US08498821B2
The invention is directed to methods and kits that allow for classification of malignant melanoma cells according to genomic profiles, and methods of diagnosing, predicting clinical outcomes, and stratifying patient populations for clinical testing and treatment using the same.
US08498819B2
The present invention relates to a method for predicting the expected value of the quality features in agricultural and horticultural product and a method for predicting the expected optimal time of harvest by comparing expression parameters at the moment prior to harvest or during the postharvest path of genes and/or proteins related to such quality features for that agricultural and horticultural product, with (a) predetermined calibration line(s). The invention also comprises the markers M8, GAST and GDSL motif lipase and the uses thereof, as well as antibodies against them.
US08498818B1
According to various embodiments, an emissions calculation system calculates the emissions resulting from transporting a shipment that includes an individual or group of packages. In certain embodiments, the calculated emissions are based on estimated amounts of fuel used in the transportation process based on historical fuel usage and shipment data. In addition, various embodiments of the system generate and display (or otherwise make available) one or more reports of the calculated emissions information. For example, the reports may provide a total amount of carbon dioxide emitted for a particular shipment or group of shipments. In addition, the report may provide a breakdown of the amount of emissions resulting from various operational activities in the transportation process (e.g., resulting from pickup, delivery, and/or transportation between carrier facilities, and resulting from stationary operational activities, such as sorting or movement within each carrier facility).
US08498817B1
Disclosed are various embodiments for predicting a future location of a mobile user. A recent location of a mobile user is received. Past location data for the mobile user is retrieved from storage. A future location of the mobile user is predicted based at least in part on the recent location and on the past location data. The prediction is provided in response to a query or by subscription.
US08498807B2
An approach is provided for retrieving mapping information of a premise for use by a mobile device upon the mobile device reaching the premise. A prompt is generated for presentation by the mobile device for a destination point within the premise. A determination is made of the position information of the mobile device. Navigation information for guidance to the destination point is generated using the mapping information and the determined position information. Presentation of the navigation information is initiated via the mobile device.
US08498801B2
A 720-degree motor stage storage means for holding the result of stroke discrimination for the engine E also in the period for carrying out an idle stop control is provided. At the time of restarting the engine E from an idle stop state, a new stroke discriminating processing is not conducted, but the result of stroke discrimination stored in the 720-degree motor stage storage means is used, to thereby drive a fuel injection system and an ignition device. A stage decision unit for allocating a period of two revolutions of a crankshaft to 720-degree motor stages based on the result of stroke discrimination, a fuel injection and ignition stage correlation table having predetermined correlations of 720-degree motor stages with fuel injection stages and ignition stages, and restarting time motor stage conversion means for conversion of a 720-degree motor stage into a fuel injection stage and an ignition stage, are provided.
US08498798B2
A method for operating an internal combustion engine comprising an exhaust gas cleaning system that includes a SCR catalyst. In conjunction with a cold start and/or a warm-up of the internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine is operated using a cold start engine operation method having predefineable values for predefineable operating parameters of the internal combustion engine. An amount of nitrogen oxides stored in the SCR catalyst is estimated, and the cold start engine operation method is activated when the estimation indicates that the nitrogen oxide storage amount exceeds a predefineable nitrogen oxide storage amount limit value.
US08498791B2
A lock-up control apparatus includes a kick-down instruction detector configured to detect a kick-down shift transmission instruction during application of a lock-up clutch. A first lock-up control amount changer is configured to change the lock-up control amount when the kick-down shift transmission instruction is detected. An intermediate gear speed determinator is configured to determine whether the kick-down shift transmission instruction includes an intermediate gear speed shift transmission instruction to an intermediate shift transmission gear speed. A second lock-up control amount changer is configured to change the lock-up control amount when the kick-down shift transmission instruction includes the intermediate gear speed shift transmission instruction. A target gear speed shift transmission instruction detector is configured to detect a target gear speed shift transmission instruction. The third lock-up control amount changer is configured to change the lock-up control amount when the target gear speed shift transmission instruction is detected.
US08498790B2
The driving output of the electric oil pump during an engine automatic stop is learnt by gradually increasing the driving output of the electric oil pump after an engine automatic stop and discriminating a state immediately before engagement on the basis of the behavior of an input shaft rotation number and a turbine rotation number. Thereby, the working oil pressure supplied by the electric oil pump during an engine automatic stop immediately after an engine automatic stop can be made suitable even if a vehicle is in a stopped state without adding an oil pressure sensor and an oil pressure switch, and a vain increase in power consumption, a deterioration of acceleration responsiveness at the time of an engine restart, generation of shock, or a soaring of the number of engine rotations can be prevented.
US08498787B2
A monitor system for an electric cable shovel determines when the shovel has completed a digging operation, and a subsequent dumping operation. The system includes an inclinometer, a current sensor, and a monitor circuit. The inclinometer is mounted on the dipper arm for providing an output indicative of the inclination of the dipper arm. The current sensor senses the level of the electrical current supplied to the electric motor. The monitor circuit determines when the current sensor provides an indication of a current level in excess of a digging current threshold level for a period of time in excess of a predetermined period, and during such period of time the inclinometer indicates that the inclination of the dipper arm is below a digging threshold inclination. In such a case, the monitor circuit provides an output indicating that the shovel has completed a digging operation. A subsequent dumping operation is monitored in a similar manner, with the rotation of the monitor and the actuation of the trip lever being sensed. GPS receivers on the electric cable shovel body provide an indication of the location at which the shovel is digging, and a worksite model is referenced to determine the material being mined.
US08498783B2
A method for controlling a steering apparatus (10) of a vehicle produces an error signal (128) by subtracting a hand wheel torque (118) and a column torque (126) from a desired operator torque (112) to be applied to a hand wheel (14) of the vehicle. A controller (102) receives at least one vehicle condition signal (106, 108, 110) and determines the desired operator torque (112). The desired operator torque (112) is filtered into a low frequency torque component (112a) and a high frequency torque component (112b). The steering apparatus (10) is controlled based on the low frequency torque component (112a) and the high frequency torque component (112b).
US08498782B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus for keeping a traffic lane and preventing lane-deviation for a vehicle that controls a steering direction and a steering amount so as for the vehicle to keep the traffic lane by using information on a left traffic lane of a vehicle while travelling and information on a curbstone provided at a right side of the vehicle and a method thereof.
US08498780B2
An embodiment of a method of controlling a road vehicle having a number of wheels; a frame housing a passenger compartment; and a number of suspensions suspending the frame from respective wheels, and expandable or contractable to adjust the height of the frame with respect to the ground; the method including the steps of: determining a collision; and raising the frame with respect to the ground by expanding at least some of the suspensions on determining a collision.
US08498778B2
A turn signal control system for use with a right turn signal and a left turn signal of a motor vehicle and a vehicle navigation system is provided. The turn signal system includes a processor configured to be operably coupled to the vehicle navigation system. The processor is configured to receive map data and route data from the vehicle navigation system. The processor is configured to determine a turn zone of the vehicle based on a set of criteria. A turn signal controller is operably coupled to the processor and configured to activate one of the right and left turn signals when the vehicle is in the turn zone. A method of controlling a right and left turn signal is also provided.
US08498776B2
A system and method for fault diagnosis includes receiving information defining a relationship between failure modes and diagnostic trouble codes and extracting diagnostic trouble code data, including set times, frequency data and diagnostic trouble code sequence information for a plurality of diagnostic trouble codes relating to a plurality of failure modes. The system and method further include constructing a Markov chain using the diagnostic trouble code data for each of the plurality of failure modes, training the Markov chain to learn a set of state parameters using the diagnostic trouble code data, and computing a likelihood of a diagnostic trouble code sequence for each of the plurality of failure modes using the trained Markov chains.
US08498774B2
Provided is a method for transportation asset monitoring. In one example embodiment, the method comprises collecting data related to operation and location of a transportation asset, comparing the collected data with values of one or more predetermined parameter thresholds, and generating an alarm signal whenever the one or more predetermined parameter thresholds have been exceeded. The method may further comprise generating a report related to the transportation asset's operational characteristics and performance output.
US08498771B2
Various embodiments include methods, systems, and computer-program products for wireless vehicle servicing. Instructions for performing a vehicle servicing operation may be received at a servicing terminal. Further, vehicle servicing operation data based on the instructions and data communication rules for communicating data to a vehicle computing system may be received. Servicing request data stored in computer-readable media may be generated and may include the vehicle servicing operation data and the one or more data communication rules. The servicing request data may be transmitted to the vehicle computing system and servicing return data may be received. Servicing status information may be presented on the servicing terminal based on the servicing return data.
US08498770B2
Upon a driver of a vehicle setting a target parking position, a parking assist system calculates a recommended parking start position which the vehicle can reach with a current steering angle of the vehicle unchanged and from which the vehicle can reach the parking target position with a constant steering angle. The parking assist system then draws a parking start frame figure F2 indicating a recommended parking start position on an overhead image around the vehicle generated using images captured by onboard cameras and displays the same on the display unit. It is therefore possible to properly assist the driving operation for parking allow inexperienced drivers to easily perform parking.
US08498767B2
A power-supply control apparatus of a vehicle comprises a first electricity-storage device to supply electric power to a starter for starting engine, a generator to convert kinetic energy of the vehicle during a vehicle deceleration to electric energy for energy recovery, a second electricity-storage device coupled to the generator to store the electric power from the generator thereat, a feeder circuit coupling the second electricity-storage device to an electric load with a relatively-small electric-load capacity via a DC/DC convertor, a coupling line coupling the second electricity-storage device to the first electricity-storage device via a coupling relay, and a controller to control the electric power passing through the feeder circuit and the coupling line, wherein the controller executes a control to make the coupling relay on the coupling line in an OFF state when the starter operates.
US08498766B2
A hybrid vehicle (1) includes a battery (10-1), a motor-generator (32-2) operable to produce driving force using electric power of the battery (10-1), a charger (28) operable to charge the battery (10-1) by means of an external power supply, and an ECU (40). The ECU (40) stores a given parameter used in battery model expressions. The parameter varies according to the status of the battery (10-1). During running of the hybrid vehicle (1) and during charging of the battery (10-1) with the external power supply, the ECU (40) collects data related to the status of the battery (10-1), corrects the parameter based on the data, and calculates a value of charging rate (SOC) of the battery (10-1). The ECU (40) controls charge/discharge of the battery (10-1), based on the calculated SOC value.
US08498763B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program product for managing user preferences associated with charging transactions for electric vehicles. In one embodiment, a set of principals associated with a charging transaction for an electric vehicle is identified in response to receiving a request for a set of preferences from an energy transaction planner. The vehicle preference service is located on the electric vehicle. The set of preferences are retrieved from a plurality of preferences. The set of preferences comprises a subset of preferences for each principal in the set of principals. A preference in the set of preferences specifies a parameter of the charging transaction that is to be minimized, maximized, or optimized. The set of preferences are sent to an energy transaction planner.
US08498762B2
A method of planning the movement of plural trains over a train network utilizing route protection for the route immediately ahead of a train to avoid undesirable changes to the planned route of the train.
US08498759B1
An apparatus determines a condition and relative location of an inner tire and an outer tire of a tire pair. Each tire has an associated tire-based sensor assembly that senses a tire condition, senses acceleration, and transmits, in response to its associated acceleration signal, having a unique tire identification and associated sensed tire condition. A tire rotation sensor senses rotation of the tire pair during vehicle movement and provides a tire rotation signal indicative thereof. A vehicle-based controller associates each of the unique identification signals with one of the inner tire location and the outer tire location responsive to a phase relationship between the received transmitted signals from the tire-based sensor assemblies and the tire rotation signal.
US08498757B2
An interface system including a vehicle system having an operational data representing a setting of the associated vehicle system and an interface module in communication with the vehicle system to directly modify the operational data of the vehicle system based upon a personalized data, wherein the personalized data is in a platform independent format.
US08498755B2
A device for the coherent management of data deriving from different surveillance systems of an aircraft includes: a flight management system, the function of which is to assist the crew in following a flight plan of the aircraft and an associated trajectory; a surveillance system, the function of which is to detect any obstacles in proximity to the aircraft; a warning management system, the function of which is to detect abnormal situations and to display for the crew, where appropriate, warnings, such as potentially critical alarms or non-critical alerts, and the associated procedures to be followed when such exist; in which said flight management system, said surveillance system and said warning management system are interconnected and cooperate so that at least the warning management system has access to the flight plan of the aircraft, and is configured to display for the crew a summary of the situation when the surveillance system detects an obstacle that the aircraft should avoid according to the flight plan, and to not display, consequently, unnecessary warnings.
US08498738B2
A method is provided to that allows for the broadcast the status of a self-service dispensing device that a user is likely or scheduled to visit. A diagnostic program may be installed on a self-service dispensing device and/or a central server. The diagnostic program monitors the health and status of the self-service dispensing device. If a problem is detected by the diagnostic program, the self-service dispensing device or the central server proactively contacts likely visitors to the device as well as creates a service call to support personnel in order to have the problem repaired.
US08498729B2
Manufacturing execution systems and methods thereof used to monitor and execute a baby formula manufacturing process are disclosed herein. Consequently, the methods and systems provide a means to perform validation and quality manufacturing on an integrated level whereby baby formula manufacturers can achieve data and product integrity and ultimately minimize cost.
US08498713B2
The present invention is a visor for retinal stimulation of visually impaired subjects. The visor comprises a frame, an external coil, a camera and a mounting system. A connector allows the external coil to be positioned along a first direction. A sliding device allows the external coil to be positioned along a second direction. Positioning of the visor on a subject's nose allows the external coil to be positioned along a third direction. Positioning of the external coil along the first, second or third direction is useful to maximize coupling RF coupling between the external coil and an internal coil implanted on a subject wearing the visor.
US08498698B2
The disclosure describes techniques of reducing or eliminating a commonality between two modules within the same implantable medical device. Each module within the implantable medical device provides therapy to a patient. The commonality between the two modules exists due to at least one common component shared by the two modules. The commonality between the two modules may create common-mode interference and a shunt current. In accordance with this disclosure, various isolation circuits located at various locations are disclosed to reduce or eliminate the commonality between the two modules. The reduction or elimination of the commonality between the two modules may reduce or eliminate common-mode interference and the shunt current.
US08498692B2
To allow safe treatment of a patient, in particular a puncture or biopsy using a needle, a 2D sectional image of an implant plane and a further 2D sectional image of an orthogonal plane are generated from a 3D image data record of a region to be examined. The two planes are hereby oriented such that the needle is on the one hand located within the implant plane and on the other hand is oriented in a perpendicular manner in respect of the orthogonal plane. The parallel display of the 2D images allows the doctor to acquire the relative position of the needle in relation to the region to be examined in a simple and intuitive manner.
US08498690B2
A blood flow dynamic analysis apparatus analyzes the kinetics of a blood flow in a subject by injecting a contrast medium into the subject. The apparatus includes a map generation device computing the value of a parameter related to time change in the concentration of the contrast medium injected into the subject and generating a map of the parameter, and a display condition determination device determining a display condition for the map based on a threshold value of the parameter for discriminating between a lesion region where a lesion exists and an unaffected region where no lesion exists in the map.
US08498688B2
A device for magnetic resonance imaging of a body placed in an examination volume is configured to generate a series of MR spin echo signals from a first nuclear spin species by subjecting at least a portion of the body to an MR imaging pulse sequence. The MR imaging pulse sequence includes a spatially non-selective excitation RF pulse, a plurality of refocusing RF pulses, and a plurality of phase encoding switched magnetic field gradients. The device is further is configured to acquire the MR spin echo signals without application of frequency encoding magnetic field gradients; and to reconstruct an MR image from the acquired MR spin echo signals.
US08498683B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to display features that facilitate observation of monitored physiological data. According to certain embodiments, a monitoring system may include a monitor capable of receiving data related to the physiological parameters and storing data related to the parameters. The monitor may include a microprocessor capable of determining a respiration rate baseline from the data and establishing an alarm sensitivity for respiration rate based on the respiration rate baseline. The alarm sensitivity may comprise a first tier, a second tier, and a third tier. Each tier may correspond to a specific respiratory rate range and the alarm sensitivity may be selected based on which specific respiratory rate range encompasses the respiration rate baseline. Further, in certain embodiments a blood pressure baseline may be determined and an alarm sensitivity established based on the blood pressure baseline.
US08498678B2
A wireless transceiver is provided for transmitting and receiving audio data, comprising: a microphone configured to generate a digital audio signal that includes the audio data, based on a received sound sampled into digital format; a voice detection circuit configured to detect the presence of voice activity in the audio data, and to generate a voice detection signal indicating whether the voice activity is present in the audio data; a transceiver circuit configured to transmit the audio data over a wireless medium; and a control circuit configured to control transmission of the audio data over the wireless medium by the transceiver circuit, based on the voice detection signal. This allows saving of transmission power since no transmission is done during the silence periods. The digital audio signal is at least one of a pulse code modulated signal without compression, and a Bluetooth signal.
US08498675B2
A mobile communication device and an incoming call noticing control method thereof are provided. The incoming call noticing control method is used for controlling a mobile communication device. The mobile communication device includes a main body and a ring unit. The main body has a body surface. The ring unit is used for emitting a ringtone. The incoming call noticing control method includes the follow steps. The vibration frequency and the vibration amplitude of the main body are detected. Whether the body surface is substantially facing a predetermined orientation is detected. The volume of the ringtone is controlled according to whether the body surface is facing the predetermined orientation and according to the vibration frequency and the vibration amplitude.
US08498674B2
A task display switching method, a portable apparatus and a portable communications apparatus which, when a plurality of software applications are activated and processed in parallel, make it possible to switch a display between each of the software applications with ease. According to the task display switching method, a portable apparatus capable of processing a plurality of tasks in parallel and of displaying a plurality of display regions for displaying data, an icon associated with a task displayed on a first display region is generated automatically or manually, and the generated icon is displayed in a second display region. When any icon thus generated is selected from a plurality of icons displayed on the second display region, the task associated with the selected icon is restored and displayed in the first display region.
US08498664B2
A method of handling a barred cell in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method of handling a barred cell in a user equipment using a plurality of frequencies includes releasing a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection between the user equipment and a network if authentication between the user equipment and the network fails, and regarding a cell having a first uplink radio link and a first downlink radio link, a cell having only a second uplink radio link and a cell having only a second downlink radio link as barred cells, if the RRC connection is released.
US08498662B2
In a communication system including a plurality of base stations and a plurality of terminals belonging to each of the base stations, the base station receives information on subcarriers allocated to a terminal that belongs to an adjacent base station from the adjacent base station. Thereafter, the base station generates power control information on the basis of the subcarrier information and transmits the power control information to the terminal, and the terminal controls uplink power on the basis of the received power control information. At this time, the power control information, as information based on estimating hitting between subcarriers used by the terminal that belongs to the base station and subcarriers used by the adjacent base station, may be a ratio found by dividing the total number of subcarriers used by each terminal that belongs to the adjacent base station by the entire number of subcarriers that can be used by the base station.
US08498644B2
A wireless communication system includes: a macrocell base station device; a micro base station device serving a cell having a region including at least a part of a region of a cell served by the macrocell base station device; and a mobile station device. One of the macrocell base station device and the micro base station device includes a reporter configured to report, to the mobile station device, micro base station information indicating the micro base station device to which the mobile station device can perform a handover. The mobile station device includes a handover destination selector configured to select a handover destination based on the micro base station information reported. Thereby, a handover is prevented while preventing the processing load on the mobile station device.
US08498639B2
System(s) and method(s) are provided that facilitate a flexible channel quality indicator (CQI) reporting directives or policies. A CQI reporting directive delivers an improved tradeoff between reporting accuracy and overhead by establishing subband-specific reporting periods, reporting repetitions, or power requirements. The CQI reporting directive is based at least in part on channel conditions, traffic requirements, and scheduling techniques. Automated optimization and negotiation of a CQI reporting directive based on communication performance is also incorporated.
US08498632B2
Method, communications device and computer program product for determining network quality for the communications device which is capable of communicating over a communications network. The method comprises determining location information associated with a location of the device, querying a database using the determined location information, wherein the database stores a plurality of entries each comprising location information and corresponding network quality information, and obtaining, from the database in response to the query, network quality information from at least one entry of said entries which comprises location information corresponding to the determined location information.
US08498630B2
There is disclosed a method and apparatus for initiating a call in a mobile telephone system, comprising the steps of: comparing a current location of a mobile terminal to at least one predetermined location; and, responsive to a location match, initiating a call from the mobile terminal to a predetermined number associated with said at least one predetermined location.
US08498626B1
A system is configured to receive, from an enterprise device, a request to access a network domain, and is configured to determine whether the network domain is associated with a wireless service provider service. Based on determining that the network domain is not associated with the wireless service provider service, the system is configured to route the request to a private network associated with the enterprise device. Based on determining that the network domain is associated with the wireless service provider service, the system is configured to route the request to a domain name system server associated with the wireless service provider, receive a domain name system response to the request, the domain name system response identifying a network address, and route the domain name system response to the enterprise device.
US08498622B2
A data processing system includes a satellite storage device communicating with a central storage device via a network. The satellite storage device is capable of accessing the data of the central storage device and includes a storage unit capable of storing data duplicated from the central storage device. The satellite storage device is capable of selecting a synchronization policy which determines how to synchronize data between the storage unit and of the central storage device.
US08498621B2
A server device of a communication system provides a web interface to allow a user to modify user interface settings and contact information. The server device communicates the modified settings and contact information to the mobile communication device via a wireless communication network. Accordingly, the user can conveniently configure user interface settings, such as ring tones, alarm settings, or the like, via a web interface, rather than through a cumbersome interface at the mobile communication device. In addition, the user interface settings are communicated to the mobile communication device via the same wireless communication network that carries voice data. Thus, the user interface of the mobile communication device, as well as the stored contact information, can be updated without requiring the user to connect the device to a computer.
US08498613B2
A method and system for location-dependent billing for services that are available to mobile terminals. A mobile terminal may access a fixably installed external location tag, and may obtain from the external location tag a billing rate code, which may then be forwarded from the mobile terminal to a central unit of a mobile communication network, in which the mobile terminal is logged. The central unit may determine a geographic location identification of the external location tag—e.g., by evaluation of the billing rate code—and may select a billing rate for billing for service(s) available to the user, based on the billing rate code at the external location tag. The mobile terminal may access the external location tag via a local communication connection, which may be set up between the mobile terminal and external location tag, such as using a corresponding wireless interface therebetween.
US08498610B2
A method and a system for transmitting an emergency call from a vehicle in an accident to an emergency call center, including: (a) an automatic accident monitoring unit in the vehicle with a sensor system for detecting an accident of the vehicle, (b) a vehicle navigation unit for determining the associated geographic accident coordinates (x,y) of the vehicle, wherein electronic means for generating an emergency call in text form, including at least the accident coordinates (x,y) determined for the vehicle, which includes the official license number of the vehicle for the purpose of dataset identification, and (c) a mobile radio unit for transmitting the text form of the emergency call for the reception for the emergency call center.
US08498607B2
Techniques for signaling a mobile communications device in a special operating state that data bursts contain messages relevant to the special operating state. The signaling may be implemented using one or more bits in a frame control header (FCH). As a result, the mobile communication device may be decode the FCH first and decode data bursts only if there is an indication the data bursts contain a relevant message. Power savings may be achieved at the mobile communications device by avoiding decoding data bursts with no relevant messages.
US08498605B1
A passive frequency translator with positive conversion voltage gain including at least one input node for receiving an input signal, at least one output node for providing an output signal, and a network coupled to the at least one input node and to the at least one output node, in which the network includes multiple capacitors and switches operatively coupled thereto. The switches are controlled by corresponding clock signals to capture charge of the input signal onto the capacitors and to develop the output signal by performing frequency translation of the input signal by a mixing frequency in such a manner that DC energy of the input signal is substantially blocked from the output signal. The output signal has a net voltage gain relative to the input signal in which energy of the output signal is predominantly derived from energy of the input signal.
US08498599B2
Methods and apparatus in a receiver for estimating a received power of at least one signal having a pattern known to the receiver, the signal having being transmitted by at least one antenna. A method includes using a first method of measuring the received power based on the pattern, the first method generating a first sequence of first power estimates; determining whether a predetermined first event has occurred; and if the first event has occurred, changing to a second method of measuring the received power, the second method being different from the first method and generating a second sequence of second power estimates.
US08498597B2
To provide a broadcast receiving apparatus including an AM detector, an AM noise detector, an FM detector, an FM noise-level detector, and a threshold control unit. The AM detector performs AM detection on a broadcast signal in airwaves received by a receiving antenna that receives incoming airwaves to acquire an AM detection signal. The AM noise detector detects a signal portion, in which the AM detection signal exceeds an AM noise threshold, as an AM noise component. The FM detector performs FM detection on the broadcast signal to acquire an FM detection signal. The FM noise-level detector detects an FM noise level of the FM detection signal. When the FM noise-level detector detects the FM noise level of the FM detection signal, the threshold control unit changes setting of the AM noise threshold in the AM noise detector based on the FM noise level of the FM detection signal.
US08498594B2
A diversity receiver includes a plurality of antennas to receive radio frequency signals. A plurality of receiver circuits are each coupled to a respective one of the plurality of antennas to process the received radio frequency signals, and a channel estimator is coupled to at least one of the receiver circuits to determine at least one of channel estimation values for the received radio frequency signals. A controller is coupled to the channel estimator and to at least one of the receiver circuits and selectively activates or deactivates the at least one receiver circuit based on the determined at least one channel estimation value.
US08498587B2
The handheld personal electronic device has a first body having a display, a second body having a plurality of manual inputs, the second body capable of attachment to the first body, the personal electronic device having an open position wherein the display of the first body and the manual inputs of the second body are accessibly exposed. And, the personal electronic device having a closed position wherein the display of the first body is protected by the second body and the manual inputs of the second body are accessibly exposed.
US08498585B2
Full duplex radio wireless systems and methods and especially transceivers for full duplex radio wireless systems with reduction of self-interference are described. MIMO (=multiple input multiple output several antennas for output and input) is used within one device with multiple antennas to remove self-interference in a proactive way. For example, a transceiver is described having self-interference suppression, comprising, within one transceiver device: two or more transmitters comprising one or more signal generators for transmitting transmit signals having transmit center frequencies in a selected first subchannel; and one or more receivers having receiver inputs for simultaneously receiving a desired receive signal in a second subchannel and an undesired accumulated interference signal due to said transmitted signals; and at least one of said transmitters also comprising a precompensation circuit that modifies the transmit signals such that said accumulated interference signal at the receiver(s) inputs is reduced.
US08498584B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for an electronically adjustable signal filter system, which comprises, in some embodiments, a first filter coupled to an antenna coupling network and a second filter, a power amplifier coupled to the first filter, an antenna connected to an antenna coupling network, a pilot tone generator coupled to the first filter, and a first signal source connected to the power amplifier and first filter. In some embodiments, the power amplifier amplifies the first signal, the first filter places a notch into the first signal transmitted to the antenna coupling network, the antenna coupling network combines the first signal and a second signal received from the antenna and transmits a third signal to the second filter.
US08498580B2
A method for estimating qualities of links between a transmitter and a receiver on respective carrier frequencies in a multi-carrier wireless communication system from measurements made during a scanning interval in which pilot signals may be transmitted from the transmitter to the receiver in a plurality of carrier-time bins, each carrier-time bin corresponding to a respective carrier frequency of the multi-carrier system and a respective time slot within the scanning interval, are provided. The method includes, during the scanning interval, making test measurements in less than all of the carrier-time bins, each test measurement comprising transmitting a respective signal from the transmitter to the receiver in a respective carrier-time bin and measuring a strength of the corresponding signal received by the receiver, and using the test measurements to determine at least one of: a value indicative of a predicted quality of a link between the transmitter and the receiver in a carrier-time bin of the scanning interval in which no test measurement is made during the scanning interval, and a value indicative of a predicted quality of a link between the transmitter and the receiver over a period of time within or equal to the scanning interval on a carrier frequency for which no test measurement is made in at least one carrier-time bin during said period of time.
US08498579B2
Disclosed are systems and methods for communicating among stations coupled to a communication medium by receiving signals from a plurality of the stations, determining signal strength values for each of the received signals based on at least a portion of the signal, and based on the signal strength values, selecting a detection threshold such that, in response to a signal having a signal strength in excess of the detection threshold, the signal is processed according to a protocol of a subset of the stations.
US08498576B2
The various embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to inverse-mode Radio-Frequency (“RF”) switching circuits and methods of using the same. An embodiment of the present invention provides an inverse-mode RF switching circuit. The inverse-mode RF switching circuit comprises a bipolar transistor, a shunt element, a first RF channel, and a second RF channel. The bipolar transistor comprises a base, a collector, and an emitter, wherein the base and emitter are in electrical communication first via a base-emitter junction and second via an electrical connection element. The shunt element is in electrical communication with the collector. The first RF channel is in electrical communication with the base and emitter. The second RF channel is in electrical communication with the collector and the shunt element. The base-collector junction operates as a switching diode between the first RF channel and the second RF channel.
US08498575B1
Devices, systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with reducing interference between wireless networks are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes negotiation logic implemented in at least hardware configured for determining a quiet interval between a first device and a second device, where the first device and the second device communicate wirelessly via a first network according to a first wireless protocol and are within a wireless area of a second network that communicates with a second wireless protocol. Control logic implemented in at least hardware is configured for controlling wireless transmission of data from at least the first device on the first network by prohibiting transmissions from the first device during the quiet interval.
US08498567B2
A training system that provides web-based distribution, centralized control of pedagogy consistency and content customization, and efficient and economical resource utilization via group oriented training in which a plurality of trainees can be trained without the overhead of providing each trainee with an individual PC. Because the proven education delivery method includes entertaining situational modeling videos, game playing, and a high degree of interactivity, it assures high trainee comprehension with a minimum investment in hardware and instructor overhead.
US08498559B2
This disclosure relates to a lubricating supply system for a fuser assembly of a printing process having a perforated sleeve, the perforated sleeve supporting a semi-porous foam roll. The perforated sleeve slips around the outer surface of a rotating shaft in order that the lubricant supplied to the hollow of the rotating shaft is diffused through the perforated sleeve and foam roll to lubricate a heated surface of the fuser assembly. A lubricant port connects a source of lubricant to the hollow portion of the rotating shaft.
US08498550B2
A copier comprises a housing, an image reading section, an image forming section, a paper discharge section, a paper supply section and an ion generating unit. The ion generating unit is disposed below the paper discharge section and above the paper supply section. The ion generating unit includes a duct that defines a path of flow guiding air sucked from outside of the housing to outside of the housing again.
US08498549B2
A cooling device having a cooling unit including an air suction port that is disposed at a front surface side of a main body of the cooling device to suck air, and an air exhaust port that is disposed at a rear surface side of the main body of the cooling device to exhaust air, in which the cooling unit transfers heat from a cooling target to air sucked from the air suction port to cool the cooling target, and discharges the heat-transferred air from the air exhaust port.
US08498547B2
A fixing device of belt fixing type is provided. A fixing device includes a connector to be connected to wires provided therein. The connector includes integrally primary-side wiring connector terminals to be connected to primary-side wires each leading to a heat generating resistor, and secondary-side wiring connector terminals to be connected to secondary-side wires including wires each leading to a heat generating element-side thermistor, the secondary-side wires flowing current smaller than the primary-side wires.
US08498540B2
A system for acquiring data of a multi-channel signal includes a channel-voltage transmission module disposed in a shield room blocking electromagnetic waves, connected with a plurality of channels from which analog signals are output, and configured to generate a serial digital signal having information about an analog signal and information about a channel from which the analog signal is output, and an optical fiber cable through which the serial digital signal is transmitted from the channel-voltage transmission module to the outside of the shield room.
US08498539B1
Techniques, devices and systems for using dielectric materials, without metal or electrically conductive materials, to construct photonic RF and microwave receivers and concentrators.
US08498533B2
In a communication system in which data is transferred by packets, a ranging method in which a receiver, in a given ranging window, periodically compares received data with expected data to find a match. The periodic comparison includes searching for known preamble and/or delimiter sequences of ranging packets and involves timeouts for each search period. In case a match between the known sequences and received sequences is not found and the respective timeout is exceeded, the search and comparison process is restarted and continues until a global timeout is exceeded.
US08498525B2
In light-irradiation heating with a total irradiation time of one second or less, two-stage irradiation is performed, including a first stage of light irradiation of a semiconductor wafer, which irradiation produces an output waveform that reaches a peak at a given emission output; and a second stage of supplemental light irradiation of the semiconductor wafer, which irradiation is started after the peak, producing an emission output smaller than the above given emission output. The emission output in the second stage is two thirds or less than the above given emission output at the peak. The first-stage light-irradiation time is between 0.1 and 10 milliseconds, and the second-stage light-irradiation time is 5 milliseconds or more.
US08498521B2
Provided is a video reproduction method with a less difference between a target speed and an actual speed, when fast forward reproduction or fast rewind reproduction is performed on reproduction units consisting of a plurality of connected video units. When the video units are switched, in fast forward reproduction, as an elapsed jump time duration, a difference between a reproduction time of a last displayed picture in a source video unit and an end time of the source video unit is calculated (S104), then, as a remaining jump time duration, a value is calculated by subtracting the calculated elapsed jump time duration from the jump time duration corresponding to the designated speed (S105), then, as a reproduction start time, a time is calculated by adding the calculated remaining time duration to a start time of a destination video unit (S106), and the video is reproduced from the reproduction start time.
US08498519B2
A copy protection method and apparatus is disclosed. Various protection signals are added to a video signal in the vicinity of the color burst part of the signal. The protection signals are selected to interfere with the frequency down conversion process in the video recorder so that the color burst cannot be recorded properly. The protection signals are chosen so that when a modified video signal containing the original video signal and the protection signals has been recorded by a video recorder, playback of the modified video signal exhibits visual artefacts that are not visible before recording of the modified signal occurred. The protection signals are also used to carry digital control information for controlling the operation of a digital recorder.
US08498513B2
A control method for recording audio/video data streams in a display device of a wireless network comprises transmitting a Give Tuner Device Status message to a tuner device to request status information of the tuner device that senses a record command signal input from a user and transmits A/V data streams to the display device; receiving a response message, Tuner Device Status message, which includes the status information of the tuner device, from the tuner device in response to the Give Tuner Device Status message; transmitting a record on message, which includes the status information of the tuner device, to the source device; and receiving a record status message from the source device in response to the record on message, wherein the response message includes information indicating whether caption information is included in the A/V data streams transmitted from the tuner device to the display device.
US08498512B2
An ophthalmic illumination system includes a collimated light beam focused onto an optical fiber for transmission of the light beam to an ophthalmic light probe. A light attenuator includes a pair of arrays positioned serially in a path for the collimated beam. The arrays are movable in parallel in the path about a rotational axis orthogonal to the path and between the arrays. Each array includes a plurality of regularly spaced-apart parallel plates, the parallel plates of one array being non-parallel to the plates of the other array.
US08498496B2
Processing method of a digital image to filter red and/or golden eye artifacts, the digital image comprising a plurality of pixel each comprising at least one digital value represented on a plurality of bits, the method comprising: a step of selecting at least one patch of pixels of the digital image comprising pixels potentially representative of a red and/or golden eye artifact; a step of classifying the at least one patch of pixels as “eye” or “non-eye”; a step of filtering said potentially representative pixels if said patch of pixels is classified as “eye”; wherein the classifying step comprises the operations of: converting the digital values of said patch of pixels into a Gray Code representation, overall obtaining a plurality of bit maps from said patch of pixels, each bit map being associated with a respective bit of said Gray Code; an operation of individually comparing said bit maps with corresponding bit map models belonging to a patch classifier produced by a statistical analysis of bit maps obtained by converting patches of pixels of digital images containing or not red and/or golden eye artifacts into said Gray Code representation.
US08498479B2
An image processing device for dividing an image imaged by imaging means into multiple regions includes: processing means for grouping, when difference of the pieces of image data between a single pixel within the image and a pixel adjacent thereto is less than a predetermined threshold, the single pixel and the adjacent pixel, and dividing the image into multiple regions with finally obtained each group as each region of the image; and average-value calculating means for calculating the average value of the image data within the group including the single pixel; with the processing means comparing the image data of the single pixel, and the average value calculated at the average-value calculating means regarding the group to which the adjacent pixel belongs; and when the difference thereof is equal to or greater than a predetermined second threshold, doing not group the single pixel and the adjacent pixel.
US08498477B2
A system and method for gathering bulk images are provided herein.
US08498473B2
Systems and methods provide for quantifying the similarity between images that appear similar. Given a set of images, one image is selected as the base image, to which the remaining images are compared. One or more portions of the base image are selected for comparison and the color composition of these areas is calculated. Then, the color compositions are examined to quantify the similarity or difference between the images, which is assigned a score reflective of the quantitative similarity or difference. The results are displayed. These systems and methods allow, e.g, a website owner to check whether web pages have come through imperfectly across different browsers; the analysis identifies not just blatant errors, but even single-pixel shifts.
US08498467B2
Method for inspecting a zone of the surface of a tire, said surface comprising markings in relief, wherein the three-dimensional profile of the surface to be inspected is determined, characteristic points on the surface to be inspected are located and these points are matched with the corresponding points originating from the three-dimensional data of a reference surface, so as to create a set of pairs of matched points, in an iterative manner, a first affine transformation function is sought, applied to the characteristic points of the reference surface, so that the value representing the sum of the distances between each of the characteristic points of the reference surface, which points are transformed with the aid of said first transformation function, and the points of the surface to be inspected that are matched with them, is minimal, and said first transformation function is applied to all of the points of the reference surface in order to obtain a transformed reference surface.
US08498459B2
A method of verifying a registration of a digital image includes receiving a reference image and a moving image registered to the reference image representing the same object, selecting one or more landmarks in the images, defining a neighborhood in the domain of each image near each selected landmark, extracting feature sets from the neighborhoods for the reference image and the registered moving image, calculating a total quality measure of the registration of the moving image from a distance metric applied to the feature sets extracted from the neighborhoods of the reference image and the registered moving image, comparing the total quality measure to a threshold determined from a reference atlas for the object represented in the image, and determining whether to accept or reject the registration of the moving image based on the comparison result.
US08498454B2
A technique for optimizing object recognition is disclosed. The technique includes receiving at least one image of an object and at least one reference image. The technique further includes identifying at least one performance metric corresponding to an object recognition task. The identified performance metric is optimized to generate the corresponding optimized performance metric by determining an optimal subspace based on a determined objective function corresponding to the object recognition task and a difference between the received image and the corresponding reference image. Subsequently, the technique includes comparing the received image with the reference image based on the optimized performance metric for performing the object recognition task.
US08498443B2
The present invention provides a watermark information embedding device, a watermark information processing system, a watermark information embedding method and program that can provide a two-dimensional code enabling detection of copying. The watermark information embedding device comprises a first wavelet transform unit (12), a watermark information embedding unit (14) and an inverse wavelet transform unit (150). The first wavelet transform unit (12) performs a discrete wavelet transform on an original image of a two-dimensional code and decomposes this into various frequency components, namely an LL component, an LH component, an HL component and an HH component. The watermark information embedding unit (14) embeds the watermark information in the HH component as a high-frequency component in an oblique direction. The inverse wavelet transform unit (150) recomposes the two-dimensional code by performing an inverse discrete wavelet transform on the HH component in which the watermark information is embedded, and on each of the frequency components namely the LL component, the LH component and the HL component.
US08498434B2
A hearing aid comprises a wireless Frequency-Shift-Keying (FSK) receiver. The receiver has an antenna receiving an FSK signal, a first amplifier stage amplifying the FSK signal, a limiter stage limiting the amplified FSK signal, a plurality of parallel phase detection stages and a lookup table block. Each phase detection stage comprises a local oscillator, a mixer stage, a filter stage, and a comparator stage. The output of each of the respective comparator stages is provided to the input of the look-up table block. The invention also relates to a method for processing a wireless FSK signal for providing a signal for a hearing aid, and a wireless FSK receiver.
US08498433B1
The instant development relates to utilizing the sonic motion generated by a speaker to move objects in various directions in response to the variation in the frequency and amplitude of the sonic vibrations. This can be used to move objects in a linear and/or rotating manner. This is accomplished by the utilization of directionality oriented members.
US08498423B2
A method is provided which is suitable to cope with non-linear echo paths during acoustic echo cancellation in speakerphones. Non-linear paths occur particularly in hands-free operation of, e.g., a mobile phone, due to driving the amplifier and loudspeaker in the non-linear range. The idea is to combine the commonly known one microphone approach of linear acoustic echo cancellation using an adaptive filter and a post-processor together with a multiple microphone approach using beam forming which separately removes the non-linear part of the echo.
US08498421B2
Methods and apparatuses for encoding and decoding a multi-channel audio signal are provided. In the encoding method, spatial information is calculated based on a multi-channel audio signal and a down-mix signal, and a compensation parameter that compensates for the down-mix signal is calculated based on the multi-channel audio signal and the down-mix signal. Thereafter, a bitstream is generated by encoding the spatial information, the compensation parameter, and the down-mix signal and combining the results of the encoding. Therefore, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the quality of sound regarding a multi-channel audio signal by compensating for the multi-channel audio signal using a compensation parameter that compensates for a down-mix signal.
US08498417B1
A key management server in a storage area network (SAN) provides encryption keys for source and destination storage objects and also associates destination storage objects with source storage objects. When a source object is to be replicated, a replication facility in a storage system of a new destination object requests the key management server to associate the destination object with the source object and assign the data encryption key of the source object or a new data encryption key to the destination object. For recovery of the source object, a replication facility in the storage system of the source object obtains information from the key management server about the replica associated with the source object for replicating data from the destination object back to the source object.
US08498411B1
A method, integrated circuit chip, and computer program product for cryptographically processing an input value with Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) using ECC scalar multiplication are provided. The ECC scalar multiplication is performed with the use of an enhanced acceleration table (EAT). The EAT uses multiple running totals with multiples above 2. The EAT, in some embodiments, uses reference values other than 0 and 2^window size.
US08498410B2
A key variable loader receives a set of Rijndael parameters that were verified using a simulation computer, wherein the set of Rijndael parameters provide an input for implementing at least one step of the Rijndael block cipher and when used with a secret key allow a conversion between plain text and cipher text using the Rijndael block cipher. The key variable loader further stores the set of Rijndael parameters and subsequently provides the set of Rijndael parameters to a device having a customizable Rijndael block cipher, like a subscriber unit or a key management facility.
US08498406B2
A data entry system using a number of different input signals provided by interacting with input means such as keys wherein to at least some of the different input signals a number of symbols including substantially all of the letters of the alphabet of one language are distributively assigned such that at least two of the letters are ambiguously assigned to at least one of the some input signals. The data entry system includes a database of words and uses a word predictive system such that in order to enter a word of the database the user provides a first input information consisting of providing the input signals corresponding to the characters, generally the letters, of the word, and an additional input information corresponding to at least one of the characters of the word and its corresponding input signal provided through the first input information, and wherein the system precisely recognizes the character among the ambiguous characters assigned to the input signal and provides a word of the dictionary that corresponds to the first and the additional input information.
US08498395B2
A computer-implemented method for auto play of a status in a telephone conference is provided. The method includes receiving, at an e-mail server, a status message of a party to a telephone conference, and determining from the status message whether the party will be able to attend the telephone conference. When it is determined that the party cannot attend the telephone conference, the method further includes forwarding the status message to a voice box for conversion of the status message into audio that is saved in an audio file. The method may also include notifying a teleconference bridge that the party associated with the status message will not be able to attend the telephone conference. The teleconference bridge creates an entry in a repository indicating that the party will need a voice proxy from the audio file, and, during the telephone conference, the status of the party is provided to other parties to the telephone conference by playing the audio file.
US08498394B2
An anonymous communication system allows a third party, which is not a communicating party, to determine the anonymities of the communicating parties. An anonymity notifying apparatus to be installed in an anonymous communication system enables anonymous communication. An anonymous communication system and method detects the anonymities of communication parties and notifies them to a third party device other than communication devices of the communication parties.
US08498393B2
A method for provisioning a terminal device in a multi-user setting is disclosed. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a terminal device having a provisioning element that selectively establishes a telephony usage profile for each of a plurality of users sharing the terminal device. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US08498389B2
There is provided a system for facilitating a conference call. The system includes a module to generate a real-time voiceprint from a voice input of a participant in the conference call, and a module to provide information indicative of the participant based on the real-time voiceprint.
US08498381B2
An x-ray window comprising a plurality of thin film layers stacked together, including a thin film layer and a polymer layer. The thin film layer can be diamond, graphene, diamond-like carbon, beryllium, and combinations thereof. The polymer layer can be a polyimide. A boron hydride layer may also be included.
US08498380B2
The present invention refers to an X-ray tube of the rotary-anode type which comprises at least one temporarily negatively biased auxiliary grid electrode (119) with an aperture through which an electron beam (115) emitted by a tube cathode's thermoionic electron emitter (111) can pass. As an alternative thereto, the auxiliary grid electrode (119) may also be positively biased so as to enhance electron emission from a thermoionic electron emitter (111). The auxiliary grid electrode may thereby be connected to a supply voltage UAUX of a controllable voltage supply unit by means of a feedthrough cable (120) serving as a feeding line for providing the main control grid (112) with a grid supply voltage UG.
US08498377B2
An imaging apparatus for irradiating an object includes a source arrangement, from which x-rays from different positions that form an at least one-dimensional structure may be emitted. The imaging apparatus also includes a detector arrangement for detecting the x-rays. An object is positioned between the source arrangement and the detector arrangement so that, with the detector arrangement, the x-rays attenuated by the object are recorded. The imaging apparatus also includes an evaluation apparatus for evaluating the signals recorded by the detector arrangement. A region of the detector arrangement is assigned to different positions of the structure, from which x-rays are directed at the region in partial irradiations. The region is aligned relative to the structure, such that the partial irradiations that are produced from the different positions of the structure with a region of the detector develop a radiation geometry that irradiates the object in a planar fashion.
US08498367B2
Disclosed is a digital broadcasting transmission/reception system having an improved reception performance and in a signal-processing method thereof. A digital broadcasting transmitter comprises a TS stream generator for inputting robust and normal packets having stuff bytes in predetermined positions and generating dual TS stream by inserting the robust packets between the normal packets; a randomizer for randomizing the dual TS stream; a stuff byte exchanger for replacing the stuff bytes of a randomized data streams from the randomizer to a predetermined known data; and an encoder for encoding a data streams to which the known data is inserted. Accordingly, the present invention detects the known data from a signal received from a reception side and uses the detected known data for synchronization and equalization, so that the digital broadcasting reception performance can be improved at poor multipath channels.
US08498356B2
An apparatus and method of generating a codebook. The codebook generation apparatus includes a matrix extender to generate a candidate matrix set by multiplying a base matrix and at least one diagonal matrix, wherein the at least one diagonal matrix includes elements of a constrained set as diagonal elements; and a codebook generator to generate the codebook where a minimum distance between the elements is maximized, based on the candidate matrix set. According to aspects of the present invention, it is possible to provide a precoding codebook that can reduce an amount of feedback from a terminal.
US08498354B2
A carrier frequency offset can be present in a signal received by a communications receiver, when the receiver has a local frequency oscillator that generates a carrier frequency different from a carrier frequency generated by a local frequency oscillator at a transmitter that transmitted the signal. A residual carrier frequency offset can remain after most of the carrier frequency offset has been removed from the received signal using conventional techniques. The residual carrier frequency offset is estimated using first and second channel impulse responses derived from first and second portions of the received signal. An estimated phase difference between the first and second channel impulse responses is computed. An estimate of the residual carrier frequency offset is computed using the estimated phase difference.
US08498350B2
A wireless radio transceiver system configured to transmit and receive a communications signal waveform having a time division multiple access physical layer structure and which includes a sequence of orthogonal frequency division multiple access symbols. The transceiver provides transmit diversity through space-time coding and the use of orthogonal channel probes from each transmitter. The waveform is packet based and contains a packet header definition that supports local receiver synchronization. Examples of the waveform also incorporate transmission security features.
US08498339B2
The invention provides a video processing method, which includes: performing motion estimation upon the target image block and a plurality of reference image blocks to calculate a plurality of block matching differences; determining a minimum block matching difference from the plurality of the block matching differences; comparing the minimum block matching difference with at least one of the reference block matching differences to obtain at least a comparison result; and according to the at least a comparison result, selectively determining a target motion vector of the target image block referred to a motion vector of at least a neighboring image block of the target image block or a motion vector corresponding to the minimum block matching difference.
US08498331B2
The present invention provides a motion picture receiving device, comprising: image data receiving means for receiving encoded image data; decoding means for decoding the image data received by the image data receiving means; output means for outputting the image data decoded by the decoding means; and control means for determining an encoding condition of image data by communicating with a motion picture transmitting device which transmits the image data, and for controlling the decoding means to enable decoding of the image data encoded in accordance with the encoding condition; wherein, when the number of motion picture transmitting devices changes, the control means determines the encoding condition on the basis of the changed number of the motion picture transmitting devices.
US08498319B2
A disclosed surface emitting laser device includes a light emitting section having a mesa structure where a lower reflection mirror, an oscillation structure, and an upper reflection mirror are laminated on a substrate, the oscillation structure including an active layer, the upper reflection mirror including a current confined structure where an oxide surrounds a current passage region, a first dielectric film that coats the entire surface of an emitting region of the light emitting section, the transparent dielectric including a part where the refractive index is relatively high and a part where the refractive index is relatively low, and a second dielectric film that coats a peripheral part on the upper surface of the mesa structure. Further, the dielectric film includes a lower dielectric film and an upper dielectric film, and the lower dielectric film is coated with the upper dielectric film.
US08498317B2
A temperature controller for a gas laser which controls temperatures of temperature-controlled apparatuses including a first temperature-controlled portion requiring a high-precision temperature-control and a second temperature-controlled portion requiring a low-precision temperature-control and allowing a temperature-control with a low or high temperature as compared with the first temperature-controlled portion, comprises a first temperature control portion generating a cooling agent or a heating agent for adjusting a temperature of each first temperature-controlled portion, a second temperature control portion generating a cooling agent or a heating agent for adjusting a temperature of each second temperature-controlled portion, a first piping system connecting the first temperature control portion and each first temperature-controlled portion in parallel, and a second piping system connecting the second temperature control portion and each second temperature-controlled portion in parallel.
US08498316B2
A laser device for intra-cavity frequency conversion, in particular, for the second harmonic generation, the device comprising a laser cavity, formed by the first and the second laser cavity end reflectors wherein the said laser cavity end reflectors are highly reflective for the radiation about the laser fundamental frequency and as such provide for a predetermined level of circulating inside the cavity fundamental frequency power; an active medium provided within the said laser cavity; at least one non-linear crystal, in particular, for the second harmonic generation provided within the same laser cavity; tuning means adapted for tuning at least one of laser cavity end reflectors; wherein at least one of the laser cavity end reflectors comprises an interferometric layout providing spectrally selective reflection for the radiation about the laser fundamental frequency with the value of reflectivity nearly to 100% within a spectral range close to the free spectrum range of the laser cavity and with a sufficiently lower reflectivity outside the above spectral range such that the laser cavity restricts the spectrum of the laser radiation to a single longitudinal mode.
US08498299B2
An enhanced, flooding-based routing protocol is described that provides burst-rate and average-rate flow control. A routing device comprises a network interfaces configured to send and receive packets over a layer-two (L2) communication medium. A flooding-based link state routing protocol executes on a processor of the routing device to maintain network topology information for a network and establish an adjacency with a peer router over the layer-two (L2) communication medium. A database of the routing device stores a minimum packet interval and a credit specified by the peer router for the adjacency. When sufficient credit has been allocated to the L2 communication medium, a scheduler of the router dequeues link state messages from an outbound packet queue and floods each of the link state messages to the L2 communication medium while maintaining at least the specified minimum packet interval between each of the plurality of link state messages.
US08498292B2
The disclosure relates to the mesh network technology, and in particular, to a network node and a method for establishing a path and transmitting data. A method for establishing a network path is provided in an embodiment of the present invention. The method includes: receiving a gateway notification forwarded by a node with a trunk path and setting up a routing request timer; sending a routing request that contains information about whether a path is the trunk path after the routing request timer times out; receiving a route reply that is generated by the gateway after receiving the routing request from the gateway through the trunk path. In addition, a network node for implementing the method is provided in an embodiment of the present invention.
US08498291B2
Switching between communication ports of a notebook is typically accomplished using an off-chip local area network (LAN) switch or an off-chip high speed analog multiplexer. This off-chip component is disadvantageous for several reasons, including: added cost of an additional component; increased overall power consumption because transmit amplitude loss; and reduced cable reach and link performance due to hybrid mismatch and signal distortions. To reduce cost and preserve electrical and networking performance, an integrated switch is provided to multiplex signals of a networking communication chip to multiple network paths.
US08498278B2
A system is provided for a wireless local area network. The system includes, but is not limited to, at least one cell controller and simplified RF ports which are configured to provide lower level media access control functions. Higher level media access control functions are provided in a cell controller, which may service one or more RF ports that are capable operating with at least two wireless local area subnetworks. Mobile units can also be configured with the higher level media access control functions being performed in a host processor.
US08498271B2
A method of adjusting quality of service (QoS) with respect to changes in a transmission environment of a mobile terminal receiving data based on a stream control transmission protocol (SCTP) session. When the transmission environment of the mobile terminal receiving data based on the SCTP session changes, the mobile terminal transmits link information indicating a new transmission environment to a destination node, and the destination node adjusts the quality of data or the size of a transmission window based on the link information. Thus, without adding separate network devices, the QoS of the data being transmitted can be adjusted with respect to the changed transmission environment, only by adding functions with software to the transmission terminal and the reception terminal. Also, since the destination node manually adjusts the transmission window according to the link information, packet loss can be minimized compared to the conventional congestion control method.
US08498269B2
Methods and systems are provided for efficient handover of a media session between heterogeneous IP networks. A mobile device with Internet access can operate a software program to communicate with a corresponding node. The corresponding node may access the Internet through either (i) a NAT router or (ii) a public IP address. The mobile device establishes a media session with a corresponding node via the transmission of a first media stream and receipt of a second media stream, and a media control channel can optionally be implemented. The mobile device can acquire Internet access through a second IP address, and packets routed between the second IP address and the Internet may traverse a NAT router. A software routine can determine that handover of the media session from the first IP address to the second IP address is preferred.
US08498264B2
Disclosed is a session handoff method of an access terminal (AT) in a high-rate packet data (HRPD) mobile communication system. The session handoff method comprises performing a close procedure of a session in negotiation upon receiving a close request for a session negotiation from the AT performing session handoff; allocating a new unicast access terminal identifier (UATI) to the AT upon receiving a request for allocation of a new UATI from the AT after the session close procedure; and acquiring prior session information from a source session controller using an old UATI included in received prior session information upon receiving configuration information including the prior session information from the AT after allocating a new UATI to the AT.
US08498258B2
According to one example embodiment, a method may include receiving, by a first femto base station via a femto base station air interface, at least one neighbor preamble from at least one neighbor femto base station. The method may further include sending, by the first femto base station to a macro base station via a guided (DSL) Internet connection, an interference report, the interference report being based at least in part on the at least one neighbor preamble received from the at least one neighbor femto base station. The method may further include receiving, by the first femto base station from the macro base station via the guided Internet connection, a resource allocation message. The method may further include sending, by the first femto base station via the femto base station air interface, a first femto base station preamble, the first femto base station preamble being sent at a time determined at least in part by the resource allocation message.
US08498254B2
A method for allocating resources of physical hybrid ARQ indicator channels is disclosed, comprising: a transmitting end dividing evenly all resources of Physical Hybrid ARQ Indicator Channels (PHICHs) to be allocated into a plurality of configured PHICH groups, and then mapping them to sub-carriers of resource groups corresponding to the PHICH groups to transmit signals in the PHICHs through the sub-carriers. The present invention enables Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest function to be implemented in a practical system, and also ensures minimum interference between different users and improves the utilization of system resources.
US08498249B2
A unified two-stage network entry procedure is provided for OFDM multi-carrier wireless communications systems. During a first stage, a mobile station performs a common network entry procedure using a primary radio frequency carrier and then exchanges multi-carrier capability information with a base station. In one embodiment, the base station transmits a network entry allowance indicator to assist the mobile station in selecting the primary carrier. The network entry allowance indicator comprises information of preference of one or more available carriers. During a second stage, the mobile station enables multi-carrier transmission over multiple frequency channels if both the mobile station and the base station support multi-carrier capability. Before enabling multi-carrier transmission, the mobile station may optionally perform additional ranging by transmitting a ranging request for a secondary carrier. In one embodiment, the base station replies with a ranging response in response to the ranging request through the primary carrier.
US08498242B2
Techniques for transmitting beacon signals to assist user equipments (UEs) perform cell search and techniques for detecting for beacon signals are described. In an aspect, cells may be assigned beacon patterns defined based on orthogonal grouping of subcarriers. U subcarriers usable for beacon may be arranged into G orthogonal groups, with each group including S subcarriers. P=SG different beacon patterns may be defined based on the G groups of S subcarriers. In another aspect, the cells may transmit their beacon signals at configurable transmit power levels, which may be determined based on target beacon detection performance. In yet another aspect, a UE may perform overlapping DFTs in order to capture more received power when symbol timing at the UE is not aligned with symbol timing of cells being detected. In yet another aspect, the UE may perform beacon detection with maximal likelihood decoding.
US08498237B2
Methods and/or apparatus for communicating and/or using device capability information are described. Device capability information may be broadcast by a device using a first protocol. The protocol may be a beacon signal based protocol. The device information is used to select a second protocol and/or a device configuration to be used to communicate user data. In some embodiments the first protocol is a low bit rate protocol supporting less than 300 bits per second while the second protocol is a much higher rate protocol supporting in some embodiments data rates in the range of kilobits per second or even much higher data rates. The second protocol normally uses signal phase to communicate information while the first protocol does not use signal phase in many but not necessarily all embodiments.
US08498235B2
A communication apparatus in a mobile communication system includes a first control information generation unit configured to generate first control information including retransmission information on a previously received data channel, a second control information generation unit configured to generate second control information including scheduling information on radio resources and a transmission signal generation unit configured to generate a transmission signal including a lower layer control channel including at least one of the first control information and the second control information. The transmission signal generation unit generates the transmission signal to transmit the first control information in any of subframes arriving at a first cycle and to transmit the second control information in any of subframes arriving at a second cycle longer than the first cycle.
US08498234B2
A repeater (200) facilitates wireless communication between a first communication device (100) and a second communication device (105) in a wireless network using a time division duplex protocol for data transmission. The repeater (200) includes a receiver (310, 315) for receiving a signal on either of at least two bi-directional communication frequencies simultaneously. A signal detector (362) is operatively coupled to the receiver (300, 310, 315) for determining if the signal is present on at least one of the two bi-directional frequencies. A frequency converter (320, 321, 323, 324, 360, 361) is for converting the signal present on one of the bi-directional frequencies to a converted signal on the other of the bi-directional frequencies. A transmitter (300, 325, 330, 335, 345, 350) is for transmitting the converted signal on the other of said bi-directional frequencies.
US08498228B2
A method of signal transmission/reception by a transmitter in a wireless mobile communication system is provided. The method includes determining a signal transmission/reception corresponding relation between a downlink and an uplink of the wireless mobile communication system using a super-frame, the super-frame including at least one frame, said at least one frame including at least one downlink sub-frame and at least one uplink sub-frame, the signal transmission/reception corresponding relation enabling each sub-frame within a link including fewer sub-frames to correspond to at least one sub-frame within a link including more sub-frames when the downlink and the uplink of the wireless mobile communication system include different numbers of sub-frames, wherein the signal transmission/reception corresponding relation is also determined when the downlink and the uplink of the wireless mobile communication system include a same number of sub-frames, and transmitting and receiving signals to and from a receiver through at least one downlink sub-frame and at least one uplink sub-frame according to the determined signal transmission/reception corresponding relation.
US08498218B2
A communication apparatus including: a reception unit configured to, receive a first frame having a first format and a second frame having a second format in which information is reduced with respect to the first format and extract a first identifier existing in both the first frame and the second frame; a first frame processing unit configured to process the first frame; a second frame processing unit configured to process the second frame; a table including a correspondence between the first identifier and a second identifier indicating whether the first frame and the second frame having the first identifier is in the first format or the second format; and a control unit configured to transfer the first frame or the second frame to one of the first frame processing unit and the second frame processing unit based on the table when the frame is received.
US08498217B2
Aspects of a method and system for adaptive tone cancellation for mitigating the effects of interference are provided. In this regard, an Ethernet PHY may receive one or more signals via a corresponding one or more physical channels and generate one or more estimate signals, each of which approximates interference present in a corresponding one of the received signals. The Ethernet PHY may subtract each one of the estimate signals from a corresponding one of the received signals. The subtracting may occur at the input of one or more slicers in the Ethernet PHY. The received signals may be processed via one or more equalizers in the Ethernet PHY. A decision output of a slicer in the Ethernet PHY may be subtracted from one of the said one or more received signals, and a signal resulting from the subtraction may be utilized to generate the one or more estimate signals.
US08498210B2
Methods and apparatus for encoding a number of small dynamic values over an n-bit field. Also methods and apparatus allowing for the stateless extraction of separate sequences from repetitions of a single field whereby to communicate more than one signal at once.
US08498205B2
A system for monitoring a plurality of network devices within a network comprises a network monitor embedded within one of the network devices for automatically discovering and requesting status information from other network devices. The network monitor, in the event that another network monitor is discovered, initiates cooperation with the other network monitor to share discovering and requesting.
US08498203B2
Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to monitor communication paths in communication systems are disclosed. An example method includes identifying links of a communication system, the links communicatively coupling routers, identifying communication paths in the communication system, each of the communication paths being routed via one or more of the links, testing the links during a first interval by testing at least a first portion of the communication paths, testing the links during the second interval by testing at least a second portion of the communication paths, changing the first portion of the communication paths to include at least one of the communication paths from the second portion of the communication paths such that testing the first portion of the communication paths and testing the second portion of the communication paths collectively test each of the links, and identifying a link failure based on the testing.
US08498202B2
According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for providing Diameter network management information in a communications network. The method includes steps occurring at a Diameter signaling router (DSR). The method also includes determining whether successful Diameter communications are available with a first Diameter application. The method further includes in response to determining that successful Diameter communications are not available with the first Diameter application, generating a first Diameter network management message (DNMM) indicating that successful Diameter communications are not available with the first Diameter application. The method also includes sending the first DNMM to a second Diameter node.
US08498194B2
A method for controlling uplink power is provided, which is used for implementing the uplink power control of the virtual multiple input multiple output system, so as to save the system resource. The method includes: determining at least two user equipments being paired in a virtual multiple input multiple output system; and in accordance with the orthogonality of the at least two user equipments, adjusting at least the power of one of the user equipments. In addition, a device for implementing the method is provided.
US08498190B2
An optical head capable of recording or playing back optical discs is provided. The optical disc comprises a light source to emit a beam, an objective to focus the beam on an optical disc, a beam dividing element having a plurality of divided areas with which to divide a cross section of the beam reflected from the optical disc, and a light detector to receive the beams divided by the beam dividing element, wherein the beam dividing element has in at least one of the plurality of areas an aberration imparting function of imparting an astigmatism or defocus aberration to a beam passing through that area.
US08498184B1
A media processing system for processing media having differing properties, the media processing system having a base. The base has a base radial alignment portion, a base vertical alignment portion, and a base retention portion. A set of removable media clamps is included, where each of the set of removable media clamps is adapted for the differing properties of the media, each removable media clamp has a removable media clamp radial alignment portion for engaging the base radial alignment portion and radially aligning the removable media clamp with the base, a removable media clamp vertical alignment portion for engaging the base vertical alignment portion and vertically aligning the removable media clamp with the base, and a media engagement portion for engaging the media. The retention portion is controllable by the media processing system to selectively retain and release a mounted one of the removable media clamps without manual intervention.
US08498182B1
The presented embodiments generally relate to designing an antenna of an optical transducer (e.g., a near-field transducer or near-field optical source) that focuses the optical energy of a radiation source (e.g., a laser) onto a magnetic media, thereby heating the media. Specifically, the antenna is designed to wrap-around an aperture of the optical transducer such that at least a portion of the antenna is between a main pole of a write head and a surface of the aperture that faces the main pole. Moreover, the antenna may wrap-around the aperture such that it directly contacts the main pole.
US08498181B1
An alarm clock application for a device having a touch screen, in which time entry consists of progressively entering data into each of three singularly functional groups of keys, comprises: a) a 4 digit time display portion; and, b) a keypad portion consisting of three separated, functional groups of keys: i) a first functional group of keys which provides only a choice between a clock time set function key and an alarm time set function key; ii) a second functional group of keys for time entry, which provides only a ten numeric key group numbered 0-9 for entering numbers; and, iii) a third group of keys which provides only a choice of AM-PM function keys, to finalize any time setting sequence. After time entry consisting of progressively using each of the three singularly functional groups of keys, all entries can, at any time, be reviewed with a glance.
US08498177B2
Determining geological layer location in a subterranean formation, including receiving seismic data representing an interaction of the geological layer with propagation of a seismic wave, identifying a source wavelet representing a portion of the seismic wave impinging on a boundary of the geological layer, providing a geological layer template of the geological layer including primary and secondary reflection interfaces associated with reflectivity based on material properties of the geological layer, generating a wavelet response template by applying the source wavelet to the geological layer template using a mathematical convolution operation to model seismic wave interference caused by the primary and secondary reflection interfaces, identifying an extremum of the seismic data, and determining, based on the extremum, the location of the geological layer in the subterranean formation using the wavelet response template.
US08498174B2
An innovative dual-port subthreshold static random access memory (SRAM) cell for sub-threshold voltage operation is disclosed. During write mode, the dual-port subthreshold SRAM cell would cut off the positive feedback loop of the inverters and utilize the reverse short-channel effect to enhance write capability. The single-ended read/write port structure further reduces power consumption of the lengthy bit line. Therefore, the dual-port subthreshold SRAM cell is a suitable for long operation in a first-in first-out memory system. Although the lower voltage reduces the stability of the memory cell, the dual-port subthreshold SRAM cell of the present invention can still stably operate.
US08498168B2
A method of detecting manufacturing defects at a memory array may include utilizing test circuitry to provide a selected voltage as drain bias on a bit-line of the memory array where the memory array is configured to employ a first voltage as the drain bias for a read operation and the selected voltage is higher than the first voltage, and determining whether a leakage current indicative of a manufacturing defect between the bit-line and another component of the memory array is present responsive to providing the selected voltage as the drain bias. A corresponding test device is also provided.
US08498165B2
A data outputting method of a memory circuit is illustrated. The memory circuit having at least 16 data buffers DQ[0]˜DQ[15] for storing at least 16 batches of data is provided. If a quadruple data outputting mode is selected for the memory circuit, when the clock signal triggers the 16 data buffers DQ[0]˜DQ[15], the 4 batches of the data stored in the 4 data buffers DQ[0], DQ[1], DQ[8], DQ[9] via 4 input/output pins connected to the 4 data buffers DQ[0], DQ[1], DQ[8], DQ[9], the batch of data stored in the data buffer DQ[2n+2] is transferred to be stored in the data buffer DQ[2n], and the batch of the data stored in the data buffer DQ[2n+3] is transferred to be stored in the data buffer DQ[2n+1], for n is an integer from 0 through 2, and from 4 through 6.
US08498162B2
A method, apparatus, and manufacture for a memory device is provided. The memory device includes memory cells that each store two bits, and a memory controller. During write operations, for each bit in each memory cell that is to be programmed, the memory controller determines whether both bits of the memory cell are being programmed. While controlling an application of programming pulses to the memory cell to program the bit, if both bits of the memory cell are being programmed, the memory controller causes the application of each programming pulse to the bit to occur for a reduced duration. Otherwise, the memory controller causes the application of each programming pulse to the bit to occur for a standard duration. The reduced duration is less than three-fourths of the standard duration.
US08498159B2
Methods for programming a memory device, memory devices configured to perform the disclosed programming methods, and memory systems having a memory device configured to perform the disclosed programming methods, for example, are provided. According to at least one such method, multiple independent semiconductor well regions each having strings of memory cells are independently biased during a programming operation performed on a memory device. Reduced charge leakage may be realized during a programming operation in response to independent well biasing methods.
US08498155B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a substrate including device regions extending in a first direction, a memory cell array region including a plurality of memory cells disposed on the device regions, bit lines extending in the first direction, a sense amplifier circuit connected to ends of the bit lines, and bit line contacts connecting device regions to bit lines. The memory cell array region includes first to N-th regions where N is an integer of two or more, and a K-th region is located at a greater distance from the sense amplifier circuit than a (K−1)-th region, where K is an arbitrary integer of 2 to N. Contact resistance of the bit line contacts in the K-th region is lower than contact resistance of the bit line contacts in the (K−1)-th region, each device region having constant width in the memory cell array region.
US08498144B2
A semiconductor storage device includes first to fourth switch circuit. The semiconductor storage device includes a row decoder which controls a voltage of a word line. The semiconductor storage device includes a first selection transistor of which a control terminal is connected to the word line. The semiconductor storage device includes a first resistance change element which is connected in series to the first selection transistor between the first bit line and the second bit line, and of which a resistance value changes according to a flowing current. The semiconductor storage device includes a second selection transistor of which a control terminal is connected to the word line. The semiconductor storage device includes a second resistance change element which is connected in series to the second selection transistor between the second bit line and the third bit line, and of which a resistance value changes according to a flowing current.
US08498135B2
Embodiments of circuits and methods for a switching mode power supply are described in detail herein. In one embodiment, a switching mode power supply includes a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding to supply power to a load, a feedback circuit that generates a feedback signal that varies in relation to the load on the secondary winding, a switching circuit coupled to the primary winding to control current flow through the primary winding, and a control circuit coupled to the switching circuit to control the on/off status of switching circuit in response to the feedback signal and the current flow through the primary winding. The control circuit comprises a spectrum shaping circuit configured to generate a spectrum shaping signal in response to the feedback signal. The spectrum shaping signal can then be used to regulate the switching frequency and the spectrum shaping range.
US08498119B2
An electronic device includes a chassis, a rotatable door, and a latch member. An opening is defined in the chassis. A first flange extends from an edge of the opening. A first mounting slot is defined in the first flange. The rotatable door is rotatable between a closed position and an open position. The rotatable door includes a second flange with a second mounting slot defined therein. The latch module includes a latch piece with a mounting hole defined therein and a slidable pin securely engaged in the mounting hole. The latch piece is movable between a locked position where the latch piece is engaged into the first mounting slot and the second mounting slot, and an unlocked position where the latch piece is disengaged from the first mounting slot and the second mounting slot.
US08498108B2
A disk drive assembly includes a disk drive and a drive bracket. The disk drive includes a sidewall. The sidewall includes a sidewall body, a first resilient tab extending from the sidewall body, and a second resilient tab extending from the sidewall body. A first securing opening and a second securing opening are defined in the drive bracket. The first securing opening engages the first resilient tab to prevent the disk drive from moving along a first direction. The second securing opening engages the second resilient tab to prevent the disk drive from moving along a second direction opposite to the first direction.
US08498100B1
Flexible hinge and removable attachment techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a flexible hinge is configured to communicatively and physically couple an input device to a computing device and may implement functionality such as a support layer and minimum bend radius. The input device may also include functionality to promote a secure physical connection between the input device and the computing device. One example of this includes use of one or more protrusions that are configured to be removed from respective cavities of the computing device along a particular axis but mechanically bind along other axes. Other techniques include use of a laminate structure to form a connection portion of the input device.
US08498093B2
An electrostatic chuck includes an electrostatic electrode embedded in a ceramic base having a wafer-supporting surface capable of holding a wafer, the electrostatic electrode being parallel to the wafer-supporting surface. The ceramic base is composed of a dense ceramic having a MgO content of 99% by weight or more. The electrostatic electrode is a disc-like electrode composed of, for example, at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, and Fe. The electrostatic electrode includes a conductive tablet connected to the center thereof. The tablet is exposed at the bottom of a counter-bored hole formed so as to reach the tablet from a back surface of the ceramic base, and is connected to a feeding terminal, composed of Ni, inserted into the counter-bored hole.
US08498079B1
A PMR writer is disclosed with an all wrap around design wherein the leading shield, side shields, and composite trailing shield are comprised of an anisotropic (−Ku) magnetic layer, and where the leading shield and side shields adjoin a gap layer. The composite shield has a first layer made of an isotropic magnetic material adjoining the write gap, and the anisotropic (−Ku) layer adjoins the first trailing shield layer on a side opposite the write gap. The main pole may have a tapered leading side and a tapered trailing side with the anisotropic (−Ku) leading shield and trailing shield layers extending a greater distance from the ABS than the ends of the tapered main pole sides. Adjacent track erasure is minimized while on-track write field and field gradient are improved.
US08498077B1
A magnetic head includes first to third coils, a main pole, a write shield, first and second yoke layers, and first and second coupling parts. The first and second yoke layers are magnetically connected to the write shield. The first yoke layer is located on the leading side relative to the main pole, whereas the second yoke layer is located on the trailing side relative to the main pole. The first coupling part magnetically couples the main pole and the second yoke layer to each other. The second coupling part magnetically couples the first yoke layer and the second yoke layer to each other. The first coil is wound around the first coupling part, whereas the second and third coils are wound around the second coupling part.
US08498075B2
In a controller of a tape drive, a command processing unit receives a request to write new data, an offset determination unit determines whether old data is not partially overwritten with new data, and if old data is not partially overwritten with new data, a head position management unit makes a write head offset toward the unoverwritten portion. Then, a channel input/output unit reads pattern data that disables old data from a pattern storage unit and outputs the data to the write head to thereby overwrite the old data with the pattern data. After that, a tape transport management unit rewinds a tape and the head position management unit returns the write head to the original position to overwrite the old data with the new data as usual.
US08498072B2
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for determining a location of a spiral pattern. As an example, a location detection circuits is discussed that includes: a pattern detection circuit, a computation circuit, and a center determination circuit. The pattern detection circuit is operable to identify a subset of a series of data samples corresponding to a defined pattern, and to indicate a location of the identified subset of the series of data samples. The series of data samples corresponds to a spiral pattern. The computation circuit operable to sum an absolute value of each sample of the subset of the series of data samples to yield a sum. The center determination circuit operable to identify a location of the spiral pattern using the sum.
US08498061B2
An image pickup lens has a configuration of five lenses whose aberrations are corrected favorably despite its compactness compared to a conventional type.
US08498057B2
A zoom lens system includes a negative first lens group, a positive second lens group and a positive third lens group, in that order from the object side. Upon zooming from the short to long focal length extremities, the distance between the first and second lens groups decreases, and the distance between the second and third lens groups increases. The first lens group includes a negative lens element and a positive lens element; and the second lens group includes a cemented lens including a positive lens element and a negative lens element, and a negative lens element, in that order from the object side. The following conditions are satisfied by the zoom lens system: 1.8
US08498049B2
A holding device for retaining a number of slides with tissue specimens is described. The holding device includes an elongated hanger having a clamping mechanism for releasable clamping of the microscope slides at their upper ends and for retaining the microscope slides in a hanging position with the surfaces of the microscope slides in said a common plane. The clamping mechanism preferably is arranged to cooperate with a loading rack having a supporting surface for support of the microscope slides in the common plane, the hanger being able to be introduced into the rack and the clamping mechanism being able to be actuated so that all microscope slides placed on the supporting surface are clamped in the holding device.
US08498042B2
A multi-layer film, useful as a front sub-assembly in electro-optic displays, comprises, in this order: a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer (114); a light-transmissive first protective layer (112); a light-transmissive moisture barrier layer (108); and a light-transmissive second protective layer (106). This multi-layer film can be used in forming an electro-optic display by the processes described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,982,179 or Patent Publication No. 2007/0109219.
US08498041B2
An electrophoretic display element includes: a cell containing first and second electrophoretic particles mutually oppositely charged with positive and negative polarities; and first and second electrode sections disposed opposite to each other across the cell in a viewing direction of the cell, wherein the first electrode section includes first and second electrodes whose application voltages are individually controlled, and the second electrode section includes third and fourth electrodes whose application voltages are individually controlled.
US08498037B2
A method for processing workpieces includes performing a laser processing operation in which a laser beam is directed at a first mirror face and at a second mirror face of a redirecting mirror. The second mirror face is at least partially surrounded by the first mirror face. During the laser processing operation, the second mirror face performs a pendulum movement relative to the first mirror face.
US08498036B2
An optical scanning apparatus that scans a light beam from a light source includes: a movable portion and a fixed portion. The movable portion includes: a rotating member, which is capable of rotating about a rotation axis being parallel with an optical axis of the light beam, has an open hole through which the light beam passes, and is provided with a first coil; and a mirror that is provided to the rotating member, electrically connected with the first coil, and reflects the light beam that passes through the open hole of the rotating member in a variable angle with respect to the optical axis of the light beam. The fixed portion includes: a magnetic member; and a second coil capable of supplying an electromagnetic field to the first coil. One of a part and a whole of the magnetic member is made of a magnetic material and the magnetic member serves as a magnetic core of the second coil.
US08498035B2
Coherent light from a laser is magnified, made into a parallel light flux, and irradiated on a hologram recording medium in which a hologram image of a scatter plate is recorded. A hologram reproduction real image of the scatter plate is generated using the parallel light flux as illumination light for reproduction. The spatial light modulator consisting of a liquid crystal display, etc., is disposed so as to overlap on the position of the hologram reproduction real image, and a modulated image is obtained on the surface of the reproduction real image of the scatter plate. The modulated image is projected onto the screen by the projection optical system.
US08498034B2
A method for producing a security element (55) and a security element (55) in the form of a multilayered film body having a top side facing the observer. The security element (55) has a volume hologram layer, in which a volume hologram is recorded, which provides a first optically variable information item. The security element (55) has a replication layer, in the surface of which a relief structure providing a second optically variable information item is molded and which is arranged above the volume hologram layer. A partial metallic layer is arranged between the volume hologram layer and the replication layer, wherein the metallic layer is provided in one or a plurality of first zones of the security element and the metallic layer is not provided in one or a plurality of second zones of the security element.
US08498024B2
It is an object to provide image processing apparatus and method which can execute a drawing combining instruction and a trimming instruction of illustration/characters or the like on the basis of a disclosure on one sheet in a composite print of a sheet scanning system. When a trimming instruction command is issued, an image process for trimming is executed to a given one of closed areas detected from a drawing instructing area on the sheet. Another image process for a combining process of characters/illustration is executed to the other closed areas.
US08498017B2
A system and method allows a user to display the appearance of an image when printed on one of a plurality of configurable color printers. The configurable color printers include at least one replaceable colorant. The system and method take the effect of the currently mounted colorant into account when generating the displayed image. The displayed image can be used as a soft proof for printing purposes.
US08498012B2
A print job management method and system receive variable information print instructions in a container file. The container file includes print files and resource files. The method/system decomposes the container file into multiple sub-container files and processes the sub-container files through at least two print engines. In additional embodiments, the method/system can reprocess less than all of the print files if there is a need to reprint any portion of the original print job. In one embodiment, the sub-container files each comprise a subset of the print files and all of the resource files. In a different embodiment, the resource files are stored on a shared resource and the sub-container files only comprise a subset of the print files.
US08498011B2
An image forming apparatus and a control method thereof configured to input PDL data and render the PDL data into image data to form an image, wherein a rendering speed in rendering the PDL data into the image data and an image forming speed are changeable, and by changing the rendering speed and the image forming speed within a predetermined power consumption, suppresses degradation in image forming speed. When an amount of rendered and stored image data yet to be used for image forming equals or exceeds a first threshold, the speed of an image data rendering process is reduced while image forming speed is increased. Conversely, when the amount of rendered and stored image data yet to be used for image forming equals or falls below a second threshold, the speed of an image data rendering process is increased while image forming speed is reduced.
US08498010B2
A method and system according to the disclosure facilitates subscription based access to services for image systems including an image acquisition device configured to generate image data describing a target object in a target area of the image acquisition device and an image display device configured to generate a human perceptible rendering of the target object based on the image data.
US08498009B2
A system for determining a cause of lateness of a print job may include a computing device and a computer-readable storage medium in communication with the computing device. The computer-readable storage medium may include one or more programming instructions for identifying a late print job, identifying a plurality of document production stations that processed at least a portion of the late print job, determining an associated contribution value representing a contribution of the document production station to the lateness, determining sources of the lateness, displaying a first visual depiction that visually depicts a measure of a contribution of each of the identified document production stations to a collective lateness of the print shop, receiving a user selection of one of the document production stations and a time period, and displaying a second visual depiction of one or more print jobs processed by the document production station during the time period.
US08498004B2
An image processing apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store information about an other image processing apparatus different than the image processing apparatus that operates with the image processing apparatus, an acquiring unit configured to acquire function information indicating a function provided by a first image processing apparatus, and a control unit. In the control unit, in a case that a comparison result of the comparing unit indicates that the first image processing apparatus includes at least one function not provided by the image processing apparatus, information about the first image processing apparatus is stored in the storage unit, and in a case that a comparison result of the comparing unit indicates that the first image processing apparatus doesn't include at least one function not provided by the image processing apparatus, information about the first image processing apparatus is not stored in the storage unit.
US08497998B2
The size of a medium update program for adding a medium to a printer driver and printer is becoming larger due to an increasing number of available media, a larger-size profile used for image processing, and a variety of media lineups. A medium update program according to this invention searches for necessary medium integrated information based on an area and lineup information selected by a user. Then, the medium update program selects and inputs necessary medium integrated information, and shares information common to media, thereby creating all-media integrated information.
US08497996B2
The present invention relates to an arrangement for measuring relative movement. The measuring arrangement comprises a light source (110, 210) for emitting a light beam, a moving element (120, 220) having a reflective surface (121, 221) adapted to reflect a first wavefront portion of the light beam, and a reference element (130, 230) having a reflective surface (131, 231) adapted to reflect a second wavefront portion of the light beam. The arrangement further comprises detecting means (140, 240) for detecting changes in a spatial interference pattern produced by the light reflected from the moving element and the reference element, and processing means (150, 160, 250, 260) for calculating the relative movement between the moving element and the reference element from the phase change in the detected spatial interference pattern. The invention also relates to a method for measuring relative movement.
US08497992B2
A system for determining whether interaction occurs between a trial substance and a target substance. The system includes a photonic crystal sensor having a photonic crystal structure and a defect member disposed adjacent the photonic crystal structure. The defect member defines an operative surface able to receive the target substance and the trial substance. The system further includes a light source that inputs a light signal to the photonic crystal structure and the defect member. The light signal is internally reflected, and a resultant output signal is outputted. The output signal relates to whether the trial substance interacts with the target substance at the operative surface. Furthermore, the system includes an identity detector that identifies the trial substance that interacts with the target substance.
US08497988B2
A spectral distribution measuring device includes an illumination unit configured to illuminate white light to a surface of an object being measured; a slit array having a plurality of slits formed in alignment at equal intervals; a linear image sensor including a light receiving face having a plurality of rectangular pixels adjacently arranged in alignment and a plurality of spectral light-irradiated areas divided in each predetermined number of neighboring pixels; a plurality of areas being measured which is set on the surface of the object being measured, and reflects the light irradiated by the illumination unit to the plurality of slits; and a diffraction unit configured to diffract and disperse reflection light which is reflected from the areas being measured and has passed through each slit, the diffraction unit being disposed such that a direction where a diffraction image expands is inclined at an angle to a direction where the light receiving face expands.
US08497977B2
Optical integrator, illumination optical system, exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method
An optical integrator used in an illumination optical system for illuminating an illumination target surface on the basis of light from a light source has a first fly's eye optical system having a plurality of first optical elements arranged in parallel at a position optically conjugate with the illumination target surface in an optical path between the light source and the illumination target surface, and a second fly's eye optical system having a plurality of second optical elements arranged in parallel so as to correspond to the plurality of first optical elements in an optical path between the first fly's eye optical system and the illumination target surface. At least one first optical element out of the plurality of first optical elements, and another first optical element different from the at least one first optical element have their respective postures different from each other about an optical axis of the illumination optical system or about an axis parallel to the optical axis.
US08497975B2
A scatterometer configured to derive a property of a substrate, includes an optical arrangement that produces a beam of radiation. An objective lens is arranged to focus the beam of radiation onto a target on the substrate. The optical arrangement is arranged to change the divergence of the beam incident on the objective lens, thereby changing spherical aberration caused by the objective lens on the beam focused on the target. A detection arrangement is arranged to detect the beam of radiation after reflection or scattering from the substrate.
US08497967B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide for a FFS TFT LCD with a high refresh rate without limiting the aperture of individual pixels. More specifically, embodiments of the invention provide for the use of common bus lines to reduce the effective resistance of the common electrode and to therefore allow for higher refresh rates of the display. Furthermore, the common bus lines can be positioned in such a manner so that they do not further reduce the aperture of the display. More specifically, the common bus lines can be positioned above or below existing elements of the display that are already opaque. Thus, adding the common bus lines need not reduce the aperture. The above can be achieved by, for example, placing the common bus lines above or below existing non-transparent lines, such as gate lines or data lines.
US08497965B2
An array substrate of a liquid crystal display (LCD) device and a method of manufacturing the array substrate area disclosed. An array substrate of an LCD device includes an insulation substrate, a gate line, a data line, a thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line, a common electrode disposed at a pixel area, a pixel electrode overlapping with the common electrode, and a common line. The common line is connected to the common electrode and overlaps with a gap between the common electrode and the data line.
US08497957B2
A display device in which an image with a wide color reproduction range and bright red can be displayed is provided. The display device is a display device such as, for example, a liquid crystal display device, a cathode ray tube, an organic electroluminescent display device, a plasma display panel, and a field emission display. The display device includes a display surface including a pixel having red, green, blue, and yellow sub-pixels, wherein the red sub-pixel preferably has the largest aperture area.
US08497951B2
An electro-optical device includes an electro-optical panel having a display surface; an accommodation member having a side wall that accommodates the electro-optical panel; and a wiring substrate with an end portion thereof connected to the electro-optical panel, wherein the other end portion side of the wiring substrate is bent to the opposite side of the display surface of the electro-optical panel, wherein the other end portion side of the wiring substrate is bent in the state of coming into close-contact with the side wall of the accommodation member and is fixed to the accommodation member or an accommodation object member that is accommodated in the accommodation member, and wherein the wiring substrate is in close-contact with the side wall of the accommodation member in the state in which a tension acts between the one end portion side and the other end portion side.
US08497938B2
An image-processing method determines the interpolation reliability for interpolated pixels in a progressive image, generated by interpolation of an interlaced image, by combining at least any of a first interpolation reliability determined based on the absolute value of the difference between pixels in an upper line and pixels in a lower line used to calculate the value of the interpolated pixels, a second interpolation reliability determined based on the width of the region used to determine the pixels in the upper line and the pixels in the lower line used to calculate the value of the interpolated pixels, and a third interpolation reliability determined by combining the change in luminance for the upper line and the change in luminance for the lower line within the region.
US08497934B2
An actively addressable aperture disposed ahead of the rear surface of a camera lens allows the camera to capture a full-resolution, five-dimensional (5D) light field that describes every possible view from every possible angle of the scene being imaged. Shifting the aperture over the entire aperture plane and acquiring an image at each step yields a 2D grid of 2D images of the scene, otherwise known as a 4D parameterized light field. Estimating the 3D depth of the objects in the imaged scene yields a 3D model with 2D surface irradiance patterns, which is the full, non-parameterized 5D light field. The 5D light field can be used to display perspective changes in a way that mimics cognitive processing of the same scene or object. 5D light fields can also be used to create high-precision, 3D depth maps suitable for 3D movies, interactive displays, machine vision, and other applications.
US08497924B2
An apparatus for eliminating background noise from a security marker authenticating system including a first sensor for capturing an image of a background of the security marker; a light source for illuminating the security marker; the first sensor or a second sensor or both captures a plurality images of the optical response of the security marker; a computer which averages the plurality of optical response images; the computer smoothes the background image; and the computer subtracts the smoothed background image from the average of the plurality of optical response images.
US08497921B2
When a conventional circuit is used in an image sensor which employs a pixel sharing technique, selection of pixels is not properly performed, that is, an invalid operation may be performed. To address this problem, a first storage unit which stores an address of a reading row, a second storage unit which stores an address of a shutter row, and a third storage unit for controlling an element shared by a plurality of pixels are provided in a row selection unit.
US08497918B2
An image capture apparatus comprises a shake detection unit which detects a shake of the image capture apparatus; a motion vector detection unit which detects a motion vector indicating a movement of an image; a first calculation unit which calculates a first shake correction amount; a second calculation unit which calculates a second shake correction amount; a shake correction unit which optically corrects a blur of a captured image; a panning determination unit which determines that the image capture apparatus performs a panning operation; a determination unit which determines whether or not the image capture apparatus is in a constant point capturing state; and a control change unit which changes the first threshold to a second threshold and amplifies the second shake correction amount when the determination unit determines the constant point capturing state.
US08497915B2
An apparatus and a method of controlling the apparatus are provided that can realize high-accuracy correction of image shake due to shift shake. Rotation radiuses at a plurality of frequencies among the frequency components of the shift shake are obtained. Correction amount is determined based on a result of assigning a respective weight to the rotation radius at each of the plurality of the frequencies based on information regarding at least one of an angular velocity and acceleration.
US08497910B2
In a digital camera having a wireless communicator with a server, a storage controller treats full size image data and display size image data unequally if the full size image data has been already sent to the server. For example, the display size image data is not allowed to be replaced by new digital image data unless the digital camera is not in use over a prescribed time. Own image data and other's image data are treated equally. Image data received from outside and retrieved from inside memory are treated equally. Search key for own image data and related search keys existing in the outside are indicated in a comparable manner. The digital camera receives search key from neighboring advertiser to send it for Internet search of advertisement. Search key received from neighboring notable site is sent for Internet search of photographs of the notable site taken by others.
US08497899B2
A biological sample image acquiring apparatus includes: a sample stage on which a biological sample is placed and which can move in a direction; an objective lens magnifying a region of the biological sample; an imaging device imaging the region magnified by the objective lens; a stage on which the imaging device or the objective lens is placed and which can move in a corresponding direction of the direction; a first moving mechanism moving the sample stage so that a target region of the biological sample is located at an imaging range; a second moving mechanism moving the stage in the corresponding direction at a movement speed obtained by multiplying a movement speed of the sample stage by a magnification of the objective lens; and an imaging controller starting the exposure of the imaging device before the sample stage moved by the first moving means is stopped.
US08497898B2
An endoscope system includes an image pickup section, provided in an endoscope, which performs image pickup, a determining section that determines whether a specific observation object exists inside an image pickup region of the image pickup section, a recognizing section that determines whether the specific observation object can be recognized as an image from the picked-up image in the image pickup region picked up by the image pickup section, a low visibility determination output section that determines, when the determining section determines that the specific observation object exists inside the image pickup region and the recognizing section cannot recognize the specific observation object as an image, that the image pickup section is in a low visibility condition and outputs a low visibility determination result, and an obstacle estimation section that estimates an obstacle or a type of obstacle which causes the low visibility according to the low visibility determination result.
US08497895B2
A computing device determines a schedule for monitoring an immersive video-telepresence (IMV-TP) network, and receives, based on the schedule, immersive video (IMV) information directly from one or more of devices, software, or systems associated with the IMV-TP network. The computing device aggregates the received IMV information, generates a report based on the aggregated IMV information, and provides the generated report to one or more users associated with the IMV-TP network.
US08497891B2
Optical density is enhanced on print media darkened by exposure to electromagnetic radiation. The print media is divided into at least one track. A defocused spot of electromagnetic radiation is created within the track. The defocused spot of electromagnetic radiation darkens the print media within the track.
US08497881B2
An image processor for combining video data and graphic data is provided. The image processor includes a scaler that is configured to scale compressed graphic data in a horizontal direction using bilinear scaling, to scale a horizontally scaled graphic data in a vertical direction using line copy, and to process a data value of a pixel at a border of a vertically scaled graphic data based on a data value of the compressed graphic data and a data combiner that is configured to combine video data with processed graphic data output from the scaler.
US08497869B2
A character generating system (10) includes a pickup image information acquiring unit (14), a face part texture generating unit (15), a shape model generating unit (16), and a texture pasting unit (17). The face part texture generating unit (15) has the function of generating part textures that correspond to face parts and are pasted to a head portion shape model of a character (70), which will become an anime-like portrait based on face pickup image information of an object, and includes a characteristic point extracting unit (151), a part selecting unit (152), a flesh color setting unit (153), and a part arrangement setting unit (154).
US08497860B2
The invention relates to image decomposition strategies and computer-based methods for implementing them. In one method of the invention, the ordering of tetrahedral shapes that define or approximate an image is performed in such a way that neighboring tetrahedral shapes can be identified, located and efficiently used. In one aspect, binary location code array is used to represent an image and the method for identify the neighbor shape employs a bit manipulation step in code or psuedo-code for operating a computer. In this aspect, the invention allows one to move between adjacent tetrahedra, and any data corresponding to the tetrahedra, in constant time.
US08497854B2
A display drive apparatus includes a detection voltage applying circuit that applies a predetermined detection voltage to the drive element of the pixel drive circuit, a voltage detecting circuit that detects a voltage value corresponding to a device characteristic unique to the drive element after a predetermined time elapses after the application of the detection voltage to the drive element by the pixel drive circuit, and a gradation designating signal generating circuit that generates a gradation designating signal based on an absolute value of a voltage component according to a gradation value of display data and a value, acquired by multiplying an absolute value of the voltage value detected by the voltage detecting circuit, by a constant greater than 1, and applies the gradation designating signal to the pixel drive circuit, whereby a change in device characteristic.
US08497836B2
In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving, by a user identifier circuit, a button pressure signature specifying a sequence of button pressure values sampled while a corresponding identified button of a user input device is pressed by a user; the user identifier circuit identifying the user of the user input device based on the button pressure signature; and the user identifier circuit outputting a message identifying the identified button and the identified user.
US08497816B2
A crossed monitoring device for a head-up display that can be used for displaying a representation of at least one first datum. The device includes a mechanism generating at least one first image from the at least one first datum, a mechanism receiving from the at least one second display at least one second image generated from at least one second datum, and a mechanism selecting one of the first and at least one second image. The device can further include a mechanism modifying images according to characteristics of the displays. Each display can modify the images to be displayed according to its characteristics, and each display can modify the images according to the characteristics of each display.
US08497815B2
A dielectrically loaded quadrifilar helical antenna has four quarter turn helical elements centered on a common axis. Each helical element is metallised on the outer cylindrical surface of a solid dielectric core and each has a feed end and a linked end, the linked ends being connected together by a linking conductor encircling the core. At an operating frequency of the antenna the helical elements and the linking conductor together form two conductive loops each having an electrical length in the region of (2n−1)/2 times the wavelength, where n is an integer. Such an antenna tends to present a source impedance of at least 500 ohms to receiver circuitry to which it is connected. The invention includes an antenna assembly including a dielectrically antenna and a receiver having a radio frequency front-end stage with a differential input coupled to the feed ends of the helical elements.
US08497814B2
The present invention refers to a triple-band antenna array for cellular base stations operating at a first frequency band and at a second frequency band within a first frequency range, and also at a third frequency band within a second frequency range. Said triple-band antenna array comprises a first set of radiating elements operating at the first frequency band, a second set of radiating elements operating at the second frequency band, a third set of radiating elements operating at both the third and the first frequency bands, and a fourth set of radiating elements operating at both the third and the second frequency bands. The radiating elements are arranged in such a way that at least some of the radiating elements of the first set are interlaced with at least some of the radiating elements of the third set, and at least some of the radiating elements of the second set are interlaced with at least some of the radiating elements of said fourth set. Further the invention relates to a slim triple-band base station for mobile/cellular services that includes in its radiating part two or more of said triple-band antenna arrays.
US08497813B2
A panel antenna having an enclosure, an internal cover, one or more micro radios and RF modules, and a radome is provided. The enclosure may include a rectangular rear panel, side walls with an interior surface to mount micro radios and an external surface to receive heat sinks, and a hinged front cover providing an internal cover. The internal cover may also have a plurality of RF radiating modules fastened thereto. The internal cover may also provide environmental sealing and electromagnetic shielding. The plurality of micro radios are located inside the cavity of the enclosure, and each micro radio is coupled to an RF radiating module. The micro radios may be mounted inside the enclosure on the side walls. The radome encloses the RF radiating modules. The radome may be mounted to the internal seal. Additionally, the panel antenna may further include a heat sink mounted on an exterior side of the rear panel. The heat sink on the rear panel may dissipate heat from additional active electronics, such as a communications hub or calibration radio. The micro radios and active electronics may be mounted such that the heat sinks dissipate heat generated by the micro radios.
US08497805B2
Aspects of a method and system for configurable antenna in an integrated circuit package are provided. In this regard, a phased array antenna embedded in a multi-layer integrated circuit (IC) package may be utilized for transmitting and/or receiving signals. An IC enabled to transmit and/or receive signals may be bonded to the multi-layer IC package and may communicate a reference signal and/or one or more phase shifted versions of said reference signal to the antenna. One or more phase shifters (fabricated, for example, in planar transmission line) may be embedded in the multi-layer IC package and may be controlled via an IC bonded to the multi-layer IC package. The phased array antenna may comprise a plurality of antenna elements which may each comprise an interconnection for communicatively coupling to an associated transmitter and/or receiver, a feeder line, a quarter wavelength transformer, and a radiating portion (e.g., a folded dipole).
US08497788B1
Systems and methods for performing compression of data. A data buffer is separated into equal-sized segments of data. A frequency count is performed to determine how often each segment of data appears in the data buffer. Frequently occurring segments are encoded with unique compression codes, while all other infrequently occurring segments are encoded with a common compression code. The compressed data buffer includes the compression codes, which are all of the same bit-length, and the uncompressed segments. The compression codes and the uncompressed segments are stored in the compressed data buffer in the order in which the corresponding segments appear in the original data buffer.
US08497783B2
The invention relates to the determination of direction, speed and/or distance of vehicles on a roadway by means of a sensor, which operates according to the light-section procedure and is directed onto the roadway, for recording the surface contour of a vehicle, and an evaluation unit, which is connected to the sensor and determines the direction, speed and/or distance of the vehicles therefrom.
US08497781B2
A power supply extracts electrical power from the electro-magnetic field surrounding a high voltage power conductor and conditions the derived input power to provide a stable power source for instrumentation and communications equipment. The communications controller is a local network router that routes serial data traffic to selected communication devices such as an instrumentation processor, a power supply processor, or a maintenance port controller. The router forwards the data to other communications equipment and forwards data from the communicating equipment to an external network providing substantially simultaneous communications between the external network and the instrumentation processor, power supply processor and maintenance port controller.
US08497779B1
Disclosed are various embodiments that are employed to ensure power source redundancy for a computing device. A plurality of power inputs of a computing device are coupled to at least one of a plurality of power sources. A determination is made as to whether at least two identifiers embodied in a corresponding at least two data signals transmitted over at least two power lines are the same. Each of the power lines is coupled to a respective one of the power inputs, and the data signals are transmitted by at least one of the power sources.
US08497778B1
A fishing line monitoring apparatus includes a base support to adjustably span an ice fishing hole, a tip-up rig frame rotatably mounted to the base support, a visual and an audible alarm, and a radio transmitter assembly. The tip-up rig includes a support arm having a fishing line and reel. The visual and audible alarms provide both visual and audible indication when the fishing line is tugged. The rotating tip-up rig allows the tip-up rig frame and support arm to rotate for simple positioning and use. The transmitter includes a transmitter and a power source. The audible alarm is actuated by contacts located on a support arm and the reel, such that the audible alarm emits a series of audible beeps over when the reel spins, such as from a fish moving on the line. The transmitter transmits the audible beeps over a wireless RF signal to a remote receiver.
US08497775B2
A system and method for utilizing RFID tags in environments where radiation is used is disclosed. RFID tags are secured to various components of a pharmaceutical system, thereby enabling the customer to download pertinent information about the component, such as lot number, date of manufacturer, test parameters, etc. The tags can be applied to the component immediately after manufacture and can be subjected to the sterilization process without risk of data loss or corruption. The memory device within the tag utilizes a technology that does not rely upon charge storage as its mechanism to store information.
US08497772B2
A tire pressure monitoring system includes tire sensors mounted in, on or adjacent respective tires of the vehicle, LF antennas mounted on the vehicle, and an ECU. Each tire sensor is configured to transmit an RF signal and to detect an LF field. Each antenna is configured to transmit an LF field to wake up the tire sensors. The ECU is in communication with the antenna, the tire sensors and a radio configured to receive AM broadcast signals. The ECU can communicate with the radio to inhibit speakers in communication with the radio from emitting sound while each LF field to wake up the tire sensors is being transmitted.
US08497754B2
The electromagnetic actuator is a linear electromagnetic actuator in which the relative position between a slide table that supports permanent magnets thereon and a guide rail that supports a coil, which is arranged in confronting relation to the permanent magnets, is displaced by means of a thrust force generated by a current flowing through the coil. The coil is disposed on the guide rail through a low coercive force magnetizable material body, the coercive force of which is lower than a predetermined value. Consequently, generation of residual magnetization can be suppressed, and an influence on the thrust force caused by such residual magnetization can also be suppressed.
US08497749B2
A low attenuation surface wave transmission line system for launching surface waves on a bare and unconditioned conductor, such as are found in abundance in the power transmission lines of the existing power grids. The conductors within the power grid typically lack dielectric and special conditioning. Accordingly, the present invention includes a first launcher, preferably including a mode converter and an adapter, for receiving an incident wave of electromagnetic energy and propagating a surface wave longitudinally on the power lines. The system includes at least one other launcher, and more likely a number of other launchers, spaced apart from one another along the constellation of transmission lines. The system and associated electric fields along any given conductor are radially and longitudinally symmetrical.
US08497737B2
An amplifier circuit includes a power amplifier configured to amplify an RF input signal to obtain an RF output signal, and a bias controller configured to control a bias of the power amplifier. The bias controller is configured to determine a measure of a load impedance of a load coupled to an output of the power amplifier and provide a bias control signal to adjust the bias of the power amplifier based on the determination of the measure of the load impedance.
US08497735B2
Variable attenuation systems having continuous input steering may be used to implement vector or quadrature modulators and vector multipliers. Discrete implementations of attenuators with continuous input steering may have two outputs which may be cross-connected to provide four-quadrant operation. A symmetrically driven center tap may provide improved zero-point accuracy.
US08497733B2
The present invention quickly detects an offset and prevents cutoff of low frequency signals. Offset detection circuits smooth an output of a variable gain amplifier at a predetermined time constant and detects the offset, which is a DC component. The detected offset is added to the input of the variable gain amplifier by an adder and the offset in the output of the variable gain amplifier is corrected. The time constant in the offset detection circuit is changed by the resistance values of the variable resistors. Then, the time constant is changed to a small time constant when the gain of the variable gain amplifier is changed and thereafter to a large time constant.
US08497732B2
According to one embodiment, a three-dimensional semiconductor integrated circuit includes first, second and third chips which are stacked, and a common conductor which connects the first, second and third chips from one another. The first chip includes a first multi-leveling circuit, the second chip includes a second multi-leveling circuit, and the third chip includes a decoding circuit. The first multi-leveling circuit includes a first inverter to which binary first data is input and which outputs one of first and second potentials and a first capacitor which is connected between an output terminal of the first inverter and the common conductor. The second multi-leveling circuit includes a second inverter to which binary second data is input and which outputs one of third and fourth potentials and a second capacitor which is connected between an output terminal of the second inverter and the common conductor.
US08497725B2
A circuit includes circuit portions operating from separate power supplies which are switched sequentially. An output of a first portion powered by a power supply (A) is provided as an input to a second portion powered by another power supply (B). Power supply (A) is switched-ON a delay interval later than power supply (B). In an embodiment, the first portion also receives a control input which enables or disables response of the first portion to changes in its inputs. An active circuit is connected between the control terminal and a constant reference potential node of the circuit, and has one transistor of a current-mirror pair connected across supplies (A) and (B). The active circuit connects the control terminal to the constant reference potential node in the delay interval, but is an open circuit otherwise. Power dissipation in the circuit is thereby reduced.
US08497720B2
A semiconductor device includes: a voltage-control-type clock generation circuit having a plurality of stages of first delay elements and whose oscillation frequency is controlled according to a control voltage applied to the first delay elements; a delay circuit having a plurality of stages of second delay elements connected serially; and a selection circuit selecting one from pulse signals output by the plurality of stages of respective second delay elements. The first delay elements and the second delay elements have a same structure formed on a same semiconductor substrate, and a delay amount of the second delay elements is adjusted according to the control voltage.
US08497718B2
A data I/O interface for an integrated circuit device includes a noise detector receiving a power supply voltage, detecting a power supply voltage noise component, and providing a clock delay control signal in response to detected power supply voltage noise component. The data I/O interface also includes a clock delay circuit providing a delayed clock signal in response to the clock delay control signal, and a data transfer circuit powered by the power supply voltage and providing output data synchronously with the delayed clock signal.
US08497717B2
The disclosed is a reference frequency generating device (11), which includes a GPS receiver (21), a PLL circuit (31), a detector (28), a memory unit (29), and a controller (22). The PLL circuit (31) controls the digitally controlled oscillator (26) based on a synchronizing control signal acquired based on a reference signal from the GPS receiver (21). The memory unit (29) stores a correspondence relation between a control value of the synchronizing control signal, and a voltage value and a temperature at that time. When the reference signal is not acquired, the controller 22 determines a holdover control signal based on the correspondence relation, and the voltage and temperature detected by the detector 28, and controls the digitally controlled oscillator (26).
US08497712B2
A circuit includes a comparator, a programmable current source, and a control circuit. The comparator is operable to compare an internal supply voltage of the circuit to a reference voltage. The programmable current source is operable to supply a first current for the reference voltage. The control circuit is operable to control the first current through the programmable current source based on an output signal of the comparator.
US08497697B2
Film frame assemblies and apparatus for testing and singulating integrated circuit packages, as well as associated methods for forming a film frame assembly, and testing and singulating integrated circuit packages are disclosed. A plurality of leads on a lead frame are cut to form singulated integrated circuit packages. Apparatus and methods are disclosed for mechanically aligning a set of electrical contacts attached to a contactor body with a plurality of leads on a singulated integrated circuit package.
US08497689B1
A method and test setup for reducing the RF power requirement in active load pull uses impedance tuners between the output of the test transistor and the active RF power injection network. The active network uses either a closed loop (active load) configuration or an open loop network employing split or synchronized signal sources. The impedance tuners are wideband (fundamental) tuners, harmonic rejection tuners or multi-harmonic tuners. A 7:1 transforming ratio of the tuners represents the best compromise between power matching and tuner loss, yielding a reduction of 11dB in power requirements from the active load or the synchronized source(s); if only the fundamental signal is injected at the output of the DUT, a multi-harmonic tuner or a harmonic rejection tuner is used for independent harmonic tuning; if multiple harmonic signals are injected, a multi-harmonic tuner is used and creates passive harmonic loads while reducing at the same time the power requirements from the harmonic injection sources.
US08497686B2
According to one embodiment, a method for making a battery value evaluation index, includes applying a predetermined charge/discharge pattern to a predetermined battery, detecting a largest SOC value and a smallest SOC value of the predetermined battery, and setting a width between the largest SOC value and the smallest SOC value as “A”, detecting a charge limit SOC value at which the predetermined battery shows the highest SOC value, detecting a discharge limit SOC value at which the predetermined battery shows the lowest SOC value, and setting a width between the charge limit SOC value and the discharge limit SOC value as “B”, and determining that a life of the predetermined battery has ended in the predetermined charge/discharge pattern when a state of B>A has changed into a state of B≧A.
US08497675B2
An angle detector includes a rotating member, a housing, a detector and an urging member. The rotating member is rotatable with a shaft inserted therethrough. The housing rotatably supports the rotating member. The detector detects a rotating angle of the rotating member with respect to the housing. The urging member urges the rotating member in a rotating direction of the rotating member. An engagement portion is provided on the housing. An engaged portion is provided on the rotating member. The engaged portion is adapted to be brought into engagement with the engagement portion by urged by the urging member.
US08497674B2
A magnetic detection apparatus includes a first comparison circuit that waveform-shapes the amplitude of a detection signal from magneto-electric transducers by DC coupling, a third comparison circuit that waveform-shapes the detection signal by AC coupling, an oscillation circuit having a natural frequency, a control circuit that counts the output of the first comparison circuit by using the oscillation means, and a selection circuit that selects the output of the first comparison means and the output of the second comparison means. The control circuit counts rising from the next rising or falling from the next falling of an output rectangular wave of the first comparison circuit, and provides output to the selection circuit at the time point at which the count value reaches a desired value. The selection circuit selects and outputs the output rectangular wave of the first comparison circuit or the third comparison circuit.
US08497664B2
A generator system that includes a six-phase AC machine and an active rectifier bridge employing low on-resistance switches, such as MOSFET switches, for converting the AC current from the machine to a DC current. The system also includes a switch control circuit to switch the MOSFET switches in synchronization with the six-phase current flow. The system determines the phase-to-ground voltages of the machine for inputs to the switch control circuit. The control circuit calculates the phase-to-phase voltages from the phase-to-ground voltages. The control circuit uses a specific control scheme to determine if each of the phase-to-phase voltages is above or below first and second predetermined threshold voltages, where if the phase-to-phase voltage is above the first threshold voltage, the control circuit closes the switch, and if the phase-to-phase voltage is below the second threshold voltage, the control circuit opens the switch.
US08497662B2
A charging device has a charging unit and a control unit. The charging unit charges a battery pack the battery pack being either a first type or a second type of battery pack. The first type of battery pack includes a single battery cell or a first plurality of battery cells connected in series. The second type of battery pack includes a single battery unit or a second plurality of battery units connected in series. Each battery unit includes at least two battery cells connected in parallel. The control unit controls the charging unit to control at least one of a charging current flowing through the battery pack and a charging voltage applied across the battery pack, depending on the battery pack to be charged.
US08497660B2
A charging system of an electric vehicle and a method for charging the electric vehicle are described in the present invention. The system uses a smart card for battery management when charging a battery. Furthermore, the system can prevent the battery or the electric vehicle from being stolen. Compared to existing charging systems for electric vehicles, the present invention can save more cost for users and provide safety mechanism for battery or electric vehicle.
US08497659B2
A video game controller charging system for charging at least one video game controller is provided. The system includes a controller adapter including a battery unit, at least one first induction coil, and at least one first magnet, and is adapted to be received by the at least one video game controller; and a base including a power input, at least one second induction coil, and at least one structure on the base for providing physical support to the controller while the controller is being charged, the at least one structure including at least one second magnet. The base is configured to inductively charge the battery unit through inductive coupling between the at least one first induction coil and the at least one second induction coil when the controller is held in place on the structure by magnetic attraction between the magnets.
US08497656B2
A solar umbrella and table apparatus with attached chairs features stand-alone AC power, generated from solar energy. The apparatus features an umbrella having solar collection devices and a table with attached seating chairs. The electrical system of the apparatus converts collected solar energy to an electrical voltage. Batteries store the energy provided by the solar panels. Inverters convert the DC voltage output from the storage batteries to 120 volts AC. Power outlet terminals are located on the umbrella and table apparatus allow 120 volts AC powered devices to access the output of the sine wave power inverters.
US08497653B2
An amount of a motor drive current is controlled to an appropriate value. Two coils are provided, and a rotor is rotated by the coils by setting different phases for the supplied currents to the two coils. During a phase where one of the coils is in a high-impedance state, an induced voltage generated in the coil is detected. According to the state of the induced voltage, an output control circuit controls the amounts of the motor drive currents supplied to the two coils.
US08497649B2
A motor driving control apparatus includes a motor driving unit which drives a motor and a driving control unit which supplies to the motor driving unit a command value for the motor driving unit to drive the motor. A power characteristic acquiring unit acquires a power characteristic of an AC power supply that supplies power to the motor. A control parameter determining unit determines based on a voltage characteristic of the AC power supply whether, during driving of the motor, the voltage of the AC power supply drops to a level that adversely affects the driving of the motor, and if positive, the control parameter determining unit sets a control parameter so that the voltage of the AC power supply does not drop below that level and supplies the control parameter to the driving control unit in order for the driving control unit to determine the command value.
US08497645B2
A control device that controls an electric motor drive device is configured with a current control portion that determines a voltage command value, a voltage control portion that generates a switching control signal, and a current control period determining portion. The control device is also configured with a voltage control period determining portion that determines a voltage control period, and a control period setting portion. In the control device, the current control period determining portion determines, according to a target torque, the current control period as a value that increases continuously or stepwise as the target torque decreases. Furthermore, the voltage control period determining portion determines, according to a rotating speed, the voltage control period as a value that increases continuously or stepwise as the rotating speed decreases.
US08497643B2
Disclosed is a linear scale for obtaining a distance from a reference point. A scale detection mechanism is adapted to output waveform signals of the same phase. Also the scale detection mechanism corresponds to a magnetic flux density generated by magnetic bodies of a scale element. The scale detection mechanism may be sensors. The sensors are arranged at even intervals corresponding to a scale length of the scale element. The sensors are adapted to output sine-wave signals having the same phase to continuously detect the scale element in a movement direction of the scale element. The scale element has opposite ends each has the same polarity and configured such that an output voltage of the single sensor detecting the end of the scale element is reduced to one-half of an output voltage of the single sensor detecting the remaining portion of the scale element.
US08497642B2
A motor device comprising a motor, and a drive control circuit for driving and controlling the motor, in which the drive control circuit includes a control unit for generating a control signal for controlling the rotation of the motor, a drive unit for driving the motor on the basis of the control signal, and a communication unit for making serial communications via a serial communication bus for transmitting serial data. This communication unit has an address generating function for generating and setting addresses.
US08497641B2
To provide a disk drive capable of inhibiting the occurrence of acoustic noise caused by a voltage pulse when the head is retracted using a speed control method using voltage obtained by rectifying a back electromotive force after the power source has been cut off from the rotation of a spindle motor. Retraction control circuit is used to control the on and off modes of transistors in accordance with the speed of VCM. The voltage across VCM becomes a voltage that can be regulated with VCM voltage control circuit. At this time, voltage is supplied to the terminals based on the voltage of ISO5V that is the rectified voltage of the back electromotive force of the spindle motor and the pulsating voltage is synchronized and produced at both terminals. As a result, the potential difference across VCM is such that the pulsating voltage is negated and acoustic noise is inhibited.
US08497629B2
A color-temperature-tunable device comprises a first light emitting diode (LED) chip group comprising at least one first blue LED chip that emits a first light having a first peak wavelength, a second LED chip group comprising at least one second blue LED chip that emits a second light having a second peak wavelength different from the first peak wavelength, and a wavelength converting layer above at least a portion of the first LED chip group and a portion of the second LED chip group. The first LED chip group and the second LED chip group are driven by a first driving current and a second driving current, respectively.
US08497627B2
A display device includes: a substrate; a display unit that is formed over the substrate; a driving driver positioned outside the display unit and including a plurality of signal lines; a sealing substrate fixed to the substrate by a bonding layer surrounding the display unit and the driving driver. The sealing layer includes a composite member including a resin matrix and a plurality of carbon fibers and a first metal layer positioned over the composite member. The display device further includes a plurality of pads positioned outside the bonding layer and electrically connected to the plurality of signal lines; and a plurality of second metal layers positioned over one surface of the composite member facing the plurality of pads and connected to the plurality of pads, respectively, through a conductive bonding layer.
US08497622B2
Energy-saving lamps contain a gas filling of mercury vapor and argon in a gas discharge bulb. Amalgam spheres are used for filling the gas discharge bulb with mercury. A tin amalgam having a high proportion by weight of mercury in the range from 30 to 70% by weight is proposed. Owing to the high mercury content, the amalgam spheres have liquid amalgam phases on the surface. Coating of the spheres with a tin or tin alloy powder converts the liquid amalgam phases on the surface into a solid amalgam having a high tin content. This prevents conglutination of the amalgam spheres during storage and processing.
US08497618B2
A stator for a rotary electrical machine, includes a stator core in a cylinder shape and having plural magnetic pole teeth, which are arranged in a circumferential direction of the stator while keeping a distance therebetween and each of which protrudes in a radial direction of the stator core, a coil configured with a conductive wire wound around each of the magnetic pole teeth, an insulating bobbin provided between the coil and the corresponding magnetic pole tooth, and an electric power supply portion arranged axially outwardly of the stator core, electrically connecting the coil with an outside of the stator, and including an outgoing wire, which corresponds to a portion of at least one of a winding start and a winding end of the conductive wire being extended by a predetermined length, and an isolating member having a groove portion for accommodating and guiding the corresponding outgoing wire.
US08497615B2
A stator winding is configured by connecting a first three-phase stator winding and a second three-phase stator winding in parallel. A U1-phase winding of the first three-phase stator winding is configured by connecting a U1-1-phase winding portion and a U1-2-phase winding portion in series, and a U2-phase winding of the second three-phase stator winding is configured by connecting a U2-1-phase winding portion and a U2-2-phase winding portion in series. The U1-1-phase winding portion and the U2-2-phase winding portion are m-turn wave windings, and the U2-1-phase winding portion and the U1-2-phase winding portion are n-turn wave windings (where n does not equal m). The U1-1-phase winding portion and the U2-1-phase winding portion are mounted into a first slot group, and the U1-2-phase winding portion and the U2-2-phase winding portion are mounted into a second slot group.
US08497600B2
Systems, apparatuses, and methods for managing battery circuits in systems such as wireless communications service base stations are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a battery circuit having multiple strings of one or more serially connected batteries. The apparatus may be configured to rotate between battery strings such that one or more strings are maintained at or near an upper threshold while other string(s) are disconnected from the maintained string(s). The apparatus may also be configured to charge the battery circuit, to test the battery circuit, and to handle power failures.
US08497596B2
It is intended to provide a power generating apparatus of renewable energy type which can transmit large torque and has a low-cost and readily processable structure of fixing a hydraulic pump to the main shaft and a method of mounting the hydraulic pump. A plurality of key slots 25 are formed at an end on the back-end side of the main shaft 4. A plurality of keys 30A, 30B are inserted in the key slots 25. The keys 30A, 30B include a reference key 30A to be inserted in one of the key slots and a split key 30B to be inserted in the other of the key slots. The split key 30B is separated into a first key piece 34 having a projection to be inserted in a first groove formed in the main shaft and a second key piece 36 having a depression to be inserted in a second groove formed in the cylindrical member. The pair of key pieces 34, 36 are arranged so that the projection and the depression engage with each other. The projection and the depression of the first and second key pieces have side surfaces 34A, 34B, 36A and 36B formed along a radial direction of the main shaft 4. The side surfaces 34A, 34B, 36A and 36B are contact surfaces of the first and second key pieces 36 and incline with respect to the axial direction of the main shaft.
US08497593B2
A device for collecting swell energy that comprises a float, a turbine mounted under the float and adapted for moving relative to the float when the float is moved by the swell, and a power generator driven by the turbine. The turbine is rotatingly mounted about a vertical rotation axis, so that a tilting motion of the float always results in a torque applied onto the turbine in a single predetermined rotation direction.
US08497591B2
Methods and systems are provided for operating an engine, the engine coupled to a traction alternator for vehicle travelling. In one example, the method includes, in an off-highway vehicle running mode of operation, supplying current from the traction alternator to a traction motor via a traction inverter to propel the vehicle, and, in a starting mode of operation, supplying stored energy from a first energy source and a secondary energy source to the traction alternator to start the engine.
US08497589B2
The invention relates to an electric energy generation system based on the use of static weight. The static weight can be placed, pushed, or rolled onto a platform or shelf, controlled in its vertical motion downward, and connected to an electric generator, which transforms the vertical linear motion to electricity. A gearing system, hydraulic transmission, fluid coupling, or torque convertor to convert linear to rotational motion is employed as necessary, thereby turning the generator. A return means, of various forms, allows the platform or shelf to return to original position, and provides an opportunity to make use of vertical motion once again for energy production. A flywheel may be used to provide more sustained and smoother power over a longer period, and other amplification means may be used to increase duration or amount of power, as well as conversion means to provide electricity in usable form.
US08497579B1
A semiconductor packaging method includes providing a substrate having a plurality of pads, each of the pads comprises a first coupling surface having a plurality of first conductive contact areas and a plurality of first non-conductive contact areas; forming a conductible gel with anti-dissociation function on the substrate, said conductible gel includes a plurality of conductive particles and a plurality of anti-dissociation substances; mounting a chip on the substrate, said chip comprises a plurality of copper-containing bumps, each of the copper-containing bumps comprises a ring surface and a second coupling surface having a plurality of second conductive contact areas and a plurality of second non-conductive contact areas, wherein the conductive particles are electrically connected with the first conductive contact areas and the second conductive contact areas, said anti-dissociation substances are in contact with the second non-conductive contact area, and the ring surfaces are covered with the anti-dissociation substances.
US08497577B2
An apparatus includes a Micro Electrical Mechanical System (MEMS) having electrical contacts and a MEMS device in electrical communication with the electrical contacts. A lid is oriented over the MEMS device and not the electrical contacts. The lid has a base region and a top region, the base region being wider in dimension than the top region and oriented in closer proximity to the MEMS device than the top region.
US08497571B2
A thin flip chip package structure comprises a substrate, a chip and a heat dissipation paste, the substrate comprises an insulating layer and a trace layer. The insulating layer comprises a top surface, a bottom surface and a plurality of apertures formed at the bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface of the insulating layer comprises a disposing area and a non-disposing area. Each of the apertures is located at the disposing area and comprises a lateral wall and a base surface. A first thickness is formed between the base surface and the insulating layer, a second thickness is formed between the top surface and the bottom surface, and the second thickness is larger than the first thickness. The chip disposed on the top surface comprises a chip surface and a plurality of bumps. The heat dissipation paste at least fills the apertures and contacts the base surface.
US08497566B2
A method of forming a capacitor includes forming a conductive first capacitor electrode material comprising TiN over a substrate. TiN of the TiN-comprising material is oxidized effective to form conductive TiOxNy having resistivity no greater than 1 ohm·cm over the TiN-comprising material where x is greater than 0 and y is from 0 to 1.4. A capacitor dielectric is formed over the conductive TiOxNy. Conductive second capacitor electrode material is formed over the capacitor dielectric. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated, including capacitors independent of method of fabrication.
US08497565B2
In a disclosed embodiment, a stacked capacitor (100) has bottom, middle and top metal electrode layers (141A, 141B, 141C) interleaved with dielectric layers (142A, 142B) conformally disposed within holes (140A, 140B, 140C) in a protective overcoat or backend dielectric layer (110) over a top metal layer (115) of an integrated circuit (105). A top electrode (155) contacts the top metal electrode layer (141C). A bottom electrode (150) electrically couples an isolated part of the top metal electrode layer (141C) through a bottom electrode via (165A) to a first contact node (135A) in the top metal layer (115) which is in contact with the bottom metal electrode layer (141A). A middle electrode (160) electrically couples a part of the middle metal electrode layer (141B) not covered by the top metal layer (115) through a middle electrode via (165B) to a second contact node (135B) in the top metal electrode layer (115). The sidewalls of the top and middle electrode vias (165A, 165B) are lined with insulating material to electrically isolate the metal electrode layer ends.
US08497558B2
In an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate has a first cavity disposed through it, and conductive material covers at least the bottom portion of the first cavity. An integrated circuit is disposed on the top surface of the conductive material. The device further includes a cap disposed on the top surface of the substrate, such that a cavity disposed on a surface of the cap overlies the first cavity in the substrate.
US08497554B2
In a replacement gate approach for forming high-k metal gate electrode structures, electronic fuses may be provided on the basis of a semiconductor material in combination with a metal silicide by using a recessed surface topography and/or a superior selectivity of the metal silicide material during the replacement gate process. For example, in some illustrative embodiments, electronic fuses may be provided in a recessed portion of an isolation region, thereby avoiding the removal of the semiconductor material when replacing the semiconductor material of the gate electrode structures with a metal-containing electrode material. Consequently, the concept of well-established semiconductor-based electronic fuses may be applied together with sophisticated replacement gate structures of transistors.
US08497553B2
A semiconductor device includes a first transistor formed on a first element region, and a first protecting element including a second transistor formed on a second element region. A second protecting element ohmic electrode is connected to a first gate electrode, a first protecting element ohmic electrode is connected to a first ohmic electrode, and a first protecting element gate electrode is connected to at least one of the first protecting element ohmic electrode and the second protecting element ohmic electrode. The second element region is smaller in area than the first element region.
US08497545B2
A method of manufacturing a non-volatile memory device is provided. The method includes forming isolation patterns defining an active region on a substrate, forming a floating gate pattern on the active region, and forming a gate line on the floating gate pattern. The floating gate pattern is self-aligned on the active region and has an impurity ion concentration that becomes relatively low as the floating gate pattern gets nearer to the active region.
US08497544B2
A memory module includes multiple memory devices mounted to a substrate and one or more discrete heating elements disposed in thermal contact with the memory devices. Each of the memory devices includes charge-storing memory cells subject to operation-induced defects that degrade ability of the memory cells to store data. The discrete heating elements, or single discrete heating element, heats the memory devices to a temperature that anneals the defects.
US08497533B2
An embodiment is directed to a method of fabricating a semiconductor memory device, the method including preparing a substrate having a cell array region and a contact region, forming a thin film structure on the substrate, including forming sacrificial film patterns isolated horizontally by a lower isolation region, the lower isolation region traversing the cell array region and the contact region, and forming sacrificial films sequentially stacked on the sacrificial film patterns, and forming an opening that penetrates the thin film structure to expose the lower isolation region of the cell array region, the opening being restrictively formed in the cell array region.
US08497529B2
Trench-generated device structures fabricated using a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) wafer, design structures embodied in a machine readable medium for designing, manufacturing, or testing an integrated circuit, as well as methods for fabricating trench-generated device structures. The device structure includes a trench extending through the semiconductor and insulator layers of the SOI wafer and into the underlying semiconductor substrate, and a first doped region in the semiconductor substrate. The doped region, which extends about the trench, has a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type. The device structure further includes a first contact extending from the top surface through the semiconductor and insulator layers to a portion of the semiconductor substrate outside of the doped region, and a second contact extending from the top surface through the semiconductor and insulator layers to the doped region in the semiconductor substrate.
US08497499B2
A gated electrical device includes a non-conductive substrate and a graphene structure disposed on the non-conductive substrate. A metal gate is disposed directly on a portion of the graphene structure. The metal gate includes a first metal that has a high contact resistance with graphene. Two electrical contacts are each placed on the graphene structure so that the metal gate is disposed between the two electrical contacts. In a method of making a gated electrical device, a graphene structure is placed onto a non-conductive substrate. A metal gate is deposited directly on a portion of the graphene structure. Two electrical contacts are deposited on the graphene structure so that the metal gate is disposed between the two electrical contacts.
US08497494B2
An organic thin film transistor includes source and drain electrodes spaced apart from each other on a substrate, an organic semiconductor layer between the source and drain electrodes on the substrate, a gate insulating layer including an organic insulating material on the organic semiconductor layer, the gate insulating layer having a thickness of about 1,800 Å to about 2,500 Å, and a gate electrode on the gate insulating layer.
US08497489B2
A chamber apparatus used with a laser apparatus may include: a chamber provided with at least one inlet for introducing thereinto a laser beam outputted from the laser apparatus; a target supply unit provided to the chamber for supplying a target material to a predetermined region in the chamber; a recovery control unit for instructing the target supply unit to execute recovery operation if a predetermined condition is met; a recovery unit for executing the recovery operation in response to the instruction from the recovery control unit; and a position measuring unit for measuring a position of the target material supplied from the target supply unit into the chamber.
US08497486B1
An ion source includes arc chamber housing defining an arc chamber. The arc chamber housing has an extraction plate in a fixed position, and the extraction plate defines a plurality of extraction apertures. The ion source also includes a shutter assembly positioned outside of the arc chamber proximate the extraction plate. The shutter assembly is configured to block at least a portion of one of the plurality of extraction apertures during one time interval. The ion source combined with relative movement of a workpiece to be treated with an ion beam extracted from the ion source enables a two dimensional ion implantation pattern to be formed on the workpiece using only one ion source.
US08497482B2
A radiation detector module includes a radiation detecting substrate including a plurality of semiconductor devices mounted thereon for detecting radiation, a fixing member for holding the radiation detecting substrate, and a circuit substrate connected to the radiation detecting substrate. The radiation detecting substrate further includes a mounting board including an edge portion connected to the circuit substrate at one end thereof, and a flexible substrate including a wiring pattern connected to the plurality of semiconductor devices. The fixing member includes a bottom, a first side wall extending in a normal direction to the bottom from one end of the bottom, a second side wall extending in the normal direction to the bottom from the other end of the bottom, and substrate supporting portions on the first side wall and the second side wall.
US08497481B2
According to one embodiment, a radiation detector comprises an array substrate having thereon a photoelectric conversion element for converting fluorescence into an electrical signal and having the outermost layer covered with a protective film, a scintillator layer provided on the protective film and converting incident radiation into fluorescence, and a reflective layer filmed by coating and drying paste-like material containing light-scattering particles and a binder provided on the scintillator layer, wherein the protective film is made of a thermoplastic resin having a softening point not higher than the film formation temperature of the scintillator layer and extending on the array substrate over an area of the reflective layer.
US08497477B1
A system and technique for imaging a subject at a scene overcomes the weaknesses in the existing gain fluctuation techniques by switching the environmental temperature at the scene at a rate sufficiently fast enough to obtain subsequent samples in a time period where the gain has not fluctuated sufficiently to have a negative effect on detection sensitivity. This technique is utilized in conjunction with the method of subsequent subtraction of alternate samples which both reveals the reflectance of the scene and removes gain fluctuation.
US08497471B2
Methods are described for measuring the amount of a methylation TPMT enzyme product in a sample. More specifically, mass spectrometric methods are described for detecting and quantifying 6-MMP or isotopically labeled 6-MMP in a test sample utilizing mass spectrometric techniques and for using such methods to determine the activity of TPMT enzyme that is present in a sample.
US08497468B2
An encoder includes a rotor including: a shaft and a code disk attached to the shaft; a stator including a scanning unit configured to generate an electrical signal corresponding to an angular position of the code disk; a cable configured to transfer the electrical signal; and a cover overmolded onto the stator, where the scanning unit is sealed from an outer environment by the cover.
US08497466B2
An apparatus for checking mechanical component parts, such as tools in machine tools, uses optical devices for emitting and receiving a light beam, for example a laser beam, and sensors for detecting the interruption of such light beam. A protection device for at least one of the optical devices includes pneumatic conduits and a nozzle outputting an air stream from a plurality of holes located around the central conduit through which the light beam passes, so generating a tubular shield which embraces the light beam. The protection device further includes a shutter which can be displaced from a rest position, wherein the central conduit is closed and the inside of the protection device is pressurized, to a working position, wherein the nozzle delivers the air stream in the form of a tubular shield. Passing from the rest position to the working position, the shutter assumes an intermediate transit position in which an air blast is outputted through the central conduit for a short time interval. The shutter has cylindrical surfaces and slides inside a shell of the protection device, driven by plane antirotation surfaces, too.
US08497463B2
A device for counting photons includes a detector unit that is configured to generate an detected signal. A switching unit is configured to be impinged upon by the detected signal and to trigger a switching state for each detection pulse so as to generate a state signal. A sampling unit is configured to sample the state signal at a predetermined sampling frequency. A serial-parallel converter unit is configured to parallelize the serially generated sampled data by grouping successive sampled data into a sampled data packet. An evaluation unit is configured to evaluate the binary values of sampled data packets so as to identify a partial counter result indicating the number of switching state changes occurring in the switching unit, and to add partial counter results identified in individual clock cycles.
US08497459B2
The inventors disclose a new high performance optical sensor, preferably of nanoscale dimensions, that functions at room temperature based on an extraordinary optoconductance (EOC) phenomenon, and preferably an inverse EOC (I-EOC) phenomenon, in a metal-semiconductor hybrid (MSH) structure having a semiconductor/metal interface. Such a design shows efficient photon sensing not exhibited by bare semiconductors. In experimentation with an exemplary embodiment, ultrahigh spatial resolution 4-point optoconductance measurements using Helium-Neon laser radiation reveal a strikingly large optoconductance property, an observed maximum measurement of 9460% EOC, for a 250 nm device. Such an exemplary EOC device also demonstrates specific detectivity higher than 5.06×1011 cm√Hz/W for 632 nm illumination and a high dynamic response of 40 dB making such sensors technologically competitive for a wide range of practical applications.
US08497456B2
Embodiments of a guided munition are provided, as are embodiments of a method for equipping a guided munition with an interlocking dome cover. In one embodiment, the guided munition includes a munition body, a seeker dome coupled to the munition body, and an interlocking dome cover. The interlocking dome cover includes a plurality of detachable dome cover sections collectively enclosing the seeker dome and a dome cover deployment device coupled to the plurality of detachable dome cover sections. When actuated, the dome cover deployment device initiates separation of the plurality of detachable dome cover sections to expose the seeker dome.
US08497451B2
An exemplary brittle non-metallic workpiece (70) is made by the laser beam (31), a cutting surface (701 ) of the brittle non-metallic workpiece has no micro cracks. A method for making the brittle non-metallic workpiece includes: focusing a laser beam on the brittle non-metallic substrate to form an elliptic beam spot; driving the laser beam to move along a predetermined curved cutting path, making a center of a major axis of the elliptic beam spot intersecting along the predetermined curved cutting path and the major axis being tangent to the predetermined curved cutting path at the intersecting point; a coolant stream following the elliptic beam spot to move, thus producing a crack in the brittle non-metallic substrate corresponding to the predetermined curved cutting path; separating the brittle non-metallic substrate along the crack. A laser cutting device (40) for making the same is also provided.
US08497446B1
An encapsulated vacuum interrupter with grounded end cup and drive rod is disclosed. The double break vacuum interrupter includes a first contact system including an annular stationary contact which is engaged by a primary moving contact with the moving contact drive rod extending through the primary moving contact and through the opening of the annular stationary contact. A second contact system includes a secondary moving contact placed on the end of the moving contact rod, which engages and operates a floating contact, which moves along the same axis. A mechanical adjustment system is provided for the floating contact. A coaxial moving contact drive rod system is provided. With the encapsulated vacuum interrupter, the lower portion of the vacuum envelope is insulated from the current path, which allows for the elimination of the long internal cavity in the encapsulation as the lower end cup of the vacuum envelope may be grounded.
US08497444B2
An electronic system including an electronic circuit, an actuation device, a spacer and a protection device. The electronic circuit has a surface on which at least two first conductive tracks are arranged. The actuation device includes at least one first bearing element. The spacer is interposed between the electronic circuit and the actuation device and includes at least one opening at least partially receiving the bearing element. The protection device is interposed between the electronic circuit and the spacer and includes at least one second conductive track having ends respectively connected to first conductive portions of first deformable regions of the protection device. Each first portion is capable of contacting one of the first conductive tracks of the electronic circuit to electrically supply the second track under the effect of a deformation of first regions.
US08497441B2
A luminous switch using an inorganic EL material is provided with a plurality of switch sections so as to reduce acoustic noise. The switch sections are provided with a plurality of protruding parts (112) and a plurality of supporting sections (113) formed on a surface of a structure (101); an elastic deformable conductor (124) arranged to have a convex surface opposed the protruding parts (112); a wiring sheet (102A) for covering the conductor (124); a luminous sheet (160) for covering the wiring sheet (102A); and a plurality of switch buttons (125) arranged above the luminous sheet (160). The luminous switch has a structure in which at least two supporting sections (113) are arranged around the protruding parts (112), and a space (111) is formed between the protruding parts (112) and a switch sheet (102). The conductor (124) is accommodated in the space (111). In a case main body (101), an electronic component (103) is mounted and a substrate (104) provided with wiring is arranged. The switch buttons (125) are fixed on a key sheet (129). A top plate (106) is arranged on the key sheet (129) by surrounding the switch buttons (125). The top plate (106) is arranged to cover lower components.
US08497439B2
A secondary disconnect apparatus for a circuit breaker, for making a slidable electrical connection with a mating enclosure-side secondary disconnect apparatus, is disclosed, having a pair of stop plate surfaces coupled to the circuit breaker defining a first linear distance D1, and a lateral adjustment portion in slidable communication with a pair of a guide members configured to guide movement of the lateral adjustment portion along an axis in one of a first and a second direction. The apparatus includes and a pair of adjustment member surfaces coupled to the lateral adjustment portion defining a second linear distance D2, wherein the adjustment member surfaces are configured to cooperate with the stop plate surfaces to limit the travel of lateral adjustment portion, and wherein a total predetermined lateral distance of travel of lateral adjustment portion 250 is defined based on at least the difference between first distance D1 and second distance D2.
US08497431B2
The circuit-connecting material for connection between circuit members each having a board and a circuit electrode formed on the primary surface of the board, comprising an adhesive composition that cures in response to light or heat and an organic compound containing a urethane group and an ester group.
US08497428B2
A high performance data cable which has an interior support or star separator. The star separator or interior support extends along the longitudinal length of the data cable. The star separator or interior support has a central region. A plurality of prongs or splines extend outward from the central region along the length of the central region. Each prong or spline is adjacent with at least two other prongs or splines. The prongs or splines may be helixed or S-Z shaped as they extend along the length of the star separator or interior support. Each pair of adjacent prongs or splines defines grooves which extend along the longitudinal length of the interior support. At least two of the grooves have disposed therein an insulated conductor. The interior support can have a first material and a different second material. The different second material forms an outer surface of the interior support.
US08497425B2
A toneable conduit includes an elongate polymeric tube having a sidewall with an interior surface and an exterior surface. The interior surface defines a main channel for holding communication or power cables. A sub-channel extends longitudinally between the exterior and interior surfaces of the tube. An electrically continuous, toning signal wire is located within the sub-channel. The toning signal wire is formed of an annealed metal or metals and is capable of elongation to a certain extent without breakage, wherein the certain extent approximates or exceeds the extent of elongation of the tube at the point of failure.
US08497424B2
A universal electrical box which includes a body having at least one opening for receiving an electrical device. The device can also include at least one mounting bracket coupled to the body, and at least one frame configured to be coupled to the at least one body. In addition there is at least one duplex electrical mounting plate configured to couple to the at least one frame. In this case, the duplex electrical mounting plate is configured to receive a duplex electrical device. In addition, there is at least one sealing gasket configured to be coupled to the body between the at least one frame and the body. This design allows for a universal configuration which allows for multiple different types of electrical devices to be coupled to the enclosure.
US08497422B2
A light concentration device includes: a plate including two principal faces and an edge between the two principal faces, a refractive index gradient existing between the two principal faces, and a diffraction grating functioning in reflection or semi-reflection that cooperates with one of the principal faces of the plate having the highest refractive index, the principal face having the lowest refractive index forming a front entry face for the light, at least one exit zone for the light being disposed on the edge.
US08497418B2
In one embodiment, an electronic cymbal system includes a first pickup configured to generate an electrical signal representative of vibrations in a first cymbal, and a controller configured to receive the first electrical signal and to process the first electrical signal to generate an output. The controller includes a digital signal processor (DSP) configured to subject a version of the first electrical signal to a digital signal processing technique. The digital signal processing technique includes one or more of dynamic range compression, expansion, frequency equalization, harmonic excitation, comb filtering, and pitch shifting. The cymbals may be any of variety of known cymbals, such as hi-hat, crash and ride cymbals, and may be of the perforated type configured to reduce noise for indoor use. Lighting control may be provided to illuminate the cymbal for functional or aesthetic purposes.
US08497416B2
There is provided a musical score display apparatus which can display a musical score at multiple levels ranging from a partial part to all parts and can display a comment relating to the displayed musical score based on the creation date and time, and a program for realizing a musical score display method. Comment data created in a setting period are displayed on a timeline by using comment icons at positions corresponding to creation date and time. When the highest level button among level selection buttons is operated, the comment icons relating to all parts are displayed on the timeline. When the lowest level button is operated in this state, the comment icon relating to the part to be deleted when the lowest level is selected is also deleted from the timeline in the display musical score of all parts.
US08497413B1
A novel hybrid maize variety designated X5K677 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X5K677 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X5K677 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize hybrid variety X5K677, the hybrid seed, the hybrid plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of hybrid maize variety X5K677. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from hybrid maize variety X5K677 and to the maize is varieties derived by the use of those methods.
US08497401B2
The invention is directed to a ternary azeotrope-like mixture consisting essentially of effective amounts of 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane, 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene, and hydrogen fluoride.
US08497391B2
An insulating film material for plasma CVD represented by a chemical formula (1) shown below, a method of film formation using the insulating film material, and an insulating film. According to the present invention, an insulating film having a low dielectric constant and a superior copper diffusion barrier property suitable for an interlayer insulating film or the like of a semiconductor device can be obtained. In the chemical formula (1), n represents an integer of 3 to 6, and each of R1 and R2 independently represents one of C2H, C2H3, C3H3, C3H5, C3H7, C4H5, C4H7, C4H9, C5H7, C5H9 and C5H11.
US08497389B2
Embodiments of the present application provide methods for processing biodiesel from feedstock using a single-step process. The methods can include, for example, use of a gaseous catalyst as part of the esterification/transesterification process. Embodiments of the present application also provide systems for the methods thereof.
US08497374B2
A synthetic process for producing bortezomib comprising converting racemic boronic esters, such as the pinacol α-aminoboronic ester, into mixtures of diastereomers [6] by reaction with a suitably protected L-phenylalanine derivative (see Scheme 3), such as N—BOC-L-phenylalanine. The protecting group of the L-phenylalanine moiety is then removed, such as by reacting the diastereomers [6] with an acid, such as hydrochloric acid, to form a mixture of amine salt diastereomers [7] which is then subjected to conditions under which the desired diastereomer (R,S)-[7] is selectively isolated, such as by crystallization, chromatography or stereoselective hydrolysis. The separated desired diastereomer (R,S)-[7] is then converted into bortezomib or bortezomib anhydride.
US08497370B2
A series of amine salts including a structure of formula (I) and formula (III) have provided. In formula I or formula (III), R1, Ra and RX are as defined in the specification. The amine complex salts disclosed in the present invention are characterized in a pro-drug active form and various pharmaceutical function.
US08497369B2
The present invention relates to spirocyclic heterocycles of general formula (I) the tautomers, the stereoisomers, the mixtures thereof and the salts thereof, particularly the physiologically acceptable salts thereof with inorganic or organic acids, which have valuable pharmacological properties, particularly an inhibitory effect on signal transduction mediated by tyrosine kinases, the use thereof for the treatment of diseases, particularly tumoral diseases as well as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), diseases of the lungs and airways, and the preparation thereof.
US08497367B2
A process for the extraction of sucralose from an aqueous solution containing at least sucralose, other chlorinated saccharides, sodium chloride and dimethylammonium chloride into an organic solvent for sucralose by contacting said organic solvent with said solution to extract sucralose into the organic solvent. The ratio of sodium chloride to dimethylammonium chloride in the aqueous solution is increased prior to or during contact so as to increase the partition coefficient of sucralose into said organic solvent.
US08497366B2
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 or sugary materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.
US08497365B2
The present invention relates to novel compositions comprising polymeric moieties covalently attached to therapeutic agents, wherein the therapeutic agent is attached to the polymeric moiety through a tether. By selecting from a variety of tether groups and targeting ligands the polymers present methods for controlled delivery of the therapeutic agents. The invention also relates to methods of treating subjects with the therapeutic compositions described herein.
US08497356B2
Methods for producing biomolecule-polymer conjugates, such as polypeptide-polymer conjugates, include attachment of an initiator agent to a biomolecule and in situ polymerization of a polymer from defined sites on the biomolecule. The conjugates may have desirable pharmacological properties and may be used therapeutically.
US08497350B2
The invention relates to Factor H gene polymorphisms and haplotypes associated with an elevated or a reduced risk of AMD. The invention provides methods and reagents for diagnosis and treatment of AMD.
US08497320B2
A process is provided by which a polyrotaxane including cyclic molecules having a relatively long graft chain is easily obtained. Also provided is a polyrotaxane which includes cyclic molecules having a radical polymerization initiation site and is for use as a raw material in the process. The polyrotaxane comprises: a pseudo-polyrotaxane comprising cyclic molecules clathrated with a linear molecule, the cavities of the cyclic molecules having been pierced by the linear molecule; and blocking groups disposed respectively at both ends of the pseudo-polyrotaxane so as not to release the cyclic molecules. The cyclic molecules in the polyrotaxane have a radical polymerization initiation site.
US08497318B2
The invention relates to a process for preparing a polymer by free-radical polymerization of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monocarboxylic acid and/or a salt thereof, at least one ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid and/or an anhydride and/or a salt thereof, in the presence of hypophosphorous acid and/or a salt thereof. The invention also relates to a polymer composition obtainable by this process. The invention also relates to the use of such a polymer composition as detergent additive, e.g. as dispersant, scale inhibitor or sequestrant for laundry detergents.
US08497308B2
A process for carrying out at least two unit operations in series, the process comprising the step of: (a) directing a feed stream into an integrated assembly which comprises a first microchannel unit operation upon at least one chemical of the feed stream to generate a distributed output stream that exits the first microchannel unit operation in a first set of discrete microchannels isolating flow through the discrete microchannels; and (b) directing the distributed output stream of the first microchannel unit operation into a second microchannel unit operation as a distributed input stream, to continue isolating flow between the first set of discrete microchannels, and conducting at least one operation upon at least one chemical of the input stream to generate a product stream that exits the second microchannel unit operation, where the first microchannel unit operation and the second unit operation share a housing.
US08497299B2
The present invention relates to cannabinoic quinone compounds, and especially to their medical use. In particular five cannabinoic quinones, designated HU-331, HU-336, HU-345, HU-395 and HU-396, are described as active agents in pharmaceutical compositions. These compounds and compositions thereof are intended for the treatment of inflammatory, infectious, auto-immune and particularly hyperproliferative disorders. Thus, the compounds of the invention may be used as anti-tumor agents, or for the treatment of cancer. Furthermore, three of these compounds, HU-345, HU-395 and HU-396, are novel cannabinoic quinones.
US08497297B2
Molecular mimics of Smac are capable of modulating apoptosis through their interaction with cellular IAPs (inhibitor of apoptosis proteins). The mimetics are based on a monomer or dimer of the N-terminal tetrapeptide of IAP-binding proteins, such as Smac/DIABLO, Hid, Grim and Reaper, which interact with a specific surface groove of IAP. Also disclosed are methods of using these peptidomimetics for therapeutic purposes. In various embodiments of the invention the Smac mimetics of the invention are combined with chemotherapeutic agents, including, but not limited to topoisomerase inhibitors, kinase inhibitors, NSAIDs, taxanes and platinum containing compounds use broader language.
US08497296B2
The invention is directed to a compound of Formula (I), wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atom and unsubstituted or substituted phenyl group; R1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atom and unsubstituted or substituted phenyl group; X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atom or halogen atom; and Y is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atom, halogen atom, C1-C4 alkyl group, nitro group, and —OCF3 group, as well as for its use in therapy, preferably for the treatment of cancer, and to a related pharmaceutical composition, the use of the compound for the manufacture of a medicament for the respective medical indication, and a method of synthesis of the compounds of the invention.
US08497295B2
The present invention relates to modulators of muscarinic receptors. The present invention also provides compositions comprising such modulators, and methods therewith for treating muscarinic receptor mediated diseases.
US08497291B2
The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical formulation which comprises (i) a capsule, and (ii) a core comprising crystalline 2′-cyano-2′-deoxy-N4-palmitoyl-1-β-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine and a liquid carrier.
US08497288B2
The invention provides novel compounds having the general formula (I), wherein R1, R2, R3 and A are as described herein, compositions including the compounds and methods of using the compounds. These compounds are useful as inhibitors of hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) and may be used in the treatment of diabetes, metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, myocardial dysfunction, inflammation, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
US08497280B2
An analgesic composition, in parenteral unit dosage form or in a unit dosage form suitable for delivery via the dermis or mucosa, comprises buprenorphine and an amount nalmefene such that the ratio by weight of buprenorphine to nalmefene delivered to or reaching the plasma of a patient is in the range 22.6:1 to 40:1. The analgesic action of the buprenorphine is potentiated by the low dose of nalmefene. Also provided are a method of treatment of pain and the use of nalmefene and buprenorphine for the manufacture of a medicament.
US08497268B2
Maleate salts of (6-(5-chloro-2-pyridyl)-5-[(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)carbonyloxy]-7-oxo-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyrazine) are provided. The salts are useful to provide blood levels of eszopiclone that are independent of fasting state.
US08497265B2
Heteroaryloxyheterocyclyl compounds, and compositions containing them, and processes for preparing such compounds. Provided herein also are methods of treating disorders or diseases treatable by inhibition of PDE10, such as obesity, non-insulin dependent diabetes, schizophrenia, Huntington's Disease, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and the like.
US08497260B2
2-arylbenzothiophene derivatives or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, a preparation method thereof, and a pharmaceutical composition for the diagnosis or treatment of degenerative brain disease containing the same as an active ingredient. Since the 2-arylbenzothiophene derivatives of Formula 1 have a relatively high binding affinity for β-amyloid, they can be used as diagnostic reagents for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease at an early stage by non-invasive techniques when they are labeled with radioisotopes: wherein R1-R4, V, W, X, Y and Z are as defined in the Detailed Descript of the specification. Further, when the pharmaceutical composition containing the 2-arylbenzothiophene derivative binds with a low-molecular weight β-amyloid peptide binding compound, generation of malignant high-molecular weight β-amyloid deposits is minimized. Accordingly, the pharmaceutical composition can be used as a therapeutic agent of degenerative brain disease such as Alzheimer's disease.
US08497255B2
The present invention relates to novel phosphonic acids derivatives, processes for preparing them, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as pharmaceuticals as modulators of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors.
US08497253B2
Osteogenic compositions composed of a coprecipitate that contains at least one insoluble calcium salt and at least one complex between an osteogenic protein and a polysaccharide, the coprecipitate being in divided form, are described. Kits are also described, as are a process for preparing the coprecipitate in divided form, containing at least one insoluble calcium salt and at least one complex between an osteogenic protein and a polysaccharide.
US08497232B2
A bis-type alkenyl-substituted succinimide which is prepared by reaction of succinic anhydride substituted with 2-alkenyl group having a branch structure in β-position with alkylenepolyamine and its derivatives derived from the bis-type alkenyl-substituted succinimide by post-treatment are of value as friction modifiers, particularly for incorporation into lubricating oils for automatic transmissions.
US08497227B2
Diphenylsulfone bridged compounds of the general formula: (1) wherein n is an integer of 1 to 10. Further, there is disclosed a thermal recording material comprising a support and, superimposed thereon, a thermosensitive color forming layer containing a color forming substance for thermal recording consisting of any of the diphenylsulfone bridged compounds and a color forming substance consisting of a colorless or light-colored leuco dye. This thermal recording material excels in the storability, especially wet heat resistance and oil resistance, of image areas and further exhibits excellent characteristics in the storability, especially heat resistance, of undeveloped areas.
US08497223B2
A process for production of a DDR-type zeolite membrane, which comprises: both a seed crystal-forming step of immersing a porous substrate in a seed crystal-forming raw material solution which contains a DDR-type zeolite powder dispersed therein and performing hydrothermal synthesis to form plural DDR-type zeolite crystal particles on surface of the porous substrate, and a membrane-forming step of immersing the resulting porous substrate with DDR-type zeolite crystal particles on the surface in a membrane-forming raw material solution which is free from DDR-type zeolite powder and performing hydrothermal synthesis to form a DDR-type zeolite membrane on the surface of the porous substrate. According to the process, a dense DDR-type zeolite membrane can be formed, and the vessel used in the synthesis can be prevented from being damaged.
US08497209B2
The present invention provides a chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) composition comprising an amino compound, a radical-forming oxidizing agent, a radical trapping agent capable of inhibiting radical-induced oxidation of the amino compound, and an aqueous carrier therefore. The radical trapping agent is a hydroxyl-substituted polyunsaturated cyclic compound, a nitrogenous compound, or a combination thereof. Optionally, the composition comprises a metal oxide abrasive (e.g., silica, alumina, titania, ceria, zirconia, or a combination of two or more of the foregoing abrasives).
US08497205B2
In an embodiment of the present invention, a semiconductor layer having regions into which a p-type impurity, an n-type impurity and a (p+n) impurity are respectively introduced is formed as a surface layer by being heat-treated. An impurity segregation layer on these regions is removed, and a film of a metallic material is thereafter formed on the regions and is heat-treated, thereby forming a silicide film on the semiconductor layer. In another embodiment, an impurity is introduced into the impurity segregation layer, and a film of a metallic material is thereafter formed on the impurity segregation layer and is heat-treated to form a silicide film.
US08497201B2
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is provided which includes providing a substrate. A material layer is formed over the substrate. A polymer layer is formed over the material layer. A nano-sized feature is self-assembled using a portion of the polymer layer. The substrate is patterned using the nano-sized feature.
US08497200B2
Method of forming a solder alloy deposit on a substrate comprising i) provide a substrate including a surface bearing electrical circuitry that includes at least one inner layer contact area, ii) form a solder mask layer on the substrate surface and patterned to expose at least one contact area, iii) contact the entire substrate area including the solder mask layer and the at least one contact area with a solution to provide a metal seed layer on the substrate surface, iv) form a structured resist layer on the metal seed layer, v) electroplate a first solder material layer containing tin onto the conductive layer, vi) electroplate a second solder material layer onto the first solder material layer, vii) remove the structured resist layer and etch away an amount of the metal seed layer sufficient to remove the metal seed layer from the solder mask layer area and reflow the substrate.
US08497199B1
The present invention relates to a method for fabricating a thin film formed with a uniform single-size monolayer of spherical AZO nanoparticles. Because of its own advantages in cost and transparency, Al-doped ZnO (AZO) transparent conductive film is becoming the most commonly used transparent conducting oxide (TCO) replacement for solar cells. In this invention, a colloidal chemical means is adopted for enabling a chemical reaction between metal salts, water, and polyhydric alcohols at a room-temperature environment, and thereby, a process for fabricating spherical AZO nanoparticles in a diameter ranged between 100 nm to 400 nm according to different parameter configurations can be achieved while controlling the actual Al/Zn ratio to be ranged between 0.1% to 3%. In addition, a dip coating means is adopted for densely distributing the spherical AZO nanoparticles on a substrate into a monolayer close-packed structure.
US08497183B2
A method of making a device. The method comprises providing a first layer including a first material on a surface of a substrate, removing a portion of the first layer and a corresponding portion of the substrate to form an opening in the first layer and a recessed portion in the surface of the substrate, and supplying a liquid mixture to the opening and the recessed portion. The liquid mixture includes a first component having a first chemical affinity to the first material and a second component having a second chemical affinity to the first material, which is smaller than the first chemical affinity. The method also includes removing the second component and forming a second layer including the first component. The second layer covers the recessed portion and adheres to an edge portion of the first layer, such that the second layer and the recessed portion define a cavity.
US08497177B1
A method for fabricating a fin field-effect transistor (FinFET) device includes providing a substrate having a first fin at a first location, and epitaxially growing a second fin on the substrate at the first location. The epitaxial growth is performed at a first temperature. The method further includes performing a thermal annealing at a second temperature in oxygen ambient on the substrate with the second fin thereon to grow an interface wrapping over the second fin. The second temperature is higher than the first temperature.
US08497171B1
Methods and structures for forming semiconductor FinFET devices with superior repeatability and reliability include providing APT (anti-punch through) layer accurately formed beneath a semiconductor fins, are provided. Both the n-type and p-type APT layers are formed prior to the formation of the material from which the semiconductor fin is formed. In some embodiments, barrier layers are added between the accurately positioned APT layer and the semiconductor fin. Ion implantation methods and epitaxial growth methods are used to form appropriately doped APT layers in a semiconductor substrate surface. The fin material is formed over the APT layers using epitaxial growth/deposition methods.
US08497166B2
An electronic device in which a metal wire (119) is bonded to an electronic component (111) contained in a case (110) by wire bonding and a bonding surface (121, 122) to which the metal wire (119) is bonded is covered with a synthetic resin (130) is manufactured by injecting an amount of synthetic resin (130) into the case (110) such that at least a portion of the metal wire (119) is exposed from a top surface of the synthetic resin (130); and leaving the case (110) to which the synthetic resin (130) is injected under reduced pressure so as to raise a liquid surface of the synthetic resin (130) due to the reduced pressure, and covering the metal wire (119) exposed from the top surface of the synthetic resin (130) with the synthetic resin (30, 130).
US08497163B2
A semiconductor substrate and a copper sheet stacked with an insulating resin layer are bonded together at a temperature of 130° C. or below (first temperature) so that an element electrode provided on the semiconductor substrate connects to the copper sheet before a thinning process. Then the semiconductor substrate and the copper sheet, on which the insulating resin layer has been stacked, are press-bonded at a high temperature of 170° C. or above (second temperature) with the copper sheet thinned to thickness of a wiring layer. Then the wiring layer (rewiring) is formed by patterning the thinned copper sheet.
US08497153B2
A process for making a back-contact solar cell module is provided. Electrically conductive wires of an integrated back-sheet are physically and electrically attached to the back contacts of the solar cells of a solar cell array through openings in a polymeric interlayer dielectric layer using an electrically conductive binder before thermal lamination of the module.
US08497149B2
A method of fabricating a micro-electrical-mechanical system (MEMS) apparatus on a substrate (10) comprises the steps of processing the substrate (10) so as to fabricate an electronic circuit (11); depositing a first electrode (15) that is operably coupled with the electronic circuit (11); depositing a membrane (16) so that it is mechanically coupled to the first electrode (15); applying a sacrificial layer (50); depositing a structural layer (18) and a second electrode (17) that is operably coupled with the electronic circuit (11) so that the sacrificial layer (50) is disposed between the membrane (16) and the structural layer (18) so as to form a preliminary structure; singulating the substrate (10); and removing the sacrificial layer (50) so as to form a MEMS structure, in which the step of singulating the substrate (10) is carried out before the step of removing the sacrificial layer (50).
US08497146B2
Vertical solid-state transducers (“SSTs”) having backside contacts are disclosed herein. An SST in accordance with a particular embodiment can include a transducer structure having a first semiconductor material at a first side of the SST, a second semiconductor material at a second side of the SST opposite the first side, and an active region between the first and second semiconductor materials. The SST can further include first and second contacts electrically coupled to the first and second semiconductor materials, respectively. A portion of the first contact can be covered by a dielectric material, and a portion can remain exposed through the dielectric material. A conductive carrier substrate can be disposed on the dielectric material. An isolating via can extend through the conductive carrier substrate to the dielectric material and surround the exposed portion of the first contact to define first and second terminals electrically accessible from the first side.
US08497144B1
A method for manufacturing a light emitting chip comprises: providing a substrate with a catalyst layer formed thereon, the catalyst layer being etched to form a number of patterns which are spaced from each other by multiple gaps; forming a buffer layer in the multiple gaps of the patterned catalyst layer, the buffer layer comprising a patterned carbon nano tube structure formed along an extending direction of the substrate, the carbon nano tube structure being comprised of nitride semiconductor; removing the catalyst layer from the substrate; growing a cap layer from the substrate to cover the buffer layer; and growing a light emitting structure from a top of the cap layer, the light emitting structure sequentially comprising a first cladding layer, a light emitting layer, and a second cladding layer.
US08497142B2
Methods of forming conductive patterns include forming a conductive layer including a metal element on a substrate. The conductive layer is partially etched to generate a residue including an oxide of the metal element and to form a plurality of separately formed conductive layer patterns. A cleaning gas is inflowed onto the substrate including the conductive layer pattern. The metal compound is evaporated to remove the metal element contained in the residue and to form an insulating interface layer on the conductive layer pattern and a surface portion of the substrate through a reaction of a portion of the cleaning gas and oxygen. The residue may be removed from the conductive layer pattern to suppress generation of a leakage current.
US08497141B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device capable of largely increasing the yield and a semiconductor device manufactured by using the method is provided. After a semiconductor layer is formed on a substrate, as one group, a plurality of functional portions with at least one parameter value different from each other is formed in the semiconductor layer for every unit chip area. Then, a subject that is changed depending on the parameter value is measured and evaluated and after that, the substrate is divided for every chip area so that a functional portion corresponding with a given criterion as a result of the evaluation is not broken. Thereby, at least one functional portion corresponding with a given criterion can be formed by every chip area by appropriately adjusting each parameter value.
US08497140B2
An encapsulant layer for a photovoltaic module enabling recovering and recycling or reusing of reutilizeable resources such as a transparent front face substrate and photovoltaic cell and the like among constituents of a photovoltaic module, and a method for manufacturing a regenerated photovoltaic cell and a regenerated transparent front face substrate. The photovoltaic module is formed by laminating: a transparent front face substrate; a photovoltaic cell carrying a wiring electrode and a takeoff electrode, and an encapsulant layer is placed on at least one surface; and a rear face protecting sheet. The encapsulant layer is a separable layer formed mainly of a thermoplastic resin, and an output maintenance factor of photoelectronic power of the photovoltaic module using the encapsulant layer is in a range of 80% to 100%.
US08497132B2
An ozone gas concentration measurement method that can easily measure the concentration of ozone gas. A process gas containing ozone gas is produced from a raw gas containing oxygen gas. The number of moles of gas molecules contained in the process gas is measured. The concentration of the ozone gas contained in the process gas is calculated based on the number of moles of gas molecules contained in the process gas.
US08497121B2
The invention provides a composition including isolated small living tissue particles, a method of making the tissue particles, and a method of using the composition to ameliorate a tissue defect. The tissue particles are composed of cells and their associated extracellular molecules and are sized, in certain embodiments, to be smaller than about 1 mm. Another aspect of the inventive tissue particles is the large percentage of viable cells. In certain embodiments, the tissue particles are made from cartilage and the composition may also contain additives such as adhesives, solutions, and bioactive agents.
US08497113B2
A microorganism having an ability to oxidize sulfur even at high chloride ion concentration is provided. Specifically, a microorganism belonging to the genus Acidithiobacillus having the ability to oxidize sulfur even at high chloride ion concentration is provided. A method for bacterial leaching of copper sulfide ores and a method for improving alkaline soil using the microorganism are also provided.
US08497112B2
The present invention provides a method for the manufacture of a preparation comprising virus antigens comprising a) inoculation of cells with infectious virus in a fluid, b) propagation of said virus in said cells, c) collecting said propagated virus, d) inactivating said collected virus, and e) treating said inactivated virus with a detergent, resulting in a preparation comprising viral antigens.
US08497110B2
Isolated and/or purified polypeptides and nucleic acid sequences encoding polypeptides from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius are provided. Further provided are methods of at least partially degrading, cleaving, or removing polysaccharides, lignocellulose, cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, starch, chitin, polyhydroxybutyrate, heteroxylans, glycosides, xylan-, glucan-, galactan-, or mannan-decorating groups using isolated and/or purified polypeptides and nucleic acid sequences encoding polypeptides from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius.
US08497109B2
The present invention relates to polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase II activity and polynucleotides having a nucleotide sequence which encodes for the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the nucleic acid constructs as well as methods for producing and using the polypeptides.
US08497105B2
Processes and systems for production of bioproducts such as biofuels are provided. The bioproduct production processes and systems utilize pretreatment of a carbohydrate-containing feedstock to produce soluble sugar molecules and continuous conversion of the pretreated feedstock to a bioproduct by an immobilized fermenting microorganism.
US08497101B2
The use of the human or animal MCM9 gene, or parts of the gene, or transcripts thereof, or antisense nucleic acids able to hybridize with part of the gene or transcripts, or silencing RNA derived from parts of the transcripts and able to repress the MCM9 gene, or proteins or peptidic fragments translated from the transcripts, or antibodies directed against the proteins or peptidic fragments, for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of a human or animal pathology linked to a dysfunction of the expression of the MCM9 gene, or of human or animal cancers.
US08497097B2
The instant invention pertains to the use of chlorine dioxide in new processes for treating lignocellulosic feedstocks, as well as, new compositions suitable for, for example, bioalcohol production. Advantageously, the processes and compositions of the present invention may be used in more environmentally friendly, cost-efficient production of fuels and, if desired, may be coupled with other biomass processing facilities such as Kraft pulp bleaching mills.
US08497093B2
The present invention relates to a novel isolated leafhopper ecdysone receptor polypeptide. The invention also relates to an isolated nucleic acid encoding the leafhopper ecdysone receptor polypeptide, to vectors comprising them and to their uses, in particular in methods for modulating gene expression in an ecdysone receptor-based gene expression modulation system and methods for identifying molecules that modulate leafhopper ecdysone receptor activity.
US08497075B2
The present invention relates to modulators of the interaction between Epstein-Barr Virus induced receptor-2 (EBi2) and cholest-5-ene-3b,7b,25-triol (7,25-dihydroxycholesterol) (“7,25DHC”) and/or cholest-5-ene-3b, 7b-diol (7-hydroxycholesterol) (“7HC”). The modulator maybe a small chemical molecule, antibody or other therapeutic protein. Methods of medical treatment and methods of identifying modulators are also described.
US08497073B2
A nonlinear optical technique, such as second or third harmonic or sum or difference frequency generation, is used to detect binding interactions, or the degree or extent of binding, that comprise conformational change. In one aspect of the present invention, the nonlinear optical technique detects a conformational change in a probe due to target binding. In another aspect of the invention, the nonlinear optical technique screens candidate probes by detecting a conformational change due to a probe-target interaction. In another aspect of the invention, the nonlinear optical technique screens candidate modulators of a probe-target interaction by detecting a conformational change in the presence of the modulator.
US08497070B2
The invention relates to the use of angiogenin, or a fragment or variant thereof, to treat diseases or conditions characterized by neuronal injury or death, or axonal degeneration, especially neurodegenerative diseases such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The invention also describes a plurality of mutations of the human angiogenin gene which are associated with a neurodegenerative disease phenotype, and particularly a ALS phenotype. Also described is a method of assessing whether an individual is afflicted with, or generically predisposed to develop, a disease or condition characterized by neuronal injury or death, or axonal degeneration.
US08497059B2
A method of producing a toner comprising toner particles containing a binder resin composed of a non-crystalline polyester resin having a crosslinked structure and a crystalline polyester resin is disclosed, the method comparing steps of; a process to form an oil phase liquid by dissolving or dispersing a non-crystalline polyester resin having a polymerizable unsaturated double bond and a crystalline polyester resin in an organic solvent, a process to form an aqueous dispersion liquid of oil droplets of the oil phase liquid by dispersing the oil phase liquid in an aqueous medium, a process to form oil droplets containing the non-crystalline polyester resin having a crosslinked structure by adding a radical polymerization initiator to the aqueous dispersion liquid of oil droplets, and an organic solvent removing process to form toner particles by removing organic solvent.
US08497058B2
An image forming method comprising the step of: forming a toner image employing toner particles containing at least a resin on an image supporting substrate having thereon a toner holding layer via a toner image holding process to form an image print, the toner image being held in the toner holding layer in the toner image holding process, wherein at least the toner particles or the image supporting substrate is separated from the image print via a separation process; and at least the separated toner particles or the separated image supporting substrate is recyclable as an image forming material.
US08497050B2
A flow field plate for fuel cell applications includes a metal with a non-crystalline carbon layer disposed over at least a portion of the metal plate. The non-crystalline carbon layer includes an activated surface which is hydrophilic. Moreover, the flow field plate is included in a fuel cell with a minimal increase in contact resistance. Methods for forming the flow field plates are also provided.
US08497049B2
One embodiment disclosed includes a product comprising a fuel cell bipolar plate comprising a substrate comprising a first face, a reactant gas flow field defined in the first face, and a layer over at least a portion of the first face, wherein the layer comprises a zeolite.
US08497047B2
A solid oxide fuel cell stack obtainable by a process comprising the use of a glass sealant with composition 50-70 wt % SiO2, 0-20 wt % Al2O3, 10-50 wt % CaO, 0-10 wt % MgO, 0-6 wt % (Na2O+K2O), 0-10 wt % B2O3, and 0-5 wt % of functional elements selected from TiO2, ZrO2, F, P2O5, MoO3, Fe2O3, MnO2, La. Sr—Mn—O perovskite (LSM) and combinations thereof.
US08497045B2
The present invention provides a purge system for a fuel cell, which can reduce the time required to thaw a frozen valve during cold start-up and reduce the whole start-up time, thus improving the cold start performance. In preferred embodiments, the present invention provides a purge system for a fuel cell with improved cold start performance, the system preferably including a main pipe connected to a purge gas outlet of a fuel cell stack to discharge a purge gas purging the fuel cell stack and impurities; an auxiliary pipe branched from the main pipe; a purge valve installed in each of the main pipe and the auxiliary pipe to perform an purge operation; a cut-off valve installed at an upstream side of the purge valve in the auxiliary pipe; and a controller for controlling the operation of the purge valves and the cut-off valve.
US08497026B2
A porous metal foil of the present invention comprises a two-dimensional network structure composed of metal fibers. This porous metal foil has superior properties and can be obtained in a highly productive and cost effective manner.
US08497019B2
Plant biomass particles coated with a bioactive agent such as a fertilizer or pesticide, characterized by a length dimension (L) aligned substantially parallel to a grain direction and defining a substantially uniform distance along the grain, a width dimension (W) normal to L and aligned cross grain, and a height dimension (H) normal to W and L. In particular, the L×H dimensions define a pair of substantially parallel side surfaces characterized by substantially intact longitudinally arrayed fibers, the W×H dimensions define a pair of substantially parallel end surfaces characterized by crosscut fibers and end checking between fibers, and the L×W dimensions define a pair of substantially parallel top and bottom surfaces.
US08497016B2
Described herein is a method of forming a composition including mixing an anhydride, a silane and a solvent to form a solution. Carbon black and an isocyanate are mixed to form a carbon black mixture. The solution and the carbon black mixture are homogenized to form a carbon black dispersion.
US08497014B2
The invention relates to a coated glass pane with a low-e and/or solar controlcoating comprising—in sequence from the glass surface—at least the following layers: —a lower anti-reflection layer, comprising: a base layer of an (oxi)nitride of aluminum, a middle layer of an oxide of Zn and Sn, a top layer of a metal oxide; —a silver-based functional layer; —a barrier layer; —an upper anti-reflection layer comprising a layer of an (oxi)nitride of aluminum 10 having a thickness of more than 10 nm.
US08497001B2
A first substrate and a second substrate are provided. An alignment process is performed on a surface of the first substrate and a surface of the second substrate respectively. A liquid crystal mixture is prepared, where the liquid crystal mixture includes a liquid crystal molecule and a liquid crystal monomer having a functional group of diacrylates, and the liquid crystal monomer having the functional group of diacrylates occupies 0.01-2 wt % of the liquid crystal mixture. The first substrate and the second substrate are assembled, and the liquid crystal mixture is filled therebetween. A polymerization curing process is performed such that the liquid crystal monomer having the functional group of diacrylates is polymerized to respectively form a liquid crystal polymer film on the aligned surfaces of the first and second substrates. The method enhances anchoring energy and reduces problems of V-T shift, surface gliding, and residual image.
US08496995B2
Encapsulated switches are disclosed which substitute non-toxic gallium alloy for mercury. In one embodiment, wetting of the interior surfaces of the housing is prevented by coating the surfaces with an electrically insulative inorganic non-metallic material, such as alumina or boron nitrate. According to another embodiment, a perfluorocarbon liquid is employed as the anti-wetting agent.
US08496992B2
A method of coating a substrate, with the method comprising: providing a substrate; dispersing nanodiamond powder in a liquid to provide a coating precursor; converting the liquid of the coating precursor to a vapor; introducing the coating precursor to a vapor deposition process; and operating the vapor deposition process to produce a nanocrystalline diamond-containing nanocomposite coating on the substrate, the nanocomposite coating produced using the coating precursor and comprising the nanodiamond particles.
US08496978B2
According to at least one aspect of the present invention, a botanical anti-fever composition is provided. In at least one embodiment, the botanical composition comprises a therapeutically effective amount of admixture of parts or extracts of at least one plant species from each of genus Baptista and genus Swertia. In at least one particular embodiment, the botanical composition contains Baptista Tincoria. In at least another particular embodiment, the botanical composition contains Swertia Chirata.
US08496973B2
Provided herein are pharmaceutically acceptable sodium thiosulfate and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. Also provided herein are methods for determining the total non-purgable organic carbon in a sodium thiosulfate-containing sample. Further provided herein are methods for producing pharmaceutically acceptable sodium thiosulfate. Still further provided herein are methods of treatment comprising the administration of pharmaceutically acceptable sodium thiosulfate.
US08496970B2
A conformable tissue implant is provided for use in repairing or augmenting a tissue defect or injury site. The tissue implant contains a tissue carrier matrix comprising a plurality of biocompatible, bioresorbable granules and at least one tissue fragment in association with the granules. The tissue fragment contains one or more viable cells that can migrate from the tissue and populate the tissue carrier matrix. Also provided is a method for injectably delivering the tissue implant.
US08496969B2
The invention relates to an immediate release tablet capable of being chewed or disintegrated in the oral cavity, which comprises a pharmaceutically active ingredient having an optional tastemasking coating, and a matrix comprising hydroxyalkylcellulose having a weight average molecular weight of from about 60,000 to about 5,000,000. The tablet possesses exceptionally good mouthfeel and stability.
US08496960B2
A method of effectively treating benign prostatic hypertension in humans is achieved by administering amorphous terazosin via a transdermal formulation. Preferably, the transdermal formulation is applied to the skin of the patient and maintained in contact with the skin for at least about 24 hours, and preferably for about 3 to about 8 days.
US08496947B2
A dental whitening strip which includes a carrier support having a whitening composition adhered to said carrier where the whitening composition comprises (a) dextrin; (b) a peroxide; (c) a non-toxic water soluble inorganic salt; (d) a acceptable hydroxy compound which is a plasticizer.
US08496937B2
The present invention concerns the preparation of substantially purified agonist anti-EDAR monoclonal antibodies or isolated monoclonal antibody fragments or antigen binding portions or fragments thereof. The invention further relates to isolated agonist anti-EDAR monoclonal antibodies or isolated monoclonal antibody fragments or antigen binding portions or fragments thereof as well as their use in the treatment of X-linked hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia and tooth agenesis. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising said isolated agonist anti-EDAR monoclonal antibodies or isolated monoclonal antibody fragments or antigen binding portions or fragments thereof and to a method of treating X-linked hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia and tooth agenesis. Finally, the present invention concerns a pharmaceutical kit comprising said isolated agonist anti-EDAR monoclonal antibodies or isolated monoclonal antibody fragments or antigen binding portions or fragments thereof.
US08496932B2
The present invention relates to an antibody which has multiple specificities. In particular the antibody of the present invention binds to (cross react with) human IL-8, Gro-alpha, Gro-beta, Gro-gamma, and ENA-78.
US08496929B2
The present invention shows that site-specific antibodies to the (Na++K+)-ATPase exert a potent biological effect in cardiac myocytes and demonstrates a key structural region of the enzyme that participates in the regulation of cardiac contractility. These results establish an important link between a biological action and a precise molecular structure of the (Na++K+)-ATPase. Furthermore, the antibody-induced positive inotropic effect is independent of inactivation of the enzyme may reveal a novel mode for (Na++K+)-ATPase to regulate cardiac function. The data provide new molecular insights into the structural and functional relationship of the ubiquitous (Na++K+)-ATPase.
US08496927B2
It is intended to provide a tool, a procedure and so on which are useful in developing a therapeutic strategy efficacious in inhibiting or overcoming the resistance against a CD20-directed molecular-targeted drug. Thus, a CD20-negatively converted B-cell malignant lymphocyte cell line is provided. Also, a model animal indicating the pathological conditions of CD20-negatively converted B-cell malignant lymphocyte is provided. Further, a method of screening a substance, which is efficacious against CD20-positive B-cell malignant lymphocyte or CD20-negatively converted B cell malignant lymphocyte, is provided. Furthermore, a drug against CD20-positive B-cell malignant lymphocyte or CD20-negatively converted B-cell malignant lymphocyte, which is characterized by being used together with a CD20-directed molecular-targeted drug, is provided. In one embodiment, a DNA methylase inhibitor or a histone deacetylase inhibitor is employed as the active ingredient.
US08496924B2
This invention relates to the selection and use of nonpathogenic, lysine-uptake stimulating lactic acid bacteria strains, and products and methods using such strains for example for improvement of fur-coat and claws quality in pet-animals.
US08496920B2
Novel acrylamide and methacrylamide hydantoin monomers which can be reacted with other acrylamide, methacrylamide, acrylate, and methacrylate monomers to form copolymers, which upon halogenation, provide oxidative coatings which are biocidal for use with various materials including, but not limited to, textiles, filters, and latex paints.
US08496916B2
A cosmetic composition is provided including a water-insoluble UV-A organic sunscreen agent having a max ranging from 330 to 380 nm, a UV-B organic sunscreen agent having a max ranging from 280 to 400 nm, and a photoprotective enhancing agent which is a polyhydroxy quaternary ammonium salt such as bis(dihydroxypropyl)dimethylammonium chloride, in a cosmetically acceptable carrier, and wherein the composition exhibits an SPF value which is 1 to 30 units higher than in the absence of the photoprotective enhancing agent.
US08496915B2
Object: To provide a composition for preventing periodontal diseases (prophylactic agent of periodontal diseases), the composition having an excellent cariostatic property, being safe and stable for prolonged use and having less effects on flavor.Means for Resolution: A non-cariogenic material prepared by blending a rare sugar in the D form as selected from the group consisting of D-psicose, D-sorbose and D-tagatose, a rare sugar in the L form as selected from L-fructose, L-psicose and L-tagatose, or allitol as a rare sugar derivative, singly or in combination. A cariostatic agent comprising D-psicose, D-sorbose, D-tagatose, L-fructose, L-psicose and/or L-tagatose. A cariostatic agent in combination with catechins.
US08496914B2
The present invention provides an antibacterial oral rinse formulation having enhanced antibacterial activity against oral bacteria associated with infectious and inflammatory processes for preventing and/or treating inflammatory diseases or inflammatory processes associated with diseases in an individual by inhibiting the transient bacteremia associated with oral hygiene activities by the individual. Also provided is a method for preventing and/or treating inflammatory diseases or inflammatory processes associated with diseases in an individual by inhibiting transient bacteremia associated with oral hygiene activities by the individual, comprising rinsing with the antibacterial oral rinse formulation for a period of time immediately prior to engaging in oral hygiene activities.
US08496906B2
A biological process for removing hydrogen sulphide from biogas is disclosed. The process involves injecting a small quantity of air into the gas phase or the liquid phase of a psychrophilic bioreactor to allow microbial flora to convert the hydrogen sulphide into elemental sulphur.
US08496891B2
A reaction container holder capable of inhibiting the lowering of the transfer efficiency of heat transferred from a rotating member to a bottom surface of a reaction container, and an analyzer comprising the reaction container holder, are provided. In a reaction container holder comprising: a retaining member unit comprising a plurality of container retaining sections for retaining reaction containers, which house a reaction liquid containing a reagent and a specimen; and a circular rotating member for detachably fixing the unit from above and rotating, the holder keeping the container at a constant temperature by transferring heat from a heat source through the rotating member to the container, the rotating member comprises a level difference section, an upper surface of which is positioned below a bottom surface of the container retained by the unit and above a bottom part of the section, when the retaining member unit is fixed.
US08496870B2
This invention relates to a method of making lead-free piezoelectric ceramic films. Specifically, the invention is directed to a method for fabricating lead-free piezoelectric free standing films having enhanced piezoelectric properties. The films may be used for a number of applications including incorporation in microelectronic devices such as energy harvesting devices and sensor technologies.
US08496866B2
A method for the targeted introduction of cleavage lines or predetermined breaking lines in ceramic substrates for subsequent separation, wherein, in a thermal treatment step or methods step, the cleavage line or predetermined breaking line is heated locally and then cooled suddenly by a coolant in such a way that targeted cracking or material weakness occurs along the cleavage line or predetermined breaking lines.
US08496864B2
Methods of cyclically heating and cooling an article formed of a static dissipative ETFE resin, such as to reduce an electrical resistivity and/or to increase a tensile strength of the article, and methods of irradiating an article formed of a static dissipative ETFE resin, such as to increase a tensile strength of the article. Also disclosed herein are articles formed of a static dissipative ETFE resin, and processed in accordance with methods disclosed herein. Such an article may include, for example and without limitation, a cable strap to wrap, support, and/or secure one or more wires or cables, such as a cable tie.
US08496848B2
A birefringent film which comprises a compound having a proton-accepting group and a compound having a proton-donating group; and a birefringent film which comprises a compound having a proton-accepting group and a proton-donating group. The proton-accepting group and proton-donating group are combined with each other through intermolecular hydrogen bonding.
US08496846B2
The present invention relates to compositions comprising at least one fluoroolefin and an effective amount of stabilizer that may be at least one phenol or a mixture of at least one phenol with other stabilizers. The stabilized compositions may be useful in cooling apparatus, such as refrigeration, air-conditioning, chillers, and heat pumps, as well as in applications as foam blowing agents, solvents, aerosol propellants, fire extinguishants, and sterilants.
US08496844B1
High quantum yield InP nanocrystals are used in the bio-technology, bio-medical, and photovoltaic, specifically IV, III-V and III-VI nanocrystal technological applications. InP nanocrystals typically require post-generation HF treatment. Combining microwave methodologies with the presence of a fluorinated ionic liquid allows Fluorine ion etching without the hazards accompanying HF. Growing the InP nanocrystals in the presence of the ionic liquid allows in-situ etching to be achieved. The optimization of the PL QY is achieved by balancing growth and etching rates in the reaction.
US08496843B2
A method for chemical mechanical polishing of a substrate is provided, comprising: providing a substrate, wherein the substrate comprises polysilicon and at least one of silicon oxide and silicon nitride; providing a chemical mechanical polishing composition, comprising, as initial components: water; an abrasive; and an alkyl aryl polyether sulfonate compound, wherein the alkyl aryl polyether sulfonate compound has a hydrophobic portion having an alkyl group bound to an aryl ring and a nonionic acyclic hydrophilic portion having 4 to 100 carbon atoms; providing a chemical mechanical polishing pad with a polishing surface; moving the polishing surface relative to the substrate; dispensing the chemical mechanical polishing composition onto the polishing surface; and, abrading at least a portion of the substrate to polish the substrate; wherein at least some of the polysilicon is removed from the substrate; and, wherein at least some of the at least one of silicon oxide and silicon nitride is removed from the substrate.
US08496840B1
A grease containment apparatus arranged to receive grease discharged by a fan-type rooftop grease exhauster includes multiple sumps and at least one trough disposed between the sumps. An apparatus may be disposed along two, three, or four sides of a rooftop grease exhauster, including corner sumps assemblies and/or end sump assemblies, preferably including associated rain shields, and optionally including one or more end caps. Components may be fabricated of UV-resistant polymeric materials such as ABS. Use of grease absorbent media may be avoided. A drain conduit may receive water from a sump, with at least a portion of the drain conduit being disposed at a level above a bottom edge of the sump.
US08496836B2
A process for continuous or quasi-continuous purification of a multi-component mixture (F) by means of individual chromatographic columns through which the mixture is fed by means of at least one solvent(s). The multi-component mixture (F) at least comprises light impurities (A), an intermediate product (B) to be purified and heavy impurities (C), and the columns are grouped into at least four sections (α,β,γ,δ). After or within a switch time (t*) the last column from the first section (α) is moved to the first position of the second section (β), the last column of the second section (β) is moved to the first position of the third section (γ), the last column of the third section (γ) is moved to the first position of the fourth section (δ) and the last column of the fourth section (δ) is moved to become the first column of the first section (α).
US08496834B2
Method of fractionating a mixture of polyisocyanates in the liquid phase, optionally in the presence of a suitable solvent or mixture of two or more solvents, by means of a selectively permeable membrane into a permeate stream and a retentate stream of polyisocyanate compositions different to each other and different to the original mixture.
US08496832B2
A process for wastewater treatment, comprising aerating and mixing wastewater containing organic and/or inorganic pollutants and bentonite clay in a vessel at a first temperature and for a time sufficient to reduce the concentration of said pollutants, raising the temperature of said mixture to at least 100° C. to evaporate water vapor, passing said water vapor through a fritted membrane and into a condenser, and collecting condensed water.
US08496831B2
Processes for removing water from organic compounds, especially polar compounds such as alcohols. The processes include a membrane-based dehydration step, using a membrane that has a dioxole-based polymer selective layer or the like and a hydrophilic selective layer, and can operate even when the stream to be treated has a high water content, such as 10 wt % or more. The processes are particularly useful for dehydrating ethanol.
US08496825B1
The present invention is directed toward spiral wound modules including membrane sheets with regions (70,72) having different permeabilities. Said regions are arranged either axially or radially or both.
US08496818B2
A high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) capillary column device, system and method for processing a HPLC sample with a cartridge housing a packed capillary column; at least one inlet connection to the capillary column for a sample fluid; and at least one outlet connection from the capillary column for the sample fluid. The outlet connection is able to accommodate either a spray tip for atomizing the sample fluid or a transport tube for transporting the sample fluid from a spray tip column to a spray tip. Inlet connections enable supply of electrical power to the capillary column through electrical connections disposed within the cartridge housing; and gas for evaporating the sample liquid is supplied to at least one outlet connection from the capillary column for the sample fluid through a gas supply line within the cartridge housing. The temperature of the sample liquid can be controlled through a heat connection.
US08496812B2
An oil sump, preferably made of plastic or metal, is provided for engines or transmissions, the oil sump comprising a filter housing including a filter housing top shell, a filter housing bottom shell, a filter medium, a filter inlet, and the filter outlet, and having an oil drain opening in a floor area of the oil sump, implemented in such a way that it is closable using an oil drain screw having external thread, which comes from the oil sump outer side. The oil sump also includes a carrier unit having a frame, on which the filter housing is fastened and which is used as a seal upon fastening of the oil sump on the associated unit, in particular on an engine block or a transmission unit.
US08496810B2
A device for being received within a downspout of a rain gutter assembly is provided. The device is configured for being received in a downspout of the type having an inlet at a top portion thereof and an outlet at a bottom portion thereof. The device includes a housing defining a longitudinally extending passageway for allowing flow of uncollected water therethrough, at least one laterally extending collection aperture defined in the housing for allowing flow of collected water therethrough, a collection chamber in communication with the at least one drain for collecting water, and a drain outlet in communication with the chamber for allowing flow of collected water therethrough. A storage tank such as a flexible bladder may also be provided. The storage tank may be in communication with a siphon pump assembly. The storage tank may also be provided with a camouflaging pattern and ultraviolet and rot resistant materials.
US08496809B2
A kidney failure treatment system includes: (i) a dialysate supply; (ii) a weighing device; a control container coupled operably to the weighing device; (iii) a diffusion membrane; (iv) a drain; first and second pumps; (v) a first fluid conduit coupled fluidly to the dialysate supply and the diffusion membrane, the first fluid conduit coupled operably to the first pump; (vi) a second fluid conduit coupled fluidly to the control container and the drain, the second fluid conduit coupled operably to the first pump; and (vii) a third fluid conduit coupled fluidly to the diffusion membrane and the control conduit, the third fluid conduit coupled operably to the second pump.
US08496800B2
Methods are disclosed for reducing the shift in EMF bias in a magnesium ion selective electrode, comprising the step of: contacting the electrode with a composition comprising a polyoxyalkylene nonionic surfactant; wherein the polyoxyalkylene nonionic surfactant has an HLB greater than about 18. Additional aspects of the present invention are directed to methods, comprising the steps of: contacting a magnesium ion selective electrode with a composition comprising a polyoxyalkylene nonionic surfactant, wherein the polyoxyalkylene nonionic surfactant has an HLB greater than about 18; and measuring a biologically relevant level of a blood electrolyte in a blood composition with the electrode. In certain embodiments, the polyoxyalkylene nonionic surfactant is polyoxy ethylene (100) stearyl ether and the blood electrolyte is magnesium ion.
US08496794B2
A biosensor includes a working electrode 101, a counter electrode 102 opposing the working electrode 101, a working electrode terminal 103 and a working electrode reference terminal 10 connected to the working electrode 101 by wires, and a counter electrode terminal 104 connected to the counter electrode 102 by a wire. By employing a structure with at least three electrodes, it is possible to assay a target substance without being influenced by the line resistance on the working electrode side.
US08496793B2
Vacuum treatment installation or vacuum treatment method for carrying out a plasma method, wherein the treatment is carried out in a vacuum chamber, in which are disposed a device for generating an electric low voltage arc discharge (NVBE) comprised of a cathode and an anode electrically interconnectable with the cathode via an arc generator, and a workpiece carrier electrically interconnectable with a bias generator for receiving and moving workpieces, as well as at least one feed for inert and/or reactive gas. At least a portion of the surface of the anode is therein fabricated of graphite and is operated at high temperature.
US08496790B2
An electrochemical processor may include a head having a rotor configured to hold a workpiece, with the head moveable to position the rotor in a vessel. Inner and outer anodes are in inner and outer anolyte chambers within the vessel. An upper cup in the vessel, has a curved upper surface and inner and outer catholyte chambers. A current thief is located adjacent to the curved upper surface. Annular slots in the curved upper curved surface connect into passageways, such as tubes, leading into the outer catholyte chamber. Membranes may separate the inner and outer anolyte chambers from the inner and outer catholyte chambers, respectively.
US08496785B2
A combination of a press felt with a pressure and/or suction roll covering for a papermaking machine, including a porous press felt with a carrier structure. The pressure or suction roll covering having a circumferential groove surface structure having a groove width in the range of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm, a distance between grooves in the range of 1.5 to 2.5 mm and a groove depth in the range of 1.5 mm to 4 mm. A percentage of an open surface relative to an overall surface of the pressure roll covering is in a range of 20% to 50%. The suction roll covering additionally having an arrangement of holes with a plurality of suction holes completely penetrating through the suction roll covering, whereby a percentage of an open surface in relation to an overall surface of the suction roll covering is in a range of 30% to 50%.
US08496783B2
The present disclosure provides for a web substrate having at least one embossed ply having a surface thereof. The surface has surface area comprising from about 10.0 percent to about 20.0 percent line embossments.
US08496781B2
The invention provides a plasma processing apparatus which is based upon a dry etching apparatus and which can inhibit the contamination of a work piece caused by sputtering onto a wall of a vacuum chamber, the occurrence of a foreign matter, the increase of a running cost for replacing the walls of the vacuum chamber and the deterioration of a rate of operation. The plasma processing apparatus according to the invention is based upon the dry etching apparatus having parallel plate structure and is characterized in that a low-pass filter having high impedance to a frequency of a high frequency power source for generating discharge, having small resistance to direct current and grounded is connected to an electrode for generating discharge which is arranged in a position opposite to the work piece and to which the high frequency power source for generating discharge is connected or a low-pass filter having small resistance to direct current and grounded and a direct-current power source connected in series with it are connected to the electrode for generating discharge.
US08496775B2
A method for attaching a release paper to a backsheet having depressed regions.
US08496774B2
Approaches to providing z-filter media constructions are provided. Preferred corrugated media, filter constructions having such corrugated media, and filter systems using such filter constructions are provided. Also, preferred methods of forming filter constructions are provided.
US08496773B2
A laminated web from which diaper closure elements may be punched is made by first applying at least two pairs longitudinally extending and transversely spaced bend-resistant strips to a first longitudinally extending nonwoven tape. Then a respective longitudinally extending strip of an elastically stretchable polymer is applied to the first nonwoven tape between each of the pairs of the bend-resistant strips with the polymer strip partially overlapping both of the bend-resistant strips of the respective pair. A second longitudinally extending nonwoven tape that covers and extends transversely to both sides of the polymer strip is applied over the bend-resistant strips and the polymer strips to form a laminate with the polymer strip between the first and second nonwoven tapes.
US08496772B2
A tire building method and a tire building facility according to the invention attains reduction of an installation space of the tire building facility and substantially equal building cycles for respective building stages to increase building efficiency and facilitate arrangement switching. For attaining these, a step for building a cylindrical carcass band, a subsequent step for building a cylindrical green case, a step for building a cylindrical belt and tread band, a step for combining the green case and the belt and tread band to build the final shape are divided as first through fourth building stages (S1) through (S4) having individual building drums (D1) through (D4) corresponding to the respective steps. Formations in the respective building stages (S1) through (S4) are simultaneously performed by shifting the carcass band built in the first building stage (S1) to the second building stage (S2), the green case built in the second building stage (S2) to the fourth building stage (S4), and the belt and tread band built in the third building stage (S3) to the fourth building stage (S4).
US08496768B2
A base structure and associated method for converting the base structure into an operable vane on a shade for an architectural opening. The base structure includes a back sheet and a front sheet attached together in engagement regions spaced along the length of the back sheet and front sheet. The front sheet is separated into front strip sections having a free end. Operating elements are positioned along the back sheet and situated so as to move relative thereto. The operating elements are attached adjacent to a free end of the front strip. Movement of the operating elements actuates the free end of the front strip to move from a closed position to an open position as desired by the user.
US08496765B2
A system and method correct crystal pulling motor speed deviations in a crystal pulling mechanism. In a first embodiment, a processor implements a tracking filter by estimating new filter state based on previous state and the since-then-travelled nominal distance, and then updating the filter state based on estimation error and filter gains which are also functions of the travelled nominal distance. In a second embodiment, a harmonic tracking filter suppresses residual harmonic modulation and allows a short time constant. Rapid variations of pulling speed may thus be corrected.
US08496762B2
A method of preparing an aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate to accept an adherent coating thereon is provided. The method includes the steps of degreasing the substrate, deoxidizing the substrate, and providing a prepaint conversion coating on the degreased and deoxidized substrate. The prepaint conversion coating composition comprises i) a source of fluoride ions; ii) a source of zirconium ions; iii) an acrylic resin; and iv) an optical brightener and forms a colorless, chromium-free conversion coating on the aluminum substrate that can be observed by exposing the treated substrate to UV light.
US08496756B2
Methods for processing substrates in twin chamber processing systems having first and second process chambers and shared processing resources are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method may include flowing a process gas from a shared gas panel to a processing volume of the first process chamber and to a processing volume of the second process chamber; forming a first plasma in the first processing volume to process the first substrate and a second plasma to process the second substrate; monitoring the first processing volume and the second processing volume to determine if a process endpoint is reached in either volume; and either terminating the first and second plasma simultaneously when a first endpoint is reached; or terminating the first plasma when a first endpoint is reached in the first processing volume while continuing to provide the second plasma in the second processing volume until a second endpoint is reached.
US08496748B2
The invention relates to a polymer composition formed from a biologically degradable polymer and a material from sea plants and/or shells of sea animals or at least two components selected from the group consisting of saccharides and the derivatives thereof, proteins, amino acids, vitamins and metal ions. The invention additionally relates to a molded article formed from the polymer composition. The molded article may be packaging material or fibrous material, in the form of fibrous material as a mixing component for the production of yarns, and in the form of fibrous material for the production of nonwoven fabrics or woven fabrics.
US08496747B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink set which makes it possible to obtain recorded images that have a broad color reproduction range and a high saturation, as well as glossiness without conspicuous graininess caused by dot expression, and which in particular makes it possible to achieve an extreme suppression of graininess caused by dot expression in cases where the ink set is used on media that have a coating layer, and to obtain recorded images with extremely superior coloring characteristics in cases where the ink set is used on ordinary paper. The present invention provides an ink set comprising at least a yellow ink (Y), magenta ink (M), cyan ink (C) and red ink (R), wherein the L* values in the CIE-stipulated Lab display system of aqueous solutions of the respective inks diluted 1000 times by weight are in the following ranges: (Y): at least 89 but no more than 94, (M): at least 76 but no more than 93, (C): at least 74 and no more than 87, (R): at least 55 and no more than 74.
US08496740B1
An atmospheric oil, water and gas separator designed for oilfield applications having ground level inlet, internal water leg, internal piping, a degassing chamber, a horizontal inlet fluid swirl wing distributor that creates centrifugal spiraling of inlet fluids to slow and increase flow residence time, a horizontal swirl wing baffle above the inlet that minimizes oil re-entrainment by preventing turbulence at the oil-water interface, an inverted upper spreader that prevents solids plugging and performance deterioration, an oil conduit extending from the lower surface of the inverted upper spreader to the oil layer to prevent re-entrainment of separated oil in the inlet water turbulent zone, an externally adjustable slide tube for the water leg spillover weir tube, engineered water and oil spillover weirs that prevent separator upsets and overflows, and a water leg adjuster providing fine tuning of the height of the water leg from outside the vessel without shutdown.
US08496738B1
A mixed gas is separated with collection of at least one constituent gas. An inlet leads to a blower or other gas compression element through a valve. This blower feeds a chamber which contains media which selectively adsorbs the constituent gas to be collected, such as nitrogen from air. An exhaust from the chamber leads to an exhaust through a check valve. The blower can be reversed after nitrogen has been adsorbed within the chamber to desorb nitrogen and deliver nitrogen back through the blower. The inlet valve is closed after blower reversing and a separate diversion pathway is opened so that nitrogen is delivered from the blower to a nitrogen collection region. A variant system also includes an oxygen collection region on a side of the chamber opposite the blower for collection of both nitrogen and oxygen separated from air simultaneously, or collection of other constituent gases.
US08496734B2
A sorbent structure comprising a continuous activated carbon body in the form of a flow-through substrate; and an additive provided on the flow-through substrate, wherein the additive is capable of enhancing the sorption of CO2 on the sorbent structure. Methods of making the sorbent structure, its use for CO2 capture, and methods for regenerating the structure for further use.
US08496732B2
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for dehumidifying air by establishing a humidity gradient across a water selective permeable membrane in a dehumidification unit. Water vapor from relatively humid atmospheric air entering the dehumidification unit is extracted by the dehumidification unit without substantial condensation into a low pressure water vapor chamber operating at a partial pressure of water vapor lower than the partial pressure of water vapor in the relatively humid atmospheric air. For example, water vapor is extracted through a water permeable membrane of the dehumidification unit into the low pressure water vapor chamber. As such, the air exiting the dehumidification unit is less humid than the air entering the dehumidification unit. The low pressure water vapor extracted from the air is subsequently condensed and removed from the system at ambient conditions.
US08496730B2
A process for the direct reduction of iron ore when the external source of reductants is one or both of coke oven gas (COG) and basic oxygen furnace gas (BOFG). Carbon dioxide (CO2) is removed from a mixture of shaft furnace off gas, obtained from a conventional direct reduction shaft furnace, and BOFG. This CO2 lean gas is mixed with clean COG, humidified, and heated in an indirect heater. Oxygen (O2) is injected into the heated reducing gas. This hot reducing gas flows to the direct reduction shaft furnace for use. The spent hot reducing gas exits the direct reduction shaft furnace as shaft furnace off gas, produces steam in a waste heat boiler, is cleaned in a cooler scrubber, and is compressed and recycled to join fresh BOFG. A portion of the shaft furnace off gas is sent to the heater burners. The BOFG and COG are also employed for a variety of other purposes in the process.
US08496726B2
A clayish composition for forming a sintered silver alloy body capable of forming a sintered silver alloy body, which is not easily discolored even in the atmosphere and has excellent tensile strength, flexural strength, surface hardness (hereinafter, sometimes collectively referred to as ‘mechanical strength’), elongation or the like, powder for the clayish composition for forming a sintered silver alloy body, a method for manufacturing the clayish composition for forming a sintered silver alloy body, a sintered silver alloy body and a method for manufacturing the sintered silver alloy body.
US08496725B2
The invention relates to a composition for producing magnetic or magnetizable moldings, comprising from 95.5 to 98.95% by weight of a powder made of a magnetic or magnetizable material, from 1.0 to 4% by weight of a mixture made of at least one epoxy-novolak resin, and also of at least one hardener, and comprising from 0.05 to 0.5% by weight of at least one additive, based in each case on the total weight of the composition. The mixture made of the at least one epoxy-novolak resin and of the at least one hardener comprises from 85 to 95% by weight of the epoxy-novolak resin and from 5 to 15% by weight of hardener. The hardener has been selected from (cyclo)aliphatic amines and their adducts, polyamides, Mannich bases, amidoamines, phenolic resins, imidazoles, and imidazole derivatives, dicyandiamide, and BF3-monoethanolamine. The invention further relates to a process for producing the composition, and also to a process for producing a molding made of the composition.
US08496722B2
The present invention relates to a spunbonded filament nonwoven fabric and a method of preparing the same, and particularly to a multilayered spunbonded filament nonwoven fabric of which the fineness of the filaments decreases from an air inlet part toward an air outlet part, and a method of preparing the same. The spunbonded nonwoven fabric of the present invention can be used as an air filter for power generation equipment for a gas turbine, because it can reduce a pressure loss, promote filter efficiency, and extend the lifetime for use by using fiber layers having different denier.
US08496721B2
A hollow body includes an integrated oil separator unit, a swirl generator located in a cavity of the hollow body, at least one first supply opening in the camshaft case for introducing gas that is charged with oil into the cavity, and at least one discharge opening for carrying away separated oil and for carrying away gas that has been cleaned of oil. The swirl generator also has elements that are used to variably influence the pressure prevailing at a predetermined point in the cavity.
US08496704B2
Systems, methods and devices for tensioning posterior cruciate ligaments during cruciate or bi-cruciate ligament-sparing arthroplasty. Non-limiting examples of such systems may include at least one series of tibial inserts of equal size; the at least one series of tibial inserts having at least one set of tibial inserts of equal thickness. The at least one set of tibial inserts of equal thickness may include at least two tibial inserts having different geometries in a posterior portion, the different geometries being configured to change the tension in the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). The different geometries in the posterior portions of the tibial inserts are configured so as to allow the posterior cruciate ligament to be tensioned or loosened independently of the tibial insert thickness and/or size. By providing different posterior geometries for each insert within a set of a series, a surgeon may be provided with more flexibility in choosing an insert that satisfies stability requirements in a non-invasive manner.
US08496698B2
An endoprosthesis for delivery in a body lumen can be configured to inhibit structural fatigue, crack formation, and elastic recoil while providing improved crimping and expansion uniformity and radial strength. As such, the endoprosthesis can include at least one multi-stage crest element connecting adjacent bar arms. The multi-stage crest element and, optionally, the connection or transition between the multi-stage crest element and the bar arms can form a plurality of undulations or curves to improve the distribution of the strains experienced by the endoprosthesis. The improved strain distribution can improve the structural integrity and prevent failure of the endoprosthesis.
US08496686B2
The invention discloses methods, devices, systems and kits for repairing, replacing and/or augmenting natural facet joint surfaces and/or facet capsules. An implantable facet joint device of one embodiment comprises a cephalad facet joint element and a caudal facet joint element. The cephalad facet joint element includes a member adapted to engage a first vertebra, and an artificial cephalad bearing member. The caudal facet joint element includes a connector adapted for fixation to a second vertebra at a fixation point and an artificial caudal bearing member adapted to engage the cephalad bearing member. The artificial caudal bearing member is adapted for a location lateral to the fixation point.
US08496681B2
A system for conducting a vitrectomy includes: a gas source; a vitrector including a cutting mechanism that opens and closes according to a pressure at the vitrector; and a pulse-generating system receiving gas from the gas source and generating pulses at the vitrector. The pulses cause the pressure at the vitrector to vary according to a cycle, and the varying pressure at the vitrector causes the cutting mechanism of the vitrector to open and close. At a first time in the cycle, the pulse-generating system, raises the pressure at the vitrector to a maximum pressure. At a second time in the cycle, the pulse-generating system reduces the pressure at the vitrector to a minimum pressure that is greater than ambient, the pressure at the vitrector being maintained at least at the minimum pressure. The difference between the maximum pressure and minimum pressure is minimized to reduce gas consumption.
US08496678B2
A rotational atherectomy device for removing a stenotic tissue from a vessel of a patient is disclosed. The device comprises a rotatable, flexible, hollow drive shaft having a fluid impermeable wall defining a lumen of the drive shaft and, an abrasive element mounted to a distal end portion of the drive shaft proximal to and spaced away from a distal support element formed at a distal end of the drive shaft. The distal support element is inflatable by pressurized fluid which flows in an antegrade direction through said lumen of the drive shaft and is least partially re-directed into the distal fluid inflatable support element. The distal fluid inflatable support element has an outer wall comprising an outflow opening.
US08496674B2
An endoscopic stitching device is provided including a tool assembly having a pair of juxtaposed jaws each defining a needle receiving recess formed in a tissue contacting surface thereof; a selectively rotatably camming hub defining a helical groove formed in an outer surface thereof; a pair of axially translatable needle engaging blades slidably supported, one each, in a respective jaw, each blade having an advanced position wherein a distal end of the blade is engageable with a suture needle, and a retracted position wherein the distal end of the blade is out of engagement with the suture needle, wherein a proximal end of each blade is configured for slidable engagement in the helical groove of the camming hub; and a suture needle operatively associated with the tool assembly.
US08496665B2
A drill sleeve is provided for guiding a bone drill in alignment with the screw holes and drill guides. The drill sleeve includes a cylindrical body having a first end, a second end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The cylindrical body includes a longitudinal bore therethrough that is sized for passage of a bone drill. The drill sleeve also includes a frictional retaining element for exerting a bearing force against the surface of the bone drill, such that the frictional retaining element may support at least the weight of the drill sleeve on the bone drill. The bone drill has graduated indicia, and a portion of the drill sleeve may be referenced relative to the indicia so as to be used as a depth gauge for determining the length of a drilled hole in order to select a screw fastener having the appropriate length.
US08496652B2
A system for treating uterine disorders includes a balloon catheter having a cannula with a proximal end and a distal end, and an inflatable balloon secured over the distal end of the cannula. The device includes a heating assembly coupled with the distal end of the cannula and disposed inside the inflatable balloon, and an impeller disposed inside the heating assembly. In one embodiment, the heating assembly includes an elongated heating tube having a heating film covering an outer wall thereof, at least one fluid inlet extending though the outer wall and a fluid outlet located at a distal end of the elongated heating tube. The impeller is rotatable for drawing fluid through the at least one fluid inlet and into the elongated heating tube for heating the fluid, and discharging the heated fluid from the fluid outlet for circulating the fluid throughout the inflatable balloon.
US08496650B2
The safe therapeutic window for laser medicine tends to decrease as pulse length decreases. This problem is addressed by use of beam shapes and/or pulse shapes that improve temperature uniformity in the treated tissue. A beam shape with an adjustable on-axis intensity minimum improves spatial temperature uniformity in treated tissue. A pulse shape with a relatively intense early part (to set the temperature rise), followed by a less intense late part having decreasing intensity with time (to maintain a constant or nearly constant temperature rise) improves temporal temperature uniformity in the treated tissue. A therapeutic window (TW) of at least 3 is often required to provide a sufficient safety margin in practice. In one experiment, it was demonstrated that the minimum pulse length to provide a TW of 3 could be decreased from 20 ms to 10 ms following these principles.
US08496641B2
A fastening member used for, e.g., a disposable absorbent article is disclosed. The fastening member extends in a longitudinal direction and in a lateral direction and has a lateral centerline. The fastening member comprises a base panel and a shaped tab extending laterally from the base panel. The shaped tab has a longitudinal centerline, a lateral centerline, a distal portion and a proximal portion. The shaped tab has a contour edge comprising a shaped upper edge and a shaped lower edge. The shaped upper edge and the shaped lower edge are symmetric with respect to the longitudinal centerline of the shaped tab when relatively shifted in the longitudinal direction and are asymmetric with respect to the lateral centerline of the fastening member.
US08496637B2
A tri-folded disposable absorbent article comprising a substantially cellulose free absorbent core located in a chassis between a topsheet and a backsheet and comprising absorbent particulate polymer material. An array of absorbent article packages comprising disposable absorbent articles comprising a substantially cellulose free absorbent core is also disclosed.
US08496636B2
The present invention relates to a system for unfolding and dispensing diapers. The system includes a dispenser and a folded diaper that is within the dispenser. The folded diaper includes a first longitudinal fold that is between a main portion and a first side portion and a second longitudinal fold that is between the main portion and a second side portion. The dispenser includes a first projection that unfolds the first longitudinal fold as the diaper is removed from the dispenser and a second projection that unfolds the second longitudinal fold as the diaper is removed from the dispenser. The system may make it easier for care givers to perform multiple diaper changes per day.
US08496628B2
A needle-based medical device including a needle guide and a method for constructing the same are disclosed. The needle-based medical device includes a tube having a first lumen; a needle guide which is dimensioned to be inserted into the lumen of the tube, and a needle. The needle is inserted such that an end is positioned in the needle guide. A glue may also be provided to secure the needle guide to the tube. In one embodiment, the tube may be made of extruded plastic.
US08496627B2
A passive latch ring safety shield for use with medical injection devices is disclosed. The safety shield includes an inner sheath defining a channel which is dimensioned to receive an injection device and an outer sheath defining a channel which is dimensioned to slidably receive the inner sheath. A biasing member is provided between the inner and outer sheaths to urge the outer sheath in relation to the inner sheath from a retracted position to an advanced position. A resilient latch ring is supported on the safety shield in a position to prevent movement of the outer sheath in relation to the inner sheath from a retracted to and advanced position. The latch ring is deformable in response to actuation of the injection device to disengage the outer sheath from the inner sheath and allow the biasing member to move the outer sheath from the retracted position to the advanced position in relation to the inner sheath.
US08496621B2
The present invention relates to a device for injecting a pharmaceutical into the human or animal body by means of a simply and quickly exchangeable motorized pump head.
US08496612B2
A syringe adapter includes an adapter body having a first connecting portion that may be received into a power injector unit used to deliver contrast media. The adapter also includes a second connecting portion configured to receive the rearward end of an associated syringe. The adapter includes means for encoding information about the associated syringe that may be communicated to the power injector unit through one or more sensors. The means for encoding information may include a mechanism that moves linearly laterally back and forth to activate an actuator used to convey the encoded information. In particular, the action of installing the adapter may be decoupled from the action of encoding information.
US08496611B2
An apparatus having a tube section and an expanded end. The tube section is flexible while the end section is rigid. The apparatus has a central bore, large enough to loosely receive an endoscope tube, and the end section has two peripheral bores which communicate with the central bore. There is a collar around the central bore which allows formation an air- and water-tight seal with the head of an endoscope. The tube may be fenestrated at its proximal end and may include medial pleats. This apparatus is mainly used by: sliding an endoscope into the central bore until the endoscope head forms an air- and water-tight seal with the central bore; connecting a lavage tube to one peripheral bore and a vacuum tube to the other peripheral bore; inserting the endoscope and the apparatus into a GI tract; and manually controlling the apparatus to apply lavage and vacuum.
US08496606B2
A membraneless separation device can be applied to a variety of treatments, such as the ultrafiltration of blood for a patient with end stage renal disease. An ultrafiltration device can include a membraneless separation device, which separates an incoming blood flow into a substantially cytoplasmic body-free plasma flow and remaining fraction, and a dialysate-free second stage, which selectively removes excess fluid, toxins and other substances from the plasma flow and returns the processed plasma to the membraneless separation device. A treatment protocol can include ultrafiltering blood of a patient using the ultrafiltration device and performing a secondary treatment on the blood of the patient at a reduced frequency compared to the ultrafiltering. The membraneless separation device can also be applied to treatment, analysis, and/or exchange of plasma from blood, or combined with conventional dialyzers to perform dialysis on a cytoplasmic body-free plasma fraction.
US08496605B1
A traction device includes a base panel having a frame member pivotally attached to an edge thereof. The frame member is formed of a telescoping leg with a telescoping arm extending from its upper end. The frame member supports a tensioning cable having a neck harness at a distal end for fastening to a patient's head. A proximal end of the cable is attached to a tensioning mechanism slidably mounted on the leg. The tensioning mechanism includes a telescoping, pneumatic cylinder that is extended with a compressible bulb. The cylinder engages a pivotal lever that pulls the cable downwardly when the cylinder is extended, thereby applying tension to the harness.
US08496602B2
An automatic apparatus for obtaining and analyzing a blood sample contains a supply of lancets and test strips, which are located alternately on a carrier band. A lancet or alternatively a test strip may be clamped on a holder, which is mounted so it is movable. The movement controller of the holder comprises a three-dimensional control curve and a guide element, which engages at different depths in the control curve as a function of its relative position. The control curve comprises two guide paths, which run on different parallel planes. The contour of the first guide path determines the movement path of the lancet and the contour of the second guide path determines the movement path of the test strip. The test strip executes a transverse offset perpendicular to the puncture axis of the lancet.
US08496601B2
A lancet driver is provided wherein the driver exerts a driving force on a lancet during a lancing cycle and is used on a tissue site. The driver comprises of a drive force generator for advancing the lancet and a processor coupled to the drive force generator capable of changing the direction and magnitude of force exerted on the lancet during the lancing cycle. The driver further includes a human interface on the housing providing at least one output for communicating with the patient.
US08496585B2
A system for producing an image using an imaging system includes a) transmitting at least one signal of energy toward an object to be imaged by using two transmitters having the same output amplitude but of an opposite sign, or by using one transmitter to perform the task; b) exciting at least one transducer element to produce limited-diffraction array beams or their square-wave approximations with two levels of quantitations for both sine and cosine functions, c) weighting the received signals spatially with limited-diffraction array beams, their square-wave approximations, or spatial Fourier transform, and d) digitizing and then transferring received signals through high-speed optical fibers to a system for image reconstructions.
US08496582B2
An apparatus for expanding a chest cavity of a patient includes a tapered member and an expansion assembly coupled to the tapered member. The expansion assembly is configured to engage a sternum.
US08496578B2
An endoscopic assembly for an endoscope is disclosed. The assembly comprises a ligator barrel having proximal and distal portions. The proximal portion has a seat and a receiving wall extending to a proximal end. The receiving wall has a first threaded portion formed thereon. The assembly further comprises a connector for connecting the ligator barrel about the endoscope. The connector has a scope portion and a tip portion. The scope portion has a receiving end through which the endoscope is disposed to engage the seat for connecting the ligator barrel about the endoscope. The tip portion has a second threaded portion formed thereon and are configured to cooperate with the first threaded portion to receive the receiving wall and attach the connector with the ligator barrel. The first and second threaded portions are configured to cooperate with each other to tighten the connection of the ligator barrel about the endoscope as the threads increase surface area contact therebetween.
US08496573B2
A capsule includes a main body with at least one tail connected to the main body. At least two coils are disposed on each tail such that the coils are responsive to a magnetic field interacting with the coils such that a force is exerted on the tail. The capsule is controlled through application of a varying magnetic field with a constant current in the coils and/or by providing varying a current in the coils that interact with a constant magnetic field. The capsule can be disposed in a cavity, and the magnetic field can be provided from outside the cavity to affect movement of the capsule. An MRI device can be configured to control and image the capsule.
US08496572B2
A mechanized dildo having a body with a plurality of vibrator assemblies, each vibrator assembly comprising a motor and a housing; a processor electrically coupled to each of the plurality of vibrator assemblies; a battery electrically coupled to the processor; at least one mode control switch electrically coupled to the processor; a phallic sleeve comprising an elastic material covers the plurality of vibrator assemblies; and a housing containing the processor, the battery and the at least one control switch; wherein the processor is configured to operate separate vibrator assemblies in different combination modes, such modes being selected using the at least one mode control switch.
US08496566B2
Regulating member (1) carried by an operating unit (100) provided with a frame (10) coupled in a slidable manner to a support member (M); the regulating member (1) comprising a handle (2) suitable to move the frame (10) relative to the support member (M); a blocking device (70) comprising a pin (72) movable between an engagement position (PI) and a regulating position (PR) transversally to the support member (M) to connect the frame (10) to the support member (M) in a longitudinal position definable at will; a switching member (76) being hinged to the first pin (72) to move it between the engagement position (PI) and the regulating position (PR); the handle (2) being connected rigidly to the switching member (76) to actuate the pin (72) transversally to the support member (M) and move the frame (10) along the support member (M) with the pin (72) arranged in the regulating position (PR).
US08496561B2
A hybrid powertrain system includes an internal combustion engine, an electric machine coupled to a transmission, a fluid coupling including an impeller and a turbine wherein the impeller is mechanically coupled to a rotatable member of the electric machine and the turbine is mechanically coupled to a rotatable member of the internal combustion engine. The fluid coupling is effective to fluidically couple torque from the electric machine to the internal combustion engine when the impeller and turbine are not mechanically locked.
US08496551B2
A continuous variable clutch is provided. The continuous variable clutch includes a first sheave member and a second sheave member. The first sheave member includes a first central hub and a first conical-faced surface extending radially from the first central hub. The second sheave member includes a second central hub and a second conical-faced surface that extends radially from the second central hub. The second central hub of the second sheave member is received in a cavity of the first central hub such that the first conical-faced surface of the first sheave member facing the second conical-faced surface of the second sheave portion. The second central hub moving axially within the first central hub based on an amount of torque on the continuous variable clutch. The first sheave member and the second sheave member further forming a central passage to receive an input shaft of a transmission.
US08496541B2
A golf club comprises a shaft, a club head, and a connection assembly that allows the shaft to be easily disconnected from the club head. In particular embodiments, a sleeve including a top portion, a middle portion connected to the top portion is described. The middle portion includes a thin wall thickness. A bottom portion is connected to the middle portion including a plurality of engaging surfaces. A central longitudinal axis and an offset angle offset from the central longitudinal axis is described. The offset angle allows a maximum loft change of about 0.5 degrees to about 4.0 degrees. The total weight of the sleeve is less than 9 g.
US08496540B2
A golf club with an improved interchangeable hosel is disclosed herein. More specifically, the improved interchangeable hosel is independent of the golf club head as well as the shaft; and has a non-threaded connection mechanism that releasably connects the shaft to the golf club head quickly and easily. The non-threaded connection mechanism disclosed in accordance with the present invention may generally utilize a circumferentially constricting clamping force to secure the shaft of the golf club to the head of the golf club.
US08496535B2
A racking frame kit including a storage container housing three shaped side members that can assembled into an equilateral triangular enclosure for receipt of a group of balls in a compressed position. The racking frame providing a portable device that allows pool players to obtain the repeatability necessary from location to location. The kit further provides for the tightening of the formation of balls to obtain the maximum transfer of energy from a cue ball impact which will allow a predictable and disperse spread of balls across a playing surface. Various embodiments include a latching release, a magnet release, a tongue & groove release, and an elastic band.
US08496531B2
In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a gaming method, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving, from a live participant, a request for game play, the request including desired opponent information; (b) in response to the request, evaluating prior game play data associated with the live participant to assess the live participant's recent success in gaming, forming a satisfaction score; (c) in further response to the request, causing another user's prior game play data to be selected and retrieved based on the following (i) a substantial match with the desired opponent information; and (ii) a substantial match with the satisfaction score; and presenting a multi-player game environment where the live gaming participant can play against and have two-way interactions with an apparently live opponent, the apparently live opponent's interaction being based on the other user's prior game play data.
US08496529B2
A game system for a game where plural players partake and are combined on the basis of subjective data on the players. A game machine comprises a game control device for controlling a game executed with a game machine operated by a player who is combined with a player operating the game machine itself, an evaluation obtaining device for obtaining evaluation data which is evaluation to the player P4 by the player, a history evaluation updating device for, when obtaining the evaluation data to the player, updating the history evaluation information included in player information of the player by information based on the evaluation data. The server comprises a combination determining device for determining based on the history evaluation information, a combination of game machines partaking the game.
US08496520B2
A gaming system and method that enables the odds of obtaining a winning outcome or a designated outcome for a play of a game to change without modifying the paytable of the game. The gaming system makes a first determination using a first processor based on a paytable of a game. The gaming system makes a second determination using a second processor, where the second determination may be based, at least in part, on the wager amount. The gaming system displays a single game outcome to the player and either provides the player with the highest award resulting from the determinations or any awards resulting from the determinations.
US08496519B2
A communal game is displayed by a gaming system. A plurality of gaming devices each enable a player to wager on plays of a primary game and determine an eligibility status. The communal game repeatedly generates at least one communal game symbol from a plurality of communal game symbols regardless of whether any player is wagering on plays of a primary game. The communal game triggers a bonus event based on the generated symbols. Any eligible gaming devices may participate in the bonus event. For each eligible gaming device, the gaming system applies at least one symbol or gaming element from the communal game to the primary game of the eligible gaming device. Each eligible gaming device provides an award based on any winning symbol combinations generated by application of the communal game symbol or gaming element.
US08496505B2
An electrical conductor, e.g., a terminal pin, includes a conductor body, a first layer at least partially applied to the conductor body, and a second layer at least partially applied to the first layer, the material of the second layer containing thiol, and the material of the first layer containing nickel.
US08496499B2
A device for electrically interconnecting and packaging electronic components. In one embodiment, a modular non-conducting base member having one or more component recesses and a plurality of lead channels formed therein is provided. At least one electronic component is disposed within the recess, and the wire leads of the component routed through the lead channels to a conductive lead terminal. A plurality of lead terminals, adapted to cooperate with the non-conducting base member, are received therein, and adapted to place the device in signal communication with an external printed circuit board. The modular non-conducting base members are assembled or stacked to form a unitary modular assembly. Methods for fabricating the device are also disclosed.
US08496486B2
A receptacle connector is provided for mating with a pluggable module having a plug and a printed circuit. The receptacle connector includes a housing having a mating receptacle and a slot. The mating receptacle is configured to receive the plug of the pluggable module therein. The slot is configured to receive the printed circuit of the pluggable module therein. A receptacle contact is held by the housing. The receptacle contact includes a receptacle mating segment that extends within the mating receptacle and is configured to engage a mating contact of the plug of the pluggable module. A slot contact is held by the housing. The slot contact includes a slot mating segment that extends within the slot and is configured to engage the printed circuit of the pluggable module.
US08496482B2
A handwriting instrument to provide visual and tactile cues to teach and improve handwriting includes a writing medium, a rectangular writing box on the writing medium. The rectangular writing box consists of first and second vertical end lines connecting ends of an upper horizontal line, a lower raised horizontal line and a dashed line located between the upper and lower horizontal lines extending from the first vertical line to the second vertical line. The area between the lower raised horizontal line and the dashed horizontal line is shaded a different color than the writing medium to provide further visual cues for handwriting.
US08496475B2
Embodiments of a magnetostrictive device, a dental lighting system, a method of illuminating a lighting apparatus and a lighting apparatus are disclosed. The embodiments may include a lighting apparatus with a light source, an electrical power storage device and a switch. When the switch detects a magnetic field, the switch may complete an electrical connection between the electrical power storage device and the switch, thus illuminating the light source. The magnetic field may be magnetostrictively or non-magnetostrictively generated, and maybe be produced by a receptacle, a hand-piece or the lighting apparatus itself. A user may switch the light source on and off. In a magnetostrictive device, the light may be illuminated even when a tip is not activated, and the electrical power storage device may be inductively re-charged. The lighting apparatus may be included in an insert of a magnetostrictive device, such as a magnetostrictive ultrasonic hand-held dental device.
US08496467B2
A device and method are disclosed for the production of hollow bodies, especially plastic bottles, wherein a section of a plastic flexible hose is placed in a cavity of a blow mold by an extruder head according to a predefined clocked pulse. The plastic flexible hose is inflated inside the blow mold by a blow mandrel by overpressure according to the blow mold cavity. The manufactured inflated hollow body is subsequently removed from the mold. The plastic hose can be continually held on opposite sides of the blow mold arrangement during the entire extrusion and blow cycle.
US08496465B2
Methods and systems of forming barbed sutures from blown films are provided. A method for forming a barbed suture includes providing a blown film, cutting slits into an outer edge of the blown film, and twisting the blown film such that the slits protrude from the twisted blown film to form a barbed suture. A system for forming a barbed suture includes a set of heating rollers configured for stiffening an outer edge of a blown film, a set of cutting rollers configured for forming slits in the outer edge, a set of twisting rollers configured for twisting the blown film into a suture, and a heat source to set the suture.
US08496463B2
A feed section for an extruder machine including a housing having one or more walls defining an interior area within the housing. The feed section includes a shaft mounted to one or more of the walls and a feed roll assembly disposed at least partially in the interior area and pivotally coupled to the shaft for pivotal movement of the feed roll assembly relative to the housing. The feed roll assembly includes a seat portion releasably coupled to a cap portion. The cap portion is pivotally coupled to the shaft for pivotal movement of the cap portion relative to the housing and the seat portion. The feed roll assembly includes a feed roll rotatingly mounted between the seat and cap portions for conveying material to be extruded between an inlet and outlet of the housing.
US08496455B2
A flow set for administration of liquid when using a liquid pump is disclosed. The flow set of the present invention permits identification of the flow set by a liquid pump that uses this flow set and prevention of pumping tube-segment over stretching.
US08496450B2
A compressor system supplies compressed air to a commercial vehicle. The compressor system includes a compressor, a clutch, and a hydraulic pump and can be driven by way of a drivetrain. The compressor can be completely disconnected from a driving engine by way of the clutch. The drivetrain encompasses a geared drive mechanism which allows the hydraulic pump to be driven, and the clutch is arranged between the geared drive mechanism and the compressor. A method for operating the compressor system is provided.
US08496449B2
A rotary air motor driven hydraulic pump has separate pressure and return actuators and first and second stage eccentric driven pistons 180 degrees out of phase and driven by the motor through a gear reduction unit. The pressure and return actuators are on/off/proportional valves and the pump has two pressure relief valves with one adjustable from outside of the pump for a user to set a pressure limit of the pump. Above a certain output pressure limit, a bypass valve shunts flow in excess of that needed to precharge the second stage compression chamber from the first stage piston to an elastic reservoir from which the hydraulic fluid pumped by the pump is drawn. To make the pump stall at a certain output pressure, a pressure limiting valve can be used that cuts off the air supply to the pump at the desired output pressure.
US08496442B2
A combining structure for the decorating shell of a ceiling fan includes an outer shell and a decorating cover. The bottom of the outer shell has a connecting hole. The rim of the connecting hole is formed upward with at least two opposite notches. Each of the notches is bent downward with a blocking rim that gradually converges. The decorating cover has an annular shape, and is mounted on the bottom of the outer shell. The inner rim of the decorating cover is protruded upward with an inner rim wall that goes through the connecting hole of the outer shell. The outer surface of the inner rim wall is protruded outward with a protruding part for each of the notches on the outer shell. The protruding parts go through the notches and urge and position on the blocking rim at the bottom of the outer shell.
US08496436B2
A propeller assembly has a plurality of propeller blades, and a pitch change mechanism including at least one motor. A drive input drives the plurality of propeller blades to rotate about a central drive axis. The pitch change mechanism is operable upon driving of the motor to move the propeller blades relative to the drive input. The drive input includes a drive input gear transmission to change a pitch angle of the blades when the blades are moved relative to the drive input by the pitch change mechanism. Further, a method of operating a propeller assembly to change a pitch angle is disclosed and claimed.
US08496432B2
A compressor rotor compresses and delivers compressed air across a turbine rotor. The turbine rotor is connected to the compressor rotor such that rotation of the turbine rotor drives the compressor rotor. A shaft is connected to rotate with the turbine rotor and the compressor rotor. A thrust bearing is provided by a member extending perpendicular and radially outwardly of the shaft. The member rotates with the shaft and faces a first housing wall. A hollow chamber is formed on an opposed side of the first housing wall. A cooling air path supplies air across a thrust bearing surface, and between the member and the first housing wall. The first housing wall has a communication hole for communicating cooling air from the cooling air path into the hollow cavity to drive air within the hollow chamber. Also, a housing incorporating the communication hole is disclosed.
US08496431B2
A turbine ring assembly for a gas turbine, the assembly having a complete ring forming a single piece of ceramic matrix composite material (CMC), a metal structure for supporting the CMC ring having metal annular supports between which the CMC ring is placed while allowing differential expansion at least in a radial direction between the CMC ring and the annular supports, an arrangement for centering the CMC ring, and at least one element for preventing turning of the CMC ring about its axis.
US08496430B2
A variable stator blade assembly of a compressor, in particular of a gas turbine, including a compressor casing with a counterbore and a receptacle, a stator blade with a spindle, a spindle bush and a seal is provided. The spindle bush is placed inside the receptacle and spindle is placed inside the spindle bush wherein the seal is placed radially between the spindle and the spindle bush. The spindle is the dynamic seal face and a face within the spindle bush is the static seal face.
US08496425B2
The end-effector includes an articulating frame mounted on an indexable boom. Tool modules mount on the end-effector and connect to a workpiece. Each tool module includes a flexible dress package including a cable carrier. A channel rail is supported by the end-effector frame and guides the cable carrier. A setup tool and associated process can reconfigure the positions of the tool modules and the frame and boom of the end-effector.
US08496423B2
A conveyance system and method for delivering at least one component of a windmill to a location is provided. The system is provided with a transporter and a transfer system. The transporter is positionable adjacent a base at the location. The transfer system is provided with a plurality of rails, a support and at least one slider. The rails are positionable on the base and the transporter. The support has a first portion of the rails of the transporter thereon. The support is positionable along a second portion of the rails on a surface of the transporter, and slidably movable between a retracted and an extended position whereby the support is selectively positionable adjacent the base. The slider carries the component(s) of the windmill. The slider is slidably movable along the rails of the transporter and the base whereby the component(s) is/are slidably transferrable between the transporter and the base.
US08496422B2
A threaded fastener-nut combination for attaching two work pieces together has means for preventing the intrusion of the fastener threads into the bores of each work piece, thus preventing damage to the work piece which may result from such intrusion. The stud member has a pawl member which extends radially outward to engage an aperture in the nut member, which locks the nut member to the stud member. The engagement of the nut member to the threaded portion of the stud member produces both audible and tactile feedback to indicate that the fastener is properly placed and engaged. Tactile feedback is returned through the emergence of the pawl through the aperture in the nut, and by the rotation of the entire fastener assembly upon the provision of further tightening effort. Auditory feedback is provided through a “click” or similar sound produced when the pawls engages the aperture of the nut.
US08496421B1
Apparatus and Method of use for an improved lock nut type of fastener. On a threaded rod, a set of one or two cavity locknuts are used with a sleeve like ferrule to lock a nut in a set position on the rod. For example a nut that is clamping a workpiece can be held in place (resisting if not preventing loosening) by suitable application of the ferrule and cavity locknut. The cavity locknut has a tapered funnel-like cavity in a nut face around the nut's threaded hole. Locking is accomplished by immobilizing the ferrule on the rod and against the nut to be held, orienting the cavity side of the cavity locknut toward the ferrule, and forcefully torquing the cavity nut against and around the ferrule so that it is crimped against the threaded rod by the tapered cavity in the nut.
US08496420B2
According to embodiments of the present invention, a clip includes: a plate spring member having a leg portion and flange portions; a pin member having a shaft portion and a head portion. The leg portion has: inclined portions outwardly extending from a bent portion; engagement portions inwardly extending from the inclined portions; and abutting portions connected between the inclined portions and the flange portions. The shaft portion has: a proximal-side diameter-expanded portion; and a distal-side diameter-reduced portion. When the plate spring member is assembled with the pin member and flange portions abut a front side circumference of the mounting hole, the diameter-expanded portion abut the abutting portions to expand the leg portion through a further pushing operation of the pin member thereby engaging the engagement portions with a back side circumference of the mounting hole.
US08496416B1
An apparatus may include a housing, a spindle system located in the housing, a tool guide associated with the housing, and a magnetic unit associated with the housing. The spindle system may be capable of rotating a tool about an axis of rotation. The tool guide may be capable of engaging a receptacle at a location on a workpiece. The magnetic unit may be capable of securing the tool guide in the receptacle when the tool guide is engaged with the receptacle.
US08496415B2
A negative insert has double-positive clearance surface.
US08496412B2
A system for controlling gas leakage in a solids delivery system is provided. The system includes a bulk solids pump comprising an inlet for a particulate material and an outlet for discharge of said particulate material. The system also includes a buffer gas channel configured to impede backflow of process gas into the bulk solids pump, such as from a downstream system or process. The system further includes a pressure differential system configured to control a flow rate of the buffer gas and maintain a positive differential in pressure between the buffer gas and the process gas.
US08496408B1
Devices, apparatus, systems and methods for forming rolled up spiral shaped tubular inserts of interlocking seams of elongated strip material and for inserting the inserts into damaged channels such as damaged culverts, sewer lines, pipes, and the like. The inserts are released to expand outward and unravel until the walls of the unraveling insert abut against interior walls of the damaged channel forming a protective interior wall for the damaged channel. One side of the insert strips can have a hook, and an opposite side of the strips can have a longitudinal groove wherein the hook attaches to and slides within the groove. Slidable surfaces such as bushings, Teflon coatings and O-rings can be used along the interlocking seams to allow for reduced friction as the strip materials are rolled into contracted positions and later expanded out.
US08496406B2
A positioning apparatus includes a frame and two substantially vertically extending legs. The frame includes a suspension device adapted to suspend a sinking tunnel section. The legs include upper ends connected by a substantially horizontally extending beam and lower ends vertically movable relative to the sinking tunnel section. The legs include clamping members for engaging opposite transverse sides of the tunnel section that are settable substantially in a plane defined by the legs and beam of the frame. The frame is devised for extending with its legs outwardly of the two opposite transverse sides of the tunnel section and extending with the beam above a roof of the tunnel section.
US08496404B1
Reinforcement system for concrete panel wall, such as I-type flood wall, includes high tensile strength textile attached to wall by adhesive and reinforced by mechanical fasteners. Most preferred embodiment comprises a strip of fiber reinforced plastic spanning multiple panels, with the grain of the textile material extending horizontally. Alternative embodiment includes vertical FRP with bias-grain textile. Fasteners are preferably ductile fiber anchors.
US08496402B2
A compactor wheel tip for a landfill or soil compactor comprises a bottom wall having a wheel engaging surface, a top wall having a ground engaging surface, oppositely disposed front and rear walls having concave surfaces, and oppositely disposed side walls. The ground engaging surface of the top wall may be generally planar and have a “bow-tie”-shaped cross-section, or the top wall may define a pair of shoulders each extending inwardly from one of the side walls, and a rib extending between the shoulders and having a depth that is less than the depth of shoulders. The ground engaging surface may further define a pair of exterior pockets disposed on opposite sides of the rib and extending downwardly between the rib and corresponding portions of the front and rear walls.
US08496398B2
A rebar sleeve device comprising a tubular unit with an opening at least one end thereof for receipt of a rebar dowel is described. The tubular unit is typically positioned horizontally and can be elevated by a back extension component and a front extension component secured to the base unit. The front extension component comprises an opening through which the rebar dowel is inserted. The opening of the front extension component comprises a protective covering. The protective covering prevents concrete from filling in the opening, but allows for the insertion of a rebar dowel. A connection component connects a plurality of the rebar sleeve devices together to form a single unit.
US08496389B2
When a second cam gear and a first cam gear rotate one turn, a shutter device changes to a first state, a second state, and a third state in this order. In the first state, the second cam gear charges a mirror lever drive spring and a blade drive spring, so that the first cam gear holds the blade lever. In the second state, the second cam gear releases charging of the mirror lever drive spring and charges the blade drive spring, so that the first cam gear releases holding of the blade lever. In the third state, the second cam gear releases charging of the mirror lever drive spring and charging of the blade drive spring, so that the first cam gear releases holding of the blade lever.
US08496373B2
A test specimen having a to-be-photographed surface and an attachment surface which is a back side thereof is produced, and attached to a structure. An artificial abnormal portion is provided between a to-be-inspected surface of the structure and the to-be-photographed surface of the test specimen. The to-be-photographed surface of the test specimen is photographed by the infrared camera. When a surface temperature difference between the abnormal and the sound portions increases to a certain level on the to-be-photographed surface, it is capable of discriminating between the abnormal and the sound portions by an infrared thermal image of the test specimen. In a time zone in which discriminating between the abnormal and the sound portions is capable, the to-be-inspected surface of the structure is photographed by the infrared camera. If there is a damage in the surface layer of the structure, a damaged position can be discriminated by an infrared thermal image.
US08496368B2
A light guide plate is adapted for a backlight module having at least one light emitting device, and the light guide plate includes a light emitting surface, a surface opposite to the light emitting surface, a light incident surface connected with the light emitting surface and the surface, and a plurality of microstructures disposed on the light emitting surface or the surface. 90 percent or more of the surface or the light emitting surface is flat. At least one of the light emitting devices is disposed beside the light incident surface and capable of emitting a light beam. The light incident surface is capable of making the light beam enter the light guide plate and the light emitting surface is capable of making the light beam transmit outside the light guide plate. A backlight module is also provided.
US08496364B2
A housing for a light source, the housing including a base having a plurality of sidewalls which define an opening of a cavity for containing the light source; a flange having a z-shaped cross section attached within the cavity to a sidewall of the sidewalls; a hinge having first and second portions which are rotatably coupled to each other, the first portion attached to the flange; and a cover having a frame and a lens attached to the frame, the frame having an opening and being attached to the second portion of the hinge such that the cover and the base rotate relative to each other about a fixed axis of rotation.
US08496355B2
A reflector element is provided for a lighting device and includes a light transmission/reflection component that includes a light conductor containing therein light diffusion particles. The light transmission/reflection component includes a light entrance section, a light transmission/reflection section, and a light emission section. The reflector element is coupled to a light-emitting diode (LED) lighting unit, or a heat dissipation element, or a cover. The light entrance section of the reflector element is set in front of the LED lighting unit and the light transmission/reflection section is set at an opposite side to the light entrance section in order to redirect an incident light to the light emission section. Due to the effect provided by the light diffusion particles for refraction, light is uniformly distributed and emitted through the cover.
US08496341B2
One object is to reduce the weight of a lighting device including an electroluminescent material. An object is to achieve high reliability of a lighting device including an electroluminescent material. In a lighting device including a light-emitting element having an electroluminescence (EL) layer, a housing formed using an organic resin whose refractive index is greater than or equal to that of the EL layer is provided to cover a light emission surface and a top surface of the light-emitting element. In addition, an inorganic insulating film covering an inner wall of the housing provided with the light-emitting element and the top surface of the light-emitting element is preferably provided.
US08496340B2
Retroreflective elements and articles that include such elements. The retroreflective elements (100) include a solid spherical core (110) having an outer surface. A first complete concentric optical interference layer (112) overlays the outer surface of the core providing a first interface between the core and the first optical interference layer, and a second complete concentric optical interference layer (122) overlays the first optical interference layer to provide a second interface between the first optical interference layer and the second optical interference layer. In some embodiments, a third complete concentric optical interference layer overlays the second optical interference layer to provide a third interface between the second optical interference layer and the third optical interference layer. The retroreflective articles include a substrate having a first major surface and a second major surface with a plurality of the retroreflective elements affixed along the first major surface of the substrate.
US08496337B2
The invention discloses a cover and an electronic apparatus with the cover. The cover is used for covering an opening of a casing of the electronic apparatus. The cover of the invention includes a covering body and a catching structure. Therein the covering body has an inner surface. When the opening is covered with the cover, the inner surface is toward the interior of the casing. The catching structure is formed on the inner surface for catching an object falling on the inner surface. The catching structure could be an adhesive layer or include a protrusive structure. If the catching structure is an adhesive layer, the object falling on the inner surface adheres to the adhesive layer. If the catching structure includes the protrusive structure, the object is confined by the protrusive structure.
US08496332B2
An illumination system adapted to a projection apparatus is provided, including a light source module, a light color modulating module, and a control unit. The light color modulating module has a plurality of light color modulating units and is disposed in a transmission path of a light beam. The light color modulating module is capable of moving so that the light color modulating units move into the illumination region of the light beam. When the control unit determines that a boundary of any two adjacent light color modulating units has moved into the illumination region of the light beam, the control unit switches the light source module to an off-state. When the boundary of any two adjacent light color modulating units has moved away from the illumination region of the light beam, the control unit switches the light source module to an on-state. An illumination control method is also provided.
US08496325B2
A liquid ejecting method using a liquid discharging apparatus, the method including: a first process, forming dots on a medium in a predetermined direction at a first interval by discharging liquid that is cured when electromagnetic waves are irradiated to the medium; a second process, irradiating the dots formed on the medium with electromagnetic waves; a third process, forming dots in the predetermined direction at the first interval so that the dots formed in the first process and the dots formed in the third process are positioned in the predetermined direction at a second interval which is shorter than the first interval; and a fourth process, irradiating the dots formed on the medium with electromagnetic waves.
US08496316B2
A liquid ejection head includes a head main body which discharges liquid, a flow path member main body on which a liquid reception member for receiving liquid supplied from the outside is formed, a first case, a second case, and a first insertion portion which is provided on the flow path member main body and through which a securing member for securing the first case, the second case, and the flow path member main body to one another is inserted. In the liquid ejection head, the first insertion portion is formed such that the outer wall covers an exposing portion from which the securing member is exposed.
US08496313B2
An image processing method of creating image data for forming an image on a recording medium by ejecting liquid droplets from a plurality of nozzles of a recording head onto the recording medium while causing relative movement of the recording medium and the recording head, includes: a correction coefficient storage step of determining correction coefficients for ejection failure correction based on difference of landing interference patterns of a plurality of types, and storing the correction coefficients for ejection failure correction according to the landing interference patterns, in a storage unit; an ejection failure nozzle position information acquisition step of acquiring ejection failure nozzle position information and a correction processing step of performing a correction calculation on input image data using a corresponding correction coefficient obtained by referring to the correction coefficients for ejection failure correction according to the ejection failure nozzle position information.
US08496309B2
A recording apparatus includes a controller and a cartridge accommodating section in which an ink cartridge of a predetermined type is mountable. The ink cartridge includes: an ink chamber; a first heat conductor that conducts heat to the ink; a pyroelectric portion that outputs an electrical signal; and a first electrical interface that connects to the pyroelectric portion. The cartridge accommodating section includes: a second electrical interface that connects to the first electrical interface when the ink cartridge is mounted in the cartridge accommodating section; a heater that applies heat; and a second heat conductor that conducts heat to the first heat conductor. The controller determines at least one of the type of the mounted ink cartridge and whether an amount of ink in the ink chamber is less than a predetermined amount based on the electrical signal inputted from the pyroelectric portion via the second electrical interface.
US08496308B2
The individual locker assembly for refrigerators is intended for use in the workplace for employees to secure their perishable foods and beverages. The locker assembly is also suitable for installation in refrigerators in medical offices and the like for the secure storage of controlled medications and the like that must be refrigerated. The locker assembly has a series of panels and dividers installable in an existing refrigerator unit, with the panels and dividers defining a series of individual lock boxes, each having its own lockable door. Alternatively, a specially configured refrigerator has an open front and a series of individual lock boxes installed therein. Each lock box is in contact with other boxes and/or the walls, floor, and top panels of the refrigerator, and is thermally sealed thereto. Each lock box has its own lockable door. The refrigerator includes a system for automating the lock box rental transactions.
US08496291B2
An emergency equipment system comprising an elongate member, an emergency equipment package, and a cutter. The elongate member may have a first end and an angled end. The emergency equipment package may have a sleeve on one side capable of receiving the elongate member from the angled end. The cutter may be attached to a side of the elongate member and may be capable of cutting the sleeve.
US08496284B2
A locking apparatus for a folding top of a vehicle includes a housing, a locking hook having a gripping end and a bearing end, a coupling device, and a driving apparatus. The coupling device is movably mounted in the housing to be horizontally adjustable in a longitudinal direction of the locking hook. The bearing end is pivotably mounted to the coupling device around a pivot axis oriented horizontally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the locking hook such that the locking hook is horizontally adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the locking hook between closed and opened positions. The driving apparatus is connected with the bearing end through the coupling device for driving the locking hook to move between the closed and opened positions.
US08496281B2
A deck system for a vehicle having a cargo bed. The deck system includes a deck body that extends across at least a portion of the cargo bed. The deck body includes a plurality of planks, each plank having an upper surface, a lower surface, and first and second opposing edges, each first edge configured to interlock with the second edge of another plank. The plurality of planks are coupled together via their interlocking edges to form the deck body. The deck system may also include a rail assembly configured to be coupled to side rails of the cargo bed and to the deck body for supporting the deck body above the cargo deck. The first edge of each plank has at least one first hook member and the second edge of each plank has at least one second hook member, the at least one second hook member configured to engage with the at least one first hook member of another plank.
US08496280B2
A remotely operated joint elevator for use in handling a tubular is provided. The single joint elevator including a housing having an access opening configured to receive the tubular. The single joint elevator further including at least one closure member connected to the housing via a hinge pin. Additionally, the single joint elevator including a power assembly configured to rotate at least one closure member around the hinge pin to selectively open and close the access opening. In another aspect, a method of handling a tubular using a remotely operated joint elevator is provided. In yet a further aspect, a remotely operated joint elevator for use in handling a tubular.
US08496276B2
The combination of an over-the-road vehicle and a locking system. The vehicle has a frame bounding a cargo space and at least one access door. The one door has a first latch assembly thereon that cooperates with a second latch assembly on one of: a) the vehicle frame; and b) a second door to releasably maintain the one door in its closed position. The locking system includes a first locking assembly on the first door and a second locking assembly on the one of the vehicle frame and second door. The first and second latch assemblies are secured to the vehicle using fasteners. The first and second locking assemblies are secured to the vehicle using these same fasteners. The first and second locking assemblies can be maintained together either inside or outside of the cargo space.
US08496275B2
A latch including a housing, a rotary pawl, catch means for releasably holding the pawl in a closed configuration, and means for operating the catch means are disclosed.
US08496272B2
A device and method for coupling two or more objects together has a coupling that has at least two magnets or metal pieces and is removably attached to a first object. A second object has at least two corresponding metal pieces or magnets, wherein the first object and the second object are held together by magnetically attractive forces when the first object and the second object are engaged.
US08496262B2
A bicycle that includes a main frame, a front wheel mounted for rotation relative to the main frame, a rear dropout, and a rear wheel mounted for rotation relative to the rear dropout. The rear wheel defines a center plane of the bicycle. The bicycle further includes a rear stay that couples the rear dropout to the main frame. The rear stay has an inner surface facing the rear wheel and an outer surface facing away from the rear wheel. The rear stay includes a steep portion having an outer surface at a steep angle of between about 25 degrees and about 75 degrees relative to the center plane.
US08496258B2
A hybrid torsion beam axle assembly is provided, which includes a steel torsion beam. An end cap is fastened to an end portion of the steel torsion beam, and a cast trailing arm is cast about the end portion of the steel torsion beam including the end cap. In this way, the cast trailing arm is positively and rigidly secured to the steel torsion beam.
US08496254B2
Provided is a boot for a constant velocity universal joint capable of being properly engaged with an outer joint member of a constant velocity universal joint and capable of increasing durability thereof. Over a shoulder portion (5) and a root portion (13) of a boot (1) for a constant velocity universal joint according to the present invention, there are formed a circular arc portion (14) adjacent to a large diameter portion (2) and having an axial sectional shape protruding radially outward and a linear portion (15) adjacent to the circular arc portion (14) and having a linear axial sectional shape. An innerperipheral surface (16) of the linear portion (15) is brought into contact with an opening end portion (17) of an outer joint member (7) of a constant velocity universal joint (6) such that a thickness from the circular arc portion (14) to the linear portion (15) is uniform.
US08496251B2
A sealing system is provided which is intended to achieve an improvement in durability. A dust seal is composed of a first dust seal and a second dust seal which is arranged at a location nearer to an atmospheric air side than the first dust seal, wherein each of the first dust seal and the second dust seal has a seal lip formed so as to be slidable with respect to an outer peripheral surface of the shaft. The first dust seal has seal lips made of urethane rubber, and the second dust seal has only a single seal lip which is made of a rubber higher in flexibility than urethane rubber, and which extends toward the atmospheric air side.
US08496246B2
A paper-sheet-thickness detecting device includes a reference roller provided on a fixed rotation shaft; a detection roller provided to face and come into contact with the reference roller; a detection block in which the detection roller is provided at one end and the other end is rotatably fixed around a fulcrum shaft so that the detection block is turned and displaced according to a thickness of a paper sheet passing through between the reference and detection rollers; a holding block that holds the fulcrum shaft; a first pressing member fixed to the holding block to maintain contact between the detection and reference rollers by pressing the detection block, the first pressing member being displaced according to rotation and displacement of the detection block when the paper sheet passes through between the reference and detection rollers; and a displacement detector that detects a displacement amount of the first pressing member.
US08496245B2
An apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a document processor and electronics connected to the document processor. The electronics includes a document sensor system and means for determining a document processing situation of a plurality of document processing situations. The document sensor system is connected to the means. The plurality of document processing situations include a single document situation and a double document situation. The double document situation includes a partially-overlapped, double document situation and a completely overlapped, double document situation. A method is also disclosed.
