US08269591B2

An electric coil comprising a coil core (10), a main winding (16) surrounding the coil core (10) and having an electrically conductive coil wire, a start winding (14) surrounding the coil core (10) and having an electrically conductive coil wire, and an end winding (18) surrounding the coil core (10) and having an electrically conductive coil wire, is characterized in that the coil wire of the main winding (16), the coil wire of the start winding (14), and the coil wire of the end winding (18) are formed by a continuous wound wire, and at least the main winding (16), preferably also the start winding (14), is wound directly onto the coil core (10).
US08269587B2

A superconducting coil is accommodated in a vacuum chamber. A radiation shield is arranged in the vacuum chamber with a prescribed space from the vacuum chamber to surround a periphery of the superconducting coil. A refrigerator cools the superconducting coil and the radiation shield by conduction. A provided member at least partly lies between the vacuum chamber and the radiation shield, through which heat is conducted from the vacuum chamber to the radiation shield. A cooling pipe has opposite end portions drawn out of the vacuum chamber and an intermediate portion in contact with the superconducting coil, the radiation shield, and the provided member. The provided member dissipates heat into a coolant flowing through the cooling pipe, to reduce the heat conducted to the radiation shield.
US08269579B2

An RF filter assembly comprising a monoblock of dielectric material defining a first RF filter and a lid of dielectric material defining a second RF filter. In one embodiment, the monoblock defines a peripheral wall of dielectric material extending upwardly from a top surface thereof and first and second posts of dielectric material also extending upwardly from the top surface of the monoblock including regions of metallization thereon defining respective conductive input/output pads. The lid is seated against the top of the wall of the monoblock in a relationship spaced from the top surface of the monoblock and defines at least one region of metallization on one of the surfaces thereof defining a filter and a conductive input/output pad in coupling relationship with the input/output pad defined on one of the first and second posts on the monoblock.
US08269575B2

A semiconductor device has an RF balun formed over a substrate. The RF balun includes a first conductive trace wound to exhibit inductive properties with a first end coupled to a first terminal of the semiconductor device and second end coupled to a second terminal of the semiconductor device. A first capacitor is coupled between the first and second ends of the first conductive trace. A second conductive trace is wound to exhibit inductive properties with a first end coupled to a third terminal of the semiconductor device and second end coupled to a fourth terminal of the semiconductor device. The first conductive trace is formed completely within the second conductive trace. The first conductive trace and second conductive trace can have an oval, circular, or polygonal shape separated by 50 micrometers. A second capacitor is coupled between the first and second ends of the second conductive trace.
US08269572B2

Signal modulation apparatus for applying a modulation signal to a carrier signal, the apparatus comprising: an amplitude modulator for modulating the amplitude of the carrier signal in accordance with a control signal; first mixing means for mixing together fractions of the carrier signal before and after action of the amplitude modulator to produce a first detection signal indicative of the amplitude modulation applied by the amplitude modulator; and detection means for comparing the control signal with a first detection signal to evaluate distortion in the first detection signal as compared with the control signal.
US08269570B2

Systems and devices for ripple reduction in a DC/DC converter are presented. The disclosed systems and methods enable ripple reduction in discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) operation. In DCM, the inductor current peak to peak ripple may be reduced based on the load current. To achieve the reduction of the inductor peak to peak current ripple, a digital counter is used to count the time between consecutive PWM pulses. The digital output of the counter is used to control the pulse width modulation. As the digital output of the counter increases, the PWM on-time decreases. Since the PWM pulse is demanded by the load in DCM mode, the peak to peak inductor ripple is modulated by the counter, or, in turn, modulated by the load current.
US08269569B2

A test apparatus includes digital modulators provided in increments of multiple channels. A baseband signal generator performs retiming of data input as a modulation signal for the in-phase (quadrature) component, using a timing signal the timing of which can be adjusted, thereby generating a baseband signal. A driver generates a multi-value digital signal having a level that corresponds to the baseband signal output from the baseband signal generator. A multiplier amplitude-modulates a carrier signal with the multi-value digital signal. An adder sums the output signals of the multipliers.
US08269563B2

A digitally-controlled oscillator (DCO) of a PLL is dithered such that a DCO_OUT signal has a frequency that changes at dithered intervals. In one example, the DCO receives an undithered stream of incoming digital tuning words, and receives a dithered reference clock signal REFD, and outputs the DCO_OUT signal such that its frequency changes occur at dithered intervals. Where the PLL is employed in the local oscillator of a cellular telephone transmitter, the novel dithering of the DCO spreads digital image noise out in frequency such that less digital image noise is present at a particular frequency offset from the main local oscillator frequency. Spreading digital image noise out in frequency allows a noise specification to be met without having to increase the frequency of the PLL reference clock. By avoiding increasing the frequency of the reference clock to meet the noise specification, increases in power consumption are avoided.
US08269561B1

Embodiments of the invention may provide CMOS power amplifiers with power mode control to provide the desired power-added efficiency (PAE), idle current, output power, and Adjacent Channel Leakage Ratio (ACLR). For instance, there may be a multi-mode WCDMA CMOS RF power amplifier having high/medium/low output power modes aimed to achieve high PAE and low idle current in a portable wireless environment. According to an example embodiment, a CMOS RF power amplifier may provide a plurality of separate signal paths for purposes of supporting multi-power modes. For example, there may be a first signal path which supports a high-power mode, and a second path which is subsequently divided into two recursive signal paths or sub-paths to support respective medium and low-power modes. One of the three power modes may be selected or controlled using bias control switches in the first and second paths.
US08269559B2

In an amplifying device, an amplification unit includes a first amplifier which amplifies a signal and a second amplifier which amplifies a signal when the signal has a predetermined level or more. A detector detects a temperature change. A calculation unit calculates an adjacent channel leakage power ratio of an output signal output from the amplification unit based on detection of the temperature change of the detector. A controller controls gate biases of the first and second amplifiers based on the adjacent channel leakage power ratio calculated by the calculation unit.
US08269548B2

General speaking, a resistor of high resistivity has a negative-temperature-coefficient and a resistor of low resistivity has a positive-temperature-coefficient. Utilizing this characteristic, an appropriate proportion between the above resistors can be found to make a combined resistor with an approximate zero-temperature-coefficient. The combined resistor can be used to design a circuit for generating voltage and current with approximate zero-temperature-coefficients.
US08269545B2

A system on chip (SoC) has a digital domain. An adaptive voltage/frequency scaling circuit includes a critical path replica circuit with respect to that digital domain. The critical path replica circuit generates a margin signal, and the adaptive voltage scaling circuit responds to the margin signal by decreasing bias voltage (and/or increasing clock frequency) applied to the digital domain of the system on chip so as to recover available margin. A fail-safe timing sensor is included within the digital domain of the system on chip. The timing sensor generates a flag signal when timing criteria within the digital domain are violated. The adaptive voltage scaling circuit responds to the flag signal by increasing the bias voltage (and/or decreasing the clock frequency) applied to the digital domain of the system on chip so as to implement a recovery operation.
US08269538B2

Through the use of a multi-step sweep, the present invention is capable of increasing the speed and improving the error resistance of a signal alignment. In a specific embodiment of the invention, a method for the signal alignment of a target signal and an adjustable signal is disclosed. The target signal is sampled using three or more phase shifted versions of the adjustable signal to obtain a group of target signal state values. Next, through reference to the group of target signal state values it is determined that an edge of the target signal lies between a first phase shifted version and a second consecutive phase shifted version. In response, the first phase shifted version is selected as the starting point for a second sweep. During the second sweep, the phase of the first phase shifted version is sequentially adjusted in relatively small incremental steps to minimize the phase difference relative to the target signal.
US08269527B2

A hysteresis comparator circuit that compares first and second input signals to output a hysteresis output signal includes a constant current source, a first comparator, a second comparator, and an output circuit. The constant current source includes a load resistor to generate a given constant current. The first comparator is controlled by the constant current supplied from the constant current source to compare the first and second input signals to output a first comparison result. The second comparator is controlled by the constant current supplied from the constant current source to compare the first and second input signals to output a second comparison result. The output circuit has a pair of inputs thereof connected to the first and second comparators, respectively, which inverts an output thereof in response to each of the first and second comparison results to generate the hysteresis output signal.
US08269524B2

An I/O pin mapping module integrated on a microcontroller chip allows any microcontroller circuit node connected to the I/O pin mapping module to be mapped to any microcontroller I/O pin connected to the I/O pin mapping module. The size of the I/O pin mapping module can be customized prior to integration in accordance with the number of circuit nodes and I/O pins to be connected thereto. The I/O pin mapping module is programmable and can be described in a high level language to create a generic module that can be used in different microcontroller families, as well as in other types of integrated circuit chips.
US08269521B2

A multi-chip stacked system and a chip select apparatus are provided. The chip select apparatus includes n ID code generators and n activation logic units. The first ID code generator generates a first ID code and a second seed code according to a first seed code, and an ith ID code generator connected to the (i−1)th ID code generator generates an ith ID code and an (i+1)th seed code according to the ith seed code. The ID codes generated by the ID code generators are different to each other. Each of the activation logic units has an activation code. The ith activation logic unit receives the ith ID code from the ith ID code generator. The ith activation logic unit activates the ith chip when the ith ID code is complied with the activation code of the ith activation logic unit.
US08269518B1

A method and apparatus for a pre-biasing storage mechanism to prevent oxidation and other contaminants from forming on the probe tips and probe tails of a probe card. The pre-biasing storage mechanism imposes a positive bias on the probe needles of the probe card so as to create physical contact between the probe tails and the conductive pads of the printed circuit board (PCB) arrangement of the probe card during a disengaged state of the probe card. In addition, the storage mechanism imposes a positive bias on the probe needles of the probe card, so as to create physical contact between the probe tips and a probe tip cleaning pad, or other protective surface, during a disengaged state of the probe card.
US08269514B2

Embodiments of the present invention can relate to probe card assemblies, multilayer support substrates for use therein, and methods of designing multilayer support substrates for use in probe card assemblies. In some embodiments, a probe card assembly may include a multilayer support substrate engineered to substantially match thermal expansion of a reference material over a desired temperature range; and a probe substrate coupled to the multilayer support substrate. In some embodiments, the reference material may be silicon.
US08269504B2

Described is a system for locating a partial break in a wire loop antenna. More specifically, the system generates two test signals, each test signal having a signal pattern distinguishable from the other. The system transmits the test signals by way of the antenna such that each test signal radiates from the antenna. The system receives the radiating test signals and generates a signal indicator for each test signal, each signal indicator reflecting properties of its respective test signal. Each signal indicator is analyzed with respect to the other to determine the location of the partial break. Because the test signals have distinguishable signal patterns, the analysis of the signal indicators is simplified and, in certain circumstances, made possible.
US08269501B2

Methods for imaging geological structures include injecting magnetic materials into the geological structures, placing at least one magnetic probe in a proximity to the geological structures, generating a magnetic field in the geological structures and detecting a magnetic signal. The at least one magnetic probe may be on the surface of the geological structures or reside within the geological structures. The methods also include injecting magnetic materials into the geological structures, placing at least one magnetic detector in the geological structures and measuring a resonant frequency in the at least one magnetic detector. Methods for using magnetic materials in dipole-dipole, dipole-loop and loop-loop transmitter-receiver configurations for geological structure electromagnetic imaging techniques are also disclosed.
US08269495B2

In a method to determine an inversion time value for contrast improvement between different tissue in a contrast agent-supported magnetic resonance imaging, a series of magnetic resonance images of an imaging area is acquired using an inversion recovery sequence with different inversion times. A structure in the magnetic resonance images is segmented and a time response of the signal intensity of image elements corresponding to one another in the magnetic resonance images of the segmented structure is automatically determined. Minima of the signal intensity in the segmented structure are determined automatically and associated with the associated inversion time values. The optimal inversion time value for contrast improvement is automatically determined from the inversion time values that have been associated with the minima of the signal intensity in the segmented structure.
US08269494B2

Techniques and systems for magnetic resonance imaging. In one aspect, preparatory pulse sequences precede alternating repetition time steady state free precession (ATR SSFP) pulse sequences to enable image acquisition before reaching a steady-state equilibrium. The design of the preparatory sequences is based on a two step process: First an oscillatory residue is expressed in terms of a window (e.g., a Kaiser-Bessel window) and scale parameters. Second the oscillatory residue is minimized to determine the scale parameters according to a desired application (e.g. ATR SSFP, optimized for fat, water, etc.) The preparation scheme described in this specification can be applied to arbitrary repetition times and RF phase cycling combinations.
US08269489B2

An inspection system for inspecting a part is provided. The inspection system includes a multi-dimensional array of eddy current sensors that conforms to a contour of a three dimensional shape of the part. The inspection system also includes a controller coupled to the multi-dimensional array, wherein the controller is configured to electronically scan the part via an electrical connection of the eddy current sensors to an eddy current instrument. The inspection system further includes a processor coupled to the eddy current instrument, wherein the processor is configured to analyze output from the eddy current instrument and the controller to accomplish inspection of the part.
US08269487B2

A resolver includes an excitation coil for receiving an excitation signal and a detection coil for outputting a detection signal. The detection sine wave is changeable according to an amount of displacement of a movable element provided in the excitation coil or the detection coil. The resolver detects the amount of displacement of the movable element based on the excitation signal and the detection signal. The detection coil is one coil formed of a first detection coil pattern and a second detection coil pattern connected in series or in parallel such that the second detection coil pattern is shifted in phase by a half cycle from the first detection coil pattern.
US08269483B2

A system and a method for monitoring a building material are disclosed. The system and the method provide a comprehensive monitoring throughout a manufacturing and an application process and provide a real time data feedback relating to the physical characteristics of the building material. The system and method include mixing a predetermined amount of taggant particles with a predetermined volume of at least one component of the building material in order to comprehensively monitor a mix ratio and segregation of the building material during manufacturing and application.
US08269478B2

A voltage regulator comprises first and second bipolar transistors operating at different current densities; a resistor is connected between their bases across which ΔVBE appears. A third bipolar transistor is connected such that the voltages at the bases of the first and third transistors are equal or differ by a PTAT amount. A current mirror is arranged to balance the collector current of one of the second and third transistors with an image of the collector current of the first transistor when the output node is at a unique operating point. The operating point includes both PTAT and CTAT components, the ratio of which can be established such that the operating point has a desired temperature characteristic. A transistor connected to the output node and driven by the output of the current mirror regulates the output voltage by negative feedback.
US08269477B2

A reference voltage generation circuit is disclosed. The reference voltage generation circuit includes an operational amplifier configured to output a constant voltage in accordance with reference voltages input to first and second terminals of the operational amplifier, and a start-up circuit configured to initiate operation of the operational amplifier when the start-up circuit switches from an idle mode to an active mode, including a first transistor having a gate connected to an output of the operational amplifier, a source connected to a supply voltage, and a drain connected to a resistor, configured to supply a reference current to the resistor in accordance with the operational amplifier output, thereby generating the reference voltage.
US08269476B2

A load controller includes: an input circuit which detects that a drive instruction signal is less or equal to a first input threshold value; a constant current source activated in accordance with a detection by the input circuit; a PWM signal generating unit that is activated by the constant current source and generates a PWM signal; a comparator that is activated by the constant current source and compares the drive instruction signal with a second input threshold value set to be lower than the first input threshold value; a logic calculation unit that carries out a logic calculation of the PWM signal with a compared result of the comparator; a drive control unit that operates in accordance with an output from the logic calculation unit to generate a PWM drive control signal; and a load driving element that is driven by the PWM drive control signal to control a load.
US08269474B2

A buck regulator comprises an upper switching transistor connected between a voltage input node and a phase node. A lower switching transistor is connected between the phase node and a ground node. An inductor is connected between the phase node and an output voltage node. Circuitry generates control signals to the upper switching transistor and the lower switching transistor responsive to the output voltage and a reference voltage. The control signals to the lower switching transistor selectively turn off the lower switching transistor responsive to a current direction through the lower switching transistor and an indication of whether a voltage error signal has been clamped at a selected level.
US08269463B2

A battery abnormality detection circuit includes: a SOC detection unit that detects a SOC of a secondary battery; an internal resistance detection unit that detects an internal resistance value of the secondary battery; a first state acquisition unit that acquires a first SOC and a first resistance value at a predetermined first timing; a second state acquisition unit that acquires a second SOC and a second resistance value at a second timing a storage unit that stores in advance relationship information indicating a correspondence relationship between a SOC and an internal resistance value of the secondary battery; a reference variation value setting unit that sets a reference variation value indicating an amount of variation from an internal resistance value corresponding to the first SOC to an internal resistance value corresponding to the second SOC on the basis of the relationship information stored in the storage unit; and a determination unit that determines that an abnormality has occurred in the secondary battery when an amount of variation from the first resistance value to the second resistance value is different from an amount of variation indicated by the reference variation value that has been set by the reference variation value setting unit.
US08269462B2

The state monitoring apparatus includes a high-voltage side monitoring section having monitoring units assigned to respective unit batteries and a low-voltage side monitoring section having a control device. The monitoring units measures the voltages of the unit batteries upon reception of a voltage measurement command transmitted from the control device, and determines whether or not the measured voltages are within a predetermined range. This determination is transmitted to the control device. If this determination is negative, the control device limits a charge/discharge current of the assembled battery, and then causes the monitoring units to transmit the measured voltages.
US08269458B2

A battery pack can include a temperature sensor that can provide an output that is indicative of a temperature associated with the battery pack. A battery management unit can directly measure the temperature sensor when the battery pack is by itself or engaged with a tool. A charger can directly read the temperature sensor when the battery pack is engaged with the charger. Thus, the temperature sensor can be shared by the battery pack and the charger. The battery pack can utilize a same terminal that provides access to the temperature sensor to indicate a stop-charge signal. The charger can read the stop-charge signal on the same terminal used to directly access the temperature sensor.
US08269453B2

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed at a method and system for recharging batteries for wireless electronic devices. According to one embodiment, a battery charging and monitoring system is disclosed. The system includes a host machine providing a plurality of charging slots and a plurality of wireless devices coupled to and powered by a plurality of batteries. The host machine is adapted to communicate with the plurality of wireless devices through a plurality of wireless links to monitor the plurality of batteries coupled to the wireless devices. According to another embodiment, an electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device is adapted to couple with at least a rechargeable battery and to negotiate with the rechargeable battery for an agreed range of power parameters. The electronic device is further adapted to accept power from and to provide power to the rechargeable battery at the agreed range of power parameters.
US08269451B2

A power conversion device includes: an inverter that drives an alternating-current motor by converting a direct-current voltage into an alternating-current voltage of an arbitrary frequency; an alternating current disconnecting switching unit connected between the inverter and the alternating-current motor; a current detector that detects an output current of the inverter; and a controller that performs on/off-control of the plural switching elements in the inverter and switching control with respect to the switching unit, based on at least a current detected by the current detector. The controller has a configuration to be able to interrupt a fault current by setting the fault current to a state of generating a current zero point, when the fault current containing a direct-current component is generated between the inverter and the alternating-current motor.
US08269448B2

A unit for recording operating information of an electronically commutated motor (ECM) is described. The unit includes a system controller communicatively coupled to an ECM. The system controller includes a processing device configured to control the unit. The unit also includes a memory device communicatively coupled to the system controller. The memory device is configured to receive and store ECM operating information provided by the processing device.
US08269445B2

Methods and apparatus are provided for a limp home operational mode for an electric motor system. The method includes determining whether a resolver has failed. When the resolver has not failed, operation of the electric motor system uses resolver signals. When the resolver fails, operation of the electric motor system uses sensorless rotor position and rotor speed signals.
US08269443B2

It is possible to suppress vibration of a rotary machine in a rotary machine control apparatus. A drive control system of a fuel cell vehicle having a rotary machine includes a control unit having: a drive permission power calculation module which calculates the rotary machine drive permission power according to the states of a fuel cell and an accumulator as power sources of the rotary machine: a limit torque calculation module which calculates a limit torque of the rotary machine according to the drive permission power; and a filter processing module which performs a low-pass process on the limit torque calculation. A storage device of the control unit stores a filter processing region map indicating the region where the filter process is executed by correlating the region with the drive permission power and the rpm.
US08269438B2

An apparatus and method for driving a motor of an air conditioner are disclosed. A method for driving a motor of an air conditioner includes driving the motor in response to a predetermined speed command, sequentially detecting first and second mechanical angles in response to the speed command or a reference speed being spaced apart from the speed command by a predetermined range, calculating a maximum speed mechanical angle corresponding to a maximum speed ripple of the motor on the basis of the detected first and second mechanical angles, and compensating for load torque of the motor on the basis of the calculated the maximum speed mechanical angle. As a result, the speed ripple is decreased during the constant speed operation.
US08269433B2

A circuit arrangement for operating a discharge lamp having a dielectric layer between at least one electrode and one discharge medium, comprising a primary circuit, which comprises a flux converter with at least one electronic switch, the flux converter having a first input terminal and a second input terminal for connecting an input voltage; a secondary circuit, which has a first output terminal and a second output terminal for connecting the discharge lamp; a transformer coupling the primary circuit to the secondary circuit, the transformer having at least a primary winding, a secondary winding and a transformer core, on which the primary winding and the secondary winding are wound; and a discrete inductance with a core, the discrete inductance being coupled electrically in parallel with the secondary winding.
US08269432B2

An offline LED lighting circuit comprises a controller and a dimming circuit. The controller generates a switching signal to switch a transformer for generating an output voltage and an output current at an output terminal of the offline LED lighting circuit to drive LEDs. The dimming circuit is coupled to the controller to modulate the switching signal in response to a dimming signal. A first reference voltage and a second reference voltage of the controller are generated in response to the dimming signal. The switching signal is modulated by the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage. The controller regulates the output voltage at a first output level and a second output level in response to both the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage. The second output level is lower than the first output level.
US08269428B2

The present invention is directed generally to lighting devices, and more particularly to white light LED-based lighting devices configured such that key subassemblies may be replaced, thereby enabling the modification and/or repair of said device.
US08269415B2

An organic light emitting device having light emitting units on a substrate is provided. Each light emitting unit includes a first electrode layer, an organic light emitting layer, a second electrode layer, a power line, a resistor line, an insulating layer. The first electrode layer is disposed on the substrate. The organic light emitting layer is disposed on the first electrode layer. The second electrode layer is disposed on the organic light emitting layer. The power line is disposed on the substrate. The resistor line is electrically connected to the first electrode layer, wherein the resistor line partially overlaps with the power line, and an overlapping area occupies 60˜100% of a total area of the resistor line. The insulating layer is disposed between the power line and the resistor line, and a contact hole is disposed in the insulating layer to electrically connect the power line and the resistor line.
US08269406B2

A mercury-free high-pressure gas discharge lamp (HID [high intensity discharge] lamp) is described which is provided for use in automotive technology. To achieve improved lamp characteristics, in particular a substantially equal luminous efficacy in comparison with lamps of the same power and a mercury-free gas filling, as well as a highest possible burning voltage, the discharge vessel (1) is provided in its wall regions (10) which are lowermost in the operational position with a coating (15) which reflects at least a portion of the infrared radiation generated during operation, such that the temperature of the coldest spots, and in particular of the light-generating substances collected there, is raised, with the result that the light-generating substances can enter the gas phase in sufficient quantities also without mercury, and in particular with the use of a metal halide as a voltage-gradient generator.
US08269404B2

An external light blocking film includes a base of transparent resin and an external light blocking pattern having a plurality of external light blocking parts. The external light blocking part is formed by filling a groove with a light absorption material. One end of the external light blocking part is exposed on a surface of the base, and the other end of the external light blocking part is buried in the base. The one end has a shape of a stripe and the other end has a shape of a zigzag curve when viewed from the front. Furthermore, a method of fabricating an external light blocking film and a filter for a display device having an external light blocking film are provided. The external light blocking film has an excellent ability to absorb external light. A complicated pattern of the external light blocking film can be easily formed without additional machining processes, whereby the fabrication time and cost can be saved.
US08269393B2

An end turn support for a generator includes a wire support. The wire support extends along an axis in a radial direction from an axis of rotation. The wire support defines an arcuate wire receipt surface.
US08269389B1

An electrical energy generator for generating optimal electrical energy at very low wind speeds and at very high wind speeds. The electrical energy generator includes a support assembly having an elongate support member, and also includes a rotor assembly being rotatably disposed upon the support assembly and having a plurality of vanes being movable by air for rotating the rotor assembly, and further includes a stator assembly being mounted upon the support assembly and including a stator member being movably disposed upon the support assembly for generating energy in cooperation with the rotor assembly, and an assembly for moving the stator member relative to the rotor assembly upon the support assembly.
US08269379B2

A linear vibrator is disclosed. The linear vibrator includes a housing having a base and a cover, a number of elastic members connected to the housing, a moving unit suspended inside the housing by the elastic members, a PCB covered by the housing and a coil mounted on the PCB. The base has a bottom wall, a plurality of sidewalls extending vertically from the bottom wall and a blocking ring extending form a central portion of the bottom wall. The moving unit has a magnet assembly and at least a pair of patches and vibrates along a direction parallel to the bottom wall, the coil is located right below the magnet assembly.
US08269378B2

The invention consists on a linear switched reluctance electrical machine that may be operated indistinctly as a generator or a motor, with a series of characteristics that allow the optimization of the mass to power ratio, as well as the manufacturing cost. The machine has several air gaps, crossed by a single magnetic flux, in which the magnetic force is obtained. This flux is fed by a set of coils (6) placed in the active parts, these active parts are two yokes (4) and (5) in which the magnetic flux closes, there might be other active parts in the mentioned magnetic circuit through which the magnetic flux does not close. A set of passive elements, normally the translators (1) and (2), produce, while moving relatively to the active part, a variation of the reluctance of the circuit with respect to the position which causes a magnetic force. The most unique characteristic of the present invention is that the magnetic flux only returns through the two outermost active parts (4-5), allowing the desired reduction in mass, weight and cost.
US08269370B2

A controller (10) includes subtracters (101, 105), a command value corrector (103), and a control block (102). The subtracter (101) obtains a deviation (Δv0) of an output voltage (v0) applied from a switching power-supply circuit (61) to a second load (Cdc+Load) with respect to its command value (v0*). The control block (102) performs PI control on the basis of the deviation (Δv0) to generate a command value (idc*) for a current (idc) flowing in a coil (Ldc). The command value corrector (103) corrects the command value (idc*) such that high-frequency components of a current (iL) flowing in a first power-supply line (21), with respect to the fundamental frequency of an input current (iu1, iv1, iw1), are consumed in the switching power-supply circuit (61). The subtracter (105) obtains a deviation (Δidc) between the corrected command value (idc*) and the current (idc). Commands (r1, r2) for switches are generated on the basis of the deviation (Δidc).
US08269365B2

The invention concerns an apparatus for converting wave energy into electric power, comprising a closed floating element (1) and a mass forming element (2), the mass forming element (2) being arranged inside the floating element (1) and mounted mobile relative to the floating element (1), the mass forming element (2) being adapted to be set in relative motion with respect to the floating element (1) under the action of the waves on the floating element (1). The invention is characterized in that it also comprises locking means (13) adapted to lock the movement of the mass forming element (2) and control means adapted to control the locking means (13) for selectively locking or releasing the mass element (2) so as to amplify the movement of the mass forming element (2) by constant adaptation to the dynamics of the apparatus to successive waves.
US08269363B2

Provided is a power generator, including a plurality of wind power generators generating electrical power using wind power energy, and variable-speed wind power generators connected between the power generator and an electrical power system. The variable-speed wind power generators equalize an output of the entire power generating system by outputting power for correcting for a drop in output of the power generator.
US08269362B2

A constant direction four quadrant lift type vertical shaft wind power generator is provided, which includes a truss-type wind wheel formed by an upper wind disc (5), a lower wind disc (3), and supporting rods (11); a speeder (8); and a generator (9), in which the wind wheel and the speeder (8) are sleeved on a central shaft (2), several groups of vanes (7) are perpendicularly arranged at a diametral top end of the wind wheel by their respective pivots (10), the wind wheel and the vanes (7) are disposed at an upper end of the equipment, and the generator (9), the speeder (8), and a controller are disposed at a bottom of the equipment. The wind power generator can be conveniently installed, operated, and maintained.
US08269354B2

A semiconductor package substrate structure and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. The structure includes a substrate having a plurality of electrical connecting pads formed on at least one surface thereof; a plurality of electroplated conductive posts each covering a corresponding one of the electrical connecting pads and an insulating protective layer formed on the surface of the substrate and having a revealing portion for exposing the electroplated conductive posts therefrom. The invention allows the interval between the electroplated conductive posts to be minimized, the generation of concentrated stresses and the overflow of underfill to be avoided, as well as the reduction of the overall height of the fabricated package.
US08269344B2

Methods and systems for inter-chip communication via integrated circuit package waveguides are disclosed and may include communicating one or more signals between or among a plurality of integrated circuits via one or more waveguides integrated in a multi-layer package. The integrated circuits may be bonded to the multi-layer package. The waveguides may be configured via switches in the integrated circuits or by MEMS switches integrated in the multi-layer package. The signals may include a microwave signal and a low frequency control signal that may configure the microwave signal. The low frequency control signal may include a digital signal. The waveguides may comprise metal and/or semiconductor layers deposited on and/or embedded within the multi-layer package.
US08269342B2

A semiconductor package may include at least one semiconductor chip mounted on a substrate, a molding layer adapted to mold the at least one semiconductor chip, a heat slug, on the molding layer, having a structure in which a dielectric is provided between conductors, and a through mold via electrically connecting the heat slug to the substrate.
US08269339B2

An underfill film for an electronic device includes a thermally conductive sheet. The electronic device may include a printed circuit board, an electrical component, an underfill, and the thermally conductive sheet. The underfill is situated between the circuit board and the component. The thermally conductive sheet is situated within the underfill, and together with the underfill, constitutes the underfill film. The device may include solder bumps affixing the component to the circuit board, the underfill film having holes within which the solder bumps are aligned. There may be solder bumps on the underside of the circuit board promoting heat dissipation. There may be heat sinks on the circuit board to which the thermally conductive sheet is affixed promoting heat dissipation. The thermally conductive sheet may be affixed to a chassis promoting heat dissipation. The thermally conductive sheet thus promotes heat dissipation from the component to at least the circuit board.
US08269334B1

Embodiments of the present invention provide electrical bussing for multichip leadframes. In various embodiments, a leadframe may comprise a first die paddle for receiving a first microelectronic device, a second die paddle for receiving a second microelectronic device, and at least one electrical bus disposed between the first die paddle and the second die paddle.
US08269329B2

A multi-chip package structure is provided with a first chip, a substrate adjacent to the first chip, a plurality of contacts connecting the first chip and the substrate, a second chip disposed between the first chip and the substrate and connecting to the first chip, and a underfill film, wherein the underfill film covers the contact to isolate the contact from the second chip, wherein an empty space is defined by the second chip and the substrate so that the second chip does not contact the substrate.
US08269324B2

An integrated circuit package system includes: providing a lead having a lead connection surface for connectivity to a next level system; attaching an integrated circuit over the lead having the lead connection surface substantially within a region below a perimeter of the integrated circuit without a die paddle, a substrate conductor, or a redistribution layer; and attaching a die connector to the integrated circuit and the lead.
US08269318B2

A method for forming an offset spacer of a MOS device is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: providing a substrate having a gate structure thereon; forming a dielectric stack on the substrate and the gate structure, wherein the dielectric stack includes a first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer, a third dielectric layer, and a fourth dielectric layer; and performing an etching process on the dielectric stack to form an offset spacer around the gate structure.
US08269317B2

Compounds comprising a ligand having a quinoline or isoquinoline moiety and a phenyl moiety, e.g., (iso)pq ligands. In particular, the ligand is further substituted with electron donating groups. The compounds may be used in organic light emitting devices, particularly devices with emission in the deep red part of the visible spectrum, to provide devices having improved properties.
US08269312B2

A semiconductor device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a semiconductor layer, an insulating film formed on the surface of the semiconductor layer, a first insulator embedded in the semiconductor layer with a thickness larger than the thickness of the insulating film, and a resistive element formed on the first insulator. A semiconductor device according to another aspect of the present invention includes a semiconductor layer, an insulating film formed on the surface of the semiconductor layer, a resistive element formed on the insulating film, and a floating region formed on a portion of the semiconductor layer opposed to the resistive element through the insulating film and electrically floating from a periphery thereof.
US08269308B2

A semiconductor device is made by forming an oxide layer over a substrate and forming a first conductive layer over the oxide layer. The first conductive layer is connected to ground. A second conductive layer is formed over the first conductive layer as a plurality of segments. A third conductive layer is formed over the second conductive layer as a plurality of segments. If the conductive layers are electrically isolated, then a conductive via is formed through these layers. A first segment of the third conductive layer operates as a first passive circuit element. A second segment operates as a second passive circuit element. A third segment is connected to ground and operates as a shield disposed between the first and second segments. The shield has a height at least equal to a height of the passive circuit elements to block cross-talk between the passive circuit elements.
US08269302B2

A photodetector is described along with corresponding materials, systems, and methods. The photodetector comprises an integrated circuit and at least two optically sensitive layers. A first optically sensitive layer is over at least a portion of the integrated circuit, and a second optically sensitive layer is over the first optically sensitive layer. Each optically sensitive layer is interposed between two electrodes. The two electrodes include a respective first electrode and a respective second electrode. The integrated circuit selectively applies a bias to the electrodes and reads signals from the optically sensitive layers. The signal is related to the number of photons received by the respective optically sensitive layer.
US08269296B2

A camera module includes a sensor chip having a backside surface and a main surface including a sensor forming region and a sensor peripheral region surrounding the sensor forming region, in which a light receiving portion is disposed in the sensor forming region; a lens chip having a non-lens forming surface and a lens forming surface including a lens forming region and a lens peripheral region surrounding the lens forming region, in which a lens portion disposed in the lens forming region; a spacer portion for bonding the sensor peripheral region to the lens peripheral region with a specific space in between so that the light receiving portion faces the lens portion; and a cover including an opening portion for passing light from outside toward the lens portion and the light receiving portion.
US08269292B2

A MTJ that minimizes spin-transfer magnetization switching current (Jc) in a Spin-RAM to <1×106 A/cm2 is disclosed. The MTJ has a Co60Fe20B20/MgO/Co60Fe20B20 configuration where the CoFeB AP1 pinned and free layers are amorphous and the crystalline MgO tunnel barrier is formed by a ROX or NOX process. The capping layer preferably is a Hf/Ru composite where the lower Hf layer serves as an excellent oxygen getter material to reduce the magnetic “dead layer” at the free layer/capping layer interface and thereby increase dR/R, and lower He and Jc. The annealing temperature is lowered to about 280° C. to give a smoother CoFeB/MgO interface and a smaller offset field than with a 350° C. annealing. In a second embodiment, the AP1 layer has a CoFeB/CoFe configuration wherein the lower CoFeB layer is amorphous and the upper CoFe layer is crystalline to further improve dR/R and lower RA to ≦10 ohm/μm2.
US08269290B2

In a semiconductor device, a first semiconductor substrate includes a first element on a first-surface side thereof, and a second semiconductor substrate includes a second element and a wiring part on a first-surface side thereof. The first semiconductor substrate and the second semiconductor substrate are attached with each other in such a manner that a first surface of the first semiconductor substrate is opposite a first surface of the second semiconductor substrate. A hole is provided from a second surface of the first semiconductor substrate to the wiring part through the first semiconductor substrate, and a sidewall of the hole is insulated. A drawing wiring part made of a conductive member fills the hole.
US08269289B2

Methods of forming transistor devices and structures thereof are disclosed. A first dielectric material is formed over a workpiece, and a second dielectric material is formed over the first dielectric material. The workpiece is annealed, causing a portion of the second dielectric material to combine with the first dielectric material and form a third dielectric material. The second dielectric material is removed, and a gate material is formed over the third dielectric material. The gate material and the third dielectric material are patterned to form at least one transistor.
US08269287B2

Methods and apparatus for increasing the coupling coefficient of a floating gate memory device includes an MOS capacitors with self-aligning gate structures that provide increased capacitance per unit area over conventional MOS capacitors.
US08269270B2

A vertical semiconductor component having a semiconductor body, which has an inner region and an edge region that is arranged between the inner region and an edge of the semiconductor body. At least one semiconductor junction between a first semiconductor zone of a first conduction type, said first semiconductor zone being arranged in the region of a first side of the semiconductor body in the inner region, and a second semiconductor zone of the second conduction type, said second semiconductor zone adjoining the first semiconductor zone in the vertical direction. A contiguous third semiconductor zone of the second conduction type, said third semiconductor zone being arranged at a distance from the first semiconductor zone in the second semiconductor zone in the vertical direction of the semiconductor body and extending as far as the edge region in the lateral direction of the semiconductor body, and the doping of the third semiconductor zone being selected in such a manner that it is completely depleted of charge carriers when a reverse voltage is applied to the pn junction.
US08269268B2

The device includes: a tunnel insulating layer, a charge trap layer; a blocking insulating layer; and a gate electrode sequentially formed on a substrate. The charge trap layer includes: plural trap layers comprising a first material having a first band gap energy level; spaced apart nanodots, each nanodot being at least partially surrounded by at least one of the trap layers, wherein the nanodots comprise a second material having a second band gap energy level that is lower than the first band gap energy level; and an intermediate blocking layer comprising a third material having a third band gap energy level that is higher than the first band gap energy level, formed between at least two of the trap layers. This structure prevents loss of charges from the charge trap layer and improves charge storage capacity.
US08269258B2

A method for manufacturing a solar cell comprises disposing a first doping layer on a substrate, forming a first doping layer pattern by patterning the first doping layer to expose a portion of the substrate, disposing a second doping layer on the first doping layer pattern to cover the exposed portion of the substrate, diffusing an impurity from the first doping layer pattern which forms a first doping region in a surface of the substrate, and diffusing an impurity from the second doping layer which forms a second doping region in the surface of the substrate, wherein the forming of the first doping layer pattern uses an etching paste.
US08269240B2

Semiconductor light emitting devices include a substrate having a cavity, multiple light emitting devices in the cavity and remote phosphor layers, scattering layers and/or lenses for the light emitting devices.
US08269238B2

A photonic crystal light emitting device including: a light emitting diode (LED) light emitting structure including a first conductive semiconductor layer, a second conductive semiconductor layer, and an active layer interposed between the first and second conductive semiconductor layers; and a first photon-recycling light emitting layer formed on one surface of the first conductive semiconductor layer, opposite to the active layer, wherein the first photon-recycling light emitting layer absorbs a primary light emitted from the LED light emitting structure and emits a light having a different wavelength from that of the primary light, and a photonic crystal structure is formed on an entire thickness of the first photon-recycling light emitting layer.
US08269236B2

A light-emitting diode (10) has a light-extracting surface and includes a transparent substrate (14), a compound semiconductor layer (13) bonded to the transparent substrate, a light-emitting part (12) contained in the compound semiconductor layer, a light-emitting layer (133) contained in the light-emitting part and formed of (AlXGa1-X)YIn1-YP(0≦X≦1, 0
US08269230B2

A multilayer-doped OLED structure comprises a substrate, an anode layer, a hole transport layer, a multilayer-doped organic light emitting layer, an electron transport layer, an electron injection layer and a metallic cathode layer. The multilayer-doped organic light emitting layer functions as a lighting source. The multilayer-doped organic light emitting layer is fabricated by a plurality of film deposition and doping processes. Thereby, the multilayer-doped organic light emitting layer has better quantum effect to improve luminous efficiency and illumination of OLED.
US08269228B2

Disclosed is a light emitting diode (LED) operated by being directly connected to an AC power source. An AC LED according to the present invention comprises a plurality of light emitting cells two-dimensionally arranged on a single substrate; and wires electrically connecting the light emitting cells; wherein the light emitting cells are connected in series by the wires to form a serial array, the single substrate is a non-polar substrate, and the light emitting cells have non-polar GaN-based semiconductor layers grown on the non-polar substrate.
US08269226B2

A light emitting device including a light emitting structure including a second conductive type semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a first conductive type semiconductor layer, and a first protective layer disposed on a side of the light emitting structure, wherein the first protective layer overlaps with the first conductive type semiconductor layer in a vertical direction.
US08269224B2

Disclosed are a light emitting device and a method for manufacturing the same. The light emitting device includes a substrate having a lead frame, a light emitting diode mounted on the substrate, a mold member formed on the substrate and the light emitting diode, and a reflecting member having an opening portion at one side thereof and being inclined at an outer portion of the mold member.
US08269216B2

A semiconductor device including: a substrate; a first electrode and a second electrode, each being formed on the substrate; a first region that is positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode; a second region that is connected with the first region; an organic semiconductor layer that is provided in the first region and in the second region; and a receptor of the organic semiconductor layer, the receptor being provided so as to surround the second region and having an opening that extends from the second region to the first region.
US08269215B2

n-type organic semiconductors have a pyromellitic diimide structure and electronic or electro-optic devices include pyromellitic diimide compounds as organic semiconductors. Specific semiconductors include pyromellitic diimide compounds have sidechains comprising fluorine substituted aliphatic or aromatic moieties linked to the pyromellitic diimide structure by an alkylene or heteroalkylene linking group. An electronic or electro-optic device includes a first electrode, a second electrode space apart from the first electrode, and an organic semiconductor layer arranged between the first and second electrodes. The organic semiconductor layer comprises a pyromellitic diimide compound.
US08269199B2

A self-magnetically confined lithium plasma which also may have an applied axial magnetic field is irradiated at sub-critical density by a carbon dioxide laser to generate extreme ultraviolet photons at the wavelength of 13.5 nm with high efficiency, high power and small source size.
US08269192B2

An apparatus and method for making quantitative measurements of the amounts of optical brighteners in water samples using fluorescence measurements at multiple wavelengths. First and second emission wavelength raw measurements are corrected for sample absorption to provide absorption-corrected first emission wavelength and second emission wavelength fluorescence emission values. The absorption-corrected first emission wavelength value is compared to the absorption-corrected second emission wavelength value and to similarly-determined and similarly absorption-corrected emission wavelength values or a ratio thereof obtained from a comparison water sample in which optical brighteners are not present or are only minimally present, to provide a quantitative optical brightener measurement. The apparatus and method may be field-based or laboratory-based, and may operate on a flow-through basis or on discrete samples.
US08269189B2

The energy of positive ions accelerated in laser-matter interaction experiments can be significantly increased by providing a plurality of laser pulses, e.g., through the process of splitting the incoming laser pulse, to form multiple laser-matter interaction stages. From a thermodynamic point of view, the splitting procedure can be viewed as an effective way of increasing the efficiency of energy transfer from the laser light to positive ions, which energy peaks for processes having the least amount of entropy gain. A 100% increase in the energy efficiency is achieved for a six-stage laser positive ion accelerator compared to a single-stage laser positive ion accelerator.
US08269185B2

A stacked crystal array includes a plurality of crystal slices and a plurality of interconnects. The interconnects have electrically conductive, spaced-apart and generally parallel elements joined by electrically conductive spacers extending generally orthogonally therebetween, the spacers being rotationally offset from each other by a predetermined angle. The array further includes a plurality of electrical insulators and an electrically insulative housing having a plurality of slots. The crystal slices, insulators and interconnects are arranged in the housing to form an assembly wherein the crystal slices are coupled together in a parallel electrical circuit. The assembly provides photon absorption comparable to a monolithic crystal having a thickness generally equivalent to the sum of the thicknesses of the crystal slices, but at a lower bias voltage.
US08269174B2

A method and a portable device for assessing the occurrence of an agent in a sample. A sample is illuminated with photons emanating from a portable device to produce photons reflected, emitted, or absorbed from a set of multiple points in the sample having a defined geometric relationship. The portable device is used to simultaneously illuminate the sample and analyze the photons reflected, emitted, or absorbed from the set of multiple points using spectroscopic methods, including infrared, fluorescence, and UV/visible. The agent assessed may include a hazardous agent, a chemical agent, a biological agent, a microorganism, a bacterium, a protozoan, a virus, and combinations thereof.
US08269150B2

Disclosed is the electric heater including a base, and a heating unit having a plurality of unit heating elements disposed on a plate surface of the base and at least one of heating connection portions configured to heat and conductively connecting the unit heating elements to each other and non-heating connection portions configured not to heat and conductively connecting the unit heating elements to each other, thereby preventing a thermal stress concentration, thus to prevent damage to the heating unit and to enhance its output.
US08269148B2

A ventilation system for cooling a cooking appliance that can be placed within a kitchen countertop is described. The cooking appliance includes one or more air inlets within the sides of the cooktop, and an air mover that draws air in through the air inlets and over control circuits provided within the frame of the cooking appliance.
US08269147B2

The invention relates to a hotplate, comprising a metal plate part and an electric heating element fixed on the lower side of the plate part. The hotplate furthermore comprises a ring. The ring is made of electrically insulating plastic, and the plate edge is accommodated in a watertight manner on the inside of the ring.
US08269143B2

A wire feed assembly and torch and welding systems are disclosed. The wire feed assembly includes a motor drivingly connected to at least one roll of a pair of rolls. A controller is connected to the motor and is constructed to control the operation thereof. A knob is rotatably connected to the controller and facilitates an operator's adjustment of the controller. A collar is disposed between knob and the controller and is fixedly connected to the controller and engaged by the knob to resist movement of the knob and thereby adjustment of the controller.
US08269137B2

The present invention relates to the field of laser processing methods and systems, and specifically, to laser processing methods and systems for laser processing multi-material devices. Systems and methods may utilize high speed deflectors to improve processing energy window and/or improve processing speed. In some embodiments, a deflector is used for non-orthogonal scanning of beam spots. In some embodiment, a deflector is used to implement non-synchronous processing of target structures.
US08269135B2

A coating removal apparatus utilizing a common optics path to provide laser pulses to a coated surface and to direct a light illumination reflected from the coated surface to a photosensitive detector and analyzer. The apparatus is an integrated device including a laser source, a beam splitter, scanning optics, a waste removal apparatus, one or more light illuminators, a photosensitive detector, a comparator, and a control logic circuit. Alternatively, the laser source is external to the integrated device and a fiber optic cable is used to connect the laser source to the integrated device.
US08269132B2

The invention relates to a method for electrical discharge machining of electrically non-conductive material in which a layer of an electrically conductive substance is applied as an auxiliary electrode on the electrically non-conductive material. Said method is characterized in that the electrically conductive substance is chemically converted by oxidative heat treatment after electrical discharge machining.
US08269127B2

Disclosed is a tulip contacting device for a vacuum circuit breaker employed to quickly break off an electric power system, in which contact fingers are bidirectionally rotatable in a state of being restricted at an outer diameter portion of a mover holder, such that the flexibility of the contact fingers can be increased, whereby it is possible, upon connecting the vacuum circuit breaker to a case, to flexibly deal with the variation of axial angles of terminals inserted in both sides of the tulip contacting device, and also springs may be coupled to the contact fingers, respectively, so as to effectively prevent separation and overall destroy of the contact fingers from the mover holder during installation.
US08269122B2

A lever switch device, includes a lever main body rotatably supported by a body around a predetermined rotation center axis, a first remote shaft rotatably incorporated in the lever main body, and comprising a first operating knob at one end and a first operation portion at another end for operating an operational object by a rotational operation of the first operating knob, a second remote shaft rotatably arranged in the lever main body with a coaxial structure with the first remote shaft, and includes a second operating knob at one end and a second operation portion at another end for operating an operational object by a rotational operation of the second operating knob. Rotation centers of the first and second operation portions are provided on the rotation center axis of the lever main body.
US08269117B2

A housing for an electric or electronic device has at least one receiving part for accommodating electric and/or electronic components, parts, component groups and parts groups in an interior thereof has at least one locking part for closing the receiving part, and having a bayonet connector for connecting the at least one locking part with the at least one receiving part. The bayonet connector has a first connector part on the locking part and a second connector part on the receiving part which engage each other in a connected position. One of the first and second connector parts has a base and head in respective planes running perpendicular to a direction of insertion of the connector parts and a diagonal surface running diagonally from the base toward a head, the base, diagonal surface and head being distributed alternately around the entirety periphery of the first connector part.
US08269107B2

A halogen-free compositions containing an additive of bohmite, nanoclay, microcrystalline talc, zinc hydroxystannate, and a polyolefin oil. The composition is useful as a covering material (e.g. insulation or jacket) for electrical cables.
US08269106B2

A mirrored arc geometrical arrangement of two conductors configured to perform similar functions as a traditional twisted pair of wires is presented. The mirrored arc conductor pair occupies the same physical space required by prior art twisted pair cable designs. Each conductor pair includes two inward-facing arc shaped conductors placed within a dielectric material. Each arc shaped conductor may be constructed from thin foil strips of a conducting metal or from a group of separate bare metal conductors which are placed side by side in intimate contact so as to effectively create the same mirrored arc geometry. The conductor pairs may subsequently be bundled to create a data network cable bundle.
US08269100B2

A hybrid photovoltaic cell comprising a composite substrate of a nanotube or nanorod array of metal oxide infiltrated with a monomer precursor and subsequently polymerized in situ via UV irradiation. In an embodiment, the photovoltaic cell comprises an electron accepting TiO2 nanotube array infiltrated with a photo-sensitive electron donating conjugated polymer. The conjugated polymer may be formed in situ through UV irradiation polymerizing a monomer precursor such as 2,5-diiodothiophene (DIT).
US08269087B1

A mute for a horn-type musical instrument is disclosed. The mute having a freely resonating body including an opening therein to permit air flow into the body, the body having n number of first facets wherein n is an integer from 3 to 99 and having o number of second facets wherein o is an integer from 1 to 99. The mute changes the timbre of the sound generated by the instrument, yet maintains the majority of the volume of sound prior to placement of the mute into the bell.
US08269072B2

The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1016117. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1016117. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1016117 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1016117 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08269071B2

The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1015669. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1015669. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1015669 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1015669 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08269059B2

A protective device having a substantially rigid casing for placement on a patient's skin, wherein the casing has a hollow interior facing the patient's skin and a lip. The casing can be spanned across its hollow interior by a membrane. The casing can have a first adhesive seal attached to a bottom surface of the lip of the casing, and a second adhesive seal attached to the top surface of the lip of the casing.
US08269032B1

The present invention relates to isonitrile compounds, methods of synthesis, and uses in a variety of fields. In one aspect, the present invention includes sulfinyl methyl isonitriles and methods for their preparation. In another aspect, the present invention includes the use of sulfinyl methyl isonitriles to prepare various other isonitrile compounds and derivatives thereof. In yet another aspect, the present invention includes a relatively simple and routine synthesis of sulfinyl methyl isonitrile compounds, other isonitrile compounds and derivatives thereof.
US08269031B2

A phosphorylcholine group-containing compound that is a structure having a phosphorylcholine group represented by the following formula 1 and an amino group or a group derived from an amino group in an identical compound. (In the formula, m is 2 or more and 6 or less and p is 1 or 2. Each of X1, X2 and X3 is an alkyl group whose carbon number is 1 or more and 6 or less.)
US08269028B2

Method and apparatus for producing biodiesel fuel, i.e., alkyl ester, from vegetable and/or animal oil. A transesterification catalyst is prepared in a base catalyst tank by spraying alkyl alcohol under pressure through jets at metal hydroxide pellets until the pellets have fully reacted with the alcohol. The oil is heated and transesterified in the presence of alkyl alcohol and the transesterification catalyst in a closed, recirculating transesterification flow system under slight cavitation to yield product alkyl ester and product glycerol. Cavitation is achieved by permitting air to enter the transesterification flow system through an adjustable air inlet valve. When permitted to stand, product alkyl ester forms an upper layer that is decanted and subjected to purification steps, to remove particulates and alkyl alcohol from the product alkyl ester, and a lower layer of product glycerol is drained away. Purification of the product alkyl ester preferably includes subjecting the product alkyl ester to an overhead water mist in a wash tank with simultaneous infusion of a stream of air bubbles. Alcohol vapor is reclaimed as liquid alcohol within an alcohol condenser and stored for reuse. If the oil contains free fatty acids, prior to transesterification, the oil is heated and the free fatty acids are esterified in the presence of an esterification catalyst and alkyl alcohol. For safety, baffles and explosion damper/flame arrestors are provided in locations where flammable vapors pose a risk.
US08269027B2

The invention relates to trans carotenoid salt compounds, methods for making them, methods for solubilizing them and uses thereof. These compounds are useful in improving diffusivity of oxygen between red blood cells and body tissues in mammals including humans.
US08269023B2

An improved process for synthesis of duloxetine hydrochloride (1) having chiral purity greater than 99.9% that is characterized by the following: (i) preparation of racemic condensed compound (RS)—N,N-di methyl-3-(1-naphthyloxy)-3-(2-thienyl)propanamine (4) by reaction of racemic hydroxy compound (2) with 1-fluoronaphthalene (3) in presence of a base such as sodamide, potassium amide or potassium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide (KHDMS) in polar aprotic solvent, (ii) optical resolution of racemic condensed compound (5a+5b) with di-benzoyl-L-tartaric acid (7, DBTA, R=H) or di-para-anisoyl-L-tartaric acid (7, DATA, R=OCH3) to obtain crude (S)—N.N-dimethyl-3-(1-naphthyloxy)-3-(2-thienyl)propanamine dibenzoyl tartarate salt (8a) or (S)—N.N-dimethyl-3-(1-naphthyloxy)-3-(2-thienyl)propanamine di-p-anisoyl tartarate salt (9a) respectively, (iii) optionally purification of crude tartarate salts (8a or 9a) by crystallization, (iv) optionally purification of duloxetine hydrochloride (1) by crystallization and (v) racemization of undesired (R)—N,N-di methyl-3-(1-naphthyloxy)-3-(2-thienyl)propanamine (5b) by treatment with base potassium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide (KHDMS) to obtain racemic mixture of condensed compounds (5a and 5b).
US08269016B2

N-Substituted (6-haloalkylpyridin-3-yl)alkyl sulfoximines are effective at controlling insects.
US08269012B2

The present invention relates to compounds of formula I, which is useful in the inhibition of c-Met protein kinase. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising compounds of formula I and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of proliferative disorders.
US08269010B2

The present invention provides novel compounds represented by the general formula (I): their pharmaceutically acceptable salts and their pharmaceutically acceptable solvates thereof, which are useful in treating metabolic disorders related to insulin resistance or hyperglycemia. The invention also relates to a process for the manufacture of compounds of formula (I) and pharmaceutical compositions containing them.
US08269009B2

The application relates to a method of using compositions having anti-alpha-4 integrin and/or anti-alpha-9 integrin activity to inhibit liquid tumor growth, malignancies thereof and/or development of metastases thereof that involve expression of an alpha-4 integrin and/or alpha-9 integrin. Pharmaceutical compositions and combination therapies (for example, with chemotherapies) for the inhibition of liquid tumor growth, malignancies thereof and/or development of metastases thereof are also provided.
US08268999B2

The present invention relates to compounds useful as inhibitors of PI3K, particularly of PI3Kγ. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising said compounds and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of various disease, conditions, or disorders.
US08268987B2

The present invention provides novel algorithms for designing oligonucleotides that do not substantially hybridize to a small group of unwanted transcripts, while hybridizing to most other transcripts. Such oligonucleotides are particularly useful as primers for reverse transcription. The invention also provides compositions containing oligonucleotides that do not substantially hybridize to a small group of unwanted transcripts, while hybridizing to most other transcripts.
US08268985B2

Efficient sequence specific gene silencing is possible through the use of siRNA technology. By selecting particular siRNAs by rational design, one can maximize the generation of an effective gene silencing reagent, as well as methods for silencing genes. Methods, compositions, and kits generated through rational design of siRNAs are disclosed including those directed to nucleotide sequences for APP.
US08268977B2

Compositions and systems are provided for the high efficiency quenching small water-soluble oligomers, or oligofluors, of from about 1-10 kd in size, where the oligofluors comprise multiple excimeric or exciplex forming fluorophores arranged on a scaffold, which are efficiently quenched by a quencher entity linked to the oligomer through a cleavable moiety. Fluorophores of interest include, without limitation, aromatic fluorophores such as pyrenes, e.g. benzopyrene, perylene, pyrene, etc. In some embodiments the oligofluor/quencher combination provides for a Stern-Vollmer constant (KSV) of greater than about 106 M−1, and may be greater than about 107 M−1, greater than about 108 M−1, or more. In some embodiments of the invention, the scaffold is a phosphodiester/glycoside backbone, e.g. an analog of a polynucleotide. The system of oligofluors and quenchers can be used in qualitative and quantitative screening and detection methods to detect any enzymatic, chemical or catalytic activity that can cleave the moiety between the quencher and scaffold.
US08268973B2

Methods useful for effecting prophylaxis or treatment of amyloidosis, including AA Amyloidosis and AL amyloidosis, by administering peptides comprising neoepitopes, such as AA fragments from a C-terminal region of AA, and antibodies specific for neoepitopes of aggregated amyloid proteins, for example, antibodies specific for the C-terminal region of AA fibrils. Antibodies for inhibition of formation and/or increasing clearance of amyloid deposits in a patient thus effecting prophylaxis or treating amyloid disease.
US08268969B2

Immunogenic compositions, cancer vaccines and methods for treating cancer are provided. Compositions comprising: (a) a glycan such as Globo H or an immunogenic fragment thereof, wherein the glycan is conjugated with a carrier protein by a linker such as para-nitrophenyl; and (b) an adjuvant comprising glycolipid capable of binding CD1d on a dendritic cell, such as an α-galactosyl-ceramide derivative, wherein the immunogenic composition induces an immune response that induces a higher relative level of IgG isotype antibodies as compared to IgM isotype antibodies, are provided. Immunogenic compositions comprising the carrier protein diphtheria toxin cross-reacting material 197 (DT-CRM197) and the adjuvant C34 are provided. Antibodies generated by immunogenic compositions disclosed herein further neutralize at least one of the antigens Globo H, stage-specific embryonic antigen-3 (SSEA-3) and stage-specific embryonic antigen-4 (SSEA-4). Therapeutics against breast cancer stem cells comprising immunogenic compositions comprising Globo H, SSEA-3 or SSEA-4 conjugated with DT-CRM197.
US08268949B2

Borohydride metallocene complex of lanthanide, preparation process, catalytic system incorporating it, copolymerization of olefins employing catalytic system and ethylene/butadiene copolymer, the butadiene units comprise 1,2-cyclohexane or 1,2- and 1,4-cyclohexane links. The complex corresponds to of formulae A and/or B: where, in A two ligands Cp1 and Cp2, each of a fluorenyl group, are connected to the lanthanide Ln, where, in B, a ligand molecule, composed of two fluorenyl groups Cp1 and Cp2 are connected via bridge P of formula MR1R2, is an element from group IVa, R1 and R2, which are identical or different, represent an alkyl group comprising from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, connected to lanthanide Ln, L is alkali metal, N is molecule of a complexing solvent, x is integral or non-integral number ≧0 and p is integer ≧1.
US08268944B2

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.
US08268943B2

A process for the preparation of a chromium-type supported olefin polymerization catalyst. A fluidized bed of support particles in an inert carrier gas is established. A chromium (III) compound is added to the fluidized support particles to provide a supported catalyst component. The supported catalyst component is activated to convert at least a portion of the chromium (III) to Chromium (VI). The chromium (III) containing particles may be recovered from the fluidized bed and then activated or they may be activated in the fluidized bed. Also the support particles can be treated in the fluidized bed with other treatment agents. The support particles may be pretreated with a solution of a boron treating agent prior to incorporation of the support in the fluidized bed.
US08268936B2

The present invention relates to the field of polymer chemistry and more particularly to multiblock copolymers and methods of preparing the same.
US08268935B2

Disclosed is a process for preparing polymer conjugates of agricultural, therapeutic, and food additive compounds using Mitsunobu conditions.
US08268927B2

A water redispersible polymer powder is produced by drying an aqueous mixture of a high Tg carboxylated styrene butadiene polymer and a low Tg carboxylated styrene butadiene polymer, where the ratio of the mean or average particle size of the high Tg polymer to the particle size of the low Tg polymer is from 1:1 to 5:1, preferably from 1:1 to 3:1, and the amount of the high Tg polymer is from 20 wt. % to 35 wt. %, preferably from 25 wt. % to 30 wt. %, based upon the total weight of the high Tg polymer and the low Tg polymer. Cement compositions such as mortars, which contain the redispersible polymer powder exhibit unexpectedly superior high bond strength and high impact resistance.
US08268926B2

Particle-toughened polymer compositions include a base polymer formulation and a plurality of toughening particles. In certain embodiments, the base polymer formulation includes bismaleimides or other polymer resins capable of high temperature service. A first plurality of toughening particles may include core shell rubbers. A second plurality of toughening particles may be selected from a variety of polymer compositions, including polyimides, polyether ketone (PEK), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyether ketone ketone (PEKK), polyether imide, polyether sulfones, and polyphenylene oxide. It is found that increasing concentration of the core shell rubbers may improve the toughness of the composition while preserving thermal properties of the composition, such as glass transition temperature.
US08268923B2

The invention relates to a method for producing solutions of vinyl polymers in reactive monomers by a) polymerizing by radical initiation one or more ethylene unsaturated monomers selected from the group comprising vinyl esters, acrylic acid esters, and methacrylic acid esters, and optionally one or more further ethylene unsaturated monomers, and subsequently b) optionally distilling off volatile components, and c) optionally adding one or more inert solvents, d) mixing with one or more reactive monomers, and e) optionally distilling off the inert solvent, characterized in that the vinyl polymers are not present as isolated solids in any of the steps a) through e).
US08268919B2

It is intended to provide a polymer for detecting a fingerprint, which can be easily handled in a scene of the fingerprint detection as a substitute for conventionally employed 2-cyanoacrylate (a monomer), and a composition for detecting a fingerprint. It is also intended to provide a method of detecting a fingerprint whereby a fingerprint can be detected at a high sensitivity regardless of the color or conditions of a specimen and wherein the specimen can be well restored. The present polymer and composition for detecting a fingerprint and method of detecting a fingerprint using the same make it possible to definitely detect a fingerprint by using fluorescence even from an almost white specimen such as a shopping bag or an aluminum foil from which a fingerprint can be hardly detected by the existing methods.
US08268918B2

There is provided a crystalline polylactic acid resin composition comprising 95 to 99.97 parts by mass of a polylactic acid resin (A) having a D-isomer content of not greater than 0.6 mol % or not less than 99.4 mol %, and 0.03 to 5 parts by mass of a crystal nucleus agent (B). There is also provided a crystalline polylactic acid resin composition prepared by melt-kneading 100 parts by mass of a polylactic acid resin (A) having a D-isomer content of not greater than 0.6 mol % or not less than 99.4 mol %, 0.01 to 20 parts by mass of a (meth)acrylate compound (C), and 0.02 to 20 parts by mass of a peroxide (D).
US08268915B2

The present invention relates to a liquid mixture comprising a first polymer, which is a poly(acid), a second polymer, which is a poly(ether), and at least one salt, wherein the molecular weight of the poly(acid) is in the range of 1000-100,000 Da. The second polymer is selected to be capable of forming immiscible aqueous phases in the presence of the poly(acid) and salt. The poly(acid) may be selected from the group consisting of poly(acrylic acid) and poly(methacrylic acid), and the second synthetic polymer may comprise ethylene oxide. The invention may be used for separation of biomolecules, cells or particles.
US08268913B2

A film comprising a polylactic acid and polypropylene blend having a haze of from about 10% to about 95% and a gloss 45° of from about 50 to about 125. A method of producing an oriented film comprising blending polypropylene and polylactic acid to form a polymeric blend, forming the polymeric blend into a film, and orienting the film. A method of producing an injection molded article comprising blending polypropylene and polylactic acid to form a polymeric blend, injecting the polymeric blend into a mold, and forming the article.
US08268909B2

Disclosed herein are pigment dispersions and inks formulated using the same; including at least one dispersed pigment, an aqueous carrier; and at least one block copolymer dispersant having Structure I and comprising a hydrophobic block (A) and a hydrophilic block (B); at least one block copolymer having Structure I and comprising a hydrophobic block (A) and a hydrophilic block (B);
US08268900B2

Provided is an electrolyte membrane containing: a reinforced inner layer; and an unreinforced outer layer on one or each side of the reinforced inner layer, wherein the reinforced inner layer includes an inner ion exchange resin reinforced with a non-woven fabric composed of a melt moldable fluororesin in the form of a continuous fiber, wherein a number of intersecting points of the continuous fiber are fused and/or bonded, and wherein the unreinforced outer layer includes an outer ion exchange resin, which may be the same as or different from the inner ion exchange resin. Also provided is a membrane electrode assembly for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, wherein the membrane electrode assembly contains the above-mentioned polymer electrolyte membrane.
US08268896B2

A method and system for co-production of electric power, fuel, and chemicals in which a synthesis gas at a first pressure is expanded using a stand-alone mechanical expander or a partial oxidation gas turbine, simultaneously producing electric power and an expanded synthesis gas at a second pressure after which the expanded synthesis gas is converted to a fuel and/or a chemical.
US08268895B2

The present invention concerns the use as perfuming ingredient, for instance to impart odor notes of the floral and/or green type, of a compound of formula 5 wherein R is an ortho, meta or para substituent of the phenyl, and represents a hydrogen atom or a C 1-2 alkyl or alkoxyl group; R 1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl or ethyl group; 10 R 2 represents a hydrogen atom or a C 1-3 alkyl group; and X represents a CHO, COOR 3, CH(OR 4) 2 or CN group, R 3 being a methyl or ethyl group, and R 4, taken seperately, being a methyl or ethyl group, or said R 4, taken together, a C 2-5 alkanediyl group; and at least one of said R, R 1 or R 2 represents a group containing at least one carbon atom.
US08268893B2

The use of dapsone is the first effective treatment against the disabling consequences associated with cerebral infarction in patients. Dapsone was evaluated as a neuroprotector in the cerebral infarction model produced by the occlusion of the middle cerebral artery in rats and in patients suffering from acute cerebral infarction caused by thromboembolism. In both studies, dapsone displayed a reduction of between 70 and 90% in the adverse effects which occur as a consequence of the infarction.
US08268883B2

The present invention relates to organo-arsenoxide compounds and to methods for their synthesis. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and to their use in the treatment of diseases and disorders, in particular proliferative diseases and disorders, including treatment of solid tumors and leukaemia.
US08268879B2

Compositions and methods for inhibiting translation using 3-(5-tert-Butyl-2-Hydroxy-phenyl)-3-phenyl-1,3-dihydro-indol-2-one and/or its derivatives are provided. Compositions, methods and kits for treating (1) cellular proliferative disorders, (2) non-proliferative, degenerative disorders, (3) viral infections, and/or (4) disorders associated with viral infections, using 3-(5-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy-phenyl)-3-phenyl-1,3-dihydro-indol-2-one and/or its derivatives are described.
US08268878B2

Compounds of general formula (I) wherein R is phenyl optionally substituted with one or more halo substituents; and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates, solvates, complexes or prodrugs are useful in orally administrable compositions for the treatment of allergic diseases such as asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis.
US08268876B2

Provided is a pharmaceutical composition for external use, including: (i) luliconazole represented by the following structural formula (1) and/or a salt thereof; and (ii) α-hydroxycarboxylic acid and/or a salt thereof.
US08268874B2

Embodiments relate to the field of chemistry and biochemistry, and, more specifically, to anti-cancer compounds, synthesis thereof, and methods of using same. Disclosed herein are various heterocyclic compounds and methods of using the novel anti-cancer compounds to inhibit the growth of a cancer cell, for instance a leukemia, non-small cell lung, central nervous system (CNS), skin, ovarian, renal, prostate, breast, or colon cancer cell. Other embodiments include methods of treating cancer in a subject, such as using the disclosed heterocyclic anti-cancer agents.
US08268873B2

The present invention relates to compounds which inhibit IMPDH. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds. The compounds and pharmaceutical compositions of this invention are particularly well suited for inhibiting IMPDH enzyme activity and consequently, may be advantageously used as therapeutic agents for IMPDH-mediated processes. This invention also relates to methods for inhibiting the activity of IMPDH using the compounds of this invention and related compounds.
US08268870B2

The invention is concerned with the compounds of formula I: and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof, wherein Q, R1-R3 and n are defined in the detailed description and claims. In addition, the present invention relates to methods of manufacturing and using the compounds of formula I as well as pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds. The compounds of formula I are antagonists at the CRTH2 receptor and may be useful in treating diseases and disorders associated with that receptor such as asthma.
US08268858B2

Compounds active on protein kinases are described, as well as methods of using such compounds to treat diseases and conditions associated with aberrant activity of protein kinases.
US08268856B2

The sponges were collected from a variety of locations in the Florida Keys and separated based on morphology and color. The samples were identified as three species, two of which are well known: V. rigida (Esper, 1794) (order Verongida, family Aplysinidae) and S. aurea (Hyatt, 1875) (order Dictyoceratida, family Thorectidae), and a third S. cerebriformis (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864), is less common and separated based on subtle differences of morphology and coloration, from the other two species. Several compounds were isolated and were evaluated in established animal models predictive of neurological related drug function, namely, the rodent FST and the chick anxiety-depression model.
US08268853B2

Compounds of formula (I) are useful in treating conditions or disorders ameliorated by α4β2 positive allosteric modulators. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions of compounds of formula (I), methods for using such compounds and compositions, and a process for preparing the compounds.
US08268851B2

The invention encompasses compounds having formula I and the compositions and methods using these compounds in the treatment of conditions in which modulation of the JAK pathway or inhibition of JAK kinases, particularly JAK3, are therapeutically useful.
US08268847B2

The invention relates to a product containing the compound of formula (I) below or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of this compound, in combination with at least one compound having PDE5-inhibitory properties, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for therapeutic use, simultaneously, separately or over a period of time, in the treatment of a disease wherein vasoconstriction is involved.
US08268845B2

The present invention relates to the use of tetrahydro- and dihydroquinazolinones of formula I as protein kinase activators or inhibitors, a method for their manufacture, their use for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of diseases, their use for the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition and new tetrahydro- and dihydroquinazolinones.
US08268844B2

Crystals of isopropyl ester of N-(2,6-dichlorobenzoyl)-4-[6-(methylamino)methyl-1-methyl-2,4-dioxo-1,4-dihydroquinazoline-3(2H)-yl]-L-phenylalanine hydrochloride: are useful as α4 integrin inhibitors.
US08268841B2

Quinazoline derivatives of formula (I): wherein A is 5-membered heteroaryl containing a nitrogen atom and one or two further nitrogen atoms; compositions containing them, processes for their preparation and their use in therapy.
US08268840B2

This application discloses novel pyrimidinyl pyridone derivatives according to formula I, wherein A, R1, R2, R3, and m are defined as described herein, which inhibit JNK. The compounds disclosed herein are useful to modulate the activity of JNK and treat diseases associated with excessive JNK activity. The compounds are useful to treat autoimmune, inflammatory, metabolic, and neurological diseases as well as cancer. Also disclosed are compositions comprising the compound of formula I and methods of treatment comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the compound of formula I to a subject in need thereof.
US08268837B2

The invention relates to a combination which comprises (a) at least one compound decreasing the c-Src activity and (b) N-{5-[4-(4-methyl-piperazino-methyl)-benzoylamido]-2-methylphenyl}-4-(3-pyridyl)-2-pyrimidine-amine or the monomethanesulfonate salt thereof; to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said combinations; and to a method of treating a warm-blooded animal having leukaemia, especially chronic myelogenous leukaemia, comprising administering to the animal at least one compound inhibiting the activity of a member of the Src kinase family, the Btk kinase family, the Tec kinase family or a Raf kinase inhibitor, in particular inhibiting the c-Src protein tyrosine kinase activity or inhibiting simultaneously the c-Src protein tyrosine kinase activity and the Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase activity, alone or in combination with a Bcr-Abl inhibitor, in particular N-{5-[4-(4-methyl-piperazino-methyl)-benzoylamido]-2-methylphenyl}-4-(3-pyridyl)-2-pyrimidine-amine.
US08268830B2

The invention provides a method of inhibiting the effects of platelet activating factor (PAF). For instance, a disease or condition mediated by PAF (particularly inflammation) can be treated or platelet aggregation can be inhibited. The invention also provides a method of inhibiting the production and/or release of interleukin 8 (IL-8) by cells. The effects of PAF and the production and/or release of IL-8 are inhibited according to the invention by a compound of the formula: wherein R1 and R2 are defined in the application, or a physiologically-acceptable salt thereof. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds.
US08268828B2

This invention is directed to a 3-(amido or sulphamido)-4-(4-substituted-azinyl)benzamide or benzsulphonamide compound as defined herein. The 3-(amido or sulphamido)-(4-substituted-azinyl)benzamide or benzsulphonamide compound is useful as a inhibitor of the chemokine receptor CxCR3, and for preventing or treating a CxCR3 chemokine receptor mediated disease or condition related thereto in a patient in need of such.
US08268827B2

The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I): and pharmaceutically acceptable salts or tautomers thereof which are inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP) and thus useful for the treatment of cancer, inflammatory diseases, reperfusion injuries, ischaemic conditions, stroke, renal failure, cardiovascular diseases, vascular diseases other than cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, neurodegenerative diseases, retroviral infections, retinal damage, skin senescence and UV-induced skin damage, and as chemo- or radiosensitizers for cancer treatment.
US08268823B2

Compounds of formula (I) especially where R1 is an optionally substituted alkyl, aralkyl or heterocyclyl-alkyl group, are shown to have activity as sodium channel blockers or as antifolates. Some novel compounds where R1 is an aralkyl or heterocyclyl-alkyl are disclosed.
US08268817B2

Certain oxazole ketone compounds are described, which are useful as FAAH inhibitors. Such compounds may be used in pharmaceutical compositions and methods for the treatment of disease states, disorders, and conditions mediated by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) activity. Thus, the compounds may be administered to treat, e.g., anxiety, pain, inflammation, sleep disorders, eating disorders, or movement disorders (such as multiple sclerosis).
US08268801B2

The present invention relates to compounds of the following general formula (I) their process of preparation and their use in the treatment or the prophylaxis of tuberculosis.
US08268800B2

The present invention provides certain tetrahydrouridine derivative compounds, pharmaceutical compositions and kits comprising such compounds, and methods of making and using such compounds.
US08268799B2

The invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) for inhibiting the expression of the HAMP gene (HAMP gene), comprising an antisense strand having a nucleotide sequence which is less that 30 nucleotides in length, generally 19-25 nucleotides in length, and which is substantially complementary to at least a part of the HAMP gene. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the dsRNA together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; methods for treating diseases caused by HAMP gene expression and the expression of the HAMP gene using the pharmaceutical composition.
US08268797B2

The present invention provides methods of sensitizing lung cancer cells to cisplatin and inhibiting the growth of lung cancer tumors by employing a modified eIF-4E antisense oligonucleotide and cisplatin in combination.
US08268793B2

The invention relates to oligomer compounds (oligomers), which target HER3 mRNA in a cell, leading to reduced expression of HER3 and/or HER2 and/or EGFR. Reduction of HER3 and/or HER2 and/or EGFR expression is beneficial for a range of medical disorders, such hyperproliferative disorders (e.g., cancer). The invention provides therapeutic compositions comprising oligomers and methods for modulating the expression of HER3 and/or HER2 and/or EGFR using said oligomers, including methods of treatment.
US08268786B2

Compounds are disclosed relating to the treatment of cancer that include tocotrienols and derivatives of tocotrienols including 2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-((3E,7E)-4,8,12-trimethyltrideca-3,7,11-trienyl)chroman-6-ylphenylsulfonylcarbamate; (R)-2,8-dimethyl-2-((3E,7E)-4,8,12-trimethyltrideca-3,7,11-trienyl)chroman-6-yl tosylcarbamate; and (R)-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-((3E,7E)-4,8,12-trimethyltrideca-3,7,11-trienyl)chroman-6-yl benzylcarbamate. Therapeutic uses of these types of compounds are also taught.
US08268785B2

The invention relates to the use of PDE5 inhibitors, preferably sildenafil or tadalafil, optionally in combination with a further active ingredient, for treating and/or preventing hypopigmentary disorders.
US08268779B2

Modified oxyntomodulin derivatives. Such derivatives can be used for the treatment of metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity.
US08268778B2

GB virus C (GBV-C or hepatitis G virus) is a flavivirus that frequently leads to chronic viremia in humans. The invention provides compositions and methods involving a -GBV-C NS5A peptide or polypeptide for inhibiting and treating HIV infections.
US08268775B2

The disclosure relates to compounds of the formula (I): wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 are as defined in the disclosure, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; which is formed by the microorganism ST 201196 (DSM 18870); the use thereof for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of fungal disorders; medicaments containing a compound of formula (I); processes for production thereof; and the microorganism ST 201196 (DSM 18870).
US08268774B2

The present invention is direct to a method of producing analgesia in a mammalian subject. The method includes administering to the subject an omega conopeptide, preferably ziconotide, in combination with an analgesic selected from the group consisting of morphine, bupivacaine, clonidine, hydromorphone, baclofen, fentanyil, buprenorphine, and sufentanil, or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein the ω-conopeptide retains its potency and is physically and chemically compatible with the analgesic compound. A preferred route of administration is intrathecal administration, particularly continuous intrathecal infusion. The present invention is also directed to a pharmaceutical formulation comprising an omega conopeptide, preferably ziconotide, an antioxidant, in combination with an analgesic selected from the group consisting of morphine, bupivacaine, clonidine, hydromorphone, baclofen, fentanyl, buprenorphine, and sufentanil.
US08268773B2

The present invention relates to blocking, inhibiting, reducing, antagonizing or neutralizing the activity of IL-17F, IL-17A, or both IL-17A and IL-17F polypeptide molecules. IL-17A and IL-17F are cytokines that are involved in inflammatory processes and human disease. ZcytoR14 is a common receptor for IL-17A and IL-17F. The present invention includes soluble ZcytoR14, anti-ZcytoR14 antibodies and binding partners, as well as methods for antagonizing IL-17F, IL-17A or both IL-17A and IL-17F using such soluble receptors, antibodies and binding partners.
US08268772B2

The present invention relates to depot preparations for the targeted release of an aldehyde together with two carboxylic acids, where the released aldehydes are organoleptic substances, specifically fragrances or flavorings, and these depot preparations are prepared by reacting aldehydes with carboxylic anhydrides.
US08268766B1

The present invention relates to a series of polyglycoside derivatives that are (a) polymeric (that is cross linked with hydroxypropyl linkages) and (b) contain additional functional groups including alkoxy, sulfate, sulfonate, quaternary and phosphate groups, and (c) sorbitan esters to increase oil solubility and provide outstanding emulsifiers.
US08268765B2

A hydrophilized personal care formulation, which can be in the form of a hand or body soap (liquid or bar), lipstick, body wash, makeup remover, skin cleaner, hair conditioner, skin or hair moisturizer. The formulation employs an organophosphorus material or a mixture of an organophosphorus material, for example, mono-, di-, and polyol phosphate esters.
US08268764B2

The present invention relates to personal care compositions, especially those personal care compositions in the form of a personal care article that is a porous dissolvable solid substrate. The porous dissolvable solid substrate has a surface resident coating comprising the starch perfume complex that can provide a consumer benefit.
US08268760B2

The anti-wear and anti-friction performance of a lubricating oil is improved by the addition thereto of an additive amount of ionic liquids.
US08268758B2

Methods are provided that include a method comprising: providing an emulsified treatment fluid comprising an oleaginous phase, an aqueous phase, a consolidating agent, and an emulsifying agent that comprises at least one convertible surfactant described by a one of the disclosed formulae, and placing the subterranean treatment fluid in a subterranean formation.
US08268756B2

Described are methods for producing libraries of cells expressing at least two separate single polypeptide chain binding proteins, in which the binding proteins have different target epitopes. Such libraries are made by integration of the nucleic acid sequences encoding the polypeptide chains into the genome of the host cell, and selecting for cells that have successfully integrated these nucleic acids. The selected cells are preferably subjected to a cloning step. Mixtures of binding proteins are produced without having to individually produce each of the components of the mixture. A library of cells wherein essentially each cell encodes at least two single polypeptide chain binding proteins having different target epitopes is also herewith provided, as well as methods for producing a composition comprising at least two separate single polypeptide chain binding proteins having different target epitopes.
US08268748B2

The composition, in accordance with the present invention, for producing a plant body having an improved sugar content includes glutathione, a polynucleotide encoding γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase, or a polynucleotide encoding glutathione-binding plastid type fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase. The composition preferably includes oxidized glutathione. This allows provision of a composition for easily producing a plant body having an improved sugar content.
US08268746B2

Provided is a thermosensitive recording material which can be produced through high-speed coating, which is excellent in head-matching property, and which can provide a printed image having good waterproofness, while maintaining high sensitivity and high storage stability, which material includes a support, an under layer laid over the support, the under layer containing a plastic hollow particle, a thermosensitive color-developing layer laid over the under layer, the thermosensitive color-developing layer containing a leuco dye and a developer, wherein two or more layers including the thermosensitive color-developing layer are formed through simultaneous coating by a curtain coating method.
US08268734B2

In accordance with some embodiments described herein, a method for transferring a substrate to two or more process modules is provided, comprising loading at least one substrate into one or more mobile transverse chambers, the mobile transverse chambers being carried on a rail positioned adjacent to the two or more process modules, and wherein each mobile transverse chamber is configured to maintain a specified gas condition during conveyance of the substrate. One or more drive systems are actuated to propel at least one of the one or more mobile transverse chambers along the rail. The at least one mobile transfer chamber docks to at least one of the process modules, and the substrate is conveyed from the mobile transverse chamber to the at least one process modules.
US08268722B2

Adhesive layers residing at an interface between metal lines and dielectric diffusion barrier (or etch stop) layers are used to improve electromigration performance of interconnects. Adhesion layers are formed by depositing a precursor layer of metal-containing material (e.g., material containing Al, Ti, Ca, Mg, etc.) over an exposed copper line, and converting the precursor layer to a passivated layer (e.g., nitridized layer). For example, a substrate containing exposed copper line having exposed Cu—O bonds is contacted with trimethylaluminum to form a precursor layer having Al—O bonds and Al—C bonds on copper surface. The precursor layer is then treated to remove residual organic substituents and to form Al—N, Al—H bonds or both. The treatment can include direct plasma treatment, remote plasma treatment, UV-treatment, and thermal treatment with a gas such as NH3, H2, N2, and mixtures thereof. A dielectric diffusion barrier layer is then deposited.
US08268713B2

A method of manufacturing a nonvolatile memory device having a laminated structure in which a first magnetic material layer, a tunnel insulator film, and a second magnetic material layer are sequentially laminated, in which information is stored when an electric resistance value changes depending on a magnetization reversal state is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: sequentially forming the first magnetic material layer, the tunnel insulator film, and the second magnetic material layer; forming a mask layer on the second magnetic material layer; oxidizing a part uncovered by the mask layer of the second magnetic material layer; and reducing the oxidized part of the second magnetic material layer.
US08268705B2

The present invention is a method for producing an SOI wafer comprising at least a step of forming an ion-implanted damaged layer by ion-implanting a neutral element electrically inactive in silicon from one surface of the base wafer or the bond wafer, in which ion-implanting in the step of forming the ion-implanted damaged layer is performed at a dosage of 1×1012 atoms/cm2 or more and less than 1×1015 atoms/cm2. As a result, there may be provided a method for producing an SOI wafer having sufficient gettering ability while the suppression of leak failure, degradation of oxide dielectric breakdown voltage or the like is provided.
US08268698B2

The present invention relates to a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate having one or more device regions. Each device region comprises at least a base semiconductor substrate layer and a semiconductor device layer with a buried insulator layer located therebetween, while the semiconductor device layer is supported by one or more vertical insulating pillars. The vertical insulating pillars each preferably has a ledge extending between the base semiconductor substrate layer and the semiconductor device layer. The SOI substrates of the present invention can be readily formed from a precursor substrate structure with a “floating” semiconductor device layer that is spaced apart from the base semiconductor substrate layer by an air gap and is supported by one or more vertical insulating pillars. The air gap is preferably formed by selective removal of a sacrificial layer located between the base semiconductor substrate layer and the semiconductor device layer.
US08268694B2

In a method of manufacturing a transistor, a gate structure is formed on a substrate. First impurities are implanted into the substrate to form an impurity region at an upper portion of the substrate adjacent to the gate structure. An epitaxial layer is formed on the impurity region. An insulation layer having an opening partially exposing the epitaxial layer is formed on the substrate. Second impurities are implanted into a portion of the epitaxial layer exposed by the opening.
US08268686B2

A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a first well of a first conductivity type, which is formed in a semiconductor substrate of the first conductivity type, a plurality of memory cell transistors that are formed in the first well, a second well of a second conductivity type, which includes a first part that surrounds a side region of the first well and a second part that surrounds a lower region of the first well, and electrically isolates the first well from the semiconductor substrate, and a third well of the second conductivity type, which is formed in the semiconductor substrate. The third well has a less depth than the second part of the second well.
US08268685B2

A NAND flash memory device and method of manufacturing the same is disclosed. Source and drain select transistor gates are recessed lower than an active region of a semiconductor substrate. A valid channel length of the source and drain select transistor gates is longer than a channel length of memory cell gates. Accordingly, an electric field between a source region and a drain region of the select transistor can be reduced. It is thus possible to prevent program disturbance from occurring in edge memory cells adjacent to the source and drain select transistors in non-selected cell strings.
US08268680B2

A method of fabricating a transistor of a semiconductor device comprises: forming a gate in a NMOS region and a PMOS region of a semiconductor substrate; forming a gate spacer on a sidewall of the gate; performing an ion implantation process on the NMOS region to form a junction region in the NMOS region; depositing an oxide film on the entire surface of the semiconductor substrate including the gate; removing hydrogen (H) existing in the oxide film and the gate spacer; and removing the oxide film in the PMOS region and performing a ion implantation process on the PMOS region to form a junction region in the PMOS region.
US08268679B2

In sophisticated integrated circuits, an electronic fuse may be formed such that an increased sensitivity to electromigration may be accomplished by including at least one region of increased current density. This may be accomplished by forming a corresponding fuse region as a non-linear configuration, wherein at corresponding connection portions of linear segments, the desired enhanced current crowding may occur during the application of the programming voltage. Hence, increased reliability and more space-efficient layout of the electronic fuses may be accomplished.
US08268671B2

Semiconductor devices that contain a system in package and methods for making such packages are described. The semiconductor device with a system in package (SIP) contains a first IC die, passive components, and discrete devices that are contained in a lower level of the package. The SIP also contains a second IC die that is vertically separated from the first IC die by an array of metal interposers, thereby isolating the components of the first IC die from the components of the second IC die. Such a configuration provides more functionality within a single semiconductor package while also reducing or eliminating local heating in the package. Other embodiments are also described.
US08268665B2

Antimony, germanium and tellurium precursors useful for CVD/ALD of corresponding metal-containing thin films are described, along with compositions including such precursors, methods of making such precursors, and films and microelectronic device products manufactured using such precursors, as well as corresponding manufacturing methods. The precursors of the invention are useful for forming germanium-antimony-tellurium (GST) films and microelectronic device products, such as phase change memory devices, including such films.
US08268662B2

A method of fabricating a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor is provided. First, an isolation structure is formed in a substrate with a photo-sensitive region and a transistor device region in the substrate. The transistor device region includes at least a region for forming a transfer transistor. A dielectric layer and a conductive layer are sequentially formed on the substrate. An ion implantation process is performed to implant a dopant into the substrate below the position for forming a gate of the transfer transistor and in the photo-sensitive region through the conductive layer and the dielectric layer. The conductive layer and the dielectric layer are patterned to at least form the gate structure of the transfer transistor on the transistor device region. Thereafter, a photo diode is formed in the substrate in the photo-sensitive region.
US08268653B2

A light-emitting element capable of increasing the amount of light emitted, a light-emitting device including the same, and a method of manufacturing the light-emitting element and the light-emitting device include a buffer layer having an uneven pattern formed thereon; a light-emitting structure including a first conductive pattern of a first conductivity type that is conformally formed along the buffer layer having the uneven pattern formed thereon, a light-emitting pattern that is conformally formed along the first conductive pattern, and a second conductive pattern of a second conductivity type that is formed on the light-emitting pattern; a first electrode electrically connected to the first conductive pattern; and a second electrode electrically connected to the second conductive pattern.
US08268650B2

A process for manufacturing sealed organic EL devices includes a step of forming an organic EL layer on a region of an anode-mounted substrate having a substrate and an anode, the region including at least a bonding region in which a sealing member will be bonded and a region which is found inward the bonding region; a step of removing a portion of the organic EL layer which is found at least on the bonding region by applying plasma by a remote plasma method to expose the bonding region; a step of forming a cathode on the organic EL layer to complete an organic EL device; and a step of bonding a sealing member to the exposed bonding region.
US08268648B2

A semiconductor device includes a substrate comprising a first surface having a [111] orientation and a second surface having a second orientation and a plurality of III-V compound layers on the substrate, wherein the plurality of III-V compound layers are configured to emit light when an electric current is produced in one or more of the plurality of III-V compound layers.
US08268640B2

A method for making a micro structure (100) is proposed. The method starts with the step of providing a silicon substrate (102), which has a main surface. A porous silicon layer (103)—extending into the silicon substrate from the main surface—is then formed. The method continues by etching the porous silicon layer selectively to obtain a set of projecting microelements of porous silicon (112); each projecting microelement projects from a remaining portion of the silicon substrate (106), thereby exposing a corresponding external surface. The projecting microelements are then treated to obtain a set of corresponding conductive (115) or insulating (115′) microelements; each conductive or insulating microelement is obtained by converting at least a prevalent portion of the porous silicon (extending into the corresponding projecting element from the external surface) into porous metal or ceramics, respectively.
US08268630B2

Sensor devices and sensing methods are provided. A sensor device is provided two flow channels, each comprising a sensor, and analyte flow is alternated between the two channels such that the sensors alternately serve as a sensor and a reference, thereby increasing accuracy of the sensors. The device is useful, for example, in chemical sensing using a variety of sensor types including without limitation: chemiresistors, gravimetric sensors, optical sensors, among others. Related sensing methods also are provided.
US08268619B2

Method for the isolation, expansion and preservation of cardiac stem cells from human or animal tissue biopsy samples to be employed in cell transplantation and functional repair of the myocardium or other organs. Cells may also be used in gene therapy for treating genetic cardiomyopathies, for treating ischemic heart diseases and for setting in vitro models to study drugs.
US08268613B2

A surface plasmon resonance measuring apparatus is provided with a dielectric block, a metal film formed on a surface of the dielectric block, a light source for emitting a light beam, an optical system for making the light beam enter the dielectric block at various angles of incidence so that a condition for total internal reflection is satisfied at an interface between the dielectric block and the thin film layer, and a photodetector for detecting the intensity of the light beam satisfying total internal reflection at the interface. In the measurement chip to be utilized in the surface plasmon resonance measuring apparatus, the dielectric block is formed from a synthetic resin in which, when said light beam is p-polarized outside said dielectric block and then strikes the interface, the intensity of a s-polarized component at the interface is 50% or less of the intensity of the light beam at the interface.
US08268606B2

The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having endoglucanase activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.
US08268603B2

An apparatus for disrupting cells or viruses comprises a container having a chamber for holding the cells or viruses. The container includes at least one flexible wall defining the chamber. The apparatus also includes a transducer for impacting an external surface of the flexible wall to generate pressure waves in the chamber. The apparatus also includes a pressure source for increasing the pressure in the chamber. The pressurization of the chamber ensures effective coupling between the transducer and the flexible wall. The apparatus may also include beads in the chamber for rupturing the cells or viruses.
US08268601B2

A process for cultivating photosynthetic microbes comprising Closed Systems for continuous cultivation and Open Systems for batch cultivation, in which (a) the Closed System Area occupies no more than 20% of the Total Land Area of the cultivation facility; (b) batch cultures in the Open Systems are initiated with an inoculum from the Closed Systems containing a cell biomass of no less than 5% of the carrying capacity of said Open System; (c) the doubling rate of said photosynthetic microbe is no less than once every 16 hours; and (d) the residence time of the batch culture in said Open System is no more than a period of 5 days.
US08268585B2

A novel transformation system in the field of filamentous fungal hosts for expressing and secreting heterologous proteins or polypeptides is described. The invention also covers a process for producing large amounts of polypeptide or protein in an economical manner. The system comprises a transformed or transfected fungal strain of the genus Chrysosporium, more particularly of Chrysosporium lucknowense and mutants or derivatives thereof. It also covers transformants containing Chrysosporium coding sequences, as well expression-regulating sequences of Chrysosporium genes. Also provided are novel fungal enzymes and their encoding sequences and expression-regulating sequences.
US08268575B2

The present invention generally relates to a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) biosynthesis system and methods of screening for NAD biosynthesis effectors. Among the various aspects of the present invention is the provision of an in vitro-reconstituted mammalian NAD biosynthesis system that can be used for the high-throughput screening of chemical activators and inhibitors for mammalian NAD biosynthesis. Another aspect of the invention provides a method of identifying a compound that effects in vivo activity of NAD metabolic enzymes. Further aspects of the invention include nucleic acid sequences, vectors, and transformed cells that can be used in the methods described herein.
US08268572B2

Methods are provided for identifying candidate agents for use in inhibiting expression of certain receptors and ion channels in nociceptors. Also provided are methods for identifying candidates agents for use in inhibiting neurophathic and other types of pain.
US08268561B2

A method of genetically screening large numbers of individuals to identify those individuals requiring follow-up testing for active Type I diabetes (T1D) is provided. The method includes obtaining a nucleic-acid containing biological sample from each individual and testing for the presence of specific combinations of HLA II alleles in the sample.
US08268560B2

The present invention relates to PNA derivatives which carry, at the C terminus, or at both the C and N termini of the PNA backbone, one or more phosphoryl radicals. The phosphoryl radicals carry, where appropriate, one or more labeling groups, groups for crosslinking, groups which promote intracellular uptake, or groups which increase the binding affinity of the PNA derivative for nucleic acids. The invention furthermore relates to a process for preparing the above-mentioned PNA derivatives and to their use as pharmaceuticals or diagnostic agents.
US08268550B2

The invention provides nucleic acids encoding PARP fusion proteins, PARP fusion proteins, antibodies that bind to one or more of these PARP fusion proteins, and transgenic cells expressing one or more PARP fusion proteins. The invention also provides methods for identifying an agent as a specific PARP inhibitor or activator requiring contacting one or more PARP fusion proteins with a labeled nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide substrate and the agent and measuring the amount of labeled of ADP-ribose covalently attached to the one or more PARP fusion proteins. The invention also provides methods for identifying an agent that specifically binds to one or more PARP fusion proteins and methods for quantitating the level of one or more PARP proteins in a sample.
US08268545B2

The formation of a device using block copolymer lithography is provided. The formation of the device includes forming a block copolymer structure. The block copolymer structure includes a first polymer and a second polymer. The block copolymer structure also includes a first component deposited between adjacent blocks of the first polymer and a second component deposited between adjacent blocks of the second polymer. A template is developed by removing either the first and second polymers or the first and second components from the block copolymer structure. The formation of the device also includes lithographically patterning the device utilizing the block copolymer structure template. The device may be a data storage medium.
US08268544B2

A stamp for patterning onto a receiving surface of an object (101) according to a defined pattern (P) comprises a stamping surface (21) of a resilient diaphragm (20). The stamping surface is planar at rest. The pattern is reproduced on the stamping surface and the diaphragm is affixed to a rigid body (13) along a peripheral edge, so that a middle part of the diaphragm can move along a direction perpendicular to the stamping surface. The diaphragm (20) is more flexible near the peripheral edge than in the middle part. Then, the pattern (P) printed on a pseudo-spherical receiving surface (103) using the stamp exhibits few distortion.
US08268541B2

The present disclosure provides a lithography apparatus. The lithography apparatus includes a radiation source providing a radiation energy with a wavelength selected from the group consisting of 193 nm, 248 nm, and 365 nm; a lens system configured approximate to the radiation source; a mask chamber proximate to the lens system, configured to hold a mask and operable to provide a single atom gas to the mask chamber; and a substrate stage configured to hold a substrate and receive the radiation energy through the lens system and the mask during an exposing process.
US08268540B2

A method of manufacturing a light receiving device 1 includes: providing a resin layer 14 containing a photo curing resin on a transparent substrate 13 where a plurality of transparent substrate portions 13A are integrated so that the resin layer covers the transparent substrate 13; selectively irradiating the resin layer 14 with light, followed by a developing process, so that the resin layer 14 remains in regions of the transparent substrate 13 which surround portions corresponding to regions facing light receiving portions 11 in the transparent substrate portions 13A; dividing the transparent substrate 13 into units of transparent substrate portions 13A so that a plurality of transparent substrate portions 13A are obtained; dividing the base substrate 12 into units of base substrate portions 12A so that a plurality of base substrate portions 12A are obtained; and joining the base substrate portions 12A and the transparent substrate portions 13A via the resin layer 14.
US08268527B2

A toner is provided including a core particle comprising a binder resin, a colorant, and a release agent, and a shell layer comprising particles of a vinyl resin. The vinyl resin comprises 80% by weight or more of a unit of an aromatic compound having a vinyl-polymerizable functional group. A method of manufacturing the above toner is also provided, including steps of dissolving or dispersing the binder resin, the colorant, and the release agent in an organic solvent to prepare an oily liquid, dispersing the oily liquid in an aqueous medium to prepare the core particles, and adhering particles of a vinyl resin to the surfaces of the core particles to form shell layers.
US08268524B2

A black toner includes: toner mother particles containing carbon black as a colorant and a binder resin, the toner mother particles being surface-modified with a polyalkyleneimine.
US08268506B2

The present invention concerns a separator plate for use in a fuel cell stack with a substantially circular or oval main surface wherein a fluid flow path is defined by a plurality of channels extending substantially in parallel to each other and leading a fluid from a fluid supply port to a fluid discharge port. Adjacent channels merge such as to decrease the number of parallel channels from the supply port to the discharge port, thereby decreasing a cross sectional area of the flow path. The plurality of parallel channels comprises the following sections: a first section starting at the fluid supply port wherein the plurality of parallel channels extends in a curve along an outer contour of the main surface, a second section wherein the plurality of parallel channels extend at a certain distance to the outer contour in a curve being parallel to said outer contour, a C-shaped third section, a central horse-iron-shaped forth section extending around a center of the main surface, the orientation of the C-shaped forth section being opposite the orientation of the C-shaped third section, a fifth section wherein the plurality of parallel channels is led back to the outer contour of the main surface, and a final section wherein the plurality of parallel channels extends in a curve along the outer contour of the main surface until it reaches the fluid discharge port.
US08268500B2

In a fuel cell stack, gas channels and heat medium channels are disposed on one surface and the other surface of one plate, respectively. Gas channels are disposed on the other plate such that they face the gas channels in the one plate. A gas inlet header is disposed at the upper part of the gas channel in the plate and a heat medium inlet header is disposed at the upper part of the heat medium channels such that they face the gas inlet header on the other side. Cooling water as a heat medium is supplied from a heat medium supply manifold hole to a heat medium inlet header. Water vapor in the reaction gas (wet fuel gas) is prevented from being condensed in the inlet area of the gas channels by heating the gas inlet header by heat conduction.
US08268496B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell system capable of starting below freezing point without increasing the size of the diluter. The fuel cell system 1 comprises an OCV purge execution unit 42 replacing gas retained in a fuel cell 10 by supplying additional anode gas from a supply device 20 to the fuel cell 10 when starting up the fuel cell. In addition, the fuel cell system 1 comprises a low temperature startup determination unit 41 determining whether to perform low temperature startup or normal startup on the fuel cell 10. The OCV purge execution unit 42 decreases the pressure of additional anode gas supplied from the supply device 20 and increases the total replacing amount of gas retained in the fuel cell 10 in a case of performing low temperature startup, as compared with a case of performing normal startup.
US08268494B2

A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell 1 having a fuel gas passage 1D and an oxidizing gas passage 1E; a fuel gas feeder 2; an oxidizing gas feeder 3; a fuel gas exhaust passage 8; an oxidizing gas exhaust passage 9; a test gas feeder 20 configured to feed a test gas to either the fuel gas passage 1D or the oxidizing gas passage 1E; a flow rate detector 5 configured to detect the flow rate of the test gas; a first passage blocking device 4; and a controller 10, wherein said controller 10 controls said first passage blocking device 4 to block off the passage and controls the test gas feeder 2 to feed the test gas to said fuel cell 1, thereby obtaining a detected value from the flow rate detector 5 or an airtightness value that is numerical information into which the detected value is converted.
US08268487B2

Disclosed is a rechargeable lithium battery that includes a positive electrode including a lithium nickel-based positive active material; a negative electrode including a negative active material; an electrolyte including a lithium salt and a non-aqueous organic solvent; and a separator including a polymer substrate and a hydroxide compound-containing coating layer disposed on the polymer substrate.
US08268483B2

A pouch-type secondary battery including: an electrode assembly comprising a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate and a separator; a negative electrode tab electrically connected to the negative electrode plate and having a first tab tape; and a positive electrode tab electrically connected to the positive electrode plate and having a second tab tape wherein one or two of end portions which the positive electrode tab crosses are located inside a sealing portion.
US08268474B2

A battery module, including a plurality of unit cells and a cell barrier interposed between the unit cells, is provided. The cell barrier includes a body member extending in a direction and at least partially covering a first outer surface of an adjacent unit cell, the body member having an opening extending in the direction, and a bending element extending from a side of the body member in another direction and at least partially enclosing a second outer surface of the adjacent unit cell, the bending element having an opening extending in the another direction.
US08268473B2

A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery of the present invention comprises a long core member and a material mixture layer formed thereon. The electrode plate has an exposed part of the core member formed along one side which is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the core member. The material mixture layer comprises a material that can absorb and desorb lithium ions. A porous film is formed on at least a part of the exposed part of the core member adjacent to an edge face of the material mixture layer and on the material mixture layer and is parallel to the exposed portion of the core member, and the thickness of the porous film is greater at the edge face of the material mixture layer which is parallel to the exposed part of the core member and located on the side of the exposed part of the core member than at a central portion of the material mixture layer in the width direction thereof.
US08268472B2

A battery pack apparatus has a plurality of battery cell units that are stacked together in generally parallel relation. The battery cell units are configured to define converging air flow spaces therebetween. An air inlet header provides a converging air inlet plenum that is situated adjacent one side of the battery cell units and an air outlet header provides a diverging air outlet plenum that is situated adjacent an opposite side of the battery cell units. A blower or fan forces air into the air inlet plenum. The air flows through the air flow spaces between the battery cell units to cool the battery cell units. The speed of the air increases as it advances through the air inlet plenum and the plurality of air flow spaces.
US08268454B2

A process for joining a stainless steel part and a zirconia ceramic part comprising: providing a SUS part, a ZrO2 ceramic part, a Mo foil and a Cu foil; depositing a nickel coating on a surface of the ZrO2 ceramic part; placing the ZrO2 ceramic part, the Mo foil, the Cu foil, and the SUS part into a mold, the Mo foil and the Cu foil located between the ZrO2 ceramic part and the SUS part; placing the mold into a chamber of a hot press sintering device, heating the chamber and pressing the SUS part with the nickel coating, the ZrO2 ceramic part, the Mo foil, and the Cu foil at least until the SUS part, the ZrO2 ceramic part, the Mo foil and the Cu foil form a integral composite article.
US08268442B2

Adhesive tape suitable for flying splice of flat web material having non-polar surfaces which has been wound to form rolls, the adhesive tape comprising an upper self-adhesive composition (1, 11), a splittable carrier (2, 12) and a lower self-adhesive composition (3, 13) on the bottom face of the splittable carrier (2, 12), wherein as upper self-adhesive composition (1, 11) a silicone-free self-adhesive composition is used which has a bond strength to a polyethylene substrate of 1.5 N/cm or more (measurement method tesa test A) and an initial tack corresponding to a rolling distance of 200 mm or less (measurement method tesa test D), and as lower self-adhesive composition (3, 13) a self-adhesive composition is used which has a bond strength to a polyethylene substrate of 1.5 N/cm or more (measurement method tesa test A) and a complex viscosity of 10,000 Pa·s or more at 1 rad/s and 40° C. (measurement method tesa test F).
US08268439B2

A process for the production of a polymeric article comprises the steps of: (a) forming a ply having successive layers, namely (ii) a first layer made up of strands of an oriented polymeric material; (ii) a second layer of a polymeric material; (iii) a third layer made up of strands of an oriented polymeric material, wherein the second layer has a lower peak melting temperature than that of the first and third layers; (b) subjecting the ply to conditions of time, temperature and pressure sufficient to melt a proportion of the first layer, to melt the second layer entirely, and to melt a proportion of the third layer; and to compact the ply; and (c) cooling the compacted ply. The resultant articles have good mechanical properties yet may be made at lower compaction temperatures than articles not employing the second layer, leading to a more controllable manufacturing process.
US08268436B2

The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising one or more indicia formed from an elastomeric coating composition comprising a diene based elastomer and from 1 to 100 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of elastomer, of a nanoparticle comprising an inner core of an inorganic magnetic material at least partially covered by an outer layer of silica.
US08268428B2

The present application is directed to adhesive articles and release liners. Namely, the present application is directed to an article comprising an adhesive layer with a structured surface. The structured surface comprises a first groove and a second groove recessed into the adhesive layer from a reference plane defined by the adhesive surface on either rim of the groove. In some embodiments, the second groove is contained within the first groove, and in other embodiments the grooves are separate. The first groove and the second groove have walls. The wall angle of the first groove with respect to the reference plane is non-zero and is smaller than the wall angle of the second groove with respect to the reference plane. The application is also directed to release liners for the adhesive article, wherein the surface of the release liner is the inverse of the adhesive surface.
US08268426B2

An anti-slip film is produced by combining a thin, dimensionally stable plastic film having a smooth surface finish with a silicone elastomer having a low durometer and a textured and polished surface finish. The film may include adhesive means for adhering the film to objects, and label stock for displaying graphical and/or textual indicia.
US08268425B2

The invention relates to a polyethylene molding composition which has a multimodal molar mass distribution and is particularly suitable for producing external sheathing of electric or information transmission cables. The molding composition has a density at a temperature of 23° C. in the range from 0.94 to 0.95 g/cm3 and an MFI190/5 in the range from 1.2 to 2.1 dg/min. It comprises from 45 to 55% by weight of a low molecular weight ethylene homopolymer A, from 30 to 40% by weight of a high molecular weight copolymer B of ethylene and another olefin having from 4 to 8 carbon atoms and from 10 to 20% by weight of an ultra high molecular weight ethylene copolymer C. The invention also relates to an electric or information transmission cable having an external sheath of the polyethylene molding composition which has a thickness in the range from 0.2 to 3 cm.
US08268418B2

The invention relates to a balloon for medical devices, in particular for catheters used in angioplasty, comprising a polyamide copolymer material characterized in that said polyamide copolymer material is represented by the general formula (I): HO—(PF—OOC—PA-COO—PF—COO—PA)n-COOH in which PA is a polyamide segment and PF is a diol segment comprising dimer diols and/or corresponding OH-terminating diol polyesters and n is a number between 5 and 20.
US08268412B2

A light blocking member having variable transmittance, a display panel including the same, and a manufacturing method thereof. A light blocking member having a variable transmittance according to one exemplary embodiment includes a polymerizable compound, a binder, and a thermochromic material that exhibits a black color at a temperature below a threshold temperature and becomes transparent at a temperature above the threshold temperature.
US08268411B2

A method of forming a porous composite material in which substantially all of the pores within the composite material are small having a diameter of about 5 nm or less and with a narrow PSD is provided. The porous composite material includes a first solid phase having a first characteristic dimension and a second phase comprised of pores having a second characteristic dimension, wherein the characteristic dimensions of at least one of said phases is controlled to a value of about 5 nm or less.
US08268407B2

A method for manufacturing a write head having write pole with a tapered upper surface to improve the channeling of magnetic flux to a pole tip of the write pole. The method includes depositing a first layer of magnetic material over a substrate. A CMP stop layer, image transfer layer and mask structure are deposited over the first magnetic layer, the mask structure being formed with an edge located a desired distance from an air bearing surface plane. An ion milling operation is performed to remove portions of the magnetic layer that are not protected by the mask structure, the ion milling being performed in a manner to form a tapered surface on the first magnetic layer. Then, a second magnetic layer is deposited over the first magnetic layer to form a tapered magnetic write pole.
US08268405B2

The present invention addresses the problem of conveniently and efficiently decorating nanostructures such as carbon nanotubes with aerosol nanoparticles using electrostatic force directed assembly (“ESFDA”). ESFDA permits size selection as well as control of packing density spacing of nanoparticles. ESFDA is largely material independent allowing different compositions of such nanoparticle-nanotube structures to be produced.
US08268397B2

Disclosed are an organometallic precursor that may be used in manufacturing a semiconductor device, a thin film having the same, a metal wiring including the thin film, a method of forming a thin film and a method of manufacturing a metal wiring. An organometallic precursor including a central metal, a borohydride ligand and an amine ligand for reducing a polarity of the organometallic precursor may be provided onto a substrate, and may be thermally decomposed to form a thin film on the substrate. The organometallic precursor having a reduced polarity may be provided to a chamber with a constant flow rate, and thus stability and/or efficiency of a semiconductor manufacturing process may be improved.
US08268388B1

A Method to Incorporate a Fluorescent Internal Standard on Substrates (NC#098329). The method includes providing a substrate, operatively coupling internal standard particles to the substrate, forming an insulating buffer layer over the internal standard particles and the substrate, and forming a sensing polymer layer over the insulating buffer layer.
US08268375B2

A method for spraying a food product is disclosed herein. The method includes the step of disposing a first sprayer along an axis defining, at least in part, a path of movement for a food product. The method also includes the step of disposing a second sprayer along the axis axially and radially spaced from the first sprayer. The method also includes the step of directly communicating with the first and second sprayers disposed along the axis with a cavity operable to receive edible ink such that the first and second sprayers concurrently spray the edible ink to the axis.
US08268374B2

A method for manufacturing pet food with an ultrasonic horn and an anvil, using human grade ingredients without the use of additives, including but not limited to preservatives, plasticizers, binders and fluidizers.
US08268371B2

The present invention provides gum base compositions and chewing gum compositions having non stick or reduced-stick properties and/or increased degradability. The compositions include a terpolymer of methylvinyl ether, maleic anhydride and maleic acid, which provide increased degradability. Methods of preparing the gum base and chewing gum compositions, as well as methods of use, are provided.
US08268369B2

The invention relates to compositions and methods for treating hypercholesterolemia, including methods for increasing HDL cholesterol levels, using a composition comprising an extract from the Ortanique peel. The invention also relates to compositions and methods for treating hypercholesterolemia, including methods for increasing HDL cholesterol levels, using a composition comprising substantially similar amounts of tetramethylscutellarein and nobiletin by weight and/or a composition comprising substantially similar amounts of tetramethylscutellarein, nobiletin, and tangeretin by weight.
US08268368B2

The invention describes ointments, creams and oils formulated from herbal compositions that are suitable for the management of skin wounds, such as chronic skin ulcers, as, for example, diabetic ulcers and pressure ulcers, and for providing bleeding control for cuts and wounds. The compositions contain extracts of two or more of Pongamia pinnata, Lawsonia alba, Datura alba and Cocos nucifera.
US08268360B2

The present invention relates to a motor function improving method, including administering or taking a fat globule membrane component.
US08268352B2

A novel modified release dosage form comprising of a high solubility active ingredient, which utilizes dual retard technique to effectively reduce the quantity of release controlling agents. Present invention can optionally comprise additionally another active ingredient as an immediate release form or modified release form. Present invention also relates to a process for preparing the said formulation.
US08268349B2

A solid pharmaceutical dosage form providing improved oral bioavailability is disclosed for inhibitors of HIV protease. In particular, the dosage form comprises a solid dispersion of at least one HIV protease inhibitor and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable water-soluble polymer and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable surfactant, said pharmaceutically acceptable water-soluble polymer having a Tg of at least about 50° C. Preferably, the pharmaceutically acceptable surfactant has an HLB value of from about 4 to about 10.
US08268348B2

The present invention provides combination therapy methods of treating proliferative diseases (such as cancer) comprising a first therapy comprising administering to an individual an effective amount of a taxane in a nanoparticle composition, and a second therapy which may include, for example, radiation, surgery, administration of chemotherapeutic agents, or combinations thereof. Also provided are methods of administering to an individual a drug taxane in a nanoparticle composition based on a metronomic dosing regime.
US08268344B2

Porous materials and methods for forming them are disclosed. One method for immobilizing micro-particles and/or nano-particles onto internal pore surfaces and/or external pore surfaces of porous materials includes suspending the micro-particles and/or nano-particles in a liquid adapted to swell, soften, and/or deform either the porous materials and/or the particles, thereby forming a liquid-particle suspension. The method further includes adding the suspension to the porous materials; and removing the liquid, thereby forming the porous materials having the micro-particles and/or nano-particles immobilized on the internal pore surfaces and/or the external pore surfaces.
US08268333B2

With an object of providing an orally administered agent (in particular a film-shaped orally administered agent) with which the ease and safety of taking the agent are improved, to attain this object, in an orally administered agent 1b having one drug-containing layer 11 and two water-swellable gel-forming layers 12, the water-swellable gel-forming layers 12 are provided, either directly or via intermediate layers, on the both faces of the drug-containing layer 11.
US08268328B2

The invention relates to methods and kits comprising poxviruses including, but not limited to modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) and uses thereof to provide immediate protection against pathogens. Poxviruses including, but not limited to MVA can be delivered to a host animal just prior to or after exposure to a pathogen and provide protection against the pathogen.
US08268324B2

It is suggested that recombinant galectin 9 (rGal 9), produced in host Escherichia coli, exhibits an immune system-mediated action and a direct action on tumor cells (i.e., activity of inducing the intercellular adhesion and apoptosis of the tumor cells), thereby potent in inducing the inhibition of cancer metastasis and reduction. Moreover, the rGal 9 exerts no efficacy on non-activated lymphocytes but can induce apoptosis in activated T cells, in particular, CD4-positive T cells causing an excessive immune response. The rGal 9 has a further potent apoptosis-inducing property on synovial cells participating in joint deformation in rheumatism, etc. In the rGal 9, however, a link domain linking two CRDs is highly susceptible to protease and, therefore, is very easily digestible with the enzyme, thereby losing the above activities. Thus, there is a need for a more stabilized molecule in view of further studies. Modification of the link domain linking two CRDs in galectin 9 provides a modified molecule having an elevated activity without any undesirable effects on the above activities.
US08268323B2

Stabilized forms of gp120 polypeptide, nucleic acids encoding these stabilized forms, vectors comprising these nucleic acids, and methods of using these polypeptides, nucleic acids, vectors and host cells are disclosed. Crystal structures and computer systems including atomic coordinates for stabilized forms of gp120, and gp120 with an extended V3 loop, and methods of using these structures and computer systems are also disclosed.
US08268316B2

Disclosed is a monoclonal antibody having very high affinity to anthrax toxin and potent toxin-neutralizing activity. Also disclosed are a composition for neutralizing anthrax toxin comprising the antibody and a kit for detecting anthrax toxin.
US08268312B2

The present invention provides humanized, chimeric and human anti-alpha-fetoprotein antibodies, fusion proteins, and fragments thereof. The antibodies, fusion proteins, and fragments thereof, as well as combinations with other suitable antibodies, are useful for the treatment and diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatoblastoma, germ cell tumors carcinoma and other AFP-producing tumors.
US08268307B2

Disclosed herein are vaccine compositions comprising live attenuated virus with anti-antibody to improve efficacy. Specifically exemplified herein is a composition comprising live attenuated cold adapted influenza virus and an enhancing amount of IgG anti-IgA antibody to temporarily inactivate IgA defenses. Also disclosed herein are methods of immunizing a subject to protect against influenza comprising administering compositions taught herein.
US08268304B2

It is described the use of the long pentraxin PTX3 (PTX3) or one of its functional derivatives, for the preparation of a medicament for the prevention or treatment of viral diseases and/or for inhibiting virus activation.
US08268302B2

Stem cells from human sources can have a variety of useful applications in disease treatment and biotechnology. More particularly the umbilical cord matrix cell cultures of the invention have a variety of totipotent, pluripotent, or multipotent cells for a variety of end uses from a non-controversial, universally available, species-specific source. The technology can have application to any amniotic animal, including agricultural and laboratory animals and humans. The invention relates to isolating the stem cells, culturing the stem cells, maintaining the stem cells, transforming the stem cells into useful cell types using genetic or other transformation technologies, stem cell and tissue banking and using untransformed or transformed cells in disease treatment.
US08268300B2

It is an object of the present invention to provide a polymer material, the histocompatibility of which has been improved by irradiation of ion beam, which prevents an aneurysm having a risk of rupture from actually rupturing. The present invention provides a material for treating aneurysms, which is composed of a polymer material containing carbon as a constitutional element, and which is produced by modifying at least a portion of the surface thereof by ion bombardment.
US08268294B2

The photostabilizing electronic excited state energy—particularly singlet state energy from retinoid compounds—has been found to be readily transferred to (accepted by) α-cyanodiphenylacrylate compounds having an alkoxy radical in the four (para) position (hereinafter “alkoxycrylenes”) on one of the phenyl rings having the formula (I): wherein one of R1 and R2 is a straight or branched chain C1-C30 alkoxy radical, preferably C1-C8, more preferably methoxy, and the non-alkoxy radical R1 or R2 is hydrogen; and R3 is a straight or branched chain C1-C30 alkyl radical, preferably C2-C20. The alkoxycrylene compounds of formula (I) significantly increase the photostability of retinoid compounds in a composition by at least 3-fold and as much as 10-fold or greater. The ability of the alkoxycrylene compounds to stabilize the retinoid compound is concentration dependent, with the amount of retinoid photostabilization increasing with the concentration of the alkoxycrylene compound.
US08268292B2

The present invention relates to obovatol compound isolated from Magnolia obovata Thunb. for the prevention and treatment of anxiety disorders involved with CNS. The obovatol compound isolated from Magnolia obovata Thunb. have potent anti-anxiety activity, verified by an increased percentage of time on the open arms, an increased number of entries into, time spent on, the distal portion of the open arms, and a decreased activity of locomotor. Therefore it can be used as the therapeutics or health care food for treating and preventing anxiety disorders.
US08268290B2

This invention relates to a new family of crystalline microporous zeolite designated the UZM-29 family. These zeolites are represented by the empirical formula: Mmn+R+rAl1-xExSiyOz UZM-29 has the PHI structure type topology but is thermally stable up to a temperature of at least 350° C. The UZM-29 family of zeolite can be used in various hydrocarbon conversion processes such as, isomerization of butane.
US08268288B2

The present invention provides methods and materials for the formation of hydrogen storage alanes, AlHx, where x is greater than 0 and less than or equal to 6 at reduced H2 pressures and temperatures. The methods rely upon reduction of the change in free energy of the reaction between aluminum and molecular H2. The change in free energy is reduced by lowering the entropy change during the reaction by providing aluminum in a state of high entropy, and by increasing the magnitude of the change in enthalpy of the reaction or combinations thereof.
US08268287B2

The zinc oxide nanorod thin film in accordance with the present invention is highly condensed and has ideal photoelectric properties. The method for making the zinc oxide nanorod thin film has two steps: forming a zinc oxide seed layer comprising multiple crystals each having a grain size of 1-100 nm on a basal plate and preparing a zinc oxide nanorod thin film growing solution in which the zinc oxide seed layer is allowed to grow a zinc oxide crystal columnar layer at a growing temperature ranging from 50 to 100° C. for a growing time ranging from 0.5 to 10 hours to form a zinc oxide nanorod thin film, wherein the zinc oxide nanorod thin film growing solution is a 0.001-0.1 M aqueous zinc ion solution comprising hexamethylenetetramine.
US08268282B2

The present invention relates generally to thermally-conductive pastes for use with integrated circuits, and particularly, but not by way of limitation, to self-orienting microplates of graphite.
US08268275B2

A selective catalytic reduction reactor (8), which comprises at least one catalyst layer (14), is operative for removing NOx from a flow of process gas of a process plant, such as a combustion plant or an incineration plant. A device for controlling the feeding of a reducing agent, such as urea or ammonia, to said at least one catalyst layer (14), which has an attack area (A) facing the flow (P) of process gas, comprises at least one supply nozzle (32) which is operative for supplying reducing agent in at least one supply area (34) which corresponds to a part of the attack area (A), and a moving device (36) which is operative for moving said supply area (34) over the attack area (A).
US08268274B2

One embodiment of the invention may include a product comprising a catalyst combination comprising a perovskite catalyst and a second catalyst that is not a perovskite catalyst.
US08268267B2

A process is disclosed for separation and recovery of vanadium, molybdenum, iron, tungsten, cobalt and nickel from alumina-based materials, mattes, ores, manufacturing by-products and waste. These elements are oxidized. The oxides are reacted with gaseous HCl to form volatile chloride-bearing compounds that subsequently sublimate. The volatile compounds are condensed in a downward-stepped thermal gradient that allows collection of moderate to high purity compounds of individual elements with exception of a nickel-cobalt co-condensate. Nickel is separated from cobalt by precipitation of nickel chloride from concentrated HCl pressurized with gaseous HCl.
US08268265B2

An apparatus and method for picking up, transporting and depositing microscopic samples. Such an apparatus includes at least one interchangeable adhesive body and a gripping tool for picking up, transporting and depositing the adhesive body, the adhesive body having at least one outwardly curved surface which is at least partially adhesive with respect to the sample. In this method, a gripping tool picks up an adhesive body having an at least partially outwardly curved surface which is at least partially adhesive with respect to the sample. The gripping tool then guides the adhesive body to above the sample. The at least partially curved surface of the adhesive body is then brought into contact with the sample, the sample adheres to the surface of the adhesive body when this is being removed from the sample location, and is finally deposited at the depositing location.
US08268252B2

A unique combination of male and female gas connectors for one way transfer of gasses.
US08268244B2

The present disclosure describes an apparatus for quantifying the quality degradation of individual stored red blood cell (RBC) units, thereby yielding information to improve decisions regarding their respective allocation, patient suitability, and use. The apparatus for quantifying the quality degradation of individual stored (RBC) units comprises: a hemolysis unit; an optical analysis unit; and a computation unit. This apparatus is amenable to clinical implementation as well as indicative of any given unit's relative viability and thus prospective efficacy. This would provide clinicians with actual data on RBC quality when making decisions about which and how many units to use for transfusion of a given patient. Moreover, deploying this testing throughout the supply chain will improve distribution, planning, and inventory control decisions. A vital aspect of this testing system is the accumulation of copious output and other associated data and the mathematical analyses thereof to optimize algorithms by which to characterize each subsequent test output as meaningfully as possible. While the present invention is directed toward applications in blood quality control, the core technology of “quantifying RBC fragility via stress-induced hemolysis and subsequent optical and computational analysis” could have broader application, such as in disease diagnosis.
US08268243B2

A measurement module for glucose testing includes a glucose testing measurement module housing, a test strip receptacle formed in the housing, and a connector portion formed in the housing and shaped to permit mechanical removable attachment of the housing to a hand-held computer. Electronics determine the amount of glucose present in a sample of body fluid, when the test strip is positioned in the receptacle and the body fluid is placed on a test strip, and communicate the glucose amount to the hand-held computer via the connector portion.
US08268237B2

A method of coating a substrate with cryo-milled, nano-grained particles includes forming a face-centered-cubic gamma matrix comprising nickel, cobalt, chromium, tungsten and molybdenum, adding a dispersion strengthening material to the gamma matrix to form a first mixture, cryo-milling the first mixture to form a second mixture to form a nano-grained structure, and cold spraying the second mixture onto a substrate to form a coating having a nano-grained structure.
US08268227B2

The invention provides a method for forming optical compensating films, including: (a) providing a suspension containing clay; (b) adding a mono-functional acrylic oligomer of formula (I) in the suspension, wherein n1 is 2-25, R1 is C1-10 alkyl or H and R2 is H or CH3; (c) adding a water-soluble polymer in the suspension; (d) adding a bi-functional acrylic oligomer of formula (II) in the suspension, wherein n2 is 3-50, and R3 and R4 independently are H or CH3; (e) after the step (d), drying the suspension to form a film; (f) exposing the film under UV light to cure the film; and (g) stretching the film, wherein the film has only a negative C-plate property before the stretching and has both negative C-plate and positive A-plate properties after the stretching.
US08268215B2

A laminated film for a reflecting plate is provided that comprises a layer A and a layer B, the layer A comprising a polyester that comprises substantially no antimony element and preferably comprises 1 to 25 wt % of inert particles having an average particle diameter of 0.3 to 3.0 μm and the layer B being in contact with the layer A and comprising a polyester which preferably comprises 31 to 80 wt % of inert particles having an average particle diameter of 0.3 to 3.0 μm. This laminated film has a practically satisfactory capability of reflecting visible light, can be produced stably even if inert particles are added in high concentration, hardly has streak-like defects, and can be suitably used as a substrate for a reflecting plate for a liquid crystal display or an internally illuminating electrical billboard.
US08268211B2

In making bodily fluid absorbent pads quantity of scrapped material is reduced. A bodily fluid absorbent pad (liner) 10 has a shape symmetric in a longitudinal direction P as well as in a transverse direction Q. A dimension of the pad 10 in the transverse direction Q is larger in opposite end regions 31, 32 than in an intermediate region 33. The pad 10 is formed along opposite side edges 11a, 11b with first and second compressed lines 21, 22. Paired compression rolls 302 are used to form the first and second compressed lines 21, 22, and at least one roll constituting the paired compression rolls 302 is formed on a peripheral surface thereof with compressing units projecting from the peripheral surface. The compressing units are arranged in a circumferential direction to form one row and at least one additional row, which is adjacent to the one row in an axial direction of the roll. In each pair of the adjacent rows, there is an offset between the compressing unit in the one row and the compressing units in the other row in the circumferential direction.
US08268210B2

The moulded part has at least two different sections with different outer diameter and a void inside the moulded part. To make the void, a projectile is passed through the still molten injection mouldable material in a direction of flow. A pressurized fluid is exerted in the void in the direction of flow behind the projectile to move the projectile. To obtain constant wall thicknesses, the projectile has at least one elastic or plastic section, which is delimited by a space in which the pressurized fluid can enter. The volume of the space and the effective outer diameter of the projectile can be changed by the fluid pressure and is controlled in such a manner that the space and the effective outer diameter of the projectile is enlarged and/or reduced to make the moulded part with different diameters.
US08268200B2

Provided is a pigment dispersing composition for a color filter including a color material, a resin, and an organic solvent which may dissolve the resin, wherein a modified pigment (D) is contained as the color material which includes, on the surface of a pigment (A), a polymer (P) obtained by polymerizing a polymer (B) containing a polymerizable unsaturated group soluble in a non-aqueous solvent and at least one type of polymerizable unsaturated monomer (C) which is soluble in the non-aqueous solvent and becomes either insoluble or poorly soluble following polymerization, alternatively wherein a modified pigment (D) is contained as the color material which is obtained, under the presence of a pigment (A), a non-aqueous solvent, and a polymer (B) containing a polymerizable unsaturated group soluble in the non-aqueous solvent, by polymerizing at least one type of polymerizable unsaturated monomer (C).
US08268191B2

The present invention relates to dielectrically positive liquid-crystalline media comprising one or more compounds of the formula I in which the parameters have the meaning indicated in the specification, and optionally one or more compounds selected from the group of the compounds of the formulae II and III in which the parameters have the meaning indicated in the specification, and optionally one or more compounds of the formula IV in which the parameters have the meaning indicated in the specification, and to liquid-crystal displays containing these media, especially to active-matrix displays and in particular to TN, IPS and FFS displays.
US08268189B2

Accelerator solution suitable for forming a redox system with peroxides and having a high storage stability, consisting essentially of (a) more than 1.0 wt % of one or more reducing agents, at least one of them being selected from ascorbic acid and sodium formaldehyde sulphoxylate, (b) one or more metal salts, at least one of them being selected from the group consisting of transition metal salts, lithium salts, and magnesium salts, (c) one or more organic oxygen-containing solvents, (d) optionally one or more stabilisers, and (e) optionally water.
US08268187B2

The present invention is directed to a refrigerator oil composition comprising (a) at least one diester species having the following structure: wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 are the same or independently selected from hydrocarbon groups having from 2 to 17 carbon atoms; and (b) a refrigerant.
US08268186B2

A compound of Formula (I): wherein Ra is linear or branched F(CF2)n(CH2CF2)m—, or linear or branched F(CF2)o interrupted by 1 to 6 catenary oxygen atoms, each oxygen bonded to two carbon atoms, m is 1 to 4, n is 2 to 6, o is 2 to 7, A is O or (CH2)k—COO, R1 is hydrogen or a methyl, R2 and R3 are each independently alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and p, q and k are each independently integers from 1 to 10, which is suitable for use as a surfactant and in fire fighting formulations.
US08268184B2

A method for selectively etching a substrate is described. The method includes disposing a substrate comprising a silicon nitride (SiNy) layer overlying silicon in a plasma etching system, and transferring a pattern to the silicon nitride layer using a plasma etch process, wherein the plasma etch process utilizes a process composition having as incipient ingredients a process gas containing C, H and F, and an additive gas including CO2. The method further includes: selecting an amount of the additive gas in the plasma etch process to achieve: (1) a silicon recess formed in the silicon having a depth less than 10 nanometers (nm), and (2) a sidewall profile in the pattern having an angular deviation from 90 degrees less than 2 degrees.
US08268176B2

A method of backwashing a membrane filtration module (4), said module (4) including one or more membranes (5) located in a feed-containing vessel (3), the membranes (5) having a permeable wall which is subjected to a filtration operation wherein feed containing contaminant matter is applied to one side of the membrane wall and filtrate is withdrawn from the other side of the membrane wall, the method including: removing liquid from the feed-containing vessel (3) until the level of liquid in the feed-containing vessel (3) falls to a first level (L2) below an upper level of the membranes; suspending the filtration operation; performing a liquid backwash of the membrane wall until liquid level within the feed-containing vessel (3) rises to a second predetermined level (L1) above said first level; aerating the membrane surface with gas bubbles to dislodge fouling materials therefrom; performing a sweep or drain down of the feed-containing vessel (3) to remove the liquid containing the dislodged contaminant matter; and recommencing the filtration operation.
US08268175B2

A method for transferring inorganic oxide nanoparticles from aqueous phase to organic phase. A modifier is used to change the surface polarity of inorganic oxide nanoparticles, followed by using proper solvents to transfer the modified inorganic oxide nanoparticles form aqueous phase to organic phase. The organic dispersion of modified inorganic oxide nanoparticles can be combined with a polymer to provide a polymer composite with the nanoparticles uniformly dispersed therein.
US08268172B2

A waste fluid treating apparatus including a pure water generating unit including an ion exchanger for purifying a fresh water sent by a fresh water pump to obtain a pure water. The ion exchanger includes a housing, an anion exchange resin layer accommodated in the housing, and a mixed resin layer accommodated in the housing. The anion exchange resin layer is composed of only anion exchange resin, and the mixed resin layer is composed of a mixture of anion exchange resin and cation exchange resin. The housing is provided with a fresh water inlet for introducing the fresh water into the anion exchange resin layer and a pure water outlet for discharging the pure water from the mixed resin layer.
US08268166B2

Protein skimmers having an upright housing including an open topped body with a manually removable foam collection cup for sealing mounting on the body. The foam collection cups encircle a foam collection duct except for a recessed inspection window for exposing an area of the foam collection duct's exterior surface for enabling an aquarist a generally horizontal line of sight to continuously inspect the foam collection duct's interior. The protein skimmers have a canister-like configuration with a front control panel including a main inlet, a main outlet and at least one aspirating pump for circulating an air/water mixture. The protein skimmers include a disperser for dispersing an incoming flow of organic loaded water peripherally downward into a reaction chamber in a substantially uniform manner. The protein skimmers include a washing mechanism for periodically washing their foam collection ducts without having to remove their foam collection cups.
US08268162B2

A system and method for voltammetric analysis of a liquid sample solution.
US08268148B2

A reference electrode having a casing with an inner cavity successively filled with a paste constituting an active material and a porous material impregnated with an electrolyte solution. The projecting end of a silver wire is embedded in the paste at the bottom of the inner cavity. The paste is constituted of a powder of a silver compound and of the alkaline electrolyte solution. The silver compound is any insoluble silver salt or oxide containing the negative ion of the electrolyte solution. The impregnated porous material is preferably constituted by a plurality of mat separator pieces mechanically and compressed by a closing plug, closing the inner cavity and forming a porous liquid junction.
US08268144B2

A sensor utilizing a non-leachable or diffusible redox mediator is described. The sensor includes a sample chamber to hold a sample in electrolytic contact with a working electrode, and in at least some instances, the sensor also contains a non-leachable or a diffusible second electron transfer agent. The sensor and/or the methods used produce a sensor signal in response to the analyte that can be distinguished from a background signal caused by the mediator. The invention can be used to determine the concentration of a biomolecule, such as glucose or lactate, in a biological fluid, such as blood or serum, using techniques such as coulometry, amperometry; and potentiometry. An enzyme capable of catalyzing the electrooxidation or electroreduction of the biomolecule is typically provided as a second electron transfer agent.
US08268141B2

A high-strength sputtering target for forming a protective film for an optical recording medium, obtained by sintering a mixed powder containing, in mol %, 10 to 70% of a zirconium oxide or hafnium oxide and 50% or less (over 0%) of silicon dioxide, and 0.1 to 8.4% of yttrium oxide as necessary, and the remainder containing aluminum oxide, lanthanum oxide, or indium oxide and inevitable impurities, wherein a complex oxide phase of Al6Si2O13, La2SiO5, or In2Si2O7 is formed in a base of the target.
US08268140B2

The invention relates to a synthetic diaphragm for chlor-alkali cells with improved energy consumption and gas separation characteristics. The diaphragm comprises a network of polymer fibers bound to a hydrophilic ceramic material containing zirconium chemically bound to hydroxyl groups. The ceramic material is obtained starting from ZrO2 by a process of hydration under vacuum which can be carried out directly in the cell by means of suitable equipment.
US08268137B2

The present invention relates an electrochemical processing apparatus and a processing method thereof. A reciprocating swing unit is used to drive the processing electrode to process a workpiece, and thus simplifying fabrication of the processing electrode, and shortening processes and reducing costs. In addition, by using a high-frequency reciprocating twist and micro-vibrating unit to drive the processing electrode to perform high-frequency reciprocating twists and micro-vibrations, the processing electrode can perform twist without varying the processing gap. Thereby, the electrolyte in the gap can be perturbed and renewed continuously. Accordingly, bubbles and products produced during electrolysis can be removed sufficiently, enhancing processing precision and surface quality using the processing electrode on processing the workpiece.
US08268135B2

An electrochemical planarization apparatus for planarizing a metallized surface on a workpiece includes a polishing pad and a platen. The platen is formed of conductive material, is disposed proximate to the polishing pad and is configured to have a negative charge during at least a portion of a planarization process. At least one electrical conductor is positioned within the platen. The electrical conductor has a first end connected to a power source. A workpiece carrier is configured to carry a workpiece and press the workpiece against the polishing pad. The power source applies a positive charge to the workpiece via the electrical conductor so that an electric potential difference between the metallized surface of the workpiece and the platen is created to remove at least a portion of the metallized surface from the workpiece.
US08268134B2

According to various embodiments, a system includes a turbine engine component that includes a first material having a surface exposed to a fluid flow path and a sacrificial anode layer disposed on the surface. The sacrificial anode layer includes a second material that is electrochemically more active than the first material and the second material is configured to preferentially corrode to protect the first material from corrosion.
US08268133B2

The invention described herein generally pertains to utilization of high power density microwave energy to reduce organic compounds to carbon and their constituents, primarily in a gaseous state. The process includes, but is not limited to, scrap tires, plastics, asphalt roofing shingles, computer waste, medical waste, municipal solid waste, construction waste, shale oil, and PCB/PAH/HCB-laden materials. The process includes the steps of feeding organic material into a microwave applicator and exposing the material to microwave energy fed from at least two linear polarized sources in non-parallel alignment to each other, and collecting the material. The at least two sources of microwave energy are from a bifurcated waveguide assembly, whose outputs are perpendicular to each other and fed through waveguide of proper impedance, such that the microwave sources are physically and electrically 90° out of phase to each other. The microwave frequency is between 894 and 1000 MHz, preferably approximately 915 MHz.
US08268130B2

The invention relates to a paper that is formed of a fiber-based source material and is applicable as printing paper. According to the invention, the surface of the paper is surface-treated by arranging sufficient density on the surface, such that a mixture is arranged at least on one side of the surface of the paper for forming a surface layer, which mixture comprises pigments in an amount of 75-95% by weight of the dry weight and bonding agent in an amount of 5-25% by weight of the dry weight, and the porosity of the surface layer of the paper is less than 0.07 ml/g as defined by mercury porosimeter process. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for making paper.
US08268128B2

The invention is directed toward improvements in security substrates, such as paper, used for making security documents, such as bank notes, having anti-counterfeit able features and in particular to security substrates incorporating an elongate security element and methods of making the substrate. The invention comprises a security substrate for making security documents and the like comprising a fibrous base substrate and an elongate security element at least partially embedded therein. At one surface of the security substrate one portion of the security element is exposed to provide a continuous track along the length of the security element. A plurality of other portions along at least one edge of the security element are partially covered by overlapping regions of the fibrous substrate. The invention further comprises a method of manufacturing such a security substrate.
US08268126B2

The invention herein discloses a method and its equipment for fast and complete dissolution and hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass. Lignocellulosic biomass is placed in a dilute alkaline solution and then rapidly heated to a temperature between 329˜367° C. to achieve complete dissolution of the lignocellulosic biomass as biomass solution in 0.7˜2 s. The biomass solution is further hydrolyzed rapidly to hydrolysates at homogeneous conditions. The solubilized biomass solution is easy to rapidly hydrolyze into sugars to produce bio-fuels and other value-added products, and to rapidly quench to produce micron particles in the continuous flow equipment at high pressures and high temperatures. The invention herein provides a simple and low-cost method to quickly dissolve and hydrolyze biomass with great potential for a novel biorefinery.
US08268117B2

A silicon-based showerhead electrode is provided that can include a backside, a frontside, and a plurality of showerhead passages extending from the backside of the silicon-based showerhead electrode to the frontside of the silicon-based showerhead electrode. The silicon-based showerhead electrode can comprise single crystal silicon. The silicon-based showerhead electrode may further include a plurality of partial recesses formed within the single crystal silicon along the backside of the silicon-based showerhead electrode. The plurality of partial recesses can leave a thickness of single crystal silicon between each of the partial recesses and the frontside of the silicon-based showerhead electrode.
US08268110B2

A method comprising the steps of putting together a first piece including a wear layer, a pattern layer, and a base layer, arranged in a sandwich manner, such that the wear layer is on top of the pattern layer, the pattern layer is on top of the base layer, and the pattern layer is in between the wear layer and the base layer. The method may also include removing portions of the first piece to form a first floor plank, such as by removing a first substantially L-shaped portion of the wear layer, removing a second substantially L-shaped portion of the pattern layer, and removing a third substantially L-shaped portion of the base layer. Adhesive may be applied to locations on the first floor plank where substantially L-shaped portions have been removed to adhere the first floor plank to one or more substantially identical floor planks.
US08268108B2

In order to maintain adequate bond strength of a composite in which a gas barrier coating comprising a clay dispersion and a polymer solution or dispersion of a PVA and/or EVA is positioned between two flexible plastics films using an adhesive, it is necessary that the clay dispersion and the polymer solution or dispersion should be kept separate until shortly before they are to be applied.
US08268105B2

A method relates to the production of paper rolls for examination tables, obtained from a tape (100) of embossed paper, having two layers (10, 20), joined together. The band (100) is obtained in known way from two continuous webs (1, 2), subjected to subsequent steps of embossing, glue (C) application, coupling and stabilization. The method includes applying measured quantities of a sanitizing and/or disinfectant substance (S) between the two layers of embossed paper (10, 20) before their joining; preferably, the substance (S) is applied to the same continuous web (1) that is aimed at receiving the glue (C), after the embossing step and contemporarily with the glue (C) application, by spot-application of a mixture (M) in aqueous solution containing suitable percentage of the glue (C) and sanitizing substance (S) to the tops (11A) of the embossing relieves (11.) In this case, the application means (240) for sanitizing substance (S) are formed by the same means (220) for applying the glue (C).
US08268101B2

The invention relates to an austenitic stainless steel strip having an elastic limit Rp0.2 which is greater than or equal to 600 MPa, a breaking load Rm which is greater than or equal to 800 MPa, an elongation A80 which is greater than or equal to 40% and a bright surface finish of the bright annealed type. The invention also relates to a method for the continuous production of said austenitic stainless steel strip.
US08268088B2

A dishwasher, including: a washing container; at least two spray devices disposed inside the washing container; a circulating pump to deliver liquid to the at least two spray devices; a first drive to drive the circulating pump; a reversing device, wherein, based on a position of the reversing device, the circulating pump delivers the liquid to at least one of the at least two spray devices; and a control device to detect a current position of the reversing device based on an operating parameter assigned to the first drive and to at least one of control and regulate the first drive.
US08268060B2

A dehumidifier system having a dehumidifier section within which liquid desiccant absorbs moisture from air flowing therethrough and a dehumidifier section within which the desiccant is regenerated employs a heat exchanger for maintaining a relatively high temperature differential between the desiccant contained within the dehumidifier and regenerator sections. The desiccant which is conducted to either the dehumidifier section or the regenerator section is separated into multiple streams, and the multiple streams are treated differently from one another before being discharged into preselected segments of the air flow moving through the corresponding one of the dehumidifier section and the regenerator section. A control scheme in the system is capable of altering, and thereby improving, the concentration level of desiccant utilized in the system.
US08268056B2

Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a separator. The method includes (S1) preparing a porous planar substrate having a plurality of pores, (S2) preparing a slurry containing inorganic particles dispersed therein and a polymer solution including a first binder polymer and a second binder polymer in a solvent, and sequentially coating the slurry on the porous substrate through a first discharge hole and a non-solvent incapable of dissolving the second binder polymer on the slurry through a second discharge hole adjacent to the first discharge hole, and (S3) simultaneously removing the solvent and the non-solvent by drying. According to the method, a separator with good bindability to electrodes can be manufactured in an easy manner. In addition, problems associated with the separation of inorganic particles in the course of manufacturing an electrochemical device can be avoided.
US08268054B2

An apparatus and a system is provided that may be utilized to provide stability to air flow through a hood scoop. The present invention may also be utilized to straighten and smooth out air flow through a hood scoop and accompanying air filter media. The present invention utilizes an air filtration media which may be inserted into at least a portion of a vehicle hood scoop and may filter out particulate and may also slow air flow down temporarily in order to straighten and/or smooth turbulent air flow through the air filtration media. Additionally, the present invention may provide an apparatus that may facilitate more uniform pressure inside the hood scoop of the vehicle.
US08268044B2

A feed stream, comprising hydrogen sulphide (H2S), carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrogen (H2) and, optionally, carbon monoxide (CO), is separated into at least a CO2 product stream and an H2 or H2 and CO product stream. The stream is separated using a pressure swing adsorption system, an H2S removal system and a further separation system, which systems are used in series to separate the stream. The method has particular application in the separation of a sour (i.e. sulphur containing) syngas, as for example produced from the gasification of solid or heavy liquid carbonaceous feedstock.
US08268034B2

Provided is a manufacturing method of ferromolybdenum from molybdenite concentrate, and more particularly, a manufacturing method of ferromolybdenum with copper content of 0.5% or less from molybdenite with high copper content without carrying out a separate copper removing process by putting molybdenite, aluminum metal and iron metal, in a heating furnace and reacting them at high temperature to manufacture the ferro molybdenum at the lower portion thereof, forming a slag using aluminum sulfide and iron sulfide as the main components at the upper portion thereof, and putting most of the copper (80 to 95%) existing in the molybdenite in a slag layer. The exemplary embodiment can shorten a process as compared to a metallothermic reduction (Thermit) method of the related art and reduce the consumption of a reducing agent, i.e., aluminum.
US08268021B2

A method for manufacturing a sealed battery for the invention uses an outer can 15 with an opening and a sealing plate 16 provided with a rising part which rises perpendicularly from the middle of a flange on the entire circumference of or a part of the fitted face with the battery outer can 15. The method includes inserting the sealing plate 16 into the opening of the battery outer can 15 so that the top faces of both the battery outer can 15 and the flange of the sealing plate 16 are substantially in the same plane, and irradiating the fitted part of the opening of the battery outer can 15 and the sealing plate 16 with a high energy beam for welding.
US08268016B2

The present invention provides a treatment composition comprising a hydrophobic dye.
US08268009B2

A bowel extension device implantable into a body for treatment of short bowel syndrome. The bowel extension device comprises a housing and a displaceable member coupled to the housing. The bowel extension device is configured to apply a tensile force sufficient to promote bowel growth without causing damage to the bowel. In some embodiments, the bowel extension device can be completely contained with the body.
US08268006B2

A constrained prosthetic knee having a modular hinge post and a rotating bearing. A cannulated hinge post is rotatably connected to the femoral component of the knee prosthesis so that a hinge post extension may be anteriorly positioned through the hinge post and into the tibial component of the knee prosthesis, after positioning of the femoral component in the femur and the tibial component in the tibia. The hinge post is preassembled to the femoral component so that such assembly is not required during the implantation procedure. A meniscal component forming the rotating bearing of the knee prosthesis is packaged together with the hinge post extension so that the appropriate hinge post extension is readily available. The meniscal component includes a mechanism for preventing lift off of the meniscal component from the tibial component, while allowing rotation of the meniscal component relative to the tibial component.
US08268001B2

An orthopedic implant such as a spinal implant is made from a elastic biocompatible material (e.g. polyetheretherketone or PEEK) to provide a hinge that allows portions of the orthopedic implant to be folded into a closed position and to inherently deploy into an open position upon release of a folding bias. Hence, the orthopedic implant can accommodate a minimally invasive surgical procedure since the orthopedic implant can be introduced into the disc space in the closed position through a small-diameter insertion tube and then deploy to a particular height once the implant is released from the insertion tube (i.e. from release of the folding bias). The present implant is preferably, but not necessarily, made by injection molded PEEK. In this manner, the implant components are molded in the open position to cause the open position to be its innate position or form, thus allowing the implant to self-deploy (self-expand) when it is released from the folding bias.
US08267997B2

An apparatus and method for securing boney structures is disclosed which includes a compression mechanism and a force transfer mechanism. The compression mechanism may have bone engagement members that have one portion slideably coupled to a housing positioned within the implant and another portion rotatably coupled to the implant so that a movement of the housing causes the slideable portion to move within the housing and a penetrating member to rotate about the rotatably coupled portion. The force transfer mechanism may be coupled to the compression mechanism to move the housing.
US08267995B2

An intra scleral implant and method of implantation for use in the treatment of intraocular pressure and presbyopia. The implant features a body portion and protrusions from the body portion to anchor the device in a cavity formed in the scleral wall of the eye. Optionally a drug delivery function is provided to allow long term communication of drugs to tissue surrounding the implant.
US08267992B2

A medical implant includes a bioerodible portion that includes a bioerodible polymer and a bioerodible metal. The bioerodible polymer matrix degrades under physiological conditions to form acidic degradation products. The bioerodible metal degrades under physiological conditions to form basic degradation products. The acidic degradation products and the basic degradation products buffer at least a portion of the medical implant. In one aspect, the bioerodible portion includes a bioerodible polymer matrix and a bioerodible metal within the bioerodible polymer matrix. In another aspect, the medical implant can include a body, a plurality of discrete deposits of the bioerodible polymer on the body, and a plurality of discrete deposits of the bioerodible metal on the body.
US08267991B2

A radially expandable prosthesis for implantation in a lumen comprises a tubular wall having an inner surface and an outer surface. The tubular wall is provided with cuts to form solid struts which have a thickness and which enables the prosthesis to expand. The solid struts have reservoirs made therethrough in the form of perforating holes for containing a therapeutic agent. The perforating holes each have an inner opening and an outer opening of substantially the same size. The prosthesis, including said perforating holes, has a smooth electrochemically polished surface.
US08267982B2

The invention relates to a method of photoeradication of cellular and acellular organisms including the steps of providing a surface acting agent in association with a cellular or acellular organism, the surface acting agent disorienting a membrane structure so that said membrane no longer functions as an effective osmotic barrier; providing a photosensitive material in association with the cellular or acellular organism; and applying light in association with the cellular or acellular organism to cause a disruption of the organism. The method according to the present invention may be utilized in invitro and invivo treatment protocols for infections, sterilization procedures, cancer cell eradication, virus and fungus eradication, spore eradication, and biofilm organism eradication. Additional aspects of the invention include particular combinations of photosensitive materials and surfactants for use in photodynamic therapies.
US08267975B2

A set of screws sized and configured for fixing a Jones fracture in a fifth metatarsal bone of a patient by preserving a bone thread path. Each screw has a low profile head on a trailing end, a thread portion on a leading portion, and a smooth shank portion between the head portion and the thread portion. A first screw has a thread major diameter of between about 4.4-4.6 mm, a second screw a thread major diameter of between about 5.4-5.6 mm, and a third screw a thread major diameter of between about 6.4-6.6 mm. The thread portion of all the screws in the set has a set of identical thread profile characteristics comprising a pitch, a leading edge angle, a trailing edge angle, a leading edge radius, a trailing edge radius, and a land. Each screw size is provided in various preferred lengths.
US08267974B2

A device for clamping a fixation element which may allow for repositioning of the fixation element. The device may include a body comprising a front end, a rear end, an outer surface, a through bore extending between the front end and the rear end, a structure enabling deformation of at least a portion of the body, and a thread along at least a portion of the outer surface. The body may be tapered and the through bore may be sized and configured to receive a fixation element. The clamping device may also comprise a receiving member having a tapered bore with an inner thread sized and configured to receive the thread of the body. Insertion of the body into the tapered bore of the receiving member may result in at least a portion of the body being deformed. As the body is inserted into the tapered bore, the dimension of the through bore may decrease so that the body firmly engages the fixation element. Such a construction may allow for the body to be loosened from the tapered bore, the fixation element, body or receiving member to be repositioned, and the body re-tightened into the tapered bore.
US08267972B1

A bone plate assembly and method of use comprising a head; a shaft; an upper surface; a lower surface having a fixed plane intended to be adjacent to the patient's bone when the plate is in use; a first hole positioned in the head wherein the first hole passes through the upper and lower surfaces and is configured to fix a shaft of a first bone anchor along a first axis; a second hole positioned on the anterior portion of the upper surface of the head wherein the second hole passes through the upper and lower surfaces and is configured to fix a shaft of a second bone anchor along a second axis; and a third hole positioned in the posterior side of the head wherein the third hole passes through the upper and lower surfaces and is configured to fix a shaft of a third bone anchor along a third axis, wherein the first axis, the second axis and the third axis do not intersect in the bone when the plate is in use.
US08267965B2

A stabilization system for a human spine is provided. The stabilization system may include one or more dynamic interbody devices and/or one or more dynamic posterior stabilization systems. The dynamic interbody devices may allow for coupled axial rotation and lateral bending of vertebrae adjacent to the dynamic interbody devices. In an embodiment, the dynamic interbody device includes a keel having a neck and a cylindrical base. The cylindrical base is wider than the neck. In an embodiment, portions of the dynamic interbody device that allow for flexion and/or extension of vertebra coupled to the dynamic interbody device are coupled together by ball bearings.
US08267962B2

A device comprising a plate with attached suture including a portal and possibly including a fastener for the suture which can be used to dynamically reposition nasal cartilage to repair upper lateral cartilage, to splint septal cartilage, or to aid in scar inhibition in wound closure.
US08267957B1

In one embodiment, a surgical instrument includes a first and second lever arms coupled by a first pivot. A ratchet bar is coupled to the first lever arm by a second pivot. The ratchet bar has a toothed portion extending from an interior face of the first lever arm and a paddle portion extending from an exterior face of the first lever arm. A catch is disposed at a proximate end of the second lever arm and arranged to engage teeth of the toothed portion of the ratchet bar. Engagement with the teeth couples the proximate ends of the first and second lever arms. The ratchet bar is further arranged to rotate about the second pivot in response to downward pressure upon the paddle. Depression of the paddle causes the teeth of disengage the catch, decoupling the first and second lever arms.
US08267948B2

An apparatus for suturing tissue includes a housing. The apparatus also includes a first needle attached to the housing and a second needle attached to the housing. A suture having a leading portion and a trailing portion is also included. A first structure is operably associated with the first needle for passing the leading portion of the suture from a near side of body tissue to a far side of the body tissue. A second structure is operably associated with the second needle for retracting the leading portion of the suture from the far side of the body tissue back to the near side of the body tissue.
US08267942B2

Vessel wound closure systems and method for sealing a puncture wound in a target vessel, such as those puncture wounds that occur from prior interventional procedures. A sealing member is deployed intravascularly into the target vessel, and an anchor member is deployed extravascularly of the target vessel. The sealing member and the anchor member are connected by a suture that may be drawn to tighten the sealing member and the anchor member relative to one another in order to effect the seal of the puncture wound. After tightening, the suture is secured to maintain the sealing member and the anchor member relative to one another in order to maintain the seal. Preferably, the anchor member, the suture and the sealing member are comprised of biocompatible, bioresorbable materials that are absorbed into the body after the sealing of the puncture wound has been achieved. The sealing member, suture and the anchor member are delivered by a delivery rod or other components over a guidewire or through an introducer already in place from the preceding interventional procedure.
US08267941B2

An electrical depilator includes a main body (1) and a head (2) mounted on the main body. The head includes a hair-plucking assembly (20) mounted on a frame (7), and with a shell (16) covering thereon. The hair-plucking assembly includes a plurality of discs (11) and discs carriers (10), a transmission gear (9), and a bearing cover being fitted over an arcuate shaft (5) and rotating in sync. Each discs carrier bears one disc. Each disc has a substantially circular and continuous circumference (115), and an undulating surface (112). Upper portions (110) and lower portions (111) for grasping and removing hair are radially and alternately arrayed to configurate such undulating surface of the disc. The electrical depilator can steadily and smoothly removing hair at a speed increased at least 3 times.
US08267939B2

An expandable intervertebral implant and tool for use in implanting same are disclosed. The tool is useful in retaining the implant in a non-expanded state throughout insert of the implant between adjacent vertebral bodies. Among other elements, the tool includes a rod, a sleeve placed over the rod, and a locking knob attached to the rod and the sleeve to fix them with respect to each other. This construct preferably aids in preventing movement of the various components of the implant, including first and second members and first and second wedges. A method of attaching inserting the implant through the use of the tool and attaching the tool to the implant are also disclosed.
US08267938B2

An instrument for establishing orientation of a pelvic prosthesis comprises a tri-pod having an angularly adjustable guide rod on it. The tips of the legs define a plane, and the guide rod is set by the surgeon to a defined orientation with respect to this plane on the basis of preoperative studies. In use, two of the legs of the instrument are positioned by the surgeon at defined anatomical locations on the pelvis (e.g., a point in the region of the posterior/inferior acetabulum and a point on the anterior superior iliac spine). The third leg then lands on the pelvis at a point determined by the position of the first two points, as well as by the separations between the third leg and the other two legs. The separations are adjustable, but are preferably fixed percentages of the separation between the first and second legs. The position of the guide rod then defines with respect to the actual pelvis the direction for insertion of a prosthesis.
US08267932B2

The present invention provides devices and methods for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. In one embodiment a deflectable sheath catheter includes an elongate catheter body having proximal and distal ends, the distal end having a distal tip region that includes a plurality of flexible segments with varying degrees of stiffness. A handle portion can be located at the proximal end of the catheter body to provide a steering mechanism that causes the distal tip region to deflect according to a compound curve.
US08267929B2

An electrosurgical generator system includes an electrical generator having an RF stage for outputting electrical energy having at least one waveform for performing an electrosurgical procedure. The system further includes at least one control module executable on at least one processor which controls at least one parameter of the outputted electrical energy and a configuration controller operably associated with the electrical generator which generates configuration data to configure the at least one control module to provide at least one modality of control of the outputted electrical energy based on the configuration data.
US08267928B2

An electrosurgical system is disclosed comprising a generator configured to electrosurgical coagulation waveforms. The generator includes a closed loop control system for controlling the electrosurgical coagulation waveforms. The closed loop control system includes a sensor configured to sense a tissue property and/or an energy property and to transmit the tissue property and/or the energy property as one or more sensor signals having an amplitude. The control system also includes a gain controller configured to process the at least one sensor signal to reduce the amplitude of the sensor signals and to obtain a signal to noise ratio of the at sensor signals within a predetermine range. A microprocessor coupled to the generator and is configured to adjust the electrosurgical coagulation waveforms as a function of the sensor signals.
US08267925B2

An ophthalmic laser system includes a laser source, to generate a pulsed laser beam, an XY scanner, to receive the pulsed laser beam, and to output an XY-scanning beam, scanned in two directions essentially transverse to an optical axis, and a multi-functional Z scanner, to receive the XY-scanning beam, to output an XYZ-scanning beam, having a numerical aperture NA and a focal spot in a target region, and to modify the numerical aperture NA essentially independently from scanning a Z focal depth of the focal spot along the optical axis.
US08267923B2

In one embodiment, a neck bridge for bridging the neck of an aneurysm includes a junction region, a number of radially extending array elements attached to the junction region, and a cover attached to one or both of the junction region and an array element. The array elements are configured to be positioned within the aneurysm after the neck bridge is deployed from a delivery device. In a second embodiment, the neck bridge includes a junction region and a braided or mesh-like structure secured to the junction region. The braided or mesh-like structure is made from an elastic material.
US08267922B2

A phototherapy light device for directing light onto an infant. The phototherapy light device has a base containing an illumination source and a gooseneck type of elongated neck that extends outwardly from the base and has a distal end adapted to be positioned to direct the light onto the infant. An optical fiber transmits the light from the illumination source to the distal end through the optical fiber where the light is passed through a light emanating device located at the distal end of the elongated neck. The elongated neck has two flexible sections, one of which has two coaxial springs to provide flexibility in positioning as well as to impart sufficient strength and rigidity to the elongated neck. The dual spring concept provides a system having reduced stresses while creating a double fault structural system without compromising the flexibility of the elongated neck.
US08267917B2

The present invention provides a stent assembly for expanding a bodily passage in a patient and draining a fluid therefrom. The assembly comprises at least one expandable stent and an elongated carrier for delivery or retrieval of the stent. The stent is circumferentially attached to a distal end of the carrier. The carrier defines at least two concentric lumens therethrough, a drainage lumen in fluid communication with the bodily passage for drainage of the fluid and an inflation lumen in fluid communication with the expandable stent. The invention also provides a method of expanding a bodily passage in a patient and draining a fluid therefrom. The method comprises providing a stent assembly of the present invention; inserting a guidewire into the bodily passage through the drainage lumen of the carrier; advancing the assembly along the guidewire until the assembly reaches a desired location; expanding the stent; and draining the fluid through drainage lumen of the carrier.
US08267913B2

In certain embodiments, a vial adaptor for removing liquid contents from a vial comprises a piercing member and a bag. The bag can be contained within the piercing member such that the bag is introduced to the vial when the vial adaptor is coupled with the vial. In some embodiments, the bag expands within the vial as liquid is removed from the vial via the adaptor, thereby regulating pressure within the vial. In other embodiments, a vial comprises a bag for regulating pressure within the vial as liquid is removed therefrom. In some embodiments, a vial adaptor is coupled with the vial in order to remove the liquid. In some embodiments, as the liquid is removed from the vial via the adaptor, the bag expands within the vial, and in other embodiments, the bag contracts within the vial.
US08267912B2

An infusion bag according to one exemplary embodiment includes a body having an interior space for holding a fluid. The interior space is defined by a pair of side walls and an inner wall and an opposite bottom wall. The inner wall extends across the body from one side wall to the other side wall such that a first angle α1 is formed between a first end of the inner wall and one side wall and a second angle α2 is formed between a second end of the inner wall and the other side wall. The first angle is different from the second angle. The bag also includes a needleless port that is in fluid communication with the interior and is configured to sealingly mate with an external device. The needleless port is disposed in an upper corner of the body.
US08267900B2

The present invention relates to a medication delivery device, to dosing mechanisms suitable for use in medication delivery devices, in particular in pen-type injectors, preferably having dose setting means and a drive device enabling the administration of a medicinal product from a multi-dose medication cartridge, to a use of such device, and to a method of manufacturing or assembling such device.
US08267897B2

The invention comprises a hemostatic valve apparatus used in medical procedures that provides a valve that is always sealed. The valve apparatus incorporates a double twist and a rotation member placed between the ends of the valve. Because the valve is never fully opened, either no fluids or an insignificant amount of fluids will flow when used in surgical or interventional procedures. The invention also comprises a valve conduit with first and second fixed ends and a rotatable member positioned between the first and second ends.
US08267896B2

The instrument cleaning apparatus of the present disclosure facilitates the cleaning of a scope inserted through a sealed portal during a surgical procedure by providing a cleaning solution within the operating cavity so that the surgical instrument doesn't have to be removed therefrom. In an embodiment, a surgical access device is provided with a housing, a sleeve extending distally from the housing, and a conduit disposed in mechanical cooperation with the sleeve. The sleeve defines a longitudinal axis and is dimensioned for passage through a tissue tract. The sleeve also defines a longitudinal bore for reception and passage of a surgical instrument. The conduit has a first portion configured to receive a fluid and a second portion configured to discharge the fluid. In another embodiment, an instrument cleaning apparatus includes a base portion and a fluid retention portion. The base portion includes a substantially tubular wall having a proximal end and a distal end and a longitudinal passageway extending therethrough. The fluid retention portion is in mechanical cooperation with the base portion and is adapted to retain a cleaning fluid therein.
US08267892B2

An infusion pump assembly includes a reservoir assembly configured to contain an infusible fluid. A motor assembly is configured to act upon the reservoir assembly and dispense at least a portion of the infusible fluid contained within the reservoir assembly. Processing logic is configured to control the motor assembly. The processing logic includes a primary microprocessor configured to execute one or more primary applications written in a first computer language; and a safety microprocessor configured to execute one or more safety applications written in a second computer language.
US08267881B2

A method and apparatus for controlling blood withdrawal and infusion flow rate with the use of a pressure controller. The pressure controller uses pressure targets based upon occlusion limits that are calculated as a function of flow. The controller has the ability to switch from controlling withdrawal pressure to controlling infusion pressure based upon the detection of an occlusion. The controller distinguishes between partial and total occlusions of the withdrawal vein providing blood access. Depending on the nature of occlusion, the controller limits or temporarily reverses blood flow and, thus, prevents withdrawal vessel collapse or reverses blood flow to quickly infuse blood into the vessel without participation from operator.
US08267874B2

A wire guide includes a mandrel that has a proximal portion and a distal portion. A coating having a low coefficient of friction is disposed on at least part of the proximal portion and the distal portion of the mandrel, where a part of the proximal portion and distal portion of the mandrel without the coating indicates a marking on the wire guide. This marking on the wire guide allows a user to determine a trimmable length of a catheter, and the low friction coating enables the user to easily advance the catheter over the wire guide.
US08267867B2

An ultrasound image diagnosis apparatus and a method for setting an ultrasound drive voltage by which appropriate probe motion parameters are established by individually estimating temperature changes which occur due to a plurality of heat sources existing within the probe. By individually storing or correcting relative temperature change data associated with motion parameters due to a plurality of heat source elements, an optimum driving voltage for the ultrasound transducers is set. Since a transmission drive voltage is larger than the conventional drive voltage can be set under a permissible probe temperature, image diagnosis can be improved.
US08267860B2

A speculum for internal examination of a body cavity such as a vagina, comprising at least two spoons, each comprising a spoon blade that can be inserted in the body cavity, which spoons are attached to one another via a hinge pin and are hingeable between a closed position in which the spoon blades are essentially in contact with one another and a spread position in which the spoon blades are some distance apart, and at least one operating handle which is located outside the body cavity during use, a body rest being provided which, in conjunction with the operating handle, effects spreading of the spoon blades.
US08267856B2

The invention relates to a laryngoscope spatula with a spatula blade. The spatula blade, in cross section, has two side walls, which are spaced apart from each other along at least part of the length of the spatula blade, and two limbs. A first limb extends from the first side wall to beyond the second side wall, and a second limb extends from the second side wall to beyond the first side wall. The side walls and the limbs thus form a cavity. The spatula blade is composed of an upper shell and a lower shell which, in cross section, each have a first portion and two mutually oppositely directed second and third portions. The second portions of the upper shell and lower shell, lying flat on each other, form the first limb, and the third portions, lying flat on each other, form the second limb, while the first portions form the side walls. The invention further relates to a method for producing a spatula blade of such a laryngoscope spatula.
US08267851B1

A lucid dream is induced in a subject. A brain state entrainment signal is generated in a circuit. A transducer applies a waveform of a kind sufficient to cause a lucid dream in the brain based on the brain state entrainment signal. The brain state entrainment signal modulates a carrier wave of a higher frequency than the entrainment frequency. The waveform is first applied to the subject and thereafter removed to attempt a lucid dream. The waveform can be electrical, light, sound or magnetic waveforms.
US08267839B1

Methods and systems are provided for resistance stretching and strengthening of the muscles of the lower leg of a human user. The device and method provide a lever arm for hinging the foot about the ankle joint for providing resistance first against a series of concentric, and preferably but optionally, isometric contractions of the muscles of the lower leg sufficient to fatigue at least one of the muscles, and then for applying force sufficient to oppose and overcome the opposite force of the user to perform an eccentric contraction of the muscles. The device includes an elongated portion that acts as a lever arm for hinging the foot about the ankle joint and a fastening means for securing the foot against the top surface of the elongated portion and allowing for manipulation of the foot to assist in the performance of the various contractions of the muscles of the lower leg.
US08267831B1

An apparatus comprises a gear mechanism for imparting planetary motion about a central axle to a plurality of mandrels used for holding substrates in a process bath. The plurality of mandrels are mounted to a pair of end plates, the mandrels and end plates collectively comprise a carousel that rotates about the central axle. Each mandrel is also capable of selective rotation about their own mandrel axis parallel to the central axle. The substrates are held by the mandrels at their inner apertures.
US08267829B2

A variable speed transmission having a plurality of tilting balls and opposing input and output discs is illustrated and described that provides an infinite number of speed combinations over its transmission ratio range. The use of a planetary gear set allows minimum speeds to be in reverse and the unique geometry of the transmission allows all of the power paths to be coaxial, thereby reducing overall size and complexity of the transmission in comparison to transmissions achieving similar transmission ratio ranges.
US08267823B2

A drive transmission system for activating a cogged flexible transmission organ includes a support pulley borne idle on a drive shaft which contacts tops of the organ cogs at a calibrated circumference thereof which defines a predetermined winding radius of the flexible transmission organ. A cogged drawing pulley is mounted on the drive shaft and has cogs for enmeshing with recesses in the cogged flexible transmission organ for advancing the flexible transmission organ. The drawing pulley has cogs sized for enmeshing with the recesses of the cogged flexible transmission organ, such that tops of the drawing pulley cogs are displaced from bottoms of the flexible transmission organ recesses and tops of the flexible transmission organ cogs are displaced from bottoms of the drawing pulley recesses. The drawing pulley therefore cannot drag on the flexible transmission organ when the support pulley is not subject to drive torque.
US08267816B1

An arrow nock having a telescoping impeller and housing with resilient means for enhancing the acceleration of launch. In various embodiments, effective together or independently, the housing and impeller are configured and coupled to: create arrow rotation during launch; grip the bowstring during notching and release it during launch; and generate tracking signals.
US08267813B2

A lacrosse head is disclosed, comprising: a frame having a base, a pair of sidewalls extending from the base, and a scoop connecting the pair of sidewalls opposite the base, the scoop defining an aperture for receiving a portion of a net, wherein the aperture has an upper edge and a lower edge, the lower edge having a first notch, a second notch, and a center portion intermediate to the first notch and the second notch. Also disclosed is a lacrosse stick comprising: an elongated shaft having a butt end and a head end, and a port formed through the head end; and a head attachable to the shaft.
US08267810B2

A golf ball having a plurality of dimples formed on its outer surface, the outer surface of the golf ball being divided into plural areas, a first group of areas containing a plurality of first dimples and a second group of areas containing a plurality of second dimples, each area of the second group abutting one or more areas of the first group, the first and second groups of areas and dimple shapes and dimensions being configured such that the golf ball is spherically symmetrical as defined by the United States Golf Association (USGA) Symmetry Rules, the plural areas configured such that the golf ball has a Drag Coefficient (CD) and a Lift Coefficient (CL) of less than about 0.330 and 0.270, respectively, at a Reynolds Number (Re) of about 80,000 and a spin rate of between about 2,900 rpm and about 3,000 rpm and a CD and CL of less than about 0.260 and 0.155, respectively, at a Re of about 170,000 and a spin rate between about 3,420 rpm and 3,520 rpm, and the first dimples being of different dimensions from the second dimples.
US08267807B2

An iron golf club head has a faceplate for hitting a golf ball, the faceplate having a back face; a viscoelastic body fixed onto the back face of the faceplate; and a backplate for sandwiching the viscoelastic body with the faceplate, the backplate having a flange that extends out of the periphery of the viscoelastic body and is fixed onto the back face of the faceplate.
US08267800B2

A torsionally elastic clutch is provided including a primary part and a secondary part connected to transfer torque, and including an elastic connecting member having a first attachment surface placed externally in the radial direction of the clutch, and a second attachment surface placed internally in the radial direction of the clutch, connected to transfer torque with the primary part and the other with the secondary part, the two attachment surfaces are displaced relative to each other in the axial direction of the clutch, and further including a tensioning device, which maintains the relative displacement of the two attachment surfaces. An axial bearing is provided between the primary part and the secondary part, which permits a relative twisting in the circumferential direction of the clutch between the primary part and the secondary part, and additionally the tensioning device applies a compressive stress to the axial bearing.
US08267794B2

Video game methods and systems allow players to acquire ownership of video game environments. Methods and systems additionally include methods for buying and selling ownership or fractions of ownership in a particular game environment.
US08267790B2

Particular embodiments of the disclosed subject matter provide methods and systems to support interactive games on a television via internet protocol. An example embodiment includes receiving a game selection from a remote user through a set-top box via a network, activating the selected game on a games server, and communicating game rendering information to the set-top box via the network thereby enabling remotely playing the selected game via a television monitor and a remote control device.
US08267788B2

Embodiments of the invention provide a method and apparatus for moving a gamepiece in an electronic game where gamepieces are moved by user movement of devices. For example, cell phones may be used to control gamepiece movement on a table top or other surface. Each user moves their respective cell phone to control the movement of their gamepiece. Other user controls can be used to provide additional interaction. One embodiment discloses a tank game where each user operates a tank that is used to shoot at other user gamepieces in real time as the users move about a table top surface. Details are provided of two specific types of movement, but other types of movement are possible.
US08267779B2

The present invention provides an image processing method or the like for a game device, in which a ball game involving putting a ball into a goal is executed, and in which more realistic game development can be constructed. An image processing method is carried out in which, in a game device, a ball game of putting a ball into a goal is executed by displaying images of a self-character, a plurality of own-team characters, and a plurality of opponent characters moving in a virtual space, and while a ball holder BH, which is an opponent character, is in possession of the ball, a self-character 20 is caused to move to a delay defense area 27, which is a region located separated, by a second distance (for example 2 m), from a position a first distance away (target position, 3 m) from the ball holder BH on a course line 23 connecting the ball holder BH and a goal G in response to pressing of a delay defense button, which is a single input operation of operation means (controller) operated by a game player (player).
US08267775B2

A processing device measures the time it takes for a player to take some action in a game and bases the award or result in the game for the player at least in part on that measured time. A player receives a more desirable result or outcome for a particular game play in response to a shorter player action time and/or receives a less desirable result or outcome for a particular game play in response to a longer player action time. Providing more desirable results for shorter player action times or less desirable results for longer player action times provides players an incentive that influences them to take the appropriate player actions more quickly.
US08267770B2

The present invention is a gaming machine that realizes an exciting game in a video slot format. The gaming machine includes a display and a controller. The display shows reels and gauges. The reel comprises symbols. The gauges are provided so that each of them corresponds to at least one of the reels. The controller controls the movement of the symbols. One of the symbols is a specific type of symbol. The controller counts the number of how many times the specific type of symbol appears in the display reel by reel and reflects the counted numbers in the gauges. When the counted number reaches a threshold, the controller is arranged to initiate a feature on the reel whose gauge's value reaches the threshold.
US08267760B2

A final result determining section determines a final result of a related match which is carried out in parallel with at least a part of a main match in which a target instructed by a game player participates. A main match performing section carries out the main match. An interim result output control section causes an output section to output an interim result of the related match in a case where the main match is being carried out. An interim result determining section determines the interim result of the related match to be output in the case where the main match is being carried out, based on an interim result of the main match and the final result of the related match.
US08267759B2

Sub-ducts and methods of exhausting into a generally rectangular and vertical main shaft are disclosed herein. A sub-duct of one embodiment includes hollow first and second portions. The first portion presents a generally flat attaching wall, a top side that defines an opening, and a bottom side that has an aerodynamic configuration; the second portion defines an intake opening, meets with the first portion attaching wall at approximately a ninety degree angle, and has a configuration complementary to a configuration of an exhaust duct. The first and second portions collectively define a continuous channel between the intake opening and the top side opening. The first portion may have a section of generally constant cross section extending from adjacent the second portion to the top side opening, and the second portion may have a generally constant cross section extending from the intake opening to the first portion.
US08267757B2

In a vehicular air conditioning apparatus, a first blower unit is connected by a connection duct to a side portion of a casing constituted by respective air passages, and a second blower unit separate from the first blower unit is connected to a lower portion of the casing. The first blower unit adjusts an inflow rate of external air by means of an adjustment damper, which is disposed to face toward an opening of a duct, and the external air flows into the casing through an intake damper.
US08267756B2

An extractor hood is used for extracting and/or purifying a carrier that is contaminated with solid and/or liquid substances. In order to improve the extraction and/or purification output of an extractor hood and simultaneously to reduce the amount of maintenance required, the extractor hood uses a pre-filtering unit disposed upstream of the filter unit, whereby at least already a partial flow of the carrier to be extracted and/or to be purified is purified to a certain degree already before it reaches the filter unit that is configured as the main filter.
US08267749B2

An abrasive sharpener having a body and an integral handle. The body possesses a pair of upper slots for receiving an edge to be sharpened. One of slot has a pair of crossed diamond abrasive rods having a square cross section generally along its length. The other slot includes a pair of abutting ceramic blades having triangular configuration. Two offset slot portions having a ceramic rod is also provided on the body.
US08267748B2

A safe guarding assembly for a grinding gun has a body, a rear protective cap and a front protective cap. The body has a casing. The casing has a front end, a shaft hole and a retaining ring. The shaft hole is formed through the casing. The retaining ring is formed on and protrudes from the front end of the casing around the shaft hole. The rear protective cap is mounted securely around the retaining ring of the casing and has a front end, an inner thread, a through hole and a mounting ring. The mounting ring is formed on and protrudes from the front end of the rear protective cap and has an external surface and an outer thread. The front protective cap is mounted detachably around the mounting ring of the rear protective cap and has an inner thread and a conical segment.
US08267741B2

A polishing apparatus, includes: a motor; and a controlling unit configured to control the motor, wherein: a glass substrate is polished by causing the controlling unit to control a driving of the motor; and the controlling unit executes a controlling operation for controlling a polishing of the glass substrate, based on an electric power or an electric energy required for the driving of the motor.
US08267739B2

Disclosed is an automobile toy, including: a first chassis to support an axle of a front wheel; and a second chassis to support an axle of a rear wheel, wherein the first and second chassis are rotatably connected with each other by a rotating shaft that lies along a width direction of the automobile toy, and a spring for biasing the first and second chassis is arranged between the first and second chassis, so as to bias the front wheel and the rear wheel to an approaching direction to the ground.
US08267729B2

A socket contact is configured to receive a part of a mating contact. The socket contact comprises a spring portion, a spring support portion and a lance. The spring portion is brought into contact with the mating contact when the socket contact receives the part of the mating contact. The spring support portion supports the spring portion. The lance is provided on the spring support portion.
US08267728B2

A receptacle includes a signal terminal, a ground terminal, and a signal terminal. A second portion of the ground terminal is distanced from a first portion of the signal terminal in an extension direction. A third portion of the signal terminal is distanced from the first portion of the signal terminal in the extension direction.
US08267725B2

An electrical connector includes an insulative housing defining a mating surface, a mounting surface and a plurality of passageways running through the mating surface and the mounting surface and a plurality of contacts upwardly assembled into the corresponding passageways. Each of the contacts defines an upright retention portion interfered with the passageway, a pair of elastic arms extending from the retention portion and spaced apart with each other and a lying V-shaped contacting portion formed by a distal end of each elastic arms bending and extending beyond the mating surface of the housing. Each contact defines a connecting portion connecting with the pair of elastic arms and received in the passageway.
US08267723B2

A floor-mounted domestic appliance includes an A.C. power connector that supplies the appliance with electric energy, an appliance outlet that corresponds to the A.C. power connector, wherein the appliance outlet comprises a terminal block for establishing an electrically conducting connection to a power supply lead.
US08267721B2

An electrical connector includes a plurality of leadframe assemblies having discrete signal contacts extending through a leadframe housing and defining opposed mating ends and mounting ends. The leadframes lack discrete ground contacts, and instead includes a ground plate having a plurality of mating ends, such that the mating end of at least one signal contact is disposed between a pair of the mating ends of the ground plate. The ground plate further includes a ground coupling bar connected between the pair of mating ends of the ground plate.
US08267719B1

The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring system for use in an AC electrical power distribution circuit including at least one first AC power conductor disposed between an upstream AC power element and a device box and at least one second AC power conductor disposed between the device box and a downstream AC power element. The at least one first AC power conductor and the at least one second AC power conductor are routed into an interior portion of the device box and accessible via a front open face of the device box. The system includes a connector device including a connector housing having a plurality of connector contacts disposed therein. The plurality of connector contacts are coupled to termination structures configured to couple the at least one first AC power conductor and the at least one second AC power conductor to corresponding contacts of the plurality of connector contacts. An electrical wiring device includes a device housing having a front portion and a rear portion. The front portion includes at least one user-accessible control element disposed thereon. The at least one user-accessible control element is coupled to an electrical switch mechanism disposed in the device housing and coupled to a plurality of device contacts. The plurality of device contacts are accessible by way of a device connection arrangement formed in the rear portion of the device housing. The plurality of device contacts are configured to mate with the plurality of connector contacts when the connector device is coupled to the device connection arrangement.
US08267717B2

An FPC connector has a main body and an actuator movably attached thereto. When at an opened position, the actuator and the main body form a space therebetween into which an FPC can be inserted. The actuator can then be rotated towards the main body to close the space, such that the FPC is sandwiched and hold between the main body and the actuator. The actuator has a pair of pivots which are received by a pair of slots formed by the pair of support plates fixed to the main body. The actuator has a pair of latches which, when the actuator rotates to the locked position, act against a lock portion of the support plates and cause the lock portions to deform resiliently outwardly. When the latches pass over the lock portions, the lock portions resumes to the original position and lock the latches.
US08267713B2

A cable connector assembly includes a housing and a plurality of conductive contacts located in the housing. The housing defines a receiving room therein and a mating port through which a complementary connector is inserted into the receiving room. A plurality of cables electrically connects with the conductive contacts. A latch mechanism is assembled to an outside face of the housing and includes a latch member and a pulling member connecting with the latch member. The latch member defines a pair of hook portions inserted into the receiving room from the outside face and latching with the complementary connector. The latch member further defines a pair of shaft pins and the pulling member defines a pair of shaft holes. The shaft pins are pivotedly received in the shaft holes.
US08267709B2

To provide a connector that increases the amount of elastic deformation of a beam and can improve the contact stability between a flat electrical wire and a terminal while restraining an increase in the difference between the position of a cam in the anteroposterior direction and the position of a pressing portion formed on the cam, a pressing portion that pushes flat electrical wire is formed on the lower surface of center beam of rear connecting terminal. Cam of actuator is positioned between upper beam and center beam of rear connecting terminal. Inclined surface that extends at an angle upward and backward is formed on the upper surface of center beam. Cam pushes inclined surface down.
US08267704B2

A connector module is disclosed in the present invention. The connector module includes a housing defining an interior chamber, and a substrate installed inside the interior chamber of the housing. A first set of metal contacts and a second set of metal contacts are disposed on the substrate. The connector module further includes a sliding component slidably relative to a side of the substrate, and at least one conductive resilient component installed on the sliding component. The conductive resilient component is hidden inside the housing when the sliding component slides into the interior chamber of the housing, and the conductive resilient component is exposed outside the housing to electrically contact the second set of metal contacts when the sliding component slides out of the interior chamber of the housing.
US08267701B2

An apparatus is disclosed for aligning socket housing segments for an area array device. Each socket housing segment includes at least a first surface and a second surface, with the second surface opposite the first surface. The second surface of each socket housing segment provides electrical connections for a portion of the area array device. Socket contact pads are disposed on the first surfaces of the plurality of socket housing segments. The socket contact pads correspond to substrate contact pads disposed on a substrate. One or more alignment structures are disposed at a space between the socket housing segments. Each alignment structure is coupled to at least two of the socket housing segments. The one or more alignment structures maintain a predetermined alignment of each socket housing segment so that the socket contact pads align with the substrate contact pads during a surface mount connection process.
US08267699B2

A backboard is disclosed according to the embodiments of the present invention. Sockets for connecting at least two sub-racks are respectively disposed at two sides of the backboard, and the sockets include first sockets for splicing a first type of sub-cards and second sockets for splicing a second type of sub-cards. Connectors, the number of which is not smaller than that of the second sockets, are disposed at the first sockets, and connectors, the number of which is not smaller than that of the first sockets, are disposed at the second sockets. One of the connectors at the first sockets is connected to one of the connectors at each of the second sockets, and one of the connectors at the second sockets is connected to one of the connectors at each of the first sockets.
US08267696B2

A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for developing training for a client. Training delivery requirements for a client are identified. Assessment information is gathered. A training curriculum is developed based on the training delivery requirements and the assessment information. An amount of time required to complete the training is estimated to form a delivery estimate. The delivery estimate is translated into an estimate of resources required for development of training materials for the training. Verification is performed to verify that the client receives the training materials for delivery to an end user.
US08267695B2

The present invention relates to a tooth which is used in a dental arch model with which dental students can experience dental works in the oral cavity and practice treatments. More specifically, the present invention relates to a tooth composition for formation trainings such as abutment tooth formation and cavity preparation. Since conventionally used dental arch models have a grinding sensation different from a natural tooth, dental students having completed formation trainings such as abutment tooth formation and cavity preparation by using these conventional models are frequently puzzled to have different grinding and handling properties upon dental works in the oral cavity in practice. That is, these conventional dental arch models are largely different from a natural tooth in grinding sensation including slipperiness and easiness in grinding. A tooth for a dental arch model simulating the enamel texture and the dentin texture constituting a natural tooth whereby even the difference in grinding sensation between the enamel texture and the dentin texture constituting a natural tooth can be reproduced by forming at least the enamel portion with the use of a sintered body of an inorganic powder such as alumina.
US08267689B2

A method of describing a periodontal disease state includes assigning severity diagnoses to portions of a dentition, where the severity diagnoses correspond to periodontal disease states, and assigning numeric values to the portions, where the numeric values correspond to the severity diagnoses. The method also includes obtaining a raw score based on the numeric values, and determining a disease score based on the raw score. The disease score corresponds to a periodontal disease state of the dentition.
US08267684B2

A mold comprising a core plate receiving a core insert, a cavity plate receiving a cavity insert and an ejection mechanism configured to eject the core insert is disclosed. The core insert defines a first molding surface and the cavity insert defines a second molding surface cooperating with the first molding surface. The ejection mechanism comprises a top plate, a bottom plate, an ejection rod and a gasket. The ejection rod includes a first end in contact with the core insert in the core plate and an opposing second end fixed with the top plate, the bottom plate and the gasket by the fastener and the locating piece. The top plate drives the ejection rod to eject the core insert.
US08267682B2

An extrusion system and method uses an accumulator to control and use excess plastic melt. The accumulator is situated between an extruder and a gear pump. The accumulator includes an accumulator housing to store excess plastic melt from the extruder and an accumulator spring connected to an accumulator piston to subsequently send the excess plastic melt to the gear pump. In another embodiment, the accumulator includes an accumulator housing to store excess plastic melt from the extruder and a hydraulics system to send the excess plastic melt to the gear pump. The accumulator can be a first in first out (FIFO) device having a melt passage through the accumulator piston. The system and method are used particularly advantageously in Alternate Polymer extrusion installation in which gear pumps regularly increase and decrease their speed but in which the melt-supplying extruder cannot accommodate such rapid speed changes.
US08267680B2

A tooling apparatus for attaching a mold sector to a mold back, the tooling apparatus comprising a frame, a clamping mechanism on the frame for securing the frame to the mold back, at least one fastener positioned on the frame for providing a clamping force to the clamping mechanism for fixing the frame in position on the mold back, a slide assembly slidably engaged with the frame, a biasing mechanism for positioning the slide assembly on the frame and an attaching mechanism for attaching the slide assembly to the mold sector.
US08267677B2

The invention relates to a gasket part for a pump to be used in conjunction with a bearing part (1) of the pump, through which there is arranged a drive shaft (2). According to the invention, the gasket part includes a mechanical gasket (7) and a detachable part (4) of the drive shaft, which detachable part is arranged substantially in conjunction with the bearing part (1) and can be detachably connected between the other parts (3, 5) of the drive shaft; the gasket (7) is arranged in conjunction with the detachable part (4) of the drive shaft; and the detachable part (4) of the drive shaft includes means (8) for arranging it so as to be compacted in the longitudinal direction. Moreover, the invention concerns a method for detaching the gasket part and use of the gasket part.
US08267676B2

An apparatus for preventing seawater from penetrating into a compressor module during lowering to or retrieval from a compression plant on the seabed, with optional discharge of residual production fluids, as for instance hydrocarbons, from the compressor module prior to retrieval, wherein the compressor module comprises an electric motor (1) and a compressor (2) which are respectively connected via at least one shaft (8) and are arranged in a common pressure shell (3), an inlet pipe (5) and an outlet pipe (6) to and from the compressor module which respectively are provided with an isolation valve (7, 7′). The compressor module is distinguished in that it includes at least one filling pipe (16) which has a shut-off valve (15), at least one drainage pipe (12) which has a shut-off valve (13), and which is located at a lower end of the compressor module, and at least one overflow pipe (14) which has a shut-off valve (17), and which is spaced apart from the at least one filling pipe (16), and that prior to lowering to or retrieval from the seabed, with optional discharge of residual production fluids prior to retrieval, the compressor module is filled with filling fluid via the at least one filling pipe (16) until overflow of filling fluid through the at least one overflow pipe (14). The present invention also relates to a method which correspondingly prevents such penetration of seawater into and discharge of residual production fluid from the compressor module.
US08267671B2

A variable displacement pump includes: a pump body; a rotor; a cam ring; inlet and outlet ports; first and second fluid pressure chambers; a metering orifice provided in a discharge passage connected with the outlet port; a pressure regulating section arranged to regulate the pressure introduced into the first or second fluid pressure chamber, and including a high pressure chamber, a middle pressure chamber, and a low pressure chamber; a relief valve; a pilot orifice provided in a passage connecting the metering orifice and the middle pressure chamber, and having a circular section with a diameter of a mm; and a damper orifice provided in a passage connecting the outlet port and the high pressure chamber, and having a circular section with a diameter of b mm. The pilot orifice and the damper orifice satisfy the following relationships: a+2b−2.1≧0, −4a+b−16.3≦0, and a≦1.8.
US08267667B2

A magnetic drive metering pump in which a movable thrust member is fixed to a diaphragm and is axially movable in a magnet shroud. The thrust member, on electrically actuating the magnet shroud, is drawn into the magnet shroud against the force of a recuperating spring, and after deactivating the magnet shroud, is returned to a starting position. The diaphragm cooperates alternately with an outlet and an inlet valve to produce a pump stroke in a pump metering head. The magnetic drive metering pump has a reference element associated with the thrust member and diaphragm, the position of which reference element is detected by a positional sensor. The positional sensor provides a signal which has a fixed relationship to the position of the reference element, and the motion of the thrust member is controlled by a control circuit such that it follows a predetermined nominal profile.
US08267665B2

A rotor blade including a root attachable to a rotor hub. The blade includes a tip and one or more channels aligned within the blade generally between the root and the tip. Each channel has a sealed first end and a second end vented to outside the blade. The channel(s) are vented to one or more exterior surfaces of the blade through one or more apertures in the exterior surface(s).
US08267663B2

A gas turbine engine airfoil is made from separate cast sections having different cast alloy structures. The cast alloy structures are selected on the basis of the local operating conditions of each section. Friction welding can be used to join the sections together.
US08267662B2

A method for manufacturing a turbine damper by a metal injection molding process is disclosed. The damper includes a base section and a wire section, and is formed of a nickel-base or cobalt base superalloy.
US08267661B2

A rotor balance fitting to balance an aircraft rotor includes a ring, bore, and cup. The ring includes an inner surface configured to mate with an outer surface of a blade for the aircraft rotor. The bore is disposed through the ring and configured to receive a blade pin that passes perpendicularly through an axis of the blade and secures the blade to the rotor. The cup is disposed in the ring and is configured to secure a weight.
US08267658B1

A turbine rotor blade with low cooling flow includes a first forward flowing 5-pass serpentine flow cooling circuit that provides cooling air to a trailing edge row of exit holes and a second forward flowing 3-pass serpentine flow cooling circuit that provides cooling air to a leading edge showerhead arrangement of film cooling holes and to a blade tip cooling channel. The blade tip cooling channel includes a film cooling holes for the blade tip. The low flow cooing circuit provides for cooling of the blade without the need for impingement cooling of the leading edge and trailing edge regions.
US08267657B2

A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine is disclosed. The rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a tip and a root. The rotor blade assembly further includes a noise reducer configured on a surface of the rotor blade. The noise reducer includes a plurality of noise reduction features and a plurality of auxiliary noise reduction features. Each of the plurality of auxiliary noise reduction features is configured on one of the plurality of noise reduction features.
US08267653B2

An active flow control system for manipulating a boundary layer of air across a wind turbine rotor blade. The wind turbine rotor blade has at least one sidewall defining a cavity therein. The sidewall extends between a leading edge and an axially spaced trailing edge. The active flow control system includes an air discharge assembly that is coupled to the sidewall. The air discharge assembly is configured to selectively discharge air from within the wind turbine rotor blade into the boundary layer. An air suction assembly is coupled to the sidewall and to the air discharge assembly. The air suction assembly is configured to channel air from the boundary layer to the air discharge assembly.
US08267646B2

A method is disclosed for assembling a multi-stage compressor or a multi-stage turbine for use in a gas-turbine engine. The method comprises the steps of assembling a rotor drum so as to comprise a plurality of rotor discs 17, 18, and then releasably connecting a plurality of static components 38 to the assembled rotor drum 19, thus forming an intermediate structure. The intermediate structure is then inserted within an outer casing 50, preferably by lowering the outer casing 50 over the intermediate structure, whereafter the static components 38 are fixed to the outer casing 50. The static components 38 are then released from their connection to the rotor drum 19 in order to permit rotation of the drum 19 relative to the static components 38 and the outer casing 50.
US08267643B2

A pump includes a cutting impeller (38) and a pre-chopper (50) driven by a shaft portion (46) that projects axially from the cutting impeller (38), with the pre-chopper (50) being surrounded by an intake port (22) of the pump, the intake port having, at least on a part of its length, in the vicinity of the pre-chopper, a non-circular internal cross-section.
US08267639B2

Embodiments of methods and apparatus for providing compressor extraction cooling are provided. According to one example embodiment, a method for providing compressor extraction cooling in a gas turbine comprising a compressor and a turbine section can be provided. The method can include providing a cooling medium. The method can include extracting air from a compressor associated with a gas turbine. The method can also include introducing the cooling medium to the compressor extraction air, wherein the compressor extraction air is cooled by the cooling medium prior to or during introduction to the turbine section.
US08267638B1

A method and apparatus for rapid loading stacks of items aboard vessels which can include rotating palletized items to depalletize the items, and then placing the items on a lifting robot, lifting the robot and items into the hold of a vessel, removing the items from the robot using a load push lift truck, and then using the load push lift truck to stow the items in a stowage location. The empty robot can be removed from the hold of the vessel and put in a position to receive a another depalletized stack of cartons. In one option the robot has a plurality of fork channels for receiving the blades of a load push lift truck along with receiving the blades or a rotating lift truck.
US08267636B2

A substrate transport apparatus including a first shaftless rotary motor including a first stator and a first rotor, the first stator being linearly distributed and the first rotor being coupled to a first arm, a second shaftless rotary motor including a second stator and second rotor, the second stator being linearly distributed and the second rotor being coupled to a second arm, the second arm being connected to the first arm and a first substrate support being coupled to at least one of the first and second arms, wherein the first stator and second stator are configured so that the first and second arms and the first substrate support are inside the stators and a motor output at a connection between the first and second shaftless rotary motors and a respective one of the first and second arms is a resultant force disposed peripheral to the first and second arms.
US08267635B2

A silo includes a stuffing box forming for use with a reciprocating frame. A push-rod extends from a hydraulic cylinder through a stuffing box and a silo wall to actuate a reciprocating frame. The stuffing box forms a floating seal around the push-rod capable of moving with the push-rod to accommodate misalignment.
US08267634B2

A semiconductor workpiece processing system having at least one processing apparatus for processing workpieces, a primary transport system, a secondary transport system and one or more interfaces between first transport system and second transport system. The primary and secondary transport systems each have one or more sections of substantially constant velocity and in queue sections communicating with the constant velocity sections.
US08267630B2

A fastening system includes a first material having a first hole, a second material having a second hole, a bushing, and a threaded bolt. The bushing is located in the second hole and has a first end abutting the first material and a flanged second for securing the bushing to the second material. A threaded bolt extends through the first hole and into the bushing to secure the first material flush against the second material.
US08267628B2

A threaded anchor for concrete metal deck floors includes a hollow plastic sleeve having an internally threaded top portion, a flared top end forming several outwardly-extending fingers, and a bottom end. A threaded bolt has a head end and a shaft with external threads mating with the threads of the hollow plastic sleeve. The shaft of the bolt includes internal threads having at least two different diameters. A nut is threaded to mate with the external threads on the bolt. In use, the assembled insert is punched in place through a hole formed in a metal deck layer. The fingers of the plastic sleeve collapse as the assembly is passed through the hole and expand below the deck. The nut is then tightened against the top of the deck to hold the insert in place.
US08267627B1

An apparatus utilized to lock a transportable vehicle, such as an all terrain vehicle (ATV) to a bed of a transporting vehicle generally comprising a locking bar assembly and a locking mechanism assembly. The locking bar assembly is securely mounted to the front of the transportable vehicle. The locking mechanism assembly mounts to a forward vertical wall inside the bed of the transporting vehicle and includes a guiding feature that aligns with the locking bar assembly. The transportable vehicle is guided into place until the locking bar assembly engages the locking mechanism assembly. A locking arm is locks the locking mechanism assembly to the lock bar assembly, thereby securely holding the transportable vehicle.
US08267625B2

The present invention is directed to an insert, a slotting cutter assembly and a method for machining a plurality of slots in a metallic alloy part. The insert may comprise a cutting edge, at least one primary radius, at least two secondary radii and a clearance angle. The cutting edge may form a narrow outer end at a tip of the insert and a larger width region at a distance inward from the narrow outer end. The clearance angle may extend rearward from the cutting edge. The slotting cutter assembly may comprise a plurality of inserts and a cutter body. The cutter body may comprise a plurality of retaining slots and a plurality of support portions. The retaining slot may be configured to receive the insert. The support portion may provide support for the insert.
US08267624B2

A cutting blade for face milling wherein the cutting blade is constructed to cut a predetermined final dimension of a tooth slot along a portion of the cutting end (i.e. the primary cutting edge portion) of the blade and to cut the remainder of the tooth slot at an amount less that the predetermined final dimension of the tooth slot along the remaining portion (i.e. the secondary cutting edge portion) of the cutting end. The construction of the inventive cutting blade provides sharing of the cutting load amongst the blade cutting edges and also provides sufficient clearance in the tooth slot whereby the cutting blade can be repositioned to allow truing of the cutter, particularly with respect to the primary portion.
US08267623B2

A cutting insert for a machining tool has a structure capable of effectively controlling chips generated on a work-piece. The cutting insert includes an upper surface, a lower surface, a plurality of side surfaces connecting the upper surface and the lower surface and a central hole formed at a central portion thereof. In the cutting insert, a seating surface is formed on a highest portion of the upper surface, a plurality of side cutting edge portions are formed at border portions of the upper surface and the side surfaces. Each side cutting edge portion has a side cutting edge formed at an upper end thereof and a corner cutting edge portion is formed at an intersection of two adjacent side cutting edge portions. The corner cutting edge portion has a cutting edge formed at a front end thereof, a land portion, a downward inclined surface, a corner bottom surface, a first upward inclined surface, a first protrusion, a second upward inclined surface, a second protrusion, an upward grooved surface and the seating surface sequentially formed along a diagonal line directed from the corner cutting edge toward the central hole. The corner bottom surface has the smallest height along the diagonal line.
US08267621B1

A floating boatlift assembly includes a cradle assembly suspended between cable handling units arranged on respective spaced parallel float assemblies. An elongated boat is positioned between the float assemblies and over the cradle assembly. The cable handling units are operated to lift the boat into a raised position and permit lowering thereof to float the boat in water.
US08267614B2

A rear loaded part for attaching to a mounting plate having a mating part with a pair of parallel side walls each having a proximate end attached to the mounting plate. An upper surface, which extends between the pair of parallel side wall, includes an aperture and an elongated rib extending parallel to the pair of parallel side walls. The rear loaded part having a pair of parallel guide rails with a proximate end and an opposite distal end. The pair of parallel guide rails extends outwardly from the rear loaded part to define an elongated channel which is dimensioned to receive the elongated rib of the mating part. A pair of tabs extends outwardly from the pair of guide rails, and are dimensioned to snap into the aperture of the upper surface to releasably lock the rear loaded part to the mounting plate.
US08267604B2

A printer for printing individual sheets from a continuous feed roll includes a housing configured for receipt of a feed roll of sheet material, and a print mechanism disposed within the housing, whereby the sheet material is conveyed within the housing to print mechanism. A sheet separating device is disposed within the housing downstream of the print mechanism to separate the sheet material into individual printed sheets. A discharge assembly is disposed downstream of the sheet separating device and defines a gap through which the sheet material is advanced. At least one protruding member is disposed in the gap at a position so as to contact and deflect the sheet material and to impart a curved transverse profile to a trailing edge of a first individual sheet held in the gap. In this manner, a leading edge of a subsequent sheet bisects the curved trailing edge of the first sheet and pushes the first sheet out of the gap as the second sheet is advanced through the print mechanism.
US08267601B2

To compensate for changes in weight distribution of transportable, hand-held camera supports when one or both camera translate or pivot in a two-camera stereographic imaging system, the bottom of the elongated camera support attaches to a compensation mechanism. The mechanism has a balance plate movable laterally on a bottom housing. Ballast mounts below the bottom housing. A motor in the bottom housing moves the balance plate and the pole laterally in response to camera pivoting or lateral movement to maintain the center of gravity of the system centered along the longitudinal axis of the elongated support.
US08267599B2

Optical subassembly grounding in an optoelectronic module. In one example embodiment, a conductive OSA grounding gasket assembly includes a top gasket and a bottom gasket. The top gasket includes a top shell surface and a top OSA surface. The top shell surface is configured to be in direct physical contact with a conductive top shell of an optoelectronic module. The top OSA surface is configured to make direct physical contact with a conductive housing of an OSA. The bottom gasket includes a bottom OSA surface and a bottom shell surface. The bottom OSA surface is configured to be in direct physical contact with the conductive housing of the OSA. The bottom shell surface is configured to make direct physical contact with a conductive bottom shell of the optoelectronic module.
US08267594B2

Systems and methods are disclosed that include a fiber optic connection with an alignment chamber. In the alignment chamber is a first fiber optic terminal and a second fiber optic terminal coupled to the first fiber optic terminal. In addition, a securing mechanism is placed within the alignment chamber and forces the first fiber optic terminal and second fiber optic terminal together. Also in this embodiment an ejection mechanism is disclosed that ejects the first fiber optic terminal upon the removal of the securing mechanism.
US08267593B2

A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member, an inner member with a wheel hub, and at least one inner ring, double row rolling elements, seals and a rolling bearing fit onto the inner circumference of the wheel hub positioned and secured by a retaining ring. The retaining ring is mounted at an inner side position of a bearing center line. A retaining ring groove, for mounting the retaining ring, is formed with a substantially rectangular cross-section. Outer side and inner side corner portions of the retaining groove are formed with circular arc cross-sections. Each corner portion has a radius of curvature. The radius of curvature of the outer side corner portion is larger than the radius of curvature of the inner side corner portion.
US08267590B2

An oil pump comprises a rotation shaft having an eccentric part, a needle roller bearing supporting the eccentric part of the rotation shaft, a tappet abutting on the outer ring of the needle roller bearing and arranged in a radial manner, a plunger arranged on the tappet and reciprocated by the rotation of the rotation shaft, and a balancer arranged on both ends of the eccentric part. The balancer has a large diameter part and a small diameter part and when the large diameter part is arranged so as to face the direction opposite to an eccentric direction, the rolling space of a roller can be projected from an axial direction through the balancer.
US08267585B2

A motion transmission apparatus with a chain, wherein the chain comprises a plurality of spacers and links for connecting the spacers together, each of the spacers is provided at both sides thereof in an axial direction of an elongated shaft with a plurality of holding protrusions and inclined at an angle from a center of each of the spacers toward a peripheral edge thereof in such a manner that a distance between outer ends of two opposite holding surfaces on two neighboring spacers is smaller than a diameter of the rolling elements, the holding protrusions of the chain are annularly arranged in 120 degree intervals in such a manner that the holding protrusions on the same side of each spacer are alternatively arranged in a direction which is vertical to the links, and two of the holding protrusions are arranged in a line parallel to a direction of the links.
US08267578B2

Methods and systems for compensating temperature measurements by a temperature gauge comprising a first temperature sensor and a second reference temperature sensor, having different thermal properties, located in the same temperature environment to be measured. The methods and systems compensate for errors in the measured temperatures due to variations in the reference sensor caused by temperature effects.
US08267577B2

An object is to realize an ear thermometer that is configured to easily arrange a sensor in a sensor mirror and is suitable for mass production. The ear thermometer has a probe. The probe includes a probe body and a temperature measuring part joined with the probe body. The temperature measuring part includes a flange coupled with the probe body and a front end part extending from the flange, the front end part incorporating a sensor mirror. The sensor mirror includes a cylindrical holder with an internal concave reflection face, a connection shaft extending from the back of the cylindrical holder, a flexible printed circuit board with a circuit conductor of predetermined pattern, stretched in a front space of the cylindrical holder, a temperature measuring first sensor and a correcting second sensor spaced by a predetermined distance from each other in a longitudinal direction of the board and soldered to the circuit conductor on the board, and a protection cover covering a front face of the cylindrical holder. The board is electrically connected, in the temperature measuring part, to the cable passing through the probe body.
US08267575B2

A temperature measuring device incorporates a fixed point cell to provide an integrated structure. The fixed point cell houses a pure substance within a substantially cylindrical graphite crucible. The pure substance is to be melted to give an absolute temperature. The crucible is enclosed within a sealed metal container. An annular metal tube surrounds the container and the inner wall of the tube is formed by the outer peripheral wall of the container. This provides excellent heat conduction from the interior of the tube to the interior of the crucible. The tube is arranged to define either a heat pipe or a thermal siphon and includes an appropriate vaporizable fluid.
US08267568B2

A display device includes a light source assembly, a light guide plate (LGP), a lower receiving container, a reinforcing member, a display panel and an upper receiving container. The lower receiving container includes a first coupling portion formed on the first bottom surface. The reinforcing member includes a pressing down part structured to pressing down on an upper surface adjacent to a corner portion of the LGP and a fixing part integrally extending from an end portion of the pressing down part in parallel with a first sidewall of the lower receiving container to have a second coupling portion being coupled with the first coupling portion. The reinforcing member covers the light source assembly. The display panel is disposed on the LGP and the reinforcing member. The upper receiving container includes a third coupling portion coupled to the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion through a coupling member.
US08267560B2

A combination lamp body 10, which are attached with a combination lamp, is arranged in a position adjacent to headlamp bodies 50, and includes a shaft provided on the outer end in the vehicle width direction. A support provided to each of the headlamp bodies 50 regulates inward and forward movements of the shaft in the vehicle width direction. An engagement part is fixed to the vehicle body. An attachment member 20 is provided removable from the rear face of the combination lamp body 10, and includes a locking part 21 engaging with the engagement part. While the outer ends of the combination lamp body 10 are rotated and moved toward the rear centered around the shaft 14, which is regulated in movement by the support 53, and the combination lamp body 10 reaches a predetermined position, the support regulates inward and forward movements of the combination lamp body 10 in the vehicle width direction, and the engagement part engages with the locking part 21 to regulate outward and backward movements of the combination lamp body 10 in the vehicle width direction.
US08267551B2

An LED road light has a heat sink embedded with an LED module, a base and a light pole holder assembly. The base, the heat sink and the light pole holder assembly are assembled by slidably and respectively mounting ribs into slots. Accordingly, the contact area of such engagement is relatively larger than that using screws, thereby enhancing combined strength and extending the life duration of the LED road light. Besides, the engagement mechanism using ribs and slots also provide workers a convenient and time-saving assembling process.
US08267550B2

A LED lamp for easy assembly and fixation includes a fixing plate, a vapor chamber, a LED module, an outer frame, and fixing elements. The fixing plate has assembling holes. The vapor chamber has a heat-releasing surface brought into thermal contact with the fixing plate and a heat-absorbing surface opposite to the heat-releasing surface. The LED module includes a circuit board and LEDs arranged on the circuit board. The outer frame is provided with through-holes corresponding to the assembling holes and an accommodating opening corresponding to the LEDs. The fixing elements penetrate the through-holes and the assembling holes respectively to assemble the outer frame with the fixing plate. With this arrangement, the vapor chamber and the LED module can be sandwiched between the outer frame and the fixing plate. Thus, the present invention can be assembled and fixed to a predetermined position with an excellent structural strength.
US08267543B2

A backlight assembly includes: a light emitting unit having a plurality of unit LEDs formed in a matrix, each of the unit LEDs having a red LED, a green LED, and a blue LED; a plurality of bottom reflectors disposed under the respective unit LEDs; and a plurality of side reflectors disposed around the respective unit LEDs.
US08267529B2

An optical device includes: a housing; and a reflection member disposed at a predetermined position within the housing, the housing includes a receiving opening through which the reflection member is inserted to be accommodated in the housing, and an attachment unit to which the reflection member is attached, the reflection member includes a front portion which has a reflection area for reflecting supplied light, a back portion positioned on the side opposite to the front portion, and a fixing unit positioned within the surface of the back portion and fixed to the attachment unit, and the fixing unit has an opening into which a position control jig inserted in an attachment direction of attaching the reflection member to the attachment unit through the receiving opening is inserted.
US08267524B2

A projection system includes a first projector and a second projector configured to project light on a light receiving surface according to an image signal. The first projector and the second projector direct light to be supplied to the light receiving surface in a direction along the light receiving surface. A part of an image projected by the first projector overlaps with a part of an image projected by the second projector on the light receiving surface.
US08267513B2

Eyeglasses with an eye shield for protecting a wearer's eyes from airborne liquids, debris or contaminants. The eye shield is removably attached to the inner surface of the eyeglass frame at the left and right ends of the frame. The eyeglass frame has a pair of risers that slide into a pair of channels on the eye shield to securely and reliably attach the eye shield to the eyeglasses.
US08267512B2

A recording apparatus has a recording head, a platen, and a first hole. The recording head includes a dot formation element array, and the platen holds a recording medium opposite the recording head. The first hole is disposed in an area of the platen opposite a downstream portion of the dot formation element array and guides ink discarded outside an end of the recording medium when the end is printed without a margin. Alternatively or additionally, a second hole is formed in an area of the platen opposite an upstream portion of the dot formation element array, and the platen guides ink, which is discarded outside an end of the recording medium when the end is printed without a margin, to the second hole.
US08267509B2

An inkjet recording apparatus includes: one or more inkjet heads each having an ejection surface having a plurality of ejection openings formed thereon; and a conveyor mechanism which has a facing region facing the one or more ejection surfaces, and conveys a recording medium placed on the region. The inkjet recording apparatus further includes one or more moving mechanisms. Each of the one or more moving mechanisms includes a medium pusher which pushes down a recording medium towards the region. The each of the one or more moving mechanisms causes the medium pusher to move between a first position and a second position. The first position is such a position where a distance between the medium pusher and the region is further than the distance between the region and the ejection surfaces. The second position is such a position where the medium pusher contacts the region.
US08267499B2

A head cap, including: a cap including (a) a bottom plate portion and (b) a projecting portion which functions as a side wall, which extends from the bottom plate portion so as to define a recessed portion with the bottom plate portion, and whose distal end contacts with a surrounding of a liquid-droplets ejecting area formed in a liquid-droplets ejecting surface of a liquid-droplets ejecting head so as to enclose the liquid-droplets ejecting area; a holder configured to support the cap; a groove formed in at least one of a first surface of the bottom plate portion which is opposed to the holder and a second surface of the holder which is opposed to the bottom plate portion so as to partly constitute an air communicating channel that communicates the recessed portion and an outside with each other; and a channel wall provided between the first surface and the second surface so as to enclose the groove as seen in a direction perpendicular to one of the first surface and the second surface by contacting with at least one of the first surface and the second surface.
US08267491B2

Apparatus including a vending machine compartment including a dispensing door openable to permit removal of merchandise from the compartment, the compartment being pivotedly connected to a box assembly, and wherein the dispensing door includes a link element that is constrained to move along a track formed in the box assembly such that the dispensing door is not openable at a first portion of the track and is openable at a second portion of the track.
US08267490B2

A folding portable bar is provided, the bar comprises: a framework having front and back side and top and bottom portions, the framework comprises a central frame having front and back sides and at least one side frame which is generally perpendicular to the central frame during an opened usage position, and the framework further comprises at least two supporting frames, at least one supporting frame is pivotally hinged to at least one end of the central frame and at least one supporting frame is pivotally hinged to at least one end of the side frame, one end of the central frame is pivotally hinged to one end of the side frame, and the central frame comprises at least two panels and the side frame comprises at least one panels, each of the panels and the supporting frames being foldable to one another forming an accordion fold during a closed position; at least one countertop designed to sit atop the top portion of the framework; and at least one supporting shelf designed to fit adjacent the bottom portion of the framework.
US08267482B1

In one aspect of the invention, a system for removing aggregate from a natural or man-made surface includes a vehicle with a frame and a conveyor. The conveyor has an intake end and an output end. An excavation drum is connected to an underside of the frame and is enclosed within an excavation chamber, which is defined by a front plate, side plates, and a moldboard. The intake end of the conveyor that protrudes into the excavation chamber is configured to remove the aggregate from the excavation chamber, and a dust suppressant nozzle is configured to apply a foamed dust suppressant to the natural or man-made surface prior to being degraded by the excavation drum.
US08267479B2

A vehicle seat frame is provided, wherein the back center frame of the seat back frame is of hollow, quadrangular prism shape. The connecting member includes a cylindrical outer cylinder portion, a ceiling portion projecting inwardly from one axial end of the outer cylinder portion and a flange portion projecting outwardly from the other axial end of the outer cylinder portion. The ceiling portion of the connecting member is fixed to an inner surface of one of the side plate portions of the back center frame and a surface of the outer cylinder portion side of the flange portion is fixed to an outer surface of the other of the side plate portions of the back center frame, and the other surface opposite to the surface of the outer cylinder portion side of the flange portion is connected to the bracket through the recliner.
US08267473B2

A stackable plastic booster seat apparatus with a body having a set of four corner cylindrical portions. A right foot having cylindrical portions engages two of the corner cylindrical portions and a left foot engages the other two corner cylindrical portions. The body includes a back with a lumbar support, a seat with a safety bump and a downward and rearward slope such that a child tends to sit properly in the apparatus away from the safety bump and against the lumbar support.
US08267470B2

A positioning device includes a mount secured on a seat tube, and left and right joint members having joint surfaces which abut against the mount, and gripping cavities which mate with clamping cavities of left and right clamping members to permit lengthwise segments of left and right anchoring bars of a seat to be clamped in left and right bar-engaging zones, respectively. When the joint surfaces switch places or when the left and right clamping members are shifted, the bar-engaging zones are displaced from a first position to be proximate to corresponding ones of front and rear ends of the anchoring bars, to a second position to be proximate to the other corresponding ones of the front and rear ends of the anchoring bars, thereby enabling the seat to be adjusted to a desired position relative to the seat tube.
US08267462B2

A vehicle body protector of the present invention comprises one or more section, with each of the sections comprising one or more layers of compressible rubbery substance. Each section also comprises a face side, an attachment side, and a holder. The holder is intended for securing one or more sections to the body of a vehicle. At least one of the sections is shaped in the form of a raised visually-recognizable symbol. The method of simultaneously advertising and protecting the vehicle's surface from bumps and scratches, utilizing the vehicle body protector of the present invention is also described and claimed.
US08267458B2

A seat assembly for a motor vehicle having a floor and a structural pillar includes a seat base connected to the vehicle floor and a seatback pivotally connected to the seat base. The seatback is capable of pivoting between a stowed position wherein the seatback is folded toward the seat base and an upright position wherein the seatback is generally perpendicular to the seat base. A striker mechanism is provided on a top outboard corner of the seatback. The striker mechanism is arranged to be movable between a generally vertically extended position wherein the striker mechanism engages a latch located on the structural pillar of the vehicle when the seat is in the upright position, and a retracted position wherein the striker mechanism is pivoted toward the top outboard corner of the seatback as the seatback is pivoted from the upright position toward the stowed position.
US08267451B2

Container gripper comprising a main frame (2) and movable supporting members (7) for gripper fingers (8-9) movable between an open position and a closed position. The container gripper is provided with a finger displacement detecting sensor (20, 21) which is responsive to the instantaneous position of the gripper fingers (8, 9). The finger detecting sensor may consist of a Hall effect assembly (20) formed by a magnet (10) and a Hall effect sensor (4) or of an optical encoder (21).
US08267449B2

A support device for pneumatic prehensile members, in particular suction cups, for picking up and moving the parts, items and the like. It includes a fixed support body (support body) a tubular rod (12) moving axially in the body, and a return spring (13) between the body and rod. Between the tubular rod (12) and a distal end of the fixed support body (support body) are interposed some guide elements (14) provided to prevent torsion/rotation of the rod during its longitudinal movements in and with respect to the fixed body.
US08267432B2

A mechanical pipe coupling is formed of segments attached end to end to surround a central space. Each segment has arcuate keys which project toward the central space. Each key is formed of a pair of side surfaces and a mid surface between them. The mid surface is angularly oriented relative to a longitudinal axis perpendicular to a plane containing the segments. When used to couple pipe elements having grooves the angular orientation of the mid surfaces provides flexibility to the joint. A method of joining pipe elements end to end is also disclosed.
US08267431B2

A connector includes a body portion having a cylindrical insertion hole for inserting therein a connection member, and a cylindrical connector cover. The body portion includes a claw portion elastically deformable to a radial outside. The connector cover includes a claw release portion through which a limitation of an elastic deformation of the claw portion is released, and a claw limiting portion configured to limit the elastic deformation of the claw portion toward the radial outside. When the connector cover is located at a release position, the claw release portion is opposite to the claw portion but the claw limiting portion is not opposite to the claw portion. In contrast, when the connector cover is moved to a lock position, the claw limiting portion is opposite to the claw portion, and the claw portion is engaged with an engagement portion provided on the connection member.
US08267419B2

An extended forward tow, single rail saddlemount or tow bar is disclosed. The tow bar allows a first towing truck to mount a second truck, facing forward, behind the first truck, in order to tow the second truck. The tow bar allows the towed truck to face forward during transport, thus allowing for normal loads and stresses of movement on the towed truck, rather than the much higher high wind loads and unusual stresses imposed by a rear-ward facing tow. The saddlemount is also designed to minimize the required vertical rise on the towed truck, which also avoids additional stresses during loading and unloading onto the towing truck. Lower stress is achieved by using a pivot pin nearer the towed truck rather than the usual pivot pin or king pin on the towing truck.
US08267417B1

A bicycle bottom bracket assembly is at least provided with a first support member and a first bearing unit. The first support member includes a first hanger mounting part and a first bearing mounting part. The first bearing unit is coupled to the first bearing mounting part. The first hanger mounting part has a first outer circumferential surface that is configured and arranged to be press-fitted into a first open end of a hanger part of a bicycle frame. The first hanger mounting part has a first slit extending in an axial direction relative to a rotational axis of the first bearing unit from an open axial innermost end of the first slit at least up to a region that is located radially outwardly from the first bearing unit in a radial direction relative to the rotational axis of the first bearing unit.
US08267416B2

A wheel suspension system for a vehicle includes a first member pivotably coupled to a portion of the vehicle so as to be pivotable about a first rotational axis which forms an angle with a vertical plane extending through a fore-aft axis of the vehicle.
US08267413B1

The present invention is a device for adjusting the camber angle of a tire/wheel assembly of a vehicle. The device comprises a camber arm having a cage. The cage comprises a cavity and front and top walls. The top wall comprises first and second slots. The cage further comprising a cut-out extending along the front and top walls. The device further comprises a ball joint assembly adjustably engaged with the cage. The device further comprises a fastener for securing the upper clamping plate to the lower clamping plate of the ball joint assembly. The ball joint assembly is adjustably moved along the first and second slots of the cage from a first position where the outward portion of the ball joint housing is disposed outside of the cavity of the cage and a second position where the outward portion of the ball joint housing is disposed within the cavity.
US08267412B2

There is provided a walker apparatus having a frame, a wheel pivotally connected to the frame, and a brake pad assembly. The assembly has a brake housing configured to partially cover the wheel. The assembly has a brake pad mechanism including a brake pad lever pivotally mounted to the housing. The brake pad lever is actuated via a first end and has a second end spaced-apart therefrom. The brake pad mechanism has a brake pad connected to the brake pad lever adjacent to the second end of the brake pad lever. The brake pad lever is spring-biased to position the brake pad spaced-apart from and adjacent to the wheel. The brake pad lever is configured to cause the brake pad to abut the wheel when the lever is actuated. The brake housing extends about the brake pad mechanism for fully protecting the brake pad mechanism.
US08267407B2

Cylinder head gasket with a gasket plate comprising a plurality of sheet metal layers and at least one combustion chamber opening, an inner layer being arranged in the gasket plate directly between two functional layers having sealing beads arranged one over the other, which enclose the combustion chamber opening and have bead feet lying in the planes of the functional layers and bead crests with which sealing beads of the two functional layers all project over the functional layers in a first direction extending perpendicularly to the gasket plane, at least one ring zone of the inner layer being clamped between the bead feet of the one functional layer and at least one bead crest of the other functional layer when the gasket is pressed; to minimize arching of this ring zone, it is stiffened and/or those ring zone regions against which at least one bead crest of one functional layer lies when the gasket is pressed are supported by bead feet of the other functional layer.
US08267404B2

A programmable card handling machine with a display and appropriate inputs for adjusting the machine to any of a number of games comprises inputs including a number of cards-per-hand selector, a card game selector, a number of hands delivered selector and a trouble-shooting input. These features also provide for interchangeability of the machine for many different games, for many types of cards or decks and in different locations thereby reducing the number of back-up machines or units required at a casino. The display may include a game mode or game selected display, and use a cycle rate and/or hand count monitor and display for determining or monitoring usage of the machine. The card handling machine is capable of randomly selecting numbers of cards to be delivered in a hand of cards to players and a dealer during a round of a casino table card game.
US08267401B2

Provided is a recording apparatus for performing recording on a medium, including: a transporting unit which transports the medium; a recording unit which performs the recording on the transported medium; a control unit which controls the transporting unit and the recording unit; and a detection unit which detects presence or absence of the medium at a predetermined position in a transporting path, wherein, during or after the transporting of the medium, after the detection unit detects medium absence if the detection unit detects medium presence during an interval until the transporting for a regulated distance, which is set as a value of a diameter or more of a hole provided to the medium, is finished, the control unit determines erroneous operation and performs a predetermined process so as to remove the erroneous operation state.
US08267389B2

In a device for applying pressure to a workpiece comprising a contacting element for a workpiece, a holding device and a bearing device by means of which the contacting element is retained on the holding device, wherein the bearing device comprises a holding head and a holding head seating space, and wherein the holding head seating space has a bearing portion for the holding head, it is provided that the bearing device comprises a bearing shell which is a part separate from the holding head and the holding head seating space, and that the bearing is fixed on the holding head seating space and forms the bearing portion.
US08267374B2

There is provided a multi-turn hydraulic actuator used to open/close a passageway in ground and sea industries including general industrial machines, oil refineries and chemical plants and power generating plants, among others, and more particularly, a multi-turn hydraulic actuator comprising: a hydraulic motor and a decelerator, among others, whereby high torque is efficiently obtained by using low electric power, compared to a conventional electric actuator, and whereby an operation part and a drive part are freely attached to/detached from at a user's necessity.
US08267370B2

A clamp assembly (10,110) for flexible tubing (100), having a housing (12,112) and a clamp (14,114) slidable within the housing between first and second positions, to occlude the tubing when the clamp is in the second position. Both the clamp and the housing include tubing-engaging ribs (30,60;130,160) to compress the tubing when the clamp is moved from its first or open position to its second or occluding position, with the tubing-engaging ribs being axially offset to force the tubing (100) into a tortuous path causing occlusion thereof. A pair of latch arms (62) extend forwardly from the clamp to follow respective channels (32) formed into housing side walls (20,22), with latch arm free ends (64) extending beyond the end of the housing to become latchingly engaged therewith when the clamp is moved into its occluding position, and also to be exposed to be manually engaged for delatching when desired.
US08267356B2

A tension balancer which includes an axis body including a latch part, a column shaped main body including a bottom part which has at least two first through holes arranged at equal intervals in a concentric circle from the center, and an open upper part, a spring base housed within the main body and having an aperture for joining an end of the axis body to the center, and at least two second holes arranged at equal intervals in a concentric circle from the center, an upper lid having an aperture for pushing through the main body of the axis body to the center, and at last two second through holes arranged at equal intervals in a concentric circle from the center, the upper lid being screwed to the main body by a bold and nut which passes through the first, second and third through holes, and at least two or more spring unit groups sandwiched between the spring base which is housed within the main body and the upper lid.
US08267355B1

A method of controlling an aircraft, missile, munition or ground vehicle with plasma actuators, and more particularly of controlling fluid flow across their surfaces or other surfaces which would benefit from such a method, includes the design of an aerodynamic plasma actuator for the purpose of controlling airflow separation over a control surface of a aircraft, missile, or a ground vehicle, and a method of determining a modulation frequency for the plasma actuator for the purpose of fluid flow control over these vehicles. Various embodiments provide steps to increase the efficiency of aircraft, missiles, munitions and ground vehicles. The method of flow control reduces the power requirements of the aircraft, missile, munition and or ground vehicle. These methods also provide alternative aerodynamic control using low-power hingeless plasma actuator devices.
US08267353B2

A wing cover panel for an aircraft wing is formed as a plurality of sections each carrying stringer sections which are then fixed together to form a wing cover panel with an integral hollow stringer.
US08267347B2

A road driving and flight vehicle is able to automatically convert between two configurations to facilitate operations as an automobile and as an aircraft. In the flight configuration the craft includes two jet engines at a rear body part, two wings with ailerons produced by open/flap upwardly doors where the upper end is hinged to a body and bottom end raised up to place wings horizontally, and a vertical stabilizer with rudder and two horizontal stabilizers with elevators. In the road driving configuration vehicle includes conventional automobile power plant in the front part of the body, four wheels of which two front wheels are steerable, two doors, and a vertical and two horizontal stabilizers are stored at a rear part of the body.
US08267346B2

A spool assembly has a central cylindrical barrel or tube portion formed from a substantially rectangular planar material, such as thin-gauge sheet aluminum or tin-plated steel, with beveled corners. The formation of the barrel from the substantially rectangular planar material results in a seam with shallow V-notches of the seams at the opposite ends of the barrel. A circular flange sub assembly is attached to each end of the barrel and extends radially outwardly perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the barrel. Each flange sub assembly comprises an outer flange and an inner flange core joined by an annular ring or curl that defines a circular hub recess or cavity for receiving the respective end of the barrel. A portion of the seam at the end of the barrel is secured within the circular hub recess or cavity; whereby the flanges are keyed onto the ends of the barrel, thereby preventing circumferential slippage of the flanges on the barrel.
US08267344B2

The rewinding machine includes: a winding unit; a feed path of the web material; an insertion path of the winding cores; a separator device to sever the web material upon completion of winding each log. The separator device is disposed and produced to be activated by passage of a winding core.
US08267343B2

The invention relates to a method for controlling a winding machine for winding a continuously fed winding material on bobbin tubes to wound packages. The winding machine comprises two driven spindles. A traversing device holds a traversing guide. The traversing guide is driven for a traversing movement, whereas the traversing device is driven for a changing movement in a changing direction transverse to the traversing movement. A control device controls both the traversing movement and the changing movement. The movement of said traversing device and said traversing guide is controlled for guiding the winding material from a package wound at a first spindle via a fixed transfer device to the second spindle. The winding material is caught by a catching device associated with the second spindle. The winding material is cut by a cutting device wherein the cutting movement is caused by a rotation of the second spindle.
US08267341B2

A device for processing feedstock, includes a housing surrounding a processing chamber in which a rotational rotor having processing tools and mounted on a drive shaft is disposed around an axis. The feedstock is fed to the processing chamber via a material inlet and removed from the device via a material outlet. To facilitate assembly and disassembly of the device and to retool, maintain and repair or clean the device, it is provided according to the invention that the housing includes a first end wall, a material element in the shape of a hollow cylinder or hollow truncated cone, and a second end wall which are detachably connected to each other to form the processing chamber. The connection can be made by axially acting clamps, which clamp the first end wall against the second end wall by clamping the casing element.
US08267339B2

The present invention provides a transfer unit having a transfer rotor and a food waste treatment apparatus using the transfer unit. The transfer unit includes the transfer rotor, a housing and a sieve. The transfer rotor includes a rotor body, and at least one blade provided on the circumferential outer surface of the rotor body. The housing has a hollow container shape and contains the transfer rotor therein such that the transfer rotor is rotatable without interference from the housing. The housing is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal plane. The sieve is provided in the housing to guide discharge of sewage from food waste. The sieve is disposed in the lower portion of the housing to drain the sewage generated from the food waste to the outside of the housing.
US08267334B2

A solenoid valve for a brake system enabling miniaturization of the valve and having an improved configuration to facilitate assembly and production of the valve. The solenoid valve includes an armature provided at one end thereof with an opening/closing member, a valve housing including a hollow first valve block fixed in a modulator block and a second valve block disposed below the first valve block and having an inlet for introduction of fluid, a valve seat installed in the first valve block and having a flow-hole to be opened or closed by the opening/closing member and a hollow extending longitudinally from the flow-hole, and an orifice sleeve located in the second valve block to define a fluid discharge passage and having an orifice formed in one end thereof to communicate with the hollow of the valve seat.
US08267326B2

A tag having an integral locking ring for attachment to a bottle neck with a perimetrical undercut thereabout. The tag includes a housing having upper and lower portions, a retaining device and a cable tie. The housing is formed by an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion that defines an interior. The housing portions have corresponding openings therethrough and corresponding notches that form a passage into the interior. The retaining device is located inside the housing and has an aperture that is adjusted by tightening the cable tie. After the neck of the bottle is inserted through the openings in the housing and the adjustable aperture of the retaining device, the cable tie is tightened to seat the retaining device in the undercut of the neck and secure the tag to the bottle. The housing can also provide support for an electronic security and/or identification device.
US08267322B2

The present invention is a system and method for decoding an image of a bar code. Decoding the barcode includes tokenizing a plurality of pixels in the image of the barcode based upon a plurality of thresholds to form a first set of tokens. Decoding the barcode also includes re-tokenizing the plurality of pixels in the image of the barcode based upon the intensity of the pixels in the plurality of tokens, and the relativity intensity of neighboring tokens, to form a second set of tokens.
US08267294B2

A method and apparatus for supporting a personal electronic device are provided. The device incorporates a support frame structure comprised of three legs. A vertical leg is attached to a shoulder strap, while the horizontal legs are attached to a chest strap. A lower joint is located between the two horizontal legs and this lower joint is also attached to an electronic device support leg. The electronic device support leg is attached to the lower joint and also to a ball joint at the end opposite the lower joint. In use, the lower joint allows for the electronic device to be moved into a viewing position at a desired angle. The ball joint allows rotation of the device between portrait and landscape orientations. A case may also be attached to the electronic device support leg to contain the personal electronic device.
US08267293B2

A car top bicycle frame for retaining at least one bicycle transversally and obliquely comprises at least one positioning rod; a retaining buckle set; and a track set. By the positioning rod to combine to the track by the clamping sets, a bicycle can be installed upon a top of a car transversally and obliquely so as to be carried safely and conveniently. The bicycle can be fixed to the bicycle retaining frame on the ground before lifted to the car top. Then the bicycle and the frame are lifted to the entrance of the assisting guide track to enter into the track. The height for operation is reduced greatly so that no platform is needed. Only one people can lift the bicycle to the car top or descend the bicycle from the car top. More bicycles can be installed to the car top. The number of bicycles can be increased as the top of the car is prolonged.
US08267289B2

A wearable wallet has an elastic multi-part strap strung through two holes in the wallet, one hole in a cover flap over the wallet compartment opening and one hole in the bottom of the wallet back. The strap is composed of two conjoined loops forming an elongated “figure 8” where one loop is small and one loop is large. The small loop is just big enough to allow the large loop to be inserted through, causing the large loop to be divided into two parts. These two parts function as securing loops which can be variably proportioned and wrapped in a variety of useful ways, allowing the wallet to be easily reconfigured for wearing as a small purse dangling from a strap, as a wallet attached by elastic straps directly to an arm or hand or leg, or attached to a belt or some strap on clothing.
US08267287B2

A coordinate set hanger has a primary hanger with a first body, a hook extending upward from the first body, a first means for suspending a garment from the first body, and a first connection tab extending downward from the body, operative to releasably suspend a dependent hanger therefrom. A connection link having a locking end at each end thereof, the locking end having at least one snap lock with at least one horizontal surface is releasably attachable to at least a connection tab of a primary hanger. A dependent hanger has a body and a second means for suspending a garment from the second body, and a second connection tab extending upward from the second body. The second connection tab is operative to releasably secure the locking end of the connecting link therein. In other embodiments, the component parts of the coordinate set hanger are modular, or may include a dependent loop for integration with existing hanger stock.
US08267282B2

A quantitative dropper structure includes a resilient bottle body, a nozzle detachably sealingly connected to a bottle opening of the bottle body, and a transfer mechanism having a flow path formed of a first transfer pipe, a remaining liquid reservoir and a second transfer pipe. The nozzle has a dispensing orifice and a bottom wall formed with a perforation. The first transfer pipe has a first end communicating with the remaining liquid reservoir and a second end downward extending near to a bottom section of the bottle body. The second transfer pipe has a front end passing through the perforation to communicate with the liquid reservoir and a rear end communicating with the remaining liquid reservoir. When compressed, the liquid flows in the flow path into the liquid reservoir. After a predetermined volume of liquid is contained in the liquid reservoir, the liquid is quantitatively dispensed from the dispensing orifice.
US08267281B2

A refill cartridge disposable within a spray bottle during usage thereof. The refill cartridge includes a cartridge body defining a cartridge reservoir. The cartridge body includes first and second openings, the second opening being defined by a projection of the cartridge body. A cap is connected to the cartridge body to substantially cover the first opening. The cap includes a cap base having a primary opening. A cap boss is connected to and extends from the cap base and defines a passage concentrically aligned with the primary opening. The refill cartridge additionally includes a plug having a plug body including a plug neck and a flared portion, with the plug neck defining a distal end. The plug is engageable with the cap and the cartridge body and is moveable relative to the cap and cartridge body between a sealing position and a dispensing position.
US08267266B2

A lightweight container includes an enclosed base, an upper portion that extends upwardly to a finish; and a body located between the base and the upper portion. The sidewall includes vacuum compensation elements that have an open end and an opposing closed end, and that form a V-shape. Each element has nested fields.
US08267258B2

A tray assembly may include a tray having at least a first track and a second track. The first track and the second track may each include one or more indents and one or more ratchets. Each ratchet may include a plurality of projections, and each projection may be located a distance from each adjacent projection. A tray assembly may include a guide assembly having a first latch coupled to a second latch. The first latch may include a plurality of first teeth configured to engage the first track, and the second latch may include a plurality of second teeth configured to engage the second track. The tray assembly may include a compression element configured to lock and unlock the guide assembly.
US08267255B2

This invention aims to enhance efficiency of a sieve and to greatly improve productivity of a sifting operation. There is provided a sieve comprising a metal plate including long holes, wherein the long holes are plurally provided such that lines extending in length directions thereof cross one another.
US08267245B2

A display package includes a blister assembly and a storage container. The blister assembly includes a front blister surface having a first opening therein and a rear blister surface coupled to the front blister surface and defining a first cavity. The storage container includes a first container portion secured within the first cavity, a second container portion hingedly coupled to the first container portion for pivotal displacement between an open position and a closed position, and a magnet fixed to an outer surface of the second container portion. The magnet is located at or beyond an outer perimeter of the blister assembly when the first container portion is secured within the first cavity. The magnet is configured to secure the display package to a metallic structure.
US08267244B2

A packaged gate system includes a gate and a box having an interior space in which the gate is positioned. The box has front and rear major surfaces, a bottom surface, a top surface and a side surface that defines an edge of the box. An opening is defined in an uppermost portion of the side surface, a portion of the top surface and a portion of at least one of the front and rear major surfaces. A transparent insert is positioned in the opening and is secured to at least one of the box and a portion of the gate, The portion of the gate, which may include a connector assembly, will be visible to a consumer when the packaged gate system is stacked edgewise together with like packaged gate systems on the bottom surface with the side surface facing the consumer. The insert may also be configured to define a gripping handle that a consumer may use to pull the packaged gate system outwardly in order to extract it from the stack.
US08267222B2

The compact scissors lift includes a chassis having a body, a pair of wheels disposed at one end and a pair of steering wheels at the opposite end; a lifting linkset assembly disposed substantially within the base, the linkset assembly shaped to form space for the steering wheels; a steering system operatively connected to the steering wheels in front of the linkset assembly; and a deployable safety guard mechanism, on at least one side of the chassis. Having the linkset assembly within the chassis body reduces the overall stow height of the lift to thereby increase access to work areas, decrease physical expenditure on the user, increase stable steering and increase safe operation on potentially hazardous terrain.
US08267221B2

An exemplary sound box includes a box body and two speakers mounted in the box body. The box body defines two expanded portions and a connecting portion interconnecting the two expanded portions. Inner spaces of the connecting portion and the two expanded portions communicate with each other and cooperatively constitute a sound chamber of the sound box. Each of the expanded portions defines an opening therein. The two speakers are attached to the box body at the openings of the s two expanded portions respectively. This disclosure further discloses an electronic device configured with the sound box.
US08267218B2

A power-operated steering assisting device is provided for a vehicle and includes a rotation detector, a motor assembly, and a reduction and driving mechanism coupled to a steering shaft of a steering wheel of the vehicle. Upon detecting the rotation of the steering shaft, the rotation detector activates the motor assembly to drive the operation of the reduction and driving mechanism, so that through the engagement between an internal-toothed output ring of the reduction and driving mechanism and a toothed section formed on an outer circumference of the steering shaft, the steering shaft is rotated and an assistance to the steering operation carried out by a driver of the vehicle is realized to provide an effort-saved operation of turning the steering wheel by the driver. No hydraulic system is included in the steering assisting device and thus maintenance of the hydraulic system can be eliminated.
US08267212B1

A central endless drive track is disposed below the seat of a snowmobile. At least two left wheels are operatively connected to a left track frame disposed forwardly of the seat. A left track engages the left wheels. A left brake is connected to the left track frame and selectively engages one of a first left wheel and the left track to brake the left track. At least two right wheels are operatively connected to a right track frame disposed forwardly of the seat. A right track is disposed around the right wheels. A right brake is connected to the right track frame and selectively engages one of a first right wheel and the right track to brake the right track. A brake lever causes the left and right brakes to brake the left and right tracks respectively.
US08267209B2

A vehicle front structure including: a heat exchanger placed upright in a vehicle front part; a left air guide plate formed upright on a left side of the heat exchanger to extend frontward therefrom; a right air guide plate formed upright on a right side of the heat exchanger to extend frontward therefrom; a drain opening formed at a bottom of only one of the left and right air guide plates; and an air intake port for an engine formed above the heat exchanger, and arranged closer to the one of the left and right air guide plates in which the drain opening is formed, from a center of the heat exchanger in a left-right direction.
US08267208B2

A drive unit for a hybrid vehicle includes an internal combustion engine with a crankshaft, a friction clutch with a pressure plate, which can be moved in the axial direction by an actuating arrangement, with a clutch plate, and with a clutch disk arrangement, positioned between these first two components and is connected to the crankshaft. The drive unit also includes an electric machine, which is arranged between the internal combustion engine and the friction clutch, with a stator attached to a stator carrier and with a rotor. The friction clutch comprises a clutch hub, which serves to create at least an indirect connection of the clutch disk arrangement to the crankshaft is detachably connected to the clutch disk arrangement outside the radial dimension of the pressure plate and the clutch plate. An assembly method for assembling such a drive unit is also described, where a preassembled unit including at least the electric machine and the friction clutch is attached to an internal combustion engine.
US08267207B2

A hysteresis characteristic unit switches between outputs of selection instructions in accordance with a status characteristic depending on a present selection state (history). Specifically, the hysteresis characteristic unit makes determination of switching in accordance with the status characteristic if the selection instruction has been selected, and makes determination of switching in accordance with the status characteristic if the selection instruction has been selected. If a charge/discharge voltage is lower than a charge/discharge voltage by an amount exceeding a switching threshold voltage, switching from the selection instruction to the selection instruction is made.
US08267206B2

A patient support including a traction device for powered movement of the patient support.
US08267199B2

Apparatus and method for drilling perforations in well casing and drainholes into a subterranean formation around a well are provided. A tool body on tubing directs a mechanical cutter or jet bit to the casing. A hole is cut in casing and a rotary detent mechanism may be used to drill additional holes through casing to enable alignment of a jet bit with the holes for drilling drainholes without removing apparatus from the well. Disposable nozzles in a guide channel or nozzles on the tool body may be used for drilling through casing.
US08267189B2

A hand-held power tool includes a motor-driven percussion mechanism. The percussion mechanism includes a guide tube (21) and a reciprocating driving member (22) displaceable in the guide tube (21) for driving, via a gas spring, an impact member (23) likewise displaceable in the guide tube (21). The percussion mechanism further includes a motor-driven eccentric wheel (17) rotatable about an axis (D) which is spaced from the percussion mechanism axis (S) in a direction perpendicular to the percussion mechanism axis (S) by a distance (X). A connection rod (29) is eccentrically supported on the eccentric wheel (17) and connected to the driving member (22) for converting a rotational movement of the eccentric wheel (17) into a reciprocating movement of the driving member (22).
US08267177B1

A plug for a pipe in an oil or gas well includes a packer, a slip ring and a cone disposable on a mandrel and pressed between an upper push sleeve and a lower anvil on the mandrel. The plug can be field configurable with a frac plug kit, a bridge plug kit and a soluble insert plug kit. A pair of concentric locking rings is disposed between the push sleeve and the mandrel with an outer annular cone with an outer conical shape tapered upwardly and inwardly.
US08267176B2

Of the methods provided herein, is a method comprising: providing a clean-up fluid comprising a peroxide-generating compound and an aqueous base fluid; placing the clean-up fluid in a subterranean formation; removing contaminants from at least a portion of the subterranean formation to form a cleaned portion of the formation; providing a consolidation agent; placing the consolidation agent on at least a portion of the cleaned portion of the formation; and allowing the consolidation agent to adhere to at least a plurality of unconsolidated particulates in the cleaned portion of the formation.
US08267165B2

In a vehicular air conditioning apparatus, a connection duct connects a first blower unit having a first blower fan to a side of a casing forming air passages, whereas a second blower unit having a second blower fan, different from the first blower unit, is connected to a lower portion of the casing. By driving the first blower fan and second blower fan simultaneously, air is supplied to a vehicle compartment from the first blower unit and the second blower unit through inside the casing. A controller controls the driving of the first blower fan and the second blower fan.
US08267161B2

The invention relates to a fin for a heat exchanger, comprising a fin element which extends in the flow direction of a first fluid and has a wall face around which the first fluid flows on both sides, wherein at least one flap is provided in the wall face, which flap forms a cutout, through which the first fluid can flow, in the wall face, wherein a first edge of the flap for forming the cutout is arranged spaced apart from the wall face, wherein the flap has a tab face which is inclined with respect to the wall face and terminates at the first edge, wherein the tab face is connected to the wall face via at least one side wall, extending with a curved profile, of the flap, which side wall, starting at the first edge, has a height which decreases in a way which corresponds to the inclination of the tab face.
US08267160B2

A fin has a substantially flat base plane with a first side facing a first direction and a second side facing a second direction. The fin also has a first louver with a leading edge closer to the base plane and a trailing edge offset from the base plane in the first direction, a second louver located at least partially downstream of the first louver, with a leading edge offset from the base plane in the second direction and a trailing edge offset from the base plane in the first direction, and a third louver located at least partially downstream of the second louver, the third louver having a leading edge offset from the base plane in the second direction and a trailing edge closer to the base plane than the third louver leading edge.
US08267153B2

A continuous casting mold for the continuous casting of a metal strand, particularly a steel strand, comprising mutually opposing wide side walls and mutually opposing narrow side walls which are disposed in a clamped manner between the wide side walls and can be displaced along the wide side walls transversely to the casting direction and taper in a wedge-shaped manner in the casting direction, wherein the wide side walls comprise a funnel-shaped pouring region extending in the casting direction to the mold end, and wherein the narrow side walls are disposed in an exchangeable manner according to the thickness to be set for the metal strand to be cast, and wherein the positions of the narrow sides can be set by means of a narrow side adjustment system (7) having an upper and an lower adjustment device (8, 9) in relation to the center line (11) of the metal strand to be cast, characterized in that the narrow side adjustment system (7) comprises at least one control element (12, 13), which acts on the adjustment devices (8, 9) at least substantially transversely to the center line, and an alignment device for aligning the positions of the upper and lower control devices in relation to a specified reference position which are set by the at least one control element (12, 13).
US08267146B2

A counterbalance system for a rollup door system having a drum in which the counterbalance provides a counter force acting at a distance from the center of rotation of the drum. The counter force is variable in both direction and magnitude at various angular positions of the drum.
US08267140B2

An extrusion head may be provided. The extrusion head may include an inner flow path, an outer flow path, and at least one sealant flow path. The inner flow path may be configured to direct a flow of an inner layer around a conductor. The outer flow path may be configured to direct a flow of an outer layer around the inner layer. The at least one sealant flow path may extend to a connecting point with the inner flow path and the outer flow path. The at least one sealant flow path may be configured to direct a sealant to fill at least one sealant channel region between the inner layer and the outer layer. The connection point may be configured to cause the flow of the inner layer and the flow of the outer layer to join before the sealant fills the at least one sealant channel region.
US08267134B2

The present invention relates to a method of retreading a tire and a retread tire (10) made by this method. The method comprises the steps of providing a tread layer (40) having a tread side (44) and a sole side (46) wherein the surface of the sole side (46) includes a plurality of tread elements (48) such as sipes and/or grooves or other void. Each tread element (48) has a first edge (64) and a second edge (66) at the surface of the sole side (46) of the tread layer (40). At least one of the first edge (64) and second edge (66) is formed to have a break edge (84) such as a rounded edge or a chamfered edge of 0.4 mm or more. The break edge (84) removes the sharp corner and provides increased endurance for the retreaded tire (10).