US08456916B2
An only-one-polysilicon layer non-volatile memory unit cell includes a first P-type transistor, a second P-type transistor, a N-type transistor pair, a first and second coupling capacitors is provided. The N-type transistor pair has a third transistor and a fourth transistor that are connected. The third transistor and the fourth transistor have a first floating polysilicon gate and a second floating polysilicon gate to serve as charge storage mediums, respectively. One end of the second coupling capacitor is connected to the gate of the second transistor and is coupled to the second floating polysilicon gate, the other end of the second coupling capacitor receives a second control voltage. One end of the second coupling capacitor is connected to the gate of the second transistor and is coupled to the second floating polysilicon gate, the other end of the second coupling capacitor receives a second control voltage.
US08456904B2
Various circuits include MOS transistors that have a bulk voltage terminal for receiving a bulk voltage that is different from a supply voltage and ground. The bulk voltage may be selectively set so that some MOS transistors have a bulk voltage set to the supply voltage or ground and other MOS transistors have a bulk voltage that is different. The bulk voltage may be set to forward or reverse bias pn junctions in the MOS transistor. The various circuits include comparators, operational amplifiers, sensing circuits, decoding circuits and the other circuits. The circuits may be included in a memory system.
US08456895B2
A mechanism is provided for bidirectional writing. A structure includes a reference layer on top of a tunnel barrier, a free layer underneath the tunnel barrier, a metal spacer underneath the free layer, an insulating magnet underneath the metal spacer, and a high resistance layer underneath the insulating layer. The high resistance layer acts as a heater in which the heater heats the insulating magnet to generate spin polarized electrons. A magnetization of the free layer is destabilized by the spin polarized electrons generated from the insulating magnet. A voltage is applied to change the magnetization of the free layer when the magnetization is destabilized. A polarity of the voltage determines when the magnetization of the free layer is parallel and antiparallel to a magnetization of the reference layer.
US08456877B2
The invention relates to an inverter system (1) with several inverters (2), each of which having at least one control unit (6), with at least one line (7) each being provided between the inverters (2) for data exchange, as well as to an inverter (2), and to a method of operating several inverters (2) in such an inverter system (1). To achieve a high transmission safety, and a high data-transmission rate, it is provided that each inverter (2) has a communication device (8) which is connected to a control unit (6) of the inverter (2) and to the data lines (7) of two neighboring inverters (2), and which has a switching device (13), the switching device (13) being configured to switch the data lines (7) between a ring system and between a bus system logically based on this ring system.
US08456875B2
A power supply device for providing an output voltage includes a first resonant converter, a second resonant converter, a first converting circuit, and a current regulating circuit. The first resonant converter is for converting a first input voltage into the output voltage. The second resonant converter is for converting a second input voltage into the output voltage. The output ends of the first and second resonant converters are coupled in parallel. The first converting circuit is coupled to the first resonant converter and is operable to provide the first input voltage to the first resonant converter. The current regulating circuit receives signals related to output currents of the first and second resonant converters, and drives operation of the first converting circuit according to the signals received thereby such that the output currents of the first and second resonant converters have substantially equal magnitudes.
US08456873B2
There is provided an apparatus and methods for a power conversion device. The method includes rectifying a mains voltage to produce a dc voltage and placing the dc voltage on a bus. The bus is coupled to an output converter and has a switch. The method also includes monitoring the bus voltage using voltage sensing circuitry and determining whether the voltage on the bus exceeds a threshold. If the voltage exceeds a threshold, the switch is turned off.
US08456869B2
An AC/DC converter has at its input a rectifier circuit connected in series with a primary winding of an isolating transformer and with a chopper switch (T1) connected to a pulse width modulation control circuit. The isolating transformer has a first secondary winding wound in the same direction as the primary winding and connected to an output line of the converter via a diode (D4). The output line is connected to an output capacitor (Cout), wherein the isolating transformer has a second secondary winding that is wound in the opposite direction to the primary winding and that is connected directly to the output line via a diode (D2).
US08456868B2
An embodiment of the invention relates to an LLC power converter including a controller configured to regulate an output characteristic of the power converter by controlling a power converter switching frequency. In a first mode of operation, the controller turns off a secondary-side power switch earlier than a turn-off time of a primary-side power switch by a time difference that is controlled by a resistor coupled to an external circuit node. In a second mode of operation, the controller turns on a secondary-side power switch at substantially the same time as the primary-side power switch, and turns off the secondary-side power switch after a maximum on time that is a nonlinear function of a load current of the power converter. The nonlinear function is a substantially constant function of the load current for a value of the load current higher than a threshold value.
US08456865B1
A microinverter is provided for converting DC energy from a PV panel into a grid-compatible AC signal. A first plurality of switching elements is coupled between a DC energy source and a primary winding of a transformer. A second plurality of switching elements is coupled to a secondary winding of the transformer. Current sensors sense real time converter parameters including a DC input, an AC output, and a primary current. A digital controller determines an operating mode for the converter based on a DC input signal, with the controller further including a switch signal generator circuit configured to adjust switching states. The switch state adjustments are based on the operating mode, real time converter parameters which include the DC input signal, an AC signal for output to a grid, a primary current, and a desired shape for the AC output signal waveform.
US08456864B2
The present description is directed to small form-factor input devices operative to be coupled to an electronic device using a cable. For example, in some embodiments, an input device is described for providing one or more inputs to an electrical device, wherein the input device comprises a circuit board having first and second sides; a first electrical switch disposed on the first side of the circuit board; a second electrical switch disposed on the first side of the circuit board; a third electrical switch disposed on the second side of the circuit board; a frame defining a periphery, wherein the circuit board is maintained within the periphery of the frame; top and bottom shells that house the circuit board, the top shell placed over the first side of the circuit board, and the bottom shell placed over the second side of the circuit board; and at least one clip coupled to each one of the top shell and the bottom shell, wherein the at least one clip is operative to engage the frame.
US08456859B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide switching equipment for communications networks, which switching equipment supports high-speed signalling between switch cards and line cards. Hence, the invention relates to a switching device for communications networks comprising a plurality of line cards and at least one switch card. The line cards comprise connection means arranged on or close to one edge of each line card, and the at least one switch card comprises matching connection means arranged on one flat side of said switch card. In this way, when said switch card is arranged substantially perpendicular to said line cards with said flat side of the switch card facing and at least partially overlapping said edges of the line cards, interconnection is achieved between the connection means of the line cards and the matching connection means of the at least one switch card.
US08456854B2
A repair system which prevents heating of weakly heat resistant devices together and causing deterioration of the quality when preheating a first surface of the circuit board, wherein an electromagnetic induction material is buried in advance inside the circuit board near a specific electronic device envisioned as needed repair when becoming a defective electronic device in a production process and an electromagnetic coil emitting electromagnetic waves to an electromagnetic induction member in the vicinity of the repair device is provided and the heat generated by the electromagnetic induction member due to the electromagnetic waves enables the repair device to be heated and detached from the circuit board.
US08456843B2
A server rack includes a bracket, a first baffle, a first elastic member, a second baffle, and a second elastic member. The bracket includes a first side plate and a second side plate and defines a receiving space. The receiving space has an entry. An end of the first baffle is pivotally connected to the first side plate close to the entry. The first elastic member is connected to the first side plate and the first baffle and capable of elastically driving the first baffle to move from a first position to a second position. An end of the second baffle is pivotally connected to another end of the first baffle away from the first side plate. A second elastic member is connected to the first baffle and the second baffle and capable of elastically driving the second baffle to move from a third position to a fourth position.
US08456834B2
An electronic device includes a main body and a support. The support includes a rotary socket, a retaining ring, a fixing cover, a support member, and a shaft. The rotary socket and the retaining ring are fixed to the main body via the fixing cover, the rotary socket is limited to rotate within the retaining ring, and the shaft rotatably connects the support member to the rotary socket. The support member is capable of being rotated to support the electronic device in a landscape orientation and a portrait orientation.
US08456827B2
One exemplary embodiment is a computer having a base and first and second hard disk drives enclosed in the base. The second hard disk drive is stacked on the first hard disk drive and is removable from the base.
US08456826B2
A flash memory stick includes a clasp member, a connecting member, and a USB connector. The clasp member extends along a first direction and the connecting member extending from an end of the clasp member and along a second direction. The USB connector extending from an end of the connecting member and along a third direction. The second direction is different from the first direction and the third direction.
US08456822B2
A support assembly includes a base, a slidable member, and a pair of positioning shafts. The base includes at least one sliding rail. The slidable member can side along the at least one sliding rail of the base. The slidable member defines a pair of blind holes facing the base. The positioning shafts can slide along the base in a direction perpendicular to the at least one sliding rail. When the slidable member is operated to slide along the at least one rail of the base, one of the positioning shafts can be pressed to slide along the direction perpendicular to the at least one sliding rail, causing one end of the one of the positioning shafts to be received in one of the blind holes.
US08456815B2
An electronic device includes an enclosure and a fixing member. The enclosure includes a bottom wall configured with a plurality of positioning posts. Each of the positioning posts includes a hook and a base connecting between the hook and the bottom wall. The fixing member includes a positioning portion. The positioning portion defines an engaging hole and a plurality of positioning teeth configured on an inner edge of the positioning portion. The positioning teeth surround and communicate with the engaging hole. The positioning teeth and the engaging hole cooperatively form a passageway through which the positioning posts pass. The enclosure is configured to be positioned at different angles relative to the fixing member due to friction between the positioning teeth of the positioning portion and the base as well as tight attachment of the hook to the positioning portion.
US08456811B2
A casing includes a main body made of a conductive composite material and a local portion located adjacent to a wireless device. The local portion has a non-conductive layer and a conductive composite material layer. The thickness of the conductive composite material layer is thinner than that of the main body that is immediately adjacent to the conductive composite material layer. Signal emitting and signal receiving of the wireless device is not affected by the thickness of the conductive composite material layer of the local portion. The part of the local portion that has a thickness thinner than a thickness of the adjacent main body is installed with the non-conductive layer. The non-conductive layer is tightly connected with the conductive composite material layer of the local portion and the main body that is immediately adjacent to the non-conductive layer.
US08456810B2
A power supply assembly includes an enclosure body, a cover panel mounted to the enclosure body, a power supply, and a positioning element mounted to the cover panel. The enclosure body includes a bottom panel, a rear panel substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel, and a side panel substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel and the rear panel. The power supply assembly is mounted in the enclosure body and is prevented from moving in a first direction, that is substantially perpendicular to the rear panel, and a second direction, that is substantially perpendicular to the side panel, and disposed between the bottom panel and the cover panel. The positioning element includes a first ladder-shaped positioning tab abutting two adjacent surfaces of the power supply and preventing the power supply assembly from moving in a third direction, that is substantially perpendicular to the cover panel and the second direction.
US08456792B2
A redundant non-contact switch reports a status as closed or open for a first member and a second member that move relative to each other between an open state and a closed state. In some embodiments, the redundant non-contact switch includes a wireless authentication (WA) pair and a magnetic pair. The WA pair may include a WA responder attached to one of the first member and the second member, and a WA interrogator attached to the other of the first member and the second member. The WA pair may be configured to register a WA status of closed or open, depending on a WA authentication between the WA responder and the WA interrogator. The magnetic pair may include a magnet attached to one of the first member and the second member, and a magnet sensor attached to the other of the first member and the second member. The magnetic pair may be configured to register a magnetic status of closed or open, depending on whether a magnet distance between the magnet and magnet sensor is beyond a threshold magnet distance. In some instances, the redundant non-contact switch reports the status as closed only if both the WA status is registered as closed and the magnetic status is registered as closed.
US08456782B2
A system comprising a magnetic actuator, a current transformer and operational electronics in a dual-coil circuit breaker. The system includes an inline, but non concentric, implementation of the primary and secondary coils to maintain a narrow width suitable for retrofitting in standard industrial rack mounted enclosures. The system further comprises a split core design that is integrated into an upper and lower plate which slide together and are retained by a secondary coil bobbin. Typically, the two parts of the split core can be manufactured into net shapes by utilizing a powder metal or metal injection molding process. Moreover, the split core design disclosed herein can reduce costs and time associated with manufacturing and assembly of the current transformer.
US08456779B1
A tape transducer positioning assembly is provided with a frame with a first rail mounted to the frame. A carriage is mounted to the first rail to translate along the first rail. A transducer is supported by the carriage to cooperate with a tape as the tape is translated relative to the transducer. An actuator is mounted to one of the frame and the carriage and connected to the other of the frame and the carriage to position the carriage, and consequently the transducer relative to the tape. A magnet is mounted to the frame to provide a magnetic field. A second rail is mounted to the carriage generally parallel with the first rail. The second rail is oriented within the magnetic field such that a magnetic force is applied upon the second rail to maintain the second rail within the magnetic field.
US08456771B2
A holding arrangement for an optical element includes a basic structure surrounding an optical element and a mounting device by which the optical element can be supported on the basic structure with two degrees of freedom for a rotational movement about an optical axis and a translational movement along a first axis which extends perpendicularly to the optical axis and intersects the optical axis in a center. The mounting device includes four joint locations arranged point-symmetrically with respect to the center and at least one parallel rocker which is displaceable parallel to the first axis. A manipulator unit includes a holding arrangement.
US08456758B1
This invention provides an image capturing lens system in order from an object side to an image side comprising five lens elements with refractive power: a first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface; a second lens element with negative refractive power; a third lens element with both the object-side and image-side surfaces thereof being aspheric; a plastic fourth lens element with both the object-side and image-side surfaces thereof being aspheric; and a plastic fifth lens element having a concave image-side surface, both the object-side and image-side surfaces thereof being aspheric, and at least one inflection point is formed on at least one of the object-side and image-side surfaces thereof. By such arrangement, the lens system of the invention has larger chief ray angle, and thereby not only the total track length of the system can be reduced, but also better image quality can be obtained.
US08456753B2
A lens barrel capable of achieving a smooth zoom operation and reducing a driving load at the time of barrel retraction. The lens barrel includes a rectilinear guide cylinder rectilinearly moving in an optical axis direction, and a movable cam cylinder moving in the optical axis direction while rotating relative to the guide cylinder. The guide cylinder is formed at its inner peripheral surface with a cam groove and a rectilinear guide groove that divides the cam groove at a boundary between a retracted region and a photographing region, and is formed with a penetration cam groove extending from the inner peripheral surface to an outer peripheral surface of the guide cylinder. The movable cam cylinder moves in the photographing region while the first pin engages the cam groove, and moves in the retracted region while the second pin engages the penetration cam groove.
US08456751B2
An optical system includes, in order from an object side, a first lens unit having a negative refractive power and a second lens unit having a positive refractive power. The optical system satisfies: 1.70≦Yt/Yw≦2.5, Y=2×f×sin(θ/2) (85°≦θ≦90°), and 3.45≦bfw/|f1|≦7, where fw is the shortest focal length, ft is the longest focal length, f is an arbitrary focal length that satisfies fw≦f≦ft, θ is an angle between the optical axis and a principal ray of an off-axis light flux incident upon a lens surface closest to the object, Y is a formed image height of a ray incident at the angle θ, Yw is the largest image height at the shortest focal length, Yt is the largest image height at the longest focal length, f1 is a focal length of the first lens unit, and bfw is a back focus at the shortest focal length.
US08456735B2
Modelocked fiber laser resonators may be coupled with optical amplifiers. An isolator optionally may separate the resonator from the amplifier. A reflective optical element on one end of the resonator having a relatively low reflectivity may be employed to couple light from the resonator to the amplifier. Enhanced pulse-width control may be provided with concatenated sections of both polarization-maintaining and non-polarization-maintaining fibers. Apodized fiber Bragg gratings and integrated fiber polarizers may also be included in the laser cavity to assist in linearly polarizing the output of the cavity. Very short pulses with a large optical bandwidth may be obtained by matching the dispersion value of the grating to the inverse of the dispersion of the intra-cavity fiber. Frequency comb sources may be constructed from such modelocked fiber oscillators. Low dispersion and an in-line interferometer that provides feedback may assist in controlling the frequency components output from the comb source.
US08456728B2
An electrowetting display, a pixel array substrate thereof, and an electrowetting display pixel structure thereof are provided. The electrowetting display pixel structure is disposed on a substrate. The electrowetting display pixel structure includes a pixel electrode, an insulating layer and a hydrophobic layer. The pixel electrode is covered with the insulating layer, and the insulating layer is covered with the hydrophobic layer. The hydrophobic layer has at least one flow guiding area, and a flowing path of a fluid medium is determined by a layout of the flow guiding area.
US08456725B2
There is provided a method that includes projecting a collimated light beam from an optical system to a plane during a first mode of operation of the optical system, and projecting a convergent light beam from the optical system to the plane during a second mode of operation of the optical system. The method further includes, (a) during the first mode of operation, controlling a trajectory of a first light bundle in a first light path in the optical system, to steer the collimated light beam through the plane at a designated incidence angle, and (b) during the second mode of operation, controlling a trajectory of a second light bundle in a second light path of the optical system, to steer the convergent light beam to a target position in the plane. There is also provided an apparatus and a system that employs the method.
US08456706B2
Methods and systems are presented for characterizing printer streaking using a basis selection algorithm to determine parameters set for a streak template that best approximate a density profile derived from a scanned printed test image, with wavelet decomposition used to expedite the searching for position and width parameters.
US08456705B2
A system, method, and printer controller software for reducing printer colorant usage by using printer controller software which controls the deposition by the printer of the printer colorant on the printable medium in response to selected print image quality and printer colorant reduction criteria, as well as identifying printer colorant deposition characteristics of the printable medium, identifying characteristics of the printer, and identifying characteristics of the printer colorant.
US08456689B2
A print control method performed by a print control apparatus. The method includes acquiring data indicating a state of a surface of a disk medium obtained by optically reading the surface of the disk medium, determining a printable area for printing an image on the disk medium based on the acquired data, generating print data based on image data stored in a memory for printing on the determined printable area on the disk medium, and causing a printing apparatus to print an image represented by the image data stored in the memory on the determined printable area on the disk medium, based on the generated print data.
US08456684B2
An apparatus for executing image processing by a plurality of serially connected image processing modules stores, in memory, set values for the plurality of image processing modules and image data to be processed by the plurality of image processing modules, adds headers to respective ones of the set values and image data that have been read out of the memory and transmits the result to a top image processing module among the plurality of image processing modules.
US08456683B2
An information processing system includes an information management apparatus that accepts image generation requests and an image generation section that generates image data, which is provided independently of the information management apparatus. The information management apparatus issues a job ID in response to a print request from a client, and transmits the job ID and a URL of the image generation apparatus to the client. Based on the URL, the client directly requests the image generation apparatus for image data corresponding to the job ID.
US08456679B2
A system and method for generating a remote job submission accelerator report with respect to a network multi-function device. A multi-function device can be configured to receive a job from a mobile communication device via a submission path. A text representation with respect to the submission path and a spatial representation with respect to the text representation can be automatically generated. An accelerator report can be generated based on the text representation and the spatial representation and the report can be added to a cover page of the job. Such an approach effectively enables client-less job submission with respect to the multi-function device.
US08456668B1
The present invention relates to printing from a restricted process. An embodiment includes receiving a request to print content at a restricted process, providing the request to print content to a privileged process, retrieving configuration information using the privileged process, processing the configuration information using the restricted process, generating one or more drawing commands using the restricted process and providing the drawing commands to the privileged process. Another embodiment includes, receiving a command to print content at a restricted process, providing at least the command to a privileged process, receiving configuration information from the privileged process and generating one or more drawing commands based on the configuration information using the restricted process, generating a serialized buffer of the content based on the configuration information and providing the serialized buffer and the drawing commands to the privileged process. In this way, a restricted process may print data without directly communicating with the printer leading to a more secure computing environment.
US08456667B2
A method and apparatus for installing a printer driver of an image forming apparatus in a printing environment using a universal printer driver, the method including: displaying one or more functions that are supported by one or more image forming apparatuses connected to the printing environment; selecting at least one function from among the displayed functions; and installing a printer driver of a connected image forming apparatus that supports the selected at least one function. Thus, even if a model name of the printer driver of the image forming apparatus to be used is not recognized, a printer driver of the image forming apparatus that supports the functions to be used can be installed.
US08456666B2
Disclosed are methods of controlling printing of a document using a printer driver interface, and corresponding apparatus and computer-readable medium. The embodiments receive a print command to print a document having a document size, display the printer driver interface, the printer driver interface including the document size, display a selectable paper output size on the printer driver interface, the selectable paper output size allowing a user to select a user-selected one of a plurality of different paper output sizes, display user-selectable scaling options on the print driver interface, the scaling options for applying scaling to an image to be printed on the user-selected one of the plurality of different paper output sizes, receive from the user the user-selected one of the paper output sizes, and control printing of the document using the user-selected one of the paper output sizes.
US08456663B2
A communication system including a communication device and information display devices connected with the communication device. The communication device includes a status storage unit storing status information representing a status of the communication device, a status transmitter that in response to a status request from each information display device, transmits the stored status information to the information display devices, and an error settlement starting information receiver receiving, from one of the information display devices, error settlement stating information representing that error settlement is being started to fix an error of the communication device. Each information display device includes a display unit displaying an operable image when received status information includes an error status representing the error of the communication device, and an error settlement starting information transmitter that in response to the operable image being operated, transmit the error settlement starting information to the communication device.
US08456649B2
A retro-reflector for image-guided operation systems, comprising eight cube corners, wherein the tips of the cube corners are adjacent to each other and each cube corner is formed from three reflective faces, comprising a protection against contamination which prevents dirt from being deposited in the cube corners.
US08456641B1
An optical system including a light source, optics for directing illumination, thereby producing reflected light, optics for receiving the reflected light, a splitter disposed at a pupil plane for receiving the reflected light and splitting it into a first and second portion, first imaging optics for receiving the first portion and directing it to a first sensor to produce a first image portion, the first sensor delivering the first image portion to a processor, second imaging optics for receiving the second portion and directing it to a second sensor to produce a second image portion, the second sensor delivering the second image portion to the processor, and the processor for combining the first image portion and the second image portion into a single image of the sample.
US08456634B2
Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems and methods for providing optical interrogation sensors for combustion control. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method for controlling combustion parameters associated with a gas turbine combustor is provided. The method can include providing an optical path through the gas turbine combustor, propagating light along the optical path, measuring absorption of the light within the gas turbine combustor, and controlling at least one of the combustion parameters based at least in part on the measured absorption.
US08456627B2
A measurement window structure is disclosed for an optical process measurement device. The measurement window structure can include a measurement window made of an optical material and having a measurement surface that is arranged to be placed into a process solution, a sealing surface formed to a frame structure of the optical process measurement device and facing the process solution, the measurement window made of an optical material being arranged to press against the sealing surface, and an attaching device or mechanism for pressing the measurement window made of an optical material against the sealing surface and for attaching it to the frame structure. The sealing surface formed to the frame structure can be a rotationally symmetrical surface and the surface pressing against the sealing surface formed to the frame structure of the measurement window made of an optical material can be a rotationally symmetrical surface.
US08456621B2
This invention is directed to extract the scattering characteristic of a measurement target together when measuring the surface shape in a measurement system, which measures the surface shape of a measurement target, by the pattern projection method. To accomplish this, the measurement system includes an illumination unit which irradiates a measurement target with dot pattern light, a reflected light measurement unit which receives the reflected light at a reflection angle almost equal to a incident angle, and a reflected light extraction unit which extracts the inclination of the surface of the measurement target, based on the shift amount between the light receiving position of the received reflected light and a predetermined reference position, and extracts the luminance value of the reflected light and the dot diameter of the dot pattern light as information about the scattering characteristic.
US08456609B2
An exposure apparatus which prevents damages due to leaked out liquid from expanding and can maintain exposure accuracy and measuring accuracy. The exposure apparatus includes a first stage which is movable relative to the projection optical system, a second stage which is movable relative to the projection optical system, and a liquid immersion system that is capable of forming a liquid immersion region of a liquid under the projection optical system. The first and second stages are moved in a state in which a first overhang portion provided at the first stage and a second overhang portion provided at the second stage are brought close to or in contact with each other, such that the liquid immersion region is moved from one of upper surfaces of the first and second overhang portions to the other of the upper surfaces of the first and second overhang portions.
US08456603B2
The present invention prevents, when a COF which is connected with an external circuit is bent in a flat display device, the disconnection of lines on the COF. At a position where a line of the COF is connected to terminal portions of a TFT, and the line having a large width is branched into lines having a small width T1 to T3 or T4 to T6. By displacing line branching positions from each other as indicated by an arrow A and an arrow B, when the COF is bent or deformed, stress applied to the line branching positions can be dispersed thus preventing the disconnection of lines.
US08456602B2
The present invention realizes a display device with dummy pixel portions and a frame region required for the dummy pixel portions and code notation, in which the frame region is minimized while achieving code notation in required size.In the dummy pixel portions, the number of gate electrodes in a thin film transistor formed by a semiconductor layer is reduced to two, so that distances from a contact hole to another contact hole and to a through-hole can be shortened as compared to those in pixel formation portions, allowing placement of the contact hole and the through-hole in a lower portion in the figure. Provided in the vicinity of the center of the dummy pixel portion is only an electrode equivalent to a storage capacitance line. Thus, a wide transparent region can be ensured to note a code of a sufficient size in the dummy pixel portion.
US08456600B2
An array substrate for an in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device includes a gate line on a substrate including a pixel region, the pixel region including a first domain at a lower side with respect to the gate line and a second domain at an upper side with respect to the gate line; a data line crossing the gate line; a thin film transistor in the pixel region and at a crossing portion of the gate and data lines; a plurality of first pixel electrodes in the first domain; a plurality of second pixel electrodes in the second domain, the plurality of first pixel electrodes and plurality of second pixel electrodes sharing the thin film transistor; a plurality of first common electrodes in the first domain and alternately arranged with the plurality of first pixel electrodes; and a plurality of second common electrodes in the second domain and alternately arranged with the plurality of second pixel electrodes.
US08456597B2
A liquid crystal display includes a first insulating substrate. A pixel electrode is formed on a top surface of the first insulating substrate. The pixel electrode has a first opening pattern at each pixel area. The pixel electrode is substantially rectangular in shape with first second long sides, and first and second short sides. The pixel electrode is divided into an upper region defined by the first and second long sides and first short side, and a lower region defined by the first and second long sides and second short side. A common electrode is formed on a bottom surface of a second insulating substrate, and has a second opening pattern at each pixel area. The first and second opening patterns each have a plurality of openings, the openings of the first opening pattern and the second opening pattern being alternately arranged parallel to each other.
US08456585B2
A method of fabricating a liquid crystal display device includes providing a first substrate having a first region and a second region; forming an active pattern in the first and second regions of the first substrate; forming a first insulation film on the first substrate; forming a first gate electrode with a low-resistance conductive material on an upper portion of the active pattern; forming a second gate electrode to completely cover the first gate electrode on an exposed portion of the first gate electrode; forming N type source and drain regions in the active pattern of the first region by doping an n+ impurity ion; forming P type source and drain regions in the active pattern of the second region by doping a p+ impurity ion; forming a second insulation film on the first substrate; forming N type source and drain electrodes electrically connected with the N type source and drain regions on the first region and forming P type source and drain electrodes electrically connected with the P type source and drain regions on the second region; and attaching the first and second substrates. A low-resistance wiring can be implemented on a large-scale liquid crystal display panel by forming a second gate wiring of a clad structure at an upper portion of a low-resistance first gate wiring.
US08456578B2
An image processing apparatus comprises: an acquisition unit that divides an inputted video image into a plurality of divisions, and acquires a histogram of each of the divisions; a generation unit that generates a gradation conversion curve for each of the divisions; a determination unit that determines whether or not the inputted video image is a multi-screen video image; and a gradation correction unit that performs a smoothing process in accordance with a pixel position, to correct the gradation of the video image in each of the divisions using the gradation conversion curve of each of the divisions, wherein when the inputted video image is the multi-screen video image, the determination unit detects a position of a boundary between the plurality of video image contents, and the gradation correction unit does not perform the smoothing process within a predefined area from the boundary.
US08456570B2
A method for a motion detection in an interlaced field sequence includes selecting two initial fields from the interlaced field sequence. Each of the two initial fields have different scan lines. The method also includes interpolating each of the two initial fields to generate two respective new fields. The new fields have raster lines that are congruent. The method further includes generating a value of a pixel of each new field using pixel values of at least two scan lines of a corresponding initial field surrounding the pixel. Further, the method includes performing a motion detection based on the new fields.
US08456569B2
A camera body includes a camera body connector and a recess to which an imaging unit including an optical system, an image pickup device, and an imaging unit connector is detachably attached to be placed therein. The recess includes a back wall, an upper wall, and a side wall to be opened to a lower side, a front side, and a lateral side of the camera body. The camera body has a guide mechanism to control a position of the camera body connector in relation to a position of the imaging unit connector. The imaging unit has a rear surface on which at least two guiding grooves provided to be extended between opposite edges of the imaging unit and an engagement plate section are formed. The imaging unit has a biasing member to bias the imaging unit toward the back wall. The guide mechanism has at least two guide protrusions provided on the back wall and inserted into the at least two guiding grooves and an engagement claw formed on the back wall so as to face the engagement plate section and to engage with the biasing member when the imaging unit is attached to the camera body.
US08456562B2
In an image pickup unit, a first optical system holding frame has a hole axis orthogonal to an optical axis of photographing light made incident on a first object lens group, and a through-hole portion through which a second optical system holding frame can be inserted and arranged is formed in the first optical system holding frame and the first optical system holding frame and the second optical system holding frame are set relatively movable in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the photographing light made incident on the first object lens group and the second optical system holding frame and a third optical system holding frame are set relatively movable in a direction along the optical axis of the photographing light made incident on a solid-state image pickup device such that predetermined optical performance adjustment can be performed during assembly.
US08456561B2
Provided is an imaging apparatus capable of obtaining images of an object at high precision even if the intensities of illuminating light temporally varies. The imaging apparatus 1 comprises a lamp unit 10, lens 21, a half mirror 22, a lens 23, a liquid crystal tunable filter 24, a lens 25, a reference mirror 31, a reference mirror 32, an image capturing unit 40, an operation unit 50, and a display unit 60. The reference mirrors 31 and 32 are provided at the positions to which illuminating light led by an optical system for illuminating light is irradiated and which are located at a part of the view of the image capturing unit 40. The operation unit 50 corrects the value of the image part of the object 2 by using the value of the image part of the reference mirrors 31 and 32 out of the images captured by the image capturing unit 40.
US08456559B2
A solid-state imaging apparatus includes the carrier holding portion and the amplifying portion in each pixel, wherein a first voltage supplied to a transfer electrode when the transfer portion for transferring carriers from the carrier holding portion to the amplifying portion is placed in a non-conducting state is opposite in polarity to a voltage supplied to the transfer electrode during the turning on period of the transfer portion, and a second voltage supplied to the control electrode of the carrier holding portion during a holding period in which the carriers are retained in the carrier holding portion is the same in polarity as the first voltage and is larger in absolute value than the first voltage.
US08456557B2
Aspects of the invention provide dynamic range extension for CMOS image sensors for mobile applications. An embodiment of the invention may comprise setting for each pixel in a pixel array one of a plurality of integration times and one of a plurality of signal gains, wherein the settings may be used to generate corresponding digital data for each pixel in the pixel array. The corresponding digital data for adjacent pixels for the same color plane may then be grouped into a superpixel, where each pixel has associated with it a different combination of integration time and signal gain.
US08456555B2
Provided are a method and apparatus for improving a dynamic range of an image. The method of improving a dynamic range of an image, which is obtained by a sensor unit of an image capture device, includes: creating an input image by using the sensor unit which has a plurality of lines and has different integration times for the individual lines; and creating an interpolated image by performing interpolation filtering on the input image by using neighboring lines of a current line which have different integration times.
US08456554B2
An integrated AD converter includes: a comparator comparing an input voltage with a reference voltage with a ramp waveform whose voltage value linearly changes with time; a high-bit counter triggered by inversion of an output signal of the comparator to start or stop an operation of counting for every cycle of a main clock signal; a time quantizer latching phase information at a timing at which the output signal is inverted using a plurality of clock signals including main clock signals of different phases, and decodes a value of the latched phase information to thereby output lower bits with a resolution higher than a clock cycle; and a regulating unit synchronizing the output signal with the main clock signal, and determines timings of starting and stopping the operation of the high-bit counter and a value for latching the phase information of the main clock signal using a signal resulting from the synchronization.
US08456549B2
Described is a device (e.g., a cell phone incorporating a digital camera) that incorporates a graphics processing unit (GPU) to process image data in order to increase the quality of a rendered image. The processing power provided by a GPU means that, for example, an unacceptable pixel value (e.g., a pixel value associated with a malfunctioning or dead detector element) can be identified and replaced with a new value that is determined by averaging other pixel values. Also, for example, the device can be calibrated against benchmark data to generate correction factors for each detector element. The correction factors can be applied to the image data on a per-pixel basis. If the device is also adapted to record and/or play digital audio files, the audio performance of the device can be calibrated to determine correction factors for a range of audio frequencies.
US08456545B2
Descriptions are provided of various implementations of an automated tuning process configured to optimize a procedure for post-processing images captured by a camera sensor.
US08456541B2
A plurality of image signals having different exposure levels is acquired; low-frequency components are extracted from each of the image signals to generate a plurality of low-frequency image signals; and the plurality of low-frequency image signals are combined to generate a combined low-frequency image signal. A first image signal is extracted from the plurality of image signals; and high-frequency components are extracted from the first image signal to generate a high-frequency image signal. Then, a combined image signal is generated by combining the combined low-frequency image signal and the high-frequency image signal.
US08456537B2
A digital device including a processor that includes a first unit configured to receive signals in accordance with a first communications protocol and a second unit configured to receive signals in accordance with a second communications protocol. The digital device further includes a data connector coupled to the processor and operable in accordance with the first communications protocol, a switch coupled to the data connector and configured to further couple the data connector to either the first unit or the second unit, and a sensor coupled to the switch, where upon activation of the sensor, a switching signal is transmitted from the sensor to the switch that causes the switch to uncouple the data connector from the first unit and couple the data connector to the second unit to make the data connector operable in accordance with the second communications protocol.
US08456528B2
A system, method and program product for providing a video surveillance system that enhances object detection by utilizing feedback from a tracking system to an object detection system. A system is provided that includes: a moving object detection system for detecting moving objects in a video input; an object tracking system for tracking a detected moving object in successive time instants; and a tracker feedback system for feeding tracking information from the object tracking system to the moving object detection system to enhance object detection.
US08456520B2
A method for displaying a three-dimensional (“3D”) image, wherein the method includes; sequentially displaying a left frame image corresponding to a left eye and a right frame image corresponding to a right eye on a display panel, blocking a light provided to a display block of the display panel when the display block displays a mixed image which includes a left eye image of the left frame image corresponding to the left eye and a right eye image of the right frame image corresponding to the right eye, and providing the light to the display block of the display panel when the display block displays only one of the left eye image and the right eye image.
US08456512B2
An electronic device and a method enable capturing a 360° panoramic image by a digital camera having a fixed angle lens. A number of frames is set for capturing the 360° panoramic image of the digital camera unit. The electronic device receives an initial azimuth of the digital camera unit from an electronic compass and determines rotation points of the digital camera unit. A current azimuth from an electronic compass of the electronic device is received and the rotated angle of the digital camera unit is calculated. The electronic device captures at least one image if the digital camera unit rotates to one of the rotation points.
US08456506B2
An advanced video teleconferencing system facilitates an engaging and realistic video conferencing experience. Key design elements and video, audio, and control capabilities are provided for a video conferencing experience that cannot be attained with conventional methods, which elements and capabilities include careful design of the table and room at each site, supplementary displays showing imagery in a mirrored manner, networked environmental control, an AutoDirector with keyword and gesture recognition, and audio reflection from a display or beam splitter.
US08456502B2
An optical scanner, which scans at least one scanned face by a light beam, includes a light source having a plurality of light emitting points, an optical system before a light deflector configured to form a plurality of light beams from the light source, a light deflector configured to deflect the light beams via the optical system before a light deflector and scan the deflected light beams, and a scanning optical system configured to focus on the scanned face the light beams deflected and scanned by a deflection face of the light deflector, the optical system before a light deflector including a first optical element having a negative power at least in a deflecting and scanning vertical direction, a second optical element having a power only in a deflecting and scanning direction and a third optical element having a power only in the deflecting and scanning vertical direction.
US08456498B2
A printing apparatus includes a printing unit for performing printing by pressing a thermal head onto heat sensitive paper to heat the heat sensitive paper. A battery supplies a voltage to the thermal head, and a battery voltage detecting unit detects the voltage. A printing control unit changes, according to the detected voltage, a power-off time in which power supply from the battery to the thermal head is stopped. The printing control unit calculates the power-off time based on the detected voltage and the resistance of the thermal head and shortens the power-off time as the detected voltage becomes lower thereby shortening the overall printing time without shortening the life of the heating resistance elements of the thermal head.
US08456496B2
Various embodiments of a sub-pixel octal grouping are disclosed. The octal grouping may comprise three-color (red, green and blue) sub-pixels with blue colored subpixel comprising twice the number of positions within the octal sub-pixel grouping as the red and green colored sub-pixels. Various embodiments for performing sub-pixel rendering on the sub-pixel groupings are disclosed.
US08456484B2
The invention provides techniques for wrapping a two-dimensional texture conformally onto a surface of a three dimensional virtual object within an arbitrarily-shaped, user-defined region. The techniques provide minimum distortion and allow interactive manipulation of the mapped texture. The techniques feature an energy minimization scheme in which distances between points on the surface of the three-dimensional virtual object serve as set lengths for springs connecting points of a planar mesh. The planar mesh is adjusted to minimize spring energy, and then used to define a patch upon which a two-dimensional texture is superimposed. Points on the surface of the virtual object are then mapped to corresponding points of the texture. The invention also features a haptic/graphical user interface element that allows a user to interactively and intuitively adjust texture mapped within the arbitrary, user-defined region.
US08456476B1
A computer-implemented method includes identifying a primary node that represents a first pose of an online character. The first pose is associated with a constraint being inactive. The method also includes identifying the primary node representing a second pose of the online character. The second pose is associated with the constraint being active. The method also includes calculating the difference between the primary node of the second pose and the primary node of the first pose. Further, the method includes applying the difference to the primary node of the first pose.
US08456466B1
A three-dimensional transformation of a three-dimensional object is calculated by a solver using an algorithm that reduces deviation between projected two-dimensional locations of three-dimensional contact points on a surface of the object after object transformation and two dimensional locations of touch points placed on a multi-touch display device. The algorithm is biased to generate a three-dimensional transformation that preferentially rotates the object in one direction over an opposite direction when all three-dimensional contact points are located at substantially the same depth along a Z-axis away from an image plane of the multi-touch display device and when transformation is then triggered by touch points moving such that a Euclidean distance between at least two of the touch points decreases.
US08456457B2
A printed circuit board electrically connected to a display includes a plurality of display control units, a plurality of first forward different signal lines, at least one second forward differential signal line, and a plurality of zero-ohm resistors. The display control units provide differential signals for the display through the differential signal lines and the zero-ohm resistors. Any two of the first forward differential signal lines are electrically connected together at one end to form a first node. One end of the second forward differential signal line is electrically connected to the first node. The other end is electrically connected to another first forward differential signal line to form a second node. The zero-ohm resistors are placed on the first forward differential signal lines and the second forward differential signal lines and are electrically connected between the display control units and the display.
US08456444B2
A display apparatus includes: a first and second substrates disposed in an opposing relationship to each other; a plurality of pixel electrodes disposed adjacent the first substrate; a displaying function layer exhibits an image displaying function based on an image signal supplied to the pixel electrodes; a driving electrode disposed in an opposing relationship to the pixel electrodes adjacent one of the two faces; a plurality of detection electrodes disposed on a face of the second substrate on the opposite side to the driving electrode and separated from each other in one direction so as to cooperate with the driving electrode to form capacitance therebetween; and an electrode neighboring layer disposed in contact with the second substrate and the detection electrodes and covering the detection electrodes; the electrode neighboring layer having a refractive index within a range from that of the second substrate to that of the detection electrodes.
US08456440B2
An information processing apparatus comprising a touch screen which detects a touch input by a user detects the position and pressure of each of a plurality of pressed points corresponding to a plurality of touch inputs existing at the same time on a touch screen. Then, the front/rear overlap relationship of the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen is changed based on the difference in pressure between the detected plurality of pressed points.
US08456428B2
A mobile computing device includes a housing, a touch screen display coupled to the housing, a processor coupled to the touch screen display, and a user input device responsive to a sliding manipulation by a user. The processor may be configured to activate a keyboard entry area on the touch screen display responsive to the sliding manipulation. The mobile computing device may include a cellular phone.
US08456423B2
Wireless computer mouse operation may be provided by receiving a user detection signal from a sensor of the wireless computer mouse to determine the presence of a user. In one embodiment, an operation mode of the wireless computer mouse may be determined by a controller based, at least in part, on the user detection signal. Thereafter, the controller can enable at least one of a short range wireless communication module and a FM transceiver of the wireless computer mouse based on the operation mode determined by the controller.
US08456415B2
An object for transmitting information to a user includes an information detection device for detecting and receiving an information signal, a touch detector for transmitting a touch detection signal upon detection of the user touching the object, and an electronic switch for electronically coupling the information detection device to a tactile stimulation unit upon receipt of the touch detection signal such that information signal is transmitted from the information detection device to a part of the user touching the object via the tactile stimulation unit. In this way, the object is suitable for transmitting information only to the user touching the object, and this information is hidden from and not transmitted to other users.
US08456413B2
A display device includes: a light source section having multiple light sources to emit light in illumination colors including three primary colors of light; a display section for displaying an image in monochrome color by modulating the light emitted from the light source section; and a display control section for driving the light source section and the display section in a field sequential system. The display control section includes a determining section for determining a degree of white or a degree of complementary color of the light sources on the basis of an amount of lighting of each of the illumination colors of the light sources, a setting section for setting white components or complementary-color components of a color determined by a mixing ratio of the illumination colors, and an allocating section for allocating the set white components or the complementary-color components to the fields.
US08456412B2
There is provided a method of driving a backlight of a liquid crystal display device capable of eliminating leakage of light from adjacently-placed light emitting blocks. A gray level and maximum gray level of an input video signal are inputted for every light-emitting block. An output average gray level is calculated and a lighting control signal corresponding to converted luminance is outputted. The drivers responding to the lighting control signal makes LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) emit light. An average gray level from an output from sensors is calculated. An average gray level, based on an average gray level and a light leakage rate, by taking light leakage into consideration. A gray level correcting signal is outputted in the light-emitting block based on the above output average gray level. An output average gray level is corrected in response to a gray level correcting signal.
US08456402B2
A semiconductor device having a normal function means is provided, in which the amplitude of an output signal is prevented from being decreased even when a digital circuit using transistors having one conductivity is employed. By turning OFF a diode-connected transistor 101, the gate terminal of a first transistor 102 is brought into a floating state. At this time, the first transistor 102 is ON and its gate-source voltage is stored in a capacitor. Then, when a potential at the source terminal of the first transistor 102 is increased, a potential at the gate terminal of the first transistor 102 is increased as well by bootstrap effect. As a result, the amplitude of an output signal is prevented from being decreased.
US08456388B2
Provided are systems and methods for controlling a solid state lighting panel. A system according to some embodiments of the invention includes a first microprocessor operative to perform color management data processing and generate emitter control data values. The system also includes a second microprocessor operative to receive the emitter control data values from the first processor to control a plurality of light emitters.
US08456386B2
A data driver including a shift register unit configured to receive a first clock signal, a second clock signal, and a start pulse, and to generate a sampling pulse, a sampling latch unit configured to receive and output bits and reversed bits of digital data, in correspondence with the sampling pulse, a holding latch unit configured to receive the bits and reversed bits output by the sampling latch unit, and to output the bits and reversed bits, in correspondence with a first enable signal and a second enable signal, and a digital-to-analog converter configured to receive the bits and reversed bits output by the holding latch unit and to generate an analog signal corresponding to values of the received bits and reversed bits.
US08456385B2
A driving method for a plasma display apparatus having address electrodes, scan electrodes and common electrodes and displaying one field of image by using subfields is provided. The driving method includes one specific subfield is arranged to be turned ON early in the one field and always turned ON at luminance level higher than input luminance level “0”, and the specific subfield has a least luminance weight and does not have resetting.
US08456380B2
Processing computer graphics generated by a remote computer for streaming to a client computer for display on a display device operatively coupled to the client computer, the graphics streamed to the client computer in a plurality of frames, including, for each frame: selecting, by a graphics module of the remote computer in dependence upon a compression profile, regions of the frame to compress at a lower compression rate than other regions of the frame; compressing the frame for streaming; streaming the compressed frame to the client computer; receiving the compressed frame in the stream; decompressing the compressed frame; and displaying the decompressed frame on the display device operatively coupled to the client computer.
US08456371B2
An antenna assembly that includes an antenna module fitting between a display panel of an electronic device and a metallic cover of the device. The antenna module includes an antenna and a support for the antenna. A shielding layer fits between the antenna module and the cover. The shielding layer has a grounding area configured for electrical connection with the antenna and for electrical isolation from the cover.
US08456370B2
A housing includes a soft layer, a radiator element, and a main body. The radiator element is combined with the soft layer. The main body is attached to the soft layer, and the radiator element extends from the soft layer and the main body. The radiator element can be protected by the soft layer and the main body. In addition, textured material can be use for the soft layer to enhance appearance of an electronic device using the housing.
US08456369B2
A dipole antenna is provided. The dipole antenna includes a signal line, a ground line, a substrate, a first radiation element and a second radiation element. The substrate includes a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is opposite to the second surface. The first radiation element is disposed on the first surface and electrically connected to the signal line, wherein the first radiation element comprises a first connection portion and a first extending portion, the first extending portion comprises a first bending portion, the first bending portion forms a first section and a second section on the first extending portion, and the first section is connected to the first connection portion. The second radiation element is disposed on the second surface and electrically connected to the ground line, wherein the second radiation element comprises a second connection portion.
US08456363B2
The position detection device for detecting a position of a moving body in a predetermined environment, which includes a reception feature quantity generation unit 41 which obtains, from a base station which is disposed in the environment and receives identification information transmitted by radio communication from a mobile station attached to the moving body and a reference station disposed in each area defined in advance in the environment, the identification information and a reception intensity as of the reception of the identification information to generate a reception feature quantity which correlates the reception intensity related to each of the mobile station and the reference station with the base station, a position reception feature quantity generation unit 43 which generates a reception feature quantity of each area from the reception feature quantity related to the reference station taking into consideration a factor of a difference caused between generated reception feature quantities related to the mobile station and the reference station, a position reception feature quantity storage unit 45 which learns a generated reception feature quantity of each area and records the quantity together with position identification information, and a position determination unit 46 which searches the position reception feature quantity storage unit for a reception feature quantity most proximate to the generated reception feature quantity related to the mobile station and outputs corresponding position identification information as a position detection result.
US08456361B1
An apparatus for use in transmit beamforming to a beamformee having NR receive antennas. The apparatus includes a controller configured to i) construct a partial channel matrix that describes a multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) channel between a beamformer and M receive antennas, wherein M is less than NR, and ii) generate L independent vectors using the partial channel matrix, wherein L is a rank of the partial channel matrix. When a number NS of one or more streams is greater than L, the controller is further configured to i) select the L independent vectors as steering vectors to steer L streams of the plurality of streams, and ii) select NS−L orthogonal vectors in a null space of the L independent vectors as steering vectors to steer a remainder of the streams in the plurality of streams.
US08456357B2
A communication device is provided which includes a positioning information receiving portion that receives positioning information, by wireless signal, from another communication device, the positioning information including first satellite orbit information that indicates respective orbits of a specific number of satellites and position information that indicates a position of the other communication device, an initialization processing portion that performs initialization processing that specifies, based on the positioning information received by the positioning information receiving portion, from among the specific number of satellites, a plurality of satellites transmitting satellite signals that can be received by the communication device.
US08456349B1
A bistatic radar receiver is centrally located within an array of multiple bistatic transmitters at an airport to precisely determine bird positions and altitudes. Bird target reflections from multiple transmitters are received by the radar receiver. Target location is determined by the transmitter location, receiver location, and measured transmitter-to-target-to-receiver ranges. Target position and altitude accuracy is similar to GPS. The radar receiver antenna is composed of a vertical array of elements and rotated 360 degrees in azimuth. The output of each element is downconverted, digitized, and digitally beamformed to provide multiple simultaneous antenna beams each electronically scanned in elevation. When bistatic transmitters cannot be deployed, a narrow-azimuth wide-elevation transmit antenna beam is overlapped with a wide-azimuth narrow-elevation receive antenna beam electronically scanned in elevation to provide a composite narrow azimuth and elevation beamwidth.
US08456348B2
An SAR ADC capable of reducing energy consumption, including a voltage selecting circuit for configuring a capacitor circuit to form a first equivalent capacitor having a capacitance of (2m−1)C, a second equivalent capacitor having a capacitance of (2n−2m−1)C, a fourth equivalent capacitor having a capacitance of (2m−1)C, and a fifth equivalent capacitor having a capacitance of (2n−2m−1)C, wherein, the first equivalent capacitor has one terminal coupled to a reference voltage or a ground voltage, and the other terminal coupled to a positive input end of a comparator; the second equivalent capacitor is coupled between a common mode voltage and the positive input end; the fourth equivalent capacitor has one terminal coupled to the ground voltage or the reference voltage, and the other terminal coupled to a negative input end of the comparator; and the fifth equivalent capacitor is coupled between the common mode voltage and the negative input end.
US08456346B2
A data converter includes a signal input port, a processing unit, and an output port. The signal input port includes a number of ports for connecting to corresponding ports of an electronic device and receiving waveform signals from the electronic device. The processing unit includes a port detection module for detecting which port of the signal input port is receiving the waveform signals and a data conversion module including a number of conversion sub-modules, each conversion sub-module corresponds to one port of the signal input port. When the port detection module detects the port receiving the waveform signals, the conversion sub-module corresponding to the detected port is enabled and converts the waveform signals to digital data. Then the output port outputs the digital data to a computer, and the communication state of the port of the electronic device is analyzed via the computer based on the digital data.
US08456342B2
A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) uses thermometer coding over a certain code range. A switch array for the certain code range is implemented into a smaller area of the integrated circuit die so as to take advantage of the lower gradient inherent in the smaller area. By implementing the certain input code range into the smaller switch array area, further improved linearity in that input code range is achieved at the expense of worse linearity in the other input code ranges, but without increasing power consumption and/or chip-area of the integrated circuit die.
US08456336B1
A method of performing optical serial-to-parallel conversion of an optical signal includes performing phase modulation of the optical pulse stream and outputting a phase-modulated optical signal. Optical switching of the phase-modulated optical signal is performed by optical switches provided on a signal path. Optical switching of a reference optical clock signal is performed by optical switches provided on a reference path. I/Q demodulation of the optically switched phase-modulated optical signal respectively output by an optical switch is performed on the signal path at timings corresponding to the optically switched reference optical clock signal respectively output by an optical switch on the reference path, in which I and Q demodulated signals are output as a result thereof. Photodetection of the I and Q demodulated signals is then performed.
US08456335B2
In a successive approximation ADC, resolution is limited because a distortion occurs in an A/D conversion result due to a voltage dependence of a sampling capacitance. An A/D converter includes a sampling capacitor part in which capacitors equal in capacitance value to each other are connected inversely, a successive approximation A/D conversion part that conducts A/D conversion on the sampling charge, a digital correction part that corrects capacitance variation of internal DAC capacitors in the successive approximation A/D conversion part, and a digital correction part that digitally corrects a third-order or more factor of a voltage dependence of the sampling charge.
US08456325B1
A networked streetlight system associated with a central control system having control over illumination settings for a plurality of luminaires within the networked system. Particular embodiments may be used specifically with emergency vehicles to guide the vehicles to emergency destinations through the combination of knowing the location of the vehicle and its destination, and having control over the networked luminaires, each having specific illumination settings controls. Examples of illumination settings include strobe, color and intensity.
US08456324B2
The invention may allow an in-vehicle unit of a vehicle located in a shadow portion of a large-sized vehicle and an in-vehicle unit of a vehicle at a location separated from an intersection 193 to receive traffic information. A UHF beacon unit 112 is disposed at the intersection 193, thereby distributing the traffic information using a UHF beacon signal having a diffraction characteristic. This arrangement can allow the in-vehicle unit of the vehicle located in the shadow portion of the large-sized vehicle as well to receive the traffic information. Further, since the UHF signal propagates far, this arrangement can allow the in-vehicle unit of the vehicle at the location separated from the intersection 193 as well to receive the traffic information. The UHF beacon unit 112 transmits the UHF beacon signals with the different traffic information set therein by time division and frequency division. In this case, the UHF beacon unit 112 transmits the UHF beacon signals with the different traffic information set therein with different transmission output powers. With this arrangement, the different traffic information can be respectively distributed to a near-distance zone 291, an intermediate-distance zone 292, and a far-distance zone 293.
US08456319B2
A lighting device includes a touch switch with touch contacts 304, 306, located on the grip of the lighting device is that the light 312 can be turned on when the contacts are bridged by the hand of a user. An electronic circuit 300 includes a latching arrangement 302, 316 to latch the light on. The light can be dimmed by use of a further touch contact 308.
US08456318B2
An occupancy sensor is provided with a housing having an interior cavity. A switch is mounted in the interior cavity of the housing and configured for placement in the open and closed positions. A fascia cover plate may be positioned on the housing to enclose the interior cavity. The fascia cover plate has a fascia rib on an interior surface thereof. The fascia rib is arranged to interfere with the switch in the disabled state to prevent positioning of the fascia cover plate on the housing.
US08456317B2
A sensor module is mounted at a windshield of a vehicle. The sensor module can be connected, via a fastening section that is arranged on a module housing, to an element that is fixed to the vehicle body or to an element which is connected to a part that is fixed to the vehicle body. A sensor is accommodated in the module housing and is retained such that it can be displaced and/or pivoted from a first starting position into a second end position in order to rest against the windscreen. The adjusting movement can be initiated by an adjusting element which can be preloaded in the direction of the end position by means of a spring element and can be blocked in the starting position by means of a blocking element. Also, a delaying element is provided that can influence a parameter of the adjusting movement.
US08456312B2
A domestic water leak and humidity detection and control apparatus to monitor and detect water leaks and to alert a user by an aural buzzer and by illuminated green, red, or yellow LEDs of an operative state of the apparatus incorporates one or more sensor sets, each sensor set having one or more leak detectors connected to a central controller; the central controller having for each sensor set a respective comparator set and a respective LED set, and the central controller connected to and controlling the aural buzzer and controlling a water valve to control water leaks originating from a domestic water supply by electrically controlling the water valve.
US08456306B2
An apparatus, system and techniques for determining a location of an RFID tag among a population of tags are disclosed. The system includes an RFID reader with at least one antenna port and a population of RFID tags. The population of tags can be homogenous or heterogeneous. The RFID reader varies its transmit power through one or more antenna ports resulting in a grouping of the RFID tags into clusters. In one embodiment, the reader utilizes multiple antennas to further define RFID tag clusters among the population. Each read tag is then uniquely associated with a defined cluster. Tag agents also can be provided among the population of tags facilitating definition of the clusters.
US08456300B2
An electronic device includes an environmental sensor that is configured to obtain information associated with an environment surrounding the electronic device and a presence client module that is configured to generate a presence indicator associated with a user of the electronic device based on the information associated with the environment surrounding the electronic device.
US08456282B2
An adaptive wakeup methodology may be implemented to allow an radio frequency identification (RFID) tag to stay synchronized with periodic radio frequency (RF) interrogator polling signal while at the same time optimizing power consumption. A receiver (or transceiver) component of a RFID tag may only be operated when an interrogator polling signal is expected, and in a manner that reduces the amount of time between when the receiver or transceiver is turned on and when the interrogator polling signal is received (i.e., the receive buffer time). At other times, the RFID tag may be placed in a low power consumption sleep state. The amount of time that the RFID tag spends in such a low power sleep state before waking and receiving the following interrogator polling signal may also be optionally adjusted, e.g., to fit characteristics of a given situation and/or to re-synchronize a given aRFID tag with first band transmissions from an aRFIDI.
US08456280B2
The invention relates to a product carrier comprising a first packaging unit wherein when opened a first switch of an integrated circuit of the product carrier is opened and at least one second packaging unit wherein when opened a second switch of the integrated circuit is opened. The circuit is configured and/or arranged to cooperate with electronic means so that a value correlating with the degree of filling of the product carrier can be determined on the basis of the number of closed and/or opened switches. Further, an antenna cooperates with the electronic means to transmit said value, the electric power for the electronic means may be introduced without contact, and the first and the second switch are connected in parallel.
US08456265B2
A transformer assembly. In some embodiments, the transformer assembly comprises a transformer, comprising a magnetic core; a primary winding wound around the magnetic core, wherein the primary winding comprises one or two turns of a first conductive material; and a secondary winding wound around the magnetic core, wherein the secondary winding comprises a plurality of turns of a second conductive material, and wherein a diameter of the magnetic core is sized such that the transformer achieves a first inductance with a core loss comparable to a winding loss.
US08456264B2
In a stationary induction apparatus, an inter-partial-coil insulating plate and a plurality of inter-partial-coil spacer insulators form a refrigerant flow path in conjunction with each other. A space having an inter-partial-coil insulation dimension for withstanding an abnormal voltage is formed between a pair of partial coils. The inter-partial-coil insulating plate and the inter-partial-coil spacer insulators support both the pair of partial coils at an insulated state so as to maintain the inter-partial-coil insulation dimension. The insulators are arranged so as to be overlapped with each other in the direction in which mutually adjacent partial coils are opposed to each other.
US08456260B2
A MEMS switch comprises a substrate, first and second signal lines over the substrate, which each terminate at a connection region, a lower actuation electrode over the substrate and movable contact electrode suspended over the connection regions of the first and second signal lines. An upper actuation electrode is provided over the lower actuation electrode. The connection regions of the first and second signal lines are at a first height from the substrate, wherein signal line portions extending from the connection regions are at a lower height from the substrate, and the lower actuation electrode is provided over the lower height signal line portions, so that the lower height signal line portions are buried. The area available for the actuation electrodes becomes larger and undesired forces and interference are reduced.
US08456259B2
Disclosed are various embodiments for a portable actuator for actuating a trip button and a close button of a circuit breaker. In one embodiment, the trip button is actuated by a linear actuator that transmits rotation forces produced by a motor to the trip button in response to a trip signal. The close button is actuated by a rotating arm that uses an anti-friction roller to apply a rotating motion to the close button in response to a close signal. The portable actuator is configured to receive the input signals from a remote location with a remote controller that is in electronic communication with the portable actuator.
US08456252B2
A dual in-situ mixing approach for extended tuning range of resonators. In one embodiment, a dual in-situ mixing device tunes an input radio-frequency (RF) signal using a first mixer, a resonator body, and a second mixer. In one embodiment, the first mixer is coupled to receive the input RF signal and a local oscillator signal. The resonator body receives the output of the first mixer, and the second mixer is coupled to receive the output of the resonator body and the local oscillator signal to provide a tuned output RF signal as a function of the frequency of local oscillator signal.
US08456249B2
A microscale apparatus includes a microscale rigidized Parylene strap having a reinforcement structure extending from a first side of the strap, a first silicon substrate suspended by the microscale rigidized Parylene strap, the microscale rigidized Parylene strap conformally coupled to the first substrate, and a second substrate conformally coupled to the microscale rigidized Parylene strap to suspend the first silicon substrate through the microscale rigidized Parylene strap.
US08456248B2
A circuit arrangement (S) for supplying a load (P), whose essential electric property is capacitance, from a DC voltage source (U0) has a switch element (S1), which in the operational state is alternately switched between the conductive and non-conductive state, and at least one component (L1, L2) whose essential property is inductance, the load (P) being coupled into the circuit arrangement (S) in parallel to the component (L1, L2) so that the load (P) and the component (L1, L2) form a parallel resonant circuit, the switch element (S1) is connected between the parallel resonant circuit and a base voltage (GND) and the DC voltage source is to be applied in parallel (U0) to the load. The circuit arrangement (S) according to the invention can be used to drive the capacitive load (P) in a bipolar manner, the supply of the load in the non-conductive phase of the switch element (S1) being achieved by the component (L1, L2).
US08456244B2
Apparatus and methods for adjusting a gain of an electronic oscillator, such as a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), are disclosed. In one aspect, an apparatus for compensating for VCO gain variations includes a charge pump controller. The charge pump controller can be configured to select a VCO gain model based on a comparison of a VCO gain indicator and a threshold value stored in a memory, obtain VCO gain model parameters from the memory corresponding to the selected VCO gain model, and compute a charge pump current control value using the VCO gain model parameters. The charge pump current control value can be used to compensate for VCO gain variations.
US08456238B1
A traveling wave amplifier includes a tapered attenuator network for mitigating the effects of DC bias inductor self-resonance. The amplifier includes a gain stages connected in a ladder network for successively amplifying a forward traveling wave caused by an input signal to produce an output signal. A back termination is coupled to the gain stages to absorb backwards traveling waves created by reflections from the gain stages and an output of the amplifier. An inductive DC bias circuit is coupled to the gain stages near the back termination for providing DC bias to the gain stages. A tapered multi-section frequency selective attenuator network is connected between the DC bias circuit and a first one of the gain stages for reducing the effect of self-resonance of the inductive DC bias circuit on the output signal.
US08456233B2
A chopper comprises a differential difference amplifier, a first switch, and a second switch. The differential difference amplifier comprises a first input stage and a second input stage. The first input stage comprises a non-inverting input terminal and an inverting input terminal. The second input stage comprises a non-inverting input terminal and an inverting input terminal. The first switch is operable to receive a first input voltage and a second input voltage and selectively transfer the first input voltage to one of the non-inverting input terminal of the first input stage and the non-inverting input terminal of the second input stage. The second switch is operable to receive a third input voltage and a fourth input voltage and selectively transfer the third input voltage to one of the inverting input terminal of the first input stage and the inverting input terminal of the second input stage.
US08456231B2
In a filter circuit comprising a plurality of low pass filters (LPFs) that are connected in series, each of the plurality of LPFs comprises a switched-capacitor circuit (SC), and a fully-differential amplifier (AMP) which amplifies a signal output from the SC, and outputs the amplified signal. An AMP of an LPF which inputs a signal output from a 1-bit digital-to-analog converter (DAC) comprises a discrete-time type common-mode feedback circuit, and an AMP of an LPF which outputs a signal output from the filter circuit comprises a continuous-time type common-mode feedback circuit.
US08456214B2
A state retention circuit is provided comprising a pulse generator which is configured in a non-retention mode of operation to be responsive to a clock signal to periodically assert a pulse, and a storage structure that comprises a storage element for storing state and an isolation structure for responding to the asserted pulse. In particular, the isolation structure is responsive to the asserted pulse to cause the storage element to update its stored state dependent on an input to the storage structure. Conversely, in the absence of the asserted pulse, the isolation structure isolates the storage element from the input. The pulse generator can be driven by a retention control signal to enter a retention mode of operation, during which it does not assert the pulse irrespective of changes in the clock signal. As a result, the isolation structure isolates the storage element from the input during the retention mode of operation, causing the storage element to retain its stored state prior to entry of the retention mode of operation irrespective of changes in the clock signal or changes in the input during the retention mode of operation. Such a design provides a clock independent pulse retention storage structure of small area, high performance and low energy consumption.
US08456205B2
Disclosed is a phase-frequency comparator stabilizing a loop band width by a simple circuit, there is provided a phase-frequency comparator which is a phase-frequency comparator of inputting a reference clock and a feedback clock and outputting an up signal to a frequency synthesizer and a down signal to the frequency synthesizer, which is provided with a first phase-frequency comparing circuit, a second phase comparing circuit, and a delay circuit portion inputting the reference clock and the feedback clock and providing a predetermined relative delay to an input of the first phase-frequency comparing circuit and an input of the second phase comparing circuit, in which frequency comparison is carried out by the first phase-frequency comparing circuit, and phase comparison is carried out by the first phase-frequency comparing circuit and the second phase comparing circuit controlling a latch.
US08456196B2
Methods, systems, and devices are described for providing voltage comparison adapted to operate at high-speeds and over a relatively large range of supply voltages.
US08456195B2
An apparatus for measuring time interval between two edges of a clock signal and includes an edge generator, a first multi-tap delay module, a second multi-tap delay module, and a multi-element phase detector. The edge generator produces a first edge at a first output node and a second selected edge at a second output node. First multi-tap delay module provides a first incremental delay at each tap to the first edge. Second multi-tap delay module provides a second incremental delay at each tap to the second selected edge. Each element of the multi-element phase detector has first and second input terminals. The first input terminal is coupled to a selected tap of the first multi-tap delay module and the second input terminal is coupled to a corresponding tap of the second multi-tap delay module. The output terminals of the multi-element phase detector provide the value of the time interval.
US08456186B2
A reliability evaluation test apparatus of this invention includes a wafer storage section which stores a wafer in a state wherein the electrode pads of a number of devices formed on the wafer and the bumps of a contactor are totally in electrical contact with each other. The wafer storage section transmits/receives a test signal to/from a measurement section and has a hermetic and heat insulating structure. The wafer storage section has a pressure mechanism which presses the contactor and a heating mechanism which directly heats the wafer totally in contact with the contactor to a predetermined high temperature. The reliability of an interconnection film and insulating film formed on the semiconductor wafer are evaluated under an accelerated condition.
US08456183B2
An electronic component contactor includes a plurality of contact pins, a housing that encases and determines positions of the plurality of contact pins, and a buffer member that buffers against the behavior of the contact pins. The contact pins each includes a base portion, a stretch portion that stretches from the base portion in an arc shape, a contact portion that is formed in the stretch portion, and a load receiving portion. The housing includes a support base in which a surface supporting the buffer member is formed to be flat. The buffer member is formed in a sheet-like shape. A portion of the buffer member that faces the load receiving portion is supported by the support base.
US08456172B2
A measurement circuit includes a switch unit with a number of keys selectively pressed to output different resistance regulating signals. A resistance setting circuit receives the resistance regulating signals and connects different resistances to a voltage circuit and a current circuit. The voltage circuit outputs different voltages. The current voltage receives a voltage from the voltage circuit and outputs a current to a capacitor. A detecting circuit measures a temperature of the capacitor and outputs the temperature to the resistance setting circuit. The resistance setting circuit compares the received temperature with a preset temperature. If the received temperature is equal to or greater than the preset temperature, the resistance setting circuit outputs short-circuit information of the capacitor. If the received temperature is less than the preset temperature, the resistance setting circuit outputs normal information of the capacitor. A display unit displays the information of the capacitor.
US08456168B2
An overhead power transmission line system includes detector circuitry to detect a flashover event on a power line conductor in response to test over voltage excitations applied to the power line conductor applied. Processing circuitry establishes an operational voltage level for the power line conductor taking into account the lowest applied test over voltage excitation that causes a flashover event.
US08456167B2
A gauge head (10) for an ionisation vacuum gauge includes an electrical device (12, 28, 54) operable to provide an electrical discharge in a gas whose pressure is to be measured to initiate ion discharge in the gas.
US08456166B2
Methods and related systems are described for making electromagnetic measurements of a subterranean rock formation through a conductive casing of a borehole. A number of transmitters/receivers are deployed into single well having a conductive casing. A magnetic field is induced through the conductive casing and into a surrounding subterranean rock formation, and the magnetic field is detected by the receivers. The receivers have main windings, feedback winding and bucking windings. One of the receiver coils in the tool string is excited at a time, and induced voltages at all of the other receiver coils, either in straight mode, or in feedback mode, are measured.
US08456164B2
Three-dimensional (3D) tomographic image of a target object such as soft-tissue in humans is obtained in the method and apparatus of the present invention. The target object is first magnetized by a polarizing magnetic field pulse. The magnetization of the object is specified by a 3D spatial Magnetic Density image (MDI). The magnetic field due to the magnetized Object is measured in a 3D volume space that extends in all directions Including substantially along the radial direction, not just on a surface as in prior art. This measured data includes additional information overlooked in prior art and this data is processed to obtain a more accurate 3 D image reconstruction in lesser time than in prior art. The methods and apparatuses of the present invention are combined with frequency and phase encoding techniques of Magnetic Resonance imaging (MRI) technique in prior art to achieve different trade-offs.
US08456163B2
A system acquires frequency domain components representing MR image data. An RF coil emits RF pulses for use in acquiring multiple individual frequency components corresponding to individual data elements in a 3D storage array in which the individual frequency components are successively acquired along radii from a designated center representing an origin to a boundary of the storage array. Angles of successive radii with respect to the origin are successively changed to substantially fill the storage array volume during acquisition of an MR dataset representing an MR image. A computation processor determines the angles of successive radii with respect to the origin, in response to data representing a reduction in at least one dimension of the 3D imaging volume represented by the storage array. A storage processor stores individual frequency components, acquired using the emitted RF pulses, in corresponding individual data elements in the array.
US08456157B2
A biomolecular sensor system includes an array of magnetoresistive nanosensors designed for sensing biomolecule-conjugated superparamagnetic nanoparticles. Materials and geometry of each sensor element are designed for optimized sensitivity. The system includes magnetic field generators to apply forces to superparamagnetic nanoparticles for 1) nanoparticle manipulation, 2) sensor magnetic biasing, 3) magnetic pull-off measurement for differentiation against non-specific association, and 4) removal of all particles from the sensor array surface.
US08456156B2
A probe includes a circuit board, an electric field detecting probe, and a magnetic field detecting probe. The electric field detecting probe and the magnetic field detecting probe are located on the circuit board. An anti-jamming distance between the two detecting probes is a multiple of 5 millimeters and is greater than or equal to 10 millimeters.
US08456147B2
An intelligent pulse width modulation (PWM) controller adapts a switch mode power supply (SMPS) system's operating parameters to optimize efficiency, remove hot spots and isolate faults by integrating a microcontroller, PWM digital circuits and analog circuits into a single integrated circuit, thereby reducing the number of external connections, silicon die area and integrated circuit packages. A lossless inductor current sense technique integrates a matched, tunable complimentary filter with the intelligent SMPS controller for accurately measuring current through the power inductor of the SMPS without introducing losses in the power circuit. The complimentary filter is adjusted by the microcontroller to significantly reduce the effects of component tolerances, accurately measuring the power inductor current for precise closed loop control and over current protection. The frequency pole and gain of the complimentary integrated filter can be adjusted on the fly in order to adapt to dynamically changing operating conditions of the SMPS system.
US08456145B2
The embodiments of the present invention disclose a single board energy-saving device, which includes: a power calculation module, configured to detect the input current of the single board, and calculate the real-time power of the single board according to the detected input current and a previously measured and obtained input voltage of the single board; a single board energy-saving control module, configured to determine the load condition of the single board according to the real-time power of the single board and send a voltage adjustment command according to the load condition; a power supply adjustment module, configured to receive the voltage adjustment command and adjust the bus voltage of the single board according to the voltage adjustment command. The corresponding embodiments of the present invention also disclose a single board energy-saving method and a single board. Through the foregoing technical solutions, energy-saving is realized for the single board.
US08456143B2
A control technology which eliminates the need for changing the switching frequency even under light load where the on-time of a drive switching element becomes shorter than a minimum on-time dependent on the characteristics of the circuit in a synchronous rectification switching regulator. The synchronous rectification switching regulator includes a drive switching element for storing energy in a coil by applying a DC input voltage from a DC power supply to an inductor and permitting a current to flow, and a rectification switching element for rectifying the current of the inductor during an energy discharge period where the drive switching element is turned off. The timing for turning off the rectification switching element under light load is delayed so as to store energy in the inductor from the output, and the on-time is controlled to become longer as the load becomes lighter by the output from an error amplifier.
US08456125B2
A piezoelectric debris sensor and associated signal processor responsive to debris strikes enable an autonomous or non-autonomous cleaning device to detect the presence of debris and in response, to select a behavioral mode, operational condition or pattern of movement, such as spot coverage or the like. Multiple sensor channels (e.g., left and right) can be used to enable the detection or generation of differential left/right debris signals and thereby enable an autonomous device to steer in the direction of debris.
US08456116B2
In at least some embodiments, a system includes a first remote tool. The system also includes a variable frequency drive (VFD) coupled to the first remote tool, wherein the output of the VFD powers the first tool and wherein at least part of the VFD is in situ with the first remote tool.
US08456115B2
A data processor establishes a first range of rotational speeds of a rotor of the motor from a first lower limit to a first higher limit and a second range of rotational speeds from a second lower limit to a second higher limit. A hysteresis band or a rotational range of speeds is established such that during operation in the first range the first higher limit is adjusted (e.g., raised by a first amount to be greater than the second lower limit). A sensor detects or measures a rotational speed of a rotor of the motor. The data processor determines whether the measured rotational speed falls within the first range or the second range, as adjusted by the hysteresis band, to identify a selected speed range. A switching frequency of a pulse-width modulation signal is varied in accordance with the selected speed range.
US08456112B2
Disclosed is a linear electric motor having a fixed primary comprising a stator divided into a number of sections, including a translating secondary having an operative length longer than any two adjacent sections of the stator in the form of a reaction plate, and a connecting means for connecting only those sections of the stator that are at least partially covered by the reaction plate. The position of the reaction plate relative to the stator is determined by monitoring current in the active representative sections. Power is supplied to each stator section individually, with power supplied in a modulated manner to end active stator sections only partially covered by the reaction plate. A measurement of the current to the active representative section is used to control output voltage to all energized stator sections and is used to determine the change in position of the reaction plate.
US08456111B2
A linear drive based on linear motors, for panels, in particular sliding doors, movable along a respective travel path. A linear drive for at least one panel, in particular a sliding door leaf, movable along a travel path, has at least one linear motor for this at least one panel. The linear motor is provided with a stator member and a carriage. Furthermore, the linear drive has a control circuit. The control circuit is adapted to stop the linear motor in the event of failure of power supply to the linear motor, by switching-off the linear motor and operating it as a generator. Thereupon, in terms of its displaceability, this movable panel is enabled by the control circuit. In addition, the linear drive has a switch for switching-off the energy supply to the at least one linear motor.
US08456108B2
An LED lighting apparatus includes a triac dimmer 3, a series circuit connected to the triac dimmer and including a primary winding P of a switching transformer T and a switching element Q1, the switching transformer having a plurality of windings, a controller 14 of the switching element, a rectifying-smoothing circuit of a voltage of a secondary winding S of the switching transformer, LEDs 1a to 1n connected to an output of the rectifying-smoothing circuit, a current detector 7 detecting a current of the, a voltage detector 11 configured to output a voltage detection signal of a voltage generated at one of the secondary winding when the first rectifying element is ON, the voltage at the secondary winding being proportional to the phase-controlled AC voltage, and an amplifier 13 amplifying a signal that is based on the current detection signal and voltage detection signal for the controller.
US08456104B2
A method and system provide for dynamic control of backlighting of a light-transmissive bezel of a display device. A color control signal is received and processed by a processor and control element of the display device to generate a backlighting control signal and transmit the backlighting control signal to the backlighting element of the display device. The backlighting element generates a backlighting color to illuminate the light-transmissive bezel in accordance with the received backlighting control signal; the backlighting control signal adaptively controls the type and the duration of the backlighting color as determined by the color control signal received by the processor and control element.
US08456099B2
The invention relates to a method for operating a gas discharge lamp, in which the shape of at least one electrode of the gas discharge lamp is changed, in which by changing the lamp current for a predeterminable duration, at least one current pulse is generated such that structures which have grown on the at least one electrode are at least partially removed, the current pulse being generated for the duration of at least one entire half cycle of the AC voltage or the alternating current if the gas discharge lamp is fed AC voltage or alternating current, and the current pulse being generated with a pulse duration of between approximately 0.1 s and approximately 5 s if the gas discharge lamp is fed DC voltage or direct current.
US08456089B2
Disclosed is a lighting device including a circuit including at least two parallel-connected light-emitting diodes of opposite pole in a first parallel branch and comprising at least two parallel-connected light-emitting diodes of opposite pole in a second parallel branch, and also including a capacitor and a coil. At least one of the diodes emits red light, blue light, and/or white light.
US08456077B2
A lamp device comprising illuminant, which emits a primary radiation on applying a voltage thereto and solid particles, at least partly enclosing the illuminant and which interact with the primary radiation. The particle number density changes in at least one direction away from the illuminant from a first particle number density to a second particle number density.
US08456072B2
An ultraviolet enhancer (UVE) holder (428) may be configured to attach a UVE (424) having an outer envelope (530) to an electrical lead (420) of a lamp (400) and to retain the UVE (424) within the lamp (400) in a desired position. The UVE holder (428) may include a plurality of turns (640) comprising a first turn (642) and a final turn (644). The first and final turns (642, 644) may have a substantially similar inner diameter (D) defining a through passage (646) shaped to conformingly receive the outer envelope (530) of the UVE (424). The UVE holder (428) may further include a first leg (534) depending from the first turn (642), wherein the first leg (534) may have a first distal portion (648) remote from the first turn (642) defining a first attachment region (650) adapted for attachment to a lamp capsule electrical lead (410).
US08456069B2
An organic electroluminescent display device includes forming an organic electroluminescent panel that includes a viewing surface for displaying images and an opposing surface and includes a plurality of source pads in a peripheral region of the organic electroluminescent panel; configuring at least one source IC to be on the opposing surface of the organic electroluminescent panel, wherein the at least one source IC outputs a source signal corresponding to the source pad; configuring a thermally conductive unit to contact the at least one source IC at an inner surface of the thermally conductive unit; and configuring a bottom case to contact an outer surface of the thermally conductive unit.
US08456066B2
There is provided a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element having little decease of Qm even in a high electric field in the case of a piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive body is characterized in that the rate of Qm in an electric field of 10 V/mm is 30% or more with respect to Qm in an electric field of 1 V/mm.
US08456063B2
Device for converting mechanical energy from the impact of objects into electrical energy, comprising a frame, a membrane suspended on said frame by at least a first and second longitudinal end, said membrane being intended to be impacted by said objects in a direction substantially transverse to a mid-plane of the membrane, said membrane comprising a core made from material for transducing mechanical energy into electrical energy, extending from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end, and at least one electrode on a first face of the core and at least one electrode on a second face of the core, said electrodes extending from the first to the second longitudinal end.
US08456056B2
A rotor core for a rotary electric machine includes a plurality of ring-shaped core plates. The core plates are formed by joining arc-shaped segments. The core plate segments each include a protruding portion that is formed on one surface of each of the segments and has an end in the circumferential direction that is arc-shaped, and a recessed portion that is formed on the other surface and has an end in the circumferential direction that is arc-shaped, and to which the protruding portion of the core plate segment of another layer is fitted when the core plates are laminated. An interference fit is provided between the protruding portion width of the core plates and the recessed portion of the core plates in the radial direction and a loose fit is provided in the circumferential direction.
US08456052B2
Stator winding (10) for an electric machine, in particular for a generator of a motor vehicle, the stator winding (10) being embodied as an ordered stator winding (10), and the stator winding (10) being embodied in at least two axially spaced-apart levels (22, 24) in a winding head (13). The invention also relates to an electric machine and a method for manufacturing a stator winding (10) of an electric machine.
US08456050B2
In the brushless motor, a magnetic recording disk is to be mounted on a hub. A base plate rotatably supports the hub on the upper surface. A laminated core is fixed on the upper surface of the base plate and has a ring portion and a plurality of teeth that extend radially from the ring portion. Coils are wound around the plurality of teeth. A cylindrical magnet is fixed to the hub and is magnetized for driving with a plurality of poles along the circumferential direction and is arranged to radially face the plurality of teeth of the laminated core. A wire of one end of one of the coils is drawn out to the bottom surface of the base plate through a hole arranged on the base plate. The wire is connected to a driving line for supplying a current to the coils at a position other than the position of the hole on the base plate. The hole of the base plate is plugged with a resin.
US08456049B2
A heat sink is provided on a motor. A power module is provided on the heat sink to switch current supply to motor coils. A control circuit substrate is arranged on the heat sink and connected electrically to the power module. A power circuit substrate is connected electrically to the power module and arranged at an opposite side of the control circuit substrate relative to the heat sink. A control circuit connector is electrically connected to the control circuit substrate. A power circuit connector is electrically connected to the power circuit substrate. The control circuit connector and the power circuit connector are arranged between the control circuit substrate and the power circuit substrate.
US08456047B2
A motor driven assembly includes a motor having a motor inlet and a motor outlet, a shaft, and a rotor spaced radially outwards from the shaft. A cooling flow passage is located between the shaft and the rotor. The cooling flow passage fluidly connects the motor inlet and the motor outlet. A compressor is in fluid communication with the motor outlet. The compressor includes a compressor outlet that is in fluid communication with the motor inlet.
US08456045B2
A heat-generating portion cooling structure of vehicle drive apparatus that sufficiently supplies cooling oil to heat-generating portions to enhance efficiency of the vehicle drive apparatus when the heat-generating portions generate maximum heat includes drawing means for drawing oil in a case into a catch tank, and an oil circulation passage for circulating the oil through the catch tank while supplying the oil to first and second heat-generating portions. The oil circulation passage includes a first passage for the oil to flow to the first heat-generating portion when the oil surface in the catch tank is at a first height and a second passage for the oil to flow to the second heat-generating portion when the oil surface is at a second height lower than the first height, and more amount of oil flows to the second heat-generating portion than to the first heat-generating portion when the oil surface is low.
US08456036B2
An uninterruptible power supply (“UPS”) includes an input module having a plurality of inputs, and at least one jumper element configured to selectively couple at least one input of the plurality of inputs to at least one other input of the plurality of inputs. The plurality of inputs and the at least one jumper element may be constructed and arranged to selectively achieve the following configurations: single power feed, single phase input and single phase output; dual power feed, single phase input and single phase output; single power feed, three phase input and single phase output; dual power feed, three phase input and single phase output; single power feed, three phase input and three phase output; and dual power feed, three phase input and three phase output. Other embodiments and methods of selectively achieving multiple power configurations are also disclosed.
US08456033B2
A cellular communication tower is adapted to support a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) that includes a generator mechanism. The signal and power cable for the communication antennas run through the central axis or bore of the generator. The blades of the VAWT are disposed so as to avoid interferences with communication signals. The tower preferably deploys an open truss construction to avoid the impact of periodic pressure pulse as the turning blades shift out of alignment from shading the tower. Thus, with an open truss tower the turbine blades can be a larger size and still not cause such pressure pulses.
US08456026B2
A gyroscopic device may be used as a power generator. In some embodiments there is provided a power generator which comprises a housing, a flywheel disposed within the housing and rotatable about an extending along a first axis, a precessional rotation assembly to implement rotation of the housing about a precessional axis of the flywheel, and a precessional generator to capture energy generated by the precessional rotation of the housing. Other embodiments may be described.
US08456023B2
A method of processing a semiconductor wafer is provided which comprises treating a metallization layer provided on a backside of the wafer to form a plurality of channels therein, such that at least some of the channels along substantially the length thereof extend through the thickness of the metallization layer to the backside of the wafer, thereby exposing the material of the backside of the wafer. When the semiconductor wafer is separated into dies, each die is provided with a plurality of channels, which extend to an edge of the die. On attaching the die to a die attach flag by solder, the solder does not stick to the exposed material of the backside of the die, and channels are thereby formed in the solder. This allows venting of gases formed in the solder, and decreases void formation in the solder.
US08456013B2
A new method is provided for the creation of interconnect lines. Fine line interconnects are provided in a first layer of dielectric overlying semiconductor circuits that have been created in or on the surface of a substrate. A layer of passivation is deposited over the layer of dielectric, a thick second layer of dielectric is created over the surface of the layer of passivation. Thick and wide interconnect lines are created in the thick second layer of dielectric. The first layer of dielectric may also be eliminated, creating the wide thick interconnect network on the surface of the layer of passivation that has been deposited over the surface of a substrate.
US08456007B2
A titanium layer is formed on a substrate with chemical vapor deposition (CVD). First, a seed layer is formed on the substrate by combining a first precursor with a reducing agent by CVD. Then, the titanium layer is formed on the substrate by combining a second precursor with the seed layer by CVD. The titanium layer is used to form contacts to active areas of substrate and for the formation of interlevel vias.
US08456006B2
The present invention provides an interconnect structure (of the single or dual damascene type) and a method of forming the same, in which a dense (i.e., non-porous) dielectric spacer is present on the sidewalls of a dielectric material. More specifically, the inventive structure includes a dielectric material having a conductive material embedded within at least one opening in the dielectric material, wherein the conductive material is laterally spaced apart from the dielectric material by a diffusion barrier, a dense dielectric spacer and, optionally, an air gap. The presence of the dense dielectric spacer results in a hybrid interconnect structure that has improved reliability and performance as compared with existing prior art interconnect structures which do not include such dense dielectric spacers. Moreover, the inventive hybrid interconnect structure provides for better process control which leads to the potential for high volume manufacturing.
US08456000B2
A three-dimensional semiconductor module and an electronic system including the same are provided. The semiconductor module includes a module substrate, a logic device formed on a part of the module substrate, and a plurality of memory devices formed on another part of the module substrate, wherein the plurality of memory devices are disposed perpendicular to the logic device, and the module substrate on which the plurality of memory devices are formed is supported by a supporter. The electronic system includes the semiconductor module.
US08455981B2
A graphene substrate is doped with one or more functional groups to form an electronic device.
US08455975B2
A parasitic PNP bipolar transistor, wherein a base region includes a first and a second region; the first region is formed in an active area, has a depth larger than shallow trench field oxides, and has its bottom laterally extended into the bottom of the shallow trench field oxides on both sides of an active area; the second region is formed in an upper part of the first region and has a higher doping concentration; an N-type and a P-type pseudo buried layer is respectively formed at the bottom of the shallow trench field oxides; a deep hole contact is formed on top of the N-type pseudo buried layer to pick up the base; the P-type pseudo buried layer forms a collector region separated from the active area by a lateral distance; an emitter region is formed by a P-type SiGe epitaxial layer formed on top of the active area.
US08455967B2
There is disclosed a memory element including a layered structure including a memory layer that has magnetization perpendicular to a film face and a magnetization direction thereof varies corresponding to information; a magnetization-fixed layer that has magnetization that is perpendicular to the film face; and an insulating layer that is provided between the memory layer. An electron that is spin-polarized is injected in a lamination direction of the layered structure, and thereby the magnetization direction of the memory layer varies and a recording of information is performed with respect to the memory layer, a magnitude of an effective diamagnetic field which the memory layer receives is smaller than a saturated magnetization amount of the memory layer, and the memory layer and the magnetization-fixed layer have a film thickness in such a manner that an interface magnetic anisotropy energy becomes larger than a diamagnetic energy.
US08455963B1
A capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT), which has a conductive structure that can vibrate over a cavity, has a number of vent holes that are formed in the bottom surface of the cavity. The vent holes eliminate the deflection of the CMUT membrane due to atmospheric pressure which, in turn, allows the CMUT to receive and transmit low frequency ultrasonic waves.
US08455955B2
An array of transistors arranged next to each other on a semiconductor material forming a substrate, the substrate comprising p-well or n-well diffusions forming a body, which diffusions are used as the body regions of the transistors, each transistor comprising a source, a drain and a gate, wherein the array of transistors further comprises at least one electrical connection to the body, wherein said electrical connection is shared by at least two transistors of said array. Also disclosed is a semiconductor device comprising at least one source, at least one drain, at least one gate between the at least one source and the at least one drain, and at least one structure of the same material as the at least one gate which does not have a connection means for electrical connection to the at least one gate.
US08455953B2
A sinker layer is in contact with a first conductivity-type well and a second conductivity-type drift layer, respectively, and is separated from a first conductivity-type collector layer. A second conductivity-type diffusion layer (second second-conductivity-type high-concentration diffusion layer) is formed in the surface layer of the sinker layer. The second conductivity-type diffusion layer has a higher impurity concentration than that of the sinker layer. The second conductivity-type diffusion layer and the first conductivity-type collector layer are isolated from each other with an element isolation insulating film interposed therebetween.
US08455951B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a rectangular shape, and a via hole that has an elliptic shape or a track shape having a linear portion in a long-axis direction of the track shape, a long axis of the elliptic shape or the track shape being arranged in a long-side direction of the substrate.
US08455950B2
An integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor doped area (NWell) having a first conductivity type, and a layer (PSD) that overlies a portion of said doped area (NWell) and has a doping of an opposite second type of conductivity that is opposite from the first conductivity type of said doped area (NWell), and said layer (PSD) having a corner in cross-section, and the doping of said doped area (NWell) forming a junction beneath said layer (PSD) with the doping of said doped area (NWell) diluted in a vicinity below the corner of said layer (PSD). Other integrated circuits, substructures, devices, processes of manufacturing, and processes of testing are also disclosed.
US08455949B2
An ESD protection element for use in an electrical circuit having a fin structure or a fully depleted silicon-on-insulator structure. The fin structure or the fully depleted silicon-on-insulator structure contains a first connection region having a first conductivity type; a second connection region having a second conductivity type, which is opposite to the first conductivity type; and also a plurality of body regions which are formed alongside one another and which are formed between the first connection region and the second connection region. The body regions alternately have the first conductivity type and the second conductivity type. The ESD protection element has at least one gate region formed on or above at least one of the plurality of body regions, and also at least one gate control device which is electrically coupled to the at least one gate region.
US08455947B2
This disclosure relates to devices and methods relating to coupled first and second device portions.
US08455941B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a stacked body including electrode films stacked in a first direction; a conductive pillar piercing the stacked body in the first direction; an inner insulating film, a semiconductor pillar, an intermediate insulating film, a memory layer, and an outer insulating film provided between the conductive pillar and the electrode films. The inner insulating film is provided around a side face of the conductive pillar. The semiconductor pillar is provided around a side face of the inner insulating film. The intermediate insulating film is provided around a side face of the semiconductor pillar. The memory layer is provided around a side face of the intermediate insulating film. The outer insulating film is provided around a side face of the memory layer.
US08455938B2
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device that has a semiconductor-on-insulator (SeOI) structure, which includes a substrate, an insulating layer such as an oxide layer on the substrate and a semiconductor layer on the insulating layer with a field-effect-transistor (FET) formed in the SeOI structure from the substrate and deposited layers, wherein the FET has a channel region in the substrate, a gate dielectric layer that is made from at least a part of the oxide layer of the SeOI structure; and a gate electrode that is formed at least partially from a part of the semiconductor layer of the SeOI structure. The invention further relates to a method of forming one or more field-effect-transistors or metal-oxide-semiconductor transistors from a semiconductor-on-insulator structure that involves patterning and etching the SeOI structure, forming shallow trench isolations, depositing insulating, metal or semiconductor layers, and removing mask and/or pattern layers.
US08455927B2
To reduce the pixel size to the smallest dimensions and simplest form of operation, a pixel may be formed by using only one ion sensitive field-effect transistor (ISFET). This one-transistor, or 1T, pixel can provide gain by converting the drain current to voltage in the column. Configurable pixels can be created to allow both common source read out as well as source follower read out. A plurality of the 1T pixels may form an array, having a number of rows and a number of columns and a column readout circuit in each column. A cascoded device enabled during readout may be used to provide increased programmable gain.
US08455917B2
According to one embodiment, in a nitride semiconductor light emitting device, a first clad layer includes an n-type nitride semiconductor. An active layer is formed on the first clad layer, and includes an In-containing nitride semiconductor. A GaN layer is formed on the active layer. A first AlGaN layer is formed on the GaN layer, and has a first Al composition ratio. A p-type second AlGaN layer is formed on the first AlGaN layer, has a second Al composition ratio higher than the first Al composition ratio, and contains a larger amount of Mg than the GaN layer and the first AlGaN layer. A second clad layer is formed on the second AlGaN layer, and includes a p-type nitride semiconductor.
US08455915B2
The light emitting device according to the present invention includes a resin molded body having a recess, a first electrically conductive member and a second electrically conductive member each having terminal portions respectively exposed from a first outer side surface and second outer side surface which are opposite outer side surfaces among the outer side surfaces of the resin molded body, and a light emitting element mounted on the first electrically conductive member exposed at a bottom surface of the recess. The recess has a first bottom surface on which the light emitting element is mounted and a second bottom surface arranged at a higher position of the outer periphery of the first bottom surface.
US08455912B2
A light-emitting device which includes a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type; a second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type; and a light emitting layer provided between the first and second semiconductor layers, the device comprises a first electrode formed on the first semiconductor layer; a second electrode formed on the second semiconductor layer; and a light-transmissive electrode covering the second semiconductor layer and the second electrode, wherein contact between the second electrode and the second semiconductor layer is non-ohmic, and the second electrode has a stacked structure including a lower layer and an upper layer whose contact resistance with the light-transmissive electrode is lower than that of the lower layer, part of the second electrode being exposed through an opening formed in the light-transmissive electrode.
US08455909B2
Semiconductor light emitting devices include an aluminum nitride substrate, a light emitting diode on a face of the substrate and flexible silicone film that includes a silicone lens on the face of the substrate. The light emitting diode emits light through the silicone lens.
US08455893B2
A light-emitting apparatus can prevent a shadow mask from contacting a light-emitting medium to suppress damage of the medium, by using a conductive layer formed on a device isolation layer as a pressing member for the shadow mask, and can attain more secure conduction between a second electrode and an auxiliary electrode. The apparatus can be formed by forming first and auxiliary electrodes on a substrate; forming a device isolation layer between the first electrodes and forming an opening on each of the first and auxiliary electrodes; forming a conductive layer on the device isolation layer to cover the openings above the auxiliary electrodes; bringing a shadow mask into contact with the conductive layer and forming a light-emitting medium in a thickness smaller than the thickness of the conductive layer; and forming a second electrode to cover the light-emitting medium, the device isolation layer, and the conductive layer.
US08455890B2
A method of coating a light emitting device is provided. The method includes preparing a plurality of light emitting devices. The plurality of light emitting devices are coated with a first photocurable liquid. First light is selectively exposed to the first photocurable liquid to form a first coating layer on at least a partial region of a surface of each of the plurality of light emitting devices. The plurality of light emitting devices on which the first coating layer is formed are coated with a second photocurable liquid. Second light is selectively exposed to the second photocurable liquid to form a second coating layer on at least a partial region of the surface of each of the plurality of light emitting devices or a surface of the first coating layer. The first coating layer corresponds to the cured first photocurable liquid, while the second coating layer corresponds to the cured second photocurable liquid.
US08455884B2
It is an object to improve light extraction efficiency in a light-emitting device and a lighting device. A light-emitting device includes a plurality of light-emitting portions, and a plurality of hemispherical components provided so as to overlap with the plurality of light-emitting portions. The plurality of hemispherical components are provided so as not to form a space therebetween in a region where the plurality of hemispherical components are adjacent to each other. When a refractive index of the hemispherical component is n and a radius of a bottom surface of the hemispherical component is b, the light-emitting portion is provided inside a circle whose radius r from a center of the bottom surface of the hemispherical component is b/n.
US08455880B2
Provided is a light emitting device. A light emitting device includes: a conductive support member; a light emitting structure for generating a light on the conductive support member, the light emitting structure comprising a first conductive type semiconductor layer, a second conductive type semiconductor layer, and an active layer; an electrode on the light emitting structure; and an oxide layer between the electrode and the light emitting structure. The light emitting structure includes an oxygen-injected region where oxygen is injected on an upper portion of the light emitting structure.
US08455879B2
A sapphire substrate includes a generally planar surface having a crystallographic orientation selected from the group consisting of a-plane, r-plane, m-plane, and c-plane orientations, and having a nTTV of not greater than about 0.037 μm/cm2, wherein nTTV is total thickness variation normalized for surface area of the generally planar surface, the substrate having a diameter not less than about 9.0 cm.
US08455872B2
A method of manufacturing a thin film electronic device comprises applying a first plastic coating (PI-1) directly to a rigid carrier substrate (40) and forming thin film electronic elements (44) over the first plastic coating. A second plastic coating (46) is applied over the thin film electronic elements with electrodes (47) on top, with a portion lying directly over the associated electronic element, spaced by the second plastic coating. The rigid carrier substrate (40) is released from the first plastic coating, by a laser release process. This method enables traditional materials to be used as the base for the electronic element manufacture, for example thin film transistors. The second plastic coating can form part of the known field shielded pixel (FSP) technology.
US08455863B2
An organic electroluminescent element includes an electron-transport layer composed of a heterocyclic compound, a negative electrode composed of a metal material, and a transition-metal-complex layer arranged between the electron-transport layer and the negative electrode.
US08455859B2
The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device that includes a semiconductor substrate, a gate structure disposed on a surface of the substrate, and strained structures disposed in the substrate at either side of the gate structure and formed of a semiconductor material different from the semiconductor substrate. Each strained structure has a cross-sectional profile that includes a first portion that extends from the surface of substrate and a second portion that tapers from the first portion at an angle ranging from about 50° to about 70°. The angle is measured with respect to an axis parallel to the surface of the substrate.
US08455858B2
A semiconductor structure is provided. The semiconductor structure may include a substrate (100); a buffer layer or an insulation layer (200) formed on the substrate; a first strained wide bandgap semiconductor material layer (400) formed on the buffer layer or the insulation layer; a strained narrow bandgap semiconductor material layer (500) formed on the first strained wide bandgap semiconductor material layer; a second strained wide bandgap semiconductor material layer (700) formed on the strained narrow bandgap semiconductor material layer; a gate stack (300) formed on the second strained wide bandgap semiconductor material layer; and a source and a drain (600) formed in the first strained wide bandgap semiconductor material layer, the strained narrow bandgap semiconductor material layer and the second strained wide bandgap semiconductor material layer respectively.
US08455850B2
An extreme ultraviolet light source apparatus, which is to generate an extreme ultraviolet light by irradiating a target with a main pulse laser light after irradiating the target with a prepulse laser light, the extreme ultraviolet light source apparatus comprises: a prepulse laser light source generating a pre-plasma by irradiating the target with the prepulse laser light while a part of the target remains, the pre-plasma being generated at a different region from a target region, the different region being located on an incident side of the prepulse laser light; and a main pulse laser light source generating the extreme ultraviolet light by irradiating the pre-plasma with the main pulse laser light.
US08455840B2
The disclosure relates to ion beams systems, such as gas field ion microscopes, having multiple modes of operation, as well as related methods. In some embodiments, the disclosure provides a method of operating a gas field ion microscope system that includes a gas field ion source, where the gas field ion source includes a tip including a plurality of atoms.
US08455831B2
Disclosed herein is a sensing assembly. The assembly includes a sensing assembly housing for enclosing an interior. The assembly further includes a plurality of sensing assembly components which are at least partially positioned, or at least partially contained, within the interior. And the assembly includes an indicator lens device which is integral with, or integrated with respect to the housing. In at least some embodiments, at least a portion of the housing coincides at least in part with a first axis and at least a portion of the indicator lens coincides with a second axis, such that the first axis and the second axis intersect to form an oblique viewing angle range and at least a portion of the indicator lens device is visible at least substantially throughout the oblique (e.g., obtuse) viewing angle range.
US08455827B1
A method and apparatus for determining the amount of water in an organic solvent solution, such as a DMSO solution. The apparatus comprises an infrared LED for emitting near infrared light; a laser diode collimator for forming a collimated light beam from the light emitted by the LED; a sample container holder for accepting a sample container containing a sample solution; a photodiode for generating an output signal that is related to the intensity of the collimated light beam after the collimated light beam has passed through the sample solution; and a control means for controlling the stability of the near infrared light emitted by the infrared LED by controlling an amount of current flowing through the infrared LED.
US08455823B2
The present invention provides a charged particle beam device in which signal electrons (14) are generated from a sample when the sample (11) is irradiated with a primary charged particle beam (3), and then enter different positions of a position-sensitive signal detector (16) in accordance with energy of the signal electrons (14), whereby an energy distribution image of the signal electrons generated from the sample is acquired. Accordingly, it becomes possible to discriminate and select signal electrons having arbitrary energy to thereby obtain an image to which information specific to the arbitrary energy is reflected, and to acquire various characteristic information of the sample.
US08455819B2
An ion guide or mass analyser is disclosed comprising a plurality of electrodes having apertures through which ions are transmitted in use. A pseudo-potential barrier is created at the exit of the ion guide or mass analyser. The amplitude or depth of the pseudo-potential barrier is inversely proportional to the mass to charge ratio of an ion. One or more transient DC voltages are applied to the electrodes of the ion guide or mass analyser in order to urge ions along the length of the ion guides or mass analyser. The amplitude of the transient DC voltage applied to the electrode may be increased with time so that ions are caused to be emitted from the ion guide or mass analyser in reverse order of their mass to charge ratio.
US08455814B2
In an embodiment, a collision cell comprises rods each having a first end and a second end remote from the first end; an inductor connected between adjacent pairs of rods; and means for applying a radio frequency (RF) voltage between adjacent pairs of rods. The RF voltage creates a multipole field in a region between the rods; and means for applying a direct current (DC) voltage drop along a length of each of the rods.
US08455808B1
Apparatus for optical restricting are described. An example of the invention relates to an apparatus for restricting the brightness of a light source. The apparatus can include an absorber material configured to absorb at least a portion of a primary emission produced by the light source and producing photoexcitations in response thereto; and an emitter material configured to receive the photoexcitations from the absorber material and producing a secondary emission therefrom, wherein an amount of the secondary emission is restricted with respect to an amount of the primary emission.
US08455807B2
A sunlight collector module is disclosed, capable of collecting the sunlight from the sun for the illumination at a certain position, and of reflecting portion of the sunlight to a solar photovoltaic module. The disclosed sunlight collector module comprises: a base, a first reflective element disposed on the base, a second reflective element, a light-guide element, and a beam splitting element, wherein the second reflective element is disposed on a side, which is opposite to the base, of the first reflective element. Besides, the light-guide element disposed on a side, which is opposite to the second reflective element, of the first reflective element. In addition, the beam splitting element is disposed between the first reflective element and the light-guide element, for reflecting portion of the sunlight to the solar photovoltaic module. The non-reflected portion of the sunlight passes through the beam splitting element and enters the light-guide element.
US08455798B2
The present invention relates to an oven (1) comprising a cooking chamber (2) wherein the cooking process is performed, a heater (3) for cooking the foodstuffs emplaced in the cooking chamber (2), a thermostat that controls the operation of the heater (3) and a control unit (4) that regulates the cooking parameters of temperature and duration such that energy savings is maintained at different temperature values (T1) defined by the user such as 160° C., 180° C., 200° C., 220° C., . . . according to type of food to be cooked.
US08455797B2
The present invention is directed to improving the conventional high-speed cooking oven based on a combination of hot air impingement and microwave heating by providing a time-dependent spatial variation in the net air impingement and/or net microwave energy applied to the food product in the oven. This is aimed at optimizing heat transfer and microwave efficiencies in a high-speed cooking oven, thereby enabling the oven to deliver an optimal cooking efficiency in comparison to the conventional high-speed cooking oven. In addition, under the embodiments of the present invention, the cooking efficiency may be further optimized by providing a plenum between each wall of the cooking chamber and the housing of the oven.
US08455792B2
A laser irradiation apparatus for bonding a first substrate and a second substrate of a display device by melting a plurality of bonding members disposed between the first and second substrates to define cells when the display device is manufactured, the display device including light emitting elements disposed on a surface of the first substrate such that the bonding members respectively encompass lateral regions of the light emitting elements, the laser irradiation apparatus including a stage on which the first substrate is mounted, a laser oscillation member configured to irradiate a laser beam that melts the bonding members disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and a scanner configured to irradiate the laser beam incident from the laser oscillation member onto the bonding members, the scanner being configured to sequentially irradiate the laser beam on portions of the bonding members.
US08455790B2
To provide a laser irradiation apparatus and a laser irradiation method in which a region formed with microcrystals in a region irradiated with laser beams is decreased by disposing a slit in an optical system using a deflector, and laser processing can be favorably conducted to a semiconductor film. Further to provide a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus using the above-described laser irradiation apparatus and the laser irradiation method. In the optical system, an f-θ lens having an image space telecentric characteristic or a slit the shape of which is changed in accordance with the incidence angle of a laser beam, is used. The slit is disposed between the f-θ lens and an irradiation surface, and an image at a slit opening portion is projected onto the irradiation surface by a projection lens. By the above-described structure, laser irradiation can be uniformly conducted to a whole region scanned with laser beams.
US08455777B2
An electrical switch adapted to be engaged by a first and/or a second activation button by means of which a user may operate the electrical switch. The electrical switch comprises an activation element which defines first and second retaining surfaces for engagement with the first and the second activation button, respectively.
US08455776B2
A push switch includes a switch section for carrying out electric connection by pushing, a switch case having a groove portion on a side surface thereof and accommodating the switch section, and a terminal produced integrally with the switch case and led out from a side surface of the switch case. The groove portion extends from a vicinity of the terminal.
US08455764B2
A support bracket for supporting insulating rods inside an insulator tube of a hollow core insulator. The support bracket includes a cylindrical ring with an outer surface for abutting against the inner surface of an insulator tube, an inner surface for supporting an insulating rod and two opposing end sides, denominated by first and second end sides. The support bracket includes an expansion assembly configured to be actuated so as to expand the cylindrical ring in at least one radial direction when the support bracket has been inserted in an insulator tube of a live tank circuit breaker.
US08455760B2
Methods of interfacing parts in a high voltage environment and related structures are disclosed. A method comprises: providing a first part and a second part; and interfacing the first part and the second part to create a first substantially zero electrical field area at a first outer extent of an interface between the first and second parts and a reduced electrical field area in a different portion of the interface.
US08455759B2
An electrical assembly includes a cover assembly, an electrical component such as a circuit breaker and an adapter for mounting the electrical component to the cover assembly. The cover assembly is adapted for mounting directly to a support surface such as a marine hull where the support surface has an opening to receive the electrical component. The electrical component and adapter are received in an opening in the support surface by the cover assembly. The adapter is constructed for coupling to an electrical component and one or more different cover assemblies having different screw hole patterns where the electrical component cannot be coupled directly to the cover assembly.
US08455758B2
Preferred assemblies are directed to a cable assembly that includes a first electrical wire and a second electrical wire; with a thermo-resistant material that is molded around the wires. Zipper teeth are molded to the thermo-resistant material of both of the wires. The zipper teeth on the first wire are releasably attached to the zipper teeth on the second wire, and at least one reinforcing fiber is encapsulated with one of the wires.
US08455753B2
It is an object of the present invention to minimize an electrode in a solar cell to minimize the solar cell. The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a solar cell comprising the steps of forming a first electrode layer over a substrate, forming a photoelectric conversion layer over the first electrode layer, forming an organic layer over the photoelectric conversion layer, forming an opening reaching the first electrode layer in the photoelectric conversion layer, and forming a second electrode layer by filling the opening with a conductive paste, wherein the organic layer modifies the surface of the photoelectric conversion layer and a contact angle between the conductive paste and the photoelectric conversion becomes greater. According to the present invention, wettability of a photoelectric conversion layer can be decreased by forming an organic layer on a surface of the photoelectric conversion layer. Thereby an electrode layer and an insulating isolation layer can be thinned.
US08455748B2
A pitch detection device in which a frequency can be lowered after having maintained both a pitch error accuracy and a response time at practical values to reduce current consumption. Because a number of times of cumulative addition is changed in response to a pitch of a measured signal, a cumulative addition time sum equals or exceeds a constant T_SUM_MIN. Accordingly, a pitch error accuracy of the measured signal achieves a required error accuracy. Furthermore, a frequency of the clock signal is decided using a numerical formula (6) and a numerical formula (7) so that the constant T_SUM_MIN does not exceed a required response time. Accordingly, a response time is within the required response time regardless of whether the frequency of the measured signal is lowered.
US08455743B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH690072. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH690072, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH690072 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH690072.
US08455740B2
A potato cultivar designated ‘FL 2204’ is disclosed. The invention relates to the tubers of potato cultivar ‘FL 2204’, to the seeds of potato cultivar ‘FL 2204’, to the plants of potato ‘FL 2204’, to the plant parts of potato cultivar ‘FL 2204’ and to methods for producing a potato plant produced by crossing potato cultivar ‘FL 2204’ with itself or with another potato variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a potato plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic potato plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to potato cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from potato variety ‘FL 2204’, to methods for producing other potato cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from potato cultivar ‘FL 2204’ and to the potato plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid potato tubers, seeds, plants and plant parts produced by crossing potato cultivar ‘FL 2204’ with another potato cultivar.
US08455739B2
The invention provides seed and plants of pepper hybrid PX11334879 and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of pepper hybrid PX11334879 and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a pepper plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another pepper plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.
US08455738B2
The invention provides seed and plants of pepper hybrid PS09956434 and the parent lines thereof, such as line SMY 99-1311. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of pepper hybrid PS09956434 and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a pepper plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another pepper plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.
US08455731B1
A soybean cultivar designated 02333338 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 02333338, to the plants of soybean cultivar 02333338, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar 02333338, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar 02333338. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 02333338. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 02333338, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar 02333338 with another soybean cultivar.
US08455725B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1023969. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1023969. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1023969 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1023969 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08455723B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1023586. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1023586. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1023586 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1023586 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08455713B2
The invention relates to plants and their progeny with improved morphogenesis in a variety of organs; to a method for producing the plants; and to a method for producing calli.
US08455711B2
A disposable absorbent article having a durable hydrophilic substantially liquid pervious topsheet. The topsheet includes a topsheet substrate and a hydrophilicity boosting composition coated on the topsheet substrate. The hydrophilicity boosting composition includes a hydrophilicity boosting amount of nanoparticles having a particle size of from about 1 nanometer to about 750 nanometers.
US08455709B2
Apparatuses and systems for removing heavy hydrocarbons from a solvent stream are disclosed herein. The apparatuses extract heavy hydrocarbons into light hydrocarbons and provide a solvent stream having the heavy hydrocarbons removed. Two water washing steps are used to remove residual solvent from the heavy hydrocarbon solution in light hydrocarbons. In some embodiments, the second water wash is used for processing subsequent batches of the solvent stream. The heavy hydrocarbons and solvent can be recovered and processed further. Methods for removing heavy hydrocarbons from a solvent stream are also disclosed herein.
US08455704B2
Disclosed are processes for the production of fluorinated olefins, preferably adapted to commercialization of CF3CF═CH2 (1234yf). In certain preferred embodiments the processes comprise first exposing a compound of Formula (IA) C(X)2═CClC(X)3 (IA) where each X is independently F, Cl or H, preferably CCl2═CClCH2Cl, to one or more sets of reaction conditions, but preferably a substantially single set of reaction conditions, effective to produce at least one chlorofluoropropane, preferably in accordance with Formula (IB): CF3CClX′C(X′)3 Formula (IB) where each X′ is independently F, Cl or H, and then exposing the compound of Formula (IB) to one or more sets of reaction conditions, but preferably a substantially single set of reaction conditions, effective to produce a compound of Formula (II) CF3CF═CHZ (II) where Z is H, F, Cl, I or Br.
US08455699B2
Disclosed are processes for producing glycerol-related products. One process for producing glycerol-related products comprises introducing glycerol and an alkylation reagent to a substantially oxygen free environment. Another process for producing glycerol-related products comprises introducing a glycerol and tetramethylammonium hydroxide to a substantially oxygen free environment.
US08455698B2
The invention relates to a method for producing a mixture containing hydroxy- and aldehyde functional compounds by a cross-metathesis reaction of at least one at least monounsaturated fatty acid or at least one at least monounsaturated fatty acid derivative with an olefinic compound having at least one hydroxy group and at least one C—C double bond, in the presence of a metathesis catalyst at a maximum temperature of 180° C.
US08455695B2
The present invention is a process for aliphatic or cycloaliphatic isocyanate. The process comprises reacting an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic primary amine, with phosgene in the presence of an inert solvent wherein the initial reaction temperature is between 100 and 130° C. and the temperature is subsequently ramped to 150 to 180° C. during the course of the reaction, the solvent to amine weight ratio is 95:5 to 80:20, the total reaction pressure is maintained between 50 and 350 psig and the amine is rapidly dispersed in the phosgene through injection in a region of high efficiency mixing.
US08455693B2
A process for preparing 2-(2-tert-butylaminoethoxy)ethanol (tert-butylaminodiglycol, TBADG) by reacting diethylene glycol (DG) with tert-butylamine (TBA) in the presence of hydrogen and of a copper catalyst, by effecting the reaction at a temperature in the range from 160 to 220° C. in the presence of a copper- and aluminum oxide-containing catalyst, where the catalytically active material of the catalyst, before the reduction thereof with hydrogen, comprises 20 to 75% by weight of aluminum oxide (Al2O3), 20 to 75% by weight of oxygen compounds of copper, calculated as CuO, and ≦5% by weight of oxygen compounds of nickel, calculated as NiO.
US08455691B2
Aromatic amines which have been obtained by reduction of aromatic nitro compounds are purified by mixing the crude amine obtained after phase separation with an aqueous, alkali metal hydroxide solution and subsequent distillation of this mixture over a distillation column. The distillation column has at least an upper and a lower rectifying part and a stripping part. The bottom product of the distillation column is partly to completely sluiced out and is partly evaporated in a main evaporator and at least one downstream re-evaporator and partly recycled back into the column.
US08455690B2
The invention provides a method for producing an arylhydroxylamine compound efficiently and safely under mild conditions. The method involves contacting a nitroaryl compound with a hydrogen source in the presence of a platinum catalyst supported on amino group-coordinated silica and a poisoning agent.
US08455688B2
This invention provides the compound having the structure wherein n is 1-10; X is C—R11 or N, wherein R11 is H, OH, SH, F, Cl, SO2R7, NO2, trifluoromethyl, methoxy, or CO—R7, wherein R7 is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, or aryl; Z is R2 is H or NR3R4, wherein R3 and R4 are each independently H, C1-C6 alkyl, or C3-C8 cycloalkyl; R5 is OH or SH; and R6, R12, R13, and R14 are each independently H, OH, SH, F, Cl, SO2R15, NO2, trifluoromethyl, methoxy, or CO—R15, wherein R15 is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, or aryl, or a salt of the compound, which is useful in the treatment of tumors.
US08455683B2
The invention provides a method of producing acrylic acid. The method includes contacting fumaric acid with a sufficient amount of ethylene in the presence of a cross-metathesis transformation catalyst to produce about two moles of acrylic acid per mole of fumaric acid. Also provided is an acrylate ester. The method includes contacting fumarate diester with a sufficient amount of ethylene in the presence of a cross-metathesis transformation catalyst to produce about two moles of acrylate ester per mole of fumarate diester. An integrated process for process for producing acrylic acid or acrylate ester is provided which couples bioproduction of fumaric acid with metathesis transformation. An acrylic acid and an acrylate ester production also is provided.
US08455682B2
Provided is a method for the production of aminodicarboxylic acid N,N-diacetic acids of formula (I), wherein X is independently hydrogen or an alkali metal and n is 1 or 2. Aminodicarboxylic acid-N,N-diacetic acids of high purity can be yielded. The method involves: a) reacting an aminodicarboxylic acid, with 0.8 to 1.2 mole equivalents of formaldehyde and with 0.8 to 1.2 mole equivalents of hydrocyanic acid; b) reacting the reaction products of a) with 0.8 to 1.2 mole equivalents of hydrocyanic acid and with 0.8 to 1.2 mole equivalents of formaldehyde; c) hydrolyzing in the reaction product obtained in b).
US08455680B2
Carboxylic acid production process employing solvent from esterification of lignocellulosic material
Methods and apparatus for producing a carboxylic acid employing a solvent from esterification of lignocellulosic materials. An acid-containing composition from esterification of lignocellulosic materials can be employed in the oxidation of para-xylene to terephthalic acid. The acid-containing composition can comprise acetic acid, acetic anhydride, and one or more terpenes.
US08455675B2
A solution component recovery method, a solution component recovery apparatus, and an impregnation process/impregnation component recovery system for separating a first component from a second component. The separation between the first and second components is accomplished by reducing the pressure on a solution that contains the first component, which results in the solidification of the first component in the solution at a temperature that is equal to or higher than a predetermined solidification temperature. The second component, in which the first component is dissolved, is evaporated at a temperature range that is less than the predetermined solidification temperature. The evaporated second component is then recovered by a cooling step.
US08455670B1
The present invention relates to a series of mixed esters of complex esters having two distinct alkyl groups present thereon. One is a low melting product, having a melting point of below 70° C. and the other having a melting point of above. 90° C. The presence of the two different melting point groups on the polyol results in a modification of the hardness, spreadability and aesthetics of the resulting mixed ester. This ability to alter hardness and skin aesthetics makes the products of the present invention useful in personal care products ranging as additives to pigmented products to minimize syneresis, to stick products alter the hardness, shrinkability and aesthetics of the stick, to pressed powders where they act to modify the compressibility of the powders to which they are added as well as the feel achieved when they are applied to the skin.
US08455658B2
The invention relates to compounds of structural formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, clathrate, or prodrug thereof, wherein R′1, X, X′, L and Y are defined herein. These compounds are useful as immunosuppressive agents and for treating and preventing inflammatory conditions, allergic disorders, and immune disorders.
US08455657B2
A process is described for the preparation of 3-alkylsulfinylbenzoyl derivatives of the formula (IIIa) by reaction of 3-alkylsulfinylbenzoic acids of the formula (Ib) with compounds of the formula (II) in the presence of a chlorinating agent and a base. In the formulae specified above, Y is a radical such as pyrazolyl and cyclohexanedionyl. R1, R2 and R3 are radicals such as halogen, nitro, cyano and alkyl.
US08455655B2
The invention relates to a method and compounds for the preparation of clevidipine butyrate, a very short acting hypertensive calcium antagonist, as well as the synthesis of these compounds useful for the preparation of clevidipine (also known as clevidipine butyrate). Moreover the invention also discloses polymorphic forms of clevidipine butyrate, useful for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions, and processes to prepare them.
US08455652B2
Inhibitors of the soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) are provided that incorporate multiple pharmacophores and are useful in the treatment of diseases.
US08455645B2
There are provided according to the invention compounds of formula (I), in free or salt form, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, Q, W, X, m, n and p are as described in the specification, process for preparing them, and their use as pharmaceuticals.
US08455639B2
The present invention is directed to a crystalline form of 2-[6-[3(R)-aminopiperidin-1-yl]-3-methyl-2,4-dioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidin-1-ylmethyl]-benzonitrile, a process for the preparation of said crystalline form and the use thereof in the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition.
US08455633B2
Described herein are novel polynucleotides associated with viral infections. The polynucleotides are miRNAs and miRNA precursors. Related methods and compositions that can be used for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of those medical conditions are disclosed. Also described herein are methods that can be used to identify modulators of viral infections.
US08455624B2
Some embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and compositions for assessing the absence, presence, progression, or stage of cancer. In particular, methods and compositions for detecting endometrial cancer or ovarian cancer are provided.
US08455621B2
The present invention includes compositions and methods related to the structure and function of the cellular polyadenylation and specificity factor 30 (CPSF30) binding site on the surface of the influenza A non-structural protein 1 (NS1). Specifically, critical biochemical reagents, conditions for crystallization and NMR analysis, assays, and general processes are described for (i) discovering, designing, and optimizing small molecule inhibitors of influenza A (avian flu) viruses and (ii) creating attenuated influenza virus strains suitable for avian and human flu vaccine development.
US08455609B2
Golf balls having improved cut and shear resistance that include covers and/or other layers formed from polyurea compositions formed with at least one amine-terminated polytetramethylene ether glycol homopolymer, at least one amine-terminated copolymer of polytetramethylene ether glycol and polyalkylene glycol. The amine-terminated polytetramethylene ether glycol homopolymer or amine-terminated copolymer of polytetramethylene ether glycol and polyalkylene glycol may be used as the isocyanate-reactive in the prepolymer and/or the curing agent.
US08455606B2
Novel photoactive polymers, as well as related components, articles, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08455602B2
The field of this invention relates to supramolecular functional materials, particularly to coordination networks, more particularly to coordination polymers, more particularly to metal based one-dimensional coordination polymers. The metal based one-dimensional coordination polymers comprises a repeat unit [L1-M-L2]n where L1 and L2 are one of a plurality of carboxylate ligands and L1 can be the same as L2, M is a metal, particularly a transition metal, and n is an integer from 1 to infinity. The metal based one-dimensional coordination polymers display one or more physico-chemical properties giving at least one functionality to the supramolecular material. Furthermore, a method of forming the metal based one-dimensional coordination polymers is provided by a chemical reaction between said organic ligand and said metal where said method comprises at least one selectable chemical reaction condition from the group comprising: volume of reaction vessel, material composition of reaction vessel, temperature, pressure, humidity and gas defining an atmosphere inside reaction vessel.
US08455594B2
A phosphorous flame retardant primarily includes hexachlorotriphosphazene (HCP) having poly(oxyalkylene)amine substitutes. The poly(oxyalkylene)amine includes at least two end groups. The phosphorous flame retardant can further include layered silicate clay. The layered silicate clay can be intercalated and modified with the poly(oxyalkylene)amine substitutes of HCP to effectively promote thermal stability. The flame retardant, phosphazene-poly(oxyalkylene)amine adducts, can be applied to a polymer. By the cross-linking between them, the flame-retarding property of the polymer can be improved. Also provided is a method for producing the flame retardant of phosphazene-poly(oxyalkylene)amine adducts and application thereof to a polymer.
US08455587B2
The invention provides a crystalline polyamide-type resin composition comprises (a) a crystalline polyamide resin composition comprising (i) 50 to 90% by weight of crystalline polyamide resin (A) having a relative viscosity in 96% sulfuric acid of not less than 3.5 and (ii) 50 to 10% by weight of a crystalline polyamide resin (B) having a melting point lower than the melting point of polyamide resin (A) by 20° C. or more and a relative viscosity dissolved in 96% sulfuric acid of not more than 3.6, and (b) 1 to 10 part(s) by weight of a modified polyolefin resin (C) having a reactive functional group being able to react with the terminal group and/or main-chain amide group of the polyamide resin. The invention also provides a door checker for automobiles prepared from the crystalline polyamide-type resin composition.
US08455579B2
A method for promoting crystallization of a biodegradable resin composition, including the step of melt-kneading a raw material containing ethylenebis 12-hydroxystearic amide having an amine value of 1.0 mg KOH/g or less and a biodegradable resin. Since the biodegradable resin composition obtainable by the method for promoting crystallization of the present invention has favorable crystallization velocity, a time period required upon molding the composition is shortened, whereby a molded article can be produced productively. The biodegradable resin composition can be suitably used in, for example, in various industrial applications, such as daily sundries, household electric appliance parts, and automobile parts.
US08455570B2
An aqueous inkjet black ink composition for use in continuous ink jet printing is provided comprising black pigment particles dispersed with a polymeric dispersant or self dispersing pigment particles without the need for a dispersant; and at least one surfactant, wherein the at least one surfactant is selected to provide the ink composition with a 10-ms dynamic surface tension of less than 54 mN/m. The invention relates to continuous ink jet printing of an aqueous pigmented ink composition recycled from a main ink supply reservoir, employing a printer with a drop ejector and a drop deflector and a non-printing drop catcher capable of returning unprinted ink to the fluid delivery system following the capture of non-printing drops. The pigmented ink jet ink compositions provide for particularly suitable fluid properties on the drop catcher face that minimize printing defects that can occur during drop deflection during the printing of high dynamic range images at high speed.
US08455568B2
A post-treated polymeric dispersant which comprises reacting (I) a post-treating agent selected from a cyclic carbonate, a linear mono-carbonate, a linear poly-carbonate, an aromatic polycarboxylic acid or an aromatic polycarboxylic anhydride or an aromatic polycarboxylic acid ester and (II) an oil-soluble lubricating oil additive composition prepared by the process which comprises reacting a copolymer, with at least one ether compound and with at least one aliphatic compound capable of reacting with at least one monocarboxylic acid or ester thereof, or dicarboxylic acid, anhydride or ester thereof.
US08455567B2
Products which decompose when exposed to water are disclosed. The products comprise polyvinyl alcohol, talc, polyethylene glycol, and one or more of fiberglass and a titanium complex. The hardness or softness of the products may be varied by varying the relative amounts of talc, fiberglass, and titanium complex used therein. The products may be formed into items such as golf tees, stakes for ground-anchored structures, pellets for firearms, survey stakes and flags.
US08455566B2
Provided herein are uncured dental composites suitable for, among other things, filling cavities in teeth.
US08455560B2
The invention relates to a foam ply based on a biodegradable polyester mixture, comprising i) from 70 to 5% by weight, based on the total weight of components i to ii, of at least one polyester based on aliphatic and aromatic dicarboxylic acids and on aliphatic dihydroxy compounds, and ii) from 30 to 95% by weight, based on the total weight of components i to ii, of poly-lactide, and iii) from 0.1 to 5% by weight, based on the total weight of components i to ii, of a copolymer which comprises epoxy groups and is based on styrene, acrylates, and/or methacrylates, and iv) from 0.5 to 15% by weight of additives; and v) from 0 to 50% by weight of inorganic or organic filler, and also to processes for production of the foam ply mentioned, and to the use of the foam plies for the production of moldings and foils, and also to moldings and foils comprising the foam plies mentioned.
US08455556B2
A process for the preparation of a packed bed comprising an iron enriched cobalt catalyst for use in a Fischer-Tropsch reaction, the process comprising the steps of: (a) providing a packed bed with one or more catalyst particles comprising metallic cobalt; (b) contacting a part of the catalyst particle(s) in the packed bed with an iron containing compound. The process is preferably conducted in situ which conveniently results in an iron containing cobalt catalyst with a higher C5+ selectivity. In certain preferred embodiments the concentration of iron increases towards the surface of the resulting catalyst particles whereas the cobalt concentration is constant which further increases the selectivity of the catalyst to producing C5+ hydrocarbons.
US08455535B2
The present invention provides a compound represented by the formula: wherein ring systems A and B, and the variables R1, b, R6, Y, Z, X, R and a are defined in the specification. The compounds of the present invention may be used in a method for treating diseases related to unregulated tyrosine kinase signal transduction, such as cancer, blood vessel proliferative disorders, fibrotic disorders, mesangial cell proliferative disorders, and metabolic diseases.
US08455524B2
Provided herein are ready-to-use premixed pharmaceutical compositions of nicardipine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt and methods for use in treating cardiovascular and cerebrovascular conditions.
US08455523B2
The present invention is directed to a composition and method for the treatment of hyperlipidemias by targeting Microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP). In particular, the present invention is directed to a combination of at least one MTP inhibitor and at least one lipid-lowering agent, both in an amount effective to treat hyperlipidemias.
US08455521B2
Diaminoalkanes of below Formula I have now been found which are orally active and bind to aspartic proteases to inhibit their activity: They are useful in the treatment or amelioration of diseases associated with elevated levels of aspartic protease activity. The invention also relates to a method for the use of the compounds of Formula I in ameliorating or treating aspartic protease related disorders in a subject in need thereof comprising administering to said subject an effective amount of a compound of Formula I.
US08455520B2
Compounds of the Formula: (I) as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts and hydrates thereof, that are useful for treating hypertension, diabetes, inflammation, atherosclerosis, pain, and the like are disclosed. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use are also included.
US08455518B2
Methods for preventing, ameliorating, or reducing dermatological signs of aging are provided which employ active agents that suppress or down-regulate microRNA expression in dermal fibroblast, resulting in enhanced production of collagen, elastin and/or fibrillin in the skin. Also provided are methods for screening for activity against specific microRNAs and the methods of using active agents identified by the screening protocol in the treatment of skin.
US08455516B2
A new series of HIV-1 fusion inhibitors and methods of use are disclosed. The compounds are based on a substituted indole, benzimidazole, indoline or isoindoline fragment. The compounds find use in inhibiting or preventing HIV fusion from occurring, thus inhibiting or preventing entry of viral RNA into host cells. The compounds may be useful towards other biological targets involving protein-protein interactions.
US08455515B2
The present invention relates to substituted 4-phenyltetrahydroisoquinoline compounds and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them which are excellent inhibitors of the sodium-hydrogen exchanger (NHE), in particular of the sodium-hydrogen exchanger of subtype 3 (NHE-3). As such these compounds are useful in the treatment of various disorders of the renal and respiratory systems such as acute or chronic renal failure, pulmonary complications, biliary function disorders, respiratory disorders such as snoring or sleep apneas and cardiovascular/central nervous system disorders such as stroke. More specifically, the present invention relates to substituted 4-phenyl-tetrahydroisoquinolines defined by the formula I in which R1-R8 are defined herein.
US08455512B2
The present invention provides for compounds of Formula I, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, and R7 have any of the values defined therefore in the specification, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, that are useful as therapeutic agents in the treatment of TGFβ-mediated conditions, including cancer and fibrotic disorders. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more compounds of Formula I.
US08455511B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an antagonist against CRF receptors which is effective as a therapeutic or prophylactic agent for diseases in which CRF is considered to be involved, such as depression, anxiety, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's chorea, eating disorder, hypertension, gastric diseases, drug dependence, epilepsy, cerebral infarction, cerebral ischemia, cerebral edema, cephalic external wound, inflammation, immunity-related diseases, alopecia, irritable bowel syndrome, sleep disorders, epilepsy, dermatitides, schizophrenia, etc. This problem can be solved with a pyrrolopyrimidine or pyrrolopyridine derivative substituted with a cyclic amino group represented by formula [I] below which has a high affinity for CRF receptors and is effective against diseases in which CRF is considered to be involved.
US08455496B2
The present invention provides compounds of Formula (I) that act as glucokinase activators; pharmaceutical compositions thereof; and methods of treating diseases, disorders, or conditions mediated by glucokinase.
US08455489B2
Novel compositions and methods of using substituted pyrimidines which have the general formula: (I).
US08455484B2
The invention provides new compounds and compositions thereof. The invention also provides methods for treating ophthalmic diseases, disorders and conditions.
US08455466B2
Compounds according to formula I in which formula R1 and R2, which may be the same or different, represent halogen, (C1-C6)hydrocarbyl, optionally substituted with one or two hydroxyl group or one or more fluorine atoms, or, together with the carbon atom to which they are both attached, R1 and R2 form a (C3-C6)carbocyclic ring, or one of R1 and R2 taken together with R3 forms a direct bond, such that a triple bond is constituted, or R1 and R2 represent both hydrogen; R3 when not forming a direct bond with one of R1 and R2 represents hydrogen or (C1-C3)hydrocarbyl; X represents (E)-ethylene, (Z)-ethylene, ethynylene, or a bond; Y and Z independently represent hydrogen or methyl; and prodrugs and stereo isomeric forms thereof are provided together with their use in therapy, and their use in the manufacture of medicaments.
US08455461B2
A eliciting composition including a synergistic mixture of at least one xyloglucan derivative and at least one polyol.
US08455455B1
The present invention provides compositions comprising therapeutic nucleic acids such as interfering RNA (e.g., dsRNA such as siRNA) that target Lassa virus (LASV) or tissue factor (TF) gene expression, lipid particles comprising one or more (e.g., a cocktail) of the therapeutic nucleic acids, methods of making the lipid particles, and methods of delivering and/or administering the lipid particles (e.g., for treating hemorraghic fever).
US08455449B2
The γc-family cytokines, Interleukin-2 (IL-2), Interleukin-4 (IL-4), Interleukin-7 (IL-7), Interleukin-9 (IL-9), Interleukin-15 (IL-15), and Interleukin-21 (IL-21), are associated with important human diseases, such as leukemia, autoimmune diseases, collagen diseases, diabetes mellitus, skin diseases, degenerative neuronal diseases and graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). Thus, inhibitors of γc-cytokine activity are valuable therapeutic and cosmetic agents as well as research tools. The present embodiments relate to the design of peptide antagonists based on the consensus γc-subunit binding site to inhibit γc-cytokine activity. In several embodiments, peptide antagonists exhibit Simul-Block activity, inhibiting the activity of multiple γc-cytokine family members.
US08455445B2
This invention relates to compositions and methods comprising “lymphotoxin-β-receptor blocking agents”, which block lymphotoxin-β receptor signalling. Lymphotoxin-β receptor blocking agents are useful for treating lymphocyte-mediated immunological diseases, and more particularly, for inhibiting Th1 cell-mediated immune responses. This invention relates to soluble forms of the lymphotoxin-β receptor extracellular domain that act as lymphotoxin-β receptor blocking agents. This invention also relates to the use of antibodies directed against either the lymphotoxin-β receptor or its ligand, surface lymphotoxin, that act as lymphotoxin-β receptor blocking agents. A novel screening method for selecting soluble receptors, antibodies and other agents that block LT-β receptor signalling is provided.
US08455444B2
The present invention provides a peptide of the following (A) or (B): (A) a peptide including an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2; (B) a peptide including an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 1 or 2, wherein one, two, or several amino acid(s) are substituted, deleted, inserted, and/or added, and wherein the peptide has an activity to induce killer T cells.
US08455442B2
A peptide having an ED50 of less than 500 nm, in particular 10 nM to an antibody which recognizes an epitope on an extracellular α1 loop 2 or β2 loop 1 of a human adrenoceptor wherein the antibody's binding to the epitope results in an increase of γ-secretase activity, an increased release of β-amyolid molecules and/or cellular dysfunction of cerebral blood vessel cells, glia cells or neurons, wherein the ED50 value is measured by bioassay.
US08455437B2
Methods for modulating responsiveness to increased oxygen levels in an at-risk subject identifying an at-risk subject; and before exposing the identified at-risk subject to an increased amount of oxygen, administering to the at-risk subject an anti-inflammatory agent wherein the responsiveness of the at-risk subject to said increased amount of oxygen is modulated as compared to the responsiveness of the at-risk subject to said increased amount of oxygen in the absence of said anti-inflammatory.
US08455433B2
Disclosed is a method of preparing a GLP-1 compound that is soluble in aqueous solution at pH 7.4 from a GLP-1 compound that is substantially insoluble in aqueous solution at pH 7.4. The insoluble GLP-1 compound is dissolved in aqueous base or in aqueous acid to form a GLP-1 solution. The GLP-1 solution is then neutralized to a pH at which substantially no amino acid racemization of the GLP-1 compounds occurs, after which the soluble GLP-1 compound is isolated from the neutralized solution.
US08455422B2
A particle comprising an aminocarboxylic builder obtainable by a process comprising the steps of: a) providing a solution comprising the aminocarboxylic builder; b) optionally adding an acidifying agent; c) adding sulphate or citrate to the solution resulting from of step b) to form a mixture; and d) converting the mixture resulting from step c) into particles.
US08455409B2
The passage of a container along a conveyor is lubricated by applying to the container or conveyor a mixture of a water-miscible silicone material and a water-miscible lubricant. The mixture can be applied in relatively low amounts, to provide thin, substantially non-dripping lubricating films. In contrast to dilute aqueous lubricants, the lubricants of the invention provide drier lubrication of the conveyors and containers, a cleaner conveyor line and reduced lubricant usage, thereby reducing waste, cleanup and disposal problems.
US08455406B2
A compressor lubricant composition providing energy savings and exhibiting excellent oxidation stability is provided, as well as a process for preparation of the lubricant composition. The composition comprises: (i) from 68 to 99.999 wt % of an isomerized base oil or blend of isomerized base oils; (ii) 0.001 through 20 wt % of a blend of ashless additives, the ashless additives having a viscosity range at 40° C. of from 50 mm2/s to 60 mm2/s, a density at 20° C. of from 0.95 through 1.05 g/cm3, a flash point of greater than 100° C. (COC), solubility in mineral oil of greater than 5 wt %, sulfur content of from 4.8 wt % through 6.0 wt %, and phosphorus content of from 2.9 through 3.6 wt %; (iii) less than 1.0 wt % of a dithiocarbamate, wherein the Conradson carbon residue is less than or equal to 3.00. The dithiocarbamate is added to the base oil blend as a top treatment.
US08455404B2
Additives and treatment fluids with improved shale inhibition, and associated methods of use in subterranean operations, are provided. The additives and treatment fluids used generally comprise a shale-inhibiting component and one or more silicates.
US08455392B2
A new type of solid acid catalyst, which promises better catalytic performance than conventionally prepared supported metal oxides due to its precisely synthesized nanostructure has been described. The catalyst is nanoparticulate in form and is comprised of monolayers of tungstated zirconia of the formula, WOxZryO4-2y made by impregnating a support with zirconium and tungsten. The support catalyst is further characterized in having a tugsten monolayer between greater than 0001 W/nm2 to about 30 W/nm2.
US08455384B2
According to the present invention, the catalyst performance of a chelate catalyst comprising a complex of a macrocyclic compound such as a porphyrin derivative is improved. Also, the following method is provided: a method for preparing a fuel cell electrode catalyst comprising a nitrogen-containing metal complex in which a metallic element is coordinated with a macrocyclic organic compound, such method comprising the steps of: adding tin oxalate to the nitrogen-containing metal complex; and baking a mixture of the nitrogen-containing metal complex and tin oxalate in an inert gas atmosphere, wherein elution of metal tin is carried out via acid treatment.
US08455370B2
This invention provides methods that permit wafers to be loaded and unloaded in a gas-phase epitaxial growth chamber at high temperatures. Specifically, this invention provides a method for moving wafers or substrates that can bathe a substrate being moved in active gases that are optionally temperature controlled. The active gases can act to limit or prevent sublimation or decomposition of the wafer surface, and can be temperature controlled to limit or prevent thermal damage. Thereby, previously-necessary temperature ramping of growth chambers can be reduced or eliminated leading to improvement in wafer throughput and system efficiency.
US08455365B2
A device and method for device fabrication includes forming a buried gate electrode in a dielectric substrate and patterning a stack that includes a high dielectric constant layer, a carbon-based semi-conductive layer and a protection layer over the buried gate electrode. An isolation dielectric layer formed over the stack is opened to define recesses in regions adjacent to the stack. The recesses are etched to form cavities and remove a portion of the high dielectric constant layer to expose the carbon-based semi-conductive layer on opposite sides of the buried gate electrode. A conductive material is deposited in the cavities to form self-aligned source and drain regions.
US08455358B2
A first metal mask has a portion exposed at an opening of a second metal mask. The second metal mask is formed to be thicker than the first metal mask. The thickness of the first and second metal masks is such that the etching at an opening of the first mask reaches a source electrode when the etching at the opening of the second mask substantially reaches a semiconductor device forming layer.
US08455357B2
A method of plating via hole in a substrate includes providing a substrate having a first side and a second side and a plurality of through substrate via holes; depositing a first seed layer on the first side of the substrate; applying a foil on the first seed layer of the substrate closing the first ends of the plurality of via holes; electro-chemical plating of the second side of the substrate; and removing the foil.
US08455349B2
A layered chip package includes a main body and a plurality of through electrodes. The main body includes a plurality of layer portions stacked and a plurality of through holes that penetrate all the plurality of layer portions. The plurality of through electrodes are provided in the plurality of through holes of the main body and penetrate all the plurality of layer portions. Each of the plurality of layer portions includes a semiconductor chip. At least one of the plurality of layer portions includes wiring that electrically connects the semiconductor chip to the plurality of through electrodes. The wiring includes a plurality of conductors that make contact with a through electrode that is exposed in the wall faces of any one of the plurality of through holes and passes through the through hole.
US08455343B2
A semiconductor device includes a first region and a second region, a buried gate arranged in the first region, and an oxidation prevention barrier surrounding the first region.
US08455339B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device, including etching a substrate to form a trench, forming a junction region in the substrate under the trench, etching the bottom of the trench to a certain depth to form a side junction, and forming a bit line coupled to the side junction.
US08455329B2
A phase change memory device capable of increasing a sensing margin and a method for manufacturing the same. The phase change memory device includes a semiconductor substrate formed with a device isolation structure which defines active regions; first conductivity type impurity regions formed in surfaces of the active regions and having the shape of a line; a second conductivity type well formed in the semiconductor substrate at a position lower than the device isolation structure; a second conductivity type ion-implantation layer formed in the semiconductor substrate at a boundary between a lower end of the device isolation structure and the semiconductor substrate; a plurality of vertical PN diodes formed on the first conductivity type impurity regions; and phase change memory cells formed on the vertical PN diodes.
US08455326B2
Disclosed herein is a fabrication method of a semiconductor device to order to increase an operation liability of the semiconductor device. A method for fabricating a semiconductor device comprises forming a buried-type wordline in an active region defined on a SOI substrate, forming a silicon connection region for connecting an upper silicon layer to a lower silicon layer between neighboring buried type wordlines, and recovering the upper silicon layer on the silicon connection region.
US08455311B2
A solid state Klystron structure is fabricated by forming a source contact and a drain contact to both ends of a conducting wire and by forming a bias gate and a signal gate on the conducting wire. The conducting wire may be at least one carbon nanotube or at least one semiconductor wire with long ballistic mean free paths. By applying a signal at a frequency that corresponds to an integer multiple of the transit time of the ballistic carriers between adjacent fingers of the signal gate, the carriers are bunched within the conducting wire, thus amplifying the current through the solid state Klystron at a frequency of the signal to the signal gate, thus achieving a power gain.
US08455309B2
A technology is capable of simplifying a process of manufacturing an asymmetric device in forming a Tunneling Field Effect Transistor (TFET) structure. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprises forming a conductive pattern over a semiconductor substrate, implanting impurity ions with the conductive pattern as a mask to form a first junction region in the semiconductor substrate, forming a first insulating film planarized with the conductive pattern over the first junction region, etching the top of the conductive pattern to expose a sidewall of the first insulating film, forming a spacer at the sidewall of the first insulating film disposed over the conductive pattern, etching the conductive pattern with the spacer as an etching mask to form a gate pattern, and forming a second junction region in the semiconductor substrate with the gate pattern as a mask.
US08455307B2
FINFET ICs and methods for their fabrication are provided. In accordance with one embodiment a FINFET IC is fabricated by forming in a substrate a region doped with an impurity of a first doping type. The substrate region is etched to form a recess defining a fin having a height and sidewalls and the recess adjacent the fin is filled with an insulator having a thickness less than the height. Spacers are formed on the sidewalls and a portion of the insulator is etched to expose a portion of the sidewalls. The exposed portion of the sidewalls is doped with an impurity of the first doping type, the exposed sidewalls are oxidized, and the sidewall spacers are removed. A gate insulator and gate electrode are formed overlying the fin, and end portions of the fin are doped with an impurity of a second doping type to form source and drain regions.
US08455306B2
Embodiments include methods for forming an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device coupled across input-output (I/O) and common terminals of a core circuit, where the ESD protection device includes first and second merged bipolar transistors. A base of the first transistor serves as collector of the second transistor and the base of the second transistor serves as collector of the first transistor, the bases having, respectively, first and second widths. A first resistance is coupled between an emitter and base of the first transistor and a second resistance is coupled between an emitter and base of the second transistor. ESD trigger voltage Vt1 and holding voltage Vh can be independently optimized by choosing appropriate base widths and resistances. By increasing Vh to approximately equal Vt1, the ESD protection is more robust, especially for applications with narrow design windows, for example, with operating voltage close to the degradation voltage.
US08455300B2
Integrated circuit package system with embedded die superstructure and method of manufacture thereof
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit package system includes: providing a through-silicon-via die having conductive vias therethrough; forming a first redistribution layer on a bottom of the through-silicon-via die coupled to the conductive vias; forming a second redistribution layer on the top of the through-silicon-via die coupled to the conductive vias; fabricating an embedded die superstructure on the second redistribution layer including: mounting an integrated circuit die to the second redistribution layer, forming a core material layer on the second redistribution layer to be coplanar with the integrated circuit die, forming a first build-up layer, having contact links coupled to the integrated circuit die, on the core material layer, and coupling component interconnect pads to the contact links; and forming system interconnects on the first redistribution layer for coupling the through-silicon-via die, the integrated circuit die, the component interconnect pads, or a combination thereof.
US08455296B2
Devices, methods, and systems for semiconductor processing are described herein. A number of method embodiments of semiconductor processing can include forming a silicon layer on a structure, forming an opening through the silicon layer and into the structure, and selectively forming a resistance variable material in the opening such that the resistance variable material does not form on the silicon layer.
US08455293B2
A method for processing solar cells comprising: providing a vertical furnace to receive an array of mutually spaced circular semiconductor wafers for integrated circuit processing; composing a process chamber loading configuration for solar cell substrates, wherein a size of the solar cell substrates that extends along a first surface to be processed is smaller than a corresponding size of the circular semiconductor wafers, such that multiple arrays of mutually spaced solar cell substrates can be accommodated in the process chamber, loading the solar cell substrates into the process chamber; subjecting the solar cell substrates to a process in the process chamber.
US08455290B2
A method of fabricating epitaxial structures including applying an etch stop to one side of a substrate and then growing at least one epitaxial layer on a first side of said substrate, flipping the substrate, growing a second etch stop and at least one epitaxial layer on a second side of the substrate, applying a carrier medium to the ultimate epitaxial layer on each side, dividing the substrate into two parts generally along an epitaxial plane to create separate epitaxial structures, removing any residual substrate and removing the etch stop.
US08455285B2
Light-emitting devices, and related components, systems, and methods associated therewith are provided.
US08455277B2
A thin film transistor array panel is provided, which includes a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of common electrodes, a gate insulating layer covering the gate lines and the common electrodes, a plurality of semiconductor layers formed on the gate insulating layer, a plurality of data lines including a plurality of source electrodes and formed on the semiconductor layer, a plurality of drain electrodes formed on the semiconductor layer, and a plurality of pixel electrodes overlapping the common electrodes and connected to the drain electrodes. Because the common electrodes are made of ITON, IZON, or a-ITON, or a double layer of ITO/ITON, IZO/IZON, or a-a-ITO/a-ITON, when H2 or SiH4 are injected to form a silicon nitride (SiNX) layer on the common electrodes, the opaque metal Sn or Zn is not produced on the surfaces of the common electrode.
US08455272B2
A method for producing an organic electroluminescence element, the method including subjecting an anode to a surface treatment using at least one non-oxidizing gas, and forming a p-doped hole-injection layer on a surface of the anode subjected to the surface treatment.
US08455265B2
A surface grafted conjugated polyelectrolyte (CPE) is formed by coupling a CPE by a coupling moiety to the surface of a substrate. The substrate can be of any shape and size, and for many uses of the surface grafted CPE, it is advantageous that the substrate is a nanoparticle or microparticle. Surface grafted CPEs are presented that use silica particles as the substrate, where a modified silane coupling agent connects the surface to the CPE by a series of covalent bonds. Two methods of preparing the surface grafted CPEs are presented. One method involves the inclusion of the surface being modified by the coupling agent and condensed with monomers that form the CPE in a grafted state to the substrate. A second method involves the formation of a CPE with terminal groups that are complimentary to functionality that has been placed on the surface of the substrate by reaction with a coupling agent. The surface grafted CPEs are also described for use as biosensors and biocides.
US08455262B2
A method to avert an unlawfully intoxicated driver from operating a vehicle is provided. The method utilizes a passive ethanol vapor sensor to measure ethanol vapor concentration in air from a vehicle cabin and imposes a safety response when the passive ethanol vapor sensor detects that a sample of vehicle cabin air indicates that a vehicle occupant exceeds the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for a motor vehicle driver. The ethanol vapor sensor may have a passive measurement mode and an active breathalyzer mode. Ethanol vapor in a vehicle cabin may be passively measured and if a predetermined ethanol level is measured, a countermeasure is invoked to improve safety. An active breathalyzer may be used as a countermeasure. The active breathalyzer can be imposed for a number of vehicle trips or for a predetermined time period.
US08455259B2
Provided are methods for determining the amount of thyroglobulin in a sample using various purification steps followed by mass spectrometry. The methods generally involve purifying thyroglobulin in a test sample, digesting thyroglobulin to form peptide T129, purifying peptide T129, ionizing peptide T129, detecting the amount of peptide T129 ion generated, and relating the amount of peptide T129 ion to the amount of thyroglobulin originally present in the sample.
US08455251B2
The present invention relates to a method for isolating and culturing adult stem cells derived from human amniotic membrane in high yield, and more particularly to a method for obtaining a large amount of adult stem cells, the method comprising obtaining amniotic epithelial cells from human amniotic tissue in high yield by treatment with dithiothreitol (DTT) and a low concentration of trypsin and culturing the amniotic epithelial cells in a medium containing a Rho-associated kinase inhibitor. The human amniotic epithelial cell-derived stem cells are easily extracted compared to existing therapeutic stem cells such as umbilical cord blood stem cells and bone marrow stem cells, the yield and proliferation thereof are significantly increased by DTT treatment, the addition of the ROCK inhibitor or the replacement of medium. Thus, the method can be used to efficiently prepare adult stem cells.
US08455243B2
A polynucleotide consisting of the base sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, or a complementary strand thereto, wherein the X is one of the group being defined by the bases A, C or T. A primer and a probe specific for that polynucleotide, wherein the primer and/or probe contains at least 10 consecutive nucleotides, and finally use of the probe for proving parkinsonism inheritance.
US08455234B2
The present invention provides novel Micrococcineae spp serine proteases having multiple substitutions. In particular, the present invention provides serine proteases having multiple substitutions, DNA encoding these proteases, vectors comprising the DNA encoding the proteases, host cells transformed with the vector DNA, and enzymes produced by the host cells. The present invention also provides cleaning compositions (e.g., detergent compositions), animal feed compositions, and textile and leather processing compositions comprising these serine protease variants. In particularly preferred embodiments, the present invention provides mutant (i.e., variant) proteases derived from the wild-type proteases described herein. These variant proteases also find use in numerous applications.
US08455229B2
The present invention aims to express influenza virus RNA polymerase on a large scale, to crystallize the influenza virus RNA polymerase, and to provide a method for screening a substance capable of serving as an active ingredient in anti-influenza drugs which target a protein highly conserved among influenza virus species.The present invention provides a complex comprising a polypeptide consisting of an amino acid sequence at positions 239-716 of the RNA polymerase PA subunit in influenza A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 H1N1 and a polypeptide consisting of an amino acid sequence at positions 1-81 of the RNA polymerase PB1 subunit in influenza A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 H1N1, as well as a method for screening a substance capable of serving as an active ingredient in anti-influenza drugs, which comprises the step of selecting a substance which inhibits the interaction between α-subunit and β-subunit 1, each constituting influenza virus RNA polymerase, in the presence of a candidate substance.
US08455228B2
A method for facilitating a delivery of a molecule into an interior space of a cell includes the steps of introducing a molecule into a biological structure comprising a cell and applying a substantially continuous low-level electric field, in the form of non-thermal plasma (ionized gas) generated by a direct current voltage applied to an electrode, to the molecule and biological structure. The field is applied for a duration sufficient to effect a change in porosity the cell of the biological structure sufficient to facilitate an entry of a desired molecule into an interior thereof.
US08455218B2
The present invention relates to the field of recombinant protein production in bacterial hosts. It further relates to expression of soluble, active recombinant protein by using secretion signals to direct the protein to the periplasmic space of a bacterial cell. In particular, the present invention relates to a production process for obtaining soluble hG-CSF protein from a bacterial host.
US08455209B2
The present invention provides a reagent for analysis of immature leukocytes comprising: a surfactant which can damage cell membranes of erythrocytes and mature leukocytes, a solubilizing agent which can shrink the damaged blood cells and a dye for staining nucleic acid, wherein the reagent has an osmotic pressure of not lower than 10 mOsm/kg and lower than 150 mOsm/kg.
US08455204B2
Brown adipose tissue (“BAT”) progenitor cells and methods for identifying BAT progenitor cells in a population of cells are provided. Methods are also provided for inducing differentiation of BAT progenitor cells into differentiated brown adipocytes, inducing expression or increased activity levels of BAT uncoupling protein-1 (“UCP1”), and for identifying agents capable of inducing differentiation of BAT progenitor cells into brown adipocytes and/or inducing expression or increased activity levels of UCP1. Differentiated brown adipocytes and agents and methods for inducing differentiation of BAT progenitor cells can be used for treatment of, or the making of medicaments for the treatment of, metabolic diseases or conditions in a patient such as obesity, overweight, impaired glucose tolerance, insulin-resistance, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, and the like. Differentiated brown adipocytes and agents and methods for inducing differentiation of BAT progenitor cells can be used for prevention of hypothermia.
US08455200B2
The present invention relates to a method of detecting the presence of cancer by measuring the level of enzyme activity and autoantibodies in the blood of an individual. In particular the present invention relates to methods for measurement of activated cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) activity and antibodies to PKA, a kit for activated PKA activity measurement, and the use of the measured levels of these analytes for determining the presence of cancer.
US08455197B2
Provided herein is a method for the selective amplification of a target nucleotide sequence located within a nucleic acid molecule, the method comprising contacting the nucleic acid molecule (“template” molecule) with (i) at least one facilitator oligonucleotide, wherein the facilitator oligonucleotide includes at least one modification at or near its 3′ terminus such that 3′ extension from the facilitator oligonucleotide is blocked, and (ii) two or more oligonucleotide primers, at least one of which is an initiator primer modified such that the presence of the modification prematurely terminates complementary strand synthesis, wherein the facilitator oligonucleotide and the initiator primer bind to substantially the same or adjacent regions of the template nucleic acid molecule and the facilitator oligonucleotide further comprises sequences complementary to the target sequence 3′ to the binding location of the initiator primer; and carrying out thermocyclic, enzymatic amplification such that the specific target sequence is selectively amplified.
US08455195B2
A purified polynucleotide having a chain of nucleotides corresponding to a mutated sequence, which in a wild form encodes a polypeptide implicated in hereditary sensory defect, wherein said mutated purified polynucleotide presents a mutation responsible for prelingual non-syndromic deafness selected from the group consisting of a specific deletion of at least one nucleotide.
US08455192B2
A primer set for amplifying a region including sites to be detected of SULT1A1*2 and SULT1A1*3 in the SULT1A1 gene by a gene amplification method is provided, wherein the primer set can amplify the region specifically. A pair of primer set is used including a forward primer consisting of the base sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7 as well as a reverse primer consisting of the base sequence of SEQ ID NO: 18. The use of this primer set makes it possible to specifically and efficiently amplify a region including both sites where two types of polymorphisms (SULT1A1*2 and SULT1A1*3) of the SULT1A1 gene are generated.
US08455189B2
The disclosure relates to use of the HE4 marker to assess breast cancer in a patient. The disclosure also relates to using HE4 and other tumors markers for diagnosis, grading and staging of breast cancers. The disclosure also relates to determining prognosis and treatment effectiveness of a patient who has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
US08455173B2
A photosensitive insulating resin composition includes (A) an alkali-soluble resin that contains (a1) a structural unit derived from a crosslinkable monomer and (a2) a structural unit having a phenolic hydroxyl group, (B) a crosslinking agent, (C) a photosensitive compound, and (D) a solvent.
US08455172B2
A method for producing a toner, containing: dispersing, in an aqueous medium, an oil phase which contains an organic solvent, and a binder resin component contained in the organic solvent, where the binder resin component contains a crystalline polyester resin and an amorphous polyester resin; and removing the organic solvent from the dispersion to obtain the toner, in which the dispersing further contains heating and dissolving the crystalline polyester and the amorphous polyester in the organic solvent to obtain a solution, cooling the solution so as to recrystallize the crystalline polyester resin, and mechanically pulverizing the recrystallized crystalline polyester resin so as to obtain a crystalline polyester dispersion.
US08455166B2
A radiation curable toner is described having at least a radiation curable binder (e.g. a UV curable polymer), a photoinitiator, and a wax; wherein the wax is present in a concentration ranging from 0.3 to 3% by weight. The ratio of scratch resistance before curing is preferably at least 2. The toner may be used in a developer, e.g. a two-component developer, for printing or copying.
US08455163B2
The present invention provides an electrophotographic photosensitive member including a conductive substrate, a photoconductive layer on the conductive substrate, and a surface layer made of hydrogenated amorphous silicon carbide on the photoconductive layer. A ratio (C/(Si+C)) in the surface layer is 0.61 to 0.75, both inclusive, an Si+C atom density in the surface layer is 6.60×1022 atoms/cm3 or more, and an arithmetic average roughness Ra of the surface layer is 0.029 μm to 0.500 μm, both inclusive.
US08455157B1
The improvement of the performance of holographic glasses with recorded holograms as measured by a figure of merit of the holographic glasses is disclosed. The improvement in the figure of merit of the holographic glasses is obtained at least in part with the addition of arsenic in the formation of the holographic glasses. The presence of arsenic increases the figure of merit as measured at a wavelength of interest of a holographic glass with a recorded hologram as compared to a holographic glass with a recorded hologram that does not contain arsenic.
US08455153B2
An anode component of a solid oxide fuel cell is formed by combining a relatively coarse yttria-stabilized-zirconium (YSZ) powder, that is substantially composed of elongated particles, with a relatively fine NiO/YSZ or NiO powder of reduced particle size, whereby, upon sintering the combined powders, the coarse YSZ powder forms a microstructural cage of open porosity wherein the fine powder is distributed through the open porosity of the cage. A method of forming a cathode component includes combining a coarse YSZ powder, that is substantially composed of elongated particles, with a fine lanthanum strontium manganite powder of reduced particle size, whereby, upon sintering the combined powders, the coarse YSZ powder forms a microstructural cage of open porosity, wherein the fine powder is distributed through the open porosity of the cage.
US08455149B2
A voltage detecting connecting structure and fuel cell has connectors which are in contact with terminals connected to the fuel cell. An embodiment of the fuel cell includes first cells which have the terminals at an anode and a cathode respectively, and second cells which have terminals in neither an anode plate nor a cathode, stacked alternately.
US08455148B2
The present invention provides a fuel cell which is capable to improve heat exchange efficiency with a plurality of tubular cells. The fuel cell of the present invention comprises: a plurality of tubular cells; heat exchangers arranged at the outside of the tubular cells, wherein at least a part of the outer circumferential surface of said tubular cells and the peripheral surface of said heat exchangers have face contact with each other.
US08455144B2
The present invention discloses a new type of bio-fuel cell, based on the microbial regeneration of the oxidant, ferric ions. The bio-fuel cell is based on the cathodic reduction of ferric to ferrous ions, coupled with the microbial regeneration of ferric ions by the oxidation of ferrous ions, at a pH less than about 1.0, with fuel (such as hydrogen) oxidation on the anode electrode. The microbial regeneration of ferric ions is achieved by microorganisms such as Leptospirillum ferriphilum. Electrical generation is coupled with the consumption of carbon dioxide from atmosphere and its transformation into microbial cells, which can be used as a single-cell protein.
US08455143B2
A non-aqueous electrolyte solution for a lithium ion secondary battery includes a lithium salt and an organic solvent. The organic solvent includes a carbonate compound, a linear ester compound and a linear ester decomposition inhibitor. This non-aqueous electrolyte solution restrains swelling while improving low temperature charging/discharging characteristics of the secondary battery in comparison to a conventional electrolyte since it contains the linear ester compound and the linear ester decomposition inhibitor. The non-aqueous electrolyte solution may be used in making a lithium ion secondary battery.
US08455134B2
A secondary battery including an electrode assembly, the electrode assembly including a separator between a positive electrode and a negative electrode; current collectors, the current collectors being electrically connected to the positive electrode and the negative electrode, respectively; a case, the case accommodating the electrode assembly and the current collectors; a cap plate, the cap plate coupled to an opening in the case; and an insulating film between the current collectors and the case, the insulating film including a recess corresponding to a shape of at least one of the current collectors and the electrode assembly to offset a vibration of the current collectors with respect to the case.
US08455133B2
Disclosed herein is a multi-cell battery pack having optimal temperature distribution throughout the battery pack and optimal air flow through the battery pack. Disclosed herein is a battery pack which provides optimal temperature distribution throughout the battery pack, wherein maximum cell temperature (Tmax) and temperature differential amongst all cells in the battery pack (ΔTcell) are optimized for efficient thermal management providing safety, improved performance and extended life of the battery pack and electrochemical cells. Also disclosed herein is a battery pack which provides optimal flow through the battery pack and minimal pressure drop (ΔP) throughout the battery pack.
US08455131B2
Li/air battery cells are configurable to achieve very high energy density. The cells include a protected a lithium metal or alloy anode and an aqueous catholyte in a cathode compartment. In addition to the aqueous catholyte, components of the cathode compartment include an air cathode (e.g., oxygen electrode) and a variety of other possible elements.
US08455127B2
A portable electronic device includes a housing defining, an operating module, and a battery cover. The housing defines a receiving hole and a connector hole. The operating module includes an operating element, and an elastic element. An operating block projects from the operating element and is slidably received in the receiving hole. The elastic element is elastically positioned between the housing and the operating element. The battery cover can be pivotably attached to the housing and latches with the operating element.
US08455122B2
Disclosed is a voltage sensing assembly for a battery module to sense voltage of battery cells having electrode terminals formed at the upper or lower end thereof in a state in which the voltage sensing assembly is mounted in the battery module, the voltage sensing assembly including (a) an upper and a lower block case to be coupled to each other in an assembled fashion, the upper block case and the lower block case being made of an electrically insulative material, the upper block case and the lower block case being mounted to a region (front or rear) of the battery module corresponding to electrode terminal connection parts of the battery cells, (b) upper-row and lower-row conductive sensors to be connected to the electrode terminal connection parts of the battery cells, respectively, and (c) a connector to transmit voltages sensed by the conductive sensors to a battery management system (BMS).
US08455121B2
A system for activating a fuel cell includes a flow meter for measuring the amount of water discharged from an outlet of the air electrode and an outlet of the fuel electrode; a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure at the respective outlets; and a back pressure regulator receiving flow values measured by the flow meters and pressure values measured by the pressure sensors, which are fed back from a controller, and regulating a pressure difference (ΔP=PCathode−PAnode) to be a value greater than 0. With the system, the activation time of a fuel cell and the amount of hydrogen used for the activation can be reduced, thus improving the productivity and manufacturing cost.
US08455115B2
An organic electroluminescent device includes: a pair of electrodes; and at least one organic compound layer therebetween, the at least one organic compound layer comprises at least a light-emitting layer, wherein at least one of the at least one organic compound layer comprises at least one compound represented by a particular formula.
US08455107B2
By treatment with hydrophobins, cellulosic materials such as paper, cardboard, cotton or, especially, wood-based materials, such as solid wood, glued wood products or particle board, can be effectively protected against absorption of and attack by water and/or moisture.
US08455106B2
An acrylic rubber-metal composite, which comprises a metal, (a) an undercoat adhesive layer comprising phenol resin and epoxy resin, (b) an overcoat adhesive layer comprising phenol resin, halogenated polymer, and a metal oxide, and (c) an acrylic rubber layer, the layers (a), (b) and (c) being successively laid on the surface of the metal, having not only a distinguished initial adhesiveness, but also a good water resistance, where the acrylic rubber is bonded to the metal without surface treatment of the metal such as a chemical treatment, e.g. zinc phosphate treatment, etc., a blast treatment, or a primer treatment.
US08455105B2
Multi-layer composites comprising: (a) a first scratch-resistant coating layer comprising a first coating (primer); (b) a thermoplastic layer; and (c) a second scratch-resistant coating layer comprising a second coating (primer); wherein the first scratch-resistant coating layer and the second scratch-resistant coating layer are disposed on opposing sides of the thermoplastic layer; wherein the first coating and the second coating are not the same; and wherein the first scratch-resistant coating layer and the second scratch-resistant coating layer are selected such that a multi-layer composite having the first scratch-resistant layer disposed on both sides of the thermoplastic layer has a lower critical impact speed for tough/brittle transition at −30° C. according to DIN EN ISO 6603-1 than a multi-layer composite having the second scratch-resistant layer disposed on both sides of the thermoplastic layer; processes for producing the same; and uses therefor.
US08455102B2
A method for adhesively bonding film-like substrates, in which a two-component polyurethane adhesive is applied to a film and then a second film is applied, a two-component polyurethane adhesive being used that consists of—a component A containing at least one prepolymer having at least two NCO groups,—a component B containing at least one polymeric or oligomeric crosslinker having at least two groups that react with NCO groups, wherein component B contains 0.05 to 5 wt. % of a low-molecular-weight compound C, which—should have a nucleophilic group that reacts with NCO groups and—contains a hydrogen-bridging group, selected from O═C—O− or O═C—C—O− or O═C—C═C—O− or protonated forms.
US08455094B2
A medical device wherein a surface lubricating layer and one of various polymer bases are fixed with each other firmly by a relatively simple technique. The medical device permanently exhibits excellent surface lubricity when in use. The medical device has a lubricating surface when wet, and includes a base layer at least the surface of which is composed of a polymer material, a compound (thiol compound) which is supported on at least a part of the base layer and has a plurality of thiol groups in each molecule, and a surface lubricating layer which covers the thiol compound and is composed of a hydrophilic polymer that has a reactive functional group.
US08455090B2
The invention relates to prepregs and composite components (molding) produced therefrom at a low temperature, obtainable by using powdery highly reactive polyurethane compositions containing uretdione groups, with specific catalysts.
US08455083B2
A pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet includes a base material and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and is formed therein with a plurality of through-holes passing through from one surface to the other surface. The base material includes a first layer positioned on a side of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and a second layer positioned on an opposite side of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. The first layer includes a resin composition containing 50 to 88 wt % of a polyolefin-based resin (A); 10 to 48 wt % of a styrene-based resin and/or an acrylic-based resin (B) excluding the polyolefin-based resin (A); and 2.0 to 30 wt % of a pigment (C), and the second layer contains a polyolefin-based ionomer resin (D) as a main constituent, and the ratio of thickness between the first layer and the second layer is 80:20 to 97:3.0.
US08455080B2
A protective sleeve for covering a wire harness. The protective sleeve includes an outer layer of a woven fabric extending a first length and a first width and having inwardly-facing surface and outwardly-facing surface. The protective sleeve also includes an adhesive layer applied over the inner-facing surface of the outer layer. The protective sleeve also includes an inner layer of non-woven fabric extending a second length and a second width less than the first width. The inner layer has an outwardly-facing surface adhered to the adhesive layer. The inner layer is centered on the outer layer such that two portions of the adhesive layer extend exposed along the first length on opposite sides of the second width.
US08455077B2
Fibrous structures, more particularly fibrous structures comprising a region of auxiliary bonding and methods for making same are provided.
US08455076B2
This invention relates to a paper substrate useful as a universal release liner, as well as methods of making and using the same.
US08455058B2
To provide a resin composition capable of forming a thin film layer so as to cause tenting over concave portions by conventional coating processes without depending on dry films, and also a coating method so as to cause tenting of the resin composition. A resin composition, which, by spin coating, causes tenting over concave portions formed on a substrate, the resin composition including a resin component (a) and a solvent (b) and has a viscosity of at least 200 cP, and tenting can be achieved by using the resin composition, allowing the resin composition to fall drop wise onto a substrate on which concave portions are formed, and spin coating the substrate at a rotating speed of 300 to 4000 rpm.
US08455043B2
Disclosed herein is a method of fabricating a transparent conductive film, including preparing a carbon nanotube composite composition by blending a carbon nanotube in a solvent; coating the carbon nanotube composite composition on a base substrate to form a carbon nanotube composite film, and acid-treating the carbon nanotube composite film by dipping the carbon nanotube composite film in an acid solution, followed by washing the carbon nanotube composite film with distilled water and drying the washed carbon nanotube composite film to form a transparent electrode on the base substrate. The transparent conductive film can have excellent conductivity, transparency and bending properties following acid treatment, so that it can be used in touch screens and transparent electrodes of foldable flat panel displays. Further, the carbon nanotube composite conductive film can have improved conductivity while maintaining transparency after acid treatment.
US08455040B2
A slit coater including an apparatus for supplying coating solution by a coating method using a slit nozzle, which is configured to minimize contamination of coating solution, utilizing a filtering function, and supplying a controlled amount of photosensitive solution to a slit nozzle. The slit coater further includes a table on which an object to be processed is mounted, a slit nozzle unit that applies coating solution onto a surface of the object to be processed, and a coating solution supply apparatus including a storage tank that stores the coating solution, a pump that supplies the coating solution stored in the storage tank to the slit nozzle unit, and a buffer tank that is in fluid communication with the pump and the storage tank.
US08455039B2
A photoresist-coating apparatus includes a substrate on which a particle-detecting area and an invalid particle-detecting area are defined, a nozzle discharging photoresist to the substrate and moving along a direction, and a particle-detecting sensor controlling on and off of the nozzle in the particle-detecting area according to presence of particles, wherein in the invalid particle-detecting area, the nozzle operates independently from detection of the particle-detecting sensor.
US08455038B2
A method for producing an artificial bone capable of accurate molding at a joined part with appropriate strength, in which electromagnetic waves or electron beams are irradiated to a layer of at least type of powder selected from metal biomaterials, ceramics for the artificial bone and plastic resins for the artificial bone based on image data corresponding to a shape of the artificial bone, thereby effecting sintering or melting, and the thus sintered layer or melted and solidified layer is laminated, such that a surface finish step is adopted that inner faces and/or outer faces of both ends and their vicinities configuring the joined part to a human bone part are polished by a rotating tool based on the image data and also irradiation of electromagnetic waves or electron beams at both ends and their vicinities constituting the joined part is set greater than that at other regions.
US08455032B2
A carbonating device for carbonating an opened vessel including an inlet valve for receiving pressurized gas, an exit valve for expelling gas into a vessel to be carbonated, a trigger for opening the inlet valve, a trigger pressure regulator arranged to close the inlet valve, a discharge assembly, and a cap assembly, the discharge assembly coupled to and de-coupled from the cap and including a port for discharging gas to the cap, the discharge port being opened and closed by a valve and a pressure regulator arranged to automatically close the discharge valve in response to a pressure level.
US08455031B2
The present disclosure relates to beverage compositions comprising low levels of preservative, without the need for hot or aseptic packing. In particular, the present invention relates to beverage compositions comprising: (a) from about 20 ppm to about 50 ppm of a preservative selected from the group consisting of sorbic acid, alkali metal salts thereof and mixtures thereof; (b) from about 300 ppm to about 1500 ppm of a polyphosphate having the structure; where n averages from about 13 to about 35 and each M is independently selected from the group consisting of sodium and potassium; and (c) water; wherein the beverage composition has a pH of front about 2 to about 5 and a total hardness of from 60 to about 300.
US08455029B2
A decrease in the biological activity of the proteins and hormones present in milk, which have been implicated in certain cancers, is accomplished by exposing the hormones and proteins to ultraviolet irradiation of at least 5,000 joules/m2.
US08455028B2
A method for operating at least one cooking process in a cooking chamber of a cooking appliance is based on a multiple number of parameters that can be entered through an input device of the cooking appliance. Based on the parameters, at least one cooking product and/or cooking program, at least one starting and/or ending time of the cooking of at least one cooking product and/or for at least one cooking program, and at least one cooking parameter can be selected. An output device indicates when each cooking product is to be loaded into and removed from the cooking chamber in dependence of the starting time and/or ending time, and the selection of a multiple number of cooking products. Additionally, the sequence of cooking of the cooking products can be optimized based on at least one parameter that determines at least one cooking parameter.
US08455021B2
The present invention relates to a method of reducing risk of recurrent urethritis or recurrent cystitis comprises administering to a patient with risk of recurrent urethritis or recurrent cystitis an effective amount of a composition consisting essentially of astilbin and chlorogenic acid.
US08455015B2
Compositions containing about 0.6% to about 20% of tea tree oil are described. Some compositions are in the form of solutions, suspensions, spray, lotions, gels, pastes, medicated sticks, balms, cleansers (including shampoos and soaps), creams, or ointments. Also described are compositions and methods for use in treating ocular Demodex infestations and related conditions using such compositions.
US08455010B1
A balanced redox-signaling compound with reactive molecules that mimic those naturally occurring inside cells that have been precisely stabilized and formulated as a supplement for oral consumption acting to enhance proper immune system function, enhance the efficiency and production of the body's native antioxidants as well as enhance the performance of intercellular communications involved in healthy tissue maintenance and athletic performance.
US08455009B2
Compositions having a combination of specific biological components have been found to exert a number of useful effects in mammalian cells, including modulating TGF β signaling, apoptosis, and proliferation of mammalian cells, as well as decreasing inflammation in mice. These components can be obtained commercially, or can be prepared from biological tissues such as placental tissues. Placental amniotic membrane (AM) preparations described herein include AM pieces, AM extracts, AM jelly, AM stroma, and mixtures of these compositions with additional components. The compositions can be used to treat various diseases, such as wound healing, inflammation and angiogenesis-related diseases.
US08454973B2
The present invention provides modified hepatitis C virus genomic RNA, comprising nucleotide sequences of genomic RNA portions of two or more types of hepatitis C viruses, which comprises a 5′ untranslated region, a core protein coding sequence, an E1 protein coding sequence, a p7 protein coding sequence, an E2 protein coding sequence, an NS2 protein coding sequence, an NS3 protein coding sequence, an NS4A protein coding sequence, an NS4B protein coding sequence, an NS5A protein coding sequence, an NS5B protein coding sequence, and a 3′ untranslated region, and which can be autonomously replicated. In particular, the present invention relates to modified hepatitis C virus genomic RNA, which can be autonomously replicated by substitution of the RNA sequence portion encoding NS3, NS4, NS5A, and NS5B proteins of hepatitis C virus genomic RNA with a partial RNA sequence encoding NS3, NS4, NS5A, and NS5B proteins of a JFH1 strain shown in SEQ ID NO: 1.
US08454971B2
Modified glucagon peptides are disclosed having enhanced potency at the glucagon receptor relative to native glucagon. Further modification of the glucagon peptides by forming lactam bridges or the substitution of the terminal carboxylic acid with an amide group produces peptides exhibiting glucagon/GLP-1 receptor co-agonist activity. The solubility and stability of these high potency glucagon analogs can be further improved by modification of the polypeptides by pegylation, substitution of carboxy terminal amino acids, or the addition of a carboxy terminal peptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 26 (GPSSGAPPPS), SEQ ID NO: 27 (K-RNRNNIA) and SEQ ID NO: 28 (KRNR).
US08454970B2
A composition comprises extract of fucoxanthin, wherein said composition further comprises tocotrienols and/or fucoidan. Said composition can be used to treat obesity. Said composition shows outstanding effect of weight loss. There is outstanding synergy effect among those constituents of the composition.
US08454968B2
The invention relates to an immunity-inducing agent comprising, as an active ingredient, at least one polypeptide having immunity-inducing activity that is selected from among polypeptides (a), (b), and (c): (a) a polypeptide of at least seven contiguous amino acids of the amino acid sequence shown by any even SEQ ID number selected from SEQ ID NOs: 2 to 30 listed in the Sequence Listing; (b) a polypeptide of at least seven amino acids having 90% or more sequence identity with the polypeptide (a); and (c) a polypeptide comprising the polypeptide (a) or (b) as a partial sequence thereof, or a recombinant vector comprising a polynucleotide encoding said polypeptide and capable of expressing said polypeptide in vivo.
US08454967B2
A novel class of embryo derived peptides are described (Preimplantation factor) that were generated synthetically and were tested on peripheral blood immune cells and shown to block activated but not basal immunity, inhibiting cell proliferation and creating a TH2 type cytokine bias, in addition PIF enhance endometrial receptivity by increasing adhesion molecules expression. PIF biological activity appears to be exerted by specific binding to inducible receptors present on the several white cell lineages. PIF peptides, which are immune modulators therefore may have diagnostic and non toxic therapeutic applications in improving fertility, reducing pregnancy loss as well may be useful when administered for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and for prevention xenotransplants rejection.
US08454961B2
There are disclosed alpha4beta7 heterodimer-specific antigen binding proteins, nucleic acids encoding them, and methods of making and using them.
US08454956B2
The invention features methods and compositions for preventing or treating rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis by administering an antagonist of IL-20. The IL-20 antagonist may be an anti-IL-20 antibody, such as mAB 7E, that is capable of binding human IL-20 and blocking IL-20 interaction with its receptors.
US08454953B2
Compositions suitable for reducing symptoms of an allergic response to environmental allergens comprising molecules that specifically inhibit the ability of the allergen to bind to mast cells in an animal predisposed to having an allergic response to the allergen and methods for reducing such symptoms comprising contacting a source of the environmental allergen with such compositions. Kits, packages, medicaments, and means of communicating about the compositions and methods are also provided.
US08454948B2
The present invention is directed to long-lasting erythropoietin therapeutic formulations and their methods of use wherein the formulation comprises a genetically modified micro-organ that comprises a vector which comprises a nucleic acid sequence operably linked to one or more regulatory sequences, wherein the nucleic acid sequence encodes erythropoietin.
US08454947B1
The present application discloses new PEG-interferon lambda 1 conjugates (PEG-IFNλ1), processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing these conjugates and processes for making the same. These conjugates have increased blood half-lives and persistence time compared to IFNλ1 and are effective in the treatment of hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
US08454934B2
A chelation structure and method of forming and using the chelation structure. The chelation structure has a backbone that includes a linear sequence of monomeric backbone units, at least one polymer side chain, and at least one chelator side chain. The side chains are each covalently coupled to the backbone at one of the monomeric backbone units by a bond that is independently biodegradable or non-biodegradable. The chelation structure is synthesized by Radical Addition Fragmentation Transfer (RAFT), Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP), or Free Radical Polymerization (FRP). The chelation structure, individually or in combination with a shuttle chelator, may be introduced into a mammal to bind an amount of a substance in a mammal, the substance being at least one of a metal and heme. The chelation structure has a log stability constant exceeding that of the shuttle chelator for binding the substance within cells of the mammal.
US08454933B2
The invention provides a polycrystal magnesium oxide (MgO) sintered body which is capable of having a sintered density close to a theoretical density thereof. The MgO sintered body exhibits excellent mechanical properties and heat conductivity, while reducing contamination of an atmosphere due to gas generation. The invention also provides a production method for the sintered body. The polycrystal MgO sintered body has a unique crystalline anisotropy in which (111) faces are oriented along a surface applied with a uniaxial pressure at a high rate. The polycrystalline MgO sintered body is obtained by a method which includes the steps of: sintering an MgO raw material powder, having a particle size of 1 μm or less, under a uniaxial pressure and then subjecting the sintered powder to a heat treatment under an atmosphere containing 0.05 volume % or more of oxygen, at a temperature of 1273 K or more for 1 minute or more.
US08454930B2
The present invention relates to a mayenite-type compound in which a part of Ca of a mayenite-type compound containing Ca, Al and oxygen is substituted by at least one kind of an atom M selected from the group consisting of Be, Mg and Sr, in which the mayenite-type compound has an atom number ratio represented by M/(Ca+M) of from 0.01 to 0.50, and at least a part of free oxygen ions in a mayenite-type crystal structure are substituted by anions of an atom having electron affinity smaller than that of an oxygen atom.
US08454928B2
A process for depositing a tellurium-containing film on a substrate is disclosed, including (a) providing a substrate in a reactor; (b) introducing into the reactor at least one tellurium-containing precursor having the formula TeLn or cyclic LTe(-L-)2TeL, wherein at least one L contains a N bonded to one said Te, “n” is between 2-6, inclusive, and each “L,” is independently selected from certain alkyl and aryl groups. The process further includes (c) optionally, introducing at least one M-containing source, wherein M is Si, Ge, Sb, Sn, Pb, Bi, In, Ag or Se, or a combination of any of those; (d) optionally, introducing a hydrogen-containing fluid; (e) optionally, introducing an oxygen-containing fluid; (f) optionally, introducing a nitrogen-containing fluid; (g) reacting the precursor(s) and M-containing source(s), if any, in the reactor with the hydrogen-, oxygen- and/or nitrogen-containing fluid, if any; and (h) depositing a tellurium-containing film onto the substrate.
US08454922B2
A method of storing hydrogen using carbon nanotubes having a diameter ranging from 0.6-0.8 nm. The hydrogen may be stored in a container which is made of another material. The carbon nanotubes may be provided inside the container for adsorbing the hydrogen.
US08454919B2
Precipitated silica is produced by a process that includes a step for filtering and washing an aqueous suspension (S), comprising the following steps: (a) filtering a first portion (S1) of a precipitated silica suspension (S), whereby a cake (G1) is formed and said cake (G1) is then washed and a suspension (S′1) is formed by suspending the thereby obtained washed cake (G1), notably by dilution with water; (b) filtering a second portion (S2) of the suspension (S), whereby a cake (G2) is obtained; and (c) filtering said suspension (S′1) emanating from step (a) through the cake (G2) obtained at the end of step (b), employed as a filtration precoating layer.
US08454911B2
The present invention provides a process for the manufacture of acetylene and other higher hydrocarbons from methane feed using a reverse-flow reactor system, wherein the reactor system includes (i) a first reactor and (ii) a second reactor, the first and second reactors oriented in a series relationship with respect to each other, the process comprising supplying each of first and second reactant through separate channels in the first reactor bed of a reverse-flow reactor such that both of the first and second reactants serve to quench the first reactor bed, without the first and second reactants substantially reacting with each other until reaching the core of the reactor system.
US08454896B2
Disclosed in this specification is the design for an internal mixing device which increases the plug flow like behaviour of the rotating inclined reactor.
US08454895B2
This invention refers to continuous flow devices for detecting and/or removal of contaminants from a liquid stream. The device comprises a cartridge with an inlet and outlet for the liquid stream, a radiation incident and emerging wall portion and optically transparent support material packed in the cartridge such that a liquid stream can pass between voids or spaces formed within the optically transparent material, as well as a radiation source and detector. The support material comprises molecules for capturing at least one contaminant on the surface of the support material and each of the capture molecules comprises at least one reporter group which emits a signal upon binding of the contaminant. Another form of the invention refers to a rotatable support within the liquid stream.
US08454889B2
A gas treatment system has a housing defining an interior space adapted for holding liquid therein. The housing has an inlet port and an outlet port spaced from the inlet port so that gas passing through the interior space flows through the liquid therein. A gas delivery system directs gas to be treated into the interior space of the housing at the inlet port. An ultrasonic waveguide assembly is disposed within the interior space of the housing and includes an ultrasonic horn disposed at least in part intermediate the inlet port and the outlet port of the housing. The ultrasonic horn is operable at an ultrasonic frequency to ultrasonically energize liquid within the housing. An ultraviolet light source is for emitting ultraviolet light into the interior space of the housing to treat liquid flowing from the inlet port to the outlet port.
US08454888B2
An apparatus for injecting particulate and/or gaseous material into a metallurgical vessel for use in a metallurgical process includes a duct to inject the material. The duct includes a duct wall of concentric annular passages for inflow of cooling water from a rear end to a forward end of the duct along a first of the annular passages and for outflow of cooling water from the forward end to the rear end of the duct wall along a second of the annular passages. The concentric annular passages are provided by concentric sleeves that consist of an inner sleeve, an outer sleeve, and an intermediate sleeve. The apparatus also includes a duct tip at a forward end of the duct joining at least the inner and outer sleeves so as to provide a water flow connection between the first and second water flow passages.
US08454882B2
Material dispensing systems and methods for make such systems are described. The material dispensing systems employ a collapsible container that is at least partially surrounded by an elastically deformable band. The band stretches as the container is filled with a flowable composition, thereby creating potential energy which can then be used to dispense the composition in lieu of a propellant and/or pressurized container.
US08454874B2
A hollow conduit and process for manufacturing therefore which includes steps of extruding a first polymer conduit; cutting said conduit to a pre-determined length; inserting said length into a split mold having a cavity defined therein; inserting at least one flexible position retaining means into said mold; injection molding at least one overmolded polymer onto said plastic conduit and at least partially onto said position retaining means to form a position retaining tube, wherein a portion of the length of said position retaining means is completely embedded within said overmolded polymer and a portion of the length is not embedded within said overmolded polymer; and opening said mold and removing said position retaining tube.
US08454870B2
A method for manufacturing composite parts. A temporary removal layer may be placed on an inner mold line tool. A composite material may be laid up on the inner mold line tool for a composite part. The inner mold line tool may be positioned with the composite part inside an outer mold line tool. The composite part and the temporary removal layer may be transferred from the inner mold line tool to the outer mold line tool. The inner mold line tool and the temporary removal layer may be removed from inside of the outer mold line tool after transferring the composite part and the temporary removal layer to the outer mold line tool.
US08454864B2
The present disclosure relates to a method for making a mold for forming an anti-flare lens. The lens includes an optically active part and an optically inactive part. In the method, a mold core blank having a bottom surface and a top surface, is provided. The bottom surface is machined into a first surface portion, a second surface portion, and an annular surface portion. The second surface portion is located at a center of the mold core blank. The annular surface portion connects the second surface portion and the first surface portion. The first surface portion is roughened to form a roughened molding surface for forming the optically inactive part. The second surface portion is precisely machined to form a smooth molding surface for forming the optically active part. The annular surface is precisely machined to form a smooth transition surface.
US08454856B2
A liquid crystal composition is provided that satisfies at least one characteristic among the characteristics such as a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, a low minimum temperature of a nematic phase, a low viscosity, a large optical anisotropy, a large dielectric anisotropy, a large specific resistance, a high stability to ultraviolet light and a high stability to heat, or is properly balanced regarding at least two characteristics. An AM device is provided that has a short response time, a large voltage holding ratio, a large contrast ratio, a long service life, and so forth. The liquid crystal composition has a nematic phase, wherein the first component contains a specific five rings compound having a large optical anisotropy and a large dielectric anisotropy, the second component contains a specific compound having a low viscosity. The liquid crystal display device contains the liquid crystal composition having a nematic phase and the composition thereof.
US08454845B2
Fundamental interconnect systems for connecting high-speed electronics elements are provided. The interconnect systems consists of signal line, dielectric system with open trench or slot filled up with air or lower dielectric loss material, and the ground plane. The signal line could be for example, microstripline, strip line, coplanar line, single line or differential pairs. The interconnect system can be used for on-chip interconnects or can also be used for off-chip interconnects. The fundamental techniques provided in this invention can also be used for high-speed connectors and high-speed cables.
US08454844B2
A method for processing a wafer to form a plurality of hollow microneedles projecting from a substrate includes forming, by use of a dry etching process, a number of groups of recessed features, each including at least one slot deployed to form an open shape having an included area and at least one hole located within the included area. The internal surfaces of the holes and the slots are then coated with a protective layer. An anisotropic wet etching process is then performed in such a manner as to remove material from outside the included areas while leaving a projecting feature within each of the included areas. The protective layer is then removed to reveal the microneedles.
US08454843B2
A convenient, cost effective and efficient solid separation apparatus and method of removing solid material from production fluid is disclosed. The solids separation apparatus includes a fluid inlet pipe; a fluid outlet pipe; a vessel that is a fluid velocity driven solid settlement inducement structure and/or a fluid vector driven solid settlement inducement structure; at least one solid discharge opening within the vessel longitudinally spaced between the fluid inlet pipe and the fluid outlet pipe; and, a tank disposed below the vessel with at least one solid entry opening communicated with the at least one solid discharge opening.
US08454837B2
Methods and systems for enhancing of quality of liquid by treating a source liquid to enhance the concentration of low zeta potential crystals and produce a treated liquid having a higher concentration of low zeta potential crystals than that of the source liquid. The inventive system comprises an aqueous liquid source having a threshold concentration of selected minerals and a low zeta potential crystal generator for treating the aqueous source liquid to produce treated liquid having an enhanced concentration of low zeta potential crystals.
US08454836B2
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for removing water and/or water-based compounds from organic liquids/fluids. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus that utilize fibrous media that contains, is impregnated, or is formed from at least one super absorbent compound, where the fibrous media is formed from nanofibers.
US08454835B2
In at least one embodiment, a method for remediating oxic water having transition metal ions comprises the steps of providing oxic water having transition metal ions. The water is introduced to a chamber. The pH is adjusted to a range from 2.5 to 7.5 forming a pH-adjusted oxic water. Thiosulfate ions are introduced and reacted with the transition metal ions to form insoluble transition metal-thiosulfate species complexes, which are immobilized forming remediated oxic water.
US08454825B2
A rod assembly for the extraction of magnetizable particles from solutions is described. The rod assembly includes at least one guide element. A rod element is insertable into the at least one guide element and moveable in a direction substantially parallel to the at least one guide element. A magnet element is moveable to a distal magnet element position; wherein the distal magnet element position is located on a distal end section of the at least one guide element; wherein the at least one guide element includes an opening at a distal end. A method for the extraction of magnetizable particles from solutions is also described, as well as a magnet element for the extraction of magnetizable particles from solutions.
US08454815B2
Copper plating baths containing a leveling agent that is a reaction product of one or more of certain pyridine compounds with one or more epoxide-containing compounds, that deposit copper on the surface of a conductive layer are provided. Such plating baths deposit a copper layer that is substantially planar on a substrate surface across a range of electrolyte concentrations. Methods of depositing copper layers using such copper plating baths are also disclosed.
US08454806B2
Systems and methods for electrochemically oxidizing components of a test-sensor reagent prior to deposition on a test sensor comprise at least a first electrode and a second electrode for contacting the test-sensor reagent. The first electrode and the second electrode may have hollow interior portions for contacting the test-sensor reagent to produce a modified test-sensor reagent having a reduced background current.
US08454803B2
Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.
US08454799B2
The present invention relates to a novel pulp composition for paper or solid board production comprising an oxidized recovered paper pulp and/or an oxidized mechanical pulp into which from 1 to 500 mmol of carboxyl groups per kg and from 1 to 200 mmol of aldehyde groups per kg have been introduced by oxidation. The invention also relates to paper and solid board based on such a pulp composition and also to a process for producing such paper or solid board. The invention also relates to the use of oxidized recovered paper pulp and/or oxidized mechanical pulp for improving the retention and drainage properties of a pulp suitable for producing paper or solid board. The invention further relates to the use of oxidized recovered paper pulp and/or oxidized mechanical pulp for improving, i.e., increasing, the dry strength of paper and solid board.
US08454790B2
A method of manufacturing a hard wood strand product, comprising the steps of harvesting logs of eucalypts from plantation trees having an age between 8 years and 12 years, forming strands from the logs, adding a binder including a polymeric methane di-isocyanate resin and a wax to the strands, forming a mat with the strands, and pressing and heating the mat using a press to form the strand product.
US08454778B2
A pneumatic tire and a method of making a tire are provided. The tire includes a tire tread, a tire layer, and a barrier layer. The tire layer is circumferentially disposed inwardly of the tire tread and includes a first end and a second end situated adjacent each other to define a butt joint. The barrier layer includes a first end and a second end, a portion of the first end of the barrier layer overlaps the second end by about 1.5 cm or more to define a lap joint, and where the first end of the barrier layer is received between and extends beyond the butt joint such that the first end of the tire layer is sandwiched between the lap joint.
US08454775B2
A method of repairing delaminated plies of a composite includes drilling a plurality of holes in the plies, stitching one or more tows into the plurality of holes, and tensioning the tows. The holes are disposed across an area of the plies that is delaminated. The method introduces a resin into the area of the plies that is delaminated and cures the resin. Curing of the composite can be performed prior to the stitching and the tensioning of the one or more tows and can be performed by the tensioning of the one or more tows. Optionally, one or more additional plies can be applied to the repaired area and/or a portion of the one or more tows that extends above a surface the plies can be removed.
US08454774B2
In a method of producing a stabilizer for a motor vehicle, a stabilizer bearing portion of a stabilizer is chemically pre-treated by applying an adhesive. The stabilizer and two vulcanized elastomer-metal bearing half-shells are then placed in a joining apparatus for subsequent bonding of the bearing half-shells with the stabilizer bearing portion.
US08454772B2
A process for the manufacture of a decorative board, which board includes at least one thermosetting resin impregnated paper layer. A decor paper in the form of a web or a sheet, provided with a plurality of decor sections, each decor section being intended to constitute a décor of a decorative panel, is placed as a surface layer on a base layer and bonded thereto by pressing under elevated pressure. A plurality of press plates or press foils, each press plate or press foil being provided with a surface structure intended to match at least one decor section of the decor paper, are accurately positioned on top of the thermosetting impregnated paper layer before the pressing and is after the pressing separated from the laminate achieved. The laminate will hereby be provided with a décor surface with a matching surface structure which is in register with the décor of the decor paper.
US08454769B2
A percussion primer composition including at least one explosive, at least fuel particle having a particle size of about 1500 nm or less, at least one oxidizer, optionally at least one sensitizer, optionally at least one buffer, and to methods of preparing the same.
US08454767B2
A heat treatment method is capable of molding, by mobile quenching of induction quenching, an outer joint member of a tripod type constant velocity universal joint having excellent strength without forming hardened layers in larger radially-inner portions. Mobile quenching is performed in such a manner that a high-frequency induction heating coil is moved in an axial direction relative to an outer joint member, and thus hardened layers are formed on the roller guide surfaces. Magnetic field line cut-out bodies for cutting out generated magnetic field lines are arranged on the high-frequency induction heating coil. The larger radially-inner portions become an unquenched portion by cutting out the magnetic field lines with the magnetic field line cut-out bodies.
US08454764B2
A nodular graphite, heat-resistant cast iron composition for use in engine systems. The composition contains carbon 1.5-2.4 weight %, silicon 5.4-7.0 weight %, manganese 0.5-1.5 weight %, nickel 22.0-28.0 weight %, chromium 1.5-3.0 weight %, molybdenum 0.1-1.0 weight %, magnesium 0.03-0.1 weight %, and a balance weight % being substantially iron. The composition has an austenitic matrix. Additionally, the composition exhibits excellent oxidation resistance at high temperature and excellent mechanical properties at both room and high temperatures. Thus, the composition can be a lower cost substitute material for Ni-Resist D5S under thermocycling conditions experienced by exhaust gas accessories and housings such as engine exhaust manifolds, turbocharger housings, and catalytic converter housings.
US08454761B1
An apparatus for cleaning the surface of a base, comprising: a base; a plurality of apertures flush with the surface of said base, said apertures being connected to a plurality of sub-channels and wherein said apertures are adapted to expel air; at least one air chamber operatively connected with said plurality of sub-channels; a main channel connected with said at least one air chamber; wherein said main channel is supplied from an air compressor; and a main valve located between said at least one air chamber and said main channel, wherein said main valve regulates the air flow from said main channel to said at least one air chamber, said valve being further adapted to close said main channel.
US08454737B2
Ink composition that includes from about 0.1 to about 10 wt % of metal oxide pigment particles, having an average particle size in the range of about 3 to about 300 nm, that are dispersed with polyether alkoxysilane dispersants; and from about 0.01 to about 3 wt % of water-soluble amphiphilic polymers or of water-dispersible polymer waxes, based on the total weight of the ink composition. Said ink composition forms, onto printable media, a printed feature that exhibits a metallic appearance. Also described herein are the resulting printed article and the method to produce it.
US08454731B2
Vapor-liquid contacting apparatuses comprising a primary contacting zone and a secondary contacting zone are disclosed. A representative secondary contacting zone is a secondary absorption zone, such as a finishing zone for subsequent contacting of the vapor effluent from the primary contacting zone to further remove impurities and achieve a desired purity of purified gas exiting the secondary absorption zone. The secondary contacting zone is disposed below the primary contacting zone, such that the secondary contacting zone, which must operate efficiently in removing generally trace amounts of remaining impurities, is more protected from movement than the more elevated, primary or initial contacting stages for bulk impurity removal. The apparatuses are therefore especially beneficial in offshore applications where they are subjected to rocking.
US08454727B2
The present invention provides a process for treating a natural gas stream comprising sending a natural gas stream to at least one membrane unit to produce a permeate stream containing a higher concentration of carbon dioxide and a retentate stream containing a lower concentration of carbon dioxide. Then the retentate stream is sent to an adsorbent bed to remove carbon dioxide and other impurities to produce a natural gas product stream. The regeneration gas stream is sent through the molecular sieve adsorbent bed to desorb the carbon dioxide. In one process flow scheme, the regeneration stream is combined with the permeate stream from the membrane unit. Then the combined stream is sent to an absorbent column to remove carbon dioxide from the permeate stream to produce a second natural gas product stream. In the alternative flow scheme, a second membrane unit is used to improve efficiency.
US08454726B2
A solid absorbent for absorption of CO2 from flue gas, comprising: a) particles made of a cross bounded, highly porous polymer substrate, and b) CO2 absorbing functional nucleophilic groups grafted on the particle surface, is described. A method for CO2 sequestration using the absorbent is also described.
US08454723B2
A heap leach process for the recovery of nickel and/or cobalt from a laterite ore, said process including the steps of: a) providing one or more heaps of a nickeliferous laterite ore; b) leaching the ore in a heap leach step by applying acid to one or more heaps to provide a pregnant leach solution; c) neutralizing the pregnant leach solution with ground saprolite ore; and d) recovering the nickel and/or cobalt from the neutralized pregnant leach solution.
US08454721B2
A method of forming monodispersed metal nanowires comprising: forming a reaction mixture including a metal salt, a capping agent and a quaternary ammonium chloride in a reducing solvent at a first temperature; and forming metal nanowires by reducing the metal salt in the reaction mixture.
US08454717B2
A foldable dust collector of the present invention includes a supporting portion, a case and an air pump. The supporting portion is foldable. The case is disposed on the supporting portion. The case is pivotable with respect to the supporting portion. The air pump is disposed on the case. The air pump is used for drawing air into the case.Therefore, the foldable dust collector of the present invention can be transformed. A width of the foldable dust collector is changeable. As such, the foldable dust collector is easier to be stored or be transported. Moreover, the foldable dust collector can be used in a small space.
US08454714B2
Growth precursors to form discrete superabrasive particles including associated methods are disclosed. Such growth precursor may include a crystalline seed, an initiation material, and a feed material. The initiation material may substantially encompass the crystalline seed, and may include a catalyst and a raw material source. The raw material source makes up less than 50 wt % of the initiation material. The feed material may contact the initiation material and may also include raw material source and catalyst. The catalyst may be present in less than 50 wt % in the feed material. In one aspect, the growth precursor may be configured to form diamond particles.
US08454706B2
An antibiotic delivery system including an intramedullary stem that is adapted to be removably mounted into a medullary canal of a bone. The stem includes a body having an inlet adapted to be in fluid communication with a source of liquid-borne antibiotic and a plurality of outlets disposed along the stem. A channel extends between the inlet and the plurality of outlets for delivering a fluid-borne antibiotic from the inlet to the plurality of outlets so as to distribute the antibiotic along the medullary canal in a controlled fashion. A method of treating an infected joint during a two-stage re-implantation of an orthopedic implant is also disclosed.
US08454705B2
Prosthetic element including a metal cap having inside an acetabular seating and method to make it. At least part of the cap is a lattice having open and intercommunicating cavities. At least part of the lattice is formed, without a continuity break, by geometric meshes of polygonal shape repeated in space over all or part of the body, having a cellular geometry with elementary cells open and contiguous, to define a plurality of polygons with spatial development delimiting the cavities. Each geometric mesh has a first polygonal part with four sides, each of the sides being an angled segment, and a second part being an angled segment and a third part being an angled segment. Each angled segment has first and second consecutive rectilinear segments forming an angle at an intersection of each pair of its first and the second consecutive segments. The first polygonal part has non co-planar vertexes.
US08454686B2
Prosthetic heart valve apparatus is adapted for delivery into a patient in a circumferentially collapsed condition, followed by circumferential re-expansion at the implant site in the patient. The apparatus includes an annular anchoring structure that can be implanted in the patient first. The apparatus further includes an annular valve support structure, which supports a flexible leaflet structure of the valve. The support and leaflet structures are initially separate from the anchoring structure, but they can be implanted in the patient by interengagement of the support structure with the already-implanted anchoring structure.
US08454685B2
An implantable prosthetic valve, according to one embodiment, comprises a frame, a leaflet structure, and a skirt member. The frame can have a plurality of axial struts interconnected by a plurality of circumferential struts. The leaflet structure comprises a plurality of leaflets (e.g., three leaflets arrange to form a tricuspid valve). The leaflet structure has a scalloped lower edge portion secured to the frame. The skirt member can be disposed between the leaflet structure and the frame.
US08454682B2
A stent-graft delivery system includes a stent-graft including a proximal anchor stent ring. The proximal anchor stent ring includes proximal apexes and anchor pin structures extending proximally from each of the proximal apexes. The anchor pin structures include anchor pin connecting arms and anchor pins. The anchor pin structures are tucked together to accommodate small catheter sizes. Further, the anchor pins reduce or eliminate migration of the stent-graft. Further still, the anchor pin connecting arms are long and flexible thus distributing stresses in a way that improves the load carrying capacity of the anchor pins and allows flowering of the graft material of the stent-graft prior to release of the anchor pins structures.
US08454679B2
An endovascular conduit device and method for use during cardiac lead extraction and other vascular procedures is presented. The endovascular conduit device includes an outer-sheath, a conduit member, a lumen member, and an inflation member to control the flow of fluid within the conduit member. The endovascular conduit device may be positioned intravascularly as cardiac lead extraction or other procedures are performed. If necessary, as in the case of a vascular tear, the endovascular conduit device further includes expandable members that are activated to allow blood to be forced into the channel of the conduit member. Blood may then be contained and directed safely to bypass the area of vessel injury. In doing so, a catastrophic circulatory collapse or shock is prevented.
US08454678B2
Described are preferred prosthetic valve devices including a first extracellular matrix material having a second extracellular matrix material deposited thereon. The preferred materials are made by culturing cells in contact with an extracellular matrix graft material in a fashion to cause the cells to biosynthesize and deposit extracellular matrix components on the material. The cells are then removed to provide the extracellular matrix composite material. In preferred embodiments, the prosthetic valve devices are configured for use in vascular applications.
US08454674B2
A catheter assembly includes a main catheter branch and a side catheter branch. The main catheter branch includes a main balloon, a side balloon and a side inflation member. The side inflation member intersects the side balloon at a location on the side balloon that is offset laterally from a central line passing from a distal most point on the side balloon to a proximal most point on the side balloon. The side balloon is configured to extend radially outward relative to the main balloon when the side balloon is inflated. The side catheter branch can be centrally aligned with the side balloon central line and be positioned laterally adjacent to the side inflation lumen.
US08454673B2
A balloon catheter or stent delivery system for medical treatment of a patient has a proximal hub, a balloon, and an improved shaft design. The catheter shaft has a rapid-exchange configuration, and a tubular outer body that includes a hypotube extending from the catheter proximal end to a position at or near a proximal leg of the balloon. An inner tubular body defines a guidewire lumen extending from a distal guidewire port at the catheter distal end to a proximal port located at a position between the balloon and the hub. A distal leg of the balloon is directly or indirectly affixed to the inner body, and a proximal leg of the balloon is affixed to the distal end of the outer body. The hypotube has an aperture for accepting the inner body proximal end, and a circumferential cut pattern. The cut pattern adds flexibility, and may extend from the hypotube distal end to a position proximal of the proximal guidewire port. The cut pattern may have any desired shape, including a spiral, a helical undulating path, or an overlapping serpentine path with inflection points, for example. The hypotube has a fluid-tight covering such as a heat-shrink polymer, so the outer body supports pressure of an inflation medium. The proximal guidewire port may be positioned on or between the individual portions of the cut pattern, or at a position beyond the cut pattern.
US08454669B2
Skin disorders such as, for example, atopic dermatitis, dyshidrosis, eczema, lichen planus, psoriasis, and vitiligo, are treated by applying high doses of ultraviolet light to diseased regions of a patient's skin. The dosage exceeds 1 MED as determined for the particular patient and may range from about 1 MED to about 20 MED or higher. The ultraviolet light has a wavelength within the range of about 295 nanometers to about 320 nanometers. High doses of ultraviolet light are preferably restricted to diseased tissue areas. A specialized handpiece provides a beam profile especially suitable for application of controlled doses. A specialized delivery device is useful for UV treatment of tissue within the mouth.
US08454667B2
A retaining mechanism for use in affixing a stratum to bone is disclosed. The retaining mechanism comprises a stratum, a retaining element and a spring element. The stratum comprising a first surface, a second surface, and a hole extending between the first surface and the second surface, wherein the second surface is configured to engage at least a portion of the bone. The retaining element comprises a first position that permits a fastener to be passed through the hole, and a second position that at least partially overlaps the hole. The spring element is configured to engage the stratum and configured to engage the retaining element such that the spring element helps maintain the retaining element in its second position so as to help prevent inadvertent backing out of the fastener after the fastener has been fully inserted into the hole.
US08454662B2
The present application is directed to tethers and methods of use for reducing and/or eliminating spinal deformities. Tethers may be attached with anchors to extend between two or more vertebral members. The tethers may apply a force to the vertebral members to treat the spinal deformity. The tethers may include a strength limit to prevent an excessive amount of force from being applied that could damage the vertebral members. In one embodiment, the tether may release such as by breaking, expanding, or separating from the anchors if the force exceeds a strength limit.
US08454660B2
A spinal implant for limiting flexion of the spine includes a tether structure for encircling adjacent spinal processes. Usually, a pair of compliance members will be provided as part of the tether structure for elastically limiting flexion while permitting an extension. A cross-member is provided between the compliance member or other portions of the tether structure to stabilize the tether structure and prevent misalignment after implantation.
US08454659B2
Systems and method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention can includes an implant comprising a first wing, a spacer extending from the first wing, and a distraction guide. The distraction guide is arranged in a first configuration to pierce and/or distract tissue associated with adjacent spinous processes extending from vertebrae of a targeted motion segment. The implant can be positioned between the adjacent spinous processes and once positioned, the implant can be arranged in a second configuration. When arranged in a second configuration, the distraction guide can act as a second wing. The first wing and the second wing can limit or block movement of the implant along a longitudinal axis of the implant.
US08454647B2
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for medical treatment comprising bone, tissue or duct dilatation using inflatable dilatation elements together with apparatus and techniques for tensioning, stretching, folding, and/or wrapping the dilatation elements externally as well as in situ to facilitate insertion, positioning and withdrawal procedures.
US08454637B2
A scoring balloon (10) includes a balloon portion (12) having a balloon wall substantially even in wall thickness; a plurality of sets of scoring elements (24-28) disposed on the balloon (12); each set of scoring elements including a plurality of scoring elements (30) arranged longitudinally in series, wherein adjacent scoring elements (30) in the series are longitudinally spaced from one another so as to provide gaps (32) between said adjacent scoring elements; each set of scoring elements being radially spaced relative to the other sets of scoring elements around the balloon (12), wherein the scoring elements of one set are longitudinally offset relative to the scoring elements of an or each adjacent set of scoring elements.
US08454633B2
The present invention provides an improved vascular occlusion device having improved flexibility and retention of the type fabricated from braided tubular metal fabric having an expanded preset configuration and an elongated collapsed reduced diameter configuration for delivery through a catheter to a treatment site and shaped to create an occlusion of an abnormal opening in a body organ or vessel, the woven metal fabric having a memory property whereby the medical device tends to return to said expanded preset configuration when unconstrained. The device further including at least one disk portion adjacent a body cylindrical portion formed from the fabric and having a transition diameter between the disk and cylindrical portion, significantly smaller than the diameter of the disk and the diameter of the cylindrical portion.
US08454632B2
Tissue anchors comprise a woven filament braid body having an elongated tubular configuration and a foreshortened configuration where proximal and distal ends of the body expand radially into double-walled flange structures while leaving a cylindrical saddle region therebetween. The tissue anchors are deployed through penetrations between adjacent tissue layers, where the flanges engage the outer surfaces of the tissue layers and the saddle region resides within the tissue penetrations.
US08454630B2
A hemostatic clipping device is provided. The device includes first and second elongate arms, each arm comprising distal and proximal end portions, the arms being connected to allow relative motion between the first and second arms, the distal portion of each of the first and second arms further comprising a track blindly defined from a distal end of each arm toward the proximal portion of each arm. A clip is slidably disposed between the opposed distal portions of each of the first and second arms, the clip comprising first and second fingers each with distal and proximal portions, the proximal portions of the first and second fingers being fixed together to bias the distal portions of the first and second fingers toward each other, the first and second fingers each further comprising a pin extending radially outward from the distal end portion thereof.
US08454626B2
A device including a ring for placing at an interface between a vagina and a uterus, the ring including an annular tube with a hollow annular track with an aperture formed in the ring that communicates with the annular track, and fixation elements for maintaining the ring in place in the vagina.
US08454624B2
A device for removing a mass lodged in a choking victim's throat comprises a manifold, piston, spool, and latch. The manifold has first, second, and third conduits in selective fluid communication with each other, with the second conduit terminating in an orifice in a mouthpiece. The spool, having a transverse orifice, may be disposed in the third conduit, slidable between a first position where the orifice permits fluid communication between the first and second conduits, and a second position where the spool blocks fluid communication. The piston is slidably disposed within the first conduit, and with the spool is in the second position, the latch is usable to secure the piston relative to the manifold at one or more discrete positions to create a measured amount of vacuum pressure in the first conduit. The vacuum pressure is transmitted to the mouthpiece by movement of the spool to said first position.
US08454620B2
An elongated shaft is sized and configured to establish an access path to bone having an interior volume occupied, at least in part, by cancellous bone. The elongated shaft includes a generally closed distal end portion and a side opening spaced from the closed distal end. A first tool is sized and configured to be selectively inserted into the shaft and selectively removed from the shaft. The tool includes a region that, when the first tool is inserted into the shaft, is capable of being aligned with and advanced through the side opening to project outside the side opening and contact cancellous bone. A second tool is sized and configured, upon removal of the first tool from the shaft, to introduce into the shaft a bone filling material for discharge through the side opening into the cancellous bone contacted by the first tool.
US08454619B1
Methods, systems and devices for properly positioning and aligning a prosthetic socket and/or prosthetic ball into host bone structure of a patient using one or more guide are shown. Guides implemented according to embodiments may provide reference guidance (e.g., baseline or relative positioning), physical guidance (e.g., restricted movement or physically direct positioning), visual guidance (e.g., visual indication of proper or improper positioning), and combinations thereof. Embodiments comprise placing a guide piece, in bone that is close to the bone cavity, according to the position and alignment of a trial prosthetic socket previously fitted in a desired position and alignment in the bone cavity and then, after removing the trial, positioning and aligning the prosthetic socket in the bone cavity using the guide piece's position and alignment for guidance.
US08454611B2
A modular prosthesis rasp is provided, having a rasp body with a rasp main body and at least one modular rasp body part connectable to the main body. The rasp main body has a receptacle for receiving the at least one rasp body part. An outer contour is defined by the rasp main body and the at least one rasp body part. The rasp body part receptacle extends from an indentation, defining a distal end of the receptacle, on a lateral side of the rasp main body to a proximal end thereof. A first tangential plane of the lateral side of the outer contour in the region of the indentation and a second tangential plane at a rasp body part contact surface, in the region of the distal end of the receptacle include an indentation angle of less than 85°.
US08454610B2
An osteotome may include a handle; a shaft coupled to the handle; a cutting member coupled to the shaft, wherein the cutting member comprises a first cutting surface positioned perpendicular to a second cutting surface, and wherein said first and second cutting surfaces extend downward relative to the shaft; and a stop means configured to control the depth of cut by the cutting member.
US08454599B2
A treatment apparatus to treat living tissues by applying energy to the living tissues, includes an energy source which supplies energy, a pair of holding faces to hold the living tissues, a joining treatment portion arranged in at least one of the holding faces to join the living tissues held between the holding faces, a detection portion which detects, through the joining treatment portion, living information of the living tissues by supplying energy to the living tissues through the joining treatment portion, a fluid feed portion disposed on at least one of the holding faces to feed fluid to the living tissues, and the fluid fed from the fluid feed portion guides energy to the living tissues, and a control portion to control a feed rate of the fluid fed from the fluid feed portion based on the living information of the living tissues detected by the detection portion.
US08454587B2
A coolant system for a cryoablation or treatment probe that includes a compressor and condenser having a low pressure inlet side and a high pressure outlet side, wherein the outlet side passes through a heat exchanger and is cooled by the inlet side and conditioned for injection to a catheter inlet. A vacuum return system connectable to the catheter outlet draws thermally expended coolant from the catheter and returns it to the low pressure inlet side. A motorized pressure regulator between the heat exchanger and the catheter inlet determines the pressure of coolant passing into the catheter, regulating the cooling rate for a selected mapping or ablation regimen. A coolant reservoir feeds into the low pressure inlet side and receives a return flow of excess fluid from a branch off the outlet side of the compressor.
US08454585B2
An extender for use in an electro-mechanical surgical system that includes a surgical attachment that may be detachably coupled to an electro-mechanical driver device via a flexible shaft. The extender is a substantially rigid extender that includes a proximal end that may be detachably coupled to a distal end of the flexible shaft. The extender also includes a distal end that may be detachably coupled to the surgical attachment. The extender also includes at least one rotatable drive shaft configured to engage and be secured with a respective rotatable drive shaft of the flexible shaft such that rotation of the respective rotatable drive shaft of the flexible shaft by the electro-mechanical driver device causes the at least one rotatable drive shaft of the extender to rotate, thereby rotating a complementary connector of the surgical attachment so as to operate the surgical attachment. The extender may include a memory unit and a data cable that transfers data from the memory unit to an electro-mechanical driver device. Additionally or alternatively, the extender may include a data cable that transfers data from a memory unit in the surgical attachment to the electro-mechanical driver device. Advantageously, the extender is autoclavable.
US08454583B2
A robotic surgical device positioning system that allows a surgeon to accurately and remotely position a surgical instrument relative to a patient and to provide fluoroscopic images of the instrument without exposing the surgeon to radiation. The system includes a vertical post that is slidebly coupled to an operating table, a clamp mounted to the vertical post and spaced from the table, and a translational arm mounted to the clamp. The system further includes an instrument positioning assembly mounted to the translational arm opposite to the clamp that includes a plurality of sliding elements that are slidebly mounted to the assembly to provide rotational, anterior-posterior and medial-lateral positioning of the surgical instrument. A control unit is mechanically coupled to the instrument positioning assembly at a remote location by flexible cables for controlling the position of the sliding elements.
US08454582B2
Featured is a method for instilling one or more bioactive agents into ocular tissue within an eye of a patient for the treatment of an ocular condition, the method comprising concurrently using at least two of the following bioactive agent delivery methods (A)-(C): (A) implanting a sustained release delivery device comprising one or more bioactive agents in a posterior region of the eye so that it delivers the one or more bioactive agents into the vitreous humor of the eye; (B) instilling (e.g., injecting or implanting) one or more bioactive agents subretinally; and (C) instilling (e.g., injecting or delivering by ocular iontophoresis) one or more bioactive agents into the vitreous humor of the eye.
US08454581B2
Some embodiments of an infusion pump system can include a controller in which one or more features sets to be provided by the controller are enabled or disabled based upon the particular pump device that is connected to the controller. For example, in some embodiments, one or more advanced features of the controller are available to the user only when a first type of pump device (e.g., having predefined settings stored therein) is connected to the controller, and those advanced features of the controller are disabled when a second type of pump device is connected to the controller.
US08454580B2
Adjustable covers, systems, and methods are presented that include an adjustable cover that may be adjusted to an appropriate size by hand without requiring cutting tools and without substantial leaks. In one instance, the adjustable covering includes a drape member with a plurality of non-leaking tear paths. Each non-leaking tear path includes a weakened path of the drape member that may be torn. The adjustable covering may further include a first plurality of tear starters formed on a first initiation edge of the drape member. Each tear starter of the first plurality of tear starters is aligned with one of the plurality of tear paths. Each of the first plurality of tear starters is adapted to facilitate the initiation of a tear along a tear path. The grains of the drape member, a backing layer, and support layer may also be in the same direction. Other adjustable covers, systems, and methods are presented.
US08454574B2
A pressure activated valve comprises a valve housing defining a lumen for receiving bodily fluids therein and a flexible membrane disposed in the valve housing. The flexible membrane includes a slit extending therethrough so that the flexible membrane may be moved between an open and a closed configuration based on fluid pressure within the lumen. A nonthrombogenic coating may be formed on fluid contacting surfaces of the flexible membrane.
US08454572B2
A disposable absorbent article may include a chassis, an absorbent core, a pair of elastically elongatable ears and a pair of fastening tabs. The elastically elongatable ears and the fastening tabs have a transverse axis. The ears are connected to the chassis such that the transverse axis of the fastening tabs is located in specific portions of the article. The absorbent core is free of cellulosic fibers.
US08454567B2
Multi-conduit connector apparatuses for use in negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) apparatuses to wound dressing, and methods for installing multi-conduit connector apparatuses in NPWT apparatuses.
US08454565B2
A medical catheter assembly includes a catheter hub, an elongate catheter member extending from the catheter hub and having at least one longitudinal lumen for passage of fluids, an extension tube extending from the catheter hub and defining an internal lumen in fluid communication with the at least one longitudinal lumen of the catheter member and a clamp positionable about the extension tube. The catheter hub defines a reduced profile to facilitate passage of the catheter hub through a surgical tunnel. The clamp includes first and second clamp sections and defines a longitudinal clamp axis. The clamp has a longitudinal opening for passage of the extension tube and a movable member adapted to move from a first position to a second position to substantially close the internal lumen. The first and second clamp sections are separable to facilitate transverse positioning of the clamp sections about the extension tube.
US08454560B2
In certain embodiments, a syringe mount of the invention may include a plate, an actuator, and one or more movable members located between the plate and the actuator. Each of the plate and the actuator may have an orifice defined therein, and an imaginary reference axis of the syringe mount may extend through one or both of these orifices. The actuator may be movable relative to the plate in a direction substantially perpendicular to the reference axis. Further, the moveable member(s) may be designed to move (e.g., pivot) toward the reference axis due to movement of the actuator from a first position to a second position and to move (e.g., pivot) away from the reference axis due to movement of the actuator from the second position to the first position.
US08454558B2
A hollow inner plunger for use within a syringe-in-syringe mixing system for mixing a two-part dental composition. The hollow inner plunger includes a body having a continuous cylindrical wall defining an internal chamber for containing a first component. The body includes a proximal end and a distal end. A sealing plug and rupturable membrane are disposed at the distal end of the body, and the sealing plug and rupturable membrane are integrally formed together as a single piece (e.g., formed of a single piece of elastomeric material). An associated syringe-in-syringe mixing system includes a first plunger, the hollow inner plunger, and a syringe barrel configured to contain a second component. When assembled, the first plunger is slidably disposed within the hollow inner plunger, and the hollow inner plunger is slidably disposed within the syringe barrel. The two components are initially separated by the rupturable membrane.
US08454553B2
A rigid tubular piece (24) and a cassette assembly (10) for extracorporeal blood circulation having the rigid tubular piece are disclosed. The rigid tubular piece is used for submitting fluid circulating therein to measurements and includes a protrusion or a recess in correspondence of at least an end connector. A blood treatment medical apparatus using the cassette assembly is also disclosed. The apparatus is able to detect if the right rigid tubular piece is in proper position before authorizing measurements of a blood property.
US08454548B2
A method and apparatus for collecting plasma reduced platelets potentially suspended in a synthetic solution from a donor. Whole blood is drawn from the donor and introduced into a separation chamber. Platelets are extracted from the separation chamber into a container, using, for example, surge (with anticoagulated plasma or a synthetic solution) or push methodologies. The remaining blood components in the separation chamber are returned back to the donor. The steps of drawing whole blood and introducing the whole blood into the separation chamber, extracting platelets from the separation chamber into the container, and returning the remaining components in the chamber back to the donor are repeated. The sequestered platelets in the container are reintroduced into the separation chamber, whereupon a plasma reduced platelet product is extracted.
US08454531B2
A vacuum control module for use in a biopsy system includes a user interface that presents buttons and icons to control operation of a biopsy device. The icons may indicate, e.g., the position of a cutter relative to a transverse opening, whether the system is in a view sample mode, that an adjacent button is operable to reset the position of a rotatable tissue sample holder, whether the system is in a maintenance vacuum pulse mode, the level of vacuum provided by a vacuum source, the volume level of a speaker, that an adjacent button is operable to place the system in a standby mode, and that an adjacent button is operable to shut down the system. The icons may each have an associated button. The icons may be allocated among separate pages (e.g., a probe page and a system page). Another button may be used to switch between pages.
US08454529B2
The invention provides a method of electrical artefact compensation in measurement of a neural response. The neural response is evoked by a first stimulus, after which a compensatory stimulus is applied in order to counteract a stimulus artefact caused by the first stimulus. The invention also provides for short circuiting the stimulating electrode subsequent to the first stimulus. A system for implementing such steps is also provided. The invention may be of application in measurement of physiological responses, including neural responses and in particular a neural response of the auditory nerve.
US08454504B2
A surgical retractor and a method of minimally invasive surgery, wherein the surgical retractor includes ribs and a mechanism for transferring of linear and rotational movements of the ribs and wherein each rib can be easily replaced without use of any additional tools. According to embodiments of the present invention, specific parts composing the surgical retractor are made of materials transparent to Röntgen rays (x-rays).
US08454503B2
A medical device for managing tissue in an organ, such as the stomach, for retracting or positioning tissue and related organs to allow certain regions of the stomach to be acquired for a gastroplasty procedure. The medical device includes an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end, and a tissue treatment device attached to the distal end of the elongated body. The tissue treatment device includes a first jaw opposite a second jaw, and each jaw is adapted to acquire tissue. A retractor is disposed along the tissue treatment device and adapted to be moveable from a delivery position to a retraction position to move or manage the tissue of the stomach. The medical device also includes a collapsible barrier disposed between the first and second jaws of the tissue treatment device to direct tissue into the first and second jaws separately.
US08454492B2
A method for attaching flexible material to soft tissue in a patient's body includes providing a soft tissue anchor formed from absorbable material. The anchor includes a central portion having proximal and distal ends, one or more tissue engaging members extending from the central portion, and a bore extending through the central portion between the proximal and distal ends. An introducer tool is provided and engaged with the soft tissue anchor, including inserting an elongated body of the introducer tool into the bore of the tissue anchor and positioning the tool with respect to the anchor with the point of the tool body extending beyond the distal end of the anchor central portion. After insertion, the soft tissue anchor is released from the introducer tool and the introducer tool is removed from the patient, including retracting the point of the tool body through the central portion of the anchor.
US08454483B1
A configurable exercise system which may be transformed into multiple pieces of exercise equipment is disclosed. More specifically, embodiments provide an adjustable-weight medicine ball with two halves that may be separated and used to implement dumbbells, kettlebells, push-up bars, or other pieces of exercise equipment. Each half of the medicine ball may have a handle and/or features for accepting one or more weighted objects for varying the weight of each half. Additional components may be joined to one or both halves of the medicine ball to implement other pieces of exercise equipment. Additionally, components may be inserted between the halves of the medicine ball to implement other pieces of exercise equipment. Further, in one embodiment, the exercise system may be easily and quickly transformed, compact in size, and relatively low-cost.
US08454482B2
A body contouring apparatus and the method for using such apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises a flexible rod, which has two ends and a laminar cross-section. The exercise device can switch between a rod shape and a ring shape. The exercise device has two connecting components, which are disposed at the two ends of the flexible rod, and at least one handle portion, which is female-connected to the flexible rod. When the two connecting components are connected to each other, the exercise device is in a ring shape; and when the two connecting components are not connected to each other, the exercise device is in a rod shape.
US08454479B2
An exercise treadmill having an endless exercise surface for walking or running while exercising, a resistance mechanism for providing a resistance for simulating the pushing of a load, wherein the resistance can be adjusted and set to a specific resistance setting. A movable pushing handle or handles is or are operatively attached to the resistance mechanism to transfer the load to the user. The resistance mechanism applies a constant and static force to the pushing handle(s) only in the same direction the endless movable surface moves and opposite a pushing direction such that operating the treadmill simulates the pushing of a load by a combination of gripping and pushing the pushing handle(s) forward while walking or running forward.
US08454473B2
A two-speed transmission for transmitting a drive torque of a vehicle, having an input shaft drivable by a drive unit, a planetary gear system with sun gear, planet gears, planet carriers and ring gear and an output shaft, the sun gear having a rotationally fixed connection to the input shaft and the planet carrier having a rotationally fixed connection to the output shaft, and having a regulatable clutch system whereby the planet carrier can be fixed either relative to the input shaft or relative to the ring gear, and having an exclusively engageable and disengageable clutch system whereby the ring gear can be fixed relative to a housing that supports the planetary gear system.
US08454471B2
A differential mechanism includes a case, a gear rotatable about an axis, a lock ring held against rotation relative to the case, a lever contacting the lock ring, and an electromagnetic coil that is displaced axially when energized, pivoting the lever, engaging the lock ring with the side gear, and preventing the gear from rotating relative to the case.
US08454469B2
Power split drive (PSD) transmissions capable of energy recovery and suitable for use in automotive applications. Each PSD transmission includes a mechanical transmission system for mechanically transmitting mechanical power between a rotatable input shaft and a rotatable output shaft, and a hydraulic transmission system containing a fluid for hydraulically transmitting hydraulic power between the input shaft and the output shaft, and at least a third shaft operatively interconnected to one of the mechanical and hydraulic transmission systems. The hydraulic transmission system is operatively coupled by at least a first planetary gear train to the mechanical transmission system. According to the invention, the PSD further comprises means operatively associated with at least one of the mechanical and hydraulic transmission systems for storing and releasing energy within the PSD transmission, the energy storing and releasing means comprising a flywheel or an accumulator or a combination thereof.
US08454466B2
A hybrid powertrain system includes first and second torque machines, a differential gear set including first, second and third elements, an output member, and first, second, and third selectable one-way clutches (SOWC). The first SOWC is configurable to prevent rotation of the third element of the differential gear set in a first rotational direction when controlled to a first activated state, and configurable to prevent rotation of the third element of the differential gear set in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction when controlled to a second activated state. The first torque machine is coupled to the third element of the differential gear set only when the second SOWC is controlled to one of the activated states. And, the third element of the differential gear set is coupled to the input member only when the second and third SOWCs are each controlled to one of the activated states.
US08454463B2
A power transmitting system that is configured to have BAS and IS functionality. The power transmitting system can be operated in a first mode in which an engine provides rotary power for driving an accessory assembly and a motor/generator. The device can be operated in a second mode for starting the engine and driving the accessory in which rotary power is output from the motor/starter in a first rotational direction. The device can also be operated in a third mode in which the motor/generator outputs rotary power in a second, opposite rotational direction for driving the accessory while the engine is not operating. A kit for a power transmitting system is also provided.
US08454457B1
A golf tool system generally comprising a divot tool, a brush and a ball marker, the divot tool having a pair of spaced tines, a pocket formed in the body for holding the brush, a ball marker recess and a magnet cavity in the recess for holding and securing a magnet to releasably support a ball marker, the brush having a brush body with at least one thumb indent for enhancing the gripping of the brush body and bristles projecting from the lower end of the brush. Alternatively, the golf tool system comprises a divot tool and brush designed to hold the ball marker and mount to the bill of a baseball cap.
US08454449B2
A vehicle driveline includes a tubular member (62) having an inside surface (64) and an axis, a mounting base (72) coupled to the tubular member (62), and a plurality of resonator members (74) each having a first end (80), a second end (82), and a center portion (84) interposed therebetween coupled to the mounting base and extending therefrom.
US08454438B2
A gaming machine is provided which is capable of causing a player's eye to smoothly move from a main game to a rendering when the rendering is started.When a predetermined number or more of predetermined symbols are displayed on a first display as a result of a first game, a first control signal for displaying on the first display a dice image in a mode of rolling of the dice for determining progress of a second game that is different from the first game is output from a controller to the first display, as triggered by detection of an operation of an operating device by a player. After a first predetermined period of time has elapsed after output of the first control signal has been started, a second control signal for display control to display a dice image in a dice rolling mode on the second display is output from the controller to the second display.
US08454429B2
A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes a wager input device for receiving a wager to play a wagering game, at least one display for displaying the wagering game, and at least one controller. The controller is operative to display a first outcome of the wagering game and award a first award associated with the first outcome, store the first award in a stored awards group, cause the at least one display to display the stored awards group, and re-award one or more awards in the stored awards group upon the occurrence of a triggering event.
US08454419B1
A system and method for optimizing learning and retention of items learned over time maps bodies of knowledge to physical metaphors in an education computer game or simulation. Entire structured curricula or curriculum frameworks are mapped to isomorphic physical metaphor hierarchies. Recommended sequences through subject matter are mapped to sequences in the physical metaphor of the game or simulation. Various algorithms for computing the well-known Ebbinghaus “spacing effect” for reviewing items that are about to be forgotten by a student to optimize his or her retention of subject matter are mapped to physical metaphors in the game or simulation. The use of a “predator-prey” computer algorithm to find students' subject matter knowledge weak points is mapped to a physical metaphor in the game or simulation. Similarly, devices to enhance the student's learning curve, such as to induce perseverance, or raise motivation via competition, or via praise from an authority figure, are mapped to physical metaphors in the game or simulation.
US08454412B2
The invention is based on a handheld power tool, in particular a right-angle sander (10), having a gearbox (12), a flange neck (14) with a guard device (20), which device is receivable on the flange neck (14) and forms a receptacle region for a tool (18) and is rotatable in the circumferential direction (22), and having at least one detent device (24) for locking a rotary position of the guard device (20).It is proposed that the detent device (24) is at least partially integrated with the flange neck (14) of the gearbox (12).
US08454403B2
A manufacturing method for an organic electroluminescent device that includes an effectively optical area including display pixels for display and a dummy area surrounding the effectively optical area, the dummy area including dummy pixels not for display is provided. The manufacturing method includes coating a first composite material on a first portion in the effectively optical area, the first portion corresponding to one of the display pixels, and coating a second composite material separately from the coating of the first composite material, the second composite material being coated on a second portion of the dummy area, the second portion corresponding to one of the dummy pixels, the first composite material including a first organic electroluminescent material that is dissolved or dispersed in a solvent and the second composite material including a second organic electroluminescent material that is dissolved or dispersed in a solvent.
US08454374B2
A bracket or support bar system is for installing one or more audio-visual (“A/V”) components or modules and generally overcomes the need for external cables and wiring connections. Every A/V component of the A/V system is attached to a wall bracket or support bar that enables the transfer of power signals or control signals (including media data) or both to each of the A/V components.
US08454371B2
An improved chalkboard marking surface comprises a rollable, flexible sheet of polypropylene having two sides that are opposite one another, each having a generally flat surface. On one side, a layer of adhesive is applied to the polypropylene substrate. On the same side of the polypropylene substrate, a selectively removable release sheet is preferably applied to the layer of adhesive for the purpose of keeping foreign materials from attaching to the adhesive when the chalkboard surface is not in use. On the reverse side of the polypropylene substrate, a layer of ink is applied which forms an abrasive surface after it dries, and importantly, results in a chalkboard surface that is lighter in weight.
US08454368B2
The present subject matter relates to medical training methods and models. In one embodiment, the invention provides for devices and methods of training paracentesis procedures. In another embodiment, the subject matter provides for devices and methods of training thoracentesis procedures. In yet another embodiment, the present subject matter provides for a training methods and model for performing lumbar punctures.
US08454366B2
An actuated support frame for transmitting motion to a seat with respect to a ground as a function of motion signals associated with video output, comprises a frame. The frame is expandable/retractable along translational degrees of freedom. Support surfaces are provided on the frame. The support surfaces are displaceable with respect to one another by expansion/retraction of the frame so as to be sized to support a seat. Actuators are provided between the frame and the ground. The actuators receive signals and selectively displace the frame with respect to the ground in synchronization with a video output, whereby a seat supported on the frame is displaceable within the frame. A method for installing a seating system of a motion simulator system is also provided.
US08454351B2
The invention relates to a method for the combustion of a fuel and an oxidant, in which at least one jet of fuel and at least two jets of oxidant are injected. According to the invention, at least one first oxidant is injected at a distance I1, at most 20 cm, from the fuel injection point and at least one second oxidant is injected at a distance I2 from the fuel injection point, I2 being greater than I1. The aforementioned oxidants are injected in quantities such that the sum of the quantities thereof is at least equal to the stoichiometric quantity of oxidant necessary in order to ensure the combustion of the injected fuel. Moreover, the first oxidant is oxygen-enriched air having a temperature of at most 200 DEG C. and the second oxidant is air preheated to a temperature of at least 300 DEG C.
US08454349B2
An improved burner and a method for combusting fuel used in furnaces such as those found in steam cracking. The burner includes a burner tube having a downstream end and an upstream end, a burner tip adjacent a first opening in the furnace, so that combustion of the fuel takes place at the burner tip, a lighting chamber adjacent to the first opening in the furnace, and a removable lighting chamber plug having a shape effective to substantially fill the lighting chamber when positioned within the lighting chamber.
US08454347B2
A sprue device for an injection mold includes a first part and a second part. The sprue device is sealed and water-cooled so as to reduce overall molding time. The connecting section defines spiral grooves. The second part includes a chassis and an extension from the chassis. The chassis is defined with a through hole, and two gates communicated with the through hole respectively. The spiral grooves mate with the wall of the mounting hole to form a spiral runner. The gates, the through hole, and the spiral runner communicate with each other. An injection mold using the sprue device is also described.
US08454345B2
A printer system for developing a three dimensional (3D) printed structure includes a plurality of spaced apart sets of printing devices; a conveyor system arranged to serially convey a print medium past each set of printing devices, whereby the print medium receives printed voxels from each successive set of printing devices to form successive layers of voxels into a 3D printed structure upon the print medium; a placement mechanism configured to place an object upon layers of the 3D printed structure, the placement mechanism comprising a translation mechanism configured to translate the object at substantially the same velocity as the conveyance of the print medium during placement of the object; and a plurality of curing mechanisms interleaved between the sets of printing devices fur curing the printed voxels. At least one printhead of a first of the plurality of spaced apart sets is operable to print voxels simultaneously with a printhead of a second of the plurality of spaced apart sets, whereby multiple layers of voxel are formed at the same time.
US08454339B2
To provide an eraser molding toy with which it is possible to mold an eraser having a colored pattern or design, a plurality of thermofusible eraser members 1 of differing colors are placed in succession inside a molding container 2 so as to form a required pattern or design etc., and the molding container 2 is heated in order to fuse the surfaces of the eraser members 1 together to mold an eraser P having a colored pattern or design in the mold shape of the container.
US08454322B2
A fan assembly for creating an air current includes an air inlet, an air outlet, an impeller, a motor for rotating the impeller to create an air flow passing from the air inlet to the air outlet, the air outlet comprising an interior passage for receiving the air flow and a mouth for emitting the air flow, the air outlet defining an opening through which air from outside the fan assembly is drawn by the air flow emitted from the mouth, a control circuit for controlling the motor, a remote control for transmitting control signals to the control circuit, and at least one magnet for attaching the remote control to the air outlet.
US08454317B2
The present invention relates to a fan wheel in a version as a radial or diagonal fan, of a baseplate and of a plurality of fan blades arranged so as to be distributed over the circumference of the inlet port and around an axis of rotation. The fan wheel has a shroud with an inlet port and the shroud and/or the baseplate have/has in this case a nonrotationally symmetrical geometry which in each case has a continuous and point-invariable profile, as seen in the axial or axially parallel direction.
US08454313B2
A variable blade pitch wind turbine and method of passively varying the blade pitch is presented. Each blade of the turbine rotor can individually and passively rotate about a respective blade axis to continuously vary the pitch of the blades to adjust to the ever changing wind speed and direction without active controls or other mechanical or electrical induced inputs to force rotational movement of the blades. Sections of each blade can respectively rotate to change the blade twist. In one example, a second rotor is used to increase the electrical generation and efficiency of the blade turbine.
US08454312B2
A wind power generator apparatus includes a housing (10) having a chamber (11), a wind generator set (20) in the chamber (11) and a wind collector (30) coupled to the wind generator set (20). The wind generator set (20) includes a base (21) fixed in the housing (10), a generator (22) mounted on the base (21) and a blade wheel (23) coupled to the generator (22). The wind generator set (20) can be installed in a vehicle (50) for generating electric power during driving. The power generated by the wind generator set (20) can be stored or used to charge the vehicle (50).
US08454308B2
A horizontally split flow machine housing, particularly for a radial compressor, has a top housing part and a bottom housing part and a top stator part which is received in the top housing part and is prevented from falling out in that the top stator part is supported from the top by stator stops on housing stops. At least one housing stop is fastened to the top housing part in such a way that it can be adjusted toward a stator stop during assembly and is supported at the top housing part below a point of contact between the stator stop and housing stop.
US08454305B2
An air diffuser device suitable for use in an air diffuser system for a centrifugal pump the pump including a pump casing with a pumping chamber therein, an impeller mounted within the pumping chamber for rotation about a rotation axis, the impeller including a front side and a rear side. The air diffuser system comprises one or more passages extending through the impeller from the front side to the rear side, the or each passage having a first opening at the rear side and a second opening at the front side of the impeller. The air diffuser device comprises a main body having a seal side and an impeller side, and at least one channel extending through the main body from the seal side to the impeller side, the or each channel having an intake opening at the seal side, a discharge opening at the impeller side, and a base wall extending through the main body, the base wall having a leading end portion at the seal side, and a trailing end portion at the impeller side, the discharge opening being in fluid communication with the first opening of the passage in the impeller when installed.
US08454303B2
In exemplary embodiments, a nozzle can include a first flow wall, a second flow wall and a vane disposed between the first and second flow walls, wherein the vane is mechanically coupled to the first flow wall and in contact with the second flow wall.
US08454294B2
Apparatuses and methods for cooling and transferring wafers from low pressure environment to high pressure environment are provided. An apparatus may include a cooling pedestal and a set of supports for holding the wafer above the cooling pedestal. The average gap between the wafer and the cooling pedestal may be no greater than about 0.010 inches. Venting gases may be used to increase the pressure inside the apparatus during the transfer. In certain embodiment, venting gases comprise nitrogen.
US08454293B2
A substrate processing apparatus having a station for loading and unloading substrates from the apparatus, includes an aperture closure for sealing a loading and unloading aperture of the station, a fluidic magazine door drive for removing a door of a substrate magazine and thus opening the substrate magazine and for operating the aperture closure to open the aperture, and sensor for mapping vertical locations of substrates mounted to the magazine door of the drive. The fluidic magazine door drive may include an encoder different from the sensor, the encoder being configured for determining the vertical location of the sensor.
US08454288B2
An anti-wearing nut or bolt including a plurality of polygonal sides circumferentially formed on a head portion of the nut or bolt and; each polygonal side including: two inclined sub-sides respectively inclined outwardly convergently from opposite apexes of each polygonal side, each inclined sub-side extrapolatively defining a small biasing acute angle between each inclined sub-side and a corresponding socket side, and an intermediate sub-side transversely intersecting the two inclined sub-sides; whereby upon a clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation of the socket, one inclined sub-side of the nut or bolt will be planarly engaged with each socket side, without being linearly bitten or dogged, to thereby prevent wearing or damage of the apexes of the nut or bolt.
US08454287B2
A fastener includes a post, a first and a second threaded portions extending from opposite ends of the post, a head portion extending from the first threaded portion opposite to the second threaded portion, a spring fitting about the post, and a nut screwed to the first threaded portion.
US08454285B2
A load securing system comprises a tensioning member (18), and a securing member (22) on the tensioning member. First and second containers (12) can be arranged adjacent each other in an array of containers. Each of said first and second containers has a cooperating formation (28) to cooperate with the securing member. The tensioning member can extend across the containers to the aforesaid cooperating formations, and the securing member can be secured to the cooperating formations. The tensioning member can be tensioned to secure the first and second containers to each other.
US08454284B2
A coupling system for mounting a cutting apparatus to a machine tool having a cutting apparatus and an adapter. The cutting apparatus has a first mounting flange having either a central bore or a central boss. The adapter has a second mounting flange having the other of a central bore or a central boss. The central boss on one of the mounting flanges forms a mating engagement with the central bore of the other mounting flange to align the two mounting flanges at a common center when the cutting apparatus is connected to the adapter. Additionally, each mounting flange may have at least one of a post or a groove located between an outer perimeter of the mounting flange and the central bore or central boss. When the cutting apparatus is connected to the adapter, at least one of the posts forms a mating engagement with a corresponding groove.
US08454271B2
The pipe access device is comprised of a curved plate adapted to engage an underground pipe along an arc of the outer surface of the pipe, and a boss extending upwardly from the curved plate about an aperture in the curved plate. The curved plate extends along an arc of the outer surface of the curved plate that corresponds to a central angle of the pipe less than or equal to 180°. The curved plate includes a concave surface with a radius of curvature less than a radius of curvature of the outer surface of the pipe so as to bias the curved plate against the outer surface of the pipe when the curved plate is flexed to engage the pipe. The pipe access device is for use in providing access to the buried pipe that requires minimal excavation and disruption of the soil.
US08454268B2
Methods and systems for gas sequestration are provided. The systems include a porous storage reservoir containing a dense fluid; a first tubing string, configured to provide and inject a gaseous emissions (GE) stream at or near the top of the porous storage reservoir above the base portion of the porous storage reservoir; and a second tubing string configured to withdraw the dense fluid from the base portion of the porous storage reservoir. In some embodiments, the first and second tubing strings may be encased in a single well bore and may include measurement and control equipment for pressure management of the injection locations. The withdrawn dense fluids may be re-injected into an overlying porous reservoir or may be sent to the surface for treatment. Methods are provided for injection of GE and withdrawal of dense fluids for safe, long term gaseous sequestration of significant portions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and associated gases (gaseous emissions, GE).
US08454267B2
A seamless, double-walled sump is disclosed for collecting run-off materials and waste products. The sump includes a primary containment vessel and a secondary vessel, integrally molded into a single seamless unit. The sump includes a plurality of ribs that cooperate with surrounding concrete or other enclosing material to anchor the sump and prevent floating. The sump may also include a fabric outer layer that serves as an interface between the concrete and the sump to prevent corrosion.
US08454266B2
A method for controlling the process laying a layer in a selectable paving thickness with a road finisher in which the laying process is automatically controlled in that a target value for the paving thickness is entered into an automatic closed-loop control system and communicates the actuating signals to such members and the signals. A road finisher has a computerized, either fully automatic or operator aided closed-loop control system for the direct control of the laying process with control of the paving thickness to a predetermined target value and for the optimization of the operating point of the pre-compaction system, which is connected to sensors at least for the acquisition of the setting angle of the screed, of the paving thickness and of the laying rate.
