US08361920B2
The present invention relates to methods and compositions for removal of arsenic and heavy metals from water.
US08361911B2
A weaving method that makes it possible to directly produce three-dimensional structures having two-dimensional walls with corners, without requiring sewing or other joining between two edges. The weave is created by turning weft threads (24) into warp threads to create at least one face. The method is particularly suitable for weaving reinforcing pieces for composite structures such as three-dimensional corner reinforcements.
US08361906B2
A method of forming an amorphous carbon layer on a substrate in a substrate processing chamber, includes introducing a hydrocarbon source into the processing chamber, introducing argon, alone or in combination with helium, hydrogen, nitrogen, and combinations thereof, into the processing chamber, wherein the argon has a volumetric flow rate to hydrocarbon source volumetric flow rate ratio of about 10:1 to about 20:1, generating a plasma in the processing chamber at a substantially lower pressure of about 2 Torr to 10 Torr, and forming a conformal amorphous carbon layer on the substrate.
US08361905B2
Provided are methods of forming patterns of semiconductor devices, whereby patterns having various widths may be simultaneously formed, and a pattern density may be doubled by a double patterning process in a portion of the semiconductor device. A dual mask layer is formed on a substrate. A variable mask layer is formed on the dual mask layer. A first photoresist pattern having a first thickness and a first width in the first region, and a second photoresist pattern having a second thickness greater than the first thickness and a second width wider than the first width in the second region are formed on the variable mask layer. A first mask pattern and a first variable mask pattern are formed in the first region, and a second mask pattern and a second variable mask pattern are formed in the second region, by sequentially etching the variable mask layer and the dual mask layer by using, as etch masks, the first photoresist pattern and the second photoresist pattern. First spacers covering side walls of the first mask pattern and second spacers covering side walls of the second mask pattern are formed. The first mask pattern is removed, and then the substrate is etched in the first region and the second region by using the first spacers as an etch mask in the first region, and the second mask pattern and the second spacers as an etch mask in the second region.
US08361904B2
A semiconductor device and method are disclosed in which an interlayer insulating layer is patterned using multiple overlaying masks to define the geometry of contact plugs and corresponding wiring layers separated by fine pitches.
US08361902B2
A cleaning control apparatus capable of performing a cleaning process efficiently regardless of qualities and thicknesses of films formed in a process tube and a gas supply nozzle. The cleaning control apparatus employs cleaning request signal output units configured to output cleaning request signals requesting cleaning processes of a silicon-containing gas supply system and nitriding source gas supply system when accumulated amounts of the molecules of the silicon-containing gas and the nitriding source gas exceeds preset values.
US08361899B2
Processes of assembling microelectronic packages with lead frames and/or other suitable substrates are described herein. In one embodiment, a method for fabricating a semiconductor assembly includes forming an attachment area and a non-attachment area on a lead finger of a lead frame. The attachment area is more wettable to the solder ball than the non-attachment area during reflow. The method also includes contacting a solder ball carried by a semiconductor die with the attachment area of the lead finger, reflowing the solder ball while the solder ball is in contact with the attachment area of the lead finger, and controllably collapsing the solder ball to establish an electrical connection between the semiconductor die and the lead finger of the lead frame.
US08361895B2
A semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing are provided. A substrate has a gate stack formed thereon. Ultra-shallow junctions are formed by depositing an atomic layer of a dopant and performing an anneal to diffuse the dopant into the substrate on opposing sides of the gate stack. The substrate may be recessed prior to forming the atomic layer and the recess may be filled by an epitaxial process. The depositing, annealing, and, if used, epitaxial growth may be repeated a plurality of times to achieve the desired junctions. Source/drain regions are also provided on opposing sides of the gate stack.
US08361893B2
An undoped semiconductor substrate is doped by applying stress at a side of the undoped semiconductor substrate to release self interstitials in the substrate and implanting chalcogen atoms into the side of the substrate. The substrate is annealed to form a first semiconductor region containing the chalcogen atoms and a second semiconductor region devoid of the chalcogen atoms. The first semiconductor region has a doping concentration higher than the doping concentration of the second semiconductor region. The indiffusion of chalcogen atoms into a semiconductor material in the presence of self interstitials can also be used to form field stop regions in power semiconductor devices.
US08361892B2
A method and apparatus that may be utilized for chemical vapor deposition and/or hydride vapor phase epitaxial (HVPE) deposition are provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus a processing chamber that includes a showerhead with separate inlets and channels for delivering separate processing gases into a processing volume of the chamber without mixing the gases prior to entering the processing volume. In one embodiment, the showerhead includes one or more cleaning gas conduits configured to deliver a cleaning gas directly into the processing volume of the chamber while by-passing the processing gas channels. In one embodiment, the showerhead includes a plurality of metrology ports configured to deliver a cleaning gas directly into the processing volume of the chamber while by-passing the processing gas channels. As a result, the processing chamber components can be cleaned more efficiently and effectively than by introducing cleaning gas into the chamber only through the processing gas channels.
US08361873B2
It is an object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing an SOI substrate provided with a single-crystal semiconductor layer which can be practically used even when a substrate having a low heat-resistant temperature, such as a glass substrate or the like, is used, and further, to manufacture a semiconductor device with high reliability by using such an SOI substrate. A semiconductor layer which is separated from a semiconductor substrate and bonded to a supporting substrate having an insulating surface is irradiated with electromagnetic waves, and the surface of the semiconductor layer is subjected to polishing treatment. At least part of a region of the semiconductor layer is melted by irradiation with electromagnetic waves, and a crystal defect in the semiconductor layer can be reduced. Further, the surface of the semiconductor layer can be polished and planarized by polishing treatment.
US08361871B2
A static random-access memory circuit includes at least one access device including source and drain sections for a pass region, at least one pull-up device and at least one pull-down device including source-and-drain sections for a pull-down region. The static random-access memory circuit is configured with external resistivity (Rext) for the pull-down region to be lower than Rext for the pass region. Processes of achieving the static random-access memory circuit include source-and-drain epitaxy.
US08361869B2
The present application discloses a method for manufacturing a gate-all-around field effect transistor, comprising the steps of: forming a suspended fin in a semiconductor substrate; forming a gate stack around the fin; and forming source/drain regions in the fin on both sides of the gate stack, wherein an isolation dielectric layer is formed in a portion of the semiconductor substrate which is adjacent to bottom of both the fin and the gate stack. The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a gate-all-around device on a bulk silicon substrate, which suppress a self-heating effect and a floating-body effect of the SOI substrate, and lower a manufacture cost. The inventive method is a conventional top-down process with respect to a reference plane, which can be implemented as a simple manufacture process, and is easy to be integrated into and compatible with a planar CMOS process. The inventive method suppresses a short channel effect and promotes miniaturization of MOSFETs.
US08361867B2
A process for forming contacts to a field effect transistor provides edge relaxation of a buried stressor layer, inducing strain in an initially relaxed surface semiconductor layer above the buried stressor layer. A process can start with a silicon or silicon-on-insulator substrate with a buried silicon germanium layer having an appropriate thickness and germanium concentration. Other stressor materials can be used. Trenches are etched through a pre-metal dielectric to the contacts of the FET. Etching extends further into the substrate, through the surface silicon layer, through the silicon germanium layer and into the substrate below the silicon germanium layer. The further etch is performed to a depth to allow for sufficient edge relaxation to induce a desired level of longitudinal strain to the surface layer of the FET. Subsequent processing forms contacts extending through the pre-metal dielectric and at least partially into the trenches within the substrate.
US08361859B2
An embedded, strained epitaxial semiconductor material, i.e., an embedded stressor element, is formed at the footprint of at least one pre-fabricated field effect transistor that includes at least a patterned gate stack, a source region and a drain region. As a result, the metastability of the embedded, strained epitaxial semiconductor material is preserved and implant and anneal based relaxation mechanisms are avoided since the implants and anneals are performed prior to forming the embedded, strained epitaxial semiconductor material.
US08361858B2
The growth rate in a selective epitaxial growth process for depositing a threshold adjusting semiconductor alloy, such as a silicon/germanium alloy, may be enhanced by performing a plasma-assisted etch process prior to performing the selective epitaxial growth process. For example, a mask layer may be patterned on the basis of the plasma-assisted etch process, thereby simultaneously providing superior device topography during the subsequent growth process. Hence, the threshold adjusting material may be deposited with enhanced thickness uniformity, thereby reducing overall threshold variability.
US08361856B2
A memory cell includes a vertically oriented transistor having an elevationally outer source/drain region, an elevationally inner source/drain region, and a channel region elevationally between the inner and outer source/drain regions. The inner source/drain region has opposing laterally outer sides. One of a pair of data/sense lines is electrically coupled to and against one of the outer sides of the inner source/drain region. The other of the pair of data/sense lines is electrically coupled to and against the other of the outer sides of the inner source/drain region. An access gate line is elevationally outward of the pair of electrically coupled data/sense lines and is operatively adjacent the channel region. A charge storage device is electrically coupled to the outer source/drain region. Other embodiments and additional aspects, including methods, are disclosed.
US08361854B2
A fin field-effect transistor structure includes a substrate, a fin channel and a high-k metal gate. The high-k metal gate is formed on the substrate and the fin channel. A process of manufacturing the fin field-effect transistor structure includes the following steps. Firstly, a polysilicon pseudo gate structure is formed on the substrate and a surface of the fin channel. By using the polysilicon pseudo gate structure as a mask, a source/drain region is formed in the fin channel. After the polysilicon pseudo gate structure is removed, a high-k dielectric layer and a metal gate layer are successively formed. Afterwards, a planarization process is performed on the substrate having the metal gate layer until the first dielectric layer is exposed, so that a high-k metal gate is produced.
US08361852B2
A transistor includes a silicon germanium channel layer formed on a portion of a single crystalline silicon substrate. The silicon germanium channel layer includes a Si—H bond and/or a Ge—H bond at an inner portion or an upper surface portion thereof. A PMOS transistor is provided on the silicon germanium channel layer. A silicon nitride layer is provided on surface portions of the single crystalline silicon substrate, the silicon germanium channel layer and the PMOS transistor for applying a tensile stress. The MOS transistor shows good operating characteristics.
US08361843B2
A heat dissipation package structure and method for fabricating the same are disclosed, which includes mounting and electrically connecting a semiconductor chip to a chip carrier through its active surface; mounting a heat dissipation member having a heat dissipation section and a supporting section on the chip carrier such that the semiconductor chip can be received in the space formed by the heat dissipation section and the supporting section, wherein the heat dissipation section has an opening formed corresponding to the semiconductor chip; forming an encapsulant to encapsulate the semiconductor chip, and the heat dissipation member; and thinning the encapsulant to remove the encapsulant formed on the semiconductor chip to expose inactive surface of the semiconductor chip and the top surface of the heat dissipation section from the encapsulant. Therefore, the heat dissipation package structure is fabricated through simplified fabrication steps at low cost, and also the problem that the chip is easily damaged in a package molding process of the prior art is overcome.
US08361840B2
Exemplary embodiments provide methods and systems for assembling electronic devices, such as integrated circuit (IC) chips, by selectively and scalably embedding or seating IC elements onto/into a receiving substrate, such as a chip substrate. Preparing of the chip substrate can be performed by depositing or patterning an activatable thermal barrier material on a surface of the substrate. The IC chips are secured on the prepared substrate by activating the thermal barrier material between the chip substrate and IC chips. Securing can include softening of the chip substrate with the activated thermal barrier material to an amount suitable for embedding the IC chips. Securing can also include adhesively bonding the IC chips to the substrate with the activated thermal barrier material in the case of a non-pliable substrate.
US08361838B2
A stacked semiconductor package and a method for manufacturing the same are presented which exhibit a reduced electrical resistance and an increased junction force. The semiconductor package includes at least two semiconductor chips stacked upon each other. Each semiconductor chip has a plurality of bonding pads formed on upper surfaces and has via-holes. First wiring lines are located on the upper surfaces of the semiconductor chips, on the surfaces of the via-holes, and respectively connected onto their respective bonding pads. Second wiring lines are located on lower surfaces of the semiconductor chips and on the surfaces of the respective via-holes which connect to their respective first wiring lines. The semiconductor chips are stacked so that the first wiring lines on an upper surface of an upwardly positioned semiconductor chip are respectively joined with corresponding second wiring lines formed on a lower surface of a downwardly positioned semiconductor chip.
US08361834B2
A method of forming an ohmic contact on a substrate is described. The method includes depositing a set of silicon particles on the substrate surface. The method also includes heating the substrate in a baking ambient to a baking temperature and for a baking time period in order to create a densified film ink pattern. The method further includes exposing the substrate to a dopant source in a diffusion furnace with a deposition ambient, the deposition ambient comprising POCl3, a carrier N2 gas, a main N2 gas, and a reactive O2 gas at a deposition temperature and for a deposition time period, wherein a PSG layer is formed on the substrate surface. The method also includes heating the substrate in a drive-in ambient to a drive-in temperature and for a drive-in time period; and depositing a silicon nitride layer. The method further includes depositing a set of metal contacts on the set of silicon particles; and heating the substrate to a firing temperature and for a firing time period.
US08361819B2
Methods of fabricating of a light-emitting device are provided, the methods include forming a plurality of light-emitting units on a substrate, measuring light characteristics of the plurality of light-emitting units, respectively, depositing a phosphor layer on the plurality of light-emitting units using a printing method, and cutting the substrate to separate the plurality of light-emitting units into unit by unit. The phosphor layer is adjustably deposited according to the measured light characteristics of the plurality of light-emitting units.
US08361817B2
Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a surface-emitting laser device that emits laser light in a direction perpendicular to a substrate. The method includes manufacturing a laminated body in which a lower reflecting mirror, a resonator structure including an active layer, and an upper reflecting mirror including a selectively oxidized layer are laminated on the substrate; etching the laminated body from an upper surface to form a mesa structure having at least the selectively oxidized layer exposed at a side surface; and mounting the laminated body on a tray having a front surface shaped to follow a warpage of the laminated body at an oxidation temperature and selectively oxidizing the selectively oxidized layer from the side surface of the mesa structure, thereby generating a confinement structure in which a current passing region is surrounded by an oxide.
US08361814B2
A method for evaluating a cleanliness of a tool, the method includes: receiving a wafer; cleaning the wafer; placing the wafer into the tool for a predefined period; removing the wafer from the tool, performing a contact angle measurement and determining the cleanliness of the wafer.
US08361809B2
One embodiment of the present invention is directed to methods for ionophorically screening pore forming bacterial protein toxins and receptors for insect toxicity. The method includes: a) forming a membrane comprising a lipid and an insect receptor, b) contacting the membrane with the pore forming bacterial protein toxin and an ion solution, and c) measuring ion flow through the membrane. Also provided are a method and kit for determining the amount of live pore forming bacterial toxin protein in a sample.
US08361798B2
For testing performance levels and/ or changes over time of at least one catalyst (CAT) for a fixed-bed reactor: a device (CT) for a test, comprising at least one hollow metal cartridge (MC) containing the catalyst (CAT) is connected at a point A of an industrial chemical installation containing a reaction feedstock suitable for testing the catalyst (CAT); a liquid stream containing a fraction that is less than or equal to 1% of preheated reagents circulating in the industrial chemical installation is circulated in the cartridge (MC) through the catalyst (CAT) and sampled at a reaction temperature for a period (T), and returned to the industrial chemical installation at point B downstream of the device.
US08361797B2
The present invention relates to a method for culturing mammalian cells in a culture medium which is transferrin free and which contains no lipophilic or synthetic nitrogen-containing chelators. Also provided is the use of the medium and a process for providing a mammalian product by culturing cells capable of producing the product in the medium.
US08361794B2
This invention provides a cell presenting at least one T cell receptor (TCR) anchored to the membrane by a transmembrane sequence, said TCR comprising an interchain disulfide bond between extracellular constant domain residues which is not present in native TCRs.
US08361792B2
The invention reflects enhanced antibody expression of an antibody of interest by cell lines transformed by random homozygous gene perturbation methods to either increase or decrease the expression pattern of a gene of the cell line other than the antibody of interest. The transformed cell line exhibits specific productivity rates, SPR, for the RHGP transformed cell liens of 1.5 or more, as compared with the antibody expressing cell line parents prior to transformation by RHGP. A knock out or anti-sense construct may be devised to reduce expression of the target gene, a promoter may be inserter to enhance expression of the target gene. The antibodies expressed by the transformed cell lines exhibit the binding properties of their parent cell lines prior to transformation with RHGP, and increase Total Volumetric Production of said antibody by said cells in a given volume.
US08361777B2
The invention relates to genetically engineered cells, and to proteins and genes useful in the production of tetracycline compounds, to methods of producing tetracycline compounds, and to tetracyclines thereby produced. The present invention is based on the cloning and heterologous expression of genes encoding the chelocardin biosynthetic pathway.
US08361757B2
A semiconductor device assembly includes a first semiconductor die, a second semiconductor die, at least one semiconductor package component or another semiconductor die, a first conductive element and a second conductive element. The first semiconductor die includes at least one bonding pad. The second semiconductor die includes a bonding pad module. The first conductive element is coupled between the bonding pad module of the second semiconductor die and the bonding pad of the first semiconductor die, and the second conductive element is coupled between the bonding pad module of the second semiconductor die and the semiconductor package component or the another semiconductor die, wherein the first semiconductor die is coupled to the semiconductor package component or the another semiconductor die via the bonding pad and the bonding pad module and the first and second conductive elements.
US08361752B2
The present invention provides an artificial scaffolding material for retaining proteins suitable for placing contiguously one species or two or more species of proteins such as enzymes. To this end, the artificial scaffolding material for retaining proteins is provided with a cell and scaffolding proteins heterologous to the cell and placed on the surface layer side of the cell at an extent that allows aggregation properties to be conferred to the cell, and provided with a plurality of non-covalently binding protein-binding domains arranged in tandem.
US08361748B2
A method of producing an α-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine-β-ester by forming the α-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine-β-ester from L-aspartic acid-α,β-diester and L-phenylalanine using an enzyme or enzyme-containing substance that has an ability to selectively link L-phenylalanine to an α-ester site of the L-aspartic acid-α,β-diester through a peptide bond.
US08361747B2
The present invention relates to antibodies against human Angiopoietin 2 (anti-ANG-2 antibodies), methods for their production, pharmaceutical compositions containing said antibodies, and uses thereof.
US08361733B2
The present invention relates to regulation of cold sensation and pain. More particularly, the present invention is directed to nucleic acids encoding a member of the transient regulatory protein family, CMR1, which is involved in modulation of the perception of cold sensations and pain. The invention further relates to methods for identifying and using agents that modulate cold responses and pain responses stimulated by cold via modulation of CMR1 and CMR1-related signal transduction.
US08361719B2
The present invention is a novel method of determining the average DNA methylation density of a locus of interest within a population of DNA fragments.
US08361713B2
An apparatus and system are provided for simultaneously analyzing a plurality of analytes anchored to microparticles. Microparticles each having a uniform population of a single kind of analyte attached are disposed as a substantially immobilized planar array inside of a flow chamber where steps of an analytical process are carried out by delivering a sequence of processing reagents to the microparticles by a fluidic system under microprocessor control. In response to such process steps, an optical signal is generated at the surface of each microparticle which is characteristic of the interaction between the analyte carried by the microparticle and the delivered processing reagent. The plurality of analytes are simultaneously analyzed by collecting and recording images of the optical signals generated by all the microparticles in the planar array. A key feature of the invention is the correlation of the sequence of optical signals generated by each microparticle in the planar array during the analytical process.
US08361706B2
The technology relates to monoclonal antibodies useful in the identification of cancer cells. In one embodiment, mAbs with specificity for tumor antigens are provided. In one embodiment, methods for treating cancer using mAbs are provided. In another embodiment, methods for detecting cancerous cells are provided. In another embodiment, kits for detecting cancerous cells are provided.
US08361705B2
The present disclosure provides methods for analyzing structure and/or composition of N-glycans. Such methods often involve digestion of N-glycans with multiple exoglycosidases. In some embodiments, N-glycans are digested with multiple exoglycosidases simultaneously. In some embodiments, N-glycans are digested with multiple exoglycosidases sequentially. In some embodiments, methods in accordance with the present disclosure involve comparison of cleavage products of N-glycans that have been digested with multiple exoglycosidases simultaneously to N-glycans that have been digested with multiple exoglycosidases sequentially.
US08361704B2
This invention provides a method for reducing tip-to-tip spacing between lines using a combination of photolithographic and copolymer self-assembling lithographic techniques. A mask layer is first formed over a substrate with a line structure. A trench opening of a width d is created in the mask layer. A layer of a self-assembling block copolymer is then applied over the mask layer. The block copolymer layer is annealed to form a single unit polymer block of a width or a diameter w which is smaller than d inside the trench opening. The single unit polymer block is selectively removed to form a single opening of a width or a diameter w inside the trench opening. An etch transfer process is performed using the single opening as a mask to form an opening in the line structure in the substrate.
US08361694B2
It is a problem to provide a resist underlayer film forming composition containing a fullerene derivative, which is easily applied on a substrate and from which a resist underlayer film excellent in dry etching properties can be obtained. The problem is solved by for example a resist underlayer film forming composition comprising: a fullerene derivative represented by Formula (3): (where, R4 represents one group selected from a group consisting of a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group which optionally has a substituent, an aryl group which optionally has a substituent and a heterocyclic group which optionally has a substituent; and R5 represents an alkyl group which optionally has a substituent or an aryl group which optionally has a substituent); and an organic solvent.
US08361692B2
There is disclosed a negative resist composition comprising (A) a base polymer which is soluble in alkali and which is insolubilized in alkali by an action of an acid; and/or a combination of a crosslinking agent and a base polymer which is soluble in alkali and which is reacted with the crosslinking agent by an action of an acid to thereby be insolubilized in alkali, (B) an acid generator, and (C) a nitrogen-containing compound as a basic component; wherein the polymer to be used as the base polymer is: a polymer, which is obtained by polymerizing two or more kinds of monomers represented by the following general formula (1), or which is obtained by polymerizing a monomer mixture containing one or more kinds of monomers represented by the general formula (1) and one or more kinds of styrene monomers represented by the following general formula (2).
US08361676B2
The present invention provides a method of production of a separator for a solid polymer type fuel cell characterized by shaping a substrate comprised of stainless steel, titanium, or a titanium alloy and then spraying the substrate surface with superhard core particles comprised of conductive compound particles of an average particle size of 0.01 to 20 μm mixed with a coating material and coated on their surfaces under conditions of a spray pressure of 0.4 MPa or less and a spray amount per cm2 of the substrate of 10 to 100 g in blast treatment. The ratio of the conductive compound to the mass of the core particles is 0.5 to 15 mass %.
US08361674B2
The invention relates to the field of electrochemical cells and fuel cells, more specifically to polymer-electrolyte-membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) and direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC). A multi-layer membrane-electrode-assembly (ML-MEA) comprising two electrically conductive bipolar plates and a membrane-electrode-assembly (MEA) bonded together by means of an electrically insulating adhesive material is disclosed. The adhesive material, preferably a polyurethane-based system, is in direct contact with the protective film layers attached to front side and the back side of the MEA, thus contamination of the ionomer membrane and/or the electrode layers with adhesive components is avoided. Multi-layer MEAs with improved long term stability and life time are obtained. The products are used for the manufacture of low temperature PEMFC and DMFC stacks.
US08361672B2
A tubular fuel cell including: a center support member made from a wire rod; an electrolyte layer formed upon the outside of the center support member; an outer circumferential support member disposed between the center support member and the electrolyte layer, and which is made from a wire rod; a catalyst layer formed upon the outer circumferential surface of the outer circumferential support member, and that is in contact with the electrolyte layer; and an auxiliary outer circumferential support member provided between the center support member and the outer circumferential support member, and which is made from a wire rod.
US08361670B2
The invention relates to a fuel cell, having a first electrode, a second electrode, and a membrane element, in which the membrane element is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. At least one of the electrodes has a flow field plate and at least one flow conduit, through which a reactant can be conducted, extends in at least one outer surface of the flow field plate. According to the invention, it is provided that the flow field plate has at least one microreaction chamber, and the microreaction chamber is disposed in the outer surface and on the flow conduit. A catalyst is disposed on at least a part of the microreaction chamber in such a way that the catalyst has contact simultaneously with the membrane element and the inflowing reactant.
US08361669B2
A fuel-cell-equipped apparatus includes a fuel cell unit that includes a fuel cell module and a fuel cell case. The fuel cell module includes cells stacked on each other and is housed in the fuel cell case. A pipe is provided at one side of the fuel cell module in the direction in which the cells are stacked. The fuel cell unit is supported on a base via supporting members (mounting insulators), at two points at the side where the pipe is provided or the side closest to a gravity center of the fuel cell unit and at one point in the opposite side.
US08361665B2
A fuel cell system including: a fuel cell which generates electrical power through the reaction of a reaction gas; a reaction gas supply device which supplies the reaction gas to the fuel cell; a cooling device which cools the fuel cell by circulating a coolant through the fuel cell; a fuel cell operating temperature output device which outputs a maximum temperature inside the fuel cell as an operating temperature of the fuel cell; and a fuel cell temperature adjustment device which adjusts a temperature inside the fuel cell so that the operating temperature inside the fuel cell is less than a preset upper temperature limit.
US08361662B2
A novel electrocatalyst made of an oxidase having high electron transfer efficiency and an enzymatic electrode using the same are provided. The electrocatalyst is made of CueO. The enzymatic electrode comprises a carbonaceous porous body and an electrocatalyst made of CueO supported on the surface of the carbonaceous porous body. CueO is preferably CueO from Escherichia coli. The carbonaceous porous body constituting the enzymatic electrode is preferably carbonaceous gel. Also, the enzymatic electrode may further comprise a mediator which facilitates transfer of electron between the carbonaceous porous body and said CueO.
US08361638B2
The present invention relates to fluorine derivatives and organic electronic devices in which said compounds are used as a matrix material in the emitting layer and/or as a hole transport material, and/or as an electron blocking or exciton blocking material, and/or as an electron transport material.
US08361630B2
An article of manufacture and a process for making the article by the anodization of aluminum and aluminum alloy workpieces to provide corrosion-, heat- and abrasion-resistant ceramic coatings comprising titanium and/or zirconium oxides, and the subsequent coating of the anodized workpiece with polytetrafluoroethylene (“PTFE”) or silicone containing coatings. The invention is especially useful for forming longer life PTFE coatings on aluminum substrates by pre-coating the substrate with an anodized layer of titanium and/or zirconium oxide that provides excellent corrosion-, heat- and abrasion-resistance in a hard yet flexible film.
US08361628B2
The present invention provides (i) a process for producing a metal film with which process a metal film and a metal pattern can be formed, at low cost, on an arbitrary substrate, (ii) a primer composition, (iii) a metal film, and (iv) use of the metal film. The process includes the steps of: forming an organic film with use of a primer composition which contains (i) an addition polymerizable compound including three or more reactive groups, (ii) an addition polymerizable compound including an acid group, (iii) an addition polymerizable compound including a basic group, and (iv) an addition polymerizable compound including a hydrophilic functional group; form a metal (M1) salt from the acid group; substituting the metal (M1) salt of the acid group with a metal (M2) salt by processing with a metal (M2) ion aqueous solution containing a metal (M2) ion which has a less ionization tendency than the metal (M1) ion; and reducing the metal (M2) ion so that a metal film is formed on a surface of the organic film.
US08361624B2
An intermediate transfer member that includes spirodilactam polycarbonates, mixtures of spirodilactam polycarbonates or copolymers of spirodilactam polycarbonates, an optional polysiloxane, and an optional conductive filler component.
US08361615B2
A vehicle is wrapped by a printed adhesive film where the film is also applied over doors and other areas intended not to be covered. The film is cut at the door edge and over the area by adhesively attaching a tape having a release coating on the front surface and carrying a filament along a center of the front side. The printed film is applied over the door, the area not to be covered and the tapes and is cut along the door edge and around the area by pulling the filament from the tape so that a strip of the film at the door edge and the film over the area can be removed. The film can be stretched and pulled away from the tape for reapplying for proper fit.
US08361614B2
An anisotropic electrically conductive film formed by a thermosetting acrylic resin composition is disclosed. The composition contains at least a thermosetting agent (A), a thermo-settable ingredient (B), an acrylic rubber containing hydroxyl groups (C), organic fine particles (D) and electrically conductive particles (E). The thermo-settable ingredient (B) may include a phosphorus-containing acrylic ester (b1). The weight averaged molecular weight of the acrylic rubber containing the hydroxyl groups (C) is not less than 1000000. The organic fine particles (D) include polybutadiene-based fine particles (d1).
US08361602B2
The present invention is premised upon a multi-layer laminate structure and method of manufacture, more particularly to a method of constructing the multi-layer laminate structure utilizing a laminate frame and at least one energy activated flowable polymer.
US08361601B2
An economical method of manufacturing a plastic glazing panel having a decorative marking and/or opaque border printed from a UV curable ink is presented. This economical method includes the steps of forming a plastic panel; printing an opaque pattern from an ink, the pattern having an A-side and a B-side with the B-side being in contact with the plastic panel; curing the ink in the shape of the printed pattern using UV radiation directed at the ink from both the A-side and B-side; applying a weatherable layer on the A side of the pattern and on the plastic panel; curing the weatherable layer; and depositing an abrasion resistant layer onto the weatherable layer.
US08361596B2
The present invention relates to a sheet having a rough surface feel on at least one of its sides, said sheet being coated on one or both sides with a layer comprising incompressible particles that are not flat and not very angular. It also relates to the process for manufacturing said sheet and to its use as a paper or plastic printing medium, a paper or plastic package, a cover intended for bookbinding, or a board or plastic box.
US08361593B2
A plasmonic coating for reflecting electromagnetic energy is disclosed. The coating includes a plurality of layers, at least one of which is a dielectric layer; and a patterned dielectric layer in structural communication with the plurality of layers and having a pattern configured to plasmonically reflect electromagnetic energy incident thereon.
US08361590B2
The present invention relates to a lightweight structural composite, which comprises an inner core of lightweight panel encapsulated by outer layers of polymer material. Specifically, the lightweight panel consists of multiple laminations of corrugated thin metal or fiber reinforced plastic sheets kept in position by polymeric foam and/or adhesive, and enclosed in a casing of the same material. The outer layer is made up of a blend of thermosetting and thermoplastic polymers. The method of forming the composite comprises of stacking the corrugated sheets, filling the interstitial spaces with the foam, constructing the casing, the surface treatment of the panel for good adhesion to the outer polymer layer and the high temperature/pressure encapsulation of the panel with the polymer blend containing curing agents. The composite has application as replacement to wood, concrete or particle board panels used in ship docking, panels for wall, door and windows, blast-proof panels, rail sleepers and shipping pallets.
US08361584B2
A clipper seam for joining the ends of a belt, are connected by interdigitated staples which are looped about a pintle and provide barbs on their remote ends to penetrate into the material of the belt. Each end is covered by an edge strip of vinyl by radio frequency welding, and a flap is attached to one end on the low pressure side of the belt by a portion, and folded over to cover the seam on the low pressure side by means of a flap which extends beyond the seam area of the other end. A central area to each side of the seam is impregnated with polyurethane to resist abrasion which tends to concentrate in this area.
US08361580B2
A contact transparent single layer or multilayer film absorbing and/or reflecting UV radiation and short-wavelength visible light is disclosed. The film comprises at least one layer based on at least one optionally modified thermoplastic olefin homo- or co-polymer, comprising a combination of at least one organic or inorganic colored pigment or dye absorbing and/or reflecting short-wavelength visible light, and of at least one organic or inorganic compound absorbing and/or reflecting the UV radiation. The film disclosed herein can be used as a protective film against the effects of UV radiation and short-wavelength visible light, and a sewer cleaning system comprising said multilayer film as an external hose film and an inner, multilayer plastic film, and an impregnated UV-curable carrier material present between the two hose films.
US08361571B2
A composition is provided, which comprises a water-soluble salt of a divalent metal; a complexing agent having an affinity for the divalent metal; and an optical brightening agent. Methods of using the composition, and recording sheets which include the composition, are also disclosed.
US08361568B2
Disclosed are a liquid-crystalline medium of negative dielectric anisotropy based on a mixture of polar compounds, which contains at least one compound of formula IA and at least one compound of formulae IB, IC and/or ID and the use thereof for an active-matrix display, in particular based on the ECB, PALC, FFS or IPS effect.
US08361565B2
A method for plasma treatment and painting of a surface, the surface including a plurality of different materials includes blasting the surface with a carbon dioxide snow so as to activate the surface to improve an adhesive strength; and treating the surface with a plasma treatment using at least one plasma nozzle following the blasting step, the treating including guiding the at least one plasma nozzle at a distance of not more than 15 mm from the surface at a feed rate of not more than 50 m/min.
US08361559B2
A method for making a magnesium-based composite material includes mixing nanoscale reinforcements with a melted magnesium-based material to obtain a pre-mixture. The pre-mixture is agitated by an ultrasonic process to obtain a mixture. The mixture is sprayed to a substrate.
US08361553B2
The present invention comprises methods and compositions comprising metal nanoparticles. The invention comprises metal nanoparticles and surfaces treated with a metal nanoparticle coating. The present invention further comprises compositions for preparing nanoparticles comprising at least one stabilizing agent, one or more metal compounds, at least one reducing agent and a solvent. In one aspect, the stabilizing agent comprises a surfactant or a polymer. The polymer may comprise polymers such as polyacrylamides, polyurethanes, and polyamides. In one aspect, the metal compound comprises a salt comprising a metal cation and an anion. The anion may comprise saccharinate derivatives, long chain fatty acids, and alkyl dicarboxylates.
US08361549B2
A method for preventing particle contamination within a processing chamber is disclosed. Preheating the substrate within the processing chamber may cause a thermophoresis effect so that particles within the chamber that are not adhered to a surface may not come to rest on the substrate. One method to increase the substrate temperature is to plasma load the substrate. Plasma loading comprises providing an inert gas plasma to the substrate to heat the substrate. Another method to increase the substrate temperature is high pressure loading the substrate. High pressure loading comprises heating the substrate while increasing the chamber pressure to between about 1 Torr and about 10 Torr. By rapidly increasing the substrate temperature within the processing chamber prior to substrate processing, particle contamination is less likely to occur.
US08361538B2
Devices and methods for applying a coating to an implantable device are disclosed. A method for applying a coating to an implantable device is disclosed. The method includes positioning an implantable device relative to an ultrasonic material delivery apparatus. The ultrasonic material delivery apparatus includes an ultrasonic generator. At least one of the ultrasonic material delivery apparatus and the implantable device has a positive or negative electric charge. An application material is applied to the implantable device using the ultrasonic material delivery apparatus.
US08361526B2
Dough with a high sucrose content (such as cake dough) tends to inhibit the activity of an anti-staling amylase such as Novamyl®, making it less effective to prevent the staling of dough-based products with high sucrose content such as cakes. A good anti-staling effect in cakes can be achieved by using a carefully selected anti-staling amylase with certain properties. Analysis of a 3D structure of Novamyl® shows that sucrose may inhibit by binding in the active site. Sucrose docks into the active site of Novamyl® differently from the substrate or inhibitor in published models 1QHO and 1QHP. This finding is used to design sucrose-tolerant variants.
US08361524B2
The present invention declares a pharmaceutical extract, composition that has effect to treat drug addiction, and its preparation method and quality control method. This extract is extracted from Radix Stephaniae Epigaeae. Starting medicine material of said composition is Radix Ginseng, Radix Astragali, Rhizoma Corydalis, Radix Angelicae Sinensis and Radix Ophiopogonis; and said composition also can prepared by ethanol extract of Radix Ginseng, ethanol extract of Radix Angelicae Sinensis, total alkaloids of Radix Stephaniae Epigaeae, water extract of Radix Astragali and water extract of Radix Ophiopogonis. Quality control method of said pharmaceutical composition includes one of or several of identifications and content determinations. The present invention also declares the use of said pharmaceutical extract, composition in the preparation of a medicine to treat drug addiction.
US08361522B2
Compositions are disclosed containing, as active ingredients, an extract of Allium species, an extract of Citrus species and either an extract of Paullinia species and an extract of Theobroma species, or an extract of Salix species and zinc sulphate, and the method of preparation of these compositions, and cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical application of these compositions.
US08361515B2
The present invention relates to plant extracts, specifically, the extracts of Chinese medicine Chenopodium ambrosioides L. and the composition comprising thereof. The extracts of Chinese medicine Chenopodium ambrosioides L. are prepared by conventional methods for the extraction of volatile oil, and can be used to treat Helicobacter Pylori-induced diseases of digestive system, such as gastritis, gastric ulcer, etc., with easy availability of raw materials, simple preparations, prominent effects, and less side-effect.
US08361504B2
The subject invention pertains to materials and methods for stopping or decreasing the blood flow from an open wound or medical or surgical procedure. Compositions of the invention comprise a salt form of a cross-linked polyacrylic acid. In one embodiment, the composition comprises a sodium salt of a polyacrylic acid. Compositions of the invention can also optionally comprise one or more different salt ferrates, and/or a cationic exchanger resins, and/or a silver compound. In an exemplified embodiment, a composition of the invention comprises sodium polyacrylate provided in a dry powdered form. Polyacrylate compositions of the invention can be applied directly to a wound or treatment site, or they can be incorporated into a wound dressing, such as a bandage. The clot or scab formed at a wound or treatment site treated with the present invention is extremely elastic and exhibits considerable tensile strength when stretched to the breaking point. The subject invention also concerns wound and surgical site dressings and coverings, and methods of using a composition of the invention to stop blood flow from an open wound or treatment site.
US08361501B2
The present invention is a substantially non-adhesive elastic gelatin matrix. The matrix is both non-adhesive to wounds, tissues and organs and is also elastic such that it is flexible. The matrix is a lyophilized mixture of protein(s), polymer(s), cross-linking agent(s) and optional plasticizer(s). The invention also provides methods for making the non-adhesive elastic gelatin matrix.
US08361485B2
Novel products comprising conditioned cell culture medium compositions and methods of use are described. The conditioned cell medium compositions of the invention may be comprised of any known defined or undefined medium and may be conditioned using any eukaryotic cell type. The medium may be conditioned by stromal cells, parenchymal cells, mesenchymal stem cells, liver reserve cells, neural stem cells, pancreatic stem cells and/or embryonic stem cells. Additionally, the cells may be genetically modified. A three-dimensional tissue construct is preferred. Once the cell medium of the invention is conditioned, it may be used in any state. Physical embodiments of the conditioned medium include, but are not limited to, liquid or solid, frozen, lyophilized or dried into a powder. Additionally, the medium is formulated with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier as a vehicle for internal administration, applied directly to a food item or product, formulated with a salve or ointment for topical applications, or, for example, made into or added to surgical glue to accelerate healing of sutures following invasive procedures. Also, the medium may be further processed to concentrate or reduce one or more factors or components contained within the medium.
US08361477B2
Various improvements to vaccines that include a serogroup C meningococcal conjugate antigen, including: (a) co-administration with acellular B. pertussis antigen; (b) co-administration with an inactivated poliovirus antigen; (c) supply in a kit together with a separate pneumococcal conjugate component, which may be in a liquid form; and (d) use in combination with a pneumococcal conjugate antigen but without an aluminum phosphate adjuvant. A kit may have: (a) a first immunogenic component that comprises an aqueous formulation of a conjugated capsular saccharide from Streptococcus pneumoniae; and (b) a second immunogenic component that comprises a conjugated capsular saccharide from Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C.
US08361476B2
The invention relates to a vaccine which comprises at least one antigen and a peptide comprising a sequence R1—XZXZNXZX—R2, whereby N is a whole number between 3 and 7, preferably 5, X is a positively charged natural and/or non-natural amino acid residue, Z is an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of L, V, I, F and/or W, and R1 and R2 are selected independantly one from the other from the group consisting of —H, —NH2, —COCH3, —COH, a peptide with up to 20 amino acid residues or a peptide reactive group or a peptide linker with or without a peptide; X—R2 may also be an amide, ester or thioester of the C-terminal amino acid residue, as well as the use of said peptide for the preparation of an adjuvant for enhancing the immune response to at least one antigen.
US08361475B2
The invention provides the identification and characterization of a disease and cancer-associated antigen, KID24. The invention also provides modulators of KID24, including a family of monoclonal antibodies that bind to antigen KID24, and methods of diagnosing and treating various human cancers and diseases with KID24.
US08361473B2
Anti CMV antibodies are provided. Thus an antibody of the present invention comprises an antigen recognition domain capable of binding an MHC molecule being complexed with a cytomegalovirus (CMV) pp65 or pp64 peptide, wherein the antibody does not bind said MHC molecule in an absence of said complexed peptide, and wherein the antibody does not bind said peptide in an absence of said MHC molecule. Also provided are methods of using the antibodies.
US08361472B2
Immunoglobulin chains or antibodies having light or heavy chain complementarity determining regions of antibodies that bind to P-Selectin Glycoprotein Ligand-1. Also disclosed are methods of inducing death of an activated T-cell and of modulating a T cell-mediated immune response in a subject.
US08361461B2
The present invention relates to novel antibodies capable of binding specifically to the human insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-IR). The invention likewise comprises the use of these antibodies as a medicament for the prophylactic and/or therapeutic treatment of cancers overexpressing IGF-IR, stimulated either by IGF1 and/or IGF2, or any pathology connected with the overexpression of said receptor as well as in processes or kits for diagnosis of illnesses connected with the overexpression of the IGF-IR and/or the IGF-I/Insulin hybrid receptor.
US08361458B2
Filamentous bacteriophage which does not display an antibody or a non-filamentous bacteriophage antigen on its surface is used to inhibit or treat brain inflammation associated with amyloid deposits and/or involving activated microglia, to inhibit the formation of amyloid deposits, and to disaggregate pre-formed amyloid deposits.
US08361456B2
There is provided a method of inducing differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells to neural cells or skeletal muscle cells by introduction of a Notch gene. Specifically, the invention provides a method of inducing differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells to neural cells or skeletal muscle cells in vitro, which method comprises introducing a Notch gene and/or a Notch signaling related gene into the cells, wherein the finally obtained differentiated cells are the result of cell division of the bone marrow stromal cells into which the Notch gene and/or Notch signaling related gene have been introduced. The invention also provides a method of inducing further differentiation of the differentiation-induced neural cells to dopaminergic neurons or acetylcholinergic neurons. The invention yet further provides a treatment method for neurodegenerative and skeletal muscle degenerative diseases which employs neural precursor cells, neural cells or skeletal muscle cells produced by the method of the invention.
US08361450B2
Shampoo compositions comprise (a) from about 5% to about 50% of one or more detersive surfactants; (b) a dispersed gel network phase comprising: (i) at least about 0.05% of one or more fatty amphiphiles; (ii) at least about 0.01% of one or more secondary surfactants; and (iii) water; (c) at least about 0.05% of a galactomannan polymer derivative with a net positive charge and having a mannose to galactose ratio of greater than 2:1 on a monomer to monomer basis, wherein the galactomannan polymer derivative has: (i) a molecular weight from about 1,000 to about 10,000,000; and (ii) a cationic charge density from about 0.7 meq/g to about 7 meq/g; and (d) at least about 20% of an aqueous carrier; all by weight of the shampoo composition.
US08361449B2
Shampoo compositions comprise (a) from about 5% to about 50% of one or more detersive surfactants, by weight of the shampoo composition; (b) a dispersed gel network phase comprising, by weight of the shampoo composition, (i) at least about 0.05% of one or more fatty amphiphiles; (ii) at least about 0.01% of one or more secondary surfactants; and (iii) water; and (c) at least about 20% of an aqueous carrier, by weight of the shampoo composition. A process for preparing a shampoo composition comprises the steps of: (a) combining a fatty amphiphile, a secondary surfactant, and water at a temperature sufficient to allow partitioning of the secondary surfactant and the water into the fatty amphiphile to form a pre-mix; (b) cooling the pre-mix below the chain melt temperature of the fatty amphiphile to form a gel network; (c) adding the gel network to one or more detersive surfactants and an aqueous carrier to form a shampoo composition.
US08361439B1
The invention discloses a pharmaceutical composition of bioactive nanoparticles composed of chitosan, poly-glutamic acid, and a bioactive agent for oral delivery. The chitosan-based nanoparticles are characterized with a positive surface charge and enhanced permeability for oral drug delivery.
US08361438B2
The present disclosure is directed to compounds, diagnostic agents, and related methods. In some cases, methods for treating patients are provided. More specifically, the disclosure provides compounds, diagnostic agents, and kits for detecting and/or imaging and/or monitoring elastin rich tissues. In addition, the disclosure provides methods of detecting and/or imaging and/or monitoring the presence of coronary plaque, carotid plaque, iliac/femoral plaque, aortic plaque, renal artery plaque, plaque of any arterial vessel, aneurism, vasculitis, other diseases of the arterial wall, and/or damage or structural changes in ligaments, uterus, lungs or skin, as indicated by changes in total vessel wall area, internal lumen size, and exterior arterial perimeter.
US08361431B2
A process and method for recovering elemental selenium, selenite or selenate from minerals and selenium salts solutions using a reducing sugar to reduce selenium before precipitating the elemental selenium, selenite and/or the selenate.
US08361428B2
Processes for the generation of steam are provided for use in an integrated catalytic gasification process for converting carbonaceous materials to combustible gases, such as methane. Generally, the exhaust gas from a steam generating reactor is provided along with steam, a carbonaceous feedstock, and a gasification catalyst, to a catalytic gasifier, wherein under appropriate temperature and pressure conditions, the carbonaceous feedstock is converted into a plurality of product gases, including, but not limited to, methane, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide. As substantially all the carbon dioxide produced from the steam generation process and the gasification process are subsequently directed though gas purification and separation processes, substantially all the carbon dioxide may be recovered, yielding a process having a near zero carbon footprint.
US08361427B2
A crystalline solid designated IZM-3 is described which has the X ray diffraction diagram given below. Said solid has a chemical composition expressed as the anhydrous base in terms of moles of oxides by the formula aSiO2: bYO2: cR: dF, in which Y represents at least one tetravalent element other than silicon, R represents at least one organic nitrogen-containing species, particularly 1,5-bis(methylpiperidinium)pentane, and F is fluorine, a, b, c and d respectively representing the number of moles of SiO2, YO2, R and F and a is in the range 0.1 to 1, b is in the range 0 to 0.9, c is in the range 0.01 to 0.5 and d is in the range 0 to 0.5.
US08361426B2
Absorption medium for acid gases comprising an oligoamine (A) of the general formula (I) and a piperazine derivative (B) of the general formula (II) in which the weight ratio of oligoamine (A) to the piperazine derivative (B) is 0.2 to 25, and also process for removing acid gases from a gas stream by contacting the gas stream at a pressure of 0.05 to 10 MPa abs with an aqueous solution of said absorption medium which is brought to and maintained at a temperature of 20 to 80° C.
US08361424B2
The gaseous effluent to be treated is contacted in C1 with an absorbent solution selected for its property of forming two separable phases when it has absorbed an amount of acid compounds and when it is heated. The absorbent solution laden with acid compounds is then heated in E1 and E3 so as to separate two fractions in BS1: a first absorbent solution fraction depleted in acid compounds and a second absorbent solution fraction enriched in acid compounds. The second fraction is regenerated in C2 so as to release part of the acid compounds, and the first absorbent solution fraction and the regenerated absorbent solution are recycled as absorbent solution.According to the invention, an absorbent solution portion circulating in C1 is cooled in E2 in order to prevent demixing of the solution in column C1.
US08361420B2
Systems and methods for treating a fluid with a body are disclosed. Various aspects involve treating a fluid with a porous body. In select embodiments, a body comprises ash particles, and the ash particles used to form the body may be selected based on their providing one or more desired properties for a given treatment. Various bodies provide for the reaction and/or removal of a substance in a fluid, often using a porous body comprised of ash particles. Computer-operable methods for matching a source material to an application are disclosed. Certain aspects feature a porous body comprised of ash particles, the ash particles have a particle size distribution and interparticle connectivity that creates a plurality of pores having a pore size distribution and pore connectivity, and the pore size distribution and pore connectivity are such that a first fluid may substantially penetrate the pores.
US08361416B2
The invention relates to a sample container (10, 100, 500, 700) for biological sample material (23, 230), comprising an upper opening (11) that can be closed by a lid (14, 140, 540), a lateral wall region (12) and a base (13) and a hygroscopic substance (19, 190, 590, 790) contained in the interior of the sample container for drying sample material (23, 230) in the sample container, wherein the sample container is partitioned into at least two compartments, of which one is a sample compartment (16, 160, 560), and the other is a drying compartment (18, 180, 580) containing the hygroscopic substance, wherein the hygroscopic substance is connected to the interior of the sample container in a steam exchange connection, and wherein the sample compartment extends from an upper end, particularly equipped with an opening (40, 400), in the longitudinal direction to the opening in a flush manner to the base (13) of the sample container.
US08361414B2
[PROBLEMS] To increase the rate of gas transfer in gas exchangers.[MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] A gas exchange chip comprises substrates (1,2); two flow channels (3,4) formed in the substrates (1,2) and each having an inlet port and an outlet port; and multiple grooves (9) interlinking the flow channels (3,4). The grooves (9) have the size of their sectional area predetermined and have at least a part of the internal surface thereof rendered hydrophobic so as to permit the transfer of gas component while inhibiting any liquid passage. A sample water containing carbon dioxide is caused to flow through one of the flow channels (3) while pure water is caused to flow through the other flow channel (4) to thereby transfer the carbon dioxide contained in the sample water into the pure water.
US08361412B2
A cell sorting device using an inexpensive chip capable of being exchanged for each sample. The chip includes: a first flow path allowing buffer fluid containing cells to flow down; second and third flow paths which put the first flow path therebetween and allow buffer fluid not containing cells to flow down; a fourth flow path which allows the buffer fluid as a single flow path formed by joining the buffer fluids in the other three flow paths; a cell detecting region for detecting cells flowing with the buffer fluid down the fourth flow path; and a cell sorting region for sorting the cells according to a type of the cells detected. The first to fourth flow paths are cascaded, are supplied with the buffer fluid from reservoirs with the same fluid level, and have substantially the same width or cross-section area.
US08361408B2
A medical swab pouch is disclosed. The inexpensive elastic pouch contains disinfectant and is configured for protecting and swabbing a wide variety of luer systems to prevent and eliminate bacterial contamination. The pouch has a flattened configuration and can be elastically dilated, as by squeezing the pouch between the thumb and index finger and is readily carried in large numbers in nurse's pockets (in a manner similar to that for conventional alcohol swabs). The pouch covers and protects the luer valve at the discretion of the user and without transmission of torsion or longitudinal force which might loosen the luer valve or otherwise be transmitted to the vein.
US08361407B2
Overhung axial compressor, chemical reactor and method for compressing a fluid. The overhung axial compressor includes a casing configured to be vertically split along a vertical axis for access to an inside of the casing and a removable cartridge. The removable cartridge is configured to fit inside the casing and to be detachably attached to the casing. The removable cartridge includes a shaft disposed along a horizontal axis, the shaft being configured to rotate about the horizontal axis, a bearing system attached to the removable cartridge and configured to rotationally support a first end of the shaft, and plural blades disposed toward a second end of the shaft such that the second end is overhung inside the casing. The compressor also includes a guide vane mechanism configured to connect to the removable cartridge, the guide vane mechanism being configured to adjust a flow of a fluid to the plural blades.
US08361395B2
An ultraviolet sensor arrangement detects the amount of sulfur in a fuel of an internal combustion engine by emitting an ultraviolet light field in the presence of the fuel. A detector is disposed to detect a responsive amount of fluorescent light and provide a sensing signal indicative of the amount of sulfur in the fuel. A filter (or filters) receives the sensing signal and provides a filtered sensing signal to a sensing circuit.
US08361391B2
A method and apparatus of determining the condition of a bulk tissue sample, by: positioning a bulk tissue sample between a pair of induction coils (or antennae); passing a spectrum of alternating current (or voltage) through a first of the induction coils (or antennae); measuring spectrum of alternating current (or voltage) produced in the second of the induction coils (or antennae); and comparing the phase shift between the spectrum of alternating currents (or voltages) in the first and second induction coils (or antennae), thereby determining the condition of the bulk tissue sample.
US08361371B2
Devices positioned between an energy source and an imprint lithography template may block exposure of energy to portions of polymerizable material dispensed on a substrate. Portions of the polymerizable material that are blocked from the energy may remain fluid, while the remaining polymerizable material is solidified.
US08361370B2
A horizontal injection mold system includes a horizontal injection mold which is opened or closed in a direction perpendicular to a direction of gravity; and an insert member feeder which feeds an insert member into the horizontal injection mold, such that a resin coupling surface of the insert member faces a gate disposed in the horizontal injection mold.
US08361365B2
A process for electroblowing a multiple layered sheet using multiple spinning beams to produce different component webs wherein the sheet doesn't stick to the forming screen and has improved web stability.
US08361361B2
Ultra-fine sodium bicarbonate powder (mean particle size less than 5 microns) is produced by the mixing and reaction under agitation at control temperatures of solutions of ammonium bicarbonate and sodium chloride. Precipitated sodium bicarbonate is separated by filtration as a slurry which is dried to produce ultra-fine sodium bicarbonate. Ultra-fine sodium bicarbonate produced by this method also exhibits a narrow particle size distribution which is advantageous in blowing agents for thermoplastic resins, to produce a foamed resin with small cells of a narrow size distribution.
US08361358B2
A method of recycling fiberglass reinforced plastics. The steps include grinding used fiber reinforced plastic material such as scraps with a grinder into a predetermined length to form a grinded reinforced plastic material. The grinded reinforced material is then mixed with a mixing agent to form a composite material that is heated in order to cure the composite material to form a panel.
US08361352B2
Chemical light producing systems and the chemiluminescent formulations contained therein are taught which exhibit reduced hydrolysis and thereby are characterized by an inherently long shelf-life and commercial viability. By replacing the typical oxalate ester, e.g. (bis{3,4,6-trichloro-2-[(pentoxy)carbonyl]phenyl}oxalate) with a branched chain oxalic acid ester represented by the general formula: wherein the group designated as R contains from 4-15 carbons, wherein the carbon of attachment of R to the oxygen is via a primary carbon, and wherein substructure A is composed of substituents selected from the group including alkyl chains, alkyl rings, aromatic rings and combinations thereof such that R is nonlinear, water hydrolysis of the oxalate ester is retarded. This retardation of the hydrolysis changes the storage constraints of the oxalate ester.
US08361348B2
A method and a system for producing synthetic gas from biomass by high temperature gasification, including: feeding raw material, carbonizing, pulverizing the charcoal, and transporting charcoal powder to the gasification furnace for gasification. A heat source for the carbonizing is achieved by a direct combustion reaction between external combustible gas and external oxygen in a carbonization furnace. The heat emitted from the reaction being directly provided to the necessary heat of biomass pyrolysis, and yielding pyrolysis gas and charcoal from carbonization furnace.
US08361342B2
The present invention relates to a compacted solid product for water purification comprising:—at least a first layer comprising at least a coagulant/flocculant system comprising at least one polyvalent inorganic salt, at least one water-soluble cationic polymer and at least one high-molecular-weight anionic polymer,—at least a second layer comprising at least one disinfectant that releases active chlorine on contact with water, characterized in that said coagulant/flocculant system moreover comprises a sodium alginate. The invention also relates to the method for preparing such a product.
US08361331B2
A MEMS mirror for a laser printing application includes providing a CMOS substrate including a pair of electrodes, and providing a reflecting mirror moveable over the substrate and the electrodes. Voltages applied to the electrodes create an electrostatic force causing an end of the mirror to be attracted to the substrate. A precise position of the mirror can be detected and controlled by sensing a change in capacitance between the mirror ends and the underlying electrodes.
US08361329B2
An aqueous solution containing an alkali metal compound solute and organic compound contaminants may be treated with ozone to oxidize and/or dissolve the organic contaminants. Treating the aqueous solution with ozone may decrease color contaminants in the alkali metal compound and may also decrease foaming in subsequent crystallization of the alkali metal compound.
US08361328B2
A nanotube separation method includes depositing a tag on a nanotube in a nanotube mixture. The nanotube has a defect and the tag deposits at the defect where a deposition rate is greater than on another nanotube in the mixture lacking the defect. The method includes removing the tagged nanotube from the mixture by using the tag. As one option, the tag may contain a ferromagnetic material and the removing may include applying a magnetic field. As another option, the tag may contain an ionic material and the removing may include applying an electric field. As a further option, the tag may contain an atom having an atomic mass greater than the atomic mass of carbon and the removing may include applying a centrifugal force to the nanotube mixture. Any two or more of the indicated removal techniques may be combined.
US08361314B2
A fluid filter is described, having a filter body defining a cavity for a filter element, a first end cap for fitting on one end of the filter body, having an integrated single piece anti drain back valve and seal, and a second end cap for fitting on an opposite end of the filter body, having an integrated combination relief valve element that includes supports for the filter element.
US08361308B2
A method for the detection of carbon dioxide gas using an electrochemical sensor. The method includes exposing a gas to a sensor, which includes a non-conductive solid substrate and at least one each of a metal oxide sensing electrode, a reference electrode and a counter electrode positioned on the substrate. A solid polymer electrolyte anion-exchange membrane is in intimate contact with the sensing electrode, reference electrode and counter electrode. The method is highly sensitive and selective to carbon dioxide with a very rapid response time.
US08361307B2
The presence of oxygen or red blood cells in a sample applied to an electrochemical test strip that makes use of a reduced mediator is corrected for by an additive correction factor that is determined as a function of the temperature of the sample and a measurement that reflects the oxygen carrying capacity of the sample. The measured oxygen carrying capacity can also be used to determine hematocrit and to distinguish between blood samples and control solutions applied to a test strip.
US08361303B2
The invention relates to the electrolysis of aqueous electrolyte solutions containing GeO2; hydroxide and water with metal alloy electrodes, such as, copper or tin rich alloy electrodes with alloying elements such as Sn, Pb, Zn, Cu etc, to generate Germane (GeH4). Cu-rich alloy electrodes have been demonstrated to increase the GeH4 current efficiency by almost 20% compared to Cu metal electrodes. Germanium deposition has been found to be either absent or minimal by using Cu-rich alloy electrodes. Several different methods for maintaining the cell performance or restoring the cell performance after a reduction in current efficiency over time, have been identified. A titration-based method for the analysis of the electrolyte, to obtain the concentration of GeO2 and the concentration of hydroxide has also been disclosed.
US08361302B2
The invention relates to a process for the preparation of polymers by free radical polymerization of monomers in the presence of water, electrochemically produced free radicals being used for initiating the free radical polymerization.
US08361300B2
The present invention relates to a method to electroplate or electropolish a metal on a substrate wherein an ionic liquid is selected from the group of N+R1R2R3R4 X− or N+R5R6R7R8 Y− is employed as electrolyte, and a metal salt added to the ionic liquid is employed as the metal source or a metal anode is used as the metal source, wherein any one of R1 to R8 independently represents a hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, or aralkyl group that may be substituted with a group selected from OH, Cl, Br, F, I, phenyl, NH2, CN, NO2, COOR9, CHO, COR9, or OR9, at least one of R5 to R8 is a fatty alkyl chain, and one or more of R5 to R8 can be a (poly)oxyalkylene group wherein the alkylene is a C1 to C4 alkylene and the total number of oxyalkylene units can be from 1 to 50 oxyalkylene units, and at least one of R1 to R8 is a C1 to C4 alkyl chain, R9 is an alkyl or cycloalkyl group, X− is an anion having an N-acyl sulphonylimide anion (—CO—N−—SO2—) functionality, Y− is an anion compatible with the N+R5R6R7R8 ammonium cation, such as a halogenide anion, a carboxylate anion, a sulphate (both organic and inorganic sulphate), sulphonate, carbonate, nitrate, nitrite, thiocyanate, hydroxide, or sulphonylimide anion.
US08361295B2
The invention relates to a method for producing metallic moulded bodies comprising a ceramic layer according to the membrane method, whereby a porous metallic membrane is used. The aim of the invention is to provide a cost-effective, rapid method which is as non-polluting as possible for producing metallic moulded bodies comprising a ceramic layer according to the membrane method using a porous metallic membrane, whereby the penetration depth, the green density and the deposition speed of the ceramic particles in the metallic membrane can be controlled. To this end, the porous metallic membrane is sealed by electrophoretic deposition of ceramic particles in the pores of the metallic membrane, the metallic membrane being arranged between two electrodes for the electrophoretic deposition, and the space between an electrode and the metallic membrane being filled with a dispersion containing the ceramic particles to be deposited in the pores and a dispersant.
US08361293B2
Apparatus, systems and methods for performing gel electrophoresis using a monolithic electrophoresis unit that at least includes first and second buffer chambers containing buffer solution and a gel chamber containing a pre-cast gel, whereby all of these chambers are integrated into a pre-fabricated single unit that is ready for use. In performing gel electrophoresis, a top seal of this monolithic electrophoresis unit is removed, followed by removing a gel chamber seal from over the gel chamber, such that, buffer solution contacts the pre-cast gel within such gel chamber. Target samples are loaded into the gel chamber for contact with the pre-cast gel, a reusable lid is attached to the top surface of the monolithic electrophoresis unit, and an electrical connection is provided through the reusable lid into the monolithic electrophoresis unit for performing electrophoresis on the pre-cast gel.
US08361286B1
An improved sacrificial galvanic anode assembly for cathodic protection of a steel reinforced concrete structure. A galvanic cathodic protection device uses an embedded sacrificial anode of metallic foam for increased reactive surface area covered with a flexible penetrating coating to provide a continuous electrolyte to keep it active. The formulated coating paste is inert to cement embedment material and is pre-applied on the anode body prior to encapsulation. An integrated conductive contact band extends from the coated anode to attachment to a reinforcement bar for establishing electrical conductively therewith within the concrete structure transferring galvanic corrosion to the anode.
US08361274B2
A vacuum processing apparatus is provided with: a vacuum processing tank; a first gas introduction section that is constructed such that a first processing gas in a radical state is introduced into the vacuum processing tank and is guided to a semiconductor wafer; and a second gas introduction section that is constructed such that a second processing gas that reacts with the first processing gas is introduced into the vacuum processing tank and is guided to the semiconductor wafer. The second gas introduction section has two shower nozzles provided at positions on either side of an introduction pipe provided for the first gas introduction section. According to this vacuum processing apparatus, high speed processing of a number of processing objects can be achieved. Moreover, the in-plane uniformity of the processing objects after processing can be ensured.
US08361272B2
A linear polymer is obtained by reacting together a polyethylene glycol or polypropylene glycol; a PEG-PPG-PEG or PPG-PEG-PPG block copolymer; a difunctional amine or diol; and a diisocyanate. A controlled release composition comprises the polymer together with an active agent. Active agents of molecular weight 200 to 20,000 may be used.
US08361266B2
A fabrication method for producing a hollow three dimensional object is disclosed. The method includes disposing a layer of adhesive over a top surface of an elastic material, disposing a layer of fabric to the top surface of the elastic material, such that the layer of adhesive secures the layer of fabric to the elastic material, applying a silkscreen stencil to the outward facing side of the layer of fabric, applying printable material to the outward facing side of the layer of fabric via the silkscreen stencil, applying heat to set the printable material to the layer of fabric, pressing an inside surface of a mold against the top surface of the elastic material, so as to produce a first three-dimensional object having an open end and removing excess elastic material from a rim of the open end of the first three-dimensional object.
US08361263B2
The invention relates to a device for protecting a display facility, comprising a protective element for covering an image surface of the display facility. As the protective element is designed to be transparent and the retaining means are provided for the exchangeable arrangement of the protective element in front of the image surface, a protective device is provided, which allows the image surface to be examined and is easy to operate.
US08361262B2
A method and apparatus for manufacturing. A fiber layer and a porous bonding layer are formed to form a unidirectional lay-up of fibers. The lay-up of fibers is heated under pressure to form a unidirectional composite tape of desired thickness to substantially maintain the fibers in a desired configuration. The unidirectional composite tape is slit to a desired width, and the slit unidirectional composite tape is loaded into a multiaxial fabric machine. A first layer is built from the composite tape in the multiaxial machine, and a second layer is built from the composite tape on the first layer at a predetermined angle from the first layer in the multiaxial machine. The first and second layers are consolidated to form a composite fabric in a continuous process.
US08361260B2
An automobile or vehicle having a high efficiency solar control system is provided. The automobile may have a painted surface and a film mounted to its exterior side. The film may reflect solar radiation in the near and mid infrared ranges yet allow high transmission of light in the visible range such that the painted panel may be seen. The film may have a layer of silver which reflects the solar radiation in the near and mid infrared ranges. Since the silver is susceptible to oxidation and turns the silver into a black body which absorbs the near and mid infrared radiation, the film may be designed to slow the rate of oxidation of the silver layer to an acceptable level. The silver layer may be sandwiched between the glass which does not allow oxygen to diffuse there through and reach the layer of silver and a stack of sacrificial layers having a certain thickness which slows down the rate of oxygen diffusion to an acceptable level.
US08361259B2
A method for forming a solar energy collection device includes receiving a sheet of glass comprising glass material, wherein the sheet of glass includes a plurality of light concentrating geometric features, measuring geometric characteristics for the plurality of light concentrating geometric features, mathematically calculating predicted light concentration characteristics for each of the plurality of light concentrating geometric features in response to the geometric characteristics, determining placement locations for a plurality of PV strips in response to the predicted light concentration characteristics for each of the plurality of light concentrating geometric features, and securing the plurality of PV strips relative to the sheet of glass in response to the placement locations for the plurality of PV strips.
US08361255B2
A copper alloy material having: 1.0 to 5.0 mass % of Ni; 0.2 to 1.0 mass % of Si; 1.0 to 5.0 mass % of Zn; 0.1 to 0.5 mass % of Sn; 0.003 to 0.3 mass % of P; and the balance consisting of Cu and an unavoidable impurity. The mass ratio between Ni and each of Si, Zn and Sn is to be Ni/Si=4 to 6, Zn/Ni=0.5 or more, and Sn/Ni=0.05 to 0.2.
US08361250B2
According to embodiments of the present invention, an amorphous alloy includes at least Pt, P, Si and B as alloying elements, and has a Pt weight fraction of about 0.925 or greater. In some embodiments, the Pt weight fraction is about 0.950 or greater.
US08361248B2
The present invention provides a high strength steel having unprecedentedly superior CTOD (fracture toughness) properties satisfying not only the CTOD properties of the FL zone at −60° C., but also the CTOD properties of the ICHAZ zone in small and medium heat input multilayer welding, etc.; and a method of production of the same. The steel of the present invention is steel superior in CTOD properties of the heat-affected zone containing, by mass %, C: 0.015 to 0.045%, Si: 0.05 to 0.2%, Mn: 1.5 to 2.0%, Cu: 0.25 to 0.5%, Ni: 0.7 to 1.5%, P: 0.008% or less, S: 0.005% or less, Al: 0.004% or less, Ti: 0.005 to 0.015%, Nb: 0.005% or less, O: 0.0015 to 0.0035%, and N: 0.002 to 0.006%, PCTOD: 0.065 or less, CeqH: 0.235 or less and the balance consisting of Fe and unavoidable impurities.
US08361244B2
The present invention is directed to a method for protecting metal surfaces in oil & gas exploration and production, refinery and petrochemical process applications subject to solid particulate erosion at temperatures of up to 1000° C. The method includes the step of providing the metal surfaces in such applications with a hot erosion resistant cermet lining or insert, wherein the cermet lining or insert includes a) about 30 to about 95 vol % of a ceramic phase, and b) a metal binder phase, wherein the cermet lining or insert has a HEAT erosion resistance index of at least 5.0 and a K1C fracture toughness of at least 7.0 MPa-m1/2. The metal surfaces may also be provided with a hot erosion resistant cermet coating having a HEAT erosion resistance index of at least 5.0.
US08361243B2
An iron or iron-base alloy sheet having high proportion of {100} texture and a method of manufacturing the same. A method of forming grains having {100} plane parallel to the sheet surface is disclosed. A Fe or Fe-base alloy sheet is annealed at austenite (γ) temperature while minimizing an effect of oxygen in the sheet or on surfaces of the sheet or a heat treatment atmosphere, and then the above sheet is subject to phase transformation to ferrite (α). On surfaces of the resulting sheet, a high proportion of {100} texture develops. A method of manufacturing electrical steel sheet is disclosed. The grains with {100} texture on surfaces grow to have a grain size of at least half the thickness of the sheet by a γ→α transformation. By adopting the above disclosed methods, an iron or iron-base alloy sheet with excellent texture can be simply manufactured within short time.
US08361241B2
In a washing apparatus for washing a head portion of a depilation apparatus, it enables to increase design freedom of pipe arrangement from an overflow prevention unit to a washing fluid tank and to downsize the apparatus by effectively utilizing a space below the overflow prevention unit. A tray for holding a head portion of the electric shaver and an overflow preventing unit to maintain fluid level of the washing fluid in the tray at a predetermined level are integrally formed to adjoin each other via a partition wall in an anteroposterior direction of the washing apparatus. A bottom face of the overflow prevention unit is inclined downward in a widthwise direction of the washing apparatus, and an outlet is provided on a side wall in the widthwise direction in a deepest portion of the overflow prevention unit. A second exhausting path for exhausting the washing fluid from the outlet of the overflow preventing unit is arranged along a side wall of the tray.
US08361238B2
A process is provided for removing polymeric fouling on process equipment surfaces to restore the efficiency of such equipment. This is accomplished by contacting the fouled equipment with a solvent comprising at least one non-aromatic hydrocarbon compound, or a mixture of one or more non-aromatic organic compounds and one or more aromatic hydrocarbon compounds, for a period of time sufficient to remove the polymeric fouling.
US08361236B2
A smokable composition includes (a) a smokable material; and (b) a supramolecular assembly. The supramolecular assembly comprises a flavorant and at least one selected from the group consisting of O,O′-dibenzoyl-(2R,3R)-tartaric acid, a hydrate thereof or a salt thereof, and ditoluoyl-(2R,3R)-tartaric acid, a hydrate thereof or a salt thereof. In addition, a smoking article comprises a rod of tobacco or tobacco substitute, optionally a filter attached to the rod, and the supramolecular assembly, as menthol-release agent.
US08361234B2
A substrate treatment apparatus includes a substrate holding unit, a gas ejection nozzle, and a gas supply unit. The substrate holding unit is configured to hold a substrate. The gas supply unit is configured to supply a gas to the gas ejection nozzle. The gas ejection nozzle is disposed to be positioned adjacent a center portion of the substrate held by the substrate holding unit. The gas ejection nozzle has a gas ejection port. The gas ejection nozzle is configured to eject the gas radially from the gas ejection port over the substrate held by the substrate holding unit to form a gas-flow for covering the substrate.
US08361228B2
A fused glass crucible includes a collar of doped aluminum silica that defines uppermost and outermost surfaces of the crucible. The melt line that defines the surface of molten silicon in the crucible may be substantially at the lower end of the collar or slightly above it. Crystallization of the collar makes it hard and therefore supports the remaining uncrystallized portion of the crucible above the melt line. The melt line may also be below the lower end of the collar, especially if the melt is drawn down or poured early in the process. Because there is little or no overlap or because the overlap does not last long, the doped aluminum collar is not damaged by the heat of from the melt.
US08361225B2
Systems and methods of manufacturing wafers are disclosed using a low EPD crystal growth process and a wafer annealing process are provided resulting in III-V/GaAs wafers that provide higher device yields from the wafer. In one exemplary implementation, there is provided a method of manufacturing a group III based material with a low etch pit density (EPD). Moreover, the method includes forming polycrystalline group III based compounds, and performing vertical gradient freeze crystal growth using the polycrystalline group III based compounds. Other exemplary implementations may include controlling temperature gradient(s) during formation of the group III based crystal to provide very low etch pit density.
US08361216B2
A method of making a sulfur-extended asphalt mixture with a minimum of hydrogen sulfide gas release into the atmosphere by using sulfur granules with specific physical properties and which are made by successively coating a starting sulfur seed particle with liquid sulfur that is solidified between coatings to thereby build up the a sulfur particle of a desired size. The sulfur granules are used to in the preparation of a sulfur, bitumen and aggregate mixture to provide the sulfur-extended asphalt.
US08361214B2
According to one embodiment, an inkjet aqueous ink includes water, a pigment, a water-soluble organic solvent, a poorly water-soluble compound, a solubilizer that solubilizes the poorly water-soluble compound in water, and an acetylene glycol-based surfactant. The poorly water-soluble compound is 2,5,8,11-tetramethyl-6-dodecyne-5,8-diol. The solubilizer is selected from polyoxyethylene anionic surfactants and non-ionic surfactants.
US08361208B2
A separator with a helix assembly and methods for fabricating the helix assembly. In some embodiments, the helix assembly includes a plurality of segments disposed end to end and forming an intermediate casing. Each of the segments has a tubular portion with a first circumferential edge and a second circumferential edge and a helical portion extending from the second circumferential edge. The tubular portions of the segments form an intermediate casing, while the helical portions of the segments form a spiral helix. The helix assembly further includes an inner casing concentrically disposed within the intermediate casing and coupled to the spiral helix.
US08361207B2
An adsorbent having an excellent VOC-retaining ability is achieved. A adsorbent for a canister includes an activated carbon and a hydrophobic substance supported on the activated carbon, wherein the adsorbent has a butane working capacity that is greater than or equal to 9.0 g/100 mL, a butane retentivity that is lesser than or equal to 1.5 g/100 mL, and a pore volume that is lesser than or equal to 0.25 mL/mL.
US08361205B2
A modular and compact adsorbent bed structure is disclosed for use in an adsorption-based gas separation plant. The conventional adsorbent bed in a gas separation plant is replaced with a plurality of modular adsorbent bed units connected to make the adsorbent bed structure. The modular design requires lower fabrication and maintenance costs; is easier to transport; and is easier to load with adsorbent material.
US08361202B2
A gas/solid separation system that can be applied to any type of FCC unit regenerators, consists of a device for separating solid particles contained in a gas stream coming from the regeneration zone of a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit bounded by an inner envelope (3) of cylindrical shape centered about the vertical axis of the regeneration zone, and an outer envelope (1) that has one approximately horizontal wall (15), followed by one curvilinear wall (16), and one approximately vertical wall (17), the set of said walls (15, 16, 17) covering the inner envelope (3) and forming a set of separation chambers (2) radially distributed around the inner envelope (3) in which the gas/solid suspension to be separated circulates. This system makes it possible to obtain, at the same time, very good separation efficiency while minimizing the pressure drop and only requiring a single downstream cyclone stage.
US08361201B2
The hydrogen sulphide content of natural gas obtained from the extraction of sour-gas containing crude oil/ natural gas mixtures, is reduced by reducing the high pressure of a raw crude oil/ natural gas mixture to 70-130 bar, separating an outgassing raw gas from the crude oil, cooling the outgassed raw gas and simultaneously drawing off a liquid medium which condenses from the outgassing raw gas during cooling. The outgassed raw gas is subjected, after pressure reduction, to gas scrubbing by a physically active solvent. The laden solvent is directed to at least one pressure reduction step to obtain H2S outgas from the solvent. The pressure of the crude oil is further reduced in two subsequent steps to 20-40 bar and 2-15 bar and additional H2S rich raw gas streams are separated from the crude oil which outgas therefrom. The H2S containing gas outgassed from the solvent is brought to the same pressure as the H2S rich raw gases outgassed from the crude oil and all outgassed H2S containing streams are combined and brought to a pressure above that of the crude oil reservoir and fed into a well in the reservoir.
US08361200B2
The present invention provides methods and systems for carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and other acid gases capture via adsorption at high pressure using mesoporous materials.
US08361195B2
A slurried solid media for simultaneous water purification and carbon dioxide removal from gas mixtures includes the steps of dissolving the gas mixture and carbon dioxide in water providing a gas, carbon dioxide, water mixture; adding a porous solid media to the gas, carbon dioxide, water mixture forming a slurry of gas, carbon dioxide, water, and porous solid media; heating the slurry of gas, carbon dioxide, water, and porous solid media producing steam; and cooling the steam to produce purified water and carbon dioxide.
US08361187B2
A method for reducing oxidic slags and dusts possibly loaded with organics uses an inductively heatable coke bed extending in the axial direction and having a temperature gradient. Reaction gas is sucked off in an axial region of the coke bed between two induction bodies and metal regulus and slag melt are tapped on the lower end. An inductively heatable shaft furnace chargeable with a lumpy coke bed for the reduction of metallic slags is made of an electrically insulating refractory material, has an adjustable temperature gradient includes at least one cooled induction body on the head side, a suction connection in an axial region where the prevailing temperature exceeds the condensation point of the substances to be removed, located below the cooled induction body on the head side, and an opening for tapping metal regulus and slag melt is provided on the lower end of the furnace.
US08361186B1
The invention provides for methods, devices, and systems for pyrolyzing biomass. A pyrolysis unit can be used for the pyrolysis of biomass to form gas, liquid, and solid products. The biomass materials can be selected such that an enhanced biochar is formed after pyrolysis. The biomass can be pyrolyzed under specified conditions such that a selected biochar core is formed. The pyrolysis process can form a stable biochar core that is inert and/or resistant to degradation. The biochar or biochar core can be functionalized to form a functionalized biochar or functionalized biochar core. Functionalization can include post-pyrolysis treatments such as supplementation with microbes or physical transformations including annealing and/or activation.
US08361181B2
Air cleaner assemblies and serviceable filter cartridges therefor are described. Example filter cartridges described which include a first end cap with a air flow aperture therethrough, having an outer axial surface and axial seal ring thereon. Example arrangements are provided with air flow inlet tube section defining the aperture through the first end cap. Also, water seal arrangements, typically positioned radially inwardly from the air seal arrangement, are described.
US08361180B2
A filter media comprising a nanofiber layer and a substrate layer; the nanofiber layer comprising a polymer material and having a fiber diameter of about 0.01 to 1.0 micron, a basis weight of about 0.5 to 30 gsm, and a thickness of at least about 2 microns, the nanofiber layer further having a surface stability index of at least about 5 kN/m, the media further being pleated.
US08361177B2
Disclosed is a polishing slurry, particularly, a slurry for chemical mechanical polishing, which is used in a chemical mechanical polishing process for flattening a semiconductor laminate. More particularly, the present invention provides a method of producing a slurry which has high removal selectivity to a nitride layer used as a barrier film in a shallow trench isolation CMP process needed to fabricate ultra highly integrated semiconductors of 256 mega D-RAM or more (Design rule of 0.13 μm or less) and which decreases the occurrence of scratches on a flattened surface, and a method of polishing a substrate using the same.
US08361175B2
A method for converting biomass having a water content of at least 50% into gaseous products includes providing a reactor containing supercritical water and a salt melt. The salt melt includes at least one of a salt and a salt mixture. The reactor and the salt melt are heated to the reaction temperature. The biomass is heated to a preheat temperature. The biomass heated to the preheat temperature is fed into the salt melt. The biomass is heated to the reaction temperature so as to commence a conversion of the biomass into the gaseous products, so as to release from the biomass at least one additional salt into the salt melt. An amount of the salt melt containing at least a portion of the at least one additional salt is withdrawn from the reactor and the amount of the withdrawn salt melt is replaced with a fresh salt solution. The gaseous products are removed from the reactor.
US08361174B2
The present invention relates to catalysts, systems, and methods for producing products such as fuels and fuel additives from polyols. In an embodiment, the invention includes a method of producing a fuel additive, including combining a polyol and a component selected from the group consisting of alcohols and organic acids to form a reaction mixture and contacting the reaction mixture with a metal oxide catalyst at a temperature of greater than about 150 degrees Celsius. Other embodiments are also included herein.
US08361173B2
Provided herein are blends oils or fatty acids comprising more than 50% medium chain fatty acids, or the fatty acid alkyl esters thereof, and having low melting points. Such blends are useful as a fuel or as a starting material for the production of, for example, a biodiesel. Also provided genetically altered or modified plants, modified such that the amount of medium chain fatty acids generated by the plant are increased. Further provided is a method of predicting the melting point of a blend of fatty acid methyl esters and the use of such a method for identifying blends suitable for use as, for example, a biodiesel.
US08361171B2
The present invention relates to a method for producing a plant growth medium comprising the following steps: a) providing an amount of bioorganic matter; b) contacting the bioorganic matter with one or more microbial agents capable of degrading the bioorganic matter to produce a decomposition product; and c) treating the decomposition product produced in step (b) to inhibit the degradation process prior to its completion. The invention further provides a bioreactor and a kit for performing that method, and a plant growth medium. In an embodiment, the plant growth medium is a peat-substitute material.
US08361170B2
One or more stable, clear, water-in-fuel microemulsion-forming surfactants may be used in a liquid fuel or oil which is immiscible with water to: a) scavenge free-water which exists in or is introduced into the liquid fuel or oil thereby to render or retain the liquid fuel or oil in a usable state; and/or b) inhibit the growth of aquatic micro-organisms in the liquid fuel or oil when the fuel or oil becomes contaminated with free-water thereby to retain the liquid fuel or oil in a usable state.
US08361168B2
1. Trisazo dyes of general formula (IV) and of general formula (V) wherein A, B, M, R1 to R18, m, n, o and p are as described in the specification, are excellent black dyes for dyeing and printing of paper, other cellulose containing materials and textiles materials and, in particular, for the preparation of recording liquids for ink jet printing and for writing utensils.
US08361162B2
This invention relates to an orthopaedic joint prosthesis implant kit (2). The implant kit comprises a stem component (4) of an orthopaedic joint prosthesis which is intended for articulation with a mating component of the joint. The stem component has a distal end (6) and a proximal end (8), and a neck part (10) at the proximal end, and is configured for fixation in a bone cavity-using bone cement material with the distal end within the cavity and the proximal end at the opening of the cavity, and with the neck part protruding from the cavity towards the mating component of the joint. The implant kit further comprises a positioning kit (18), at least one spacer (20, 22, 24) for location between the wall of the cavity and the stem component at its proximal end, and a delivery device (26).
US08361159B2
A system for replacing a portion of an articular surface including providing an implant site and installing an implant into the implant site. The implant site includes a first and a second excision site which at least partially intersect with one another. Each of the first and second excision sites are formed by providing a respective axis and excising a portion of the articular surface relative to the respective axes.
US08361151B2
A dilator retractor and the dilators that are used for minimally invasive spinal surgery or other surgery are configured to accommodate the anatomical structure of the patient as by configuring the cross sectional area in an elliptical shape, or by forming a funnel configuration with the wider end at the proximate end. In some embodiments the distal end is contoured to also accommodate the anatomical structure of the patient so that a cylindrically shaped, funnel shaped, ovoid shaped dilator retractor can be sloped or tunneled to accommodate the bone structure of the patient or provide access for implants. The dilator retractor is made with different lengths to accommodate the depth of the cavity formed by the dilators.
US08361150B2
A composite interbody vertebral implant for facilitating fusion of adjacent vertebrae. The implant includes a first endplate of a porous metal material and a second endplate of a porous metal material which are configured to allow bone in-growth. The implant also includes a polymeric body positioned between and bonded to the first and second endplates such that polymeric material of the polymeric body is impregnated into pores of the first and second endplates to bond the components together. The implant may include a cavity extending through the composite implant configured to receive bone growth material to facilitate fusion between a first vertebra and a second vertebra.
US08361148B2
A method of stabilizing a portion of a spine includes pivoting first and second members of an expandable spinal implant relative to one another to a closed configuration in which the spinal implant has a compact profile, inserting the spinal implant in the closed configuration into the spine between first and second vertebral bodies, and pivoting the first and second members crosswise to an expanded configuration while the spinal implant is within the spine. The first and second members are separate from and coupled to one another.
US08361145B2
An accommodating intraocular lens includes an optic portion a haptic portion and a backstop. The optic portion of the lens includes an actuator that deflects a lens element to alter the optical power of the lens responsive to forces applied to the haptic portion of the lens by contraction of the ciliary muscles. Forces applied to the haptic portion may result in fluid displacements from or to the haptic portion from the actuator. The backstop provides support to the haptic so that bulk translation of the haptic is prevented in response to the forces applied by the capsular sac.
US08361136B2
An endovascular graft, which is configured to conform to the morphology of a vessel to be treated, includes a tubular ePTFE structure; an inflatable ePTFE structure disposed over at least a portion of the ePTFE tubular structure; and an injection port in fluid communication with the inflatable ePTFE structure for inflation of the inflatable ePTFE structure with an inflation medium. The inflatable ePTFE structure may be longitudinally disposed over the tubular ePTFE structure. The ePTFE structure may be a bifurcated structure having first and second bifurcated tubular structures, where the inflatable ePTFE structure is disposed over at least a portion of the first and second bifurcated tubular structures.
US08361133B2
A patient warming appliqué typically includes a cover layer, a tape layer for releasably securing the appliqué to the patient's skin and an array of encapsulated cells. The encapsulated cells include a chemical heating mechanism beneath the cover layer and a phase change gel sheet between the chemical heating mechanism and the tape layer. The phase change gel sheet is configured to melt and flow when the chemical heating mechanism is activated. The preferred appliqué further includes zones of weakness between the spaced cells allowing the individual cells or a subset of cells to be removed from the appliqué.
US08361125B2
System and methods are provided that include a plate member engageable to the spinal column with an anchor assembly. The anchor assembly includes a coupling member having a post extending through at least one opening of the plate member and an anchor member pivotally captured in a receiver member of the coupling member below a lower surface of the plate member. A locking member secures the plate member to the coupling member.
US08361118B2
An elongated implant device for stabilizing the spinal column includes a rod-shaped member having a first end and a second end, the rod-shaped member defining a longitudinal axis of the implant device, a sleeve which is slidably arranged on the rod-shaped member, the sleeve having a free end and a coupled end, the coupled end being connected with an axial dampening element, and the axial dampening element, which is connected between the sleeve and the second end of the rod-shaped member to damp a movement of the sleeve along the longitudinal axis. The first end of the rod-shaped member may be configured to be connected to a first bone anchor and the sleeve may be configured to be connected to a second bone anchor.
US08361117B2
Various methods and devices are provided for connecting spinal fixation elements, such as spinal rods, implanted in a patient's spinal column. In particular, various spinal cross connectors are provided for connecting to one or more spinal fixation elements implanted in a patient's spine. The cross connectors can have a variety of configurations, including a fixed or adjustable length, as well as various features that allow certain portions of the cross connectors to be angularly oriented.
US08361109B2
Various methods and devices are provided for providing surgical access to a body cavity using a surgical access device that can include an elongate flexible member having proximal and distal ends and a sidewall extending therebetween. The elongate flexible member can be movable between a first position in which the elongate flexible member has at least one longitudinal fold formed in the sidewall such that a width of a longitudinal opening extending through the elongate flexible member is reduced, and a second position in which the fold in the sidewall is unfolded such that a width of the longitudinal opening is increased. In some embodiments, an obturator having expansion members can be used to unfold the elongate flexible member.
US08361099B2
The present invention provides a puncture aid comprising a housing in which a lancet holder with a lancet is displaceably mounted, the lancet holder being connected to a spring element. The lancet holder has at least one bearing element and the housing has a support surface arranged such that the bearing element rests on the support surface in a first position of the lancet holder. A trigger unit is provided, actuation of which transfer the lancet holder to a second position by means of a relative rotational movement of the bearing element and the support surface, so that the bearing element falls from the support surface in the second position of the lancet holder, and the tensioned spring element at least partially relaxes and moves the lancet holder such that the tip of the lancet emerges from the opening of the housing. The puncture aid includes a blocking element which is arranged such that it blocks a relative rotational movement of the bearing element and the support surface with respect to one another after the trigger unit has transferred the lancet holder to the second position with the result that reuse of the puncture aid is prevented.
US08361097B2
A rotating cutting head catheter for passage through chronic total occlusions or other refractory atherosclerotic plaque from diseased arteries is disclosed. The catheter's rotating cutting head is designed to reside safely within an outer protective sheath when not in use. The outer protective sheath contains one or more helical grooves or slots, and the cutting head contains protruding blades or projections that fit into these helical grooves or slots. Application of torque to an inner catheter or wire attached to the cutting head applies spin to the cutting head, and the force of the sheath's helical grooves or slots against the cutting head's protruding blades or projections advances the cutting head outward from the protective sheath. Once extended, the cutting head may now rotate freely. The device may use a guidewire to direct the cutting head to the desired position.
US08361092B1
A side-to-end vascular anastomosis device comprising a diversion conduit coupled to a lower flange which is inserted into the vessel and an upper flange located on the outside of the vessel designed to clamp together to seal the incision into which the lower flange of the device is inserted.
US08361078B2
A method of treating a vertebra, comprising: (a) accessing an interior of a vertebra; and (b) introducing a sufficient amount of artificial biocompatible material which does not set to a hardened condition in storage, into said bone, with sufficient force to move apart fractured portions of said bone.
US08361076B2
A number of orthopaedic surgical instruments are also disclosed. A method, apparatus, and system for fabricating such instruments are also disclosed.
US08361074B2
A surgical plate system for stabilizing vertebrae of a backbone which includes a first surgical plate, which when connected to adjacent vertebrae of a backbone is constructed to allow attachment with an additional plate which is then interconnectable with a first of the adjacent vertebrae and a third adjacent vertebrae. The connection between the adjacent surgical plates is constructed to allow lateral adjustment between the plates prior to the plates being secured with the vertebrae.
US08361073B2
An articulation element consisting of a plurality of adjustable jaw pairs for the purposes of fixating the relative position of coupled bars and/or bone pins of an external bone fixator. Each of the adjustable jaws consists of a pair of hemispherical jaw elements contained within a spherical housing. A passage is eccentrically arranged through the jaw elements to accept the pin or bar. The jaw elements have interposed between them a spring element that serves to bias the jaw elements in the closed position. Pins serve to provisionally lock the jaw elements in the closed position. Spring loaded buttons act to release the pins thereby allowing the jaw elements to open accepting the pin or bar. The jaws are attached in a back to back fashion through the use of a threaded collar which acts as a turnbuckle pulling the jaws together when tightened.
US08361068B2
The invention provides an electrosurgical unit comprising a radio-frequency power source and a pump, with the throughput of fluid expelled by the pump controlled by the RF power level setting and fluid flow rate setting. The invention also provides various electrosurgical devices which may be used with the electrosurgical unit. In one embodiment, the electrosurgical device comprises a first electrode tip spaced next to a second electrode tip with a portion of the first electrode tip facing the second electrode tip and a portion of the second electrode tip facing the first electrode tip, the first electrode tip and the second electrode tip both having a spherical distal end, and a fluid outlet arrangement to expel fluid onto the electrode tips solely at locations remote from the electrode tip portions facing each other.
US08361064B2
An apparatus for the thermosurgical treatment of biological tissue comprises a generator (22) for providing treatment energy, measuring means (24) for registering the temporal progression of a measured quantity that is influenced by the tissue impedance of the treated body or representative of the tissue impedance, and also a control unit (26) which has been set up to ascertain a frequency spectrum within a predetermined examination frequency range for the temporal progression of the measured quantity and to control the energy output of the generator (22) in a manner depending on the spectral content of the measured quantity within the examination frequency range. The invention is based on the finding that the genesis of vapor bubbles in the heated tissue can be detected on the basis of the frequency spectrum of the tissue impedance, in particular within a frequency range between approximately 0.5 kHz and 200 Hz. Depending on the extent of the vapor bubbling, the tissue impedance displays a differing spectral image within this frequency range. In accordance with the invention, this finding is utilized for the purpose of controlling the energy output of the generator.
US08361063B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for controlling energy delivery by mapping one or more devices capable of delivering energy, for example energy capable of modulating one or more properties of a tissue, to one or more sources of the energy or to one or more measuring devices. In some embodiments, associations between these components are determined by delivering energy through the energy sources and measuring a response using the measuring devices.
US08361059B2
A cryogenic medical system includes a medical device and a console connectable to the medical device at a connection point. The console controls the temperature of the medical device. The console includes a first cooling system directing coolant to the medical device at a first temperature along a coolant supply line and a second cooling system chilling the coolant within the coolant supply line to a temperature below the first temperature before the coolant reaches the connection point.
US08361049B2
A boxer-style pant and a method of making a boxer-style pant having side seams and hanging legs. Expandable material is used to provide a conforming fit and to expedite high-speed manufacture. The pant is made from a web and includes a garment shell having a front region, a back region, and a crotch region positioned between the front and back regions. The side seams connect the front region to the back region. The garment shell may be essentially composed of an expandable material that is selectively expanded in certain areas of the garment, and/or an expandable material may be attached to the garment shell in the crotch region and/or in the back region.
US08361045B2
An apparatus and a method are disclosed for manufacturing several distinct disposable absorbent articles on a single machine. The apparatus includes three sections. The first section is capable of forming an absorbent assembly and cutting the absorbent assembly into individual absorbent assemblies. The second section is capable of moving a bodyside liner into alignment with the individual absorbent assemblies and applying an outer cover to the individual absorbent assemblies to form a continuous web having a primary stretch in a cross direction. The second section is further capable of adding at least three components to the web. The third section is capable of severing the continuous web into individual absorbent articles which can then be folded, stacked and packaged.
US08361044B2
A cover for concealing and supporting a urinary incontinence bag to be worn by an individual in conjunction with a catheter and attached tubing. The cover provides a comfortable sleeve for containing the urinary bag and one or more straps for securing to the leg of an individual. Additional features include a covered sleeve window for monitoring the urine bag contents and a collar for increased wearing comfort and support of the tubing. An outlet flow valve cover is also disclosed for concealing and protecting the outlet flow valve.
US08361040B2
A fluid path for delivery of a fluid comprises first and second flexible tubes, each tube defining a transverse formation extending generally perpendicular to its longitudinal axis. Used to maintain the transverse formation in each tube, a clip mechanism includes a body comprising opposing flanges, each opposing flange defining at least a pair of recesses, each of the pair of recesses receiving one of the first and second flexible tubes, respectively, to define the respective transverse formations. The clip mechanism includes a support section connecting the opposing flanges such that the clip mechanism extends across the transverse formations and maintains their configuration. Due to the transverse formations, fluid contained within either tube at one end portion thereof cannot flow through the length thereof to displace a less dense fluid contained therein at the other end portion thereof under gravitational flow.
US08361037B2
The microneedle devices disclosed herein in some embodiments include a substrate; one or more microneedles; and, optionally, a reservoir for delivery of drugs or collection of analyte, as well as pump(s), sensor(s), and/or microprocessor(s) to control the interaction of the foregoing.
US08361033B2
An access needle well-suited for percutaneous implantation in a body lumen, such as the stomach or the jejunum. In one embodiment, the access needle comprises a cannula, a needle, a retractable stopper and a spreader. The cannula is a tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen and a pair of side windows providing access to the lumen. The needle is slidably mounted within the cannula lumen and comprises a needle stem and a needle handle, the needle stem having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal lumen, the needle handle extending outwardly from the needle stem proximate to the proximal end thereof. The stopper is coupled to the needle stem for translational movement, the stopper comprising a pair of outwardly-biasing wings removably insertable through the side windows for engaging an interior surface of a patient. The spreader is mounted within the cannula and spreads the wings outwardly as the wings are inserted out the side windows.
US08361026B2
A medicament delivery device includes a housing, a medicament container disposed within the housing, an activation mechanism, a cover and an electronic circuit system. The activation mechanism includes an energy storage member configured to produce a force to deliver the dose of a medicament and/or vaccine. The cover is configured to receive at least a portion of the housing. The electronic circuit system is coupled to the housing such that a protrusion of the cover electrically isolates a battery from a portion of the electronic circuit system when the portion of the housing is received by the cover. The electronic circuit system is configured to be electrically coupled to the battery and to produce a recorded speech output when the portion of the housing is at least partially removed from the cover. The electronic circuit system configured to produce a signal when the activation mechanism is actuated.
US08361025B2
A one-time use device to deliver preservative-free follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) solution is disclosed. The device includes a needle covered by a sliding needle shield, which covers the needle in all modes of the device. The device can be placed into a ready-to-use position in four or fewer user steps. The device has a knob for setting a desired dose of FSH. The knob includes longitudinally spaced elements respectively corresponding to the lock position and the seven or fewer discrete dosing positions. The device locks after one use and cannot be reused thereafter.
US08361021B2
A method and pump that accurately senses air in a fluid delivery line pulses or activates and deactivates the air sensor(s) multiple times during the pumping phase of the fluid delivery cycle and can generate alarms based upon a single indication or a cumulative indication of air in the line. The pump can include multiple air sensors spaced along the delivery line so that the method can use the multiple signals therefrom to distinguish real moving air bubbles from false positives and/or air bubbles adhered to the inner wall of the line.
US08361018B2
Syringe assemblies having a passive disabling system to prevent reuse are provided. According to one or more embodiments, the syringe assembly comprises a barrel, plunger rod and stopper wherein the plunger rod further comprises a flexible protrusion that locks the plunger rod within the barrel. Certain embodiments further include a frangible portion on the plunger rod that breaks when reuse is attempted.
US08361007B2
The intervertebral disc contains no blood vessels. Nutrients and waste are diffused mainly through adjacent vertebral bodies. As we age, calcified layers form between the disc and vertebral bodies, blocking diffusion. The disc begins to starve and flatten. The weight shifts abnormally from disc to the facet joints causing strain and back pain. Under anaerobic conditions, lactic acid is produced causing acidic irritation and unspecific pain. A U-shaped disc shunt (126) is delivered into and sealed within the degenerated disc simply by needle puncturing and withdrawal, to draw nutrients from bodily circulation into the avascular disc. A continual supply of nutrients increases biosynthesis of the water-retaining sulfated glycosaminoglycans, hence swelling pressure within the disc. The weight is re-shifted from the facet joints to the regenerated disc, alleviating back pain. With oxygen transported through the shunt, anaerobic production of lactic acid is minimized. In addition, the residual lactic acid is expelled through the U-shaped shunt during disc compression into bodily circulation to alleviate unspecific pain.
US08361005B2
This invention provides an apparatus and methods to consistently separate and concentrate selected blood components. The system includes, e.g., a computerized fluid handling system to transfer blood components between a centrifugal blood separation disc, containers and a concentrator.
US08360990B2
The invention is directed to a system and device for separating and collecting a tissue specimen from a target site within a patient. The device includes a probe component which is releasably secured to the driver component. The probe component has an elongated tubular section, a penetrating distal tip and a tissue receiving aperture in the distal end of the tubular section proximal to the distal tip, and a tissue cutting member which is slidably disposed within the probe member to cut a tissue specimen drawn into the interior of the device through the aperture by applying a vacuum to the inner lumen of the tissue cutting member. The driver has drive members for operating the elements of the probe component. The tissue penetrating distal tip preferably has a triple concave curvature shape with three curved cutting edges leading to a sharp distal point.
US08360984B2
Disclosed are hypertension systems and related methods that include a blood pressure sensor located or implanted under the skin of a patient, and electronics, which may have the size and shape of a wrist watch, for example, that monitors the blood pressure of the patient by communicating with the implanted sensor.
US08360980B2
After executing a second transmission constituting an ultrasonic wave of an amount of one frame from an ultrasonic wave having a high sound pressure of destructing bubbles in a predetermined section for making a blood stream image or a tissue image in a circulation image of a blood stream disappear by making the bubbles in the predetermined section disappear, there is carried out a third transmission by an ultrasonic wave having a low sound pressure of not substantially destructing the bubbles for acquiring the circulation image of the blood stream with regard to the predetermined section. The first transmission is executed by the ultrasonic wave for making a portion of the blood stream image in the circulation image disappear by making the bubbles at the predetermined region present in the predetermined section disappear as necessary while executing the third transmission.
US08360978B2
An ultrasound device for medical application has a transducer formed by a number of transducer elements. The transducer elements are carried on a flexible support that allows the transducer elements to be configured to an examination subject. A measurement device determines, for each transducer element, a distance or a rotation thereof with respect to a reference point. The reference point can be a point that is physically a part of the ultrasound device, or can be a virtual reference point.
US08360961B2
Disclosed is a capsule-type endoscope, including: a lens for obtaining an image inside the body, one or more sensors for obtaining information related to the inside of the body, a controller for interleaving the information detected by the one or more sensors with the image captured by the lens and encoding the image interleaved with the sensor data for signal output, and a transmitter for transmitting a signal from the controller.
US08360956B2
A therapeutic prosthetic device for women or men configured to transmit tactile sensations through a stimulation material to the surface of a sex organ such as the vagina or penis. The therapeutic prosthetic device can include sensors and stimulators on the outer surface and inner surface and a controller. Sensors for detecting state, sensation or movement can be disposed within, on, or separate from the device and can transmit signals electrically or wirelessly to a microprocessor, which is programmed to generate stimulation sensations in response to signals from the sensors, stimulation materials, or controllers that are transmitted to the stimulation material. In one embodiment the therapeutic prosthetic device is a therapeutic condom.
US08360948B1
This invention provides a system and method for separating, folding, stacking and transporting a continuous web that allows stacks of web that are relatively large (four-feet-high or more) to be generated at high speed directly beneath the folding mechanism and to be transferred as complete, discrete stacks to downstream locations and stack utilization devices without interrupting the ongoing, upstream stack-folding and stack-formation process. A zigzag folded web passes by a pair of opposing front and rear compression plate assemblies, with fingers that are extended to selectively project into the folding area, onto a stack supported by a vertically moving supporting mechanism. The supporting mechanism cycles between an ever-lower position in which upper, loose pages of the folded web pass by plate fingers (when retracted) and an upper position in which the stack engages and presses upwardly against the now-extended plate fingers to compress the stack. After the web is separated above the chute, the supporting mechanism eventually travels to the base where the now-completed stack is conveyed to a downstream location. While the supporting mechanism is occupied transferring the completed, old stack, new folded web is deposited on a deployed temporary support that allows a new stack to form thereon until the supporting mechanism has completed the transfer of the old stack, and is ready to receive the new stack from the temporary support.
US08360919B2
A transmission includes an input member, an output member, an intermediate member, and a simple planetary gear set, all of which are coaxial. A first and a second layshaft are arranged to define a second axis of rotation and a third axis of rotation, respectively. Five sets of intermeshing gears are provided, some of which are arranged to transfer torque from the input member to the layshafts, and others of which are arranged to transfer torque from the layshafts to one of the intermediate member and the simple planetary gear set. Seven torque-transmitting mechanisms are each selectively engagable to connect a different respective gear of the sets of intermeshing gears to a respective one of the layshafts or to a stationary member. The torque-transmitting mechanisms are engagable in different combinations to establish multiple forward speed ratios and a reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member.
US08360918B2
A transmission includes a coaxial input member, output member, intermediate member, and simple planetary gear set. A first and a second layshaft are arranged to define a second and a third axis of rotation, respectively. The transmission has five sets of intermeshing gears, some of which are arranged to transfer torque from the input member to the layshafts, and others of which are arranged to transfer torque from the layshafts to one of the intermediate member and the simple planetary gear set. The transmission has eight torque-transmitting mechanisms that are each selectively engagable to connect a different respective gear of the intermeshing sets of gears to a respective one of the layshafts or to a stationary member. The torque-transmitting mechanisms are engagable in different combinations to establish up to fourteen forward speed ratios and a reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member.
US08360917B2
Inventive embodiments are directed to components, subassemblies, systems, and/or methods for continuously variable transmissions (CVT). In one embodiment, a control system is adapted to facilitate a change in the ratio of a CVT. In another embodiment, a control system includes a stator plate configured to have a plurality of radially offset slots. Various inventive traction planet assemblies and stator plates can be used to facilitate shifting the ratio of a CVT. In some embodiments, the traction planet assemblies include planet axles configured to cooperate with the stator plate. In one embodiment, the stator plate is configured to rotate and apply a skew condition to each of the planet axles. In some embodiments, a stator driver is operably coupled to the stator plate. Embodiments of a traction sun are adapted to cooperate with other components of the CVT to support operation and/or functionality of the CVT. Among other things, shift control interfaces for a CVT are disclosed.
US08360915B2
An axle has a central crown wheel receiving portion with a pinion side and an opposite side. The opposite side is defined by a first crown wheel bowl for receiving a part of a crown wheel, the first crown wheel bowl having a peripheral edge. The axle includes a second crown wheel bowl for receiving the part of the crown wheel. The second crown wheel bowl is nested with the first crown wheel bowl and is attached to the first crown wheel bowl at a peripheral edge to define a reservoir.
US08360910B2
A power-steering drive for a steering system in a motor vehicle includes a motor driving a motor shaft and a transmission situated between the motor shaft and an output shaft. The transmission takes the form of a combined worm-belt transmission. Furthermore, in a method for adjusting the transmission of a power-steering drive, the adjustment is performed by solely adjusting the intermediate shaft relative to the motor shaft and/or the output shaft.
US08360905B2
Sporting items such as soccer balls include a casing region and a graphic region that are defined by enhanced-visibility colors (EVCs) that are substantially complementary. Such EVCs can be selected to avoid colors associated with color confusion in color deficient individuals. In addition, such colors can be selected based on total reflectances to obtain a predetermined luminance contrast. EVCs can be selected based on separations of color coordinate locations using CIE chromaticity coordinates or CIE L-a-b coordinates or otherwise selected. Color selection can include consideration of anticipated viewing backgrounds in a general setting, or colors can be customized for a particular location and particular illumination conditions.
US08360899B2
A method can include (i) identifying a reference shaft for an individual based on one or more characteristics of the individual; (ii) receiving shaft feedback information from the individual with respect to a performance of the reference shaft based on an assessment by the individual of one or more reference shaft characteristics of the reference shaft; (iii) executing a shaft comparison between shaft characteristic information of the reference shaft and shaft characteristic information of a plurality of available shafts based on the shaft feedback information of the individual, the shaft characteristic information of the reference shaft comprising information about the one or more reference shaft characteristics; and (iv) identifying one or more recommended shafts from the plurality of available shafts based on the shaft comparison to custom fit the individual. Other examples and related embodiments are disclosed herein.
US08360897B2
A golf club incorporating an interchangeable shaft system includes a shaft, a shaft sleeve, a club head and a fastener. The shaft sleeve is coupled to an end of the shaft and is received in a hosel included in the club head. The fastener retains the shaft sleeve in the hosel. Hosel and shaft sleeve alignment features are provided that provide discreet orientations between the shaft and club head.
US08360887B2
A computerized wagering game system includes a gaming module operable to conduct a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered, and a network module operable to detect a wagering game network server availability broadcast signal. The network module connects to the wagering game network server identified in the availability broadcast signal, and authenticates the identity of the wagering game network server.
US08360884B2
Provided are an apparatus and method for providing an adaptive broadcast service for providing adaptive broadcasting contents including game contents to a user terminal of a home network environment by using game metadata, and an adaptive broadcasting system where a user or a terminal can properly select and consume a game based on the object by defining the metadata for describing the common characteristic of the predetermined contents type including the game and the metadata for describing the characteristic of only the game contents. The apparatus includes: a contents providing unit for publishing and providing the adaptive broadcasting contents including the game contents, and the game metadata to the user terminal; and a contents searching unit for providing contents identification information corresponding to a search and selection signal transmitted from the user terminal, wherein the game metadata describe characteristics of the game contents.
US08360883B2
An operating device used in a game machine for playing a television game includes a main body and first and second finger-manipulatable operating units positioned symmetrically on the main body. The operating device may include first and second grips projecting at spaced positions from the main body, with the first and second operating units being positioned adjacent the first and second grips. The operating device may further include vibration-imparting units for imparting vibrations to the user's hands.
US08360875B2
A jackpot display system (10) for a gaming system, the jackpot display system comprising a display control device (14) arranged to receive jackpot data indicative of a plurality of current jackpot amounts, each jackpot amount being derived from games played on at least one gaming machine (40, 42), and a plurality of displays (16) in communication with the display control device (14). The display control device (14) is arranged to selectively associate at least some of the displays (16) with respective jackpot amounts so that during use jackpot amounts are shown on the associated displays.
US08360874B2
A method for casino operators and/or players to instantly “create” new games without requiring recertification by a gaming laboratory. New games are created on the fly by making combinations of game attributes including but not limited to theme, denomination, volatility, RTP. Game attributes are associated to pre-certified software components that are then dynamically linked to instantly offer a new game. Having players dynamically create games according to their preference totally removes the game operator's risk to compose menus of available games that players will not play.
US08360872B2
In one embodiment, a method includes determining player information for a player. A game personality is determined for a gaming machine. The game personality is a set of behavior characteristics for the gaming machine. It is determined if a solicitation for a gaming machine is triggered by applying the player information for a player to the game personality. The solicitation is performed for the player if the solicitation is triggered.
US08360867B2
In an embodiment, a video game provides offers to players of a video game. For example, the video game can provide to the player an offer to receive a particular virtual item (a virtual object or a virtual service delivered in the video game) in exchange for a particular price, such as the player character wearing a logo or branded material of an advertiser. The time at which the offer is provided to the player can be governed by the status in the game of the player character of the player.
US08360864B2
Certain embodiments provide a system and method for providing shared wins in a gaming system. Certain embodiments include establishing a shared win award, wherein the shared win award has an amount or value. One or more eligible players may be identified to participate in a shared win, wherein eligibility of a player is independent of player choice. A shared win event may be determined and at least a portion of the shared win award may be awarded to each of the one or more eligible players. At least one group of players may be defined as eligible to participate in a shared win. A sharing percentage of the shared win award may be assigned to each of the eligible players as a function of relative play among the eligible players. The sharing percentage assigned to a player may be adjusted based on play relative to other eligible players, for example.
US08360855B2
Methods of controlling migration to new version game code during an active game session are disclosed. In an embodiment, new version game code is received at a game server. In response to receipt of a game request from a gaining client at a gaming server, the current version code an active game session is employing is determined. The active gaming session is migrated to the new version code if the new version code is compatible. The migration to be performed is controlled by a reconnect if the new version code contains a new sub-component related to the client. Also, related gaming servers, gaining systems, methods of controlling game code updates in gaming systems, and game version distribution controllers are disclosed.
US08360850B2
A gaming system and method which provides for one or more gaming device triggered bonus games to be skipped or otherwise not provided to the players at the gaming devices which triggered such bonus games. The average expected payouts of skipped gaming device triggered bonus games are contributed to a bonus accumulation pool or fund. The accumulation pool is subsequently utilized to provide one or more gaming system triggered bonuses to one or more players at one or more of the gaming devices in the gaming system. A player's accumulated triggering symbols determine, at least in part, the player's probability of winning part of the bonus accumulation pool and/or the player's portion of the bonus accumulation pool.
US08360847B2
Gaming machines, systems and methods for providing more realistic emulations of rotating reels are disclosed. Gaming machines include an exterior housing, master gaming controller, display device, speakers and virtual reels. A reel spin timer can be adapted to vary the spin times of the simulated rotating reels from one game play to another, and a reel sound generator can be adapted to provide reel sounds to one or more speakers with respect to the simulated rotating reels. Provided reel sounds can also vary from one game play to another, and both reel spin times and reel sounds can be selected randomly from stored values or files. Stored values or files can include samplings from actual physical reels. A remote host can provide downloadable reel spin times and reel sounds to gaming machines within an associated gaming system.
US08360844B2
A multiple wager, multiple potential winning outcome gaming “Spin Game” platform may be played in its native configuration as well as easily themed to allow variations and adaptations including but not limited to casino table games, sporting teams and events, entertainment, film, television, and celebrities, as well as various other pop-culture fashions and trends. Specific deployments may be used to aid in transitioning “slots only” (or other EGM exclusive) players to active participants in table games by providing a step-by-step confidence building path from individual standalone, to multi-player “Party Style” deployments of the “Spin Game”, and finally to the actual table games themselves. Countdown timers may be configured to encourage and even reward players to place their wagers before the timer reaches zero—when “No More Bets” is called and the “Game Wheel” is spun, thereby ensuring that casino “hands per minute” target goal requirements are met or exceeded.
US08360842B2
A poker-like game played during a live sporting event utilizing cards corresponding to scores, statistics, teams, athletes and various contingencies associated with the sporting event. The game is preferably played during a live sporting event with a sequence of betting events. A player can make a bet during a betting event, as long as said player is still in the game, and as long as said player was not the last player to make a bet. If a player makes a bet, then each of the remaining players must call the bet within a given time or fold. The values of the cards are determined by the outcome of the sporting event, so they are not known with certainty until the betting event terminates. When the betting event terminates, the remaining player with the best hand, as determined by the values of the cards, wins the pot.
US08360832B2
A method for processing a carcass part of slaughtered poultry includes, the carcass part including bone parts with at least a part of the back of the rib cage and the spine, and at least a part of the meat that is naturally present on the back of the rib cage and the spine, the method includes detaching a part of the back meat from the underlying bone parts of the carcass part, and engaging at least a part of the detached back meat, and then peeling the back meat off the bone parts of the carcass part.
US08360826B2
A micro-abrasive blasting device and method for perturbation control may use a plurality of delivery conduits of various lengths and/or apertures, or a single moveable delivery conduit. The user is able to individually open and close bypass conduit pinch valve(s) external to micro-abrasive blasting device to affect the perturbation intensity internal to the mixing chamber. By selectively opening and closing flow through delivery conduits it is possible to provide a more consistent perturbation rate and select the perturbation intensity internal to mixing chamber.
US08360799B2
An electrical connector assembly (100), comprises: a housing (1) having an upper shield part and a lower shield part (16) assembled with each other, and the upper shield part having at least two shield covers (15) arranged side by side along a transversal direction; a plurality of retaining pieces (9) assembled to each of two adjacent shield covers and interconnecting with the two adjacent shield covers; a plurality of printed circuit boards (2) disposed in the housing; a latch mechanism assembled to an exterior surface of the housing; and a metallic holder (8) surrounding and engaged with the housing.
US08360790B2
An electrical connector includes: an insulating body, having a plurality of receiving slots formed through the insulating body; a plurality of conductive terminals, each disposed in one of the receiving slots, wherein the conductive terminal is formed with a solder contact surface, and the solder contact surface is substantially vertical; and a plurality of solders, respectively received in the receiving slots, in which the solder is in a flat shape, and each of the solders is formed with an abutting surface in a flat direction for abutting the solder contact surface.
US08360787B2
A system is disclosed that provides a goal based learning system utilizing a rule based expert training system to provide a cognitive educational experience. The system provides the user with a simulated environment that presents a business opportunity to understand and solve optimally. Mistakes are noted and remedial educational material presented dynamically to build the necessary skills that a user requires for success in the business endeavor. The system utilizes an artificial intelligence engine driving individualized and dynamic feedback with synchronized video and graphics used to simulate real-world environment and interactions. A robust business model provides support for realistic activities and allows a user to experience real world consequences for their actions and decisions and entails realtime decision-making and synthesis of the educational material. Techniques for process sensitive help are also integrated into the system to provide contextual examples to guide a user in performing a task.
US08360777B2
Systems and methods for use in training observers and search and rescue personnel in detecting and identifying visual cues related to potential threats to aircraft and to ground based search and rescue circumstances. A visual display displays a scene generated by a visual scene generator apparatus. A vision limiting device is placed between the trainee and the visual display and the trainee can only see a limited amount of the visual display through a window on the vision limiting device. The limited view of the scene afforded the trainee will force the trainee to move around at various angles to see more of the scene as he normally would in real life.
US08360776B2
A training system and method to calculate actual coordinates of a projectile impact at one or more screens has been disclosed. A projectile is launched at a screen. One or more targets are projected onto the screen. A calibrated sensor is directed at the screen surface. The sensor continually captures thermal images of a screen surface. The sensor comprises software to detect and isolate thermal images of the projectile impacting the screen. These impact images are transmitted to a computer connected to the sensor. A computer comprises software to calculate the actual impact coordinates relative to a projected target. The calculated coordinates are digitally sent to feedback devices for display purposes. The system further comprises virtual training scenarios that are triggered upon notification of actual impact coordinates. These training scenarios simulate real life situations.
US08360774B2
The present invention provides a dental prophylaxis angle that includes a housing, a drive shaft, and a rotor. The housing may define a first bore and a second bore in communication with the first bore. The drive shaft is positionable in the first bore and may include a distal bearing surface. The rotor is positionable in the second bore and can be driven by the drive shaft. Further, the rotor rotates about a first axis. The second bore can further include a side surface, a plane perpendicular to the first axis that intersects both the side surface and the distal bearing surface. The drive shaft and the side surface of the second bore can operate together, against a common surface of the rotor, to prevent removal of the rotor from the second bore in a direction along the first axis.
US08360772B1
The present invention relates to an adjustable dual arch dental impression tray which accommodates a wide range of upper and lower individual arch sizes.
US08360769B2
An apparatus for manufacturing products from material which is thermoplastically deformable, as from plastic, comprising: —a mold (2) with at least one mold cavity (3); —in the or each mold cavity (3) at least one slide (8); —movement means for moving each slide (8); —closing means for opening and closing the mold (2); —feed means for introducing, with the mold cavity (3) closed, said material in at least substantially plastic condition into the or each mold cavity; wherein the movement means (9) for moving the slide (3) are arranged for moving said slide forward at a relatively high speed relative to the movement speed of the mold parts upon opening and closing thereof, from a position at least partly retracted from the mold cavity, such that said material, as a result, is displaced in the mold cavity for obtaining the filling thereof, preferably at a speed high such that adiabatic heat development occurs in the or each mold cavity.
US08360756B2
A valve rod guide is adapted to be coupled to the barrel of a subsurface pump or the like. The guide has head, neck, body, and base regions. A plurality of angled flutes are provided on the body, tapering downwardly for preventing solids from reentering the pump barrel after pump operations are ceased and thereby damaging pump components once pump operations are resumed. The interior diameter of the neck includes lower and upper grooves and a plurality of spiral radial grooves extending therebetween. The spiral radial grooves terminate at exit ports. During pump operations, solids are wiped from the valve rod, drawn into the spiral radial grooves, and accumulate in the lower or upper groove during downstroke or upstroke, respectively. During upstroke, the solids are expelled through the exit ports. A hardened insert may be positioned in the head region, providing a durable wear area for the valve rod as well as a tight fit, thereby preventing solids from escaping through a northern end of the guide.
US08360752B2
The present invention relates to an electric compressor integrally including a compression mechanism and an electric motor, and an object thereof is to prevent the housing from being elongated in the axial direction and improve the sealability and the mountability of the compression mechanism. According to the present invention, a hermetic terminal (45) electrically connecting the electric motor (30) and a motor drive circuit (40) is attached within a swelled-space portion (50) swelled toward radial outside of a housing (11) so as to be continuous with a mounting bracket (17) of the housing (11). Accordingly, the distance between the compression mechanism and motor drive circuit can be shortened.
US08360751B2
A pump has a pump barrel formed from a larger diameter section and a smaller diameter section. Each section has a biased piston moveable within the section and the pistons are connected together to form a variable volume chamber between the pistons. As the connected pistons move toward the larger diameter section, a volume of fluid is moved through an inlet valve into the variable volume chamber of increasing volume. When the pistons are moved toward the smaller diameter section, a differential volume of fluid is discharged from the variable volume chamber of decreasing volume through a discharge valve into a discharge conduit. The pistons are actuated to move within the pump barrel by application and release of pressure at a remote end of the discharge conduit.
US08360750B2
The present invention relates to a pump device with a first diaphragm pump head having two or an integral multiple of two fluid delivery chambers and diaphragms associated therewith, which are hydraulically coupled to a second diaphragm pump head. The second diaphragm pump head has two additional fluid delivery chambers and additional membranes associated therewith, which are drivable by a double-acting piston via associated diaphragm control chambers, a refilling valve being connected in each case to the diaphragm control chambers and the diaphragm control chambers being temporarily impinged with a diaphragm control pressure, which is greater than atmospheric pressure, using the refilling valve. The piston may thus be activated using a relatively small force to achieve a delivery action.
US08360744B2
A control method and apparatus for critical rotational speed avoidance in a compressor-expander set in a gas refrigeration system. By varying an opening of an antisurge or recycle valve, a shaft power used by the compressor in the compressor-expander set may be varied, thereby varying the rotational speed of the compressor-expander set to move it away from its critical speed zone. Additionally, a feedforward signal may be provided by a compressor-expander set control system to cause an antisurge valve for a recycle compressor to open upon a trip or shutdown of one compressor-expander set.
US08360740B2
An apparatus includes a housing defining a first cavity containing a pump, a second cavity containing a filter and a lumen configured to provide fluid communication between the first cavity and the second cavity. The housing has a first end portion configured to be disposed within a fluid reservoir and a second end portion including a flange configured to be disposed outside of and coupled to the fluid reservoir. A surface of the first end portion defines a first opening in fluid communication with the first cavity. A surface of the second end portion defines a second opening in fluid communication with the second cavity. A cover is configured to be removably coupled to the second end portion of the housing about the second opening such that the filter can be removed from the second cavity when the flange is coupled to the fluid reservoir.
US08360735B2
A serial axial fan preferably includes a first impeller and a second impeller each having a plurality of blades radially extending with a predetermined rotation axis as the center, a first motor portion, a second motor portion, a first housing, and a second housing. The first motor portion has a first circuit board on which at least one electronic component arranged to control the driving of the first impeller is mounted. The second motor portion has a second circuit board on which at least one electronic component arranged to control the driving of the second impeller is mounted. The first and second circuit boards are electrically connected. The driving of the first impeller and the driving of the second impeller are controlled by the electronic component disposed on at least one of the first and second circuit boards.
US08360731B2
A rotor blade for a gas turbine engine includes an attachment and an airfoil. The airfoil has a stagger angle, a base region, a transition region and a tip region. The stagger angle changes as the airfoil extends between the attachment and a tip. The base region is disposed adjacent to the attachment. The transition region is located between the base and the tip regions. A rate of the change of the stagger angle in the transition region is greater than a rate of the change of the stagger angle in the base region. The rate of the change of the stagger angle in the transition region is greater than a rate of change of the stagger angle in the tip region.
US08360729B2
Plural saddle shape patches are formed on a blank material for forming a blade using a manufacturing apparatus provided with a punch support having punches each with a holder attached to be opposite with one another at a predetermined interval corresponding to a thickness of the blank material. The punch support is mounted to a second ram via a second rotational mechanism which is rotatable in a direction in which the ram moves. The die is attached to the first ram via the first rotational mechanism. The actuator controls the rotating angles of both the rotational mechanisms.
US08360727B2
A yoke and bearing fitting assembly for a multi-blade aircraft rotor is disclosed. The assembly has a yoke having arms extending generally radially from a central portion of the yoke, the arms each having opposing surfaces. An aperture is formed in each arm and extends between the surfaces. A bearing fitting has a body configured for insertion into the aperture of the yoke and has two rims protruding from a periphery of the body, the body also having a bearing mount adapted for mounting a pitch change bearing assembly to the yoke. Each rim abuts one of the surfaces of the associated yoke arm when the bearing fitting is installed within the aperture, so as to create clamping forces between the rims and the arm and the arm. The bearing fitting transmits forces from the pitch bearing assembly into the yoke.
US08360719B2
A fan includes an impeller comprising a hub and a plurality of blades, and a housing receiving the impeller and comprising a first frame having a side wall and an inlet, and a second frame having a side wall and an outlet, wherein an inner surface on a periphery of the inlet is a smooth curved surface. The first or second frame has at least one side hole disposed at the side wall of the first or second frame.
US08360715B2
A wind turbine generator capable of enhancing starting performance of the wind turbine generator when the outside air temperature is low and capable of securing temperature adjusting ability of a generator set in a wide outside air temperature range is provided. A wind turbine generator includes a nacelle (3) for accommodating a generator set (11, 12, 14) that generates electricity by rotation of a rotor having a plurality of blades, a ventilation opening (51) provided in a wall surface on a wind upstream side when the nacelle is normally operated, and a heat exchanging unit (13) disposed in the ventilation opening (51) to exchange heat between an outside air and a lubricant of the generator set (11, 12) such as an lubricant oil or cooling water.
US08360704B2
The present invention provides an adhesive application apparatus that forms a uniform application layer when applying an adhesive to a sheet bundle for a various a length or a width of the sheet bundle. The apparatus includes an applying operation controlling device including a reference value storing device for previously setting and storing a preset reference value of an application length and/or an application width of the sheet bundle, a size recognizing device for identifying an application length and/or an application width of the adhesive applied to the sheet bundle, and an application region comparing device for comparing an identified value of the application length and/or the application width of the adhesive applied to the sheet bundle from the size recognizing device with a preset reference value of the application length and/or the application width of the sheet bundle from the reference value storing device.
US08360695B2
An interface between a shank tool and a lubricant transfer area. The shank tool is arranged in a tool holder, and comprises a clamping section, a conical shank end and at least one internal lubricant duct comprising an orifice located in a tapered surface of the shank end outside a shank tool axis. The lubricant transfer area is provided in the tool holder, which encompasses an inner recess, and which narrows in the direction of a centrical lubricant feed pipe, the inner recess defining an inner cone supporting the conical shank end radially outside of the orifice. The conical shank end and the lubricant transfer area include a funnel-shaped lubricant transfer chamber, which extends between the centrical lubricant feed pipe and a tapered surface contact area between the inner cone of the lubricant transfer area and the conical shank end. Also, an adjustable screw for an interface as described above.
US08360692B2
Provided is an apparatus for transferring slurry, which is used to transfer minerals from the bottom of the sea to the ground; and, more particularly, to an apparatus for transferring slurry, which can efficiently transfer the slurry in the state of a solid-liquid mixture containing the minerals without clogging of a transfer pipe.
US08360685B1
An autonomous underwater plow can include a frame, a plow assembly and a propulsion assembly. The plow assembly is fixed to the one end of the frame, while the propulsion assembly is pivotably attached to the other end. The propulsion assembly includes thrusters that are rigidly coupled to a float, and that provide a propulsion force perpendicular to the float buoyancy force. The plow sinks when placed in the water, but the float provides sufficient buoyancy so that the float end floats while the plow end is in contact with the ocean floor. This establishes a rake angle of between the frame and ocean floor. The plow requires less propulsion force for motion because part of the plow is floating, and requires less force to overcome obstacles on the ocean floor because the thrusters provides a constant horizontal propulsion force while the frame tilts to overcome the obstacle.
US08360680B2
High performance, multiple rotor, hydraulically driven riding trowels for finishing concrete have unloader valve circuitry for controlling hydraulic pressure. Each trowel has a rigid frame with two or more downwardly-projecting, bladed rotor assemblies that finish concrete. The rotor assemblies are tilted manually or hydraulically to effectuate steering and control. Blade pitch is controlled manually or hydraulically. The unloader valve system monitors drive pump pressure with a shuttle valve to derive an unloader pilot signal. A sequence valve responds to the unloader pilot signal to control a pressure valve that bypasses the normal foot control valve in an overpressure situation. The pressure control head signal normally applied to the hydraulic drive motor control heads is modified with a feedback signal to automatically control the associated pump swash plates. A gearbox may be disposed between the drive motors and rotors. Piston type and gear and vane type motors may power the rotors.
US08360671B2
Art instrument having a self-contained reservoir for storing and dispensing application liquid includes a reservoir body for containing the application liquid and a dispensing assembly that dispenses the application liquid from the reservoir. The dispensing assembly includes an applicator, a primary orifice restrictor including a channel, a movable actuating assembly that retains the applicator and the primary orifice restrictor and is movably connected to the reservoir body, and a secondary orifice restrictor arranged in an opening of the reservoir body and includes an initially closed channel. The instrument also includes a partly movable control mechanism that controls movement of the actuating assembly relative to the reservoir body. The control mechanism having a configuration in which it prevents opening of the closed channel and thereby prevents leakage of application liquid from the reservoir prior to manual activation by a user.
US08360669B2
An electronic pen comprises a retractable cartridge, a retraction mechanism for extending and retracting the cartridge, a button for actuating the retraction mechanism, a sensing arrangement for sensing a configuration of the pen, and a processor cooperating with the sensing arrangement. The processor is adapted to configure a state of the pen in response to input signals from the sensing arrangement. The sensing arrangement comprises a button sensor coupled to the button, which senses actuation of the button and a cartridge sensor for sensing whether the cartridge is extended or retracted.
US08360668B1
A scrub brush includes a channel at least partially through the body, a first end and a second end, including a brush head receiving portion adjacent the first end. A brush head is positioned adjacent the first end, the brush body including a handle portion adjacent the second end. The handle portion may include an actuator, a reservoir adapted to receive a liquid cleaner, a pump, the pump actuated by the actuator. Actuation of the actuator delivers liquid cleaner from the reservoir to the brush head for scrubbing/cleaning. At least a portion of the handle portion preferably contains a transparent window adapted to show the contents of the reservoir. A hanging flange is provided having an opening formed along the spine of the body of the brush adjacent the brush head portion.
US08360666B2
A camera module includes a lens assembly and a baseboard assembly mounted on the lens assembly. The lens assembly includes a lens, a barrel receiving the lens, and a support receiving the barrel. The baseboard assembly includes a circuit board and an image sensor on the circuit board. The support defines a clamping recess at an outer surface thereof.
US08360662B1
A lightweight camera mounting assembly allowing for retraction and extension through a pair of doors in a bottom wall of a housing. The doors are parallel to the bottom wall and are configured to rotate in a plane substantially parallel to the bottom wall. The assembly includes an extension position and a retraction position, and the assembly extends and retracts with respect to rotation of the doors.
US08360658B2
The invention relates to a bearing assembly, which includes at least one upper segment with an upper running surface and at least one lower segment with a lower running surface. The bearing assembly also includes at least one roll element movably arranged between the upper running surface and the lower running surface.
US08360651B1
A bearing assembly is provided having a roller bearing with an inner raceway fitted around the journal portion of an axle. An outer raceway combines with the inner raceway to receive roller elements. A backing ring is centered to the shaft fillet. An annular wear ring is positioned between the inner race and the backing ring. An improved lubricant seal arrangement is provided between the wear ring and the supporting outer raceway, and includes a rotor, a seal, a slinger and, in some embodiments, a stator.
US08360648B2
An oil-impregnated sintered which does not damage rotating shaft and itself and has a high durability even in the case that the rotating shaft is inclined in the bearing by a large shear load applied thereto, and a method of manufacturing an oil-impregnated sintered bearing which exhibits center deviation-suppressing action of the bearing satisfactorily by accurately forming a bearing hole in an intermediate completely sintered are disclosed.
US08360635B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide for a system and method for flow assurance and pipe condition monitoring in a pipeline for flowing hydrocarbons using at least one thermal sensor probe, which at least one thermal sensor probe may be used in conjunction with one or more other sensors to manage the sensing process and for data fusion to accurately determine flow properties and/or pipeline condition. By way of example, but not by way of limitation, in an embodiment of the present invention, a network of noninvasive sensors may provide output data that may be data-fused to determine properties of the pipeline and/or flow through the pipeline.
US08360633B2
The invention concerns a device for determining the temperature inside an item to be cooked (12). The invention comprises at least one temperature sensor (20) for detecting at least one surface temperature of the item to be cooked (12) and/or an ambient temperature around the item to be cooked, particularly at a measuring location inside the cooking chamber surrounding the item to be cooked, preferably with an ambient temperature sensor which is arranged at said measuring location. Furthermore, the device comprises at least one distance sensor (22) for detecting one or multiple distances between the distance sensor (22) and one or multiple distance measuring points (36) on the surface of the item to be cooked (12). In addition, the device comprises at least one time measuring device for measuring elapsed time during preparation of the item to be cooked (12) and at least one calculation device for calculating the temperature inside the item to be cooked (12) using the surface temperature of the item to be cooked (12) and/or the ambient temperature, the distance or multiple distances, elapsed time, and the start temperature of the item to be cooked (12). The invention also concerns a method for determining the temperature inside an item to be cooked (12).
US08360628B2
A marinating device includes a supporting base having a blocking sidewall, a food marinating container having a guiding rib and a container sidewall physically contacted with the blocking sidewall to block a sideward movement of said food marinating container at a first sideward direction, and an electric driving arrangement. The electric driving arrangement includes a driving unit and a plurality of driving rotors adapted to be driven by the driving unit to rotate. At least two corresponding driving rotors are frictionally and alignedly engaged with the guiding rib to block the sideward movement of the food marinating container at an opposed second sideward direction such that when the food marinating container is driven to rotate via the driving rotors, the food marinating container is securely retained on the supporting base.
US08360627B2
A screw machine for treating at least partially powdery bulk material has a housing with at least one housing bore and a screw arranged in the housing bore. A vacuum housing portion is provided, which is formed as a vacuum housing insert, which is releasably attached in the housing, in which a metal nonwoven is exchangeably held as a gas-permeable wall portion on a base body.
US08360623B2
A lighting device for a vehicle includes a light conducting rod, at least one light source, at least one first reflecting part, and at least one second reflecting part. The light source is connected to at least one end of the light conducting rod. The first reflecting part and the second reflecting part are located on the light conducting rod and respectively have a reflecting surface toward the light source. A first distance between the first reflecting part and the light source is less than a second distance between the second reflecting part and the light source, and the curvature of the reflecting surface of the second reflecting part is greater than the curvature of the reflecting surface of the first reflecting part.
US08360612B2
Disclosed is a laser light system for narrow hallways, a night light for small rooms, and a fire evacuation system. The system provides a means for less infrastructure to light narrow and small areas as well as directional lighting for fire escape.
US08360610B2
A lighted architectural mesh includes a plurality of interconnected wires forming a plurality of transverse openings. At least one light carrier is slidably received within at least one of said transverse openings. The at least one light carrier includes light nodes emitting light through the interstices on the front and/or rear side of the architectural mesh. The at least one light carrier further comprises a plurality of connecting elements, wherein the light emitter nodes of the at least one light element are releasably interconnected in series by the connecting elements.
US08360609B2
An illumination apparatus includes an adapter configured to be detachably and electrically connected to a socket and configured to convert alternating power into driving power; a light emitting device illumination part including a light emitting device that is configured to be detachably and electrically connected to the adapter and to emit light according to the driving power from the adapter; and an illumination direction controller that controls an illumination direction of the light emitting device.
US08360599B2
A LED-based replacement light for a fluorescent socket is constructed such that an entirety of a radially outer portion of a tubular housing at least partially defined by a high-dielectric light transmitting portion is formed of a high-dielectric material. Forming a radially outer portion of the tubular housing of a high-dielectric material prevents a person handling the light from being shocked as a result of capacitive coupling occurring when the LED-based replacement light is installed one end at a time. A circuit board is in thermally conductive relation with the tubular housing, allowing for conduction of heat generated by the LEDs from a side of circuit board opposite the LEDs to the tubular housing for dissipation to the ambient environment.
US08360597B1
A light mounting apparatus is being proposed herein. The light mounting apparatus is formed to as to allow for versatile usage, in connection with a wide variety of tools, structures, and surfaces. Furthermore, the light mounting apparatus includes suitable connection structures to a light source in order to provide multiple degrees of freedom, thereby allowing a user to easily direct light beams to a desired location.
US08360596B2
A multipurpose lighting device comprising a flashlight end, a lantern end including a barrel through which light may pass, and a module mounted between the flashlight end and lantern end. The module includes a first light source configured to direct light out the flashlight end, and a second light source configured to direct light out the lantern end. The second light source is disposed on an opposite end of the module from the first light source. The module further includes a power source configured to energize the first light source and second light source, wherein the second light source is oppositely disposed on the module from the first light source.
US08360595B2
The present invention discloses a light-guiding structure of a translucent press key including a keypad region including a circular hollow area, and a diffuser and a light source module sequentially disposed below the keypad region. The light source module includes a reflective film and a light generating unit, in which the reflective film has a through hole formed at a position opposite to the middle of the circular hollow area, and the light generating unit is coupled to a control circuit of the keypad region and generates a light source to pass through the through hole. The light-guiding structure of a translucent press key of the present invention has the advantages of a low cost and highly uniform light distribution.
US08360593B2
Disclosed is a light emitting diode (LED) package. The LED package comprises a package body having a cavity and a stepped portion positioned on a top portion of the cavity; an LED chip mounted on a bottom surface of the cavity; an encapsulant formed in the cavity to cover the LED chip; and a lens having a pattern and attached to the stepped portion on the encapsulant.
US08360582B2
A rear projection type image display apparatus. The apparatus includes a projector that projects an image having a relatively high luminance, and a transmission type screen installed at an image formation plane of a projection light from the projector. The apparatus also includes a first polarizing plate having a first polarization direction disposed in front of an exit pupil of the projector, and a second polarizing plate having a second polarizing direction that is substantially orthogonal to the first polarizing direction disposed near a rear surface side opposite to an irradiation surface of the transmission type screen.
US08360575B2
A lens for eyeglasses includes a substrate and at least one carbon nanotube (CNT) film including a number of CNTs. The substrate includes a surface, or defines at least one cavity. The at least one CNT film is disposed on the surface of the substrate, or embedded in the at least one cavity of the substrate such that a part of light is absorbed by the CNTs of the CNT film.
US08360574B2
The present invention relates to ophthalmic systems comprising a selective light wavelength filter, wherein said selective filter provides improved contrast sensitivity.
US08360571B2
First humidified gas is supplied from a first supply port to a sheet to be conveyed to increase the moisture content of the sheet. Second humidified gas is supplied to a space where nozzles of the inkjet recording head are exposed, from a second supply port provided at a position closer to the inkjet recording head than the first supply port to increase the atmosphere humidity of the space. The part of the sheet of which the moisture content has been increased is made to enter the space where the atmosphere humidity has been increased, and recording is performed. When a conveyance operation stops, the quantity of flow or humidity of the first humidified gas is reduced. In resupplying a temporarily returned sheet, the amount of moisture to be provided by the first humidified gas is set in accordance with regions of the sheet.
US08360569B2
The present disclosure is drawn to an ink-jet ink and a method of ink-jet printing over a prolonged period of time. The ink-jet ink include from 0.1 wt % to 10 wt % pigment by solids, from 0.1 wt % to 15 wt % latex by solids, and from 0.01 wt % to 3 wt % phosphate-containing surfactant, wherein when the ink-jet ink is fired from a thermal ink-jet printhead at 400 million drops per nozzle with said nozzle having an orifice size of about 20 microns, at least 80% drop weight is retained compared to an initial firing prior to firing the 400 million drops per nozzle.
US08360565B2
A material for an inkjet ink composition, including an organic solvent; and a siloxane compound comprising at least one organic group having an optically active site and an associative site in the molecule, wherein the organic solvent satisfies the following requirements a) to c): a) the siloxane compound is soluble in the organic solvent and does not precipitate after dissolved at room temperature; b) the siloxane compound can form an associative structure in the organic solvent at room temperature; and c) an inkjet ink composition prepared by dissolving the siloxane compound in an organic solvent is dischargeable from an inkjet nozzle.
US08360559B2
A liquid ejecting head includes a pressure-generating chamber in fluid communication with a nozzle opening and a piezoelectric element having a piezoelectric layer and electrodes provided to the piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric layer is composed of a complex oxide having a perovskite structure containing bismuth and cerium in the A site of the perovskite structure and at least one metallic element selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, and chromium in the B site of the perovskite structure, and the molar ratio of the metallic element or elements in the B site, the bismuth, and the cerium is 1:(1−x):(3x/4).
US08360557B2
A method includes attaching multiple layers to a back side of at least a portion of a fluid dispensing subassembly having at least one inlet port to form a fluid dispensing assembly, aligning a laser to a region of the fluid dispensing assembly, the region corresponding to the inlet port, and forming at least one hole in the region using a laser, the hole completing a path through the layers to the inlet port. A fluid dispensing assembly has a fluid dispensing subassembly having at least one inlet port, a fluid manifold having at least one outlet, at least two layers between the fluid dispensing subassembly and the manifold, and a fluid path in the at least two layers between the outlet and the inlet port, the fluid path having smooth walls and substantially uniform width.
US08360552B2
In one embodiment, a carriage for carrying a fluid ejector cartridge includes: a body having a bay therein for holding a fluid ejector cartridge; a pump mounted to the body; a retaining cover connected to the body, the cover movable between an open position in which the cartridge may be installed in or removed from the bay and a closed position in which the cover contacts the cartridge in the bay to help retain the cartridge in place in the bay; and a port disposed within the cover such that the cover port is connected to a port on the cartridge when the cartridge is installed in the bay and the cover is in the closed position, the cover port operatively connected to the pump so that a fluid may be pumped into the cartridge through the cover and cartridge ports.
US08360551B2
An ink-jet recording apparatus includes an ink-jet recording head having a nozzle from which ink is ejected on the basis of print data, an ink-receiving unit that receives the ink ejected from the nozzle, and a surface-tension-depressant-solution supplying unit that supplies a liquid composition containing a surface tension depressant to the ink-receiving unit when the ink is ejected from the nozzle into the ink-receiving unit.
US08360550B2
A fluid ejecting apparatus including: a fluid ejection head configured to eject fluid from a plurality of nozzles; a medium supporting member configured to support a medium at a position opposing the fluid ejection head, a thread-type fluid absorbing member configured to absorb the fluid ejected from the nozzles; and a moving mechanism configured to cause the fluid absorbing member to move between a first position opposing the nozzles between the fluid ejection head and the medium supporting member and a second position farther from a nozzle surface of the fluid ejection head than a transporting area of the medium, wherein the fluid is ejected from the nozzles to the fluid absorbing member at the first position.
US08360549B2
An inkjet image forming apparatus and a spitting method therefor. The inkjet image forming apparatus includes: a printhead including a plurality of nozzles arranged across a printing medium transfer path; a maintenance unit including a spitting groove to receive ink ejected during a spitting operation of the printhead; and a controlling unit to control the printhead so that spitting is performed by groups of the nozzles, when each group faces the spitting groove.
US08360527B2
A fitting system (5) is provided for a vehicle seat (1), with a first fitting (10) which, for unlocking purposes, has a driver (18) which is rotatable about an axis (A), and with a second fitting (20). A transmission element (25) is provided between the two fittings (10, 20). A free-pivoting device (24) is assigned to the second fitting (20). A first operating element (31) is provided, upon the actuation of which the two fittings (10, 20), with the use of the transmission element (25), are unlocked. A second operating element (32) is provided, upon the actuation of which the first fitting (10) and the free-pivoting device (24) are unlocked, The driver (18) of the first fitting (10) receives the transmission element (25)—coupled thereto for carrying along, wherein free travel in one direction of rotation is provided between the driver (18) and the transmission element (25).
US08360524B2
What is shown is a vehicle seat having parts for carrying out a vibration movement in the height direction, with the parts comprising the following: a base part, a top part spring mounted relative to the base part, wherein a height adjustable connection frame comprising at least one first frame arm, at least one second frame arm and at least one spring element is arranged between the base part and the top part, wherein a motion sequence of the parts, which may be carried out in a vibration condition by applying a constant force onto the base part and/or the top part, may be varied in a further vibration condition by applying a variable force onto the base part and/or the top part.
US08360523B2
An adjusting device for a lumbar support comprises a pair of spaced guide members, an adjusting member coupled to the pair of guide members, and a drive mechanism for effecting an adjustment of the lumbar support. The adjusting member is displaceable along the pair of guide members and configured such that the lumbar support is adjusted when the adjusting member is displaced. The drive mechanism comprises a motor, which is provided on the adjusting member so as to be displaceable along the guide members jointly with the adjusting member. The motor may be coupled to a shaft having a structured exterior surface, the drive mechanism being configured to effect a relative displacement between the adjusting member and the shaft.
US08360520B2
The present invention relates to an anti-whiplash system for the use in vehicle seats. The inventive anti-whiplash system for the use in vehicle seats comprises a head restraint (1) mounted on the backrest of a vehicle seat, wherein the head restraint (1) comprises a release mechanism for reducing the gap between an occupant's head and the head restraint in case of an accident, said release mechanism comprises a movable part (5) and a stationary part (3), wherein a clearance between the movable part (5) and the stationary part (3) opens up when the release mechanism is released, characterized in that a wedging body (4) is provided having a small width portion and a large width portion and an intermediate increasing width portion, wherein the wedging body (4) points with its small width portion towards the clearance between the movable part (5) and the stationary part (3), and in that the wedging body (4) is movable and preloaded to move into the clearance as it opens up to thereby abut against the movable part (5) and against the stationary part (3) in order to prevent the movable part (5) of the head restraint (1) from moving back.
US08360508B2
A fastback for a passenger car is provided with a roof profile and a floor profile in the tail region. The roof profile initially descends from a highest profile point and the floor profile initially ascends from a lowest profile point in a rear axle region. The tail region forms an aerodynamic diffusor having a floor diffusor and roof diffusor. For this purpose, the roof profile features an S-shaped upward curvature toward an upper tail break-away edge and the floor profile features an S-shaped downward curvature toward a lower tail break-away edge. Due to the roof profile and the floor profile, the tail region of the passenger car has a shape with a fish-like profile.
US08360506B2
A travel trailer has a trailer body, including a front cap. The cap defines a recess in the front portion thereof. A recess cover is pivotally secured to said front cap for covering said recess. The cover is movable between a closed position, in which said recess is covered, and an open position, in which said recess is accessible. One or more liquid propane tanks are provided in the recess. The liquid propane tanks are covered when the recess cover is in the closed position and accessible when said recess cover is in the open position.
US08360498B1
A protective cover that is stored in a pouch that is integrally formed as a part of an upper surface of a pivotable canopy that is attached to a frame of the stroller. The protective cover is movable between a closed position in which the cover is stored in the pouch and an open position in which the cover is disposed across the canopy and across a seat of the stroller.
US08360497B2
A lock mechanism for an electric retractable seat for a vehicle, includes a seat cushion frame, a seat back frame, a guide groove, a latch including an engagement opening portion, a slide member disengaging from the engagement opening portion when the latch is in an unlocked position, engaging with the engagement opening portion during a movement of the seat cushion frame to the seating position, and being locked between the guide groove and the engagement opening portion when the latch is in a locked position, a pawl for restricting the latch from pivoting when the pawl is in a restricted position, and allowing the latch to pivot when the pawl is in a released position, a releasing member for rotating the pawl.
US08360495B2
A fixture, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprises a first partial region and a second partial region. The first partial region is integrally connected to the second partial region by a connecting region. The first partial region is configured to permit the pre-assembly thereof relative to the second partial region by the connecting region. The connecting region may permit the first partial region to be movable, such as foldable relative to the second partial region.
US08360491B2
Disclosed is a method for handling devices, such as reticles, in a semiconductor manufacturing environment. In one illustrative embodiment, the method includes: providing a pick comprised of a plurality of spaced-apart grippers with a pivot point between the gripper about which point the spaced-apart grippers are configured to pivot; creating a vacuum in a body proximate to the pivot point, wherein the vacuum is configured to draw particles generated in the area of the pivot into the body; and generating a magnetic force between magnets, wherein the magnetic force drives at least one gripper toward another gripper to grasp a semiconducting substrate or a reticle between the grippers.
US08360490B2
A bumper crossbeam for a motor vehicle includes an outer section configured as a roll-formed hollow profile which is closed at least in some areas. At least one inner section, configured as a separate component, is arranged in the outer section and connected to the outer section. The inner section has at least one wall extending from a front section zone of the outer section to a rear section zone of the outer section.
US08360486B2
A side door of a motorized vehicle is provided that includes, but is not limited to a latch mechanism adapted to cooperate with a latch member disposed at a door frame, an actuator for locking and/or unlocking the latch mechanism and a coupling means for mechanically coupling (i.e., a mechanical coupling) the actuator and the latch mechanism. A disengagement apparatus is adapted to mechanically disengage the coupling between the actuator and the latch mechanism in response to an external force effect.
US08360484B2
A vent stop is installed into a window/door to limit travel therein of a sash member, and being particularly adapted to permit ease of its installation, especially into a wooden door/window. The stop incorporates multiple retention features to inhibit the stop's removal, once properly installed. The retention features include a wedge-shaped protrusion located at a distal end of the stop housing, which engages the wood of the window opening when pivotally installed therein, to secure a first end of the stop. The opposite end of the stop may be redundantly secured. A first feature for securing the opposite end may comprise one or more arcuate flanges on housing side walls, flanges being adapted to unidirectional movement so as to permit its movement relative to the window opening during installation, but thereafter deterring counter-pivotal motion that would allow removal of the vent stop. A second feature comprises a deformable spring clip.
US08360479B2
A hose end coupling comprising a unitary one-piece stem having an exterior barb end portion and an exterior ferrule interface portion, with a unitary one-piece radially crushable ferrule disposed over the stem, with a crushable socket portion disposed about the barb end portion, a deformable attachment portion disposed about the ferrule interface portion, and a torque communication portion defined between the socket portion and the attachment portion. The socket portion may retain a “C” shaped insert, one or more coiled inserts, or a plurality of stacked inserts, for gripping a hose end and the socket portion might define a lip, with a seal disposed in the socket portion between the insert(s) and the lip. Some embodiments of a “C” shaped insert define inner-circumferential teeth and corresponding outer-circumferential depression indentions.
US08360476B2
An underbody assembly for a vehicular climate control system is disclosed including fluid flow conduits formed of steel coated with polymeric material such as nylon 12. The conduits are continuous between opposite ends free of joints or flexible connection. In one form, the conduit includes branches or connectors formed of polymeric material sealed to the outer polymeric layer of the tube.
US08360475B2
The present invention relates to a roller ski or board, said ski or board providing in-line central rollers, centrally provided on the ski or board body, and two pairs of additional rollers, respectively a front pair and a rear pair, said pair of rollers being raised with respect to the ground on which ski or board rests when the same ski or board is substantially parallel with respect to the ground, and contacting the same ground when ski or board is inclined, each one of the additional rollers is coupled with the ski or board by a support system comprising a fork, having one end coupled with the roller and the other one faced toward the ski or board, between the end of the fork faced toward the ski or board and the same ski or board being provided with a resilient element.
US08360471B2
An air-bag device capable of improving degree of freedom in setting of reaction forces according to physical frames of occupants, a vehicle occupant's lower limb protecting device and a device for protecting an occupant at the time of vehicle side collision using the air-bag device. Knees of an occupant of large build whose inertia load at the time of collision is great are assuredly protected by collective energy absorbing action of the upper cylinders (121, 121) and the lower cylinders (122, 122) at the time of collision. In a case of an occupant of small build whose inertia load at the time of collision is small, loads from the upper cylinders (121, 121) and the lower cylinders (122, 122) are exerted on the occupant in appropriate proportions according to physical size of the occupant to fulfill impact absorption at the time of collision.
US08360468B2
A head-protecting airbag apparatus covers a window so that an occupant's head can be protected. The airbag includes a front window shielding portion with an inclining inflatable portion and a horizontal inflatable portion in the shape of a pipe. The inclining inflatable portion is disposed between an upper guide portion that extends continuously from a portion that partitions an upper edge region of the gas supply passage, and a lower guide portion that extends from a portion that partitions a lower edge region of the gas supply passage. The inclining inflatable portion and the horizontal inflatable portion respectively include an inclining peak portion and a horizontal peak portion formed by ridgelines that swell thickly. The respective width dimensions of the inclining inflatable portion and the horizontal inflatable portion in a flat state are larger than the vertical width dimension of the gas supply passage that is flatly deployed.
US08360463B2
An engagement structure includes a garnish main body, a garnish lid, an engagement stop, and an engaged part. The engagement stop has an engagement protrusion and is disposed on one of the garnish main body and the garnish lid. The engagement protrusion protrudes in a direction opposite to an airbag accommodated between the pillar and the garnish main body. The engaged part is engaged to the engagement protrusion and is disposed on another of the garnish main body and the garnish lid. The engaged part has a guiding surface configured to guide the airbag during inflation.
US08360458B2
A tie down apparatus that may be utilized for securing an item, such as a safety chain, wherein the tie down apparatus may be used with a hitch mounting system. In one embodiment, the tie down apparatus may include a receiving member, a tie down member, and a clocking member. The receiving member may include an opening located there through. The tie down member may include at least one aperture, wherein the tie down member may be capable of being located and rotated within the receiving member. The tie down member may be rotated either clockwise or counterclockwise. The locking member may include at least one leg capable of being housed within the aperture. The locking member may engage the receiving member once the tie down member is rotated, thereby trapping the item within the tie down apparatus.
US08360447B2
A cart for distributing for instance food in aisles of airplanes is described. The cart comprises a cabinet-shaped body (10) as well as a door (20) coupled hingedly to the body, capable of being closed by means of a lock system (100). The lock system is a multipoint lock system (100), wherein a bolting of the door with respect to the body is accomplished at a plurality of positions along a free vertical side edge (23) of the door.
US08360446B1
A wheeled firearms transport case having an interior compartment having a locking lid and a locking access door for access to rifles stored therein, locking drawers with removable cushioned inserts for the storage of handguns, ammunition, and rifle scopes, and a plurality of removable cushioned inserts disposed on the left side of the case for the storage of firearm accessories with a locking access door. A cushioned rifle butt cradle member, a rubber guide support, and a hook and loop strap are disposed within the interior compartment to secure each rifle within the interior compartment.
US08360445B2
A roll-out cart includes a lid and a cart body supported on wheels. The cart body is comprised of a base wall, a front wall, a rear wall, and a pair of side walls that cooperate with each other to define a cart interior. The lid is attached to the cart body with a hinge connection and is moveable between an open position to provide access to the cart interior and a closed position to prevent access to the cart interior. A latch is pivotally mounted to the lid to lock the lid in the closed position.
US08360435B2
A system and method for providing a table game are disclosed. According to one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a playing field, a ball launcher mechanism launching a ball into the playing field, and the ball launcher mechanism allows a first player to select one or more attributes affecting a ball trajectory. The apparatus further comprises a ball striker mechanism controlling a ball striker. The ball striker placed at a distance from the ball launcher mechanism in the playing field has a bat to hit a ball launched by the ball launcher mechanism and is controlled by a second player. One or more sensors are placed in predetermined locations in the playing field. The electrical signals generated by the one or more sensors are used to update a status of a game.
US08360431B2
A shuffling apparatus comprising: at least three card holders, each adapted to hold at least one deck of cards; a conveying mechanism adapted to convey cards between each card holder and at least two other card holders, the conveying mechanism controllable to select a destination card holder of the at least two card holders; and a controller arranged to control the conveying mechanism in a shuffling mode in which cards are sent between a source card holder and selected ones of the at least two destination card holders.
US08360418B2
A sheet supplying device that is incorporatable in an image forming apparatus includes a recording media container, a sheet feeding unit to feed a recording medium from the recording media container, a frame to support the recording media container and the sheet feeding unit, and a holder to hold the recording media container by surrounding an outer circumference of the recording media container. The recording media container is detachably attachable to the frame in a first operation in which the recording media container is moved in a direction parallel to a sheet conveyance direction and the recording media container is separated from the frame and the holder with the holder remaining in the frame, and a second operation in which the recording media container is moved in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction and the recording media container is separated from the frame together with the holder.
US08360407B2
A cutting board with scrap bin includes a generally planar cutting surface that can rest on a countertop to enable cutting. One portion of the cutting board is adapted to attach to a scrap bin, with the scrap bin being selectively attachable or detachable as desired. In some versions the scrap bin is also collapsible, making it smaller for storage.
US08360403B2
A hydraulic mount and a filling device for the hydraulic mount are provided. The hydraulic mount (1) comprises a casing (2) and a support body (6, 7) arranged in an upper part of the casing (2), wherein, the casing (2) and the support body (6, 7) define a chamber (3), and the chamber (3) receives liquid and is divided by a partition into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. An orifice is formed in the partition, so that the upper chamber and the lower chamber are communicated with each other. A through hole (4) for communicating the chamber (3) with the exterior is formed in the support body (6, 7), and a sealing member (5) is arranged in the through hole (4). The filling device for the hydraulic mount (1) comprises a liquid tank (8) and a vacuum extractor (9), wherein, either the liquid tank (8) or the vacuum extractor (9) is connected to the through hole (4) in the hydraulic mount (1) through a pipe in a sealed manner.
US08360400B2
A guardrail assembly includes first and second rail sections, with a deforming member deforming the first rail section as it moves relative to the second rail section. Methods of using and assembling a guardrail assembly are also provided.
US08360398B2
A device for handling a rotor blade of a wind turbine is provided. The device includes a frame which defines an inner space for at least partially accommodating the rotor blade. The device further includes a blade support which is arranged in the inner space and mounted to the frame, and a first lever arm. The first lever arm is pivotably mounted to the frame and includes a retaining end arranged in the inner space and an actuator end which is movable to rotate the first lever arm so that the rotor blade is retained between the blade support and the retaining end.
US08360381B2
A rotary adjusting hook contains a hooking member including a circular first loop fitted on one end thereof, a first vertical segment extending downward from another end thereof, and a hook segment extending outward from the first vertical segment; a first retainer including a circular second loop fitted on one end thereof, a second vertical segment extending downward from another end thereof, a second retainer including a circular third loop fitted on one end thereof, and a third vertical segment extending downward from another end thereof; a positioning set including an axial connecting member and an adjusting member, and the axial connecting member including a first coupling segment to connect with an adjusting member; the adjusting member including a second coupling segment to connect with the first coupling segment of the axial connecting member.
US08360376B2
An articulating mount has a hollow support arm with a compression spring inside of it. The spring is on a threaded rod and held at one end by a nut. At the other end, the spring rests against a washer. The washer rests against an indentation in the tube. One end of the threaded rod is connected via rotation links to an adjustment cross inside a housing. The housing has a threaded captive adjustment screw that is attached to both the housing by way of an adjustment pin and to the adjustment cross by its external threading. The housing is secured to a steel support body.
US08360371B2
The invention is a suspension apparatus for maintaining conduits (hoses, cables, wires, tubing) in desirable positions to prevent conduit abrasion, drag, and friction damage. The suspension apparatus connects a series of conduit guides, having bores through which conduits run, with a guy wire assembly that holds the conduits in a desired position. The guy wires are held by a tension cable connected to a tension reel installed on a mounting. The ends of the guy wires are connected by brackets to mounting structures in a way that provides for the majority of tension forces and system movement to be accounted by the guy wires instead of the conduits. One embodiment is used to manage cables and hoses installed on tractor-trailer rigs having hoses and cables that extend along the length of the trailer. A more particular embodiment includes an installation on a tandem slider trailer with an adjustable wheel base.
US08360368B2
The seat specially designed for space vehicles and in particular space planes comprises a rigid hull and parts of axis of which the direction of alignment passes in front of the occupant of the seat and along him; the seat rotates freely around parts of axis according to the direction of the acceleration in order to always place the occupant in the orientation perpendicular to the forces of acceleration.
US08360358B2
A ram air duct flap arrangement (22) comprises at least one ram air duct flap (24, 26) which is designed to close, in a closed position, a ram air inlet (14) or a ram air outlet (18) of a ram air duct (10) and, at least partly open, in an open position, the ram air inlet (14) or the ram air outlet (18) of the ram air duct (10). Furthermore, the ram air duct flap arrangement (22) comprises an actuator (32) for actuating the ram air duct flap (24, 26) between its closed position and its open position. A pressure control device (42) is designed to control a pressure (pi), which, when the ram air duct flap arrangement (22) is mounted in an aircraft, acts on an inner surface (44) of the ram air duct flap (24, 26) facing an interior of the aircraft, in such a way that it corresponds substantially to a pressure (pa) which, when the ram air duct flap arrangement (22) is mounted in an aircraft, acts on an outer surface (38) of the ram air duct flap (24, 26) facing the external environment.
US08360354B2
A device for rotating at least one mandrel coupled to a secondary reduction gear that can in turn be coupled to a primary reduction gear and supplies a torque to the mandrel. The primary reduction gear is driven by at least one driving motor, the primary and secondary reduction gears are mechanically similar and can be coupled via at least one torque transmission means rotated by the primary reduction gear along a rotation axis, the torque transmission means includes at least one coupling tube with two section ends. Furthermore, in the assembled configuration, the primary and secondary reduction gears define a unitary assembly integrally encapsulating the torque transmission means that can be removed from the unitary assembly in the permanent assembled configuration through an opening of the unitary assembly formed in at least one of the walls of the primary and secondary reduction gears opposite the section ends of the torque transmission means.
US08360351B2
A multi-sectional roller mill comprises at least two mill sections (2, 2′) each including a plurality of ‘rollers (20, 20′), wherein each mill section includes a-drive shaft (16, 16′) and male and female parts of a coupling element (15) attached to respective ends of said drive shaft for rotation therewith, and wherein the said coupling element provides for rotation between said male and female parts of drive shafts of adjacent mill sections.
US08360347B2
Processing waste materials to recover valuable metals, such as copper, from the materials. The disclosed systems and methods employ processes that further refine the waste materials to concentrate the metallic material after the waste materials are initially processed. Processes include employing air separation and screening. Processes also include employing a dynamic sensor and a vacuum pressure separator to separate metals from other materials.
US08360341B2
Atomization apparatus is configured to produce mist by atomizing liquid after electrolysis to discharge the mist. The apparatus includes a substrate, an electrolysis device and a vibration device. The substrate includes: a liquid receiving part having a liquid storage surface; and a reservoir having a discharge surface. The electrolysis device has an anode and a cathode located at the liquid receiving part. The reservoir holds the liquid after electrolysis obtained from one of the anode and the cathode. The discharge surface is located at the side of the one of the anode and the cathode. The vibration device is configured to vibrate and atomize the liquid after electrolysis held at the reservoir.
US08360327B2
A tag and a method of manufacturing a tag having an electronic device, which may be a transponder embedded in binding material, the method including applying a pre-coat of binding material to the transponder, at least partially curing the pre-coat of binding material, locating the resulting pre-coated transponder in further binding material and curing the further binding material. The method may further include applying a vacuum to the binding material and binding material, heating the binding materials and vibrating the binding materials. Apparatus for producing tags is also described and claimed. The tag has a construction which facilitates subcutaneous introduction into a target subject, such as an animal, and helps provide retention of the tag in the inserted position in the target subject.
US08360324B2
A wireless IC device that is operable in a wide band and is suitable for RFID systems includes a radiating plate and an electromagnetically coupled module constituted by a wireless IC that processes transmitted/received signals and a feeding circuit board having a feeding circuit and coupled with the wireless IC. The radiating plate includes a linear electrode bent at a bent portion and apparently sectioned into two linear electrode portions having different lengths. The electromagnetically coupled module is arranged such that the feeding circuit board and the linear electrode portions are electromagnetically coupled. The wireless IC is operated by signals received by the radiating plate, and response signals from the wireless IC are radiated outward from the radiating plate.
US08360320B2
An apparatus, system and method are presented for scanning items presented to an assisted hybrid optical code scanner where the scanner includes a handheld imaging scanner located on the customer side of the hybrid scanner. When docked with the hybrid scanner, the handheld imaging scanner is used with a fixed laser scanner to read optical codes. When undocked, the handheld imaging scanner is used to scan items not easily presentable to the hybrid scanner.
US08360315B2
An RFID system includes a number of RFID tags and an RFID reader. Each RFID tag includes a respective portion of a target data object. The RFID reader is adapted to read each portion of the target data object from the respective RFID tags. A method of providing an identification function includes using an RFID reader to read one portion of a target data object stored on an RFID tag, from among a number of portions of the target data object stored on a respective number of RFID tags.
US08360308B2
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon for protocol driven image acquisition are provided. In embodiments, a protocol is received by an image capturing device. The protocol comprises orders from a clinician, a workflow for capturing at least one image, or a combination thereof. At least one field for receiving metadata to be associated with the at least one image allows structured documentation to begin on the image capturing device. The at least one image and associated metadata are communicated to a medical information system. A patient is identified by the metadata or an existing patient to device association and the at least one image is associated with an electronic medical record for the patient.
US08360306B2
A partition assembly comprising a partition matrix made up of intersecting first and second slotted partitions, each of the partitions having at least one slot and a rounded edge. The slots of the partitions are engaged with each other at a plurality of intersections. The partitions are made by rounding an edge of a multi-layered blank using a rotatable tool and then cutting the partition material to a desired size. Slots may then be formed in the edge sealed material.
US08360302B2
The invention relates to a method for producing integrally bladed gas turbine rotors, especially of integrally bladed turbine rotors, wherein rotating blades (10) are joined to a rotor base (11) with the intermediate disposal of an adapter (14) in such a way that first an adapter is joined to a connecting section (15) of each rotating blade to be connected to the rotor base, and that subsequently each rotating blade (10) is joined to a connecting section (16) of rotor base (11) via adapter (14) connected to said blade. According to the invention, each adapter (14) is connected to connecting section (15) of the respective rotating blade (10) by welding, each rotating blade (10) being connected to the respective connecting section of the rotor base by inductive high-frequency pressure welding via adapter (14) connected to the blade.
US08360301B2
An impact beam assembly includes a beam of high-strength steel, and a pair of end brackets constructed of a dissimilar material than the high-strength steel. The brackets are locally deformed onto the beam to thereby surround a portion of the beam. Once deformed, the brackets define a flat section suitable for welding to a vehicle door panel, as well as a section for retaining the beam. The beam can include a surface feature suitable for retaining the beam to the end brackets. A method of reinforcing a vehicle door assembly includes positioning the beam with respect to the end brackets such that the brackets surround a portion of the beam, and then activating a magnetic pulse coil (MPC) to deform an overlapping portion of the brackets onto the beam. The brackets are then attached to a surface of the door assembly to reinforce the door assembly.
US08360300B1
A method and an apparatus for ultrasonic welding of a first workpiece to a second workpiece is disclosed. The two workpieces are clamped between a sonotrode and an anvil so that the two workpieces are in mechanical contact with each other, the first workpiece is in mechanical contact with the sonotrode and the second workpiece rests on the anvil. Fluid is introduced between the second workpiece and the anvil so that the second workpiece at least partly rests on the fluid. Ultrasonic vibrations are applied to the first workpiece by the sonotrode for a period of time.
US08360294B2
A surgical stapling device has an elongated body and a removable loading unit and a securing structure for securing the loading unit onto the elongated body. A guiding ramp guides the movement of the loading unit as it is mounted onto the loading portion. The locking structure has a first position for locking movement of the loading unit and enabling firing rod to engage the loading unit. The locking unit has a second position for allowing the loading unit to be disengaged and removed from the device.
US08360293B2
A method utilizing a device capable of mounting an anchoring pin and then inserting the pin into the ground or other penetrable surface includes a hand-graspable elongate handle having an upper under and a lower end and a magnetic puck assembly fixed to the handle lower end for picking up an anchoring pin and maintaining in an insertion position until the pin is inserted into the ground. The method can be used to insert marker pins, or pins for retaining materials on a surface, such as the surface of an erodable waterway.
US08360283B1
A liquid foaming dispenser includes multiple valve mechanisms for regulating the inflow and mixture of air and liquid to create a foamable preparation. A gasket incorporating a double-valve structure is employed to regulate air inflow from the external environment, and air delivery to the liquid in preparation for foaming. The valve-regulated foaming dispenser securely and precisely blends the air and liquid for consistent foaming results.
US08360282B2
The invention relates to a foam-forming assembly for forming a foam, comprising a housing having an air passage and a liquid passage which each end in a mouth and which are in communication with a dispensing passage which ends in a dispensing opening, and a valve body. The invention is characterized in that the mouth of the liquid passage is annular and the mouth of the air passage and an entry port of the dispensing passage are substantially provided on the circumference of an imaginary circle, in which between the annular mouth of the liquid passage and the mouth of the air passage and/or the entry port of the dispensing passage an annular sealing surface is provided, against which, in rest position, the valve body sealingly engages, and in which during dispensing the valve body becomes detached of the sealing surface such that the mouth of the air passage, the mouth of the liquid passage and the entry port of the dispensing passage substantially simultaneously come in fluid communication with each other.
US08360281B2
A child resistant container with inverting cap top key for spray activation includes (a) a container main body adapted to receive a sprayer container with a top-positioned spray activator and spray nozzle; (b) an inner cap adapted for permanent connection to the open top of the container main body and having at least one key slot to permit at least one key to be inserted therein to permit a spray activator of a spray container to be activated by depression; (c) cut-out(s) to expose the spray activator nozzle when needed; (d) an outer cap to fit over the inner cap and having upwardly projecting key(s) for spray activation when the outer cap is inverted and inserted into the inner cap.
US08360277B2
An assembly for dispensing a beverage includes a collapsible beverage container having a neck part with an outlet. A connecting element is arranged at the neck part so as to receive an inlet end of a dispensing line. The beverage container is contained in a pressure chamber having an interior configured to accommodate the beverage container and a lid. The connecting element is configured for abutment with the lid of the pressure chamber to form a seal between the lid and the beverage container during use.
US08360275B2
A plastic spout which is adapted to be sealed between two foil walls of a pouch. The spout has a spout body, which forms a passage (153) for delivering a medium from the spout and/or feeding a medium to the pouch. In a bottom part thereof, the spout, on opposite sides, forms a sealing zone for a sealed connection to an adjoining foil wall. The sealing zones of the spout body are formed by sealing walls (158, 159) which project downward from the spout body, each having a curvature over their entire length, such that each sealing wall is outwardly convex over its entire length with respect to an imaginary plane passing through the outermost ends, which adjoin one another, of the sealing walls. The sealing walls can preferably move flexibly transversely with respect to their plane and, on their inner side, are supported or are supported by one or more flexible supporting parts of the spout body.
US08360249B1
A motor driven crusher for agitating and crushing material is provided. The crusher includes a frame removably coupled to a mechanical bucket and a plurality of shafts rotatably coupled within the frame and operationally coupled to the motor. The crusher further includes a plurality of crushing agitators coupled to each shaft of the plurality of shafts; and a plurality of screening spaces each having a predetermined spacing, wherein material placed on a top side of the crusher is agitated and crushed by the plurality of crushing agitators while the plurality of shafts rotate, screening small material through the plurality of screening spaces while crushing the larger material on the top side of the crusher to fit within the plurality of screening spaces.
US08360248B2
The technology described herein provides systems and methods for the viral transfer of entertainment media with a “media exchange” established based on tools over the internet in a “buddy list,” peer-to-peer, social networking environment, or the like, without utilizing a service provider's distribution system. Additionally, this technology provides tangible media exchange in a geographically local area, wherein the media exchange is prearranged based on the “buddy list,” peer-to-peer, social networking environment, and so forth.
US08360244B2
A new type of asymmetric flow field flow fractionator, A4F, is described permitting improved sample fractionation means by providing a range of available channel lengths within the same A4F unit. With such an apparatus, samples may be optimally separated by performing such fractionations as a function of channel length. The ability to vary channel length within the same A4F unit has heretofore been unavailable.
US08360235B2
A smokeless tobacco container (1) comprising in its closed state, a first and second portion, said portions being rotatably engageable with each other to define a space, said first portion (2) having release means, said second portion (3) having complementary engaging means such that only when in a selected position the release means can be aligned with the complementary engaging means thereby allowing separation of the two portions to open the container.
US08360231B2
Method and apparatus for transferring articles from a first carrier moving at a first speed to a carrier moving at a second speed. The apparatus may include a first transfer surface driven by a first motor and second transfer surface driven by a second motor. The first and second transfer surfaces receive and transfer different portions of an article at different speeds such that a desired amount of spacing can be provided between discrete articles in a process independent of the size of the article.
US08360226B2
Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for the contamination-free, precisely defined, horizontal orientation and subsequent transfer of thin, shock-sensitive crystalline plates, especially glass plates (11), into a defined vertical position. The glass plates (9) are oriented, transferred, and fed in the correct position for further processing without using an industrial robot and without being contaminated by humans. The apparatus is inexpensive and safe to operate.
US08360222B2
A transmission braking system includes a vehicle drive train and at least one hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor includes a front shaft and a rear shaft. The rear shaft has an anti-rotation element. An engagement mechanism is slidably affixed to the vehicle drive train, and selectively couples with the anti-rotation element to militate against a rotation of the front and rear shafts. A four-wheel locking system is also provided. The four wheel locking system includes a shaft-coupling engagement mechanism slidably affixed to one of the hydraulic motors. The shaft-coupling engagement mechanism selectively couples with the anti-rotation elements of the motors for allowing a summing of the output torque. The transmission braking system and the four-wheel locking system may be provided in a combined system.
US08360193B2
A control system for a construction vehicle, such as a motor grader, is provided. The control system includes a plurality of joysticks supported by an operator seat assembly of the motor grader.
US08360191B2
A support system for a power train of a vehicle includes a mount insulator mounted to a vehicle body and provided with a coupling member, a mount bracket coupled with the coupling member. The mount bracket includes a first mount bracket portion extending upward from an upper portion of the power train and a second mount bracket portion extending horizontally from an upper end of the first mount bracket portion. The first mount bracket portion includes a first vertical wall portion extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body and a second vertical wall portion intersects the first vertical wall portion and extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. First to fourth fastening members are formed to lower or upper end portions of the first and second vertical wall portions, respectively. A reinforcing member is formed integrally with the second mount bracket portion in a manner of connecting the third and fourth fastening members.
US08360181B2
An operation method of a hybrid vehicle having an automatic manual transmission system adapted to use at least two energy sources is provided with the following steps. Engaging an engine with a starter generator motor such that the engine and the starter generator motor rotate synchronously. Performing a speed changing by using a control unit assembly through controlling rotation speed of the traction motor and a rotation speed of the starter generator motor to a desired rotation speed for the speed changing according to a running state of the vehicle, such that the engine and the traction motor nearly rotate synchronously with the automatic manual transmission system to perform a gear ratio shifting process thereby to perform the speed changing. Controlling an automatic-switching clutch to engage or disengage the engine and the traction motor to achieve a plurality of driving mode for the vehicle.
US08360177B2
A drive unit for a vehicle is provided for use as a robot in pipe systems, cavities or the like. The drive unit includes at least one ring-like outer wheel and at least one driven magnetic wheel. The outer and the magnetic wheels have axes parallel to each other and are arranged eccentrically to one another, and engage one another such that when rotating relative to the outer wheel, the magnetic wheel delineates with its wheel axis a concentric circle lying within the outer wheel. In such a drive unit, stronger magnetic adhesion is enabled by the outer and magnetic wheels being arranged one behind the other in an axial direction. The engagement between the outer and magnetic wheels is effected by a circular, concentric disk connected securely against rotation to the magnetic wheel and rolls with its outer peripheral surface on the inner peripheral surface of the outer wheel.
US08360174B2
A drilling assembly comprises a drill bit that includes a bit body intermediate a working face and a shank. An indenting member adapted to guide the drill bit protrudes from the working face. A flexible portion is disposed above the bit body.
US08360172B2
An apparatus for drilling a wellbore may include a first section, a second section, and a third section, all of which are rotatably interconnected with pivot bearings and positioned along a drill string. The second section and the third section may be configured to form a controllable bend angle in the drill string. The first section, the second section, and the third section may be configured as sleeves that surround a portion of the drill string. One or more sections may include locking pads that selectively engage a wall of the wellbore. A hydraulic locking device for controlling a direction of rotation of the second section may include one or more brake elements and a reverse spinning sleeve. A first brake element may be used engage the reverse spinning sleeve and a second brake element may be used to engage a drive shaft.
US08360166B2
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rotary striking tool, including: a motor; an impact unit having a driving part being driven by the motor and an output part; a tip-tool side output shaft that is coupled to the output part; an impact detection unit that detects an impact generated at the impact unit; and a control unit programmed to: control the impact unit to perform a confirmation striking when the impact detected by the impact detection unit reaches a prescribed value, detect a rotation angle of the output shaft at the confirmation striking, determine whether a fastening operation is completed when the detected rotation angle is equal to or smaller than a predetermined angle, and continue the fastening operation when the detected rotation angle is larger than the predetermined angle.
US08360155B2
A fitting includes a body having at least two portions coupled together to form a body having a passage through the body. The passage allows at least a portion of a conduit to be located at least substantially lengthwise within the body. First and second ports are located on the body and are in fluid communication with the passage. A first seal is located on the passage wall between a first end of the body and the first port. A second seal is located on the passage wall between the first port and the second port. A translatable ring is located on the passage wall between the first and second seals. The ring moves along the passage wall when the first seal is activated so that the second seal is activated. The ring includes an opening proximate the first port to provide access to the conduit from the first port. The first and second seals provide a seal in the passage.
US08360146B2
The invention is a method for inverting reservoir bi-axial anisotropy and identifying complicated fracture/cross-bedding system (104) by using tri-axial induction logs and wellbore survey/image log data. An inversion method is disclosed that uses all nine components that can be measured by tri-axial induction tools (101), plus borehole azimuth and deviation data, to solve for the tri-axial induction response in an arbitrary anisotropic formation due to the non-orthogonal bedding plane and fracture plane (or cross bedding plane). A mathematical formula is provided relating the conductivity tensor in the tool's reference frame to the conductivity tensor in a reference plane associated with the fracture/cross bedding planes (102). This equation is inverted (103) to yield the conductivity tensor components in the fracture/cross bedding coordinate system, along with dip and azimuth angles for both the fracture/cross bedding planes and the tool.
US08360144B2
A new seismic attribute is disclosed along with its use to locate and classify seismic waveform anomalies and use them to construct objects and from them geologic surfaces (77) and bodies (75) from which hydrocarbon potential (or quality control of the seismic acquisition and processing (71)) may be assessed (79). The seismic attribute is constructed (74) from determinations of phase residues in the seismic data volume (72), preferably using complex trace analysis but alternatively by comparing neighboring waveforms for disappearing waveshape inflections. It is shown that in a data volume of the new attribute, non-zero values form strings and loops that may be associated with objects (geobodies) or surfaces such as unconformities or flooding surfaces. Methods of classification and selection (76) to reduce the number of objects generated are provided.
US08360138B2
The electronic system includes an electronic device and a liquid holding section that is thermally coupled to the electronic device. The electronic system further includes an impermeable section that engages the liquid holding section. The impermeable section includes a channel and a plurality of passages that provide fluid communication between the liquid holding section and the channel. The electronic system further includes (i) a first fluid that flows through the channel in the impermeable section to facilitate heat transfer from the electronic device to the first fluid; and (ii) a second fluid that flows from the liquid holding section through the plurality of passages into the channel when the second fluid boils within the liquid holding section due to heat transfer from the electronic device to the second fluid. In some embodiments, the first and second fluids are different types of substances.
US08360133B2
A mold boring apparatus including a mold boring tool having a flow passage formed inside of the mold boring tool which allows a fluid to flow therethrough, having slits and protruding portions formed on an outer peripheral portion of an outer body of a tool blade member of the mold boring tool in a circumferential direction thereof extending from a leading end to a base end of the tool blade member, and blades that are inclined inward and are formed at leading ends of the protruding portions formed between the adjacent slits.
US08360122B2
Pneumatic tire including a sealant material composition providing puncture sealing property within the sealant material composition includes a compound containing a diphenyldisulfide structure therein.
US08360119B2
A high-pressure inflation pump includes a head, a nozzle, a piercing member, and a resilient member. The head includes a compartment, a passageway, and a threaded section. The piercing member includes a base, a piercing portion, and an air guiding hole. The piercing portion includes an annular abutting shoulder for pressing against an end face of a threaded end of a high-pressure gas container engaged with the threaded section of the head, providing an airtight state. The resilient member includes a support end, a pressing end, and a chamber. The piercing member is received and positioned in the chamber without blocking flow of gas in the high-pressure gas container into the air guiding hole, allowing rapid inflation of a tire engaged with the nozzle and allowing the high-pressure gas container to be used many times to save resources.
US08360116B1
A standalone ice dispenser delivers ice in bagged form. The device uses a cone-shaped drum with an upwardly oriented mount that receives and stores the ice is gravitationally delivered to the drum from an ice maker. A motor rotates the drum such that a fin therein causes ice to advance toward and eventually out of the mouth of the drum. A bagging system uses a hopper that receives ice from the drum such that a blower to blow open a bag and thereafter a trap door drops allowing ice to drop from the hopper into the bag. Thereafter, the bagged ice drops to a floor panel which raises the bagged ice into a chute. Weight sensors attached to the drum determine whether the drum is empty or full and control operation of the ice maker.
US08360110B2
The machine (1) for making fabrics comprising yarns decorated with pearls (15) comprises a yarn holder (2) for feeding a warp yarn (3) to a weaving group (5) by aligning all of them onto the same plane by means of cords (7) controlling the feeding direction of the warp (3). The weaving group (5) comprises a reed (9) therethrough the warp yarns (3) pass and cooperating with a bar (11) for forming the fabric (8). The weaving cloth (5) comprises two pincers (13) suitable for inserting a weft yarn between the warp yarns (3). The bar (11) has an indentation (16) faced towards the reed (9) and placed at the passing area of the warp (14). The pincers (13) have a first jaw (18) faced towards a second jaw (19) with substantially triangular profile. The invention also relates to the fabric made with such machine.
US08360109B2
An adjustable bent housing includes an outer tubular member having an interior surface defining an interior bore. The outer tubular member has a first angular offset. An inner tubular member is provided and has an exterior surface. The inner tubular member has a second angular offset. The inner tubular member has at least one engagement end received within the interior bore of the outer tubular member. A desired cumulative angular offset is selected by relative rotation of the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member to adjust the positioning of the first angular offset relative to the second angular offset. A rotational stop is provided that limits relative rotation of the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member to a limited rotational range. A locking sleeve locks the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member in a selected rotational position to fix the cumulative angular offset.
US08360107B2
The invention relates to a pressure compensating device for fluid-conducting systems, with a pressure container (1) for the pressure compensation, an elastic diaphragm (3), which forms a cavity (5) for receiving the fluid, and a pressure chamber of gas (7) adjoining the cavity (5). The diaphragm (3) is connected via a connecting mount (15) to a connecting pipe (17) for the fluid. A pipe (21) for the fluid, led separately to the connecting pipe (17), extends via the connecting mount (15) into the cavity (5), while being concentrically encircled by a hollow cylinder (25) shaped like a sieve, which defines an annular space (27) and opens into an end piece (29), into which the pipe (21) opens. Moreover the end piece (29) features sieve-like perforations (31) for the fluid to flow out into the cavity (5). The separately led pipe (21) extends into the fluid-conducting system, while the connecting pipe (17) for the fluid opens into the fluid-conducting system.
US08360101B2
The invention relates to a valve device of the cylinder valve type, comprising a filling coupling (11) connected directly to the inlet (2) of the valve without passing via the valve shut-off device (4, 8). A filtering element (12) is positioned in a chamber at the intersection between the inlet to the valve and the device for shutting-off the valve. This allows the filter to be arranged optimally from the accessibility point of view and also from the gas flow point of view. Specifically, the filter is arranged in the chamber in such a way as to filter the stream of gas flowing towards the outlet (3) of the valve via the shut-off device, thus protecting the latter, and also in such a way as not to filter the stream of filling gas flowing from the filling connector of the valve towards the inlet.
US08360097B2
Embodiments of a valve actuator are provided for adjusting the position of a main valve element in relation to the pressure of a fluid supplied by a supply duct. The valve actuator includes a housing, a control pressure valve disposed in the housing, and a piston slidably disposed in the housing and mechanically coupled to the main valve element. The housing has a control pressure chamber therein, which is configured to be fluidly coupled to the supply duct. The control pressure valve is configured to substantially impede fluid flow into the control pressure chamber until the fluid pressure within the supply duct surpasses a minimum actuation pressure. The piston normally resides in a first position and is configured to move toward a second position as the pressure within the control pressure chamber increases.
US08360096B2
A relief valve for a hydraulic machine that combines a poppet valve assembly and a pilot valve assembly together using a connector pin wherein internal fluid passageways within the poppet and pilot spools provide a fluid flow path between the inlet of the valve and a cavity disposed between the poppet and pilot. As a result of the internal passageways fluid is metered to the interior cavity to provide additional control and stability within the relief valve.
US08360095B2
Disclosed in one aspect is a valve comprising (a) a valve body having a poppet valve chamber with an axis running there through; (b) a seat having a seat sealing surface, and a outer-seat surface, the seat located axially within the poppet valve chamber; and (c) a poppet having a poppet sealing surface, the poppet being located axially within the poppet valve chamber; wherein a poppet-seat interface is created between at least a portion of the seat sealing surface and at least a portion of the poppet sealing surface, the poppet-seat interface being at an angle β of from 20 to 90° to the axis. In one embodiment the seat is removable, allowing the geometry of at least the poppet head surface and/or the seat inside surface, which defines a fluid flow-path cross-section, to be tailored.
US08360091B2
Ventilation for a reducing agent tank, having a first reducing agent tank which is provided with a first reducing agent fill opening, a fuel tank which is provided with a fuel fill opening and a ventilation device, as well as a first line through which the first reducing agent tank is connected to the fuel tank.
US08360080B2
The invention relates to an umbrella, particularly a sun umbrella or rain umbrella, comprising a holding structure and an umbrella roof attached thereto by means of a joint, the joint being able to be locked by means of a cable or Bowden wire running through at least one part of the holding structure, characterized in that the joint is designed as a purely rotating joint, wherein an engagement element located on the umbrella roof is connected to the cable or Bowden wire or is otherwise mechanically operationally connected thereto, in order to releaseably engage in a segment of the joint associated with the holding structure to lock the joint.
US08360073B2
A component of a cigarette comprises a silver-based catalyst for the conversion of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. The silver-based catalyst comprises particles (e.g., nanoscale or larger sized particles) of metallic silver and/or silver oxide supported in and/or on metal oxide support particles. The silver-based catalyst can be incorporated into a cigarette component such as tobacco cut filler, cigarette paper and cigarette filter material to reduce the concentration of carbon monoxide in the mainstream smoke of a cigarette during smoking. The catalyst can also be used in non-cigarette applications.
US08360066B2
A headrest for a patient-bearing surface, having an approximately horseshoe-shaped form and comprising a central section (14) for supporting the back of the head or the forehead, the bearing surface thereof being at least approximately spherical shell-shaped, also comprising two side sections (16) which are arranged at a distance from each other and whose bearing surfaces conform at least approximately to a common cylindrical surface whose axis is parallel to a symmetrical line (20) of the headrest extending between the side surfaces (16). A cheekbone support (18), which protrudes in the direction of the other side section (16), is provided on each side section (16).
US08360065B2
According to one claim of the invention, a method for occluding a fallopian tube in a vertebrate subject is described, which comprises comprising transcervically delivering a solid blocking material into the fallopian tube. In various embodiments, a fluid sealing material is delivered along with the solid blocking material. Other claims of the invention pertain to articles of manufacture, delivery devices and kits for use in occluding the fallopian tubes of a vertebrate subject.
US08360064B2
The various embodiments of the present inventions provide stabilization devices and methods for use of the stabilization devices with minimally invasive gynecological procedures such as methods of preventing pregnancy by inserting intrafallopian contraceptive devices into the fallopian tubes.
US08360058B2
The present invention is a system for administering nitrous oxide. The system includes an adjustable post mechanism attached to a dental chair. A mounting surface structure includes a top surface and a bottom surface. The bottom surface of the mounting surface structure attached to a top end of the adjustable post mechanism. A fluid control system for controlling the flow of nitrous oxide and oxygen is attached to the mounting surface structure. A nitrous oxide and oxygen supply, vacuum source, a breather bag, and a nasal delivery interface system are fluidly connected to the fluid control system and a patient. The breather bag is vertically mounted to a top surface of the mounting surface structure. In operation, the present invention provides a system for administering anesthesia/analgesia gas which provides convenient and direct access to a medical practitioner.
US08360056B2
A body section 2 is formed with a capsule insertion hole 6. A movable section 3 includes a capsule puncture needle 9 arranged to be moved into or out of the capsule insertion hole 6. The body section 2 and the movable section 3 are connected to be relatively pivoted at least between a posture in which the capsule insertion hole 6 is exposed, and a posture in which the capsule insertion hole 6 is hid by the body section 2. The body section 2 (a side wall 6e of a protrusion 6a) is arranged to restrict the advancing movement of the capsule puncture needle 9 in the state in which the body section 2 and the movable section 3 are in the posture in which the capsule insertion hole 6 is exposed.
US08360055B2
An inhaler comprising: at least one cover element (11, 12) that is movable between a closed position and an open position; individual reservoirs formed on a reservoir substrate; movable support means (50) that are displaceable between a non-dispensing position and a dispensing position; reservoir opening means (80) for opening a respective reservoir in the dispensing position; loading means (800) for urging said movable support means towards said dispensing position; blocking means (100) for retaining said movable support means in the non-dispensing position; and trigger means (60) for releasing said blocking means; said loading means including an elastically-deformable loading element (51) that co-operates with a cam surface (910) that is connected to said at least one movable cover element; and said cam surface comprising a first portion that is adapted to load said loading means, and a second portion that co-operates with said loaded loading means.
US08360039B2
An ignition apparatus includes a core, primary and secondary windings and a loop-shaped magnetic return path structure. The structure includes layers of wound strip steel or wound ferritic wire stacked in an outward fashion. The core is placed in an interior of the loop forming at least one air gap between a core end surfaces and the structure. A combined core and magnetic return path structure includes a continuous loop formed by winding ferritic wire either on a spool or on a mandrel and is then bonded. The bonded winding is cut to form two C-shaped portions. Each C-shaped portion has a central yoke that extends into a pair of parallel legs. The C-shaped portions are re-assembled over primary and second windings so that the legs form a pair of parallel branches. One branch acts as the core and the other branch acts as the magnetic return path.
US08360037B2
An oil separation apparatus may include an intake housing provided with a gas inlet for the blow-by gas to be sucked therein, a plurality of cyclone which is formed as a cone, is disposed around the intake housing, is communicated with intake housing through an intake passage and separates oil from the blow-by gas, wherein a gas exit is formed to the upper side of the cyclone for discharging the blow-by gas and an oil outlet is formed to the lower side of the cyclone for discharging the separated oil, an exhaust housing cylinder which is provided with an gas outlet, is communicated with the gas exit and discharges the blow-by gas through the gas outlet and a control unit which is disposed within the intake and exhaust housing and selectively opens the intake passages according to intake pressure of the engine.
US08360025B2
A composite intake manifold coupled to a V-engine is provided. The composite intake manifold includes a supporting member overmolded in an unsupported region of the composite intake manifold.
US08360022B2
Provided is a valve timing control apparatus configured to realize a locked state before an engine is stopped by controlling a restricting mechanism and a locking mechanism while the engine is operating. The apparatus includes a partitioning section provided in a driven-side rotary member for partitioning between an advanced angle chamber and a retarded angle chamber, a restricting member disposed in the driven-side rotary member and capable of projecting/retracting relative to a driving-side rotary member, a restricting recess portion formed in the driving-side rotary member and receiving the restricting member projected therein for restricting a relative rotational phase within a predetermined range, a locking member disposed in the driven-side rotary member and capable of projecting/retracting relative to the driving-side rotary member, a locking recess portion receiving the locking member projected therein for locking the relative rotational phase to a predetermined phase, and a communication passageway capable of feeding fluid releasing the restriction by the restricting member to the locking member and incapable of feeding fluid releasing the locking by the locking member to the restricting member. The restricting member switches over the communication passageway to a communicating state or to a non-communicating state.
US08360021B2
Disclosed is a variable valve gear comprising a camshaft phase change mechanism, which variably controls a phase of an intake cam with respect to a crankshaft, and a variable valve lift mechanism, which changes an opening timing of an intake valve more than a closing timing and basically continuously varies a lift and an open period of the intake valve. The lift and the open period are set lest the intake valve interfere with a piston of an engine, with the phase controlled to be most advanced by the camshaft phase change mechanism and the lift controlled to be maximal by the variable valve lift mechanism.
US08360019B2
A split-cycle engine includes a crankshaft rotatable about a crankshaft axis. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through intake and compression strokes during a single rotation of the crankshaft. An expansion piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the expansion piston reciprocates through expansion and exhaust strokes during a single rotation of the crankshaft. A crossover passage interconnects the expansion and compression cylinders. The crossover passage includes crossover compression (XovrC) and crossover expansion (XovrE) valves defining a pressure chamber therebetween. At least one of the XovrC and XovrE valves is a balanced valve. A fluid pressure balancer biases the valve for balancing fluid pressures acting against the valve in both opening and closing directions, reducing the forces required in actuating the valve.
US08360012B2
A disposable dog boot comprising a single, seamless piece of flexible latex or polymer material having a bulbously shaped, bottom closed end and a top open end of a smaller cross-section, wherein when a paw of the dog is slipped into the boot, the bottom end covers and loosely conforms to the paw to protect the paw, and the top end flexibly and removably secures, through the material's elasticity, the boot to a leg of the dog.
US08360005B1
A protective pet dish apparatus that provides protection from birds and insects of food or water in a pet dish by a protective pet dish cover that is supported by a rod extending from the pet dish to the cover. The protective pet dish cover swivels away from the pet dish on the rod when a pet pushes its head against it and swivels back to cover the pet dish after the pet removes its head from the pet dish. The protective pet dish cover uses gravity or a combination of gravity and magnetic force along with the support and swiveling of the support rod to cover the food after a pet removes its head from the pet dish.
US08360003B2
In a plasma reactor having an RF plasma source power applicator at its ceiling, an integrally formed grid liner includes a radially extending plasma confinement ring and an axially extending side wall liner. The plasma confinement ring extends radially outwardly near the plane of a workpiece support surface from a pedestal side wall, and includes an annular array of radial slots, each of the slots having a narrow width corresponding to an ion collision mean free path length of a plasma in the chamber. The side wall liner covers an interior surface of the chamber side wall and extends axially from a height near a height of said workpiece support surface to the chamber ceiling.
US08359997B2
The invention relates to an arrangement of fixedly mounted painting robots in a painting booth, wherein the painting booth is subdivided by an imaginary vertical plane into a first spatial region and a second spatial region and wherein at least two painting robots with overlapping working areas are arranged in at least one of the two regions. A respective reference point of a painting robot is a point of intersection of a first axis of rotation with a painting robot base of the painting robot concerned. Each reference point is arranged above an imaginary horizontal plane which is determined by the vertically highest point of a predetermined object to be painted in the painting position, and the reference points are offset with respect to one another in the vertical direction and/or horizontally, transversely in relation to the vertical plane.
US08359992B2
A steering device consists of a towed steering surface or blade attached to a marine vessel by means of lines. It provides a method of steering the vessel in fluid. The blade is either rigid or non-rigid and may be supported by a framework. Control of the blade is by an attached lever/quadrant or by lines. Attachment lines and/or control lines can be configured according to the current invention so as to permit a lightweight construction of blade and/or light loads on the helm. The device can be designed as primary steering or as a form of emergency or reserve steering which can be deployed either with or without prior preparation of the vessel.
US08359985B2
A modular component, panel, or building block, is used to construct modular styled systems. Such module contains specifically designed slots or openings. Such slots extend substantially perpendicular from the modules' edges and into the center of the panel. The interlocking mechanism provided by the slots allows the modules to be combined to form a modular styled system. The module further contains a number of drill holes that runs across its edges and can be threaded with metal rods for structural support.
US08359978B2
Projectiles containing a fluorophore composition comprising a fluorophore compound and an activator composition comprising an activator compound for marking targets are disclosed. Some embodiments include a nose structure with a cavity radially segmented into a plurality of radially isolated compartments by at least one laterally and radially extending internal wall. Additional embodiments include a fore compartment and an aft compartment sealed by a septum. Yet additional embodiments include at least one pressurized cavity and may further include a plunger positioned and configured to pierce each pressurized cavity. Methods of manufacturing target marking projectiles and methods of marking targets are also disclosed.
US08359970B2
A dual-sided cooking device is provided that determines whether the upper and lower cooking platens are substantially parallel to each other when in a cooking position. In addition, the method and device in accordance with the invention are capable of identifying a type of food item placed on a lower cooking platen of a two-sided cooking grill.
US08359966B1
A method of modifying a rifles of the M16, M4, AR15 platform provides a second bolt stop release operable from the right side of the rifle. The second bolt stop release is a rigid extension of the bolt stop that passes through the right receiver wall to a position accessible to a user gripping the rifle with the user's right hand in conventional firing position. The two bolt stop releases provide the inventive rifle ambidextrous bolt release operation.
US08359965B2
A panel for use in assembling a radiation, microbial, acoustically, and ballistically shielded space within a building or other personal space. The panel is comprised of an ionizing radiation shielding material layer, a non-ionizing radiation shielding layer, an anti microbial treated layer, a bulletproof layer and an acoustical shielding layer. A method for using said panels to create a radiation, microbial, acoustic, and ballistic shielded space.
US08359959B2
A cutting device includes a table for placing thereon a workpiece. A tool unit supports a cutting tool and is laterally tiltably supported on the table, so that the rotational axis of the cutting tool can be inclined relative to a horizontal direction. A positioning device includes a first positioning member and a second positioning member that can interact with each other to position the tool unit at a plurality of laterally tilted positions. At least one of the first and second positioning members can be moved to change the laterally tilted position positionable by the positioning device.
US08359957B1
A method of increasing chain saw speed while regulating feed includes a speed increaser and a hydraulic flow bleeding device. The speed increaser preferably includes a mounting plate, a drive sprocket, a driven sprocket and a drive belt. The drive sprocket is rotated with a hydraulic motor. The driven sprocket is attached to a drive shaft and driven by the drive belt. The drive shaft is inserted into a chain saw assembly, which is attached to the mounting plate. An input of the hydraulic motor is connected to an output of a hydraulic pump. An output of the hydraulic motor is connected to an input of a hydraulic cylinder and a hydraulic flow bleeding device. The speed of the chain saw may decrease as thereof cuts through a piece of wood. As the speed of the chain saw decreases, a feed rate of the hydraulic cylinder will also decrease.
US08359951B2
A torque measuring flange is provided for use with a tong arrangement. The torque measuring flange includes a top plate and a bottom plate and one or more cylinders disposed between one or more wedges, whereby rotating the top plate causes the wedges to compress a piston in the cylinder.
US08359949B2
A hammer or other hand tool has a head to which is attached a handle. The handle has a plurality of spring steel rods extending substantially the length of the handle and extending into the head where the rods are affixed by a plate. Spacer plates with holes are positioned at spaced locations along the rods. The rods and spacer plates are encased in a rubber material that forms the outer surface of the handle. The rods and spacer plates at the end of the handle form a reinforced lanyard hole. A collar is formed on the handle adjacent the head. The head of the hammer has angled deflecting pads adjacent the striking faces. A raised rim on the head opposite the handle forms a stand surface to enable the barrel shaped head to stand with the handle projecting upwardly.
US08359948B2
A transmission for an industrial vehicle has an input shaft, first and second transmission mechanisms, a clutch mechanism, a rotation direction switching gear train, a speed change gear train, and an output shaft. The first and second transmission mechanisms change the speed among a plurality of speeds of rotation from the input shaft. The clutch mechanism is disposed on the input side of the transmission mechanisms and includes forward and reverse clutches and first and second snap clutches for selecting which of the first and second transmission mechanisms will receive rotational input from the engine. The rotation direction switching gear train inputs rotations for forward and reverse travel to the forward and reverse clutches. The speed change gear train inputs to the first snap clutch and the second snap clutch the output from the forward clutch and the reverse clutch.
US08359942B2
A transmission actuator for a transmission includes a split sensor configured to detect a switching position of a split phase rod of the transmission that can be longitudinally displaced in a split sensor measuring direction. The transmission actuator further includes a gate sensor configured to detect a gate rod position of a gate rod of the transmission that can be longitudinally displaced in a gate sensor measuring direction, and a gear sensor configured to detect a gear rod position of a gear rod of the transmission that can be longitudinally displaced in a gear sensor measuring direction. Two measuring directions extend substantially parallel and span a measuring direction plane, and a third measuring direction forms an obtuse angle with the measuring direction plane.
US08359939B2
A double clutch transmission with two clutches having input sides connected to a drive shaft and the output sides connected to one of two transmission input shafts which are coaxially arranged, at least two countershafts on which toothed idler gearwheels are supported, toothed fixed gearwheels are arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on both of the transmission input shafts and mesh with at least one of the idler gearwheels. A plurality of coupling devices, each connecting one idler gearwheels to a countershaft in a rotationally fixed manner, and one power take-off gear provided on each of the two countershafts, each of which gearwheels is coupled with gearing of an output shaft, such that a plurality of power shift forward gears and at least one reverse gear can be shifted.
US08359938B2
A double clutch transmission with two clutches connected to a drive shaft and to one of two transmission input shafts. Fixed gears are coupled to the input shafts and engage idler gears. Several coupling devices connect the idler gears to a countershaft which have an output gear that couple gears of an output shaft such power shift forward gears and a reverse gear can be shifted. Three dual gear planes each comprising one fixed gear which is supported by an input shaft and two idler gears which are supported by a respective countershaft. In each dual gear plane at least one idler gear wheel can be used for at least two gears such that at least one winding-path gear is engaged by engagement of a disengaged output coupling device assigned to one of the output gear wheels.
US08359934B2
The object to configure a system for measuring loads during the wheel/rail contact of rail vehicles in such a manner that the occurring forces and/or torques can be measured in a reliable and realistic manner is solved by the present invention. Between the rail foot and the measuring device, at least one elastic element is arranged which has an elasticity which simulates the elasticity of a ballast bed. By means of the measuring system according to the invention, on the one hand, realistic conditions of a track system can be simulated and, on the other, a high metrological reproducibility of a load situation can be achieved.
US08359933B2
For monitoring the tube arrangement, the measuring system of the invention includes, connected to the transmitter electronics, a temperature measuring arrangement having a first temperature sensor for producing a temperature signal dependent on a temperature of a first of the measuring tubes of the tube arrangement and at least a second temperature sensor for producing a temperature signal dependent on a temperature of a second of the measuring tubes of the tube arrangement. In the method of the invention, it is provided that, in the case of medium flowing through the tube arrangement, a temperature difference existing between the at least two measuring tubes as a result plugging is ascertained and, in case the ascertained temperature difference deviates from a predetermined limit value for the temperature difference representing a non-plugged tube arrangement, a partial plugging of the tube arrangement, especially a plugging of exactly one of the measuring tubes, is signaled.
US08359926B2
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in accordance with the invention includes: an ultrasonic probe configured to transmit an ultrasonic wave to an object to be tested and receiving an ultrasonic wave from the object; an ultrasonic transmitter/receiver configured to provide a signal that causes the ultrasonic probe to transmit an ultrasonic wave and signal-processing a signal received from the object by the ultrasonic probe; an ultrasonic image constructor configured to construct an ultrasonic image from the signal-processed received signal; an image display for displaying the ultrasonic image; a controller configured to control the ultrasonic transmitter/receiver, the ultrasonic image constructor and the image display to work properly; and a temperature sensor, provided on the ultrasonic probe, configured to sense the temperature of the ultrasonic probe and outputting the sensed temperature to the controller. The controller obtains the temperature variation rate of the ultrasonic probe from the temperature sensor, determines a usage state of the ultrasonic probe based on the obtained temperature variation rate, and controls the ultrasonic transmitter/receiver based on the determined usage state of the ultrasonic probe.
US08359925B2
A method is disclosed for inspecting a weld joining a first rotor disk made of nickel alloy and having an inner surface and an outer surface concentric with the rotor's longitudinal axis to a second rotor disk having an inner surface and an outer surface concentric with the rotor's longitudinal axis. The weld made of nickel alloy fills a radial gap between the rotor disks, and has a dissimilar microstructure to either of the rotor disks. The method includes forming at least one slot in the first rotor disk extending through either the inner surface or the outer surface of the first rotor disk terminating in the first rotor disk; and passing an inspection signal from the first slot to the weld to inspect the weld for defects.
US08359922B2
A tuning fork-type vibrator includes a tuning fork-type vibrating body including a base and legs. The tuning fork-type vibrating body includes two piezoelectric substrates, an intermediate electrode, surface electrodes and an entire-surface electrode that are laminated together. The surface electrodes are separated by separating portions extending from the base to each of the legs. The widths of the separating portions at a point of connection to the circuit board are wider than those of the separating portions at other points. The separating portions are formed by dividing an electrode provided on the entire surface of a piezoelectric substrate in the vibrating body with a dicer or by laser radiation or etching.
US08359915B2
A brake test method is disclosed for use in testing the operation of a brake of a drive system comprising a motor operable to drive a pair of drive shaft arrangements for rotation, an inboard brake associated with the motor, a first outboard brake associated with an end part of a first one of the drive shaft arrangements, and first and second outboard position sensors associated with the end parts of respective ones of the drive shaft arrangements, the method comprising the steps of applying the first outboard brake, operating the motor to apply a torque to the first drive shaft arrangement, applying the inboard brake, de-activating the motor, and using the output of the second outboard position sensor in determining an operating status of the inboard brake and/or first outboard brake.
US08359898B2
Connector structure for signal line and crimping tool thereof comprises a connector with a body having a plurality of passages formed therein for receiving a number of signal lines, and on the top surface adjacent to the rear end of the connector including a press member for pressing the signal lines. The passages includes a plurality of slots extended through the front end of the connector so that the cores of the signal lines can insert through the front end of the body, above the slots is provided with a through groove for inserting a guide member therein. Besides, a crimping tool includes two clippers which are pivotally connected together. Between the clippers is defined with a press mechanism for pressing the guide member and the press member, and the crimping tool includes a cutting mechanism to cut the cores evenly.
US08359896B2
A support jaw arrangement for sliding lateral support of rod-shaped and tubular workpieces prior to their entrance into a forming groove of a bending head of a bending machine. The support jaw arrangement includes two support jaws, one on each side of the workpiece. Each support jaw is fastened on a holder to a support bracket which, guided in a longitudinally displaceable manner on a guide block, is displaceable by a drive device from an initial position retracted against the direction of transport of the workpiece parallel to the same, to an end position extended in the direction of transport of the workpiece. One support jaw supports the workpiece in a laterally sliding manner in a region from its tangential entrance into the forming groove, up to a point at a predetermined distance in front of the same while the other support jaw assumes a retracted initial position.
US08359891B2
A mechanical key is to be prevented from coming apart, a head portion of the mechanical key is to be attached to a main body for use and the main body is to be prevented from being disassembled unintentionally when using the mechanical key. In a key lock structure of a mechanical key of a portable device in which a mechanical key is storable in a main body, the main body is configured in a two-piece structure including a first case and a second case, the first case includes a first storage section for storing the mechanical key and a second storage section for storing a key lock mechanism of the mechanical key, the lock mechanism locks the mechanical key stored in the first storage section to prevent the mechanical key from coming off and unlocks in response to a predetermined operation to allow the mechanical key to be pulled out.
US08359889B2
A vehicle door handle device, includes a cylinder lock for locking and unlocking a locking mechanism of an opening/closing panel, and a pair of pivot members pivotally attached to the opening/closing panel. One pivot member of the pair of pivot members is formed of a shutter capable of opening and closing a key insert hole of the cylinder lock, and another pivot member of the pair of pivot members has a pivotal force transmitting portion for transmitting a pivotal force in a direction to open the key insert hole to the one pivot member and is formed of an operating handle for opening and closing the opening/closing panel.
US08359887B2
A method is disclosed for producing sheet glass having two faces, at least one of which has a high surface quality, the method comprising a treatment step wherein a stream of glass is contacted with a forming tool, and wherein a reversible adhesion force exists between the stream of glass and the forming tool after contacting. An apparatus is also disclosed for producing sheet glass according to the disclosed and various other methods of sheet glass manufacture, the apparatus comprising a forming tool having a means for controlling the temperature of at least a portion of the surface thereof.
US08359883B2
Jewelry apparatus, a setting for gemstones and a method of setting gemstones in jewelry. The setting includes a base that is formed by walls and a sunk surface between the top and bottom of the base walls. Within the base, the sunk surface is divided into cavities by braces that partially enclose each cavity. Each cavity is partially circumscribed by the braces for holding the gemstone within each cavity. Each cavity has a bottom opening formed in the sunk surface for the pavilion of the gemstone to pass through. Girdles of the gemstones lie above the braces and are close together through the openings between the braces of adjacent cavities. Light passes through the pavilion that protrudes through the bottom openings and between adjacent gemstones through openings between the cavities. The passage of light creates a carpet setting with improved appearance.
US08359879B2
The present invention relates to a refrigerator and a degassing container of the refrigerator which compulsorily degass a portion of air inside a space where foods are stored to the outside by a degassing means together with deformation of a gasket when a door is closely adhered. The present invention includes a degassing container of a refrigerator comprising a case whose one side is opened; a door which shields the opened one side of the case selectively; a gasket interposed between the door and case and elastically deformed to be closely adhered when the door is shielded; a degassing means provided on the door and exhausting air inside the case to the outside when the gasket is compressively deformed; and a release means provided on the door and flowing external air into an inner side of the case when the door is opened. According to the present invention, the storage performance is improved.
US08359871B2
A temperature control device includes a thermoelectric device and a first sink. The thermoelectric device includes a plurality of thermoelectric elements electrically interconnected with one another by a plurality of electrical interconnects which are coupled between an interior surface of a first plate and an interior surface of a second plate. The first sink has a flat bottom and a plurality of generally parallel fins extending out of the flat bottom. Also, the flat bottom is coupled to an exterior surface of the first plate by a coupling media that includes a resilient and thermally-conductive pad.
US08359857B2
Systems and methods for operating a hydraulically actuated device/system are described herein. For example, systems and methods for the compression and/or expansion of gas can include at least one pressure vessel defining an interior region for retaining at least one of a volume of liquid or a volume of gas and an actuator coupled to and in fluid communication with the pressure vessel. The actuator can have a first mode of operation in which a volume of liquid disposed within the pressure vessel is moved to compress and move gas out of the pressure vessel. The actuator can have a second mode of operation in which a volume of liquid disposed within the pressure vessel is moved by an expanding gas entering the pressure vessel. The system can further include a heat transfer device configured to transfer heat to or from the at least one of a volume of liquid or a volume of gas retained by the pressure vessel.
US08359848B2
An end cap for an exhaust treatment device is disclosed. The end cap has a cylindrical housing with an axial direction, a radial direction substantially orthogonal to the axial direction, a first open end, and a second closed end opposing the first open end in the axial direction. The end cap also has an integral port member extending from an annular surface of the cylindrical housing. The integral port member has a central axis aligned in the radial direction, and an exterior surface of the integral port member tangentially connects to an exterior surface of the cylindrical housing.
US08359842B2
An airless nozzle and fuel deliver system for a fuel-fired burner sprays fuel droplets for ignition to increase heat for regenerating an exhaust component. A source of pressurized fuel delivers pressurized fuel to a first fuel injector. In response to a first control signal, the first fuel injector is opened and fuel pressure is increased to a desired level to open a valve such that the fuel can be delivered to the airless nozzle. The airless nozzle sprays fuel droplets for a period of time that the first fuel injector is open. In response to a second control signal, the first fuel injector is closed and a second fuel injector is opened such that fuel is vented to decrease fuel pressure between the valve and the first fuel injector to stop the spray of fuel droplets by closing the valve.
US08359839B2
A method for regenerating a particulate filter is disclosed. In one example, oxygen is pumped from the intake system of a direct injection turobocharged gasoline engine to the exhaust system by a compressor. The oxygen is introduced to a particulate filter at a location upstream from the particulate filter. In this way, regeneration of a particulate filter may be accomplished without disturbing the chemistry of a three-way catalyst located in the exhaust system upstream of the particulate filter.
US08359833B2
A method of introducing reductant to an exhaust stream is disclosed. The method may include ordering a first dosing event, supplying a reductant to a dispensing device in response to ordering the first dosing event, dispensing reductant from the dispensing device into the exhaust stream, and forcing reductant from the dispensing device toward a reductant source, wherein sufficient reductant remains in a pumping device and a fluid passage to keep the pumping device primed.
US08359828B2
A method and system of controlling an engine includes a control system includes an exhaust gas flow rate module generating an exhaust gas flow rate signal corresponding to a flow rate of exhaust gases. The control system further includes a temperature adjustment module that determines a temperature correction factor based on the exhaust gas flow rate and that determines a corrected temperature particulate sensor signal in response to a measured particulate temperature signal and the temperature correction factor.
US08359825B2
A method of using one or more microjets to create and/or control oblique shock waves. The introduction of microjet flow into a supersonic stream creates an oblique shock wave. This wave can be strengthened—by increasing microjet flow rate or the use of many microjets in an array—in order to form an oblique shock. Such an oblique shock can be used to decelerate flow in a jet aircraft engine inlet in a controlled fashion, thus increasing pressure recovery and engine efficiency while reducing flow instability. Adjusting the pressure ratio across the microjet actually alters the angle of the oblique shock. Thus, the use of microjets allows decelerating shock waves in an inlet engine to be properly positioned and controlled. Microjet arrays can also be used to ameliorate shock waves created by external aircraft surfaces, such as sensor pods and weapons. Microjets placed forward of any external protuberance can convert a single substantial shock wave into a series of much milder waves which will not produce unwanted external effects, such as strong sonic booms.
US08359821B2
An apparatus, such as a lawnmower, includes a cutting device and a chassis for carrying the cutting device. The chassis includes a chassis body, at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel mounted on the chassis body. An adjusting device for adjusting the height of the cutting device with respect to the chassis, is arranged between the cutting device and the chassis. The adjusting device includes an adjusting seat, an adjustment driving device mounted, a driving member, and a driven member connected to the other one of the chassis body and the cutting device.
US08359811B2
Natural stone cladding (10) with a plurality of strips (18.1, 18.2) for surface-parallel mounting on a surface to be clad, with a number of natural stone elements (11.1, 11.2) and a number of support holders (30.1, 30.2) and counterholders (20.1, 20.2). Each natural stone element (11.1, 11.2) comprises a visible front side and a rear side with a first machine-made longitudinal recess and a second machine-made longitudinal recess. Pairs of support holders (30.1, 30.2) are fastened to adjacent strips (18.1, 18.2) and one natural stone element (11.1, 11.2) is seated by the first longitudinal recess on these two support holders (30.1, 30.2). One each of the two support holders (30.1, 30.2) is seated a respective counterholder (20.1, 20.2), and each of the two counterholders (20.1, 20.2) engages in the second longitudinal recess (15) in order to secure the natural stone element (11.1, 11.2).
US08359801B2
A roll-formed grid runner comprising a sheet metal strip folded into an upper hollow single wall reinforcing bulb, a double wall web below the bulb, a channel extending laterally from both sides of a lower end of the web to a bend and upwardly from the bend to a panel supporting elevation, the bend on each side of the web existing at a longitudinally extending score line where a thickness of the strip is locally reduced.
US08359798B2
A foundation, particularly a foundation of a wind turbine, is provided. The foundation includes a central foundation member and a plurality of foundation segments which are segments of a circular, ring shaped or polygonal foundation element and which are connected to the central foundation member using a plurality of locking elements.
US08359795B2
A window cladding assembly that fits on the inside of an awning or casement type window unit to cover from view the frame of the window unit and the perimeter of the window unit sash.
US08359778B2
Catches and trigger apparatus for use with weapons are described. An example trigger apparatus for use with a firearm having a breech block includes a latch moveable between a blocking position that blocks the breech block and a non-blocking position that does not block the breech block. The latch includes a sear arm and a securing element movably coupled to the sear arm. The securing element to enable, with a securing device in a securing position. The latch to be moved to the non-blocking position by a retracting breach. The securing device movable by an advancing breech block to position the securing element adjacent a surface of the securing device in the securing position to secure the latch in the blocking position.
US08359768B2
An air inlet and outlet passage module for desiccation is formed in a hollow structure including a frame and two boards. The frame has a frame channel formed between frame sides and a duct cap on an outer side. The duct cap has an opening communicating with the frame channel and is coupled with an air duct to connect a plurality of air inlet and outlet passage modules in series. The duct cap not being coupled is sealed through a lid. The two boards are located at two corresponding sides of the frame and have a plurality of air vents formed thereon to facilitate air ventilation. Each air vent is formed at a diameter smaller than that of a grain to prevent crops from dropping into the module. The invention can be assembled and disassembled, and coupled in series or parallel easily to enhance drying efficiency and reduce energy waste.
US08359767B2
Described herein are devices and techniques for spray drying a fluid to produce a dried powder. Assemblies include a spray drying head attachable to a gas supplier and a liquid sample, such as a standard unit of blood product. The spray drying head can be adapted to provide an aerosolized flow of liquid sample exposed to a drying gas. The assembly also includes a drying chamber adapted to separate the aerosolized flow of liquid sample into a dried powder and humid air. The assembly can be disposable, provided in a sterilized kit and having simplified attachments allowing quick connect and disconnect from the gas and liquid sample. Separation of the powder from the humid air exiting the drying chamber occurs within a filtered collection bag. In some embodiments, one or more of the drying chamber and collection bag are formed form a thin-walled, collapsible material.
US08359759B2
A collection of couplers and a corresponding coupling method that removably connect existing forensic scales to create a coupled scale, wherein a ruler arm of each scale is slidingly engaged in a track of the coupler that provides and maintains arm-to-arm angular accuracy for scales coupled in a fixed angle, co-planar joint, and measurement accuracy of scale markings across the joint. The track includes a lower surface; two laterally opposed parallel edge walls extending up from the lower surface and spaced apart by a dimension suitable for slidingly engaging a ruler arm width; holding tabs that extend laterally inward from both edge walls spaced above the lower surface by a dimension suitable for slidingly engaging a ruler arm thickness; an open end; and preferably a longitudinally distal registration stop. Two coupler tracks are joined with co-planar lower surfaces; and an edge wall of each joined at a fixed angle vertex.
US08359756B2
An object is to scribe a small-sized substrate made of a brittle material with high workability. A plurality of brittle material-made substrates 107a to 107i are arranged on the table 106 while being positioned by their respective positioning pins 109. A recipe data table is prepared in advance for each of the brittle material-made substrates on an individual basis. On the basis of the recipe data table, the brittle material-made substrate and the scribing head are moved relatively to each other to perform inside scribing or outside scribing on each of the substrates. This makes it possible to subject a plurality of substrates to scribing operation at one time under automatic control.
US08359753B1
A folding knife is described herein with an actuating system configured to interface with the blade to open the blade. Wherein the actuating system has a moving member to rotate the blade a different amount of rotation with respect to the movement of an interface portion of the actuating portion.
US08359747B2
A method for manufacturing a liquid ejecting head that has a channel forming substrate and a reservoir forming substrate is provided. The method includes forming a vibration plate on the channel forming substrate, a piezoelectric element on the vibration plate removing portions of the vibration plate to form first and second opening portions, forming a lead electrode extending from the piezoelectric element including a first separate metal layer disposed over the first opening portion and a second separate layer disposed on the second opening portion, attaching a reservoir forming substrate to the channel forming substrate, forming a communicating portion in the channel forming substrate with a first positioning hole corresponding to the first opening portion and a second positioning hole corresponding to the second opening portion, and communicating the reservoir portion and the communicating portion by removing the separate metal layers.
US08359742B2
A production method of an annular gasket comprising a metal base and an elastic seal layer laminated to each side thereof, comprising the steps of subjecting a metal sheet to punching out process to obtain a plurality of divided constituent members for the metal base, each of the divided constituent member having a slightly wider width than a given gasket width and a predetermined shape for constituting an annular shape of the given gasket, butting these constituent members to temporarily configure the annular shape and bonding the butt parts to each other by welding to form an annular object, subsequently laminating an elastic compound material to each side of the annular object to form elastic seal layers after applying pressurizing process to the annular object, and punching a given shape out of the annular object to obtain the annular gasket.
US08359741B2
A method of manufacturing a bearing cap is disclosed using a fixture that has a mandrel that is received in the bearing bore and clamps that engage the outer surface of the bearing caps. A pair of bolt shoulders of the bearing caps are machined and a bolt hole is drilled in each of the bolt shoulder portions. The bearing bores are subsequently machined with the bearing caps being located based upon the location of the bolt holes to form a plurality of finished bearing caps. A holding fixture is disclosed for machining bearing caps that have a generally semi-cylindrical bearing bore on an interior surface and bolt shoulders on opposite sides that are drilled to receive bolts. The holding fixture comprises a fixture frame to which a mandrel is attached that receives the bearing caps with the bearing bore centered relative to the mandrel. A plurality of clamps engage an exterior portion of the bearing caps to retain the bearing caps on the mandrel.
US08359738B2
A method of manufacturing a wiring board including forming a first wiring board, the forming of the first board including forming a substrate, forming a first insulation layer on a surface of the substrate and a second insulating layer on the opposite surface of the substrate, forming a via in one of the layers, and cutting the first layer in a first area and cutting the second layer in a second area offset from the first area to form a first substrate laminated to a second substrate with the substrate interposed therebetween, the second substrate having a smaller mounting area than that of the first substrate such that the first substrate extends beyond edge of the second substrate, connecting a pliable member to the substrate, and connecting the member to a second wiring board to connect the first and second boards. One or more insulation layers are a non-pliable layer.
US08359734B2
A jig securing alignment and positional accuracy in all directions (x, y, z) for an electrical component to be soldered to a PCB is provided. The jig positions the IC in the x and y directions, and keeps the IC from rotating. The jig also holds the IC down during the soldering process to make sure that the IC remains parallel to the PCB before, during and after soldering. The jig attaches to mounting holes on the PCB and its placement can be automated or performed manually.
US08359731B2
A manual tool for inserting a clip (10) with elastic coupling in a seat, having a body (23) from which protrudes a pusher (32) for the clip and a sensor (34) for detecting the thrust force of the pusher. An electronic controller (24) receives a force signal from the sensor (34) and emits a signal (25, 26) reporting correct or incorrect insertion depending on the pattern of the force signal detected during the insertion of a clip. A movable gauging element is advanced during the insertion thrust of the clip to detect the correct expansion of the clip at the end of insertion.
US08359730B2
A surgical navigation system for navigating a region of a patient includes a non-invasive dynamic reference frame and/or fiducial marker, sensor tipped instruments, and isolator circuits. The dynamic reference frame may be repeatably placed on the patient in a precise location for guiding the instruments. The instruments may be precisely guided by positioning sensors near moveable portions of the instruments. Electrical sources may be electrically isolated from the patient.
US08359728B2
A method for manufacturing a corrosion sensor includes applying a first layer of non-conductive material to a substrate, writing a conductive material at discrete locations on the non-conductive material, and writing the conductive material at discrete locations on the previously written conductive material. The method further includes applying a second layer of non-conductive material over the conductive material and machining at least a portion of the second layer of non-conductive material to expose at least a portion of the conductive material.
US08359727B2
The method includes the steps of positioning a workpiece with a centering surface on a centering clamping member of a chuck, pressing a radial contact surface of the workpiece against a clamping surface of the chuck with a first force, centering the workpiece by clamping the centering clamping member against the centering surface, and pressing the radial contact surface of the workpiece against the clamping surface of the chuck with a second force, the second force being greater than the first force.
US08359701B2
The invention is based on a wiper blade (12) with a wiper strip (14) which has a wiper lip (16) and a head strip (20) which is integrally formed on said wiper lip and, in a first longitudinal channel (26), has a supporting element in the form of a spring rail (18) with a flat cross section, and has a spoiler (22, 38, 46) on that side which faces away from the wiper lip (16). It is proposed that the spoiler (22, 38, 46) surrounds the head strip (20) on its longitudinal sides by means of guide rails (40).
US08359699B2
A cleaning tool and an effective technique for realizing a higher cleaning effect in a cleaning tool having a cleaning element for wiping a region to be cleaned is provided. The cleaning tool includes an elongate cleaning element holder and a cleaning element to be attached to the cleaning element holder. The cleaning element holder includes a grip to be held by a user and two holding elements connected to the grip and extending parallel in a longitudinal direction with a predetermined spacing therebetween. The cleaning element includes a sheet element of nonwoven fabric, at least three insert regions demarcated by the sheet element and extending parallel to each other, and a covering part that covers the sheet element and forms a wiping face. The two holding elements extending with the predetermined spacing are inserted into arbitrarily selected two of the at least three insert regions.
US08359687B2
An adjustable incubator/crib infant positioning blanket for holding a premature baby securely in an incubator. The blanket includes a pouch to securely hold the baby with its head in an upright position on an inclined plane such as a raised mattress and the blanket is secured to the mattress by a strap. The pouch securely prevents the baby from rolling or sliding toward the bottom of the inclined mattress.
US08359683B2
A patient transfer device has four casters and two counter-rotating steering wheels. The steering wheels provide a turning path whose center of curvature lies along a transverse centerline of the device. A foot pedal selectively lifts the steering wheels off the floor or brakes them. Another foot pedal at a back end of the device can lock the casters at the front end in a straight direction. The transfer table of the device may be inclined either longitudinally or transversely, and has an upper table whose edge rollers retract to introduce slack in the upper belt so that an air mattress can be inflated. The upper belt selectively disengages from the lower belt using movable, pneumatically-actuated pinch rollers. The outer surface of the upper belt is rough while the outer surface of the lower belt is smooth. The belts are constructed of a material which includes an antimicrobial agent.
US08359675B2
A flash fire and chemical barrier composite fabric of a flame resistant fibrous basic layer; a radiant heat and chemical permeation barrier, the barrier including a metalized polymeric chemical permeation resistant layer film; and a clear heat sealable outer film layer overlying the radiant barrier and forming a heat sealable outer surface of the composite fabric.
US08359670B2
There is provided an article to be arranged at the sole of a human foot, in particular for practicing sports and physical activities. In particular the article relates to a sock, to be used mainly for practicing sports and physical activities (for example golf), wherein on the zone of the sock (P) arranged at the sole of the foot, one or more plates (1-6) made of plastic material containing ferrite are arranged on the external surface of the sock.
US08359667B2
An athletic glove with enhanced tensioning is provided. The glove comprises a palm-side portion and a back portion connected to form four finger sheaths, a thumb sheath, and an opening capable of receiving a human hand. A keyhole cutout is located along the opening at a location corresponding to the back of a user's hand. A tension-adjusting wrist strap is attached to the glove on a first side of the keyhole adjacent to the opening. The wrist strap extends across the keyhole and is detachably affixable to a second side of the keyhole adjacent to the opening. The wrist strap may be used to adjust the tension across the palm-side portion by adjusting where the strap is detachably affixed. The wrist strap connects to the palm-side portion at an angle to optimize the distribution of tensioning force to reduce bunching in the palm-side portion and provide enhanced gripping.
US08359666B2
A medical gown and method of assembling a medical gown for a patient that provides coverage and dignity as well as easy of treatment and examination. The medical gown may include two garment portions. Each garment portion includes a first panel and a second panel which is generally a mirror image of the first panel. Each garment portion is formed by joining the first panel to the second panel along the first and second top edges and joining the first and second outside edges such that an arm opening is formed between the first and second panels. Each garment portion is thereby adapted to be secured to a patient by placing an arm through the arm opening and releasably joining the closure members together under the patient's opposite arm.
US08359664B2
Systems and methods for retaining camouflage material from the natural surrounding of a user. A device includes a retaining mechanism and at least two coupling mechanisms for attaching the device to the clothing, or person, of the user. Alternatively, the device includes elastomeric banding to attach a device to the user. The device includes a backing plate to provide tension across the retaining mechanism. The user immobilizes the camouflage material by inserting the camouflage material between the retaining mechanism and the clothing, apparel or person of the user.
US08359662B2
A protective device comprising a band part to be arranged on the wearer's head and a channel part arranged thereto and means for supplying air into the channel part and further through the end of the channel part to the wearer's facial area. The protective device further comprises a connecting part provided with two branch parts to be arranged at the end of the channel part, the ends of the branch parts being arranged to be connected to air supply means arranged in the mask part covering the wearer's mouth and nose.
US08365311B2
Provided is a highly selective and non-destructive method and apparatus for the measurement of one or more target molecules within a target environment. The apparatus comprises of a modified AFM (atomic force microscope) tip to create a tapered nanoscale co-axial cable, and wherein the application of an alternating potential between the inner and outer electrodes of the co-axial cable creates a dielectrophoretic force for attracting molecules toward the tip-end which is pre-treated with one or more specific ligands.
US08365310B2
Method and apparatus for protecting RFID tags against power attacks by embedding two capacitors in an RFID tag and coupling to the RFID power extraction and computational circuitry to be operated so that at any given time during normal operation of the RFID tag one of them is coupled to the power extraction circuitry of the RFID tag and is storing energy that is being generated by the charge pump of the tag by sucking energy from the electromagnetic or magnetic field of a tag reader, and the other one is uncoupled from the power extraction circuitry of the RFID tag and is discharging and powering the computational element of the tag chip.
US08365307B2
A copy protection apparatus and method enabling storage of copy protection information separately from protected content is disclosed. One embodiment includes a digital data signal receiver to receive a digital data signal, the digital data signal receiver also to receive a copy protection signal produced from a copy protection information file being storable on a copy protection information storage device, a digital to analog converter operatively connected to the digital data signal receiver for converting the digital data signal to an analog signal, and a signal modifier connected to the digital to analog converter and the digital data signal receiver to produce a viewable copy protected analog signal from the analog signal and the copy protection signal, the copy protection signal specifying a modification to the analog signal to change video lines of the analog signal.
US08365304B2
Architecture that provides programmatic association of a device (e.g., removable) to a currently logged-in user, and restricts access to the drive only to that particular logged-in user. When active, the architecture detects when devices are added to the system, determines which logged-in user a given device (or devices) should be assigned, modifies the security settings for the device(s), and makes a per-user drive letter mapping to that device such that only the logged-in user can see the mapped device. In the context of serially attachable peripheral devices such as USB (universal serial bus) devices (and IEEE 1394 devices), for example, access can be restricted to a user based on the USB hub into which the device is connected. This prevents the operating system from assigning a global drive letter to a device or device volume (for drives) when the device is added.
US08365301B2
In a typical peer-to-peer network, any user of the peer-to-peer network may request a lookup of a key and its associated value. To limit access to a stored key-value pair, a user node may generate a registration message for a key-value pair. The value may include the payload to be stored at the storage node, and an access list containing one or more retrieval identifiers indicating one or more users authorized to access the payload. In some cases, the registration message may also include an encrypted payload which is encrypted with a group key. The group key may be included in the registration message, and may be encrypted with an encryption key which is known by the authorized user.
US08365295B2
Methods and systems are disclosed for providing one or more protected segments of a media content segment, selectively providing access to at least a portion of said one or more protected segments in response to an access of a gating segment for a duration, and setting said duration in response to a selection to access said media content segment.
US08365293B2
The invention is directed to techniques to secure interactions between entities communicating on a computer network. In general, techniques are described in which a first entity provides assurances to a second entity that an agent interacting with the second entity is interacting with the second entity on behalf of the first entity. Specifically, the techniques provide the second entity with information tending to indicate that the first entity authorized the agent to perform the interaction with the second entity pursuant to some prior agreement between the two entities. The techniques employ authentication systems and encryption to ensure the security of the interaction.
US08365285B2
The invention discloses a method and a system for deleting or isolating computer viruses. The method of deleting or isolating computer viruses comprises steps of: selecting a first operating system configured with a virus killing module from a plurality of operating systems in a computer, during the computer being in starting process; loading the first operating system; scanning, by the virus killing module, the storage area of at least one operating system of the plurality of operating systems, wherein the at least one operating system doesn't include the first operating system; and deleting or isolating virus found during scanning. According to the present invention, a problem that the basic operating system could not be started due to viruses may be solved, and thus the system stability is greatly improved.
US08365283B1
A plurality of fingerprints are created for a file. Each fingerprint is created in response to an instance of activity involving the file. A malware signature associated with the mutating malware is compared to one or more of the plurality of fingerprints. In response to the malware signature matching one of the plurality of fingerprints, determining that the file is infected with mutating malware. Further, in response to determining that the file is infected with mutating malware, transmitting to a server multiple fingerprints of the plurality of fingerprints. The server analyzes the multiple fingerprints to determine a pattern of mutation by the mutating malware. The determined pattern of mutation is used by the server to create a signature for detecting mutations of the mutating malware.
US08365280B2
A computer-implemented method, program product, and system for determining the validity of a string generated by a computer programming language program. The method includes: abstracting a constraint between variables extracted from a source code for a programming language, describing the constraint in M2L, and storing the constraint; and evaluating the validity of the string on an M2L solver on the basis of the constraint and a M2L specification to determine whether the string is safe or unsafe.
US08365267B2
Embodiments are directed towards employing a plurality of single use passwords to provide phishing detection and user authentication. A user receives a plurality of single use passwords that expire within a defined time period after having been sent to a registered device. During a login attempt, the user enters a user name and a requested one of the passwords, which once entered expires. If valid, the user then enters a portion of another password to complete a displayed portion of a password, and a specified other one of passwords. If the displayed portion of the other passwords does not match any portion of one of passwords, then the user may detect a phishing attempt and terminate the login. If the user correctly the password data, the user may then access secured data. Each new login request requires a different set of passwords to be used.
US08365265B2
An image forming apparatus communicates with an authenticating server having a storing unit which stores user information and first authentication information included in storage media in correspondence to each other. The image forming apparatus receives, from the authenticating server, the first authentication information which was made to correspond to user information input to the image forming apparatus, specifies the first authentication information which does not coincide with second authentication information obtained by reading a storage medium owned by the user and used for user authentication, and transmits a deleting request including the specified first authentication information to the authenticating server. The authenticating server transmits the first authentication information corresponding to the transmitted user information to the image forming apparatus, receives the deleting request including the first authentication information from the image forming apparatus, and deletes, from the storing unit, the first authentication information included in the received deleting request.
US08365258B2
In one embodiment, a network element comprises one or more processors, and a memory module communicatively coupled to the processor. The memory module comprises logic instructions which, when executed by the processor, configure the processor to receive, via a first communication channel, a primary authentication request transmitted from a user from a first device, process the primary authentication request to determine whether the user is authorized to access one or more resources, in response to a determination that the user is authorized to access one or more resources, initiate, a secondary authentication request, and transmit the secondary authentication request from the network element to the user via a second communication channel, different from the first communication channel.
US08365252B2
A mobile device's level of access to services provided by a service provider is based on a current security state assessment of the mobile device. Mobile devices are granted different access levels to services based on the security state of the device. A security component can assess the current security state of the mobile device by processing security data generated by the mobile device. In a specific embodiment, the security component is at the mobile device. In another specific embodiment, the security component is at a server.
US08365247B1
Electronic circuitry includes an input/output (I/O) interface, memory which stores a set of database fingerprints generated from records of a database, and an analyzing circuit coupled to the I/O interface and the memory. The analyzing circuit is constructed and arranged to derive a set of sample tokens from electronic data under test (e.g., an email, an electronic document, etc.), and form a set of sample fingerprints from the set of sample tokens. Each sample fingerprint is based on a sample token of the set of sample tokens. The analyzing circuit is further constructed and arranged to output a result signal based on a comparison between the set of sample fingerprints and the set of database fingerprints. The result signal provides an indication of whether the electronic data under test includes particular information from the database.
US08365237B2
Method of bidirectional Time Division Duplex (TDD) data transmission over the same RF frequency ranges of a CATV cable system. The system's slave modem clocks are time synchronized to the master clock of a master modem. The master-to-slave signal propagation times are determined and used to precisely schedule transmissions with de-minimize guard times. The frequency range may be chosen to be in the high frequency CATV range around 1 GHz to maximize backward compatibility with legacy systems, and this frequency may in turn be subdivided into multiple frequencies. In some embodiments, the CATV cable tree may be further partitioned into multiple TDD domains, and multiple local master modems, connected by a special-use optical fiber, may communicate with multiple local slave modems. The system may use MAP allocation schemes that may frequently reallocate TDD time slots and frequencies according to current or projected slave modem data needs.
US08365228B2
MPEG video encoders and MPEG audio encoders encode video signals and audio signals, respectively. An SI/EPG data generator generates program information. A transport stream multiplexer multiplexes the program information with video data and audio data. A system controller controls the data output rates of the encoding operations and the multiplexing ratio.
US08365217B2
A method for managing the detection of advertising sequences in a stream of information stored on a mass memory module of an electronic apparatus, the information stream corresponding to an extract of a television program, the information stream including a first set of information corresponding to a content to be rendered and a second set of information, corresponding to the advertising sequences, the information stream including at least one set of video information, and teletext type data, and subtitle data associated with the stream, the method including analyzing the video information for detecting a format transition in the images associated with the video information; optionally storing a first address information corresponding to the detected transition, and validating a first detection condition; analyzing the teletext type data for detecting an absence, and then a presence, of teletext subtitles associated with the video information, optionally storing a second address information corresponding to the detected, transition, and validating a second detection condition; analyzing the subtitle data associated with the stream for detecting an absence, then a presence of the subtitle data associated with the stream; optionally storing third address information corresponding to the detected transition, and validating a third detection condition; if the three detection conditions are validated, identifying the stored address information as transition sequences between the second set of information and the first set of information.
US08365203B2
A software client (139) for executing an application on a mobile communications device, the software client (139) comprising: a receiver module (140) to receive a file containing mark up language to define the application; a parser (141) to parse the file in order to generate the application during run time to create a native application for the mobile communications device; a screen builder (142) to generate UI components for the native application by mapping procedures defined by the mark-up Language to native application programming interface (API) calls of the operating platform of the mobile communications device.
US08365181B2
A method and system for scheduling jobs in a cluster of compute servers using dynamic job profiling improves the overall performance of the computing cluster. Specifically, the method and system monitors the performance of individual compute servers in a cluster, and assigns jobs to particular compute servers based on the most current performance information of the compute servers. As the job profiles of the compute servers change with every job processed, the decision as to which compute server is most appropriate for a particular job will dynamically change. Various scheduling algorithms can be used in connection with the method and system to assign jobs to specific compute servers based on the available information in the job profiles.
US08365175B2
One embodiment provides a method of managing power in a datacenter having a plurality of servers. A number of policy settings are specified for the power center, including a power limit for the datacenter. The power consumption attributable to each of a plurality of applications executable as a job on one or more of the servers is determined. The power consumption attributable to each application may be further qualified according to the type of server on which the application is executed. Having determined the power consumption attributable to various applications executable as jobs, the applications may be executed on the servers as jobs such that the total power consumption attributable to the currently executed jobs remains within the selected datacenter power limit.
US08365172B2
A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product for dynamically scheduling algorithms in a pipeline which operate on a stream of data. The illustrative embodiments determine a computational cost of each algorithm in a plurality of algorithms in a pipeline. The plurality of algorithms in the pipeline processes an incoming data stream in a first sequential algorithm order. The illustrative embodiments reorder the plurality of algorithms in the pipeline to form a second sequential algorithm order based on the computational cost of each algorithm. The plurality of algorithms may then be executed in the second sequential algorithm order. When the illustrative embodiments assign a spare processing unit to an algorithm at an end of the pipeline, the computational cost of each algorithm in the plurality of algorithms in the pipeline is redetermined.
US08365165B2
A system and method for adding and/or removing a software product to a distribution server is provided. Upon identification that a software product desired is not indexed in the installation server database of the distribution server, then adding the software product to the distribution server. The distribution server maintains multiple products, every product components of the multiple products is indexed by the installation server database of the distribution server. Removal of a software product requires removal of the software product from the index maintained by the installation server database of the distribution server.
US08365164B1
A method of mapping a software installation, including: (a) providing a software installed on a computer with an operating system and at least one storage device, the installation including a plurality of software components and at least one entry in a system record on the storage device; (b) providing a plurality of potential interaction points between said installation and said computer; (c) executing at least one informer on said computer to obtain information about said potential interaction points of said installation with said operating system; and (d) determining a plurality of relationships between said components based on said interaction points on which information was obtained.
US08365162B2
A method, device arrangement, server, terminal device, and a computer program product for changing the use profile of a single terminal device of a cellular network are described. In the method, a server is connected to a telecommunications network, which sends to a single terminal device a program required by the change of its use profile as an over-the-air message, if the terminal device has found the program to be lacking from the terminal device when the new use profile is taken into use. Procedures according to the Device Management standard of Open Mobile Alliance are utilized in the messaging.
US08365161B2
Compatibility determination apparatus and method can properly determine compatibility between elements in an electronic music apparatus. When a reproducing program holds version information indicating, for example, that the own version of the program is 4.0 and music contents of versions 1.0 and 2.0 are reproducible by the program, and a music content holds version information indicating, for example, that the own version of the music content is 3.0 and programs of versions 4.0 and 5.0 can be reproduced on the music content side, the program of version 4.0 can be reproduced on the music content side. Although the information held in the program side does not indicate that a music content of version 3.0 is reproducible by the program, the music content of version 3.0 can be reproduced by the program of version 4.0. Thus, the apparatus and method can properly determine compatibility between the elements.
US08365159B2
A method to update code in an information storage and retrieval system comprising one or more processors, and existing code, where that existing code includes a Concurrent Code Load having (N) phases, where that Concurrent Code Load invokes an as yet unwritten Temporal Coupling File. The method provides a code update image comprising that Temporal Coupling File. If the (i)th phase of the Concurrent Code Load invokes the Temporal Coupling File, then the method reads instructions for that (i)th phase of the Concurrent Code Load from the Temporal Coupling File, and executes those instructions. The method completes each phase of the Concurrent Code Load, and then operates the system using the code update.
US08365150B2
Tools and techniques are provided to allow partners of analytics providers and others who use web-beacons to submit executable web-beacon plug ins. Analytics providers and others may also write web-beacon plug-ins. Certified plug-ins are executed in response to page loads, visitor clicks, and other visitor and programmatic actions at a website that has been tagged by the analytics provider's web-beacon, without requiring re-tagging of the website with a separate web-beacon for the partner. Web-beacons may invoke core analytics code of an analytics provider, where core analytics code may include multiple plug-ins selected by respective analytics provider partners, where each plug-in may send different analytics data from a website visitor's system to a respective analytics provider partner server. This allows the partner to obtain analytics data by piggybacking on the analytics provider, without re-tagging, and without compromising the availability and accuracy of the analytics data already being gathered.
US08365148B2
The present invention provides a system for monitoring the production of computer program code, comprising an integrated development environment (IDE) for the production of computer program code and a component, integrated into the integrated development environment, adapted to monitor whether one or more sections of computer program code are generated automatically or manually, so as to determine a measure of the volume of computer program code manually produced by a developer.
US08365140B2
Embodiments of the invention are directed to system and method for managing parallel development of projects. One embodiment of the invention is a method of automatically managing processes in the parallel development of an application through a graphical user interface. The graphical user interface manages the automated processes, which are able to complete their tasks without further user interaction. The automated processes managed by the graphical user interface include, provisioning a first development environment and second development environment. The processes also includes deploying a second release of an application to the second development environment, and merging modifications to the second source code and the second content of the second release into a first source code and a first content of the first release. After the releases have been merged together, the process automatically deploys the third release of the application to a production environment for use by users.
US08365137B2
Invocation language is described that is suitable for controlling a machine to perform a process having concurrent parts. Each concurrent part has an association relationship, a completeness relation, and an invocation expression.
US08365129B2
A computer system identifies a source node that is to be connected to a target node, where the target node is connected to the source node using an edge that links a connection region associated with the source node to a candidate connection region of the target node. The computer system identifies candidate connection region constraints that place restrictions on where the candidate connection regions can be positioned on the target node and determines, based on the identified candidate connection region constraints, the position of each candidate connection region relative to the target node. At least two of the candidate connection regions are disconnected so that an edge's connection to the target node can change between the disconnected connection regions. The computer system also visually represents the position of each of the candidate connection regions of the target node.
US08365128B2
Routing methods for an integrated circuit design layout are disclosed. The layout can include design netlists and library cells. A multiple-level global routing can generate topological wire for each net. An area oriented graph-based detail routing on the design can be performed. A post route optimization after the detail routing can be performed to further improve the routing quality. Some methods can be single threaded all or some of the time, and/or multi-threaded some or all of the time.
US08365123B2
In an embodiment, a method to automatically generate a pad ring for a programmable logic device implementation of an integrated circuit is contemplated. The pad ring that will be used in the integrated circuit itself may include pad logic (e.g. to support boundary scan and other forms of testing), custom driver/receiver circuitry, etc. The pad ring in the programmable logic device, on the other hand, may be predetermined as part of the production of the programmable logic device. The generation may include removing the pad logic and other pad-related circuitry from one or more design files that represent the integrated circuit, as well as mapping the input, output, and input/output signals of the integrated circuit to the available programmable logic device pads.
US08365114B2
Two circuits, an original and a modified, are being recognized, with the original circuit having a first logic and the modified circuit having a second logic. The second logic contains at least one desired logic change relative to the first logic. An equivalence line is detected in the original circuit such that the first and second logic are equivalent from the circuit inputs to the equivalence line. At least one point of change is located amongst the logic gates that are neighboring the equivalence line. The points of change are accepted as verified if an observability condition is fulfilled. The observability condition is checked within a Boolean Satisfiability (SAT) formulation. Substitute logic for the verified points of change is derived using SAT and Boolean equation solving techniques, in such manner that the first logic becomes equivalent to the second logic.
US08365111B2
An apparatus and method may be used for compiling a hardware logic design into data-driven logic programs to be executed on a data-driven chip. The apparatus may include storage with a library for defining a net-list synthesized by a synthesis tool. The apparatus may also include a data-driven logic verification chip comprising a plurality of logic processors. The apparatus may further include a code generator for adopting heuristics to convert the net-list into data driven logic programs and for allocating hardware resources to balance computing and storage loads across the plurality of logic processors of the verification chip.
US08365103B1
Systems and methods for creating and implementing two-dimensional (2D), image-based design rules (IBDRs) are disclosed. Techniques for creating 2D IBDR can include identifying a search pattern that is representative of a 2D pattern of interest of a design, creating a pattern representation based on the search pattern, defining an anchor point for the pattern representation, and assigning weights to elements of the pattern representation. The 2D MDR can be used in systems and method for searching a design by comparing the 2D IBDR to the design. A number of 2D IBDRs can be merged into a subset of similar 2D IBDRs by characterizing desired rule geometries, sorting the 2D IBDRs into groups according to the desired rule geometries, merging the groups of 2D IBDRs into a single representative search pattern. Additionally, standard design rules can be created from the disclosed 2D IBDRs. The standard design rule can be created from a 2D pattern of interest by defining an origin of a shape within the 2D pattern of interest, identifying features within the 2D pattern of interest, deriving parameters relative to the origin for each of the identified features, and writing the standard design rule script using the derived parameters.
US08365101B2
Some embodiments include methods in which a mathematical representation of a photomask construction is defined, with such representation comprising a plurality of pillars that individually contain a plurality of distinct layers. Each of the layers has two or more characteristic parameters which are optimized through an optimization loop. Subsequently, specifications obtained from the optimization loop are utilized to form actual layers over an actual reticle base. Some embodiments include photomask constructions in which a radiation-patterning topography is across a reticle base, with such topography including multiple pillars that individually contain at least seven distinct layers.
US08365092B2
In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, methods and apparatus are provided for efficient and effective loading of media in a multi-media presentation, such that a user may be able to view and/or edit the presentation. In one embodiment, a method for loading media comprises providing a maximum number of layers per page of a collage document, the collage document including at least one page having a plurality of layers, and each layer being associated with a media object. The method further includes loading a first page of the collage document to a client device, and creating a list of layers of the loaded page, with each layer indexed by at least a position in the collage document. The method continues by filtering the list of layers based on at least the position in the collage document and a visual window of a user interface to thereby display visible layers of the loaded page within the visual window. In another embodiment, a method for loading media comprises receiving a request for a collage document, receiving a specification of a maximum number of layers per page of the collage document, and returning a page of the requested collage document.
US08365090B2
In accordance with some embodiments, a computer-implemented method for use in conjunction with a device with a touch screen display is disclosed. In the method, an electronic document is displayed at a first magnification. A gesture is detected on or near the touch screen display corresponding to a command to zoom out by a user-specified amount. In response to detecting the gesture, the electronic document is displayed at a magnification less than the first magnification. If a document length or a document width is entirely displayed while the gesture is still detected on or near the touch screen display, the electronic document is displayed at a magnification wherein areas beyond opposite edges of the electronic document are displayed. Upon detecting termination of the gesture, the electronic document is displayed at a magnification wherein the areas beyond opposite edges of the electronic document are no longer displayed.
US08365089B2
A method, system and computer program product are presented for intercepting data entry by a proxy server to automatically define data entry fields in a webpage. The proxy server counts a number of instances in which a particular type of data is entered into each field in the webpage. If the number of instances exceeds a predetermined number for a specific field, then subsequent users are prompted to enter data of that particular type in that specific field.
US08365082B2
A computer tool allows a user to manipulate displayed content of a web page by a user device. The computer tool may be used to implement a collapsing, foldable browser that allows users to customize web content. The computer tool receives an indication of a user defined first portion of the content of a web page displayed by a browser, determines a remaining portion of the content of the web other than the first portion; and renders only the first user defined portion on a display screen of a display associated with the user device. An attribute may be associated with the first portion and displayed in proximity to the first portion to provide functions to manipulate the first portion within the display screen of the display associated with the user device. A menu may be associated with the attribute. The menu may include functions to allow toggling between display of only first portion and the first portion combined with a remaining portion, to minimize the browser, to close the browser to a file, and to expand display of only the first portion to display the browser window in addition to the first portion.
US08365081B1
Techniques for embedding metadata into a piece of content are described herein. With use of the embedded metadata, an application takes one or more actions specified by the embedded metadata upon selection of the content. In some instances, the content comprises an image, video, or any other form of content that a user may consume. Using the example of an image, the techniques may embed metadata within the image to create an image file that includes both the image and the embedded metadata. Then, when an application of a computing device selects (e.g., receives, opens, etc.) the image file, the application or another application may perform one or more actions specified by the metadata.
US08365079B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for the collaborative development of a visualization dashboard. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for collaboratively developing a visualization dashboard can be provided. The method can include identifying an extended Wiki directive within a Wiki artifact for a visualization dashboard. The method further can include retrieving data referenced by the extended Wiki directive and one or more visual display elements referenced by the extended Wiki directive to visualize portions of the retrieved data. The method yet further can include mapping the visual display elements referenced by the extended Wiki directive to components requisite to programmatically rendering the visual display elements in the visualization dashboard. The method even yet further can include arranging the components in the visualization dashboard and linking the components to the retrieved data. Finally, the method can include displaying the visualization dashboard.
US08365072B2
Some embodiments provide a method of analyzing an unstructured document. The method receiving the unstructured document that includes a number of primitive graphic elements, each of which is defined as a single object in the unstructured document. The unstructured document has a drawing order that indicates the order in which the primitive graphic elements are drawn when the unstructured document is displayed. The method identifies positional relationships between successive primitive graphic elements in the drawing order. Based on the positional relationships, the method defines a single structural graphic element from several of the primitive graphic elements.
US08365066B2
Methods to facilitate the processing of formatting information for cells in a spreadsheet document described in a markup language are presented. For spreadsheet documents that include a plurality of style objects, cell formatting information may be obtained from a master style object that stores master formatting information. In addition, named style information may be obtained from a style name object that stores named styles. Further, cell specific formatting information, which can override master formatting information, may be obtained from a cell-specific style object that includes cell specific formatting information. Combined cell formatting information for cells may be stored in a cell format object, wherein the combined cell formatting information can comprise named styles, cell-specific formatting information that overrides formatting information in the master style object, and master formatting information that has not been overridden by the cell-specific formatting information.
US08365065B2
A system and method for creating a template configured to generate reports for reporting medical information. The method allows a user to generate a single template that may be then utilized in order to create a plurality of reports for numerous patients. The template is created by dragging and dropping the desired information onto a blank report. Once the desired format of the template has been set by the user, the user may save the template for future use.
US08365063B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, apparatus and computer program product for accessible list navigation. In one embodiment of the invention, a user interface article of manufacture configured for accessible list navigation can include markup defining a list including multiple list item, an obscured marker associated with at least one of the list items, and jump logic disposed in the obscured marker. Specifically, the jump logic can be programmed to navigate to a specified different one of the list items responsive to an activation of the obscured marker. Finally, alternate text can be disposed in the obscured marker which identifies the different one of the list items. As such, assistive technology can be programmed to read back the alternate text responsive to an activation of the obscured marker.
