include anisotropic cellular polymers made in an extrusion, expanded bead or reactive foaming process. The anisotropic behavior represented by CE/CT, CV/CT and CH/CT, wherein CE, CV and CH represent the compressive strength of the cellular polymer in each of three orthogonal directions E, V and H, respectively, as measured by compressing a 25-50 mm thick sample of the cellular polymer at a strain rate of 0.08 s−1 to 25% strain, CT represents the sum of CE, CV and CH, and at least one of CE/CT, CV/CT and CH/CT has a value of at least 0.40, up to about 0.80. The cellular polymer also preferably has density of 1.75 to 2.35 pounds/cubic foot and a compressive stress in the direction of maximum compressive strength of 290-600 kPa at 25% strain when used for headliner countermeasure applications. The cushions are useful in automotive applications such as automotive headliners, door panels, knee bolsters, pillars, headrests, seat backs, load floors or instrument panels.
US07977394B2
Triblock copolymers useful for forming ion conductive membranes are provided. The triblock copolymers are characterized by having either a hydrophobic-hydrophilic-hydrophobic or a hydrophilic-hydrophobic-hydrophilic polymer sequence that induces a microphase separated morphology. Variations in which the hydrophilic polymer sequence component includes either acid groups or salts of acid groups are also disclosed. Methods for forming an ion conductive membrane from the triblock copolymers are provided.
US07977386B2
The present invention relates to solid forms of (S)—N-(4-cyano-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-3-(4-cyanophenoxy) -2-hydroxy-2-methylpropanamide and process for producing the same.
US07977383B2
Described is a protective solution for avoiding ischemic, storage or ischemia/reperfusion to organs, or to isolated cell systems, or to tissue components after perfusion, surgery, transplantation, or cryopreservation and subsequent reperfusion, which contains alkali ions, and if need be also alkaline earth ions as the electrolyte, a buffer e.g. on a histidine derivation basis, as well as a polyol and/or a saccharide, has an osmolarity of about 290 mosm/l to about 350 mosm/l, as well as a pH value of about 6.8 to about 7.4, and to which hydroxamic acid, and/or one or more hydroxamic acid derivatives are added.
US07977381B2
The subject invention concerns platinum complexes that exhibit antitumor cell and/or antiparasitic activity. The subject invention also concerns the use of platinum complexes of the invention to treat oncological and inflammatory disorders. The platinum complexes of the invention can also be used to treat or prevent infection by a virus or a bacterial or parasitic organism in vivo or in vitro.
US07977374B2
The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or stereoisomer thereof. The compounds of the present invention are inhibitors of histone deacetylase (HDAC) and are useful for treating cellular proliferative diseases, including cancer. Further, the compounds of the present invention are useful for treating neurodegenerative diseases, schizophrenia and stroke among other diseases.
US07977366B2
The present invention relates to a method of treating an inflammatory disorder in a subject with an effective amount of compound having the general formula (I) as described in the present application, under conditions effective to treat the inflammatory disorder. The present invention also relates to a method of inhibiting respiratory burst in neutrophils without inhibiting degranulation in or bacterial killing by the neutrophils by contacting neutrophils with the compounds described above.
US07977357B2
Polymorphic forms of 3-(4-amino-1-oxo-1,3 dihydro-isoindol-2-yl)-piperidine-2,6-dione are disclosed. Compositions comprising the polymorphic forms, methods of making the polymorphic forms and methods of their use are also disclosed.
US07977356B2
The present invention relates to novel isomers of a metabolite of Iloperidone, their preparation, their use as pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical compositions containing them.
US07977352B2
Novel triazolopyridine compounds are disclosed that have a formula represented by the following: The compounds may be prepared as pharmaceutical compositions, and may be used for the prevention and treatment of a variety of conditions in mammals including humans, including by way of non-limiting example, ECM degradation, joint degradation and/or inflammation, and others.
US07977350B2
The invention provides compounds having the formula: wherein R1 is halogen. The invention also provides compositions comprising the compounds, and methods of treating diseases or disorders that comprise administering one or more of the compounds to a subject in need thereof. The disclosed compounds have CCR1 antagonist activity.
US07977348B2
Solvates and crystalline forms of imatinib mesylate are described. Further, methods for preparing such solvates and crystalline forms of imatinib mesylate are described. The structure diagram below shows the chemical structure of imatinib mesylate.
US07977342B2
The present invention relates to the use of bi-cyclic pyrimidines as inhibitors of HCV replication as well as their use in pharmaceutical compositions aimed to treat or combat HCV infections. In addition, the present invention relates to processes for preparation of such pharmaceutical compositions. The present invention also concerns combinations of the present bi-cyclic pyrimidines with other anti-HCV agents.
US07977334B2
The present invention relates to new beta-agonists of general formula (I) wherein the groups R1 to R7 have the meanings given in the claims and specification, the tautomers, the enantiomers, the diastereomers, the mixtures thereof, the prodrugs thereof and the salts thereof, particularly the physiologically acceptable salts thereof with inorganic or organic acids or bases, processes for preparing these compounds and their use as pharmaceutical compositions.
US07977332B2
Certain noel N-(heteroarylalkyl)alkanediamine derivatives have provided unexpected insecticidal and acaricidal activity. These compounds are represented by formula I: wherein Ar, a, r, R, Ra, Rb, Rc, Rd, b, c, Re, Rf, Rg, Rh, R5, d, e, U, V, X, WR6 and R7 are fully described herein. In addition, compositions comprising an insecticidally effective amount of at least one compound of formula I, and optionally, an effective amount of at least one of a second compound, with at least one insecticidally compatible carrier are also disclosed; along with methods of controlling insects comprising applying said compositions to a locus where insects are present or are expected to be present.
US07977331B1
The present invention relates to a tetracyclic fused heterocyclic compound represented by the following formula [I] wherein each symbol is as defined in the specification, or a pharmaceutically acceptable a salt thereof, and a hepatitis C virus (HCV) polymerase inhibitor and a therapeutic agent for hepatitis C containing this compound. The compound of the present invention shows an anti-HCV activity based on the HCV polymerase inhibitory activity, and useful as an agent for the prophylaxis or treatment of hepatitis C.
US07977330B2
The invention relates to salts of 1-(2-Fluoro-phenyl)-3-(2-oxo-5-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[e][1,4]diazepin-3-yl)-urea and crystalline forms thereof, their production and usage, and pharmaceutical preparations containing such salts and crystalline forms.
US07977327B2
A quinolone antibacterial compound, or a salt or hydrate of the compound, for the treatment of infectious diseases, which exhibit potent antibacterial activity and higher selective toxicity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, which do not cause side effects (e.g., convulsion), which exhibit higher safety, and which has a structure of formula (I):
US07977319B1
An improved ultra-high fiber supplement that promotes satiety, caloric reduction, and weight loss. The supplement comprises guar, oat, psyllium, locust bean gum, pectin, green tea, multi-anthocyanadins, pyridoxine, and folic acid. The supplement can exist as a liquid, semi-solid, or solid comestible. It improves cardiovascular health and reduces cardiovascular inflammation and the risk of heart disease. The addition of antioxidants, including green tea, improves weight loss, and general and cardiovascular health. Also it reduces serum lipoprotein oxidation and risk of free-radical related diseases. Consumption of the supplement aids in reducing absorption and assimilation of ingested toxins. A method of providing an ultra-high fiber comestible that is highly palatable and can be used to supplement nutrition and to manage and prevent diet-related diseases is disclosed. Further embodiments increase fiber and other nutrients in the diet and helps manage and prevent all diet-related diseases.
US07977317B2
This invention provides conjugates of therapeutic or active agents with melanotransferrin or with other ligands of a melanotransferrin receptor, melanotransferrin receptor modulators, and related compositions and methods for modulating blood-brain barrier transport by providing methods of screening and selecting such conjugates, ligands, and modulators in vitro and in vivo, and methods of use of such conjugates, modulators and ligands in diagnosis and the treatment of diseases, including particularly diseases of the central nervous system or lysosomal storage diseases.
US07977316B2
Disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions and methods for preventing or treating a number of amyloid diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, prion diseases, familial amyloid neuropathies and the like. The pharmaceutical compositions include immunologically reactive amounts of amyloid fibril components, particularly fibril-forming peptides or proteins. Also disclosed are therapeutic compositions and methods which use immune reagents that react with such fibril components.
US07977312B2
A novel class or family of TGF-β binding proteins is disclosed. Also disclosed are assays for selecting molecules for increasing bone mineralization and methods for utilizing such molecules.
US07977310B2
This invention relates to a method of reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in a prediabetic or Type 2 Diabetes patient population. The method comprises administering an effective dosage of a long acting insulin, preferably insulin glargine, to a prediabetic or Type 2 Diabetes patient.
US07977306B2
The present invention encompasses albumin fusion proteins. Nucleic acid molecules encoding the albumin fusion proteins of the invention are also encompassed by the invention, as are vectors containing these nucleic acids, host cells transformed with these nucleic acids vectors, and methods of making the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and using these nucleic acids, vectors, and/or host cells. Additionally the present invention encompasses pharmaceutical compositions comprising albumin fusion proteins and methods of treating or preventing diseases, disorders or conditions related to diabetes mellitus using albumin fusion proteins of the invention.
US07977305B2
The present invention relates to hormone coating layers having desirable hormone delivery characteristics and product lifetime. In one embodiment, the invention is a hormone composition including a substrate having an external surface, and a coating layer disposed on the external surface. The coating layer preferably includes a polymer web, and from about 1 wppm to about 100,000 wppm of a hormone comprising a terpene dispersed throughout the polymer web. The invention also relates to methods for making hormone coating materials of the present invention. The coating compositions of the present invention preferably are implemented in human and animal food packaging materials in order to safely and efficiently protect the foodstuffs contained therein from insect infestation.
US07977303B2
Multiple use fabric conditioning blocks comprising indentations and/or protrusions are useful for conditioning fabric.
US07977293B1
A cleaning solution for fragile objects, such as chandeliers, and a multi-purpose cleaning solution, and methods of manufacture and use. The cleaning solutions comprise about 22% isopropyl alcohol, 0.2%-0.9% detergent, traces of volatile coloring and/or odorizing agents, and up to 100% distilled water to make 100%. As a chandelier cleaner, the solution is applied in two steps by dipping or spraying. The initial application loosens and/or dissolves any contaminants, and the second application causes them to flow away, leaving virtually no film or residue.
US07977286B2
The invention comprises lubricating compositions and hydraulic fluids containing N,N′-diaryl-o-phenylenediamine compounds that impart good levels of oxidation inhibition in the lubricants and hydraulic fluids. The invention further comprises a method of making N,N′-diaryl-o-phenylenediamine compounds.
US07977281B2
Methods for minimizing the amount of graphite particles used during drilling operations, the methods comprise performing drilling operations using a drilling fluid system having effective rheological and fluid loss control properties, the drilling fluid system comprising a mixture of graphite particles having an effective particle size distribution.
US07977277B2
Getter systems are provided having a phase active in the sorption of gas, inserted in the pores of a porous material. The porous material is, in turn, dispersed in a polymeric means having a low permeability to the gas to be sorbed.
US07977276B2
Disclosed is an exhaust gas purifying catalyst exhibiting excellent purification performance for a long period of time by suppressing coagulation of a noble metal. A catalyst powder comprises a noble metal and first and second compounds. In the catalyst powder, the first compound carries the noble metal and is separated from another first compound carrying a noble metal by the second compound. At least one catalyst layer comprising the catalyst powder is formed on an inner surface of a substrate. The catalyst layer has fine pores. A fine pore volume of fine pores having a fine pore diameter of greater than 0.1 μm to less than or equal to 1 μm is 10% to 60% of the fine pore volume of fine pores having a pore diameter of 1.0 μm or less.
US07977268B2
Mixtures of different polyolefins may be made by direct, preferably simultaneous, polymerization of one or more polymerizable olefins using two or more transition metal containing active polymerization catalyst systems, at least one of which contains cobalt or iron complexed with selected ligands. The polyolefin products may have polymers that vary in molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, crystallinity, or other factors, and are useful as molding resins and for films.
US07977267B2
Ceramic materials with relatively high resistance to wetting by various liquids, such as water, are presented, along with articles made with these materials. The oxide materials described herein as a class typically contain one or more of ytterbia (Yb2O3) and europia (Eu2O3). The oxides may further contain other additives, such as oxides of gadolinium (Gd), samarium (Sm), dysprosium (Dy), or terbium (Tb). In certain embodiments the oxide, in addition to the ytterbia and/or europia, further comprises lanthanum (La), praseodymium (Pr), or neodymium (Nd).
US07977266B2
A ceramic forming batch mixture including inorganic batch materials, such as sources of alumina, titania, and silica, a low amount of one or more pore formers including at least one starch; an organic binder; and a solvent. Also disclosed is a method for producing a ceramic article involving mixing the inorganic batch materials with the low amount of pore former, adding an organic binder and a solvent, forming a green body; and firing the green body. A green body having a low amount of the one or more pore formers including starch is disclosed.
US07977262B2
Glass composition for lamp, lamp, backlight unit and method for producing glass composition for lamp
A glass composition which contains Ce ions as a component substantially comprises, in terms of oxides, SiO2: 55 to 75 wt %, B2O3: 6 to 25 wt %, CeO2: 0.01 to 5 wt %, SnO: 0.01 to 5 wt %, Al2O3: 0 to 10 wt %, Li2O: 0 to 10 wt %, Na2O: 0 to 10 wt %, K2O: 0 to 10 wt %, MgO: 0 to 5 wt %, CaO: 0 to 10 wt %, SrO: 0 to 10 wt %, BaO 0 to 10 wt %, TiO2: 0 to 1.0 wt %, Fe2O3: 0.01 to 0.2 wt %, Sb2O3: 0 to 5 wt %, ZrO2: 0.01 to 5 wt %. By having such constituents, the glass composition is capable of suppressing transmission of ultraviolet light and solarization, and thus the glass composition hardly suffers from initial coloring or coloring during lamp production.
US07977261B2
A thermal barrier fabric includes an inner impermeable material layer, an outer impermeable material layer, a spacer material disposed between the inner and outer impermeable material layers, and a reflective layer of material disposed between the spacer and a selected one of the inner impermeable material layer and the outer impermeable material layer. The inner and outer impermeable material layers are bound to each other along portions thereof outboard of the spacer material and the reflective layer of material to define a closed compartment. The compartment is under a vacuum, such that the reflective layer of the fabric reflects thermal energy back toward the source thereof and the vacuum substantially prevents thermal energy transfer through the compartment.
US07977256B2
A method of forming a porous low dielectric constant (low-k) dielectric film on a substrate is described, wherein the dielectric constant of the low-k dielectric film is less than a value of approximately 4. The method comprises exposing the low-k dielectric film to infrared (IR) radiation and adjusting a residual amount of cross-linking inhibitor, such as pore-generating material, within the low-k dielectric film.
US07977249B1
Methods for removing silicon nitride and elemental silicon during contact preclean process involve converting these materials to materials that are more readily etched by fluoride-based etching methods, and subsequently removing the converted materials by a fluoride-based etch. Specifically, silicon nitride and elemental silicon may be treated with an oxidizing agent, e.g., with an oxygen-containing gas in a plasma, or with O2 or O3 in the absence of plasma to produce a material that is more rich in Si—O bonds and is more easily etched with a fluoride-based etch. Alternatively, silicon nitride or elemental silicon may be doped with a number of doping elements, e.g., hydrogen, to form materials which are more easily etched by fluoride based etches. The methods are particularly useful for pre-cleaning contact vias residing in a layer of silicon oxide based material because they minimize the unwanted increase of critical dimension of contact vias.
US07977247B2
The present invention relates to a semiconductor structure such as a field effect transistors (FETs) in which the channel region of each of the FETs is composed of an array of more than one electrically isolated channel. In accordance with the present invention, the distance between each of the channels present in the channel region is within a distance of no more than twice their width from each other. The FETs of the present invention are fabricated using methods in which self-assembled block copolymers are employed in forming the channel.
US07977242B2
A method for providing features in an etch layer is provided by forming an organic mask layer over the inorganic mask layer, forming a silicon-containing mask layer over the organic mask layer, forming a patterned mask layer over the silicon-containing mask layer, etching the silicon-containing mask layer through the patterned mask, depositing a polymer over the etched silicon-containing mask layer, depositing a silicon-containing film over the polymer, planarizing the silicon-containing film, selectively removing the polymer leaving the silicon-containing film, etching the organic layer, and etching the inorganic layer.
US07977240B1
Metal ink compositions, methods of forming such compositions, and methods of forming conductive layers are disclosed. The ink composition includes a bulk metal, a transition metal source, and an organic solvent. The transition metal source may be a transition metal capable of forming a silicide, in an amount providing from 0.01 to 50 at. % of the transition metal relative to the bulk metal. Conductive structures may be made using such ink compositions by forming a silicon-containing layer on a substrate, printing a metal ink composition on the silicon-containing layer, and curing the composition. The metal inks of the present invention have high conductivity and form low resistivity contacts with silicon, and reduce the number of inks and printing steps needed to fabricate integrated circuits.
US07977239B2
A semiconductor device includes: a first insulation film formed over a semiconductor substrate; and a plurality of first interconnects selectively formed in the first insulation film. A plurality of gaps are formed in part of the first insulation film located between adjacent ones of the first interconnects so that each of the gaps has a cylindrical shape extending vertically to a principal surface of the semiconductor substrate. A cap film is formed of metal or a material containing metal in upper part of each of the first interconnects.
US07977237B2
Fabricating vias of different size of a semiconductor device by splitting the via patterning process
When forming a complex metallization system in which vias of different lateral size have to be provided, a split patterning sequence may be applied. For this purpose, a lithography process may be specifically designed for the critical via openings and a subsequent second patterning process may be applied for forming the vias of increased lateral dimensions, while the critical vias are masked. In this manner, superior process conditions may be established for each of the patterning sequences.
US07977228B2
The microelectronic device interconnects are fabricated by a process that utilizes a silicon-based interlayer dielectric material layer, such as carbon-doped oxide, and a chemical mixture selective to materials used in the formation of the interconnects, including, but not limited to, copper, cobalt, tantalum, and/or tantalum nitride, to remove the interlayer dielectric material layer between adjacent interconnects thereby forming air gaps therebetween.
US07977219B2
In a manufacturing method for a silicon wafer, a first heat treatment process is performed on the silicon wafer while introducing a first gas having an oxygen gas in an amount of 0.01 vol. % or more and 1.00 vol. % or less and a rare gas, and a second heat treatment process is performed while stopping introducing the first gas and introducing a second gas having an oxygen gas in an amount of 20 vol. % or more and 100 vol. % or less and a rare gas. In the first heat treatment process, the silicon wafer is rapidly heated to first temperature of 1300° C. or higher and a melting point of silicon or lower at a first heating rate, and kept at the first temperature. In the second heat treatment process, the silicon wafer is kept at the first temperature, and rapidly cooled from the first temperature at a first cooling rate.
US07977216B2
Provided is a silicon wafer including: a first denuded zone formed with a predetermined depth from a top surface of the silicon wafer; and a bulk area formed between the first denuded zone and a backside of the silicon wafer, wherein the first denuded zone is formed with a depth ranging from approximately 20 um to approximately 80 um from the top surface, and wherein a concentration of oxygen in the bulk area is uniformly distributed within a variation of 10% over the bulk area.
US07977208B2
A hermetically sealed package includes a lid (14) hermetically bonded to a wafer or substrate (12), with a chamber therebetween defined by a recess (16) in the lid. A circuit device (26) such as MEMS device is provided within the chamber on the substrate. A plurality of vias (41-46) are provided through the substrate, and each have a structure which facilitates a hermetic seal of a suitable level between opposite sides of the substrate. The vias provide electrical communication from externally of the assembly to the device disposed in the chamber.
US07977206B2
A heat treatment apparatus is disclosed, which enables suppression of a warp of a base substrate to which a plurality of single crystal semiconductor substrates are bonded. An example of the apparatus comprises a treatment chamber, a supporting base provided in the treatment chamber, a plurality of supports which are provided over the supporting base and are arranged to support the base substrate, and a heating unit for heating the base substrate, where each position of the plurality of supports can be changed over the supporting base. The use of this apparatus contributes to the reduction in the region where the base substrate and the supports are in contact with each other, which allows uniform heating of the base substrate, leading to the formation of an SOI substrate with high quality.
US07977204B2
A method of forming a fine pattern of a semiconductor device uses a double patterning technique. A first mask pattern is formed on a first hard mask layer disposed on a substrate. A conformal buffer layer is formed over the first mask pattern. A second mask pattern is formed such that segments of the buffer layer are interposed between the first and second mask patterns, and each topographical feature of the second mask pattern is disposed between two adjacent ones of each respective pair of topographical features of the first mask pattern. A first hard mask pattern is formed by etching the first hard mask layer using the first mask pattern, the second mask pattern, and/or the buffer layer as an etch mask. A trench is formed by etching the substrate using the first hard mask pattern as an etch mask. An isolation layer, of a material that is different from that of first hard mask pattern, is formed in the trench.
US07977202B2
A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes providing a semiconductor substrate; and forming a first and a second MOS device. The first MOS device includes a first active region in the semiconductor substrate; and a first gate over the first active region. The second MOS device includes a second active region in the semiconductor substrate; and a second gate over the second active region. The method further include forming a dielectric region between the first and the second active regions, wherein the dielectric region has an inherent stress; and implanting the dielectric region to form a stress-released region in the dielectric region, wherein source and drain regions of the first and the second MOS devices are not implanted during the step of implanting.
US07977200B2
A semiconductor device including at least one capacitor formed in wiring levels on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate, wherein the at least one capacitor is coupled to an active layer of the SOI substrate. A method of fabricating a semiconductor structure includes forming an SOI substrate, forming a BOX layer over the SOI substrate, and forming at least one capacitor in wiring levels on the BOX layer, wherein the at least one capacitor is coupled to an active layer of the SOI substrate.
US07977199B2
Embodiments of the invention generally provide methods for end point detection at predetermined dopant concentrations during plasma doping processes. In one embodiment, a method includes positioning a substrate within a process chamber, generating a plasma above the substrate and transmitting a light generated by the plasma through the substrate, wherein the light enters the topside and exits the backside of the substrate, and receiving the light by a sensor positioned below the substrate. The method further provides generating a signal proportional to the light received by the sensor, implanting the substrate with a dopant during a doping process, generating multiple light signals proportional to a decreasing amount of the light received by the sensor during the doping process, generating an end point signal proportional to the light received by the sensor once the substrate has a final dopant concentration, and ceasing the doping process.
US07977196B2
A semiconductor device includes an active region defining at least four surfaces, the four surfaces including first, second, third, and fourth surfaces, a gate insulation layer formed around the four surfaces of the active region, and a gate electrode formed around the gate insulation layer and the four surfaces of the active region.
US07977190B2
A floating gate memory array comprising transistors having isolated inter-gate dielectric regions with respect to one another and methods of fabricating the same. Floating gate transistors are formed such that each of the floating gate transistors in the array has a floating gate, a control gate and an inter-gate dielectric layer therebetween. The inter-gate dielectric layer for each transistor is isolated from the inter-gate dielectric of each of the other transistors in the array. Methods of fabricating such structures are also provided.
US07977178B2
A semiconductor device includes a buried insulator layer formed on a bulk substrate; a first type semiconductor material formed on the buried insulator layer, and corresponding to a body region of a field effect transistor (FET); a second type of semiconductor material formed over the buried insulator layer, adjacent opposing sides of the body region, and corresponding to source and drain regions of the FET; the second type of semiconductor material having a different bandgap than the first type of semiconductor material; wherein a source side p/n junction of the FET is located substantially within whichever of the first and the second type of semiconductor material having a lower bandgap, and a drain side p/n junction of the FET is located substantially entirely within whichever of the first and the second type of semiconductor material having a higher bandgap.
US07977176B2
A flexible display device for improving reliability, and a fabricating method thereof are disclosed. In the method of fabricating the flexible display device, an insulating protective layer is formed at one side of a glass substrate. A display device including a thin film transistor array and a pad part, which is connected to the thin film transistor array, is formed on the insulating protective layer. A flexible substrate is attached on the display device. And the glass substrate is removed.
US07977174B2
Methods for fabricating FinFET structures with stress-inducing source/drain-forming spacers and FinFET structures having such spacers are provided herein. In one embodiment, a method for fabricating a FinFET structure comprises fabricating a plurality of parallel fins overlying a semiconductor substrate. Each of the fins has sidewalls. A gate structure is fabricated overlying a portion of each of the fins. The gate structure has sidewalls and overlies channels within the fins. Stress-inducing sidewall spacers are formed about the sidewalls of the fins and the sidewalls of the gate structure. The stress-inducing sidewall spacers induce a stress within the channels. First conductivity-determining ions are implanted into the fins using the stress-inducing sidewall spacers and the gate structure as an implantation mask to form source and drain regions within the fins.
US07977171B2
A method of fabricating a thin film transistor substrate for reducing a mask process and, at the same time removing a transparent electrode ITO which remains at a non-display area by a contact hole filling process is disclosed. In the method of fabricating the thin film transistor substrate having a display area and a non-display area, a gate pattern is formed at the exterior of the display area. A gate insulating film is formed on a substrate provided with a gate pattern, and then a data pattern is formed. And a protective film is formed on an entire substrate provided with a data pattern, and then a conductive pattern, and then a conductive pattern, which is comprised of a pixel electrode which is formed at a display area, and a lower gate pad electrode and a lower data pad electrode which are formed at a non-display area, is formed.
US07977162B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip, and a multicomponent alloy layer formed on a face of the semiconductor chip, the multicomponent alloy layer being in a solid-liquid coexisting state in a specific temperature range, and including a surface having concavity and convexity caused by solidification segregation.
US07977160B2
Methods are provided for fabricating a semiconductor device. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a method comprises the steps of providing a semiconductor die having a conductive terminal, forming an insulating layer overlying the semiconductor die, and forming a cavity in the insulating layer which exposes the conductive terminal. The method also comprises forming a first stress-relief layer in the cavity, forming an interconnecting structure having a first end electrically coupled to the first stress-relief layer, and having a second end, and electrically and physically coupling the second end of the interconnecting structure to a packaging substrate.
US07977159B2
In a wafer, a plurality of basic chips F is arranged therein. The basic chip F has a memory capacity of i-mega bytes. By dicing, a memory chip including four basic chips F is cut out of the wafer. The memory chip has a memory capacity of 4×i-mega bytes. A dicing line is interposed between four basic chips F configuring the memory chip, Four basic chips F can change word organization by a control signal individually.
US07977158B2
A manufacturing method for an electronic device joining a first metallic bond part formed on a first electronic component and a second metallic bond part formed on a second electronic component includes a first process for placing the first metallic bond part directly against the second metallic bond part, applying pressure to the first electronic component and the second electronic component, joining the first metallic bond part to the second metallic bond part with solid-phase diffusion, and releasing the applied pressure, and a second process for heating the first electronic component and the second electronic component at a predetermined temperature such that the first metallic bond part and the second metallic bond part are joined together by melting the first metallic bond part and the second metallic bond part.
US07977155B2
A method of packaging integrated circuit structures is provided. The method includes providing a wafer having bonding conductors on a surface of the wafer, and applying a compound underfill onto the surface of the wafer. The compound underfill includes an underfill material and a flux material. A die is then bonded on the wafer after the step of applying the compound underfill, wherein solder bumps on the die are joined with the bonding conductors.
US07977151B2
A method of fabricating metal oxide TFTs on transparent substrates includes the steps of positioning an opaque gate metal area on the front surface of the substrate, depositing transparent gate dielectric and transparent metal oxide semiconductor layers overlying the gate metal and a surrounding area, depositing transparent passivation material on the semiconductor material, depositing photoresist on the passivation material, exposing and developing the photoresist to remove exposed portions, etching the passivation material to leave a passivation area defining a channel area, depositing transparent conductive material over the passivation area, depositing photoresist over the conductive material, exposing and developing the photoresist to remove unexposed portions, and etching the conductive material to leave source and drain areas on opposed sides of the channel area.
US07977144B2
A method for a thin film transistor array panel includes forming a gate line and a pixel electrode on a substrate, forming a gate insulating layer covering the gate line, forming a data line including a source electrode and a drain electrode on the gate insulating layer, forming an interlayer insulating layer covering the data line and the drain electrode on the gate insulating layer, forming a first opening in the interlayer insulating layer, forming an organic semiconductor in the first opening, forming a passivation layer on the organic semiconductor and the interlayer insulating layer, and forming a second opening in the interlayer insulating layer to expose the pixel electrode.
US07977133B2
A method of fabricating a vertical structure opto-electronic device includes fabricating a plurality of vertical structure opto-electronic devices on a crystal substrate, and then removing the substrate using a laser lift-off process. The method then fabricates a metal support structure in place of the substrate. In one aspects the step of fabricating a metal support structure in place of the substrate includes the step of plating the metal support structure using at least one of electroplating and electro-less plating. In one aspect, the vertical structure is a GaN-based vertical structure, the crystal substrate includes sapphire and the metal support structure includes copper. Advantages of the invention include fabricating vertical structure LEDs suitable for mass production with high reliability and high yield.
US07977128B2
An etchant for forming double-layered signal lines and electrodes of a liquid crystal display device includes hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a phosphate, F-ions, an organic acid having a carboxyl group (—COOH), a copper (Cu) inhibitor, and a hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) stabilizer, wherein each of the double-layered signal lines and electrodes of the liquid crystal display device includes a first layer of one of aluminum (Al), aluminum alloy (Al-alloy), titanium (Ti), titanium alloy (Ti-alloy), tantalum (Ta), and a tantalum alloy (Ta-alloy) and a second layer of copper (Cu).
US07977123B2
A method, performed in connection with bevel etching of a substrate, for improving bevel-etch repeatability among substrates, is disclosed. The method includes providing an optical arrangement and ascertaining at least one bevel edge characteristic of a bevel edge of said substrate. The method also includes deriving at least one compensation factor from said at least one bevel edge characteristic, said at least one compensation factor pertaining to an adjustment in a bevel etch process parameter. The method further includes performing said bevel etching utilizing said at least one compensation factor.
US07977122B2
A micro fluidic device comprises a laminate structure, comprising a plurality of individual layers. At least one layer comprises a micro fluidic channel structure and at least on one side of said layer a further layer is arranged comprising a three-dimensional (3D) micro structure such that the 3D micro structure is influencing a flow characteristic of a fluid within the micro fluidic channel structure.
US07977121B2
The present invention provides a method for restoring the dielectric properties of a porous dielectric material. The method comprises providing a substrate comprising at least one layer of a porous dielectric material comprising a contaminant comprising at least one entrapped liquid having a surface tension, wherein the porous dielectric material comprising the at least one contaminant has a first dielectric constant. The substrate is contacted with a restoration fluid comprising water and at least one compound having a surface tension that is less than the surface tension of the at least one entrapped liquid in the at least one layer of a porous dielectric material. Upon drying, the porous dielectric material has a second dielectric constant that is lower than the first dielectric constant and all constituents of the restoration fluid are removed upon drying.
US07977109B2
The present invention relates to a method for enriching nucleic acids with a length of not more than 300 nucleotides. The invention also relates to a kit for enriching nucleic acids with a length of not more than 300 nucleotides, to the use of such a kit, to the use of an anion exchange matrix and to a method for treating a disease.
US07977108B2
The present invention provides methods and probe nucleic acids for detecting mutant forms of target nucleic acids that comprise repetitive nucleotide sequences. In certain embodiments, for example, these approaches and reagents can be used to detect instability in regions of genomic DNA that include microsatellite markers. The invention also provides related reaction mixtures, systems, and kits.
US07977105B2
Disclosed is a method for diagnosing myocardial infarction in a subject who suffers from acute coronary syndrome and has a cardiac troponin level, which is detectable, but lower than the level that is considered as being indicative for a myocardial infarction. Also disclosed is a method for identifying a subject being susceptible to cardiac intervention, wherein the subject suffers from acute coronary syndrome and has a cardiac troponin level which is detectable, but lower than a level that is considered as being indicative for a myocardial infarction. These methods are based on the determination of myoglobin and, optionally, Heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) in a sample of the subject and comparing the amount of myoglobin and, optionally, H-FABP to reference amounts. Also disclosed are kits or devices to carry out the methods.
US07977097B1
A method of screening multiply transformed/transfected cells to identify those cells expressing at least two peptides or proteins of interest. The method comprising: 1. Simultaneously or sequentially transforming a cell with at least two different expression cassettes in which the gene of interest is linked via an IRES to a fluorescent marker gene. Each marker gene is different. 2. Providing conditions in which expression of the genes will occur. 3. Identifying cells expressing proteins by detecting the different fluorescent signals.
US07977095B2
The present invention relates generally to methods for generating, expanding, and isolating antigen-specific T cells. Compositions of antigen-specific T cells activated and expanded by the methods herein are further provided.
US07977087B2
As the results of mass sequencing of cDNA clones originating in barley varieties “H. spontaneum”, “Haruna Nijo” and “Akashinriki”, a large number of sites showing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) among the varieties are found out. Because of involving nonsynonymous substitutions and likely relating to phenotypes inherent in respective varieties, these SNPs are usable for various purposes, for example, genetically distinguishing a variety, isolating a gene, producing/selecting a novel transformant and so on.
US07977085B2
Process for the cultivation of micro-algae comprising the planting of an algal strain in an aqueous environment and the growth process, under solar irradiation, by continuously feeding a gaseous stream essentially consisting of carbon dioxide and a stream of nutrients based on nitrogen, consisting of wastewater from industrial plants, coming from secondary treatment processes.
US07977079B2
This invention relates to altered forms of members of the RNase A superfamily. An RNase A can be modified to be cytotoxic by altering its amino acid sequence so that it is not bound easily by the ribonuclease inhibitor while still retaining catalytic properties. While earlier work had identified some modifications to RNase A that would result in cytotoxicity, the use of the FADE algorithm for molecular interaction analysis has led to several other locations that were candidates for modification. Some of those modifications did result in RNase A variants with increase cytotoxicity.
US07977075B2
The subject invention provides materials and methods wherein unique and advantageous combinations of gene mutations are used to direct carbon flow from sugars to a single product. The techniques of the subject invention can be used to obtain products from native pathways as well as from recombinant pathways. In preferred embodiments, the subject invention provides new materials and methods for the efficient production of acetate and pyruvic acid.
US07977071B2
The present invention relates to immunoglobulin new antigen receptors (IgNARs) from fish and uses thereof. In particular, the present invention relates to modified IgNAR variable domains and to domains from members of the immunoglobulin superfamily that have been modified to include structural features derived from IgNAR variable domains.
US07977057B2
The present invention provides methods for determining the presence of immobilized nucleic acid employing unsymmetrical cyanine dyes that are derivatives of thiazole orange, a staining solution and select fluorogenic compounds that are characterized as being essentially non-genotoxic. The methods comprise immobilizing nucleic acid, single or double stranded DNA, RNA or a combination thereof, on a solid or semi solid support, contacting the immobilized nucleic acid with an unsymmetrical cyanine dye compound and then illuminating the immobilized nucleic acid with an appropriate wavelength whereby the presence of the nucleic acid is determined. The cyanine dye compounds are typically present in an aqueous staining solution comprising the dye compound and a tris acetate or tris borate buffer wherein the solution facilitates the contact of the dye compound and the immobilized nucleic acid. Typically the solid or semi-solid support is selected from the group consisting of a polymeric gel, a membrane, an array, a glass bead, a glass slide, and a polymeric microparticle. Preferably, the polymeric gel is agarose or polyacrylamide. The methods employing the non-genotoxic compounds represent an improvement over commonly used methods employing ethidium bromide wherein the present methods retain the advantages of ethidium bromide, ease of use and low cost, but without the disadvantageous, known mutagen requiring special handling and waste procedures.
US07977053B2
The present invention provides methods and kits for the rapid exponential amplification of nucleic acid molecules using a padlock probe. The present invention improves upon the existing methods for amplifying padlock probes by eliminating or delaying the appearance of artifact products that cause false positive results, and also increase the sensitivity and speed of the assay. Further provided are nucleic acid amplification primers containing non-informative base analogs.
US07977048B2
The invention relates to methods and systems for identifying, quantitating and/or analyzing analytes from samples. The analytes may be organic or inorganic in nature and include but are not limited to pathogens such as viruses.
US07977025B2
A method of making toner particles, including: mixing, at less than about 17° C. and without homogenizing, a resin emulsion with a coagulant, a colorant, an optional wax, and optional additives, to form pre-aggregated particles in a slurry; heating the slurry to form aggregated toner particles; freezing aggregation of the particles in the slurry once at a desired aggregated particle size; and further heating the aggregated particles in the slurry to coalesce the aggregated particles into toner particles.
US07977024B2
A process for making toner particles comprising: (a) forming an emulsion comprising a disperse phase including a first aqueous composition and a continuous phase including molten one or more ingredients of a toner composition, wherein there is absent a toner resin solvent in the continuous phase; (b) performing a phase inversion to create a phase inversed emulsion comprising a disperse phase including toner-sized droplets comprising the molten one or more ingredients of the toner composition and a continuous phase including a second aqueous composition; and (c) solidifying the toner-sized droplets to result in toner particles.
US07977022B2
The invention provides a developer having at least a toner, an aeration ratio (AR) of the developer measured by a powder rheometer being in a range of about 5.0 to about 10.0. It is preferable that the developer further contains an external additive of silica particles having a small diameter. The invention further provides a process cartridge having at least: a photoreceptor; and a developing device that comprises plura developer storage portions and that makes visible a latent image formed on the photoreceptor by using the developer. The invention further provides an image forming apparatus having at least the process cartridge.
US07977017B2
Methods of fabricating a photomask, methods of treating a chemically amplified resist-coated photomask blank, a photomask blank resulting from the methods, and systems for fabricating a photomask are provided. The method is useful for recovering the exposure sensitivity of a chemically amplified resist disposed on a photomask blank from a post-coat delay effect.
US07977007B2
The present invention discloses nanowires for use in a fuel cell comprising a metal catalyst deposited on a surface of the nanowires. A membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell is disclosed which generally comprises a proton exchange membrane, an anode electrode, and a cathode electrode, wherein at least one or more of the anode electrode and cathode electrode comprise an interconnected network of the catalyst supported nanowires. Methods are also disclosed for preparing a membrane electrode assembly and fuel cell based upon an interconnected network of nanowires.
US07977004B2
A seal assembly for a solid oxide fuel cell stack, includes at least two fuel cell stack components having opposed surfaces and a seal member disposed between the surfaces, wherein the seal member is a compliant seal member that is mechanically compliant in both in-plane and out-of-plane directions relative to the surfaces. The seal member is advantageously formed of one or more substantially continuous fibers. Further, preferred materials for the seal member are provided which advantageously allow for a desired level of impermeability while preventing contamination of the fuel cell stack.
US07976991B2
A model uses various operating characteristics of a fuel cell to predict the relative humidity profile that is occurring within the fuel cell as a function of the reaction progress. The model is used to predict the relative humidity profile that will occur in response to changes to one or more of the operating characteristics of the fuel cell. A high frequency resistance of the fuel cell can also be used as a measure that is indicative of the humidity within the fuel cell. The model and/or the high frequency resistance can be used in a closed-loop feedback system to control the operation of the fuel cell to maintain the humidification of the MEA and fuel cells within a desired range to achieve a desired fuel cell performance.
US07976986B2
A sintered substrate is configured such that pores having a pore size (pore radius) of from 5 μm to 7 μm have a peak volume fraction with respect to the total pore volume of the sintered substrate, and pores having a pore radius of greater than 8.5 μm has a volume fraction of 11% or less with respect to the total pore volume of the sintered substrate. The sintered substrate has a smaller number of large-sized pores than conventional sintered substrates and a more uniform pore size distribution, and therefore shows a sufficient strength even when the porosity is increased. In addition, a cadmium negative electrode employing the sintered substrate shows excellent gas absorption capability and therefore can reduce the internal pressure of the battery during charge.
US07976981B2
A pouch-type lithium secondary battery in which an additional packing case is not used is provided. The pouch material is used to perform packing processes, thereby simplifying packing processes and methods of manufacturing. The pouch-type lithium secondary battery includes an electrode assembly and a pouch material. The electrode assembly includes a first electrode plate to which a first electrode tab is attached, a second electrode plate to which a second electrode tab is attached, and a separator between the first and second electrode plates. The pouch material has first, second, and third surfaces. The first and second surfaces are folded along a first fold to form an electrode assembly accommodating unit for accommodating the electrode assembly. The third surface wraps around the electrode assembly accommodating unit at least once. The first fold is parallel to a line along which the first electrode tab and the second electrode tab extend.
US07976979B2
An electrode group 4 having a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate arranged with a porous insulating layer interposed therebetween and end portions of the positive and negative electrode plates protruding from the porous insulating layer is prepared, and current collector plates 10 and 11 each of which is provided with a projection 12 having a gap 12a formed therein is prepared. With the end portion 2a of the electrode plate protruding from the porous insulating layer 3 kept in contact with a principle surface of the current collector plates 10 and 11, the projection 12 is locally heated to join the end portion 2a of the electrode plate and the current collector plates 10 and 11. the end portion 2a of the electrode plate is welded to the current collector plates 10 and 11 with a fused material obtained by fusing the projection 12.
US07976978B2
Disclosed herein is an electrode terminal connecting member for electrically interconnecting plate-shaped secondary battery cells (‘battery cells’) constituting a battery module, wherein the electrode terminal connecting member includes a coupling part (‘bent coupling part’) bent to form a groove at the rear of the electrode terminal connecting member such that a plate-shaped electrode terminal (‘battery cell electrode terminal’) of each battery cell is inserted into the groove, an external input and output terminal protruding toward the front of the electrode terminal connecting member while being bent, and a voltage detection terminal protruding toward the front of the electrode terminal connecting member while being bent.
US07976973B2
A battery includes a spirally wound electrode body in which a cathode and an anode are layered with a separator in between and spirally wound. The spirally wound electrode body is attached with at least one lead on the spirally-winding center side. The cathode has a cathode current collector having a pair of opposed faces, an outer-face cathode active material layer provided on the spirally-winding outer face side of the cathode current collector, and an inner-face cathode active material layer provided on the spirally-winding inner face side thereof. A thickness of the inner-face cathode active material layer is smaller than a thickness of the outer-face cathode active material layer. An outer face active material region provided with only the outer-face cathode active material layer is formed to be overlapped with the lead on the spirally-winding center side of the cathode.
US07976972B2
Provided is a method of preserving a PEFC stack, which is capable of controlling degradation of performance of the PEFC stack during a time period that elapses from when the stack is placed in an uninstalled state until it is placed in an installation position and is practically used. Provided is a preservation assembly of the PEFC stack which is capable of sufficiently inhibiting degradation of performance of the PEFC stack particularly during a time period that elapses from when the stack is placed in the uninstalled state until it is placed in the installation position and is practically used. A method of preserving a PEFC stack that is provided with an oxidizing agent passage (30) having an inlet and an outlet and extending through a cathode and a reducing agent passage (40) having an inlet and an outlet and extending through an anode, comprising preserving the PEFC (200) stack in an uninstalled state in such a manner that an interior of the oxidizing agent passage (30) and an interior of the reducing agent passage (40) are set in a pressure-reduced state.
US07976969B2
Disclosed herein is a no-welding type battery pack using one or more forced-inserting type rivets. A cap assembly includes a base plate mounted to an open upper end of a battery case, a protection circuit module (PCM) mounted on the base plate, and a top cap coupled to the upper end of the battery case while the top cap covers the PCM. The top cap is made of an insulative material. The electrical connection and the mechanical coupling between the PCM and the base plate are accomplished by one or more forced-inserting type rivets. The cap assembly is included the battery pack. The no-welding type battery pack using the one or more forced-inserting type rivets is manufactured without welding or soldering requiring an excessive amount of time and skilled technique during the electrical connection between the battery cell and the PCM. As a result, the assembly process of the battery pack is simplified, and therefore, the manufacturing time of the battery pack is reduced. Consequently, the manufacturing costs of the battery pack are decreased, the automation of the assembly process is accomplished, and the structural stability of the battery pack is improved.
US07976962B2
A method for preparing a high-temperature heat-resistant composite material by combining a mixture of submicron alumina powder and submicron silica powder, wherein the ratio of alumina to silica is from about 4:1 to about 5:1, submicron Group II metal oxide powder, and a Group I metal silicate solution to form a slurry, wherein the weight of the Group II metal oxide powder is an amount corresponding to about 5% to about 10% of the weight of the silicate solution; contacting reinforcing high-temperature resistant fibers with the slurry to form a composite precursor composition; and curing the composition at a temperature sufficient to produce the high-temperature heat-resistant composite material capable of resisting temperatures up to about 1400° C. Composite materials prepared according to the method and articles incorporating the material are also presented.
US07976959B2
An organic electroluminescent element which has a long lifetime and excellent manufacturability includes a charge-transporting polymer material having high mobility and solubility in solvents, and further includes a pair of electrodes and an organic compound layer sandwiched between the pair of electrodes, at least one of the electrodes being transparent, the organic compound layer being formed of one or more layers, and at least one of the one or more layers containing at least one charge-transporting polyester represented by Formula (I-1) or (I-2),
US07976942B2
The invention relates to a single- or multi-layered food casing, made from a thermoplastic mixture which comprises at least one aliphatic polyamide and/or copolyamide, at least one or more synthetic water-soluble polymers and at least one organic and/or inorganic filler. The skin has a water vapor permeability, as determined according to DIN 53122, in the non-oriented, monoaxially or biaxially oriented state of 50 to 1500 g/m2·d. The food casing is particularly suitable for use as an artificial sausage casing, particularly for raw sausages.
US07976932B1
A ballistic resistant panel including a strike face portion and a backing portion. The strike face portion includes a plurality of interleaved layers of non-fibrous ultra high molecular weight polyethylene tape. The backing portion includes a plurality of interleaved layers of cross-plied fibers of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene. The entire stack of interleaved layers is compressed at high temperature and pressure to form a ballistic resistant panel having a strike face on one side. It has been found that ballistic resistance increases as the weight ratio of the strike face portion with respect to the backing portion decreases. A composite panel having a strike face Tensylon tape with at most 40% of the total weight of the panel exhibits improved ballistic resistance properties as compared to a monolithic structure of strictly interleaved layers of cross-plied high modulus fibers.
US07976927B2
A metal-integral conductive rubber component (10) of the present invention includes a laminate in which conductive rubber layers (1) and insulating rubber layers (2) are laminated alternately in parallel. The conductive rubber layers (1) and the insulating rubber layers (2) are integrated at their boundaries by cross-linking between the conductive rubber layers and the insulating rubber layers. The volume resistivity of the conductive rubber layers (1) is 10−5 Ω·cm or more and 10 K Ω·cm or less. The volume resistively of the insulating rubber layers (2) is 1 M Ω·cm or more and 1016 Ω·cm or less. A metal plate is integrated with at least one surface of the laminate that is perpendicular to the electric conduction direction via a conductive adhesive layer (3) made of conductive rubber. With this configuration, the metal-integral conductive rubber component can have high compression set properties, achieve a stable electric connection over a long period of time, be bonded to a printed wiring board, reduce in cost, and improve the production efficiency.
US07976918B2
A biaxially drawn, blow-molded bottle and its preform comprise at least a layer of a gas barrier material laminated inside the PET resin layers, a functional portion having a screw thread raised spirally in the upper portion of neck and also having a stop ring disposed under the screw thread, and a neck ring disposed at the lower end of the neck. In these preform and bottle, the leading edge of the gas barrier layer is positioned at a half height of the neck ring where the most advanced front of the leading edge neither reaches a half height of the stop ring nor extends to the functional portion. It is intended here that the neck would not be affected by the shrinking deformation caused by the existence of the gas barrier layer in the functional portion of the neck, which is treated for thermal crystallization.
US07976915B2
An endoprosthesis, such as a stent, includes a ceramic, such as IROX, having a select morphology and composition.
US07976908B2
Processes for simultaneously encapsulating multiple optoelectronic devices and/or depositing a barrier film onto multiple substrates suitable for fabrication of optoelectronic devices thereon include the use of a plasma deposition apparatus having multiple pairs of opposing electrodes for deposition of reactants onto the substrate that is used to form the device or the complete device itself. The processes significantly reduce tact time relative to one at a time batch processing that is currently used for manufacturing optoelectronic devices.
US07976904B2
The invention relates to a curtain coating process for coating substrates with a stable curtain and a uniform coating at low flow rates wherein a free-falling curtain of an aqueous composition comprising a high solids content is coated onto the moving substrate at a flow rate per unit die length value (Q) equal to or inferior to 10−4 m3/(s·m), the said high solids content composition comprising a polymeric rheology modifier and a non-ionic surfactant. The invention relates in particular to a curtain coating process for coating fibrous substrates such as paper or board. The invention also relates to a coated product.
US07976903B2
Non-aqueous, liquid coating compositions which contain at least one epoxy-functional binder A and at least one carboxyl-functional cross-linking resin B, wherein the at least one cross-linking resin B is present as particles having a melting temperature of 40 to 180° C.
US07976898B2
The present invention relates to an ALD apparatus, and particularly relates to an ALD apparatus that is suitable for rapidly depositing a thin film on a substrate having an actual area that is larger than a planar substrate. In the reaction chamber of the ALD apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, more gas is supplied to a portion where more gas is required by having differences in the space for gas to flow rather than supplying the gas in a constant flux and a constant flow velocity such that the time required for supplying reactant gases and waste of reactant gases may be minimized to increase productivity of the ALD apparatus. The ceiling of the reaction space is shaped to provide a nonuniform gap over the substrate.
US07976885B2
Systems and methods for antimicrobial injection in a web packaging pasteurization system are provided. A pressurized mixture of pasteurizing medium and at least one antimicrobial agent is applied to the surfaces of a food product. According to a preferred embodiment, the at least one microbial agent is injected into and thereby mixed with the pressurized supply of pasteurizing steam prior to its discharge into a pressurized chamber and application to the food surfaces. Preferably, the mixture is introduced into the pressurized chamber at an inflow rate and vented from the chamber at an outflow rate that is slower than the inflow rate such that the pressure in the chamber increases to increase the temperature of the mixture to an effective temperature for killing bacteria.
US07976880B2
Pregnane glycoside or a Caralluma extract including the pregnane glycoside of the present invention can be used for medical purposes and as food additives, such as a treatment of obesity, a reduction of blood glucose, a reduction of blood pressure, a reduction in hip, waist and arm circumferences, a reduction of fat, increase of BMR, a decrease of BMI, an increase of lean body mass, an appetite-suppression and a reduction/elimination of joint pain, anti-aging, a treatment for falling sex drive, the treatment for impotency and an erectile dysfunction, and an enhancement of energy levels.
US07976864B2
An object is to provide a film preparation comprising a polymer harmless to living bodies and being highly adhesive to the skin; and a film preparation further containing a pharmaceutically active oily ingredient and being highly adhesive to the skin. More specifically, provided is a film preparation comprising a drug, a wetly shear-triturated low-substituted cellulose ether having a molar substitution of from 0.05 to 1.0 per anhydrous glucose unit, and a water-soluble cellulose ether, and having 100 minutes or greater of adhesion ability to the skin. The preparation becomes a skin-adhesive hydrous sheet having excellent skin adhesion after it is wet with water as it is used.
US07976845B2
An isolated protein construct comprising a polyepitope derived from multiple human cytomegalovirus protein antigen epitopes conjugated to an extracellular domain of glycoprotein B, which isolated protein is capable of eliciting a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte immune response as well as a neutralizing antibody response to human cytomegalovirus. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the isolated protein or an adenoviral expression construct for delivery and expression of a nucleic acid encoding the isolated protein for prophylactic and/or therapeutic treatment of human cytomegalovirus infection, particularly in humans.
US07976843B2
Identifying subdominant/cryptic epitopes (I) that are presented by a HLA (human leukocyte antigen) Class I molecule, is new. Identifying subdominant/cryptic epitopes (I) that are presented by a HLA (human leukocyte antigen) Class I molecule comprising selecting at least one peptide (II) of 8-11 amino acids (aa), potentially representing an epitope for Class I presentation, from a protein against which a cytotoxic T cell (CTL) response is to be raised. (II) corresponds to a non-immunogenic peptide with low affinity for Class I molecules. Variants (IIa) of (II) are prepared in which the N-terminal aa is replaced by Tyr and their immunogenicity detected by identifying those that generate a CTL response against target cells expressing the parent protein. Peptide sequences from which active (IIa) are derived are then identified. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) immunogenic peptide epitopes (IIa) derived from (I) identified this way; and (2) nucleic acid (III) that encodes chimeric polypeptides (IV) containing one or more, same or different, copies of (IIa).
US07976839B2
A transgenic non-human animal of the species selected from the group consisting of avian, bovine, ovine and porcine having a transgene which results in disrupting the production of and/or activity of growth differentiation factor-11 (GDF-11) chromosomally integrated into the germ cells of the animal is provided. Also provided are methods for making such animals, and methods of treating animals, including humans, with antibodies or antisense directed to GDF-11. The animals so treated are characterized by increased muscle tissue and bone tissue.
US07976838B2
The present application describes therapy with antagonists which bind to B cell surface markers, such as CD20. In particular, the application describes the use of such antagonists to treat autoimmune disease in a mammal who experiences an inadequate response to a TNFα-inhibitor.
US07976834B2
The invention provides a multi-arm block copolymer for use in delivering a variety of bioactive agents. The copolymer of the invention contains a central core from which extend multiple (3 or more) copolymer arms. Each copolymer arm possesses an inner polypeptide segment and an outer hydrophilic polymer segment. Thus, the overall structure of the copolymer comprises an inner core region that includes the central core and the inner polypeptide segment, while the outer core region is hydrophilic in nature. The multi-arm copolymer of the invention is particularly useful for delivery of biologically active agents that can be entrapped within the inner core region.
US07976827B2
A base coat nail enamel composition that forms a decorative color effect over natural or synthetic nails. The base coat nail enamel composition includes at least one dye in a sufficient amount, such that when a clear, tinted or pigmented top coat nail enamel composition is formed thereon, the combined base and top coat nail enamel compositions will exhibit a decorative effect by virtue of forming a different color than either the color of the base nail enamel composition or the top coat nail enamel composition.
US07976826B2
The present invention relates to a method for protecting a human patient or a mammalian animal to be subjected to chemotherapy treatment of a tumor not residing in the scalp of the patient or the skin of the animal against chemotherapy-induced alopecia, comprising administering to the scalp of the patient or the skin of the animal an effective amount of a composition comprising a chemical inducer of the stress protein response sufficiently prior to the administration of a chemotherapeutic drug. It also relates to pharmaceutical compositions for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced alopecia. It further relates to a method for protecting a human patient or a mammalian animal to be subjected to chemotherapy treatment of a tumor not residing in the scalp of the patient or the skin of the animal against chemotherapy-induced alopecia, comprising administering to the scalp of the patient or the skin of the animal an effective heat dose sufficiently prior to the administration of a chemotherapeutic drug.
US07976817B2
To provide, in an industrial scale production of iodine heptafluoride, a method for producing it easily and continuously, with a single reactor, efficiently and stably by putting iodine and fluorine directly into the reactor. To provide a method for producing iodine heptafluoride, characterized in that each of a fluorine-containing gas and an iodine-containing gas is supplied to a reactor, in which iodine heptafluoride is previously present, in order to suppress a local reaction when iodine and fluorine as the raw materials are put into the reactor, and the reaction is conducted while circulating and mixing the gas in the reactor.
US07976816B2
A method for functionalizing the wall of single-wall or multi-wall carbon nanotubes involves the use of acyl peroxides to generate carbon-centered free radicals. The method allows for the chemical attachment of a variety of functional groups to the wall or end cap of carbon nanotubes through covalent carbon bonds without destroying the wall or endcap structure of the nanotube. Carbon-centered radicals generated from acyl peroxides can have terminal functional groups that provide sites for further reaction with other compounds. Organic groups with terminal carboxylic acid functionality can be converted to an acyl chloride and further reacted with an amine to form an amide or with a diamine to form an amide with terminal amine. The reactive functional groups attached to the nanotubes provide improved solvent dispersibility and provide reaction sites for monomers for incorporation in polymer structures. The nanotubes can also be functionalized by generating free radicals from organic sulfoxides.
US07976815B2
A method and apparatus for growing nanostructures is presented. A growth substrate including at least one reaction site is provided as is a device disposed proximate the growth substrate. Energy is provided to the reaction site and a reaction species is introduced to the growth substrate. This results in a nanostructure growing from the reaction site wherein the growth process of the nanostructure is controlled by providing a force to the device.
US07976814B2
The invention presents a fullerene derivative fine wire composed of basic component unit of fullerene derivative, being made of acicular crystal of fullerene derivative, as a fine wire showing high crystallinity and semiconductor performance.
US07976801B2
A particulate converter for the collection and the incineration of particulate matters from diesel engine exhaust includes an exhaust path extending from the diesel engine through the particulate converter. The particulate converter further includes a housing and at least one candle located in the housing. An electrical incineration system may be electrically connected to a pulsed power supply for incinerating soot collected within the candle. A diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) may be disposed in the exhaust path to generate sufficient amount of NO2 to assist in incineration. At least one exhaust cooling device may be provided for the control of exhaust temperature. A feedback control system may control exhaust gas temperatures based on pressure drop across the DPC, temperature ahead of the DPC and engine RPM.
US07976798B2
Method for recovery of rare earths from fluorescent lamps. The method comprises six steps. •The individual process steps are: Mechanical separation of coarse components. •Separation of the halophosphate. •Extraction in acids of easily soluble rare-earth fluorescent substances (mainly Y, Eu-oxide) •Extraction in acids of rare-earth fluorescent substances which dissolve with difficulty (for example rare-earth phosphates) •Breakdown of the remaining components which contain rare earths (for example rare-earth-aluminates) •Final treatment.
US07976791B2
A portable, lightweight, easy-to-carry, reusable, durable, and environmentally-friendly assembly for sterilizing contaminated equipment using conditions of a chemical sterilant, heat, and humidity generated in situ without requiring external electricity, fuels, or other exogenous energy sources for operation. The carry assembly includes a plastic carry-case or insulated aluminum pressure vessel having an inner chamber for accepting microbiologically contaminated objects, a vessel disposed in the chamber for serving as a reaction chamber and/or boiler, a chemical combination which upon mixing generates at least minimally sufficient conditions of the sterilant, heat, and humidity to effect sterilization of the objects, and outlet valves mounted on the carry-case for controllably venting pressures above ambient air pressure.
US07976790B2
An apparatus for the extraction of plant constituents such as may be used in the production of traditional Chinese medicines. The apparatus uses a fluid chamber to hold a mixture of plant and carrier fluid which is then passed through a conduit through a second chamber. The second chamber includes microwave sources to heat the mixture and preferably, some mechanical mechanisms to create turbulence to assist in breaking cell walls within the plant material. The heated mixture is returned to the fluid chamber and the process continued on further fluid and plant mixture until the batch itself is at elevated temperature and retained for a predetermined period of time. The resultant mixture may then be processed through a microwave assisted condensation process to provide a condense extract for eventual use.
US07976789B2
A microfluidic device for preparing a mixture, has a mixer. The mixer includes a plurality of chambers, each chamber having a volume of at most 1 microliter, a first plurality of channels, each channel fluidly connecting 2 chambers, a plurality of chamber valves, each chamber valve controlling fluid flow out of one of the plurality of chambers, and a first plurality of channel valves, each channel valve controlling fluid flow through one of the first plurality of channels.
US07976784B2
Catalysts, catalyst systems, and methods for removing ammonia and/or carbon monoxide in flue gases are provided where ammonia is used with a selective catalytic reduction catalyst for reducing oxides of nitrogen. An oxidation catalyst is utilized, which comprises particulate platinum or platinum/palladium dispersed on zirconia particles, the particulate platinum or platinum/palladium having an average particle size less than about 10 nm. The catalyst is effective to convert less than 20% of NO to NO2 passing through the oxidation catalyst.
US07976782B2
A folding type portable telephone in which a first housing and a second housing are fixed by a hinge includes a face panel fixed to the first housing and aromatic substances are accommodated inside the face panel. When the hinge is rotated, the aromatic substances are released in conjunction with the operation of opening the folding type portable telephone from the closed state. Furthermore, a sounding body is operated at a frequency of strongly generating an air vibration at a time defined in advance by timer control, so that fragrance of the aromatic substances is released outward by the air vibration of the sounding body. The fragrance corresponding to TPO can be generated from the face panel of the portable telephone.
US07976780B2
Methods and apparatus are provided to measure isotopic characteristics of a number of sample types. Embodiments of the invention combine novel and existing components to produce more accurate isotopic information. Further, embodiments of the invention allow for isotopic readings to be taken and analyzed outside of a laboratory. An example of such an embodiment is an apparatus comprising a combustion furnace; a reactant tube passing through the combustion furnace; an injector coupled to one, or a combination of, the combustion furnace, and reactant tube, to introduce a sample; a laser isotopic measurement device coupled to the reactant tube on the exit end; and a processor electrically coupled to one, or a combination of, the injector, the combustion furnace, the reactant tube, and the isotopic measurement device, in which a carrier gas transports the sample through the apparatus.
US07976774B2
A composite sparger for use in elevated temperature and corrosive environments. The composite sparger is formed from a substrate tube with a thermally conductive interlayer on its surfaces exposed to the reactor environment. The thermally conductive interlayer is protected with a corrosion resistant layer. The corrosion resistant layer protects the interlayer from the corrosive environment of the reactor vessel and the interlayer material conducts heat away from the corrosion resistant layer to prevent combustion of the corrosion resistant layer. The interlayer material and corrosion resistant material may be selected so as to provide for sufficient thermal conduction to prevent combustion of the corrosion resistant material.
US07976772B2
A filter includes a crucible, a filtering container, and a receiving tank. The crucible has a heater for heating a pre-filtered object to comprise a primary material in liquid and at least one other material in solid. The filtering container has a body, a sieve, and a press rod. The body connects with the crucible for receiving the heated pre-filtered object in a channel and provides a guide-out member; the sieve is disposed in said channel; and the press rod movably received in the channel for pressing the primary material of the pre-filtered object to flow through the sieve and to the guide-out member. The receiving tank has an entrance facing the guide-out member of the filtering container to receive the filtered primary material.
US07976768B2
A ceramic forming batch mixture including inorganic batch materials, such as sources of alumina, titania, and silica, a pore former combination including first and second pore formers with different compositions; an organic binder; and a solvent. Also disclosed is a method for producing a ceramic article involving mixing the inorganic batch materials with the pore former combination having first and second pore formers of different composition, adding an organic binder and a solvent, forming a green body; and firing the green body. A green body having a combination of first and second pore formers with different compositions is disclosed, as are several methods for firing to produce ceramic articles such as aluminum titanate.
US07976767B2
A preform for use in blow molding a plastic container is disclosed herein. The preform has an open end and closed end, and a body adapted to form a body of the container when the container is blow molded. The preform further includes a finish having a top surface, an inner wall having circumferentially-spaced thin segments alternating with thick segments, and an outer wall wherein the thin segments exist entirely in the finish and extend towards the open end of the body of the preform. The thick segments do not extend to the top surface.
US07976765B2
A method of forming a nanoscale pattern on a substrate surface. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of providing a substrate having a surface; providing a nanoscale pattern forming device, comprising an elongated cantilever that has a tip portion proximate an end of the elongated cantilever; and controllably illuminating at least the tip portion of the cantilever with a beam of substantially coherent monoenergetic particles when the cantilever moves relative to the substrate to form a nanoscale pattern on the surface, wherein the tip portion of the cantilever is made from lightly doped silicon.
US07976763B2
A protective element for a breakwater or wave-retarding construction comprises a body that has at least two opposing projections. The projections are on either side of a flat base and extend transversely thereto. The periphery of the base is non-circular, so that rolling of the protective element under the influence of the beating of the waves is resisted.
US07976760B2
The invention relates to a method and a device for producing a structure made up of at least two bodies in a cavity of a mold defining the structure.
US07976757B2
An in mold decoration process includes inserting a film with decorations into a first mold tool cavity side. The first mold tool cavity side is then engaged with a first mold tool core side, and the film in the first mold tool cavity side undergoes a high-pressure heat forming procedure. After the forming procedure, the film is formed with a cavity and maintained in the first mold tool cavity side. The first mold tool cavity side is then disengaged from the first mold tool core side and engaged with a second mold tool core side, and the film undergoes an injection molding procedure. The cavity is injected with a molten resin. After the molding procedure, the molten resin becomes a plastic component bound to the film to form a semi-finished product. The semi-finished product is then ejected out of the first mold tool cavity side and trimmed to form a finished product.
US07976744B2
The present invention is directed to a process for the preparation of a plane-parallel structure (a platelet-shaped body, or flake), comprising at least one dielectric layer consisting of one or more oxides of a metal selected from groups 3 to 15 of the periodic table, which comprises the steps of: (a) applying a thin film of the dielectric material on a flexible belt, by passing the belt through an aqueous solution of a fluorine scavenger and one or more fluorine containing metal complexes which are the precursors of the desired metal oxide coating; and subjecting said solution to microwave radiation to deposit the metal oxide onto said flexible belt, wherein step (a) can optionally be repeated using different fluorine containing metal complexes to produce one or more metal oxide layers or a gradient of concentration of 2 different metal oxides across the thickness; (b) separating the resulting layer from the flexible belt as plane-parallel structures.
US07976735B2
A conductive paste for grid electrodes in solar cells includes a conductive component, glass frit, and resin binder, wherein the conductive component is selected from the group consisting of (i) silver particles and metal particles selected from the group consisting of Pd, Ir, Pt, Ru, Ti, and Co, (ii) alloy particles comprising silver and metal selected from the group consisting of Pd, Ir, Pt, Ru, Ti, and Co, and (iii) silver particles and core-shell particles in which a metal selected from the group consisting of Pd, Ir, Pt, Ru, Ti, and Co is coated on the surface of silver or copper.
US07976726B2
A formulation comprises quantum dots and a quenching-preventive agent in a carrier material. The quenching-preventive agent is a metal chelating agents, a corrosion inhibitor, or a combination thereof. The formulation can be applied to a metal substrate, without experiencing metal ion induced fluorescence quenching.
US07976716B2
A method of using a heat exchanger efficiently and uniformly to cool or heats portions to be controlled to a prescribed temperature, and then continuously carry out stable processing. The heat exchanger is constructed by arranging partition walls between two plates to form a fluid channel and a fin parallel with the channel or inclined by a prescribed angle on each of the two plates insides the channel so that the plate or a member in contact with the plate is cooled or heated with the fluid flowing through the channel.
US07976715B2
A method for making a master mold that is used in the nanoimprinting process to make patterned-media disks with patterned data islands uses guided self-assembly of a block copolymer into its components. Conventional or e-beam lithography is used to first form a pattern of generally radial stripes on a substrate, with the stripes being grouped into annular zones or bands. A block copolymer material is then deposited on the pattern, resulting in guided self-assembly of the block copolymer into its components to multiply the generally radial stripes into generally radial lines. Various methods, including conventional lithography, guided self-assembly of a second block copolymer, and e-beam lithography, are then used to form concentric rings over the generally radial lines. After etching and resist removal, the master mold has a pattern of either pillars or holes, depending on the method used.
US07976712B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for a filter for filtering a dosing fluid in an exhaust aftertreatment system. The filter may comprise a dosing tank configured to contain a dosing fluid, a filter media disposed within the dosing tank, and a support structure supporting the filter media to form a pathway for a flow of dosing fluid. Beneficially, the apparatus, system, and method of the present invention reduce the cost of operation and manufacture of the SCR system.
US07976706B2
A melt filter, for the purification of plastic melts, particularly dispensed from extruders, comprises a housing (1) with a melt channel (10), connecting a melt inlet (7) to a melt outlet (9), with a sieve disc (5), which may be rotated by a motorized ratchet drive provided in the melt channel (10), comprising recesses separated by ridges in a circular track for housing exchangeable filter elements and the housing (1) has a filter element changing station (13). The aim of the invention is that the above shall be designed such that large amounts of melt for filtering can be filtered in a cost-effective energy saving and space saving manner. The above is achieved by means of the housing comprising at least two melt inlets (7, 8) connected to the melt outlet (9) by at least two melt channels (10, 11) and in each melt channel (10, 11) a sieve disc (5, 6) driven on rotation by a motorized ratchet drive is provided and each sieve disc (5, 6) is provided with a filter element exchange station (13, 15).
US07976699B2
A method and apparatus is provided for distilling and processing chemicals. The apparatus is particularly suited for processing and distilling difficult to distill compounds, and is capable of producing diesel fuel and other products from used oil at a quality level similar to that of products produced from virgin crude oil.
US07976696B2
One aspect of the present invention relates to mesostructured zeolites. The invention also relates to a method of preparing mesostructured zeolites, as well as using them as cracking catalysts for organic compounds and degradation catalysts for polymers.
US07976695B2
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for possibly producing pipeline-ready heavy oil from substantially non-pumpable oil feeds. The methods and apparatus may be designed to produce such pipeline-ready heavy oils in the production field. Such methods and apparatus may involve thermal soaking of liquid hydrocarbonaceous inputs in thermal environments (2) to generate, though chemical reaction, an increased distillate amount as compared with conventional boiling technologies.
US07976693B2
A multi-pressure hybrid sulfur process (2) contains at least one electrolyzer unit (16) which provides liquid H2SO4 to a preheater/vaporizer reactor (20) operating at a pressure of from 1 MPa to 9 MPa to form gaseous H2SO4 which is passed to a decomposition reactor (14) operating at a pressure of from 7 MPa to 9 MPa, where decomposed H2SO4 is passed to at least one scrubber unit (14) and at least one electrolyzer unit (16) both preferably operating at a pressure of 0.1 MPa to 7 MPa, where an associated Rankine Cycle power conversion unit (50) supplies electricity.
US07976690B2
Disclosed is a sensitive glass film for a pH electrode, which is not deteriorated in its glass strength or pH-measuring function, which is hardly stained, and from which any stain can be removed easily. Also disclosed is a pH electrode having the sensitive glass film. A microparticle comprising rutile-type or brookite-type titanium dioxide or a microparticle comprising amorphous titanium dioxide is adhered directly on the glass film surface of a sensitive glass film for a pH electrode.
US07976678B2
A high-yield paper sheet generally includes at least about 50 weight percent mechanical pulp, wherein the basis weight of the sheet is in the range of about 24 to about 60 pounds, and wherein the porosity of the sheet is in the range of about 40 to about 100 Sheffield porosity.
US07976670B2
Surface insensitive, storage-stable, single-package liquid anaerobic adhesive and sealant compositions which are substantially free of amines, especially aromatic and tertiary amines, and imides, especially sulfimides such as saccharine and saccharine-type compounds.
US07976661B2
A method and an apparatus for forming bead members (D), capable of improving the working efficiency by allowing switching to the bead members with different widths in short a time. The apparatus includes sector segments (24) having first sidewalls (61-64) of bead member forming grooves (72, 73), and arcuate members (51) arranged on the outer side of the sector segments (24), and having second sidewalls (68-71) of the bead member forming grooves (72, 73). The arcuate members (51) are axially moved by a changing means, to change the distance between the first sidewalls (61-64) and the second sidewalls (68-71) of the bead member forming grooves (72, 73). Thus, when bead members (D) of a different width (winding turns of bead element S) are to be formed, the width of the of the bead members bead member forming grooves (72, 73) can be changed easily, without requiring replacement of the sector segments (24).
US07976660B2
An apparatus for manufacturing a reinforcement from a thread laid down directly in its final location by projecting lengths of the thread onto a receiving surface (S). The apparatus has feed means for feeding thread from a source of thread, a rotary conduit (2) receiving the thread, thread-cutting device has a roller fixed with respect to the thread, and a moving cutter acting on the thread in collaboration with said roller so as, for each revolution of the rotary conduit, to release a length having a free end at the cutting means end. The apparatus also has a buffer positioned in the path of the free end so that, during the operation, the free end strikes the buffer before coming into contact with the receiving surface (S).
US07976656B2
A method of gumming a web of paper material in a filter tip attachment machine is implemented using a gumming device that comprises a gumming roller and a transfer roller counter-rotating tangentially one to another about horizontal and parallel axes, and creating a trough in which to hold a prescribed quantity of adhesive supplied by a feed circuit, also a drive system by which the rollers are set in rotation on their axes, and a control unit to which both the feed circuit and the drive system are interlocked. The gumming roller revolves tangentially to the web of material at a gumming station, and the method envisages a procedure, triggered in the event of a stoppage affecting the machine, that consists in the steps of suspending delivery of the adhesive, distancing the web of paper material from the gumming roller, and reversing the direction of rotation of the rollers, relative to the direction of rotation during normal operation, in such a way that the trough is emptied gradually of adhesive.
US07976650B2
The invention relates to a process for manufacturing a corrosion-resistant cold-rolled sheet of iron-carbon-manganese austenitic steel, comprising the following steps: a sheet whose chemical composition comprises, the contents being expressed by weight: 0.35%≦C≦1.05%, 16%≦Mn≦24%, the balance of the composition consisting of iron and inevitable impurities resulting from its smelting, is provided; said sheet is cold-rolled; and a recrystallization annealing treatment is carried out on said sheet in a furnace containing a gas chosen from gases that are reducing with respect to iron, the parameters of said annealing being chosen in such a way that said sheet is covered on both its sides with an essentially amorphous (Fe,Mn)O oxide sublayer and with an external crystalline manganese oxide (MnO) layer, the total thickness of these two layers being equal to or greater than 0.5 microns.
US07976649B2
A method of fabricating a superplastically formable strip or a superplastically formable foil from TiAl6V4 with a thickness of no more than 0.9 mm, preferably less than or equal to 0.5 mm, comprises the steps: a) hot rolling a sheet metal made of TiAl6V4; b) thermal pre-treatment of the hot-rolled sheet metal at a temperature between 650 and 850° C.; and c) cold rolling the hot-rolled and thermally pre-treated sheet metal at a forming rate of at least 30%, wherein the forming rate per single pass amounts to between 1 and 15%, to form a strip or a foil with a thickness of no more than 0.9 mm, wherein the cold-rolled strip or the cold-rolled foil is not annealed.
US07976645B2
In a production of grain-oriented electrical steel sheet that is heated at a temperature of not higher than 1350° C., (a) the hot-rolled sheet is heated to a prescribed temperature of 1000° C. to 1150° C., and after recrystallization is annealed for a required time at a lower temperature of 850° C. to 1100° C., or (b) in the hot-rolled sheet annealing process decarburization is conducted to adjust the difference in the amount of carbon before and after decarburization to 0.002 to 0.02 mass %. In the temperature elevation process used in the decarburization annealing of the steel sheet, heating is conducted in the temperature range of 550° C. to 720° C. at a heating rate of at least 40° C./s, preferably 75 to 125° C./s, utilizing induction heating for the rapid heating used in the temperature elevation process in decarburization annealing.
US07976639B2
A test method is disclosed that can be used to test cleaning products. The test method includes applying a known amount of test material to a surface, cleaning the surface and calculating the amount of allergens picked-up from the surface. The calculated amount of allergens picked-up is then corrected for several measurable variables to provide a more accurate determination of the percentage of allergens picked up with the cleaning product.
US07976638B2
A composition for removing particulate matter from integrated circuit substrates, including (a) one or more metal ion-free base; (b) a water-soluble metal ion-free onium salt of a polyhedral silsesquioxane; (c) an oxidizing agent; and (d) metal ion-free water, and a composition obtained by combining ingredients including (a), (b), (c) and (d). A process for removing particulate matter from a surface of an integrated circuit device, including applying to the surface the composition including (a), (b), (c) and (d) or applying to the surface the composition obtained by combining ingredients including (a), (b), (c) and (d).
US07976635B2
One embodiment relates to a loadlock having a first support structure therein to support one unprocessed substrate and a second support structure therein to support one processed substrate. The first support structure is located above the second support structure. The loadlock includes an elevator to control the vertical position of the support structures. The loadlock also includes a first aperture to permit insertion of an unprocessed substrate into the loadlock and removal of a processed substrate from the loadlock, as well as a second aperture to permit removal of an unprocessed substrate from the loadlock and insertion of a processed substrate into the loadlock. A cooling plate is also located in the loadlock. The cooling plate includes a surface adapted to support a processed substrate thereon. A heating device may be located in the loadlock above the first support structure.
US07976624B2
An aqueous gel wax formulation includes a cationic wax microemulsion and an anionically charged polishing agent having a particle size less than about 200 nanometers and optimally a quaternary ammonium substituted silicone and an amino functional silicone. The components combine to form a gel wax formulation which can be applied without buffing.
US07976619B2
An air cleaner assembly and an air induction system for an internal combustion engine. The air cleaner assembly preferably is formed using first and second housing members that are assembled to define an interior volume. A hydrocarbon adsorber is located within air induction system, e.g., within the interior volume of the air cleaner assembly. The hydrocarbon adsorber is positioned outside of the main air flow within a recess formed in a wall of one of the housing members. A purge channel is formed in the interior wall that houses the hydrocarbon adsorber. Air flow through the air induction system passes via the purge channel through the hydrocarbon adsorber. By facilitating air flow through the hydrocarbon adsorber that is positioned outside of the main airflow, the hydrocarbon adsorber is self-regenerating and does not have to be replaced over the lifetime of the vehicle as a result of hydrocarbon build-up.
US07976601B2
A filter arrangement includes a media construction comprising a corrugated sheet secured to a flat sheet rolled into a coiled construction. A frame and a first seal member are provided. The frame secures the first seal member to the coiled construction. The first seal member is preferably oriented to form a radial seal with a housing. A second seal member is secured to the outer annular surface of the coiled construction. The second seal member includes a gasket extension having first and second opposite ends; an attachment portion; and a protrusion extending from the attachment portion. The second seal member is preferably oriented to form an axial seal with a housing. Air cleaners preferably utilizing filter arrangements as described herein operably installed within housings. Methods of installing, filtering, assembling, and servicing preferably include arrangements as described herein.
US07976597B2
A cyclonic separation apparatus comprises a plurality of series-connected separation stages 50,51, each comprising a plurality of cyclone separators 16/23 connected in parallel and disposed in a generally annular arrangement about a main vertical axis of the apparatus, with their respective longitudinal cyclone axes extending parallel to the main axis. The successive separation stages 50,51 in the direction of fluid flow are disposed radially inwardly of each other with respect to the main axis of the apparatus and are also vertically staggered upwardly, so that the outlet 20 of one separation stage 50 leads directly into the inlet 22 of the next downstream stage 51. The multi-stage, series connected cyclone separators of the apparatus provide a high separation efficiency, yet the annular arrangement of the stages 50,51 makes the apparatus compact and enables the apparatus to be utilized in a vacuum cleaner.
US07976591B2
A fuel composition is provided that contains a major amount of a mixture of hydrocarbons in the gasoline boiling range and a minor amount of a certain aniline additive compound. Use of such aniline additive compound in a combustion engine is also provided.
US07976590B2
Embodiments of a composition useful as a fuel or fuel additive are provided. Certain disclosed embodiments of the composition comprise mid to low flash point naptha, at least one alcohol having a ratio of between about 1 to about 4 carbon atoms to 1 hydroxyl functional group, at least one lubricating oil, and at least one oxygenated natural aromatic compound, wherein the oxygenated natural aromatic compound has a flash point between about 60° C. and about 160° C., has at least one oxygenated functional group, and is soluble in the composition.
US07976585B2
A highly crosslinked polysiloxane dye comprising at least 10 Si atoms, including at least one moiety of the formula (I) whose open Si-bonds each are linked to an oxygen atom and open O-bond is linked to a silicon atom in the rest of the polysiloxane, and wherein T is a direct bond or an organic spacer group such as C1-C18alkylene, C2-C12alkenylene, C5-C10cycloalkylene, C5-C10arylene, —C5-C10arylene-(C1-C10alkylene)- each of which may be end-capped towards the linkage to Dye by CO, COO, NR1, CONR1, NR1CONR1, CS, CSS, CSNR1, NR1CSNR1, O, S, SO, SO2, C5-C10cycloalkylene, C5-C10arylene; or T is C3-C18alkylene interrupted, and optionally end-capped towards the linkage to Dye, by CO, COO, NR1, CONR1, NR1CONR1, CS, CSS, CSNR1, NR1CSNR1, O, S, SO, —SO2—, C5-C10cycloalkylene, C5-C10arylene; or is CO; (CH2CH2—O)1-5; COO; N(R1); CON(R1); O; S; SO; SO2; R1 is hydrogen; unsubstituted or substituted, straight-chain or branched, monocyclic or polycyclic, interrupted or uninterrupted C1-C14alkyl; C2-C14alkenyl; C6-C10aryl; C6-C10aryl-C1-C10alkyl; or C5-C10alkyl(C5-C10aryl); and Dye is a residue of an organic dye, is useful for dyeing of organic materials, such as keratin-containing fibers, wool, leather, silk, cellulose or polyamides.
US07976582B2
The present invention concerns the treatment of a cellulose material in the presence of a transition metal catalyst, hydrogen peroxide whilst maintaining the pH of the treatment mixture.
US07976578B2
A buffer (10) for placement in a human knee between the femur and tibia comprises an outer sack (14) formed of a pliable material and having a one-way valve (22), a generally circularly shaped inner ring (16) received within the outer sack (14), and a friction reducing fluid (18) received within the outer sack (14) via the one-way valve (22). The inner ring (16) includes top and bottom surfaces (38,40) angled inwardly with respect to each other, such that the ring (16) is generally concave. The buffer (10) is configured for insertion between the femur and tibia so as to at least partially prevent the bones from contacting each other, which reduces the pain and discomfort associated with a loss of articular cartilage (12). The buffer (10) is arthroscopically inserted in the knee using an especially designed sleeve (20) configured for support of the buffer (10) during insertion.
US07976577B2
Disclosed are mask optics configured to be implanted in a cornea of a patient. In one embodiment, the body of the optic has a light transmitting portion, a light blocking portion disposed about the light transmitting portion, and an outer periphery surrounding the light blocking portion. The optic is adapted to reside between two intracorneal layers of a cornea. The mask optic may be formed from a material comprising a highly fluorinated polymeric material and an opacification agent. Preferred highly fluorinated polymeric materials include polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and preferred opacification agents include carbon. The highly fluorinated polymeric material is preferably resistant to degradation upon exposure to ultraviolet light.
US07976576B2
An intravascular stent especially suited for implanting in curved arterial portions or ostial regions. The stent can include an end region which is fabricated to have a greater radial strength than the remaining axial length of the stent. Such a stent is particularly suited for use in ostial regions, which require greater support near the end of the stent. The stent alternatively can include sections adjacent the end of the stent with greater bending flexibility than the remaining axial length of the stent. Such a stent is particularly suited for use in curved arteries. The stent can also be constructed with an end that has greater radial strength and sections adjacent the end with greater bending flexibility. Such a stent prevents flaring of the stent end during insertion.
US07976562B2
A method of removing an implanted vessel filter by a femoral approach comprising the steps of providing a catheter with a curved tip, inserting a straightening device into the catheter to move the catheter tip from a curved position to a more straightened position, advancing the catheter tip through the femoral vein and past a cranial end of the filter, withdrawing the straightening device to enable the catheter tip to return to the curved condition, and inserting a filter grasping device though the catheter and a curved catheter tip to exit a distal portion to grasp the filter.
US07976555B2
The invention includes a needle loader that may be used with a suturing device. The needle loader includes a generally planar needle supporting surface, a hub configured and adapted for receiving a generally toroidally shaped suturing needle around the hub, and means for retaining a suturing needle in a fixed toroidal rotational position with respect to the hub about a center axis of needle rotation. Generally, a needle mounted around the hub is selectively disposable on and removable from the hub. In accordance with a further aspect, the loader may further include an opening for retaining suture material attached to a suturing needle. The opening may include a groove defined through the needle supporting surface. The needle loader may further include a guard for preventing access to the point of a suturing needle to protect the needle and/or to prevent accidental needle sticks.
US07976554B2
Methods, systems, devices and assemblies are provided for treating a patient by: making an incision or puncture though the patient's skin over the abdominal cavity; establishing an initial tract through an opening formed by the incision or puncture; advancing an instrument through the tract; contacting a distal end portion of the instrument against an inner surface of the abdominal cavity; driving at least one stitching needle through the inner surface of the abdominal cavity, continuing the driving until the at least one stitching needle exits the inner surface of the abdominal cavity, anchoring a suture carried by each of the at least one stitching needle to a suture anchor at an exit location, respectively; and applying tension to each of the sutures.
US07976548B2
A surgical tool holder aids a surgeon in controlling the use of a tool during, for example, preparation of a femoral cavity for reception of hip joint prosthesis. The holder has a housing that encloses a mechanism having, at a far end, a tool-engaging interface, and at the opposite end, a handle which facilitates manipulation of the tool during use in preparing a bone site by the surgeon. The holder enables easy orientation of the tool attached to its end, which is important because control of the tool is critical in order to accurately prepare a recess for reception and installation of a prosthesis.
US07976543B2
Methods and apparatus employed in surgery involving making precise incisions in vessels of the body, particularly cardiac blood vessels in coronary revascularization procedures conducted on the stopped or beating heart are disclosed. Such incisions are created by applying an elongated electrosurgical cutting electrode to the outer surface of the vessel wall in substantially parallel alignment with the body vessel axis, the elongated electrosurgical cutting electrode having a predetermined cutting electrode length exceeding the cutting electrode width. RF energy is applied between the electrosurgical cutting electrode and the ground electrode at an energy level and for a duration sufficient to cut an elongated slit through the vessel wall where the elongated electrosurgical cutting electrode is applied to the surface of the vessel wall.
US07976540B2
A medical device system and method provide an RF electrosurgical generator coupled to an electrosurgical electrode via a patient box disposed in close proximity to the patient. An RF signal is delivered from the generator to the patient box where signal power is increased and the RF signal delivered to the electrosurgical electrode. The patient box is coupled to the electrosurgical electrode by a short cable capable of carrying an HV, high frequency 5 MHz signal without leakage. An electrical characteristic associated with the electrosurgical electrode is monitored and a desired RF power output and duty cycle maintained by adjusting DC input voltage applied to an RF amplifier, responsive to the monitoring. The system determines when the electrosurgical cutting electrode has started cutting and switches from a start mode to a run mode having a different RF duty cycle and a reduced RF power output controlled by a servo system.
US07976539B2
A method for modifying a geometry of a collagenous tissue mass includes heating the collagenous tissue mass to a temperature sufficient to cause denaturation, and introducing a biocompatible fixative, such as genepin, into the collagenous tissue mass.
US07976531B2
A guide catheter for accessing the coronary sinus ostium has a proximal portion and a distal portion formed into a preformed shape including a curved segment. The preformed shape includes a first arc, a second arc, a third arc, a fourth arc, and a generally straight terminal portion. The preformed shape is generally a J-shape, having a terminal portion generally parallel to the proximal portion, a generally closed arc or a generally open arc.
US07976529B2
A high flow volume nasal irrigation device for alternating pulsatile and continuous fluid flow includes a segmented dip tube with a free end extending inside a squeeze bottle configured to convey a liquid under an elevated chamber pressure from a reservoir therein to a lower pressure outside the bottle. The device also includes an elastic segment at the free end of the tube configured to oscillate about a bending in the segment in response to a differential pressure between an internal pressure and the chamber pressure, the segment having an elastic restoring force in opposition to the bending. The disclosed device further includes a pulsatile portion of the elastic segment configured to close at the segment bending and to reopen under the elastic restoring force and to thus generate a periodic pulsatile fluid flow through the tube with a period corresponding to the elastic segment oscillation.
US07976528B2
A device suitable for removing material from a living being is provided, featuring an infusate pump, and an aspiration pump, both powered by a motor. The aspiration pump and infusate pump preferably feature a helical pumping mechanism, and operate at a high rate of rotation, thereby ensuring adequate pumping performance and flexibility. Additionally, a narrow crossing profile is maintained, ensuring that the device may reach more tortuous regions of the vasculature. In one embodiment, the system comprises a wire-guided mono-rail catheter with a working head mounted on a flexible portion of the catheter that can laterally displace away from the guide wire to facilitate thrombus removal. The working head may be operated to separate and move away from the guide wire to come within a closer proximity of the obstructive material to more effectively remove it from the vessel.
US07976527B2
A liquid embolic delivery system is provided for trapping an injected liquid embolic composition to prevent the liquid embolic from solidifying or otherwise passing outside of an embolization area. The delivery system includes a catheter for delivery of a liquid embolic composition and a containment member positioned at a distal end of the catheter which is shaped to trap the liquid embolic composition delivered through the lumen of the catheter. The containment member is formed as a brush, nest, sponge, swab, flexible sack, or other shape into and around which the liquid embolic composition is injected. The liquid embolic composition is trapped or meshes with the containment member during solidification containing the liquid embolic and preventing the embolic composition from passing into the blood stream.
US07976526B2
A medical bag of multi-liquid missing type for one-shot operation for opening the weak seal portion, which makes it possible to obtain simultaneous opening of a blending medicine inlet.The medical bag 10 is formed of a soft film material and having a weak seal portion, which divides the space inside the bag into a plurality of compartments 20 and 22. A blending medicine inlet port 14 is arranged adjacent the one compartment 20. The inlet port 14 includes sealed compartments 36A, 36B and 36C for storage of the respective blending medicines. The inlet port 14 is usually closed by a peel film member 44 for preventing the blending medicines from being discharged. The peel film member 44 is strongly adhered to the opposed surface of the plastic film constructing the medical bag. An integral movement of the peelable member with respect to a widening displacement of the medial bag is obtained when the weak seal 18 is opened under a pressing force, so that the peelable member 44 is separated from the inlet port 14, resulting in a discharge of the blending medicines from the compartments 36A, 36B and 36C into the medical bag.
US07976525B2
A personal care absorbent article has compound construction, a pad connected to an anchor. In use, the anchor is associated with a wearer's undergarment. The pad is attached to the anchor by a tether system, which allows the pad to at least partially decouple from the anchor.
US07976524B2
An absorbent article, in which an erroneous impression of replacement time is not given to a wearer, includes an absorbent body, a front sheet covering the absorbent body, and a rear sheet, a pair of masking members being disposed along a longitudinal direction of the absorbent body, close to two ends of a short direction of the absorbent body, the masking members being of porous film having pores continuous in the direction of thickness, the thickness thereof preferably being 0.4 mm or greater under a load of 20 g/cm2. By this means, seepage of fluid at the side margins of the front sheet is deferred and misunderstanding of replacement time by the wearer is prevented.
US07976517B2
This invention relates to achieving or improving uniform distribution of fluid flow in medical devices such as when combined with antibiotics impregnated in a catheter and/or with a drug-eluting catheter to further inhibit the catheter from becoming occluded by debris in the CSF or by bacterial biofilm formation or tissue proliferation in the catheter.
US07976516B2
A biocompatible medical device having a segmented element including a first segment having a first shaped interface and a second segment having a second shaped interface configured to operably couple the first shaped interface. When the first shaped interface is engaging the second shaped interface to form a joined segmented element, the first segment and the second segment cannot be decoupled by movement along an axis through the element. The medical device further includes a locking element configured to engage the joined segmented element with a sliding motion to prevent decoupling of the first segment with respect to the second segment by preventing significant relative movement of the segments with a component of the movement perpendicular to the axis.
US07976514B2
The present invention relates to an injection device (1) comprising:—a container (5) receiving a product, and provided with an injection needle (6),—a housing (9, 11) receiving said container, said container being movable relative to said housing between an initial position, an insertion position, and a final position,—retaining means (12, 15), for maintaining said container in said insertion position,—deactivating means (20), for releasing said retaining means, said device being characterized in that it comprises:—temporizing means (19, 26, 27), for controlling the release of said retaining means until substantially all of the product contained within said container has passed through said injection needle before said container moves to said final position, and—a needle shield (2) coupled with said housing (9, 11) removal of said needle shield being with limited or no rotation of said needle shield. The invention also concerns a kit comprising such a device.
US07976513B2
An apparatus and method for preventing free flow through an infusion set utilizes an occluder disposed within the infusion set to selectively prevent flow therethrough. The occluder may be responsive to a pressure differential within the infusion set or may respond to compression of the infusion set. When a pair of occluders are used in sequence, an in-line pump may be formed.
US07976512B2
A syringe control pistol for holding in a user's hand to control the dispensing of fluid from a syringe generally includes front and rear arms pivotly connected at their bottom ends. The front arm includes a front face for receiving pressure from the fingers of the user's hand and a top end including a barrel holder for holding the barrel of the syringe such that its barrel cannot move forward and its plunger extends rearward. The rear arm includes a rear face for receiving pressure from the user's palm and a top end including a roller for bearing against the bearing surface of the plunger for pushing the plunger forward in the barrel to disperse fluid from the syringe as the user's hand squeezes front and rear arms toward one another. A plurality of barrel holders for holding syringes of different sizes is selectively attachable to the front arm.
US07976506B2
A syringe includes a barrel defining a liquid chamber, an aperture and two or more contents indicators; a plunger movable within said barrel whereby movement of the plunger in a first direction causes the liquid chamber to fill with a fluid and movement by the plunger in a second direction causes fluid to be expelled from the liquid chamber through the aperture; and a selecting mechanism disposed on the barrel that is actuated to select only one of the contents indicators.
US07976505B2
An infusion system comprises a disposable wearable infusion device having a body arranged to be adhered to a patient's skin and a reservoir for holding a liquid medicament to be infused into the patient and a filler assembly arranged to be detachably received by the infusion device. The filler assembly is configured to receive a source of liquid medicament and provides a negative pressure to pull liquid medicament from the source of medicament to the infusion device reservoir.
US07976503B2
A haemostasis device (200) comprises a low pressure seal (206) and a high pressure seal (208). A tubular bayonet (201) is movable from a retracted configuration to an inserted configuration to move the low pressure seal (206) between a closed configuration and an open configuration. With the low pressure seal (206) in the open configuration, a guidewire (222) may be inserted through the low pressure seal (206), and with the low pressure seal (206) in the closed configuration, the guidewire (222) may be passed through the low pressure seal (206) while maintaining sealing around the guidewire (222). A collet (209) is movable in a radial direction to move the high pressure seal (208) between an open configuration and a sealing configuration. With the high pressure seal (208) in the sealing configuration, the guidewire (222) is locked in position.
US07976501B2
Seal assemblies or valves, generally for use in trocar assemblies, are provided for reducing the amount of contact between an instrument being passed into and out of a trocar assembly and an inner surface of a sealing wall of such seal assemblies or valves. In one exemplary embodiment a valve includes an activation extension that is formed on the inner surface of the sealing wall of the valve and is configured such that a distal end of the sealing wall is moved to the open position by an instrument contacting the activation extension. In one embodiment the instrument does not come into contact with the inner surface of the sealing wall during the procedure. In another embodiment a distal-most end of the activation extension can be closer to a longitudinal axis extending through the flange than the inner surface of the sealing wall.
US07976499B2
The present invention relates to a device (1) for automatic injection of a product (3) and a needle (6). The device comprises:—a housing (8) for the container (5), the container being movable relative to the housing between an initial position, in which a tip of the needle does not extend beyond a distal end of the housing and in which the container is in one of a passive state and an active state, to an insertion position, distally spaced relative to the initial position and in which the tip of the needle extends beyond the distal end of the housing, movement of the container out of its first position being prevented when the container is in its passive state, and being permitted when the container is in its active state, and—a safety shield (10) coupled to the housing (8) for movement between a first position and a second position in which the tip of the needle does not extend beyond a distal end of the shield—a needle shield (2) coupled with said housing and covering the needle prior to use of said device, removal of said needle shield being with limited or no rotation of said needle shield.
US07976498B2
A needle assembly is able to collect a sample of biological material in a needle of the assembly. The needle assembly has a safety shield capable of being moved on the needle assembly to cover a sharp tip of the needle assembly. The shield can be locked in place over the sharp tip by a locking mechanism. The assembly further includes an obturator that can be inserted into the needle to remove the sample from the needle. A reset member, which in some embodiments is associated with the obturator, is capable of operatively engaging the locking mechanism to release the locking mechanism and allow the shield to be moved away from the sharp tip.
US07976496B2
A balloon catheter including an inflatable balloon affixed to a catheter. The proximal end of the balloon is affixed to the distal end of the catheter so as to provide an air tight seal there between. A stiffening member extends distally of the distal end of the catheter and forms a slip joint connection with the distal end of the balloon to permit the distal end of the balloon to axially move or translate relative to the distal end of the catheter. The slip joint allows the axial length of balloon to change during inflation or deflation without transferring tensile or compressive forces between the balloon and the catheter. A balloon folding control mechanism is disposed about the portion of the stiffening member traversing the interior of the balloon, and is configured to promote refolding of the balloon into a predetermined and desired folding configuration upon deflation.
US07976493B2
A wearable infusion device comprises a reservoir that holds a liquid medicament, an outlet that delivers the liquid medicament to a patient, and a pump that displaces a volume of the liquid medicament to the outlet when actuated. The device further includes a lock-out that disables actuation of the device responsive to a predetermined condition of the device. The lock-out is resettable.
US07976490B2
The invention includes a cartridge for use in a device for inserting a medicament within a body cavity of a mammal, the cartridge including a housing, a retractable chamber disposed within the housing and having a lumen having a uniform cross-section sized to contain the medicament therein, a substantially stationary member disposed within the lumen of the retractable chamber and having a uniform cross-section sized to provide a sliding fit within the lumen suitable to provide for retraction of the retractable chamber about the substantially stationary member upon actuation of the device; and means for retracting the retractable chamber about the substantially stationary member while maintaining the substantially stationary member in a substantially stationary position upon actuation of the device.
US07976483B2
A catheter system is disclosed. The catheter system includes a catheter body having an external surface and an ultrasound transducer having a side between a first end and a second end. A first medium is positioned adjacent to the first end of the ultrasound transducer and a second medium is positioned adjacent to the external side of the ultrasound transducer. The second medium is harder than the first medium to encourage flexibility of the catheter body adjacent to the first end of the ultrasound transducer and efficient transmission of ultrasound energy from the external side of the ultrasound transducer.
US07976482B2
A device for measuring displacement of the tibia in relation to the femur in response to an applied force or torque on the tibia. A first shaft is tiltable about a first axis close to the ankle and approximately parallel to the coronal plane of the patient's body. A second shaft is connected to the first shaft and is rotatable about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and is close to the ankle and approximately parallel to the tibia. A foot support platform is mounted on the second shaft, the foot support platform being configured for attachment of the foot at a fixed position. A displacement test device is provided for applying forces to the tibia and measuring the shift or displacement of the proximal tibia relative to the distal femur.
US07976479B2
An analytical aid including a base, a lancet and a test element. The lancet includes a lancet point and a distal end of the lancet can be attached to the base. At least the lancet point is located in a recess in the base and the recess can be closed by a cover as long as the analytical aid is in an unused state. The base includes a predetermined breaking point or position, at which the base is broken into two segments when stress is applied. The predetermined breaking point is arranged such that the lancet point is exposed for use when the base breaks at the predetermined breaking point. A test element is attached to the base.
US07976477B2
A bodily fluid sampling device is operable to lance with a precise depth and express fluid from both fingertip and alternate sites. In one form, the device is operable to adjust the penetration depth of the lancet into the skin. The bodily fluid sampling device includes a lancet adapted to form an incision in skin. A skin contacting member has an orifice through which the lancet extends when lancing the skin. The orifice has a first opening size that is sized to flatten the skin around the lancet during lancing. The orifice has a second opening size that is larger than the first opening size after the incision is formed to express fluid from the incision.
US07976472B2
A hypovolemia monitor comprises a plethysmograph input responsive to light intensity after absorption by fleshy tissue. A measurement of respiration-induced variation in the input is made. The measurement is normalized and converted into a hypovolemia parameter. An audible or visual indication of hypovolemia is provided, based upon the hypovolemia parameter.
US07976469B2
An indicator element of a percutaneous needle guide for a medical scanning device includes a pointer for pointing to a percutaneous needle entry site on an epidermis of a body, when the guide is attached to the device and the device is positioned over the epidermis for scanning. A user may orient and insert a needle into the entry site according to the direction of the pointer, by just viewing the pointer, without the needle being constrained by the pointer. The guide may include an adjustment mechanism for moving the indicator element with respect to the device, when the guide is attached to the device; the adjustment mechanism moves the indicator element, without changing an orientation of the pointer, in a direction approximately parallel to a plane that is approximately tangent with an apex of the device transducer surface and approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the device.
US07976465B2
Method and apparatus for phase shifting neurological signals received from monitoring elements of a medical device. The medical device comprises a plurality of monitoring elements each receiving a neurological signal. The device processes the neurological signals and identifies a time shift of the neurological signal relative to each other. The neurological signals are then time shifted according to the time shift upon which the signals are utilized to provide closed-loop feedback control of a treatment therapy.
US07976449B2
A transfer device for transferring a folding box from a magazine that accommodates flat folding boxes, to a transport device comprises a holding device which takes over the folding box, holds it during transfer, and can be moved along a cycloid path having several turning points and intermediate curved sections. The transfer device comprises a basic lever which performs a continuous steady rotary motion, a first lever pair comprising a first lever which is pivotably disposed on the basic lever via a first joint, and a second lever which is pivotably disposed on the first lever via a second joint, and a second lever pair comprising a third lever which is pivotably disposed on the basic lever via a third joint, and a fourth lever which is pivotably disposed on the third lever via a fourth joint. The holding device is mounted to a holding block which is pivotably connected to the second lever of the first lever pair via a further joint. A pivotably disposed guiding part is provided, which has a linear guidance. A carriage part is formed on the holding block, which is seated on the linear guidance and can be moved along the linear guidance. The first lever pair has a first curve roller which is in engagement with a first control cam, and the second lever pair has a second curve roller which is in engagement with a second control cam.
US07976441B2
A weight training machine having a moment arm weight resistance means for creating a weight resistance or weight load.
US07976440B2
An exercise machine has a main frame and a user support frame pivotally mounted relative to the main frame for rotation between start and end positions. The user support frame supports spaced positions on a user's body throughout an exercise movement. A user engagement device is movably mounted relative to the frames and has at least one handle gripped by the user in performing exercises, and a connecting linkage translates movement of the user engagement device to rotational movement of the user support frame. A load resists movement of at least one of the user support, user engagement device, and connecting linkage. The user engagement device is at least partially non-rigid to allow a user to define the path of the handle and thus the type of back exercise performed.
US07976433B2
Presented is a bike fitting and diagnostic machine with adjustable rider contact points of the saddle, the pedals, and the handlebars. Adjustments can be made while the rider pedals, and while the rider's output is measured in watts, calories, heart rate, or other units. Optimal bike fit parameters are determined to help a rider select a well fitting bike or have one made to his specifications.
US07976430B2
A system and method for providing TCC control and/or transmission gear shift control by considering the rate of change of the accelerator pedal or throttle position. The method determines whether the rate of change of the throttle position exceeds a predetermined positive rate of change or a predetermined negative rate of change and, if so, releases the TCC to provide TCC control. Alternatively, or additionally, the method can provide a transmission gear down-shift or up-shift depending on which direction the throttle position is changing. Once the TCC and/or gear shift control has been initiated, the method can start a timer and then return to normal TCC and/or gear shift control after the timer has expired. The TCC and/or gear shift control can also return to normal if the rate of change of the throttle position indicates that the throttle is being returned to its previous position.
US07976427B2
This invention provides a vehicle control apparatus constructed so that during the control of a downshift for deceleration, braking shocks can be reduced and the amount of energy regenerated can be increased, and a hybrid vehicle equipped with the control apparatus.The hybrid vehicle 1 includes wheels 14, an engine 12, a motor 11, a multi-stage transmission 20 that reduces motor torque and transmits the reduced torque to the wheels, and a brake 15 that brakes the wheels. During deceleration downshift control, a hybrid control module 100 provides distribution control of the regenerative torque of the motor 11 and the braking torque of the brake 15 so that the total braking force of the vehicle during gear shifting matches a target value.
US07976414B2
A method of a player using a ball throwing device comprising a flexible but substantially non-stretchable flexible line attached at one end to the baseball or softball. The method comprises attaching the substantially non-stretchable flexible line to a non-throwing arm of a player, and using the throwing arm to throw the ball such that it travels along a path which arcs around a non-throwing side of the player to a location in front of the player where the ball may be caught.
US07976413B2
Described herein is a combination pitching aid and batting tee apparatus. The apparatus includes a base having a front and a rear, a stand extending upwardly from the base, a support rod extending upwardly from the stand, and an arm extending outwardly from the support rod. The arm includes a target associated therewith that can be adjusted vertically and horizontally. The apparatus includes a screen having a top end and a bottom end and a support assembly having a top end and a bottom end that extends upwardly from the base. The bottom end of the screen is attached near the front of the base and the top end of the screen is attached to the support assembly. The support rod can be replaced with a batting tee.
US07976411B2
Golf balls consisting of a multi-layer core and a cover are disclosed. The multi-layer core comprises a thermoset rubber center, a thermoplastic intermediate core layer, and a thermoset rubber outer core layer.
US07976408B2
This invention is related to multi-layer golf balls having at least one layer containing a neutralized high acid ionomer linked to a grafted metallocene copolymer, where the golf balls exhibit improved performance characteristics and properties.
US07976407B2
The present invention relates to a smart golf ball comprised of one or more mantle layers juxtaposed between an inner core and outer cover, where the core, the mantle layer(s), and/or the cover are further comprised of a ferrofluid, a magnetorheological fluid, an inverse magnetorheological fluid, and/or a magnetorheological elastomer, in any of its construction. These nano-engineered materials make possible a golf ball with heretofore-unprecedented levels of adaptive play.
US07976401B2
According to an aspect of the invention, a golf club includes: a golf club head having a hosel; a shaft; a shaft case fixed to one end of the shaft, and inserted into the hosel, the shaft case being formed in a substantially cylindrical shape; and a ring-shaped screw member screwed into one end of the hosel to fix the shaft case in the hosel, the ring-shaped screw member being detachable from the hosel.
US07976366B2
Computer program products are configured to allow dual operational modes of packaging systems to produce encased products using interchangeable first or second horns.
US07976359B2
A polishing machine for optical elements, comprising:—a spindle arranged to rotationally drive an optical element;—a polishing tool mobile relative to the spindle; wherein the polishing machine further comprises a platform mounted on top of a work chamber, the work chamber comprising the spindle, and the platform holding a body on which is mounted the polishing tool.
US07976356B2
A boom assembly for a bucket of a toy vehicle comprises at least one bucket bearer, which is articulated to a frame of the toy vehicle by a first swivel joint, and at least one telescopic support with two telescopic elements, which can be displaced in telescopic manner with respect to one another. One of the telescopic elements is articulated to the bucket bearer by a second swivel joint, the other telescopic element is articulated to the frame by a third swivel joint. Furthermore, at least one latch mechanism is provided, the latch mechanism having a latch body which is provided on one of the telescopic elements, and a counter body which is provided on the bucket bearer. The bodies of the latch mechanism are positioned with respect to one another such that when the bucket bearers are moved from a lowered basic position into a raised position, the latch body comes to rest against the counter body before the raised position is reached, the telescopic support being bent with the production of a bending tension. As the bucket bearers are moved further into the raised position, the latch body latches with the counter body so that the boom assembly is fixed in the raised position.
US07976351B2
The invention relates to a terminal for connection with an electrical mating connector, and having a catch spring projecting therefrom for latching the terminal in a housing. The terminal includes a catch spring projecting from the terminal and having a cross-section having a first and second area, the catch spring is assembled with regard to its cross-section over substantially its entire extent in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the terminal. The first and second area are arranged bent relative to one another by a transitional area or are connected together in such a manner that they merge continuously.
US07976347B2
An electrical receptacle is provided and includes an insulative housing defining a first receiving space and a second space in communication with the first receiving space and a plurality of contacts comprising audio contacts, power contacts and at least one grounding contact. The audio contacts and the at least one grounding contact are received in the first receiving space and establish a path for transmitting audio signals, while the power contacts are received in the second receiving space and corporate with the at least one grounding contact to establish a path for power supply.
US07976339B2
Connectors for interconnecting a coaxial cable to an electrical device are disclosed. The connector has an internal body and an external body which are assembled together, and which can be activated to clamp upon and seal to an inserted coaxial cable. The external body includes a bushing made from a transparent, semi-transparent, or translucent material. In some embodiments, the bushing further includes a deformable inner collar that permits the connector to be attached and sealed to cables of varying thickness as are found on common single shield cable, tri-shield cable and quad-shield cable.
US07976334B2
An electrical insulation displacement connector (IDC) assembly includes a body having at least one channel with an open top side configured for receipt of an insulated conductive core wire therein. A contact element is fixed in the body with a first insulation displacement end defined by opposed blades oriented across the channel, and a second end extending from a bottom surface of the body and configured for electrical contact with a PCB. The IDC assembly includes a cap having a size and configuration so as to engage over the body, with the cap including a recess with an open bottom that is aligned with the body channel in a fitted configuration of the cap on the body. The wires may be initially received in the cap recesses wherein upon pressing engagement of the cap onto the body, the insulated conductive core wire is pressed into the body channel between and into the contact element.
US07976318B2
High-speed backplane connectors systems for mounting a substrate that are capable of operating at speeds of up to at least 25 Gbps, while in some implementations also providing pin densities of at least 50 pairs of electrical connectors per inch are disclosed. Implementations of the high-speed connector systems may provide ground shields and/or ground structures that substantially encapsulate electrical connector pairs, which may be differential electrical connector pairs, in a three-dimensional manner throughout a backplane footprint, a backplane connector, and a daughtercard footprint. These encapsulating ground shields and/or ground structures prevent undesirable propagation of non-traverse, longitudinal, and higher-order modes when the high-speed backplane connector systems operates at frequencies up to at least 30 GHz.
US07976310B2
The present invention provides computer implemented methodology that permits the safe landing and recovery of rotorcraft following engine failure. With this invention successful autorotations may be performed from well within the unsafe operating area of the height-velocity profile of a helicopter by employing the fast and robust real-time trajectory optimization algorithm that commands control motion through an intuitive pilot display, or directly in the case of autonomous rotorcraft. The algorithm generates optimal trajectories and control commands via the direct-collocation optimization method, solved using a nonlinear programming problem solver. The control inputs computed are collective pitch and aircraft pitch, which are easily tracked and manipulated by the pilot or converted to control actuator commands for automated operation during autorotation in the case of an autonomous rotorcraft. The formulation of the optimal control problem has been carefully tailored so the solutions resemble those of an expert pilot, accounting for the performance limitations of the rotorcraft and safety concerns.
US07976303B2
The invention provides a method for molding three-dimensional products from a mass of foodstuff starting materials which are suitable for consumption, in particular a meat mass. The method comprises the steps of filling a mold cavity, which is open on one side, with the mass of foodstuff starting materials which are suitable for consumption, which mold cavity is defined by a boundary comprising walls and base, in order to mold a molded three-dimensional product, and the removal of the molded three-dimensional product from the mold cavity. In the method according to the invention, during removal the adhesion forces between the molded product and the boundary are eliminated virtually simultaneously along all the interfaces.
US07976284B2
A method and apparatus for a pump control system. One or more embodiments of the invention include a pump controller that can perform a self-calibrating procedure, can provide precise motor speed control, can provide a limp mode before shutting down the motor when system parameters are exceeded and/or fault conditions occur, can detect fault conditions, and can store fault conditions for later retrieval.
US07976279B2
A blade pitch actuation mechanism for a plurality of propeller blades supported in a blade hub comprises a plurality of bearing assemblies, a bearing support plate and a yoke. The plurality of bearing assemblies receives a plurality of actuation trunnion pins from the plurality of propeller blades. The bearing support plate is connected to the plurality of bearing assemblies and unifies the plurality of bearing assemblies in a ring-like configuration. The yoke is connected to the bearing support plate and translates within the hub to adjust the pitch of the plurality of propeller blades.
US07976275B2
A rotor blade assembly having an access window and methods for assembling a rotor blade are disclosed. The rotor blade assembly may generally include a first shell component and a second shell component. The first shell component may be secured to the second shell component. Additionally, an access region may be defined in the first shell component and/or the second shell component. The access region may generally be configured such that an access window is defined in the rotor blade assembly. The access window may be configured to provide access to the interior of a portion of the rotor blade assembly.
US07976270B2
A Mixer/Ejector Wind/Water Turbine (“MEWT”) system is disclosed which routinely exceeds the efficiencies of prior wind/water turbines. Unique ejector concepts are used to fluid-dynamically improve many operational characteristics of conventional wind/water turbines for potential power generation improvements of 50% and above. Applicants' preferred MEWT embodiment comprises: an aerodynamically contoured turbine shroud with an inlet; a ring of stator vanes; a ring of rotating blades (i.e., an impeller) in line with the stator vanes; and a mixer/ejector pump to increase the flow volume through the turbine while rapidly mixing the low energy turbine exit flow with high energy bypass fluid flow. The MEWT can produce three or more time the power of its un-shrouded counterparts for the same frontal area, and can increase the productivity of wind farms by a factor of two or more. The same MEWT is safer and quieter providing improved wind turbine options for populated areas.
US07976265B2
A trailer has a deck frame arranged to carry a load thereon for being towed by a towing vehicle in a transport position spaced above the ground. The deck frame is further arranged to be lowered from the transport position to a loading position at ground level. Side rails supporting wheels thereon are hinged at a rear of the deck frame and are pivotally coupled to a hitch arm at a front end. A lift mechanism lifts the front end of the deck frame in the loading position relative to the front of the side rails to simultaneously raise the rear end of the deck frame by lowering the front of the side rails relative to the ground. The hitch arm may remain coupled to the towing vehicle as the deck frame is displaced between the loading and transport positions.
US07976259B2
The present disclosure provides for a system for feeding biomass into a pressured vessel, the system includes a screw-feeding housing, a drive motor, a rotary airlock, a first conveyor screw, a second conveyor screw, a barrel, a low friction liner attached to a substantial portion of the inside surface of the barrel, a pressure sensor positioned within the screw-feeding housing for monitoring backpressure, a compression disk, an actuator, a function controller which controls the pressure sensor, the drive motor and the actuator, and a control loop which comprises the function controller, the actuator, the drive motor, and the pressure sensor for monitoring backpressure within the screw-feeding housing and for controlling and adjusting the force applied by the actuator to the compression disk and the torque applied by the drive motor to the first conveyor screw, thereby effectuating an effectively sealed biomass plug.
US07976256B2
A fastener assembly secures loads to a track in a truck bed and is retainable within a track slot of the track. The fastener assembly may include a retainer adapted to fit at least partly within a track slot and a rotatable handle operating on the retainer, the rotatable handle being rotatable between at least an engagement position and a release position. A pressure applicator is positioned between the track and the rotatable handle, the pressure applicator having a bottom surface for applying a pressure on a top surface of the track in response to the position of the rotatable handle. The pressure applicator includes at least one projection projecting from an interior region of the bottom surface and adapted to engage a positioning scallop of the track.
US07976250B2
A double-sided cutting insert with a plurality of indexable convex cutting edges can have a top face and a bottom face, at least three convex cutting edges on each face connected by at least three nose corners, at least three peripheral side surfaces extending from each face toward a virtual middle plane; and a common lateral seating surface on each peripheral side surface. Each convex cutting edge can have at least a curved cutting edge region, and can further have a primary substantially straight cutting edge region intermediate the curved cutting edge region and the nose corner. Each peripheral side surface can further have a primary planar facet associated with the primary substantially straight cutting edge, and each face may also be single-handed in same direction.
US07976241B2
A method for in-situ reduction of contaminants in soil.
US07976238B2
In one aspect of the present invention, the present invention is a system for removing aggregate from a paved surface. The system includes a motorized vehicle with a degradation drum that is connected to the underside of the vehicle. The degradation drum is enclosed by a milling chamber. The milling chamber is defined by having a plurality of plates, including a moldboard positioned rearward of the milling drum. The moldboard comprises an end that is disposed opposite the underside. The end comprises a section that is proximate the milling drum.
US07976232B2
A sheet guide member is provided on an upstream side of a second pinch roller holder in a sheet transport direction, so that even in a state where a first pinch roller holder is lowered at a time of a continuous sheet mode, a sheet is smoothly sent to a second pinch roller.
US07976231B2
The illustrative embodiments described herein provide an apparatus and method for adjusting a gap in a printer. The apparatus includes the printer that has a print head transport shaft. The print head is slidably coupled to the transport shaft. The apparatus includes an adjusting plate comprising a groove. The adjusting plate is located at a first side of the printer. The adjusting plate is slidably coupled to the transport shaft via the groove. Moving the adjusting plate along a first axis changes a first position of the print head on the first side of the printer to form the gap. The first axis is perpendicular to the transport shaft. The apparatus also includes a spring. The spring biases the adjusting plate such that the groove is biased toward the transport shaft.
US07976227B2
A stabilized support for supporting motion-sensitive, ultra-lightweight, camera equipment includes a hollow platform on which the camera equipment is mounted, and a structure on which the platform is detachably mounted. The structure has a handle, a counterweight mounted below the platform, and an arm for connecting the handle with the counterweight. The platform has a plurality of interior compartments preferably arranged in generally parallel rows at opposite sides of the platform, each row extending past a center of gravity. A plurality of ballast weights is held and confined in the interior compartments within the platform to balance the support when held by the handle, or supported by optional support legs. The placement of the ballast weights is based on a balancing procedure in which the camera equipment is balanced relative to a stationary horizontal support surface.
US07976219B2
The present invention relates to a closing device for sachets comprising at least two complementary closing elements (200, 300) and an associated slider (100) comprising a central bead (140), adapted for modifying the joining state of said two elements (200, 300) so as to respectively separate or engage the latter according to its direction of motion, characterized in that the slider (100) comprises at least one flexible lip (145, 146) placed on the apex of the central bead (140) opposite a lead angle (216, 316) provided on the closing element (200, 300), according to a configuration such that any attempt to pull back the slider results in autolocking hanging of the lip (145, 146).
US07976216B2
The temperature of an object such as a semiconductor wafer that includes silicon can be determined based on the variation of the optical absorption coefficient of silicon with temperature. Temperatures above about 850° C., can be found by measuring phenomena that are affected by the magnitude of the optical absorption coefficient, especially at wavelengths >˜1 μm. Phenomena could include measuring light reflected, transmitted, emitted, absorbed, or scattered by the wafer and deriving the absorption coefficient from the measurements and then deriving temperature from the absorption coefficient. Temperature could be determined from a model relating phenomena directly to temperature, the model constructed based on absorption behavior and techniques discussed herein. The resulting temperature could be used to calibrate or control a rapid thermal processing chamber or other apparatus.
US07976208B2
A light guide with input and output faces 2, 3a is polar-symmetric about the first face 2 and has optical properties such that the angle at which a ray is injected into the first face determines the position at which it leaves the second face 3a, or, if operated in the reverse direction, the position at which the ray enters the second face determines the angle at which the ray leaves the second face. The light guide includes a tapered transparent sheet 3, light from the first face entering at the thick end of this sheet, and the second face forming one face of the tapered sheet. An input/output slab 4 adjoins the tapered sheet 3 for fan-out of light from the first face 2 to the tapered sheet, and a transition region 8 is located between flat and tapered sheets. The polar symmetry means that light rays always travel in line with the taper direction, which suppresses banding. Preferably the light guide further includes a prism device 20 for folding the light so that the flat and tapered sheets can be folded over each other. A method of making such a prism is also disclosed.
US07976203B2
A vehicle lamp including a light-emitting semiconductor device can have high visibility even in an area outside of the standard light distribution pattern. The vehicle lamp can include at least one light-emitting semiconductor device and at least one lens that includes both a first lens formation and second lens formation. An optical axis of the at least one lens can correspond with that of the at least one light-emitting semiconductor device. The first lens formation can receive a strong light that is within the range of a half-value angle of light emitted from the at least one light-emitting semiconductor and which forms a standard light distribution pattern. The second lens formation can receive a weak light that is beyond the range of the half-value angle and forms a light distribution pattern in an area outside of the standard light distribution formed by the first lens formation.
US07976195B2
An ultra-violet lamp and reflector/shield assembly designed to be mounted in a commercial HVAC, and to other types of A/C units is described herein. The reflector/shield includes a reflective inner surface creating an illumination pattern and an outer surface shielding the UV lamp from the air flow. An orienting and securing assembly for a UV lamp is also described herein.
US07976194B2
An LED apparatus of the type having a mounting board, an LED package thereon with a primary lens, and a secondary lens member over the primary lens and establishing a light path therebetween, includes a resilient member against the secondary lens member in position other than in the light path, the resilient member yieldingly constraining the secondary lens member and accommodating secondary lens member movement caused by primary lens thermal expansion during operation.
US07976177B2
Bottles containing LED circuits positioned in LED chambers for selectively illuminating the bottle or its contents. The LED circuits can be positioned in a translucent or transparent base and can be activated so as to illuminate or cease to illuminate one or more LEDs by reed-type hermetic switches, contact switches or push switches when a base to the bottle is twisted, the bottle is opened, the bottle is closed or the bottle is lifted from a flat surface. The LED circuits can alternatively be attached to the bottle by way of a shrink-wrapped layer over the base and/or sides of the bottle with the LED Circuits interposed between the translucent shrink-wrap and the bottle.
US07976176B2
In a lighting unit, fluorescent lights and LEDs having different spectroscopic characteristics are alternately arranged in a direction X on an irradiation plane. The fluorescent lights are arranged in certain intervals so as to provide uniform light intensity even around the end portions of the direction X. The LEDs installed at the ends of the direction X have a light intensity that is weaker than that of other LEDs in order to provide uniform light intensity around the end portions. As a result, the lighting unit provides uniform light intensity across the entire irradiation surface.
US07976173B2
Disclosed herein is a projector for projecting an image to a screen, including: a lamp configured to emit light; an elliptic reflecting mirror configured to reflect and condense the light from the lamp; an image display device configured to modulate the light reflected and condensed by the elliptic reflecting mirror with image data corresponding to the image to convert the reflected light into image light; a projection lens disposed between the screen and the image display device and configured to project the image light from the image display device to the screen; and a position adjustment mechanism configured to displace the bright point of the lamp from a first focus of the elliptic reflecting mirror to adjust the position of the lamp so as to decrease the effective light amount of the image display device.
US07976171B2
The image projection apparatus includes a temperature detector that detects a temperature inside of the apparatus, and a controller that performs a protection operation when the temperature detected by the temperature detector is higher than a predetermined temperature. The controller measures an elapsed time from when a power of the apparatus is turned on, and changes the predetermined temperature in accordance with the elapsed time. This apparatus can avoid mistaken activation or inactivation of a protection function at the time of re-lighting of the light source due to the influence of the residual heat after the light source is turned off.
US07976162B2
The present invention is directed to a system and method of using a hand held occluder, which is visually opaque but transmits infrared light, in combination with an infrared imaging device for measuring deviations of an eye using cornea reflex measurement of a fixation target.
US07976160B2
The invention relates to an automatic pupillometer comprising a light source suitable for generating a corneal reflection on at least one of the eyes of an individual facing first and second windows, a collimator lens serving at least to position the light source to correspond to far vision of the individual, a detection receiver for automatically locating said reflection, and a calculator for calculating the pupillary distance of said individual. According to the invention, the pupillometer also comprises a third window where the eye of an observer responsible for the measurement is designed to be placed in the vicinity of the focus of said lens so as to view and verify measurement conditions.
US07976147B2
A printing ink for inkjet printing for improving the durability and image quality of an inkjet image including: a) a liquid carrier; b) ionic dye molecules with surface charge dissolved in the liquid carrier; and c) plate-like nanoparticles having parallel main surfaces, and minor edge surfaces, dispersed in the liquid carrier, with the main surfaces of the nanoparticles having a same sign of surface charge as the ionic dye molecule. Durability and image quality of an inkjet image is improved using the inventive ink, while also enabling a stable, printable formulation that does not require milling of the ink colorant.
US07976145B2
A recording method is provided for recording images based on image data on a recording area of a recording medium using a first color liquid and a second color liquid containing coloring material and a colorless liquid not containing the coloring material, the recording medium being transported along a predetermined transport direction, the method including: a consumption amount calculation step of calculating a consumption amount of the first color liquid consumed when recording the images based on the image data on the recording medium, the consumption amount being obtained by subtracting the content of the coloring material from a total consumption amount of the first color liquid, and the consumption amount being calculated for each unit area of the recording area of the recording medium.
US07976143B2
An ink pressure regulator for regulating a hydrostatic pressure of ink supplied to an inkjet printhead. The regulator includes an ink chamber having an ink outlet for fluid communication with the printhead via an ink line. A roof of the ink chamber includes: an air inlet; a regulator channel having a first end communicating with the air inlet and a second end communicating with a headspace of the chamber, the second end defining a bubble outlet; and a wetting system for maintaining liquid in the regulator channel, thereby ensuring that air entering the headspace first passes through the liquid. The regulator channel is dimensioned to control a Laplace pressure of air bubbles drawn from the bubble outlet as result of supplying ink to the printhead.
US07976135B2
A device for projecting liquid as jets or droplets from multiple nozzles, the device comprising: a plurality of transducers oriented substantially parallel to one another and each having an inner face and an outer face opposite said inner face, the transducers being arranged in a substantially planar array; a plurality of nozzles to project liquid therefrom; liquid supply means for supplying a liquid to the nozzles; each nozzle is associated with an adjacent respective transducer which is excitable to cause movement of the adjacent associated nozzle in a direction substantially aligned with the nozzle axis, to project liquid therefrom; the liquid supply means supplies liquid to an inner end of said nozzle; means for selectively exciting transducers as required, thereby to project liquid as jets or droplets from the respective outer face by movement of the liquid through the nozzle in response to the movement of the nozzle; wherein one or more pressure absorbing regions are disposed at a predetermined distance from said nozzles, in a direction perpendicular to the substantially planar array of transducers.
US07976127B2
An electrostatic actuator includes a fixed electrode formed on a substrate, a movable electrode provided so as to oppose the fixed electrode with a predetermined gap therebetween, a driving unit generating electrostatic force between the fixed electrode and the movable electrode and moving the movable electrode, insulating films provided on opposing faces of the fixed electrode and the movable electrode, at least one of the insulating films having a layered structure of silicon oxide and a dielectric material whose relative permittivity is higher than the relative permittivity of the silicon oxide, and a surface protection film provided one or both of the insulating films and made of a ceramics-based hard film or a carbon-based hard film.
US07976126B2
A liquid jet head includes: a plurality of unit heads, wherein each of the unit heads has a nozzle forming region and a plurality of nozzle apertures arranged in a first direction in the nozzle forming region, the plurality of unit heads being laminated in a manner that the nozzle forming regions are shifted from one another in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, wherein the unit heads are laminated in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, and liquid is ejected in a fourth direction between the second direction and the third direction.
US07976124B2
An ink jet device including a plurality of ink channels that are arranged side by side and are covered by a flexible sheet, and a corresponding number of actuators are arranged to exert an actuating force onto the sheet through a bump that has a trapezoidal cross-sectional configuration wherein the bumps are formed on the sheet in such an orientation that their trapezoidal cross-section diverges towards the actuator, and the bumps are bonded to the actuators by means of an adhesive.
US07976123B2
According to the present disclosure, a printer apparatus may include a chuck configured to support a substrate thereon, a rail spaced apart from the chuck, a printhead carriage frame coupled to the rail, and a printhead carriage pivotally coupled to the printhead carriage frame.
US07976122B2
A printhead maintenance system comprises: a stationary pagewidth printhead having an ink ejection face; an elastically deformable roller having a contact surface for contacting the ink ejection face; and a mechanism for rolling the roller across the face. In use, the printhead remains stationary when the roller is rolled across the face.
US07976116B2
An inkjet printer system is provided having a printhead and controller. The printhead has a row of inkjet nozzles for printing one ink color formed by adjacent inkjet nozzle rows of adjacent integrated circuits. Each integrated circuit has a different number of inkjet nozzles in the respective inkjet nozzle row. The controller is configured to transfer print data to each of the integrated circuits at a rate proportional to the relative number of inkjet nozzles so that the print data is transferred to each of the integrated circuits in equal time.
US07976100B2
A handle device for an infant car seat includes a handle member and a pad. The handle member has two ends coupled respectively to two opposite sides of the infant car seat, and an inner surface formed with a positioning groove. The pad is disposed within the positioning groove in the handle member, and has a coupling face confronting the inner surface of the handle member, and a soft contact face opposite to the coupling face.
US07976096B2
An air drag reduction apparatus includes left and right panels and top and bottom panels for mounting to the rear doors of a tractor trailer along the top, bottom and side edges thereof. Hinges are interposed between the panels and the doors so that the panels can pivot about the hinges between an extended drag-reducing position and a collapsed position generally adjacent the rear doors. Stop devices releasably secure the panels in the extended position, and biasing devices such as tensioning springs are operative to bias the panels outwardly and rearwardly to the extended position and are further operative to permit the panels to pivot between the extended position towards and to the collapsed position upon impact and contact from an external object occurring and then return to the extended position substantially immediately upon contact ceasing thereby significantly reducing the impact damage. The apparatus also includes a ramp and wheel arrangement to facilitate opening and collapsing of the panels. The apparatus of the invention also includes an outwardly extending panel protection member projecting from the lower corner of the panel in a position for being contacted by external objects during movement of the vehicle to thereby prevent direct contact between an external object and the panel and cause the panel to move toward its collapsed position.
US07976095B2
A single-piece switch mount and harness hook that provides routing control of an interior vehicle door harness.
US07976081B2
The use of a bumper faceplate with ports provides for the easy assembly, increased structural strength, and dramatically improved aesthetic appearance of an assembled bumper containing bumper components.
US07976079B2
A retaining element for the lid of a cabinet has a linkage in the form of an eccentric sliding crank drive with an arm (1) as a slider link of the sliding crank drive. The arms (1) can be fixed to a cabinet housing (27) and pivotably connected to the lid and is pivotable around a first arm axis (5) of a first joint (6). A lever (2) can be fixed to the cabinet housing (27) and is pivotable around a first lever axis (7) of a second joint (8). A slider element (3) is guided at the arm (1) and is displaceable along a slider axis (12). The lever (2) is connected to the slider element (3) and is pivotable around a second lever axis (9). A force element (14) force-loads the arm (1) and slider element (3).
US07976069B2
A rotary joint and a housing for a rotary joint include an insertion hole for receiving a rotary shaft, a plurality of housing segments arranged along the shaft, and a housing communicating hole formed in at least one of the housing segments. An annular groove permits communication between the shaft communicating hole and the housing communicating hole. An annular leakage-preventing member between the shaft and the housing blocks fluid movement in an axial direction of the shaft. The shaft includes a cylindrical shaft portion and a small-diameter portion formed at one end. At least one pair of rotating supports support the shaft and the housing. One of the rotating supports is disposed on the small-diameter portion. An outside diameter of one of the rotating supports is smaller than an outside diameter of the shaft and also is smaller than inside diameters of the plurality of housing segments.
US07976064B2
A device for facilitating the movement of a vehicle across ground comprises a track able to move around a board. The device includes a track for contacting ground that is mounted on a board. Brackets are provided for attaching the board to a vehicle. The track is movable in a direction independent of the direction of movement of the vehicle in at least the reverse direction relative to the vehicle's direction of movement. That track is able to move around the board by means of cylinders arranged in the form of a belt extending around the board between the board and the track. The device can be used to facilitate movement of off-road vehicles across obstacles. It can also be used to provide snow-free sledges and skis. It is also envisaged that the device may be incorporated into a trolley, which can be used on uneven surfaces.
US07976061B2
A combustion chamber assembly for an airbag module of a motor vehicle is provided. The combustion chamber assembly comprising a combustion chamber housing, which encloses a combustion chamber, and a housing receptacle, in which the combustion chamber housing is to be disposed such that the combustion chamber housing with the outer surface thereof is running along an inner surface of the housing receptacle. Discharge regions being respectively provided in the combustion chamber housing and in the housing receptacle, said regions being spatially associated with one another such that gas generated in the combustion chamber may discharge through the discharge regions of the combustion chamber housing and the housing receptacle into the surroundings. At least one indentation is formed on the combustion chamber housing and/or on the housing receptacle.
US07976054B1
A hitch ball assembly attenuates the lateral forces experienced by a trailer while being towed by a tractor. A ball assembly has a flange with a neck extending upwardly therefrom and a hitch ball seated atop the neck. A wedge, having a pair of linear points, extends downwardly from the flange as does a threaded shank that passes through the wedge, the points being located on either side of the shank. The ball assembly is attached to a draw bar attached mount arm such that the shank passes through a bore in the mount arm with the points of the wedge seated within slots on an upper surface of the mount arm. A resilient bushing is received on the shank and abuts a lower surface of the mount arm, while a plate abuts the bushing, each held thereat by a locking nut threadably attached to an end of the shank.
US07976051B1
An alignment guide and remotely operated latch mechanism for use in coupling a towing dolly of a two trailer rig, the towing dolly being connected to a first trailer of the two trailer rig and used to pull a second trailer of the two trailer rig behind the first trailer, the alignment guide facilitating coaxial alignment of the towing dolly with the first trailer by pulling the first trailer and towing dolly forward with a tractor, and the alignment guide further facilitating the coaxially aligned first trailer and towing dolly to be backed up together for hitching the towing dolly to the second trailer.
US07976050B1
A tensioning device for connecting a trailer to a spring bar of a load-compensating apparatus includes a body unit for securement to a frame member of a trailer; a reel unit having an off-center hub portion with a slot and rotatively secured to the body unit about a pivot axis; a rotation-limiting element which limits rotation of the reel unit to approximately 180° about the pivot axis; a linked chain having a proximal end thereof releasably secured to the slot of the off-center hub portion and a distal end thereof connected to the spring bar of the load-compensating apparatus; a latching element including a biased latch pin; and a lug and removable handle for rotating the reel portion to, and the latching element releasably locks the reel portion in, a chain-tensioned configuration.
US07976048B2
A portable safety, entertainment and communication device for a bicycle is provided. The device brings together a plurality of functions in a single device that can be fixed to the handlebar of a bicycle. The device is configured to automatically detect whether a casing is connected to a support and change the functionality of various elements of the device if so. In one aspect, the device changes the functionality of a digital music player so that a user may listen to music through speakers when the casing is connected to the support and listen to music through headphones connected to an audio output port when the casing is not connected to the support. Various other modules providing functionality may also be included in the device, such as a video camera and/or digital camera and a light source.
US07976047B2
A motorcycle includes a swing arm swingably provided on a body frame, a wheel rotatably provided at an end part of the swing arm, a disk plate attached to the wheel, a caliper bracket provided on the body frame side of the vehicle, a disk brake caliper provided on the caliper bracket, and a wheel speed sensor attached to the caliper bracket. The wheel speed sensor is disposed between the swing arm and the wheel. The wheel speed sensor and the swing arm overlap one other in a side view of the vehicle.
US07976045B2
A bicycle front end assembly is provided which is configured to reduce aerodynamic drag. In particular, an axis shaft of a fork may be mounted to a head tube of a bicycle frame. A fork head may be disposed in front of the head tube for providing a front end assembly which is aerodynamically configured while providing an increased moment of inertia compared with traditional designs to reduce drag of the bicycle and increase steering stiffness. Also, the handlebar may be attached to the fork head such that when the bicycle is steered to the left, the fork head is rotated toward the left and when the bicycle is steered to the right, the fork head is rotated toward the right. In this manner, the fork head is alignable to the travel direction of the bicycle.
US07976043B2
A simply-structured movable step for a motorcycle. A step lifting and lowering mechanism includes a securing plate secured to a body frame with a shift cover attached to the securing plate so as to be movable upwardly and downwardly. A step plate is attached to the shift cover to support a foot-resting step. A lock mechanism is provided for locking the step plate at different height-positions. A gas spring expands and contracts in response to the upward and downward movements of the step plate for smoothly moving the step plate by the gas spring.
US07976031B2
A cart assembly for use in adding a breakout to a fiber optic cable includes a frame having a first spool support, a second spool support and a central workstation. The central workstation is engaged with the first spool support and the second spool support such that the central workstation is disposed between the first and second spool supports. The central workstation is selectively releasably engaged with the first and second spool supports.
US07976026B2
A method and seal assembly for a rotary machine including a rotary component and a stationary component is provided. The method includes providing a seal housing including a front plate and a back plate that is spaced from the front plate such that a cavity is defined between the front plate and the back plate. The method also includes coupling a plurality of flexible compliant plates to at least one of the seal housing and the stationary component such that the compliant plates are spaced from the front plate and the back plate within the cavity, and coupling at least one projection to at least one of the seal housing and the compliant plates such that the at least one projection facilitates reducing flow through at least one of a first axial gap and a second axial gap that are defined between the seal housing and the compliant plates.
US07976023B1
The present invention features a playing card shuffling device, which through the use of a small image capturing means, captures an image of the face value of each card and stores the image in memory. This image is sorted in the format of a bitmap image. The operator of the machine would be able to recall through the use of a keypad, the images of the cards that comprised the individual hands in the previous game. This feature allows for verification of a winning hand after a game has been completed. Thereby, a quick recheck of hands before playing a winning hand is performed. The face value of each card is determined by character recognition software. These card values would be stored in memory for archival access for use in monitoring the randomness of the game and determining the number of winnings hands.
US07976012B2
An integrated printing system is provided and includes a plurality of image marking engines, at least two media feeder modules, and a first forward substantially horizontal interface media transport integrated with the plurality of image marking engines and the at least two feeder modules for selectively transporting media from the at least one media feeder module to at least one image marking engine. The system further comprises a footprint, and at least one of the feeder modules having a first and a second paper feed tray, wherein the first and the second feed trays are canted upward at an angle from horizontal thereby reducing the footprint of the system.
US07976010B2
A device for singulating overlapping flat mailings in an upright position in a path of travel has several singulating sections arranged along the path of travel. Each singulating section has conveyor belts spaced apart from each other and above each other and transporting the mailings. At an opposite side of the path of travel, each singulating section has retaining elements acting on the mailings with a friction force and at a height between the conveyor belts. A speed of travel of the conveyor belts in each singulating section is higher than the speed of travel of the conveyor belts of the respective singulating section upstream in the direction of travel. Further, individually mounted deflection rollers of the conveyor belts of both adjacent singulating sections are arranged at different heights along a common axis at each transition between the singulating sections.
US07976004B2
A finishing device with an output unit that outputs a recorded sheet on which an image is recorded, a sheet stacker that receives the recorded sheet from the output unit and on which the recorded sheet is stacked, and a reference surface against which the recorded sheet on the sheet stacker is aligned. A binding unit binds a bundle of the recorded sheets aligned against the reference surface and a sheet pressing member presses an end portion of the recorded sheet toward the sheet stacker. The end portion is closer to the reference surface, and a first moving and pressing unit moves the recorded sheet toward the reference surface while the sheet pressing member presses the end portion of the recorded sheet.
US07976000B2
A sheet stacking apparatus includes a first and a second guide plate having a guide surface inclined to a perpendicular plane to take an open state having a gap of a first interval in a direction crossing the inclination direction and a closed state of a second interval narrower than the first interval, a sheet take-in portion standing by under the first and second guide plates to support sheets dropped from the guide surfaces with the leading edge thereof in a conveying direction directed downward in a standing position, and a controller configured to permit the first and second guide plates to enter the closed state and guide another sheets conveyed following the sheets supported internally by the sheet take-in portion by the guide surfaces and then to enter the open state and drop the another sheets from the gaps onto the preceding sheets.
US07975999B2
A post-processing apparatus includes a sheet carry-in path along which sheets from a carry-in port are fed through a sheet discharging port to a downstream post-processing position, and a collecting guide, for setting and collecting the sheets into a bunch. The collecting guide is located downstream of the sheet discharging port with a difference in level between the sheet discharging port and the collecting guide, is provided. A post-processing apparatus is provided for executing a stapling process and/or a folding process on the sheet bunch collected on the collecting guide. A sheet leading end regulating device is provided for regulating a position of leading ends of the sheets collected on the collecting guide device. The sheet leading end regulating device is movable according to a sheet size so that trailing ends of the sheet ends are placed at a predetermined position below the sheet discharging port.
US07975986B2
Disclosed is an all-air jack for lifting a vehicle, comprising: a frame assembly; a first bellow at an upper portion of the frame assembly; a second bellow at a lower portion of the frame assembly; an air bellow attachment plate positioned between the first and second bellows; an air supply with a first and second air tube, the first air tube in communication with the first bellows and the second air tube in communication with the second bellows; wherein inflation of the bellows raises the jack to lift the vehicle. The first and second air tubes and air supply are connectable by a 3-way air valve. Preferably, 120 psi of air is used to inflate the bellows.
US07975979B2
An airplane seat track includes an elongated, rectilinear track body having a hollow, longitudinal slide track for receiving fittings on legs of airplane seats. The hollow slide track includes a series of equidistant circular receptacle sections with circular upper openings. The receptacle sections alternate with intermediate lip sections of smaller transverse dimensions than the circular receptacle sections for retaining tabs of the fittings of the seat legs. The longitudinal distance of the centre points of adjacent circular receptacle sections is smaller than or equal to the diameter of the circular receptacle sections.
US07975977B2
A height indicator as provided on an articulating support arm at a workstation. The height indicator has a scale and a needle moves up and down the scale as a platform of the support arm is raised or lowered relative to a base.
US07975971B2
A suction cup holding device that effectively conforms to soft surfaces and complex curves which may be present in the target surfaces such as a dash board of a modern automobile. The suction cup device includes a housing having a recess therein with an opening formed in a first surface, wherein a first portion of the housing adjacent to the first surface is substantially flexible and a second substantially inflexible portion thereof is structured for mounting thereto; a low durometer suction cup having a resiliently deformable central portion that is structured to be drawn into the recess of the housing; and means for drawing the central portion of the suction cup into the recess.
US07975970B2
A flat panel display (FPD) support has a panel bracket attached to an FPD and a supporting assembly attached to and supporting the panel bracket and the FPD. The supporting assembly comprises a pivoting leg, an adjustment bracket, a stationary bracket and a lock. The adjustment bracket is pivotally and slidably connected to the pivoting leg. The lock selectively engages the adjustment bracket. The stationary bracket holds the lock to prevent the lock from sliding relative to the panel bracket. Therefore, a visual angle of the FPD relative to a plane can be easily adjusted by the supporting assembly and held by the lock. The FPD with the FPD support is light, simple and portable and can be conveniently packaged for sale or transportation and does not occupy a large area when in use.
US07975965B2
An aircraft joint comprises a wing structure and a wing tip. The wing structure has a first part of a clevis and lug fastening system located around an outer end of the wing structure. The wing tip has a second part of the clevis and lug fastening system located around an end of the wing tip. The wing tip is capable of being joined to the outer end of the wing structure. An upper aerodynamic surface and a lower aerodynamic surface are formed by joining the wing structure and the wing tip. The first part and the second part are located about a center between the upper aerodynamic surface and the lower aerodynamic surface. The first part and the second part engage each other such that a moment reaction occurs around the upper aerodynamic surface and the lower aerodynamic surface.
US07975963B2
A safety system for reducing the impact energy of a container for an aircraft includes an aircraft cargo hold with at least one safety wall; an accommodation device; and at least one airbag. The accommodation device can be affixed to the safety wall, wherein the accommodation device is designed to accommodate the at least one airbag. In the case of a movement of the container, the at least one airbag can be activated so that air can be injected into the airbag so that some of the impact energy of the container can be absorbed by the at least one activated airbag, with the remaining forces then being distributed over an area of the at least one safety wall.
US07975961B2
Air induction control systems and methods for aircraft are provided. A particular aircraft includes a fuselage, a pair of wings and an engine. The aircraft also includes an inlet defining an aperture to receive air for delivery to the engine. The inlet has a longitudinal axis generally aligned with a direction of flow of the air as the air approaches the inlet. The aircraft also includes at least one first dielectric barrier discharge generator positioned to apply a first force to the air prior to the air being received by the engine. The first force acts in a first direction. The aircraft further includes at least one second dielectric barrier discharge generator positioned to apply a second force to the air prior to the air being received by the engine. The second force acts in a second direction that is non-parallel to the first direction.
US07975936B2
A plumbing fixture including, but not limited to, an aspirating type shower head operates to add a selected scent to the spray water. The showerhead utilizes a venturi assembly where the water supply passes through a venturi. A negative pressure is created at the high velocity water jet stream point, near the narrow area of the venturi. A number of small openings in the venturi, to a surrounding air chamber, allow air from the chamber, to be drawn into the venturi. The air chamber has inlet openings for the aspiration of room air. At a portion of these inlet openings is a quick connect port to receive a scented cartridge. The scent cartridge is positioned within the quick connect port of the showerhead. Room air is drawn through and over the scented material where the high velocity air picks up scent molecules for expulsion from the outlet.
US07975923B1
A system and method for creating a unique optical signature that uses a plurality of optical signature chambers containing fluids having differing optical properties, for example differing indices of refraction, that produce different individual optical signatures for each chamber. If the chambers are broken causing the fluids to spill or the fluids are otherwise discharged from the chambers, the fluids mix together so one does not know which fluid came from which chamber, thereby preventing replication of the correct optical signatures. This destruction of the optical signatures can occur mechanically, without the application or presence of electrical power.
US07975918B2
A check-in method for airlines allows passengers to use Short Message Service (SMS) to check-in themselves and baggage. A passenger requests to check-in via SMS from practically anywhere and not limited to the airport. After receipt of the request, a confirmation message is sent back to the passenger's registered mobile phone number by SMS. The system will ask the passenger for, and receive from the passenger, the number of bags they intend to check-in for the flight. The passengers can in some embodiments drop the baggage off without any required further action. The system issues an SMS-based cryptographically secure code, such as a bar-code boarding pass to the passenger once the baggage (if any) is successfully transferred and registered to existing baggage management systems through the process above. This code, when scanned, recognized and authenticated provides identification and security clearance for the passenger to board the aircraft.
US07975912B2
This disclosure provides for a method and system for operating a hybrid card reader that is operable to read magnetic stripe cards and that, upon the receipt of one or more signals, becomes operable to read integrated circuit cards. The hybrid card reader receives one or more signals from one or more remote devices. Such signals may be transmitted wirelessly or over one or more communication lines. When the one or more signals reach the hybrid card reader, they are used to enable a latching mechanism and an integrated circuit card reading function. This permits an integrated circuit card that is inserted into the hybrid card reader to be latched into place so that the data on the card can be read by the integrated circuit card reading function.
US07975911B2
A banking system is controlled responsive to data included on data bearing records. The system includes a deposit accepting machine for accepting deposit items, such as deposit bags, currency, and checks. The deposit accepting machine is in connection with a card reader operative to read data corresponding to financial accounts from user cards. The apparatus further includes an RFID reading device that is operative to read signals from RFID tags to obtain deposit information therefrom. The information can include data associated with of the deposit, such as an account number and the deposit amount. The information can include cash value. A computer is operative to credit a financial account for value associated with deposit items responsive to data read by the card reader and/or RFID reading device.
US07975898B2
A joining method includes melting a hot melt joining material provided between a board and a component to be joined to the board; and reducing the pressure of the ambient atmosphere of the hot melt joining material and tilting the board while the hot melt joining material is in a molten state.
US07975896B2
Friction plug welding methods and systems plug a hole extending through a component part from front and back faces thereof. A sacrificial plate having an opening therethrough may be positioned against the back face of the component part with assistance from a restraint part (which is also preferably provided with a space of sufficient dept to receive a terminal end of the male plug) so that the opening is coaxially aligned with the hole to be plugged. Upon advancing a male plug of a plug rod into the hole under friction plug welding conditions, a friction weld region will therefore be formed between the male plug and defining surfaces of both the hole extending through the component part and the opening extending through the sacrificial plate. The plug rod may include an annular shoulder flange which defines a plane parallel to the front face of the component part so that flash flow from the friction welding will be displaced laterally of the hole. The male plug may be frustroconically shaped. An annular arcuate surface may also be provided which joins the male plug to the shoulder flange.
US07975885B2
A garment hanger includes a body having a hook member that extends outwardly from a cross bar that has a first end and an opposite second end. The cross bar has a first end portion that terminates at the first end, a second end portion that terminates at the second end, and a central portion disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion. The hook member is coupled to the central portion, wherein a cross-section of each of the first and second end portions has a first shape and a cross-section of the central portion has a second shape that is different than the first shape. In one embodiment, the first shape is an I-shape and the second shape is a Z-shape.
US07975880B2
A pack with a hydration system is disclosed. The hydration system includes a reservoir and a hose. The reservoir comprises a front side and a rear side that maintain a fixed cross section as liquid is filled and/or drained from the reservoir. Also, as the reservoir empties, the rear side contracts towards the front side, which displaces the center of mass of the reservoir closer to a wearer's back.
US07975876B2
A system for dispensing tabs from a carrier substrate, each of the tabs having an adhesive backing for securing the tabs in spaced-apart relation to the carrier substrate. The system includes an input mechanism operative to supply an input stream of the tab stock and an output mechanism operative to accept and take away an output stream of carrier substrate from the tab stock supplied by the input mechanism. The system further includes a peeler bar having first and second surfaces disposed on the periphery of the peeler bar. The peeler bar, furthermore is interposed between the input and output streams such that the underside surface of the carrier substrate slideably engages the first and second peripheral surfaces. The first peripheral surface has an arcuate shape along an elongate axis of the peeler bar and is oriented relative to the second peripheral surface so as to effect an abrupt directional change with respect to the input and output streams. The arcuate surface imparts curvature to the tab stock in a direction tending to (i) increase the bending stiffness of each tab about an axis parallel to the elongate axis, (ii) facilitate separation of each tab from the carrier substrate, and (iii) favorably position each tab with respect to the free edges of a folded substrate material during tabbing operations.
US07975869B2
A fuel tank assembly includes a baffle plate mounted under the upper part of the fuel tank to form a predetermined distance between the baffle plate and the fuel tank bottom. The fuel tank assembly includes a fuel tank, a baffle plate having an upper plate in which a penetration hole is formed and a side wall integrally formed at an edge of the upper plate. A bracket mounts the fuel tank and the baffle plate, wherein, the upper plate and the side wall of the baffle plate are mounted to the fuel tank and have a predetermined distance therebetween.
US07975854B2
A system (10) for extracting liquid from a mass comprising a portable platform (12) having an upper surface (14), a system mass input (16), a polymer feeding and blending system (18) on the upper surface (14), a liquid extraction assembly (40) on the upper surface (14), and piping (22) having a first section (24) between the system mass input (16) and the polymer feeding and blending system (18), and a second section (26) between the polymer feeding and blending system (18) and the liquid extraction assembly (40). The system is configured to have mass inputted into the system mass input (16), transport the mass to the polymer feeding and blending system (18) through the first section (24) of the piping, inject polymer into the mass in the polymer feeding and blending system (18), and transport the mass from the polymer feeding and blending system (18) to the liquid extraction assembly (40). Pressure from the mass forced into the liquid extraction assembly (18) forces liquid in the mass to exit the mass.
US07975848B2
A container having a top cover and a bottom cover is provided, which includes a canopy disposed on the bottom cover to form therewith a space to accommodate an article. A plurality of locators is disposed on a surface of the bottom cover so that when the bottom cover is tightly combined with the top cover, the locators are clipped between the bottom cover and the top cover to orient the canopy in a fixed position.
US07975838B2
A conveying system include a guiding channel (12) with at least one conveyor unit (10) that is guided inside it and may be moved along it and a drive unit (30) for driving at least one conveyor unit (10). The conveyor unit (10) includes a series of several links which, when viewed in the axial direction, have a first joint element (1) at their first end and a second joint element (2) at their second end, respectively. The first and second joint elements (1, 2) are formed in a mutually corresponding manner and, as a result, the conveyor unit (10) is provided for transmitting pushing forces. The drive unit includes at least one roller body (35) consisting of a plurality of rollers (31), wherein the rollers (31) can be conveyed in a circular orbit (34) by a roller drive (36).
US07975833B2
A material handling system for moving material from a storage device to a receiver comprises a counter rotating double screw feeder extending from the storage device to the receiver. The counter rotating double screw feeder comprises an outer screw feed member; an inner screw feed member; where the outer screw feed member being positioned in an outer screw feed member tube; and the inner screw feed member being positioned in an inner screw feed member tube. The material is feed from the storage device to the process tube via the outer screw feed member; the inner screw feed member removes gas and byproducts from the receiver.
US07975828B2
Apparatus for processing generally elongate curved products having two ends and having a longitudinal axis extending in the elongate direction, in particular vegetables or fruit, for instance cucumbers, the processing comprising in succession at least: conveying the products with an endless conveyor in a conveying direction T in a substantially horizontal plane, the products positioned with their longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction T; orienting these products with an orienting unit, and taking up the oriented products with a take-up unit for a further handling; wherein the orienting unit comprises two supporting points for each product, with at least one supporting point situated at some distance from an end of the product, wherein the orienting unit is configured for orienting during conveying, and wherein the products upon orienting rotate substantially about their longitudinal axis.
US07975825B2
In a stop module, in particular for automated machining and conveyor systems, a stop element for objects moving in a direction of motion in a movement plane is located on a base body, and the stop element is movable by an electrical rotary drive between a first terminal position, in which the stop element protrudes into the movement plane of the objects, and a second terminal position, in which the stop element enables a motion of objects in the movement plane. The motion of the stop element in and out of the movement plane of objects is implemented by a toggle lever device cooperating with the electrical rotary drive, which toggle lever device has at least two lever elements, connected to one another via a first pivot point, and the electrical rotary drive cooperates with the first pivot point.
US07975823B2
The present invention discloses a clutch and reverse-locking device comprising a stop bolt (1), an internal clutch stem (2), a clutch control member (3), a clutch casing (4) and a stopper (5). The internal clutch stem (2) is inserted into the clutch casing (4) and they move independently of each other. The internal clutch stem (2) has a slot (21) to house and guide the stop bolt (1). The clutch control member (3) is installed in the internal clutch stem (2) and has an edge (42) set against the groove (11) of the stop bolt (1). The stopper (5) is fitted in the internal clutch stem (2) and protrudes partially outward therefrom. The protruding or non-protruding position of the stop bolt (1) in the internal clutch stem (2) correlates or disconnects the joint movement of the clutch casing (4) and the internal clutch stem (2), activating or deactivating the clutch operation of the clutch device. Being driven by the clutch casing (4), the stopper (5) moves the internal clutch stem (2) in tandem, to achieve the reverse-locking function.
US07975817B2
A torque converter is provided with a bridging clutch and two dampers, wherein the bridging clutch is positioned in the power path between the dampers. The converter is provided with a three-duct system for the oil supply.
US07975816B1
The present invention provides a pull-rod computer bag including a bag body, internally defining a hold space; a pull rod, assembled scalably onto one side of the hold space; a roller set, assembled at one corner of the bag body; and a housing cover with a computer hold tank. The housing cover is laterally connected with the bag body, enabling opening and closing and having a faceplate and a peripheral portion, such that the computer hold tank is formed between the faceplate and peripheral portion. A buffer pad is assembled on the faceplate and a retractable side wall is assembled onto the peripheral portion of the housing cover, enabling the peripheral portion to be expanded or reduced with respect to the area. A flexible control member is used to locate the shrinking state of the retractable side wall.
US07975813B2
A suspension system for a seat assembly of a machine includes an upper support member and a lower support member. A pair of scissors linkages interconnect the upper and lower support members. Each of the scissors linkages includes first and second arms pivotably attached at central portions thereof. An electronic controller is in communication with a pair of electromagnetic devices positioned at first ends of the first arms. The electronic controller is configured to energize the electromagnetic devices in response to a sensor output.
US07975810B2
A wheel brake for a bicycle or other vehicle has a pair of pivoting arms. Each arm is configured to support a brake pad. A first arm pivotally supports a cam. A second arm defines a cam surface and a cable guide. The cam has a first end for mounting of a cable and a second end having a roller which rests on the cam surface. When the cable is actuated, the cable pulls the first end of the cam, causing the cam to pivot and causing the second end of the cam to roll along the cam surface. Force applied by the cam compresses the arms, causing associated brake pads to move inwardly into engagement with the wheel. The brake is compact and efficient in design.
US07975782B2
An earth bit includes a cutting cone mounted to a lug to form a bearing cavity. A valve is in fluid communication with the bearing cavity and a bit chamber, wherein the valve includes a diaphragm with an aperture. The aperture is repeatably moveable between open and closed conditions in response to a pressure difference between the material in the bearing cavity and bit chamber.
US07975771B2
At least a portion of a subsea well is drilled casing-while-drilling techniques. A landing shoulder is formed within an outer string of a casing. The outer string of casing is secured to an outer wellhead housing above the landing shoulder and lowered into the wellbore. A casing hanger is attached to an inner string of casing and lowered through the outer string of casing into the wellbore. A drill bit at the at the lower end of the inner string of casing is rotated to deepen the well. The string of inner casing moves downward as the well is being deepened until landing the casing hanger on the load shoulder. A tieback member is attached to an inner wellhead housing and lowered into sealing engagement with the casing hanger. The inner wellhead housing lands in the outer wellhead housing.
US07975743B2
A labeler is supported on a frame and includes a waste liner rewind mechanism. The frame may be a two-piece frame, wherein each piece supports a plurality of labeler components. A waste liner rewind wheel is rotatably mounted on one of the frame members, and is capable of supporting the release liner of the label web after the labels have been removed and applied to items. A rewind drive is connected to the waste liner rewind wheel for advancing the waste liner rewind wheel to wind the release liner about the waste liner rewind drive wheel. The rewind mechanism actuates the rewind drive as a function of the amount of tension on the release liner. The labeler may also include a print mechanism positioned along the label web path for printing a desired printed information on the individual labels.
US07975738B2
Provided is a pneumatic tire which employs pitch variation for suppressing pattern noise and has uniformity further improved. Pitches 3a, 3b and 3c with different pitch lengths are formed so that a pitch with a larger pitch length is set to have a smaller groove area ratio, and to have a larger groove wall angle α on the obtuse angle side that is formed by a groove wall of a lateral groove 2 and the direction tangential to the thread surface.
US07975710B2
An apparatus for cleaning electronic packages comprises a tank containing cleaning fluid and a holder above the tank that supports the electronic packages above a top surface of the cleaning fluid with the electronic packages facing the cleaning fluid. Acoustic energy generators are immersed in the cleaning fluid for generating and propagating acoustic energy towards the top surface of the cleaning fluid to create streaming fluid jets projecting upwardly at the top surface to contact and clean the electronic packages supported on the holder.
US07975704B2
A smoking article in which a patch of web material such as paper containing an adsorbent material therein, such as activated carbon, is positioned towards the mouth end of the smoking article to achieve a flatter puff profile compared to a conventional cigarette by decreasing the smoke constituents in the final few puffs. Characteristics of the smoking articles may be changed to increase the delivery of smoke constituents in the first few puffs in order to maintain a constant ISO NFDPM yield. The adsorbent-containing paper extends over only a portion of the smoking article towards the mouth end and does not comprise a flavorant therein.
US07975701B2
An appliance, a system and a method correct habits of an oral cavity of a patient. The appliance is preformed or is custom-made in an open position or in a closed position. The appliance prevents the patient from breathing through an oral cavity of the patient and encourages the patient to breathe through a nose of the patient. The appliance corrects abnormal swallowing patterns, finger sucking habits, thumb sucking habits, abnormal tongue posturing, abnormal lip posturing and/or speech problems. A slot is formed on a top portion of the appliance to receive teeth of the patient for wearing the appliance. A shelf is formed on a bottom portion of the appliance to move a tongue of the patient to a correct position within the oral cavity during swallowing movements and/or during resting periods between the swallowing movements since there is more room above the shelf from a hollow area above of the shelf which is more comfortable for the patient. First projections are formed on the appliance which may contact the tongue to move the tongue to the correct position within the oral cavity. Second projections are formed on the appliance which may contact the tongue to prevent tongue thrusting by the tongue during the resting periods and/or during the swallowing movements. Third projections are formed on the appliance to move lips to a closed position during resting periods and/or the swallowing movements.
US07975699B2
The present disclosure relates to condoms that are configured to facilitate release of nitric oxide.
US07975696B2
A voice prosthesis dilator and sizer device is provided including an elongated member having a first end with a tip and a flange and a second end with a stop portion. The elongated member includes an intermediate portion with a measuring area disposed adjacent to the flange and including measuring indicia thereon and having a dilation area adjacent to the second end. The elongated member also includes a recessed region adjacent to the flange to receive the flange in a folded position upon insertion into the non-dilated fistula. The dilation area has a larger diameter than the measuring area.
