US08138598B2
In a non-insulated DC-DC converter having a circuit in which a power MOS•FET high-side switch and a power MOS•FET low-side switch are connected in series, the power MOS•FET low-side switch and a Schottky barrier diode to be connected in parallel with the power MOS•FET low-side switch are formed within one semiconductor chip. The formation region SDR of the Schottky barrier diode is disposed in the center in the shorter direction of the semiconductor chip, and on both sides thereof, the formation regions of the power MOS•FET low-side switch are disposed. From the gate finger in the vicinity of both long sides on the main surface of the semiconductor chip toward the formation region SDR of the Schottky barrier diode, a plurality of gate fingers are disposed so as to interpose the formation region SDR between them.
US08138597B2
A semiconductor assembly includes a first subassembly comprising a heat sink and a first patterned polymer layer disposed on a surface of the heat sink to define an exposed portion of the first surface. The exposed portion of the first surface extends radially inward along the heat sink surface from the first layer. The subassembly also includes a second patterned polymer layer disposed on a radially outer portion of the first patterned polymer layer. The first and second layers define a cell for accommodating a power semiconductor die. Solder material is disposed on the exposed portion of the heat sink surface and in the cell. A power semiconductor die is located within the cell on a radially inward portion of the first layer and thermally coupled to the heat sink by the solder material.
US08138594B2
A semiconductor device of the present invention comprises a substrate and a first semiconductor element. The substrate comprises an inner layer conductor and a cavity comprising the bottom surface on which a part of the inner layer conductor is exposed. The first semiconductor element contacts, in the cavity, the inner layer conductor directly or via a good heat conductor material.
US08138587B2
A device including two mounting surfaces. One embodiment provides a power semiconductor chip and having a first electrode on a first surface and a second electrode on a second surface opposite to the first surface. A first external contact element and a second external contact element, are both electrically coupled to the first electrode of the semiconductor chip. A third external contact element and a fourth external contact element, both electrically coupled to the second electrode of the semiconductor chip. A first mounting surface is provided on which the first and third external contact elements are disposed. A second mounting surface is provided on which the second and fourth external contact elements are disposed.
US08138583B2
A diode structure having a reduced on-resistance in the forward-biased condition includes semiconductor layers, preferably of silicon carbide. The anode and cathode of the device are located on the same side of the bottom semiconductor layer, providing lateral conduction across the diode body. The anode is positioned on a semiconductor mesa, and the sides of the mesa are covered with a nonconductive spacer extending from the anode to the bottom layer. An ohmic contact, preferably a metal silicide, covers the surface of the bottom layer between the spacer material and the cathode. The conductive path extends from anode to cathode through the body of the mesa and across the bottom semiconductor layer, including the ohmic contact. The method of forming the diode includes reacting layers of silicon and metal on the appropriate regions of the diode to form an ohmic contact of metal silicide.
US08138576B2
The invention provides a technique and a device that dramatically improve joint reliability of miniature joints of fine electronic components. According to the invention, when producing a tin or a solder alloy used for electronic components, an ingot of a tin or a solder alloy is heated, melted and delivered to a reactor. Also, a solution containing organic acid having a carboxyl group (—COOH) is delivered to the reactor. After stirring and mixing the two liquids intensively, the mixed liquid is separated into a molten tin or a molten solder alloy liquid and an organic acid solution according to the difference in specific gravity. Then, the respective liquids are circulated to the reactor, and the metal oxides and the impurities existing in the molten tin or the molten solder alloy are removed, and the molten tin or the molten alloy is purified to have oxygen concentration of 5 ppm or less.
US08138565B2
An LDMOS device and method for making the same are disclosed. The LDMOS device comprises a first well, a second well, a third well, a first ion implantation region, and a second ion implantation region. The first well is in a semiconductor substrate. The second well is in the first well. The third well is first well adjacent to the second well. The first ion implantation region is in the second well. The second ion implantation region is in the third well. A device isolation layer structure between a P-type well region and a P-type body of the LDMOS device may be eliminated, thereby preventing a reduction in the doping concentration of the P-type well, thus minimizing leakage current and maintaining a high breakdown voltage.
US08138563B2
Back-end-of-line (BEOL) circuit structures and methods are provided for blocking externally-originating or internally-originating electromagnetic edge interference. One such BEOL circuit structure includes a semiconductor substrate supporting one or more integrated circuits, and multiple BEOL layers disposed over the semiconductor substrate. The multiple BEOL layers extend to an edge of the circuit structure and include at least one vertically-extending conductive pattern disposed adjacent to the edge of the circuit structure. The vertically-extending conductive pattern is defined, at least partially, by a plurality of elements disposed in the multiple BEOL layers. The plurality of elements are uniformly arrayed at the edge of the circuit structure in a first direction or a second direction throughout at least a portion thereof. The plurality of elements are sized and positioned in the first direction or the second direction to block electromagnetic interference of a particular wavelength from passing therethrough.
US08138560B2
Without sacrificial layer etching, a microstructure and a micromachine are manufactured. A separation layer 102 is formed over a substrate 101, and a layer 103 to be a movable electrode is formed over the separation layer 102. At an interface of the separation layer 102, the layer 103 to be a movable electrode is separated from the substrate. A layer 106 to be a fixed electrode is formed over another substrate 105. The layer 103 to be a movable electrode is fixed to the substrate 105 with the spacer layer 103 which is partially provided interposed therebetween, so that the layer 103 to be a movable electrode and a layer 106 to be a fixed electrode face each other.
US08138557B2
A layout structure of a MOSFET is provided. The layout structure of the MOSFET includes a plurality of MOSFET cells, a first source/drain metal bus structure and a second source/drain metal bus structure. The first source/drain metal bus structure is electrically connected to first sources/drains of the MOSFET cells, and a width thereof is gradually decreased in a predetermined direction. The second source/drain metal bus structure is electrically connected to second sources/drains of the MOSFET cells, and a width thereof is gradually increased in the predetermined direction.
US08138550B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, has forming a gate insulating film over a surface of a substrate, eliminating a portion of the gate insulating film in a region, forming a gate electrode over the gate insulating film and a drain electrode on the region, implanting first impurities into the substrate using the gate electrode and the drain electrode as a mask, forming an insulating film to fill the space between the gate electrode and the drain electrode, and implanting second impurities into the substrate to form a source region using the gate electrode, the drain electrode and the insulating film as a mask.
US08138547B2
A semiconductor device is disclosed that includes a silicon-on-insulator substrate including a buried insulator layer and an overlying semiconductor layer. Source extension and drain extension regions are formed in the semiconductor layer. A deep drain region and a deep source region are formed in the semiconductor layer. A first metal-semiconductor alloy contact layer is formed using tilted metal formation at an angle tilted towards the source extension region, such that the source extension region has a metal-semiconductor alloy contact that abuts the substrate from the source side, as a Schottky contact therebetween and the gate shields metal deposition from abutting the deep drain region. A second metal-semiconductor alloy contact is formed located on the first metal-semiconductor layer on each of the source extension region and drain extension region.
US08138546B2
A silicon control rectifier and an electrostatic discharge protection device of an integrated circuit including the silicon control rectifier. The silicon control rectifier includes a silicon body formed in a silicon layer in direct physical contact with a buried oxide layer of a silicon-on-insulator substrate, a top surface of the silicon layer defining a horizontal plane; and an anode of the silicon control rectifier formed in a first region of the silicon body and a cathode of the silicon control rectifier formed in an opposite second region of the silicon body, wherein a path of current flow between the anode and the cathode is only in a single horizontal direction parallel to the horizontal plane.
US08138537B2
In a semiconductor device comprising a capacitive element, an area of the capacitive element is reduced without impairing performance, and further, without addition of an extra step in a manufacturing process. A first capacitor is formed between an active region of a semiconductor substrate provided through a first capacitive insulating film and a lower electrode comprised of a conductor film in the same layer as a select gate electrode of a select, a second capacitor is formed between the lower electrode, and an upper electrode comprised of a conductor film in the same layer as a memory gate electrode of a memory, provided through the second capacitive insulating film in the same layer as the insulating films of a multi-layer structure, including a charge storage layer, and a stacking-type capacitive element is comprised of the first capacitor and the second capacitor, wherein a planar shape of the lower electrode is a grid-like shape having a plurality of lengths of linear conductor films each having a first width, formed along a first direction with a first interval provided therebetween, and a plurality of lengths of linear conductor films each having a second width, formed along a second direction (the direction intersecting the first direction) with a second interval provided therebetween.
US08138526B2
Fin-FET (fin field effect transistor) devices and methods of fabrication are disclosed. The Fin-FET devices include dual fin structures that may form a channel region between a source region and a drain region. In some embodiments, the dual fin structures are formed by thinning shallow trench isolation structures, using a pair of shallow trench isolation (STI) structures as a mask to define a recess in a portion of the substrate between the pair of STI structures, and recessing the pair of STI structures so that the resulting dual fin structure protrudes from an active surface of the substrate. The dual fin structure may be used to form single-gate, double-gate or triple-gate fin-FET devices. Electronic systems including such fin-FET devices are also disclosed.
US08138509B2
Light emitting devices conformally covered by a luminescent material layer are presented. A light emitting device includes a semiconductor light emitting die attached to a substrate. At least one bond pad is disposed on the semiconductor light emitting die. A luminescent material layer conformally covers the semiconductor light emitting die, wherein the luminescent material layer has at least one opening corresponding to and exposing the at least one bond pad. At least one wirebond is electrically connected to the at least one bond pad and a contact pad on the substrate.
US08138508B2
An LED chip package structure with different LED spacing includes a substrate unit, a light-emitting unit, and a package colloid unit. The light-emitting unit has a plurality of LED chips electrically arranged on the substrate unit, and the LEDs are separated from each other by totally different spacing or partially different spacing. For example, the spacings between each two LED chips are from rarefaction to condensation, from condensation to rarefaction, from center rarefaction to outer condensation, from center condensation to outer rarefaction, alternate rarefaction and condensation, or alternate condensation and rarefaction. The package colloid unit covers the LED chips.
US08138507B2
A semiconductor light emitting package is discussed, which includes a base having a top surface with a flat portion; a semiconductor light emitting device on the base; an electrical circuit layer electrically connected to the semiconductor light emitting device; a screen member having an opening and disposed on the base around the semiconductor light emitting device, the screen member shaped into a substantially circle; and an optical member formed of a light transmissive material such that light emitted from the semiconductor light emitting device passes therethrough, wherein a bottom surface of the screen member is positioned higher than the semiconductor light emitting device, an edge portion of the optical member is in contact with the screen member, a top surface of the optical member is substantially parallel to the flat portion of the base.
US08138494B2
The present invention relates to a GaN series light-emitting diode structure, which includes a substrate; at least one GaN series layer formed over the substrate; subsequently an interface blocking structure composed of an n-type GaN series superlattice structure and a GaN series light-emitting layer, and a GaN series light-emitting layer are formed over the GaN series layer; and a p-type GaN series layer formed over the GaN series light-emitting layer. In the present invention, the radiative recombination efficiency is improved by introducing an interface blocking structure before the light-emitting layer under the epitaxial conditions of low temperature and pure nitrogen atmosphere.
US08138492B2
The invention is directed to a method of forming carbon nanomaterials or semiconductor nanomaterials. The method comprises providing a substrate and attaching a molecular precursor to the substrate. The molecular precursor includes a surface binding group for attachment to the substrate and a binding group for attachment of metal-containing species. The metal-containing species is selected from a metal cation, metal compound, or metal or metal-oxide nanoparticle to form a metallized molecular precursor. The metallized molecular precursor is then subjected to a heat treatment to provide a catalytic site from which the carbon nanomaterials or semiconductor nanomaterials form. The heating of the metallized molecular precursor is conducted under conditions suitable for chemical vapor deposition of the carbon nanomaterials or semiconductor nanomaterials.
US08138489B2
A non-volatile semiconductor storage device includes a plurality of memory element groups, each of the memory element groups having a plurality of memory elements, each of the memory elements having a resistance-change element and a Schottky diode connected in series. Each of the memory element groups includes: a first columnar layer extending in a lamination direction; a first insulation layer formed on a side surface of the first columnar layer and functioning as the resistance-change element; and a first conductive layer formed to surround the first columnar layer via the first insulation layer. The first conductive layer is formed of metal. The first columnar layer is formed of a semiconductor having such a impurity concentration that the first conductive layer and the semiconductor configure the Schottky diode.
US08138487B2
A system and method generating an extreme ultraviolet light in an extreme ultraviolet light chamber including a collector mirror, a droplet generation system having a droplet outlet aligned to output a plurality of droplets along a target material path and a first catch including a first open end substantially aligned to the target material path and at least one internal surface oriented toward a second end of the first catch, the second end being opposite from the first open end.
US08138485B2
A radiation detector, a method of manufacturing a radiation detector, and a lithographic apparatus comprising a radiation detector. The radiation detector has a radiation sensitive surface. The radiation sensitive surface is sensitive to radiation wavelengths between 10-200 nm and charged particles. The radiation detector has a silicon substrate, a dopant layer, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The silicon substrate is provided in a surface area at a first surface side with doping profile of a certain conduction type. The dopant layer is provided on the first surface side of the silicon substrate. The dopant layer has a first layer of dopant material and a second layer. The second layer is a diffusion layer in contact with the surface area at the first surface side of the silicon substrate. The first electrode is connected to dopant layer. The second electrode is connected to the silicon substrate.
US08138482B2
A process for evaluating a cleaning solution is described. The process includes: (i) subjecting a solution, including a solute and a solvent, to sonic energy to create a sonicated solution; (ii) measuring UV absorption of the sonicated solution to produce a sample UV absorbance spectra; (iii) obtaining a reference solution, which includes a solute concentration that is similar to that of solute concentration in the sonicated solution; (iv) measuring UV absorption of the reference solution to produce a reference UV absorbance spectra; (v) scaling the reference UV absorbance spectra to the sample UV absorbance spectra at a lower range of the UV spectrum; (vi) subtracting from the reference UV absorbance spectra the sample UV absorbance spectra to produce a differential UV spectra; and (vii) evaluating at or near a peak of the sample UV absorbance spectra the differential UV absorbance spectra to determine whether the sonicated solution is activated.
US08138481B2
A method for providing information about a spatial gain distribution of a scintillator for a primary radiation is provided which does not require the irradiation of the scintillator with the primary radiation. The method comprises the step of irradiating the scintillator with a secondary radiation for generating an image of a spatial secondary gain distribution of the scintillator for said second radiation. The spatial secondary gain distribution image corresponds to an image of the spatial primary gain distribution for the primary radiation. In an embodiment of the invention, i.e. in an X-ray imaging device where the primary radiation is X-ray radiation, the invention provides for an accurate calibration of the X-ray detector without irradiating the X-ray detector with X-ray radiation. Rather, irradiation with UV radiation as the secondary radiation provides the desired spatial secondary gain distribution image which can be used for calibration.
US08138469B2
A universal projector interface including a mount interface portion with a plurality of elongate arm assemblies coupled thereto. Each arm assembly is selectively rotatable and translatable relative to the mount interface, and includes a coupling portion. The coupling portion of each arm assembly is selectively shiftable between a first position in which the coupling portion is securely engaged with a projector attachment member on the projector and a second position in which the coupling portion is freely disengageable from the projector attachment member.
US08138461B2
An integrated circuit device of the present invention includes a plurality of signal processing circuits classified into a plurality of groups, each signal processing circuit including an amplifier circuit for amplifying an input electric signal and a bias circuit having an input terminal connected electrically to a bias source and supplying a bias input terminal of the amplifier circuit with an operation bias for an amplifying operation of the amplifier circuit; and a plurality of connection wirings arranged each for each of the groups separately, such that the input terminals of the bias circuits of the signal processing circuits in one of the groups are commonly connected through the connection wirings. This provides an integrated circuit device suppressing the lowering of an image quality in consideration of enabling lower power consumption, a low noise characteristic, and high integration, and an imaging apparatus using the integrated circuit.
US08138458B2
The invention performs uniform chemical reactions with high efficiency by action of microwave onto reaction targets placed within a flow path along a center axis of a waveguide for transmission of microwave. The microwave chemical reaction device includes a circular waveguide for transmission of TM or TE mode microwave or a square waveguide for transmission of TE mode microwave and a flow path shielded from a space within the waveguide by a bulkhead of low microwave loss and coaxially extending along the center axis of the waveguide. Reaction targets to be subjected to chemical reactions are accommodated in the flow path and the microwave acts on the reaction targets within the flow path.
US08138456B2
In the present invention, a plurality of suction ports are provided in a heating plate of a heat processing apparatus. The suction ports are provided at a central portion, an intermediate portion, and a peripheral portion of a substrate mounting surface of the heating plate, respectively. The warped state of the substrate before heat-processed is measured, so that when the substrate warps protruding downward, the suction start timing via a suction port corresponding to the outer peripheral portion of the substrate is set to be relatively early as compared to the suction start timings via the other suction ports, and when the substrate warps protruding upward, the suction start timing via the suction port corresponding to the central portion of the substrate is set to be relatively early as compared to the suction start timings via the other suction ports. This allows a portion of the substrate bending upward to be sucked first when the substrate is mounted on the heating plate, thereby quickly performing correction of the warpage of the substrate to uniformly heat the substrate.
US08138447B2
A laser-arc hybrid welding head performs laser light irradiation and arc discharge of a base material to weld the base material by combined use of laser welding and arc welding. The welding head includes an optical fiber for transmitting laser light used in laser welding and an arc electrode for generating an arc between the arc electrode and the base material. The optical fiber is disposed such that an optical axis thereof crosses an axis of the arc electrode at a predetermined angle.
US08138443B2
A sealing system includes two fittings, a compliant member, and a spring. The first fitting has two ends, a first cavity, and a first channel. The first channel extends from the first end to the first cavity, which is formed in the second end radially inwardly from an outer surface of the first fitting. The second fitting is disposed in the first cavity and has two ends, a second cavity, and a second channel. The first end is disposed in the first cavity, the second cavity is formed in the first end of the second fitting, and the second channel extends from the second cavity to the second end. The compliant member is disposed in the second cavity. The spring is disposed in the second cavity against the compliant member.
US08138435B2
An electrical device is disclosed for use in a wall box having a series of buttons that can either be rocker buttons or push buttons; these buttons can be supported by springboards formed integral with a support board; the springboards are for biasing the series of buttons; much of the device is housed within a housing formed at a first end by a body and a second end by a strap coupled to the housing; the strap extends beyond the body, wherein this strap can be used to dissipate heat from the device; inside of the housing can be at least one circuit board which has switches, which can be used to receive instructions from a plurality of buttons.
US08138433B2
An interlock arrangement operatively associated with utility and generator side switches of an electrical panel including a first main switch associated with the first power supply and a second main switch associated with the second power supply. The interlock arrangement includes a first neutral switch associated with the first power supply, and a second neutral switch associated with the second power supply. A lockout sequencer arrangement has a first lockout that restricts simultaneous switching of the first and the second neutral switch, a second lockout configured to engage the first lockout to restrict movement of the first lockout when the first main switch is a conductive position, and a third lockout configured to engage the first lockout to restrict movement of the first lockout when the second main switch is in a conductive position.
US08138425B2
A touch panel and a fabricating method thereof are provided. The touch panel includes: a substrate; a first conductive layer configured on the substrate and having a first and a second portions; an insulating layer covering the first portion; and a second conductive layer having a third portion configured on the second portion, and a fourth portion configured on the insulating layer and being separate from the third portion. The fabricating method includes the steps of: providing a first conductive layer; forming an insulating layer partially covering the first conductive layer; and forming a second conductive layer having a first pattern coupled to the first conductive layer and a second pattern insulated from the first pattern on the insulating layer.
US08138424B2
A wiring substrate includes (i) a wiring forming region in which wiring layers and an insulating layer are alternately stacked, (ii) an outer periphery region around the wiring forming region, and (iii) a reinforcing structural body having (a) a first reinforcing member continuously extending along said outer periphery region, and (b) a second reinforcing member extending in a thickness direction and being engaged with the first reinforcing member.
US08138403B1
A new and improved body and bridge bracing system for stringed musical instruments includes an bracing system that consists of an upper brace located in the upper body of the instrument's body and a lower brace located in the lower body. Two or more longitudinal braces connect to each of the lateral braces and provide the instrument's neck, body, and soundboard support against the constant stress of the strings. A bridge reinforcing means is also included and consists of two or more truss rods. The rods connect the upper body lateral brace to the bridge area and further counteract the tension of the strings thereby preventing damage to the bridge and soundboard.
US08138402B2
A keyboard musical instrument has a solenoid including a plunger and a coil into which the plunger is inserted, a drive unit for applying voltage to the solenoid, and a key which moves together with the plunger, and on which a force generated by the solenoid is exerted. The drive unit includes a position detector for detecting position of the key in the direction in which the key is depressed or released. By varying voltage which is to be applied to the solenoid in accordance with the position of the key detected by the position detector while the key is in motion, the drive unit varies the force which is to be generated by the solenoid.
US08138401B2
While a player is fingering a music tune on a piano, an electronic assistant system monitors the keys to see whether or not the player starts to produce tones through a particular playing technique such as repetition; when the electronic assistant system finds particular key movements unique to the particular playing technique in an early stage, the electronic assistant system decides that the player intends to produce the tone through the particular playing technique, and forces the key to travel on a reference key trajectory in the later stage, whereby the player learns the particular playing technique.
US08138399B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV208554. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV208554, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV208554 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV208554 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV208554.
US08138392B2
The invention provides transgenic plants with resistance to infection by a root-infecting fungal plant pathogen such as Phymatotrichopsis omnivora. Also provided are methods of making such plants. Further provided are nucleic acid vectors for producing such a plant. Additionally, methods are provided for growing a dicotyledonous plant that is resistant to root rot disease in soil that comprises Phymatotrichopsis omnivora, or another pathogen.
US08138382B2
The composition of raw mixed gas and the gas composition of produced mixed gas hydrate are uniformed as rapidly as possible. The process for producing a mixed gas hydrate comprises the gas hydrate forming step of reacting a mixed gas (g) with water (w) to thereby obtain a gas hydrate in slurry form; the dewatering step of removing the water (w) from the gas hydrate slurry (s); the palletizing step of forming the gas hydrate after water removal into pellets; the freezing step of chilling the gas hydrate pellets (p) to the freezing point or below to thereby freeze the same; and the pressure reduction step of depressurizing the frozen gas hydrate to storage pressure, wherein the mixed gas (g) fed to the gas hydrate forming step is diluted by diluent gas (m) as a constituent of the principal components of the mixed gas (g).
US08138381B2
The present invention provides a method for recovering a natural gas contaminated with high levels of carbon dioxide. A gas containing methane and carbon dioxide is extracted from a reservoir containing natural gas, where carbon dioxide comprises greater than 40 vol. % of the extracted gas. The extracted gas is scrubbed with a wash effective to produce a washed extracted gas containing less carbon dioxide than the extracted gas and at least 20 vol. % carbon dioxide. The washed extracted gas is oxidized with an oxygen containing gas in the presence of a partial oxidation catalyst to produce an oxidation product gas containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. The oxidation product gas is then utilized to produce a liquid methanol product.
US08138374B2
The present invention provides a composition for external application to skin containing one type or two or more types of compounds selected from the group consisting of aminoacetoamide compounds represented by the following general formula (1) and salts thereof.
US08138372B2
The present invention covers zwitterionic, non-surface-active compounds in the form of carboxymethylated, short-chain dialkylaminoalkylamides and use thereof as therapeutic agent.
US08138365B2
The invention relates to a method for producing organosilanes of general formula I, [R(R)(R′O)Si—R″—]2Sm I by reaction of (halo-organo)alkoxysilanes of formula II, [R(R)(R′O)Si—R″-Hal II with a sulfuring reagent, selected from alkaline hydrogensulfide, alkaline sulfide Me2S, alkaline polysulfide Me2Sg and any combination thereof and optionally additionally with sulfur and/or with H2S in a solvent, the alkaline hydroxy content of all materials used being <0.44 wt. %.
US08138361B2
Provided herein are C-10 taxane carbamates and pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof. In certain embodiments, provided herein are compounds, compositions and methods for treating cancer and taupathy.
US08138360B2
Benzofuran compounds which contain at least one detectable label selected from the group consisting of 131I, 123I, 124I, 125I, 76Br, 75Br, 18F, 19F, 11C, 13C, 14C and 3H are provided as amyloid imaging agents for detecting brain amyloid deposits as well as other amyloidogenic peptides associated with systemic or localized amyloidosis. Additionally, the compounds are useful for determining if patients, presenting with clinically confusing cases of dementia or presenting with mild cognitive impairment, have Alzheimer's disease. The compounds are additionally useful as surrogate markers for monitoring the efficacy of anti-amyloidosis therapies.
US08138353B2
Disclosed is a novel enantiomeric synthesis ceramide-like inhibitors of UDP-glucose: N-acylsphingosine glucosyltransferase. Also disclosed are novel intermediates formed during the synthesis.
US08138347B2
Invented is a method of inhibiting the activity/function of PI3 kinases using quinoline derivatives. Also invented is a method of treating one or more disease states selected from: autoimmune disorders, inflammatory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, allergy, asthma, pancreatitis, multiorgan failure, kidney diseases, platelet aggregation, cancer, sperm motility, transplantation rejection, graft rejection and lung injuries by the administration of quinoline derivatives.
US08138342B2
A novel class of compounds of the general formula (I), their use in therapy, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds, as well as their use in the manufacture of medicaments are described. The present compounds modulate the activity of 11 β-hydroxy-Steroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11βHSD1) and are accordingly useful in the treatment of diseases in which such a modulation is beneficial, e.g. the metabolic syndrome.
US08138331B2
A description is given of glyoxal-treated polysaccharide derivatives which, to decrease the unbound glyoxal, are treated with an aqueous solution of one or more water-soluble aluminium salts, or one or more water-soluble borates, or a combination of one or more water-soluble aluminium salts and one or more water-soluble borates, and, if appropriate, with suitable buffer substances to set the pH, and then dried.A description is likewise given of a process for decreasing the content of unbound glyoxal in glyoxal-treated polysaccharide derivatives.
US08138322B2
Binding assays for identifying compounds that modulate human T1R2 polypeptide associated taste are disclosed. These assays detect the specific binding of compounds to a human T1R2 polypeptide or the modulation of the specific binding of a compound that specifically binds to a human T1R2 polypeptide. The binding assays may include the use of detectable labels, e.g., radionuclides, enzymes, fluorophases, and the like. Compounds identified in these binding assays have putative application as T1R2 taste modulators, particularly sweet taste, and potentially are useful additives in compositions for human or animal consumption.
US08138319B2
The present invention provides an aptamer or pool of aptamers (nucleic acid sequences) that bind(s) to a target molecule on the surface, accessible from the surface or inside of a mammalian sperm cell and a method for producing the aptamers. The method comprises contacting a collection of different nucleic acid molecules with the target molecule under conditions favorable for binding between at least one of the nucleic acid molecules and the target molecule, to form at least one complex comprising the nucleic acid molecule bound to the target molecule, wherein each of the nucleic acid molecules comprises at least one segment of randomized nucleotide sequences. The complexes are then separated from the unbound nucleic acid molecules and unbound target molecules, and the bound nucleic acid molecule is recovered from the separated complex. The aptamers are used to separate sperm cells based upon sperm cell qualities, such as whether the cells contain X chromosomes or Y chromosomes.
US08138311B2
The present invention concerns methods of reducing the antigenicity of a proteinaceous compound while maintaining the compounds biological activity, as well as proteinaceous compositions with biological activity but reduced antigenicity. These methods and compositions have significant benefits to a subject in need of such compounds and compositions. Also included are modified toxin compounds that are truncated and/or possess reduce antigenicity. Such designer toxins have therapeutic, diagnostic, and preventative benefits, particularly as immunotoxins. Methods of treating cancer using these immunotoxins are provided.
US08138310B2
The present invention provides for an isolated polynucleotide sequence encoding a chimeric CD154, comprising a first nucleotide sequence encoding an extracellular subdomain of non-human CD154, preferably murine CD154, that replaces a cleavage site of human CD154, and a second nucleotide sequence encoding an extracellular subdomain of human CD154 that binds to a human CD154 receptor. The present invention also provides for the chimeric CD154 that is encoded by the above-described polynucleotide sequence, an expression vector and a genetic vector comprising the polynucleotide sequence, a host cell comprising the expression vector or the genetic vector, a process for producing the chimeric CD154, and methods for utilizing the expression vectors and genetic constructs containing the chimeric CD154 polynucleotide sequences.
US08138308B2
The invention provides novel reagents and methodologies for detecting free versus bound compounds. It is particularly useful to detect thrombin when it is not bound to A2M in the presence of thrombin bound to A2M by using a modified substrate that is sterically hindered from reacting with the bound thrombin.
US08138304B2
Neural regeneration peptide consisting of a sequence comprised in the sequence of REGRRAAPGRAGG(SEQ ID NO:1).
US08138302B2
In a production process of a poly(arylene sulfide), a mixture containing an organic amide solvent, an alkali metal hydrosulfide and an alkali metal hydroxide in a proportion of 0.95 to 1.05 mol per mol of the alkali metal hydrosulfide is heated and dehydrated in a dehydration step. After the dehydration step, as needed, an alkali metal hydroxide and water are added to control the total number of moles of the alkali metal hydroxide, and the number of moles of water so as to amount to 1.00 to 1.09 per mol of a sulfur source including the alkali metal hydrosulfide existing in the system and to 0.5 to 2.0 per mol of the charged sulfur source, respectively. A polymerization step is conducted by a two-stage process.
US08138300B1
There is disclosed an intermediate transfer member that includes a layer of a poly(imide-carbonate) copolymer having dispersed therein conductive particles. The layer can be a surface layer.
US08138299B2
Thermoplastic polyurethanes which have a hardness of from 50 Shore A to 80 Shore A and are based on (b) polyester diols, wherein a polyester diol (b1) based on butane-1,4-diol and at least one further diol having at least 5 carbon atoms and a polyester diol (b2) based on butane-1,4-diol and at least one further diol having two or three carbon atoms are present as (b) polyester diols.
US08138294B2
The invention provides a process for preparing liquid, branched SiH-functional siloxanes by reacting a mixture of one or more low molecular weight SiH-functional siloxanes, one or more low molecular weight SiH-free siloxanes, one or more tetraalkoxysilanes, and optionally one or more trialkoxysilanes with addition of water and in the presence of a Brønsted-acidic ion exchanger, which is characterized in that the reaction is performed in one process step.
US08138285B2
Methods of forming supported catalyst systems, supported catalyst systems and polymerization processes utilizing the supported catalyst systems are described herein. The methods generally include providing an inorganic support material and contacting the inorganic support material with a support solvent to form a support solution. The methods further include contacting the support solution with a fluorine containing compound represented by the formula AlFpX3-pBq to impregnate the fluorine containing compound within the inorganic support material and form an intermediate, wherein X is selected from Cl, Br and OH−, B is H2O, p is selected from 1 to 3 and q is selected from 0 to 6. In addition, the methods include drying the intermediate to remove the solvent therefrom and heating the intermediate at a temperature of at least about 300° C. to form an impregnated support and contacting the impregnated support with a transition metal compound to form a supported catalyst system, wherein the transition metal compound is represented by the formula [L]mM[A]n; wherein L is a bulky ligand, A is a leaving group, M is a transition metal and m and n are such that a total ligand valency corresponds to the transition metal valency.
US08138280B2
The invention relates to a process for production of superabsorbent polymers on a continuous belt reactor, wherein a continuous polymerization belt rests at least partly upon the upper surface of at least one continuous support belt and the at least one continuous support belt slides at least partly on a fixed surface.
US08138279B2
A biaxially oriented polyarylene sulfide film made of a polyarylene sulfide resin composition has a melt crystallization temperature of not lower than 160° C. and not higher than 220° C. The biaxially oriented polyarylene sulfide film contains 70 to 99 parts by weight of the polyarylene sulfide and 1 to 30 parts by weight of thermoplastic resin A; the thermoplastic resin A constitutes a dispersed phase having an average dispersion diameter of 50 nm to 500 nm. The biaxially oriented polyarylene sulfide film has a breaking stress at 200° C. in the machine direction and/or transverse direction of not less than 30 MPa and not more than 90 MPa and has an elongation at break at 200° C. in the machine direction and/or transverse direction of not less than 100% and not more than 250%.
US08138278B2
A composition comprising a reaction product of reactants comprising (a) a compound comprising (i) a polysulfide moiety and (ii) an oxygen atom in a β-position to a sulfur link having the formula: where each R is independently selected from H or a C1 to C20 organyl group, R′ is independently selected from a C1 to C20 organyl group, R′″ is independently selected from H or a C1 to C20 organyl group, and x has an average of greater than 2, (b) a compound comprising a nucleophilic moiety; and (c) a compound comprising a moiety reactive to active hydrogen.
US08138274B2
Fluorosilicon polymers are disclosed that are prepared by a process comprising reacting a) iodinated oligomers having copolymerized units of perfluoro(methyl vinyl ether) and vinylidene fluoride or tetrafluoroethylene that contain 40-90 mole percent copolymerized units of vinylidene fluoride or tetrafluoroethylene and 10-60 mole percent copolymerized units of perfluoro(methyl vinyl ether), said oligomers having two functional endgroups and having a number average molecular weight between 1000 and 25,000 with b) a methoxyvinyl silane or an ethoxyvinyl silane to form a silicon-containing polymeric adduct that is further reacted with an acid to form a crosslinked fluorinated polymer.
US08138272B2
This invention provides an improved synthesis of polymer conjugates of formula (I), of agricultural, therapeutic, and food additive compounds. In particular, a process is described for the preparation of conjugates by treating primary or secondary alcohol substituents of active compounds with polymeric nucleophiles using “Mitsunobu” or related reaction conditions.
US08138254B2
A thermally conductive silicone rubber composition comprising: (A) an organopolysiloxane with the exception of below-given components (C) and (E); (B) a thermally conductive filler; (C) a specific organopolysiloxane; (D) a curing agent; (E) a resin-like organopolysiloxane; and (F) a silane compound showing no affinity to aforementioned component (A), wherein component (E) is contained in an amount of 2 to 10 mass % per sum of components (A) and (E), and wherein said component (F) is contained in an amount sufficient for coating 1 to 70% of the entire surface of component (B) determined from the contents of component (B) and the BET specific surface area of aforementioned component (B), demonstrates good handleability and possesses appropriate thixotropicity even when it contains a large amount of thermally conductive filler and when cured is capable of forming a thermally conductive silicone rubber characterized by good adhesive properties and elongation characteristics even without the use of a reinforcing filler.
US08138253B2
A filler for powder coating materials is provided, which comprises inorganic parties having a Mohs hardness of 1 to 4 and satisfying the following particle size distribution of the following relationships (1) to (5): 2≦A≦30 (1); Cumulative 50 vol. % diameter (median diameter) determined by Microtrac FRA [μm]; 0≦B≦35 (2); Cumulative undersize for one-half the cumulative 50 vol. % diameter (median diameter) determined by Microtrac FRA [vol. %]; 1≦C≦25 (3); Value obtained by dividing cumulative 90 vol. % diameter determined by Microtrac FRA by cumulative 10 vol. % diameter [-]; 1≦D≦6 (4); Value obtained by dividing cumulative 75 vol. % diameter determined by Microtrac FRA by cumulative 25 vol. % diameter [-]; and E≦100 (5); Maximum particle diameter in particle-diameter fraction frequency distribution determined by Microtrac FRA [μm]. The filler for powder coating materials of the present invention can provide a powder coating composition for forming a coating film having excellent matte property, a smooth surface with reduced irregularities, satisfactory appearance and excellent in processability and impact resistance.
US08138252B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermally disappearing resin particle and a thermally disappearing hollow resin particle which can be decomposed at a low temperature in a short time and do not cause deformation or cracking of a sintered body to be obtained in the case of using as a binder for a ceramic or a lightening material; a method of producing the thermally disappearing hollow resin particle; a ceramic composition which can be degreased and fired at a low temperature in a short time and gives a molded body with a high porosity without deformation or cracking even in the case a large quantity of a pore-forming material is used; and a method of producing a porous ceramic filter.The present invention is directed to a thermally disappearing resin particle, which contains a polyoxyalkylene resin, and 10% by weight or more of the whole particle disappearing within an hour by heating at a prescribed temperature in a range from 100 to 300° C.
US08138237B2
A composition and method for making a composition that increases friction between a first surface and a second surface while also cleaning the first surface. The composition is an anti-slip detergent that can assist in preventing slip-and-fall accidents on wet floors that have recently been mopped. The composition includes a synthetic dimerized thermoplastic resin, a surfactant, tall oil distillate, (2-methoxymethylethoxy)-propanol, 2,2′,2″-trihydroxy-triethylamine, and water. The composition may also include an acrylate copolymer to further enhance its friction-producing properties.
US08138234B2
Polymeric composite materials, particularly highly filled polyurethane composite materials are described herein. Such highly filled polyurethane composite materials may be formed by reaction and extrusion of one or more polyols, one or more di- or poly-isocyanates, and from about 45 to about 85 weight percent of inorganic filler such as fly ash. Certain polyols, including plant-based polyols can be used. Certain composite materials also contain chain extenders and/or crosslinkers. The polyurethane composite material may also contain fibers such as chopped or axial fibers which further provide good mechanical properties to the composite material. Shaped articles containing the polyurethane composite material have been found to have good mechanical properties, such that the shaped articles are suitable for building applications.
US08138231B2
The present invention provides a novel polymer having oxocarbon groups which is particularly useful in battery and fuel cell applications.
US08138228B2
A liquid kelp formulation includes an enzyme inactivating component and a preservative to extend the shelf life of the formulation in terms of growth hormones. The formulation can also include a fertilizing additive, and a surfactant. A system is also provided whereby the kelp is maintained in solid form, and dissolved in water just prior to use. The solid form kelp and/or water can include additives, or additives in separate form, if used, can be added to either the kelp or the kelp solution.
US08138225B2
Histone deacetylase is a metallo-enzyme with zinc at the active site. Compounds having a zinc-binding moiety, for example, an alpha-ketoepoxide group, such as an alpha-ketothio group, can inhibit histone deacetylase. Histone deacetylase inhibition can repress gene expression, including expression of genes related to tumor suppression. Accordingly, inhibition of histone deacetylase can provide an alternate route for treating cancer, hematological disorders, e.g., hemoglobinopathies, autosomal dominant disorders, e.g. spinal muscular atrophy and Huntington's disease, genetic related metabolic disorders, e.g., cystic fibrosis and adrenoleukodystrophy, or to stimulate hematopoietic cells ex vivo.
US08138222B2
This invention relates to novel whitening agents for cellulosic substrates. The whitening agents are comprised of at least two components: at least one chromophore component and at least one polymeric component. Suitable chromophore components generally fluoresce blue, red, violet, or purple color when exposed to ultraviolet light, or they may absorb light to reflect these same shades. The whitening agents are further characterized by having a dispersion component value of the Hansen Solubility Parameter of less than or equal to about 17 MPa0.5. This invention also relates to laundry care compositions including but not limited to liquid and/or powder laundry detergent formulations and rinse added fabric softening (RAFS) compositions that comprise such whitening agents.
US08138210B2
The present invention refers to new indanyl sulphonamide compounds with general formula (I), as well as to their preparation procedure, their application as medicine and the pharmaceuticals composition which they are made up of. The new compounds of formula I show affinity for 5-HT6 receptors and are, therefore, effective for treating diseases mediated by these receptors.
US08138205B2
The present invention relates to compounds and methods which may be useful as inhibitors of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) for the treatment or prevention of inflammatory diseases and other diseases involving elevated levels of cytokines and proinflammatory mediators.
US08138204B2
The subject invention provides stereoisomeric compounds of formula (X): wherein the variables are as defined herein, and compositions for the safe and effective treatment of various gastrointestinal disorders including, but not limited to, gastroparesis, gastroesophageal reflux and related conditions. The compounds of the subject invention are also useful in treating a variety of conditions involving the central nervous system.
US08138191B2
A synergistically effective combination of an anti-cancer agent and a therapeutic compound, such as an mTOR-Rictor complex inhibitor, a Serine 473 phosphorylation inhibitor, an AKT2 inhibitor, or a combination thereof, for use in the treatment of cancer, and methods and uses thereof. Also included are methods and uses of a thiosemicarbazone for treating a cancer in a mammal in need thereof characterized by over-expression of RAS, by an EGFR mutation, and/or by over-expression of AKT2.
US08138169B2
Treatment regimens for mood disorders that include administration of buprenorphine, alone or in combination with additional pharmacological agents are described. Specifically, treatment regimens that alleviate racing thoughts associated with bipolar disorder, and pharmaceutical compositions and kits for use therein are described. Dosing regimens, compositions, and kits including buprenorphine for treating mania associated with opioid withdrawal are also described.
US08138162B2
The invention relates to extracts, in particular non-nutrient phytochemicals, form sugar cane or sugar beet waste products, such as molasses, sugar mud and bagasse, which have Glycemic Index (GI) lowering properties and their use as sweeteners and in foods containing sugar.
US08138160B2
The present invention relates to reagents, methods and systems to treat inflammation and pain in a subject using small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules targeted to either TNFα, IL1, IL6 and other pro-inflammatory cytokines.
US08138159B2
To provide a means of controlling the function of Flt3. A composition for inhibiting the function of human Flt3, a method of inducing apoptosis by using the composition, and a kit for the method.
US08138155B2
A compound for delivering a non-cytotoxic therapeutic moiety into nerve cells, the compound having the general formula: B-L-TM where: B is a binding agent capable of selectively binding to a nerve cell surface receptor and mediating absorption of the compound by the nerve cell; TM is a therapeutic moiety which has a non-cytotoxic therapeutic effect when absorbed by a nerve cell; and L is a linker coupling B to TM.
US08138150B2
Disclosed is a method for removing endotoxin from proteins. Also disclosed are products made by using the method. The method may be used, for example, to produce endotoxin-free lactoferrin. Bovine milk-derived lactoferrin may be produced in commercial quantities by the method, and endotoxin-free bovine lactoferrin may be used for a variety of therapeutic uses, including improving wound healing.
US08138149B2
An aqueous solution of calcitonin suitable for intranasal administration comprised of calcitonin, chlorobutanol at a concentration of less than 0.4% weight/weight, and water and having a pH of less than 4 with the proviso that benzalkonium chloride is not present in the solution. The aqueous solution of calcitonin can be used to treat osteoporosis, Paget's bone disease and hypercalcemia.
US08138142B2
In certain aspects, the present invention provides compositions and methods for increasing adiponectin in a patient in need thereof by administering an antagonist of an ActRIIB signaling pathway. Examples of such antagonists include ActRIIB polypeptides, anti-ActRIIB antibodies, anti-activin A and/or B antibodies, anti-myostatin antibodies, anti-GDF3 antibodies, and anti-BMP7 antibodies. Also provided are methods for ameliorating one or more undesired effects of anti-androgen therapy, including muscle loss, bone loss, increased adiposity, and/or increased insulin resistance. A variety of disorders may be treated by causing an increase in circulating adiponectin concentrations.
US08138140B2
Amphiphilic peptide compounds comprising one or more epitope sequences for binding interaction with one or more corresponding growth factors, micellar assemblies of such compounds and related methods of use.
US08138135B2
This invention relates to improved powder cleaning compositions and methods for cleaning textile substrates, especially carpet and upholstery fabrics. More particularly, this invention relates to powder cleaning compositions that contain absorbent particulate materials in a flowable form, which dries to a soil ladened powder, that can be removed by vacuum, brushing, and/or laundering methods. The improvement lies in the ability of the composition to remain a flowable powder, while containing a higher water content than previous powder cleaning compositions. The composition comprises an absorbent particulate material, a super absorbent polymer, and other ingredients.
US08138134B2
Quaternized cellulose ethers suitable for personal care products are described.
US08138127B2
The present invention includes a method of treating a hydrocarbon-bearing clastic formation having non-connate water by contacting the hydrocarbon-bearing clastic formation with a composition that includes a solvent and a nonionic fluorinated polymeric surfactant wherein the solvent at least partially displaces or solubilizes the water in the formation.
US08138125B2
A method of providing a substantially constant rheological profile of a drilling fluid over a temperature range of about 120° F. to about 40° F. includes adding a drilling fluid additive to the drilling fluid, wherein the drilling fluid additive includes the reaction product of a carboxylic acid with at least two carboxylic moieties; and a polyamine having an amine functionality of two or more. A composition, such as an oil based drilling fluid, includes the reaction product of a carboxylic acid with at least two carboxylic moieties and a polyamine having an amine functionality of two or more.
US08138117B2
A highly functionalized sorbent and sequential process for making are disclosed. The sorbent includes organic short-length amino silanes and organic oligomeric polyfunctional amino silanes that are dispersed within pores of a porous support that form a 3-dimensional structure containing highly functionalized active binding sites for sorption of analytes.
US08138113B2
This invention relates to catalyst compositions, methods, and polymers encompassing at least one first Group 4 metallocene compound comprising bridging η5-cyclopentadienyl-type ligands, in combination with at least one second Group 4 metallocene with non-bridging η5-cyclopentadienyl-type ligands, typically in combination with at least one cocatalyst, and at least one activator. The compositions and methods disclosed herein provide ethylene polymers with a bimodal molecular weight distribution.
US08138112B2
The present invention provides a method for improving and controlling the activity of Ziegler-Natta catalyst systems.
US08138109B2
Provided is a zirconia-mullite refractory raw material which is less likely to undergo alternation and microstructural degradation under high-temperature conditions, and low in thermal expansion rate, so as to have thermal shock resistance and corrosion resistance. The zirconia-mullite refractory raw material comprises crystalline zirconia and mullite as primary components, with the remainder being corundum and/or a matrix glass, wherein the crystalline zirconia includes a eutectic zirconia crystal having a grain size of 1.0 μm or less, and has a maximum grain size of 30 μm or less, and the matrix glass is contained in an amount of 5 mass % or less. The zirconia-mullite refractory raw material has a chemical composition comprising 30 to 55 mass % of ZrO2, 30 to 55 mass % of Al2O3 and 10 to 25 mass % of SiO2, wherein each of the chemical components falls within a primary phase region of ZrO2 in an Al2O3—ZrO2—SiO2 system phase diagram.
US08138106B2
An odor-inhibiting fiber having a cellulosic fiber and an odor-inhibiting formulation. The odor-inhibiting formulation may contain an odor-inhibiting agent, such as a biocide, an enzyme, a urease inhibitor. The odor-inhibiting formulation also may contain a liquid carrier such as a hydrophobic or hydrophilic organic liquid, or a mixture of a hydrophobic and hydrophilic organic liquid. The cellulosic fiber is impregnated with the odor-inhibiting formulation to produce fiber having odor-inhibiting characteristics. The resultant odor-inhibiting fiber is useful in making absorbent articles with odor-inhibiting characteristics. The fiber of the embodiments prevents odor by inhibiting bacteria growth and ammonia production, especially when used in an absorbent article such as a diaper or adult incontinence device.
US08138103B2
A plasma processing apparatus generates plasma by introducing microwaves into a processing chamber by using a planar antenna having a plurality of slots. By using the plasma processing apparatus, a nitrogen containing gas and a silicon containing gas introduced into the processing chamber are brought into the plasma state, and at the time of depositing by using the plasma a silicon nitride film on the surface of the a substrate to be processed, stress to the silicon nitride film to be formed is controlled by the combination of the type and the processing pressure of the nitrogen containing gas.
US08138098B2
A stacked structure including a soluble organic semiconductor material and a water soluble photosensitive material is provided. The water soluble photosensitive material is disposed on the surface of the soluble organic semiconductor material.
US08138091B2
The invention provides a chemical-mechanical polishing composition comprising a cationic abrasive, a cationic polymer, an inorganic halide salt, and an aqueous carrier. The invention further provides a method of chemically-mechanically polishing a substrate with the aforementioned polishing composition. The polishing composition exhibits selectivity for removal of silicon nitride over removal of silicon oxide and polysilicon.
US08138087B2
An integrated circuit is provided that comprises a substrate of silicon and an interconnect in a through-hole extending from the first to the second side of the substrate. The interconnect is coupled to a metallization layer on the first side of the substrate and is provided on an amorphous silicon layer that is present at a side wall of the through-hole, and particularly at an edge thereof adjacent to the first side of the substrate. The interconnect comprises a metal stack of nickel and silver. A preferred way of forming the amorphous silicon layer is a sputter etching technique.
US08138084B2
Methods and an apparatus are described for an integrated circuit within which an electroless Cu plated layer having an oxygen content is formed on the top of a seed layer comprising Cu and Mn. The integrated circuit is then exposed to a sufficient high temperature to cause the self-formation of a MnSiOx barrier layer.
US08138082B2
A semiconductor device includes an interconnect having electrically conductive portions and a dielectric layer made of a first dielectric material. A trench is formed in the dielectric layer. The exposed portions of the dielectric layer which form the side walls of the trench are removed. A dielectric liner is then deposited on the side walls of the trench, the liner being made of a second dielectric material.
US08138066B2
A method for generating patterned strained regions in a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes directing a light-emitting beam locally onto a surface portion of a semiconductor body; and manipulating a plurality of dislocations located proximate to the surface portion of the semiconductor body utilizing the light-emitting beam, the light-emitting beam being characterized as having a scan speed, so as to produce the patterned strained regions.
US08138062B2
A method for electrically coupling a first wafer with a second wafer is provided. The method includes bonding the first wafer with the second wafer using a bonding material. The method further includes forming an opening in the first wafer in a scribe area of the second wafer to expose a surface of a conductive structure of the second wafer. The method further includes forming a conductive layer overlying the first wafer and the opening in the first wafer such that the conductive layer forms an electrical contact with the conductive structure of the second wafer thereby electrically coupling the first wafer with the second wafer.
US08138058B2
To provide a laser irradiation apparatus which performs alignment of an irradiated object and emits a laser beam precisely, a laser irradiation method, and a manufacturing method of a TFT with high reliability with the use of a method for precisely targeting a desired irradiation position of the laser beam. A substrate with marker is mounted on a stage formed using a material which transmits infrared light; a marker, which is provided in the substrate with marker mounted on the stage, is detected using a camera capable of sensing infrared light, and a position of the stage is controlled; a laser beam is emitted from a laser oscillator; the laser beam emitted from the laser oscillator is processed into a linear shape by an optical system, and the substrate with marker mounted on the stage is irradiated with the laser beam.
US08138055B2
In a method of making a semiconductor device, a first gate stack is formed on a substrate at a pFET region, which includes a first gate electrode material. The source/drain regions of the substrate are etched at the pFET region and the first gate electrode material of the first gate stack is etched at the pFET region. The etching is at least partially selective against etching oxide and/or nitride materials so that the nFET region is shielded by a nitride layer (and/or a first oxide layer) and so that the spacer structure of the pFET region at least partially remains. Source/drain recesses are formed and at least part of the first gate electrode material is removed by the etching to form a gate electrode recess at the pFET region. A SiGe material is epitaxially grown in the source/drain recesses and in the gate electrode recess at the pFET region. The SMT effect is achieved from the same nitride nFETs mask.
US08138051B2
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit system includes: providing a semiconductor substrate having an active region, implanted with impurities of a first type at a first concentration; forming an isolation region around the active region; forming a parasitic transistor by applying a gate electrode, implanted with impurities of a second type at a second concentration, over the active region and the isolation region; and applying an isolation edge implant, with the impurities of the first type at a third concentration greater than or equal to the second concentration, for suppressing the parasitic transistor.
US08138049B2
Methods of making, structures, devices, and/or applications for lateral double-diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) transistors are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of fabricating an LDMOS transistor with source, drain, and gate regions on a substrate, can include: forming p-type and n-type buried layer (PBL, NBL) regions; growing an epitaxial (N-EPI) layer on the NBL/PBL regions; forming a p-doped deep p-well (DPW) region on the PBL region; forming a well region in the N-EPI layer; forming a doped body region; after the doped body region formation, forming an active area and a field oxide (FOX) region, and forming a drain oxide between the source and drain regions of the LDMOS transistor; after the doped body region formation, forming a gate oxide adjacent to the source and drain regions, and forming a gate on the gate oxide and a portion of the drain oxide; and forming a doped drain region, and first and second doped source regions.
US08138046B2
The invention relates to a process for fabricating a vertical transistor structure. On a substrate (10), is a first conductive layer (11), providing the source or drain electrode function, and an upper conductive layer (17), providing the drain or source electrode function. The production of a membrane includes a stack of porous layers including a first insulating layer (20), a second conductive layer (12), providing the gate electrode function, and an upper insulating layer (13′) on the surface of the substrate covered with the first conductive layer (11) providing the drain or source electrode function. The porous layers having substantially stacked pores. The production of filaments made of a semiconductor material is inside some of the stacked pores of the porous layers. The production of the upper conductive layer provides the source or drain electrode function on the surface of the stack of porous layers filled with filaments made of semiconductor material.
US08138043B2
A method of manufacturing a non-volatile semiconductor memory device including previously forming a recess in a first peripheral region on a semiconductor substrate, forming a first gate insulator having a first thickness in the recess, forming a second gate insulator having a second thickness less than the first thickness in an array region and a second peripheral region on the semiconductor substrate, successively depositing first and second gate electrode films and first and second mask insulators on each of the first and second gate insulators, forming an isolation trench on a surface of the semiconductor substrate to correspond to each position between the array region and the first and second regions of the peripheral region, depositing a buried insulator on the entire surface, and polishing an upper surface of the buried insulator so that the upper surface can be planarized.
US08138042B2
A capacitor includes a substrate (110, 210), a first electrically insulating layer (120, 220) over the substrate, and a fin (130, 231) including a semiconducting material (135) over the first electrically insulating layer. A first electrically conducting layer (140, 810) is located over the first electrically insulating layer and adjacent to the fin. A second electrically insulating layer (150, 910) is located adjacent to the first electrically conducting layer, and a second electrically conducting layer (160, 1010) is located adjacent to the second electrically insulating layer. The first and second electrically conducting layers together with the second electrically insulating layer form a metal-insulator-metal stack that greatly increases the capacitance area of the capacitor. In one embodiment the capacitor is formed using what may be referred to as a removable metal gate (RMG) approach.
US08138030B2
A method for forming a fin field effect transistor (finFET) device includes, forming a fin structure in a substrate, forming a gate stack structure perpendicular to the fin structure, and implanting ions in the substrate at an angle (θ) to form a source region and a drain region in the substrate, wherein the angle (θ) is oblique relative to the source region.
US08138023B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of (a) preparing a wafer including a first circuit formation region and a first surrounding region, (b) laminating a first chip on the first circuit formation region, (c) pouring a first underfill into a first space between the first circuit formation region and the first chip from the first surrounding region, (d) hardening the first underfill, (e) forming a laminated structure comprised of a first chip block that includes a second chip including the first circuit formation region, the first chip, and the first underfill by conducting dicing with respect to the wafer; and (f) laminating the laminated structure on a substrate.
US08138016B2
Methods for integrating quartz-based resonators with electronics on a large area wafer through direct pick-and-place and flip-chip bonding or wafer-to-wafer bonding using handle wafers are described. The resulting combination of quartz-based resonators and large area electronics wafer solves the problem of the quartz-electronics substrate diameter mismatch and enables the integration of arrays of quartz devices of different frequencies with the same electronics.
US08138013B2
A method for forming a photodiode is provided. The method comprises: providing a region of semiconductor material having a first surface and a second surface; coupling a first conductive layer to the first surface of the semiconductor material; and coupling a second conductive surface to the second surface of the semiconductor material to form a photodiode, the second conductive surface comprising a metal surface having a two-dimensional periodic array of openings therethrough, wherein the photodiode is configured to be operated such that light is incident on the second conductive surface. A method for reducing the required thickness of a photodiode is also provided.
US08138004B2
A manufacturing method of a photoelectric conversion device includes the following steps: forming a first electrode over a substrate; and, over the first electrode, forming a photoelectric conversion layer that includes a first conductive layer having one conductivity, a second semiconductor layer, and a third semiconductor layer having a conductivity opposite to the one conductivity of the second semiconductor layer over the first electrode. The manufacturing method further includes the step of removing a part of the second semiconductor layer and a part of the third semiconductor layer in a region of the photoelectric conversion layer so that the third semiconductor layer does not overlap the first electrode.
US08137997B2
A system for imprint lithography, which includes a substrate, a patterned mask, an imprint applying unit that imprints, via the patterned mask, a pattern into a resist layer on the substrate, and an overlay device that overlays a cladding layer over the substrate.
US08137993B2
The present invention is directed to a method of identifying patients to be treated by dopamine agonist therapy comprising the step of analyzing a plasma or urine sample from said patient for concentrations of norepinephrine (NE), norepinephrine metabolites (NE metabolites), dopamine, dopamine metabolites, serotonin, serotonin metabolites, or fasting triglycerides, wherein one or more of: (a) NE metabolites, (b) NE/NE metabolites: dopamine/dopamine metabolites, (c) NE and serotonin, (d) NE/NE metabolites and serotonin, (e) NE and serotonin metabolites, (f) NE/NE metabolites and serotonin metabolites, or (g) NE is/are greater than about 30% over normal level; or dopamine/dopamine metabolites are less than about 30% below normal; or fasting triglycerides are greater than about 150 mg/dl and/or said patient has hypertension. The present invention is also directed to treating identified patients with dopamine agonist therapy.
US08137991B2
The present invention pertains to methods of inhibiting angiogenesis in an individual in need thereof comprising administering to the individual an agent that inhibits one or more CEP protein adducts wherein the angiogenesis is the result of oxidative peptide modification of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the individual, and administration of the agent inhibits angiogenesis in the individual. In one embodiment, the invention is directed to methods of inhibiting ocular angiogenesis in an individual in need thereof comprising administering to the individual an agent that inhibits the angiogenic activity of one or more CEP protein adducts wherein administration of the. agent inhibits ocular angiogenesis in the individual. In another embodiment, the invention is directed to methods of inhibiting choroidal neovascularization in an individual in need thereof comprising administering to the individual an agent that inhibits the angiogenic activity of one or more CEP protein adducts wherein administration of the agent inhibits choroidal neovascularization in the individual.
US08137985B2
A flow-through assay for detecting the quantity of an analyte residing in a test sample is provided. The flow-through assay contains a porous membrane that is in fluid communication with probe conjugates that contain a specific binding member and a detectable probe. The porous membrane also defines a detection zone and a calibration zone. The calibration zone contains a polyelectrolyte substantially non-diffusively immobilized on the porous membrane. The polyelectrolyte is capable of generating a detectable calibration signal that can be readily compared (visually, quantitatively, and the like) to a detection signal to determine the amount of analyte in the test sample.
US08137979B2
Improved preconcentrators, particularly MEMs scale preconcentrators which possess a coating comprising polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs). There is further provided devices comprising the preconcentrator, and methods of preparation and use. There is particular benefit directed to the use of a MEMs scale heater coated with the PIMs for use in hand-held or field portable chemical detection devices. The polymer of intrinsic microporosity comprises a polymer, with a monomer repeat unit of Formula I wherein A is one or more optionally substituted aryl, heterocyclic, cycloalkyl or bicycloalkyl rings, π is greater than 5, preferably 5 to 10000, and X may be selected from CH, CH2, O, S, N or NH.
US08137976B2
In one example, a method of examining contents of an object is disclosed comprising scanning an object by first and second radiation beams at at least first and second angles, detecting radiation at the first and second angles, and determining whether the object at least potentially comprises high atomic number material, which may be nuclear material or shielding material, based, at least in part, on the detected radiation. In one example, the detected radiation at both angles must be indicative of a region of high atomic number material by the presence of corresponding high density regions, in order for it to be concluded that high atomic number material that may be nuclear material may be present. The determination may be further based on the size of a high density region in one of the images. Systems are also disclosed.
US08137971B2
Motor neuron progenitor (MNP) cells and populations of MNP cells, are provided, in particular, populations of human late stage MNP cells having a purity of greater than about 65% late stage MNP cells and high-purity populations of MNP cells having greater than 95% viable cells, as well as method of making and using the same, including deriving late stage MNP cells from pluripotent embryonic stem cells, producing high-purity populations of late stage MNP cells, producing populations of viable MNP cells, transporting viable MNP cells, and transplanting MNP cells.
US08137961B2
The present invention provides nucleic acid molecules and sequences, particularly those identified and obtained from plants, that are useful for transferring and integrating one polynucleotide into another via plant transformation techniques.
US08137955B2
According to one embodiment, a method for heat treatment of a biomass includes allowing biomass in a pretreatment reactor to undergo a pre-treatment reaction process. The pre-treatment reaction process yields pretreated biomass along with soluble components. A first liquid having a first temperature is transported into the pretreatment reactor and the pretreated biomass elevates the first temperature to a second temperature. At least a portion of the soluble components are captured in the first liquid, and the at least a portion of the soluble components in the first liquid and the first liquid are removed from the pretreatment reactor. A second liquid having a third temperature is transported into the pretreatment reactor and the pretreated biomass elevates the third temperature to a fourth temperature, the fourth temperature being less than second temperature.
US08137954B2
Methods and materials are provided for the production of compositions of erythropoietin protein, wherein said compositions comprise a pre-selected N-linked glycosylation pattern as the predominant N-glycoform.
US08137952B2
The present invention relates to the Lactobacillus genus that have the ability to survive in high temperature environments. These thermostable microorganisms have the ability to produce viable antibacterial agents in different food products after heat 5 treatment. The thermostable microorganisms of the Lactobacillus genus may be included in food products that demand high temperature. A further object of the present invention is the ability of a food product comprising the thermostable microorganisms of the Lactobacillus genus for promoting immunotolerance in autoimmune diseases such as coeliac disease. Furthermore, two novel strains of lactobacillus 10 genus are disclosed, Lactobacillus plantarum LB3e and Lactobacillus plantarum LB7c deposited at Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zeelkulturen, which have been assigned accession number 17852 and 17853 respectively.
US08137951B2
The present invention relates to methods for producing a hyaluronic acid, comprising: (a) cultivating a Bacillus host cell under conditions suitable for production of the hyaluronic acid, wherein the Bacillus host cell comprises a nucleic acid construct comprising a hyaluronan synthase encoding sequence operably linked to a promoter sequence foreign to the hyaluronan synthase encoding sequence; and (b) recovering the hyaluronic acid from the cultivation medium. The present invention also relates to an isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding a hyaluronan synthase operon comprising a hyaluronan synthase gene and a UDP-glucose 6-dehydrogenase gene, and optionally one or more genes selected from the group consisting of a UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase gene, UDP-N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase gene, and glucose-6-phosphate isomerase gene. The present invention also relates to isolated nucleic acid sequences encoding a UDP-glucose 6-dehydrogenase, UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase, and UDP-N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase.
US08137949B2
Methods, enzymes, recombinant microorganism, and microbial systems are provided for converting suitable monosaccharides or oligosaccharides, such as those derived from biomass, as well as various aldehydes and/or ketones, into commodity chemicals, such as biofuels. Commodity chemicals produced by the methods described herein are also provided. Commodity chemical enriched, refinery-produced petroleum products are also provided, as well as methods for producing the same.
US08137948B2
Methods for separating AAV empty capsids from mixtures of AAV vector particles and AAV empty capsids are described. The methods use column chromatography techniques and provide for commercially viable levels of recombinant AAV virions.
US08137941B2
A chondroitin polymerase having such properties that it transfers GlcUA and GalNAc alternately to a non-reduced terminal of a sugar chain from a GlcUA donor and a GalNAc donor, respectively, and the like; and a process for producing the chondroitin polymerase.
US08137929B2
The invention is related to a method for purification of recombinant proteins using highly basic proteins from thermophilic bacteria as purification tags for use in a cation-exchange chromatography purification step. The basic proteins may be ribosomal proteins. The recombinant proteins are expressed in eukaryotic or prokaryotic host cells. The purification tag will typically have a pl above about 9 and comprise from about 15 to about 250 amino acid residues.
US08137923B2
The invention provides isolated nucleic acid molecules and polypeptide molecules that encode glycoprotein VI, a platelet membrane glycoprotein that is involved platelet-collagen interactions. The invention also provides antisense nucleic acid molecules, expression vectors containing the nucleic acid molecules of the invention, host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced, and non-human transgenic animals in which a nucleic acid molecule of the invention has been introduced or disrupted. The invention still further provides isolated polypeptides, fusion polypeptides, antigenic peptides and antibodies. Diagnostic, screening and therapeutic methods utilizing compositions of the invention are also provided.
US08137921B2
The present invention concerns a fluorescence resonance energy transfer based high throughput test system to measure the formation of the RSV F1 six-helix bundle. In a first embodiment the current invention relates to a homogeneous time resolved fluorescence-based test system comprising a first helical polypeptide consisting essentially of the sequence of IQN57 (SEQ ID NO: 1); a second helical polypeptide consisting essentially of the sequence of C45 (SEQ ID NO: 2) wherein said IQN57 is labeled with a light emitting fluorophore and said C45 is labeled with an ultra-violet excitable fluorophore.
US08137917B2
The invention relates to certain novel approaches to reducing or eliminating the movement of contaminants from one droplet to another on a droplet actuator via liquid filler fluid. In one application, droplet actuators are used to conduct genetic analysis using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. The invention addresses the need for improved methods of performing PCR on a droplet actuator that provide for optimum amplification and detection of a sample target.
US08137912B2
The present invention relates to methods for detecting, enriching, and analyzing rare cells that are present in the blood, e.g. fetal cells. The invention further features methods of analyzing rare cell(s) to determine the presence of an abnormality, disease or condition in a subject, e.g. a fetus by analyzing a cellular sample from the subject.
US08137900B2
An electrophoretic display device includes a multiplicity of individual reservoirs containing a display medium between conductive substrates, at least one of which is transparent, wherein the display medium includes one or more set of colored particles in a dielectric fluid, and wherein the multiplicity of individual reservoirs are defined by a unitary grid whose walls segregate the reservoirs. The gird may be formed via photolithography or from a master stamp derived from a mold of the grid pattern.
US08137899B1
The invention relates to a data carrier with an optically variable structure having an embossed structure and a coating contrasting with the surface of the data carrier. The embossed structure and the coating are so combined that at least parts of the coating are completely visible upon perpendicular viewing but concealed upon oblique viewing so that a tilt effect arises upon alternate perpendicular and oblique viewing. The coating is executed uniformly and the embossed structure is divided into partial areas where different partial embossed structures are provided.
US08137897B2
On-press development of an imaged printing plate on a plate cylinder, in which ink is applied by an ink form roll, a blanket roll is in contact with the plate, a rubber roll is opposed to the blanket roll, and printable media passes between the blanket roll and the rubber roll. The plate comprises a substrate carrying an imaged coating, in which nonimage areas have cohesion C1, adhesion to the substrate A1, and adhesion to the applied ink A3 and image areas have cohesion C2, adhesion to the substrate A2, and adhesion to the applied ink A4. The ink has cohesion C3 and adhesion A5 to the blanket roll. The nonimage areas have adhesion A6 to the printable medium and the ink has adhesion A7 to the medium. The adhesions and cohesions are such that the blanket roll pulls the ink from the plate and the ink pulls the nonimage areas from the substrate as undissolved particles that are transferred by the blanket with the ink to the printable media.
US08137895B2
An anti-reflective coating comprises a plurality of main backbone chains, and at least one long free polymer chain coupled to at least one of the plurality of main backbone chains.
US08137889B2
Disclosed is a solvent for printing which comprises a first solvent selected from the group consisting of acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, methanol and mixtures thereof, and a second solvent selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (PGMEA), propylene glycol monomethyl ether (PGME), isopropanol, butyl acetate, ethyl-3-ethoxypropionate and mixtures thereof. Further disclosed are a pattern composition for printing comprising the solvent for printing, and a patterning method using the composition. The use of the solvent for printing enables formation of an accurate pattern.
US08137888B2
A method for the preparation of shaped polymeric particles, and in a particular embodiment shaped electrostatographic toner particles, of controlled morphology including the following steps. A selected solvent or solvent mixture is used to dissolve a polyester polymer material to form an organic phase, wherein the polyester material is formed from at least one diol and at least one multicarboxylic aromatic acid and has a solubility parameter of greater than 9.0 (cal/cm3)1/2, the selected solvent or solvent mixture includes at least a first solvent having a solubility parameter of less than 9.0 (cal/cm3)1/2, and the difference in solubility parameters for the polyester material and the at least first solvent is between 1.0 and 3.0 (cal/cm3)1/2. The organic phase is dispersed in an aqueous phase containing a particulate stabilizer to form a dispersion, which is then homogenized. The organic solvent is evaporated from the dispersion to form shaped polymeric particles, and the resultant product is recovered, washed and dried.
US08137880B2
The present disclosure provides blue toners and methods for their production. In embodiments, methods of the present disclosure include systems which may be utilized to predict the color properties of a blue toner, thereby permitting adjustment of the pigment loading and/or toner mass per unit area.
US08137876B2
An electrophotographic photoreceptor which is excellent in wear resistance and crack resistance and has a long photoreceptor lifetime can be produced by using a polycarbonate resin composition prepared by blending 100 parts by weight of a polycarbonate resin with 0.01 to 5 parts by weight of a silicone-modified polyurethane obtained by reacting (a) a diol component represented by the general formula (I) with (b) an active hydrogen containing polysiloxane compound, (c) a polyisocyanate component and, if necessary, (d) a chain extender as the material for the backing film of a photoreceptor belt. [Chemical formula 1](I) wherein R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen or alkyl; R3 is hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, halogeno or alkoxycarbonyl; M is a single bond, substituted or unsubstituted alkylene, or oxyalkylene; and n is an integer of 0 to 4.
US08137869B2
A method for manufacturing and/or protecting an optical element, wherein the optical element has at least one surface comprising a profile having height differences, thereby providing cavities and elevations having a predetermined maximum height difference, includes providing a transmissive layer in the cavities and on the elevations of the optical elements, the transmissive layer having a first height in the cavities that is larger than the predetermined maximum height difference, and surfacing the transmissive layer after providing the transmissive layer such that the transmissive layer has a second height on the elevations that is substantially zero or larger, thereby providing a transmissive layer with a substantially planar surface.
US08137863B2
Even if reaction gas flows into a substantially rectangular anode-side and cathode-side gaps formed between an annular main body portion and a membrane electrode assembly in an anode side and a cathode side of a fuel cell, the reaction gas is prevented from flowing out from an outlet without passing through an electrode to cause degradation of power generation efficiency. At least one of anode-side gasket and cathode-side gasket in the fuel cell is provided with an extra sealing portion connected to an annular main body portion in such a manner that, among two pairs of gap portions opposing to each other in the anode-side gap and the cathode-side gap, the extra sealing portion intersects with one pair of gap portions having a larger pressure gradient of fuel gas and oxidant gas in a direction from an upstream side to a downstream side of a fuel gas flow channel and an oxidant gas flow channel.
US08137859B2
A membrane-electrode assembly for a fuel cell including an anode and a cathode disposed to face each other and a polymer electrolyte membrane disposed therebetween. The anode and the cathode include a conductive electrode substrate and a catalyst layer formed thereon. The catalyst layer includes ion conductive polymer particles and a catalytic metal. The resulting membrane-electrode assembly has an increased driving voltage.
US08137844B2
A method for manufacturing a cathode active material for a lithium rechargeable battery, including: selecting a first metal compound from a group consisting of a halide, a phosphate, a hydrogen phosphate and a sulfate of Mg or Al; selecting a second metal compound from a group consisting of an oxide, a hydroxide and a carbonate of Mg or Al; combining the first metal compound and the second metal compound to obtain a metal compound, the metal compound containing either Mg or Al atoms; mixing a lithium compound, a transition metal compound and the metal compound to obtain a mixture; and sintering the mixture.
US08137839B2
An electrode alloy powder includes a hydrogen storage alloy and magnetic material clusters. The hydrogen storage alloy contains 20 to 70 wt % of Ni. The magnetic material clusters contain metal nickel, and have an average cluster size of 8 to 10 nm. A method for producing the electrode alloy powder includes an activation step of allowing a raw material powder including a hydrogen storage alloy to be in contact with an aqueous solution containing A wt % of sodium hydroxide and held at 100° C. or greater for B minutes. A and B satisfy 2410≦A×B≦2800.
US08137834B2
An electrical cell for the propulsion of a device in an aquatic medium includes a first, second and third chamber forming a housing. The first chamber has an auxiliary electrical cell and a command and control module for the electrical propulsion cell, the second chamber a main electrical cell and members for the controlled admission and regulation of water flow from the aquatic medium in order to form an activation electrolyte for the main cell, and the third chamber a module for triggering the admission by suction of water and the discharge by escape of effluents from an admission valve and an escape valve. The command and control module activates the auxiliary electrical cell to generate electrical energy temporarily and the admission by suction of water from the aquatic medium and the discharge of effluents in order to produce electrical energy from the main electrical cell during a cruise phase.
US08137831B1
A flow battery and method of operating a flow battery. The flow battery includes a first electrode, a second electrode and a reaction zone located between the first electrode and the second electrode. The flow battery is configured with a first electrolyte flow configuration in charge mode and a second flow configuration in discharge mode. The first electrolyte flow configuration is at least partially different from the second electrolyte flow configuration.
US08137825B2
In a method of manufacturing an aluminum nitride single crystal film on a substrate by heating a sapphire substrate in the presence of carbon, nitrogen and carbon monoxide, an aluminum compound which differs from the raw material sapphire substrate and the formed aluminum nitride single crystal and can control the concentration of aluminum in the heating atmosphere, such as aluminum nitride or alumina, is made existent in a reaction system to promote a reduction nitriding reaction.An aluminum nitride single crystal multi-layer substrate having an aluminum nitride single crystal film on the surface of a sapphire substrate, wherein the aluminum nitride single crystal has improved crystallinity and a low density of defects, is provided.
US08137811B2
Taggant fibers and methods of use provide for enhanced protection and security when the fibers are used in documents such as land titles, currency, passports and other documents of value. The taggant fibers consist of a minimum of two separate zones with each zone containing a different taggant to emit different wave lengths when excited. The taggants may consist of organic or inorganic compounds as are conventionally known and can be manufactured using for example polymeric materials which can be extruded during the fiber manufacturing process. Authentication of the fibers or documents containing such fibers can be readily viewed using conventional techniques.
US08137807B2
Pressure-sensitive adhesives are prepared from (meth)acrylate esters of 2-alkyl alkanols. The adhesives are characterized by exhibiting an overall balance of adhesive and cohesive characteristics and exceptional adhesion to low surface energy substrates.
US08137804B2
An electrocoating composition and a coating formed from the composition, where the electrocoating composition comprises an epoxy-functional compound, an isocyanate-functional compound, a polyethylene wax, and aluminum oxide.
US08137800B2
A porous hollow fiber membrane which has high blocking performance and high water permeability suitable for filtration and the like and exhibits excellent strength, and a process for stably producing the porous hollow fiber membrane are disclosed. The process utilizes a hollow fiber molding nozzle having two or more circular discharge ports which are disposed concentrically. Multilayer melt-extrusion is performed by discharging molten mixtures which include a thermoplastic resin and an organic liquid and differ in composition from the adjacent discharge ports. The resulting product is cooled to solidify to obtain a hollow fiber. The organic liquid is then removed from the hollow fiber by extraction to produce a porous hollow fiber membrane. The molten mixture discharged from at least one circular discharge port includes an inorganic fine powder in addition to the thermoplastic resin and the organic liquid. The inorganic fine powder is removed by extraction after cooling in addition to the organic liquid.
US08137793B2
An active energy ray-curable ink composition having excellent adhesiveness to various base materials and satisfactory ejection stability is provided. An active energy ray-curable inkjet ink composition comprising polymerizable monomers, the polymerizable monomers comprising 60 to 98% by weight of monofunctional monomers, the monofunctional monomers comprising 25 to 65% by weight of isobornyl acrylate and 12.5 to 69% by weight of N-vinyl caprolactam based on the total amount of the polymerizable monomers.
US08137791B2
A structure and method of forming the structure. At least one copper wire is formed within a first dielectric layer of a substrate. The top surface of each copper wire and of the first dielectric layer are essentially coplanar. A recess is formed in the first dielectric layer from the top surface of each copper wire to a recess depth less than a thickness of each copper wire within the first dielectric layer such that the recess surrounds a perimeter surface of each copper wire. A capping layer, which is a copper diffusion barrier, is formed in the recess and on the top surface of each copper wire and on the first dielectric layer. A second dielectric layer is formed on the capping layer. The recess depth has a magnitude sufficient to prevent a lateral fail of the capping layer during packaging and/or operation of the substrate.
US08137781B2
An information sheet is held between an adhesive sheet and an adherend, and is partitioned into a first and second sheet portion by a first perforated-line. When the second sheet portion is folded at the first perforated-line position and overlapped on the first sheet portion, the edge portion side of the first sheet portion is protruded a predetermined amount out of the edge border of the second sheet portion to form an adhesive margin. The adhesive margin and a contra mating surface of the second sheet portion are stuck to an adhesive layer of the adhesive sheet. Respective surfaces on the mating side of the first and second sheet portions are printed with confidential information capable of being cut off along the first and second perforated-lines.
US08137777B2
The present invention relates to a catheter device having a dilatation balloon formed from a polymeric material crosslinked by moisture through —Si—O—Si— linkages, and to a method of making the same. The polymeric material is formed by reacting at least one organofunctional hydrolyzable silane with at least one polymer. The crosslinked polymeric structure is ideal for forming more resilient and durable catheter balloons. In particular, the catheter balloons have excellent abrasion resistance.
US08137766B2
A homeotropic alignment liquid crystal film is provided with a liquid crystalline substance containing a side chain liquid crystalline compound having an oxetanyl group, as a constituent, aligned homeotropically on an alignment substrate while being in a liquid crystal state and fixed in the homeotropic alignment by allowing the oxetanyl group to react. Thus, the homeotropic alignment liquid crystal film can be stably produced without necessitating a complicated step such as light irradiation under an inert gas atmosphere and is excellent in alignment retainability after being fixed in the homeotropic alignment and in mechanical strength.
US08137746B2
This invention is directed to a process for making solid, typically particulate, water-swellable material comprising coated water-swellable, preferably hydrogel-forming polymers, which are coated with a coating agent, which is such that it does not rupture when the polymers swell in a liquid, e.g., water or saline water. Hereto, the coating agent is extensible in wet state and comprises thereto a wet-extensible material that has a tensile stress at break in the wet state of at least 1 MPa. Typically, the coating agent comprises thereto an elastomeric polymeric material. The invention also relates to solid (particulate) water-swellable material obtainable by the process of the invention.
US08137741B2
A system for fabricating a fuel cell component in which a deposition mechanism deposits loading material particles onto the fuel cell component and an actuation mechanism actuates the deposition mechanism. A unit provides a tape fixing agent to the fuel cell component and loaded material particles so as to retain the particles on the fuel cell component. Other fuel components are retained to the fuel cell component also using a tape fixing agent.
US08137734B2
The present invention is directed to a method of preparing an extended release pharmaceutical composition comprising cyclobenzaprine, comprising coating inert particles with a cyclobenzaprine-containing a drug layering composition to form IR beads, then coating the IR beads with an extended-release coating to form ER beads.
US08137731B2
The invention relates to a pet's chew prepared from natural materials of renewable sources. The chew is both edible and biodegradable, and is furthermore both tough, flexible and dimensionally stable, and maintains these characteristics over a much longer time than chew known in the art.
US08137715B2
The use of dill oil or a mixture of two or more components thereof as a potentiator for a pesticide, such as an insecticide and in particular a pyrethroid is described, together with compositions containing dill oil, and their use in agriculture and in veterinary applications.
US08137711B2
Methods and compositions for the topical or transdermal treatment of neuropathy. More particularly, transdermal or topical compositions including a combination of ingredients that provide a surprising degree of effective relief from the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy and methods for administering the compositions to treat various neuropathies.
US08137703B2
The present invention relates to an ozone water that has the potential to find useful applications in a wide variety of technical fields and is capable of maintaining the effects of wiping out microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and the like and inhibiting the growth thereof over long periods.The present invention provides ozone nano-bubbles capable of staying in a solution for an extended period of time and a method for producing the ozone nano-bubbles by instantaneously shrinking the diameters of ozone microbubbles contained in an aqueous solution by the application of a physical irritation to the ozone microbubbles in an aqueous solution.
US08137699B2
This invention discloses a process for making nanopanticles of amphiphilic copolymers by flash precipitation. Nanoparticles may be of amphiphilic copolymer alone or may contain an additive target molecule, preferably an organic active. The inclusion of additive target molecules in amphiphilic copolymer nanoparticles can alter their water solubility characteristics, fluid dynamics, and/or stability. Changing an additive target molecule's solubility and stability in an nanoparticle can make a water insoluble compound suitable for pharmaceutical administration as well as specifically target the molecule to a specific area of a patient's body. The process affords the production of nanoparticles at high absolute active content, at high yield, high productivity, and high processing rates while using unusually low amounts of amphiphilic copolymers. Furthermore, the resulting particles exhibit sufficient stability for post processing as desired. The invention also discloses two apparatuses for the production of nanoparticles of amphiphilic copolymers by flash precipitation.
US08137690B2
The teachings provided herein generally relate to formulations, systems, and methods that have the ability to remit deficiencies and imbalances in a subject's serotonin and dopamine levels. The teachings relate to the preparation and uses of a formulation comprising a serotonergic agent or dopaminergic agent in a form capable of oral transmucosal delivery to a subject. The formulation includes a flavoring agent and a carrier base. The flavoring agent functions as a taste indicator of the endpoint of a taste titration of the serotonergic or dopaminergic agent for a subject receiving an oral administration of the formulation in the form of a taste titration, and the endpoint is indicated to the subject by a change in the intensity of the flavor of the flavoring agent.
US08137689B1
A transplant/implant device for delivering at least one predetermined biologically active compound to a human or animal host system or for another biological function in the host system is produced by genetically engineering vital chondrocytes or mixing chondrocytes with another type of native or genetically engineered cells or mixing chondrocytes with artificial particles having a size comparable to the size of cells or combining at least two of the named steps of engineering or mixing and by subjecting the chondrocytes or the mixture comprising the chondrocytes to three dimensional culture conditions for in vitro production of cartilaginous tissue whereby the cells and/or the artificial particles are immobilized in the cartilaginous tissue. The chondrocytes produce and maintain the cartilaginous tissue and the chondrocytes themselves or cells of another cell type immobilized in the cartilaginous tissue are able to produce and secrete the at least one predetermined compound.
US08137686B2
A biocompatible meniscal repair device is disclosed. The tissue repair device includes a scaffold adapted to be placed in contact with a defect in a meniscus, the scaffold comprising a high-density, dry laid nonwoven polymeric material and a biocompatible foam. The scaffold provides increased suture pull-out strength.
US08137683B2
The present invention relates to a process of a dispersion of an active substance or composition in a aqueous phase which comprises dispersing in an aqueous phase a solution of such substance or composition in dimethylether or in a C4-hydrocarbon or mixtures thereof in super- or nearcritical state, decompressing the mixture and separating the dispersion from the gaseous solvent.
US08137681B2
The present invention relates to the field of vaccines, and in particular vaccines comprising antigens of low isoelectric point at pH 7.0, in particular the capsular polysaccharide or oligosaccharide of H. influenzae B (PRP). Immunogenic compositions and methods of making such compositions are presented in which the PRP is surprisingly protected from immune interference by adding a polyanionic polymer (such as PLG—poly-L-glutamic acid) to the composition.
US08137680B2
The invention is based on methods that allow analysis of mixed meningococcal saccharides from multiple serogroups even though they share monosaccharide units. With a combination of saccharides from serogroups C, W135 and Y, the invention analyses sialic acid, glucose and galactose content. The glucose and galactose results are used to directly quantify saccharides from serogroups Y and W135, respectively, and the combined glucose and galactose content is subtracted from the sialic acid content to quantify saccharides from serogroup C. The three serogroups can thus be resolved even though their monosaccharide contents overlap. The three different monosaccharide analyses can be performed on the same material, without interference between the monosaccharides and without interference from any other saccharide materials in the composition (e.g. lyophilisation stabilisers). The method can be used to analyse total and free saccharide in conjugate vaccines and simplifies quality control of vaccines containing capsular saccharides from multiple serogroups.
US08137666B2
A method of dissolving or disrupting pre-formed or pre-deposited amyloid fibrils and/or inhibiting amyloid formation, deposition, accumulation, or persistence in Alzheimer's disease, prion diseases and/or other amyloidoses in a mammalian subject is disclosed. In the method a therapeutically effective amount of nattokinase is administered.
US08137663B2
A method of treating a human subject with cancer is disclosed. A pharmaceutical composition is administered to the subject, the pharmaceutical composition comprising human leukocytes and a replication-competent oncolytic virus in suspension in a physiologically acceptable solution. Alternatively the pharmaceutical composition comprises human leukocytes or platelets infected with an oncolytic virus.
US08137645B2
A method of recovering a rare earth constituent from a phosphor is presented. The method can include a number of steps (a) to (d). In step (a), the phosphor is fired with an alkali material under conditions sufficient to decompose the phosphor into a mixture of oxides. A residue containing rare earth oxides is extracted from the mixture in step (b). In step (c), the residue is treated to obtain a solution, which comprises rare earth constituents in salt form. Rare earth constituents are separated from the solution in step (d).
US08137640B2
Invention methods employ the use of acoustic waves to transfer small amounts of fluid in a non-contact manner. In invention methods, acoustic waves are propagated through a separated pool of a source fluid in such a manner that causes the ejection of a single micro-droplet from the surface of the pool. The droplet is ejected towards a target with sufficient force to provide for contact of the droplet with the target. Because the fluid is not contacted by any fluid transfer device such as a pipette, the opportunities for contamination are minimized. Invention methods may be employed to transfer fluids from an array of source sites to an array of target sites, thereby enabling the precision automation of a wide variety of procedures including screening, and synthesis procedures commonly used in biotechnology.
US08137639B2
A method may include collecting at least one analyte from within a body, ejecting the collected at least one analyte from the body through at least one dermal layer of the body, and receiving the ejected at least one analyte outside the body. A system may include a means for collecting at least one analyte from within a body, a means for ejecting the collected at least one analyte from the body through at least one dermal layer of the body, and a means for receiving the ejected at least one analyte outside the body.
US08137637B2
A particulate filter includes first and second honeycomb substrates. An outlet face of a first substrate is positioned against an inlet face of a second substrate such that channels extending longitudinally through the substrates are aligned to form continuous channels. A continuous skin is joined to each of the substrates to form a unified substrate. A portion of the continuous channels are selectively plugged to form a wall flow filter.
US08137636B2
A catalyst composition for facilitating the oxidation of soot from diesel engine exhaust is provided. The catalyst composition includes a catalytic metal selected from Pt, Pd, Pt—Pd, Ag, or combinations thereof, an active metal oxide component containing Cu and La, and a support selected from alumina, silica, zirconia, or combinations thereof. The platinum group metal loading of the composition is less than about 20 g/ft3. The catalyst composition may be provided on a diesel particulate filter by impregnating the filter with an alumina, silica or zirconia sol solution modified with glycerol and/or saccharose, impregnating the filter with a stabilizing solution, and impregnating the filter with a solution containing the active metal oxide precursor(s) and the catalytic metal precursor(s). The resulting catalyst coated diesel particulate filter provides effective soot oxidation, exhibits good thermal stability, has a high BET surface area, and exhibits minimal backpressure.
US08137622B2
A device for biochip hybridization or washing is provided, which comprises a carousel (12), a translational movement controller, a revolving movement controller, and optionally a heating chamber (13). The revolving movement controller controls the revolving movement of the carousel and allows it to move in a wobbling fashion, allowing liquid movement of the hybridization or washing boxes (11) during hybridization and/or washing of biochips on the carousel. The translational movement controller brings the carousel back to horizontal position once the revolving movement controller stops, thereby ensures that the liquid do not spill out. The heating chamber circulates hot air within the device, thereby ensures that the hybridization and washing in a thermostatic condition.
US08137618B2
A blood glucose monitoring kit includes a case constructed in the form of a bi-fold wallet which comprises an upper flap and a lower flap that are connected together through a fold. The case includes an outer layer constructed out of a water resistant and soft fabric and an inner layer constructed out of a water resistant material, the outer and inner layers being sewn together about their peripheries. A layer of cushioned material is preferably disposed between the inner and outer layers to provide the case with a soft feel. Blood glucose monitoring electronics are preferably integrated directly into the upper flap of the case, the electronics including a printed circuit board (PCB), a test port mounted on the PCB and a display mounted on the PCB. Preferably, the upper flap is provided with an opening through which the test port is externally accessible. Additionally, the upper flap is provided with a window through which the display is externally visible. A pouch is secured onto the inner surface of the lower flap and is sized and shaped to retain a plurality of disposable test components.
US08137612B2
The present invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing stoichiometric Mg2Ni compound applicable to industry and capable of manufacturing continuously. The apparatus mainly comprises: a vacuum chamber, comprising a material feeding tube; a first crucible, set in the vacuum chamber; a heating device, set on the first crucible; a stirring device, set in the vacuum chamber, and above the first crucible; and a second crucible, set in the vacuum chamber, and on one side of the first crucible. Through this apparatus, a stoichiometric γ-phase Mg2Ni hydrogen storage compound with an exactly atomic ratio of 2:1, without other phases, and with excellent hydrogen absorption-desorption dynamics is given and the rest waste magnesium-rich liquid can be recycled.
US08137610B2
Disclosed is a molding compound for producing a fireproof lining, especially for a combustion chamber of a stationary gas turbine. The molding compound is characterized particularly by the fact that the molding compound is formed from more than about 50 percent by weight of silicon carbide and less than about 50 percent by weight of aluminum silicate.
US08137601B2
A process for the production of virtually full density polyolefin suitable for further processing by drawing to form a high tenacity, highly oriented polyolefin sheet comprising: a) feeding a metered amount of polyolefin powder into the nip between two heated calender rolls; b) rolling the powder through the nip under these conditions until a coherent sheet of polyolefin is produced. According to a highly preferred embodiment, initially, the nip is set at a gap smaller than the size of the smallest polyolefin powder particle and at a temperature above the melting point of the powder and once a coherent sheet of polyolefin exits the nip the temperature in the nip is lowered to a temperature below the melting point of the polyolefin powder and the gap increased to a desired level above the thickness of the largest powder particle.
US08137599B2
Disclosed is a conduit expansion method, including: inserting a liner conduit formed from a polyvinyl chloride material at least partially within a host conduit; circulating fluid within an inner area of the liner conduit; and injecting fluid into the inner area of the liner conduit; wherein the liner conduit at least partially expands within the host conduit.
US08137598B2
A spreader box and method form a bi-laminar paintball shell material. Walls of a box body define a reservoir containing, and an aperture dispensing, a first gel. Walls of a gate body define a reservoir containing, and an aperture dispensing, a second gel. Within the box, the first gel is kept separate from the second gel. The box body aperture dispenses the first gel as a continuous first layer. The gate body aperture dispenses the second gel as a continuous second layer that is adjacent and juxtaposed with the first layer, such that the first gel bonds with the second gel to form the bi-laminar paintball shell material. A paintball, containing a fill material, has a frangible bi-laminar shell including an exterior shell that completely surrounds and contains an interior shell. The paintball is adapted to withstand the normal range of forces sustained in being fired from a paintball gun.
US08137596B2
A transparent titanium oxide in which the titanium oxide particles have been coated with a hydrated metal oxide having no photocatalytic activity in order to block photocatalytic activity. Hydrous titanium oxide sol particles are coated with a layer comprising a hydrated oxide of silicon. The coating layer can further contain a hydrated oxide of at least one metal selected among tin, aluminum, and zirconium and a hydrated oxide of antimony. Also provided are a process for producing a sol of surface-coated transparent titanium oxide and a coating composition containing a sol of surface-coated transparent titanium oxide.
US08137590B2
Solid particles bearing zwitterionic functional groups exhibit properties unlike other functionalized particles, and are particularly useful as proton-conductive fillers in membranes for fuel cells, where they increase physical properties as well as charge conducting properties. The particles are prepared by reacting functionalized particles with zwitterionic group-containing silanes or siloxanes.
US08137589B2
Disclosed are non stoichiometric Copper Alkaline Earth Silicate phosphors activated by divalent europium for using them as high temperature stable luminescent materials for ultraviolet or daylight excitation. The phosphors are represented as the formula (BauSrvCawCux)3−y(Zn,Mg,Mn)zSi1+bO5+2b:Eua. The nonstoichiometric tetragonal silicate is prepared in a high temperature solid state reaction with a surplus of silica in the starting mixture. Furthermore, luminescent tetragonal Copper Alkaline Earth Silicates are provided for LED applications, which have a high color temperature range from about 2,000K to 8,000K or 10,000K showing a CRI with Ra=80˜95, when mixed with other luminescent materials.
US08137586B2
A phosphor blend for a compact fluorescent lamp is described wherein the phosphor blend comprises a green-emitting Tb3+ phosphor, a Y2O3:Eu3+ phosphor, a Sr6BP5O20:Eu2+ phosphor, a Mg4GeO5.5F:Mn4+ phosphor, and optionally a BaMgAl11O17:Eu2+ phosphor, wherein the blend contains from 1% to 20% by weight of the Sr6BP5O20:Eu2+ phosphor and from 5% to 30% by weight of the Mg4GeO5.5F:Mn4+ phosphor. A compact fluorescent lamp having a phosphor coating containing the phosphor blend produces a light that is perceived as more pleasing than the light produced by standard compact fluorescent lamps.
US08137579B2
The present invention is directed to a heat transfer system comprising a heat transfer fluid. The heat transfer fluid comprising non-buffered propylene glycol, and at least one propylene glycol soluble additive selected from the group consisting of a molybdate salt, a nitrate compound and an azole compound.
US08137566B2
A method of treating tailings comprising a solids fraction and a hydrocarbon fraction is disclosed. A primary flow is supplied to a jet pump, the primary flow comprising water and less than 20% solids by mass. A secondary flow is supplied to a mixing chamber of the jet pump, the secondary flow comprising a slurry of water and tailings, the slurry comprising more solids by mass than the primary flow. The jet pump is operated using the primary flow such that the tailings are agitated to effect at least a partial phase separation of the hydrocarbon fraction from the tailings. The methods disclosed herein may also be applied to treat tailings ponds.
US08137558B2
A method for producing biofuels is provided. A method of making biofuels includes dewatering substantially intact algal cells to make an algal biomass, extracting neutral lipids from the algal biomass, and esterifying the neutral lipids with a catalyst in the presence of an alcohol. The method also includes separating a water soluble fraction comprising glycerin from a water insoluble fraction comprising fuel esters and distilling the fuel esters under vacuum to obtain a C16 or shorter fuel esters fraction, a C16 or longer fuel ester fraction, and a residue comprising carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids. The method further includes hydrogenating and deoxygenating at least one of (i) the C16 or shorter fuel esters to obtain a jet fuel blend stock and (ii) the C16 or longer fuel esters to obtain a diesel blend stock.
US08137551B1
A filter assembly for fluid filtration having a push-activated lock and release mechanism. A push filter design activates a floating key lock upon insertion and extraction, where the filter key may be used simultaneously as a lock and as an identifier for particular filter attributes. The filter base may be situated inline, and in fluid communication, with influent and effluent piping, such as within a refrigerator. The filter housing assembly may be attached to, and removed from, the filter base by a push-actuated release. Upon insertion, the filter key shifts the filter lock longitudinally to receive interlocking segments. Upon extraction, the same axial push shifts the filter lock further to align the interlocking fingers within gaps that allow for easy extraction. The specific key lock design allows a user to identify and match certain filter configurations received by the mechanical support, and reject other filter configurations.
US08137544B1
A molded modular wastewater treatment system including a tank with molded double thick baffle walls made of UV stabilized ⅜″ thick polyethylene. The system is designed with three separately molded and interconnected chambers, a pretreatment chamber connected to a first side of an aeration chamber and a second side of the aeration chamber connected to a clarification chamber. The pretreatment chamber initially receives the wastewater and uses anaerobic bacterial action and gravity to precondition the wastewater and then passes the preconditioned water to an aeration chamber. The aeration chamber receives the pretreated wastewater from the pretreatment chamber and uses aerobic bacteria to biologically convert the waste in the wastewater into stable substances and then pass it to the clarification chamber. The clarification chamber receives the flow from the aeration chamber and settles out any biologically active material in the flow and returns it to the aeration chamber for additional processing.
US08137543B2
A vessel system comprising a vessel is presented. The vessel system comprises at least one internal wall located within the vessel. The vessel system further comprises at least one inflatable seal to create a seal between an outer periphery of the internal wall and an internal cavity wall of the vessel. The vessel system further comprises a shaft longitudinally traversing the vessel and adapted to transmit a force applied on the at least one internal wall to an end of the vessel.
US08137542B2
Disclosed is a water treatment system including a raw water tank, a module which includes a filtration membrane, a feed pump, a filtered water tank, a backwash pump which flows filtered water backward from the filtered water tank to the module, a valve and a channel which switch the direction of the water flow between the forward and reverse directions, a controller which suspends the supply of raw water from the raw water tank to the module, switches the valve and channel to the reverse direction, makes the backwash pump to supply filtered water from the filtered water tank to the module thereby backwashing the filtration membrane, and washing drainage treatment line including which treats backwashing drainage generated by backwashing of the filtration membrane, and returns the water to the raw water tank.
US08137541B2
A septic system can include an improved and more reliable apparatus for distributing effluent uniformly to a plurality of portions or fingers of a drain field. In such apparatus, an effluent container, or collection tank, is connected with the outlet of a septic tank, and an effluent-operated valve controls effluent flow from an outlet of the effluent container, or collection tank, to an effluent distribution tank which is connected to a plurality of portions, or fingers, of a sewage drain field to uniformly distribute the effluent from the septic tank to the drain field.
US08137536B2
Methods and systems for contacting a crude feed that has a total acid number (TAN) of at least 0.3 with one or more catalysts produces a total product that includes a crude product are described. The one or more catalysts may include a first catalyst and a second catalyst. The crude product is a liquid mixture at 25° C. and 0.101 MPa and the crude product has a TAN of at most 90% of the TAN of the crude feed. One or more other properties of the crude product may be changed by at least 10% relative to the respective properties of the crude feed.
US08137535B2
Systems and methods for producing and using one or more doped catalysts are provided. One or more coked-catalyst particles can be fluidized in the presence of one or more oxidants to provide a fluidized mixture. The coke from the one or more coked-catalyst particles can be removed to provide regenerated catalyst particles within the fluidized mixture. One or more doping agents can be distributed to the fluidized mixture, and the one or more doping agents can be deposited onto the surface of the regenerated catalyst particles to provide a regenerated, doped catalyst particle.
US08137531B2
An integrated process for producing liquid fuel and lubricating base oil from Fischer-Tropsch derived products which comprises (a) recovering separately from a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reactor a Fischer-Tropsch wax and condensate; (b) hydroprocessing the wax and recovering a waxy intermediate and a hydrogen-rich normally, liquid fraction; (c) mixing the condensate and at least part of the hydrogen-rich normally liquid fraction to form a Fischer-Tropsch condensate mixture; (d) hydrotreating the condensate mixture and recovering a Fischer-Tropsch condensate product; (e) recovering from the condensate product a liquid fuel; (f) separately dewaxing the waxy intermediate and recovering a base oil; (g) hydrofinishing the base oil; (h) recovering from the hydrofinishing zone a stabilized base oil and a hydrogen-rich gas; and (i) recycling the hydrogen-rich gas to the wax hydroprocessing zone wherein the total pressure in the hydrofinishing zone is at least as high as the total pressure in the wax hydroprocessing zone.
US08137530B2
A process is provided for producing petroleum coke that is high in strength and sufficiently small in thermal expansion coefficient and sufficiently suppressed from puffing. The process includes coking a feedstock containing a first heavy oil having a sulfur content of 1.0 percent by mass or less, a nitrogen content of 0.5 percent by mass or less, and an aromatic index of 0.1 or greater, produced by hydrodesulfurizing a heavy oil with a sulfur content of 1 percent by mass or more under conditions (1) where the total pressure is 10 MPa or greater and less than 16 MPa and the hydrogen partial pressure is 5 MPa or greater and 16 MPa or less or conditions (2) where the total pressure is 20 MPa or greater and 25 MPa or less and the hydrogen partial pressure is greater than 20 MPa and 25 MPa or less, and a second heavy oil with an aromatic index of 0.3 or greater and an initial boiling point of 150° C. or higher.
US08137522B2
A method and apparatus for desalinating saltwater using concentration difference energy is disclosed. In order to desalinate saltwater that is contained within a product chamber, a drive cell is used to generate a drive voltage. The product chamber has a desalination voltage such that when a sufficient voltage is applied to the product chamber, anions and cations migrate out of the product chamber, thereby desalinating the water. The sufficient voltage, which includes the drive voltage and which is equal to or greater than the desalination voltage, is applied to the product chamber, consequently effecting desalination. Beneficially, concentration difference energy can be generated using a concentrated solution, which can be generated using, for example, solar energy.
US08137516B2
The hydrogen-oxygen generating electrode plate using a carbon nano tube includes a carbon nano tube (CNT); a carbon (C); NiO; NaTaO3; and a catalyst. The method for manufacturing a hydrogen and oxygen generating electrode plate using a carbon nano tube, includes a step S1 for grinding into high-density powders; a step S2 for uniformly mixing carbon nano tube powder, carbon powder, NiO powder, NaTaO3 powder and catalyst and forming a mixture having a high distribution degree; a step S3 for inputting the mixture into a mold and pressing the same and forming a pressing forming object; and a step S4 for plasticity-forming the pressing forming object in a vacuum plasticity furnace.
US08137515B2
A method for producing a diamond electrode comprising synthetically produced and electrically conductive (doped) diamond particles, which are embedded into a support layer of electrically non-conductive material. The doped diamond particles are introduced as a single layer between two films that form the support layer, the films then being permanently connected to each other and the diamond particles being exposed on both sides of the support layer.
US08137510B2
This invention relates to a coater for the coating, in particular, of large-area substrates by means of cathode sputtering, the coater having a coating chamber and, provided therein, a cathode assembly (2) where the material to be sputtered is located on a target (4) with a curved surface, the material to be sputtered being located, in particular, on the lateral surface of a cylinder, there being in a single coating chamber for a coherent coating zone at least three, preferably more, cathode assemblies (2) with rotatable, curved targets (4) positioned one beside the other.
US08137505B2
A system and process for producing tissue webs is disclosed. The tissue webs are formed from an aqueous suspension of fibers and dried using a through-air dryer. During formation of the web, the web is transferred from a transfer fabric to a throughdrying fabric and then conveyed around a drying cylinder of a through-air dryer. In accordance with the present invention, a pressurized roll emits a gaseous stream through a pressurized zone that pushes and transfers a wet web from a transfer fabric to the throughdrying fabric. The amount of pressure used during the transfer can vary depending upon the particular application and may be used to control the bulk of the web. By using a pressurized transfer roll, the amount the throughdrying fabric is wrapped around the drying cylinder of the through-air dryer can be maximized for increasing the efficiency of the system and the process.
US08137503B2
A stripping liquid of the present invention is used for separating the paper from a plaster/paper laminate such as waste plasterboard, and comprises an aqueous solution of an alkali metal salt or an ammonium salt of carboxylic acid. The stripping liquid is fed onto the surface (paper surface) of the plaster/paper laminate so as to infiltrate into the bonding surface between the plaster and the paper, so that the carboxylate is made present on the bonding surface. Upon stripping off the paper in the presence of the carboxylate, it is allowed to entirely separate the paper from the plaster. Upon mixing the stripping liquid and a nonionic surfactant or a water-soluble organic solvent together, further, the stripping liquid can be quickly and reliably infiltrated into the bonding surface between the plaster and the paper.
US08137497B2
A method includes the steps of providing a first tape base material on a single side of a stiffener substrate, forming, on the stiffener substrate, a cavity for accommodating a semiconductor chip therein, inserting the stiffener substrate in the cavity and providing the stiffener substrate on the first tape base material, sealing the semiconductor chip and the stiffener substrate with a sealing resin, and removing the first tape base material and forming a build-up layer on a tape removing surface.
US08137487B2
The present invention provides high strength thin-gauge steel sheet with excellent elongation and hole expandability having a tensile strength of 500 MPa or more and a method of production of high strength thin-gauge steel sheet with excellent elongation and hole expandability enabling production of this on an industrial scale, that is, high strength thin-gauge steel sheet comprised of, by mass %, C: 0.03 to 0.25%, Si: 0.013 to 0.299%, Mn: 0.8 to 3.1%, P≦0.02%, S≦0.02%, Al≦2.0%, N≦0.01%, and a balance of Fe and unavoidable impurities and having a microstructure comprised of ferrite with an area fraction of 10 to 85% and residual austenite with a volume fraction of 1 to 10%, an area fraction of 10% to 60% of tempered martensite, and a balance of bainite.
US08137483B2
A method of designing low cost, high strength, high toughness martensitic steel uses mathematical modeling to define optimum low cost chemical compositions, the content of retained austenite, and critical temperatures; melting an ingot, processing same, making steel articles, and heat treating the articles using the critical temperatures and the content of retained austenite. The new steel comprises, by weight, about 0.3-0.45% of C; at most 2.5% of Cr; at most 1.0% of Mo; at most 3.50% of Ni; about 0.3 to 1.5% of Mn; about 0.1-1.3% of Si; about 0.1-1.0% of Cu; Cu being less than Si; about 0.1 to 1.0% of V+Ti+Nb; at most 0.25% of Al; the sum of alloying elements being less than about 11.5%; the balance being essentially Fe and incidental impurities. Procedures of melting, processing and heat treatment using the mathematical model are disclosed.
US08137481B2
A cleaning device for cleaning of the inside of tanks and similar containers by a cleaning fluid, the cleaning device including a connector part for connecting the cleaning device to a piping system, a rotor part rotatably arranged relative to the connector part and a holding part for rotatably holding the rotor part adjacent to relative to the connector part, and where the holding part is provided with a first holding arrangement which co-operates with a corresponding second holding arrangement on the connector part releasably hold the holding part to the a connector part, where the holding part can rotated around its longitudinal direction between a holding position and a releasing position.
US08137479B2
A dishwasher having a tub defining a wash chamber for washing dishes and a dish rack located within the wash chamber. The dishwasher also has a spray arm assembly configured to spray a first flow of wash liquid toward the dish rack, thereby providing a first wash zone. A spray manifold provided within the wash chamber is configured to provide a second flow of wash liquid toward the dish rack, thereby providing a second wash zone.
US08137477B2
The invention relates to a method of cleaning a surface (1) attached with at least one chewing gum lump (2) whereby said cleaning is at least partly based on an enzymatic degradation of at least one biodegradable polymer in said chewing gum lump (2) and whereby said enzymatic degradation is initiated by the application of at least one enzyme to which said at least one polymer forms substrate and whereby said at least one enzyme is added to said chewing gum lump (2) subsequent to chewing and attachment of said chewing gum lump (2) to said surface (1).
US08137475B2
The invention relates to the use, in anti-graffiti treatments, and preferably in graffiti-suppressing treatments, of a particular dicarboxylic acid diester having improved treatment efficiency.
US08137473B2
To clean an element in a vacuum chamber by causing particles sticking to the element to scatter, the present invention uses a means for applying a voltage to the element and causing the particles to scatter by utilizing Maxwell's stress, a means for electrically charging the particles and causing the particles to scatter by utilizing the Coulomb force, a means for introducing a gas into the vacuum chamber and causing the particles sticking to the element to scatter by causing a gas shock wave to hit the element, a means for heating the element and causing the particles to scatter by utilizing the thermal stress and thermophoretic force, or a means for causing the particles to scatter by applying mechanical vibrations to the element. The thus scattered particles are removed by carrying them in a gas flow in a relatively high pressure atmosphere.
US08137471B2
An apparatus includes an upper electrode and a lower electrode for supporting a wafer disposed opposite each other within a process chamber. A first RF power supply configured to apply a first RF power having a relatively higher frequency is connected to the upper electrode. A second RF power supply configured to apply a second RF power having a relatively lower frequency is connected to the lower electrode. A variable DC power supply is connected to the upper electrode. A process gas is supplied into the process chamber while any one of application voltage, application current, and application power from the variable DC power supply to the upper electrode is controlled, to generate plasma of the process gas so as to perform plasma etching.
US08137469B2
Disclosed are process and apparatus for making high purity fused silica glass materials. The process involves depositing soot particles onto an essentially planar deposition supporting surface and modulation of motion of the soot-generating device relative to the deposition supporting surface to result in a low local soot density variation. The apparatus is designed to implement the planar deposition process. The invention makes it possible to produce fused silica glass without the use of potentially contaminating refractory bricks.
US08137467B2
A temperature controlled showerhead for chemical vapor deposition (CVD) chambers enhances heat dissipation to enable accurate temperature control with an electric heater. Heat dissipates by conduction through a showerhead stem and fluid passageway and radiation from a back plate. A temperature control system includes one or more temperature controlled showerheads in a CVD chamber with fluid passageways serially connected to a heat exchanger.
US08137464B2
Systems and methods for atomic layer deposition (ALD) on a flexible substrate involve guiding the substrate back and forth between spaced-apart first and second precursor zones, so that the substrate transits through each of the precursor zones multiple times. Systems may include a series of turning guides, such as rollers, spaced apart along the precursor zones for supporting the substrate along an undulating transport path. As the substrate traverses back and forth between precursor zones, it passes through a series of flow-restricting passageways of an isolation zone into which an inert gas is injected to inhibit migration of precursor gases out of the precursor zones. Also disclosed are systems and methods for utilizing more than two precursor chemicals and for recycling precursor gases exhausted from the precursor zones.
US08137461B2
Piezoelectric substrate, piezoelectric element, liquid discharge head and liquid discharge apparatus
A piezoelectric substrate of a perovskite-type oxide is expressed by a general formula of ABO3 having a laminate structure of a single crystal structure or a uniaxial crystal structure expressed by (Pb1-xMx)xm(ZryTi1-y)O3 (where M represents an element selected from La, Ca, Ba, Sr, Bi, Sb and W). The laminate structure has a first crystal phase layer having a crystal structure selected from a tetragonal structure, a rhombohedral structure, a pseudocubic structure and a monoclinic structure, a second crystal phase layer having a crystal structure different from the crystal structure of said first crystal phase layer and a boundary layer arranged between the first crystal phase layer and the second crystal phase layer with a crystal structure gradually changing in a thickness direction of the layer. The thicknesses of the first and second crystal phase layer differ.
US08137460B2
Provided are a manufacturing method of a GaN single crystal in which the film thickness of the GaN single crystal can be controlled accurately, even when a hydride vapor phase epitaxy is applied; a GaN thin film template substrate which is suitable for growing a GaN thick film with a fine property; and a GaN single crystal growing apparatus. Provided is a manufacturing method of a GaN single crystal by a hydride vapor phase epitaxy, wherein the hydride vapor phase epitaxy comprises: spraying HCl (hydrogen chloride) onto Ga (gallium) which is heated and fused in a predetermined temperature to generate GaCl (gallium chloride); and forming a GaN thin film by a reaction of the generated GaCl (gallium chloride) with NH3 (ammonia) gas which is hydroxide gas on a substrate, the manufacturing method comprising supplying the NH3 gas in a vicinity of the substrate (for example, at a position which is separated from the substrate by a distance of 0.7-4.0 times as longer than a diameter of the substrate) through a nozzle. Further, as the substrate, an NGO(011) substrate in which the lattice constant thereof is similar to that of GaN is used.
US08137459B2
The inventive method for producing nanoparticles for ferrofluids by electron-beam evaporation and condensation in vacuum, consists in evaporating an initial solid material and in fixing nanoparticles to a cooled substrate by means of a solidifiable carrier during vapour condensation, wherein a solid inorganic material, which is selected from a group containing metals, alloys or oxides thereof, is used as an initial material and a solid liquid-soluble material is used as a magnetic carrier material for fixing nanoparticles. The method also consists in simultaneously evaporating the initial material and the carrier composition by electron-beam heating. The vapour is deposited on the substrate, the temperature which is lower than the melting point of the carrier material, and the condensate of the magnetic material nanoparticles, which have a size and are fixed in the carrier, is produced. The particle size is adjusted by setting the specified temperature of the substrate during vapour deposition.
US08137457B2
A method of forming monodisperse metal chalcogenide nanocrystals without precursor injection, comprising the steps of: combining a metal source, a chalcogen oxide or a chalcogen oxide equivalent, and a fluid comprising a reducing agent in a reaction pot at a first temperature to form a liquid comprising assembly; increasing the temperature of the assembly to a sufficient-temperature to initiate nucleation to form a plurality of metal chalcogenide nanocrystals; and growing the plurality of metal chalcogenide nanocrystals without injection of either the metal source or the chalcogen oxide at a temperature equal to or greater than the sufficient-temperature, wherein crystal growth proceeds substantially without nucleation to form a plurality of monodisperse metal chalcogenide nanocrystals. Well controlled monodispersed CdSe nanocrystals of various sizes can be prepared by choice of the metal source and solvent system.
US08137453B2
Fiber reinforced concrete is generated by including fiber in a dispersed manner in a cement matrix including: cement; first pozzolanic reactant particles having a high activity; second pozzolanic reactant particles having an activity lower than the first pozzolanic reactant particles; first aggregate particles having a maximum particle diameter smaller than or equal to 2.5 mm, a mean particle diameter within a range of 0.4 mm to 0.8 mm and a fineness modulus within a range of 1.5 to 3.5; second aggregate particles having a maximum particle diameter smaller than or equal to 0.425 mm, a mean particle diameter within a range of 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm and a fineness modulus within a range of 0.4 to 0.8; at least one type of plasticizer; and water.
US08137448B2
There is provided an ink composition that can realize high-quality images free from white streaks or roughness even in low resolution when printing paper for running-on such as art paper is used. The ink composition comprises at least a colorant, water, an alcohol solvent, and a surfactant, wherein the alcohol solvent comprises a sparingly water soluble alkanediol, a water soluble alkanediol, and a water soluble alkanetriol.
US08137447B2
Disclosed is an electroless plating solution exhibiting a good plating metal filling performance even for larger trenches or vias of several to one hundred and tens of μm, in a manner free from voids or seams, and allowing maintenance of stabilized performance for prolonged time. The electroless plating solution contains at least a water-soluble metal salt, a reducing agent for reducing metal ions derived from the water-soluble metal salt, and a chelating agent. In addition, the electroless plating solution contains a sulfur-based organic compound as a leveler having at least one aliphatic cyclic group or aromatic cyclic group to which may be linked at least one optional substituent. The aliphatic cyclic group or the aromatic cyclic group contains optional numbers of carbon atoms, oxygen atoms, phosphorus atoms, sulfur atoms and nitrogen atoms.
US08137445B2
A method and apparatus for treating natural gas comprises a contactor having a manifold for spreading gas in the contactor vessel, a plurality of perforated plates above the manifold, a spray system for spraying a treating liquid into an upwardly rising column of gas and a liquid level controller for maintaining the treating liquid above the perforated plates. Gas and liquid from the contactor pass through a cooler and are then separated. A treating liquid regeneration system receives the treating liquid and flashes the liquid at low pressure to separate hydrocarbon gases, hydrocarbon liquid and treating liquid. The treating liquid is regenerated by heating and flashing off contaminant gases and is ultimately redelivered to the contactor.
US08137441B2
A CO2 recovery system includes an absorption tower and a regeneration tower. CO2 rich solution is produced in the absorption tower by absorbing CO2 from CO2-containing gas. The CO2 rich solution is conveyed to the regeneration tower where lean solution is produced from the rich solution by removing CO2. A reclaimer heats the lean solution that is produced in the regeneration tower to produce a condensed waste-product from the lean solution by condensing a depleted material contained in the lean solution, and removes the condensed waste-product. A cooler cools the condensed waste-product.
US08137439B2
A process for the recovery of CO2 from a flue gas is provided. This process includes compressing a flue gas to a first pressure, cooling the flue gas to a first temperature, and drying flue gas by a drying means. This process includes adsorbing CO2 in a first adsorbent bed, wherein the first adsorbent bed is isothermally maintained by a first cooling means. The process includes pressurizing the first adsorbent bed to a second pressure with CO2 at a second temperature, wherein the second pressure is greater than the initial pressure, wherein the second temperature is greater than the initial temperature.
US08137436B2
A passive humidifier membrane includes polyolefin with a plurality of pores, wherein the average pore size of the plurality of pores is 0.05 μm to 0.4 μm as established by a PMI Capillary Flow Porometer. The humidifier membrane is virtually airtight while providing a high transfer rate of water. Transfer of heat is also high. The humidifier membrane is particularly suitable for heat exchange and water transfer between fluids and, it is particularly useful for applications inside or outside fuel cells such as PEMFC. The membrane is also particularly useful in the application as humidifier for air or oxygen.
US08137434B2
A first intake air control mode of setting an intake throttle valve to (or close to) a fully-opened state and setting an EGR valve to (or close to) a fully-closed state is performed when DPF temperature and a particulate matter deposition quantity are greater than corresponding predetermined values respectively, a no-injection operation state exists, and engine rotation speed is higher than a corresponding predetermined value. A second intake air control mode of setting the intake throttle valve to (or close to) a fully-closed state and setting the EGR valve to (or close to) a fully-opened state is performed when the DPF temperature and the particulate matter deposition quantity are greater than the corresponding predetermined values respectively, the no-injection operation state exists, and the engine rotation speed is lower than the corresponding predetermined value.
US08137431B2
The invention relates to a fertilizer granule comprising both a nitrate and urea as the main nitrogen source. A mineral added during production is an important component in the composition, said mineral stabilizing these otherwise poorly compatible nitrogen compounds. A high nitrogen content is thus attained with ammonium nitrate concentrations falling below maximum limit values set by international legislation and classification, while at the same time the explosion risk particularly associated with the use of ammonium nitrate is avoided. The invention is also directed to a process for the production of the fertilizer granule of the above type, said process resulting in a fertilizer granule with excellent resistance properties and a high nitrogen content, wherein said granule may be coated by methods typical in the art, if desired.
US08137411B2
This invention relates to processes of preparing heterogeneous graft material from animal tissue. Specifically, the invention relates to the preparation of animal tissue, in which the tissue is cleaned and chemically cross-linked using both vaporized and liquid cross-linking agents, resulting in improved physical properties such as thin tissue and lowered antigenicity, thereby increasing the ease of delivering the tissue during surgery and decreasing the risk of post-surgical complication, respectively.
US08137401B2
An intervertebral implant having an endplate that can be slidably expanded following its placement in the intervertebral space.
US08137398B2
Apparatus is provided that includes a valve prosthesis for attachment to a native valve complex of a subject. The prosthesis is configured to assume a compressed delivery state and an uncompressed implantation state. The prosthesis includes a support frame, which is shaped so as to define an upstream inlet having upstream-most portions that are tapered in an upstream direction toward a central longitudinal axis of the prosthesis when the prosthesis assumes the compressed delivery state. The prosthesis further includes a flexible prosthetic heart valve component, coupled to the support frame. Other embodiments are also described.
US08137397B2
Medical devices, particularly stents, suitable for drug delivery and including a sugar, sugar derivative, inorganic ionic salt, polysaccharide, amino acid, amino acid derivative, polypeptide, surfactant, or combination thereof, are disclosed.
US08137389B2
A bone screw is created, with a thread section with a tip at a first end and a head for engaging with a screwdriver at the opposite second end, which serves as traction element to connect shattered or split off parts of bones to one another. So that fusion of the screw with the bones can take place, the thread section is constructed as tubular and its wall has a plurality of recesses.
US08137383B2
A method for securing first and second tissues with a suture anchor. The steps include forming a borehole in the first tissue; threading a suture through the second tissue forming a loop in the suture with the tissue thereby secured in the loop, the loop defining two suture portions; attaching the two suture portions to the anchor whereby the two suture portions are threaded through the anchor and initially movable with respect to the anchor; and providing a force to a shaft of the anchor, the force causing clamping of the two suture portions in the anchor and deformation of a deformable portion of the anchor to cause the deformable portion to engage a wall of the borehole thereby to secure the suture anchor in the first tissue and the loop holding the second tissue to the suture anchor.
US08137379B2
A pressure-applying device (PAD) (10) that is attached to a selected location on a person's skin for therapeutic purposes. The PAD (10) comprises a first handle (12) having an articulated arm (38) with a tip (40) and a second handle (66) having an integral arm (92) with a tip (94). The first handle (12) is swively attached to the second handle (66) at a spring-loaded pivot point that allows the device (10) to be pressure-attached to the skin. A magnetic or non-magnetic sphere (132) is attached to each respective tip (40,94). When the PAD (10) is attached to a person's skin the sphere is pressure-interfaced on the skin. A tension screw (46) interfaces with the two handles (12,66) and allows the PAD (10) to apply adjustable pressure. The locations on person's skin where the PAD (10) is attached are designated according to traditional acupressure techniques.
US08137377B2
An intravascular basket device for use in capturing either naturally occurring or foreign debris found in blood vessels or other regions of the body. The basket device is fabricated from a tube and includes a mid-section having at least one ring configured in an alternating V-pattern. The basket device specifically embodies structure that provides enhanced radial opening and angular resistance to collapse.
US08137374B2
Methods of using a medical device having catheter with one or more expandable constricting/occluding members for preventing distal embolization during extracranial or intracranial carotid procedures or vertebral artery procedures by augmenting collateral cerebral circulation by coarctation of the aorta to enhance reversal of blood flow in an internal carotid artery, an external carotid artery, and/or a common carotid artery toward the subclavian artery are disclosed. An interventional catheter can also be advanced into a left cerebral artery and a procedure performed on a lesion in the left cerebral artery.
US08137368B2
A blood vessel clip applicator includes two twist pins at one end, between which a blood vessel is placed before occlusion. A magazine in the blood vessel clip applicator holds a plurality of blood vessel clips and can be rotated independently from a grip assembly, whereby the twist pins can be rotated to compress a blood vessel held between them. The blood vessel clip is placed on the blood vessel after it has been flattened. The blood vessel clip includes spring quality material, and has a head connected to a first leg and a second leg. The magazine has a constricted region adjacent to an exit aperture. As the head enters the constricted region, the compressive force exerted on the head by the constricted region opens the blood vessel clip to an open position.
US08137362B2
A cranial burr hole plug with an insertion tool and method of implantation is provided. The burr hole plug includes a shell; a collet interlocked within the shell; a clamp compressing the collet around an elongated medical device exiting the skull of a patient, such as a catheter or lead; and a cover over the clamp, collet, and shell. The insertion tool inserts the collet within the shell and locks the collet around the clamp. The method of implantation includes inserting the burr hole plug components in a cranial burr hole using the insertion tool and securing the exiting medical device without disturbing the position of the medical device.
US08137353B2
A surgical saw for cutting bone that can be used with ease in tight places yet maintain sufficient cutting power. The surgical saw 10 has a flexible linear body made of twisted stainless steel wire and cutting parts formed on the flexible linear body. The cutting parts are made of abrasive material affixed to the flexible linear body 12a alternating with portions of the flexible linear body with no abrasive particles 12b. Auxiliary cutting parts 13 of lesser cutting power may be provided along both lateral sides of each of the cutting parts 12.
US08137352B2
The invention includes a system and method for loosening of tissue. In one embodiment, an intervertebral tissue removal system includes at least one abrading member for abrading tissue in an area to be cleared and at least one expandable member operable to be expanded from a first condition to a second condition, wherein the volume defined by the at least one expandable member in the second condition is greater than the volume defined by the at least one expandable member in the first condition, the at least one expandable member operably connected to the at least one abrading member such that as the at least one expandable member expands from the first condition to the second condition, the at least one abrading member is moved from a first position to a second position. The system includes an expansion media for insertion within the at least one expandable member and an expansion media conduit for delivering the expansion media to the at least one expandable member to expand the at least one expandable member from the first condition to the second condition.
US08137347B2
An external fixator includes a main body and an outrigger for extending over a fractured joint, such as a wrist joint. The main body can be positioned next to a right arm, or flipped over and positioned next to a left arm. The outrigger is attachable to extend either to the left or to the right of the main body, as appropriate. A distal body is removeably connectable to the distal end of the main body, and the distal body can be affixed to bone on the opposite side of the fracture to immobilize the joint where the fracture occurs. The distal body is connected to the main body with an adjustable securement section which provides six degrees of adjustment freedom. The outrigger is attached to the main body through a slide plate in a dual rail configuration which provides two dimensions of adjustment. Fragment pin supports ride in a track of the outrigger, and provide seven degrees of adjustment freedom for directed fixation of fragments at the fracture site. The outrigger is pivotally adjustable relative to the main body, and includes track portions separated by a wrap around angle. The major components of the fixator are molded of plastic. A surgical technique using the fixator includes immobilizing the joint for an initial healing duration and retaining fragment pins in place during a secondary healing duration.
US08137339B2
A working unit includes a gear body disposed forwardly of a tubular member around which a wire is wound and having a rotational axis disposed substantially parallel to the tubular member, and a first gear and a second gear for transmitting rotation of a gear body to another gear body. The numbers of turns of wires, the size of a main shaft, and the size of a gear body, which are positioned forwardly of the tubular member, have no adverse effect on the manner in which a wire is wound around the tubular member. The wire can be wound around the tubular member over a wide region thereof for increasing the angular displacement of the gear body. The increased angular displacement of the gear body makes it possible to increase the angular displacement and rotational torque of the gear body.
US08137337B2
A urinary catheter with an improved retaining and activating feature is provided which is a safe device with reduced irritation and discomfort to a patient. The retaining mechanism positioned at the proximal end of the catheter assumes a “close” state for introduction and removal of the catheter into and from the urethral tract, and is transitioned into the “open” state when the catheter is in the bladder by mechanically manipulating the retaining mechanism through the activation mechanism. An actuating linkage wire connected between the retaining mechanism and activation mechanism controllably reciprocates in the channel of the catheter to transition the catheter between the “open” and “closed” states.
US08137323B2
Some embodiments of a medical anchor device include an elongate body coupled with deployable subcutaneous anchors to secure a catheter instrument (or other medical instrument) in place relative to a skin penetration point. In some circumstances, the elongate body may be in the form of catheter hub body, and the subcutaneous anchors can be deployed from the hub body by adjustment of a movable actuator. A locking member can interact with the actuator so as to retain the actuator in the deployed orientation during the medical procedure.
US08137307B2
A syringe device includes a syringe barrel and piston having a fluid passageway extending from a vial port. Another syringe device includes a syringe barrel, a piston sleeve and an insert. A channel extends along a side of the insert. A valve controls fluid communication between the channel and the syringe barrel. Another syringe device has a syringe barrel, a piston sleeve and an insert. A valve controls fluid communication between a compartment within the insert and the syringe barrel. A method of preparing a medication includes providing a component within a syringe barrel and another component within a compartment of a piston insert. A seal is over-molded onto a tip of the insert and an end of a piston sleeve. The sleeve is rotated relative to the insert to establish fluid communication between the compartment and the barrel chamber.
US08137306B2
A medical/surgical irrigator with a handpiece for discharging a lavage solution. There is reservoir in which a therapeutic agent is stored. The therapeutic agent can be selectively mixed with the lavage solution to form a blended solution. The mixing can be performed selectively so as to make it possible to sequentially apply the blended solution or a basic (lavage only) solution.
US08137305B2
A programmable electric breast pump system includes a vacuum pump pneumatically coupled to breast cups and a vacuum relief valve bypassing the vacuum pump. A controller receives command input from a vacuum level selector and a vacuum rate selector, and feedback from a pressure sensor measuring vacuum in the breast cups. In response, the controller cycles the relief valve between minimum and maximum vacuum setpoints to create a periodic vacuum pulse in the breast cups. By adjusting the vacuum min/max levels and vacuum rate, a user may change the strength of the pulse after let-down, or synchronize the frequency of the pulse with the natural refractory time of a lactating breast. Related methods for operating a breast pump mimic the suckling cycle of a nursing infant and may include steps for bypassing a vacuum pump with a vacuum relief valve, selecting a vacuum rate and a vacuum level, driving a vacuum pump at the selected vacuum rate, cycling the relief valve according to the vacuum level, and adjusting the vacuum level until the vacuum pulses in phase with a natural refractory time.
US08137292B2
Alternative designs, materials and manufacturing methods for medical devices. Some embodiments disclosed deal with attachment of an elongated structure, such as a wire or ribbon, or a tubular member, such as a coil, to an elongated member in an elongated device. For example, an elongated core member having defining an outer surface, and an elongated structure including a first portion and a second expanded portion along the length thereof can be provided. An attachment member, such as a centering ring, or the like, is disposed about a portion of the elongated core member and a part of the first portion of the elongated structure. The attachment member defines a lumen and having an inner surface. Part of the first portion of the elongated structure is disposed between the inner surface of the attachment member and the outer surface of the elongated core member. A part of the second portion of the elongated structure is in mechanical engagement with the inner surface of the attachment member and the outer surface the elongated core member to provide a mechanical coupling of the elongated structure between the attachment member and the elongated core member. Some embodiments provide a method of making such a construction, wherein the elongated structure can be moved relative to the attachment member such that the second portion of the elongated structure engages the inner surface of the attachment member and the outer surface the elongated core member to mechanically couple the elongated structure to the elongated core member.
US08137291B2
A coupling wire guide generally includes a main body defined by a first wire wound around a safety wire. A first loop is defined by an enlarged revolution of the first wire within a distal portion of the main body. The first loop is sized to receive a previously introduced wire guide for coupling the two wire guides.
US08137289B2
Sample vials and methods of processing the sample vials are provided. The sample vial comprises a vial container, a sample collection chamber within the vial container, a vial cap configured to be mated with the vial container to enclose the collection chamber, an aliquot chamber, which may be carried by the vial cap or the vial container, and a valve mechanism for selectively sealing and unsealing the aliquot chamber from the collection chamber. The method may comprise flowing an aliquot of the sample from the collection chamber while the sample within the collection chamber is isolated from an environment exterior to the vial, sealing the aliquot chamber from the collection chamber to isolate the aliquot sample from the remaining sample portion, and transferring at least some of the remaining sample portion from the collection chamber to a microscope slide while the aliquot chamber is sealed from the collection chamber. The method further comprises reserving the slide for cytological screening of the sample, and reserving the aliquot sample for deoxynucleic acid (DNA) testing.
US08137287B2
Medical instruments and methods of using medical instruments are claimed.
US08137278B2
The present invention is directed to a system and method which makes a phased array look like a curved array for purposes of performing spatial compounding calculations. In one embodiment, the phased array is treated as though it were a curved array by creating both a virtual apex and a virtual radius of curvature. Based on this transformation, standard spatial-compounding resampling tables can be used just as they are with curved arrays. In one embodiment, after the data is compounded to form the target image, certain data is removed prior to the actual display. This removed data represents data generated by virtual rays the prior to the physical skin line of the phased array.
US08137274B2
Methods for applying heat to a region proximate a blood vessel are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method can include generating an imaging ultrasound beam adapted to image a blood vessel target and receiving a reflection of the imaging ultrasound beam. The method can also include producing an output signal in response to the reflection of the imaging ultrasonic beam and processing the output signal to identify a location of a treatment zone proximate an outer wall of the blood vessel. Therapeutic energy can be applied to the treatment zone. In some embodiments, the therapeutic ultrasound energy beam can be moved to over-scan the treatment zone. Other methods are also disclosed.
US08137270B2
This invention provides methods and systems for the analysis of data returned from monitoring multiple physiological parameters of a subject, especially from ambulatory multiple parameter monitoring. The methods and systems remove motion artifacts from signals and separate multiple components of single signals due to two or more physiological systems or processes. Each output signal is are preferably free from motion artifacts and reflects primarily functioning of only a single physiological system or process.
US08137255B2
Centrifugal separator devices, systems and related methods are described. More particularly, fluid transfer connections for a centrifugal separator system having support assemblies with a movable member coupled to a connection tube and coupled to a fixed member, such that the movable member is constrained to movement along a fixed path relative to the fixed member are described. Also, centrifugal separator systems including such fluid transfer connections are described. Additionally, methods of installing, removing and/or replacing centrifugal separators from centrifugal separator systems are described.
US08137248B1
A vertical stack of weights is disposed beneath a base member, and at least one selector rod is mounted on the base member and selectively engaged with a desired number of the vertically stacked weights. A horizontal stack of weights is disposed on opposite sides of a base member, and at least one selector rod is movably mounted on the base member selectively moved into engagement with the desired number of horizontally stacked weights. Various combinations of these arrangements may be used to provide adjustable resistance to exercise.
US08137247B2
An exerciser including a movable body support mounted on an exerciser flame for movement along tracks provided by the frame. A movable foot support extends from the exerciser frame. The movable foot support is adapted to be engaged by the user's feet to absorb the energy of movement in a first direction and to provide the user with a bouncing movement, which the user may translate into a movement of the movable body support in the opposite direction. The movable foot support may be provided as an attachment and retrofitted to existing exercisers. The exerciser may include a resilient resistance system coupled to the movable body support and a set of pull lines with user grips trained over pulleys carried by the exerciser frame. Also disclosed are methods for enabling users to exercise.
US08137241B2
A engine control system for an automatic transmission includes an engine torque control module that increases engine torque from a first torque level to a second torque level during a period before a shift from a first gear ratio to a second gear ratio, wherein the first gear ratio is greater than the second gear ratio, wherein the first torque level is based on driver input and vehicle speed, and wherein the second torque level is based on the first torque level and the first and second gear ratios. A transmission control module decreases a torque capacity of a first clutch to a third torque level during the period and increases a torque capacity of a second clutch to a fourth torque level during the period, wherein the fourth torque level is based on the second torque level and a torque gain of the second clutch.
US08137240B2
A method for engaging a drive shaft of a turbo engine with an output shaft by means of a clutch is provided. The turbo engine is run up to a rotational speed that is subsynchronous to the speed of the output shaft and is maintained at the steady speed before a signal is set or before starting the engagement process.
US08137237B2
A device for actuating a plurality of hydraulic control cylinders having a pressure regulating valve with a first and a second pressure regulating output, a first selector valve connected downline from the pressure regulating outputs, a second selector valve connected downline from the first selector valve, having a plurality of individual pressure outputs, where the second pressure regulating output is optionally assignable through the first and second selector valves to one of the individual pressure outputs, and the particular individual pressure outputs that are not assigned to the second pressure regulating output are assignable to the first pressure regulating output.
US08137235B2
A braking method and device with energy recovery for a hybrid traction vehicle, which, according to the requested braking target, regulates the intervention of the engine-generator and the connection or disconnection of the endothermic engine from the transmission line.
US08137234B2
A gearbox for a wind turbine. The gearbox includes at least one first epicyclical gear stage, at least one second gear stage, and a torque transferring shaft including a shaft part and a connection part, wherein the torque transferring shaft is adapted for connecting a first gear of the first epicyclical gear stage with a second gear of the second gear stage and wherein the torque transferring shaft is connected to the second gear stage via the connection part to form a torque-transferring connection area between the connection part and the second gear stage and wherein the outer diameter of the shaft part of the torque transferring shaft is smaller than an inner diameter of the connection area between said torque transferring shaft and said second gear stage.
US08137226B2
A silent chain that can reduce friction loss during travel of a chain. A silent chain 1 is configured by stacking a large number of link plates 2 comprising a pair of tooth parts 22 and pin holes 21 in the thickness direction and the lengthwise direction, and also arranging guide plates 4 on the outermost side of the link plates 2, and coupling the link plates 2 and the guide plates 4 by means of connecting pins 3. Protruding parts 45 which can come into sliding contact with guide parts 56B of a chain guide 56 and guide parts 57B of a tension arm 57 during travel of the silent chain 1 are provided on an outer side surface 4A of the guide plates 4. The contact between the silent chain 1 and the chain guide 56 and tension arm 57 is made to be point contact, and friction loss during travel of the chain can be reduced.
US08137225B2
A chain tensioner device having a first slide surface of a main arm pivotably supported at an upper end thereof, and a second slide surface of a sub-arm pivotably supported at a lower end thereof. The first and second slide surfaces slidably abut against each other. When the main arm is biased toward a timing chain via the sub-arm by a biasing force of a plunger of a tensioner lifter, a stroke of the main arm is increased with respect to a stroke of the plunger.
US08137216B2
A golf ball having an improved surface pattern is disclosed. The golf ball has one or more channels or ridges on its surface. These ridges or channels may decrease drag, or may increase lift, and may increase or decrease flight symmetry. These channels or ridges may be linear, or may be curved, and may or may not fully circumscribe the golf ball. These channels or ridges may also be combined with traditional or non-traditional dimples.
US08137215B2
Golf balls comprising a multi-layer core and a cover are disclosed. The multi-layer core comprises a thermoset rubber inner core, a thermoset rubber first intermediate core layer, a thermoplastic second intermediate core layer, and a thermoset rubber outer core layer. The inner core is preferably formed from a softer rubber than the first intermediate core layer.
US08137214B2
A golf ball including an inner core having a geometric center and a first outer surface, the inner core being formed from a first substantially homogenous rubber composition, and an outer core layer formed from a second substantially homogenous rubber composition, the outer core layer having a second outer surface. An inner cover layer is formed over the core and includes an ionomeric material. An outer cover layer is formed over the inner cover layer and includes a castable polyurea or a castable polyurethane. The first outer surface has a hardness of up to about 20 Shore C less than a hardness at the geometric center to define a negative hardness gradient inner core and the second outer surface has a hardness of up to 18 Shore C greater than the geometric center hardness to define a positive gradient outer core layer and a shallow positive hardness gradient core.
US08137208B2
An automatic real-time game scoring device and golf club swing analyzer which may include enhanced capability based on GPS parametric and golf course specific information. One aspect of the invention includes the capability to assess a player's swing as a function of ball strike, club information, and length of an actual golf shot. In another aspect of the invention, the device provides for scoring a game as a function of the club used, the shot characteristics, and specific course parameter such as the hole played, game conditions, which may be analyzed during game play, as well as post game. The system presented according to the present invention is capable of adding to an individual's score only actual golf ball shots while ignoring practice swings. For recreational golf, the system allows for user overrides (“whiffs” and “mulligans”) at the golfer's digression.
US08137201B2
A game description language is provided for human computation games, as well as a game platform or generator component that can generate the code base for the game. The game description language and schema framework can be used to represent the game logic and synchronization patterns of a human computation game. The automated code generation tool takes a file, e.g., a file made from the above game description language, or the like, as an input and generates a code base for the corresponding human computation game. These tools allow a prototype of a human computation game to be generated within minutes.
US08137198B2
A CPU (511) of game device (50) generates bullet trajectory information when a bullet is fired at an opponent character by a player by operating a gun unit (56), and it transmits the bullet trajectory information to an echo server. The CPU (511), upon receiving the bullet trajectory information from the echo server, generates information showing a result of a determination as to whether the bullet has hit the opponent character based on the position information of a player character and the received bullet trajectory information. In a case in which a game device (50) is specified as the echo server, a game information set generated at game device (50) and a game information set received from an opponent game device are sent to opponent game devices (50) in an order in which game information sets are received.
US08137190B2
A game server device communicably connected to a plurality of client terminal devices includes: a multiple-choice question communication control unit that obtains player capability information in information on a player who plays at a terminal device; a multiple-choice question related information storage unit that stores secondary games classified according to a player capability respectively; a multiple-choice question communication control unit that distributes to the terminal device in play a secondary game in a classification according to a capability of a player, who is in play, obtained from the terminal device; a multiple-choice question communication control unit that receives play results in regard to play of the distributed secondary game from the plurality of terminal devices; a multiple-choice question management unit that tabulates the play results received from the terminal devices respectively; and a multiple-choice question communication control unit that returns tabulated results to terminal devices that have transmitted play results. By allowing a player to play a secondary game that matches a capability of the player in the middle of playing a primary game, a more interesting game environment can be provided.
US08137183B2
A method for providing animation on a gaming machine having mechanical reels is disclosed. The method comprises spinning at least one mechanical reel, and illuminating a first symbol on the spinning mechanical reel, wherein the lighting system directs light onto the first symbol for a designated amount of time while the mechanical reel is spinning. A second symbol on the spinning reel is then illuminated, and combined effect of illuminating the first and second symbols while the mechanical reel is spinning is to produce the appearance of animation.
US08137178B2
Gaming systems, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed with player selectable gaming modes for players to participate in wagering games. The disclosed gaming systems and apparatuses provides for players to manually select between multiple playing modes, such as automatic game play operation or player participatory game play operation.
US08137163B2
A disc burnishing head includes an array of burnishing pads and a first and second side rail projecting from a bottom surface of a slider body. The side rails each have an inside surface facing the burnishing pads and an outside surface facing outward. The outside surface of at least the first side rail is serrated. The serrations define a plurality of teeth and notches on the outside surface of the first side rail for cutting, cleaning, and conditioning defects from the surface of a disc.
US08137160B2
Provided is a gear matching device which performs gear matching to establish a rotational phase relationship between a grindstone (13) and a gear-shaped workpiece (W) in which the grindstone and the workpiece can mesh with each other, before gear machining is performed by causing the grindstone and the workpiece to mesh with each other, and by then relatively rotating the grindstone and the workpiece, the gear matching device including: a tail stock (16) which is supported to be movable in the axial direction of the workpiece, and by which the workpiece is pressed against a rotary table (18) to be rotatably held, the rotary table rotating the workpiece about the axis thereof; and a sensor (33) which is provided to the tail stock, and which faces the workpiece to detect the rotational phase thereof, when the tail stock holds the workpiece.
US08137156B1
An enclosure apparatus for containing dust and debris such as may be generated while repairing a drywall surface. The enclosure apparatus includes a flexible, transparent body and may include a sealable slit, glove and pouch. The method of use allows the enclosure apparatus to be securely affixed to the drywall surface with a pressure sensitive adhesive. Tools or otherwise can be placed within the enclosure body prior to attachment to the drywall surface. Once the dust generating work is completed the enclosure apparatus can be removed, cleaned and properly disposed.
US08137148B2
An optoelectronic device having a monolithic interconnect structure includes a continuous anode layer, a discontinuous cathode layer, and an electroactive layer sandwiched between the continuous anode layer and the discontinuous cathode layer.
US08137143B2
A battery clamp assembly connecting an electrical wire to a battery terminal includes a body having a clamp cavity and at least one connection socket for receiving the electrical wire, a clamp device positioned in the clamp cavity, a compression wedge positioned in the clamp cavity, and a fastening member that engages the compression wedge to couple the clamp and the compression wedge to the body. A polarity marker may be plugged into a terminal aperture provided in an access cover to permit visual identification of the terminal connection. A method of completing an electrical circuit between a component and a power source may include coupling a battery clamp assembly to the power source, connecting the electrical wire to the battery clamp assembly by securing the electrical wire into the connection using the compression screw, and tightening the fastening member which engages the compression wedge to close the clamp. A post to be used for attachment of a jumper cable may be mounted to the battery clamp.
US08137140B2
According to one embodiment, a connector into which a first plug and a second plug are insertable. The connector includes a housing and a terminal portion provided in the housing. The housing includes an insertion opening part which exposes the terminal portion outside, a back part positioned at an end part opposite to the insertion opening part in the housing, and a side part provided between the insertion opening part and the back part and configured to oppose to the plug when the plug is inserted into the connector. The side part includes an inclined part which continues to the insertion opening part and is inclined such that a distance between the inclined part and the plug increases in a direction from the back part toward the insertion opening part to form a gap between the inclined part and the plug.
US08137139B2
A connector (26) transmits electrical signals between two electronic circuit boards (10, 12). The connector (26) comprises an electrically non-conductive support having two spaced surfaces (36, 38). Each surface (36, 38) has a respective interface (42) for electrical connection with a respective one of the two electronic circuit boards (10, 12) to be connected. At least one electrical conductor passes through the support and connects the two interfaces (42) for transmitting electrical signals between the two interfaces. The support also has an external surface (40). At least one electrically conductive pathway (A, B, C) is provided between the external surface (40) and the at least one electrical conductor for detecting an attempt to drill from the external surface to the at least one electrical conductor.
US08137138B2
An electrical connector system includes a header connector that includes a header housing and a header contact. The header housing includes a header base and a header shroud extending from the header base. The header base includes a header contact opening. The header contact is held by the header base within the header contact opening. The system also includes a receptacle connector configured to mate with the header connector. The receptacle connector includes a receptacle housing and a receptacle contact that engages the header contact when the header and receptacle connectors are mated together. The receptacle housing includes a receptacle base and a receptacle shroud extending from the receptacle base. The receptacle base includes a receptacle contact opening. The receptacle contact is held by the receptacle base within the receptacle contact opening. The receptacle contact opening has a common size and shape to the header contact opening.
US08137135B2
The coaxial cable connector according to the invention includes a male connector having a male terminal assembly that connects to a female connector having a female terminal assembly during coupling between the male connector and the female connector. Each of the male and female terminal assemblies includes a catching protrusion, while each connector includes an elastic plate formed at a top of an receiving passageway. The elastic plate includes a catching hole in which the corresponding catching protrusion is caught. Each male and female terminal assemblies includes a groove formed at a side thereof, while the male and female connectors include a fixing piece formed at a side of the receiving passageway thereof. The fixing piece fits in the corresponding groove through a side of a corresponding one of the male and female connectors, whereby the male and female terminal assemblies are dually fixed to the male and female connectors.
US08137133B2
A coaxial cable connector comprising a connector body, a tubular inner post configured to receive a coaxial cable and a clamping member, whereby at least one surface of the coaxial cable connector is coated with microcapsules creating an adhesive material. An adhesive layer is pre-applied to defined components of the coaxial cable connector in their pre-assembled configuration to avoid increased labor for the connector installer and to ensure a minimal but uniform layer of the microencapsulated adhesive is present on the desired connector components. When the coaxial cable is inserted into and clamped within the coaxial cable connector, the microcapsules are ruptured by the resulting pressure. This results in an adhesive bond forming between the coaxial cable and the connector to create a secure, mechanical bond and moisture seal.
US08137124B2
A self-locking assembly for a cable termination having a connector with a step. The self-locking assembly includes a ring having a circumference and a plurality of latches located around the circumference. Each latch is configured to move between a locked position, where the latch is engaged with the step, and an unlocked position, where the latch is disengaged from the step. A sliding ring is configured to move along a portion of the connector and includes a groove, and a support ring is located on the connector and is configured to restrict movement of the sliding ring in at least one direction.
US08137113B2
A socket includes an insulating elastomeric sheet having a penetration hole, metal circuits formed on at least one of the front and rear surfaces of the elastomeric sheet, and a through-hole having a metal film formed on an inner wall of the penetration hole. The metal circuit on the front surface of the elastomeric sheet is electrically connected to the metal circuit on the rear surface of the elastomeric sheet via the through-hole. With such a configuration of the socket, it is possible to provide a socket contact terminal and a semiconductor device having the same, which is suitable for low-resistance, large-current, and high-speed configurations.
US08137098B2
A multiple gas pilot burner assembly for a household heating appliance. The pilot burner includes an injector having a first conduit for receiving a flow of a first combustible fluid, a second conduit for receiving a flow of a second combustible fluid and a third conduit connected to and in fluid communication with the first and second conduits which is configured to receive the flow of the first combustible fluid from the first conduit or the flow of the second combustible fluid from the second conduit. A single nozzle at the outlet of the third conduit is provided for supplying a pilot flame. The assembly also includes a single flame igniter positioned to cause an ignition of the pilot flame at the nozzle and also a single thermocouple positioned to be heated by the pilot flame and to generate an electrical current when heated.
US08137091B2
A stretching rod holding arrangement may include a stretching rod for expanding plastic containers, wherein the stretching rod has an elongate rod-shaped main body and a holding body, which protrudes with respect to this rod-shaped main body in a radial direction of the rod-shaped main body. The arrangement comprises a receiving space for mounting the stretching rod, wherein at least one region of the holding body can be received by this receiving space, and the receiving space has a lower boundary wall in the longitudinal direction of the stretching rod. An opening is provided in this lower boundary wall, through which opening the main body of the stretching rod can pass. An arresting mechanism, which can be moved with respect to the receiving space between at least two positions, may be provided above the lower boundary wall in the longitudinal direction of the stretching rod. In the first position, the arresting mechanism allows the passage of the holding body in the longitudinal direction of the stretching rod, and in the second position prevents the passage of the holding body of the stretching rod.
US08137081B2
A compressor unit for underwater operation is provided. The compressor unit includes a compressor having a compressor rotor and a plurality of compressor stages. The compressor unit also includes an electric motor having a stator, a motor rotor, and a gastight housing which is provided with an inlet and an outlet. The motor rotor has two radial bearings, namely a first radial bearing and a second radial bearing, each arranged at the ends of the motor rotor. The compressor rotor has two radial bearings, namely a third radial bearing and a fourth radial bearing, each arranged at the ends of the compressor rotor. A coupling which transmits torque is arranged between the two rotors. The above arrangement provides a remedy for vibrations for especially large compressor units.
US08137075B2
Compressor impellers, compressor sections, and methods of manufacturing compressor impellers and cooling the compressor impellers are provided. In an embodiment, and by way of example only, a compressor impeller includes a bore section and a rim section. The bore section comprises a first nickel-based alloy and includes an inner disk portion and a first plurality of blade portions extending therefrom. The rim section comprises a second nickel-based alloy and includes an outer disk portion and a second plurality of blade portions. The outer disk portion is bonded to the inner disk portion of the bore section, and the second plurality of blade portions is bonded to the first plurality of blade portions of the bore section.
US08137072B2
A turbine blade is disclosed. The turbine blade may have an airfoil extending from a first surface of a turbine platform. The turbine blade may further have a first side pocket of the turbine platform that is configured to substantially entirely house a first moveable seal between a forward wall of the first side pocket and an aft wall of the first side pocket. The first side pocket may have a convex surface, extending between the forward wall and the aft wall, and a concave surface. The turbine blade may also have a second side pocket of the turbine platform configured to receive a portion of a second moveable seal.
US08137070B2
A free-tipped axial fan assembly has a skew distribution which reduces fan noise while minimizing radial tip deflection. The difference between the maximum value of leading-edge skew and the value of leading-edge skew at the fan radius is at least 10 degrees. The ratio of the difference of the leading-edge skew between the maximum value and the value at the fan radius to the difference of the trailing-edge skew between the maximum value and the value at the fan radius is at least 2.5.
US08137065B2
Disclosed herein is an aerogenerator having a horizontal maintaining means. The aerogenerator of the present invention includes a support pillar which is placed upright on the ground and has a hollow space therein. The aerogenerator further includes a rotational support unit which is provided on the upper end of the support pillar so as to be rotatable. The rotational support unit includes a rotational body and a rotational support base which supports the lower end of the rotational body. The opposite ends of the rotational support base extend predetermined lengths from the rotational body outwards. The aerogenerator further includes vane units which include a main vane and a subsidiary vane provided on the respective opposite ends of the rotational support base of the rotational support unit. The main vane and the subsidiary vane have different weights. The aerogenerator further includes a generating unit which converts the rotating force of the vane units into electric energy, a rotating force transmission unit which transmits the rotating force of the vane units to the generating unit, and the horizontal maintaining means which connects the vane units to the rotational body to maintain central axes of rotating shafts of the vane units horizontal.
US08137064B2
A fan apparatus includes an impeller, a motor rotating the impeller, a plurality of stator blades arranged opposite to the impeller in an axial direction. The stator blades each include a curved portion at which the stator blades each are curved with respect to the direction in which the stator blades extend.
US08137062B2
A turbomachine includes a housing, and a plurality of turbomachine nozzles. At least one of the plurality of turbomachine nozzles includes a body having a first surface and an opposing second surface that extend between a first end and a second end. At least one of the first and second surfaces includes a profile having an angle of between about 3° and about 8° between a first line passing through the first end and a first position located between about 28% and about 38% from the first end and a second line passing through the first position and a second position located between about 53% and about 63% from the first end, and an angle of between about 10° and about 20° between the second line and a third line passing through the second position and a third position located between about 74% and about 84% from the first end.
US08137061B2
A cooling structure for a working vehicle in which a shroud is attached to a radiator provided to a vehicle body, and an air-cooling fan is made face to an airflow opening of the shroud, wherein the shroud comprises a shroud body attached to the radiator, and an opening member having the airflow opening, and further comprises securing means capable of fixing the opening member to the shroud body, and of freely adjusting a fixing position of the opening member with respect to the shroud body, and a relative position between the air-cooling fan and the airflow opening of the shroud is made freely adjustable. With the configuration above, the sufficient amount of heat radiated by the radiator can be obtained without causing the disadvantages such as increased noise.
US08137051B2
A technique is provided to limit the number of vehicles required during a well project involving a plurality of well construction related procedures. The technique utilizes a modular unit, e.g. a vehicle, and a plurality of modules that may be interchanged on the modular unit according to the scheduled well procedure. A separate crane unit can be used to move the modules to and from the vehicle as required for specific phases of well construction.
US08137050B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device which can pick up a chip from an adhesive film while preventing damage to the chip. In addition, a device which can pick up a chip over an adhesive film with a high yield is provided. A pickup device includes: a frame for holding a film to which a chip is attached, which is fixed to a support; a pressing jig which presses a surface of the film, to which a chip is not attached, while rotated or moved; a holding jig which holds the chip simultaneously with or after the pressing jig pressing the film; and a moving unit which moves the holding jig.
US08137034B2
The present invention relates to a tool system that has a holder with a supply device for cooling lubricant, a cutting tool which has a tool cutter and a fixing part, and a tensioning device which has a tension screw by which a tension force acting upon the cutting tool can be produced for the purpose of fixing the cutting tool in position on the holder. A support face is realized on the holder for direct bearing contact of the fixing part of the cutting tool that is pressed-on by the tensioning screw, and a fluid space which adjoins this support face is delimited by wall parts of the bearing fixing part of the cutting tool and is fluidically connected to the supply device for cooling lubricant, and from which cooling lubricant can be passed on to the region of the main cutter via a channel which, provided in the cutting tool, comes from the adjoining wall of the fixing part.
US08137017B2
A printing apparatus that selectively couples a device to a printer carriage is provided. The printing apparatus includes a printer carriage and an intervening mechanism. The printer carriage is movable back and forth to selectively retrieve the device from and return the device to a position where the device can be parked detached from the carriage. The carriage is arranged to selectively move back and forth relative to the device while the device is detached from the carriage and in unison with the device while the device is attached to the carriage. The intervening mechanism and the carriage have respective surfaces that engage as they meet each other to allow the carriage to move past the intervening mechanism.
US08137005B2
A lens barrel has a drive frame, a first lens frame, a zoom motor, and a control device. The drive frame has three first cam grooves. The first lens frame has cam pins inserted into the first cam grooves. The zoom motor rotationally drives the drive frame. The control device limits the drive range of the zoom motor so that the cam pins do not stop near the wide-angle position of the imaging region.
US08137003B2
A device to serve as a fiber optic cable dummy connector is provided. The device may be have connection ports to accept the connectors terminating a fiber optic cable, such as LC-type connectors. Other configurations may be possible. The device may be used in place of an actual SFP module for connection of the fiber optic cable to a port on a piece of equipment. The device may be made opaque so that no transmission or receipt of data or light (laser) from the fiber optic cable may pass through the device. The device may be manufactured to be one-half the length of an actual SFP module. The device may be manufactured from any suitable material. The device may be used to plug fiber optic cables, inactive or active, into ports on a piece of equipment, in place of using an actual SFP module. The dummy connector may be used in place of coiling fiber optic cables and leaving them unconnected until they may be needed.
US08137000B2
A wheel bearing for a driven wheel provided with a roller bearing module includes an outer ring and a hub which can be slide onto the outer ring from at least from one side such that it encompasses a partial area of the outer covering of the outer ring, wherein at least one area of the outer covering of the outer ring and one area of an inner covering of the hub are embodied in the form of a conical covering so that they match each other and can be arranged adjacent to each other.
US08136997B2
A driveline assembly may include a driveline component housing, a pinion shaft located within the housing, a first bearing assembly, a second bearing assembly, a spacer assembly, and a load adjustment member. The spacer assembly may be located axially between the first and second bearing assemblies and may include first and second members. The first member may be axially fixed on the pinion shaft and may include an axial end defining a first generally conical surface. The second member may include a first axial end engaged with the second bearing assembly and a second axial end defining a second generally conical surface abutting the first generally conical surface. The load adjustment member may be axially displaceable relative to the pinion shaft to advance the second member axially along the first generally conical surface of the first member and adjust a preload on the second bearing assembly.
US08136993B2
A cylindrical sliding bearing having a cylindrical steel back metal, and a bearing alloy layer, serving as a sliding surface, on the inside of the steel back metal is provided. The cylindrical sliding bearing further have a coat layer of Bi or a Bi-based alloy formed on the outer back surface of the steel back metal. Preferably, the coat layer is made from the Bi-based alloy of 1 to 30 mass % of one or more kinds of Sn, Pb, In, Ag and Cu; and the balance being Bi and inevitable impurities.
US08136988B2
A temperature sensor is described that includes a base, a first set of posts attached to the base having a first coefficient of thermal expansion, a second set of posts attached to the base and having a second coefficient of thermal expansion, and two substantially parallel conductive plates forming a capacitor. The first of the conductive plates is fixed to the first set of posts and the second of the conductive plates is fixed to the second set of posts. Temperature changes cause the first set of posts and the second set of posts to elongate at different rates, thereby changing a distance between the conductive plates and therefore the resulting capacitance. A system and method are also described for determining resonant frequency associated with the sensor which correlates to the temperature at the sensor when multiple sensors are networked across a system.
US08136987B2
In some embodiments, a new DTS implementation, which employs the conventional Vbe/ΔVbe temperature dependent principles but substitutes a voltage-to-frequency (V/F) based ratio meter for the DAC based approach. This new approach can result in a more simplified circuit that may be more variation tolerant and can require less power and area.
US08136982B2
Counterfeit electronic devices are detected by comparing a thermal profile of the counterfeit device and an authentic device under predetermined operating conditions. A thermal profile for an authentic electronic device is recorded executing an instruction set over time, such as with static infrared images at predetermined times, video infrared images over a predetermined time period or temperature measurements made at predetermined locations of the electronic device. In one embodiment, a thermal profile indicates that a processor device has been used in the place of a field programmable grid array device. In an alternative embodiment, an electromagnetic profile is detected instead of or in addition to the thermal profile. The electromagnetic profile of an authentic device is used to create an expected profile for comparison with an electromagnetic profile of electronic devices under test.
US08136981B2
Disclosed is a heat transfer evaluation apparatus of a nano-fluid including: a long pipe formed as a circular pipe; a rubber tube connected to one end of the long pipe to surround the outer surface of the long pipe; a short pipe communicated through the rubber tube; and a hot wire sensor formed of a metal hot wire at one end of the short pipe.
US08136979B1
A mixer for mixing food items and ingredients includes beaters removably attachable to the mixer, and the beaters including arms and mixing blades and extending along and wrapping about the arms and mixing blades of each beater is a warming element, preferably electrical wiring or leads, that is embedded in and covered by a heat conductive material such as ceramic, so that the warming element and the heat conductive material can warm up and bring to room temperature the various food items and ingredients for more efficient and quicker food preparation and processing when the beaters are immersed in or submerged within the items or ingredients and the warming element is actuated for producing heat that conducts through the heat conductive material to the food items and ingredients.
US08136977B2
A lighting apparatus including a base, a light emitting unit, and a conducting wire is provided. The base includes a bottom board and a side frame. The bottom board has a first surface, a second surface, a recess, a first through hole, and a second through hole. The recess is located at the second surface. The first through hole and the second through hole are located at the recess and pass through the bottom board. The side frame is disposed on the first surface. The light emitting unit is disposed on the first surface. An end of the conducting wire is electrically connected to the light emitting unit. The conducting wire extends from the first surface to the recess through the first through hole, and extends from the recess to an outer side of the first surface through the second through hole.
US08136975B2
An optical film is applied to a side-emitting backlight module. The side-emitting backlight module has a light guide plate for guiding a chief light beam. The light guide plate has a light emitting surface to define a normal direction thereof. The optical film includes a lower prism structure, an intermedium layer, and an upper prism structure. The lower prism structure is disposed on the light emitting surface. The intermedium layer is connected between the lower prism structure and the upper prism structure. When the chief light beam exits from the light emitting surface of the light guide plate, and then goes through the lower prism structure, it goes through the intermedium layer along a changed traveling direction. When the chief light beam exits from the intermedium layer, and goes through the upper prism structure, it turns from the changed traveling direction to the normal direction.
US08136971B2
A vehicular light assembly, comprising: a housing and a lens cover, wherein at least one of the housing and lens cover includes at least one previously damaged sub-component which has been repaired utilizing a mold from a vehicular light assembly and/or assembly sub-component void of damage relative to the repaired sub-component.
US08136969B2
A variable lighting system (“VLS”) for optimizing object visibility at night by setting a base level of lighting, adding a variable light to that base level of lighting, and a synchronizing the timing and sequence of the base level of lighting and the variable lighting. The VLS varies the illumination by intensity, color, direction, or a combination thereof and optionally includes a detector for detecting motion, noise, and other occurrences. The VLS can be implemented as a fixed lighting source, a movable lighting source, or a vehicle mounted lighting source. The VLS improves visibility at night for viewers or motorists thereby reducing accidents and damage costs, saves energy, and improves the environment and enhances quality of life by reducing light pollution and light trespass.
US08136965B2
A lighting device comprises a heat sink, a housing mounted to and/or thermally coupled to the heat sink, a basket assembly attached to the housing, a solid state light emitter thermally coupled to the heat sink, and a baffle assembly attached to the housing. Also, a lighting device comprising a basket assembly and a baffle assembly. In some embodiments, the basket assembly comprises a first member defining a first opening, a second member, a space between the first and second members, and lenses in the opening and in the space. In some embodiments, the heat sink extends farther in a first direction in a first plane than a largest dimension of the housing in any plane which is parallel to the first plane. In some embodiments, at least one additional component (e.g., a power supply module or a junction box) is in contact with the heat sink element.
US08136962B2
Improvements in remote control hideaway holiday/party lights/messages lights with a casing that is permanently fixed to a home or business is disclosed. The lights are on a string and roll up or down below over eve, fascia or rain gutters. After the holiday or event simply pressing a remote control will retract the lighting into a concealed enclosure till the next party or holiday season comes around. The remote has a distinctive key code, which makes the lights operate for each owner. The concealed enclosure consist of door(s), depends on the number of lighting styles, power supply, drive motor, a string light(s) on a spool inside and controls. The lights come in many colors and types and may include shapes. Each enclosure can be self-contained with a solar charger, light sensor, or timer, and a battery that allows each unit to operate autonomously.
US08136952B2
An image capturing apparatus comprises: an image sensor adapted to opto-electronically convert the image of a subject; an optical member placed in front of the image sensor; first and second piezoelectric elements placed at respective ones of both ends of the optical member; first and second driving units adapted to independently vibrate the first and second piezoelectric elements, respectively; a detection unit having first and second detecting piezoelectric elements placed adjacent to the first and second piezoelectric elements, respectively, for detecting vibration of the optical member; and a first control unit adapted to control the first and second driving units and the detection unit so as to vibrate the optical member by vibrating the first piezoelectric element and detect vibration of the optical member using the second detecting piezoelectric element, or vibrate the optical member by vibrating the second piezoelectric element and detect vibration of the optical member using the first detecting piezoelectric element.
US08136946B2
An apparatus is provided for finding and defining a prescription for prism glasses for Diplopic patients and AMD patients whose Macula and Fovea are damaged enough that the patients have double vision, but, still have relatively good acuity. The apparatus positions lenses in infinitely variable locations horizontally and vertically in front of the patient's eyes until the patient indicates that he/she sees the two images fuse. The H-V coordinates of the location of the Optic center of each lens axis in relation to the patient's visual axis are decentration dimensions indicated for each eye by the H and V dials on the apparatus and are thus the basis for an accurate prescription for prism lenses.
US08136945B2
An opthalmological measurement apparatus (1) is proposed which comprises a first measurement system and a second measurement system. The first measurement system comprises a first light projection system for projection of a first light beam (2) through a cross-sectional part (4) of an eye (3). In addition, the first measurement system comprises image detection means, arranged in the Scheimpflug configuration with respect to the first light beam (2), for detection and storage of a cross-sectional image (30A) of at least one subregion of the cross-sectional part (4) which is illuminated by the first light projection system, from a first position outside the first light beam (2). The second measurement system comprises a second light projection system for projection of a second light beam onto the eye (3), and comprises a wavefront detector (19) for determination and storage of a wavefront profile of the second light beam reflected by the eye (3). The second measurement system allows the detection of extended measurement data which, in addition to cross-sectional images, also includes the wavefront profile, so that not only geometric eye parameters but also optical characteristics of the eye, in particular optical characteristics of the eye lens, can be determined on the basis of the detected measurement data.
US08136939B2
An integrated device enables a customer replaceable unit used within an ink jet printer to be enclosed within an enclosing structure as the unit is removed from the printer. The enclosing structure traps debris that may disburse from the customer replaceable unit as it is removed from the printer. The integrated device includes an extendable cover that encloses the customer replaceable unit in response to one end of the cover being moved away from the other end.
US08136937B2
An ink-jet printer, including: a feeding mechanism which feeds a recording medium in a feeding direction; an ink-jet head which ejects ink onto a surface of the recording medium at a recording position where the ink-jet head faces the recording medium fed by the feeding mechanism in the feeding direction; a pressing device including at least one spur and pressing the surface of the recording medium on a downstream side of the recording position in the feeding direction by bringing at least one of the at least one spur into contact with the surface of the recording medium; and a pressing-position-changing mechanism which selectively realizes one of a plurality of states which are different from each other in at least one pressing position, in the feeding direction, at which the pressing device presses the surface of the recording medium.
US08136930B2
A liquid container detachably mountable to a mounting portion of an ink jet printer including an information storing portion for storing information relating to the liquid container; a controller controls light emission of a light emitting portion, based on individual information corresponding to the ink container, supplied through a container contact from a printer contact, and the discrimination information stored in the memory; a light guide member having a light incident portion and a light emergence portion, the light guide member configured to guide the light entered from the light incident portion to the light emergence portion so as to cause a light receptor to receive the light emerged from the light emergence portion to obtain light reception information used for discriminating properness of position of the ink container mounted in the mounting portion.
US08136925B2
To allow formation of an insulation film to be applied even to a glass substrate without depending on a substrate material so as to improve pressure generated by an electrostatic actuator, as well as to achieve improvement in driving stability and driving durability of the electrostatic actuator at a low cost. An electrostatic actuator including an individual electrode formed on a substrate, a vibration plate arranged opposite to the individual electrode via a predetermined gap and a driving means for causing a displacement of the vibration plate by generating an electrostatic force between the individual electrode and the vibration plate includes an insulation film provided on one or both of opposing surfaces of the fixed electrode and the movable electrode and a surface protection film provided on the insulation film. The surface protection film is made of a hard ceramic film or a hard carbon film.
US08136923B2
A fluid discharging head includes a fluid channel unit, an actuator unit, and a wiring unit. The actuator unit includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, a first actuator area and a second actuator area, and driving electrodes on the first surface. The wiring unit includes a sheet substrate having an elongated portion, a first substrate area and a second substrate area positioned at opposite ends of the elongated portion of the sheet substrate, feeding terminals positioned at the first substrate area and the second substrate area, a driver positioned at a third substrate area between the first substrate area and the second substrate area, first lines extending from and electrically connecting the driver to the feeding terminals at the first substrate area, and second lines extending from and electrically connecting the driver to the feeding terminals at the second substrate area.
US08136909B2
In an ink jet print head formed with ejection nozzles, which may use a wiping member to wipe ink adhered to the surface of the ink jet print head, it is desired to be able to perform a wiping operation in any environment without requiring a large amount of space to accommodate the liquid used during the wiping operation. To this end, a cooling unit is used which can produce water by cooling the atmosphere. This cooling unit is operated to produce water, which is brought into contact with and transferred onto the wiping member before the wiping member performs wiping.
US08136899B2
A rack device having a receiver that can be prevented from being separated from a rack post in an incubator. A rack device in which a receiver is mounted between a pair of rack posts to hold a rack on the receiver includes a pair of engaging hooks which are formed in the receiver and a plurality of engaging holes which are formed in both the rack posts and in which both of the engaging hooks of the receiver disengageably engage, respectively. The rack posts are configured to be able to change an interval there between and select a first state in which the engaging hooks can be disengaged from the engaging holes and a second state in which the movement of the receiver is restricted while the engaging hooks be kept to engage in the engaging holes by changing the interval between the rack posts.
US08136897B2
An overhead storage system for attachment to a ceiling includes a hollow housing, frame and a pair of pivots pivotally attaching a rear end of the frame to a rear end of the housing so that the frame pivots between a storage position wherein the frame is disposed generally coplanar with a ceiling surface and an access position wherein the frame is disposed at a predetermined angle relative to the ceiling surface. A latch assembly releasably secures the frame in the storage position. There is a storage container which is telescopically movable through an open front end of the frame between a retracted position wherein the storage container is substantially disposed within confines of the frame and an extended position wherein a front end of the storage container is disposed a predetermined distance from the open end of the frame.
US08136896B2
A laundry treating machine is provided which includes a cabinet that forms an external appearance of the laundry treating machine, a washing tub mounted in the cabinet, a housing mounted in the cabinet below the washing tub, the housing defining a predetermined space, and a movable body received in the housing such that the movable body can move in forward-and-rearward directions with respect to the cabinet.
US08136892B2
A method of detecting the braking of a vehicle comprising a push rod (200) intended to transmit an amplified braking command to a master cylinder. A plunger (220), arranged parallel to the primary piston (200) so as to reproduce the movements of this piston, and a sensor (230) which senses the movements of the plunger (220), this sensor (230) being fastened to the booster (250), are used to detect a braking operation by detecting a movement of the plunger (220).
US08136890B2
Devices and methods for preventing shock from a high voltage power source. In one embodiment, a device for preventing an electric shock, comprises output terminals for connecting to an external load, a low voltage circuit for carrying a first current (IL) to the output terminals, the low voltage circuit comprising a first coil disposed about a magnetic core, and a high voltage circuit for carrying a second current (IH) to the output terminals, the high voltage circuit comprising a second coil disposed about the magnetic core, and a control relay configured to electrically connect one of the high voltage circuit and the low voltage circuit to the output terminals based at least partly on the first current (IL).
US08136877B2
A bicycle seat height adjusting assembly comprises of a seat post that axially slides into an insert sleeve that fits into a bicycle frame in the place of a conventional seat post. The front of the seat post has a plurality of evenly spaced holes sized to receive a locking pin. The locking pin with supplemental spring is positioned within a generally cylindrical protrusion that extends out from the top section of the insert sleeve. A main air spring is positioned within the seat post to keep the main air spring free from dirt interference, allow the post to fully rise and lower, and enable the use of a maximum height pre-adjustment system. The locking pin connects to a cable that extends out to an actuation lever that is positioned on the handlebars. The opening between the main air springs two chambers is sized to damped the airflow and keep the seat post from rising up too fast. The counter rotational system for the seat post is formed mainly in the insert sleeve to maintain a strong and conventional looking seat post.
US08136868B2
An air deflection apparatus for reduction of vehicular air drag comprises at least one air deflection element coupled to a rear portion of the vehicle but not to the rear-facing surface of the vehicle or, in other embodiments, at least one air deflection element coupled to a rear portion of the vehicle but not to any rear door which the vehicle may have. Each air deflection element comprises a housing member and an elongating member, and the elongating members are displaceable, preferably in unison, between a retracted position and at least one deployed position. The elongating members may be deployed and retracted manually, or remotely with powered assistance, or under microprocessor control. Vehicles equipped with the apparatus, and methods of reducing vehicular air drag using the apparatus, are also disclosed.
US08136861B2
An assembly includes a body of an automobile and a tailgate mounted on the body so as to be movable between an open position and a closed position. The assembly also includes: an opening assistance device mounted between the body and the tailgate in order to apply a pushing force on the tailgate that tends to move the latter into an open position; and at least one abutment provided on the body, for applying on the opening assistance device, when the tailgate is in the closed position, a force opposite to the pushing force thereof so that the tailgate is not subjected, or barely subjected, to the pushing force of the opening assistance device.
US08136855B2
A bumper assembly for a vehicle and the associated vehicle comprising this bumper assembly are described. The vehicle comprises a chassis. The bumper assembly comprises: a bumper core. The bumper core, in turn, comprises: a first cross member made of a first thermoplastic material and a first and a second substantially undeformable connection device for rigidly fixing the first cross member to the chassis of the vehicle. The first and the second substantially undeformable connection devices co-operate with the first cross member. The bumper core also comprises a second cross member and at least one shock absorbing element arranged between the first cross member and the second cross member. The second cross member is connected to said first and second substantially undeformable connection devices or it is formed as one piece with said substantially undeformable connection devices.
US08136852B1
A door locking system includes a door that has an outer edge. The door is overlapped with a door frame in a dwelling wall when the door in a closed position. A mounting plate is attached to the outer edge and has an upper edge and a lower edge. A swing plate is pivotally coupled to the mounting plate by a pivot pin positioned adjacent to the upper edge. A stop plate is attached to the door frame and extends outwardly from the door frame. The mounting plate is abutted against the stop plate when the door is in a closed position overlapping the door frame. The stop plate is positioned below the pivot pin. The swing plate is pivoted over the stop plate in a locking position to position the stop plate between the swing plate and the mounting plate to prevent opening of the door.
US08136851B2
An apparatus and method providing a quick-release latch mechanism for a walled enclosure access door. The latch mechanism includes a striker with one end slidably inserted into the enclosure and the other end located outside the enclosure. A keeper is located within the enclosure and adapted to releasably engage and be captively held by the striker when the access door is in the closed position. If necessary, the access door can be readily unlatched from within the enclosure by manually rotating the keeper away from the enclosure wall to disengage and cause removal of the striker as the access door is being manually pushed open from within the enclosure.
US08136849B2
The invention relates to a furniture closure for doors, shutters and drawers, in particular for cabinets and the like in the vehicle sector. In order to provide a furniture closure which, while being particularly straightforward to design and produce, ensures sealed and secured closure of doors, shutters (3) and drawers, a profile rail (5) having a seal (6), a grip strip and a locking element (7) is arranged along the peripheral region thereof and can be pivoted about a horizontal axis (23). The seal (6) has a spring force which retains the locking element (7) in the closure position and can be compressed for the opening position.
US08136842B2
A deflector for a safety belt system of a motor vehicle with a metal core, which has a mounting aperture in the upper section (12) and a belt loop in the lower section, and a plastic element that encompasses at least some sections of the metal core. The plastic element having a first section (30), which is fixed on the metal core, and a second section (50) connected to the first section (30) by means of a film hinge (60), which in the fully assembled state covers at least the front side of the upper section (12) of the metal core and engages with the first section. In order to reliably prevent the second section (50) from becoming detached from the first section (30) in case an expanding curtain airbag makes impact on the second section, one of the two sections of the plastic element has a nose (40) with a first contact surface beside the film hinge, which in the fully assembled state is in contact with a second contact surface of the other section.
US08136838B2
An occupant side-impact protection apparatus for a motor vehicle, including an inflatable cushion stored in a folded configuration and an inflator configured to provide gas to inflate the cushion. The cushion is configured to inflate to form a curtain to protect the head and upper torso of the occupant of a vehicle. The apparatus includes a tension tether, having a first end coupled at a first portion of the cushion and a second end coupled to a second portion of the cushion, to provide tension to the cushion during its unfolding. The cushion is further configured to deploy along the internal side of the vehicle, wherein the first portion of the cushion is located proximate to the rear of the cushion along an edge of the cushion that trails the remainder of the cushion as the cushion unfolds, and wherein the second portion of the cushion is located proximate to the rear of the cushion along an edge of the cushion that leads the remainder of the cushion as the cushion unfolds.
US08136837B2
A folded airbag for a motor vehicle, which can be inflated in case of a crash, having a first rolled folding created by rolling up a first airbag section, and a second rolled folding created by rolling up a second airbag section. The spatial directions, along which the two airbag sections are rolled up to form a rolled folding are oriented at an angle to each other.
US08136832B2
A dashboard support part is provided having an airbag exit opening and a module fastening frame, on which a passenger airbag module is directly and removably fastened, the module fastening frame being implemented integrally with the dashboard support part. The passenger airbag module is fastened on the module fastening frame using screws and/or using projections of the passenger airbag module inserted into pockets of the module fastening frame transversely to a firing direction of the passenger airbag module.
US08136830B2
A crash attenuator includes a crash cushion having a front end and a rear end, and a restraint element disposed adjacent the front end and capable of being coupled to a towing vehicle. The crash attenuator further includes at least one wheel supporting the crash cushion. The restraint element is operable between at least an impact condition and a non-impact condition.
US08136828B2
A bicycle design includes a seat tube affixed to the chain stay at a fixed distance rearward of the bottom bracket so that the rider sitting on the saddle can comfortably fully extend one leg to place a foot flat on the ground or to use the proper full leg extension for pedaling. The rider sits comfortably upright on the saddle while pedaling and can pedal while standing up. Increasing the height of the saddle by extending the seat post tube for a taller rider increases the space between the saddle and the handle bars. The fixed distance may be on the order of about the height above ground of a heel of the rider's foot sitting on a properly adjusted conventional frame when the foot is outstretched to reach the ground and/or on the order of about a radius of a circle through which the pedals are moved during pedaling of the bicycle. The fixed distance is preferably in the range of about 4″ to 8″ and most preferably about 6″. The seat tube is preferably affixed to the chain stay frame member at an angle of about 66.5° and the head tube at an angle of about 68°.
US08136810B1
A sheet alignment and ejection mechanism includes a sheet alignment device, a sheet ejection device, a power device and a transmission unit. The sheet alignment device includes a first one-way element. The sheet ejection device includes a second one-way element. The transmission unit includes plural gears. The transmission unit is connected with the power device, the first one-way element and the second one-way element for driving rotation of the first one-way element and the second one-way element. The first one-way element and the second one-way element are rotated in opposite directions. When the first one-way element is rotated in a first direction, the sheets aligned on a sheet placement tray are aligned by the sheet alignment device. When the second one-way element is rotated in the first direction, the stapled sheets are ejected out of the sheet placement tray by the sheet ejection device.
US08136806B2
A cutting board with a planar cutting surface and a stand pivotally mounted thereto. The stand supports the cutting board in a generally vertical position to facilitate frequent washing and drainage for healthier food processing.
US08136803B2
An armover clamp assembly is provided that includes a housing, an actuator, a cam, a first link, a pivot pin, a driver, a rotating pin, and an arm. The cam includes a cam slot disposed therethrough and is attached to the actuator for linear movement inside the housing. The cam slot has a cam path that includes a locking portion and an extended travel portion. The first link is movably coupled to the cam slot via a cam pin coupled to the link. The cam pin is disposed in and configured to follow the cam path. The pivot pin is coupled to the first link at a position spaced apart from where the cam pin is coupled to the link. The driver is pivotally attached to the pivot pin. The rotating pin extends exterior of the housing and is attached to the driver inside the housing at a location spaced apart from the pivot pin. The arm is attached to the rotating pin exterior of the housing and is rotatable when the actuator linearly moves the cam which causes the cam pin to follow the cam path moving the first link which moves the driver via the pivot pin to rotate the rotating pin.
US08136801B2
An adjustable tension spring anchor with rotatable head. A flanged head is rotatably mounted to a threaded cylinder mounted to a first element. The rotatable head is connectable to one end of a tension spring having its opposite end attached to a second element. A pair of mutually opposed flat surfaces on the cylinder and a socket at the end of the cylinder allows the cylinder to be rotated to adjust tension without twisting of the attached spring.
US08136799B2
A multiple downcomer tray for a mass transfer column includes a mass transfer area and a plurality of downcomers for collecting and discharging a fluid from the tray. Each downcomer is shaped as a channel with an end wall attachable to an extension element. A downcomer and extension element together extends across the column and supports the panels of the mass transfer area.
US08136789B2
A valve actuator operates a valve, such as a drain valve of an industrial washing machine. The valve actuator has a permanent magnet DC motor which drives a gear train which rotatably drives an output shaft. The output shaft is engaged with the drain valve and moves the drain valve to open and closed positions as desired. The valve actuator also has a controller which controls operation of the valve actuator. The controller provides power to the motor only when needed to open and close the drain valve. The controller does not provide power to the motor when the drain valve is in the open and closed positions.
US08136783B2
A system for assisting solar power generation contains several racks for fastening power conversion modules. The racks each have a pivot axis and are mounted for pivotal movement about the pivot axis. The racks each have a lever, a movement of the lever causing a respective one of the racks to pivot. A coupling rod is provided on which the levers are each carried for rotation. The coupling rod couple the levers of the racks together and are further coupled to a linear drive unit so that the racks may be caused to pivot together through an action of the linear drive unit. A common mounting configuration mounts the racks so as to have the pivot axis carried on the common mounting configuration. The linear drive unit has a first end hinge-linked to the common mounting configuration and a second end hinge-linked to the coupling rod.
US08136781B2
A hanging device is provided to hold a workpiece, where the workpiece has a preformed hole therein. The hanging device has an expandable element, such as a cup, that is adapted to be selectively retained within the hold in the workpiece. A hook is connected to the expandable element for use in supporting the expandable element and workpiece affixed thereto.
US08136777B2
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a mounting bracket for securing a video system behind a headrest including parallel support arms. The mounting bracket includes a rear support plate adapted for substantial vertical orientation for orienting a video system secured thereto in an orientation facing the passengers seated within the rear seat of a vehicle. The rear support plate includes a front surface to which the video system is secured, a rear surface which ultimately faces the rear surface of the headrest, a top edge, a bottom edge and first and second lateral side edges. First and second attachment members extend rearwardly from the rear support plate. The first attachment member includes a top horizontal plate connected to a bottom horizontal plate. The second attachment member includes a top horizontal plate connected to a bottom horizontal plate. Each of the top and bottom horizontal plates include an aperture shaped and dimensioned for receiving the respective parallel support arms of the headrest.
US08136768B2
A system and a method for adjusting and locking a control surface that is movably arranged on a wind-tunnel aircraft model and comprises a drive arrangement for driving the control surface, and a locking arrangement. The drive arrangement comprises a first drive motor, arranged in a fixed manner relative to the control surface, at least one first connecting rod eccentrically connectable to the first drive motor, and at least one lever, whose one end can be held on the first connecting rod and whose other end can be held on a fixed point of the aircraft model. The locking arrangement can be attached in a fixed manner relative to the control surface and is further designed to block a relative movement between the control surface and the aircraft model.
US08136765B2
A method is disclosed for placing a satellite in an operational orbit. The satellite is equipped with its own satellite propulsion system as well as a detachable separate propulsion device. The satellite and separate propulsion device are launched into a transfer orbit by means of a space launcher. The separate propulsion device is controlled by a satellite. The satellite is transferred from the transfer orbit to an intermediate orbit by means of the separate propulsion device. The separate propulsion device is separated from the satellite in the intermediate orbit. The satellite then enters and operational orbit from the intermediate orbit by means of its own satellite propulsion system. The intermediate orbit is disposed between the transfer and operational orbits, and is in relatively close proximity to the operational orbit but is far enough away from the operational orbit to prevent possible interferences.
US08136764B2
A device (D) for opposing sloshing in a flexible tank (21) provided with a top cushion (22) and having a bottom (23) and a plurality of sides (24), the device includes at least first and second ties (1 and 2). The first and second ties (1 and 2) are secured respectively to first and second edges (221 and 222) of the cushion, with the first edge (221) being opposite from the second edge (222). The device is remarkable in that it includes main distributor elements (10) for blocking only one of the ties when the tension exerted on that tie is greater than the tension exerted on the other tie, the first and second ties (1 and 2) also being secured to the main distributor unit (10).
US08136762B2
According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a combined habitation module for the crew of an aircraft is provided, which habitation module comprises two monument units that are separated from each other by a gap such that acoustic decoupling of the two monument units from each other is provided. In this way noise propagation within the habitation module may be prevented to a large extent.
US08136759B2
A landing gear for an aircraft, characterized by upper and lower pintle frame members (38, 40) being connected to a telescoping shock strut (14) in a non-rigid manner that tolerates twisting when reacting to torsional loads applied to the landing gear, and/or by a pitch trim actuator (30) that positions a landing gear truck (16) proportionally to the retraction angle of a shock strut (14) during retraction and extension.
US08136754B2
A steering device for a landing gear of an aircraft, including at least one actuator and at least one rack, located alongside the landing gear strut, outside and parallel to an upper tube of the landing gear. The steering device includes bevel pinions having a first conical pinion with an axis perpendicular to an axis of the landing gear strut and which meshes with a second conical pinion coaxial with a rotary annulus so that movement of the rack parallel to the strut is transferred to the annulus perpendicular to an axis of the landing gear through the bevel pinions having an axis perpendicular to the landing gear.
US08136749B2
A device for shredding poultry carcasses, includes a frame supporting a comminuting unit and a drive unit. The comminuting unit includes a drum mounted on a rotatable shaft, the drum having a generally cylindrical surface and an array of cutting points affixed to the drum, protruding from the surface, and a stationary comb having an array of teeth separated by spaces, and extending close to the drum surface so that the points pass between the teeth as the drum rotates. The drive unit turns the drum to reduce the carcasses to a compostable mass.
US08136742B2
The telescoping pop-up sprinkler includes a telescoping piston assembly that allows the piston assembly of the pop-up to extend upwards at a greater height than the length of the pop-up sprinkler body. The telescoping pop-up sprinkler has a main body with a piston assembly that includes two or more pistons that engage internally with one another, with stops provided at one end of each piston to limit the stroke of each piston. Multiple internal seals are provided to prevent the bypassing of water around the outer diameter of each piston.
US08136741B2
Disclosed is a fuel injection device comprising a housing and a valve element disposed therein and cooperating with a valve seat located in the area of at least one fuel discharge port. The valve element is composed of several parts while at least two parts of the valve element are coupled to each other via a hydraulic coupler.
US08136735B2
As a non-contact ID label, ID tag and the like being widespread, it is required to manufacture a considerable quantity of ID labels at quite a low cost. An ID label attached to a product is, for example, required to be manufactured at 1 to several yens each, or preferably less than one yen. Thus, such a structure and a process are demanded that an ID label can be manufactured in a large quantity at a low cost. A thin film integrated circuit device included in the ID label, the ID card, and the ID tag of the invention each includes a thin film active element such as a thin film transistor (TFT). Therefore, by peeling a substrate on which TFTs are formed for separating elements, the ID label and the like can be manufactured in a large quantity at a low cost.
US08136732B2
An electronic transaction card communicates with an add-on slot of an intelligent electronic device. The add-on slot may be a memory card slot. The intelligent electronic device may be a mobile phone or other device with or without network connectivity. The electronic transaction card may have magnetic field producing circuitry compatible with magnetic card readers, smartcard circuitry, other point-of-sale interfaces, or any combination thereof.
US08136730B2
A storage medium connecting device which enables electrical connection of a card-type storage medium with a substrate via a socket is provided. The storage medium connecting device includes an exterior member having an insertion port for allowing the card-type storage medium to be inserted into the socket; a connection section provided in a vicinity of the insertion port for connecting the socket to the substrate; and a cover member which extends from the insertion port in a direction of inserting the card-type storage medium and covers the connection section, the cover member being provided on the exterior member.
US08136717B2
A paperboard carton doubles as a shipping container for articles such as beverage cans and a cooler for containing ice to cool the articles when the carton is opened. The top portion of the carton is breached by removing an opening strip defined by zipper rules. Once breached, the tops and side panels of the carton are opened up to form an upwardly open chimney or skirt into which ice can be placed to cool the contents of the carton. Gussets formed in the lower corners of the cartons insure that water from melting ice does not leak prematurely from the carton.
US08136712B2
In various embodiments, a surgical stapler is provided that may comprise a body, a stapling head operably coupled to the body, an anvil movably supported relative to the stapling head for selective travel toward and away from the stapling head, and an anvil adjustment shaft supported by the body for selectively adjusting a position of the anvil relative to the stapling head. The adjustment shaft and/or the body may be configured to establish at least one predetermined staple forming height between the anvil and the stapling head irrespective of adjustment shaft rotation. Additionally, the adjustment shaft and/or the body may be configured to provide tactile feedback to a user rotating the anvil adjustment shaft, thereby providing the user of an indication of when an appropriate staple forming height has been reached. Various integrations of components described herein may also reduce the part count required for a surgical stapler, thereby reducing assembly time and manufacturing cost.
US08136711B2
The present disclosure describes a surgical fastener applying apparatus that includes an elongate body portion having proximal and distal ends, an end effector including a first movably coupled to a second jaw that is positioned at the distal end of the elongate body portion, and an introducer member. The introducer member has proximal and distal portions, and is configured and dimensioned for releasable connection with the end effector. The introducer member is at least partially formed from a flexible material, and is configured and dimensioned to separate target tissue from collateral tissue prior to positioning of the target tissue between the first and second jaws of the end effector.
US08136702B2
A hydration system includes opposing flexible walls forming a bladder having a sealable compartment for containing a liquid. The system includes a drinking tube having a first end with a valve and a second end. A first port is configured to receive pressurizing gasses into the compartment. A baffle connects the opposing walls within the compartment. The baffle is configured to oppose expansion of the bladder as the pressurizing gasses are introduced into the compartment. A second port is configured to couple to the second end of the drinking tube to provide fluid communication between the compartment and the drinking tube. A third port allows the liquid to be supplied into the compartment. Activation of the valve unseals the compartment and allows the liquid to be expelled from the compartment via the second port and the drinking tube as a result of a pressurization of the compartment by the pressurizing gasses.
US08136699B2
A device for recycling bar soap by passing the drippings, pieces and slivers of soap in the soap dish into a reservoir to form a reusable liquid. The soap dish is mounted on the top of a reservoir, and is provided with an opening communicating with the reservoir. Water or liquid soap can be placed in the reservoir to combine with the soap drippings, slivers and pieces. A dispensing valve or pump communicates with the liquid in the reservoir to provide a way for the user to access the recycled soap mixture. The opening in the soap dish can be closed by a plug to allow the reservoir alternatively to be used to dispense other liquids such as hand lotion.
US08136696B2
A lottery ticket machine able to prevent tickets from being illegally drawn out includes a machine base provided with a driving device, two press rollers with pressed streaks on the wheel surface and a control device. One of the two press rollers is provided with a shaft extending out of the machine base for fixing the control device that contains a rotary gear with engage holes, a bushing and a control wheel bored with bushing hole to be fitted with the bushing and disposed with engage teeth and projecting members to be respectively engaged with the engage holes of the rotary gear. An outer cover covered on the control device is provided inside with engage teeth to correspondingly engage with the engage teeth of the control wheel, and a spring has opposite ends respectively pushing against the control wheel and the inner wall of the bushing cover.
US08136694B1
The cup of the present invention can have a body made of a foam material. The cup has a handle and a holder. The handle and the holder can each have a flange, respectively, to secure to the cup. The flanges, respectively, are shaped to mate with the external periphery of the cup, and can be initially held in place with an adhesive. A shrinkable wrap can then be positioned around the cup. Upon a heat treatment, the wrap shrinks to tightly engage the outside of the cup. Further, the shrink wrap maintains secure engagement between the flanges and the cup so that the handle and holder are secure. A cover can be provided for covering the cup. A package can be secured within a cavity on the top of the cover. The package can contain a fluid enabling the cup to be used for portable meals.
US08136690B2
A vessel comprising a fluid-confining surface, a basal surface disposed below the fluid-confining surface, and a light guide. The light guide includes a first window partly defining the basal surface and a second window partly defining the fluid-confining surface, where the second window is disposed above a lowest region of the fluid-confining surface. In other embodiments, an isolating structure is provided that substantially surrounds the light guide between the first and second windows.
US08136682B2
A merchandising system that improves the merchandising of product by limiting the number and the frequency with which product can be removed from, for example, a merchandising shelf. The merchandising system may include a base configured to support product and a housing configured to engage the base. The housing may comprise a top wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and a front retaining wall. The system may further include a spring-urged pusher movably mounted on the base and a dampener assembly mounted to the spring-urged pusher configured to control the rate of speed at which the spring-urged pusher is urged forward.
US08136658B2
The invention relates to a method of preserving a sensor in a container, said sensor comprising a sensing area of metallic or a semi-conducting material covered with molecules having a MW>100 Dalton, said molecules being bound to the material wherein at least the sensing area of the layer is kept submerged in a storage solution, said storage solution having a composition that consists for at least 80% by volume of at least one compound chosen from water, ethanol, triethylene glycol and isopropanol, with the provisios that if the concentration of ethanol is at least 80 vol. % of the storage solution ethanol is present in a concentration of no more than 93% by volume of the storage solution; if water is present, it is present in a concentration of less than 80% by volume of the storage solution. The invention also relates to a container containing a sensor and a storage solution.
US08136656B2
A package for surgical suture material is also provided. The package includes a base and a cover. The cover is configured to be placed adjacent to the base to form the package for surgical suture material and including a plurality of posts extending from an outer surface thereof configured for receiving an information label. The package may further include an information label heat staked to the cover.
US08136643B2
In a locomotive having a dynamic braking capability, a method for maintaining an airflow path to a resistive grid disposed within a resistive grid enclosure having an enclosure inlet and an enclosure outlet is provided, wherein the method includes generating an inlet airflow into the enclosure inlet, creating a heated inlet airflow by associating the inlet airflow with the resistive grid such that the inlet airflow absorbs heat generated by the resistive grid, directing the heated inlet airflow toward the enclosure outlet to generate a heated outlet airflow, redirecting at least a portion of the heated outlet airflow to be thermally associated with a structural portion of the enclosure inlet such that the temperature of the structural portion of the enclosure inlet is increased above a predetermined temperature to reduce blockage of the enclosure inlet by snow and recirculating the redirected heated outlet airflow with ambient air being drawn into the resistive grid enclosure.
US08136640B2
In a brake- and/or clamping arrangement for a shaft supported in a device housing and comprising a braking disc mounted on the shaft rigidly for rotation therewith and a clamping ring supported in the device housing, the braking disc has a friction area comprising two truncated cone-shaped friction surfaces with at least one brake cone arranged in the device housing and one arranged on an activating member. One brake cone abuts during braking or clamping the brake disc whereas the other brake cone abuts a clamping ring, which is disposed between contact areas of the brake cones, the clamping ring in contact with the brake disc and a brake cone being mounted to the apparatus housing.
US08136627B2
An exhaust silencer device for an internal combustion engine which includes: an exhaust pipe (10) that forms an exhaust passage from an engine (1), and an exhaust opening; and a muffler (22) attached to the exhaust pipe (10) so as to silence exhaust sound from the engine (1). The piping lengths of the exhaust passages (L2, L3) on two sides of the muffler (22) are substantially equal. At least one of the two exhaust passages (L2, L3) equal in piping length has a hole (41) that makes the resonance frequencies of the two exhaust passages (L2, L3) different from each other.
US08136626B1
Mobile soundproof enclosure with changeable internal room shape and optional ventillation noise cancelling device consisting of a frame that can be assembled and disassembled by a single person without using tools and that in disassembled state is small enough to fit in a trunk of a car; a cover made with flexible sound absorbent sheet material creating completely enclosed room with double walls with air space in between, corner sound traps made with flexible sound absorptive sheet material that can be individually positioned to change internal shape of the room and an air vent noise cancelling device made with flexible sound absorbing sheet material having inlet portion, which enters a center portion at an angle, the center portion larger than the inlet portion and outlet portion which exits the center portion at an angle; the whole enclosure can be disassembled to compactly fold for easy storage or transportation.
US08136621B2
A driveline with a shaft and a vibration damper coupled to the shaft. The damper includes a hub, a first mass, a first resilient coupling, a second mass, and a second resilient coupling. The first mass is disposed concentrically about the hub. The first resilient coupling resiliently couples the first mass to the hub. The first resilient coupling has a first spring constant. The second mass is disposed concentrically about the first mass. The second resilient coupling resiliently couples the second mass directly to the first mass. The second resilient coupling has a second spring constant that is less than the first spring constant. The first mass and the first resilient coupling are configured to attenuate vibration at a first frequency. The second mass and the second resilient coupling are configured to attenuate vibration at a second frequency. The second frequency is lower than the first frequency.
US08136618B2
A material handling vehicle includes a cyclonic motor cooling system for a motor compartment that accommodates an ergonomically designed operator compartment. Together, the motor compartment and cyclonic motor cooling system include a generally cylindrical housing with a tangentially arranged cooling air injection port at a lower end and exhaust port at a radially and axially opposite end. An air blower directs cooling air into the compartment where a cyclonic cooling air flow and a vortex cooling flow is produced. The cyclonic air flow cools more effectively than conventional linear air flow while also reducing dust contamination and buildup of the motors in the motor compartment.
US08136617B2
During an operation of an engine, an input limit Swin and an output limit Swout of a battery are set to a power demand-based input limit Wp*, which depends on a power demand P*, and to an accelerator opening-based output limit Wacc, which depends on an accelerator opening Acc (steps S400 to S420). This control technique effectively prevents the battery from being frequently charged or discharged to a relatively high level of electric power within an allowable electric power range defined by the reference input limit Bwin and the reference output limit Bwout, thus restraining premature deterioration of the battery.
US08136616B2
A method for operating an oil control valve coupled to a cam phaser configured to adjust a position of at least one cam between hard stops, the oil control valve included in an internal combustion engine having an intake valve and/or an exhaust valve controlled via the cam phaser. The method including operating the oil control valve responsive to cam position feedback information, the oil control valve adjusted in a first relationship based on the feedback information and operating the oil control valve in a cleaning mode during select combustion conditions by abruptly switching the oil control valve between two states responsive to the cam position feedback information. The oil control valve adjusted in a second relationship based on the feedback information, the second relationship including more abrupt adjustment than the first relationship.
US08136611B2
Disclosed is a method for drilling a cased hole and installing a micropile. A sonic drilling apparatus is positioned at a desired location. The sonic drilling apparatus includes a rotating and vibrating apparatus for rotating and vibrating a drill string into the ground. The cased hole is drilled to a desired depth by rotating and vibrating the hollow drill string into the ground while discharging fluid into the inner space of the hollow drill string. A micropile is then lowered into the cased hole. Grouting material may be discharged into the cased hole before or after the drill string is removed from the ground.
US08136610B2
A system for drilling a cavity in a medium. The system may include a drill bit, a processor, and a controller. The drill bit may be configured to rotate in the medium and remove at least a portion of the medium. The processor may be configured to receive a first set of data representative of a variable rotational speed of the drill bit during a length of time in the medium, and determine, based at least in part on the first set of data, a first resonant frequency of the variable rotational speed of the drill bit. The controller may be configured to receive a second set of data representative of the first resonant frequency of the variable rotational speed of the drill bit, and vary the force applied to the drill bit based at least in part on the second set of data.
US08136603B2
A method of running casing into a well utilizes a load sensor to avoid dropping the casing string accidentally. The rig has a spider at the rig floor that suspends a casing string in the well when in a gripping position. A casing lifting mechanism will place a new joint of casing on the casing string suspended in the spider. The new joint of casing is rotated to make up with the casing string. After makeup, the casing lifting mechanism lifts the new joint of casing and the casing string. The operator releases the spider to allow the casing string to be lowered further into the well. Before releasing the spider, a load sensor will send a signal indicating that the casing lifting mechanism is supporting a minimum amount of weight.
US08136595B2
Methods useful in treating subterranean formations to control particulate migration with a tacky-consolidate treatment fluid comprising a resin and a tackifying compound. One method comprises the steps of providing a portion of a subterranean formation comprising unconsolidated particulates; providing a tacky-consolidate treatment fluid comprising a tackifying compound, a curable resin, and a silane coupling agent; and placing the tacky-consolidate treatment fluid in the subterranean formation so as to form a tacky consolidate that comprises at least a portion of the unconsolidated particulates.
US08136592B2
A method for producing oil and/or gas comprising injecting a miscible enhanced oil recovery formulation into fractures, karsts, and/or vugs of a formation for a first time period from a first well; producing oil and/or gas from the fractures, karsts, and/or vugs from a second well for the first time period; injecting a miscible enhanced oil recovery formulation into the fractures, karsts, and/or vugs for a second time period from the second well; and producing oil and/or gas from the fractures, karsts, and/or vugs from the first well for the second time period.
US08136588B2
A running tool for landing and setting a retrievable downhole tool at any location in a well bore includes an inner rod, a running tool anchoring device mounted on the inner rod and controllably reconfigurable between a retracted configuration to permit movement of the tool through the well bore and a radially extended configuration for locking engagement of the running tool with the bore wall, a running tool actuating assembly for effecting reciprocal movement of the reconfiguring the running tool anchoring device to and from the retracted and expanded configurations without interacting with any restrictions or recesses within the well bore, and a resistance device for frictionally engaging the bore wall with sufficient gripping force so as to hold the position of the running tool relative to the well bore during movement of the running tool actuating assembly to and from the first and second configuration upon application of the axial force.
US08136581B2
A heat transport device having a composite structure that is readily manufactured and a method for manufacturing such a heat transport device are provided. The heat transport device includes a first base plate having a liquid suction and retention unit for sucking and retaining a liquid-phase working fluid by capillary force; a second base plate having a face provided with a first concavity functioning as a vaporization chamber for vaporizing the working fluid, a second concavity functioning as a liquefaction chamber for liquefying the working fluid, a first ditch for transporting the vaporized working fluid, a second ditch for transporting the liquefied working fluid, the second base plate comprising a material having a thermal conductivity lower than that of silicon; and a thermoplastic or thermosetting resin material for bonding the first and second base plates. The heat transport device can be readily manufactured by heating the first and second base plates sandwiching a thermoplastic or thermosetting resin material therebetween.
US08136576B2
A thermal management system is provided herein. The system comprises a substrate (141), a synthetic jet ejector (103), and a vibration isolation element (107) adapted to releasably engage said synthetic jet ejector and said substrate.
US08136567B2
This application provides a mechanism for the attachment of a tire to a unique style of car rim commonly used on, but not limited to model cars. The device consists of a base plate with a spindle for locating the tire and rim. A spring loaded spreader arm pulls the tire away from the rim creating a cavity where adhesive is placed on an upper and lower rib on the surface of the rim and on an upper and lower flat mounting surface or mating groove on the internal surface of the tire as the tire is rotated manually or rotated by means of a variable speed motor housed within the unit. The device provides a means for the process to be accomplished on both inside and outside edges of the tire and wheel rim assembly if desired.
US08136566B2
A laminating apparatus for laminating a separator, a membrane electrode structure member and another separator on top of each other includes a placement base which places the separator on the placement base, a first clamp which holds a portion of the upper surface of the separator placed on the placement base, first moving means which superimpose the membrane electrode structure member on the upper surface of the separator placed on the placement base, a second clamp which holds a portion of the upper surface of the thus superimposed membrane electrode structure member, second moving means which superimpose the separator on the upper surfaces of the membrane electrode structure member and second clamp, a pressing member which presses the separator in the central portion thereof to deform the separator elastically to thereby bring the separator into contact with the membrane electrode structure member, and pull-out means which pull out the second clamp from between the membrane electrode structure member and separator.
US08136565B2
A speed changing transmission mechanism of a sheet laminating apparatus includes a speed changing module, a motor, a switching gear, a hot press gear, a first connecting gear and a second connecting gear. By switching the switching gear to be engaged with different gear, the speed changing transmission mechanism is capable of hot laminating the sheet article and withdrawing the jammed sheet article.
US08136561B2
A tire inflation system of a motor vehicle comprises a compression device, a pressure accumulator from which inflation lines lead via an inflation valve and control lines lead via a control valve to a wheel valve, and the tire inflation system has a control device. A method for operating the tire inflation system carries out the following steps in a cyclically repeating sequence: (1) acquisition of a set point tire pressure from operating variables, (2) comparison with the actual tire pressure last measured, (3) supply of air or extraction of air during a specific time period without accompanying pressure measurement, and (4) measurement of the pressure in the inflation line and comparison with the set point value. The system has a pressure sensor in the inflation line on the wheel side of the inflation valve, and each inflation valve is connected to a relief valve via a relief line, wherein the relief lines are connected to one another upstream of the relief valve.
US08136554B2
The invention relates to a plastic molded pipe, in particular for fuel-conducting return lines in injection systems for internal combustion engines. The plastic molded pipe has an inner pipe and an outer encapsulation made of a plastic material with connectors for additional components of the fuel injection system. The inner pipe is embodied as a plastic inner pipe with at least one bend.
US08136546B2
A pressure relief valve for blown fiber closures is provided having constituent components fabricated from plastic. An adaptor is provided for connection to a blown fiber closure, and a body welded to this adaptor, is provided to enclose a piston and a spring within, such that they are protected from the ingress of silt and water. The piston is arranged to provide a double seal such that a pressure relief valve plug and an opening in the enclosing body are closed or opened simultaneously to prevent the ingress of silt and/or water on the one hand and the unhindered escape of pressurized fluid on the other.
US08136543B2
Axial flow control valves are described herein. An example axial flow control valve described herein includes a valve body defining a passageway between an inlet and an outlet that is substantially parallel to a fluid flow path at the inlet and the outlet of the valve body. The example control valve includes a cartridge assembly removably coupled to the valve body and disposed within the passageway of the valve body between the inlet and the outlet. The cartridge assembly is substantially axially aligned with the passageway and includes a motor to operate the axial flow control valve between a first position to prevent the flow of fluid between the inlet and the outlet and a second position to allow the flow of fluid between the inlet and the outlet.
US08136531B2
A laser therapy device and method of treatment for treating musculo-skeletal pain. The device and treatment employ a composite laser beam comprised of multiple frequencies of laser energy.
US08136530B2
A system and method for correcting misshaped ears using a base section defining an opening dimensioned to accommodate the passage of the ear through the opening and a top section releasably engageable with the base section defining a compartment therebetween. A first stint can be arranged on an anterior surface of the base section to maintain a desired anatomic shape of the ear essentially in an area of the antihelix and the superior limb of the triangular fossa. A second stint can be placed in an area of the scapha of the ear to maintain a desired contour of the scaphal area. A conchal stint can be placed in the concha to maintain a desired anatomic shape of the concha. The top section can be engaged to maintain a desired amount of stabilizing pressure on the ear, the first stint, the second stint, and conchal stint.
US08136526B2
Lung conditions are treated by implanting a flow restrictor in a passageway upstream from a diseased lung segment. The restrictor will create an orifice at the implantation site which inhibits air exchange with the segment to induce controlled atelectasis and/or hypoxia. Controlled atelectasis can induce collapse of the diseased segment with a reduced risk of pneumothorax. Hypoxia can promote gas exchange with non-isolated, healthy regions of the lung even in the absence of lung collapse.
US08136524B2
A mask system includes a frame, cushion, cushion clip, swivel elbow, headgear and/or headgear clips that are configured for use in a clinical or hospital environment. One or more components of the mask system are configured to promote single patient use, e.g., by providing an age indicator and/or preventing disassembly and/or cleaning, etc.
US08136521B2
A bi-level pressure support system and method of treating disordered breathing that optimizes the pressure delivered to the patient during inspiration and expiration to treat the disordered breathing while minimizing the delivered pressure for patient comfort. The pressure generating system generates a flow of breathing gas at an inspiratory positive airway pressure (IPAP) during inspiration and at an expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) during expirations. A controller monitor at least one of the following conditions: (1) snoring, (2) apneas, (3) hypopneas, or (4) a big leak in the pressure support system and adjusts the IPAP and the EPAP based on the occurrence of any one of these conditions.
US08136515B2
A gatling gun style projectile launcher comprising an assembly of rotating, pressurized-air driven guns. A loader assembly mounted on the gun assembly rotates synchronously through mating of drive gears with the assembly of guns. The loader applies centrifugal force to the paintballs within, urging them into loader tubes positioned in the wall of the loader. Synchronous timing gears align the rotating loader tubes with cognate breech openings in the guns, thereby transferring paintballs into the firing positions from which the paintballs are launched.
US08136513B2
The invention relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine, wherein air is inducted and then compressed. Before introduction into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine, the air humidity of the inducted air is determined and temperature of the compressed air introduced into the combustion chamber is altered depending on the air humidity of the inducted air.
US08136511B2
A fuel filter is configured to filter fuel for an internal combustion engine and is associated with an electromagnetic wave generator configured to emit high frequency electromagnetic waves operable on the fuel to heat and thereby melt wax crystals suspended in the fuel.
US08136510B2
An apparatus improves the efficiency and emissions of a combustion process by producing sufficient amounts of ozone in the air flow to the combustion chamber to enable more complete and cleaner combustion of the fuel. A plurality of ozone elements for producing ozone are disposed within a housing that is placed in the air intake to a combustion chamber such as a diesel engine. The ozone elements are bonded together in a cross-shaped pattern inside the housing. The apparatus includes one or more vortex scrubbers or vanes in the housing to cause the air flow to have a vortex action to increase the amount of ozone that flows into the combustion chamber. The vortex scrubbers comprise multiple double fins that are attached inside the housing. The vortex scrubbers include holes and/or serrated edges to increase the disturbance of the air flow over the ozone elements to increase ozone production. The mass of the ozone elements have a preferred ratio.
US08136509B2
A reservoir-less fuel delivery module (10) for a fuel tank of a vehicle includes a flange (26) constructed and arranged to be mounted to an opening in a fuel tank of a vehicle. The module includes a pump and filter structure (20) having a fuel pump (14) and a fuel filter (24) surrounding at least a portion of the fuel pump for filtering fuel exiting the fuel pump. The module includes a mounting member (30) to which the pump and filter structure is mounted. Clip structure (34) couples the mounting member to the flange so that the pump is decoupled from the flange.
US08136507B2
A fuel supply system includes a feed pump pumping up fuel in a fuel tank, a filter removing a foreign matter contained in the fuel discharged from the feed pump, and a high-pressure pump pressuring and discharging the fuel toward an internal combustion engine. A fuel pipe introducing the fuel from the filter to the high-pressure pump and a fuel pipe introducing the fuel from the filter to a housing of the high-pressure pump are formed independently of each other.
US08136505B2
A system for filtering and oxidizing particulate matter produced by a gasoline direct injection engine is disclosed. In one embodiment, engine spark is controlled such that soot held by a particulate filter may be oxidized even during low engine loads.
US08136503B2
An internal combustion engine of two perpendicular, toroidal cylinders intersecting at two junctions with each cylinder containing one piston filling half of its volume. The pistons are 180 degrees out of phase; each alternately occluding one intersection or the other. Each piston completes a full power, exhaust, intake, and compression stroke in one revolution. Endplates of 45 degrees allow the combustion chamber junction to be permanently filled and sealed at all times; first by one piston, then by the tips of both pistons as the complementary-angled endplates tangentially slide past one another, and then by the other piston. Compressed gases are shunted into the crossing cylinder's combustion chamber. Both pistons orbit continuously, one-way. Airflow is also one-way. Each piston is mounted to a sealed, 360-degree, counterbalanced ring gear. One ring gear is positioned centrally and the other peripherally to prevent interference. These maintain coordination between the pistons and provide output.
US08136502B2
A piston and connecting rod assembly wherein the piston includes an inner cooling gallery defined in the body thereof beneath the crown of the piston, an outer cooling gallery defined between the skirt of the piston and the body and beneath the crown. A pin bore is formed in the body. A connecting rod is adapted to interconnect the piston and crankshaft where the connecting rod has at least one end with a bore extending therethrough and adapted to be aligned with the pin bore of the piston. At least one end of the connecting rod is in fluid communication with the inner cooling gallery of the piston and includes a reservoir formed on the end of the connecting rod which is adapted to collect coolant therein.
US08136496B2
A valve rotator for use in an internal combustion engine. The valve rotator including a plurality of retention members, each able to removeably and rotateably couple the stationary housing to the rotating body. The plurality of retention members are defined by a plurality of recesses allowing each of the plurality of retention members to deflect with respect to the stationary housing. The retention members allow the rotating body to be removed from the stationary housing without the need for permanently damaging the stationary housing (e.g. during rebuilding). Additionally, the retention members may be incorporated on housings that have undergone heat treatment processes without rendering the housings susceptible to cracking or damage.
US08136494B2
A guide for use in a vehicle engine having an engine block, cylinder head, and a cylinder head gasket. The guide comprises a valve lifter retention portion, a push rod retention portion in communication with the valve lifter retention portion via one or more apertures, and an alignment and attachment portion extending from the push rod retention portion and configured to be retained by contact with the cylinder head gasket.
US08136493B2
A lash adjuster is provided which includes a cylindrical housing having an open top and formed with an internal thread on an inner periphery thereof, a screw rod having an external thread formed on an outer periphery thereof and in threaded engagement with the internal thread, and a spring biasing the screw rod outwardly of the housing. Each of the internal thread and the external thread having a pressure flank configured to receive pressure when a force that tends to push the screw rod into the housing acts on the screw rod, and a clearance flank having a smaller flank angle than the pressure flank. The screw rod has an end protruding from the housing and configured to support an arm of a valve operating mechanism so as to be pivotable about this end. Oil film expelling grooves are formed in the pressure flank of the external thread, using a tap having a thread that extends so as to cross the internal thread.
US08136482B2
Provided are an automatic water supply nozzle for animals capable of preventing a contamination of water in a water supply container; and an automatic water supply cap for animals enabling use of a variety of empty plastic bottles or glass bottles as a water supply container. The automatic water supply nozzle for animals has a nozzle cylinder equipped with an automatic water supply mechanism and a dropping cylinder equipped with at least one partition having a dropping tube, the dropping cylinder being coupled with the nozzle cylinder; and the automatic water supply cap for animals having the automatic water supply nozzle for animals and an attachable/detachable cap to/from a water supply container.
US08136475B2
A painting apparatus for applying a coating material to a member surface of a member comprises a housing, at least one slide rail, a rack assembly, a cross beam and a spraying device. The slide rail may be mountable within the housing and may have a plurality of rack positions. The rack assembly is mountable within the housing at one of the rack positions. The rack assembly is configured to support the member such that the member surface is exposed. The cross beam may be coupled to the slide rail. The cross beam is movable along the slide rail and is positionable at the rack positions. The spraying device is mountable on the cross beam and is configured to move along the cross beam while spraying the coating material onto the member surface.
US08136474B2
The present disclosure provides for an apparatus for transferring fluid. The apparatus has a fluid transfer component, a fluid receiving component, a fluid supply, and a fluid motivating component. The fluid transfer component has a first surface, a second surface, a non-random pattern of distinct pores each defining a pathway between the first and second surfaces, a single entry point at the first surface, and a single exit point at the second surface. The pores are disposed at preselected locations to provide a desired pattern of permeability. The fluid receiving component comprises a fluid receiving surface. The fluid supply is adapted to provide a fluid in contact with and at a constant fluid pressure with the first surface of the fluid transfer component. The fluid motivating component is adapted to facilitate transport of the fluid from the first surface through the pores to the second surface.
US08136470B1
Buoyancy is controlled in a tethered object by pumping fluids, either of a first or second specific gravity, from an external source into either a first or second containment chamber to change the respective volumetric capacities of the first and second containment chambers. The containment chambers are configured such that the second chamber is at least partially enclosed within the first chamber. The second chamber is configured to expand and retract within the first chamber, which has a fixed housing. Expansion or contraction of the second chamber results in a corresponding inverse change in a volumetric capacity of the first chamber. The fluid chambers may be separate or contained within the same housing, and may be located on a towing vessel. Sensor data from the tethered object's environment may be used to control the transfer of fluid to the first and second chambers.
US08136454B2
Designs for a battery-powered, all-electric locomotive and related locomotive and train configurations are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, a locomotive may be driven by a plurality of traction motors powered exclusively by a battery assembly which preferably comprises rechargeable batteries or other energy storage means. The locomotive carries no internal combustion engine on board and receives no power during operation from any power source external to the locomotive. A battery management system monitors and equalizes the batteries to maintain a desired state of charge (SOC) and depth of discharge (DOD) for each battery. A brake system may be configured to prioritize a regenerative braking mechanism over an air braking mechanism so that substantial brake energy can be recovered to recharge the battery assembly. Many locomotive or train configurations involving battery-powered or battery-toting locomotive(s) may be implemented. In one embodiment, a battery-toting locomotive is directly coupled with and positioned between two diesel-electric locomotives, wherein the batteries recover energy from regenerative braking and/or supply power to drive traction motors.
US08136452B2
In a gas generator of the invention, a closure member is disposed so as to be connected to an outer circumferential wall side along a circumferential edge thereof in a housing and to close an outlet port which is formed in a ceiling wall of the housing. Thin breakable portions adapted to be broken when a squib is activated are formed in the closure member so as to extend substantially radially from a center of the closure member in a rectilinear fashion. When the squib 19 is activated, the breakable portions are broken, whereby portions of the closure member 11 which lie between the breakable portions are individually made to be opened radially. A stopper portion is formed on a closure member side surface of the ceiling wall such that the opened door portions are brought into abutment therewith so that the opening angles of the door portions become less than 90° while ensuring an angle at which combustion gas is allowed to flow out.
US08136451B2
An ammunition round assembly with alternate load path is disclosed herein. The ammunition round assembly includes a projectile, a body engaging the projectile, and a non-combustible base at least partially enclosing the body. A structural member having first and second engagement portions opposite to each other is positioned inside an interior space defined by the body and the base. The first engagement portion firmly engages the base, and the second engagement portion firmly engages the projectile to provide an alternate load path between the projectile and the base.
US08136443B2
An apparatus is disclosed which can shape fruits and root and tuberous vegetables. The shaping apparatus is operated in such a manner that: when root and tuberous vegetable or fruit is placed in a cutting blade case and rotated, the object is spirally tracked and the spirally tracked object is removed from the lower side of the cutting blade case, so that the spirally tracked object is picked up by an additional stick and then ornamented into various forms. The shaping apparatus allows fruits and root and tuberous vegetables to be easily treated in a variety of ways, as per the second process, thereby enhancing the product value of processed foodstuffs produced from the first process.
US08136437B2
A modular hand grenade design that permits the use of compressed powders such as A-5. The hand grenade body is split into two main components—a base/sleeve and a nose cap. These two main components contain the explosive. They are loaded with explosive while still separate. The explosive is loaded into the base/sleeve and compressed to form a solid. A core sleeve is attached to the base to form a void inside the explosive where the detonating portion of a fuse assembly can be placed. Explosive is likewise loaded into the nose cap and compressed to form a solid. The nose cap is attached to the base/sleeve assembly. A fuse assembly is then attached to complete the grenade.
US08136435B2
A food product slicer knife includes a circular knife body with a peripheral cutting edge. A central opening passes through the knife body and includes a pair of diametrically opposed outwardly extending slots. The knife body also includes at least one set of diametrically opposed drive pin receiving openings spaced outwardly of the central opening and circumferentially offset from the diametrically opposed outwardly extending slots. A tool assembly is adapted to facilitate knife installation and removal and holds the knife when removed from a slicer. A food product slicer includes a knife mount hub adapted to cooperate with the knife to hold the knife on the slicer during operation.
US08136434B2
Cutting blade control system, particularly for cutting-off machines for cutting logs of web material
A control device for a cutting blade, particularly for cutting-off machines for logs of web material, interrupts operation of the cutting blade when deformation of the blade reaches a preset deformation value and resumes operation of the cutting blade when the deformation of the blade is less than another preset deformation value. The control device includes a measuring device for measuring deformation values of at least a portion of the cutting blade, at least one comparator for comparing the measured deformation values with at least one preset deformation value set by an operator, and an actuator which sends, according to signals coming from the comparator, control signals to a motor of the machine to control the start up and/or the stop of the motor.
US08136431B2
A torque wrench for implantable medical devices is disclosed. The torque wrench comprises a first and a second component. The first component has first and second ends with a bore extending between the first and second ends of the first component. The first component includes a plurality of anti-rotation members extending from an inner surface of the bore at the second end of the first component. A second component includes a middle portion having a first and second ends. A drive shaft extends from the first end and a plurality of fingers extends from an exterior surface of the second end. The second component is received in the bore of the first component such that the fingers are interdigitate with the anti-rotation members.
US08136429B2
A reversible monkey wrench includes a handle, a head, a slidable jaw, an axial rod and a worm gear. The handle has a connecting end for the head to abut thereagainst. The head is formed with a fixed jaw, a sliding rail, a receiving slot and a connecting bore. The connecting bore communicates with the receiving slot. A movable pin and a spring are disposed between the connecting end and the head. A top of the movable pin selectively inserts through the connecting bore. The spring urges the movable pin so that the movable pin may abut against the connecting end. The worm gear is adapted to control the slidable jaw to move and is slidably disposed in the receiving slot with respect to the axial rod. The movable pin selectively abuts against the worm gear to prohibit the worm gear from sliding.
US08136428B2
Non-reversing fasteners include a bolt having a groove defined along the thread, and a nut having a biased tooth disposed in an internal pocket. When the nut is threaded onto the bolt, the biased tooth does not engage the groove. When the nut is reversed off the bolt, the biased tooth stays in an extended position and engages the groove, preventing it from reversing. A tool positions on the nut and moves the biased tooth from the extended position to a retracted position, allowing the nut to reverse off the bolt. The tool can be another nut having a magnet for moving the tooth from the extended to the retracted position. A reverse arrangement can have a bolt with a biased tooth and a nut having a groove. A tool in the form of a magnetized rod can fit into an axial bore in the bolt to move the tooth.
US08136423B2
An actuator is disclosed. The actuator includes: an output gear, a pinion, a drive shaft, a housing, and a spring. The output gear is adapted to receive a traction element. The pinion is in driving communication with the output gear. The drive shaft is interconnected with the pinion. The housing is adapted to receive the output gear and the drive shaft. The coil spring is circumjacent the drive shaft and located in a position intermediate the drive shaft and the housing, whereby rotation of the drive shaft causes the coil spring to frictionally disengage from the housing such that the output gear may rotate.
US08136421B2
A gimbal assembly includes a gimbal mechanism, an electrical connector, and a flexible substrate. The gimbal mechanism is configured to rotate about a first rotational axis and a second rotational axis that is perpendicular to the first rotational axis. The electrical connector is coupled to, and mounted on, the gimbal mechanism. The flexible substrate is coupled to the electrical connector and is adapted to be coupled to an external circuit for electrically interconnecting the electrical connector and the external circuit.
US08136416B2
A personal nanoparticle sampler is disclosed to include a pre-classifier, a nozzle, a connector and a final filter pack. The connector and the final filter pack respectively accommodate a particle-sizing filter and a final filter to collect nanoparticles smaller than a diameter. The pre-classifier removes large particles to avoid clogging of the connector. The nozzle raises the airflow velocity to reduce the cut-off diameter of the particle-sizing filter without increasing the total flowrate, allowing the personal nanoparticle sampler to be used with a personal sampling pump.
US08136415B2
A traction force control method for a traction apparatus according to the present invention that impresses a desired traction force on an object to be hauled via a traction mechanism is provided. The method includes measuring, in a zero traction state in which an impressed traction force that is impressed on the object to be hauled is zero, the impressed traction force with a traction force sensor and outputting a zero traction value. The method also includes generating an added value in which an adjusting output from a control circuit is added to the zero traction force value; providing the added value to a drive circuit of a drive mechanism that drives the traction mechanism and outputting a drive signal that corresponds to the added value; performing adjustment by increasing or decreasing the adjusting output so that the drive signal becomes a reference value that puts the object to be hauled in the zero traction state, setting the zero traction value as a zero point of the zero traction force sensor, and the adjusting output obtained by the adjustment step as a zero point of the control output of the control circuit, respectively.
US08136413B2
A bi-directional flowmeter comprises a first fluidic oscillator device arranged to measure the flow of fluid in a first direction and a second fluidic oscillator device arranged to measure the flow of fluid in a second direction opposite to the first direction and in which the two oscillators devices are connected together in series between an inlet port and an outlet port of the flowmeter between which the fluid to be measured can flow.
US08136411B2
An embodiment of a piezoelectric assembly for an ultrasonic flow meter comprises a piezoelectric element including a first face and a second face. In addition, the piezoelectric assembly comprises a first electrode engaging the first face. Further, the piezoelectric assembly comprises a second electrode engaging the second face. Still further, the piezoelectric assembly comprises an electrically conductive shim connector attached to the first electrode. Moreover, the piezoelectric assembly comprises a first wire electrically coupled to the shim connector.
US08136407B2
A pressure transducer assembly including: a pressure sensor header; a transducer assembly member; and a joining arrangement disposed at an interface of the header and the transducer assembly member, for joining the header with the transducer assembly member, the joining arrangement including: a recessed female joining element formed in one of the header and the transducer assembly member; and a protruding male joining element formed on the other of the header and the transducer assembly member, the male joining element received in the female joining element.
US08136403B2
The present invention relates to a micromechanical sensor for analyzing liquid samples and an array of such sensors. The invention also concerns a method for sensing liquid samples and the use of longitudinal bulk acoustic waves for analyzing liquid phase samples micromechanically. The sensor comprises a body and a planar wave guide portion spaced from the body. At least one electro-mechanical transducer element are used for excitation of longitudinal bulk acoustic waves to the wave guide portion in response to electrical actuation and for converting acoustic waves into electrical signals. The wave guide portion is provided with a sample-receiving zone onto which the sample can be introduced. By means of the invention, the sensitivity of micromechanical liquid sensors can be improved.
US08136397B2
In a device for receiving a multi-part constructional unit of a double coupling in a balancing machine there is provided a receiving mandrel which can be driven in rotation about its longitudinal axis and has a bearing face for centering a first coupling part and a centering pin arranged at the free end thereof. The device also comprises a clamping sleeve which can be moved by spring force into a clamping position and has a clamping face coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the receiving mandrel and a centering ring which is arranged on the centering pin, is held releasably thereon, has a centering face for centering further coupling parts and can be coupled in a torque-proof manner with the receiving mandrel in at least one angle position.
US08136396B2
An apparatus for measuring and/or controlling the level of a liquid, specially fuel, contained in a reservoir. The apparatus comprises means supporting a pivot member inside the reservoir, the pivot member comprising a stationary body fixed relatively to the supporting means and a rotary body connected to a lever, the free end of which carries a float. The rotary body includes a permanent magnet and the stationary member houses a magnetic sensor located within the magnetic field of the permanent magnet. Angular movement of the lever produces rotation of the magnet and is detected by the magnetic sensor which emits signals to a micro processor which, in turn, transmits such signals to external processing means. The processing means correlate such signals, which are proportional to variations in the liquid level, to the volume of liquid contained in the reservoir.
US08136392B2
In a pedal operation amount detecting apparatus, a brake pedal and a crevice fixed to an end portion of an operation rod are rotatably coupled by a coupling shaft, a bush is interposed between the brake pedal and the coupling shaft, and detectors are mounted on an outer peripheral surface of a bush body, which is elastically deformable, in the bush, and an ECU estimates an angle between the brake pedal and the operation rod based on a ratio between distortion loads detected by the detectors, and calculates an operation amount of the brake pedal, that is to say, pedal force and a pedal stroke, based on the angle, thereby enabling to improve mountability by simplifying a configuration and to detect the operation amount with a high degree of accuracy.
US08136391B2
An EGR fault in an engine is detected by comparing actual MAP values with inferred MAP values, the latter being based on MAF and engine speed. Multiple pairs of inferred and actual MAP, some having low EGR and other having high EGR rate. The two values are expected to deviate at high EGR rate and to be nearly equal at low EGR rate. If no such deviation at high EGR, then a fault is determined. According to the present disclosure, the computation of inferred MAP includes a compensation for flow into the intake through a carbon canister system. Without such compensation, the EGR routine is applied to situations without flow from the canister. Such a limitation caused a problem in HEV vehicles, in which engine operating time is less than typical engine installations. Additionally, the confounding effects of rapid VVT movement are excluded from the computations.
US08136383B2
To calibrate an accelerometer, a seismic cable that carries the accelerometer is rotated. Data measured by the accelerometer as the seismic cable is rotated is received, and at least one calibration parameter according to the received data is computed. The at least one calibration parameter is for use in calibrating the accelerometer.
US08136375B2
A door lock includes an engaging member having a lock core hole. The lock core hole includes a large section and a small section. The large section is formed in an end of the engaging member that is detachably received in a shank of an outer handle. An interchangeable lock core is removably received in the large section. An end of an outer spindle is extended out of a lock body of the door lock and is detachably received in the small section of the lock core hole of the engaging member. The lock core has an outline corresponding to the large section of the engaging member. The lock core can be removed and replaced with a new one. The engaging member can be detached from the outer spindle and the outer handle and replaced with a new engaging member corresponding to the outline of the new lock core.
US08136373B2
A conduit structure for molten glass, a conduit system for molten glass, a vacuum degassing apparatus and a method for vacuum-degassing molten glass by use of the vacuum degassing apparatus, which are capable of effectively removing components eluted from a refractory brick forming a conduit for molten glass, foreign substances generated in the interface between molten glass and a platinum wall surface forming a conduit for molten glass, a bubble remaining in a surface layer of molten glass, a glass material denatured by volatilization, and the like, are provided.A conduit structure for molten glass, which is formed of a hollow pipe made of platinum or a platinum alloy, includes a double-pipe structure disposed in at least a downstream portion of the conduit structure, the double-pipe structure being formed of an inner pipe and an outer pipe; the inner pipe having an upstream end and a downstream end formed as open ends; the outer pipe having a downstream end formed as a closed end in a region located in a gap between the inner pipe and the outer pipe and as an open end in a region located in the inner pipe in the double-pipe structure; the conduit structure having an upstream end formed as an open end; and the outer pipe having an opening formed in a portion close to the downstream end thereof.
US08136367B2
A hinge assembly and a refrigerator using the assembly are disclosed. The assembly rotatably mounts an access door for a compartment of the refrigerator to part of refrigerator that defines the compartment. The hinge assembly has a body coupled to the part and a hinge manifold supported by the body and slidably received in the access door. The manifold has a first supply conduit for supplying a working medium to an icemaker disposed in the access door and a first return conduit for returning the working medium from the icemaker. The hinge assembly can be manufactured as a separate module to be assembled with the refrigerator or retrofit into an existing refrigerator.
US08136349B2
The present invention describes an exhaust-gas purification system for an internal combustion engine made of an oxidation catalyst arranged close to the engine, a subsequent hydrocarbon adsorber and a particulate filter arranged downstream thereof and provided with another oxidation catalyst. The oxidation catalyst ensures that emission limits with respect to carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons are satisfied in normal driving mode. During operating states with exhaust-gas temperatures below about 200° C., the oxidation catalyst can no longer oxidize carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons. Instead, the hydrocarbons are adsorbed by the hydrocarbon adsorber during these operating phases. In order to initiate the periodical regeneration of the particulate filter, the exhaustgas temperature of the internal combustion engine is raised by engine modifications. The increased exhaust-gas temperature leads to desorption of the previously stored hydrocarbons, which are then burned at the oxidation catalyst of the particulate filter, thereby supporting the regeneration of the particulate filter.
US08136347B2
A control module and method for an exhaust system of an engine can include a secondary air intake (SAI) pressure module that monitors SAI pressure. An accumulation module can accumulate an SAI string length based on the monitored SAI pressure. A calculation module can determine an average SAI string length based on the accumulated SAI string length. A determination module can determine an operating characteristic of the vehicle exhaust based on the average SAI string length.
US08136337B2
A wire twisting device and a method for use is provided. One embodiment includes a plate having a wire engaging face, a tool engaging face, and a plurality or wire ports extending therethrough. The wires to be twisted are inserted through individual, appropriately sized wire ports which hold the wires in place relative to one another. A shaft operably connected to the tool engaging face is then rotated thereby rotating the plate and twisting the wires.
US08136336B2
Harvesters selectively harvest agricultural objects, such as asparagus spears. One harvester includes at least one set of independently controllable cutter arm assemblies that rotate about a common axis to harvest individual asparagus spears.
US08136332B2
Computer assisted systems, methods and mediums for filling one or more orders. One embodiment of the present invention is a system that includes an order consolidation station configured to receive at least one bottle containing pills individually counted and/or at least one package containing pharmaceutical products without having been designated for any of the orders when the package was created and/or at least one literature pack optionally including patient specific information. The order consolidation station is further configured to combine automatically the received bottle and/or package and/or literature pack into a container to be sent to a recipient including, for example, mail order pharmacies, wholesalers and/or central fill dealers for subsequent distribution or sale including retailer distribution or sale. The bottle is specifically designated for the order, and the order generally includes at least one prescription for the package.
US08136324B2
The invention provides snap fit pultrusion housing elements for joining structurally insulated panels suitable for housing and shelter construction. The housing elements include a pultruded panel body member having at least one edge, and a pultruded snap lock fitting on the edge adapted for fastenerless engagement with a complementary fitting on an adjacent panel body member.
US08136319B2
Disclosed herein is a hail resistant roof system having a roof deck. An insulation layer is supported by the roof deck. An energy absorbing layer supported by the insulation layer and a waterproof membrane loose laid over the energy absorbing layer. A wind blown debris resistant roof system is disclosed that includes a roof deck with a secondary waterproof membrane disposed over the deck. A layer of stiff material is attached to the roof deck and a primary waterproofing membrane is supported by the stiff material. Further, a roof insulation and waterproofing construction upwardly adjacent the waterproofing membrane. Also disclosed herein is a hail resistant roof system. The system includes a roof deck with a secondary waterproofing membrane. An insulation layer is supported by the roof deck. An energy absorbing layer is supported by the insulation layer and a primary waterproof membrane is loose laid over the energy absorbing layer.
US08136312B2
An aluminum floor for fencing has an improved friction surface with traction-enhancing grooves and is configured to reduce noise. Aluminum extrusions forming the floor define a flat surface but with series of parallel grooves separated by non-grooved spaces. In a preferred embodiment the grooves are essentially square cut. The grooves and spaces between the series of grooves are configured so as to allow sliding on the floor with the essentially flat soles of a user's fencing shoes when desired, but so as to grip the soles with significant friction when the shoe is heavily weighted causing the sole to deform down into the grooves. The fencing floor is intended to lie over an existing floor, as a series of easily connected floor sections. Rubbery sheet material is secured to the bottom of the fencing floor, preferably in transverse strips, directly beneath each joint and preferably at additional locations. When the fencing floor is used over a hard surface such as concrete, the rubber strips prevent the metallic clanging noise typical of aluminum fencing floors in use.
US08136306B2
A modular retractable enclosure is provided. The retractable enclosure includes moveable bays that telescopically retract inside each other. Each bay is made from two or more vertical framing sections and a plurality of first framing members. Each vertical framing section can be made from a plurality of second framing members. Assembly rods are provided to couple the vertical framing sections and are tensioned to load the first framing members in longitudinal compression. The framing members are fastenable to each other. The second framing members can be held together using splice plates. The retractable enclosure may also include a drive system. A related method of constructing a retractable enclosure is also provided.
US08136305B2
The invention provides an adjustable mounting system for mounting countertops and other similar structures to a wall or other similar structure. Adjustable mounting systems of the invention include hinge adjustment features and/or length adjustment features that allow a single system to be adapted to fit a variety of sizes and/or shapes of spaces. The invention further provides methods of mounting a countertop using an adjustable mounting system.
US08136304B2
The Downspout Claw is made of clear plastic which enables one to see any debris which may have collected on its fingered protrusions inside the downspout pipe. The Claw may be used as a secondary or additional device to collect debris in the downspout pipe. The invention may be removed, cleaned and replaced without the need of any tools.
US08136301B2
Disclosed is a pivotable, multi-coil spring counterbalance, and method for using the same, which allows the user to readily attach a desired number of coil springs having chosen forces to a counterbalance connector attached to a vertically movable member, thereby providing an offset for at least a portion of the weight thereof.
US08136296B2
Planter systems include planters releasably integrated with a support structure primarily by releasable and penetrable engagement that is sufficient to support the planter without requiring conventional attachment devices. Engaging portions of the planters are releasably and penetrably received and concealed by the support structure to provide an integrated appearance. The planter systems optionally include adjustable irrigation systems configured to controllably supply water to the planter and/or surrounding terrain.
US08136287B2
A coupler apparatus for releasably securing an object to a support member, is described. The mounting apparatus includes a connector joined to the object and having a tapered plug with a slot that extends inward from an outer wall of the plug. The apparatus further includes a base with an internal cavity extending between opposed side walls of the base. The base may be integral with the support member and has an aperture with an internal wall arrangement including an orifice wherein the aperture is dimensioned for reception of the plug. A keeper is slidable positioned within the internal cavity and has a finger that extends though the orifice and into the slot to retain the plug within the aperture. The apparatus is moveable between a secured position wherein the keeper finger extends through the orifice and into the slot of the plug positioned within the aperture, a released position wherein the keeper finger is disengaged from the orifice, and a detached position wherein the connector and the object are removed from the base by applying a linear lifting force.
US08136281B2
A low profile highway sign trailer wherein the message board positioned lengthwise resting upon the trailer frame during transport. The rear end of the sign board is fastened to and raised vertically by a rack, utilizing gearing and portable power drill or the like. The trailer tongue pivots on the frame to a vertical position utilizing a curved rack, to add support to the forward end of the sign board and locked in that position. Two handles are provided for manually positioning the trailer at a desired display angle. A rear section may house a generator and/or battery packs and solar panels are located on the roof. The trailer can store equipment accessible from both sides and the rear.
US08136280B2
A hand-held inter-auto display device includes a handle portion and an interconnecting and substantially planar display portion. A plurality of individual sheets, each displaying at least a portion of a selected message, are displayed from at least one side of the planar display portion. A visual enhancement element, including any of LED elements, phosphorescent coatings or reflective lettering, is associated with at least one of the handle, display portion and sheets to better display a selected message of an exposed sheet supported upon the display portion.
US08136277B2
A light-emitting display system has an alignment mechanism to align or angle light-emitting tiles of the display. A first tile connects to a second tile by joining a first clamp portion on the first tile with a second clamp portion on the second tile. In an implementation, the alignment mechanism includes a replaceable angle adjustment insert that is inserted into at least one of the clamp portions, such as the first clamp portion. When the first and second clamp portions are joined, a surface of the second clamp portion presses against the insert and a desired angle between the first and second tile is formed. The insert can have any angle so that any desired angle can be formed between the first and second tiles.
US08136276B2
The present invention relates to apparatus for producing an optical effect, and in particular to an apparatus for producing an optical effect resembling flames and smoke. More especially, the invention relates to flame effect electric fires, such as for domestic use, which may or may not include means for space heating and which include and optical effect to resemble burning solid fuel.
US08136274B2
The invention relates to an ironing pad comprising a solid material (1) which reversibly absorbs liquid and a liquid stain treatment composition which is absorbed by the solid material (1) which reversibly absorbs liquid. The invention relates to a process for treating a stain on a textile fabric with such an ironing pad by placing the ironing pad onto the stain and exerting heat and/or pressure on the ironing pad.
US08136271B2
A hydraulic unit is switched among a first region A where a flow rate is adjusted by controlling a rotational speed of an electric motor while maintaining a displacement of a variable displacement pump at a maximum value, a second region B where the flow rate is adjusted by changing the displacement of the variable displacement pump while maintaining the rotational speed of the electric motor at a minimum value lower than the rotational speed in the first region A, and a third region C where, in a range where a discharge pressure of the variable displacement pump is larger than that in the first region A, the flow rate is adjusted by changing the rotational speed of the electric motor in a range larger than the minimum rotational speed, while maintaining the displacement of the variable displacement pump at an allowable maximum value that is derived from the discharge pressure and a maximum shaft torque of the electric motor.
US08136270B1
A method and self-propelled system for digging a grave. The system includes a frame defining a frame opening positionable over a grave site and a motor connected to the frame. Wheels connected to the frame to allow for movement of the frame about a surface. A generally zero radius turn mechanism connected to the wheels allows the frame to make generally zero radius turns. An excavator is connected to the frame and is configured for operation through the frame opening to dig a grave. A hoist is attached to the frame and lowers a container within the grave. Containers are attached on each side of the frame and receive dirt excavated by the excavator. Outriggers attached to the frame stabilize the frame during operation of the hoist and the excavator. An operator's seat and controls are also attached to the frame.
US08136262B2
A drier information system is provided including display means relating to a given region of the system which means serves, at least while a drying cycle is in operation, to provide a visual display indicating at least one of the following parameters: the extent of the region; a boundary of the region; direction or example of manipulation of a pair of hands or other article while in the region to provide for a preferred drying sequence. The visual display can represent the parameters as a two dimensional array within or adjacent the region. Alternatively the visual display can represent the parameters as a virtual or actual three dimensional array within or adjacent the region.
US08136261B2
Instant Reading Oil Dipstick Improvements is a near universal design with most assembly done by the manufacturer. The customers can easily adapt such to match their existing dipstick geometry by pushing the adjustable parts to the correct location, where they will remain. The air valve is within a single, machined brass cone that adapts to the metal tube and seals in the engine vacuum. A new tubular plastic air seal around the wire handle increases reliability. And a cone shaped rubber squeegee will automatically remove oil from the outside of the tubing as the dipstick is withdrawn from the crankcase.
US08136260B1
The invention comprises a reusable, combination—anchor bolt holder, form board alignment and retention, and, thread protection device—for holding an anchor bolt in a secure vertical alignment at an exact depth in the form for either a 2×4 or 2×6 sill plate with the threads fully protected from fouling by cement; and, allowing of early hand float finishing around the bolt thread area that projects above the top of the stem wall.
US08136255B1
A broadloom trimming device to trim carpeting along baseboards includes a base, a tucker, a vertical baseboard plate which has two plastic rollers that glide easily without damaging the baseboards. The device employs an adjustment mechanism allowing a height adjustment plate bearing a cutting mechanism to be raised or lowered easily using integral springs and a thumbnut. The device further includes a handle seated between arms of the adjustment plate.
US08136254B2
An extendable hedge trimmer includes a housing having a handle end and a tool end. The handle end includes a battery and an electrical connector. The tool end includes a hedge trimming implement, a motor, and an electrical connector. The electrical connector of the tool end is electrically connected with the motor. Wiring is included within the handle end for electrically connecting the battery and the electrical connector of the handle end. The trimmer also includes a pole which is releasably connectable between the tool end and the handle end. The pole is configured for electrically connecting the handle end with the tool end. The trimmer also includes a latch mechanism for releasably attaching the pole between tool end and handle end. The trimmer also includes an input for receiving AC line power via a power cord, the trimmer configured for being powered by AC line power and/or battery power.
US08136240B2
A mechanism is disclosed for providing horizontally split vias in printed wiring boards (PWBs) and other substrates. In one embodiment, the substrate includes a plurality of insulator layers and internal conductive traces. First and second through-holes extend completely through the substrate and respectively pass through first/second ones and third/fourth ones of the internal conductive traces, which are at different depths within the substrate. Photolithographic techniques are used to generate plated-through-hole (PTH) plugs of controlled, variable depth in the through-holes before first/second conductive vias are plated onto the first through-hole and before third/fourth conductive vias are plated onto the second through-hole. The depth of these PTH plugs is controlled (e.g., using a photomask and/or variable laser power) to prevent the conductive vias from extending substantially beyond their respective internal conductive traces, thereby horizontally spitting the two conductive vias plated onto each of the through-holes. This advantageously increases wiring density up to 2×.
US08136231B2
A positioning apparatus for transferring at least one electronic component, in particular a chip, from a first flat support to at least one predetermined location on a second flat support which extends parallel to the first support, comprising an ejection device for removing the component from the first support by means of an ejection movement, wherein a camera device is provided for detecting position data of the predetermined location, of the component to be removed from the first support and optionally of the ejection device, which together with the camera device are arranged essentially on an imaginary common straight line. A positioning method is also described.
US08136230B2
A valve loading system is provided that uses a valve loader to transfer a valve or other medical device from a storage cartridge into a deployment catheter. The valve or other medical device can be implanted or positioned within a patient using the catheter after the valve or other medical device has been compressed and loaded into the catheter using the valve loader. The process then can be repeated by using the valve loading system to load or introduce another valve or other medical device into the catheter.
US08136220B2
A process for the manufacture of small sensors with reproducible surfaces, including electrochemical sensors. One process includes forming channels in the surface of a substrate and disposing a conductive material in the channels to form an electrode. The conductive material can also be formed on the substrate by other impact and non-impact methods. In a preferred embodiment, the method includes cutting the substrate to form a sensor having a connector portion and a transcutaneous portion, the two portions having edges that define one continuous straight line.
US08136219B2
A method by which the height of an electronic component sucked and held by a nozzle can be detected with high accuracy and high efficiency is a component height measurement method applied to a mounter (100) equipped with a transfer head (8) having a component-sucking-and-holding nozzle (21), for transferring a component P and mounting the component P onto a board (3), and includes: lowering the component P to within the high-accuracy range of a first line sensor (13) for measuring the height of the component P; and measuring the height of the component P using the first line sensor (13).
US08136217B2
A reconfigurable vehicle console having a plurality of interchangeable overlapping blank and equipment mounting face plates, including both tongue-and-groove joints between adjacent face plates, as well as optional lap joints.
US08136215B2
An uncoiling device having an uncoiler for uncoiling a strip is described. The uncoiler is arranged downstream from a thickness measuring device which measures the thickness of the strip. The thickness measuring device is arranged downstream from a straightening device which straightens the strip. The straightening device is arranged downstream from a machining device which further machines the strip. The thickness of the strip is transmitted to a control device which controls the straightening machine and/or the machining device in accordance with the measured thickness of the strip.
US08136202B2
A mounting assembly for operatively mounting one or more glass shower door panels to one or more panels is described. The mounting assembly includes an elongate guide assembly adapted for receiving and retaining a carriage assembly for mounting a reciprocating glass shower door; and a mounting assembly including one or more end mounting devices for mounting one or more ends of the elongate guide assembly perpendicular to one or more glass panels or walls. Also described is a mounting assembly including an elongate guide assembly adapted for receiving and retaining a carriage assembly for mounting a reciprocating glass shower door; and one or more spaced guide mounting devices for connecting the guide assembly to an adjacent parallel panel and spacing the guide assembly a selected distance from and parallel to the adjacent parallel glass wall panel to provide access between the parallel glass wall panel and guide assembly for cleaning.
US08136199B2
A location space in an engine compartment is made smaller. A DR-side wiper motor and an AS-side wiper motor are arranged within a projection area of a windshield into a cabin of a vehicle in comparison with a DR-side pivot holder and an AS-side pivot holder. Therefore, a location space of each wiper apparatus inside an engine compartment can be made smaller, and can further improve a degree of freedom of design on a vehicle side.
US08136191B2
A scaffold arrangement for repairing the edge structure of a concrete bridge. A steel-structured bent comprises a vertical beam that can be anchored by support members to the upper surface of the bridge. The vertical beam extends to a distance above the upper surface of the bridge. An upper horizontal beam is rigidly secured to the upper end of the vertical beam and the horizontal beam extends substantially transversely relative to the longitudinal direction of the bridge and over the edge of the bridge. A vertical column is secured to the end of the upper horizontal beam. The lower end of the vertical column extends down from the edge of the bridge. A lower horizontal beam is secured to the vertical column and extends in alignment with the upper horizontal beam. The lower horizontal beam comprises a first beam portion extending from the vertical column to a distance below the bridge so that mold walls can be fitted onto the first beam portion, and a second beam portion extending from the vertical column to an opposite direction relative to the first beam portion and supporting an access bridge. A longitudinally adjustable support bar is pivotally connected at one end to the first beam portion and at the other end is supportable against the lower surface of the bridge.
US08136184B2
A method and system for mitigations brake failure in a medical device. The method and system includes a motion system for at least one movable load. Each movable load has a drive, a controller for the drive, and a brake. The controller is adapted to monitor positional parameters of the drive or electrical parameters of the brake or a combination of both. The method involves the step of monitoring the parameters and evaluating the parameters to detect a brake failure of the brake.
US08136179B2
A pop-up drain stopper linkage assembly includes a lift rod, a connecting bar, a pivot rod and a drain stopper. The bottom end of the lift rod forms an engagement part. The upper end of the connecting bar has an engagement groove for the engagement part of the lift rod being engaged and fixed, and the connecting bar has a plurality of holes spaced apart a distance away from the engagement groove. The second end of the pivot rod connects to the drain stopper and a section adjacent the first end has a plurality of fixed portions for tying in with the hole of the connecting bar, and each of the fixed portions and any one of the holes are capable of being passing through and positioning with each other. Thereby, the pop-up drain stopper linkage assembly can be quickly and conveniently assembled with reliable linking effect.
US08136169B2
A combined headwear and cooling system preferably includes a headwear, a mechanism for introducing and circulating external ambient air, and a mechanism for selectively discharging the external ambient air from the inner surface area in such a manner that a discharge rate of the external ambient air is regulated along a plurality of separate target zones defined along the curvilinear region. The present invention allows the user to control the air flow along different portions of the curvilinear region and thereby focus the cooling process on regions that are prone to overheat more quickly than others.
US08141152B1
The present invention provides methods, devices, and systems for detecting and filtering SPam over Internet Telephony (SPIT). The invention includes a two level filter. The first level may include a robust audio hash used to filter audio messages based on their audio content and the second level may include a near-duplicate pattern matching algorithm having a number of content filters and an evaluator to aggregate the results from the multiple content filters. By supporting multiple aggregation methods, a more flexible SPIT detection scheme is provided.
US08141133B2
Methods, systems, and products are provided for filtering communications between users of a shared network. Embodiments include receiving a communication from a sender for delivery to a recipient; retrieving a receipt policy for the recipient; retrieving a profile for the sender; determining whether the sender's profile complies with the receipt policy for the recipient; delivering the communication to the recipient if the sender's profile complies with the receipt policy for the recipient; and blocking the communication if the sender's profile does not comply with the receipt policy for the recipient.
US08141130B2
A system and method for disseminating policies to multiple policy-based components includes a policy producer which generates a group of policies to be enforced. A policy disseminator classifies each policy with a type, and for each policy type, the policy disseminator identifies policy-based components that handle a corresponding policy type. The policy disseminator sends specific policy types from the group of policies to each policy-based component that can handle that specific policy type.
US08141126B2
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to IPsec SA recovery and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for selective IPsec SA recovery from security enforcement point outages. In one embodiment of the invention, a security enforcement point outage recovery method can be provided. The method can include compiling a listing of SAs for a security enforcement point and monitoring the security enforcement point for an outage. Responsive to detecting an outage in the security enforcement point, the listing can be pruned to include SAs that remain contextually valid or are utilized by the peer of the security enforcement point. Thereafter, only SAs in the pruned list can be re-established.
US08141122B2
There is provided a terminate or permit device that includes an internal circuitry, which discriminates between noise and non-noise transmissions. In one embodiment, the internal circuitry comprises a switch and termination unit (“STU”) with a signal path that is used to terminate and/or permit the upstream bandwidth based on the presence of non-noise transmissions. The internal circuitry also comprises a signal processing unit (“SPU”) with a processing circuit, which is configured to identify the non-noise transmissions from the upstream bandwidth, and to cause the STU to permit the upstream bandwidth based on the presence of the non-noise transmissions.
US08141119B2
A digital broadcast receiver and a control method thereof are disclosed. The control method of the digital broadcast receiver includes receiving a broadcast signal into which mobile service data and main service data are multiplexed, extracting transmission parameter channel (TPC) signaling information and fast information channel (FIC) signaling information from a data group in the received mobile service data, acquiring a program table describing virtual channel information and a service of an ensemble, which is a virtual channel group of the received mobile service data, using the extracted FIC signaling information, selectively detecting a first message descriptor mapped with time information or a second message descriptor not mapped with time information, using the acquired program table, performing a control operation to display a message defined in the detected message descriptor.
