US08269929B2
A vertically aligned liquid crystal cell to be simple-matrix driven is disposed between two polarizing plates crossed-Nicol disposed, the liquid crystal cell including a liquid crystal layer having a retardation in a cross section in a thickness direction larger than 550 nm. A C plate and a biaxial plate are disposed collectively between the liquid crystal cell and one of the polarizing plates, the C plate being disposed on the liquid crystal cell side and the biaxial plate being disposed on the polarizing plate side. The biaxial plate is disposed in such a manner that the in-plane delay phase axis of the biaxial plate is perpendicular to the absorption axis of the adjacent polarizing plate.
US08269927B2
Disclosed herein is a liquid crystal display including a liquid crystal panel including, a first substrate, a second substrate opposed to said first substrate, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between said first substrate and said second substrate, a plurality of pixels being arrayed in a first direction and in a second direction orthogonal to said first direction in a pixel area provided in a plane where said first substrate and said second substrate are opposed.
US08269918B2
A light source device having light guide elements (2a to 2f) and light emitting elements (3a to 3f) for supplying light to each of the light guide elements. The light guide elements each has a wedge-like shape whose thickness is reduced from one end to the other end. The light guide elements are tandem arranged such that the thinner end of a light guide element lies over the thicker end of the other light guide element. Each light guide element has holding sections recessed in the width direction (8a to 8f, 9a to 9f) in its thicker end on which the other light guide element lies. In the light guide device in which the wedge shaped light guide elements are tandem arranged, positional displacement between light guide elements is prevented.
US08269917B2
An optical film includes an outer surface, a plurality of protrusions protruding from the outer surface and extending substantially parallel to a first axis, a plurality of grooves formed at neighboring protrusions; and two barrier members arranged at opposite sides of the optical film substantially parallel to a second axis. The first axis is substantially perpendicular to the second axis. The two barrier members prevent each slot from communicating with the exterior of the optical film continuously.
US08269914B2
A liquid crystal display module displays an image on a liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal module includes a liquid crystal panel and a backlight assembly. The backlight assembly includes a reflecting sheet having a raised portion that receives a light source and supports a diffusing sheet and/or optical sheet positioned between the liquid crystal panel and the light source.
US08269913B2
There is provided a liquid crystal display device using a light guide plate dividing method that clearly establishes a structure for fixing divided light guide plates. An LED backlight unit according to an aspect of the invention may include: a lower cover having a mounting hole therein; a board provided on the lower cover and having a through hole facing the mounting hole of the lower cover; a plurality of LED packages mounted onto the board and supplying light; a light guide plate provided on the lower cover and guiding light supplied from the LED packages; and a fixation unit inserted into the mounting hole and the through hole so that the light guide plate is pressed against the lower cover.
US08269908B2
A method of manufacturing a thin-film transistor according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the step of forming a gate insulator on a gate electrode. The gate insulator includes at least a first region being in contact with a hydrogenated amorphous silicon film, and a second region positioned below the first region. The first and second regions are deposited using a source gas including NH3, N2, and SiH4, and H2 gas or a mixture of H2 and He. The first region is deposited by setting the flow-rate ratio NH3/SiH4 in a range from 11 to 14 and the second region is deposited by setting the flow-rate ratio NH3/SiH4 to be equal to or less than 4. It is thus possible to provide a thin-film transistor having excellent characteristics and high reliability, a method of manufacturing the same, and a display device including the thin-film transistor mounted thereon.
US08269904B2
A stereoscopic TFT-LCD with a wire grid polarizer affixed to internal surfaces substrates is provided wherein a thin film polarizing film formed by accurately processing a thin aluminum film, a polarizing film of a nano imprint lithography method that uses polymer, and a polarizing film and a liquid crystal material that form a polarizing nano material thin film by uniformly coating a polarizing nano material (TCF), wherein a second 1/2 phase retardation plate and a transparent unit are formed integrally with each other on the same plane in a chessboard shape, wherein a third polarizing region and a fourth polarizing region are formed integrally with each other on the same plane in a chessboard shape, and wherein a 1/4 phase retardation plate is disposed at a front surface of the second transparent substrate so as to produce circularly-polarized light.
US08269900B2
A mobile studio for producing video and audio content includes a vehicle having a body mounted on a chassis. The body includes a studio chamber enclosure formed by a floor, a ceiling, spaced opposite outer side walls and spaced outer front and rear walls, and the floor includes a stage area. The mobile studio further includes at least one LED lighting assembly located in the studio chamber enclosure that is suitable for providing sufficient illumination for image capture such that a captured image is suitable for projection as a Pepper's Ghost image, at least one camera to capture an image of a subject on the stage area and generate the captured image, and a communications device to transmit the captured image.
US08269896B2
An error reduction apparatus includes a combing absence detector to detect absence of combing from a luminance signal, a combing presence detector to detect presence of combing from a color-difference signal, a vertical low-pass filter to receive the color-difference signal, and a selector to select one of the color-difference signal and a color-difference signal to which the vertical low-pass filter is applied based on detection results of the combing absence detector and the combing presence detector, and if combing is absent in the luminance signal and combing is present in the color-difference signal, the error reduction apparatus applies the vertical low-pass filter to the color-difference signal and outputs the signal.
US08269891B2
A first frame of data is encoded and a first timestamp associated with the first frame of data is generated. The first timestamp includes complete timing information. The first frame of data and the associated first timestamp is transmitted to a destination. A second frame of data is encoded and a second timestamp associated with the second frame of data is generated. The second timestamp includes a portion of the complete timing information. The second frame of data and the associated second timestamp is then transmitted to the destination. Additional frames of data are encoded and additional timestamps associated with the additional frames of data are generated. The majority of the additional timestamps include a portion of the complete timing information.
US08269870B2
An imaging device includes pixels arranged in a two-dimensional form and each having a photoelectric conversion part converting light into an electric signal, a plurality of vertical signal lines coupled, in a column direction, to the pixels arranged in the column direction and receiving the electric signal read from each of the pixels, a first constant current generator provided on each of the vertical signal lines, a column amplifier having a second constant current generator and amplifying the electric signal read to the vertical signal line, and a constant voltage generator provided on each of the vertical signal lines and being coupled to a first contact of the first constant current generator and a second contact of the second constant current generator included in the column amplifier.
US08269864B2
An image sensor includes multiple photoactive pixels and multiple dark reference pixels arranged in rows and columns to form a pixel array. A dark signal is read out of one or more dark reference pixels in each column and used to determine a column offset for one or more columns in the pixel array. An offset window is used for each column in the pixel array to define an acceptable maximum dark signal and an acceptable minimum dark signal for each column. The dark signals from each column are analyzed to determine if there are any dark signals outside the offset window. If any of the dark signals are outside the offset window, the dark signal or signals can be compensated for or discarded.
US08269863B2
A solid-state image pickup device includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixels, each having a photoelectric converter; a signal conversion circuit converting a pixel signal from the pixel array into an output signal; and a clamp correction circuit correcting a clamp level included in a predetermined signal dealt with by the signal conversion circuit. The clamp correction circuit includes an analog-to-digital converter performing analog-to-digital conversion of the predetermined signal and generating and outputting N+M bits of digital data at the time of analog-to-digital conversion, N+M bits being obtained by adding M bits for correction to N bits assigned to the predetermined signal; a correction-value generating unit determining a correction value based on the N+M bits of digital data and a target value; and a computing unit performing a correction computation using the N+M bits of digital data and the correction value to generate N bits of clamp-corrected data.
US08269861B2
An image acquisition apparatus includes a plurality of pupil-division lenses configured to pupil-divide a light flux of the object image light passed through an optical imaging system in an area on a surface of an image sensor, a coordinate recording unit configured to record coordinate information to specify the area on the surface of the image sensor, a correction unit configured to execute, based on an optical characteristic of the plurality of pupil-division lenses corresponding to the area and characteristics of the image sensor, a process of correcting the image signal obtained by the image acquisition operation of the image sensor, according to the recorded coordinate information, and a focus detection unit configured to detect a focal point based on selected one of the image signal before the correction process and the image signal after the correction process.
US08269857B2
An image processing device includes a storage unit, a face detection unit, a face discrimination unit, and a control unit. The storage unit is provided for storing a content management file that stores a file entry for managing contents and a particular face entry for managing a particular face. Each of the file entry and the particular face entry is a hierarchical entry with a hierarchical structure. The face detection unit is provided for detecting a face contained in the contents. The face discrimination unit is provided for determining whether the detected face is the particular face by comparing the particular face with the detected face. The control unit is provided for performing control of correlating the particular face entry with the file entry when the detected face is identified as the particular face.
US08269856B2
An automatic focusing system in a low-illumination setting and a method using the same are disclosed. Through a selection of the memory bits and a tone adjustment, an automatic focusing could be precisely achieved. According to one embodiment, a lens module and an image sensor are firstly used for generating the digital image signals. Next, a gain adjustment unit is introduced to adjusting the gain of the signals, so as to reduce the noises. A memory bit retrieving unit is further used to retrieve the data from a plurality of memory bits. Next, a tone adjusting process is performed to raise the signals' contrast.
US08269854B2
An image sensor includes an active pixel and a black pixel. The active pixel has a first signal gain and a first dark signal level, and the black pixel has a second signal gain and a second dark signal level. At least one of the first and second signal gains is adjusted such that the first and second dark signal levels are substantially equal for minimizing image defects in the image sensor.
US08269848B2
Planar calibration indices (c1) including coordinate information of at least four points are placed on a first plane (S1), and an image plane of the camera image including the calibration indices is input as a second plane (S2). Points (c2) existing on the second plane and corresponding to predetermined portions of the calibration indices are specified, and homography between the first plane and the second plane is computed, on the basis of the corresponding relationship of the at least four points included commonly in the first plane and the second plane, so that the camera image is calibrated. For example, a device is mounted on a vehicle, and four points, whose arrangement on a plane in 3D space is known, are used as calibration indices, and corresponding four points on the camera image, which correspond to them respectively, is achieved automatically.
US08269836B2
Embodiments of the present invention enable image capture, alignment, and registration. Certain applications of the present invention are its use in various embodiments of a system for inspection of a printed circuit board (“PCB”) substrate. In embodiments, an image capture system comprising a camera and a two-dimensional surface supporting an image may be calibrated based on configuration parameters of an image to be captured and of a simulated reference bitmap based on the image. In embodiments, the position of the image to be captured on the two-dimensional surface is determined based on calibration parameters. In embodiments, a sequence of images may be captured of sections of an image that cannot be captured in a single scan. A scan path across the image may be determined that is based in part on calibration parameters. In embodiments, consistency of quality of captured images is maintained by validating selected characteristics of each image as it is being captured and by validating the alignment of each captured image with a corresponding simulated reference bitmap.
US08269831B2
A wire guider includes a guiding unit having an inner path extending along the running direction of the wire to guide the running of the wire and an air supply unit for supplying air into the inner path to form a spiral air flow having a current rate faster than a running rate of the wire between an outer surface of the wire and an inner surface of the inner path. Wire Vibration resulting from a thrust force of mill rolls can be damped to more stably carry out one-direction running of the wire and minimize contact between the wire and a guide path. This reduces surface defects of the wire and abrasion of the guide system and protects a sensor unit from damage.
US08269825B1
Apparatus that allows at least one feature of a patient's face to be observed while the patient is in a prone position includes a facial cushion, a video camera and a monitor. A self supporting facial cushion provides cranial support for a patient in a prone position during a medical procedure. The cushion has a frontal aperture that is dimensioned so that the facial feature of a patient wearing the facial cushion and in a prone position are visible through the at least one aperture. A portion of the facial cushion that contacts a supporting surface when the facial cushion is self supported defines a tunnel through which at least the lens of the video camera can be inserted for movement from outside the facial cushion to a position beneath the patient's face.
US08269822B2
An apparatus for interfacing with a display screen is provided. The apparatus includes a frame. The frame includes (a) a pair of shutter lenses, (b) a light coupled to the frame; and (b) a circuit integrated with the frame to control the pair of shutter lenses and control the light coupled to the frame. The circuit is configured to communicate with a display device to enable synchronization of the shutter lenses and the display device. The light is analyzed to determine position of the frame relative to the display device, and the position is used to cause an adjustment in display output when viewed from the perspective of the position of the frame.
US08269819B2
An image generating apparatus includes: a correction unit configured to correct point information indicating correspondence between a plurality of pieces of point information indicating feature points of subjects in an image and a plurality of pieces of distance information of the respective pieces of point information so as to reduce the pieces of distance information belonging to a distance range that is longer than a distance indicated by a specific distance information included in the pieces of distance information; an image information generation unit configured to generate image information for expressing a three-dimensional image based on the point information corrected by the correction unit; and a display unit configured to display the three-dimensional image based on the image information generated by the image information generation unit.
US08269818B2
The systems and methods described herein include, among other things, a technique for calibrating the outputs of multiple sensors, such as CCD devices, that have overlapping fields of view and mapping the pixels of those outputs to the pixels of a display screen by means of a lookup table so that a user can see a selected field of view within the larger fields of view that are seen by the sensors.
US08269816B2
Some embodiments provide an architecture for establishing multi-participant video conferences. This architecture has a central distributor that receives video images from two or more participants. From the received images, the central distributor generates composite images that the central distributor transmits back to the participants. Each composite image includes a set of sub images, where each sub image belongs to one participant. In some embodiments, the central distributor saves network bandwidth by removing each particular participant's image from the composite image that the central distributor sends to the particular participant. In some embodiments, images received from each participant are arranged in the composite in a non-interleaved manner. For instance, in some embodiments, the composite image includes at most one sub-image for each participant, and no two sub-images are interleaved.
US08269813B2
A method, computer program product and system are disclosed for facilitating the recreational review of printed picture books by two distantly separated parties video conferencing via the Internet, LAN, WAN or the like. A central managing forum uses uniquely configured data processing device(s) to electronically bring two or more related parties into audio, video and autographic contact in a manner which simulates the bedside reading of picture book and prompts the interconnected parties to interactively navigate virtual copies of popular printed media uniquely stored and made digitally available by the central managing forum.
US08269811B2
In an image forming apparatus, an exposure device performs exposure on a non-image area of image pattern, performs an exposure on the image area in an exposure amount lower than the non-image area or does not perform exposure, and an exposure amount control device controls, with respect to pixels having the same density data, an exposure amount given by an exposure device to be smaller in a first portion, which is a thin-line of a width that is equal to or less than a predetermined number of pixels or which is an isolated dot of widths that are equal to or less than the predetermined number of pixels in two directions substantially orthogonal to each other, than in a second portion which is a line of a width exceeding the predetermined number or a surface of widths that exceed the predetermined number in two directions substantially orthogonal to each other.
US08269799B2
An image signal processor includes a controller configured to generate a red output signal, a green output signal, a blue output signal and a fourth color output signal in accordance with image input signals. A fourth color light component enables to reproduce a color outside the range of a color reproducible by the red light component, the green light component and the blue light component. The controller generates the fourth color output signal on the basis of a reference signal corresponding to a color different from a complementary color of a color reproduced by the fourth color light component.
US08269795B2
The apparatus of the present invention includes a reduction ratio determination unit that determines a reduction ratio in each of a plurality of image data based on a character size included in each of the plurality of image data; a reduction unit that reduces the plurality of image data according to the respective reduction ratio; a layout trial unit that arranges the plurality of reduced image data according to a plurality of layout methods; and a layout determination unit that determines a layout method from the plurality of layout methods based on the number of the plurality of image data arranged.
US08269794B2
An image processing apparatus includes an unconscious expression parameter storing unit configured to store a parameter specifying a facial expression that unconsciously appears in a steady state as an unconscious expression parameter, a conscious expression parameter storing unit configured to store a parameter specifying a facial expression that is consciously expressed from the steady state as a conscious expression parameter, a mixing unit configured to generate face model data by mixing the unconscious expression parameter and the conscious expression parameter, and a rendering unit configured to render a facial expression on the basis of the face model data.
US08269793B2
An apparatus and method for manipulating images is disclosed. In one embodiment according to the invention, a method for manipulating images comprises: displaying and manipulating at a browser-based user interface a graphical representation of at least a portion of an image held at a remote image store; providing an internet communications link coupling the user interface to a remote image processor; transferring information about manipulations applied to the graphical representation between the user interface and the remote image processor; and causing the remote image processor to access the remote image store and apply, to at least a portion of the image held in the store, manipulations emulating those applied to the graphical representation. In another embodiment according to the invention, there is disclosed a method for applying a personalized image to a financial account access means corresponding to a financial account of a customer. The method comprises: associating financial data, corresponding to the financial account of the customer, with a customer image identifier in a financial account association table maintained securely from a user interface; associating the customer image identifier with user image selection data based on user selections made on the user interface in relation to a graphical representation of at least a portion of an original image held in an image store; and applying the personalized image to the financial account access means, the personalized image being based on the user image selection data associated with the customer image identifier.
US08269784B2
A programmable processor and method for improving the performance of processors by expanding at least two source operands, or a source and a result operand, to a width greater than the width of either the general purpose register or the data path width. The present invention provides operands which are substantially larger than the data path width of the processor by using the contents of a general purpose register to specify a memory address at which a plurality of data path widths of data can be read or written, as well as the size and shape of the operand. In addition, several instructions and apparatus for implementing these instructions are described which obtain performance advantages if the operands are not limited to the width and accessible number of general purpose registers.
US08269779B2
Computer-implemented methods and computer program products for automatically transferring expressions between rigs with consistent joint structure, and for automatically transferring skin weights between different skin meshes based on joint positioning. A method is provided for transferring an expression between a plurality of source rigs and a target rig, where each rig characterizes an animated character, and each rig, in turn, is characterized by a set of joints and a skin mesh having a plurality of vertices, with each vertex characterized by a matrix of weights relating a response of the vertex to movement of associated joints. A set of offsets is calculated of joint positions of a goal expression of each source rig relative to a neutral expression of the source rig. A scaling transformation is then applied to the set of offsets to produce a scaled set of offsets, which are added, in turn, to a neutral expression of the target rig. Methods are also provided for transferring a set of skin weights between the source rigs and the target rig.
US08269776B2
A method generates a distance field of an object, where the distance field includes a set of cells and the object includes a set of stylized strokes. Each stylized stroke includes a centerline, a set of profiles, and a set of terminals. A processor is included for performing steps of the method. A first cell of the set of cells enclosing the object is determined. An outside reconstruction method is associated with the first cell. For each stylized stroke, centerline cells of the set of cells are determined, where each centerline cell encloses a portion of the centerline of the stylized stroke. A centerline reconstruction method is associated with each centerline cell. For each terminal of each stylized stroke a terminal distance field is generated, the terminal distance field including a terminal reconstruction method. Reconstructed distances are determined using the reconstruction methods to generate the distance field of the object.
US08269769B1
An occlusion prediction compressing system and method are presented in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In one embodiment, an occlusion prediction graphics processing method is utilized to predict which pixels are eventually occluded before intermediate processing stages are performed on the pixels. Culling information utilized to predict which pixel are occluded is compressed in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In one embodiment, a cull value for a pixel culling area is retrieved and an end of pipe depth value associated with a prediction area within the pixel culling area is received. A determination is made if the end of pipe depth value is within a threshold range of the cull value. The cull value is updated based upon the relationship of the end of pipe depth value to offsets from the cull value. The cull value is associated with a mask which indicates if a plurality of prediction areas are at or in front of the cull value.
US08269745B2
A 5-wire touch screen system includes a touch screen (10) including a wiper (11) and a resistive layer (16) aligned with the wiper and first (UL), second (UR), third (LR), and fourth (LL) resistive layer contacts, wherein a touch on the screen presses a small portion of the wiper against the resistive layer, producing a touch resistance (RZ) between them at a touch point on the resistive layer. The wiper and various contacts are selectively coupled to first (VDD) and second (GND) reference voltages, respectively, to generate an analog touch voltage (VZ) at the touch point. The wiper and various contacts are selectively coupled to an analog input (56) and a reference voltage input of an ADC (48) for converting the touch voltage (VZ) to a digital representation. Analog voltages (VX) and (VY) at the touch point are converted to corresponding digital representations by the ADC.
US08269744B2
Each detection column wiring is constituted by a set of a first metal wiring having a zigzag pattern and a second metal wiring having a structure axisymmetric with the first metal wiring about a column direction as an axis, wherein the first metal wiring is constituted by first sloped portions which are obliquely sloped by an inclination angle of 45 degrees with respect to the column direction, and first parallel portions which are parallel with the column direction and are continuous with the first sloped portions, such that the first sloped portions and the first parallel portions are repeatedly placed in a zigzag shape along the column direction. Each detection row wiring also has the same structure. A sloped portion out of the first sloped portions of the first metal wiring is always orthogonally and spatially intersected, at its middle point, with a sloped portion out of the second sloped portions of the third metal wiring at its middle point. There is also the same orthogonal relationship among the other portions.
US08269741B2
The touch screen panel device according to the embodiment of the present embodiments includes: a touch screen panel; and an adhesive member that is formed on at least any one of an upper surface and a lower surface of the touch screen panel and includes an adhesive layer and re-releasing coating layers formed on both surfaces of the adhesive layer, wherein the re-releasing coating layer is formed by adding fluorine (F) or silicon (Si) into UV curing resin.
US08269737B2
A computing device is capable of intelligently interpreting input movement. The computing device detects a movement of a finger or object over an input interface. The movement is interpreted as one-dimensional or two-dimensional.
US08269735B2
A touch screen display apparatus includes a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other, a conductive pad formed on the first substrate, a cell-gap spacer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, an auxiliary cell-gap spacer disposed around the cell-gap spacer, and a conductive spacer formed on the second substrate to correspond to the conductive pad, wherein the conductive spacer is movably connected to the conductive pad.
US08269725B2
Performance of automated touch data injection into a stack of software objects is provided. Previously stored data from a touch data file is received and transformed based upon a touch property. The transformed retrieved data is then injected into a lowermost layer of a stack of software objects. A computer-readable medium tool allows a user, such as a software developer, to create data that can consistently be employed to simulate the operation of movement of a user's finger across a touch input area. A buffer management module retrieves data from a touch data file. A data transformation module transforms the retrieved data based upon a touch property. A device management module injects transformed retrieved data into a human interface layer of a device.
US08269718B2
A user interface includes a thin display device and at least one control device. The control device is associated with a portion of the thin display device. A method of implementing a user interface for a device includes displaying data about a function of the device on a thin display device, the data being displayed in association with a control device that controls that function of the device.
US08269715B2
In a portable computing device that includes a backlit device having a variable-intensity backlight, a light sensor, and a light controller coupled to the light sensor and the backlight, a method for controlling the intensity of light produced by the backlight involves the steps of (1) with the ambient light sensor determining the ambient light level at the computing device; and (2) with the light controller automatically adjusting the intensity of light produced by the backlight in accordance with the determined light level.
US08269713B2
In one embodiment of the present invention, a unit circuit of a shift register includes a bootstrap circuit configured with a transistor T1, a transistor T2 and a capacitor, a transistor T3, a transistor T4, and a reset signal generation circuit. By use of two-phase clock signals and whose high level periods do not overlap with each other, the reset signal generation circuit generates a reset signal which is at a high level in a normal state and changes to a low level when an input signal turns into the high level. During a period that the reset signal is at the high level, transistors T3 and T4 perform discharge of a node and pull-down of an output signal. Thus, it is possible to obtain a power-saving shift register that fixes an output signal at a low level in a normal state without allowing a through current to flow therein.
US08269710B2
An electro-optical device includes red, green, and blue sub pixels and red, green, and blue data lines connected to the corresponding sub pixels. Red, green, and blue sampling switches are provided in a peripheral region and are electrically connected to data lines of the corresponding color. The green sampling switch is located at a position that is closer to the pixel region than are the red or blue sampling switches.
US08269692B2
An image display apparatus includes: a left-eye light source (101) that outputs a left-eye image constituting an original image in whole or in part; a left-eye deflection unit (104) that deflects, toward a left eye of the user, the left-eye image outputted by the left-eye light source (101); a right-eye light source (110) that outputs a right-eye image constituting the original image in whole or in part; a right-eye deflection unit (107) that deflects, toward a right eye of the user, the right-eye image outputted by the right-eye light source (110); and a control unit (105, 111) that controls the left-eye light source (101) and the right-eye light source (110) such that the left-eye image and the right-eye image are outputted which are different from each other in at least one of pixel position, image shape, image size, image resolution, and display frame rate so that the user can recognize the original image from the left-eye image and the right-eye image by an image fusion effect.
US08269691B2
To render graphics on multiple display devices, multiple computing platforms are networked and each computing platform separately executes an application rendering the graphics for a subset of the multiple display devices. A server including a first display device and a first computing platform generates a world space and renders from the generated world space a first viewing frustum for display on the first display device and a client coupled to the server receives a transmission of the world space position and renders a second viewing frustum for display on a second display device.
US08269686B2
An antenna includes a waveguide having an aperture at a first end and a conducting component at a second end, the conducting component shorting the waveguide and a first set of two orthogonal dipoles, fed in quadrature, the orthogonal dipoles located near the aperture of the waveguide operating close to its dominant mode cut off frequency.
US08269680B2
A vehicle antenna assembly includes an element coil, a holder, and a retainer. The element coil can have a polygonal configuration in a cross-section taken normal to a coil access. The holder can include rails. The retainer can engage the rails and apply a compressive load on the element coil to fix the element coil with respect to the holder. A method for holding an antenna element is also disclosed.
US08269671B2
A radio-frequency integrated circuit chip package has N integrated patch antennas, N being at least one. The package includes a cover portion with N generally planar patches, and a main portion coupled to the cover portion. The main portion in turn includes at least one generally planar ground plane spaced inwardly from the N generally planar patches and parallel thereto. The ground plane is formed without any coupling apertures therein. The main portion also includes N feed lines spaced inwardly from the N generally planar patches and parallel thereto, and spaced outwardly from the generally planar ground plane and parallel thereto. Furthermore, the main portion includes at least one radio frequency chip coupled to the feed lines and the ground plane. The cover portion and the main portion cooperatively define an antenna cavity, and the N generally planar patches and the chip are located in the antenna cavity. The package is formed without reflectors. Fabrication techniques are also described.
US08269658B1
Embodiments in accordance with the invention allow for direct digitization of wideband RF signals without the need for down conversion or the use of mixers. In one embodiment, a preprocessed input analog signal is applied to three wideband Mach-Zehnder interferometers (MZI), e.g., modulators, to amplitude modulate a continuous wave laser signal. A photodetector is used at the output of each interferometer to convert the amplitude modulated optical signal into an electrical signal. This is followed by an amplifier and a low-pass filter (LPF) to increase the signal level and to reduce the noise. A small mi comparator bank at the output of each LPF is clocked at the sampling frequency and encodes the electrical signal from each detector into a thermometer code that represents an integer value within the modulus. A field programmable gate array (FPGA) then combines the thermometer-code from each comparator bank in order to generate a more convenient 6-bit binary representation, i.e., a digital output.
US08269648B2
The invention provides for electromagnetic transmission and reception used in detecting relative changes associated with nano devices existing within an oil reservoir. The system enables monitoring of the relative movement of the nano devices in the oil and/or water over a given area based on the incremental or relative changes of the intensity of the reflections over time. In one embodiment, a source of electromagnetic energy from an array of antennae transmitting immediately in the far field recharges a power source embedded in the nano devices. In another embodiment, the return signals from the nano devices maps the morphology of ensembles of nano devices. In yet another embodiment the transmission controls the movement of the nano devices and controls the function preformed by the nano devices relative to effecting changes in the well to improve production of oil.
US08269645B2
Rule based display systems and methods are provided. In an aspect of the disclosure, a display screen is dynamically generated using one or more display boxes selected from a plurality of display boxes stored in memory. Each of the plurality of display boxes has rules associated with the display box. To generate the display screen, a rules module generates a set of conditions based on current conditions of the system. The rules module then compares the rules of each display box with the set of conditions to identify display boxes having rules that are satisfied by the set of rules. A display module then generates the display screen using the display boxes identified by the rules module, thereby dynamically generating the display screen.
US08269642B2
An alarm system and an alarm device that are capable of enhancing a fail-safe function. A fire alarm device (A) operating as a master unit transmits a switching request signal to fire alarm devices operating as slave units at a predetermined timing. The switching request signal contains at least an own address and an address of a fire alarm device (B) that is to operate as the master unit next (S20). Upon reception of the switching request signal, among the fire alarm devices operating as the slave units, the fire alarm device (B) that is to operate as the master unit next judges whether or not switching is possible based on switching availability judgment information for judging whether or not switching to the master unit is possible (S30), and, when it is judged that switching is possible, starts operating as the master unit (S31).
US08269637B2
An alarm system notification device that comprises a single strobe, an input selector, and a controller is disclosed. The single strobe may be configured to operate at a first wavelength band in a first configuration and at a second wavelength band in a second configuration, the first wavelength band being different from the second wavelength band. The configuration of the single strobe (either in the first or second configuration) is determined based on a command that is input by the input selector. In response to receiving the command, the controller may control the single strobe so that the single strobe is configured to operate at one of the first wavelength band in the first configuration or the second wavelength band in the second configuration as indicated in the command.
US08269621B2
The present invention relates to a mezuzah case having an electronic signaling device for attracting attention of Jewish people walking through a doorway to a mezuzah which is affixed to the doorpost. The Mezuzah case includes housing for holding and protecting a mezuzah parchment and an electric signaling device for emitting a noticeable signal. According to one embodiment the signaling device is a light source. According to an alternative embodiment, the signaling device emits an audio signal. The mezuzah case may further include electronic means for automatically controlling the signaling device according to a preset program and a power source for energizing the electronic means and the signaling device.
US08269614B2
A vibrator assembly for a vehicle for generating an oscillation of a vehicle part detectable by a person is provided. The vibrator assembly comprising a vehicle part having a supporting structure and a case connected with said supporting structure, and a vibrator surrounded by the case which is formed to stimulate the case to oscillate whereby the oscillations are perceivable by a person. The vibrator for stimulating the oscillations of the case is coupled via at least one spring element differing from the case with the supporting structure of the vehicle part so that the oscillations of the case are stimulated via the supporting structure.
US08269612B2
A laser device operating system includes a laser device generating a laser beam when receiving a remote control unit command signal. The remote control unit operates in a public or private mode. In public mode the remote control unit generates a command signal transmitted to the laser device. In private mode the remote control unit generates a unique identifier prepended to the command signal. The laser device operates in a laser device public or private mode. In public mode the laser device responds to the remote control unit command signal or the command signal if transmitted by a second remote control unit. In private mode the laser device operates only upon receipt of the command signal and unique identifier, preventing laser device operation by the second remote control unit if the second unit does not include the unique identifier with the command signal.
US08269607B2
A proximity location system and method thereof for locating a communications device. A radio-frequency identification (RFID) proximity location tag is arranged in a proximity of the communications device and detected thereby. A proximity location key included in the RFID proximity location tag is acquired by the communications device and forwarded to a location information server. The location information is queried for location information associated with the proximity location key. Based on the location information, data transmitted by the communications device is routed to the appropriate receiver of the data. The location information is also provided to the receiver.
US08269606B2
A method for operating an RFID tag read verification system is described where the system includes at least one RFID reader and antenna assembly and a computing device. The method includes importing a control file, including data relating to a plurality of RFID tagged items that collectively form an RFID tagged environment, into the computing device, scanning the RFID tagged environment utilizing the one or more RFID reader and antenna assemblies, transferring scan data of the RFID tag environment from the one or more RFID reader and antenna assemblies to the computing device, and utilizing the computing device to compare the scan data to the control file to identify any anomalies within the RFID tagged environment.
US08269603B2
A passage authorization system includes a plurality of gate management apparatuses that are individually provided with authentication sensors for acquiring biometric data from a presented hand and form paths, an authentication unit configured to output a result of authentication comparison performed with the biometric data acquired by each of the authentication sensors and a hand determination result of determining whether the biometric data is data of a left hand or a right hand, and a control unit configured to control opening/closing of a gate corresponding to the hand determination result on the basis of the result of authentication comparison.
US08269601B2
A vehicle utilization system and method permitting use of vehicles having respective identification codes includes a key having a memory for storing enabling codes enabling use of the vehicles; and an enabling device, in each vehicle, permitting use of the vehicle by a user in possession of the key, if the enabling code stored in the key meets given conditions. The system also includes a programming device for generating the enabling codes as a function of the identification codes of the vehicles, and for storing the generated enabling codes in the key.
US08269596B2
Modular fuse holders include dual studs with stepped configuration allowing the fuse holders to be universally used with and without bus bars while ensuring proper connection of a fuse.
US08269585B2
An electromagnetic switch includes: a stationary contact; a movable contact movably provided with respect to the stationary contact; a coil configured to move the movable contact to a side of the stationary contact by means of current conduction; and a shaft provided inside the coil such that the movable contact is provided at an end portion thereof, wherein a snap-fit portion having a pair of hooks disposed to face each other is provided at an end portion of the shaft, and the movable contact is fixed between the end portion of the shaft and the hook.
US08269583B2
The RF signal generated by a ZigBee radio on the outside of a building structure is conveyed to the interior of the building by guiding it along an electric cable bundle that passes through the building's wall to supply domestic electric power to the interior of the structure. The RF signal is launched by a unique coupler comprising a pair of insulated foil conductors.
US08269580B2
A communication module includes a filter element, a package substrate on which the filter element is mounted, and a module substrate on which the package substrate is mounted. Each of the package substrate and the module substrate is formed of a laminate of a plurality of metal layers and a plurality of insulation layers. An outermost insulation layer forming a mounting surface of the package substrate that is a surface on which the filter element is mounted has a thickness smaller than a thickness of at least one of the other insulation layers included in the package substrate. An outer insulation layer forming a mounting surface of the module substrate that is a surface on which the package substrate is mounted has a thickness smaller than a thickness of at least one of the other insulation layers included in the module substrate.
US08269578B2
A resonator comprises a resonator mass (34), a first connector (30) on a first side of the mass connected between the resonator mass and a first fixed mounting and a second connector (32) on a second, opposite, side of the mass connected between the resonator mass and a second fixed mounting. Drive means drives the mass (34) into a resonant mode in which it oscillates in a sideways direction, thereby compressing one of the first and second connectors while extending the other of the first and second connectors.
US08269577B2
In an acoustic wave filter, a notch resonator is connected in series or parallel with a plurality of acoustic wave resonators connected in a ladder shape. The notch resonator has a main resonant frequency that is substantially equal to a sub-resonant frequency of the acoustic wave resonators. With this configuration, the occurrence of sub-resonant responses in filter characteristics can be suppressed, resulting in an improvement in communication characteristics.
US08269574B2
Which permits the application of methods for increasing the performance of a communications system on a medium made up of N conductors and a reference plane by means of injecting signals inductively in up to N combinations of the conductors, including injection in common mode, such that said injected signals can be made to be orthogonal to each other.
US08269573B2
A cable strand for the activation of electrically actuatable injection valves of internal combustion engines having a common-rail injection system, wherein the cable strand connects an engine control device with the injection valves. Electrical cables of the cable strand are molded and/or foamed in a carrier that largely prescribes the shape of the cable strand. At least one filter is also molded and/or foamed in the cable strand and is adapted to affect the electromagnetic compatibility of the cable strand arrangement.
US08269565B2
Spread spectrum clock generators and electronic devices including the same are provided. A spread spectrum clock generator may include an oscillation circuit that is configured to receive a first spread spectrum clock signal and to output an average frequency signal corresponding to an average frequency of the first spread spectrum clock signal. The spread spectrum clock generator may also include a phase lock loop that is configured to receive the average frequency signal and to generate a second spread spectrum clock signal. The spread spectrum clock generator may further include a control circuit that is configured to receive the first and second spread spectrum clock signals and to output a phase lock loop control signal to control the phase lock loop such that an average frequency of the second spread spectrum clock signal approaches the average frequency of the first spread spectrum clock signal.
US08269556B2
A method for cancelling magnetic coupling in an amplifier is disclosed. The amplifier includes a first path and a second path for outputting a first signal and a second signal, respectively, and the first signal and the second signal have a specific phase difference. The method includes forming a first LC tank and a second LC tank in the first path, and forming a third LC tank and a forth LC tank in the second path.
US08269555B2
Method for setup of parameter values in a RF power amplifier circuit arrangement (200), wherein the amplifier circuit arrangement (200) comprises a first (210) and a second (220) amplification branch and is operated in an out-phasing configuration for amplification of RF input signals with modulated amplitude and modulated phase and respective circuit arrangements are disclosed. According to a first aspect a re-optimization of the dead-time or conversely the duty-cycle, respectively, the phase of the output signal after the combiner can be kept linear with respect to the out-phasing angle. Further, according to a second aspect, additionally to introduction of an optimally chosen dead-time, a non-coherent combiner (Lx, Lx*) can reduce crowbar current and switching losses due the output capacitance (Cds). Furthermore, according to a third aspect the reactive compensation can, additionally or alternatively, be controlled by operating both amplification branches at different duty-cycles.
US08269554B2
The disclosure relates to a system and method for attenuating harmonics in a power amplifier. An electronic circuit for reducing leakage of radio frequency signals from a power amplifier of a wireless communication device is provided. The circuit comprises: a printed circuit board (PCB) having the power amplifier mounted on the PCB; a first electrical track in the PCB connecting to a power input terminal of the power amplifier; and a first capacitor connected to the first electrical track and a ground reference in the PCB, the first capacitor reducing transmission of radio frequency signals from the input terminal of the power amplifier.
US08269543B2
A stabilized quadrature RC/CR phase shifting network for generating quadrature RF and microwave signals. The network uses offset biasing of postamplifiers following the phaseshifter to fine tune quadrature-phase, and further uses an output quadrature-phase detector to stabilize quadrature-phase with negative feedback by using the quadrature-phase error signal to drive the quadrature-phase fine tuning control. In an alternative embodiment, the stability of quadrature-phase can be enhanced without the output quadrature-phase detector by making the quadrature-phase fine tuning control dependent upon the amplitude-difference negative feedback error signal.
US08269533B2
Apparatus, systems and methods are provided for digital phase-locked loops. A digital phase-locked loop comprises an oscillator module configured to generate an output signal and a phase detection module coupled to the oscillator module. The phase detection module is configured to signal the oscillator module to adjust a frequency of the output signal by a first amount when a phase difference between a reference signal and the output signal is less than a threshold amount, and signal the oscillator module to adjust the frequency by a greater amount when the phase difference is greater than the threshold amount.
US08269531B1
A system can include at least one power supervisor coupled between two supply voltage terminals and including a comparator circuit configured to assert at least one output signal in response to a voltage between the terminals varying from at least one trip voltage, and a memory coupled to a programming interface for storing values that establish the at least one trip voltage; and circuitry coupled between the terminals that receives the at least one output signal, and configured to hold at least a portion of the circuitry in one mode of operation in response to the assertion of at least one output signal.
US08269529B2
Very low phase noise radio frequency (RF) source having multiple discrete frequency outputs used, for example, to calibrate phase noise measurement systems. The calibrator output frequencies can be tailored for a particular application using a scalable architecture.
US08269525B2
A disclosed integrated circuit logic cell includes a clock input operative to receive a clock input from a clock tree of the integrated circuit, and clocking circuitry, internal to the logic cell, operative to place a plurality of clock nodes, within the logic cell, in a logical off state in response to a predetermined logic state of the logic cell, thereby preventing the clock nodes from toggling during the predetermined logic state of the logic cell. The integrated circuit logic cell includes primary logic circuitry, internal to the logic cell, operatively coupled to the clocking circuitry which is operatively coupled to an input of the primary logic circuitry. The clocking circuitry provides clock outputs operatively coupled to the clock nodes which are within the primary logic circuitry, and is operative to control the clock outputs in response to the predetermined logic state.
US08269515B2
An electronic device for use with a probe head in automated test equipment includes first and second pluralities of semiconductor devices. The first plurality of semiconductor devices is arranged to form at least one driver arranged to couple to a device under test. The at least one driver is configured to transmit a signal to the at least one device under test. The second plurality of semiconductor devices is arranged to form at least one receiver arranged to couple to the device under test. The at least one receiver is configured to receive a signal from the at least one device under test. Each of the second plurality of semiconductor devices has a thickness less than about 300 μm exclusive of any electrical interconnects. The at least one receiver is adapted to mount directly to the probe head.
US08269513B2
The invention relates to a method for monitoring an electrical heating apparatus and to a corresponding apparatus. The electrical heating apparatus has at least one heating element. A measured value, which is dependent on the resistance and/or the inductance of the electrical heating element, is measured, the measurement being carried out by means of the measured value being sampled. Owing to the use of sampled values, the measurement process can be shortened.
US08269511B2
A mutual capacitance sensor device comprises a plurality of receiver sensor electrodes, a plurality of transmitter sensor electrodes, and a processing system coupled with the plurality of receiver sensor electrodes and coupled with the plurality of transmitter sensor electrodes. The processing system is configured for acquiring a capacitive image from the pluralities of sensor electrodes. The processing system is also configured for correlating a part of the capacitive image with at least one input object template image to determine both a presence and a type of an input object interacting with the mutual capacitance sensor device.
US08269508B2
A method for determining optimal source impedance at the input of a device under testing (DUT) in a measurement bench, includes the steps of calibrating a source pull type bench as a measurement bench, adjusting a load impedance and continuous bias of the DUT, generating an electric power signal by the source and injected in the DUT, acquiring input impedances of the DUT and corresponding gain performances.
US08269500B2
A geophysical measurement device is provided for exploration of natural resources of the floor in an aquatic domain. The device includes a frame designed to rest in a stable manner on the floor of the aquatic environment, at least one buoyancy caisson resting on the frame, measurement instruments. The measurement instruments including: at least one sensor making it possible to measure locally at least one of the components of the magnetic field; an analogue and/or digital data acquisition and processing device; and a source of energy supply of the sensor and of the data acquisition and processing device. The at least one sensor is contained inside the buoyancy caisson.
US08269499B2
An electrically-controlled failsafe switch is included in an MRI transmit-and-receive RF coil assembly so as to protect it from induced RF currents in the event it is disconnected from an MRI system, but inadvertently left linked to strong MRI RF fields during imaging procedures using other RF coils.
US08269497B2
An NMR probe which includes a probe matrix (24) having a void sample (28) volume therein. A conductive coil (16, 26) can be at least partially embedded in the probe matrix (24). By embedding the conductive coil (16, 26) in the probe matrix (24), the fill-factor can be significantly increased. NMR probes can be formed by a method which includes wrapping a conductive wire (16) around a coil form (18) to produce a coil precursor assembly. The probe matrix (24) can be formed around the conductive wire and coil form with a matrix material using any suitable technique such as soft lithography and/or molding. The coil form can be removed from the probe matrix leaving a void sample volume (28) in the probe matrix. Advantageously, the NMR probes of the present invention allow for fill-factors approaching and achieving 100%.
US08269480B2
A method for identifying and reducing spurious frequency components is provided. A method in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure may include generating a digital sinusoidal waveform at a direct digital synthesizer (DDS) and receiving the digital sinusoidal waveform at an audio digital-to-analog converter. The method may further include converting the digital sinusoidal waveform to an analog sinusoidal waveform containing spurious frequency components, combining the analog sinusoidal waveform with an analog distortion correction waveform to generate a composite output waveform and receiving the composite output waveform at notch filter circuitry. The method may also include filtering the composite output waveform to generate a filtered composite output waveform and amplifying a difference between the filtered composite output waveform and a signal from a circuit-under-test (CUT) to generate an amplified analog signal. The method may also include converting the amplified analog signal to an amplified digital signal. Of course, additional implementations are also within the scope of the present disclosure.
US08269470B2
A mechanical flow battery comprises a flywheel system in which a spinning axis can be driven by an air-powered motor and the structure of the gyroscope is employed in the mechanical flow battery. The structure of the gyroscope can be constructed by coupling the housing of the flywheel system with a nutation frame which couples a precession frame so that the spinning axis in the flywheel can be isolated from any outside gyroscopic torque.
US08269468B2
A charging circuit includes a current mirror block configured to charge a load in response to a control voltage applied thereto, and a charge controller configured to generate the control voltage in response to comparison result values obtained by comparing a current sensing value and a voltage sensing value of the current mirror block with respective reference values. The comparison result value are applied to the gates of MOS transistors connected in series. The charge controller is configured to switch a charge mode from a constant current charge mode to a constant voltage charge mode when the charge state of the load reaches a predetermined state.
US08269460B2
A switch element is configured to decrease an impedance of a voltage-detection integrated circuit that detect voltage between both ends of unit cells of a higher-ordered battery block, for adjacently-connected pair of the higher-ordered battery block and a lower-ordered battery block. The voltage-detection integrated circuit is configured to detect disconnection of an electrical wire when voltage between both ends of a lowest-ordered unit cell that is detected with the switch element turned on is equal to or lower than a threshold.
US08269457B2
An electric vehicle and a range extender engine are shown including the controls to operate the same.
US08269456B2
There is provided a planar inductive battery charging system designed to enable electronic devices to be recharged. The system includes a planar charging module having a charging surface on which a device to be recharged is placed. Within the charging module and parallel to the charging surface is at least one and preferably an array of primary windings that couple energy inductively to a secondary winding formed in the device to be recharged. The invention also provides secondary modules that allow the system to be used with conventional electronic devices not formed with secondary windings.
US08269447B2
A drive system is presented for controlling rotation of a sphere. The system facilitates holonomic motion of a drive with respect to a sphere such that a holonomic drive or drives may be maintained at a relative position with respect to a sphere. The motion of a sphere may be controlled by controlling the position of a drive with respect to the sphere. The drive may be controlled by way of a controller. A holonomic drive may be urged against a sphere by way magnetic interaction of the holonomic drive and a second structure. Also, a support structure is facilitated that allows a sphere to pass through a support column without breaks or interruptions in the sphere.
US08269442B2
A brushless D.C. motor includes having a rotor and a plurality of stator windings that define a stator field when driven by a bridge circuit, where a microprocessor drives the bridge circuit using a pulse-width modulation logic. The brushless D.C. motor is driven by triggering a commutation of the stator field; voltage induced by rotating the rotor in a non-energized stator winding is monitored to determine whether the voltage reaches, exceeds or is below a threshold voltage. A delay time between triggering the commutation of the stator field and the voltage reaching, exceeding or being below the threshold voltage is determined; and using the determined delay time a triggering time point for a next commutation of the stator field.
US08269436B2
To prevent a step-out of a permanent magnet synchronous type motor (1), a motor control device (3a) is provided to include a flux control unit (16) for deriving an excitation current command value (iγ*) according to the rotation speed (ωe) of the motor, and a voltage shortage determination unit (30) for determining whether or not the supply voltage to the motor is running short based on the excitation current command value (iγ*). When a negative excitation current command value (iγ*) is smaller than a negative determination threshold value, the motor control device determines that the supply voltage is running short and prohibits an increase of the rotation speed or decreases the rotation speed.
US08269426B2
A light source apparatus includes an arc tube having a first electrode and a second electrode that carry out an emission of light due to a discharge between them, and a drive that, when supplying energy in an alternating current to the first electrode and the second electrode, carries out a steady operation supplying a steady energy to the first electrode and the second electrode, and an initial operation making a cumulative energy supplied to at least one electrode, of the first electrode and the second electrode, in an anode period of the relevant electrode, prior to the steady period, greater than during the steady period.
US08269424B2
In at least one embodiment of the disclosure, a discharge lamp lighting device comprises a discharge lamp driving section, a state detecting section that detects a deterioration state of an electrode of a discharge lamp, and a control unit. The control unit alternately performs a first DC driving processing and a first AC driving processing in a first section of the driving current. The control unit alternately performs a second DC driving processing and a second AC driving processing in a second section of the driving current different from the first section. According to a progress of the deterioration state of the electrode, the control unit increases a length of at least one of: (i) a period for which the first DC driving processing is performed, and (ii) a period for which the second DC driving processing is performed.
US08269423B2
Various embodiments of LED drivers and associated methods of are described below. In one embodiment, a method for controlling an LED driver includes receiving a reference voltage, receiving a feedback voltage from said LED driver, receiving said input voltage as a first feed forward voltage and said output voltage as a second feed forward voltage, generating a hysteretic width based on said first feed forward voltage and said second feed forward voltage, and generating a hysteretic band voltage using said hysteretic width and said reference voltage. The method also includes generating a first control signal for controlling said LED driver based on said hysteretic band voltage and said feedback voltage, inverting said first control signal to generate a second control signal for controlling said LED driver, and achieving a generally fixed frequency for said LED driver.
US08269422B2
An output controllable frequency modulation electronic ballast includes a first stage for converting AC current into DC current and boosting of voltage; a buck DC-DC converter; a transistor of the buck DC-DC converter having an input end which is selected from a gate for MOSFET and a base for a bipolar transistor; and a PWM controller connected between the input end of the buck DC-DC converter and an output end of the lamp body; a frequency controllable oscillator being connected to the PWM controller for providing variable frequency to the PWM controller as a base band signals of the PWM controller; and an oscillation controlling processor being connected to the frequency controller oscillator for generating instructions to change the oscillation frequency of the frequency controller oscillator and thus to adjust the modulation frequency of the output of the PWM controller.
US08269416B2
A compressed multilayered film for a flexible functional element includes a base film, a transparent conductive layer coated on one side of the base film, and a support layer with a low adhesion layer liner on an opposite side of the base film. The support layer is separable from the base film. The base film has a thickness of 3 to 25 μm, and the transparent conductive layer is composed mainly of conductive oxide microparticles and a binder matrix. The multilayered film is compressed to increase the filling density of the conductive microparticles in the transparent conductive layer.
US08269413B2
An organic light emitting display device having spacers and a manufacturing method thereof. The organic light emitting display device according to the present invention includes a first substrate divided into a pixel region and a non-pixel region surrounding the pixel region; a plurality of organic light emitting diodes having each pixel formed on the first substrate and provided onto the pixel region; a second substrate for encapsulating the pixel region; and a spacer arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate, provided in at least on region between pixels as a non-light emission region and containing a desiccant.
US08269405B1
A neutral electrode spark plug (10) consisting of a cylindrical metallic shell (20) having a tubular ceramic insulator (22), including an insulator tip (28) enclosed therein, and a central electrode (30) surrounded by the ceramic insulator (22). The central electrode (30) has a firing tip (36) extending from the insulator tip (28). A neutral electrode (38) extends from the insulator tip (28) providing a first spark gap that is separated from the central electrode (30). A side ground electrode (40) is attached to the metallic shell (20) and is laterally aligned with the central electrode (30) and the neutral electrode (38). The ground electrode (40) provides a second spark gap that is separated from the neutral insulator (38) and a third spark gap formed with the ground electrode (40) a distance away from the insulator tip.
US08269399B2
A sensor assembly includes a transducer and a control module coupled with the transducer. The control module is configured to selectively switch the sensor assembly between a first mode of operation wherein the sensor assembly measures an amount of energy induced to the sensor assembly, and a second mode of operation wherein the sensor assembly stores an amount of energy induced to the sensor assembly.
US08269398B2
A piezoelectric actuator has a piezoelectric element and a frictional portion. The piezoelectric element simultaneously generates first and second vibration modes in response to a voltage applied thereto. The frictional portion is arranged on an outer surface of the piezoelectric element and adapted to come into contact with a body to be driven and cause a frictional force therewith. The frictional portion has a glass-containing portion containing a glass material and being aimed such as to project from the outer surface of the piezoelectric element. Without restricting the size of the piezoelectric element, the piezoelectric actuator inhibits its driving state from fluctuating.
US08269388B2
A rotor assembly includes a rotor having a central axis extending between the two opposing ends and a radial surface, and is rotatable about the central axis. At least one electromagnet is disposed proximal to and configured to exert magnetic force on a portion of the rotor. Further, a channeling member is disposed generally adjacent to the electromagnet and has a radial surface disposed adjacent to the rotor radial surface. As such, magnetic flux generated by the electromagnet extends generally radially between the electromagnet and the rotor portion and generally axially between the rotor portion and the channeling member so that the magnetic force biases the rotor both radially and axially to maintain the rotor at a desired position. Preferably, the assembly includes a plurality of magnets proximal to each end, two channeling members, and a tubular body extending between the channeling members and enclosing the rotor.
US08269385B2
An injection-molded stator has a stator core, a coil winding having a head, an end insulating plate having a first groove, and a connector. The end insulating plate is disposed on one end of the stator core, the connector is formed by the head of the coil winding and a power lead electrically connected to each other, and the connector is fixed in the first groove via sealant. The connector is conveniently installed, firmly fixed, orderly distributed and not easily corroded or oxidized, and features simple processing and good sealing effect.
US08269384B2
A vehicle alternator comprises a rotor and a stator positioned within a housing. The housing includes a front face, a rear face, and a outer wall extending between the front face and the rear face. The front face includes a plurality of air inlet holes, and the rear face including a plurality of air outlet holes. The outer wall is void of air holes that extend through the outer wall. The rotor is positioned within the housing and configured to rotate about an axis. The stator is positioned within the housing between the rotor and the outer wall of the housing. The stator includes a core with an outer surface, a front end and a rear end. A plurality of substantially axial air passages are positioned between the outer wall of the housing and the outer surface of the stator core.
US08269369B2
Apparatuses and methods for a wind turbine and blade assembly are disclosed. The wind turbine has a wind turbine assembly being rotatably driven by the blade assembly. The wind turbine assembly has a shaft connected to an inner wheel by a supporting structure. A magnet array is disposed circumferentially about the inner wheel. A transformer array is disposed circumferentially about an outer wheel. The shaft rotates the inner wheel with the magnet array within the outer wheel having the transformer array for producing electricity. Magnets within the array are angled relative to the inner wheel. Blades are held in a neutral position into the wind by tensioning means. Rotation of the blades out of the wind is resisted by the tensioning means to tune the blades to the wind velocity.
US08269367B2
A shaft brake mechanism of wind power generator, including a first brake assembly and a second brake assembly independent from each other. The first brake assembly serves to provide braking effect for the shaft of the wind power generator against rotation. The second brake assembly serves to naturally restrain the rotational speed of the shaft from exceeding a nominal upper limit of rotational speed. Accordingly, the wind power generator can still safely operate in a situation that the wind speed exceeds a nominal upper limit of wind speed. Therefore, the wind speed range for the operation of the wind power generator is widened to increase the total power generation capacity thereof.
US08269353B2
Patterns provided on a surface of a substrate include an adhesion area pattern and one or more non-adhesion area patterns. A chip electrode on a backside of a semiconductor chip is attached to the adhesion area pattern by a conductive adhesive. Consequently, an area of patterns subjected to gold plating that is stable in a steady state is smaller in a substrate of the present invention than in a conventional substrate, resulting in reduction in costs. Further, the chip electrode is attached to the adhesion area pattern by a conductive adhesive in a liquid form. Consequently, a semiconductor device of the present invention allows reducing use of an expensive conductive adhesive compared with a conventional semiconductor device, resulting in reduction in costs.
US08269350B1
An interconnection component includes a plurality of through-substrate vias (TSVs) penetrating through a substrate. The plurality of TSVs includes an active TSV having a first end and a second end. The first end of the active TSV is electrically coupled to a signal-providing circuit. The second end of the active TSV is electrically coupled to an additional package component bonded to the interconnection component. The plurality of TSVs further includes a dummy TSV having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is electrically coupled to the signal-providing circuit, and wherein the second end is open ended.
US08269347B2
A semiconductor chip, an electrode structure and a method of manufacture, the chip including a semiconductor substrate having a multi-level interconnection and an electrode pad connected to the interconnection, a protective film on the substrate, an insulating film on the protective film, a bump of a metal on the electrode pad, and a barrier layer between the side of the bump and the insulation film.
US08269345B2
A bump contact electrically connects a conductor on a substrate and a contact pad on a semiconductor device mounted to the substrate. The first end of an electrically conductive pillar effects electrical contact and mechanical attachment of the pillar to the contact pad with the pillar projecting outwardly from the semiconductor device. A solder crown reflowable at a predetermined temperature into effecting electrical contact and mechanical attachment with the conductor is positioned in axial alignment with the second end of the pillar. A diffusion barrier electrically and mechanically joins the solder bump to the second end of the pillar and resists electro-migration into the first end of the solder crown of copper from the pillar. One diffusion barrier takes the form of a 2-20 micron thick control layer of nickel, palladium, titanium-tungsten, nickel-vanadium, or tantalum nitride positioned between the pillar and the solder crown.
US08269340B2
A heat spreader or lid for a microelectronic package, in which the heat spreader has an underside surface that includes at least one curvilinear contour, in which the curvilinear contour is selected from at least one positive or protruding curvilinear feature, at least one negative or recessed curvilinear feature, and a combination thereof. A microelectronic package that includes the heat spreader/lid, in which there is improved heat dissipation or reduced mechanical stress in an interface between the heat spreader/lid and a circuit chip.
US08269332B2
A semiconductor element mounting board includes: aboard having surfaces; a semiconductor element mounted on one of the surfaces of the board; a first layer into which the semiconductor element is embedded, the first layer being provided on the one surface of the board; a second layer provided on the other surface of the board, the second layer being constituted from the same material as that of the first layer, the constituent material of the second layer having the same composition ratio as that of the constituent material of the first layer; and surface layers provided on the first and second layers, respectively, each of the surface layers being formed from at least a single layer. In such a semiconductor element mounting board, each of the surface layers has rigidity higher than that of each of the first and second layers. It is preferred that in the case where a Young's modulus of each surface layer at 25° C. is defined as X GPa and a Young's modulus of the first layer at 25° C. is defined as Y GPa, the X and the Y satisfy a relation of 0.5≦X−Y≦13.
US08269331B2
A power semiconductor element and a capacitor have their electrodes joined to each other in a module. The power semiconductor element is formed on a semiconductor substrate having first and second main surfaces. A power semiconductor module includes an electrode through which a main current flows, joined to the first main surface, an electrode through which the main current flows, joined to the second main surface, and a resin portion sealing the semiconductor substrate, the capacitor and the electrodes. The capacitor includes electrodes. The electrode of the capacitor and the electrode of the semiconductor element are joined to each other by solder such that surfaces exposed through the resin portion are arranged on one continuous surface on which a cooler can be attached. Therefore, a power semiconductor module can be provided in which the capacitor and the power semiconductor element can effectively be cooled and the surge voltage can be reduced.
US08269327B2
The Vertical System Integration (VSI) invention herein is a method for integration of disparate electronic, optical and MEMS technologies into a single integrated circuit die or component and wherein the individual device layers used in the VSI fabrication processes are preferably previously fabricated components intended for generic multiple application use and not necessarily limited in its use to a specific application. The VSI method of integration lowers the cost difference between lower volume custom electronic products and high volume generic use electronic products by eliminating or reducing circuit design, layout, tooling and fabrication costs.
US08269323B2
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for integrated circuit packages, and for package stacking, are provided. An electrically conductive frame is attached to a first surface of a substrate. The electrically conductive frame includes a perimeter ring portion, a plurality of leads, and a plurality of interconnect members positioned within a periphery formed by the perimeter ring portion. Each interconnect member is coupled to the perimeter ring portion by a respective lead. A first end of each interconnect member is coupled to the first surface of the substrate. An encapsulating material is applied to the first surface of the substrate, without covering a second end of each interconnect member with the encapsulating material. The perimeter ring portion is removed from the electrically conductive frame to isolate the plurality of interconnect members. A first integrated circuit package is formed in this manner. A second integrated circuit package may be mounted to the first package. Signals of the first package may be electrically coupled with the second package at the exposed second ends of the interconnect members. Side surfaces of the interconnect members may be exposed at sides of the first package.
US08269320B2
Integrated circuit package system for electromagnetic isolation and method for manufacturing thereof
A method for manufacturing an integrated circuit package system includes: providing a lead frame; forming an integrated circuit package including the lead frame; providing a selectively exposed area on the lead frame; and coating a conductive shielding layer on the integrated circuit package for coupling the selectively exposed area.
US08269316B2
A silicon based substrate includes a silicon wafer, a first circuit substrate and a second circuit substrate. The silicon wafer includes a first surface and a second surface and at least a through silicon via. The first circuit substrate is disposed on the first surface and includes a plurality of first dielectric layers and a plurality of first conductive trace layers alternately stacked. The second circuit substrate is disposed on the second surface and includes a plurality of second dielectric layers and a plurality of second conductive trace layers alternately stacked. The trace density of the first conductive trace layers is higher than the trace density of the second conductive trace layers. Otherwise, the first dielectric layer includes an inorganic material and the second dielectric layer includes an organic material. A manufacturing method of the silicon based substrate is also provided.
US08269314B2
The present invention supplied a display apparatus using plastic substrate instead of glass substrate, which can solve such problems that the plastic substrate has a low heat conductivity and its heat release performance becomes bad so that it is difficult to obtain stable performance and reliability. In the display apparatus, inner surface electrode integrated with vertical wiring between plastic substrate and thin film LED 102 is accumulated, the inner surface electrode acts as a heat release layer for releasing heat produced inside the thin film LED 102.
US08269305B2
Aspects of the present invention provide a high-voltage semiconductor device and a high voltage integrated circuit device while minimizing or eliminating the need for the addition of back surface steps. Aspects of the invention provide a high-voltage semiconductor device that achieves, low voltage driving and quick response by way of stable high voltage wiring and a low ON voltage. In some aspects of the invention, a high-voltage semiconductor device can include a semiconductor layer is formed on a support substrate interposing an embedded oxide film therebetween. A high potential side second stage transistor and a low potential side first stage transistor surrounding the second stage transistor are formed on the surface region of the semiconductor layer. The source electrode of the second stage transistor is connected to the drain electrode of the first stage transistor. A drain electrode of the second stage transistor is connected to a drain pad.
US08269301B2
Submounts for mounting optical devices which have an excellent heat radiating property and can be formed in a wafer state in batch are provided.A metallized electrode including optical device mounting parts and wiring parts is formed on a surface of a first substrate containing an insulating material as a main component, a through hole is formed in a glass substrate serving as a second substrate, the optical device mounting parts of the first substrate are aligned to be located inside the through hole of the second substrate, and the first substrate and the second substrate are joined together by use of a method such as anodic bonding.
US08269293B2
Disclosed are a spin transistor and a method of operating the spin transistor. The disclosed spin transistor includes a channel formed of a magnetic material selectively passing a spin-polarized electron having a specific direction, a source formed of a magnetic material, a drain, and a gate electrode. When a predetermined voltage is applied to the gate electrode, the channel selectively passes a spin-polarized electron having a specific direction and thus, the spin transistor is selectively turned on.
US08269291B2
A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) resonator or filter including a first conductive layer, one or more electrodes patterned in the first conductive layer which serve the function of signal input, signal output, or DC biasing, or some combination of these functions, an evacuated cavity, a resonating member comprised of a lower conductive layer and an upper structural layer, a first air gap between the resonating member and one or more of the electrodes, an upper membrane covering the cavity, and a second air gap between the resonating member and the upper membrane.
US08269282B2
A semiconductor component includes at least one field effect transistor disposed along a trench in a semiconductor region and has at least one locally delimited dopant region in the semiconductor region. The at least one locally delimited dopant region extends from or over a pn junction between the source region and the body region of the transistor or between the drain region and the body region of the transistor into the body region as far as the gate electrode, such that a gap between the pn junction and the gate electrode in the body region is bridged by the locally delimited dopant region.
US08269280B2
A technique for enhancing substrate bias of grounded-gate NMOS fingers (ggNMOSFET's) has been developed. By using this technique, lower triggering voltage of NMOS fingers can be achieved without degrading ESD protection in negative zapping. By introducing a simple gate-coupled effect and a PMOSFET triggering source with this technique, low-voltage triggered NMOS fingers have also been developed in power and I/O ESD protection, respectively. A semiconductor device which includes a P-well which is underneath NMOS fingers. The device includes an N-well ring which is configured so that the inner P-well underneath the NMOS fingers is separated from an outer P-well. The inner P-well and outer P-well are connected by a P-substrate resistance which is much higher than the resistance of the P-wells. A P+-diffusion ring surrounding the N-well ring is configured to connect to VSS, i.e., P-taps.
US08269278B2
The semiconductor device with a π-shaped semiconductor conductive layer manufactured by the manufacturing method thereof utilizes two pathways of the π-shaped semiconductor conductive layer connected to the silicon layer of a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate for heat dissipation, so as to reduce the self-heating effects (SHEs). Furthermore, the semiconductor device of the invention utilizes the self-aligned technique to form a self-aligned structure with a gate unit and the silicon layer, so that the process is simple, the production cost is reduced, the compacted ability and the yield are improved, the off current and short-channel effects (SCEs) are still similar to a conventional UTSOI MOSFET, and the stability and the reliability are therefore superior.
US08269275B2
According to an exemplary embodiment, a method for fabricating a MOS transistor, such as an LDMOS transistor, includes forming a self-aligned lightly doped region in a first well underlying a first sidewall of a gate. The method further includes forming a self-aligned extension region under a second sidewall of the gate, where the self-aligned extension region extends into the first well from a second well. The method further includes forming a drain region spaced apart from the second sidewall of the gate. The method further includes forming a source region in the self-aligned lightly doped region and the first well. The self-aligned lightly doped region and the self-aligned extension region define a channel length of the MOS transistor, such as an LDMOS transistor.
US08269274B2
In a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type, first to third drain offset regions of a second conductivity type are formed in that order in a bottom up manner. A body region of the first conductivity type is formed partly in the second drain offset region and partly in the third drain offset region. The second drain offset region has a lower impurity concentration than the first and third drain offset regions. A curvature portion of the body region is located in the second drain offset region.
US08269265B2
The present invention provides embodiments of a capacitor and a method of forming the capacitor. The capacitor includes one or more trenches formed in a semiconductor layer above a substrate. The trench includes dielectric material deposited on the trench walls and a conductive fill material formed within the trench and above the dielectric material. The capacitor also includes one or more first doped regions formed adjacent the trench(es) in the semiconductor layer. The first doped region is doped with a first type of dopant. The capacitor further includes one or more second doped regions formed adjacent the first doped region(s) in the semiconductor layer. The second doped regions are doped with a second type of dopant that is opposite to the first type of dopant.
US08269263B2
An ultra-short channel hybrid power field effect transistor (FET) device lets current flow from bulk silicon without npn parasitic. This device does not have body but still have body diode with low forward voltage at high current rating. The device includes a JFET component, a first accumulation MOSFET disposed adjacent to the JFET component, and a second accumulation MOSFET disposed adjacent to the JFET component at the bottom of the trench end, or a MOSFET with an isolated gate connecting the source.
US08269261B2
Methods and apparatus relating to very large scale FET arrays for analyte measurements. ChemFET (e.g., ISFET) arrays may be fabricated using conventional CMOS processing techniques based on improved FET pixel and array designs that increase measurement sensitivity and accuracy, and at the same time facilitate significantly small pixel sizes and dense arrays. Improved array control techniques provide for rapid data acquisition from large and dense arrays. Such arrays may be employed to detect a presence and/or concentration changes of various analyte types in a wide variety of chemical and/or biological processes. In one example, chemFET arrays facilitate DNA sequencing techniques based on monitoring changes in hydrogen ion concentration (pH), changes in other analyte concentration, and/or binding events associated with chemical processes relating to DNA synthesis.
US08269254B2
The use of atomic layer deposition (ALD) to form a semiconductor structure of a silicon film on a germanium substrate is disclosed. An example embodiment includes a tantalum nitride gate electrode on a hafnium dioxide gate dielectric on the silicon film (TaN/HfO2/Si/Ge), which produces a reliable high dielectric constant (high k) electronic structure having higher charge carrier mobility as compared to silicon substrates. This structure may be useful in high performance electronic devices. The structure can be formed by ALD deposition of a thin silicon layer on a germanium substrate surface, and then ALD forming a hafnium oxide gate dielectric layer, and a tantalum nitride gate electrode. Such a structure may be used as the gate of a MOSFET, or as a capacitor. The properties of the dielectric may be varied by replacing the hafnium oxide with another gate dielectric such as zirconium oxide (ZrO2), or titanium oxide (TiO2).
US08269248B2
Apparatus may be provided including a high power light emitting diode (LED) unit, at least one printed circuit board, and an interfacing portion of a heat sink structure. The high power LED unit includes at least one LED die, at least one first lead and at least one second lead, and a heat sink interface. The at least one printed circuit board includes a conductive pattern configured to connect both the at least one first lead and the at least one second lead to a current source. The interfacing portion of the heat sink structure is that portion through which a majority of heat of the heat sink interface is transmitted. The interfacing portion is directly in touching contact with a majority of a heat transfer area of the heat sink interface.
US08269243B2
An LED (light emitting diode) unit includes an LED and a lens mounted on the LED. The lens defines a passageway at a central portion thereof. The passageway runs through the lens. The lens includes a concave light emitting surface at a top thereof. Light output from the LED with a small light-emission angle travels directly through the passageway, without a loss of light intensity.
US08269242B2
Disclosed is a semiconductor light emitting device. The semiconductor light emitting device includes an n-type semiconductor layer, a p-type semiconductor layer, and an active layer disposed therebetween, and a surface plasmon layer disposed between the active layer and at least one of the n-type and p-type semiconductor layers, including metallic particles and an insulating material, and including a conductive via for electrical connection between the active layer and the at least one of the n-type and p-type semiconductor layers, wherein the metallic particles are enclosed by the insulating material to be insulated from the at least one of the n-type and p-type semiconductor layers. The semiconductor light emitting device can achieve enhanced emission efficiency by using surface plasmon resonance. Using the semiconductor light emitting device, the diffusion of a metal employed for surface plasmon resonance into the active layer can be minimized.
US08269239B2
A light emitting diode (LED) chip package including: a package body; an LED chip mounted on the package body and emitting an excited light; a phosphor layer including a phosphor absorbing the excited light and emitting a wavelength conversion light obtained by converting a wavelength of the excited light and a phosphor resin mixed with the phosphor; and a reflector layer including a reflector formed between the LED chip and the phosphor layer, transmitting the excited light to the phosphor layer, and reflecting the wavelength conversion light from the phosphor layer, and a reflector resin mixed with the reflector.
US08269235B2
A light source comprising a semiconductor light emitting device is connected to a mount. The light emitting device comprises a plurality of segments with neighboring segments spaced less than 200 microns apart. In some embodiments, multiple segments are grown on a single growth substrate. Each segment comprises a light emitting layer disposed between an n-type region and a p-type region. A spacer is positioned on a top surface of the mount. The light emitting device is positioned in an opening in the spacer. A plurality of collimators is attached to the spacer, wherein each collimator is aligned with a single segment.
US08269234B2
A semiconductor light-emitting device is provided. The semiconductor light-emitting device comprises a plurality of compound semiconductor layers, an electrode layer, and a conductive support member. The compound semiconductor layers comprise a first conductivity type semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second conductivity type semiconductor layer. The electrode layer is disposed under the compound semiconductor layers. The conductive support member is disposed under the electrode layer. Herein, the conductive support member has a thermal expansion coefficient difference within about 50% with respect to the compound semiconductor layer.
US08269223B2
An avalanche photodetector comprising a multiplication layer formed of a first material having a first polarization; the multiplication layer having a first electric field upon application of a bias voltage; an absorption layer formed of a second material having a second polarization forming an interface with the multiplication layer; the absorption layer having a second electric field upon application of the bias voltage, the second electric field being less than the first electric field or substantially zero, carriers created by light absorbed in the absorption layer being multiplied in the multiplication layer due to the first electric field; the absorption layer having a second polarization which is greater or less than the first polarization to thereby create an interface charge; the interface charge being positive when the first material predominately multiplies holes, the interface charge being negative when the first material predominately multiplies electrons, the change in electric field at the interface occurring abruptly at the atomic level; the interface charge creating electric field discontinuity causing first electric field to attain the breakdown field in the multiplication region and the second electric field to be low or zero in the absorption layer to thereby eliminate the need for a doped charge layer and the associated thickness of the doped charge layer required to transition from the low field to the high field. Also claimed is a method of making.
US08269219B2
A method is used to form a self-aligning thin film transistor. The thin film transistor includes a gate contact formed with a state-switchable material, and a dielectric layer to isolate the gate contact. A source-drain layer, which includes a source contact, and a drain contact are formed with a source-drain material. An area of the gate contact is exposed to a form of energy, wherein the energy transforms a portion of the state switchable material from a non-conductive material to a conductive material, the conductive portion defining the gate contact. A semiconductor material is formed between the source contact and the drain contact.
US08269218B2
One object is to provide a transistor including an oxide semiconductor film which is used for the pixel portion of a display device and has high reliability. A display device has a first gate electrode; a first gate insulating film over the first gate electrode; an oxide semiconductor film over the first gate insulating film; a source electrode and a drain electrode over the oxide semiconductor film; a second gate insulating film over the source electrode, the drain electrode and the oxide semiconductor film; a second gate electrode over the second gate insulating film; an organic resin film having flatness over the second gate insulating film; a pixel electrode over the organic resin film having flatness, wherein the concentration of hydrogen atoms contained in the oxide semiconductor film and measured by secondary ion mass spectrometry is less than 1×1016 cm−3.
US08269211B2
An organic electronic device including: a first layer including a conductive or semiconductive organic material; a second layer including a conductive or semiconductive inorganic material, and in contact with the first layer; and an interface layer between the first layer and the second layer, wherein the interface layer includes a conductive or semiconductive organic material and a conductive or semiconductive inorganic material.
US08269198B2
A method for delivering therapeutic heavy ion radiation to a subject, wherein a therapeutic dose of heavy ions is delivered substantially only to a target volume within the subject by generating a broad field of radiation effect substantially only within the target volume, and wherein the broad field of radiation effect is not generated in non-targeted tissue. The method includes the step of irradiating the target volume with at least two arrays of heavy ion microbeams, wherein the at least two arrays each have at least two parallel, spatially distinct heavy ion microbeams. The two arrays of microbeams are interleaved substantially only within the target volume to form a substantially continuous broad beam of radiation substantially only within the target volume.
US08269195B2
A patient alignment system for a radiation therapy system. The alignment system includes multiple external measurement devices which obtain position measurements of components of the radiation therapy system which are movable and/or are subject to flex or other positional variations. The alignment system employs the external measurements to provide corrective positioning feedback to more precisely register the patient and align them with a radiation beam. The alignment system can be provided as an integral part of a radiation therapy system or can be added as an upgrade to existing radiation therapy systems.
US08269194B2
A composite focused ion beam device has a sample stage for supporting a sample, a first ion beam irradiation system that irradiates a first ion beam for processing the sample, and a second ion beam irradiation system that irradiates a second ion beam for processing or observing the sample. The first ion beam irradiation system has a liquid metal ion source that generates first ions for forming the first ion beam. The second ion beam irradiation system has a gas field ion source that generates second ions for forming the second ion beam. The first ion beam irradiated by the first ion beam irradiation system has a first beam diameter and the second ion beam irradiated by the second ion beam irradiation system has a second beam diameter smaller than the first beam diameter. The first and second ion beam irradiation systems are disposed relative to the sample stage so that axes of the first and second ion beams are orthogonal to a tilt axis of the sample stage.
US08269191B2
An apparatus for determining the depolarization efficiency of a environment includes a transmitter, a receiver, and signal processing circuitry. A reference object is located within the environment at a reference distance. The transmitter includes a radiation source providing incident radiation that has an initial polarization as it enters the environment. The receiver receives returned radiation from the reference, which may be diffuse reflection or photoluminescence. The signal processing circuitry calculates the depolarization efficiency of the environment from the initial polarization, luminescence or final polarization, and the reference distance. A method of determining depolarization efficiency includes directing incident radiation having initial polarization through an environment onto a reference, detecting returned radiation from the reference, and calculating the depolarization efficiency using the initial polarization and the luminescence or final polarization.
US08269190B2
Methods and systems are provided for enhancing the ultraviolet output of a water disinfection apparatus by: (i) maintaining the source of the UV radiation at a stable operating temperature and, (ii) facilitating an efficient transfer of microwave energy to the source of the UV radiation.
US08269180B2
The preferred embodiments of the present invention include a device for measuring an ionizing event in a radiation sensor. The device can include a charge amplifier and a timing shaper. The charge amplifier receives a cathode signal and is configured to output an amplified cathode signal. The timing shaper is operatively connected to the charge amplifier to receive the amplified cathode signal. The timing shaper is configured to generate a first pulse in response to a beginning of the ionizing event and a second pulse in response to an end of the ionizing event. The first and second pulses are associated with a depth of interaction of the ionizing event and are generated in response to a slope of the amplified cathode signal changing.
US08269178B2
It is provided a capacitive type proximity sensor, comprising a sensing electrode, whereas the sensing electrode has a surface with electroconductive areas 113 and not-electroconductive areas 117, whereas the sensor is adapted for measuring an electrical field 110, 112 between the sensing electrode and an object 109, 111. Further it is described an apparatus for medical x-ray diagnosis and/or x-ray therapy and/or nuclear diagnosis/therapy, e.g. SPECT, a system for medical x-ray diagnosis and/or x-ray therapy and/or nuclear diagnosis/therapy, e.g. SPECT, a method for avoiding collision between an apparatus for medical x-ray diagnosis and/or x-ray therapy and/or nuclear diagnosis/therapy, e.g. SPECT, and an object, a program element and a computer readable medium. It is disclosed a capacitance type proximity sensor whose sensitivity of approaching objects has an improved independence from the special geometry of the sensor itself.
US08269175B2
A method for detecting a gesture and controlling an electronic device includes providing a sensing assembly including at least one photoreceiver and a plurality of phototransmitters, wherein each phototransmitter emits infrared light; controlling the emisson of infrared light by each of the phototransmitters during each of a plurality of time periods during movement of an external object in a geometric shape relative to the electronic device. For each of the plurality of phototransmitters and for each of the plurality of time periods, a corresponding measured signal is generated which is indicative of a respective amount of infrared light which originated from that phototransmitter during that time period and was reflected by the external object prior to being received by the photoreceiver. The measured signals are evaluated to identify the geometric shape; and the electronic device is controlled in response to the identification of the geometric shape.
US08269172B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, devices and methods for detecting both ambient light and proximity to an object. This detection is performed by a double-layered photodiode array and corresponding circuitry such that ambient light and proximity detection are enabled by a plurality of integrated photodiodes. In various embodiments of the invention, ambient light is sensed using a first set of photodiodes and a second set of photodiodes such that a spectral response is created that is approximately equal to the visible light spectrum. Proximity detection is realized using an integrated photodiode, positioned below the first and second sets of photodiodes, that detects infrared light and generates a response thereto.
US08269170B2
Novel systems and methods for remotely detecting at least one constituent of a gas via infrared detection are provided. A system includes at least one extended source of broadband infrared radiation and a spectrally sensitive receiver positioned remotely from the source. The source and the receiver are oriented such that a surface of the source is in the field of view of the receiver. The source includes a heating component thermally coupled to the surface, and the heating component is configured to heat the surface to a temperature above ambient temperature. The receiver is operable to collect spectral infrared absorption data representative of a gas present between the source and the receiver. The invention advantageously overcomes significant difficulties associated with active infrared detection techniques known in the art, and provides an infrared detection technique with a much greater sensitivity than passive infrared detection techniques known in the art.
US08269168B1
A detector and modulator of electromagnetic radiation is 3-dimensional structure made of substantially 2 dimensional high impedance metamaterial surfaces stacked one above the other with a dielectric layer in between and located above a conducting ground plane. Each 2 dimension surface may be formed by an open continuous conductive trace, such as metallic wire or a printed circuit line, which is cast or plated on or into a 2-D periodic arrangement of an element that belongs to the Hilbert space filling curves.
US08269166B2
A mass analysis of a standard sample having a known mass-to-charge ratio is carried out by performing a mass scan at a first-stage quadrupole (13) over a predetermined mass range, under the condition that a collision induced dissociation (CID) gas is introduced into a collision cell (14) and a voltage applied to a third-stage quadrupole (17) is set so that no substantial mass separation occurs in this quadrupole. Various kinds of product ions originating from a precursor ion selected by the first-stage quadrupole (13) arrive at and are detected by a detector (18) without being mass separated. Accordingly, based on the detection data, a data processor (25) can obtain a relationship between the voltage applied to the first-stage quadrupole (13) and the mass-to-charge ratio of the selected ions, with a time delay in the collision cell (14) reflected in that relationship. This relationship is stored in a calibration data memory (26), to be utilized in a neutral loss scan measurement or the like. By using this relationship, a mass shift due to the time delay in the collision cell (14) can be cancelled, so that the product ions can be detected with high sensitivity over the entire mass range. Furthermore, a mass spectrum having an accurate mass axis can be created.
US08269158B2
In a sensing system and a method for obtaining a position of a pointer, the sensing system includes a sensing area, a reflective mirror, an image sensor and a processing circuit. The reflective mirror is configured for generating a mirror image of a pointer when the pointer approaches the sensing area. The image sensor is configured for sensing the pointer and the mirror image thereof when the pointer approaches the sensing area. When the pointer approaches the sensing area, the processing circuit calculates a coordinate value of the pointer according to an image sensed by the image sensor and a predetermined size of the pointer. The pointer forms an imaginary orthographic projection in the sensing area, the processing circuit regards the imaginary orthographic projection as a round projection, and a radius of the round projection is the predetermined size.
US08269155B2
A heat retaining dish includes a pressure relief mechanism and has a heat retention material capable of being heated by microwave or other thermal radiation in order to maintain any food placed on the dish at an elevated temperature. The heat retention material is capable of accommodating expansion during heating of the device, and when an overpressure condition occurs as a result of inadvertent overheating, the pressure relief mechanism vents the pressure to the ambient environment. The pressure relief mechanism is an integral part of the wall construction of at least one of the portions making up the housing of the device, and deformation due to overpressure directly causes the opening of the pressure relief mechanism as soon as the housing is deformed sufficiently to open a fluid communication path through an aperture in the wall.
US08269154B2
Ovenware for microwave ovens which contain a composition comprising a susceptor and a thermoplastic or thermoset polymer are improved when the composition also has a thermal conductivity of about 0.7 W/m° K. or more. Heat generated by absorption of microwave radiation by the susceptor is more readily conducted to the food being cooked when the thermal conductivity of the composition is high, particularly when the part containing the susceptor is relatively thick. Also described are designs for various pieces of ovenware containing this composition.
US08269145B2
The invention relates to a method for operating a heating element in a motor vehicle by pulse width modulation, wherein fluctuations in the supply voltage are compensated for by adapting the duty cycle so as to achieve a desired heating output. According to the invention, during a voltage pulse the voltage that is present at the heating element and/or the current flowing through the heating element are measured at specified intervals, and the measured values or values determined therefrom are added to calculate a sum value, which rises with the energy that is fed into the heating element by the voltage pulse, and the voltage pulse is ended at the latest when the sum value has reached a target value. The invention furthermore relates to a glow plug controller for carrying out the method according to the invention.
US08269142B2
A weld current generating apparatus includes a voltage conversion circuit, a control circuit, and a charge/discharge circuit. The voltage conversion circuit receives an AC voltage from an AC voltage input terminal and converts the AC voltage to a DC voltage. The control circuit receives the DC voltage and outputs control signals. The charge/discharge circuit receives the DC voltage and is charged by the DC voltage or discharged according to the control signals. The charge/discharge circuit outputs a continuous weld current during discharging process.
US08269140B2
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a solder paste feeding device feeds solder paste to a ring-like terminal surrounding a through-hole and a rod terminal fitted in the through-hole so as to fill in the through-hole, the laser beam irradiation device irradiates the solder past with a laser beam, and wire solder is further fed from above the solder past at the same time as melting of the solder paste is started, thereby fusing the wire solder and the solder paste to solder the ring-like terminal and the rod terminal.
US08269138B2
A method for separating sheet of brittle material having a thickness equal to or less than about 1 mm is disclosed. Once an initial flaw or crack is produced, a full body crack can be propagated across a dimension of the brittle material with a laser beam that is substantially absorbed proximate the surface of the sheet to produce sub-sheets. In some embodiments, only a single pass of the laser beam over a surface of the sheet is necessary to separate the sheet. In other embodiments a plurality of passes may be used. Sub-sheets can be further processed into electronic devices by depositing thin film materials on the sub-piece.
US08269131B2
A flange (13) for use in direct resistance heating of a glass-carrying vessel (10), such as a finer, is provided. The flange comprises a plurality of electrically-conductive rings which include an innermost ring (140) which is joined to the vessel's exterior wall (12) during use of the flange and an outermost ring (150) which receives electrical current during use of the flange. The innermost ring (140) comprises a high-temperature metal which comprises at least 80% platinum and the outermost ring (150) comprises at least 99.0% nickel. This combination of materials both increases the reliability of the flange and reduces its cost. In certain embodiments, the flange can also include one or more rings (190) composed of a platinum-nickel alloy which has a lower thermal conductivity than platinum or nickel and thus can serve to reduce heat loss through the flange.
US08269120B1
A system and method of interlocking a plurality of electrical panel switches includes an interlock assembly having an interlock. The interlock has a first position that allows connection of one of utility power and power from an alternate power supply, such as a generator, to the electrical panel and prevents connection of the other of the utility power and alternate power. The interlock has a second position that allows connection of the other of the utility power and alternate power and prevents connection of one of the utility power and alternate power to the electrical panel. The interlock also is constructed to control the positioning and sequence of operation of neutral connections between the power supplies and the electrical panel.
US08269116B2
A circuit board case with an electrical connector comprises a case member having formed thereon a connector mating portion, and a connection member accommodated in the case member and mounted on the connector mating portion to electrically connect the counterpart connector and the circuit board. The connection member comprises a terminal provided with a first bar portion and a second bar portion, and a first fixing member which holds the first bar portion of the terminal and is mounted on the connector mating portion of the case member to fix the terminal, and a second fixing member which holds the second bar portion and is mounted on the case member to regulate movement of the terminal in a direction in which the first bar portion extends into the case member.
US08269109B2
A power cable having a conductor, an inner semiconductive layer, an insulation layer and an outer semiconductive layer, wherein the insulation layer has a polymer having: (i) ethylene monomer units, (ii) polar group containing monomer units, and (iii) silane-group containing monomer units.
US08269104B2
A waterproof enclosure includes a first enclosure section and a second enclosure section. The first enclosure section has an opening along which a gasket is provided. The gasket has a body section and a lip section protruding from the body section. The second enclosure section is disposed opposite the first enclosure section. The second enclosure section has a planar surface and an inclined surface. The inclined surface of the second enclosure contacts the lip section of the gasket, and the body section of the gasket contacts the planar surface of the second enclosure section.
US08269102B1
A retrofit electrical outlet comprises an electrical box comprising one or more moveable braces coupled to linear brace actuators, whereby pulling on the linear brace actuator causes the brace to move toward the front end of the box to impinge a wall surface material between the brace and a front flange of the box. Releases may be included to allow for adjustment of the braces. The braces may move linearly or pivotally toward the wall surface material. The linear brace actuator may be stored within the wall for future use.
US08269090B2
A keyboard practice apparatus is provided which includes a slide member, a support member, and means for supporting the slide member in juxtaposition with a keyboard of an instrument. The support member is configured to support an arm of a user and to be slidably coupled to the slide member. The apparatus is operable to allow a player of a keyboard instrument in a seated position with a forearm resting on the support member to move their forearm along a length of the keyboard by sliding the support member along a portion of a length of the slide member.
US08269085B1
An instrument shoulder strap device and method for use with musical instruments, wherein the device comprises: a backless shoulder strap; the shoulder strap has an adjustable front strap; an U shaped mounting bracket, which is attached to the shoulder strap; the U shaped mounting bracket has slidable connecting means for connecting an instrument to the shoulder strap; and wherein the instrument has a pivot axle member having attachment means for attaching the member to the instrument, thereby allowing a user the ability to connect the pivot axle member to the U shaped mounting bracket for attaching and detaching the instrument to the shoulder strap.
US08269079B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH354755. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH354755, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH354755 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH354755.
US08269075B2
The invention relates to the novel cotton variety designated 09R999B2R2. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants, plant parts and derivatives of the cotton variety 09R999B2R2. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the cotton variety 09R999B2R2 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing cotton plants by crossing the cotton variety 09R999B2R2 with itself or another cotton variety and plants produced by such method.
US08269066B2
The NR enzymes described herein were discovered in the red algae of Porphyra perforata (PpNR) and Porphyra yezoensis (PyNR). The present invention provides methods and compositions relating to altering NR activity, nitrogen utilization and/or uptake in plants. The invention relates to a method for the production of plants with maintained or increased yield under low nitrogen fertility. The invention provides isolated nitrate reductase (NR) nucleic acids and their encoded proteins. The invention further provides recombinant expression cassettes, host cells, and transgenic plants. Plants transformed with nucleotide sequences encoding the NR enzyme show improved properties, for example, increased yield and growth.
US08269063B2
The present invention relates to a method for identifying proteins involved in the phosphorylation of starch and nucleic acids which code for such proteins. The present invention further relates to plant cells and plants which exhibit an altered activity of a protein which can be identified using the method according to the invention. Plant cells and plants of this type synthesise a modified starch. The present invention therefore also relates to the starch synthesised by the plant cells and plants according to the invention as well as to methods for the manufacture of this starch and to the manufacture of starch derivatives of this modified starch.
US08269056B2
Process for the preparation of an olefinic product, which process comprises contacting a reaction mixture comprising an oxygenate feedstock and an olefinic component with an oxygenate conversion catalyst comprising a molecular sieve having one-dimensional 10-membered ring channels, in a flow-through reactor unit defining a flow trajectory for fluids towards a downstream outlet for an olefinic reaction effluent from the flow-through reactor unit, wherein an olefinic co-feed is added at an upstream olefin feed inlet of the flow-through reactor unit, and wherein oxygenate feedstock is admitted to the reactor such that it is added to the reaction mixture at a plurality of locations along the feed trajectory.
US08269055B2
The present invention relates to a method for the deactivation of an organometallic catalyst in the product stream from an oligomerization reactor for the production of linear alpha-olefin, characterized in that the catalyst-containing product stream of the reactor is subjected to a temperature of at least 160° C. in a heating device. A reactor system for the method of the invention is also disclosed.
US08269054B2
The present invention relates to an improved process for producing tetra-hydro alkyl substituted indanes which are used in the synthesis of fragrance ingredients for perfumery applications.
US08269053B2
A process for making ethylbenzene and/or styrene by reacting toluene with methane in one or more microreactors is disclosed. In one embodiment a method of revamping an existing styrene production facility by adding one or more microreactors capable of reacting toluene with methane to produce a product stream comprising ethylbenzene and/or styrene is disclosed.
US08269046B2
Cyclic bisamides may be used to formulate inks for jet ink printing. The cyclic bisamide may be prepared from a cyclic diamine and acylic monocarboxylic acids. Conversely, the cyclic bisamide may be prepared from a cyclic diacid and acylic monoamines. The performance properties of the product may be enhanced by adding some additional difunctional reactant(s), e.g., diacid or diamine. A blend of bisamides may provide better performance properties than either of the component bisamides alone, where the blend includes at least one cyclic bisamide. The bisamides, in combination with an image-forming material, and optionally in combination with other materials, is taken to a molten form and the applied to a substrate to provide a printed substrate.
US08269044B2
Disclosed is a method for producing a primary amine compound represented by the formula (3): wherein, Ar is as defined below, which is characterized in that a halogen compound represented by the formula (1): wherein, Ar represents an unsubstituted aromatic group such as a phenyl group, a naphthyl group, a pyridyl group, a furyl group, a thienyl group, a pyrrolyl group, an oxazolyl group, an isoxazolyl group or a pyrimidinyl group, or an aromatic group obtained by substituting such an unsubstituted aromatic group with 1-3 substituents; and X represents a halogen atom, ammonia and formaldehyde are reacted with each other, thereby obtaining a hexahydrotriazine compound represented by the formula (2): wherein, Ar is as defined above, and then the thus-obtained hexahydrotriazine compound is decomposed. By this method, a primary amine compound can be commercially advantageously produced by using a low-cost ammonia while suppressing production of a secondary amine as a by-product.
US08269043B2
Compounds that have agonist activity at one or more of the S1P receptors are provided. The compounds are sphingosine analogs that, after phosphorylation, can behave as agonists at S1P receptors.
US08269042B2
Crystallized diacetylenic compounds having certain crystallographic and other characteristics; diacetylenic compounds and mixtures crystallized from diacetylenic solutions; methods of preparing and identifying solvent systems for dissolving diacetylenic compounds; diacetylenic solutions; methods of recrystallizing diacetylenic compounds; crystals of 2,4-hexadiyn-1,6-bis(alkylurea) compounds; and ambient condition indicators and time-temperature condition indicators comprising crystallized diacetylenic compounds.
US08269040B2
Methods of preparing, and compositions comprising, derivatives of venlafaxine are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of treating and preventing diseases and disorders including, but not limited to, affective disorders such as depression, bipolar and manic disorders, attention deficit disorder, attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, cerebral function disorders, obesity and weight gain, incontinence, dementia and related disorders.
US08269038B2
The present invention provides a method for producing a sulfonate ester efficiently and in high yield.The present invention is an invention of a method for producing a sulfonate ester compound, which comprising reacting: (a) a compound having a sulfo group (—SO3H); and (b) a compound having a group represented by the general formula [1]: —OR1 [1] [wherein, R1 represents a sulfonyl group represented by the general formula [2]: —SO2—R2 [2] (wherein, R2 represents a halogen atom, a haloalkyl group, an alkoxy group, or an optionally substituted alkyl group or an optionally substituted aryl group) or an acyl group represented by the general formula [3]: (wherein, R3 represents an optionally substituted alkyl group or an optionally substituted aryl group)]; in the presence of an organic base which is capable of forming a salt with said sulfo group.
US08269037B2
An absorption medium for removing acid gases from a fluid stream comprises an aqueous solution of a) of at least one metal salt of an aminocarboxylic acid, and b) of at least one acid promoter, wherein the molar ratio of b) to a) is in the range from 0.0005 to 1.0. The acid promoter is selected from mineral acids, carboxylic acids, sulfonic acids, organic phosphonic acids and partial esters thereof. The absorption medium, compared with absorption media based on amino acid salts, has a reduced regeneration energy requirement without significantly reducing the absorption capacity of the solution for acid gases. In a process for removing acid gases from the fluid stream, the fluid stream is brought into contact with the absorption medium.
US08269035B2
A process for production of a radioactive fluorine-labeled organic compound is provided which can improve the yield of radioactive fluorination. Provided is a process in which a compound represented by the following formula (1): (wherein R1 is a straight or branched alkyl chain with 1-10 carbon atoms or an aromatic substituent, R2 is a straight or branched haloalkylsulfonic acid substituent with 1-10 carbon atoms, a straight or branched alkylsulfonic acid substituent with 1-10 carbon atoms, a fluorosulfonic acid substituent or an aromatic sulfonic acid substituent, and R3 is a protective group) is heated under stirring in an inert organic solvent in a presence of a phase transfer catalyst, 18F ions and potassium ions, so as to effect labeling with a radioactive fluorine, wherein the heating temperature is 40-90° C., and the concentration of the phase transfer catalyst in the inert organic solvent is 70 mmol/L or more. Preferably, the molar ratio of the phase transfer catalyst is 0.7 or more relative to the compound of the formula (1), and the concentration of the compound of the formula (1) in the inert organic solvent is 50 mmol/L or more.
US08269024B2
The present invention provides compositions and methods for modulating the communication and virulence of quorum sensing bacteria. In various exemplary embodiments, the invention provides a combinatorial library of quorum sensing compounds including synthetic analogs of naturally occurring and non-naturally occurring acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) analogs, and methods of synthesizing and using these compounds.
US08269022B2
The present invention provides novel crystalline polymorphs of enantiopure Erdosteine, referred to as Form I and Form II, and processes for the preparation thereof.
US08269018B2
A compound represented by Formula (X-1) is disclosed. in the formula, Rx1 and Rx2 each independently represents an alkyl group, Lx is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, Gx1 is an alkyl group having 2 or more carbon atoms, Gx2 is an alkyl group or an aromatic hydrocarbon group, Gx3 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a Gx4-CO—NH— group or a Gx5-N(Gx6)-CO—group, Gx5 and Gx6 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent, and Qx1, Qx2, Qx3, Qx4 and Qx5 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent. An electrophotographic toner containing the compound is also disclosed.
US08269015B2
The present invention comprises compounds of Formula (I). wherein: X, R1, R2, R3, and R4 are as defined in the specification. The invention also comprises a method of preventing, treating or ameliorating a syndrome, disorder or disease, wherein said syndrome, disorder or disease is type II diabetes, obesity and asthma. The invention also comprises a method of inhibiting CCR2 activity in a mammal by administration of a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound of Formula (I).
US08269004B2
NLO chromophores of the form of Formula (I): and the acceptable salts, solvates and hydrates thereof, wherein Z1-4, X1-4, π1-2, D, A and R have the definitions provided herein.
US08268997B2
A phenyl-substituted 1,3,5-triazine compound represented by the general formula (1); wherein Ar1 and Ar2 independently represent substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, naphthyl or biphenylyl group; R1, R2 and R3 independently represent hydrogen atom or methyl group; X1 and X2 independently represent substituted or unsubstituted phenylene, naphthylene or pyridylene group; p and q independently represent an integer of 0 to 2; and Ar3 and Ar4 independently represent substituted or unsubstituted pyridyl or phenyl group. This compound is suitable for an organic electroluminescent device.
US08268994B2
The present invention provides novel fused ring heterocycle kinase modulators and methods of using the novel fused ring heterocycle kinase modulators to treat diseases mediated by kinase activity.
US08268986B2
The present invention concerns methods and reagents useful in modulating gene expression in a variety of applications, including use in therapeutic, diagnostic, target validation, and genomic discovery applications. Specifically, the invention relates to synthetic chemically modified small nucleic acid molecules, such as short interfering nucleic acid (siNA), short interfering RNA (siRNA), double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), micro-RNA (miRNA), and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) molecules capable of mediating RNA interference (RNAi) against target nucleic acid sequences. The small nucleic acid molecules are useful in the treatment of any disease or condition that responds to modulation of gene expression or activity in a cell, tissue, or organism.
US08268981B2
The subject invention relates to nucleic acid sequences and amino acid sequences encoded thereby, derived from the Merozoite Surface Protein (MSP1) gene of the Plasmodium species P. malariae and P. ovale. Such genes and proteins have many beneficial diagnostic as well as therapeutic uses.
US08268974B2
A method for changing a globular protein structure into a fibrillar protein structure. The method comprising the steps of providing a globular protein, forming a solution containing the globular protein, adding a detergent to the solution containing the globular protein, applying the solution to a molecular sizing column with a pore size of at least 70 kDa and eluting with a solution containing detergent. A method for changing an unfolded protein structure into a fibrillar protein structure. The method comprising the steps of providing a globular protein, forming a solution containing the globular protein, adding a urea to the solution to unfold the globular protein, applying the solution to a molecular sizing column and eluting with a solution containing detergent. A method for treating cancer comprising the steps of providing a protein, changing the protein into a fibrillar structure, and administering a therapeutically effective amount of the fibrillar structure protein to a patient in need thereof. A method for producing a vaccine adjuvant or antigen adjuvant comprising the steps of providing a protein, and changing the protein into a fibrillar structure.
US08268968B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method wherein a structure which was prepared with a biopolymer such as gelatin is chemically modified with the use of a low-volatile chemical substance without dissolution of gelatin, and a biopolymer crosslinking method for producing a biopolymer having high strength (a high degree of crosslinking). The present invention provides a method for producing a modified biopolymer, which comprises reacting a structure prepared with a biopolymer with a solid-state compound having a melting point of 50° C. or more at a humidity of 50% or more, and a method for crosslinking biopolymer which comprises treating a biopolymer with a crosslinking agent, wherein the crosslinking agent concentration in a reaction mixture is 1.0% to 10% by weight and crosslinking is carried out in the presence of an organic fluorine compound.
US08268959B2
This invention describes the synthesis and use of novel energetic poly(phosphazene) materials suitable for binding high explosives. These materials may also be used as explosives in their own right. The materials possess high energy density and are highly amenable to chemical modification thereby allowing for modification to the physical properties of the material. In particular the tacky and rubbery nature of these materials makes them ideal for use as binder and co-binder materials.
US08268957B2
This invention refers to a novel process for the synthesis of polyethylene imine (PEI)-based pigment dispersants characterized by a “grafting from” approach, allowing the manufacture of solvent based dispersant systems. The polyethylene imine (PEI)-based pigment dispersant can be presented by the formula (I) X-(T)m-P-(T)n-H wherein P is a polyethyleneimine (PEI) back-bone; T is a residue —CO-A-O— wherein A is C2-C12 alkylene optionally substituted with C1-C6 alkyl with the proviso that each linkage between P and T is an amide bond and each linkage between X and T is an ester bond, X is a modifier or terminator residue R—CO— wherein R is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkanecarboxylic acids having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms or an unsaturated fatty acid residue or a hydroxycarboxylic residue or a polyester residue obtained from polycondensation of hydroxycarboxylic acids, or an acid terminated polyether; n, m independently are a number from 1 to 100.
US08268955B2
Polyamide containing a compound which bears at least one hydroxy group and has chemical bonding by way of an amide group to the end of the polymer chain, process for preparing this polyamide, and also fibers, films, and moldings, comprising at least one such polyamide.
US08268953B2
A process for the preparation of a polycarbonate containing a plant-derived component excellent in hue by using a plant-derived anhydrosugar alcohol represented by the following formula (1) or a composition thereof as a raw material: wherein R1 to R4 each independently represent a group selected from a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group and an aryl group.
US08268951B2
Composition comprising a fluorine-containing organopolysiloxane and a process for preparing the same
Present invention provides a fluorine-containing organopolysiloxane composition comprising a fluorine-containing silicone polymer having a three-dimensional, cross-linked structure, prepared by addition polymerizing the following (A), (B) and (C) and containing 10 to 30 mass % of the fluorine atoms, relative to a total mass of (A) to (C), (A) a vinyl group-containing organopolysiloxane represented by the following formula (1): (B) an organohydrogenpolysiloxane represented by the following formula (2): and (C) an organopolysiloxane having a reactive group on one end alone and represented by the following formula (3), and further comprising (D) a low viscosity silicone oil with a dynamic viscosity of 50 mm2/s or less at 25 degrees C.
US08268950B2
Polymers comprising glucosamine (GlcN) are used to make medical devices. Examples include polyGlcN and carrier molecules containing multiple GlcN residues.
US08268948B2
The present invention provides conjugates having a degradable linkage and polymeric reagents useful in preparing such conjugates. Methods of making polymeric reagents and conjugates, as well as methods for administering conjugates and compositions, are also provided.
US08268947B2
The invention pertains to a process for preparing compounds of formula (I-A) or (I-B) here below: by reaction of perfluoroallylfluorosulfate (FAFS) of formula (II): with at least one hypofluorite of formula (II-A) or (II-B): wherein: RF in formulae (I-A) and (II-A) is a monovalent fluorocarbon C1-C20 group, optionally comprising oxygen catenary atoms, optionally comprising functional groups comprising heteroatoms (e.g. —SO2F groups); R′F in formulae (I-B) and (II-B) is a divalent fluorocarbon C1-C6 group, preferably a group of formula wherein X1 and X2, equal to or different from each other, are independently a fluorine atom or a C1-C3 fluorocarbon group. The FAFS-hypofluorite adducts of formulae (I-A) and (I-B) can be produced with high selectivity so as to access useful intermediates which can further be reacted taking advantage of the un-modified fluorosulfate group chemistry.
US08268941B2
A process for polymerizing or oligomerising a hydrocarbon includes feeding at a low level a liquid hydrocarbon reactant into a bulk liquid phase comprising polymeric or oligomeric product admixed with a catalyst. The liquid hydrocarbon reactant is allowed to vaporise to form bubbles rising through the bulk liquid phase and to polymerise or oligomerise to form the polymeric or oligomeric product, with the rising bubbles creating turbulence in the bulk liquid phase, thereby mixing the bulk liquid phase. Gaseous components comprising any unreacted vaporised hydrocarbon reactant and any gaseous product that may have formed are withdrawn from a head space above the bulk liquid phase. Liquid phase from the bulk liquid phase is withdrawn to maintain the bulk liquid phase at a desired level.
US08268937B2
The invention pertains to an aramid copolymer composition comprising an aramid copolymer having at least one arylene carboxylic acid moiety and at least one hydroxyarylene moiety, or comprising an aramid copolymer having at least one arylene carboxylic acid moiety or having at least one hydroxyarylene moiety, and a crosslinker agent. The invention further relates to crosslinked copolymers derived thereof and shaped articles comprising said crosslinked copolymers.
US08268930B2
The invention constituting the subject matter of this application is related to the production method and process regarding any and all products created by forming the EPDM rubber including a mixture of ethylene, propylene and diene by using heat and particularly the seal of the door gasket, which is a part of the washing machines.
US08268920B2
Thermoplastic molding compositions comprising A) from 10 to 99.94% by weight of a polyamide, B) from 0.05 to 5% by weight of a polyethyleneimine homo- or copolymer, C) from 0.01 to 20% by weight of iron powder, and D) from 0 to 70% by weight of further additives, where the total of the percentages by weight of A) to D) is 100%.
US08268911B2
Use of a bimodal filler system allows masterbatches with higher filler levels to be processable. When used with moisture curable resins, the use of a masterbatch having a bimodal filler allows the preparation of a composition having a higher percentage of moisture curable resin than if a unimodal filler was used and also provides enhanced flame retardant properties.
US08268910B2
Inkjet ink compositions and methods for increasing inkjet ink particle stability are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, a latex polymer-containing inkjet ink composition comprises a secondary alcohol ethoxylate and a fluoro-surfactant at a concentration ratio effective to increase particle stability of the inkjet ink composition when the pigment particles are substantially electrostatically dispersed. In another embodiment, an inkjet ink composition comprises a latex dispersion having a conductivity of no more than about 1.5 mS/cm.
US08268897B2
A method for producing liquid fuels includes the steps of gasifying a starting material selected from a group consisting of coal, biomass, carbon nanotubes and mixtures thereof to produce a syngas, subjecting that syngas to Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) to produce a hyrdrocarbon product stream, separating that hydrocarbon product stream into C1-C4 hydrocarbons and C5+ hydrocarbons to be used as liquid fuels and subjecting the C1-C4 hydrocarbons to catalytic dehydrogenation (CDH) to produce hydrogen and carbon nanotubes. The hydrogen produced by CDH is recycled to be mixed with the syngas incident to the FTS reactor in order to raise the hydrogen to carbon monoxide ratio of the syngas to values of 2 or higher, which is required to produce liquid hydrocarbon fuels. This is accomplished with little or no production of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. The carbon is captured in the form of a potentially valuable by-product, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT), while huge emissions of carbon dioxide are avoided and very large quantities of water employed for the water-gas shift in traditional FTS systems are saved.
US08268890B2
Nitroxyl donating compounds are administered prior to the onset of ischemia for the prevention and/or reduction of ischemia/reperfusion injury in subjects at risk for ischemia. Nitroxyl donors also are administered to organs to be transplanted for the prevention and/or reduction of ischemia/reperfusion injury upon reperfusion in a recipient. Nitroxyl donors include any nitroxyl donating compound. In particular cases the nitroxyl donor is a nitroxyl-donating diazeniumdiolate, such as Angeli's salt or IPA/NO.
US08268880B2
The invention provides compounds and methods for inhibiting proteases. One aspect of the invention features pro-soft inhibitors which react with an activating protease to release an active inhibitor moiety in proximity to a target protease. In certain instances, compounds inhibit proteasomes and/or post-proline cleaving enzymes (PPCE), such as dipeptidyl peptidase IV. The compounds of the invention provide a better therapeutic index, owing in part to reduced toxicity and/or improved specificity for the targeted protease.
US08268867B2
The present invention relates to novel 1,3-dioxane carboxylic acids of the general formula (I), their tautomeric forms, their stereoisomers, their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, methods for their preparation, use of these compounds in medicine and the intermediates involved in their preparation.
US08268864B2
Pharmaceutical compositions comprising an anticholinergic and at least one leukotriene inhibitor for treatment of respiratory diseases, including allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma, COPD and common cold, and methods of treatment.
US08268850B2
The invention provides a novel class of pyrimidine derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds and methods of using such compounds to treat or prevent diseases or disorders associated with abnormal or deregulated kinase activity, particularly diseases or disorders that involve abnormal activation of c-kit, PDGFRα and PDGFRβ kinases.
US08268843B2
The present disclosure relates to 5,8-difluoro-4-(2-(4-(heteroaryloxy)-phenyl)ethylamino)quinazolines and their use as agrochemicals and animal health products.
US08268842B2
The present invention provides a compound represented by formula (I) below, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which, having histamine H3 receptor antagonist or inverse agonist activity, is useful in the prophylaxis or therapy of metabolic diseases, circulatory diseases, or nervous system diseases. [where, for example, Ar is a divalent group formed by eliminating two hydrogen atoms from benzene, X1 is a nitrogen atom, sulfur atom or oxygen atom, R1 is a 5- to 6-membered heteroaryl group, Ring A is a 5- to 6-membered heteroaryl ring, R2 and R3 are amino groups or alkylamino groups, and X2 is represented by formula (II): (where R4 and R5 are lower alkyl groups, and n is an integer from 2 to 4).]
US08268836B2
The present invention relates to a c-Met inhibitor or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof useful in treating cancer mediated by activity of c-Met receptors.
US08268832B2
Pharmaceutical compositions of maleate salts of (6-(5-chloro-2-pyridyl)-5-[(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)carbonyloxy]-7-oxo-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrrolo [3,4-b]pyrazine) are provided. The maleate salts are sleep agents useful in oral dosage forms.
US08268825B2
A method of treating an anthrax infection wherein a compound of formula I wherein R1 and R2 represent, independently of one another unsubstituted or specifically substituted C1-4alkoxy; and R3 represents hydrogen; cyano; unsubstituted or specifically substituted C1-6alkyl; C3-6cycloalkyl; C2-6alkenyl; C7-18bicyclyl; aryl, aryl-C1-4alkyl, aryl-Q-C1-4alkyl heteroaryl, heterocyclyl or heterocyclyl-C1-6alkyl, wherein aryl denotes a mono- or poly-nucleous group with 6 to 14 ring carbon atoms; heterocyclyl denotes a 4- to 6-membered non-aromatic heterocyclic group comprising 1 to 3, nitrogen, oxygen and/or sulfur atoms; heteroaryl denotes a mono- or polynuclear heteroaromatic group consisting 5- and/or 6-membered rings and comprising 5 to 13 carbon atoms and 1 to 4, nitrogen, oxygen and/or sulfur atoms; and Q means —SO— or —SO2—; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or hydrate or a prodrug thereof; is administered to said subject in a quantity effective to inhibit, suppress, or expel an anthrax infection in said subject.
US08268822B2
A heterocyclic inhibitor having the formula I, with the variables defined herein, which is useful for treating inflammatory and other physiological disorders in which PKC-theta isoform plays a role:
US08268809B2
The present invention provides compositions and methods of use thereof to prevent and/or treat pathogenic infection. In particular, the present invention provides the use of kinase inhibitors to inhibit kinases that involve in pathogen-host cell interactions that are associated with or cause pathogenic infections, therefore, to effectively prevent and/or treat pathogenic infections with far less likely to engender resistance as compared to conventional antibiotics and anti-viral drugs. The present invention further provides the use of kinase inhibitors for the treatment of acute pathogenic infections for a short period of time to avoid toxicities that may caused by long term use of these kinase inhibitors.
US08268808B2
The present invention discloses a carrageenan composition comprising: sodium in the range of about 5.410 to about 8.230%, preferably about 6.300 to about 8.230%, and more preferably about 7.380 to about 8.230%; potassium in the range of about 0.023% to about 0.248%, preferably about 0.023 to about 0.238%, and more preferably about 0.023 to about 0.078%; calcium in the range of 0.046-0.553%, preferably 0.046-0.446%, and more preferably 0.046-0.325%; and magnesium in the range of about 0.051 to about 0.338%, preferably about 0.051 to about 0.244% and more preferably about 0.051 to about 0.127%; wherein the carrageenan product has a gelling temperature of 7-30° C., preferably 7-18° C., more preferably 7-12° C.; and a melting temperature in the range 16-38° C., preferably 16-28° C., more preferably 16-24° C.
US08268807B2
The disclosure provides compositions and methods for treating multiple myeloma. In some embodiments, the compositions comprise (E)-3-hydroxy-21-[2′-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethoxy]-19-norpregna-1,3,5(10),17(20)-tetraene or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof and a pharmaceutical carrier.
US08268803B2
The present invention relates to 5,6-ring annulated indole derivatives of the formula (I), compositions comprising at least one 5,6-ring annulated indole derivatives, and methods of using the 5,6-ring annulated indole derivatives for treating or preventing a viral infection or a virus-related disorder in a patient.
US08268802B2
Compounds and compositions of Formula I are described, useful as anti-proliferative agents, and in particular anti-HPV, wherein: Y1A and Y1B are independently Y1; RX1 and RX2 are independently RX; Y1 is ═O, —O(RX), ═S, —N(RX), —N(O)(RX), —N(ORX), —N(O)(ORX), or —N(N(RX)(RX)); RX is independently R1, R2, R4, W3, or a protecting group; R1 is independently —H or alkyl of 1 to 18 carbon atoms; R2 is independently R3 or R4 wherein each R4 is independently substituted with 0 to 3 R3 groups or taken together at a carbon atom, two R2 groups form a ring of 3 to 8 carbons and the ring may be substituted with 0 to 3 R3 groups; R3 is R3a, R3b, R3c or R3d, provided that when R3 is bound to a heteroatom, then R3 is R3c or R3d; R3a is —H, —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —CF3, —CN, N3, —NO2, or —OR4; R3b is ═O, —O(R4), ═S, —N(R4), —N(O)(R4), —N(OR4), —N(O)(OR4), or —N(N(R4)(R4)); R3c is —R4, —N(R4)(R4), —SR4, —S(O)R4, —S(O)2R4, —S(O)(OR4), —S(O)2(OR4), —OC(R3b)R4, —OC(R3b)OR4, —OC(R3b)(N(R4)(R4)), —SC(R3b)R4, —SC(R3b)OR4, —SC(R3b)(N(R4)(R4)), —N(R4)C(R3b)R4, —N(R4)C(R3b)OR4, —N(R4)C(R3b) (N(R4)(R4)), W3 or —R5W3; R3d is —C(R3b)R4, —C(R3b)OR4, —C(R3b)W3, —C(R3b)OW3 or —C(R3b)(N(R4)(R4)); R4 is —H, or an alkyl of 1 to 18 carbon atoms, alkenyl of 2 to 18 carbon atoms, or alkynyl of 2 to 18 carbon atoms; R5 is alkylene of 1 to 18 carbon atoms, alkenylene of 2 to 18 carbon atoms, or alkynylene of 2 to 18 carbon atoms; W3 is W4 or W5; W4 is R6, —C(R3b)R6, —C(R3b)W5, —SOM2R6, or —SOM2W5, wherein R6 is R4 wherein each R4 is substituted with 0 to 3 R3 groups; W5 is carbocycle or heterocycle wherein W5 is independently substituted with 0 to 3 R2 groups; and M2 is 0, 1 or 2; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
US08268796B2
Provided herein are compositions and methods for delivery of nucleic acids to individuals and to cells, including nucleic acid delivery particles that comprising a lipid-binding polypeptide, a lipid bilayer comprising one or more cationic lipids, and a nucleic acid.
US08268795B2
The invention relates to methods and products for treatment of a neurological defect such as a subarachnoid hemorrhage or cerebral vasospasm. Specifically, R-type voltage-gated calcium channel inhibitors and related compositions and kits are described.
US08268794B2
Provided is a pharmaceutical product exhibiting a high therapeutic effect in the treatment of retinal diseases associated with angiogenesis such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and the like. A therapeutic agent for a retinal disease, containing a substance specifically inhibiting HIF-1α expression and a substance specifically inhibiting HIF-2α expression. The aforementioned inhibitory substances, which are active ingredients in the therapeutic agent of the present invention, are nucleic acids capable of inducing RNAi, antisense nucleic acids or ribozymes for HIF-1α and HIF-2α, or expression vectors thereof.
US08268787B2
The present invention is directed to systems, apparatus and methods for creating derivatives of at least one form of HDL without substantially affecting LDL. These derivatives of HDL are particles with reduced lipid content, particularly reduced cholesterol content. These particles have the capacity to bind cholesterol and are administered to a patient to enhance cellular cholesterol efflux and reduce cholesterol levels in cells, tissues, organs, and blood vessels. The present method is useful for treating atherogenic vascular disease and may be combined with other therapies such as statins, inhibitors of cholesterol absorption, niacin, anti-inflammatories, exercise and dietary restriction.
US08268782B2
Disclosed is both a method for preparing a plasminogen and a method for preparing a reversibly inactive acidified plasmin by activating the plasminogen. The prepared plasminogen is typically purified from a fraction obtained in the separation of immunoglobulin from Fraction II+III chromatographic process and eluted at a low pH. The prepared plasmin is isolated and stored with a low pH-buffering capacity agent to provide a substantially stable formulation. The reversibly inactive acidified plasmin may be used in the administration of a thrombolytic therapy.
US08268780B2
Disclosed is a method of preparing a GLP-1 compound that is soluble in aqueous solution at pH 7.4 from a GLP-1 compound that is substantially insoluble in aqueous solution at pH 7.4. The insoluble GLP-1 compound is dissolved in aqueous base or in aqueous acid to form a GLP-1 solution. The GLP-1 solution is then neutralized to a pH at which substantially no amino acid racemization of the GLP-1 compounds occurs, after which the soluble GLP-1 compound is isolated from the neutralized solution.
US08268770B2
A cleaning substrate which comprises at least one layer of a solid hypohalite precipitate, wherein the hypohalite precipitate is formed in situ on the layer of substrate material. A process for making a fibrous cleaning substrate comprising the steps of: a) providing at least one layer of fibrous material; b) exposing the fibrous layer to an aqueous alkaline earth salt solution; c) treating the fibrous layer with a hypochlorite solution; d) allowing the aqueous alkaline earth salt solution combine with the hypochlorite solution to form a solid hypochlorite precipitate around the fibers in the fibrous material and a liquid phase, and e) removing at least 65% of the liquid phase from the fibrous substrate.
US08268769B2
An aqueous solution containing a combination of Phosphoric Acid, Emulsifying Wax, Triethlyene Glycol, Cocamido Propyl Beatine, Lauryl Alcohol, EDTA-Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid (polyamino carboxylic acid) and Sodium Hydrochloride is applied directly to stains on clothing that are caused by perspiration and/or the interaction of perspiration with commercial antiperspirants containing aluminum compounds. The aqueous solution converts aluminum oxide into a water-soluble phosphate compound that can be washed out when laundering the clothing, thereby effectively removing the stain.
US08268762B2
The invention provides a transmission fluid composition which has a kinematic viscosity as determined at 100° C. of 2 to 10 mm2/s and a viscosity index of 150 or higher and which satisfies a relationship between kinematic viscosity and NOACK evaporation loss amount represented by formula (I): X/3+Y≦6.33 (I) (wherein X represents a kinematic viscosity (mm2/s) as determined at 100° C., and Y represents a NOACK evaporation loss amount (mass %) at 200° C. for one hour), and a transmission fluid composition containing, as a base oil, at least one species selected from among α-olefin oligomers produced through oligomerization of an α-olefin through a specific method and hydrogenation products of the oligomers. Such transmission fluid compositions exhibit a very small evaporation loss despite having low viscosity, and a long metal fatigue life (e.g., pitting resistance) and have high viscosity index, good low-temperature fluidity, good extreme pressure properties, and good oxidation stability, and are suitable for transmissions, particularly automatic transmissions.
US08268759B2
A lubricating composition comprising an oil of lubricating viscosity, 1 to 1000 parts per million by weight of titanium in the form of an oil-soluble titanium-containing material, and at least one additional lubricant additive provides beneficial effects on properties such as deposit control, oxidation, and filterability in engine oils.
US08268751B2
The invention relates to novel insecticidal active compound combinations consisting, firstly, of anthranilamides and, secondly, of further insecticidally active compounds from the group of the pyrethroids, which combinations are highly suitable for controlling animal pests, such as insects.
US08268747B2
Clomazone safens rice from the slight amounts of damage caused by penoxsulam at concentrations required to adequately control undesirable vegetation.
US08268743B2
The present disclosure relates to methods for treating an SCR catalyst or components of an SCR system having a decreased NOx potential efficiency as a result of particulate pluggage in the system or in one or more channels in the SCR catalyst which renders at least a portion of the catalytic active areas inaccessible for the flue gas. The methods include removal of the particulates and plug(s) using a blasting stream of a pressurized carrier gas having a particulate blasting medium directed at the SCR catalyst or component of an SCR system.
US08268742B2
A highly zirconia-based refractory suitable for an electric melting furnace, which has a high electrical resistivity and does not exhibit a chipping off phenomenon and which is scarcely susceptible to extraction of components even when in contact with molten low alkali glass and, hence, is less susceptible to cracking during operation. The highly zirconia-based refractory that includes, as chemical components by mass %, from 85 to 95% of ZrO2 in terms of inner percentage, from 3.0 to 10% of SiO2 in terms of inner percentage, from 0.85 to 3.0% of Al2O3 in terms of inner percentage, substantially no Na2O, from 0.01 to 0.5% of K2O in terms of outer percentage, from 1.5 to 3.0% of SrO in terms of inner percentage, and from 0.1 to 2.0% of Nb2O5 and/or Ta2O5 as a value obtained by [(Nb2O5 content)+(Ta2O5 content/1.66)], in terms of inner percentage.
US08268737B1
Electron beam curable resins or ultraviolet light curable resins can be used in combination with filler and other additives to make coated facers that can be used on insulation boards. Also disclosed are facers made of such composition, the process for making said facers and their use in insulation, building and construction boards. More specifically a flexible facer can be made by a process that comprises (1) applying a monomeric composition to a fiber mat, wherein the fiber mat is a non-asphaltic, non-cellulosic fiber mat, and wherein the monomeric composition is comprised of at least one monomer and/or at least one oligomer, and a filler, (2) initiating polymerization of the monomer within the monomeric composition by exposing the monomeric composition to ultraviolet light or an electron beam, and (3) allowing the monomer to polymerized to produce the flexible facer.
US08268718B2
A manufacturing method for a bonded structure, in which a semiconductor device is bonded to an electrode by a bonding portion, the method including: first mounting a solder ball, in which a surface of a Bi ball is coated with Ni plating, on the electrode that is heated to a temperature equal to or more than a melting point of Bi; second pressing the solder ball against the heated electrode, cracking the Ni plating, spreading molten Bi on a surface of the heated electrode, and forming a bonding material containing Bi-based intermetallic compound of Bi and Ni; and third mounting the semiconductor device on the bonding material.
US08268717B2
A manufacturing method of a bump structure with an annular support includes the following steps. A substrate including pads and a passivation layer is provided. The passivation has first openings exposing a portion of the pads. An UBM material layer is formed to cover the passivation layer and the pads. A patterned photoresist layer, having second openings respectively exposing the UBM material layer over the pads, is formed on the UBM material layer. A diameter of each second opening located on a lower surface of the patterned photoresist layer is less than that located on an upper surface of the patterned photoresist layer. Bumps are formed in the second openings. A portion of the patterned photoresist layer is removed to form an annular support at a periphery of each bump. The UBM material layer is patterned using the annular supports and the bumps as masks to form UBM layers.
US08268716B2
A method of coupling an integrated circuit to a substrate includes providing the substrate, forming a contact pad in the substrate, contacting the contact pad with a solder ball, and repeatedly exposing the solder ball to a thermal process to cause intermetallics based on a metal in the contact pad to be formed in the thermal ball.
US08268714B2
In one example, a method for fabricating a solar cell comprising a first electrode, a first-type layer, an intrinsic layer, a second-type layer and a second electrode is disclosed. The method comprising forming a second-type layer including an amorphous silicon (Si) carbide thin film by an inductively coupled plasma chemical vapor deposition (ICP-CVD) device using mixed gas including hydrogen (H2) gas, silane (SiH4) gas, diborane (B2H6) and ethylene (C2H4) gas, wherein the ethylene (C2H4) gas includes 60% hydrogen gas diluted ethylene gas, the diborane gas is 97% hydrogen gas diluted diborane gas, the mixed gas includes 1 to 1.2% ethylene gas and 6 to 6.5% diborane gas.
US08268712B2
A method of forming metal gate transistor includes providing a substrate; forming a gate dielectric layer, a work function metal layer and a polysilicon layer stacked on the substrate; forming a hard mask and a patterned photoresist on the polysilicon layer; removing the patterned photoresist, and next utilizing the hard mask as an etching mask to remove parts of the polysilicon layer and parts of the work function metal layer. Thus, a gate stack is formed. Since the patterned photoresist is removed before forming the gate stack, the gate stack is protected from damages of the photoresist-removing process. The photoresist-removing process does not attack the sidewalls of the gate stack, so a bird's beak effect of the gate dielectric layer is prevent.
US08268709B2
A method for fabricating double-gate and tri-gate transistors in the same process flow is described. In one embodiment, a sacrificial layer is formed over stacks that include semiconductor bodies and insulative members. The sacrificial layer is planarized prior to forming gate-defining members. After forming the gate-defining members, remaining insulative member portions are removed from above the semiconductor body of the tri-gate device but not the I-gate device. This facilitates the formation of metallization on three sides of the tri-gate device, and the formation of independent gates for the I-gate device.
US08268707B2
Described herein is a liquid crystal (LC) device having Gallium Nitride HEMT electrodes. The Gallium Nitride HEMT electrodes can be grown on a variety of substrates, including but not limited to sapphire, silicon carbide, silicon, fused silica (using a calcium fluoride buffer layer), and spinel. Also described is a structure provided from GaN HEMT grown on large area silicon substrates and transferred to another substrate with appropriate properties for OPA devices. Such substrates include, but are not limited to sapphire, silicon carbide, silicon, fused silica (using a calcium fluoride buffer layer), and spinel. The GaN HEMT structure includes an AlN interlayer for improving the mobility of the structure.
US08268696B2
An IC alignment mark in a contact metal layer for use under an opaque layer, and a process for forming the alignment mark, are disclosed. The alignment mark includes contact metal fields, each several microns wide, with an array of PMD pillars in the interior, formed during contact etch, contact metal deposition and selective contact metal removal processes. The pillars are arrayed such that all exposed surfaces of the contact metal are planar. One configuration is a rectangular array in which every other row is laterally offset by one-half of the column spacing. Horizontal dimensions of the pillars are selected to maximize the contact metal fill factor, while providing sufficient adhesion to the underlying substrate during processing. The contact metal is at least 15 nanometers lower than the PMD layer surrounding the alignment mark, as a result of the contact metal removal process.
US08268695B2
Some embodiments include methods of making stud-type capacitors utilizing carbon-containing support material. Openings may be formed through the carbon-containing support material to electrical nodes, and subsequently conductive material may be grown within the openings. The carbon-containing support material may then be removed, and the conductive material utilized as stud-type storage nodes of stud-type capacitors. The stud-type capacitors may be incorporated into DRAM, and the DRAM may be utilized in electronic systems.
US08268693B2
A “tabbed” MOS device provides radiation hardness while supporting reduced gate width requirements. The “tabbed” MOS device also utilizes a body tie ring, which reduces field threshold leakage. In one implementation the “tabbed” MOS device is designed such that a width of the tab is based on at least a channel length of the MOS device such that a radiation-induced parasitic conduction path between the source and drain region of the device has a resistance that is higher than the device channel resistance.
US08268690B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a gate insulation layer, a gate structure, a gate spacer, and first and second impurity regions. The substrate has an active region defined by an isolation layer. The active region has a gate trench thereon. The gate insulation layer is formed on an inner wall of the gate trench. The gate structure is formed on the gate insulation layer to fill the gate trench. The gate structure has a width smaller than that of the gate trench, and has a recess at a first portion thereof. The gate spacer is formed on sidewalls of the gate structure. The first and second impurity regions are formed at upper portions of the active region adjacent to the gate structure. The first impurity region is closer to the recess than the second impurity region. Related methods are also provided.
US08268688B2
A method for producing VDMOS transistors in which a specific layer arrangement and a specific method sequence allow setting up an improved gate contact when simultaneously producing source and gate contacts using a single contact hole mask (photo mask).
US08268684B2
Embodiments of the present invention generally relates to an apparatus and a method for processing semiconductor substrates. Particularly, embodiments of the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for profile modification prior to filling a structure, such as a trench or a via. One embodiment of the present invention comprises forming a sacrifice layer to pinch off a top opening of a structure by exposing the structure to an etchant. In one embodiment, the etchant is configured to remove the first material by reacting with the first material and generating a by-product, which forms the sacrifice layer.
US08268683B2
A method for reducing interfacial layer (IL) thickness for high-k dielectrics and metal gate stack is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes forming an interfacial layer on a semiconductor substrate, etching back the interfacial layer, depositing a high-k dielectric material over the interfacial layer, and forming a metal gate over the high-k dielectric material. The IL can be chemical oxide, ozonated oxide, thermal oxide, or formed by ultraviolet ozone (UVO) oxidation process from chemical oxide, etc. The etching back of IL can be performed by a Diluted HF (DHF) process, a vapor HF process, or any other suitable process. The method can further include performing UV curing or low thermal budget annealing on the interfacial layer before depositing the high-k dielectric material.
US08268682B2
When a natural oxide film is left at the interface between a metal silicide layer and a silicon nitride film, in various heating steps (steps involving heating of a semiconductor substrate, such as various insulation film and conductive film deposition steps) after deposition of the silicon nitride film, the metal silicide layer partially abnormally grows due to oxygen of the natural oxide film occurring on the metal silicide layer surface. A substantially non-bias (including low bias) plasma treatment is performed in a gas atmosphere containing an inert gas as a main component on the top surface of a metal silicide film of nickel silicide or the like over source/drain of a field-effect transistor forming an integrated circuit. Then, a silicon nitride film serving as an etching stop film of a contact process is deposited. As a result, without causing undesirable cutting of the metal silicide film, the natural oxide film over the top surface of the metal silicide film can be removed.
US08268678B2
A method of making a non-volatile memory device includes providing a substrate having a substrate surface, and forming a non-volatile memory array over the substrate surface. The non-volatile memory array includes an array of semiconductor diodes, and each semiconductor diode of the array of semiconductor diodes is disposed substantially parallel to the substrate surface.
US08268672B2
An assembly (100) is provided comprising a first chip (20) and a second chip (30) which are interconnected through solder connections. These comprise, at the first chip, an underbump metallization and a solder bump, and, at the second chip, a metallization. In this case the solder bump is provided as a fluid layer with a contact angle of less than 90° C., and an intermetallic compound is formed on the basis of the metallization at the second chip, and at least one element of the composition is applied as the solder bump.
US08268663B2
In a method of annealing a Cd1-xZnxTe sample/wafer, surface contamination is removed from the sample/wafer and the sample/wafer is then introduced into a chamber. The chamber is evacuated and Hydrogen or Deuterium gas is introduced into the evacuated chamber. The sample/wafer is heated to a suitable annealing temperature in the presence of the Hydrogen or Deuterium gas for a predetermined period of time.
US08268661B2
The present invention is a sealing laminated sheet for an electronic device in which a first sheet and a second sheet 5 are laminated, wherein the first sheet contains an acid-modified polyolefin-based thermoplastic resin, the second sheet 5 has a melting point higher than that of the first sheet, and a peel strength at 25° C. of the second sheet 5 relative to the first sheet is 0.5 to 10.0 N/15 mm. According to the present invention, the production yield of an electronic device can be improved.
US08268656B2
An optical device wafer processing method including a protective plate attaching step of attaching a transparent protective plate through a double-sided adhesive tape to the front side of a sapphire substrate constituting an optical device wafer, the double-sided adhesive tape being composed of a sheet capable of blocking ultraviolet radiation and adhesive layers formed on both sides of the sheet, wherein the adhesive force of each adhesive layer can be reduced by applying ultraviolet radiation; a sapphire substrate grinding step of grinding the back side of the sapphire substrate; a modified layer forming step of applying a laser beam to the sapphire substrate from the back side thereof to thereby form a modified layer in the sapphire substrate along each street; a protective plate removing step of removing the protective plate in the condition where the double-sided adhesive tape is left on the sapphire substrate; and a wafer dividing step of breaking the sapphire substrate along each street where the modified layer is formed, thus dividing the optical device wafer into individual optical devices in the condition where the double-sided adhesive tape is left on the sapphire substrate.
US08268644B2
A method for manufacturing a light emitting device includes: measuring at least one of each wavelength of the emitted light of the light emitting element, each optical output of the emitted light of the light emitting element, and each chromaticity of the mixed light emitted through the mixed resin in a manufacturing process of the light emitting device; and adjusting chromaticity for each light emitting device by performing a prescribed chromaticity adjustment with regard to the mixed resin, on basis of a result obtained in the measuring, so that the chromaticity of the mixed light falls within a preset prescribed range.
US08268635B2
The present invention relates to a method of selectively modulating a signalling pathway of interest controlled by a cell receptor involved in signalling through multiple pathways. The method includes exposing the receptor to an agent that modulates signalling by the receptor through the signalling pathway of interest and does not substantially modulate signalling through one or more other signalling pathways controlled by the receptor.
US08268631B2
Chiral selectors having α-unsubstituted β-amino acid derivatives of the structure: a stationary phase for separating substance mixtures containing the chiral selector, and processes for separating mixtures of chiral substances, including enantiomers, and especially enantiomers of substances selected from β-amino acids and derivatives thereof, α-amino acids and α-hydroxy acids are provided.
US08268623B2
A method and means for identifying the authenticity and the genuine nature of a solid or liquid bulk material, by incorporating a marking composition containing at least one trace ion into the said bulk material, whereby the total concentration of the incorporated trace ions in the market bulk material is chosen to be lower than the corresponding concentration of the same ions in standard sea water. The authenticity and the genuine nature or the adulteration level of the marked bulk material can be tested in-the-field using electrochemical sensors, and confirmed in the laboratory using a method such as atomic absorption spectroscopy, ion chromatography or mass spectrometry.
US08268620B2
Methods for reprogramming primate somatic cells to pluripotency using an episomal vector that does not encode an infectious virus are disclosed. Pluripotent cells produced in the methods are also disclosed.
US08268617B2
DNAs, vectors, host cells and genetic constructs of antibodies, humanized antibodies, resurfaced antibodies, antibody fragments, derivatized antibodies, and conjugates of these molecules with cytotoxic agents, which specifically bind to and inhibit insulin-like growth factor-I receptor, antagonize the effects of IGF-I and are substantially devoid of agonist activity toward the insulin-like growth factor-I receptor. These molecules can be conjugated to cytotoxic agents for use in the treatment of tumors that express elevated levels of IGF-I receptor, such as breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, ovarian carcinoma, synovial sarcoma and pancreatic cancer. These molecules can also be labeled for in vitro and in vivo diagnostic uses, such as in the diagnosis and imaging of tumors that express elevated levels of IGF-I receptor.
US08268609B2
The present invention relates to eukaryotic host cells which have been modified to produce sialylated glycoproteins by the heterologous expression of a set of glycosyltransferases, including sialyltransferase and/or trans-sialidase, to become host-strains for the production of mammalian, e.g., human therapeutic glycoproteins. Novel eukaryotic host cells expressing a CMP-sialic acid biosynthetic pathway for the production of sialylated glycoproteins are also provided. The invention provides nucleic acid molecules and combinatorial libraries which can be used to successfully target and express mammalian enzymatic activities (such as those involved in sialylation) to intracellular compartments in a eukaryotic host cell. The process provides an engineered host cell which can be used to express and target any desirable gene(s) involved in glycosylation.
US08268605B2
The invention features a novel isolated Family B DNA polymerase, a Thermococcus polymerase JDF-3, and mutant recombinant forms thereof. Mutant polymerases of the invention are deficient in 3′ to 5′ exonuclease activity and/or exhibit reduced discrimination against non-conventional nucleotides relative to the wild-type form of the polymerase.
US08268595B2
This invention is directed to an integrated method for the processing of palm fruit bunches to oil and other products. The method comprises inter alia separating palm fruit carrying bunches into fruits and lignocellulosic empty fruit bunches, processing the fruits to form palm oil, and at least one lignocellulosic processing coproduct; generating an aqueous stream; producing a non-oil, non-alcohol, non-fatty acid ester third product from the oil, the lignocellulosic processing coproduct, the aqueous stream or from a combination thereof; processing at least a portion of the lignocellulosic empty fruit bunches, lignocellulosic processing coproduct or a combination thereof into a fourth product and optionally producing at least one fifth conversion product from the fourth product; and using at least a portion of the fourth product or a product of its conversion or a combination thereof.
US08268588B2
Methods for increasing and maintaining hematocrit in a mammal comprising administering a hyperglycosylated analog of erythropoietin are disclosed. An analog may be administered less frequently than an equivalent molar amount of recombinant human erythropoietin to obtain a comparable target hematocrit and treat anemia. Alternatively, a lower molar amount of a hyperglycosylated analog may be administered to obtain a comparable target hematocrit and treat anemia. Also disclosed are new hyperglycosylated erythopoietin analogs, methods of production of the analogs, and compositions comprising the analogs.
US08268586B2
The present invention relates to methods of producing a polypeptide having biological activity in a bacterial cell, comprising: (a) cultivating a bacterial host cell in a medium conducive for production of the polypeptide, wherein the bacterial host cell comprises a nucleic acid construct comprising a promoter region operably linked to a polynucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide and a modified mRNA processing/stabilizing sequence located downstream of the promoter region and upstream of the ribosome binding site of the polynucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide, wherein the modified mRNA processing/stabilizing sequence promotes higher expression of the polynucleotide sequence compared to an unmodified mRNA processing/stabilizing sequence; and (b) isolating the polypeptide having biological activity from the cultivation medium. The present invention also relates to such modified mRNA processing/stabilizing sequences, nucleic acid constructs, and bacterial host cells and to methods of obtaining such bacterial host cells.
US08268584B1
The present invention is directed to a method of screening microbe strains capable of generating hydrogen. This method involves inoculating one or more microbes in a sample containing cell culture medium to form an inoculated culture medium. The inoculated culture medium is then incubated under hydrogen producing conditions. Once incubating causes the inoculated culture medium to produce hydrogen, microbes in the culture medium are identified as candidate microbe strains capable of generating hydrogen. Methods of producing hydrogen using one or more of the microbial strains identified as well as the hydrogen producing strains themselves are also disclosed.
US08268582B2
Methods are provided for the synthesis and secretion of recombinant hetero-multimeric proteins in mating competent yeast. A first expression vector is transformed into a first haploid cell; and a second expression vector is transformed into a second haploid cell. The transformed haploid cells, each individually synthesizing a non-identical polypeptide, are identified and then genetically crossed or fused. The resulting diploid strains are utilized to produce and secrete fully assembled and biologically functional hetero-multimeric protein.
US08268580B2
A test mixture for detecting the presence or absence of pathogenic staphylococci (“p.staphylococci”) directly in a first generation specimen test sample, the test mixture comprising: an effective amount of amino acids, an effective amount of nitrogen sources, an effective amount of salts, an effective amount of vitamins, an effective amount of calcium, and an effective amount of coagulase substrates, which coagulase substrates include fibrinogen, which will create a clot within a liquid medium containing the test mixture and the first generational specimen test sample at temperatures in the range of about 20° C. to about 42° C. in the presence of p.staphylococci in the first generation specimen test sample.
US08268570B2
The present invention is directed to restricted access media (RAM), methods for preparing restricted access media, and kits for preparing restricted access media that contain protected ligand binding agents or protected enzymes. Certain RAM provided contain a plurality of protected regions of the support that contain ligand binding agents that are protected by blocking agents. Certain RAM provided contain a plurality of protected regions of the support that contain unbound ligand binding agents or enzymes that are retained in the protected regions by a capping agent. Methods of making the RAM of the invention and associated kits are also provided.
US08268568B2
The disclosure provides, among other things, molecular markers for categorizing the neoplastic state of a patient, methods for using the molecular markers in diagnostic tests, nucleic acid and amino acid sequences related to the molecular markers, reagents for detection of molecular markers, and methods for identifying candidate molecular markers in highly parallel gene expression data.
US08268566B2
A method for predicting patient responsiveness to rheumatoid arthritis treatments involving altering expression of tumor necrosis factor superfamily (“TNFSF”)-2, TNFSF-8, or TNFSF-15 is disclosed. A method for monitoring the effectiveness of such therapy is also disclosed. Furthermore, a method of screening compounds for use in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is disclosed. A method of monitoring the disease state over time in rheumatoid arthritis patients is also disclosed.
US08268553B2
The present invention provides a method and compositions for high throughput screening of genetically modified photosynthetic organisms for plasmic state. The present invention provides methods of producing one or more proteins, including biomass degrading enzymes in a plant. Also provided are the methods of producing biomass degradation pathways in alga cells, particularly in the chloroplast. Single enzymes or multiple enzymes may be produced by the methods disclosed. The methods disclosed herein allow for the production of biofuel, including ethanol.
US08268551B2
Techniques and systems for using nonlinear four wave mixing to optically measure microarrays with sample cells of biological or chemical materials. Examples of suitable microarrays include but are not limited to DNA microchips and capillary electrophoresis microarrays.
US08268549B2
Method and assay for determining methylation of GAL3 promoter for early diagnosis of prostate cancer
A method and assay are described for determining prostate cancer and the general stage of progression of such cancer by quantifying levels of promoter methylation of gal-3, optionally in combination with the quantification of the level of GSTP1 promoter methylation, where the method and assay are non-invasive to a subject and can detect any of Stages I-IV prostate cancer.
US08268543B2
A method of forming a pattern on a substrate includes forming spaced first features over a substrate. The spaced first features have opposing lateral sidewalls. Material is formed onto the opposing lateral sidewalls of the spaced first features. That portion of such material which is received against each of the opposing lateral sidewalls is of different composition from composition of each of the opposing lateral sidewalls. At least one of such portion of the material and the spaced first features is densified to move the at least one laterally away from the other of the at least one to form a void space between each of the opposing lateral sidewalls and such portion of the material.
US08268542B2
A method suitable for reducing side lobe printing in a photolithography process is enabled by the use of a barrier layer on top of a photoresist on a substrate. The barrier layer is absorbing at the imaging wavelength of the underlying photoresist and thus blocks the light from reaching the photoresist. A first exposure followed by a development in an aqueous base solution selectively removes a portion of the barrier layer to reveal a section of the underlying photoresist layer. At least a portion of the revealed section of the photoresist layer is then exposed and developed to form a patterned structure in the photoresist layer. The barrier layer can also be bleachable upon exposure and bake in the present invention.
US08268534B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a method and an apparatus for performing self-aligned, sub-wavelength optical lithography. One embodiment provides a region of photoresist above a conductive surface having a plurality of periodically arrayed openings extending therethrough. At least a portion of the region of photoresist is then exposed to a light, wherein the intensity of the light is less than the intensity required to cure the photoresist. In so doing, at least one self-aligned, sub-wavelength location in at least one location of the region of photoresist is cured.
US08268532B2
The invention relates to a method for forming microscopic structures. By scanning a focused particle beam over a substrate in the presence of a precursor fluid, a patterned seed layer is formed. By now growing this layer with Atomic Layer Deposition or Chemical Vapor Deposition, a high quality layer can be grown.An advantage of this method is that forming the seed layer takes relatively little time, as only a very thin layer needs to be deposited.
US08268528B2
A resist composition is provided comprising (A) an additive polymer of acyl-protected hexafluoroalcohol structure, (B) a base polymer having a structure derived from lactone ring, hydroxyl group and/or maleic anhydride, the base polymer becoming soluble in alkaline developer under the action of acid, (C) a photoacid generator, and (D) an organic solvent. The additive polymer is transparent to radiation of wavelength up to 200 nm, and its properties can be tailored by a choice of the polymer structure.
US08268521B2
According to an aspect of the invention, an electrophotographic photoreceptor including a conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer provided on a surface of the conductive substrate is provided. In the electrophotographic photoreceptor, an outermost layer of the photosensitive layer containing a crosslinked product formed from at least one charge transporting material having at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of —OH, —OCH3, —NH2, —SH, and —COOH, an acidic substance, and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by the following formula (A) and compounds represented by the following formula (B).
US08268517B2
A photolithographic mask set for creating a plurality of characters on a device includes a plurality of photolithographic masks, wherein each mask includes at least one mask character area and at least one mask character field area that surrounds said mask character area; wherein each said mask character field area has a radiation energy density transmission factor Tf that is greater than zero, and wherein each mask character area has a radiation energy density transmission factor Tc that is greater than zero, such that each mask character field area and each mask character area of each mask is not opaque.
US08268514B2
Apparatus is provided for mounting a pellicle to a photomask. A chamber has at least one port for filling the chamber with extreme clean dry air (XCDA) or an inert gas. A pellicle mounter is provided within the chamber. A vacuum ultra violet (VUV) light source is provided for irradiating a mask held by the pellicle mounter while the chamber is filled with the XCDA or inert gas. The mask is irradiated with the VUV light in an atmosphere of the XCDA or inert gas, and the pellicle is mounted to the mask while the mask is in the atmosphere of the XCDA or inert gas and exposed to the VUV light.
US08268512B2
In a manufacturing method for an electrode-membrane-frame assembly in a fuel cell, a first frame member and an electrolyte membrane member are arranged in a first mold for injection molding such that the edge of the electrolyte membrane member is arranged on the first frame member, a second mold is arranged to form a resin flow passage for forming a second frame member which is in contact with the first frame member by interposing the electrolyte membrane member, and a part of the edge of the electrolyte membrane member is pressed and fixed to the first frame member by a presser member mounted on the second mold and a molding resin material is injected into the resin flow passage to form a second frame member.
US08268508B2
Disclosed herein are a fluid tank used as a water controller system for fuel cells, wherein the fluid tank includes a housing defining an inner space for receiving a liquid-phase component and a gas-phase component, discharging carbon dioxide and air of the gas-phase component, and supplying the liquid-phase component into a fuel cell stack, and wherein the housing is constructed in a dual structure in which a hermetically-sealed type inner case is disposed inside a hermetically-sealed type outer case such that a space defined between the hermetically-sealed type cases is filled with water, the housing is provided on the outer case and the inner case at one side surface thereof with one or more gas and liquid separation membranes, respectively, and the housing is provided on the outer case and the inner case at the other side surface thereof with one or more gas and liquid separation membranes, respectively, whereby the gas-phase component passes through the water filled in the space defined between the inner and outer cases when the gas-phase component is discharged to the outside from the inner space of the housing, and a fuel cell including the fluid tank.
US08268498B2
A fuel cell with which deterioration of an anode electrode is able to be inhibited by an inexpensive means while generated carbon dioxide is removed, a fuel cell system including the same, and an electronic device including the same are provided. The fuel cell includes: a power generation section having an electrolyte between a cathode electrode and an anode electrode; an anode side platy member provided on the anode electrode side of the power generation section; a fuel vaporization chamber; a through hole that is formed in the anode platy member and gives passage between the anode electrode and the fuel vaporization chamber; a carbon dioxide exhaust section that guides carbon dioxide generated in the power generation section to each side face of the anode platy member or the fuel vaporization chamber; and a valve provided in the carbon dioxide exhaust section.
US08268491B1
A thermally integrated fuel cell system includes a stack zone, a burner zone and a low temperature zone. The fuel is combined with steam and passed sequentially through a primary reformer and a secondary reformer or a radiative fuel heat exchanger. Air may be passed sequentially through an afterburner heat exchanger and a radiative air heat exchanger such that the radiative heat exchanger may be used to heat the stack zone. The stack exhaust is combusted in an afterburner. Afterburner exhaust heats the primary reformer, the high temperature air heat exchanger, the low temperature air heat exchanger and steam generator. The stack zone includes the stacks, the secondary reformer and the radiative heat exchanger. The burner zone includes the afterburner which includes a start burner, the primary reformer and the high temperature air heat exchanger. The low temperature zone includes the low temperature air heat exchanger and a steam generator.
US08268490B2
Catalyst layers include an electrocatalyst having high oxygen reduction activity that is useful as an alternative material to platinum catalysts. Uses of the catalyst layers are also disclosed. A catalyst layer of the invention includes an electrode substrate and an electrocatalyst on the surface of the electrode substrate, and the electrocatalyst is formed of a metal compound obtained by hydrolyzing a metal salt or a metal complex.
US08268488B2
The invention relates to a solid-state lithium-ion thin-film electrolyte that, compared to the current state-of-the-art thin-film electrolyte, Lipon, exhibits an equal or larger electrochemical stability window (0-5.5 V vs. Li+/Li), an equal or smaller electronic conductivity (10−14 S/cm at 25° C.), the same ideal transference number for Li+ ions (t=1.000), and a 10× higher Li+ ion conductivity at −40° C. Latter provides thin-film batteries (TFBs) with at least a 5× higher power performance at −40° C. over the current state-of-the-art Lipon TFBs.
US08268479B2
A battery spacer, a protection assembly for electric core, and a power battery are provided. The battery spacer comprises a spacer body. The spacer body comprises: a tab passing area located in a middle portion of the spacer body, the tab passing area being adapted to receive an end of an electric core of a battery; and receiving areas adjacent to ends of the tab passing area along the spacer body. The spacer body and the tab passing area provide an end wall, two side walls, and a top wall configured to surround each of the receiving area. At least one tab aperture is formed in the tab passing area and penetrates the spacer body.
US08268469B2
A thermal management system is provided that minimizes the effects of thermal runaway within a battery pack. The system is comprised of a multi-sided, substantially airtight battery pack enclosure configured to hold a plurality of batteries, where at least one side of the battery pack enclosure includes at least one cavity. An inner wall of the enclosure includes a plurality of perforations configured to pass gas from within the enclosure to the cavity within the at least one side member. The system is further comprised of at least one gas exhaust port integrated into an outer wall of the enclosure and configured to pass gas from within the cavity of the enclosure side member to the ambient environment when one or more batteries contained within the battery pack undergo thermal runaway.
US08268465B2
The present invention relates to a method of supplying electrical power to an equipment by means of a battery, said method including the step of short-circuiting the battery until it has a temperature greater than a predetermined threshold, characterized in that the battery is short-circuited with a temporal duty ratio determined to keep the equipment functioning and to maintain the temperature of the battery above the predetermined threshold. The invention also relates to a battery and an electrical equipment for implementing that method.
US08268460B2
To provide a transparent resin molded product with less yellowing due to thermal deterioration of a dispersant by melting and kneading during molding process, and having excellent visible light transmittance and excellent heat ray shielding function. Then, a high heat resistant masterbatch is provided, which is used for manufacturing a heat ray shielding transparent molded resin, comprising: a thermoplastic resin; composite tungsten oxide particles expressed by a general formula WOX (satisfying 2.45≦X≦2.999) and/or composite tungsten oxide particles expressed by a general formula MYWOZ (satisfying 0.1≦Y≦0.5, 2.2≦Z 3.0) and having a crystal structure of hexagonal crystal; and a high heat resistant dispersant having a thermal decomposition temperature of 230° C. or more, satisfying a range of 10≧[weight of the high heat resistant dispersant/(weights of tungsten oxide particles and/or composite tungsten oxide particles)]≧0.5.
US08268459B2
A compound having the following structure as at least a part thereof: wherein FA and FA′ are independently a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon aromatic ring or hetero atom-containing aromatic ring, and at least one of FA and FA′ is the hetero atom-containing aromatic ring.
US08268458B2
A carbazole compound represented by Formula 1: wherein X1, X2 and X3 are each independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C20 alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C20 alkoxy group, a substituted or unsubstituted C6-C30 aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C6-C30 arylalkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C2-C30 heteroaryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C3-C20 cycloalkyl group and a substituted or unsubstituted C5-C30 heterocycloalkyl group; and l, m and n are each independently an integer from 0 to 5.
US08268446B2
The use of a photocurable perfluoropolyether (PFPE) material for fabricating a solvent-resistant PFPE-based microfluidic device, methods of flowing a material and performing a chemical reaction in a solvent-resistant PFPE-based microfluidic device, and the solvent-resistant PFPE-based microfluidic devices themselves are described. In an embodiment, a method is described for preparing a patterned layer of a photocured perfluoropolyether, the method comprising: (a) providing a substrate, wherein the substrate comprises a patterned surface; (b) contacting a perfluoropolvether precursor with the patterned surface of the substrate; and (c) photocuring the perfluoropolyether precursor to form a patterned layer of a photocured perfluoropolyether.
US08268444B2
The present invention is directed to a crimping conjugate fiber, comprising a first component and a second component, wherein the first component comprises a polybutene-1; the second component comprises a polymer having a melting point higher than that of the polybutene-1 by at least 20° C., or a polymer having a melting initiation temperature (extrapolated melting initiation temperature measured using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) as defined in JIS-K-7121) of at least 120° C.; in a cross section of the fiber, the first component occupies at least 20% of the surface of the conjugate fiber, and the centroid position of the second component is shifted from the centroid position of the conjugate fiber; and the conjugate fiber is an actualized crimping conjugate fiber in which three-dimensional crimps have been developed or a latently crimpable conjugate fiber in which three-dimensional crimps are developed by heating. Accordingly, a crimping conjugate fiber and a fiber assembly comprising the same are provided in which the elasticity, the bulk recovery property, and the durability are high.
US08268429B2
Web products are disclosed which include forming selected perforation designs and patterns. The perforation designs and patterns can be formed in linear or nonlinear fashion, can extend in the cross direction or the machine direction and can be formed to complement or match an embossed or printed design on the web. The perforation designs and patterns can be formed utilizing various mechanical perforating techniques.
US08268420B2
A wrap film having very stable physical properties wherein a sock liquid maintains the lubricating effect as an opening agent while a sock is stabilized and parison width changes and meandering are reduced to eliminate parison wrinkles is provided. Specifically, the wrap film is a wrap film made of a polyvinylidene chloride-based resin prepared by melt-extruding a polyvinylidene chloride-based resin from a die in tubular form, cooling the outer side of the extrudate by using a coolant while an aqueous solution of a liquid that is compatible with water and forms one-component is retained in the hollow portion of the extrudate, and inflating the solidified extrudate, wherein the liquid that is compatible with water and forms one-component has a concentration of 80 to 95% by mass in the aqueous solution, and the liquid is applied to the wrap film in amounts of 50 to 4,000 ppm.
US08268417B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a partly-biodegradable system, which comprises a non-biodegradable portion and a biodegradable portion wherein the non-biodegradable portion is easily separated from the biodegradable portion for disposal of the system. In certain embodiments, the system further comprises a cover layer of non-biodegradable film which adheres to the first non-biodegradable portion to form a sealed compartment for food or drink reservation.
US08268414B2
Briefly described, embodiments of this disclosure include print media and methods of preparing print media.
US08268413B2
A liquid crystal display device comprises a color filter substrate and an array substrate. An optical compensation film is disposed on the color filter substrate and/or the array substrate, wherein the optical compensation film comprises a polyimide, comprising the following formula: wherein n is an integer greater than 1, and wherein when A is cyclo-aliphatic compound, B is aromatic compound or cyclo-aliphatic compound, and when A is aromatic compound, B is cyclo-aliphatic compound.
US08268410B2
In the case of CVD methods, comprising PECVD and PICVD methods, the aim of the invention is to improve the impurity-free and, as far as possible, temporally and quantitatively precise feeding of process gases for the targeted layer systems. To this end, the invention provides a coating system and a method for coating articles with alternating layers, in the case of which process gases are introduced in an alternating fashion into a gas mixing point and mixed with a further gas and led to the reaction chamber, in which the deposition is carried out by producing a plasma.
US08268409B2
Methods of forming a metal carbide film are provided. In some embodiments, methods for forming a metal carbide film in an atomic layer deposition (ALD) type process comprise alternately and sequentially contacting a substrate in a reaction space with vapor phase pulses of a metal compound and one or more plasma-excited species of a carbon-containing compound. In other embodiments, methods of forming a metal carbide film in a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) type process comprise simultaneously contacting a substrate in a reaction space with a metal compound and one or more plasma-excited species of a carbon-containing compound. The substrate is further exposed to a reducing agent. The reducing agent removes impurities, including halogen atoms and/or oxygen atoms.
US08268404B2
The present invention relates to a method of applying atmospheric corrosion control coats to metallic surfaces, using copolymers comprising as monomeric building blocks monomers containing nitrile groups, monomers containing acidic groups, and vinylaromatic monomers. It relates, furthermore, to preparations for applying corrosion control coats.
US08268401B2
A method for producing a ceramic honeycomb structure comprising applying a coating material to an outer peripheral surface of the ceramic honeycomb body to form an outer peripheral wall, the thickness of the coating material applied being determined from the outer diameter of the ceramic honeycomb body and the drying shrinkage ratio of the coating material, such that the outer diameter of the dried ceramic honeycomb structure is within a target outer size±1.4 mm.
US08268395B2
The invention is a process useful for providing a treated support comprising a porous nanoweb coating wherein the treated support is characterized by a biofilm cell count of less than 50% that of an untreated porous support control. The process is useful for modifying porous materials, such as filter media and barrier fabrics to provide resistance to biofouling. The porous nanoweb coating is comprised of fibrous structures derived from gelation and drying of supramolecular assemblies of non-covalently bonded organogelators. Typical organogelators useful in the invention include those that assemble via hydrogen bonding and π-stacking.
US08268391B2
The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a biodegradable composition containing nano-particles of cellulose for forming a protective coating on natural materials. It is an object of the invention to provide a composition for forming a protective coating layer on a biodegradable natural material that imparts to the material improved waterproofing and grease-resistant properties. It is another object to provide a composition for forming a protective coating on natural biodegradable materials that is based on the use of nano-cellulose particles and that protects these materials from swelling, warping, and mechanical damage during contact with water, other aqueous liquids, or grease.
US08268387B2
Disclosed is a method for forming a metal line. The method includes preparing a semiconductor substrate having a first metal line, performing an oxidation process with respect to the first metal line, performing an oxide removal process to remove an oxide generated in the oxidation process, forming an etch stop layer on the metal line, forming an interlayer dielectric layer on the first metal line, and forming a damascene pattern on the interlayer dielectric layer, and forming a second metal line, which is connected with the first metal line, in the damascene pattern. The oxidation process for the first metal line can include a hydrogen peroxide treatment process using a solution including oxygen. The oxide removal process can be performed by using an oxalic acid (HOOC—COOH) solution.
US08268386B2
A method for manufacturing a high-temperature superconducting conductor includes providing an elongate substrate to a reactor, the reactor having a longitudinal flow distributor. The longitudinal flow distributor has an entrance, a plurality of exits, and an interior distribution member provided between the entrance and the plurality of exits. The method further includes heating at least a portion of the substrate to a temperature sufficient to facilitate the formation of one of a superconducting material and a predecessor to a superconducting material. Further, the method includes flowing at least one precursor into the longitudinal flow distributor, through the entrance thereof, past an internal distribution member, and out through a plurality of exits, thereby longitudinally distributing the at least one precursor to form the superconducting material or predecessor thereof on the substrate.
US08268380B2
Pellets of vegetable protein Pellets, consisting of dried compressed proteins and a moisture content of maximum 12%, are described. These proteins comprise vital wheat gluten. A process for preparing these and the application in fish feed is described as well.
US08268376B2
A method is provided for storing a cooked food in a flexible-walled container having an opening. The method includes placing a quantity of food in a flexible-walled container and submerging at least a portion of the container in a liquid with the opening being located so that liquid does not enter the opening. At least the lower portion of the container is maintained in the liquid and the food is maintained in the container below the surface of the liquid. The liquid collapses the container to seal the container. The temperature of the liquid may be maintained at a non-ambient temperature to heat or cool the food as it is stored. The method may also include storing the food adjacent a work surface, or at a remote main vat and transporting the rack to the work surface at which a serving that includes the food is prepared.
US08268372B2
The invention relates to a method for preparing a wine in such a way as to prevent the problems of defective ageing, according to which yeast which has been previously enriched in glutathione is introduced into the must at the beginning, during or following the alcoholic fermentation. Said enriched yeast contains more than 0.5% of glutathione, especially at least 1% of glutathione, and preferably at least 1.5% of glutathione, expressed in weight added to the weight of the dry substance of the yeast. The inventive method enables fresh white wines to be produced, which are more fruity with a more complex range of aromas. During the ageing of said wines, the freshness of the aromas is preserved and browning prevented. The invention also relates to a must which is enriched in glutathione by the introduction of enriched yeast, and to the wine produced in this way.
US08268363B2
The invention relates to the application of a combination including all forms of zinc or zinc substances, at least one of an orally applied combination of a free thiol group or a group that is metabolized to a free thiol in a mammal, and as the only pure plant part, glycyrrhicinic acid or the substance from succus liquiritiae, for the production of a medication to fight acute or chronic viral infections. The free thiol group or the group that is metabolized to a free thiol in a mammal is derived from N-acetylcysteine, methionine, cysteine, allylcysteine, alpha lipoic acid, or sulfur.
US08268357B2
The invention provides compositions and methods for delivery of a bioactive agent to an individual. Delivery vehicles are provided that include a bioactive agent in disc shaped particles that include one or more lipid binding polypeptides circumscribing the perimeter of a lipid bilayer in which the bioactive agent is localized. Chimeric lipid binding polypeptides are also provided and may be used to add additional functional properties to the delivery particles.
US08268353B2
A polymer latex composition has an acrylonitrile component, a polychloroprene component, and a natural latex component. When these components are blended together and formed into a film, the film exhibits a resistance to ozone that is greater than a resistance to ozone of materials in which acrylonitrile is not included. Furthermore, the combination of acrylonitrile and chloroprene imparts a synergistic effect to the composition with regard to ozone resistance. The film can be formed into a glove having a resistance to ozone that is improved over the resistance to ozone of gloves not including acrylonitrile. The glove may include an antimicrobial agent.
US08268351B2
A pharmaceutical matrix film tablet with controlled release of natural mixtures of conjugated estrogens which have been obtained from the urine of pregnant mares.
US08268339B2
The present invention relates to a composition comprising pesticide and polyalkylene oxide. The invention furthermore relates to pyrrolidone alkylene oxides and the use thereof in agrochemical formulations. It furthermore relates to the use of the composition according to the invention for controlling phytopathogenic fungi and/or undesired vegetation and/or undesired attack by insects or mites and/or for regulating the growth of plants. Furthermore, it relates to the use of a composition according to the invention for controlling undesired attack by insects or mites on plants and/or for controlling phytopathogenic fungi and/or for controlling undesired vegetation, where seeds of useful plants are treated with the composition. Finally, the present invention also relates to seed treated with the composition according to the invention. The present invention comprises combinations of preferred features together with other preferred features.
US08268338B2
Disclosed are surfactant compounds and compositions that are antimicrobial. Also provided are polymeric compositions incorporating the surfactant compounds. The polymeric compositions may be used to form antibacterial coatings on surfaces.
US08268337B2
The present invention provide a composition of non-toxic low-cost ingredients that effectively kill pathologic bacteria and methods for use of the composition. The present invention comprises novel compositions and methods for controlling enteric pathogens and spoilage organisms such as Salmonella, Escherichia, Campylobacter, Listeria, Pseudomonas and Enterobacteracae on the surface of meat products and food preparation surfaces.
US08268336B2
Disclosed are pharmaceutical and cosmetic compositions containing aromatic aldehyde compounds. Some of the disclosed compositions are useful as topical therapeutics for treating inflammatory dermatologic conditions. Some of the compositions are useful in transdermal and other systemic dose forms for treating other inflammatory conditions in mammals.
US08268334B2
A highly aqueous liquid acidic hard surface treatment composition having a pH of about 3.5 or less which necessarily comprises: 0.001-3.5% wt. of an acid constituent which comprises one or more organic acids, but which preferably comprises lactic acid and one or more further organic acids acids, and especially preferably wherein the acid constituent consists solely of lactic acid; an organic solvent constituent, desirably selected from a monohydric alcohol and/or a glycol ether; an anionic surfactant constituent, desirably a sulfur atom containing anionic surfactant constituent, such as of the sulfate or sulfonate types; a nonionic surfactant constituent; optionally a cosurfactant constituent, including one or more nonionic, cationic, amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactants; optionally one or more further constituents selected coloring agents, fragrances and fragrance solubilizers, viscosity modifying agents including one or more thickeners, pH adjusting agents and pH buffers including organic and inorganic salts, optical brighteners, opacifying agents, hydrotropes, abrasives, and preservatives, as well as other optional constituents known to the art; and the balance, water, wherein water comprises at least 80% wt. of the composition. The highly aqueous liquid acidic hard surface treatment composition may be used as such, or may be used to impregnate absorbent substrates to form wipe articles.Methods for the use of said highly aqueous liquid acidic hard surface treatment compositions, in cleaning and/or disinfection of hard surfaces are also disclosed.
US08268329B2
The present invention provides an attenuated virus, which is derived from Modified Vaccinia Ankara virus, wherein the MVA-BN virus, or a derivative thereof, induces at least substantially the same level of immunity in vaccinia virus prime/vaccina virus boost regimes when compared to DNA prime/vaccinia virus boost regimes. It further describes recombinant viruses derived from this virus and the use of the virus, or its recombinants, as a medicament or vaccine. A method is provided for inducing an immune response in individuals who may be immune-compromised, receiving antiviral therapy, or have a pre-existing immunity to the vaccine virus.
US08268327B2
The invention relates to the methods and kits comprising modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) to provide immediate protection against pathogens. MVA can be delivered to a host animal just prior to or after exposure to a pathogen and provide protection against the pathogen.
US08268322B2
A polypeptide inhibiting binding between a vascular endothelial growth factor and a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, a fusion protein including the same, and a method of preparing the fusion protein are disclosed.
US08268319B2
The invention relates to therapeutic conjugates with improved ability to target various cancer cells containing a targeting moiety and a therapeutic moiety. The targeting and therapeutic moieties are linked via an acid cleavable linkage that increases therapeutic efficacy of the immunoconjugate.
US08268310B2
The invention concerns the prevention and treatment of complement-associated eye conditions, such as choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), by administration of Factor D antagonists.
US08268306B2
This invention relates to pesticide and antiparasitic compositions for the control of pests, diseases and parasites attacking plants and animals. The compositions include, at least one chitinolytic agent or a chitinolytic activity-inducing agent, and sulfide or a sulfide-producing agent from microorganisms or chemical compounds, wherein the chitinolytic agent or the chitinolytic activity-inducing agent and sulfur or a sulfur-producing agent obtaining from microorganisms or chemical compounds are concurrently applied at a range significantly lower than any of the above-mentioned compounds, when they are individually to attain effective control.
US08268289B2
The present invention relates to a catalyst for decomposing hydrocarbons including hydrocarbons having 2 or more carbon atoms, comprising magnesium, aluminum, nickel and cobalt as constitutional elements, and further comprising ruthenium and/or palladium, wherein the metallic ruthenium and/or metallic palladium in the form of fine particles have an average particle diameter of 0.5 to 20 nm, and a content of the metallic ruthenium and/or metallic palladium is 0.05 to 5.0% by weight based on the weight of the catalyst. The catalyst of the present invention is capable of efficiently decomposing hydrocarbons including hydrocarbons having 2 or more carbon atoms (C2 or more hydrocarbons), is less expensive, and exhibits an excellent catalytic activity for decomposition and removal of hydrocarbons, in particular, an excellent capability of decomposing propane, and an excellent anti-coking property.
US08268286B2
Disclosed herein is a spinel article. The article comprises a spinel material, wherein the spinel material has a monomodal grain size distribution with average grain sizes of less than or equal to about 15 micrometers, and a biaxial flexural strength of greater than or equal to about 300 megapascals when measured by a ring-on-ring flexural test as per ASTM Standard C1499-08. Disclosed herein too is a spinel article manufactured by a method comprising calcining a spinel powder; milling the powder in a milling medium; granulating the powder; screening the powder to a mesh size of about 40 to about 200 mesh; pressing the powder to form an article; burning out organics from the article; sintering the article; and hot isostatically pressing the article.
US08268278B2
Phosphorus-calcium-strontium compound of formula (I); method for preparing same; composition for the extemporaneous preparation of a cement comprising a solid phase (SP) and a liquid phase (LP), wherein the solid phase comprises a mixture of inorganic compounds of formula (II); use as an endodontic cement.
US08268277B2
In a method of synthesizing a silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve having 90+% CHA framework-type character, a reaction mixture is prepared comprising sources of water, silicon, aluminum, and phosphorus, as well as an organic template. In one aspect, the reaction mixture is heated at more than 10° C./hour to a crystallization temperature and is retained at the crystallization temperature or within the crystallization temperature range for a crystallization time from 16 hours to 350 hours to produce the silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve. In another aspect, the reaction mixture is heated at less than 10° C./hour to a crystallization temperature from about 150° C. to about 225° C. and is then retained there for less than 10 hours to produce the silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve. The molecular sieve can then be recovered from the reaction mixture and, preferably, used in a hydrocarbon conversion process, such as oxygenates to olefins.
US08268254B2
The gas-phase fluorination of plastic articles is effected in a reaction chamber 1 into which the plastic articles to be fluorinated are introduced. The gas-phase fluorination is effected at normal or atmospheric ambient pressure of about 1 kPa in the reaction chamber. The gas-phase fluorination can be carried out statically or dynamically. The flushing carried out before the gas-phase fluorination for complete or partial removal of atmospheric oxygen from the reaction chamber 1 can also be effected at atmospheric pressure in the reaction chamber. The reaction chamber 1 is equipped with a cover 2 and metering valves V0, V1, V2 for air, inert gas and gas mixture comprising fluorine and one or more inert gases are present on the entrance side of the reaction chamber, which is not vacuum-tight and hence also cannot be evacuated. The metering valves are connected to the reaction chamber 1 via a flow meter 4. A release valve V3 and a flow-through/shut-off valve V4 are arranged in an exhaust gas line 8 of the reaction chamber 1.
US08268248B2
An on-line analyzer for analyzing a test sample, having a measuring device, which includes at least one measuring cell and at least one optoelectronic component. The measuring device determines, at at least one wavelength, the transmission or absorption of electromagnetic radiation passing through the test sample and provides measurement signals. The analyzer further includes a control/evaluation unit, which evaluates the measurement signals delivered by the measuring device and makes analysis data available. The measuring cell and the control/evaluation unit are located spatially separated from one another; the at least one optoelectronic component of the measuring device is assigned to the control/evaluation unit; the measuring cell and the at least one optoelectronic component are connected together via a light wave conductor.
US08268246B2
Alternative approaches to fabricating printed circuit boards for use in droplet actuator operations are provided. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a droplet actuator for conducting droplet operations includes positioning a dielectric material between a first metal layer configured to include an electrode and a second metal layer configured to include an interconnect pad. The method additionally includes forming a connection between the first and second metal layers. Droplet actuators and methods of fabricating and supporting printed circuit boards of droplet actuators are also provided.
US08268239B2
A method for sterilizing contact lenses included in a moist environment in a closed package, wherein the package is heated, wherein the heating is carried out by introducing the package into a space which is at superatmospheric pressure or which is adjusted to superatmospheric pressure and which is heated with dry hot air. Further, the invention relates to an apparatus for carrying out such a method.
US08268238B2
A system for recovery of a sterilant gas mixture from a sterilizer chamber is disclosed. The system includes a gas recovery tank, a sterilizer chamber in gaseous communication with the gas recovery tank and a gas recovery assembly coupled to the gas recovery tank and the sterilizer chamber. The gas recovery assembly is configured to transfer a sterilant gas mixture including at least one sterilant gas between the sterilizer chamber and the gas recovery tank. The system further includes an analyzer assembly coupled to the sterilizer chamber, the analyzer assembly including at least one sterilant gas sensor configured to detect density of the sterilant gas and a control module coupled to the analyzer assembly and to the gas recovery assembly. The control module includes at least one control module configured to determine at least one of a transfer pressure and flammability of the sterilant gas mixture as a function of the density of the sterilant gas.
US08268232B2
Provided is an apparatus for dissolving noble metals. A pH adjusting unit controls pH of liquid inside a dissolution reactor in such a manner that a chlorine compound is produced. The noble metal in a noble metal-containing sample introduced into the dissolution reactor is dissolved by the chlorine compound, and the liquid evaporated from an inorganic material extraction unit is recycled to the dissolution reactor.
US08268231B2
This invention is intended to lower a temperature of a high-temperature exhaust gas to a desired temperature, while effectively suppressing adhesion of melting components and dusts in the high-temperature exhaust gas onto an inner wall of a cooling tower. For this purpose, a method of the present invention comprises an introduction step of introducing a high-temperature exhaust gas into a cooling tower through a gas duct, and a cooling step of sparging cooling water to the high-temperature exhaust gas in the cooling tower to cool the high-temperature exhaust gas. During the introduction step, the high-temperature exhaust gas is introduced into the cooling tower through the gas duct comprising two gas duct lines, in such a manner that respective portions of the high-temperature exhaust gas from the two gas duct lines become equal to each other in flow velocity and flow volume. Further, respective axes of the two gas duct lines are arranged so as to extend in directions opposed to each other and approximately orthogonal to an axis of the cooling tower, when viewed from a direction along the axis of the cooling tower.
US08268229B2
An injection blow molding machine having an injection molding rotor including a plurality of injection molding units with individual split mold cavities for preforms, a transfer rotor, a blow molding rotor including a plurality of blow molds, and a removal rotor, essentially within a shared operating plane, and split mobile neck molding parts which fit into each blow mold and each mold cavity and which are transferred with a preform and removed with a stretch-blown bottle from the blow mold. In the process, each preform is transferred in the neck molding part into the blow mold.
US08268218B2
A process of sealing a semiconductor substrate by contacting the semiconductor substrate with a surface of a release layer (I) of a gas barrier release film that is in the form of a mold, which includes vacuum suction; injecting a sealing resin between the semiconductor substrate and the mold; and releasing said mold from said semiconductor substrate having said sealing resin present thereon, where the gas barrier release film has a release layer (I), which has excellent releasability; a plastic support layer (II) supporting the release layer; and a metal or a metal oxide gas restraint layer (III), present between the release layer and the support layer, where the gas barrier release film exhibits a xylene gas permeability of at most 5×10−15 (kmol m/(s·m2·kPa)) at 170° C., and a surface of said release layer (I) has an arithmetic surface roughness of from 0.15 to 3.5 μm, exhibiting a satin-finish.
US08268213B2
An extrusion die or extruder having a flexible lip that is moveable by a geared mechanism. A shaft is operably connected to at least one gear, which in turn is operably connected to a movable lip of the extruder. Rotation of the shaft results in movement of the extruder lip.
US08268209B2
In a mold in which a pattern is formed of a fine concavo-convex shape, two or more of alignment marks for determining a relative positional relation between a substrate and a mold are formed concentrically. Moreover, a damaged mark is identified from the positional information and shape of the respective marks, and an alignment between the mold and the substrate to which a resin film is applied is carried out excluding the damaged mark.
US08268204B2
A method for manufacturing an annular nuclear fuel pellet is provided. In the method, an annular nuclear fuel green compact whose lateral cross-section is a trapezoid is prepared. The thickness of the annular nuclear fuel green compact reduces along one direction of the central axis, and a green density of the nuclear fuel green compact increases along one direction of the central axis. The annular nuclear fuel green compact is sintered under a reducing gas atmosphere so that the annular nuclear fuel pellet is obtained. According to this method, the annular pellet which has uniform inner and outer diameters and small diametric tolerances along the pellet height is fabricated without grinding the pellet surfaces.
US08268203B2
A method for producing microcrystalline titanium dioxide in the rutile form having a crystal size below 15 nm by an aqueous method, and a titanium dioxide product doped with silicon obtained by the method. The method generally includes adding a silicon containing compound during crystal formation to provide said titanium dioxide product with a small crystal size.
US08268202B2
Disclosed are potassium cesium tungsten bronze solid solution particles of the formula KxCsyWOz, where x+y≦1 and 2≦z≦3. The particles are for instance micron or nano scaled particles. Also disclosed are organic or inorganic compositions comprising an organic or inorganic substrate and incorporated therein the present potassium cesium tungsten bronze solid solution particles. The substrates are for instance plastics, coatings, inks, adhesives, ceramics or glass. Also disclosed is a method for the preparation of the present potassium cesium tungsten bronze solid solution particles, which method comprises mixing a suitable tungsten source with a salt of potassium and a salt of cesium to form a powder mixture and exposing the powder mixture to a plasma torch under a reducing atmosphere. The present tungsten bronze particles are suitable NIR absorbers and heat shielding additives.
US08268180B2
Methods for forming a nanoperforated graphene material are provided. The methods comprise forming an etch mask defining a periodic array of holes over a graphene material and patterning the periodic array of holes into the graphene material. The etch mask comprises a pattern-defining block copolymer layer, and can optionally also comprise a wetting layer and a neutral layer. The nanoperforated graphene material can consist of a single sheet of graphene or a plurality of graphene sheets.
US08268174B2
In a sewage treatment system, microconstituents, including personal care products and pharmaceutical materials, often difficult to degrade biologically, are removed by supersaturating the untreated wastewater feed with ozone. This breaks down refractory microconstituents into more readily biodegradable materials, subsequently treated preferably in an activated sludge membrane bioreactor process. The oxygen byproduct of ozonation is utilized by feeding the oxygen into an aerobic part of the plant to meet a portion of the biological demand, thereby increasing efficiency of ozone use in the process.
US08268170B2
A filter including a filter bowl (4), filer head (48) and filter element (2). The filter element (2) comprises a locking ring (12), a first end cap (6) coupled to the locking ring (12), a filter media (10) coupled to the first end cap (6), and a locking rib (30) extending outwardly from the locking ring (12). The locking rib (30) comprises a first portion (34) which extends radially from the locking ring (12) and a second portion (38) which extends from the first portion (34) around the periphery of the locking ring (12). At least part of the second portion (38) of the locking rib (30) is arranged to flex relative to the first portion (34) of the locking rib (30). The locking rib (30) forms part of a bayonet connection.
US08268165B2
Processes are provided for separating bitumen from oil sands and from other bitumen-containing compositions.
US08268161B2
An electrochemical sensor is provided especially for gases. The electrochemical sensor has a mediator compound, which is both dissolved in an electrolyte (9) in a saturated form and is present as an excess solid (10) in the electrolyte (9).
US08268158B2
Copper plating baths containing a leveling agent that is a reaction product of a certain imidazole with a certain epoxide-containing compound that deposit copper on the surface of a conductive layer are provided. Such plating baths deposit a copper layer that is substantially planar on a substrate surface across a range of electrolyte concentrations. Methods of depositing copper layers using such copper plating baths are also disclosed.
US08268122B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing a high-yield pulp comprising a) treating a lignocellulose containing material chemically by means of an oxidizing system comprising at least one non-enzymatic oxidant substantially free from ozone and chlorine dioxide and an activator at a pH from about 2 to about 6.5; and b) treating the lignocellulose containing material mechanically for a time sufficient to produce a high-yield pulp, wherein the lignocellulose containing material is chemically treated prior to and/or during any mechanical treatment stage, and wherein the lignocellulose containing material is not chemically treated at a pH from about 11.5 to about 14 between stages a) and b).
US08268115B2
An apparatus for applying different amounts of pressure to different locations of a semiconductor device structure or other substrate during polishing thereof. The apparatus is configured to be associated with a wafer carrier of a polishing apparatus and includes pressurization structures configured to individually apply pressure to a major surface of the semiconductor device structure during polishing thereof. Systems including the pressure application apparatus, as well as differential pressure application methods and polishing methods are also disclosed.
US08268111B2
A method and an apparatus for easily making a continuous oriented structure of a polymer are provided. In making a polymer assembly, single crystals are bonded to each other, an external force, such as an electrical field or a magnetic field, is applied to the single crystals, or a solution of the polymer is applied on a substrate such that the applied solution is linear in shape.
US08268109B2
Example embodiments relate to a method of forming a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) layer including a dichroic dye. A first PDLC layer including the dichroic dye and a second PDLC layer having no dichroic dye may be bonded to each other so as to form the desired PDLC layer.
US08268098B2
The present invention relates to a copper alloy having high strength, high electrical conductivity, and excellent bendability, the copper alloy containing, in terms of mass %, 0.4 to 4.0% of Ni; 0.05 to 1.0% of Si; and, as an element M, one member selected from 0.005 to 0.5% of P, 0.005 to 1.0% of Cr, and 0.005 to 1.0% of Ti, with the remainder being copper and inevitable impurities, in which an atom number ratio M/Si of elements M and Si contained in a precipitate having a size of 50 to 200 nm in a microstructure of the copper alloy is from 0.01 to 10 on average, the atom number ratio being measured by a field emission transmission electron microscope with a magnification of 30,000 and an energy dispersive analyzer. According to the invention, it is possible to provide a copper alloy having high strength, high electrical conductivity, and excellent bendability.
US08268096B2
A method for producing colored layers on zinc, aluminum, magnesium or alloy surfaces. The surfaces are brought into contact with an aqueous treatment solution which is devoid of chrome, said solution containing, in total, 3-35 g/l persulfate ions and/or peroxodisulfate ions and not more than 10 g/l ammonia or ammonium ions, it has a pH value in the region of between 10-12 and a temperature in the range of between 30-80° C. The surfaces are brought into contact with the treatment solution for a period in the region of 0.5-5 minutes and optionally, they are covered with a coating based on organic polymers. The invention further relates to metal parts treated according to said method.
US08268085B2
A method for cleaning a diffusion barrier over a gate dielectric of a metal-gate transistor over a substrate is provided. The method includes cleaning the diffusion barrier with a first solution including at least one surfactant. The amount of the surfactant of the first solution is about a critical micelle concentration (CMC) or more. The diffusion barrier is cleaned with a second solution. The second solution has a physical force to remove particles over the diffusion barrier. The second solution is substantially free from interacting with the diffusion barrier.
US08268083B2
A method for treating objects with at least one treatment agent in a household device includes the step of operating a first part of an identification system to identify data of a second part of the identification system, the data of the second part of the identification system comprising information on a dosing device operable to dose the treatment agent, and the data of the second part of the identification system being associated with a packaging for the dosing device. The method also includes the further step of adapting a treatment of objects by the household device or a dosing of the treatment agent based upon the identified data.
US08268079B2
There is provided a vacuum film deposition apparatus which forms a film on a substrate by a vacuum film deposition technique, include: substrate holding means for holding the substrate; a deposition preventing member for preventing film deposition at undesired positions within the apparatus; and contacting means for bringing the substrate or the substrate holding means and the deposition preventing member into contact with each other.
US08268073B2
Integrated cement production systems and methods implementing the systems are disclosed, where the integrated cement production systems include a burnable fuel supply subsystem, a cement raw material supply subsystem, a kiln subsystem and a cement clinker composition storage subsystem. The burnable fuel supply subsystem is adapted to receive one or a plurality of used and/or unused healthcare materials. The burnable fuel supply subsystem can feed the materials directly into the kiln subsystem, can convert the materials into different form and feed the different form to the kiln subsystem or feed a combination of the materials, different forms and optionally conventional fuels to the kiln subsystem.
US08268063B2
A method and composition for transforming a latent physiological biometric into a visible physiological biometric are provided, the method comprising: providing a latent biometric disposed on a surface of an article, wherein said biometric comprises at least one eccrine-derived compound; contacting said latent biometric with a developing solution, wherein said developing solution comprises at least one imaging reagent selected from ninhydrin and 1,8-diazafluoren-9-one and a carrier solvent comprising at least one C3-C4 hydrofluorocarbon; and reacting said imaging reagent with said eccrine-derived compound to produce a visible physiological biometric.
US08268058B2
A high-performance labyrinth type air treatment apparatus includes a positively (negatively) charged dust collector mounted in an air passage inside a shell, the positively (negatively) charged dust collector having positively (negatively) charged dust collecting panels arranged in such a manner that a labyrinth-like detoured air path is defined through the positively (negatively) charged dust collector, an air ionization control means having discharge/emitting terminals arranged in the labyrinth-like detoured air path, and an electric fan for causing flowing of air through the positively (negatively) charged dust collector so that negatively (positively) charged heteroparticles carried in currents of air flowing through the labyrinth-like detoured air path are forced, to strike repeatedly against the positively (negatively) charged dust collecting panels and then effectively adhered to the positively (negatively) charged dust collecting panels, achieving extremely high air purification.
US08268047B2
The present invention relates generally to processes and systems for recovering helium from low helium-containing feed gases (i.e., containing less than about 10 volume % helium and more typically, less than about 5% helium by volume). The present invention more particularly relates to processes and systems for recovering helium from low helium-containing feed gases using temperature swing adsorption (TSA) systems and multiple (e.g. two) stage vacuum pressure swing adsorption (VPSA) systems. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the first stage VPSA system is configured to provide regeneration gas for the TSA system, and/or the VPSA second stage tail gas is recycled to the first stage VPSA system.
US08268046B2
Methods of purifying hydrogen-containing materials are described. The methods may include the steps of providing a purifier material comprising silica. The silica may be heated at temperature of about 100° C. or more in a dry atmosphere to form activated silica. The activated silica may be contacted with a starting hydrogen-containing material, where the activated silica reduces a concentration of one or more impurity from the starting hydrogen-containing material to form the purified hydrogen-containing material, and where the activated silica does not decompose the purified hydrogen-containing material.
US08268040B2
A method and a system for controlling dust particle emissions from an electrostatic precipitator (1), which has a first and a second bus-section (16, 20), are provided. Dust particle emissions are controlled by observing that a rapping event of the first bus-section (16) is about to be initiated, verifying, before allowing the rapping event of the first bus-section (16) to be initiated, that the second bus-section (20) is ready to receive the dust particles to be released during the rapping event of the first bus-section (16), and then initiating, after verification, the rapping event of the first bus-section (16).
US08268039B2
An atmospheric leaching process for the recovery of a nickel and cobalt from a lateritic ore includes (a) preparing a slurry of the lateritic ore with saline or hypersaline water having a total dissolved solids (TDS) content greater than 30 g/L; (b) leaching the slurry of the lateritic ore with sulfuric acid at atmospheric pressure, and (c) recovering nickel and cobalt from the resultant leachate.
US08268036B2
Disclosed is a method of producing ultra low phosphorus and carbon ferromanganese having 0.1 wt % or less carbon and 0.03 wt % or less phosphorus. The method includes preparing low carbon silicomanganese having low phosphorus content, preparing molten manganese slag, subjecting the molten manganese slag and the low carbon silicomanganese having low phosphorus content to primary mixing and stirring at a ratio of 70˜72:28˜30 in a ladle, thus producing a metal melt and slag, and subjecting the metal melt separated from the above slag and the molten manganese slag identical to that used in the primary mixing and stirring to secondary mixing and stirring, thus producing slag and a metal melt including 91˜93 wt % manganese, 0.60˜0.85 wt % silicon, 0.05˜0.10 wt % carbon and 0.015˜0.02 wt % phosphorus.
US08268028B2
Methods and systems for hydrogen generation from solid hydrogen storage compositions which generate hydrogen in an exothermic reaction wherein the heat released can be absorbed by solid endothermic compositions are disclosed. The solid hydrogen storage compositions comprise mixtures of chemical hydrides and water surrogate compounds. Fuel cartridges suitable for use with compositions which generate hydrogen upon the application of thermal initiation and methods for operating the fuel cartridges are also disclosed.
US08268024B2
Apparatus, system, and method for producing syngas. The apparatus can include a first reformer, which can include a radiant section having a reformer tube disposed therein. The reformer tube can be at least partially filled with a first catalyst. The first reformer can also include a transition section coupled to the radiant section, a convective section coupled to the transition section, and a plurality of pre-reformer tubes disposed in the transition section. The plurality of pre-reformer tubes can be filled with a second catalyst and fluidly coupled to the reformer tube via a line external to the plurality of pre-reformer tubes. At least one of the plurality of pre-reformer tubes can have at least one extended surface disposed thereon. The second reformer can be coupled to the reformer tube and to an oxidant source. The third reformer can be coupled to the second reformer and to the reformer tube.
US08268019B2
A powder compaction press having opposed rib and channel punches which are interleaved and a production method are used to produce capacitor elements having a uniform compaction density and which are free of surface imperfections.
US08268012B1
A four-bar-linkage brake-included knee joint includes a knee carriage, first and second links rotatably coupled to the carriage, and a clamp member coupled to a joint body. The clamp member forms a through hole that receives an axle to couple the second links. A compression block is received in a rear portion of the joint body and is set in engagement with a back side of the clamp member. The clamp member forms a gap extending from the through hole of the clamp member to a bottom of the clamp member. When a heel of a prosthesis that includes the knee joint is put on the ground, a reaction force is induced in the prosthesis that causes the compression block to directly depress the clamp member thereby reducing the gap to have the clamp member tightly clamping the axle and thus preventing the axle from further rotation.
US08268011B2
The present invention provides an apparatus (1) for attaching a prosthetic limb to the bone of a patient, the apparatus comprising a proximal component (2) to mount to a bone implant, a distal component (3) to mount to a prosthetic limb, and a coupling body (4, 5) coupling together the proximal and distal components (2,3) with freedom to articulate when, in use, a bending and/or torsional force is applied to the prosthetic limb, only when the force exceeds a threshold level, whereby the force may be accommodated by articulation within the attachment apparatus (1). The attachment apparatus (1) thus functions as a fail-safe articulation mechanism protecting the bone of the patient.
US08268004B2
Embodiments of the invention include expandable, implantable devices and methods. Devices expand linearly to provide secure fixation between or among anatomical structures. In some embodiments, an implant replaces one or more vertebral bodies of the spine.
US08268002B2
An implant for insertion between adjacent vertebral members, comprising an implant body with a base section having positioning teeth, and an end cap adapted for positioning at a selected point on the base section via adjustment of an approach direction. The end cap comprises a seating surface adapted to contact the base section when positioned on the implant body, an end cap angulation, and positioning passages adapted to receive the positioning teeth. The implant may further comprise a locking mechanism adapted to lockingly engage the end cap and base section and prevent axial movement of the end cap. The positioning passages and positioning teeth are complementarily configured to facilitate slideably positioning the end cap on the base section. The implant body and end cap combination will impart end cap angulation to an adjacent vertebral body at the selected point when the implant is positioned in the intervertebral space.
US08267996B2
An intraocularlens of novel structure by which the outer circumferential part of an optical portion can be pressed stably against a posterior capsule under worn state and crisis of secondary cataract can be suppressed more advantageously. A pair of coupling portions (14, 14) are formed to hold an optical portion (12) between them in one direction perpendicular to the optical axis, wherein the outer fringe parts of the coupling portions (14, 14) are made thicker than the outer fringe part of the optical portion (12), a pair of supporting portions (16, 16) are formed to project from the outer fringe parts of the coupling portions (14, 14) and a edge contour part (32) is formed continuously on the outer fringe parts of the optical portion (12) and respective posterior surfaces (20, 24) of the coupling portions (14, 14) so as to extend smoothly along the entire circumference thereof.
US08267990B2
Stents fabricated from hydrolytically degradable polymers with accelerated degradation rates and methods of fabricating stents with accelerated degradation rates are disclosed.
US08267981B2
A suture anchor is provided including an elongate shank defining a longitudinal axis and having at least one bone-engaging thread formed thereon, and a drive head having a proximal end and a distal end mated to the elongate shank. The drive head has a substantially oval shape and includes at least one suture attachment member formed in a portion of the drive head. The configuration of the drive head is particularly advantages in that it provides a suture anchor having improved physical properties, including a high failure torque and a high stripping strength.
US08267976B2
A bone screw is provided, with a thread section (2) of tubular construction having a tip (3) at its first end and a second end opposite the latter. The tubular thread section (2) comprises a bone thread (22) on its outer wall, and the wall of the thread section (2) comprises a plurality of recesses (21). The bone screw further includes a holding element (4, 6) with a first section (41, 61) for connection to the thread section (2) and with a rod-like second section (43, 63) which in the inserted state of the holding element (4, 6) protrudes beyond the second end of the thread section (2). A stop is provided for limiting the distance of insertion of the holding element (4, 6) in the thread section (2). The holding element (4, 6) comprises an element (44, 64) at its free end for engagement with a screw-in tool.
US08267973B2
A fixable suture anchor plate including an anchor plate having a tunnel aperture that aligns with one or more bone tunnels formed in the bone. The anchor plate also includes one or more suture passages that align with one or more grooves formed along an edge of the anchor plate to permit passing a suture through the anchor plate after the anchor plate is fixed to the bone. The anchor plate also includes a screw hole that allows the anchor plate to be fixed to a bone with a screw. A method for tendon-to-bone repair includes sewing a medial row of stitches proximate to a medial line of tendon-to-bone attachment and securing the suture to the anchor plate through a bone tunnel and sewing a lateral row of stitches along a lateral line of tendon-to-bone attachment and securing the second suture to the anchor plate.
US08267970B2
Various devices and methods are provided for spinal augmentation. In particular, the device can includes a connector element having a superior portion and an inferior portion that is adapted to support adjacent superior and inferior vertebrae and a first superior seating member and a second superior seating member associated with the connector element. The first seating member can be adapted to receive a portion of a lamina of the superior vertebra and the second seating member can be adapted to receive a portion of the lamina of the inferior vertebra. The device can have a variety of configurations, including the connector element and the first and second seating members being unitary and the first and second seating members being separately secured to the connector element.
US08267969B2
Methods, systems, devices and tools for placing bone stabilization components in a patient are provided. The systems and devices have a reduced number of discrete components that allow placement through small incisions and tubes. More particularly, the present invention is directed to screws for use in systems and methods of treating the spine, which eliminate pain and enable spinal motion, which effectively mimics that of a normally functioning spine. Methods are also provided for installation of the screw and other subject systems.
US08267966B2
A spinal joint distraction system is disclosed and may include a driver assembly with a tubular shaft, a pair of implant holder arms, an implant distractor, an internal actuator, and a distractor knob, the system also including a delivery device with a tubular shaft, a receiving assembly, and a pair of forks, where the delivery device is adapted for slidable insertion of the driver assembly, the system also including an implant, a chisel, and an injector. Several embodiments of an implant are disclosed as well a method of placing an implant.
US08267964B2
Disclosed herein are methods and devices for securing soft tissue to a rigid material such as bone. A bone anchor is described that comprises a base and a top such that suture material may be compressed between surfaces on the base and top to secure the suture to the anchor. Also described is an inserter that can be used to insert the bone anchor into bone and move the anchor top relative to the anchor base to clamp suture material there between. Also described is a soft-tissue and bone piercing anchor and associated inserter. Methods are described that allow use of the bone anchors to provide multiple lengths of suture material to compress a large area of soft tissue against bone.
US08267960B2
The present invention relates generally to a device and method for treating tissues of the central nervous system and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a device and method for treating the brain tissue.
US08267953B2
An angioplasty balloon catheter with an added channel for delivering medication or removing body fluids distal to the site of angioplasty is disclosed. The balloons are especially useful in the treatment of occlusions in saphenous vein grafts, the coronary and carotid arteries, arteries arising from the aorta and branches thereof and in veins flowing to the heart or their tributaries and sub tributaries thereof.
US08267935B2
An electrosurgical instrument having opposing end effectors and a handle for effecting movement of the end effectors relative to one another, includes a pair of electrodes each including an electrically conductive surface (e.g., which can be dimensioned for sealing, clamping and/or cutting), an insulating substrate having a first edge, and an insulating layer positioned in a channel formed by the electrically conductive surface within the first edge between the conductive surface and the first edge of the insulating substrate. The insulating layer has a portion proximal to the electrically conductive surface and a portion distal from the electrically conductive surface and a gradient such that the proximal portion has a lower dielectric strength than the distal portion. A coating on one of the pair of electrodes may be disposed in at least partial non-vertical registration with a coating on the opposing one of the pair of electrodes.
US08267930B2
A medical device comprising a cell including an ablation element and a carrier configured to receive at least a portion of said ablation element is disclosed. The medical device further comprises a tube enclosing the cell. At least a portion of the tube includes a membrane and the tube includes at least one hole proximate the ablation element for facilitating fluid flow. The medical device further comprises a fluid inlet for providing fluid to the interior of the tube. A method of using the medical device is also disclosed.
US08267924B2
A surgical instrument including a housing, an endoscopic portion, a shaft portion and an end effector is disclosed. The endoscopic portion extends distally from the housing and defines a longitudinal axis. The shaft portion is selectively connectable to a distal end of the endoscopic portion. The end effector is selectively connectable to a distal end of the shaft portion.
US08267921B2
A portable therapeutic fluid delivery device and a method for delivering a therapeutic fluid into a body of a patient are provided. In one aspect the therapeutic fluid delivery device and the method can be implemented using at least one housing securable to the body of the patient, a reservoir coupled to the at least one housing, a therapeutic fluid dispensing mechanism, a memory component, a controller, at least one bolus delivery button configured to signal the controller to initiate the delivery of the therapeutic fluid into the body of the patient; and, an inadvertent initiation prevention mechanism adapted for preventing the patient from activating the at least one bolus delivery button.
US08267918B2
A reduced pressure delivery system for applying a reduced pressure to a tissue site includes a manifold delivery tube having a passageway and a distal end, the distal end configured to be percutaneously inserted and placed adjacent the tissue site. A flowable material is provided and is percutaneously deliverable through the manifold delivery tube to the tissue site. The flowable material is capable of filling a void adjacent the tissue site to create a manifold having a plurality of flow channels in fluid communication with the tissue site. A reduced pressure delivery tube is provided that is capable of fluid communication with the flow channels of the manifold.
US08267915B2
A port for implantation within a body, comprises a housing having proximal and distal surfaces and a side surface wherein, the proximal surface faces outward toward the skin, the distal surface faces inward away from the skin and the side surface extends between the proximal and distal surfaces. A first well formed within the housing includes a first opening in the proximal surface and a second well formed in the housing adjacent to the first well has a second opening formed in the proximal surface. First and second outlet openings formed on the side surface of the port are in fluid communication with the first and second wells, respectively, and are separated from one another by a distance substantially equal to a distance separating lumens of a dual lumen catheter to which the port is to be connected.
US08267911B2
A flow-through fluid reservoir includes a body with a first fluid port, a member movable within the body by an actuator to increase or decrease a volume of a chamber defined by a sidewall of the body. The actuator has a second fluid port. Movable member has a fluid path therethrough such that fluid ports are in fluid communication irrespective of the position of the movable member or the volume of chamber. A shaped slot on the shell of the actuator and a projection on the body cooperate to constrain relative movement of the body and actuator along a path corresponding to the shaped slot. The slot advantageously may include a stop intermediate therealong. A canted aspect of the slot may be used to initiate relative movement of the member within body. The body includes an end wall through which the first fluid port communicates. A shroud is defined by a coaxial extension of the sidewall beyond the end wall to surround the first fluid port, and gripping elements may be provided on the shroud. The projection may include a vent communicating into a space between a flexible barrier and an internal wall of the body. The slot may also have a one-way opening with a cammed roof. A clip may be provided for mounting the reservoir and includes a support member supporting a clip member which releasably receives the shroud and supports a mounting member such as for a sample site.
US08267910B2
An absorbing article, in particular an absorbing structure has at least one layer that can be used with advantage as a surface layer or in combination with a surface layer. The aforementioned layer has deformable fibers which are deformed and shrink when they become wet. The aforementioned layer thus constitutes a deformation layer and has at least one distinct admission passage. The admission passage is deformed and dilated when it becomes wet. In addition to improved admission in conjunction with repeated wetting, the article also offers a solution to the problem of feces handling in combination with repeated wetting.
US08267905B2
Implantable drug delivery systems target delivery of small volumes of drugs to specific tissues. In some cases, a drug delivery system includes an implantable osmotic pump connected to a drug-containing housing, with that housing connected to a needle, cochlear implant or other type of component for ultimate delivery to the target tissue. In some implementations, a subcutaneous port receives a fluid from an external pump. The port is connected to a needle or other component for delivery of one or more drugs to the target tissue. Both solid and liquid drug formulations can be used. In embodiments using solid drugs, a separate drug vehicle (such as saline) can be used to dissolve a portion of the solid drug, with the drug-loaded vehicle then delivered to the target tissue.
US08267902B2
A syringe including a front end and a rear end. A front portion of the syringe having an axially extending hollow needle that projects from the front end. The rear end of the needle is in fluid communication with a space that extends substantially to the rear end of the syringe. A plunger extends axially and is movable to and fro in the space and is designed such that, when drawn out, it sucks liquid through the needle and, when pressed in, discharges liquid through the needle. A radially projecting flange element in the front portion of the syringe is designed in such a way that it can be gripped between the thumb and middle finger of a user's hand. The syringe is dimensioned so as to permit injection using the index finger of the same hand. A capsule device for at least partially accommodating a syringe. A syringe device.
US08267895B2
A needle guide system comprising a needle guide including at least one wall defining an internal cavity and an outside of the needle guide. A lock is connected to the needle guide. The lock is movable between a first and a second position. A needle is disposed in the internal cavity of the needle guide, the needle having a long axis and a tip. The needle is movable along the long axis with respect to the needle guide when the lock is in the first position and the needle is locked to the needle guide and the tip extends beyond the wall of the needle guide when the lock is in the second position. Visual indicia on the lock may indicate whether the lock is in the first or the second position.
US08267893B2
An improved pump, reservoir and reservoir piston are provided for controlled delivery of fluids. A motor is operably coupled to a drive member, such as a drive screw, which is adapted to advance a plunger slide in response to operation of the motor. The plunger slide is removably coupled to the piston. A method, system, and an article of manufacture for automatically detecting an occlusion in a medication infusion pump is provided. The electrical current to an infusion pump is measured. Based on a series of measurements of one or more variables, the infusion pump detects whether there is an occlusion in the system.
US08267890B2
A medication delivery device, particularly an intradermal delivery device, having a needle cannula, with a sharpened distal end having a forward tip, and a limiter disposed about the needle cannula. The limiter has a distal end defining a skin engaging surface which is disposed transversely to, and at least partially about, the needle cannula. The skin engaging surface is generally non-flat with generally coplanar portions, and a recess being defined in the skin engaging surface which defines a void in or adjacent to the coplanar portions into which portions of a patient's skin can be deformed into when the skin engaging surface is pressed against the patient's skin. The forward tip of the needle cannula is spaced apart from a plane defined by the coplanar portions a distance ranging from about 0.5 mm to 3.0 mm such that the skin engaging surface limits penetration of the forward tip of the needle cannula to the dermis layer of the patient's skin.
US08267888B2
Described herein are bioerodible, biodegradable, or digestible self-deploying intragastric implants that may be swallowed. Once swallowed, the implants undergo self-expansion in the stomach and apply a suitable pressure against the stomach wall to provide a feeling of satiety to the individual. The implants then dissolve or are disassembled perhaps using gastric liquids and pass out of the stomach. Methods of using the devices, perhaps for an individual participating in a dietary control regimen, are described.
US08267885B2
In one aspect, the invention provides methods and apparatus for delivering peritoneal dialysis (PD) solution (or other fluids), from a supply to a patient. A first pump, in fluid coupling with the supply, delivers PD solution from the supply to a “mesne” (or intermediate) measuring element, and generates signals indicative of a volume of that delivered PD solution. The mesne measuring element, in fluid coupling with the first pump, generates signals indicative of a volume of PD solution received from that pump. A second pump, fluidly coupled to the mesne measuring element, routes PD solution from the mesne measuring element for delivery to the patient.
US08267884B1
Apparatuses and methods for treating wounds are disclosed. An apparatus for treating wounds is disclosed comprising an instrument for generating a low temperature, atmospheric pressure plasma, a means of flowing gas through the instrument, and a means of contacting the wound with the reactive gases flowing out of the instrument. A method for treating wounds using reactive gases is disclosed. The use of atmospheric pressure plasmas for treating wounds is also disclosed.
US08267878B2
A kit for cooling the blood in the carotid arteries includes a cervical immobilization collar and a cooling element. The cooling element may include a body-facing panel attached on a body-facing surface to a lining layer, an outward-facing panel, and cooling material disposed between the body-facing panel and the outward facing panel. The cooling material comprises urea and Carbamakool™ in an amount sufficient to produce a temperature of 20° F. to 35° F. within a minute of activation when measured on the body-facing surface of the body-facing panel.
US08267872B2
A steerable guide wire includes a core wire having a proximal end and a distal end. A multi-filament bundle is affixed to the distal end of the core wire. An outer coil surrounds at least a portion of the core wire and the multi-filament bundle. A proximal end of the multi-filament bundle is secured to a distal end of the coil. By locating the multi-filament bundle in the distal tip portion of the guide wire, a guide wire is provided that is highly flexible, has a high degree of tensile integrity, and is highly steerable, even in tortuous vasculature.
US08267865B2
Vibration sources are applied to a body or other object to image a region of interest. The mechanical vibrations introduced by the sources interfere in the region of interest to produce a crawling wave, which is detected by an ultrasound probe A relationship between crawling wave phase derivatives and local shear wave velocity is derived with phase derivatives estimated using either one-dimensional (1D) or two-dimensional (2D) autocorrelation-based techniques to image the region of interest.
US08267845B2
A physical fitness and rehabilitation apparatus is provided for use in combination with an inflatable exercise ball. The apparatus may include a plurality of handles. In use, a user may rest against the ball and the platform while gripping the plurality of handles to improve the user's strength, balance, flexibility, and/or joint stabilization.
US08267843B2
Some embodiments provide a gluteus weight training machine for progressive overload resistance training of the gluteus muscles. The gluteus weight training machine includes a frame, a support member linked to the frame, and two resistance members that provide resistance against a downward arcing rotation of the resistance member. Each resistance member includes a pad against which a user's leg applies force in order to perform the downward arcing rotation of the resistance member. Each resistance member further includes a weight assembly that adjusts the amount of weight used as resistance.
US08267838B2
The present invention provides an overhead support apparatus for assisting a user while performing rehabilitation physical activities and includes a track assembly supported by the ceiling and a suspension device that depends from the track assembly and is attached to the user so that the apparatus acts to prevent the user from falling down during physical activities. The suspension assembly includes a trolley adapted to traverse the track assembly, a locking snap assembly attached to the trolley and associated with a swivel, and an adjustable lanyard that is connected to the swivel at one end and to a body harness at its opposite end, which body harness has straps for encircling the torso and legs of a user.
US08267836B2
A control system for an automatic transmission includes a downshift control section configured to increase an engaging capacity of an engaging-side engaging element to engage the engaging-side engaging element and decrease a first engaging capacity of a disengaging-side engaging element to disengage the disengaging-side engaging element when a parameter representing a progressing condition of the downshift reaches a value, thereby carrying out the downshift in a power-on condition. Additionally, the downshift control section is configured to decrease the engaging capacity of the disengaging-side engaging element to a second engaging capacity smaller than the first engaging capacity to continue the downshift which is currently progressing and to cause the engine control section to continue controlling the engine speed when a power-off condition is detected upon an accelerator pedal being returned to a position representing an operating amount during the downshift.
US08267834B2
A self-propelled vehicle for conveyance that can be safely stopped without deviating from a predetermined route when an obstacle is detected during running, and a method of controlling a stop of the self-propelled vehicle for conveyance are provided. The method of controlling the stop of the self-propelled vehicle for conveyance includes a second detection step in which an obstacle located at a set distance is detected during the running of the self-propelled vehicle for conveyance, and a stop step in which a leftward or rightward positional deviation of the self-propelled vehicle for conveyance from the predetermined route is correctively controlled in the state where brake means for a pair of left and right driving wheels are released and the self-propelled vehicle for conveyance is stopped, when the positional deviation turns out to be present on the basis of detection of the obstacle in the second detection step. Therefore, when the obstacle is detected during the running of the self-propelled vehicle for conveyance, the self-propelled vehicle for conveyance is safely stopped without deviating from the predetermined route.
US08267833B2
A multi-speed power transmission device includes an input shaft, first and second output shafts and a planetary gearset. An axially moveable sleeve fixes the first output shaft and the input shaft for rotation when in a first position and the sleeve fixes the sun gear and the input shaft for rotation when in a second position. A hub is axially moveable and free to rotate relative to the first output shaft when in the first position. The hub is fixed for rotation with the first output shaft when in the second position. A cam plate is continuously fixed for rotation with the carrier and urges the hub toward its second position when in a second axial position. The input shaft drives the first output shaft at a reduced speed via the planetary gearset when the sleeve, hub and cam plate are at their second positions.
US08267827B2
A final drive comprising a lubrication system is provided. The final drive comprises an axle housing and a differential housing. The differential housing is in alignment with the axle housing, and they share a longitudinal axis. The final drive further comprises a lubricant ring having a lubricant ring inner diameter. The lubricant ring travels about an inner surface of the axle housing. Further, the final drive has a longitudinal axis region, defined as the region formed by the lubricant ring inner diameter. The lubrication system comprises a lubrication inlet in fluid communication with a lubricant outlet. The lubrication inlet is disposed in the axle housing to capture a portion of the lubricant ring. The lubricant outlet is disposed in the differential housing to distribute the portion of the lubricant ring generally to the longitudinal axis region.
US08267826B2
A planetary carrier includes a journal bearing for supporting a planetary gear. The journal bearing receives lubricant to produce a lubricant film to support gear loads. A torque frame is attached to the carrier housing to transmit torque and to prevent twisting of the carrier housing. The torque frame includes several lubricant communication passages to provide lubricant to each of the separate journal bearings. Each of the lubricant communication passages includes an accumulator for storing lubricant during normal operation. The accumulator stores a desired amount of lubricant to provide lubricant to the adjacent journal bearing for the interim period between primary system stoppage and reestablishment of lubricant flow by a secondary system.
US08267824B2
The present invention relates to a control device for a vehicle power transmitting apparatus. The vehicle power transmitting apparatus includes an electrically controlled differential portion of which differential state is controlled between a rotation speed of an input shaft to which power of an engine is input and a rotation speed of an output shaft by controlling an operational state of an electric motor connected to a rotary element of a differential mechanism, and a shifting portion constructing a part of a power transmitting path. The control device includes a correspondence controlling unit for controlling the engine or the vehicle power transmitting apparatus to allow the shifting portion to be shifted when a command for shifting by a manual shift operation is issued in an operating region restricting the shifting of the shifting portion.
US08267821B2
A mechanical tensioner that includes a pulley arm with a tension pulley for a tension element drive of an internal combustion engine. The pulley arm is mounted to a mounting base that is fixedly attached to the engine. A spring that functions in compression and torsion is located about a pivot axis on the mounting base, with one end connected to the pulley arm and the other end attached to the mounting base. The spring provides torsion to the pulley arm to maintain tension on the tension element, and is also compressed between a mounting flange of the pulley arm and a support flange on the mounting base to transmit an axial force between the pulley arm and an outer hub that is fixed to the mounting base. A shaped bush which functions at least as a damping element, and can also function as a bearing, is located in the space between the outer hub and the pulley arm. The outer surface of the outer hub, the bush and the inner portion of the pulley arm are in the shape of a tractrix pseudosphere to provide increased life and reduced wear.
US08267818B2
Described herein is a sprocket for interfacing with a perforated material, such as a chain. The sprocket includes a hub and a material-interfacing plate. The hub is shaped to fit around an axially extending shaft, and includes a plurality of hub portions each shaped to fit around a portion of the shaft; and a retaining portion and a hub interlocking portion, each disposed on at least one of the hub portions. The material-interfacing plate has a periphery that is shaped to interface with the perforated material, and includes a plurality of plate portions each shaped to fit around a portion of the hub; and a plate interlocking portion shaped to interlock with the hub interlocking portion and disposed on at least one of the plate portions. The material-interfacing plate is in a secured position when the plate interlocking portion and the hub interlocking portion are interlocked with each other. The interlocked plate and hub interlocking portions prevent the material-interfacing plate from sliding radially off the hub and the retaining portion prevents the material-interfacing plate from sliding axially off the hub when the material-interfacing plate is in the secured position.
US08267801B2
A homokinetic joint is described that comprises a male member with several arms, a female member for receiving the male member, a roller mounted and freely rotating on each arm, a spring provided between the male member and the female member and for urging the male member away from the female member, and a cup provided between the spring and the male member. The cup includes a skirt comprising an outer surface designed to contact at least one of the rollers when the joint is in a separated state.
US08267796B2
To provide a game machine capable of reducing a sense of discomfort which the user feels due to unmatched image display timing and image-related sound output timing. An image reproduction unit (highlight scene image reproduction control unit (72)) reproduces an image. An image-related sound reproduction unit (comment sound reproduction control unit (78)) reproduces an image-related sound corresponding to the image. A reproduction state determination unit (76) determines whether or not the reproduction state of the image and that of the image-related sound corresponding to the image satisfy a predetermined condition. Based on a result of a determination by the reproduction state determination unit (76), a reproduction state describing sound reproduction control unit (80) reproduces a reproduction state describing sound which describes the reproduction state of the image and/or image-related sound.
US08267793B2
A multiplatform gaming system comprises in combination: (a) a mobile communication device provided with circuitry suitable to communicate over one or more communication channels; (b) software provided in said mobile device to receive inputs from one or more sensors of the device, and to transmit control data relying on said inputs over a communication channel; and (c) a gaming platform provided with a display, which platform runs software suitable to receive said control data and to control the behavior of a game according to such control data.
US08267786B2
A first control unit includes a first operation data generation section for generating first operation data in accordance with a motion of a first control unit body included in the first control unit. A second control unit includes a second operation data generation section for generating second operation data in accordance with a direction input operation performed by a player or a motion of a second control unit body included in the second control unit. Further, one of the first control unit and the second control unit includes a transmission section for transmitting the first operation data and the second operation data to a computer at a predetermined timing.
US08267784B2
There is provided a game system in which areas where operation instruction markers of each player influence each other. The game system 1 determines a division position DP of lane L where an operation instruction marker IM is displayed each time when a predetermined condition is satisfied during a game, and a size of display area DA of the lane of each player based on the determined division position DP. The game system 1 also determines the position of operation instruction marker IM corresponding to each operation timing 20 described in sequence data SD so that the position changes with the progress of music being reproduced, and displays a game image GI where the operation instruction markers IM corresponding to each players P are arranged in the display area DA corresponding to the player P.
US08267778B2
In order to track the behavior of a gamer with a virtual environment of a video game, the virtual environment is provided with a set of predetermined objectives. The completion of the predetermined objectives is monitored and recorded. This information is then provided to a game developer. In addition, comparing the record of the predetermined objectives with current game assets associated with the gamer serves to inhibit authorized duplication of game assets.
US08267766B2
A system and method of printing lottery tickets produces a prize structure with ticket books containing all available prizes. A game generation file is then generated withholding the high tier prizes. A list of validation numbers is then created from ticket books that hold only low tier winning ticket values. In one embodiment, only validation numbers associated with tickets having no redemption value are included in the list Individual validation numbers are then selected at random from the created list of validation numbers, and high tier ticket prize data is assigned to each record associated with a selected validation number. The information is stored in a new file that can be contained on a separate file server from the original generation file, invoking increased access control and monitoring for additional security purposes. The new file contains the raw ticket data that is used in the printing of the tickets.
US08267761B2
In a game apparatus, a plurality of puzzle elements each having a preset attribute are arranged within a predetermined area on the screen of a display device. A puzzle element arrangement pattern within the predetermined area is altered in accordance with a player's operation. In the game apparatus, when the arrangement pattern is altered, a ring-like puzzle element group is identified, which consists of puzzle elements having the same preset attribute and being adjacently arranged in a closed ring within the predetermine area. In the game apparatus, any puzzle element is deleted, which is arranged in a position determined by the identified ring-like puzzle element group defined by the ring-like puzzle element identification means.
US08267736B2
A bubble generating assembly has a head section having a bubble generator associated therewith, a body housing and a feet section that is configured as a reservoir for holding bubble solution. The body housing houses a motor and an air generator coupled to the motor, the outer surface of the body housing defining a handle for the assembly, and having an actuator provided on the outer surface of the body housing. A pump system is provided inside the body housing, and draws bubble solution from the feet section to the bubble generator.
US08267735B2
There is provided a pattern formed object having an electroluminescent layer coating. The pattern formed object comprising a substrate, partition walls provided on the substrate, and a coating stacked on the substrate in its part between the partition walls, wherein the partition walls have a sloped liquid non-repellent surface and have a section form that, at least in the lower part of the partition wall, as the distance from the substrate increases, the size of the partition wall in a direction parallel to the substrate decreases, and in the coating, the ratio of the maximum thickness (Tmax) to the minimum thickness (Tmin), Tmax/Tmin, is not more than 130% as measured in the coating in its part between the lower ends of the partition walls adjacent to each other.
US08267731B2
There is provided a breakaway safety system for a vessel. The vessel includes: (a) a hull; (b) one or more engine arrangements supported by the hull; and (c) one or more propeller extensions mounted to the hull and coupled to receive motive power from the one or more engine arrangements in operation. The safety system includes: one or more sensors mounted to the vessel for measuring operating parameters of the vessel and generating one or more corresponding input signals; a control unit for receiving the one or more corresponding input signals, and for processing the one or more input signals to generate at least one control output; one or more fracturable regions for mounting the one or more propeller extensions to the at least one hull; and one or more fracturing devices operable to fracture the one or more fracturable regions for jettisoning associated one or more propeller extensions in an event that the control unit detects a potentially hazardous impact event and activates its at least one control output accordingly.
US08267712B2
A Registered Jack-45 (RJ-45) connector assembly includes an RJ-45 connector, and an assisting apparatus for unplugging the RJ-45 connector. The RJ-45 connector includes a slanted resilient latch. The assisting apparatus includes a latching portion and a pressable portion. A receiving slot is defined in the front end of the latching portion, to engage with the resilient latch of the RJ-45 connector. When the pressable portion is pressed, the assisting apparatus drives the resilient latch of the RJ-45 connector to deform and disengage from a connector of an electronic device.
US08267711B2
An electronic connector latch system provides safety via an internally hidden latch that requires a correctly sized pin to open. The described system is positive, in that it provides a “deadbolt” style latching wherein the pull out force is perpendicular to direction of opening the latch, and latching occurs on both sides of the locking post. The system is still user friendly in that mating the two connectors together can be accomplished without any tools. Mating is achieved with a simple insertion of the mating connector. The latch is captured inside the plastic unit housing, and a stamped sheet metal spring provides high cycle life.
US08267706B2
A patch cord for an intelligent patching system is provided. The patch cord is a ten-wire patch cord having a patch panel plug and a switch plug. The patch panel plug contains ninth and tenth wire contacts that interface with ninth and tenth wire contacts of an intelligent patch panel port. The switch plug is provided with a plunger-style switch that enables the intelligent patch panel to determine when the switch plug is plugged into a switch port. The switch plug is also provided with LED's and circuitry that controls the LED's.
US08267702B2
An electrical distribution center assembly includes a housing having a connector shroud. The shroud defines a shroud cavity adapted for receiving a mating electrical connector body. A blade stabilizer is formed integral with the shroud in a first position within the shroud cavity. The blade stabilizer has blade apertures formed therein. Bladed terminals extend from the housing into the blade apertures. In this position, the blade stabilizer protects the terminal blades from being bent away from a terminal axis. The blade stabilizer is movable to a second position to enable female terminals of the mating electrical connector to electrically connect to the blade terminals.
US08267691B1
A firearm training simulation system for simulating the impact of one or more projectiles impacting a user includes an electrical impulse element configured for physical contact with the user. A controller is in communication with the electrical impulse element. The controller enables receipt of a signal for activating the electrical impulse element to deliver one or more electrical pulses to the user. Each electrical pulse simulates an impact of a projectile on the user.
US08267690B2
A device for simulating fire effects in military or civilian combat training. The device includes a light source configured to produce light beams and a light source control adapted to control a light lobe formed by the light beams from the light source. The light source control includes a two-dimensional array of elements electronically controllable to assume a selected state among at least a first state of letting through light incident thereupon in a main direction of the light lobe or a second state of not letting through the light incident thereupon in the main direction, and a unit adapted to control the elements for designing the spatial propagation of the light lobe.
US08267688B2
A dental implant is provided. The dental implant includes an abutment and a fixture to be coupled to the abutment and anchored to a jawbone, and the fixture having a female thread portion. The abutment comprises a titanium member composed of a sintered body made from titanium or titanium alloy, and a ceramic member fixed to the titanium member, the ceramic member composed of a sintered body made from oxide-based ceramic. The ceramic member has a female thread portion, and the titanium member has a first male thread portion which makes thread coupling with the female thread portion of the ceramic member and a second male thread portion which makes thread coupling with the female thread portion of the fixture, whereby the ceramic member is fixed to the titanium member and the titanium member is fixed to the fixture.
US08267685B2
A method is described for reducing NOx emissions and improving energy efficiency during mineral processing in a rotary kiln. The method comprises injection of air with high velocity/high kinetic energy into the kiln to reduce or eliminate stratification of kiln gases. The method can be applied to mix gases in a rotary kiln vessel or in a preheater/precalciner vessel.
US08267683B2
A layered-object forming apparatus (1) includes a holding mechanism (10) that holds a base (12), a liquid applying device (20) that applies a liquid to a predetermined position from above the base, a powder applying device (30) that allows a powder to fall from above the base, and a powder removing device that removes an unconsolidated powder on the base. Then, a process of applying the liquid by the liquid applying device, subsequently applying the powder by the powder applying device, subsequently consolidating the liquid and the powder applied onto the liquid and then removing the powder that has not been consolidated with the liquid by the powder removing device is repeated, thereby forming a three-dimensional structure on the base. Thus, it is possible to produce a three-dimensional structure that at least partially has a smooth surface, thus allowing omission or simplification of a surface smoothing treatment.
US08267647B2
A vane ring assembly which includes a lower vane ring (22), an upper vane ring (30), one or more guide vanes (80) positioned at least partially between the vane rings, and a plurality of spacers (42, or 50) positioned between the lower and upper vane rings for maintaining a distance between the lower and upper vane rings. By using a first set of fasteners (190) to fasten the lower vane ring to the turbine housing, and a second set of fasteners (191) to fasten the lower vane ring to the upper vane ring, the vane ring assembly is effectively decoupled from the turbine housing with regard to differential thermal expansion, and the co-planerism of the vane rings is easier to maintain.
US08267644B2
In a multistage centrifugal compressor, a plurality of impellers is attached to the same rotary shaft. Vaned Diffusers and vaneless diffusers are used, as diffusers, for respective compressor stages configuring the compressor. The vaned diffusers are continuously used from the first compressor stage to the middle compressor stage, and the vaneless diffusers are used for the last compressor stage and the previous stage. While high efficiency is maintained at the compressor stages having the vaned diffusers, an operating flow range is secured at the compressor stages having the vaneless diffusers.
US08267642B2
A nacelle inlet for an aircraft engine of a type having an engine fan case with a forward flange includes an acoustic inner barrel having a forward edge and an aft edge, an outer shell having a nose lip portion with a trailing inner edge, and an outer barrel portion having an aft portion. The nacelle inlet also includes an aft attachment flange configured to attach the inlet to the forward flange of the engine fan case, and an aft bulkhead having an aft end and connecting the outer barrel portion of the outer shell to the aft attachment flange. The forward edge of the acoustic inner barrel is connected to the trailing inner edge of the nose lip portion, and the aft portion of the inner barrel is attached to the aft attachment flange.
US08267611B2
An optical structure comprising a first and a second component and a connecting element which connects the two components and which has at least two spring elements. The two components have an extremely high level of positional and angular accuracy relative to each other even with major fluctuations in temperature and each spring element has a spring constant at least twice as great in two respective mutually perpendicular spatial directions as in the third spatial direction perpendicular to the first two spatial directions, referred to as the elasticity direction, wherein the two spring elements have elasticity directions which do not extend parallel to each other.
US08267603B2
A fixed blade and a movable blade in which a cutting portion end face of the movable blade is orthogonal to a side surface of the movable blade, and the movable blade is brought into sliding contact with the fixed blade to cut a recording sheet. A cutout groove for forming a cutting residual portion in the recording sheet is formed in the cutting portion of the movable blade. A slant surface or a curved surface is formed at an intersection of the side surface of the movable blade, a cutting portion end face of the movable blade and the inner peripheral surface of the cutout groove.
US08267600B2
An operational optical transceiver configured to self-validate a boot image loaded from the persistent memory early in the boot process. The optical transceiver includes a persistent memory, a controller, and a system memory. The controller initializes the boot process and begins to load information from the persistent memory to the system memory. Next, the controller detects early in the boot process boot image verification data in the information being sent to the system memory. The controller then determines if the boot image verification data has an expected value. If the verification data includes the expected value, the controller continues the boot process. If the verification data does not include the expected value, the controller will retry the boot process a predetermined number of times and will enter a default operational state if the expected value is not detected while retrying the boot process the predetermined number of times.
US08267596B2
A fiber optic connector assembly includes a fiber optic cable with one or more optical fiber ribbons attached to a fiber optic connector. The connector includes a ferrule assembly and a crimp body with a fiber access aperture. The aperture has at least two walls defining a first width and a second width defining a predetermined delta and a predetermined aspect ratio. The delta and aspect ratio provide optical fiber access for alignment of the optical fiber ribbon to the optical fiber ferrule assembly. A method of making the fiber optic connector assembly is also disclosed.
US08267591B2
A wheel bearing seal (7, 19, 20) has an annular sealing plate (10 or 21) and a slinger (11 or 11′). The sealing plate (10 or 21) has a metal core (12 or 22) and sealing member (13 or 23). The sealing member (13 or 23) has a first side lip (13a or 23a), a second side lip (13b or 23b), and a grease lip (13c or 23c). The slinger (11 or 11′) has a cylindrical portion (11a or 11a′) and an upstanding portion (11b, 11b′). The first and second side lips (13a or 23a and 13b or 23b) slidably contact the upstanding portion. The grease lip (13c or 23c) slidably contacts with the cylindrical portion (11 a or 11a′). A relationship, F1+F2≦1.5×F3, exists between contacting loads F1 and F2, respectively, of the first and second side lips (13a or 23a and 13b or 23b) and a fastening force F3 of the grease lip (13c or 23c).
US08267589B2
A bush bearing (1) is a wrapped bush bearing which has a cylindrical inner peripheral surface (2) serving as a sliding surface as well as an outer peripheral surface (3), and whose abutting faces (4) are abutted against each other. The outer peripheral surface (3) includes a cylindrical surface (11); a tapered surface (13) interposed between the cylindrical surface (11) and one annular end face (12) in an axial direction X and formed by roll forming; a smooth circular arc surface (14) interposed between the tapered surface (13) and the cylindrical surface (11); and a smooth circular arc surface (15) interposed between the tapered surface (13) and the end face (12).
US08267587B2
A housing for a fluid lubrication bearing apparatus is formed of a resin composition containing polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) as a base resin. The ratio of the base resin to the resin composition is not lower than 40 vol % but not higher than 70 vol %. Moreover, in the composition, an epoxy compound having two or more epoxy groups per molecule of the compound and epoxy value of 0.5 meq/g or more to the resin composition may be added so that the amount of epoxy groups in the resin composition is 8 meq/100 g or more. A carbon fiber may also be added to the resin composition in an amount of not less than 10 vol % but not more than 35 vol %. An inorganic compound may be further added to the resin composition to be the remainder of the resin composition.
US08267584B2
The rail of a longitudinal guide of a longitudinal adjustment device of a motor vehicle seat includes one rail profile, at least one bearing block including a bearing hole, a bearing shaft extending through the bearing hole and a flap, which is pivotal about the bearing shaft. The bearing block is made from the material of the rail profile by cutting out a border of the bearing block and by bending the thus obtained blank for the bearing block about a bending line.
US08267581B2
A slide mechanism includes a fixing plate, a slide plate, and a slide assembly. The fixing plate defines a slide groove and forms a pair of slide rails on opposite sides of the slide groove. The slide plate is positioned on the fixing plate. The slide assembly is positioned between the fixing plate and the slide plate and is allowed an assisted back and forth movement on the slide assembly, and a rotation subjected to friction at the front end of the slide assembly and the slide plate.
US08267580B2
A free-standing bag and a method for producing a free-standing bag from a thermoplastic synthetic film is disclosed. The bag includes a front panel and a back panel, which are connected to one another by lateral seams thus forming a filling opening, and in a collapsed state of the bag, having an inwardly folded base, whereby the inwardly folded base is comprised of a front panel fold as well as a back panel fold, both folds being sealed into the lateral seams, and whereby in the area of the inwardly folded base, an assembly strip is attached, which is made of a reinforced plastic film, and that the assembly strip terminates at a distance from the lateral seams, whereby a reinforcing strip is attached or glued to the inside and/or outside of the front panel and the back panel in the area of the filling opening.
US08267574B2
The invention concerns a semi-continuous method for preparing an emulsion of droplets of a phase A in a phase B, including the following steps: (i) mixing an amount of phase A and an amount of phase B using a multi-shaft mixing system comprising at least one scraping agitator, so as to obtain a dispersion of phase A in phase B with a volume concentration of phase A higher than 74%; (ii) diluting the dispersion obtained in step (i) by adding an additional amount of phase B, and mixing using said multi-shaft mixing system, so as to obtain an emulsion of droplets of a phase A in a phase B.
US08267567B2
A bezel assembly, which is applied to a backlight module, includes a first bezel and a second bezel. The first bezel has a first side wall and a second side wall. A first hole structure is formed on a corner between the first and second side walls. The second bezel has a third side wall. A second hole structure and a third hole structure are formed on opposite sides of the third side wall. When the first bezel is disposed in the second bezel, the third side wall can completely cover the first hole structure of the first bezel from the outside of the first bezel, and the second and third hole structures are close to the first hole structure.
US08267564B2
There is provided a light emitting assembly for a backlighted sign. The assembly may include first and second light emitting units configured to emit light in corresponding first and second directions into edges of first and second adjacent light guide plates. The assembly may also include a third light emitting unit configured to emit light in a direction substantially transverse to the first and second directions into a backlightable sign panel. Light emitting units are slidably insertable and slidably removable.
US08267553B2
The LED illuminant module for medical luminaires contains a circuit board capable of heat dissipation, an LED die package, a beam splitter, and a reflector. The LED die package is attached to the circuit board and is covered by the beam splitter, which in turn is pressed by and positioned along with the reflector. Central beams from the LED die package are collimated by the beam splitter to project forward. The side light beams are refracted by the beam splitter, intercepted by the reflector, and directed to a target coverage area along with the central light beams. The illuminant module is able to achieve low energy consumption and ease of manufacturing simultaneously.
US08267540B2
A linear lighting apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes an elongated element having a substantially U-shaped cross-section and an LED strip placed longitudinally along a bottom of the elongated element. The apparatus further includes a first flange located on both sides of an exterior of the elongated element and a second flange located on both sides of the exterior of the elongated element. The apparatus further includes a gutter located on both sides of an interior of the elongated element and a first optical element comprising an elongated planar element composed of optical material. The apparatus further includes a rim located on a top of both sides of the elongated element and a second optical element comprising an elongated planar element for placement on top of the horizontal surface of the rim.
US08267537B2
Disclosed are a backlight unit and a display device having the same. The backlight unit comprises a light emitting diode (LED) module comprising an LED, a case supporting the LED module and comprising a bending part that guides and fixes an end portion of the LED module, and a fixing part fixing the LED module to the case.
US08267535B2
A mirror reflective element suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a glass substrate and a principal reflector portion and an auxiliary wide angle curved portion. The auxiliary wide angle curved portion has a curved recess established at a region of the rear surface of the glass substrate by at least one of grinding and ablating. The curved recess may have a cross-dimension size that is in the range from about 30 millimeters to about 80 millimeters, and may have a radius of curvature that is in the range from about 200 millimeters to about 1,000 millimeters, and may have a maximum recess depth that is in the range from about 0.11 millimeters to about 4.04 millimeters.
US08267534B2
An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a bracket fixedly secured to the vehicle, a mirror casing secured to the bracket and defining a primary opening, and a single mirror support movably secured within the mirror casing disposed adjacent the primary opening. A primary mirror is fixedly secured to the single mirror support and disposed within the primary opening for providing a view rearward of the vehicle through a primary field of view, and a spotting mirror is fixedly secured to the single mirror support and disposed adjacent the primary mirror. The spotting mirror is defined by a single radius of curvature differing from the primary mirror such that the spotting mirror provides a second field of view rearward of the vehicle, such that the first field of view of the primary mirror overlaps the second field of view of the spotting mirror.
US08267527B2
A portable projection system comprises a first and second vertical member including at least one hinged point for folding the first and second vertical member into at least two separate portions. A first and second horizontal member connected with the first and second vertical members includes at least one hinged point for folding the first and second horizontal member into at least two separate portions. At least one base member pivots between a first position parallel to the first or second vertical member and a second position perpendicular to the first or second vertical member. First and second mounting members of a projector mounting assembly include at least one hinged point for folding the first and second mounting members into at least two separate portions. A projector mounting assembly mounting bracket pivotally connects the first and second mounting members with the first horizontal member.
US08267526B2
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods that are related to projection. For example, in at least some embodiments, methods in accordance with the present disclosure include receiving information associated with one or more projection parameters; processing the information associated with the one or more projection parameters to generate one or more projection associated instructions; transmitting the one or more projection associated instructions; and wherein at least one of the receiving information, the processing the information, or the transmitting is performed at least partially using one or more processing devices.
US08267517B2
An eye movement measurement apparatus 1 measures movement of a cornea 101 by imaging a corneal reflection light image L2 generated as a result of irradiating the cornea 101 with infrared light L1. The eye movement measurement apparatus 1 includes: an imaging section 5 having a sensor section 51 including a plurality of pixels arrayed two-dimensionally, for generating imaging data including the corneal reflection light image L2 made incident on the sensor section 51; a bright spot position operation section 6 that calculates a position of the corneal reflection light image L2 in the imaging data; and a tremor signal operation section 7 that generates a third data string indicating a tremor component included in movement of the cornea 101 by calculating a difference between a first data string concerning temporal changes in position of the corneal reflection light image L2 and a second data string obtained by smoothing the first data string. Accordingly, an eye movement measurement apparatus capable of accurately detecting a tremor component is realized.
US08267511B2
An image forming apparatus includes an ink discharge unit including nozzles to discharge ink and to form an image on a recording medium; a conveyer belt to convey the recording medium so that the recording medium passes through an area facing the ink discharge unit, the conveyor belt including blank discharge holes to let the ink for a blank discharge through; a control unit to control an ink discharge operation of the ink discharge unit; a blank discharge receiver to receive the ink for the blank discharge, provided at a position facing the ink discharge unit across the conveyor belt; and a belt position detection unit to detect a position in a direction perpendicular to a belt moving direction of the conveyor belt, wherein the control unit controls the blank discharge operation of the ink discharge unit based on a detection result detected by the belt position detection unit.
US08267508B2
According to one embodiment, an ink jet recording apparatus includes: a guide rail extending in a first direction; an ink head that slidably engages with the guide rail and discharges an ultraviolet light curable ink toward a recording medium; a second head that slidably engages with the guide rail; a carriage that moves along the guide rail; a first connection mechanism that bridges the carriage and the ink head and detachably connects the carriage with the ink head; a second connection mechanism that detachably connects the carriage with the second head; and an ultraviolet light irradiation device that is attached to the ink head to move together with the ink head, that is positioned in front, in rear or below the first connecting mechanism when the carriage and the ink head are connected by the first connecting mechanism, and that irradiates the ultraviolet light curable ink discharged from the ink head on the recording medium with ultraviolet light.
US08267504B2
A jetting module includes a nozzle plate, a thermal stimulation membrane, and an enclosure. Portions of the nozzle plate define a nozzle. The thermal stimulation membrane includes a plurality of pores. At least one of the plurality of pores overlaps the nozzle when viewed from a direction through the nozzle. The enclosure includes a wall that extends from the nozzle plate to the thermal stimulation membrane to define a liquid chamber positioned between the nozzle plate and the thermal stimulation membrane. The liquid chamber is in fluid communication with the nozzle. The liquid chamber is in fluid communication with the plurality of pores of the thermal stimulation membrane.
US08267500B2
A single-pass print head has multiple orifice plates each serving some but not all of the area to be printed.
US08267493B2
Provided is a refrigerator including a sliding storage member that is height adjustable through a vertically moving shelf with a multi-level configuration, and which can be selectively withdrawn from inside a storage space to the outside, where a user can improve usability of storage space in the refrigerator by selectively adjusting the height of the vertically moving shelf.
US08267487B2
An actuator apparatus includes a booster creating an infinite boost ratio while a plunger valve does not contact with a reaction disc, and an oil reservoir and a pedal simulator unit forming a hydraulic circuit to follow hydraulic hysteresis characteristics. Therefore, it is possible to achieve insensibility of pedal changes transmitted from a master cylinder, minimize changes in pedal feel according to changes of pedal effort correspondingly generated, while blocking vibration transmitted to the pedal when achieving regenerative braking, and provide pedal feel following or simulating the hydraulic hysteresis characteristics.
US08267474B2
A portable self-contained pneumatic lift chair is provided with a motor operated compressor and controls for pumping air into a bladder and exhausting air from the bladder to raise and lower patients seated on the chair. The seat is guided up and down by loops on the seat surrounding guideposts extending upward on a base under hand operated controls. Braces between the posts are used to make the chair sturdy and can be adjusted to control the distance the chair is raised and lowered and, with post height and bladder size, used to control maximum and minimum height of the seat.
US08267460B2
The front body cover includes a lens for a headlight device. A front portion or edge of the lens bulges forward of a straight line connecting the front edges of a handle cover with the front edges of a front fender. This arrangement reduces the wind resistance around the front of the motorcycle and improves aerodynamic performance.
US08267450B2
An elevator for gripping and lifting a riser joint or several interconnected riser joints of a completion and work over riser. A body includes a through bore for receiving a production pipe of a riser joint. The through bore is accessible via a longitudinal opening in the body. The body includes at least one locking device including a hydraulic cylinder. A piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder is moveable to and fro between an unlocking position, in which the piston rod allows a production pipe of a riser joint to pass into or out of the through bore via the longitudinal opening, and a locking position, in which the piston rod prevents a production pipe received in the through bore from passing out of the through bore via the longitudinal opening.
US08267448B2
A backup tong that comprises an activating mechanism for advancing a jaw die mounted on a jaw carrier within the backup into engagement with a pipe positioned centrally therein. The jaw carrier is fitted within the tong body to permit a sliding action radially toward the center point of the opening in the backup tong. Such mechanism includes a cam surface located along a first extension of a cam arm which pivots around a fixed pivot pin carried by the body of the backup. The other extension of the cam arm is connected toward its outer end to an actuator, anchored at one end to the backup body and oriented at the other end to swing the cam arm about the pivot pin.
US08267442B2
An outer operational device includes a cover mounted to a side of a door. An actuating member is mounted in the cover and includes an end engaged with a handle to rotate therewith. A driving member is pivotably received in the cover and includes a wing. A link includes an upper end pivotably coupled with the wing and a lower end pivotably coupled with an end of the actuating member. A driving rod is coupled with the driving member and operably connected to a latch of a lock mounted in the door, so that rotation of the handle causes retraction of the latch.
US08267440B2
A lock for a door includes a latch (128) to which an end of a connecting member (46) is operably coupled. A draw rod (48) is securely mounted to the connecting member (46) to move therewith. A base (32) is fixed to the door, and a slide (42) is slideably mounted to the base (32) in the vertical direction. An adjusting block (44) is fixed to the draw rod (48) to move therewith. An adjusting screw (446) is rotatably extended through the slide (42) and threadedly engaged with the adjusting block (44) so that movement of the slide (42) in the vertical direction causes movement of the adjusting block (44) and the connecting member (46) in the vertical direction and of the latch (128) between locking and unlocking positions. Rotation of the adjusting screw (446) causes movement of the adjusting block (44) and the connecting device (40) in the vertical direction to adjust the locking position of the latch (128) relative to the door (10).
US08267439B2
An apparatus and method for tying a Windsor knot. In particular, an apparatus and method for tying a Windsor knot for a necktie, with the knot being symmetric, and the tie hanging straight and of proper length for the wearer or the necktie. The apparatus and method are universal for neckties, not requiring a special necktie to be used in conjunction with the apparatus and method.
US08267438B2
A two-piece flange adapter including two identical flange parts. Each flange part has two ends, with each end having a planar mating surface disposed at each end of the channel disposed on an inner diameter surface of the flange part. A projection extends from one planar mating surface and is formed to continue the channel for a predetermined distance past the planar mating surface. The other end of the flange and channel define a groove having a depth that accepts the projection of a mating flange part to form a complete channel. A gasket having a cross-sectional area with an internal cavity is compressively disposed in a pocket defined by the channel and the mating pipes. The cross-sectional area of the gasket occupies less than 87% of the pocket and can also occupy approximately 82-84% of the pocket.
US08267437B2
A connector spool for connecting a compressor casing to a drive casing of an industrial compression system includes a spool body having a substantially cylindrical shape. The body has a first end coupled to the compressor casing and a second end coupled to the drive casing, and the body defines an interior region. Access ports are formed in the body for providing access to the interior region, and a hoop-shaped pressurized member covers the access ports.
US08267436B2
A thread form is shown which is used to make a threaded pipe connection capable of being screwed together and subsequently unscrewed. A pin member has external threads with stab flanks and load flanks and flat crests and roots for mating with the mating internal threads of a box member to make up a pipe connection. The stab flanks and load flanks form a distinct geometric profile which is arrow-shaped when viewed in profile. The arrow profile can be cut in either of two opposite directions. Each profile includes only two facets with the facets on the stab flank and the facets on the load flank both leaning in the same direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the pipe, when viewed in profile.
US08267424B2
At the inflation thereof, an airbag (10) has a three-dimensional shape composed of a front face (11), a back face (12), left and right side faces (13L, 13R), a ceiling face (14), and a bottom face (15). The front face (11) and the back face (12) have a trapezoidal shape in which the upper bottom is wider than the lower bottom. The upper edge of the front face (11) is formed to be wider than the upper edge of the back face (12). At a side collision, the airbag (10) inflates between seats (20L, 20R) so that the airbag face opposed to an occupant (P) falls to the occupant side. This can allow, when the occupant (P) moves to the collision side, the shoulder of the occupant to strike the airbag while simultaneously or substantially simultaneously allowing the head to strike the airbag. An airbag can be provided that blocks, at a side collision, the move due to the impact of the side collision of the occupant in the lateral direction.
US08267422B2
An airbag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system is provided. The airbag module comprises an airbag, a gas generator, a gas generator support, and a visible surface facing the vehicle interior in the installed state formed by different segments of the airbag module. At least two of the segments comprise optically and/or haptically different surfaces and are mechanically connected to each other by means of mechanical interfaces such that the mechanical connection between the segments is at least partially released when triggered by opening the interfaces so that an opening is formed in the visible surface through which the airbag can exit the airbag module. All segments contributing to the formation of the opening for the airbag by opening the interfaces when triggered are thereby directly fastened to the gas generator support.
US08267421B2
The invention relates to a snowboard binding with a sole-plate which is to be fastened on the surface of a snowboard and to which, firstly, an instep element is fastened or coupled, which instep element can be adjusted between a clamping position and a release position and by means of which the upper side of a shoe, which can be accommodated in the snowboard binding can be partially embraced, and to which, secondly, a leg support is pivotably coupled, which leg support can be pivoted between a rear entry position and a front travelling position with control means provided by means of which a pivoting movement of the leg support into the entry position is coupled at least in some sections to an adjustment movement of the instep element from the clamping position into the release position.
US08267418B1
A cap of a bicycle headset with an easy adjustable mounting bracket includes a cap, a mounting bracket, a fastener, and a joining structure. The bicycle headset engaged in a steer tube includes the fastener positionable between a first engaging position in which the cap is rotatable about the fastener and the pivot is not tightly disposed in the recess and the bracket is pivotal to various pivoting positions with respect to the cap and a second engaging position in which the cap is fixedly positioned on the steer tube and the pivot is not tightly disposed in the recess and the bracket is fixedly positioned at one of the pivoting positions.
US08267405B1
A game machine includes a main frame, a partition front slantingly mounted on a middle portion of the main frame. A collecting device is mounted onto an underside of the partition and multiple falling ball sensing units are mounted onto an upside of the partition. Multiple prize dispensing devices are mounted onto an internal panel of the main frame and electrically connected to a corresponding one of the falling ball sensing units. A control unit is secured on the main frame and an operational unit is disposed to an upper portion of the main frame, wherein the operational unit is electrically connected to the control unit. When starting a game, the operational unit firstly catches a ball and targets a selected falling ball sense unit, and then releasing the ball to the targeted falling ball sensing units for driving the prize the dispensing device.
US08267403B2
A roulette game enables single-spin formation of meaningful character strings, which character strings may be coupled to tones for enhancing the gaming experience. The meaningful character strings may be defined by solfege-enabling letter groups, which letter groups may prompt underlying tones in solmization. The syllabic roulette game comprises a roulette wheel, a wager-enabling layout, and a plurality of balls. The wheel comprises alphabetic characters against a rainbow colored backdrop for enabling various payout schemes. A color-coordinated wager support surface is preferably disposed adjacent the roulette wheel for facilitating wager placement.
US08267394B2
A sheet feeding device that can be incorporated in an image forming apparatus includes a sheet feeder including a belt unit including an attraction belt facing a sheet stack and first and second tension rollers to keep the attraction belt taut, and a side holder to rotatably support the belt unit about the first tension roller that serves as a pivot of the sheet feeder being disposed upstream from the second tension roller in the sheet conveyance direction, a contact and separation drive unit to swing the sheet feeder to make the attraction belt contact with and separate from the sheet stack, and a swing range adjuster to adjust a range of swing of the belt unit with respect to the side holder between contact and separation of the attraction belt with respect to the sheet stack, according to a predetermined condition.
US08267390B2
A selectively lockable assembly includes a body, a pin, a locking member, and a plunger that is configured to selectively urge the locking member against the pin to lock the pin with respect to the body. The locking member is keyed to the body in a manner to prevent or limit rotation of the locking member and thereby limit movement of the pin under load. A corresponding clamp is also provided.
US08267388B2
Alignment assembly is used to center a sample on a moving stage system. The alignment assembly includes a pair of slides stacked on a stage with linear perpendicular movement relative to each other, and at least one actuator that is preferably physically separate from the linear slides and stage. The actuator(s) repeatedly extend an actuator arm to move the linear slides, and retract the arm for subsequent movement of the stage during and after the process of centering the sample in two dimensions on the stage. Either the stage system rotates, or multiple actuators are placed to move the alignment system in perpendicular directions relative to the stage, by repeatedly contacting only the top linear slide.
US08267383B2
Devices and methods are provided to facilitate measurement of forces acting on locations connecting a subframe portion and a body portion of a vehicle, such devices and methods include mount devices having an inner member, an outer member, at least one sensor, a sleeve and an annular member. The sensor is disposed within an annular chamber formed between the inner member and the outer member. The sensor is attached to at least one of the inner member and the outer member. The sensor is configured to measure force exerted on the mount device during use of a vehicle. Vehicles including these mount devices are also provided.
US08267382B2
Before inner components of a hydraulic shock absorber, such as a cylinder, a piston and a piston rod, are placed, an outer shell is joined with a joint portion of an assembling apparatus so that a gas pressure chamber and the outer shell are in communication with each other. A low-pressure gas is supplied in the gas pressure chamber and the outer shell. Under a pressure of the low-pressure chamber, an oil tank subassembly is inserted in the outer shell and is fitted therein to form an oil tank. The oil tank is divided into an oil chamber and a gas chamber by a diaphragm. By this assembling method, it is possible to supply the low-pressure gas into the gas chamber without a need for a gas-supplying hole for supplying the gas into the gas chamber.
US08267381B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a process for dissolving gas in a liquid is provided. The process comprises: tangentially introducing a liquid into a cylindrical chamber having a cylindrical inner wall with sufficient volume and pressure to develop a vortex in the flowing liquid; introducing gas into the flowing liquid during at least a portion of its travel along vessel, the gas being introduced orthogonally to the stream through means located at the chamber inner wall for developing gas bubbles within the liquid. The apparatus comprises: a cylindrical chamber having a cylindrical inner wall, the chamber being oriented in any direction enclosed at both ends and with an entry port to introduce liquid to develop a spiral flow of liquid along the chamber inner wall toward the output end, a porous wall to permit the introduction of gas orthogonally into the stream to develop gas bubbles within the stream, and an exit port to discharge the mixture of gas bubbles and liquid.
US08267372B2
A cover-equipped manual valve having a ratchet mechanism for preventing rotation of a knob, comprising: a rod formed with an external thread portion on an outer periphery thereof, the rod being unconnected to the knob and held against rotation; a sliding nut of a cylindrical shape, the sliding nut being rotatably held by a body and internally formed with an internal thread portion threadedly engaged with the external thread portion of the rod; an engagement member fixed to the knob, the engagement member being elastically deformable to be engaged with the sliding nut and to be disengaged from the sliding nut when larger torque than a predetermined value is applied to the engagement member; and a knob cover of a hollow shape for covering the knob.
