US08854355B2

An imaging system includes a detector configured to receive data that can be reconstructed into a three-dimensional (3D) image of an object, and a computer programmed to obtain 3D image data of the object, the 3D image data including an internal structure of the object, define a longitudinal dimension of the internal structure from the 3D image data along a length of the structure, extract a first set of parameter-of-interest data related to the internal structure from the 3D image data along a first ray extending from a first location along the length of the structure and at a first angular orientation with respect to a base vector that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension, and plot the extracted first set of parameter-of-interest data at a pixel location of a two-dimensional (2D) plot that corresponds to the first location and corresponds to the first angular orientation.
US08854351B2

A method of driving an electrophoretic display device displays an image during an image frame divided into a plurality of sub-frames. Sub-frame periods of the plurality of sub-frames are determined based on a predetermined resolution of the image. The plurality of sub-frames have sub-frame periods that differ from one another. A plurality of unit pixels are initialized by applying a common voltage to a common electrode and by applying a first voltage to a plurality of pixel electrodes. Each pixel electrode corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of unit pixels. Gray levels of the plurality of unit pixels are controlled by selectively applying one of the common voltage and a second voltage to each pixel electrode during each sub-frame.
US08854350B2

Provided is a liquid crystal display for improving side visibility by calculating a representative value for image data and correcting at least one of a storage voltage Vcst, a reference voltage Vref, and a lookup table LUT according to the calculated representative value. Further, a histogram analysis block is formed inside or outside a signal controller and corrects at least one of the storage voltage Vcst, the reference voltage Vref, and the lookup table LUT based on the histogram analysis block.
US08854338B2

A display apparatus includes a pointing device including a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit to detect a position of an object inserted into an optical path between the light emitting unit and a light receiving unit, wherein the pointing device includes an optical intensity store unit configured to store an optical intensity distribution detected by the light receiving unit in a memory unit upon detection of a change in a position or location of a display, and a position calculating unit configured to detect the position of the object by detecting a dark point in the optical intensity distribution caused by the insertion of the object based on a difference between the optical intensity distribution stored in the memory unit and an optical intensity distribution subsequently detected by the light receiving unit.
US08854337B2

An optical position detection device includes a light receiving section receiving detection light reflected from a target object located in a detectable space through which detection light is radially emitted along an XY plane. The light receiving section includes a light receiving element and a concave mirror. A first cross section (XY cross section) of the reflective surface of the concave mirror is an arc, and a second cross section (YZ cross section) perpendicular to the first cross section is a quadratic curve. Therefore, in the in-plane direction of the XY plane, even light incident from an oblique direction with respect to the light receiving section is reflected by the concave mirror to the light receiving element. In the in-plane direction of the YZ plane, however, the range where the light reaches the light receiving element is limited via the concave mirror.
US08854335B2

A control method of an electronic apparatus includes the following steps: detecting a touch sensing event to generate a touch detection result; detecting a non-touch sensing event to generate a non-touch detection result; and enabling the electronic apparatus to perform a specific function according to at least the touch detection result and the non-touch detection result. An electronic apparatus includes a touch detection unit, a non-touch detection unit and a control unit. The touch detection unit is arranged to detect a touch sensing event to generate a touch detection result. The non-touch detection unit is arranged to detect a non-touch sensing event to generate a non-touch detection result. The control unit is coupled to the touch detection unit and the non-touch detection unit, and is arranged to enable the electronic apparatus to perform a specific function according to at least the touch detection result and the non-touch detection result.
US08854332B1

A foldable display device and method for controlling the foldable display device are discussed. The method includes detecting a state of a foldable display unit, the foldable display unit being in a folded state when the foldable display device is folded and being in an unfolded state when the foldable display device is unfolded, the foldable display unit being divided into a first area which is a border area, a second area which is a folding area and a third area located between the first area and the second area; and deactivating a touch sensor unit of the first area and activating touch sensor units of the second area and the third area, when the foldable display unit is gripped in the unfolded state.
US08854331B2

A method and device for generating haptic feedback over a touch surface using multi-actuated waveform phasing are disclosed. A haptic device, in one embodiment, includes a touch surface and a group of haptic actuators. The touch surface is capable of sensing an event, wherein the event can be a contact on the touch surface or a movement nearby the surface. A portion of the haptic actuators, which are coupled to the touch surface, is configured to provide haptic feedback on the touch surface in response to the event. Another portion of the haptic actuators is used to minimize unwanted haptic effect on the touch surface.
US08854329B2

Disclosed herein is a contact detecting device including: a contact responding section configured to produce an electric change in response to an object to be detected coming into contact with or proximity to a detecting surface; and a contact driving scanning section configured to scan application of driving voltage to the contact responding section in one direction within the detecting surface, and control output of the electric change in time series, wherein the contact driving scanning section performs a plurality of scans of different regions of the contact responding section in parallel with each other, and outputs a plurality of the electric changes in parallel with each other.
US08854325B2

An electronic device and method are provided for rotating an object displayed at or by the device. The object may be an entire displayed region of a display screen, such as a window, frame, or other region or subregion, or a block element or other type of content component such as an image or map. A first input defining a reference point for the object is detected at a first user interface mechanism. After commencement of the detected first input, a second input at a second user interface mechanism, such as a touchscreen display, is detected. In response to the second input, a rotation transformation is applied to the object, the rotation transformation center being defined by the reference point, and the rotation transformation angle being defined by the second input. The object may be displayed by the touchscreen display, or by a display device external to the electronic device.
US08854315B2

A mobile terminal may include a first touch screen to display a first object, a second touch screen, and a controller to control the first and second touch screens. The mobile terminal may receive a first touch to the first object, and may receive a second touch to a position on the second touch screen while the first touch is held to the first object. The mobile terminal may further display content or information based on the first object on the second touch screen in response to receiving the second touch. Other embodiments may also be provided.
US08854313B2

There is provided a technique which can reduce the entire thickness of a push-button switch while securing the brightness of the illumination and can increase the sensitivity and accuracy of a slide input. Use of a light guide sheet separating from a surface-type capacitance sensor is excluded, thereby being able to reduce the entire thickness of a sensor-integrated illuminated key sheet while a light guide sheet serves to secure the brightness of the illumination. A surface sheet is provided so as to contact the operation surface side of the light guide sheet as the substrate of the surface-type capacitance sensor. The distance between the operation surface of the surface sheet and the surface-type capacitance sensor can therefore decrease, which can enhance the sensitivity and accuracy of the slide input.
US08854303B1

A display device is disclosed. A display device according to an embodiment of the present specification includes a display unit configured to display visual information, a camera unit configured to capture an image in front of the display device, a sensor unit configured to sense user input applied to the display device, and a control unit configured to control the display device, wherein the control unit detects at least one user from the captured image, maintains display of the visual information and processes received user input when the detected user includes a predetermined master user, the control unit detects at least one user from the captured image, maintains display of the visual information and does not process the received user input when the detected user does not include the predetermined master user, and the control unit deactivates the display unit when no user is detected in the captured image.
US08854296B2

Disclosed herein is an apparatus. The apparatus includes a housing, electronic circuitry, and an electronic component. The electronic circuitry is in the housing. The electronic circuitry includes a first capacitive connection pad. The electronic component is removably attached to an outer surface of the housing. The electronic component includes a second capacitive connection pad located opposite the first capacitive connection pad to form a capacitive connection between the electronic circuitry and the electronic component.
US08854286B2

In a liquid crystal display device including a plurality of pixels in a display portion and configured to performed display in a plurality of frame periods, each of the frame periods includes a writing period and a holding period, and after an image signal is input to each of the plurality of pixels in the writing period, a transistor included in each of the plurality of pixels is turned off and the image signal is held for at least 30 seconds in the holding period. The pixel includes a semiconductor layer including an oxide semiconductor layer, and the oxide semiconductor layer has a carrier concentration of less than 1×1014/cm3.
US08854285B2

A detachable liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal module and a cradle. The liquid crystal module includes a liquid crystal panel, an optical sheet provided on a rear surface of the liquid crystal panel, an interface disposed on a rear surface of the liquid crystal panel, a power receiver disposed on the rear surface of the liquid crystal panel, a memory card and a timing controller for receiving second image data from external devices and permitting the first image data stored in the memory card to be displayed in the liquid crystal panel. The cradle includes a lamp emitting light, an inverter for supplying alternating current to the lamp, a connector for receiving third image data from external equipment, and an interface converter for applying the third image data to the interface of the liquid crystal module.
US08854280B2

An image processing apparatus acquires a time interval which is set in a display apparatus and at which the display screen is updated, determines a profile used for a color correction process based on the acquired time interval, and performs the color correction process using the determined profile to an input video signal.
US08854277B2

A millimeter-wave radio antenna module (600) comprising: an antenna substrate (603) having an antenna (602) provided on a face thereof; and a semiconductor die (601) comprising a wireless system IC, the die mounted on a face of the antenna substrate and configured to provide a signal to the antenna, wherein a ball grid array (605) is formed on a face of the antenna substrate for mounting the antenna module to a circuit board, the ball grid array being configured to define an air dielectric gap (606) between the antenna and the circuit board.
US08854267B2

An antenna device for improving antenna performance of a portable terminal having a metal edge installed on a case frame is disclosed. The antenna device includes a main board equipped with a power supply end for supplying power and a ground surface for grounding the main board, a loop radiator connected with the power supply end of the main board at first end and connected with the ground surface of the main board at a second end, and a metal body disposed along an edge of the portable terminal and electrically connected with the ground surface of the main board.
US08854264B2

Embodiments relate to two-dimensional antenna arrays. In one embodiment, an antenna array includes single-ended fed patch antennas and differentially fed patches. Field polarization of the radiated and/or received EM waves is different by 90 degrees for each different antenna type. Thus, an aligned polarization pattern can be achieved using orthogonal feeding direction for single-ended and differential patches. Embodiments can be used in radar or virtually any other 2D array antenna system.
US08854261B2

A parameter calculating method includes: setting lengths of prediction target terms as divisions of a predetermined effective period of a satellite orbit as variable lengths; and calculating a parameter of a predetermined orbit model expression used for approximating the satellite orbit based on prediction position data containing prediction positions of a positioning satellite in time series for each of the prediction target terms.
US08854259B2

A GNSS receiver in a wake up state during a standby mode may acquire ephemeris from received GNSS signals such as GPS signals and/or GLONASS signals. When subsequently transitioning from the standby mode to a normal mode operating at a high frequency clock, the acquired ephemeris may be utilized to generate a navigation solution for the GNSS receiver. The GNSS receiver in the wake up state during the standby mode may be switched to operate at the high frequency clock in order to receive GNSS signals. The GNSS receiver may extract complete ephemeris from the received GNSS signals, and may subsequently transition from the wake up state to a sleep state during the standby mode to save power. Radio frequency front-end components of the GNSS receiver may only be turned on to receive the GNSS signals. The GNSS receiver may transition between the standby mode and the normal mode.
US08854258B2

A method of synthetic imaging comprising the steps of: emitting a first electromagnetic signal having a first frequency from a first radiation source, emitting at least one second electromagnetic signal having a second frequency from a second radiation source, wherein the first and second frequencies are different from each other, substantially simultaneously receiving the first signal and the second signal with a first receiver, substantially simultaneously receiving the first signal and the second signal with at least one second receiver, arranging an object on the path of at least one electromagnetic signal between the radiation sources and the receivers, wherein the signals are reflected by the object before they meet the receivers, and computing an image of the object from the signals received by the receivers and a device for practicing the method.
US08854254B2

An ultra-wideband (UWB) radar transmitter apparatus comprises a pulse generator configured to produce from a sinusoidal input signal a pulsed output signal having a series of baseband pulses with a first pulse repetition frequency (PRF). The pulse generator includes a plurality of components that each have a nonlinear electrical reactance. A signal converter is coupled to the pulse generator and configured to convert the pulsed output signal into a pulsed radar transmit signal having a series of radar transmit pulses with a second PRF that is less than the first PRF.
US08854249B2

A method and system for detecting the presence of subsurface objects within a medium is provided. In some embodiments, the imaging and detection system operates in a multistatic mode to collect radar return signals generated by an array of transceiver antenna pairs that is positioned across the surface and that travels down the surface. The imaging and detection system pre-processes the return signal to suppress certain undesirable effects. The imaging and detection system then generates synthetic aperture radar images from real aperture radar images generated from the pre-processed return signal. The imaging and detection system then post-processes the synthetic aperture radar images to improve detection of subsurface objects. The imaging and detection system identifies peaks in the energy levels of the post-processed image frame, which indicates the presence of a subsurface object.
US08854246B1

The invention is a method of converting an electromagnetic anechoic test chamber into an electromagnetic reverberation test chamber. Lightweight and flexible conductive fabric is used to cover (fully or partially) the radio frequency absorbing walls of an anechoic test chamber. The conductive fabric is strategically arranged and disposed across the interior of the anechoic test chamber by a variety of means including magnets and low-loss dielectric frames.
US08854243B2

A low-power and high-speed ADC includes: a successive approximation converter circuit configured to sequentially compare and coarsely convert the analog input signal voltage into a digital signal with a number of higher-order bits, and also to output a residual voltage; a fixed-quantity change time measurement converter circuit configured to finely convert the residual voltage into a digital signal with a number n of lower-order bits by changing the residual voltage at a fixed rate of change and by measuring the time until a predetermined value is reached; and an encoder circuit configured to generate a digital signal with the predetermined number of bits by combining the digital signal with the number of higher-order bits output from the successive approximation converter circuit and the digital signal with the number of lower-order bits output from the fixed-quantity change time measurement converter circuit.
US08854242B1

A RF digital to analog converter has a first capacitor arrangement, a first common node, and a first controller. The first capacitor arrangement has multiple switchable capacitor paths arranged in parallel. Respective switchable capacitor paths have a switchable element and a capacitor coupled in series. The first common node is connected to the multiple switchable capacitor paths. The first controller receives a baseband signal having an in-phase component and a quadrature component, and a local oscillator (LO) signal having an in-phase LO signal and a quadrature LO signal. The first controller combines the in-phase component and the in-phase LO signal to obtain a first in-phase modulation signal and combines the quadrature component and the quadrature LO signal to obtain a first quadrature modulation signal. The first controller controls the multiple switchable capacitor paths of the first capacitor arrangement with the first in-phase modulation signal and/or the first quadrature modulation signal.
US08854238B2

An asynchronous sampling frequency conversion device includes: a storage unit configured to store input digital signals; a data specifying unit configured to specify first data and second data based on a ratio of a sampling frequency of the input digital signal to a sampling frequency of an output digital signal, the first data being sampled at a sampling timing immediately before an ith (where i is a natural number) sampling timing of the output digital signal among the input digital signals stored in the storage unit, the second data being sampled at the sampling timing immediately after the ith sampling timing of the output digital signal; and an output data value calculator configured to calculate a value of ith data of the output digital signal based on the first data and the second data specified by the data specifying unit and the ratio.
US08854237B2

A method for producing N-bit output words of RLL-encoded data having both a global constraint Go and an interleave constraint Io on bits of a first value includes receiving N-bit input words of RLL-encoded data having both a global constraint Gi and an interleave constraint Ii on bits of like value; and producing the output words from respective input words by sliding-window encoding of each input word to replace predetermined bit-sequences with respective substitute sequences such that GoIi.
US08854236B2

Methods and apparatuses for providing multi-level encoded signals are disclosed. An apparatus may include an encoding circuit and a multi-level encoder. The encoding circuit may be configured to receive data and provide encoded data based, at least in part on the data. The multi-level encoder may be coupled to the encoding circuit and configured to receive the encoded data. The multi-level encoder may be further configured to provide the encoded data to a bus as multi-level signal responsive, at least in part, to receipt of the encoded data.
US08854229B2

Disclosed is a system for warning a pedestrian of an oncoming vehicle. In particular, a sensor senses the position of a pedestrian in the vicinity of a vehicle. The position information is then sent to a control unit which controls a phase, a frequency, and a volume of a sound signal transmitted to a pair of dipole speakers based on positional information of the pedestrian calculated by the control unit.
US08854213B2

An RFID label comprising an RFID circuit and an RFID antenna, and optional secondary security label ensures the authenticity of a beverage contained in a beverage container. The RFID label cannot be removed without destroying the RFID label or rendering it inoperable. A secondary security label may be placed over the closure of the beverage container to provide a secondary measure against tampering as well as a visual indicator of authenticity. It is placed on a portion of the bottle, a portion of the beverage container's closure, and the RFID label. An attempt to remove the secondary security label will also render the RFID label unusable.
US08854212B2

A conveyor system for processing items on which radio frequency identification tags are disposed has a conveyor that conveys items through a path of travel, and an antenna disposed proximate the path of travel. Circuitry in communication with the antenna may associate RFID tag data with a package on the conveyor based on a difference signal from elements in the antenna.
US08854206B2

A sample measuring device according to the present invention includes a measuring unit for performing measurement with respect to a particular component contained in a sample, a measurement data storage unit for storing measurement data obtained by the measuring unit, a display unit for displaying the measurement data, a sensor strip detector for detecting insertion and removal of a sensor strip to which the sample is applied, and a first data transmitter/receiver for transmitting the measurement data via wireless communication. The first data transmitter/receiver performs initial authentication process for wireless communication after insertion of the sensor strip is detected by the sensor strip detector.
US08854202B2

Management systems, methods, and mediums. A method includes identifying a description of a system object from a request to generate an event enrollment object to monitor the system object in response to receiving the request. The method includes storing the description of the system object in association with the event enrollment object. The method includes identifying the stored description of the system object associated with the event enrollment object in response to identifying an alarm generated for the event enrollment object. Additionally, the method includes including the description of the system object in a notification of the alarm generated for event enrollment object.
US08854200B2

A method and system for managing tire pressure in a vehicle are disclosed. The system is a tire pressure monitoring system associated with the tire pressure sensors. The method includes the general steps of informing the operator that air pressure in a tire is below a desired level, causing the sensor to undertake a rapid sampling of pressure of the tire during an interim state while the vehicle is being driven, advising the operator to manually add pressure to the tire in discrete increments of, for example, between 5 and 10 seconds, causing the sensor to undertake a rapid sampling of tire pressure while air is being manually added to the tire, and causing the sensor to transmit tire air pressure data until the operator stops adding air. The method may also include the step of providing the operator with feedback when a predetermined tire air pressure is reached.
US08854198B2

A forward vehicle brake warning system includes an incoming message receiving component, an adverse driving condition obtaining component, an incoming message relevancy component, a relevancy adjustment component and a driver warning component. The incoming message receiving component is configured to receive hard brake messages from neighboring vehicles located within a prescribed communication region around a host vehicle. The adverse driving condition obtaining component is configured to receive driving condition information affecting drivability of the host vehicle. The incoming message relevancy component is configured to perform a relevancy determination of the hard brake messages. The relevancy adjustment component is configured to adjust the relevancy determination to selectively filter the hard brake messages received depending upon the driving condition information. The driver warning component configured to alert a driver of the host vehicle.
US08854194B2

Remote monitoring and inspection of measurement devices, emergency equipment, parking spaces, and other items is accomplished by using an image sensor (e.g., a CMOS sensor) to capture an image containing information about the monitored item. A signal containing information about the image (e.g., data representing the captured image or data indicating the state of the captured image) is transmitted to a remote central station.
US08854193B2

Systems and methods for shut-down of a photovoltaic system. In one embodiment, a method implemented in a computer system includes: communicating, via a central controller, with a plurality of local management units (LMUs), each of the LMUs coupled to control a respective solar module; receiving, via the central controller, a shut-down signal from a user device (e.g., a hand-held device, a computer, or a wireless switch unit); and in response to receiving the shut-down signal, shutting down operation of the respective solar module for each of the LMUs.
US08854190B2

Systems and methods to detect cross reads in RFID tags are disclosed. Existing RFID reading mechanisms do not have the provision of detecting cross reads and eliminating the cross reads while performing inventory of an area. As a result, the user will have to manually determine the cross reads from the data and eliminate them. The disclosed method employs a RFID reader that is equipped with a plurality of engines for performing scan on the inventories. The scanned data is processed by a processing unit. In the processing unit, normalization is performed on the scanned data, neighboring assets and spatial location maps are created. The data from the above processes is employed for detecting cross reads during the scan. The identified cross reads are eliminated based on various other parameters obtained by analyzing scanned data.
US08854181B2

A remote wireless keyless entry transmitter includes a communications interface for connecting the transmitter directly to an in-vehicle network for registering the transmitter with the vehicle access system. The interface is further connectable to a personal computer to load a set of control codes and programming codes corresponding to a vehicle. The transmitter is programmable to operate multiple functions for multiple vehicles, separately or simultaneously. The transmitter can include a transponder circuit, a display, an accelerometer and a key coupler. A wireless transponder is operationally associated with a vehicle security system by physically connecting the transponder to a vehicle data port with a temporary data link and transferring data between the security system and the transponder over the data link to enable subsequent wireless operation of the security system with the transponder. The transmitter can include an audible signal generator and be programmable to respond to a pager signal.
US08854179B2

The present invention relates to a household appliance (10) such as an oven, a refrigerator, or a washing machine. The household appliance comprises a transparent casing element (12) and a fingerprint sensor (20) mounted to the inside of an exterior surface of said casing element (12). The sensor comprises a light source (21; 21′; 21″; 21′″) emitting light for which said casing element (12) is transparent, a detector (23; 23″; 23′″) for detecting reflected light emitted from said light source (21; 21′; 21″; 21′″) and a light guiding means (22; 22′; 22″; 22′″; 22b′″) for guiding emitted light from said light source (21; 21′; 21″; 21′″) towards the casing element (12) and guiding light reflected at the exterior surface of the casing element (12) to the detector (23; 23″; 23′″). Thereby detection of a fingerprint image through said casing element (12) is rendered possible.
US08854175B2

A chip resistor device includes an insulating substrate, two indented patterns, and a resistor unit. The insulating substrate has opposite first and second surfaces. The first surface has two opposite edges and two electrode forming regions adjacent to the two opposite edges, respectively. The indented patterns are respectively formed in the electrode forming regions of the first surface and indented from the first surface. The resistor unit includes two contact electrodes respectively formed on the electrode forming regions of the first surface and filled into the indented patterns, and a resistor formed on the first surface between the two contact electrodes and electrically contacting the contact electrodes.
US08854171B2

Electrical machines, for example transverse flux machines and/or commutated flux machines, may be configured to achieve increased efficiency, increased output torque, and/or reduced operating losses via use of a dual wound coil. The coil ends of a dual wound coil can be on a common side, simplifying wiring. The dual wound coil may be configured with a low resistance, reducing resistive losses.
US08854162B1

Mechanical vertical stops, in form of metallic or plastic screws or dowel pins are introduced as permanent limits and attached on the tuning probes or the vertical axis of slide screw impedances tuners; the vertical stops are adjusted in order to prevent the probes from getting closer to the center conductor than a certain limit; this limit is calculated to prevent corona discharge at a specified maximum RF power and a required maximum reflection factor (Gamma). The adjustment method uses measured data of Gamma as a function of the vertical position of the probe to estimate and adjust for the requested gap to be maintained between the probes (at their lowest position) and the center conductor at any given RF power. The technique can be used in automatic, stepper controlled, as well as in manual, micrometer screw controlled, tuners.
US08854142B2

There are provided a bias circuit supplying different levels of bias power according to respective power modes through a simple circuit configuration, and a power amplifier having the same. The bias circuit includes: a bias setting unit setting a bias power voltage level by switching reference power having a pre-set voltage level determined according to a pre-set power mode; and a bias supply unit including a switching element performing switching according to the setting of the bias setting unit and supplying bias power having a voltage level determined according to a switching operation of the switching element.
US08854137B2

An operational amplifier circuit is provided. The operational amplifier circuit includes a differential amplifier of a cascade structure and a switched-capacitor type Common-Mode FeedBack (CMFB) circuit. The differential amplifier amplifies a difference between two input signals to output an anode output voltage and a negative output voltage. The switched-capacitor type CMFB circuit averages the anode output voltage and the negative output voltage of the differential amplifier, compares the average voltage with a reference voltage to generate a feedback signal based on a result of the comparison, and provides the feedback signal to the differential amplifier. Therefore, power consumption is reduced and a battery use time of a wireless terminal can be extended. Also, since an operational amplifier gain of each analog filter terminal is not negatively affected, a Direct Current (DC) offset is reduced, thereby improving signal quality.
US08854134B2

According to an embodiment, a chip card is provided comprising a signal source configured to generate a signal to be transmitted via radio, a p-channel field effect transistor and being coupled with its source terminal to an upper supply potential and with its drain terminal to a common node; an n-channel field effect transistor and being coupled with its drain terminal to the common node and with its source terminal to a lower supply potential; an operational amplifier having a positive input terminal, a negative input terminal and an output terminal, wherein the positive input terminal is coupled to the common node, the negative input terminal is coupled to the signal source and the output terminal is coupled to the gate terminal of the p-channel field effect transistor and to the gate terminal of the n-channel field effect transistor; and an antenna coupled to the common node.
US08854124B2

The envelope detector for detecting an envelope of a digital modulation signal in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, includes: a mixer configured to receive the digital modulation signal and output a square signal squaring the digital modulation signal when being applied with bias voltage; a bias voltage applying unit configured to apply the bias voltage to the mixer; and a DC blocking capacitor configured to be connected to the mixer to block DC component included in the square signal. In accordance with the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide the envelope detector having the simple structure while having the good receiving sensitivity and the wide dynamic range characteristics and detect the envelope of the modulated signal without transmitting the carrier signal in the transmitter and generating the separate signal in the receiver, thereby saving the costs consumed to implement the transceiver.
US08854115B2

Systems and methods for authenticating electronic devices may perform one or more operations including, but not limited to: receiving at least one code associated with an authorization to perform one or more manufacturing life-cycle operations for at least one electronic device; and blowing one or more fuses of the at least one electronic device according to the at least one code associated with an authorization to perform one or more manufacturing life-cycle operations for the at least one electronic device.
US08854114B2

An antenna drive apparatus having a drive control unit and an antenna connected to the drive control unit via first and second connecting lines, and driven by an AC signal at a first resonant frequency, includes: a first driven member connected to the drive control unit via the connecting lines and driven by the AC signal at a second resonant frequency; a sensing member connected to the drive control unit via the connecting lines and driven by a DC signal, capable of sensing approach or contact of a person and, outputting a sensing signal indicating the fact that the approach or the contact has been sensed to the drive control unit via the first connecting line; and a stop mechanism configured to stop a function of the sensing member when the AC signal supplied to the antenna or the first driven member is sensed.
US08854112B2

According to an embodiment, an FET drive circuit includes an FET, a first circuit, a resistor and a third rectifying device. The first circuit includes a first rectifying device, a second rectifying device and a capacitive element sequentially provided in series from a drain to a gate of the FET, the first rectifying device allowing a forward electric current flowing from the drain to the gate, and the second rectifying device having a predetermined breakdown voltage with respect to the electric current from the drain to the gate. The resistor is provided between a power source and a connecting point of the second rectifying device and the capacitive element; and the third rectifying device provided between a source and a gate of the FET.
US08854108B1

A transmission circuit is formed such that plural driver units of each driver circuit are connected together in parallel. A code setting section detects a voltage Vms output from a replica circuit corresponding to a driver unit of a driver circuit, and detects a voltage Vmo output from a replica circuit corresponding to one driver unit of the driver circuit, and based on a ratio of the voltages Vms, Vmo, sets operation numbers Na to Nd of driver units for each of the driver circuits such that the output resistance value of each of the driver circuits becomes pre-set output resistance values Roa to Rod. The driver circuit has a number of driver units according to the operation number connected together in parallel and operating.
US08854103B2

A clamping circuit includes a clamping element with a control terminal and a load path that is coupled between a first circuit node and a second circuit node. A control circuit is coupled between the first circuit node and the second circuit node and is also coupled to the control terminal of the clamping element. The control circuit includes at least one snap-back unit with two load terminals and is only coupled between the first circuit node and the control terminal of the clamping element. The snap-back unit has an electrical resistance between the two load terminals and is configured to reduce the electrical resistance when a voltage between the two load terminals reaches a given threshold value.
US08854099B1

The present subject matter discusses, among other things, apparatus and methods for a delay line. In an example, a delay device can include a first node, a plurality of variable capacitor circuits configured to receive a capacitance set point voltage, a current source, a plurality of switches configured to selectively couple a respective variable capacitor of the plurality of variable capacitors to the first node, an input switch configured to receive an input signal and to couple and decouple the current source to the first node responsive to a state of the input signal, and a comparator configured to receive a reference voltage, to receive a voltage from the first node, and to provide an binary output indicative of a comparison between the reference voltage and the voltage from the first node, wherein the binary output is a delayed representation of the input signal.
US08854090B2

A PMOS output stage and an NMOS output stage of which output impedances are controlled in accordance with impedance codes, a gate control part which drives output transistors held by the PMOS output stage and the NMOS output stage, and a slew rate control part which generates bias voltages to control driving ability of the gate control part based on an input current are included, and manufacturing variability of an input current circuit generating an input current is corrected by using the impedance code by the slew rate control part.
US08854074B2

Systems and methods for reading out the states of superconducting flux qubits may couple magnetic flux representative of a qubit state to a DC-SQUID in a variable transformer circuit. The DC-SQUID is electrically coupled in parallel with a primary inductor such that a time-varying (e.g., AC) drive current is divided between the DC-SQUID and the primary inductor in a ratio that is dependent on the qubit state. The primary inductor is inductively coupled to a secondary inductor to provide a time-varying (e.g., AC) output signal indicative of the qubit state without causing the DC-SQUID to switch into a voltage state. Coupling between the superconducting flux qubit and the DC-SQUID may be mediated by a routing system including a plurality of latching qubits. Multiple superconducting flux qubits may be coupled to the same routing system so that a single variable transformer circuit may be used to measure the states of multiple qubits.
US08854072B2

In one embodiment, the present invention includes an apparatus for contacting a plurality of contact locations of a semiconductor device. The apparatus includes a housing, a support member, a plurality of probe members, and an adhesive substance. The housing has a plurality of apertures that provides a low leakage pathway for high frequency signals to reach the semiconductor device through the plurality of probe members. The plurality of probe members are aligned on the support member and the adhesive substance secures the plurality of probe members to the supporting member. The housing, supporting member, and adhesive substance match in thermal expansion to reduce the error in alignment between the plurality of contact locations and the plurality of probe members over a temperature variance.
US08854071B2

A test prod for high-frequency measurement having a contact-side end for electrically contacting planar structures and a cable-side end, for connecting to a cable, wherein between the contact-side end and the cable-side end a coplanar conductor structure having at least two conductors is arranged, wherein on the coplanar conductor structure a dielectric is arranged over a predetermined section between the cable-side end and the contact-side end, wherein the test prod is between the dielectric and the contact-side end such that the conductors of the coplanar conductor structure are arranged freely in space and relative to the dielectric in a suspending manner, wherein on one side of the test prod facing towards the planar structure a shielding element is arranged extending into the area of the coplanar conductor structure.
US08854068B2

An object of the invention is to provide a diagnostic method for an oil-filled electrical device that considers a temperature distribution in the oil-filled electrical device and enables accurate diagnosis to be conducted even when the method is applied to diagnosis of an actually operating device, and further provide a method with which such diagnosis of an oil-filled electrical device can be conducted from a component analysis value of an insulating oil in the oil-filled electrical device. The invention is a diagnostic method for an oil-filled electrical device including in an insulating oil a metal part wrapped with insulating paper, and determines that a time when a surface resistivity of a maximum precipitation site where metal sulfide is most precipitated on the insulating paper reaches a preset surface resistivity management value is a time of occurrence of an abnormality.
US08854060B2

A physiological measurement instrument is disclosed, having a detector, implemented as one or more sensors, for measuring values of one or more physiological measured parameters associated with a body of a human or animal subject, and for detecting values of a physical parameter that indicates an operating position of the measurement instrument relative to the body, and an operating-position-determining unit that receives and analyzes output signals from the detector, to determine the operating position of the measurement instrument.
US08854045B2

A logging tool electronics system is disclosed (FIG. 1) with noise minimization features and pulse compression signal processing techniques to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of array induction logging tools. The borehole is radiated with a magnetic field produced by a configurable multi-frequency sine wave signal stimulus section driving a fully differential single transmitter coil. Received signals from multiple mutually balanced fully differential receiver arrays are processed by receiver signal chains using adaptive algorithms under firmware control. The received signals are used to determine the conductivity and resistivity of the formation surrounding the borehole.
US08854043B2

A method for detecting an electrically conductive target in a soil using a metal detector, including: generating a transmit magnetic field for transmission into the soil based on a transmit signal; receiving a receive magnetic field; providing a receive signal induced by the receive magnetic field; processing the receive signal to produce a processed signal; processing a duration of the receive signal, the duration begins after a time the processed signal exceeds a threshold value and ends after a time the processed signal no longer exceeds the threshold value, to produce more than one estimations indicative of a presence of the electrically conductive target when the target is within an influence of the transmit magnetic field; and presenting graphically the more than one estimations.
US08854040B2

In a method and system for magnetic resonance imaging of an examination subject on the basis of partially parallel acquisition (PPA) with multiple component coils, a calibration measurement is implemented in a first time period and an actual measurement for the imaging is implemented in a subsequent second time period. In the calibration measurement, calibration data for predetermined calibration points in spatial frequency space are acquired with the multiple component coils. In the actual measurement, incomplete data sets are respectively acquired in spatial frequency space with each of the multiple component coils. Complete data sets are reconstructed from the incomplete data sets and the calibration data. The first time period and the second time period are different, and the measurements are implemented when triggered in the two time periods. An essentially identical state of the examination subject or of the measurement system is used as a trigger.
US08854036B2

In a current detecting apparatus, a container member includes a substrate fixing portion, a core inner-edge positioning portions, and a lid member. The substrate fixing portion is a portion formed at a position outside an outer edge of a magnetic core, and to which a first portion of a circuit board is fixed. Two of the core inner-edge positioning portions come into contact with the magnetic core, and come into contact with the circuit board. The first portion, the second portion, and the third portion surround a magnetoelectric device, such as a Hall element, that detects a magnetic flux in a gap portion of the magnetic core. The lid-side substrate holding portion, with the container-side substrate holding portion, holds the circuit board tightly.
US08854024B2

According to one embodiment, a power supply circuit includes a switching control unit that compares a DA converted value of the high order bit of a digital compensation value calculated from an output voltage of a smoothing circuit with a detection value of a current flowing into the smoothing circuit and controls the switching of a switching element on the basis of a signal obtained by shifting the timing of the comparison result on the basis of the low order bit of the digital compensation value.
US08854017B2

A method for controlling a generator having a rotor with a plurality of magnets and a first stator winding and a second stator winding, electrically separate from the first stator winding is provided. The rotor rotates around a rotation axis perpendicular to a radial direction relative to the stator windings. The method includes allowing flow of a first electric current through the first stator winding, thereby generating a first radial force having a first magnitude and acting between the first stator winding and the rotor, and allowing flow of a second electric current through the second stator winding, thereby generating a second radial force having a second magnitude and acting between the second stator winding and the rotor, wherein the first magnitude is different from the second magnitude resulting in a net generator generated radial force generated by the first stator winding and the second stator winding at the rotor.
US08854015B2

A current controller for controlling plural stator currents of plural stator windings of an electrical machine, in particular a generator, is provided, wherein the plural windings are separately connectable to a converter. The current controller includes a positive-sequence current controller configured to provide a first voltage command, in particular in a rotating dq+ frame, based on the plural stator currents; a negative-sequence current controller configured to provide a second voltage command, in particular in the dq+ frame, based on the plural stator currents. Further, the current controller includes a summation system for adding the first voltage command and the second voltage command to obtain a summed voltage command based on which the converter is controllable.
US08854005B2

Disclosed is a battery system for a secondary battery including a blended cathode material, and an apparatus and method for managing a secondary battery having a blended cathode material. The blended cathode material includes at least a first cathode material and a second cathode material. The first and second cathode materials have different operating voltage ranges. When the secondary battery comes to an idle state or a no-load state, the battery system detects a voltage relaxation occurring by the transfer of operating ions between the first and second cathode materials.
US08854003B2

A method of rapidly testing the discharge capacity of a battery comprises discharging the battery at a first discharge rate until a first cutoff potential is reached, relaxing the battery during a first period, discharging the battery at a lower discharge rate until a second cutoff potential is reached and relaxing the battery during a second, longer period. The process is repeated with successively lower discharge rates and successively longer relaxation periods until the battery is substantially exhausted. The cumulative value of all of the discharges is taken as a tested capacity of the battery. Optionally, cleanup charges can be sent to the battery during the relaxation periods and a low-frequency, low-amplitude current can be supplied throughout testing in order to shorten testing time.
US08853999B2

A system and method for charging an electric vehicle includes identifying vehicle information corresponding to the electric vehicle based on an electronic image of the electric vehicle, retrieving from an electronically stored database a location of a charging port on the electric vehicle based on the vehicle information, and robotically moving a charging connector according to the retrieved location to engage the charging port of the electric vehicle to charge a battery.
US08853971B2

Systems, interfaces, and methods for controlling a luminaire. The luminaire includes a plurality of light sources or emitters corresponding to different characteristics of light. Color controls corresponding to pre-defined characteristics are set or modified by one or more dials, faders, or similar interface devices. Each of the color controls correspondingly controls the output of one or more of the light sources. A separation between the preset characteristic for each color control and the actual characteristic of each light source is calculated. An output value for each light source that is required to generate the selected characteristic is then calculated and stored in memory. When one or more color controls are selected, the output values of each light source required to reproduce the desired characteristic is determined, and the light sources in the luminaire are driven at the corresponding output values.
US08853967B2

A lamp driver responsive to a control signal that is variable in a predetermined control range includes a circuit operable in response to a value of the control signal within the predetermined control range to develop a first current and a lamp control voltage dependent upon the value of the control signal. A shutdown interface is operable in response to a value of the control signal outside of the predetermined control range to develop a second current to turn off a lamp.
US08853962B2

A circuit configuration for powering electrical loads, especially light emitting diodes, using a DC voltage converter with controllable switching element.
US08853957B2

The present invention discloses a high efficiency constant current LED driver, which comprises a rectification bridge, a PFC main circuit, an isolated DC/DC converter, a PFC controller and a PFC bus control circuit. Since the input voltage is an intermediate PFC bus voltage, which varies with the output voltage of the DC/DC converter. When the isolated DC/DC converter is an LLC resonant circuit, the operating frequency of the LLC circuit is close to the resonant frequency within a wide output voltage range. Thus, the gain range and the operating frequency is narrow, and can enable the constant current module to work with a high efficiency at a wide output voltage range. When the isolated DC/DC converter is a symmetric half bridge, or an asymmetric half bridge or a full bridge circuit, the duty cycle of DC/DC circuit is close to 50% within a wide output voltage range. Thus, the changing range of the duty cycle of the DC/DC converter will be narrow and can improve the efficiency dramatically.
US08853956B2

Driver arrangements (100) drive first organic light emitting diode circuits (1) coupled to reference terminals (10) and first output terminals (11) and drive second organic light emitting diode circuits (2) coupled to the first output terminals (11) and to second output terminals (12). The driver arrangements (100) comprise first/second elements (21/22) coupled to the first/second output terminals (11) and the reference terminals (10) and first/second switches (31/32) coupled to power source terminals (14) and the first/second output terminals (11/12) for controlling the stacked organic light emitting diode circuits (1, 2) individually. The switches (31, 32) and the first elements (21) comprise transistors and the second elements (22) comprise transistors or diodes. The first/second elements (21/22) and the first/second switches (31/32) are coupled to each other and via first/second inductors (41/42) to the first/second output terminals (11/12).
US08853955B2

An approach is provided for devices and methods for using high efficiency ballasted lamps with an electronic transformer, especially for the replacement of traditional halogen lamps from the existing fixtures. The method comprises acts of synchronizing a reference signal to a voltage corresponding to an AC voltage from an AC power source, and driving a load at a predetermined duty cycle. Therefore, the present disclosure is able to drive a load with a desired average output power lower than the minimum load requirement of the electronic transformer yet still allow the electronic transformer to work properly.
US08853953B2

There is an increasing need for simple and low cost power supplies to control loads such as battery chargers and LEDs. It is the object of this invention to provide an alternative method for the control of current in such loads with very high efficiency and to reduce the variation of load current with supply voltage. This invention is particularly relevant to LED power supplies or battery chargers and provides an electronic power supply for the control of an electrical load connected to an electrical source, the electrical load comprising a main load with at least one LED and an auxiliary load with at least one LED, the electronic power supply comprising a series compensation block connected in series with the main load and the voltage source, the series compensation block providing a voltage in opposition to the voltage source by directly controlling the power delivered to the auxiliary load and indirectly controlling the power converted in the main load.
US08853947B2

A lighting device includes a light emitting diode (LED) lamp, a power generating panel that is disposed at a position where the power generating panel is capable of receiving sunlight and light irradiated by the LED lamp and that is configured to generate electric power by receiving the sunlight and the light irradiated by the LED lamp, a storage battery that is configured to store the electric power generated by the power generating panel and to supply the electric power to the LED lamp, a lamp drive portion that is configured to drive the LED lamp using pulse signals, a remaining amount detection portion, and a control portion that is configured to control, in accordance with the remaining amount detected by the remaining amount detection portion, a pulse width and a period that are used when the lamp drive portion drives the LED lamp.
US08853943B2

A high-pressure discharge lamp may include a quartz glass bulb which encloses a discharge volume, and a fill which contains mercury and noble gas as well as metal halides being held in the discharge volume, wherein the fill contains both dysprosium halides and also oxyhalides of at least one of tungsten and mercury based on at least one of the halogens bromine and chlorine.
US08853934B2

A light-emitting device includes a phosphor plate including an upper surface, a lower surface opposite to the upper surface, a peripheral side surface extending between a peripheral edge of the upper surface and a peripheral edge of the lower surface of the phosphor plate, a light-emitting element including an upper surface, a lower surface opposite to the upper surface, a peripheral side surface extending between a peripheral edge of the upper surface and a peripheral edge of the lower surface of the light-emitting element. The lower surface of the phosphor plate includes a concave that is filled with an adhesive and the lower surface of the phosphor plate is disposed on the upper surface of the light-emitting element. The phosphor plate may contain a first phosphor, and the adhesive filled in the concave that is provided at the lower surface of the phosphor plate may include a second phosphor.
US08853927B2

A spark plug superior in salt corrosion resistance and stress corrosion cracking resistance is provided. The spark plug includes a metallic shell coated with a composite layer which includes a nickel plating layer and a chromate layer formed on the nickel plating layer. The spark plug is characterized in that the nickel plating layer has a thickness A which satisfies a relational expression 3 μm≦A≦15 μm and that the chromate layer has a thickness B which satisfies a relational expression 2 nm≦B≦45 nm.
US08853922B2

A liquid-cooled light emitting diode (LED) bulb which includes a base, a shell connected to the base forming an enclosed volume, and a plurality of LEDs attached to the base and disposed within the shell. The LED bulb also includes a volume of thermally-conductive liquid held within the enclosed volume. A scavenger element comprising a scavenger material is attached to the base and is exposed to the thermally-conductive liquid. The scavenger material is configured to capture contaminants in the thermally-conductive liquid.
US08853921B2

An LED bulb having bulb-shaped shell and thermally conductive fluid or gel within the shell. The bulb includes at least one LED within the shell. The bulb includes at least one LED within the shell and a base. The base can be configured to fit within an electrical socket and can include a series of screw threads and a base pin, wherein the screw threads and base pin are dimensioned to be received within a standard electrical socket. Alternatively, the base can be configured to fit within a suitable electric socket.
US08853918B2

A composite ceramic transducer structure for use in the construction of an ultrasound probe includes a substrate and a plurality of piezoelectric transducer posts. The plurality of piezoelectric transducer posts are controllably formed on the substrate in a plurality of spatial positions located on an X-Y plane of the substrate. The plurality of piezoelectric posts includes a plurality of shapes defined in an X-Y-Z plane of the substrate, wherein the plurality of piezoelectric transducer posts are configured to facilitate minimizing shear waves within the ultrasound probe.
US08853913B2

A mounting structure for slot paper in a motor stator. The slot paper is embedded in stator slots and includes a paper bottom, a paper side, and a paper front. A lug boss is protruded between two adjacent tooth block segments and protrudes from the inner wall of an outer ring. Two ends of the slot paper extend out of each stator slot. Two ends of the paper bottom are locked between the lug bosses respectively arranged on the upper end insulator and the lower end insulator. One end of each tooth block segment is provided with a clip slot and the paper front near the opening is embedded therein. The structure is simple, has a precise slot paper positioning function, does not occupy space of the stator slot, maximizes the slot filling ratio of the slots, and thus improves the overall performance of the motor.
US08853912B2

A coil fixing device capable of accurately positioning and fixing a coil to a slot of a stator core of an electric motor, and an electric motor having the fixing device, while not using adhesive and having a structure not affecting the characteristic of the electric motor. A positioning member of the fixing device has a coupling member positioned at an axial end of the stator core; a plurality of protruding portions connected to the coupling member at the same angular intervals as the coils, each protruding portion radially inwardly extending from the coupling member; and a latching portion connected to a front end of each protruding portion, the latching portion extending from the front end of each protruding portion in a direction across an extending direction of the protruding portion.
US08853909B2

A first non-magnetic portion, a second non-magnetic portion, and a third non-magnetic portion are arranged around an axis, from an end toward the center of a permanent magnet burying hole. A fourth non-magnetic portion is further provided between the second non-magnetic portion and the third non-magnetic portion. Angles around the axis are determined as follows with reference to a position between permanent magnet burying holes. The position between the first non-magnetic portion and the second non-magnetic portion is expressed by a first angle. The position between the third non-magnetic portion and the fourth non-magnetic portion is expressed by a second angle, and the second angle is twice the first angle. The end of the third non-magnetic portion located closer to the pole center is expressed by a third angle. The first angle and the third angle are values obtained by dividing 360 degrees respectively by a value that is seven times, and a value that is three times, the number of the permanent magnet burying holes.
US08853905B2

Provided is a radial direction controller capable of handling changes in negative bearing stiffness according to the mounting orientation. This radial direction controller, which is a magnetic bearing device that lifts and supports a rotating body by electromagnets, is equipped with: a radial control circuit for controlling displacement of the axis of the rotating body in the radial direction; a negative bearing stiffness elimination circuit that is connected in parallel with the radial control circuit and outputs a signal about the negative bearing stiffness; converters that output current values for controlling the electromagnets, based on the output signals from these circuits; filters that extract the DC component from the current values; computing units that compute correction coefficients based on the extracted DC components and the bias current of the electromagnets; and multiplication units that multiply the computed correction coefficients with the signal output from the negative bearing stiffness elimination circuit.
US08853900B2

A combination of an outer motor and a control box therefor including an upper main body and a lower controller. The upper main body includes a casing, a front end cover, a rotor assembly, and a stator assembly. The controller includes a control box and a control circuit board, and the control box is sheathed in a tail end of the casing. A center of an upper bottom surface of the control box is arranged with a bearing chamber corresponding to that arranged at the front end cover. The control box forms a cavity downwards accommodating the control circuit board. A cover is mounted at the bottom of the control box. A fairlead arranged at an inner wall of the control box extends through the bottom of the motor casing to connect an empty cavity of the casing.
US08853887B2

According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a UPS system comprising a first input, a second input, an output, a power module coupled to the first input, wherein the power module is configured to condition power provided to the input of the power module and provide conditioned power to an output of the power module, and a static bypass switch module selectively coupled to the first input and the second input, wherein, in a first mode of operation, the static bypass switch module is configured to couple the second input to the input of the power module, and provide a second input power to the input of the power module, and wherein, in a second mode of operation, the static bypass switch module is configured to provide a first input power to the output of the UPS system, through the bypass switch module, bypassing the power module.
US08853881B2

A turbine assembly includes a split venturi shroud with two halves in hinged engagement about a vertical hinge axis that bisects the venturi shroud, a split clam jacket with two halves each attached to one of the two halves of the venturi shroud, and a rotor ring including an outer rim and a plurality of propeller blades within the outer rim. The rotor ring and venturi shroud are a rotor and a stator, respectively, of the turbine assembly. The venturi shroud is mountable on a support structure by transitioning from a folded state to an unfolded state. The clam jacket is open when the venturi shroud is folded and closed when the venturi shroud is unfolded, at least a portion of the support structure is surrounded by the clam jacket when in the unfolded state. The rotor ring can be mounted on the venturi shroud.
US08853869B2

An electric generator includes a wheel coupled to an axle of a vehicle which includes battery. A rotator is fixedly mounted to the wheel and includes a series of magnets positioned so that the north pole of one magnet abuts the south pole of an adjacent magnet. A stator is rotatably mounted to the axle, and includes a mass positioned off-center from the axle for biasing the stator toward a position that is generally stationary relative to the vehicle. The stator further includes a plurality of electric coils for generating electric current when the rotator is moved relative to the stator and the magnetic field of each magnet passes through the plurality of electric coils, the coils being electrically coupled to each other and to the battery of the vehicle to transmit electric current generated from the plurality of coils to the battery.
US08853865B2

The size and thickness of a semiconductor device are reduced. A semiconductor package with a flip chip bonding structure includes: a semiconductor chip having a main surface with multiple electrode pads formed therein and a back surface located on the opposite side thereto; four lead terminals each having an upper surface with the semiconductor chip placed thereover and a lower surface located on the opposite side thereto; and a sealing body having a main surface and a back surface located on the opposite side thereto. In this semiconductor package, the distance between adjacent first lower surfaces of the four lead terminals exposed in the back surface of the sealing body is made longer than the distance between adjacent upper surfaces thereof. This makes it possible to suppress the production of a solder bridge when the semiconductor package is solder mounted to a mounting board and to reduce the size and thickness of the semiconductor package and further enhance the reliability of the semiconductor package.
US08853864B2

A device featuring a substrate configured to include an upper surface and an opposing lower surface and, in parallel, a first and an opposing second peripheral edge, the first peripheral edge being smaller in length than the second peripheral edge, one or more semiconductor chip mounted over the upper surface of the substrate, a control semiconductor chip mounted over the upper surface of the substrate, a sealing resin covering the memory and control chips, and a plurality of external terminals provided over the lower surface of the substrate, the external terminals being arranged in a line along the first peripheral edge. The external terminals are used to fit the device to an electronic apparatus. The device may be a memory card having a stacked arrangement of two or more memory chips, and with the control chip being apart from or included in the stacked arrangement.
US08853843B2

A semiconductor subassembly, a modular sidewall element having modular dimensions that accommodates placement of the semiconductor subassembly in a modular layout and a semiconductor substrate base element coupled to the modular sidewall element. The semiconductor substrate base element has at least one semiconductor element with a layout sized to be accommodated by modular dimensions of the modular sidewall element and the semiconductor substrate base element configured to form a base of the semiconductor subassembly.
US08853839B2

A housing for integrated devices that includes an air-release mechanism is disclosed. This is achieved, in various embodiments, by forming a vent hole in a package substrate, and arranging a package lid over the package substrate. The vent hole allows air to be released from within the cavity package, thereby ensuring that the package lid remains stably affixed to the package substrate despite increased temperatures during processing. The vent hole may be sealed upon mounting the package onto a mounting substrate.
US08853832B2

Mutual capacitances between regions of a MOS device become substantial factors that limit the speed and performance of the device as the device dimensions are reduced in size. A MOS transistor with a shielding structure formed above the gate is described. The shielding structure is connected to ground and is configured to reduce at least some of these mutual capacitances.
US08853831B2

A interconnect structure includes a conductive layer formed in a dielectric layer. An adhesion layer is formed between the dielectric layer and a substrate. The adhesion layer has a carbon content ratio greater than a carbon content ratio of the dielectric layer.
US08853830B2

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor substrate structure for use in a semiconductor substrate stack system is presented. The method includes a semiconductor substrate which includes a front-face, a backside, a bulk layer, an interconnect layer that includes a plurality of inter-metal dielectric layers sandwiched between conductive layers, a contact layer that is between the bulk layer and the interconnect layer, and a TSV structure commencing between the bulk layer and the contact layer and terminating at the backside of the substrate. The TSV structure is electrically coupled to the interconnect layer and the TSV structure is electrically coupled to a bonding pad on the backside.
US08853802B2

A method that includes forming a first layer having a first dopant concentration, the first layer having an integrated circuit region and a micro-electromechanical region and doping the micro-electromechanical region of the first layer to have a second dopant concentration is presented. The method includes forming a second layer having a third dopant concentration overlying the first layer, doping the second layer that overlies the micro-electromechanical region to have a fourth dopant concentration, forming a micro-electromechanical structure in the micro-electromechanical region using the first and second layers, and forming active components in the integrated circuit region using the second layer.
US08853797B2

A MEMS device and method, comprising: a substrate; a beam; and a cavity located therebetween; the beam comprising a first beam layer and a second beam layer, the first beam layer being directly adjacent to the cavity, the second beam layer being directly adjacent to the first beam layer; the first beam layer comprising a metal or a metal alloy containing silicon; and the second beam layer comprising a metal or a metal alloy substantially not containing silicon. Preferably the second beam layer is thicker than the first beam layer e.g. at least five times thicker, and the first beam layer comprises a metal or alloy containing between 1% and 2% of silicon. The second beam layer provides desired mechanical and/or optical properties while the first beam layer prevents spiking.
US08853787B2

A semiconductor device includes a substrate with one or more active regions and an isolation layer formed to surround an active region and to extend deeper into the substrate than the one or more active regions. The semiconductor further includes a gate electrode, which covers a portion of the active region, and which has one end portion thereof extending over the isolation layer.
US08853775B2

In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having first and second main surfaces, control electrodes disposed in trenches on the first main surface of the semiconductor substrate and extending in a first direction parallel to the first main surface, and control interconnects disposed on the first main surface of the semiconductor substrate and extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The semiconductor substrate includes a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, second semiconductor layers of a second conductivity type on a surface of the first semiconductor layer on a first main surface side, third semiconductor layers of the first conductivity type disposed on surfaces of the second semiconductor layers on the first main surface side and extending in the second direction, and a fourth semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type on the second main surface of the semiconductor substrate.
US08853771B2

A superjunction device in which corner portions of each annular-shaped second trench are composed of a plurality of alternately arranged first sides and second sides. The first sides are parallel to a plurality of parallel arranged first trenches in a current-flowing area, while the second sides are perpendicular to the first sides and the first trenches. Such design ensures that Miller indices of sidewalls and bottom face of any portion of each second trench belong to the same family of crystal planes. Moreover, with this design, the corner portions of the second trenches can be filled with a silicon epitaxial material at the same rate with the rest portions thereof, which ensures for the second trenches to be uniformly and completely filled without any defects in the corner portions and hence improve the performance of the superjunction device.
US08853770B2

A termination structure is provided for a power transistor. The termination structure includes a semiconductor substrate having an active region and a termination region. The substrate has a first type of conductivity. A termination trench is located in the termination region and extends from a boundary of the active region toward an edge of the semiconductor substrate. A doped region having a second type of conductivity is disposed in the substrate below the termination trench. A MOS gate is formed on a sidewall adjacent the boundary. The doped region extends from below a portion of the MOS gate spaced apart from the boundary toward the edge of the semiconductor substrate. A termination structure oxide layer is formed on the termination trench covering a portion of the MOS gate and extends toward the edge of the substrate. A first conductive layer is formed on a backside surface of the semiconductor substrate and a second conductive layer is formed atop the active region, an exposed portion of the MOS gate, and extends to cover a portion of the termination structure oxide layer.
US08853762B2

A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) device has a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor electrically connected to a PN junction diode through a metal bridge for protecting the MIM capacitor from charge damage generated in back end of line (BEOL) plasma process.
US08853753B2

An integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate including a source region and a drain region and a gate dielectric over the semiconductor substrate. A metal gate structure is over the semiconductor substrate and the gate dielectric and between the source and drain regions. The integrated circuit further includes an interlayer dielectric (ILD) over the semiconductor substrate. First and second contacts extend through the ILD and adjacent the source and drain regions, respectively, and a third contact extends through the ILD and adjacent a top surface of the metal gate structure. The third contact further extends into an undercut region of the metal gate structure.
US08853750B2

A channel region of a finFET has fins having apexes in a first direction parallel to a surface of a substrate, each fin extending downwardly from the apex, with a gate overlying the apexes and between adjacent fins. A semiconductor stressor region extends in at least the first direction away from the fins to apply a stress to the channel region. Source and drain regions of the finFET can be separated from one another by the channel region, with the source and/or drain at least partly in the semiconductor stressor region. The stressor region includes a first semiconductor region and a second semiconductor region overlying and extending from the first semiconductor region. The second semiconductor region can be more heavily doped than the first semiconductor region, and the first and second semiconductor regions can have opposite conductivity types where at least a portion of the second semiconductor region meets the first semiconductor region.
US08853749B2

A self-aligned transistor gate structure that includes an ion-implanted portion of gate material surrounded by non-implanted gate material on each side. The gate structure may be formed, for example, by applying a layer of GaN material over an AlGaN barrier layer and implanting a portion of the GaN layer to create the gate structure that is laterally surrounded by the GaN layer.
US08853745B2

A semiconductor structure, comprising: a substrate; a seed layer over an upper surface of the substrate; a semiconductor layer disposed over the seed layer; a transistor device in the semiconductor layer; wherein the substrate has an aperture therein, such aperture extending from a bottom surface of the substrate and terminating on a bottom surface of the seed layer; and an opto-electric structure disposed on the bottom surface of the seed layer.
US08853737B2

A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including a semiconductor layer, a power device formed in the semiconductor substrate, a plurality of concentric guard rings formed in the semiconductor substrate and surrounding the power device, and voltage applying means for applying successively higher voltages respectively to the plurality of concentric guard rings, with the outermost concentric guard ring having the highest voltage applied thereto.
US08853736B2

A semiconductor device and a power converter using it wherein a switching power device and a flywheel diode are connected in series, the flywheel diode includes a region having a Schottky junction to operate as a Schottky diode and a region having a pn junction to operate as a pn diode and control operation is performed such that when current flows forwardly through the flywheel diode, the pn diode operates and when the flywheel diode recovers backwardly, the Schottky diode operates mainly.
US08853731B2

A light emitting device including a bonding layer; a barrier layer on the bonding layer; an adhesion layer on the barrier layer, in which the adhesion layer includes Pd, Au, and Sn; a reflective layer on the adhesion layer, in which the reflective layer includes Ag; an ohmic contact layer on the reflective layer, in which the ohmic contact layer includes Pt and Ag; a light emitting structure layer on the ohmic contact layer; and a passivation layer includes an insulating material on a side surface and a top surface of the light emitting structure layer.
US08853723B2

The present disclosure relates generally to a light emitting diode assembly and a thermal control blanket. The light emitting diode assembly and the thermal control blanket have advantageous reflective and thermal properties.
US08853722B2

A semiconductor light-emitting device includes a light-impervious substrate, a bonding structure, a semiconductor light-emitting stack, and a fluorescent material structure overlaying the semiconductor light-emitting stack. The semiconductor light-emitting stack is separated from a growth substrate and bonded to the light-impervious substrate via the bonding structure. A method for producing the semiconductor light-emitting device includes separating a semiconductor light-emitting stack from a growth substrate, bonding the semiconductor light-emitting stack to a light-impervious substrate, and forming a fluorescent material structure over the semiconductor light-emitting stack.
US08853717B2

An object is to provide a photosensitive resin composition for color filters, configured to be able to form a high-luminance color layer with excellent heat resistance and light resistance. Disclosed is a photosensitive resin composition for color filters including the dye dispersion liquid, the dye dispersion liquid including a dye dispersed by a dispersant in a solvent, wherein the dye is a dye having a sulfonic acid group; the dispersant is a graft copolymer having an amine number of 30 mg KOH/g or more and including copolymerizable components that contain a specific monomer having a tertiary amine and a specific polymerizable oligomer; the solvent is a solvent having a solubility of the dye of 0.2 g/100 g solvent or less at 23° C.; and the tertiary amine of the dispersant and the sulfonic acid group of the dye form a micelle.
US08853715B2

A first light-emitting layer of a first organic electroluminescent element is disposed in common to a second organic electroluminescent element, a second light-emitting layer of the second organic electroluminescent element is disposed in contact with the first light-emitting layer and in the cathode side, and the second light-emitting layer is a light-emitting layer having an electron trapping property.
US08853713B2

Resistive memory having confined filament formation is described herein. One or more method embodiments include forming an opening in a stack having a silicon material and an oxide material on the silicon material, and forming an oxide material in the opening adjacent the silicon material, wherein the oxide material formed in the opening confines filament formation in the resistive memory cell to an area enclosed by the oxide material formed in the opening.
US08853711B2

A semiconductor light emitting device includes a structural body, a first electrode layer, an intermediate layer and a second electrode layer. The structural body includes a first semiconductor layer of first conductivity type, a second semiconductor layer of second conductivity type, and a light emitting layer between the first and second semiconductor layers. The first electrode layer is on a side of the second semiconductor layer opposite to the first semiconductor layer; the first electrode layer includes a metal portion and plural opening portions piercing the metal portion along a direction from the first semiconductor layer toward the second semiconductor layer, having an equivalent circular diameter not less than 10 nanometers and not more than 5 micrometers. The intermediate layer is between the first and second semiconductor layers in ohmic contact with the second semiconductor layer. The second electrode layer is electrically connected to the first semiconductor layer.
US08853709B2

A field effect transistor (FET) includes a III-Nitride channel layer, a III-Nitride barrier layer on the channel layer, wherein the barrier layer has an energy bandgap greater than the channel layer, a source electrode electrically coupled to one of the III-Nitride layers, a drain electrode electrically coupled to one of the III-Nitride layers, a gate insulator layer stack for electrically insulating a gate electrode from the barrier layer and the channel layer, the gate insulator layer stack including an insulator layer, such as SiN, and an AlN layer, the gate electrode in a region between the source electrode and the drain electrode and in contact with the insulator layer, and wherein the AlN layer is in contact with one of the III-Nitride layers.
US08853702B2

An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display includes a first electrode, an organic emission layer positioned on the first electrode, and a second electrode positioned on the organic emission layer. The OLED display includes a substrate, a thin film transistor including an active layer positioned on the substrate, a gate electrode positioned on the active layer and formed with the same layer as the first electrode, and a source electrode and a drain electrode positioned on the gate electrode and connected to the active layer, a pixel defining layer positioned between the source electrode and the drain electrode, and the second electrode, the pixel defining layer including a pixel opening exposing the first electrode and a pin hole opening exposing at least one of the source electrode and the drain electrode; and a coated portion filling the pin hole opening.
US08853696B1

An object of the present invention is to provide an EL display device having a high operation performance and reliability.The switching TFT 201 formed within a pixel has a multi-gate structure, which is a structure which imposes an importance on reduction of OFF current value. Further, the current control TFT 202 has a channel width wider than that of the switching TFT to make a structure appropriate for flowing electric current. Morever, the LDD region 33 of the current control TFT 202 is formed so as to overlap a portion of the gate electrode 35 to make a structure which imposes importance on prevention of hot carrier injection and reduction of OFF current value.
US08853688B2

A display apparatus includes a base substrate and a buffer layer disposed on the base substrate. The display apparatus further includes an oxide semiconductor layer disposed on the buffer layer and including a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a channel portion. The display apparatus further includes a gate insulating layer disposed on the channel portion, a gate electrode disposed on the gate insulating layer, and a protective layer disposed on the gate electrode and the buffer layer and having a contact hole. The display apparatus further includes a transparent electrode overlapping a portion of the protective layer and electrically connected to one of the source electrode and the drain electrode through the contact hole. The transparent electrode includes a transparent metal layer and a transparent conductive oxide layer overlapping the transparent metal layer.
US08853675B2

Disclosed is a light-emitting material for organic electroluminescent (EL) devices which is composed of an asymmetric anthracene derivative of a specific structure. Also disclosed are a material for organic EL devices and an organic EL device wherein an organic thin film layer composed of one or more layers including at least a light-emitting layer is interposed between a cathode and an anode. At least one layer composed of the organic thin film layer contains the material for organic EL devices by itself or as a component of a mixture. Consequently, the organic EL device has a high efficiency and a long life. Also disclosed are a light-emitting material for organic EL devices and material for organic devices which enable to realize such an organic EL device.
US08853671B2

A nanorod light emitting device and a method of manufacturing the same. The nanorod light emitting device may include at least one nitride semiconductor layer, light emitting nanorods formed on the nitride semiconductor layer and spaced apart from each other, and a first filling layer, a conductive layer, and a second filling layer formed in spaces between the light emitting nanorods.
US08853666B2

In a group III nitride-type field effect transistor, the present invention reduces a leak current component by conduction of residual carriers in a buffer layer, and achieves improvement in a break-down voltage, and enhances a carrier confinement effect (carrier confinement) of a channel to improve pinch-off characteristics (to suppress a short channel effect). For example, when applying the present invention to a GaN-type field effect transistor, besides GaN of a channel layer, a composition-modulated (composition-gradient) AlGaN layer in which aluminum composition reduces toward a top gradually or stepwise is used as a buffer layer (hetero buffer). To gate length Lg of a FET to be prepared, a sum a of layer thicknesses of an electron supply layer and a channel layer is selected so as to fulfill Lg/a≧5, and in such a case, the layer thickness of the channel layer is selected in a range of not exceeding 5 times (about 500 Å) as long as a de Broglie wavelength of two-dimensional electron gas accumulated in the channel layer in room temperature.
US08853650B2

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for a fast thermo-optical characterization of particles. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and a device to measure the stability of (bio)molecules, the interaction of molecules, in particular biomolecules, with, e.g. further (bio)molecules, particularly modified (bio)molecules, particles, beads, and/or the determination of the length/size (e.g. hydrodynamic radius) of individual (bio)molecules, particles, beads and/or the determination of length/size (e.g. hydrodynamic radius).
US08853637B2

A method and device include a conductive base layer, a semiconducting layer supported by and electrically coupled to the base layer, the semiconductor layer have integrated gadolinium nanoparticles presenting a high cross section to neutron particles, and a conductive top layer electrically coupled to the semiconductor layer, wherein the base layer and top layer are disposed to collect current from electrons resulting from neutron interactions with the gadolinium nanoparticles.
US08853636B2

The primary collimator for a radiotherapy apparatus can be made up of several layers, each comprising several apertures, and each layer being moveable so as to select a specific aperture to build up the primary collimator shape. In this way, the shape of the primary collimator can be tailored and/or the beam filters incorporated into the primary collimator assembly. This saves space in the radiation head whilst also allowing filters to be easily interchanged.
US08853631B2

A camera has an infrared (IR) imaging subsystem that includes an IR detector. The camera also has a visual imaging subsystem for generating a visual image of an observed scene. The camera also has one or more distance measuring devices for obtaining distance related information regarding a distance from the camera to the scene and a processor arranged to receive distance related information from one or more distance measuring devices and process the received distance related information, wherein said processing comprises determining a distance to the scene based on the received distance related information. The IR imaging subsystem may also include an IR optical element for focusing IR radiation on the IR detector. The IR optical element may be operable to focus the IR radiation on the IR detector based on the determined distance.
US08853616B2

There is provided a method of adjusting a transmission electron microscope to facilitate an adjustment for bringing a focal plane of an electron beam exiting a two-stage filter type monochromator into coincidence with an achromatic plane. The method starts with obtaining a transmission electron microscope image including interference fringes of the electron beam that are generated by an aperture located behind the monochromator. The focal plane of the beam exiting the monochromator is brought into coincidence with the achromatic plane by adjusting the intensity of an electrostatic lens, the intensities of the electric and magnetic fields produced by at least one of two energy filters, or astigmatism generated in the monochromator based on an intensity distribution of the interference fringes in the obtained transmission electron microscope image.
US08853594B2

Methods and apparatus for welding a component to fill a groove therein. The method entails simultaneously projecting an electric arc and at least first and second laser beams into the groove. The electric arc melts and deposits a filler material in the groove while the first and second laser beams are projected onto opposite first and second walls, respectively, of the groove. The axis of each of the first and second laser beams is oriented at an acute angle relative to the respective wall thereof.
US08853586B2

An electrical switching apparatus includes two arc runners, two contacts in electrical communication with the respective runners, a movable contact having two portions respectively cooperating with the contacts to provide closed and open contact positions, and two arc chambers each including two ends, a longitudinal axis therebetween, and arc plates between the ends. A magnet assembly cooperates with the arc chambers to establish a generally unidirectional magnetic field normal to the axes, normal to a first direction of a first arc between one contact and the first portion as it moves away from the closed toward the open contact position, and normal to an opposite second direction of a second arc between the other contact and the second portion as it moves away from the closed toward the open contact position. The magnetic field causes one arc to enter one arc chamber depending upon current flow direction between the contacts.
US08853584B2

Disclosed herein is the use of differences in x-ray linear absorption coefficients to process ore and remove elements with higher atomic number from elements with lower atomic numbers. Use of this dry method at the mine reduces pollution and transportation costs. One example of said invention is the ejection of inclusions with sulfur, silicates, mercury, arsenic and radioactive elements from coal. This reduces the amount and toxicity of coal ash. It also reduces air emissions and the energy required to clean stack gases from coal combustion. Removal of said ejected elements improves thermal efficiency and reduces the pollution and carbon footprint for electrical production.
US08853582B2

An electrical switch provides a center contact moving between two outer contacts, at least one of which is mounted on a lever. In the event of a contact weld forming between the center contact and the lever mounted contact, unison motion of the lever mounted contact following the center contact during switching causes a strong shear force tending to break the weld. In one embodiment, a fulcrum wall striking the lever of the lever mounted contact causes increased angulation between the contacts so that unison motion rotates and peels the contacts apart.
US08853579B2

A bearing mechanism has a rotary member made of a resin, having a cylindrical bearing integrally formed thereof and protruding from a side surface of the rotary member; a base member made of a resin and rotatably supporting the rotary member, the base member having a support shaft protruding from a position facing the cylindrical bearing of the rotary member; and an urging member constantly urging the rotary member in a predetermined direction. The cylindrical bearing of the rotary member has a bearing hole to fit and insert the support shaft of the base member.
US08853570B2

An entertainment button device includes: an entertainment button that a player can push; and a button-up-and-down mechanism configured to move the entertainment button up and down from a predetermined normal operation position to a protruding position in which the entertainment button protrudes upward from the normal operation position. The button-up-and-down mechanism includes: a shaft member extending in a moving direction of the entertainment button; a rotating mechanism configured to rotate the shaft member; an engagement part configured to move up and down together with the entertainment button; a convex portion having an inverted trapezoid shape and a concave portion having a traperized shape that are formed on an outer periphery of the shaft member; a spiral guide part formed in a spiral manner on one end of the convex portion in a circumferential direction.
US08853568B2

(Problem)To provide a high precision platform scale(Means to Solve the Problem)A platform scale for weighing an object to be weighed by supporting it by a plurality of load detection sections, wherein the load detection section comprises a load sensor 40 having a block body 42 for transmitting an applied load to a tuning fork vibrator 41 coupled to the block body 42 by reducing the load, a circuit board having fabricated thereon circuitry for converting a signal from the tuning fork vibrator into a digital signal and a sensor case 33 for accommodating the load sensor and the circuit board. The sensor case 33 is made by casting stainless material by a lost wax process and is directly coupled to parallel base frames 20 for maintaining the distance between the base frames. The sensor case has sufficient mechanical strength and also acts as a structural member for the base frames, thereby reducing the number of components and the height of a weighing table.
US08853563B2

A cold shrink assembly includes a first member, a second member and insulating material disposed over the first and second members. The first member may include first and second portions that are coupled together and configured to be separable from each other, where the first and second portions forming a main body having curved portions extending from the main body. The second member may include third and fourth portions that are coupled together and configured to be separable from each other, where the third and fourth portions form a receiving portion located at a second end of the second member. The receiving portion may be configured to secure the curved portions of the first member to the receiving portion when the first and second members are in a first position, and release the curved portions from the receiving portion when the first and second members are in a second position.
US08853559B2

The invention relates to a high-voltage insulation circuit board which is used in an electric power apparatus such as an electric power converter or the like such as power semiconductor device, inverter module, or the like and provides an insulation circuit board in which electric field concentration at the end sections of a wiring pattern is reduced, partial discharging is suppressed, and a reliability is high. According to the invention, there is provided an insulation circuit board having: a metal base substrate; and wiring patterns which are formed onto at least one of the surfaces of the metal base substrate through an insulation layer, characterized in that between two adjacent wiring patterns in which an electric potential difference exists among the wiring patterns, at least one or more wiring patterns or conductors which are in contact with the insulation layer and have an electric potential in a range of the electric potential difference between the adjacent wiring patterns are arranged. According to the invention, the electric field concentration at the end sections of the wiring pattern to which a high voltage is applied is reduced and partial-discharge-resistant characteristics are improved.
US08853548B2

A suspension substrate of the present invention includes an insulating layer, a spring material layer, and a plurality of wirings, wherein one wiring of the plurality of wirings includes a head-side wiring part and a plurality of division wiring parts, respectively bifurcated from the head-side wiring part. The spring material layer includes a spring-material-layer main body, a first spring-material-layer separated body and a second spring-material-layer separated body. The division wiring parts of the one wiring are respectively connected with the first spring-material-layer separated body, via a pair of conductive connection parts, respectively extending through the insulating layer. The first spring-material-layer separated body is located on one side relative to the longitudinal axis, while the second spring-material-layer separated body is located on the other side relative to the longitudinal axis.
US08853543B2

A fixing device includes a casing defining a receiving space and having an open end, and a movable element having a protruding end protruding from the open end. The movable element is movable relative to the casing along a first direction to vary a protruding distance of the protruding end from the open end of the casing. A plurality of first positioning portions are provided on one of the casing and the movable element. The second positioning portion engages interferentially and releasably a selected one of the first positioning portions along a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction to restrict movement of the movable element relative to the casing.
US08853537B2

The present invention relates to a cable sealing and retaining device capable of sealingly guiding and retaining a cable through an opening of the cable sealing and retaining device. The present invention provides an improved cable sealing and retaining device which allows a simple releasable fixation of a cable to the cable sealing and retaining device while the cable is sealingly guided through an opening provided with the cable sealing and retaining device. The cable sealing and retaining device (40; 60) comprises a sealing part (11) providing a passageway with an inner seal (14) through which a cable (2) is sealingly guidable, and an outer seal (15) arranged on an outer circumference of the sealing part (11). The cable sealing and retaining device (40; 60) comprises a fixation part (12) for retaining the sealing part (11) in longitudinal direction of the passageway; and a sleeve portion (47; 67) forming an opening (41; 61) for receiving the fixation part (12) and the sealing part (11) of the cable sealing and retaining device (40; 60). The sleeve portion (47; 67) provides a sealing section (42; 62) for co-operating with the outer seal (15) to perform a sealing therebetween. the cable sealing and retaining device (40; 60) is characterized by the fixation part (12) which provides fixation means (24) on its outer circumferential surface to fix the fixation part (12) to the sleeve portion (47; 67).
US08853536B2

Provided is a solderable elastic electric contact terminal, which includes an elastic core having a height smaller than a width thereof, and including two or more through holes separately disposed therein and having a dumbbell shaped cross section, wherein the through holes extend along a longitudinal direction of the elastic core, an elastic rubber coating layer enveloping the elastic core to adhere thereto, and a heat-resistant polymer film having a surface adhered to the elastic rubber coating layer to envelop the elastic rubber coating layer, and another surface integrally formed with a metal layer. A top surface of the metal layer is horizontal for vacuum pickup.
US08853534B2

A multi-directional mounting faceplate for managing a plurality of cables is provided. The mounting faceplate includes a faceplate body and a nose cover, wherein the faceplate body has an opening disposed about the center of the faceplate body. The cross-sectional shape of the nose cover is similar to the shape of the opening. The nose cover has two side plates and a linking plate which is connected between the two side plates, such that the nose cover can be rotatably connected to the faceplate body to change the open direction of the mounting faceplate.
US08853531B2

Photon Enhanced Thermionic Emission (PETE) is exploited to provide improved efficiency for radiant energy conversion. A hot (greater than 200° C.) semiconductor cathode is illuminated such that it emits electrons. Because the cathode is hot, significantly more electrons are emitted than would be emitted from a room temperature (or colder) cathode under the same illumination conditions. As a result of this increased electron emission, the energy conversion efficiency can be significantly increased relative to a conventional photovoltaic device. In PETE, the cathode electrons can be (and typically are) thermalized with respect to the cathode. As a result, PETE does not rely on emission of non-thermalized electrons, and is significantly easier to implement than hot-carrier emission approaches.
US08853530B2

There is provided a concentrator photovoltaic unit and apparatus in which light collecting efficiency is hardly reduced and sealing ability is hardly deteriorated while using a resin lens and a metal case. After attaching a homogenizer and a photovoltaic element a holding member, a Fresnel lens is attached to a case to close an opening at an upper end portion of the case, and the holding member is attached to the case to close an opening at a lower end portion of the case, so that one concentrator photovoltaic unit in which the photovoltaic element is accommodated is manufactured.
US08853524B2

A solar cell and method of fabrication are disclosed. In one embodiment of the present invention, the method comprises depositing a first doped amorphous silicon layer on a first surface of a silicon substrate, depositing a second doped amorphous silicon layer on the first surface of the silicon substrate. The second doped amorphous silicon layer is doped oppositely from the first doped amorphous silicon layer. An anneal is performed to transform the first doped amorphous silicon layer and second doped amorphous silicon layer to crystalline silicon layers.
US08853517B1

Magnetic pickups with unique tonal properties that incorporate components that are formed from an engineered ferromagnetic material. Monolithic and composite pickup components with ferromagnetic loss properties that are novel within the context of magnetic pickup design are fabricated from materials that comprise granules of ferromagnetic hysteresis materials or soft ferromagnetic materials and an insulating binder. The tone of a pickup is modified by retrofitting the pickup to include a bound granular material.
US08853511B2

A percussion attachment for a musical instrument. The attachment includes a body having at least one aerating hole formed therein. A clamp is mounted to the body that attaches the body to the musical instrument. The body may be struck and/or scraped by the stick of a bow to produce percussion as well as functioning simultaneously as a protector as the musical instrument is being played. The body may include ribs that are spaced along an outermost curved edge of the body such that contacting the ribs with the stick of a bow to produce a percussion sound. The body may also include pits spaced on a top surface of the body such that contacting the pits with the stick of a bow to produce a percussion sound.
US08853507B2

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH452990. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH452990, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH452990 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH452990.
US08853503B2

The present invention provides an inbred corn line designated NPIQ4345, methods for producing a corn plant by crossing plants of the inbred line NPIQ4345 with plants of another corn plant. The invention further encompasses all parts of inbred corn line NPIQ4345, including culturable cells. Additionally provided herein are methods for introducing transgenes into inbred corn line NPIQ4345, and plants produced according to these methods.
US08853498B2

The invention relates to the soybean variety designated S100307. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety S100307. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety S100307 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety S100307 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08853493B2

The invention relates to the functional analysis of genes in cotton by employing the Virus Induced Gene Silencing (VIGS) method. More specifically this method induces gene silencing in cotton with the help of the Tobacco Rattle Virus (TRV) vectors RNA1 and RNA2 and phenotypic effects on the cotton plant can be analysed Moreover this invention also provides transient expression vector TRV RNA2 in order to transiently express genes in cotton plants and plant tissue under the influence of a strong subgenomic promoter.
US08853486B2

Embodiments of the invention relate to a wound covering having a first strip-like element forming a first periphery and a second strip-like element that faces away from the first periphery, runs approximately parallel thereto, forming a second periphery, and is joined to the first strip-like element, there being formed between the first inner periphery of the strip-like element, facing away from the first periphery, and a second inner periphery of the second strip-like element, facing away from the second periphery, a drainage chamber, the depth of which in a depth direction extending at right angles to the periphery ensures a capillary action on bodily fluids received in the drainage chamber, in particular exudates.
US08853484B2

A process and system for separating and upgrading bio-oil into renewable fuels is provided. The process comprises separating bio-oil into a light fraction, an optional intermediate fraction, and heavy fraction based on their boiling points. The light fraction and optional intermediate fraction can be upgraded via hydrotreatment to produce a renewable gasoline and a renewable diesel, which may be combined with their petroleum-derived counterparts. The heavy fraction may be subjected to cracking and further separated into light, intermediate, and heavy fractions in order to increase the yield of renewable gasoline and renewable diesel.
US08853483B2

A process for oligomerizing isoolefins, the process including: feeding an isoolefin to an oligomerization reaction zone; feeding an oxygen-containing reaction moderator to the oligomerization reaction zone; concurrently in the oligomerization reaction zone: contacting the isoolefin with an oligomerization catalyst to convert at least a portion of the isoolefin to oligomers comprising dimers and trimers of the isoolefin; reacting a portion of the moderator with a portion of at least one of the isoolefin and the oligomers to form an oxygenated oligomerization byproduct; recovering an effluent from the oligomerization reaction zone comprising the oligomers and the oxygenated oligomerization byproduct; fractionating at least a portion of the effluent to recover a fraction comprising the oxygenated oligomerization byproduct and the trimers and a fraction comprising the dimers.
US08853481B2

A method for alkylation of a feedstock is described. The method includes contacting the feedstock comprising at least one alkylatable aromatic compound and an alkylating agent with a first alkylating catalyst composition under alkylating conditions, the first alkylating catalyst composition comprising UZM-8 zeolite and a binder, the first alkylating catalyst composition having less than 50 wt% UZM-8 zeolite; wherein a total alkylated selectivity at a temperature and a molar ratio of alkylatable aromatic compound to alkylating agent is greater than 99.0%.
US08853476B2

A process has been developed for producing diesel boiling range fuel or fuel blending component from renewable feedstocks such as plant oils and greases. The process involves treating a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating i.e. decarboxylating and/or hydrodeoxygenating to provide a hydrocarbon fraction useful as a diesel fuel. The hydrocarbon fraction is isomerized to improve cold flow properties. At least one interstage stream of the hydrogenating and deoxygenating reaction zone is heat exchanged with the feed to the isomerization reaction zone, and/or the effluent of the hydrogenating and deoxygenating reaction zone is heat exchanged with the feed to the isomerization reaction zone.
US08853474B2

A biocomponent feedstock can be hydroprocessed using a hydrogen-containing refinery as a source of hydrogen gas. A relatively low cost catalyst, such as a water gas shift catalyst and/or spent hydrotreating catalyst, can be used as a hydrogenation catalyst for the process. The hydroprocessing can allow for olefin saturation and/or deoxygenation of the biocomponent feed by using a relatively low value refinery stream, e.g., containing from about 20 mol % to about 60 mol % hydrogen.
US08853466B2

Processes and systems for forming ethanol from methanol. The process involves carbonylating the methanol to form acetic acid and hydrogenating the acetic acid to form ethanol. In a first aspect, at least some hydrogen for the hydrogenating step is derived from a tail gas stream formed in the carbonylation step. In a second aspect, at least some carbon monoxide for the carbonylation step is derived from a vapor stream in the hydrogenation system. In a third aspect, a syngas stream is separated to form a hydrogen stream and a carbon monoxide stream, and the hydrogen stream is methanated to remove residual carbon monoxide prior to being introduced into the hydrogenation system.
US08853465B2

The present invention relates to a process for preparing neopentyl glycol (NPG) by continuously hydrogenating hydroxypivalaldehyde (HPA) with hydrogen, in the liquid phase, in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst, in a hydrogenation reactor (5), by combining an HPA-comprising stream (1) with an NPG-comprising stream (2) to give a hydrogenation feed (4) and introducing the hydrogenation feed (4) into the hydrogenation reactor (5) and additionally supplying at least one pH regulator (3) selected from the group consisting of tertiary amine, an inorganic base, an inorganic acid and an organic acid to the HPA-comprising stream (1) or the NPG-comprising stream (2) or the hydrogenation feed (4), in order to establish a pH of 7.0 to 9.0 at the outlet of the hydrogenation reactor, wherein the weight ratio of HPA to NPG in the hydrogenation feed (4) is in the range from 1:100 to 50:100 and the proportion of HPA and NPG in the hydrogenation feed (4) is at least 50% by weight, based on the hydrogenation feed, and, in the case that the pH regulator (3) is supplied to the HPA-comprising stream (1), the HPA-comprising stream (1) comprises less than 50% by weight of HPA or the residence time between the supply of the pH regulator (3) and the combining of the NPG-comprising stream (2) with the HPA-comprising stream (1) is less than 5 minutes or the temperature of the HPA-comprising stream (1) is less than 75° C.
US08853464B2

The present invention provides a method of producing reduced coenzyme Q10 crystals suitable for commercial scale production thereof.According to a method of the present invention of producing a reduced coenzyme Q10 crystal which comprises a crystallization of reduced coenzyme Q10 in a solution of alcohols and/or ketones, reduced coenzyme Q10 crystal excellent in slurry properties and crystalline properties maybe obtained. Moreover, an isolation process including a crystal separation or the whole process including the isolation process maybe minimized and simplified. Thus, highly pure reduced coenzyme Q10 may be obtained in a high yield.
US08853461B2

A process for preparing a deperoxidation catalyst comprising chromium as the main catalytic element is described. Also described, is a process for preparing an organic solution of a chromic acid ester. The solution can be used as a catalyst in a deperoxidation of an alkyl peroxide in a process for manufacturing cyclohexanol/cyclohexanone by oxidation of cyclohexane.
US08853459B2

The present invention provides methods that are used to decolorize compositions containing one or more amines in the presence of one or more weak acids. Significantly, the weak acids, particularly organic acids such as glacial acetic acid, when used in combination with a heat treatment produce dramatically less by-products than do the stronger mineral acids, making heat treatments and subsequent separation techniques more effective while producing less waste. In some modes of practice, the weak acids do not need to be neutralized, eliminating neutralizing steps and waste streams associated with neutralization. Low color products can be obtained easily at very high yield as a consequence.
US08853457B2

A method for producing a polyamine is described that provides excellent safety, a lot of flexibility regarding a variety of its productions, and that can produce a polyamine of high-molecular weight easily and inexpensively.The polyamine includes a combination of units of formula (1) or (2): —(NH—(CH2)m—NH—(CH2)n)—  (1) (in the formula (1), independently in every unit, “m” indicates an integral number of 0 or more and “n” indicates an integral number of 3 or more.) —(NH—y—NH —Z)—  (2) (in the formula (2), independently in every unit, “Y” and “Z” are the same as or different from each other, and they indicate substituted or unsubstituted groups including unsaturated aliphatic, cyclic aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radicals that can include hetero atoms.).
US08853447B2

A process is provided for preparing C8-C22 acyl amido compounds via reaction in a polyol (molecular weight 76 to 400) of interesterifying a C1-C3 alkyl ester of a C8-C22 fatty acid with an amino compound or salt thereof. The resultant mass of material will have a Hunter Lab Color Scale value L ranging from 70 to 100.
US08853436B2

Method for transesterification of fatty acid esters. The method includes contacting (i) a catalyst comprising at least one of barium oxide and apatite with (ii) a reaction medium comprising at least one of vegetable oil and fats.
US08853434B2

The invention relates to a process for the isomerization of unsaturated fatty acids or esters or amides thereof, said process comprising reacting: (a) an unsaturated fatty acid or ester or amide thereof; (b) a source of Pd; (c) a bidentate diphosphine of formula I, R1R2>P1-R—P2
US08853432B2

The present invention relates to methods of synthesizing long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, in recombinant cells such as yeast or plant cells. Also provided are recombinant cells or plants which produce long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a group of new enzymes which possess desaturase or elongase activity that can be used in methods of synthesizing long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.
US08853429B2

There is provides a process for the preparation of a compound of formula (7): wherein R is an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group; provides that R is not a compound of Formula (a): wherein Ra represents an alkyl group, such as a C1-16 alkyl group, and preferably an isopropyl group; Rb represents an aryl group, preferably a 4-fluorophenyl group; Rc represents hydrogen, a protecting group or an alkyl group, such as a C1-16 alkyl group, and preferably a methyl group; and Rd represents hydrogen, a protecting group or a SO2Re group where Re is an alkyl group, such as a C1-16 alkyl group, and preferably a methyl group.
US08853426B2

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an ester from a ketone or an aldehyde, which is a reactive substrate, by a Baeyer-Villiger oxidation reaction using hydrogen peroxide, and in this method, as a catalyst, M(BAr4)n, which is a metal borate, is used (M represents an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal; Ar represents an aryl; and n is the same number as the valence of M). For example, when cyclohexanone was used as the reactive substrate, and Sr[B(3,5-CF3C6H3)4]2 was used as the catalyst, ε-caprolactone was obtained at an isolated yield of 82%.
US08853424B2

The present invention provides a protein cross-linking inhibitor containing a compound represented by any of the following formulas (1)-(13), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: R3—[—X—B(ZR1)—Y—B(ZR2)—W—]n—R4,  (1) R3—[—X—B(ZR1)—Y—]n—R4,  (2) R3—[—B(ZR1)—Y—B(ZR2)—W—]n—R4,  (3) R3—[—X—B(ZR1)—]n—R4,  (4) R3—[—B(ZR2)—W—]n—R4,  (5) R3—X—B(ZR1)-T[B(ZR2)—W—R4]2,  (6) R3—B(OH)2,  (7) R3—B(ZR1)—X—B(ZR2)—R4,  (8) R3—B(R1)—O—B(R2)—R4,  (9) R3—[—X—B(ZR1)—Y—B(ZR2)—]n—R4,  (10) R3—[—X—B(ZR1)—Y—B(ZR2)—W-Q-]n—R4,  (11) R3—[—P—X—B(ZR1)—Y—B(ZR2)—W—]n—R4,  (12) [R3—X—B(ZR1)—Y]2B(ZR2),  (13) wherein each symbol is as defined in the DESCRIPTION.
US08853418B2

Disclosed are compounds, compositions and methods for treating various diseases, syndromes, conditions and disorders, including pain. Such compounds are represented by Formula (I) as follows: wherein R1, R2, R3, Q, and G are defined herein.
US08853417B2

A non-halogen active agent for a flux is a sulfonate formed by a sulfonic acid reacting with an organic base. The sulfonic acid can be an alkyl sulfonic acid, alkyl disulfonic acid, hydroxyl sulfonic acid or halogenated sulfonic acid. The organic base can be an organic amine, carbamidine, imidazole, phosphorus. The non-halogen active agent for a flux has the advantage of high activity and low corrosion.
US08853416B2

Disclosed are compounds of Formula III. Also disclosed are salts of the compounds, pharmaceutical composition comprising the compounds or salts, and methods for treating HCV infection by administration of the compounds or salts.
US08853410B2

The present invention relates to a new method of preparing halogenated styrene compounds of formula (VIII) which are precursors in the process of synthesis of substituted isoxazoline compounds of formula (I) wherein R1 to R5, R8 and R9 are described as in the description. The present invention relates further to the synthesis of compounds of formula (I) starting from acetophenones. The desired styrenes of formula are prepared from the appropriate substituted acetophenone. Asides bromo anilines react with formoxime. Obtained oximes undergo a cycloaddition with the styrenes and give isoxazolines. Compounds of formula (I) can then be prepared in a palladium catalyzed carbonylative amination reaction of the isoxazolines.
US08853409B2

Provided are compounds of Formula (I): wherein R2, R3, R13, L and D2 are as defined in the specification, which are useful in the treatment and/or prevention of diseases or disorders mediated by deficient levels of glucokinase activity or which can be treated by activating glucokinase including, but not limited to, diabetes mellitus, impaired glucose tolerance, IFG (impaired fasting glucose) and IFG (impaired fasting glycemia), as well as other diseases and disorders such as those discussed herein.
US08853408B2

This invention relates to the use of cyclopropylamine derivatives for the modulation, notably the inhibition of the activity of Lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1). Suitably, the present invention relates to the use of cyclopropylamines in the treatment of cancer.
US08853403B2

To provide a novel heterocyclic compound having a bipolar property. To improve element characteristics of a light-emitting element by application of the novel heterocyclic compound to the light-emitting element. A heterocyclic compound represented by a general formula (G1) and a light-emitting element formed using the heterocyclic compound represented by the general formula (G1) are provided. When the heterocyclic compound represented by the general formula (G1) is used for the light-emitting element, the characteristics of the light-emitting element can be improved.
US08853401B2

The present application describes processes for the synthesis of morphinane and morphinone compounds, useful as pharmaceutical agents. Also included are novel intermediates useful in the preparation of these compounds. The process comprises quaternization of oripavine to provide a mixture of the R- and S-isomeric (at the nitrogen) quaternary salts. The R-isomer is readily isolated and converted to various N-(R)-morphinane and N-(S)-morphinone compounds. The R-isomer, S-isomer or a mixture of R- and S-isomers may be demethylated and converted to various morphinane and morphinone compounds.
US08853399B1

A bipyridine triazole rare earth complex LnL3 as shown in Formula 1 and a preparation method thereof. The rare earth complex has high thermal stability and is suitable for manufacturing devices by an evaporation film-forming process or manufacturing devices by a solution film-forming process. The preparation method has the advantages of high yield, good product purity, short reaction time and simplicity in operation, and can greatly reduce cost.
US08853391B2

Disclosed are dipyridyl-pyrrole derivative compounds and analogs thereof, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds and processes for preparing the same. The compounds are useful in the treatment of diseases amenable to protein kinase signal transduction inhibition, regulation and/or modulation.
US08853385B2

The present invention relates to combination therapy comprising a DPP4 inhibitor and an SGLT inhibitor. The combination of the present invention leads to increase plasma GLP-1 level and the combination is useful for prevention or treatment of conditions such as diabetes and diseases related to diabetes.
US08853384B2

Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) induces sequence-specific post-transcriptional gene silencing in many organisms by a process known as RNA interference (RNAi). Using a Drosophila in vitro system, we demonstrate that 19-23 nt short RNA fragments are the sequence-specific mediators of RNAi. The short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are generated by an RNase III-like processing reaction from long dsRNA. Chemically synthesized siRNA duplexes with overhanging 3′ ends mediate efficient target RNA cleavage in the lysate, and the cleavage site is located near the center of the region spanned by the guiding siRNA. Furthermore, we provide evidence that the direction of dsRNA processing determines whether sense or antisense target RNA can be cleaved by the produced siRNP complex.
US08853382B2

Described herein are methods and compositions for expressing an antibody or a fragment thereof in a microorganism and use of the microorganism to treat or prevent a pathogenic infection in a mammal.
US08853378B2

Described herein are homing polypeptides that home to atherosclerotic plaque(s) in mammals and nucleic acids that encode such polypeptides. Also described are methods for detecting and treating conditions or disorders associated with, or characterized, by elevated levels of homing polypeptides that home to atherosclerotic plaque and/or vulnerable plaque.
US08853376B2

Materials and methods are provided for producing and using aptamers useful as oncology therapeutics capable of binding to PDGF, PDGF isoforms, PDGF receptor, VEGF, and VEGF receptor or any combination thereof with great affinity and specificity. The compositions of the present invention are particularly useful in solid tumor therapy and can be used alone or in combination with known cytotoxic agents for the treatment of solid tumors. Also disclosed are aptamers having one or more CpG motifs embedded therein or appended thereto.
US08853371B2

Methods useful for producing a solution of purified Fc peptide chains are disclosed. The methods employ protein A chromatography to separate high molecular weight, aggregated peptide chains comprising antibody Fc domains from lower molecular weight unaggregated peptide chains that also comprise antibody Fc domains. The solutions of purified Fc peptide chains obtained by the methods of the invention contain less than 5% aggregate and greater than 70% of the Fc peptide chains subjected to purification.
US08853361B2

The invention relates to a sterile preparation which can be implanted on or in organic tissues, comprising: a natural or modified globin material which is insoluble at physiological pH and/or a material obtainable from globin which has been modified to be soluble at physiological pH, the said materials being biocompatible and biodegradable in the organism; an agent selected from natural or synthetic polymeric adhesive agents, polymeric tissue enhancement or filling agents, more particularly an agent based on crosslinked hyaluronic acid or on polylactic acid, and a polymeric wound cicatrization agent, specifically oxidized cellulose; with the provisos that, if the preparation comprises the said material obtainable from globin modified so as to be at least partly soluble, the said polymeric adhesive agent, if present, is not hyaluronic acid or carboxymethylcellulose and the said polymeric enhancement or filling agent, if present, is an agent based on crosslinked hyaluronic acid, and that, if the preparation comprises oxidized cellulose, the latter is present in a proportion greater than that of the said globin material, which in that case is a natural or modified globin material which is insoluble at physiological pH; and the use of this preparation, more particularly for filling or cicatrization.
US08853360B2

An isolated polypeptide comprising a botulinum neurotoxin C1 light chain having a modified amino acid sequence relative to the sequence of a wild-type botulinum neurotoxin C1 light chain is disclosed. The modified botulinum neurotoxin C1 light chain is capable of selectively cleaving syntaxin protein, but has substantially reduced or no activity against SNAP-25 as compared to wild type botulinum neurotoxin C1 light chain, and is thus useful as a research tool and in medical treatment.
US08853355B2

The invention relates to a novel diagnostic marker CT-proADM (C-terminal fragment of preproADM, SEQ ID No. 1) for diagnosing and/or stratifying the risk of diseases. Also disclosed is a method for diagnosing and/or stratifying the risk of diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases, cardiac insufficiency, and infections and/or inflammations of the lungs and respiratory tract. In said method, the CT-proADM (SEQ ID No. 1) marker, or a partial peptide of fragment thereof, or said marker contained in a marker combination (panel, cluster) is determined in a patient who is to be examined. The invention further relates to a diagnostic apparatus as well as a kit for carrying out said method.
US08853353B2

Based on the discovery that a soluble polypeptide including a nonphosphorylatable form of the MT1-MMP cytoplasmic domain is capable of inhibiting MT1-MMP in a dominant negative manner, the present invention provides compositions including MT1-MMP inhibitors such as peptide inhibitors, and methods for treating diseases associated with MT1-MMP activity. Such diseases include cancer, arthritis, and heart disease, and vascular disease.
US08853350B1

The synthesis of a polyoxometalate-loaded epoxy uses a one-step cure by applying an external stimulus to release the acid from the polyoxometalate and thereby catalyze the cure reaction of the epoxy resin. Such polyoxometalate-loaded epoxy composites afford the cured epoxy unique properties imparted by the intrinsic properties of the polyoxometalate. For example, polyoxometalate-loaded epoxy composites can be used as corrosion resistant epoxy coatings, for encapsulation of electronics with improved dielectric properties, and for structural applications with improved mechanical properties.
US08853348B2

A conjugated polymer containing dithienopyrrole-quinoxaline, the preparation method and uses thereof are provided. The structural formula of the polymer is general formula (I) as follows: wherein, x+y=1, 0
US08853346B2

The invention relates to a curable composition preferable as a raw material for optical materials such as adhesive agents for optical elements, coating agents for optical elements, resist materials, prisms, optical fibers, information recording substrates, filters and plastic lenses, and more specifically to a curable composition characterized by containing (A) an episulfide compound, and (B) a polymerization catalyst comprising a tetraalkylphosphonium dialkylphosphate represented by the following general formula (1): wherein R1 to R6 are the same or different, an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms or an alkyl group having a hydroxyl group and 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and linear, branched or cycloaliphatic.
US08853342B2

A crosslinkable liquid crystalline polymer that is formed by polymerizing a precursor monomer in the presence of an aromatic crosslinking agent is provided. The crosslinking agent has the following general formula (I):
US08853340B2

Methods of stretching thermoplastic films in the machine direction include elongating the films in the machine direction without significantly reducing the films' machine-direction tear resistance. In one or more implementations, methods of stretching thermoplastic films include reducing the gauge of the films while substantially maintaining the films' machine-direction tear resistance. The methods can involve uniformly cold stretching the films by stretching the films to a draw of about one hundred and eighty percent, or less, of the films' original length.
US08853338B2

Presently described are curable dental compositions comprising a polymerizable ionic liquid. The polymerizable ionic liquid comprises one or more ethylenically unsaturated (e.g. free-radically polymerizable) groups. Various embodiments of curable dental compositions are described. In some embodiments, the polymerizable ionic liquid is a monofunctional polymerizable ionic liquid comprising an ethylenically unsaturated group. In other embodiments, the polymerizable ionic liquid is a multifunctional polymerizable ionic liquid comprising at least two ethylenically unsaturated groups. The curable dental compositions describe herein can be utilized as dental primers, dental adhesives, dental sealants, and dental composites. In many embodiments, the curable dental compositions further comprise an initiator such as a photoinitiator.
US08853330B2

Described herein are polymers comprising a polyester and at least one polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane, wherein the polyester is capable of forming a stereocomplex with a polymer comprising a complimentary polyester and composites thereof.
US08853323B2

Polydiorganosiloxane polyoxamide, linear, block copolymers and methods of making the copolymers are provided. The method of making the copolymers involves reacting a diamine with a precursor having at least one polydiorganosiloxane segment and at least two oxalyamino groups. The polydiorganosiloxane polyoxamide block copolymers are of the (AB)n type.
US08853313B2

An injection moldable, thermally conductive polymer composition that has ultra low CTE properties is provided. The composition is suitable both for substrate applications in high precision electronics assemblies as well as over molding applications in conjunction with ceramic substrates. The composition includes a base polymer matrix material loaded with thermally conductive filler, which imparts thermal conductivity to the polymer matrix while also maintaining or enhancing the dielectric properties of the base polymer. The resultant composition exhibits CTE properties in the range of between 9 ppm/° C. and 2 ppm/° C., exhibits an optical anisotropy of below 1.5, and a thermal conductivity of greater than 2 W/m° K. The composition is suitable for use in over molding applications in conjunction with virtually any suitable electronics substrate material without the introduction of mechanical stresses produced by large CTE differentials.
US08853300B2

A molded plastic body is produced from a cured reaction mixture. The reaction mixture is pourable in a non-cured state and includes 50 to 90% by weight, based on the reaction mixture, of an inorganic particulate filler, a crosslinking agent, and 10 to 50% by weight, based on the reaction mixture, of a binder solution. The binder solution includes a monomer and a polymer dissolved in it. The molded plastic body is characterized in that the percentage of the crosslinking agent admixed with the binder solution is more than 10% by weight based on the percentage of the monomer in the binder solution. The invention also relates to a method for producing the molded plastic body.
US08853292B2

An active ray curable composition, including: a photobase generator; a polymerizable compound; and an acid, wherein the photobase generator is a salt of a carboxylic acid and a basic compound, wherein a ratio by mole of a carboxyl group of the carboxylic acid:a basic functional group of the basic compound is 1:1, and wherein the acid is an acid that loses a function thereof as acid by light or heat.
US08853290B2

Provided is a photosensitive composition which can be cured with low energy consumption, even when a substance (such as a colorant) that attenuates or shades an illumination light is contained in a high concentration or even when the photosensitive composition is in the form of a thick film. Specifically provided is a photosensitive composition which comprises the following four components: (1) a radical initiator (A); (2) an acid generator (B) or a base generator (C); (3) a polymerizable substance (D); and (4) a colorant (E), a metal oxide powder (F), or a metal powder (G). Further, the photosensitive composition is characterized in that the radical initiator (A), the acid generator (B), and/or the base generator (C) generates an active species (H) through irradiation with an active ray of light; the active species (H) reacts the radical initiator (A), the acid generator (B), or the base generator (C) to form another species (I); and thus the polymerization of the polymerizable substance (D) by means of the active species (I) proceeds, said active species (H) or (I) being an acid or a base.
US08853280B2

The present invention provides compositions comprising allylamine drug compounds for topical treatment of fungal infections of the skin and skin appendages. In some embodiments a positive charge and enhancers are used in the compositions to allow for increased penetration of the active ingredient through skin and skin appendages. In some embodiments the positively charged active ingredients are either dissolved in the vehicle directly or dissolved in a plurality of beads suspended in the vehicle. The present invention also provides methods for making compositions comprising an allylamine drug compound, and methods of using such compositions for the treatment of fungal infections of the skin and skin appendages.
US08853275B2

A novel therapy regime/regimen for the treatment of acne related diseases includes administering a topical fixed-dose combination of a retinoid and an anti-bacterial agent, such as BPO, to a course of oral antibiotic therapy.
US08853271B2

A method for inhibiting the activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), inhibiting the expression of matrix metalloproteinase, inhibiting the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and/or promoting the expression of collagen in a mammal is provided. The method comprises administrating to the mammal an effective amount of an active component selected from a group consisting of a compound of formula (I), a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound, a pharmaceutically acceptable ester of the compound, and combinations thereof:
US08853267B2

The present invention generally relates to refreshing, soothing, and cooling compounds that affect sensory processes. More particularly, the present invention pertains to certain N-alkylcarbonyl-D-Ala-esters compounds as described herein; compositions and articles comprising such compounds; and methods of treatment, for example, methods of reducing skin irritation, itch, and/or pain.
US08853262B2

A pKa buffered vitamin C composition which includes a base alkalizer composition mixed with vitamin C (calcium ascorbate or ascorbic acid). The base alkalizer composition can be approximately 24% to 40% and the ascorbic acid or calcium ascorbate can be approximately 76% to 60% by weight of the vitamin C composition. When this vitamin C composition is orally administered to an individual (in capsule or tablet form), a rapid neutralization of his stomach acid occurs followed by a sustained pH of 6.0 to 7.5 for a thirty minute to two hour period. This allows the ingredients to be absorbed in his stomach, while preventing unpleasant reactions in his stomach. The base alkalizer composition can include the combination of a calcium carbonate carrier which acts as a mild alkalizer, an hydroxide (magnesium or potassium) which acts as a fast alkalizer, and a phosphate (dicalcium or tricalcium) which acts as a moderate alkalizer and which also maintains the pH fairly stable over a twenty to forty minute time period.
US08853259B2

The invention provides mutual ternary salts of metformin, lipoic acid and acidic amino acids such as aspartic acid and glutamic acid. The invention further provides treatment of prediabetes, diabetes, diabetic complications and/or other conditions in mammals in a method that comprises administering an effective amount of one or more of the foregoing compositions to a mammal in need of such treatment.
US08853253B2

Thalidomide analogs that modulate tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) activity and angiogenesis are disclosed. In particularly disclosed embodiments, the thalidomide analogs are isosteric sulfur-containing analogs. Also disclosed are methods of treating a subject with the analogs.
US08853252B2

The present invention provides novel pyrazoles that are useful as cannabinoid receptor antagonists and pharmaceutical compositions thereof and methods of using the same for treating obesity, diabetes, hepatic disorders, and/or cardiometabolic disorders.
US08853251B2

The present invention relates to method of treating retinal diseases in a subject in need of such treatment, which comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising a ester pro-drugs of [3-(1-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)ethyl)-2-methylphenyl]methanol, processes for preparing them, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as pharmaceuticals.
US08853250B2

Compounds, compositions and methods are provided which are useful in the treatment of diseases through the inhibition of sodium ion flux through voltage-gated sodium channels. More particularly, the invention provides substituted aryl sulfonamides, compositions comprising these compounds, as well as methods of using these compounds or compositions in the treatment of central or peripheral nervous system disorders, particularly pain and chronic pain by blocking sodium channels associated with the onset or recurrence of the indicated conditions. The compounds, compositions and methods of the present invention are of particular use for treating neuropathic or inflammatory pain by the inhibition of ion flux through a voltage-gated sodium channel.
US08853245B2

The present invention relates to prodrug derivatives of dabigatran, their use in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, in particular thrombotic diseases, stroke, cardiac infarction and/or atrial fibrillation and cardiac arrhythmia, as well as oncological diseases of any pathogenesis.
US08853237B2

In one aspect, the invention relates to naphthyridinone analogs, derivatives thereof, and related compounds, which are useful as positive allosteric modulators of the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5); synthetic methods for making the compounds; pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds; and methods of treating neurological and psychiatric disorders associated with glutamate dysfunction using the compounds and compositions. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.
US08853235B2

The present invention relates to novel crystalline polymorphic salt forms of 5-(3-chlorophenylamino)benzo[c][2,6]naphthyridine-8-carboxylic acid, processes for the preparation thereof, compositions thereof and their use in methods of treatment and prevention of conditions mediated by casein kinase (CK) and/or poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP).
US08853234B2

The present invention provides novel quinolone compounds and pharmaceutical composition thereof which may inhibit cell proliferation and/or induce cell apoptosis. The present invention also provides methods of preparing such compounds and compositions, and methods of making and using the same.
US08853225B2

The present invention relates to a compound of formula (I), which has valuable pharmacological properties, particularly an inhibiting effect on signal transduction mediated by tyrosine kinases, processes for stereoselectively preparing these compounds, particularly pharmaceutical formulations suitable for inhalation and their use for the treatment of diseases, particularly tumoral diseases, benign prostatic hyperplasia and diseases of the lungs and airways.
US08853221B2

The compounds according to formula (VIII), their pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salts, and the uses thereof. These compounds and their pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salts can be used for preparing medicaments for modulating estrogen related receptors (ERR), and treating metabolic diseases, such as high blood fat, fatty liver, hyperglycemia, diabetes, obesity. The substituents of the formula are defined in the description.
US08853219B2

Disclosed are muscarinic agonist compounds including oxadiazole derivatives, compositions and preparations thereof. Also disclosed are methods of synthesizing such oxadiazole compounds. Further disclosed are methods for treating a subject with said muscarinic agonists or a pharmaceutically suitable form thereof to enhance cognitive function.
US08853218B2

The invention relates to compounds of formula (I) processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in the treatment of conditions or disorders which are mediated via the GPR38 receptor.
US08853210B2

The invention provides methods and intermediates that are useful for preparing a compound of formula I: and salts thereof.
US08853206B2

The invention relates to novel compounds of formula I where X, A−, Q1, Q2, Q3, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8 and R9 are each as defined below. The compounds of formula I have antithrombotic activity and inhibit especially protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1). The invention further relates to a process for preparing the compound of formula I and to the use thereof as a medicament.
US08853200B2

The invention relates to 3-(2′,2′-dimethylpropanoylamino)-tetrahydropyridin-2-one, and its pharmaceutical compositions and its use for preparing a medicament intended to prevent or treat inflammatory disorders.
US08853199B2

The present invention provides compounds, including resolved enantiomers, resolved diastereomers, solvates and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, comprising the Formula I: Also provided are methods of using the compounds of this invention as AKT protein kinase inhibitors and for the treatment of hyperproliferative diseases such as cancer.
US08853198B2

The present invention relates to 1,4-benzothiazepine derivatives and their use to treat conditions, disorders and diseases associated with ryanodine receptors (RyRs) that regulate calcium channel functioning in cells. The invention also discloses pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds and uses thereof to treat diseases and conditions associated with RyRs, in particular cardiac, musculoskeletal and central nervous system (CNS) disorders.
US08853196B2

The present invention relates to aminochromane, aminothiochromane and amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline derivatives of the formula (I) or a physiologically tolerated salt thereof. The invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such aminochromane, aminothiochromane and amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline derivatives, and the use of such aminochromane, aminothiochromane and amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline derivatives for therapeutic purposes. The aminochromane, aminothiochromane and amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline derivatives are GlyT1 inhibitors.
US08853195B2

Disclosed is a composition for reducing the exudation of the serum proteins. More specifically the composition of the present invention relates to a composition capable of improving conditions such as atopic dermatitis, atopic eczema, skin pruritus, atopic nasitis, atopic erythema or erythroderma, contact dermatitis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, etc. by reducing the exudation of the serum proteins in skin and mucosa.
US08853194B2

Sterol derivatives with structural formula I or II are disclosed, wherein R is defined as the description of the invention. Their synthesizing methods and anti-tumor use are also disclosed. Especially, the compound of formula I, in which R is O (i.e. the compound CL 168-6), has the anti-tumor therapeutic index of 49.3. The compound can be used to prepare a medicine for prevention or treatment of immunological diseases and cancers such as liver cancer and lung cancer.
US08853189B2

The present invention is directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising antispasmodic C4-C8aliphatic-1,2-diols and C4-C8aliphatic-1,2,3-triols and their use to relieve the spasms associated with pain. These agents may be administered topically or orally and may be combined with anti-inflammatory agents such as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug or a corticosteroid. Administration of the C4-C8aliphatic-1,2-diols and C4-C8aliphatic-1,2,3-triols with vitamin D3 is indicated for conditions such as bone loss, weight gain and autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
US08853188B2

Bromoacetoxycalcidiol (B3CD), which is structurally related to calcidiol, exhibits cytotoxic and apoptotic activity toward cancer cells, including highly aggressive neuroblastoma cells. A series of small molecules designed around the structure of B3CD is expected to have growth inhibitory and apoptogenic activities toward a wide range of malignancies. B3CD shows no apparent toxicity in vivo, indicating potential value as a chemotherapeutic agent which will be particularly useful in treating highly aggressive tumors.
US08853186B2

This invention provides novel compounds, methods of using the compounds, and pharmaceutical formulations comprising the compounds.
US08853175B2

Provided are phenethyl isoindoline compounds, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, or stereoisomers thereof. Methods of use and pharmaceutical compositions of these compounds are also disclosed.
US08853173B2

A compound represented by the following formula (1): wherein R1 is an aldopyranose residue wherein the 6-hydroxyl group is optionally alkylated, R2 is a C1-26 hydrocarbon group optionally having substituent(s), R3 is a hydrogen atom or a C1-26 hydrocarbon group optionally having substituent(s), R4 is a C1-21 hydrocarbon group optionally having substituent(s), X is an oxygen atom or —CH2—, and Y is —CH2—, —CH(OH)— or —CH═CH—, or a salt thereof is useful for the prophylaxis or treatment of cancer or infection, since it can preferentially induce production of IFN-γ of NKT cells.
US08853160B2

The invention relates to novel polypeptide analogs of GLP-1 and exendin-4. The polypeptide, in a preferred embodiment, is insulinotropic and long-acting. Preferably, the polypeptide's insulinotropic effect is comparable to or exceeds the effect of an equimolar amount of GLP-1 or exendin-4. The invention also relates to a method of treating a subject with diabetes, comprising administering to the subject the polypeptide of the invention in an amount that has an insulinotropic effect. The invention also relates to methods of using GLP-1, exendin-4, and polypeptide analogs thereof for neuroprotective and neurotrophic effects.
US08853158B2

The present invention relates to a compound which is an agonist of the oxytocin receptor o for use in the treatment of a feeding disorder with early-onset. In a particular embodiment, the agonist of the oxytocin receptor is the oxytocin or an active fragment thereof.
US08853150B2

Featured herein are non-naturally occurring cytokine domains that can be used, inter alia, to modulate cellular signalling responsive to interleukin-1 receptor I (IL-1 RI), to treat disorders, and to detect and/or bind to cellular receptors, as well as other agents. Exemplary cytokine domains can contain amino acid residues from at least two parental cytokines domains, for example, receptor binding features, surface features, β strands, and loops from at least two parental cytokines domains.
US08853146B2

The invention generally relates to hapten compounds comprising either (+)methamphetamine or (+)amphetamine conjugated to a linker. Generally speaking, hapten compounds of the invention may be used to elicit an immune response to one or more of (+)methamphetamine, (+)amphetamine, or (+)MDMA.
US08853145B2

In this invention, a novel protein interaction domain is provided along with several of its variants. This domain is involved in protein-protein interactions with the Bcl-2 family of proteins. It is named BLID (Bcl2 family of proteins Like Interaction Domain). Use of BLID and its variants for modulating cellular activity is presented. BLID, its variants and or anti-BLID antibodies could be useful as a screening tool as well as for discovery of drugs that help fight pathological states like degenerative diseases, cerebral or cardiac ischemic hypoxic disorders, cancer and autoimmunity.
US08853141B2

Sulfomethylsuccinates of the formula: wherein R is an alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxylated alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkynyl, branched alkyl, branched alkenyl, branched alkynyl, branched alkoxylated alkyl, aromatic, substituted alkyl aromatic, substituted alkenyl aromatic or substituted alkoxylated aromatic group; M is a cation, hydrogen, amine or ammonium salt or combinations thereof, and each M may be the same as or different from the other; and n is from 1 to about 6. Processes for synthesizing the sulfomethylsuccinates are also provided. The sulfomethylsuccinates can be used as surfactants, emulsifiers, skin feel agents, film formers, rheological modifiers, solvents, release agents, lubrication agents, conditioners, and dispersants, etc.
US08853136B2

A process for mineral oil production, especially Winsor type III microemulsion flooding, in which an aqueous surfactant formulation which comprises at least one alkylpolyalkoxysulfate comprising propoxy groups, and at least one further surfactant differing therefrom is used, is forced through injection wells into a mineral oil deposit and crude oil is removed from the deposit through production wells. The alkylpolyalkoxysulfate comprising propoxy groups is prepared in this case by sulfating an alkoxylated alcohol, the alkoxylated alcohol being prepared by alkoxylating an alcohol using double metal cyanide catalysts or double hydroxide clays.
US08853133B2

This invention pertains to methods, mixtures, kits and compositions pertaining to analyte determination and/or quantification by mass spectrometry using compounds comprising a reporter moiety and a non-encoded detectable label. The compounds can be used in sets for the analysis of mixtures of labeled analytes.
US08853123B2

Disclosed is a lean NOx trap (LNT) catalyst with enhanced NOx storage capacity at low temperature. More particularly, an LNT catalyst with enhanced NOx storage capacity at low temperature and significantly inhibited thermal desorption is prepared by coating a washcoat on a honeycomb-type carrier and drying and baking the same. The washcoat contains a first catalyst powder in which barium (Ba) and a precious metal are supported on a ceria support, and a second catalyst powder in which a precious metal is supported on a magnesium (Mg)-substituted alumina support The LNT catalyst of the present invention is useful as a NOx reducing catalyst for a passenger diesel vehicle.
US08853122B2

A process for the selective production of ethanol by vapor phase reaction of acetic acid over a hydrogenating catalyst composition to form ethanol is disclosed and claimed. In an embodiment of this invention reaction of acetic acid and hydrogen over either cobalt and palladium supported on graphite or cobalt and platinum supported on silica selectively produces ethanol in a vapor phase at a temperature of about 250° C.
US08853120B2

An exhaust gas purification catalyst has a substrate, a lower catalyst layer that is formed on the substrate and contains at least one of Pd and Pt, and an upper catalyst layer that is formed on the lower catalyst layer and contains Rh. A region that does not contain the upper catalyst layer is disposed on the exhaust gas upstream side of this exhaust gas purification catalyst. The lower catalyst layer includes a front-stage lower catalyst layer on the exhaust gas upstream side and a rear-stage lower catalyst layer on the exhaust gas downstream side. The front-stage lower catalyst layer contains an oxygen storage material.
US08853117B2

A method of making a crystalline molecular sieve of MFS framework type, preferably ZSM-57, from a synthesis mixture comprising at least one source of tetravalent element (Y), at least one source of trivalent element (X), at least one source of alkali metal hydroxide (MOH), at least one structure-directing-agent (R) and water, said alkali metal (M) comprising potassium, and having the following mole composition (expressed in terms of oxide): YO2:(p)X2O3:(q)OH−:(r)R:(s)H2O, wherein (p) is in the range from 0.005 to 0.05, (q) is in the range from 0.01 to 3, (r) is in the range from 0.03 to 2 and (s) is in the range from 10 to 75 (based on total weight of said synthesis mixture); wherein the crystals of molecular sieve formed having an average diameter (D) of less than or equal to 1.5 micron and an average thickness (T) of less than or equal to 300 nanometers.
US08853116B2

A method of forming composition-modified barium titanate ceramic particulate includes mixing a plurality of precursor materials and a precipitant solution to form an aqueous suspension. The plurality of precursors include barium nitrate, titanium chelate, and a metal or oxometal chelate. The precipitant solution includes tetraalkylammonium hydroxide and tetraalkylammonium oxalate. The method further includes treating the aqueous suspension at a temperature of at least 150° C. and a pressure of at least 200 psi, and separating particulate from the aqueous suspension after treating.
US08853111B2

Provided is a refractory filler powder, comprising particles, each of which has precipitates of willemite and gahnite.
US08853110B2

A transparent glass-ceramic materials contains a spinel solid solution as the main crystalline phase and is free of As2O3 and Sb2O3. Corresponding precursor alumino-silicate glasses, articles made of said transparent glass-ceramic materials as well as a method for manufacturing such articles, and structures comprising a sheet made of such glass-ceramic materials and electronic or optoelectronic devices comprising such structures are also disclosed. Some materials disclosed can be used as substrates for high temperature growth of high quality monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon thin films. Structures including such substrates with such thin films thereon can be used in photovoltaic devices, flat panel devices and liquid crystal devices.
US08853109B2

The invention relates to a glass having SiO2, Na2O and CaO as main components, which comprises two amorphous phases having different compositions, one of the two phases being in the form of inclusions dispersed in the volume of the other phase and comprising crystalline particles. Such a glass has good mechanical strength, in particular good resistance to scratch propagation and allows improved tempering. This glass furthermore has a pleasant aesthetic appearance.
US08853108B2

The present invention relates to a nonwoven material intended for use in absorbent products produced by the hydroentangling of a substrate web comprising at least one layer of fibers selected from amongst synthetic fibers, regenerated fibers and natural fibers, wherein the nonwoven material (1) has a base level h0 with protuberances (2, 3) on one side, wherein the protuberances (2, 3) form at least a first and a second surface structure respectively in the form of first (2) and second (3) protuberances from the base level h0, wherein the first protuberances (2) have a height h1 from the base level and the second protuberances (3) have a height h2 from the base level h0, where h2 is higher than h1, and each of the second protuberances (3) occupies an area of the surface of the base level at least 4 times greater than each of the first protuberances (2).The invention also relates to an absorbent product containing a nonwoven material in accordance with the above.
US08853099B2

A nonvolatile resistive memory element has a novel variable resistance layer that includes a metal nitride, a metal oxide-nitride, a two-metal oxide-nitride, or a multilayer stack thereof. One method of forming the novel variable resistance layer comprises an interlayer deposition procedure, in which metal oxide layers are interspersed with metal nitride layers and then converted into a substantially homogeneous layer by an anneal process. Another method of forming the novel variable resistance layer comprises an intralayer deposition procedure, in which various ALD processes are sequentially interleaved to form a metal oxide-nitride layer. Alternatively, a metal oxide is deposited, nitridized, and annealed to form the variable resistance layer or a metal nitride is deposited, oxidized, and annealed to form the variable resistance layer.
US08853098B2

Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to an apparatus and a method for placing a substrate substantially flush against a substrate support in a processing chamber. When a large area substrate is placed onto a substrate support, the substrate may not be perfectly flush against the substrate support due to gas pockets that may be present between the substrate and the substrate support. The gas pockets can lead to uneven deposition on the substrate. Therefore, pulling the gas from between the substrate and the support may pull the substrate substantially flush against the support. During deposition, an electrostatic charge can build up and cause the substrate to stick to the substrate support. By introducing a gas between the substrate and the substrate support, the electrostatic forces may be overcome so that the substrate can be separated from the susceptor with less or no plasma support which takes extra time and gas.
US08853097B2

A particle reducing method includes a step of supplying a first gas to a vacuum chamber in which a susceptor, formed by an insulating object and the surface of which is provided with a substrate mounting portion, is rotatably provided; a step of generating plasma from the first gas by supplying high frequency waves to a plasma generating device provided for the vacuum chamber; and a step of exposing the substrate mounting portion, on which a substrate is not mounted, to the plasma while rotating the susceptor.
US08853086B2

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods for pretreatment of substrates and group III-nitride layers for manufacturing devices such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), laser diodes (LDs) or power electronic devices. One embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method including providing one or more substrates having an aluminum containing surface in a processing chamber and exposing a surface of each of the one or more substrates having an aluminum containing surface to a pretreatment gas mixture to form a pretreated surface. The pretreatment gas mixture includes ammonia (NH3), an aluminum halide gas (e.g., AlCl3, AlCl) and an etchant containing gas that includes a halogen gas (e.g., Cl2) or hydrogen halide gas (e.g., HCl).
US08853081B2

Provided are methods for processing semiconductor substrates to remove high-dose ion implanted (HDI) photoresist structures without damaging other structures made of titanium nitride, tantalum nitride, hafnium oxide, and/or hafnium silicon oxide. The removal is performed using a mixture of an organic solvent, an oxidant, a metal-based catalyst, and one of a base or an acid. Some examples of suitable organic solvents include dimethyl sulfoxide, n-ethyl pyrrolidone, monomethyl ether, and ethyl lactate. Transition metals in their zero-oxidation state, such as metallic iron or metallic chromium, may be used as catalysts in this mixture. In some embodiments, a mixture includes ethyl lactate, of tetra-methyl ammonium hydroxide, and less than 1% by weight of the metal-based catalyst. The etching rate of the HDI photoresist may be at least about 100 Angstroms per minute, while other structures may remain substantially intact.
US08853075B2

Methods of forming titanium-containing layers on substrates are disclosed. In the disclosed methods, the vapor of a precursor compound having the formula Ti(Me5Cp)(OR)3, wherein R is selected from methyl, ethyl, or isopropyl is provided. The vapor is reacted with the substrate according to an atomic layer deposition process to form a titanium-containing complex on the surface of the substrate.
US08853062B2

A laser crystallization device includes a first light source providing a first light and a second light source providing a second light. The device further includes a first lens set receiving the first light to generate a first transmitted light, the first transmitted light having a first profile, the first profile having a first profile error portion and a first non-error portion. The device further includes a second lens set receiving the second light to generate a second transmitted light, the second transmitted light having a second profile, the second profile having a second profile error portion and a second non-error portion, the second profile error portion corresponding to the first non-error portion, the second non-error portion corresponding to the first profile error portion. The device further includes an optical system combining the first transmitted light with the second transmitted light.
US08853060B1

An epitaxial process includes the following step. A recess is formed in a substrate. A seeding layer is formed to cover a surface of the recess. A buffer layer is formed on the seeding layer. An etching process is performed on the buffer layer to homogenize and shape the buffer layer. An epitaxial layer is formed on the homogenized flat bottom shape buffer layer.
US08853055B2

A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: (a) providing a base unit made of a material having a first lattice constant; (b) forming a first sacrificial layer made of a material having a second lattice constant on the base unit and a second sacrificial layer made of a material having a third lattice constant on the first sacrificial layer, the first lattice constant ranging between the second and third lattice constants so that two lattice stresses in opposite directions occur in the epitaxial substrate; (c) forming an epitaxial unit on the second sacrificial layer; (d) forming a permanent substrate on the epitaxial unit; and (e) removing the epitaxial unit.
US08853050B2

Some embodiments include methods of making stud-type capacitors utilizing carbon-containing support material. Openings may be formed through the carbon-containing support material to electrical nodes, and subsequently conductive material may be grown within the openings. The carbon-containing support material may then be removed, and the conductive material utilized as stud-type storage nodes of stud-type capacitors. The stud-type capacitors may be incorporated into DRAM, and the DRAM may be utilized in electronic systems.
US08853046B2

A single TiON film is used to form a ReRAM device by varying the oxygen and nitrogen content throughout the device to form the electrodes and switching layer. A ReRAM device that can be formed in a single deposition chamber is also disclosed. The ReRAM device can be formed by forming a first titanium nitride layer, forming a titanium oxynitride-titanium oxide-titanium oxynitride layer, and then forming a second titanium nitride.
US08853041B2

A method for fabricating semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: providing a substrate having a region; forming a gate structure on the region of the substrate; forming a raised epitaxial layer in the substrate adjacent to two sides of the gate structure; covering a dielectric layer on the gate structure and the raised epitaxial layer; and using a planarizing process to partially remove the dielectric layer and the gate structure such that the surface of the gate structure is even with the surface of the raised epitaxial layer.
US08853037B2

Methods are provided for forming semiconductor devices. One method includes forming a first layer overlying a bulk semiconductor substrate. A second layer is formed overlying the first layer. A plurality of trenches is etched into the first and second layers. Portions of the second layer that are disposed between the plurality of trenches define a plurality of fins. A gate structure is formed overlying the plurality of fins. The first layer is etched to form gap spaces between the bulk semiconductor substrate and the plurality of fins. The plurality of fins is at least partially supported in position adjacent to the gap spaces by the gate structure. The gap spaces are filled with an insulating material.
US08853027B2

In one aspect, a disclosed method of fabricating a split gate memory device includes forming a gate dielectric layer overlying an channel region of a semiconductor substrate and forming an electrically conductive select gate overlying the gate dielectric layer. The method further includes forming a counter doping region in an upper region of the substrate. A proximal boundary of the counter doping region is laterally displaced from a proximal sidewall of the select gate. The method further includes forming a charge storage layer comprising a vertical portion adjacent to the proximal sidewall of the select gate and a lateral portion overlying the counter doping region and forming an electrically conductive control gate adjacent to the vertical portion of the charge storage layer and overlying the horizontal portion of the charge storage layer.
US08853023B2

A method for stressing a pattern having a pattern surface, in a layer of semiconductive material that can be silicon on the surface of a stack of layers generated on the surface of a substrate, said stack comprising at least one stress layer of alloy SixGey with x and y being molar fractions, and a buried layer of silicon oxide, comprises: etching at the periphery of a surface of dimensions greater than said pattern surface, of the buried layer of silicon oxide and layer of alloy SixGey over a part of the depth of said layer of alloy; the buried layer of silicon oxide being situated between said layer of semiconductive material and said stress layer of alloy SixGey. In a transistor structure, etching at the periphery of said surface obtains a pattern thus defined having dimensions greater than the area of interest situated under the gate of the transistor.
US08853022B2

A method of forming a device is presented. The method includes providing a substrate having a device region which includes a source region, a gate and a drain region defined thereon. The method also includes implanting the gate. The gate comprises one or more doped portions with different dopant concentrations. A source and a drain are formed in the source region and drain region. The drain is separated from the gate on a second side of the gate and the source is adjacent to a first side of the gate.
US08853013B2

A method for fabricating a field effect transistor with fin structure includes the following sequences. First, a substrate is provided and at least a fin structure is formed on the substrate. Then, an etching process is performed to round at least an upper edge in the fin structure. Finally, a gate covering the fin structure is formed.
US08853006B2

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device comprises a mounting step of mounting a semiconductor element having an Au—Sn layer on a substrate, wherein the mounting step includes a paste supplying step of supplying an Ag paste having an Ag nanoparticle onto the substrate, a device mounting step of mounting a side of the Au—Sn layer of the semiconductor element on the Ag paste, and a bonding step of alloying the Au—Sn layer and the Ag paste to bond the semiconductor element to the substrate, wherein the Au—Sn layer has a content rate of Au of 50 at % to 85 at %.
US08853001B2

A semiconductor device has a semiconductor die with a die pad layout. Signal pads in the die pad layout are located primarily near a perimeter of the semiconductor die, and power pads and ground pads are located primarily inboard from the signal pads. The signal pads are arranged in a peripheral row or in a peripheral array generally parallel to an edge of the semiconductor die. Bumps are formed over the signal pads, power pads, and ground pads. The bumps can have a fusible portion and non-fusible portion. Conductive traces with interconnect sites are formed over a substrate. The bumps are wider than the interconnect sites. The bumps are bonded to the interconnect sites so that the bumps cover a top surface and side surfaces of the interconnect sites. An encapsulant is deposited around the bumps between the semiconductor die and substrate.
US08852990B2

A method of fabricating a solar cell includes the following steps. At first, a substrate including a doped layer is provided. Subsequently, a patterned material layer partially overlapping the doped layer is formed on the substrate, and a first metal layer is conformally formed on the patterned material layer and the doped layer. Furthermore, a patterned mask layer totally overlapping the patterned material layer is formed on the first metal layer, and a second metal layer is formed on the doped layer not overlapped by the patterned material layer. Then, the patterned mask layer, the first metal layer between the patterned mask layer and the patterned material layer and a part of the patterned material layer are removed.
US08852986B2

An integrated circuit package system that includes: providing a support structure including a device and an electrical contact adjacent thereto; providing a mold system having a cavity, a recess channel, a recess integrally connected to the recess channel, and a resilient member that cooperatively engages the recess channel and the recess; engaging the mold system and the support structure with the cavity over the device and the resilient member between the device and the electrical contact; and injecting encapsulation material into the cavity.
US08852985B2

Semiconductor nano pressure sensor devices having graphene membrane suspended over open cavities formed in a semiconductor substrate. A suspended graphene membrane serves as an active electro-mechanical membrane for sensing pressure, which can be made very thin, from about one atomic layer to about 10 atomic layers in thickness, to improve the sensitivity and reliability of a semiconductor pressure sensor device.
US08852983B1

A method for fabrication of capacitive environment sensors is provided in which the sensor elements are integrated in a CMOS structure with electronics through the use of complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) fabrication methods. Also provided are environment sensors fabricated, for example, by the method, and a measurement system using the environment sensors fabricated by the method. The described method includes etching away one of the metal layers in a CMOS chip to create a cavity. This cavity is then filled with an environment-sensitive dielectric material to form a sensing capacitor between plates formed by the metal adhesion layers or an array of contacts from other metal layers of the CMOS structure. This approach provides improved sensing capabilities in a system that is easily manufactured.
US08852981B2

A process is provided for contacting a nanostructured surface. In that process, a substrate is provided having a nanostructured material on a surface, the substrate being conductive and the nanostructured material being coated with an insulating material. A portion of the nanostructured material is at least partially removed. A conductor is deposited on the substrate in such a way that it is in electrical contact with the substrate through the area where the nanostructured material has been at least partially removed.
US08852958B2

The invention relates to a magnetic immunodiagnostic method for the demonstration of antibody-antigen complexes. One such method involves the research and/or identification of antibodies or antigens, preferably anti-antigen antibodies or antigens of a blood group, and comprises a suspension of magnetic particles coated with antigens that can be carried by cells such as erythrocytes. The invention also relates to a device and a kit for carrying out one such method.
US08852957B2

The present invention provides an appropriately produced magnetic material sensor having a small size.The magnetic material sensor of this invention includes: a magnetoresistive effect film, formed using magnetic films; a current source, for supplying to the magnetoresistive effect film a current having a magnitude and a direction that can change the magnetization directions of the magnetic films; and a detector, for detecting the resistance of the magnetoresistive effect film.
US08852954B2

The invention provides a nucleic acid molecule having a binding affinity to a rodent-derived IgG antibody, which can be prepared easier than an antibody and has a binding affinity equivalent or superior to that of an antibody, a binder using the nucleic acid molecule, a detection reagent, and a detection kit. The nucleic acid molecule of the invention has a binding affinity to a rodent-derived IgG antibody and has a dissociation constant of 1 μM or less. The binder for a rodent-derived IgG antibody of the present invention includes the nucleic acid molecule of the present invention. The detection reagent for detecting a rodent-derived IgG antibody of the invention includes the binder for a rodent-derived IgG antibody of the invention. The detection kit for detecting a rodent-derived IgG antibody of the invention includes the detection reagent for detecting a rodent-derived IgG antibody of the invention.
US08852948B2

A protein analysis instrument and method are disclosed. The method includes mixing a binding dye composition and a protein sample using a homogenizer, measuring a parameter selected from the group consisting of the speed of the homogenizer and the resistance of the mixture to the homogenizer, adjusting the speed of the homogenizer based upon the measured parameter, pumping unreacted dye composition from the mixture and to a calorimeter, and measuring the absorbance of the dye composition in the calorimeter. Aspects of the invention also include inserting a spout into a sample cup at a position where the spout opening is positioned to avoid foam and precipitate generated by the mixing step and above the bottom of the sample cup and thereafter pumping the dye composition from the mixture in the sample cup through the spout and to a colorimeter.
US08852938B2

The present invention provides methods for expanding human umbilical cord blood stem cells and methods for stimulating growth factor production by cord blood stem cells using an in vitro cell culture system comprising a lithium salt. The present invention also provides in vivo methods for enhancing the survival and growth of transplanted cord blood stem cells by treating the cells with a lithium salt prior to transplantation. In vivo methods for reducing rejection of transplanted cord blood stem cells by administering a lithium salt after transplantation are also provided.
US08852933B2

An apparatus and method is described for seeding and culturing cells on a sample. The apparatus includes a chamber in which the volume of the chamber may be adjusted without compromising the seal or sterility of the chamber. The apparatus enables the seeding of cells in a reduced volume and culturing of cells in an increased volume. Further, the apparatus enables application of forces, strains and torques to a sample during seeding, culturing or transportation of the sample.
US08852929B2

The invention provides apparatus, reagents, and methods for rapidly isolating plasmid DNA from a bacterial alkaline lysate.
US08852923B2

Described herein is a bioreactor system and modules capable of developing physiologically relevant fluid-induced shear stresses and regionally specific flow patterns to scaffold specimens and which can couple these stresses to cyclic flexure and/or stretch states. Methods of use of the bioreactor system and module also are provided.
US08852911B2

The present disclosure provides a method for producing a Dicer polypeptide in a prokaryotic host cell. The present disclosure further provides a purified Dicer complex. The present disclosure further provides kits for producing a Dicer polypeptide in a prokaryotic host cell.
US08852896B2

Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.
US08852885B2

Methods and compositions for the production of oil, fuels, oleochemicals, and other compounds in recombinant microorganisms are provided, including oil-bearing microorganisms and methods of low cost cultivation of such microorganisms. Microalgal cells containing exogenous genes encoding, for example, a lipase, a sucrose transporter, a sucrose invertase, a fructokinase, a polysaccharide-degrading enzyme, a keto acyl-ACP synthase enzyme, a fatty acyl-ACP thioesterase, a fatty acyl-CoA/aldehyde reductase, a fatty acyl-CoA reductase, a fatty aldehyde reductase, a fatty acid hydroxylase, a desaturase enzyme, a fatty aldehyde decarbonylase, and/or an acyl carrier protein are useful in manufacturing transportation fuels such as renewable diesel, biodiesel, and renewable jet fuel, as well as oleochemicals such as functional fluids, surfactants, soaps and lubricants.
US08852880B2

Method of in vitro measurement of the presence of factors that are able to neutralize asparaginase activity in a sample of blood, plasma, serum or derived medium that may contain asparaginase neutralizing factors, obtained from a patient, comprising mixing of said sample with asparaginase, incubation of said mixture, then measurement of the residual asparaginase activity in the mixture and determination or quantification of the presence of said neutralizing factors. Method for predicting the efficacy of a treatment with asparaginase.
US08852879B2

Compositions are disclosed comprising an effective amount of nitrated fibrinogen and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier for detecting a patient's risk for coronary artery disease. The compositions can be used to determine the presence of nitrated fibrinogen which is linked with coronary artery disease. Also disclosed is a method for determining the presence or risk for coronary artery disease or risk for increased propensity for an adverse thrombotic event in a patient. The method comprises obtaining a sample of blood or fraction thereof from a patient; determining by immunoassay the amount of nitrated fibrinogen in the sample based on binding of the nitrated fibrinogen to an antibody that specifically recognizes SEQ ID NO: 2 and/or SEQ ID NO: 3; and comparing the amount of the antibody-bound nitrated fibrinogen in the sample with the amount of nitrated fibrinogen in a sample from a normal individual, such that a greater amount of nitrated fibrinogen in the patient sample than in the normal individual indicates that the patient has or is at greater risk of coronary artery disease or risk of increased propensity for an adverse thrombotic event. Kits for performing the method which include the composition and aforementioned antibody or antibodies are also provided.
US08852874B2

The present invention relates to a cell-based in vitro screening assay for identifying and selecting therapeutic agents that inhibit amyloid β-induced cytotoxicity.
US08852873B2

Embodiments herein relate to the field of screening tools for fetal/maternal wellness, and, more specifically, to biomarkers for gestational diabetes. In various embodiments, the methods may provide non-invasive and minimally-invasive screening tools for gestational diabetes that involve detection of changes in a proteomic profile of a test sample relative to a reference sample. In particular embodiments, the method may include determining whether a proteomic profile of a test sample from the subject includes at least one expression signature characteristic of gestational diabetes, wherein the proteomic profile comprises information on the expression of glycosylated fibronectin and glycosylated PSG, for example information on levels of fibronectin-SNA or a fibronectin-antibody complex, and PSG-AAL or a PSG-antibody complex. In some embodiments, the proteomic profile may also include information on the expression of adiponectin, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), C-reactive protein (CRP), a ratio of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to placental lactogen, or a combination thereof.
US08852871B2

Provided is a humanized or chimeric antibody or fragment thereof capable of binding to interleukin-10 (Th-10), wherein said antibody or fragment thereof is capable of being administered to a subject in the absence of an intolerable increase in the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Further provided are methods of treatment involving the use of the antibody or fragment thereof.
US08852870B2

Methods for diagnosing a cancer in a subject are provided that include determining an amount of autoantibodies immunoreactive to procathepsin D (pCD) in a sample obtained from the subject. Further provided are systems for diagnosing a cancer in a subject that include an autoantibody immunoreactive pCD antigen and a means for detecting binding of an autoantibody to the antigen.
US08852867B2

The invention provides methods for amplification of polynucleotide sequences using primers containing single-stranded RNA. The methods employ use of an enzyme capable of cleaving single-stranded RNA, such as RNase I, to degrade a first RNA-containing primer prior to addition of a second RNA-containing primer. The invention also provides compositions and kits for practicing the amplification methods, as well as methods which use the amplification products.
US08852861B2

A cDNA array (9984 genes) was used for expression profiling in rectal adenocarcinoma. The expression data were correlated to responsiveness to chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy. A set of 54 genes was found that were differentially expressed in responders vs. non-responders. The genes may be used as prognostic markers for determining whether a rectal adenocarcinoma is responsive to radiochemotherapy.
US08852853B2

A photo-mask is capable of preventing stain defects and a method for fabricating a liquid crystal display device using the photo-mask which achieves the same capability. The photo-mask includes a transparent substrate configured to transmit ultraviolet light and a light shielding layer configured to block ultraviolet light on a surface of the transparent substrate. The light shielding layer includes an absorption layer configured to absorb ultraviolet light.
US08852851B2

A method for patterning a layer increases the density of features formed over an initial patterning layer using a series of self-aligned spacers. A layer to be etched is provided, then an initial sacrificial patterning layer, for example formed using optical lithography, is formed over the layer to be etched. Depending on the embodiment, the patterning layer may be trimmed, then a series of spacer layers formed and etched. The number of spacer layers and their target dimensions depends on the desired increase in feature density. An in-process semiconductor device and electronic system is also described.
US08852850B2

A photolithographic exposure system for use on a photoresist on a substrate includes an illumination system, a photomask with one or more object patterns, a projection optical exposure system, and a fluid dispensing system. The projection optical exposure system is positioned to project an image of the one or more object patterns toward an image plane. The fluid dispensing system positions a fluid between the projection optical exposure system and the photoresist on the substrate. The fluid has a refractive index value above a refractive index value of water and an absorbance below 0.8 per millimeter at wavelengths between about 180 nm and about 300 nm.
US08852849B2

An electron beam lithography method and apparatus for improving throughput is disclosed. An exemplary lithography method includes receiving a pattern layout having a pattern layout dimension; shrinking the pattern layout dimension; and overexposing a material layer to the shrunk pattern layout dimension, thereby forming the pattern layout having the pattern layout dimension on the material layer.
US08852848B2

The present invention relates to an aqueous composition for coating over a photoresist pattern comprising a first water soluble compound comprising at least a silicon moiety and at least one amino group, and a second compound comprising at least 1 carboxylic acid group. The invention further relates to processes for using the novel invention.
US08852847B2

A method of forming patterns includes (a) coating a substrate with a resist composition for negative development to form a resist film having a receding contact angle of 70 degrees or above with respect to water, wherein the resist composition for negative development contains a resin capable of increasing the polarity by the action of an acid and becomes more soluble in a positive developer and less soluble in a negative developer upon irradiation with an actinic ray or radiation, (b) exposing the resist film via an immersion medium, and (c) performing development with a negative developer.
US08852844B2

There is disclosed a thermosetting composition for forming a silicon-containing film to form a silicon-containing film formed in a multilayer resist process used in lithography, including at least (A) a silicon-containing compound obtained by hydrolyzing and condensing a hydrolyzable silicon compound using an acid as a catalyst, (B) a thermal crosslinking accelerator (C) a monovalent or bivalent or more organic acid having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, (D) trivalent or more alcohol and (E) an organic solvent. There can be provided a composition for a silicon-containing film which can form a good pattern in a photoresist film, can form a silicon-containing film for an etching mask having a good dry etching resistance, can give a good storage stability and can be delaminated with a solution used in a delamination process in a multilayer resist process used for lithography, a substrate on which the silicon-containing film is formed, and further a method for forming a pattern.
US08852834B2

To provide a toner, including: a crystalline binder resin including a urethane bond or a urea bond, or both thereof; and a colorant, wherein the colorant has a number-average particle diameter of 0.5 μm or less, and a ratio of particles having a particle diameter of 0.7 μm or greater in a number-size distribution of the colorant is 5% by number or less.
US08852830B2

A photomask for exposing a region on a substrate, with a mask pattern, including a first line pattern, a second line pattern, a first connection pattern for a peripheral portion of the region and a second connection pattern for the peripheral portion, wherein the first connection pattern is wider than the first line pattern and the second connection pattern is wider than the second line pattern, a distance from a virtual line between the first line pattern and the second line pattern to a center line of the first connection pattern is larger than a distance from the virtual line to a center line of the first line pattern and a distance from the virtual line to a center line of the second connection pattern is larger than a distance from the virtual line to a center line of the second line pattern.
US08852826B2

A composite product is for an electrode of a fuel cell including a catalyst, an electrically conductive phase which supports such catalyst, a protonically conductive phase, and a porous phase. At least the contact between the catalyst and the electrically and protonically conductive phases, and preferably also the contact of the porous phase with the catalyst and with the electrically and protonically conductive phases, is improved or maximized. Each of the phases is individually continuous, and such phases are continuous with each other.
US08852822B2

When terminating power generation by a fuel cell 3 in a fuel cell system 1, an amount of a raw fuel material introduced to a reforming catalyst 2a of a reformer 2 is reduced. Here, before the temperature of the reforming catalyst 2a is lowered to the un-reformed gas generation temperature, an amount of water supplied to the reforming catalyst 2a is controlled to increase the temperature of the reforming catalyst 2a. Thus, upon termination of power generation in the fuel cell 3, no un-reformed gas is generated and the reformed gas is supplied to the fuel cell 3.
US08852821B2

An energy unit in accordance with an embodiment of the present application stores at least water and hydrogen. The energy unit includes an electrolysis component operable to provide hydrogen from the water, a hydrogen storage component operable to safely and stably store hydrogen in solid form and a fuel cell component operable to produce electricity from the hydrogen. The energy unit may be grouped with other like energy units to provide constant power for desired applications.
US08852811B2

According to the present invention, there is provided a process for producing lithium manganate particles having a high output and an excellent high-temperature stability. The present invention relates to a process for producing lithium manganate particles comprising the steps of mixing a lithium compound, a manganese compound and a boron compound with each other; and calcining the resulting mixture in a temperature range of 800 to 1050° C., wherein an average particle diameter (D50) of the boron compound is not more than 15 times an average particle diameter (D50) of the manganese compound, and wherein the lithium manganate particles have a composition represented by the following chemical formula: Li1+xMn2-x-yY1yO4+B in which Y1 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, Mg, Fe, Al, Cr and Ti, and x and y satisfy the conditions of 0.03≦x≦0.15 and 0≦y≦0.20, respectively.
US08852809B2

A positive electrode for a rechargeable lithium battery capable of providing a high voltage and a high voltage rechargeable lithium battery including the same, wherein the positive electrode includes a positive active material and a capacitor-reactive carbonaceous material having a specific surface area at or between 10 m2/g and 100 m2/g.
US08852798B2

A rechargeable battery including an electrode assembly; a case accommodating the electrode assembly; and an elastic member between the case and an outer surface of the electrode assembly, wherein the elastic member includes a tapering wall defining a central open area having an axis, the tapering wall having an inclined disposition relative to the axis of the central open area.
US08852797B2

A lithium ion secondary battery is provided having a cap plate, an insulation plate, and a terminal plate, each shaped to prevent the terminal plate from rotating when assembling a cap assembly. The cap plate has an anti-rotation groove formed on a lower surface thereof and the insulation plate has an insulation plate protrusion formed on an upper surface thereof. When the anti-rotation groove is coupled to the insulation plate protrusion, the terminal plate may be prevented from rotating.
US08852792B2

An electricity storage device has an electricity storage unit and a case that contains the electricity storage unit and a coolant for cooling the electricity storage unit. The case includes guide portions on an inner wall surface above the electricity storage unit, each of the guide portions having an oblique portion for, when gas is produced by the electricity storage unit, leading the gas to a predetermined position; and contact portions each of which protrudes in a direction of the electricity storage unit with respect to the oblique portions of the guide portions and is brought into contact with the coolant.
US08852791B2

A pouch type lithium secondary battery includes a pouch bare cell having an electrode assembly and a pouch exterior for storing the electrode assembly and a sleeve member winding around the pouch bare cell. A method of fabricating a pouch type lithium secondary battery includes forming a pouch bare cell by storing an electrode assembly in a pouch exterior and wrapping the pouch bare cell with a sleeve member.
US08852782B2

Disclosed herein is a battery pack, temperature of which is controllable, including at least one battery module including a plurality of battery cells or unit modules (‘unit cells’) which can be charged and discharged, a fluid channel formed such that a fluid to cool or heat the battery module passes through the battery module, a flow change unit located on the fluid channel to change a flow direction of the fluid based on a temperature state of the battery module, and an operation controller to control an operation of the flow change unit based on information regarding the temperature of the battery module.
US08852774B2

A battery production method according to the invention includes a winding step of winding an electrode assembly around a winding core and a flattening step of pressing the electrode assembly wound in the winding step, in a direction orthogonal to an axial direction thereof to form a flattened shape in which the wound electrode assembly is flattened in a direction that is orthogonal to the pressing direction and the axial direction, wherein a rod-shaped spacer is inserted, in parallel to the axial direction, into the electrode assembly wound during the course of winding the electrode assembly around the winding core in the winding step, and wherein the spacer is pulled out between the winding step and the flattening step.
US08852773B2

A battery pack capable of improving heat dissipation characteristics and reducing the temperature variation between cells. A battery pack includes at least one battery module including a plurality of battery cells aligned in one direction, a housing that accommodates the at least one battery module and includes a coolant flow path arranged therein and a junction box arranged at a predetermined location in a vicinity of the battery module, the junction box having a sleeve arranged parallel to the coolant flow path.
US08852768B2

An aqueous electrolyte battery is provided with a positive electrode, a negative electrolyte, an aqueous electrolyte, and a deposition portion that promotes deposition of discharge product and that is provided at a location that contacts the aqueous electrolyte and that is a location other than at a catalyst included in the positive electrode.
US08852762B2

A synthetic antiferromagnetic device includes a reference layer having a first and second ruthenium layer, a magnesium oxide spacer layer disposed on the reference layer, a cobalt iron boron layer disposed on the magnesium oxide spacer layer and a third ruthenium layer disposed on the cobalt iron boron layer, the third ruthenium layer having a thickness of approximately 0 angstroms to 18 angstroms.
US08852761B2

Provided is a magnetic anisotropy multilayer including a plurality of CoFeSiB/Pt layers used in a magnetic random access memory. The magnetic anisotropy multilayer includes a first Pt/CoFeSiB layer, and a second Pt/CoFeSiB layer formed on the first Pt/CoFeSiB layer.
US08852759B2

An organic compound with characteristics excelling in hole-injecting/transporting performance and having an electron blocking ability, a highly stable thin-film state, and excellent heat resistance is provided as material for an organic electroluminescent device of high efficiency and high durability, and the organic electroluminescent device of high efficiency and high durability is provided using this compound. The compound of a general formula (Chemical Formula 1) having a substituted acridan ring structure is used as a constituent material of at least one organic layer in the organic electroluminescent device that includes a pair of electrodes and one or more organic layers sandwiched between the pair of electrodes.
US08852740B2

An electrode active material including a lithium-transition metal complex oxide having a layered rock salt structure or spinel structure and a fluorine and nitrogen introduced therein. Also disclosed is an electrode active material production method including a nitrogen introduction step of synthesizing a lithium-transition metal complex oxide (c) having a layered rock salt structure or spinel structure and a fluorine and nitrogen introduced therein, by firing a material composition including a lithium-transition metal complex oxide (a) having a fluorine introduced therein and a nitriding agent (b) being represented by the formula (1) and being solid or liquid at ordinary temperature.
US08852735B2

A trim element having a visible side (12) formed of a skin (10), the element includes a skin (10) laid on a plastic foam (24) bonded to the skin by a continuous bonding layer (26) formed spontaneously at the skin-foam interface during the foaming operation, the skin (10) has a preferential rupture initiator comprising at least one scored feature. Throughout the region in which the scored feature lays, the bonding layer (26) is in contact only with the skin (10) and the foam (24), and, at the scored feature and in the direction of the thickness of the skin, the bonding layer (26) is laid over the opening with a thickness very much smaller than the depth of the scored feature.
US08852725B2

A vessel closing laminate comprising: a seal laminate comprising a bottom subassembly of layers including a foil layer; and a seal substrate attached to the uppermost layer of the bottom subassembly of layers wherein the seal substrate has a bottom foam layer and a top plastic material layer and further includes a free tab lying wholly within the circumference of the seal; a wax layer on top of the plastic material layer of the seal substrate; and an absorbent liner adhered to the plastic material layer of the seal substrate by means of the wax layer.
US08852723B2

An air cushion pad includes at least two sheet members, which are made of resilient materials. Each sheet member forms a plurality of hollow tubes projecting therefrom and the tubes are connected to each other by a substantially flat plate. The tubes of one sheet member and the tubes of the other sheet member are alternately fit to each other in an opposing manner to form the air cushion pad. When an external impact force is applied in a top down manner, the air cushion pad absorbs the impact force and undergoes sideways deformation so as to convert the impact force into a transverse to thereby realize shock absorption and eliminate damage caused by downward action of the impact force to provide the function of protection.
US08852719B2

A releasable transfer film is suitable to provide a metalized embossed composite onto a paper substrate without a release layer between the composite and a polymeric carrier layer. The transfer film includes a polymeric base layer, an embossing material layer and a metal layer. The transfer film is bonded to the paper substrate with an adhesive layer allowing the polymeric barrier layer to peel away from and to expose the metal-backed, embossing material layer. The substrate covered with the metalized embossed composite can be used to impart holographic style images to packaging, printed media products such as magazines.
US08852706B2

A silver-based magnesium alloy thin film is provided for the semi-reflective coating layer of optical discs. This alloy has moderate to high reflectivity and reasonable corrosion resistance in the ambient environment.
US08852705B2

Packaging produced from a thermoplastic film of which the ends are placed so that they abut, said film being composed of several layers, including at least a first weldable layer and a second layer of which the butt-welding is only partial or non-existent, and at least one thin strip covering said ends and being directly attached to one of the faces of the second layer, the difference in the melting point between the first layer and the other layer or layers being greater than 20° C.
US08852697B2

Provided is a cellulose acetate film which has excellent retardation properties and exhibits low haze even under high-temperature and high-humidity conditions and which, in an alkaline saponification step, causes little dissolution of the film itself or additives in a saponifying liquid. The cellulose acetate film is characterized by comprising: a cellulose acetate which has an acetyl substitution degree of 2.0 to 2.5; and 5 to 15% by mass (relative to the cellulose acetate) of a component which contains a compound represented by general formula (1) wherein m is 0 and a compound represented thereby wherein in is more than 0 at a ratio of 45:55 to 0:100. In general formula (1), G is a mono- or di-saccharide residue; X1 is —O—; R1 is —CO—R2; R2 is an aliphatic or aromatic group; m represents the total number of hydroxyl groups directly bonded to the mono- or di-saccharide residue; and n represents the total number of OR1 groups directly bonded to the mono- or di-saccharide residue, with the proviso that m and n satisfy fee relationships: 3≦m+n≦8 and n is not 0.
US08852695B2

Electromagnetic radiation barriers and waveguides, including barriers and waveguides for light, are disclosed. The barriers and waveguides are fabricated by directing charged particles, for example, ions, into crystalline substrates, for example, single-crystal sapphire substrates, to modify the crystal structure and produce a region of varying refractive index. These substrates are then heated to temperatures greater than 200 degrees C. to stabilize the modified crystal structure and provide the barrier to electromagnetic radiation. Since the treatment stabilizes the crystal structure at elevated temperature, for example, above 500 degrees C. or above 1000 degrees C., the barriers and waveguides disclosed are uniquely adapted for use in detecting conditions in harsh environments, for example, at greater than 200 degrees C. Sensors, systems for using sensors, and methods for fabricating barriers and waveguides are also disclosed.
US08852692B2

Apparatus and method for electrostatic charging of a container for an electrostatic coating operation includes a support member for supporting a container during an electrostatic coating operation with the support member comprising a non-metallic conductive material or electrically semiconductive portion that directly contacts a surface of the container. The electrically semiconductive portion comprises non-metallic, resistive or low conductivity material and is coupled to a source of electrical energy such that the container is electrostatically charged to an opposite polarity to offset or reduce electrostatic charge build up produced by the electrostatic coating operation.
US08852689B2

Particles are embedded in a substrate by applying to at least a portion of the substrate a fluid and a population of particles, such that the substrate is softened to at least a degree that particles are at least partially embedded in the softened portion of the substrate. The softened portion of the substrate is hardened so as to securely embed the particles in the substrate.
US08852682B2

A high strength composite particle comprised of a series of incrementally applied resin microlayer coatings such that each of the microlayer partial coatings are interleaved with each other is described. Methods of making the composite particles, as well as methods of using such particles as a proppant in oil and gas well hydraulic fracturing are also described.
US08852673B2

Methods for detecting and monitoring defects in a resist material are disclosed. In an example, a method includes forming a resist layer over a substrate; developing the resist layer; washing the developed resist layer with a thinner wash solution, wherein the washing reveals any negatively charged defects in the developed resist layer; and after the washing, inspecting for the negatively charged defects.
US08852667B2

The present invention belongs to the field of biomedical material, and is particularly related to a method of preparing bioactive glass coatings by liquid precursor thermal spray. The objective of the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the air plasma spraying where the powder feedstock preparation is complicated and time-consuming, and sol-gel or other wet chemistry method where the synthesized coating generally has thin coating thickness and with low production efficiency. Therefore, a new method is provided for preparation of bioactive glass coatings. In this method, organic and inorganic raw materials were first weighed in accordance with the chemical composition of bioactive glasses, and sol or suspension was prepared; then the sol or suspension was used as the feedstock for thermal spray, and was deposited on the biomedical materials substrate, at high temperature to form the bioactive glass coating. The invention possesses the following advantages: simple operation, less complicated procedures, synthesis with high efficiency, low production cost, suitable for industrial production, and so on. This method can be used to prepare bioactive glass coatings.
US08852651B1

A pharmaceutical composition, nutraceutical composition or functional food product comprising a compound or a mixture of compounds selected from the group consisting of Sidr honey, Ajwa Al-Madinah, Sannoot, Senna, Indian Costus Root, Nuclei dates, Black Seed, and Zamzam Water, as active ingredient together with a pharmaceutically acceptable diluents or carrier for treatment or prophylaxis of one or more of the following symptoms or disorders: diminished immune system, anxiety, memory deficits and dysfunctions, lack of concentration, diminished emotional well-being, low spirits, sexual dysfunction, impotence, or lack of appetite. Methods of treatment are also presented.
US08852649B2

Methods for treating colon cancer include administering, to a patient in need thereof, a polymeric proanthocyanidin composition from a Croton species or Calophyllum species in an amount sufficient to treat colon cancer, which composition inhibits COX-2. Methods for treating inflammation locally in the intestines comprise administering, to a patient in need thereof, a polymeric proanthocyanidin composition from a Croton species or Calophyllum species in an amount sufficient to treat inflammation. In one embodiment, the polymeric proanthocyanidin compound is crofelemer.
US08852636B2

The present invention is directed to drug dosage forms that release an agent that raises the pH of a patient's gastrointestinal tract, followed by a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. The dosage form is designed so that the NSAID is not released until the intragastric pH has been raised to a safe level. The invention also encompasses methods of treating patients by administering this coordinated release, gastroprotective, antiarthritic/analgesic combination unit dosage form to achieve pain and symptom relief with a reduced risk of developing gastrointestinal damage such as ulcers, erosions and hemorrhages.
US08852635B2

The invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising unmicronized fenofibrate in admixture with a wetting agent and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients, wherein the admixture is not comicronized before processing. The invention also relates to processes for the preparation of such compositions.
US08852620B2

Disclosed are drug delivery systems comprising drugs admixed with polymers having drug solubility gradients and methods of making the polymers. Also disclosed are medical devices having coatings thereon comprising the drug solubility gradient-containing polymers and at least one drug.
US08852607B2

Stable pharmaceutical compositions comprising recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) virions are described. The compositions provide protection against loss of recombinant AAV vector genomes and transduceability under conditions such as exposure to cycles of freezing and thawing and storage in glass or polypropylene vials. The compositions comprise recombinant AAV virions in combination with one or more dihydric or polyhydric alcohols, and, optionally, a detergent, such as a sorbitan ester. Also described are methods of using the compositions.
US08852606B2

Precipitated bacterial capsular polysaccharides can be efficiently re-solubilized using alcohols as solvents. The invention provides a process for purifying a bacterial capsular polysaccharide, comprising the steps of (a) precipitation of said polysaccharide, followed by (b) solubilization of the precipitated polysaccharide using ethanol. CTAB can be used for step (a). The material obtained, preferably following hydrolysis and sizing, can be conjugated to a carrier protein and formulated as a vaccine. Also, in vaccines comprising saccharides from both serogroups A and C, the invention provides that the ratio (w/w) of MenA saccharide:MenC saccharide is >1.
US08852588B2

Treatment of an allergic airway disorder (e.g., asthma or bronchial airway obstruction) using anti-IL-20R1 antibodies such as mAb51D, mAb7GW, or functional variants thereof.
US08852587B2

The invention relates to an antibody, antibody fragment or derivative thereof which specifically recognizes a prion protein and which comprises a complementarity determining region (CDR), a retro-inverso D-peptide of said CDR and/or an anti-idiotypic antibody, antibody fragment or derivative thereof which recognizes said CDR. The invention further concerns a nucleic acid molecule encoding said antibody, antibody fragment or derivative thereof as well as a method for generating an antibody, antibody fragment or derivative thereof that specifically recognizes a prion protein, wherein an antibody that recognizes a specific domain of the prion protein is generated, an antigen-specific amino acid sequence is isolated from said antibody, and an anti-idiotypic antibody, antibody fragment or derivative thereof, which recognizes said antigen-specific amino acid sequence, is generated.
US08852583B2

One aspect of the present invention relates to mutants of chondroitinase ABCI. Such chondroitinase ABCI mutants exhibit altered chondroitin lyase activity or increased resistance to inactivation from stressors including exposure to UV light or heat. Methods of using chondroitinase ABCI mutant enzymes are also provided.
US08852581B2

A method of treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) comprises collecting regulatory T cells in an activated or non-activated state from a patient's sentinel lymph nodes draining bowel segments with or without IBD, optionally activating the cells by contacting them with a cytokine and an antigen extract obtained from an inflamed bowel segment, expanding the T cells in vitro, and re-infusing the expanded T cell to the patient. Also disclosed are methods for obtaining sentinel nodes, for expanding T cells, for re-establishing the TH1/TH2 balance in the patient suffering from Crohn's disease, and corresponding uses of the expanded T cells, the cytokine and of antigen extract, as well as of correspondingly activated and expanded T cells.
US08852576B2

A modified sodium iodide symporter (NIS) protein is provided. The modified NIS protein comprises an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.1 with the proviso that at least one amino acid residue within SEQ ID NO. 1 is changed. The modified NIS protein has an enhanced transport function, and the expression of the modified NIS protein in the cells results in higher intracellular levels of a substrate of a NIS protein than does the expression of the same amount of a wild-type NIS protein.
US08852573B2

Disclosed are compositions and methods for repairing and/or regenerating cardiac tissue by administering adult bone marrow-derived stem cells to an individual. These cells can be administered as a liquid injectible or as a preparation of cells in a matrix which is or becomes solid or semi-solid. The cells can be genetically modified to enhance myocardial differentiation and integration. Also disclosed is a method for replacing cells ex vivo in a heart valve for implantation.
US08852572B2

Disclosed are compositions and methods for repairing and/or regenerating cardiac tissue by administering adult bone marrow-derived stem cells to an individual. These cells can be administered as a liquid injectible or as a preparation of cells in a matrix which is or becomes solid or semi-solid. The cells can be genetically modified to enhance myocardial differentiation and integration. Also disclosed is a method for replacing cells ex vivo in a heart valve for implantation.
US08852563B2

A cosmetic, includes: a composite powder containing titanium oxide and 4-tert-butyl-4-methoxybenzoylmethane and having an average particle diameter of less than 1 μm; and sorbitan fatty acid ester represented by the following Formula (I): wherein, in Formula (I), R1 to R4 each independently represent —(CH2)nCOOH, —(CH2)nOH, —R5, or —OR6; R5 represents an aliphatic group having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms; R6 represents an acyl group having from 10 to 22 carbon atoms; n represents 0 or an integer from 1 to 29; and at least one of R1 to R4 represents —OR6.
US08852561B2

Fluoride varnish compositions for temporary application and adhesion to a person's teeth. The composition includes a carrier comprising a resin and an adhesion promoting agent comprising an alkyl phosphoric acid. A fluoride ion source (e.g., a fluoride salt such as sodium fluoride) is dispersed within the carrier so as to provide biologically available fluoride ions to the tooth tissue being treated. The composition adheres only temporarily to tooth tissue (e.g., for a period of at least about 4 minutes, but not more than about 1 year), after which the composition spontaneously wears away as a natural result of the action of the tongue, saliva and/or other factors.
US08852551B2

Primitive or progenitor hematologic cancer cells have been implicated in the early stages and development of leukemia and malignant lymphoproliferative disorders, including acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and chronic lymphoid leukemia (CLL). Interleukin-3 receptor alpha chain (IL-3Rα or CD123) is strongly expressed on progenitor hematologic cancer cells, but is virtually undetectable on normal bone marrow cells. The present invention provides methods of impairing progenitor hematologic cancer (e.g., leukemia and lymphomic) cells by selectively targeting cells expressing CD123. These methods are useful in the detection and treatment of leukemias and malignant lymphoproliferative disorders. Also provided are compounds useful for selectively binding to CD123 and impairing progenitor hematologic cancer cells. These compounds may include cytotoxic moieties such as, for example, radioisotopes or chemotherapeutics.
US08852550B2

The present invention relates to improved chelator conjugates with biological targeting molecules, suitable for forming metal complexes with radiometals. The radiometal complexes, especially with the radiometal 99mTc, are useful as radiopharmaceuticals.
US08852548B2

Disclosed is a method of preparing high crystalline nanoporous titanium dioxide, in which the high crystalline nanoporous titanium dioxide, which is harmless to the human body and self-purified through the decomposition of organic matters, is prepared in mass production at the room temperature through a simply synthesis method. The method includes the steps of (a) mixing a titanium precursor and a surfactant in a solvent and performing a sol-gel reaction at a room temperature; (b) maturing a reactant obtained through the sol-gel reaction at the room temperature; (c) filtering the matured reactant and washing the matured reactant; and (d) drying the washed reactant to obtain titanium dioxide having nanopores.
US08852546B2

PCD materials comprise a diamond body having bonded diamond crystals and interstitial regions disposed among the crystals. The diamond body is formed from diamond grains and a catalyst material at high pressure/high temperature conditions. The diamond grains have an average particle size of about 0.03 mm or greater. At least a portion of the diamond body has a high diamond volume content of greater than about 93 percent by volume. The entire diamond body can comprise high volume content diamond or a region of the diamond body can comprise the high volume content diamond. The diamond body includes a working surface, a first region substantially free of the catalyst material, and a second region that includes the catalyst material. At least a portion of the first region extends from the working surface to depth of from about 0.01 to about 0.1 mm.
US08852544B2

The present invention relates to a process for preparing a porous silica particle comprising a step that consists in preparing a silica particle comprising a water-soluble pore-forming agent then in removing said pore-forming agent by dissolution. It also relates to the porous silica particles capable of being prepared by this process and to their various uses and applications.
US08852542B2

Disclosed are methods and apparatus enabling the efficient utilization of urea for purposes such as selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NOx, which enable feeding urea to a chamber designed to efficiently and completely gasify the urea to enable ammonia feed. Preferably, aqueous urea is fed to a gasification chamber, which is also fed with heated gases. An injector means, capable of distributing the aqueous urea as fine droplets, is positioned centrally of a gas distribution plate in the chamber. An arrangement of spaced holes in the gas distribution plate provides higher gas velocity in the vicinity of the injector means than near the walls of the chamber. Uniform gas distribution without equipment fouling is achieved.
US08852541B2

Systems and methods for removing impurities from a feed fluid in a single vessel. A method generally includes, in single vessel, contacting a feed fluid passing through the vessel with a copper-based material for removing oxygen from the feed fluid; and contacting the feed fluid passing through the vessel with an adsorbent for removing at least one of water, carbon dioxide, and oxygenated hydrocarbons from the feed fluid.
US08852536B2

In one embodiment, a cold storage system for biological samples has one or more freezers, each freezer having one or racks, each rack receiving one or more boxes, each box receiving one or more sample containers. In addition to the biological sample, each sample container has a unique passive RFID tag. Control electronics in each box energize reader coils to query individual RFID tags. Control electronics in each rack communicate with and provide power to the control electronics of each corresponding box, and control electronics in each freezer communicate with and provide power to the control electronics of each corresponding rack, and a host computer communicates with the control electronics in each freezer. In each instance, communication and power provisioning is implemented using magnetic inductive coupling. The system is able to determine the identity of each sample container in the system and maintain that information in a database.
US08852532B2

A g-force-sensitive label for detecting and indicating the application of a g-force is provided, the g-force sensitive label comprising an area for detecting and indicating an application of a g-force above a threshold value on the g-force sensitive label and an attachment area for attaching the g-force sensitive label on an object. At least one physical property of the area measurably changes its state upon applying a g-force above the threshold value, thereby altering a displayed pattern such that a machine-readable 1D or 2D or alphanumeric code is displayed.
US08852524B2

Cells in a suspension are counted in a hemocytometer slice with a chamber of controlled depth and one or more reservoirs along one or more side edges of the chamber. The suspension is fed to a reservoir to first fill the reservoir, and then to overflow into the chamber. The result is an even distribution of the cells in the chamber.
US08852520B2

The present invention provides a plasma reactor for abating hazardous materials generated in a low-pressure process during a process of manufacturing a display or a semiconductor. A plasma reactor for abating hazardous materials according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a first ground electrode and a second ground electrode disposed at a distance from each other; a dielectric fixed between the first ground electrode and the second ground electrode; and at least one driving electrode disposed on an outer surface of the dielectric, being spaced apart from the first ground electrode and the second ground electrode and connected to an AC power supply unit to receive a driving voltage therefrom.
US08852515B2

The problem is to provide a multilayer analysis element for analyzing liquid samples, having improved adhesive force between a transparent support and a detection layer even by handling at the time of processing, while maintaining basic performances such as sensitivity and storage performance. The multilayer analysis element for analyzing liquid samples is characterized in that at least a detection layer containing a substance that generates a detectable change by a gaseous substance, a liquid blocking layer that selectively permeates the gaseous substance, and a spreading layer are integrally adhesion laminated in this order on a transparent support, and the detection layer contains an adhesive polymer and a water-insoluble vinyl polymer.
US08852513B1

Systems and methods are provided for packaging integrated circuit (IC) gas sensor systems that employ at least one gas sensor that is formed as part of an integrated circuit and configured to sense the presence and/or concentration of a target gas or other gas characteristics that may be present in the ambient gaseous environment surrounding the packaged IC gas sensor system.
US08852509B2

An electronic device for analyzing an aqueous solution may comprise a housing, one or more measurement circuits and a control circuit all arranged inside the housing. The housing may be configured to receive a test element. The one or more measurement circuits may be configured to produce one or more corresponding sets of measurement signals relating to an aqueous solution received on the test element. The control circuit may include a memory having instructions stored therein that are executable by the control circuit to process the one or more sets of measurement signals to determine one or more corresponding characteristics of the aqueous solution.
US08852503B2

A method of biological soil decontamination, including the introduction into the soil of a product that contains a material chosen from a group consisting of proteins, carbohydrates and lipids. The product introduced into the soil does not contain any unprocessed fresh plants or unprocessed fresh plant residues. The method also includes the application of a barrier layer over the soil, e.g., between the soil and the air.
US08852500B2

A Ni-base superalloy having a chemical composition comprising Cr: 3.0-5.0 wt %, Co: 5.0-10.0 wt %, Mo: 0.5-3.0 wt %, W: 8.0-10.0 wt %, Ta: 5.0-8.0 wt %, Nb: 3.0 wt % or less, Al: 4.5-6.0 wt %, Ti: 0.1-2.0 wt %, Re: more than 3.0-4.0 wt %, Ru: 0.2-4.0 wt %, Hf: 0.01-0.2 wt %, and the balance being Ni and unavoidable impurities, a method for producing the same, and turbine blade or turbine vane components are disclosed. The Ni-base superalloy has high creep strength and textural stability under high temperature environment, and is excellent in applicability to turbine blade or turbine vane components of large-sized gas turbines.
US08852493B2

The invention relates to a method for forming a mouth roll (2) to a cup (1) made of plastic-coated board and to the cup provided with a mouth roll produced by the method. The mouth roll for stiffening the cup is produced with a suitable striking tool bending the board at the mouth of the cup. In accordance with the invention, the mouth roll is additionally stabilized by melting the plastic coating (8) of the board under heat so that the opposite surfaces of the board adhere to each other by heat-sealing in the area of the roll. Melting can be performed e.g. by hot-air blasting directed to the mouth roll at is production stage.
US08852492B2

A heating device and a heating method for a blow molding machine comprise a heating element for radiating heat radiation for heating of preforms. A bottom reflector is movable relative to a counter reflector and is arranged opposite to the heating element for reflection of heat radiation radiated by the heating element in the direction of the preforms. A setting device is used for setting a position (LA+BM, LB+BM) of the bottom reflector relative to the counter reflector.
US08852483B2

A method for making a piece of figured veneer comprises softening lignin in a sheet of veneer, and advancing the sheet of veneer between a first roller having a semi-flexible outer surface and a second roller. Apparatus for making a piece of figured veneer comprises a device for softening lignin in a sheet of veneer, and first and second rollers between which the sheet of veneer is pressed. The first roller has a semi-flexible outer surface.
US08852475B2

A system and method are disclosed for producing a continuous filament reinforced thermoplastic profile having consistent cross section. A continuous reinforcing filament is pre-wetted with a first thermoplastic resin and introduced into a die, where it is contacted with a second thermoplastic resin extruded from an extruder at melt state. The temperature of the die is carefully controlled so that the pre-wetted filament and first resin do not cure or solidify until after they have contacted and mixed with the second thermoplastic resin. The mixture temperature is then controlled to make a substantially solidified profile pre-shape. A capping layer comprising a third thermoplastic resin is then co-extruded onto the outer surface of the pre-shape. A multistage die for bringing together the filament and thermoplastic resins and for maintaining appropriate temperatures at each stage of the profile-forming process is also disclosed.
US08852456B2

The present invention relates to a method for the combined production of hydrogen and carbon dioxide from a hydrocarbon mixture, in which the hydrocarbon mixture is reformed to produce a syngas which is cooled, then enriched with H2 and CO2, optionally dried, and treated in a PSA hydrogen purification unit to produce hydrogen, the PSA offgas being treated to capture the CO2 and to supply an offgas. This offgas is again treated to supply a stream enriched with H2 and CO2 which is returned to the PSA, where it constitutes a second feed distinct from the main feed.
US08852446B2

Systems and methods are used to concentrate and extract platelets from blood, where an aggregation arrangement is configured to aggregate red blood cells in the blood. The aggregated red blood cells are provided to a separation arrangement which is configured to separate the aggregated red blood cells from platelets in the blood plasma. Finally a concentration arrangement is configured to concentrate the platelets for extraction and further use.
US08852444B2

The present teachings provide, in part, methods of separating two-dimensional nanomaterials by atomic layer thickness. In certain embodiments, the present teachings provide methods of generating graphene nanomaterials having a controlled number of atomic layer(s).
US08852440B2

A filter unit comprising an inlet (12) and an outlet (13) for a flow medium to be filtered, a first filter cartridge (14) having a first filter element, a second filter cartridge (15) having a second filter element, and a switching device (16) which allows alternating filter operation of the first or the second filter cartridge (14, 15). It is proposed that the first filter cartridge be a main cartridge (14) with a fine first filter element and the second filter cartridge be an auxiliary cartridge (15) with a coarse second filter element. The pressure loss in the auxiliary cartridge (15) is set to the same threshold value as a contaminated main cartridge (14), at which the differential pressure switch triggers an alarm such that during changing of the main filter, the alarm continuously sounds and is only switched off after changing the filtering back to a fine filtering operation.
US08852439B2

A liquid filtration method and device, for example a drinking straw with a mouthpiece, and a bundle of hollow fibres. The open ends of the fibres are embedded in a base and provided in a compartment between the base and a liquid outlet. Water or other liquid flows into the inner volume of the hollow fibres and from there through their filtering membrane walls and into the compartment before the liquid flows out through the liquid outlet, for example the mouthpiece.
US08852431B2

The invention relates to a filter device having at least one filter element (11) comprising a filter medium (27) disposed between two receiving parts (31, 35) and a connecting device located at the lower receiving part (35) for a fluid connection to a fluid device, in particular to a fluid tank (1), having a connecting part (45) disposed on the connecting device, said connecting part being pretensioned by the action of a first energy store (43) for a motion away from the upper receiving part (31) into a closed position blocking the connecting device, having a further, second energy store (49) for generating a relative motion between the lower receiving part (35) and a closing-off part (17) of the device, and having a sealing device (55) sealing between the lower receiving part (35) and the closing-off part (17) as soon as said part and the lower receiving part (35) make contact with each other under the influence of the second energy store (49).
US08852427B2

The present invention relates to methods and systems for removing polar molecule contaminants from a refinery stream in connection with the processing of hydrocarbon fluids, chemicals, whole crude oils, blends and fractions in refineries and chemical plants that include adding high surface energy and/or high surface area nanoparticle compounds to a refinery stream to remove the polar molecule contaminants.
US08852425B2

A divided wall column allows for fractionation of multiple streams while maintaining separate product qualities. Effluents from multiple stages of a reaction system can be processed in a single divided wall column. The divided wall column can produce multiple cuts from each separated area, as well as at least one output from a common area.
US08852418B2

A method for the plasma electrolytic oxidation of a bioactive coating onto implant (4) is provided. The implant is placed in an electrolyte solution (3) providing Ca and P ions and then connected to a power supply (1). A counter electrode is also provided in the electrolyte solution. A sequence of voltage pulses having alternating polarity are then applied across the implant and counter electrode to deposit a bioactive coating onto the implant. A intra-bone implant formed by the method is also provided having a coating with a thickness of 10 to 30 microns, a porosity comprised by pores with sizes of 0.5 to 10 microns, and comprising 10 to 30 wt % of hydroxyapatites.
US08852411B2

A sputtering apparatus includes a support assembly and posts. The support assembly includes an upper base, a lower base, seat members, and connection posts interconnected between the upper base and the lower base. The upper base defines cutouts. The seat members are rotatably mounted on the lower base and aligned with the cutouts. Each seat member includes a hollow receiving post, a support post moveably received in the receiving post, a lever bar pivotably connected to the receiving post, and a drive post, the drive post and the support post are coupled to opposite ends of the lever bar. Each seat member is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the receiving post. The posts fix workpieces in place. Each post includes a rod body portion having a first end and an opposite second end, an engagement portion at the first end, and a protrusion extending from the second end.
US08852397B2

A method of making a belt-creped absorbent cellulosic sheet. The method includes compactively dewatering a papermaking furnish to form a dewatered web having an apparently random distribution of papermaking fiber orientation. The dewatered web is applied to a translating transfer. The web from the transfer surface is belt-creped at a consistency of from about 30% to about 60%, utilizing a generally planar polymeric creping belt having a plurality of perforations. The belt-creping step occurs under pressure in a belt creping nip defined between the transfer surface and the creping belt. The belt travels at a belt speed that is slower than the speed of the transfer surface, and the web is creped from the transfer surface and redistributed on the creping belt to form a web having a plurality of interconnected regions of different local basis weights.
US08852393B2

Apparatus for evaporating waste water having dissolved solids therein comprising a holding tank having an inlet for receiving waste water, a submerged combustion chamber with burner suspended within the holding tank, the submerged combustion chamber having a plurality of vertical slots defined therein near a bottom thereof which span a substantial portion of a height of the submerged combustion chamber, a blower connected to provide air under positive pressure to the burner, and, a vent stack coupled to an upper portion of the holding tank for allowing water vapor to exit the holding tank.
US08852383B2

A wet processing apparatus and method that takes advantage of a fluid meniscus to process at least a portion of a surface of an object. After one surface of the object has been processed another side or surface of the object can be similarly processed. This processing can be coating, etching, plating, to name a few. An application of the apparatus and method is in the semiconductor processing industry, especially, the processing of wafers and substrates. The method and apparatus also allows the processing of multiple surfaces of an electronic component.
US08852380B2

A method of manufacturing a lightweight multilayer heat reflective concrete cure blanket having a moisture-impervious top outer layer, a moisture-impervious bottom outer layer, and the top and bottom layers sealingly connected to each other at the boundaries of the layers to form a moisture-impervious chamber between the first and second layers. The chamber includes at least one bubble type insulative layer therein, and the bottom surface of the blanket comprises a heat reflective material to reflect heat emanating from the concrete when the blanket is placed over the concrete. In a further embodiment, heat reflective material is applied to at least one inner bubble type layer to reflect additional heat which radiates from the concrete through the insulative layer and back towards the concrete.
US08852367B2

A method of production of high-strength hollow bodies from multiphase martensitic steels includes a heating process, a forming process and a cooling process. A heating device heats hollow steel stock to the austenitic temperature of the material from which the stock is made. The stock is then converted by deformation in a forming device into a hollow body having the final shape. A cooling device thereafter cools the hollow body such that the material with the original austenite microstructure refined by deformation during the forming process cools to a temperature at which incomplete transformation of austenite to martensite occurs. The retained austenite stabilization is performed in an annealing device by diffusion-based carbon partitioning within the material from which the hollow body is made. The hollow body is cooled in a cooling device to ambient temperature after stabilization.
US08852366B2

A steel pipe with excellent expandability, comprising, by mass %, C: 0.1 to 0.45%, Si: 0.3 to 3.5%, Mn: 0.5 to 5%, P: less than or equal to 0.03%, S: less than or equal to 0.01%, soluble Al: 0.01 to 0.8% (more than or equal to 0.1% in case Si content is less than 1.5%), N: less than or equal to 0.05%, O: less than or equal to 0.01%, and balance being Fe and impurities, having a mixed microstructure comprising ferrite and one or more selected from fine pearlite, bainite and martensite, and having a tensile strength of more than or equal to 600 MPa and a uniform elongation satisfying following formula (1).This steel pipe, having the above described chemical composition, can be obtained, for example, by being heated at temperatures from 700 to 790° C., then being forced-cooled down to a temperature of lower than or equal to 100° C. with the cooling rate of greater than or equal to 100° C./min at the temperature from 700 to 500° C. u-el≧28−0.0075TS  (1), wherein u-el means uniform elongation (%), and TS means tensile strength (MPa).
US08852365B2

An aluminum alloy comprises aluminum, magnesium, scandium, and an enhancing system. The magnesium is from about 0.5 percent to about 10.0 percent by weight based on the aluminum alloy. The scandium is from about 0.05 percent to about 10.0 percent by weight based on the aluminum alloy. The enhancing system is from about 0.05 percent to about 1.5 percent by weight based on the aluminum alloy.
US08852363B2

The invention offers a magnesium alloy sheet material having excellent plastic processibility and rigidity and a magnesium alloy formed body having excellent rigidity. The sheet material has magnesium alloy that forms the matrix containing hard particles. The region from the surface of the sheet material to a position away from the surface by 40% of the thickness of the sheet material is defined as the surface region, and the remaining region as the center region. Hard particles existing in the center region have a maximum diameter of more than 20 μm and less than 50 μm, and hard particles existing in the surface region have a maximum diameter of 20 μm or less. Because the hard particles existing at the surface side are fine particles, they are less likely to become the starting point of cracking or another defect at the time of plastic processing. Because the hard particles existing in the center region are coarse, they can increase the rigidity of the sheet material.
US08852361B2

A stainless steel sheet with excellent heat and corrosion resistances for a brake disk is provided. Specifically, in mass %, C: less than 0.10%, Si: 1.0% or less, Mn: 1.0 to 2.5%, P: 0.04% or less, S: 0.01% or less, Cr: more than 11.5% but not more than 15.0%, Ni: 0.1 to 1.0%, Al: 0.10% or less, Nb: more than 0.08% but not more than 0.6%, V: 0.02 to 0.3%, and N: more than 0.03% but not more than 0.10% are contained so that 0.03≦{C+N−(13/93)Nb}≦0.10, (5Cr+10Si+15Mo+30Nb+50V−9Ni−5Mn−3Cu−225N−270C)≦45, and {(14/50)V+(14/90)Nb}
US08852359B2

A method of bonding a metal to a substrate involves forming an oxide layer on a surface of the substrate, and in a molten state, over-casting the metal on the substrate surface. The over-casting drives a reaction at an interface between the over-cast metal and the oxide layer to form another oxide. The other oxide binds the metal to the substrate surface upon solidification of the over-cast metal.
US08852357B2

Disclosed are methods for treating metal substrates that include contacting the metal with pretreatment compositions comprising: (a) a group IIIB metal, a group IVB metal and/or a group VB metal; and (b) a rheology modifier composition.
US08852355B1

A system for vacuuming out sediment when installed on the inside of a gravity feed, elevated potable water tank or tower holding water at a pressure head of the kind having a riser serving as a water inlet and outlet. The system having a manifold installed along the bottom wall of the tank or tower connected to a plurality of downwardly directed nozzles. The manifold is connected to a drain pipe passing down through the riser and is supported so that the nozzles are positioned above the bottom wall in the vicinity of the sediment. When water is allowed to flow through the drain pipe, the pressure head causes sediment which may otherwise be a health risk and promote electrolytic corrosion to be vacuumed out by the nozzles.
US08852350B2

A smoking article, and a method and apparatus for producing a smoking article, in which a web material containing an adsorbent material such as activated carbon and a stabilized flavorant such as menthol is positioned adjacent an interior surface of a cigarette wrapper to deliver flavor to a smoker with minimal/insignificant migration of flavor to other parts of the smoking article or packaging. The web material may be a section that extends over only a portion of the smoking article to deliver flavor to a smoker at a specific point during smoking and if positioned at the mouth end of a smoking article will be able to deliver a flavor sensation in the final puff(s).
US08852344B2

The invention relates to an effusing source for film deposition made of a reservoir comprising one hole characterized by the fact that the hole diameter is less than one order of magnitude than the mean free path of the molecules determined by the pressure and its thickness is at least one order of magnitude smaller than the diameter. Preferably the source has several holes.
US08852335B2

A fully compostable container is provided having an enclosed body with an opening through an interior surface and an exterior surface. The enclosed body having a plant fiber structural layer configured to biodegrade in ambient conditions into nontoxic residue and a fluid barrier layer formed on a first side of the structural layer to form the interior surface of the enclosed body, the fluid barrier layer configured to biodegrade in ambient conditions into nontoxic residue. The container is gradually biodegradable when exposed to a set of factors in a natural environment and has a shelf life of six months when stored under standard commercial conditions.
US08852334B1

A composition for hardening concrete that has a pH of less than 10, and may have a pH of 8 or less. Thus, the hardening composition may be free of or substantially free of alkaline materials. The hardening composition is water-based and includes silica particles and an aluminum-based (e.g., alumina, etc.) stabilizer, which may be present on portions of the surfaces of the silica particles. In use, the hardening composition is applied to the surface of concrete, either alone, with curing compounds, or as part of a polishing process. Any residue that remains on the treated surface may simply be swept, blown, or sprayed away.
US08852323B2

The invention relates to a device for separating a flowing liquid into at least two fractions with differing mass density, comprising: a main tube in the form of a cylinder jacket and having an infeed opening and an outfeed opening; a first swirl element arranged in the main tube for imparting a rotating movement to the fluid flowing through the main tube; a first auxiliary tube placed in the main tube at a distance from the first swirl element; and first discharge means connecting to the jacket of the main tube for discharging a heavier fraction of the fluid. The invention also relates to a method for separating into fractions a fluid comprising several fractions.
US08852322B2

A gas separation process uses a structured particulate bed of adsorbent coated shapes/particles laid down in the bed in an ordered manner to simulate a monolith by providing longitudinally extensive gas passages by which the gas mixture to be separated can access the adsorbent material along the length of the particles. The particles can be laid down either directly in the bed or in locally structured packages/bundles which themselves are similarly oriented such that the bed particles behave similarly to a monolith but without at least some disadvantages. The adsorbent particles can be formed with a solid, non-porous core with the adsorbent formed as a thin, adherent coating on the exposed exterior surface. Particles may be formed as cylinders/hollow shapes to provide ready access to the adsorbent. The separation may be operated as a kinetic or equilibrium controlled process.
US08852308B2

A filter arrangement for a system within which fluid is filtered and an associated method of providing the arrangement. A frame of the arrangement includes an outer periphery shape that is complementary to a shape for location of the filter arrangement therein and a plurality of filter pleat pack locations. At each filter pleat pack location the frame includes at least one portion having a saw-tooth contoured surface. A plurality of filter pleat packs each includes a plurality of pleats. Each filter pleat pack is removably located at a respective filter pleat pack location of the frame, with the pleats of the filter pleat pack mating against the saw-tooth contoured surface. A plurality of removable retainers that non-permanently hold the filter pleat packs. Each retainer has at least one saw-tooth contoured surface that mates against the pleats so that the pleats of the filter pleat pack are sandwiched.
US08852306B2

The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner filter bag having a filter medium comprising a first layer consisting of a netting, a perforated sheet or a perforated non-woven with an air permeability of at least 10,000 l/(m2 s), and a first fiber layer consisting of man-made fibers and/or vegetable fibers and connected to one side of the first layer.
US08852299B2

There is disclosed a method for combusting a secondary organometallic compound in an engine including (a) combining a secondary organometallic compound and methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl, (b) introducing the combination from (a) into a fuel, and (c) causing the fuel from (b) to be combusted in the engine.
US08852294B2

To provide a method for forming an electrode for a storage battery, including the step of: forming a metal layer which is over a current collector and has an edge portion; and forming a crystalline silicon layer, which is over the etched metal layer and includes a silicon whisker, as an active material layer by a low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) method in which heating is performed with the use of a deposition gas containing silicon.
US08852293B2

There is provided a compound represented by Formula (1), and a coloring composition including the compound: wherein, in Formula (1), R0 to R3 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent, and R0 and R1, R0 and L, or R1 and L may be combined with each other to form a ring, L represents a single bond or a divalent linking group, D represents a residue in which n hydrogen atoms are removed from a compound represented by Formula (2), n represents an integer of 1 or more, provided that when n represents an integer of 2 or more, a plurality of R0's to R3's and L's may be the same or different, the compound represented by Formula (1) has at least one ionic hydrophilic group, and in Formula (2), R4 to R24 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent.
US08852292B2

A prosthetic or orthotic system including a sensor module and a processing module usable to determine a terrain variable, such as a terrain transition. In certain examples, the system is capable of anticipating a terrain transition prior to the user experiencing the terrain transition, which may include, for instance, a transition from level ground walking to walking on stairs or may include a change in a slope of the ground surface. In certain embodiments, the system advantageously monitors a posture and/or movement of the patient to anticipate the terrain transition. Furthermore, the system may control an actuator to appropriately adjust the prosthetic or orthotic device to encounter the anticipated terrain transition.
US08852276B2

Disclosed herein is a sizer for use in cosmetic surgery augmentation procedures, along with methods for using same. The sizer includes an inflatable shell that can be pressurized to assume a shape and size to guide an augmentation procedure, and then deflated for insertion to or removal from the surgical side. The sizer also includes a reinforcing mesh to prevent puncture of the inflatable shell during a surgical procedure.
US08852274B2

A composite ophthalmic device comprising an ophthalmic structure, means or lens having a photo-shifting material deployed thereon or therewithin so as to up-shift or down-shift the amplitude, wavelength (or both) of incident radiation into the visible wavelength range.
US08852273B2

In one aspect, the present invention provides a method of designing an intraocular lens (IOL) to address variations of at least one ocular parameter in a population of patient eyes. The method can include establishing at least one eye model in which the ocular parameter can be varied over a range exhibited by the population. The eye model can be employed to evaluate a plurality of IOL designs in correcting visual acuity for eyes in the patient population. An IOL design that provides a best fit for visual performance over at least a portion of the parameter range can then be selected.
US08852271B2

A delivery system for percutaneously delivering and deploying a stented prosthetic heart valve. The delivery device includes a delivery sheath slidably disposed over an inner shaft, and a capture assembly. The capture assembly includes a spindle and a biasing member. The spindle is attached to the inner shaft and defines slot. The biasing member is disposed within the slot and self-transitions from a deflected condition to a normal condition. In a delivery state, the delivery sheath retains the prosthesis over the inner shaft and coupled to the spindle via the capture slot, including a portion of the prosthetic valve being engaged within the slot and the biasing member forced to the deflected condition. In a deployment state, the delivery sheath is proximally withdrawn and the biasing member self-transitions toward the normal condition to eject the prosthetic valve from the capture slot.
US08852267B2

A medicinal device with a tubular wall made of webs which delimit the cells, and a flexible membrane which forms at least one flap which has a first end connected to at least one first web of a cell, and a free second end which is disposed opposite the first end in the longitudinal direction of the flap. The flap, in the closed position, extends along the tubular wall and at least partially closes the cells, and can be moved to an open position in which the flap is radially deviated in relation to the wall in order to open the cells in a valve-like manner.
US08852265B2

The invention relates to an implantable radiopaque stent adapted to be disposed in a body lumen. In one aspect of the invention, a plurality of elongate filaments including one or more radiopaque filaments are arranged to form a hollow tubular structure having a tubular wall that defines an inner surface and an outer surface and opposing first open end and second open end. One of the open ends of the stent is formed by an intersection of adjacent filament ends. A radiopaque compound is applied to the intersection, the radiopaque compound comprising radiopaque material and polymeric material. The radiopaque compound and radiopaque filament provide improved external imaging of the tubular structure on imaging equipment.
US08852256B2

The present invention generally relates to the reduction of intraocular pressure, and in particular, to methods for treating glaucoma by insertion of an intraocular shunt in the eye such that it forms a drainage pathway between the anterior chamber and the intra-Tenon's space.
US08852252B2

Endosseous screw (1) for fixing a plate (102) to a bone site (300), comprising an at least partially threaded shaft (2), insertion means for inserting the screw into a bone site and a distal portion (33) provided for engaging said plate to fasten it to said bone site and comprising a head (3) having facets (30) defining an external peripheral profile provided for engagement with a tubular manipulating wrench, to allow the screw (1) to be extracted from the bone site (300) into which it has been inserted, wherein the facets (30) are curvilinear and the external peripheral profile defined by same facets (30) has a convex barrel-like shape, in order to allow a stable coupling between the tubular manipulating wrench and said profile, which is maintained during the untightening phase of screw from plate, even when said tubular manipulating wrench is oriented in an inclined direction with respect to a longitudinal axis (x) of the endosseous screw (1).
US08852241B2

A surgical method is for at least one ilium having an iliac crest and inner and outer tables on opposing sides of the iliac crest. The method may include inserting at least one base into the ilium, where the at least one base has a channel therein. The method may further include inserting a support member through the ilium and through the channel of the at least one base so that the support member extends between the inner and outer tables, and securing the support member to the at least one base.
US08852235B2

Lumbar disc and facet joint replacement prosthesis are provided. The lumbar disc prosthesis includes first member having a vertebral disc contact surface and a recessed portion on an opposing surface thereof and a second member having a vertebral disc contact surface and a protruding portion on an opposing surface thereof. The protruding portion of the second member engages the recessed portion of the first member in use. The first and second members are provided with at least a middle section and two end sections. The recessed and protruding portions are provided in the middle section of the respective members and each end section has a narrowing taper. The facet joint prosthesis includes a first member for attachment to a first posterior lumbar disc and a second member for attachment to a second posterior lumbar disc. At least a part of the first member is telescopically mounted in at least a part of the second member.
US08852230B2

Apparatus and methods for sealing a puncture through tissue or otherwise treating a body lumen of a patient. The carrier includes at least one, but not all, of the adherent layer components required to form a tacky or sticky adherent layer on the carrier. The remaining adherent layer precursor(s) are delivered to the carrier in situ to form a sticky and/or tacky adherent layer on the carrier that enhances the attachment and retention of the carrier to tissue surrounding a target treatment location in which the carrier is delivered. The carrier may include hydrogel and/or other porous material, e.g., for releasing one or more agents carried by the carrier at the treatment location.
US08852225B2

A device including a stent structure or frame to which a sheet is attached for use in minimizing or preventing emboli, particles. and/or air bubbles from migrating into certain areas of the anatomy. The device can be placed in the blood stream in an area of the heart, such as the aortic arch, to direct particles toward the descending aorta rather than toward the brain. The sheet of the device can be a thin film material, which may include multiple fenestrations that are smaller in size than the particles that are to be filtered.
US08852215B2

There are disclosed various embodiments of surgical tacks for use in surgical procedures. The tacks generally include a head and a barrel portion extending distally from the head. Preferably, the head and the barrel portion define a throughbore for receipt of a drive instrument. A thread on the head is provided to engage threads in the installation tool. A tissue thread is provided on the barrel portion to engage tissue. Distal and proximal surfaces of the tissue thread may be oriented at various angles relative to the barrel portion. There is also disclosed an insertion instrument to insert one or more tacks as well as a method of use. There is further disclosed a model device for use in explaining the operation of the instrument.
US08852212B2

A suturing assembly is provided that is configured to pull a capsule attached to a suture through tissue. The suturing assembly includes a shaft aligned on a longitudinal axis of the suturing assembly, and a head coupled to the shaft. The head includes a proximal portion and a distal end spaced apart from the proximal portion by a throat. The proximal portion houses a needle that is movable through a needle exit port. The proximal portion of the head and the needle exit port are both aligned on the longitudinal axis. A proximal side of the distal end of the head defines a cavity adapted to receive the capsule and a distal side of the distal end of the head defines a slot adapted to allow the suture to pass through the distal end of the head and into the cavity.
US08852210B2

A system for guiding an implant to an optimal placement within a patient includes a trajectory guide for guiding instruments along a selected trajectory and a trajectory fixation device for fixing the trajectory guide in a selected position. The trajectory guide defines a path configured to align with the selected trajectory. A movable support mounts the trajectory guide and selectively moves the trajectory guide to align the trajectory guide with the selected trajectory prior to fixing the trajectory guide in the selected position. After fixing the trajectory guide, instruments can be inserted along the trajectory through the path defined by the trajectory guide.
US08852209B2

The invention relates to an adaptor for tracking an instrument location during image guided surgery. The adaptor has a drive shaft, a proximal handle and a distal instrument tip. The drive shaft has a linear proximal portion, a curved mid-portion and a linear distal portion that is co-linear with the linear proximal portion. Three tracking elements (such as reflective balls) are placed on the sinusoidal portion. When the handle is rotated, the two linear portions remain fixed on the longitudinal axis, but the tracking elements on the sinusoidal portion travel in orbits about the longitudinal axis, thereby allowing a computer to track the location of the instrument tip.
US08852207B2

A guiding catheter system employs a compliant shaft with an inflatable balloon affixed to a distal portion of the shaft. The inflatable balloon includes channels that allow some amount of blood to flow past the balloon when inflated in a blood vessel. One or more inflation lumens is in fluid contact with the balloon and allows inflating the balloon from a proximal end of the catheter. A series of perfusion orifices may be included on the shaft proximal to the balloon.
US08852197B2

An orthopaedic surgical instrument assembly that includes a handle and a keel punch configured to be inserted into a proximal end of a surgically-prepared tibia of a patient. The handle includes a lever configured to secure the keel punch to the handle.
US08852183B2

A bipolar scissor for cutting and coagulating tissue includes a first blade having a first cutting edge and a first shearing blade surface and a second blade having a second cutting edge and a second shearing blade surface. Additionally, one of the first and second blades may include a non-conductive material having an embedded electrode.
US08852181B2

Methods and apparatus for treatment of anatomic defects in human tissues, such as patent foramen ovale (PFO), atrial or ventricular septal defects, left atrial appendage, patent ductus arteriosis, blood vessel wall defects and certain electrophysiological defects, involve positioning a distal end of an elongate catheter device at the site of the anatomic defect, engaging tissues at the site of the anatomic defect to bring the tissues together, and applying energy to the tissues with the catheter device to substantially close the anatomic defect acutely. Apparatus generally includes an elongate catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, a vacuum application member coupled with the distal end for engaging tissues at the site of the anatomic defect and applying vacuum to the tissues to bring them together, and at least one energy transmission member coupled with the vacuum application member for applying energy to tissues at the site of the anatomic defect to substantially close the defect acutely.
US08852176B2

An apparatus for ophthalmological, in particular refractive, laser surgery includes a laser-beam source (20) for emitting a focused treatment laser beam (20′) and also includes an optical-coherence interferometric measuring device (34), for example an OLCR pachymeter, for measuring the z-position of a predetermined point of an eye to be treated in the coordinate system of the laser-surgery apparatus. A computer (C) serving as evaluating and control unit has been set up to assess, on the basis of the measured z-position, whether a desired treatment point of the eye in the z-direction falls in the focal plane of the treatment laser beam or is offset in relation to said plane. Depending on whether or not the patient is correctly positioned in relation to the focal plane, the computer (C) can bring about a range of actions.
US08852165B2

A device and method for delivering a drug from inside a body lumen to tissue surrounding the body lumen. An endoluminal drug delivery device includes a dual-lumen catheter for housing a guidewire and a needle connectable to a drug source. The guidewire exits the catheter through an opening at the distal end, and the needle exits the catheter through an exit port in the outer wall of the catheter. A distal portion of the catheter has a single lumen and includes a taper, allowing the distal tip to act as a dilator. The device optionally includes a catheter lumen splitter and/or a handpiece assembly. A method of delivering fluid to tissue surrounding a body lumen includes inserting a guidewire into the body lumen, tracking the device over the guidewire, deploying the needle through the exit port to the tissue, delivering fluid, and retracting the needle into the catheter.
US08852164B2

A method for controlling a device using a shape-memory alloy wire is disclosed. The method includes determining an ontime for the shape-memory alloy wire based on a target volume to be pumped by a pump plunger, determining the temperature of the shape-memory alloy wire and adjusting the ontime based on the temperature of the shape-memory alloy wire.
US08852159B2

The present invention relates to an injection device (1) comprising:—a body (3) designed to receive a product to be injected, furnished at its distal end with an injection needle (7) and receiving a piston (5) capable of being moved between a storage position and an end-of-injection position under the effect of a distal pressure exerted on a piston rod (8) to the distal end of which it is attached,—means of protecting the injection needle (7) capable of adopting an initial position, during which the injection needle (7) is uncovered, and a final position, in which the said injection needle (7) is covered,—biasing means (26) aiming at moving the said covering element (6) from its initial position to its final position,—immobilization means (16, 31) aiming at keeping the said covering element (6) in its initial position, the said injection device (1) being characterized in that:—the said piston rod (8) comprises at least a first portion (9) and at least one second portion (10) coupled to the said piston (8), the said first and second portions (9, 10) being operatively coupled together and selectively movable together in the distal direction, at least one of said first portion (9) and said second portion (10) being movable in the proximal direction separate from said other one of said first portion (9) and said second portion (10).
US08852156B2

A stylet for use with a medical catheter has a lumen blocking portion and a shaft, where the shaft has a smaller effective diameter than the lumen blocking portion. The lumen blocking portion has an outer surface that is approximately flush with the catheter lumen in a working area of the catheter. The lumen blocking portion has a length capable of covering at least one side hole of the catheter.
US08852152B2

Some embodiments of an infusion pump system can include a controller in electrical communication with a pump device so as to provide selected dosages of a medicine to a user over a period of time. The infusion pump system can employ a number of power management techniques to reduce the likelihood current drain of a rechargeable battery of the infusion pump system.
US08852146B2

The invention relates to medical balloons, and methods of modifying said balloons by forming a void pattern in their exterior surfaces and filling the voids with a material, such as a fiber or a nanomaterial (e.g., nanotubes, such as carbon nanotubes) and a matrix material, e.g., a polymer.
US08852143B2

Sinusitis, mucocysts, tumors, infections, hearing disorders, choanal atresia, fractures and other disorders of the paranasal sinuses, Eustachian tubes, Lachrymal ducts and other ear, nose, throat and mouth structures are diagnosed and/or treated using minimally invasive approaches and, in many cases, flexible catheters as opposed to instruments having rigid shafts. Various diagnostic procedures and devices are used to perform imaging studies, mucus flow studies, air/gas flow studies, anatomic dimension studies and endoscopic studies. Access and occluding devices may be used to facilitate insertion of working devices such asendoscopes, wires, probes, needles, catheters, balloon catheters, dilation catheters, dilators, balloons, tissue cutting or remodeling devices, suction or irrigation devices, imaging devices, sizing devices, biopsy devices, image-guided devices containing sensors or transmitters, electrosurgical devices, energy emitting devices, devices for injecting diagnostic or therapeutic agents, devices for implanting devices such as stents, substance eluting or delivering devices and implants, etc.
US08852137B2

The invention generally relates to methods for implanting a soft gel shunt in the suprachoroidal space. In certain embodiments, methods of the invention involve inserting into the eye a hollow shaft configured to hold a soft gel intraocular shunt, deploying the soft gel shunt from the hollow shaft such that the shunt forms a passage from the anterior chamber of the eye to the suprachoroidal space of the eye, and withdrawing the hollow shaft from the eye.
US08852135B2

A method is provided for monitoring the introduction of substitution fluids for an extra-corporeal blood processing device with an extra-corporeal blood circuit, comprising an arterial blood line, running from an arterial patient connection to a first chamber of a dialyzer or filter divided into said first chamber and a second chamber by a membrane and a venous blood line, running from the first chamber of the dialyzer or filter to a venous patient connection. A device is provided for monitoring the introduction of substitution fluids for an extra-corporeal blood processing unit with an extra-corporeal blood circuit and an extra-corporeal blood processing device with a device for monitoring the introduction of substitution fluids. The method and the device for monitoring the introduction of substitution fluids are based on monitoring the fluid level in the bubble trap, arranged in the venous blood line of the extra-corporeal blood circuit. The method and the device require that fluid is added to fill the extra-corporeal blood circuit, for example, for a rinsing procedure of the extra-corporeal blood circuit by means of the substitution fluid supply line arranged upstream or downstream of the dialyzer. A pre-dilution can be commanded when, after initiating the rinsing process the fill level in the bubble trap does not drop below a certain level. When by contrast the fill level drops below a given level a post-dilution can be commanded.
US08852128B2

A computer system for assessing dynamic bone quality is provided, including a memory that stores executable instructions, a central processing unit (CPU) capable of accessing the memory and executing the instructions to provide an output, and a receiver for receiving data input and transmitting it to the CPU, wherein the receiver is operably connected to: (1) a plurality of accelerometers, each accelerometer adapted to contact an exterior surface of a human subject at a load-bearing anatomical site and to receive input from each point of contact including acceleration response data; and (2) a force plate adapted to receive input including vertical ground reaction force data provided by a heel strike on the force plate, wherein the CPU executes the instructions to process the input data transmitted from the receiver to provide the output as a bone damping value. A method for assessing dynamic bone quality is also provided.
US08852127B2

A system configured to monitor ambient illumination experienced by a subject. In one embodiment, the system comprises an illumination sensor, a timer, and a storage module. The illumination sensor is configured to monitor an intensity of ambient illumination within two or more wavelength ranges by generating one or more output signals that convey information related to the intensity of ambient illumination within the two or more wavelength ranges. The timer is configured to indicate the passage of periods of time. The storage module is configured to store information related to the intensity of ambient illumination within the two or more wavelength ranges, as conveyed by the one or more output signals, for individual periods of time. The system is portable to be carried by the subject.
US08852123B2

A lancet housing assembly comprising multiple lancets for use in a portable handheld medical diagnostic device for sampling bodily fluids from a skin site of a patient is provided. The lancet housing assembly includes a housing structure comprising multiple lancet compartments. At least one of the lancet compartments comprises an outer facing side and an inner facing side. An opening is located at the outer facing side that is arranged and configured to align with a lancet port of the medical diagnostic device. A floor extends between the outer facing side and the inner facing side. A reagent material is located on the floor and within the lancet compartment. A lancet structure is located in the at least one lancet compartment. The lancet structure comprises a skin penetrating end and a blood transport portion adjacent the skin penetrating end. The skin penetrating end, when extended through the opening, is shaped and sized to penetrate the patient's skin at the skin site to provide an amount of blood. The blood transport portion is arranged and configured receive the amount of blood from the skin penetrating end and to carry the amount of blood away from the skin site and to the reagent material.
US08852122B2

The present invention provides a liquid sampling, storage, transfer and delivery device comprising housing containing a porous nib. The porous nib in the device contacts the sample, collects the sample, stores the sample, transports the sample inside its porous matrix and releases the sample from the porous matrix upon demand.
US08852116B2

An evaluator includes a heart rate variability analyzer A having a heart rate measuring instrument, a heartbeat interval measuring instrument, a frequency analyzer, a sympathetic/parasympathetic nervous system index analyzer, and a psychiatric symptom/psychotic disorder onset risk calculator, and a random number generation analyzer having a random number input unit, a random number score calculation unit, and a display unit. Frequency analysis of a heart rate measurement and a heartbeat interval measurement of a subject is performed to determine a high-frequency index, a low-frequency index and a ratio therebetween.
US08852115B2

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to patient monitors designed to display goal indicators showing progress toward achieving patient monitoring goals. The goal indicators may be displayed on a main monitoring screen of the patient monitors, allowing caretakers to easily evaluate how effective they have been in managing the patient's condition. According to certain embodiments, the goal indicators may display a numerical value indicating the percentage of time that a physiological parameter, such as SpO2 or pulse rate, was within predetermined goal limits. The patient monitors further may include user interfaces that enable a clinician to adjust parameters of the goal indicators, such as the goal limits and/or the goal time frame.
US08852113B2

In a distal end portion of a flexible sheath which is inserted integrally with an ultrasound transducer array, cell collecting hole portions each including a through-hole which allows a distal end portion outer periphery and an internal space of the flexible sheath to communicate with each other is provided, an edge for specimen cutting is formed at an opening portion of an outer circumferential side of each of the cell collecting hole portions, and after the flexible sheath is caused to reach a lesion part or the like of a subject, specimen collection is performed without additionally inserting a biological forceps or the like into the flexible sheath, whereby a specimen of a target site such as a lesion part is reliably collected without unnecessarily increasing the number of times of insertion and extraction of an instrument into and from a body, and the burden on an examinee is reduced.
US08852096B2

A method of monitoring health parameters of subjects within a defined space and over a period of time includes collecting first data corresponding to a physiological parameter of an ambulatory subject, collecting second data corresponding to a behavioral and cognitive parameter of the ambulatory subject, collecting third data corresponding to an identity and a location of the one of the subjects, collecting fourth data corresponding to the one of the ambulatory subjects from third party sources, generating a data record for the one of the ambulatory subjects based upon the first, second, third, and fourth data, and outputting a modified data record, the modified data record containing portions of the data record, the portions selected based upon an access level of a person requesting the data record and a format of the modified data record selected based upon the access level and community needs.
US08852089B2

Instrumentation for retracting tissue comprising a retractor member including a sidewall defining an axial passage extending along a length thereof and a lateral opening in transverse communication with the passage. A pin member is disposed within the passage and includes a distal end portion positionable adjacent the distal end of the retractor member, with at least a portion of the pin member positioned adjacent and visible through the lateral opening. In another embodiment, the retractor member includes a sidewall having a main sidewall portion defining a first wall thickness, and an enlarged sidewall portion extending axially along a length of the sidewall and defining a second wall thickness greater than the first wall thickness, with the sidewall defining an axial passage extending through the enlarged sidewall portion. A pin member is disposed within the passage and includes a distal end portion positionable adjacent the distal end of the retractor member.
US08852088B2

An intracorporeal surgical tissue retractor is provided having an anchor selectively deployable in a first tissue not to be retracted and a grasper selectively deployable on a second tissue to be retracted. A longitudinally selectively movable support is threadable through the anchor and attached at a substantially distal end of the movable support to the grasper. A deployment user interface is couplable to the movable support and has a proximal end manipulable by a user extracorporeally and a distal end releasably attachable to both the anchor and the grasper, adapted to intracorporeally deploy the anchor into the first tissue and the grasper onto the second tissue. The user interface includes a first actuator having an anchor positioning tool enabling selective deployment of the anchor in the first tissue, and a second actuator enabling selective opening and closing of the jaws of the grasper.
US08852076B2

Using a sling that includes a central portion and at least two arms extending from the central portion, a method of treating anal incontinence may include positioning the central portion posteriorly to the rectum and/or anus of a subject, and extending each arm of the sling to a respective obturator region. Using a sling having the same or similar structure, a method of treating pelvic organ prolapse may include positioning the central portion beneath the ano-rectum of a subject, and extending each arm of the sling to a respective thigh incision near the obturator region.
US08852075B2

An implant for supporting pelvic anatomy includes a first soft tissue anchor, a second soft tissue anchor, and a support portion. The first and second soft tissue anchors each include a central portion and a plurality of projections biased radially from the central portion of the soft tissue anchors, respectively. The implant is configured for selective adjustment of an effective length of the implant between the first and second soft tissue anchors.
US08852073B2

A relaxation inducing sleep mask includes a comfortable eye mask and a sleep module carried by the eye mask providing audible and/or visible patterns each intended to promote relaxation and to induce sleep.
US08852071B2

A method of delivering a radioactive liquid, includes, performing an initialization, including; extracting at least a first amount of a radioactive liquid from a source of radioactive liquid, measuring a radioactivity level for the first amount of radioactive liquid, and performing a calibration phase. The calibration phase includes, extracting a second amount of radioactive liquid from the source of radioactive liquid wherein the second amount is calculated based on the radioactivity level of the first amount to provide a total dose of radioactive liquid having a predetermined radioactivity level, and delivering the total dose and performing at least one more calibration and delivery phases.
US08852070B2

A locking system for axially securing a rotor onto a rotatably mounted shaft. The arrangement includes a plurality of locking levers which are each pivotably mounted about axes extending perpendicularly to the shaft between a locking position and an unlocking position in planes containing the axes. The locking levers can each be automatically transferred between an unlocking position and a locking position depending on rotational speed. The locking levers are mounted on the rotor and an annular groove is provided on the shaft and engages with the locking levers in the locking position, wherein the locking levers are prestressed in the unlocking position. Advantageously, the rotor can be both installed and removed without tools by merely placing the rotor onto or removing the rotor from the shaft, in each case depending on rotational speed.
US08852064B2

In accordance with the invention, there are media feeding assemblies and methods of making a roll of a media feeding assembly. The method can include providing a soluble carbon nanotube composition, providing a first elastomeric rubber composition, and mixing the soluble carbon nanotube composition with the first elastomeric rubber composition to form a composite rubber composition, such that the soluble carbon nanotubes are substantially uniformly dispersed in the composite rubber composition. The method can also include applying the composite rubber composition to a mold and curing the composite rubber composition to form a composite rubber tire, such that the substantially uniformly dispersed soluble carbon nanotubes in the composite rubber tire provide at least about 10% decrease in wear.
US08852047B2

An automatic transmission includes an input shaft, first to fourth planetary gear mechanisms and first to seventh engagement devices. Ten forward gears of the automatic transmission are established by bringing at least three of the first to seventh engagement devices into an engagement state.
US08852041B2

A bicycle derailleur comprises a base member, a movable member movably coupled to the base member, and a chain guide coupled to the movable member for rotation around a rotational axis. A resistance applying element applies resistance to rotational movement of the chain guide, and a resistance control element moves between at least different first and second positions. The resistance control element is operatively coupled to the resistance applying element so that the resistance applying element applies different first and second resistances to rotational movement of the chain guide when the resistance control element is disposed in the respective first and second positions.
US08852034B2

A basketball backboard assembly and a method of making the backboard assembly are disclosed. The assembly includes a backboard frame structure and an acrylic backboard which are bonded together with a suitable elastomeric adhesive, providing adequate adhesion and flexibility. The elastomeric adhesive has a bond gap in the range from 2 to 2.5 mm. The adhesive is catalyzed to provide control of the set time in the range from about 5 minutes to 1 hour. A plurality of bond gap spacers are located between the frame bonding surface and the backboard bonding surface to provide the bond gap.
US08852030B2

A basketball return apparatus for collecting and returning basketballs includes a ball collector, with a top opening and a bottom opening, and a ball returner. The ball returner is connected to a base for receiving balls from the bottom opening of the ball collector and returning the balls to a user. A rotatable support mechanism connects the ball collector to the base so that the ball collector is rotatable with respect to the base and the ball returner.
US08852023B2

A cavity back golf club head having a bridge member and a damping element is disclosed. The bridge member extends across a first rear cavity connecting a heel and a toe of the golf club head to control the trajectory of a golf ball. For the longer iron clubs, a damping element extends from the sole portion of the cavity back golf club head to the bridge member to define a second cavity to further influence the trajectory of the golf ball. For the shorter iron clubs, the damping element extends from the top portion of the cavity back golf club head to the bridge member. The damping element may reduce the vibration and sound of the golf club head upon impact with a golf ball.
US08852018B1

A method for retrieving a golf ball employs a gripper with a magnetic coupling. The coupling has a cavity containing a magnet. The magnet has a field strength adequate to hold onto a vertical surface of an unmagnetized metal object while a golf ball is held in the gripper. The magnetic coupling is magnetically attached a non-magnetized head of a golf club. In operation, downward force is applied through the golf club to depress the magnetic coupling in order to encompass and grip the golf ball with the gripper. The head of the club is lifted and the golf ball removed from the gripper. The device can be stored by clipping it to an object.
US08852017B2

A golf sand bunker simulator which mimics the feel of sand by using beaded chains that are attached to a mat. The golf sand bunker simulator creates a sand-like experience which can assist a golfer to develop their sand shot technique. The golf sand bunker simulator is portable and because it does not generate dust or debris provides a clean golf training experience for both indoor and outdoor practice. The golf sand bunker simulator can also have a grass turf attached to enable a golfer to practice both sand and grass shots.
US08852012B2

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing storage at indoor golf driving ranges. In various embodiments, the disclosed systems and methods permit golfers to store their baggage in close proximity to the golfers while the golfers practice their swing.
US08852006B2

The observation wheel is the arrangement of passenger modules in groups with a distance between the groups circumferentially which exceeds the distance circumferentially between the passenger modules in the groups. An outer annular element is reinforced in the areas in which the groups are arranged.
US08851999B2

A system for hosting video games comprising: a game server comprising a central processing unit to process video game program code and a graphics processing unit (GPU) to process graphics commands; one or more back buffers to store video frames in response to the execution of the graphics commands; a front buffer to receive a video frame for rendering on a display and outputting the video frame for display one scan line at a time at a designated scan out frequency, a subset of scan lines stored in the front buffer being associated with a vertical blanking interval (VBI); a frame processing module to increase the number of scan lines associated with the VBI to increase the likelihood that a new frame will be completed in a back buffer and ready for transfer to the front buffer at a time during the VBI.
US08851993B2

An exemplary embodiment provides a game device. The game device includes an indication acceptance unit for accepting an indication for determining an amount of movement, a movement amount determination unit for determining an amount of movement on the prescribed route, a position updating unit for updating positions of all player characters on the route in accordance with the determined amount of movement, and an event processing unit for executing an event on the player character and the indication acceptance unit includes a normal indication acceptance unit for accepting a normal indication for determining a normal amount of movement and a special indication acceptance unit for accepting a special indication for determining an amount of movement different from normal, which is executed alternative to the normal indication and of which number of permitted times of issuance by the plurality of player characters is limited.
US08851991B2

To provide a game device having a character transformation function and in which prevention of unnatural display of change of posture and facial expression of a character object is realized while suppressing increase in an amount of data and an amount of work related to motion data. In the present invention, a skeleton part (joint or bone) which is set for a character object placed in a virtual three-dimensional space is rotated so that a position of a predetermined vertex of the character object changes from a first position to a second position. In the present invention, a player is guided to change at least one of the first position and the second position. In a case where at least one of the first position and the second position is changed by the player, the position of the skeleton part is corrected so that the position of the predetermined vertex of the character object changes from the first position to the second position in a case where the skeleton part is rotated by a predetermined angle (S103, S104).
US08851988B2

An architecture for an electronic gaming machine (EGM) includes multiple processors that separate game logic from game presentation. The multi-processor architecture includes a dedicated game logic engine and a dedicated presentation engine. A first processor having the game logic engine is adapted to handle the input/output (I/O), peripherals, communications, accounting, critical gaming and other game logic, power hit tolerances, protocols to other systems, and other tasks related to operation of the EGM. A second processor is adapted to running a presentation engine. The second processor receives commands from the first processor to present game-oriented outcome and results.
US08851987B2

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a method for receiving a signal representative of a displacement of at least a portion of a computer mouse from a surface of a mouse pad, and causing a change in a state of a video game presented by a gaming system according to the signal. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US08851980B2

The present invention is a system and method for conducting online video game tournaments involving a series of levels. The system comprises a tournament server connected to a communications network that is in electronic communication with remotely located players who register for the tournament. The server maintains a record of registered players competing in the tournament indicating at which level each player is eligible to play and, after players indicate they are ready to play a match, the server matches players who are ready to play at the same level. This matching may be repeated at regular intervals. After being matched, players play a match and the results are reported back to the server which may award prizes or allow players to unlock other levels based on the results. In general, a player who wins a pre-defined number of matches is a row wins a grand prize.
US08851967B2

Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention operate a networked system for a skill calibrated hybrid game that includes: a gambling game; an entertainment game; a game world engine constructed to manage the entertainment game and communicate gameplay gambling event occurrences based upon a player's skillful execution of the entertainment game that trigger a wager in the gambling game; and a skill calibration module constructed to: receive player data for a player, where the player data is indicative of a player's gameplay performance at the entertainment game; analyze the player data to determine a player's skill level; determine whether the terms of a wager of a gambling game are calibrated in a manner appropriate to the player's skill level; and send a command during play of the skill calibrated hybrid game that causes the real world engine to calibrate the terms of a wager in the gambling game.
US08851966B2

A gaming system may include an event filter to identify players as targets for engagement. The player may be modeled to predict what they might do under a given situation. One or more engagement actions may be developed based at least on the player's predicted behaviour. The player is then engaged in accordance with the engagement actions. Results from engagements with many players may be assessed and the gaming system may be adjusted according to the assessment.
US08851955B2

A rocking inflatable figure has a hollow inflatable body, a rocking mechanism and an air pump. The inflatable body has an air inlet, a movable portion and two partition diaphragms securely mounted on an inner wall inside the movable portion. The rocking mechanism is mounted between the two partition diaphragms and has a housing and an oscillating lever pivotally mounted on the housing. An electric motor and a transmission mechanism are mounted inside the housing. When the electric motor and the transmission mechanism drive the oscillating lever to keep oscillating, the two partition diaphragms on the movable portion rock relative to each other. Accordingly, the rocking inflatable figure can exhibit a continuously rocking form to increase the viewing fun and animated effect.
US08851952B2

An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The OLED display includes: a display panel assembly including a first substrate having a display area and a mounting area, a second substrate coupled to the display area of the first substrate, and an integrated circuit chip mounted in the mounting area of the first substrate; a cover window disposed opposite the second substrate and the integrated circuit chip and covering the display panel assembly; and an adhesive layer which fills up a space between the second substrate and the cover window, and a space between the mounting area of the first substrate and the cover window.
US08851948B2

One embodiment of the present invention relates to an avalanche safety system including an inflatable chamber, activation system, inflation system, and a harness. The inflatable chamber is a three-dimensionally, partially enclosed region having an inflated state and a compressed state. The inflated state may form a particular three dimensional shape configured to protect the user from burial and provide flotation during an avalanche. The activation system is configured to receive a user-triggered action to activate the system. The activation system also includes a reinflation algorithm configured to automatically reactivate the inflation system after a period of time to maintain the inflated state of the inflatable chamber. The inflation system may include an air intake, battery, fan, and internal airway channel. The inflation system is configured to transmit ambient air into the inflatable chamber.
US08851947B2

An inflatable watercraft comprises a motorized cassette and at least one inflatable chamber. The at least one inflatable chamber is foldable relative to the motorized cassette at least when the inflatable watercraft is in a deflated configuration. The motorized cassette includes a motor, an impeller, at least one battery, and a pump configured to inflate the at least one inflatable chamber. The pump can include a reversible pump configured to deflate the at least one inflatable chamber.
US08851943B2

A Motorized Water Vehicle (MWV) adapted to operate as a fluid-compression station in addition to the primary transport function thereof. Such an MWV can supply compressed fluid to a third device. In a preferred and non-exhaustive manner, such an MWV can supply a passenger propulsion device allowing the propulsion device to move through the air or through a fluid. A propulsion system is thereby provided, in which a remote station is a motorized water vehicle adapted to engage with a propulsion device.
US08851942B2

A thrust generating apparatus which is positioned under water and configured to generate a thrust by ejecting water includes a duct-shaped stator provided with a plurality of armature coils, and a plurality of ring-shaped rotors which are arranged radially inward of the stator and provided with permanent magnets respectively corresponding to the plurality of armature coils, wherein the plurality of rotors are arranged in series in a rotational axis direction thereof and each of the rotors has a propeller vane protruding radially inward. A thrust generating apparatus is capable of outputting a high driving power without increasing a propeller diameter.
US08851937B2

A connector terminal includes a terminal connection portion, a wire connection portion, and a flange portion. The connector housing includes a wire connection portion accommodation portion that can accommodate the wire connection potion and a terminal connection portion accommodation portion that can accommodate the terminal connection portion. A rear holder covers an opening of the connector housing, and a part of the wire connection portion is penetratingly inserted into a through-hole of the rear holder to form an accommodation space in which a pipe-shaped spacer or a spring, into which the wire connection portion is penetratingly inserted, can be disposed.
US08851936B2

A terminal block for an apparatus includes at least one terminal conductor having a first end that extends to a second end. The first end includes a first connection portion and the second end includes a second connection portion. A non-electrically conductive member covers the at least one terminal conductor. The non-electrically conductive member includes a body having a first end section arranged at the first end extending through an intermediate section to a second end section arranged at the second end. The first end section includes a first opening exposing the first connection portion, and the second end portion includes a second opening exposing the second connection portion. The body further includes a conductor routing system having at least one conductor routing member configured and disposed to restrain and guide a conductor member across the at least one terminal conductor.
US08851931B2

A plug connector compatible to type-A USB 3.0 standard includes an insulative housing having a supporting portion, and a number of contacts divided into a first contact group and a second contact group on the insulative housing. The first contact group includes a number of first contacts compatible to USB 2.0 standard. The second contact group includes a number of second contacts compatible to USB 3.0 standard together with the first contacts. Each first contact and each second contact includes a flat first soldering section and a flat second soldering section, respectively. The flat first soldering sections and the flat second soldering sections are supported by and exposed on a single side of the supporting portion. As a result, cables can be easily and simultaneously soldered to the first and the second soldering sections for improving assembling efficiency.
US08851927B2

An electrical connector for mating with a plug and mounting to a printed circuit board, includes an insulative housing defining a rear base and a front mating tongue, two rows of terminals received in the insulating housing and a shielding plate interposed between said two rows of the terminals. The terminals include contacting portions exposed upon opposite surfaces of the front mating tongue and board-connecting legs extending out of the rear base for mounting to the printed circuit board. The terminals are categorized with differential pairs of signal and grounding terminals mixed up with one another for coupling to the plug. The shielding plate includes at least one grounding finger split therefrom and a grounding leg for mounting to the printed circuit board. Each grounding finger is disposed between two adjacent differential pairs and parallel to the contacting portions of said terminals.
US08851923B2

A hermetic terminal assembly includes a terminal body and terminal pins extending through the terminal body. The terminal pins each have a first end configured for connection to a power source disposed outside of a hermetic compressor and a second end configured for direct connection to motor windings disposed within hermetic compressor.
US08851914B2

An electrical connector includes a connector body including a holder base and positioning members mounted in respective vertical insertion slots in the holder base, conducting terminals positioned in the holder base with respective mounting portions thereof fastened to the positioning members, press members respectively fastened to the positioning members and suspending above the conducting terminals for holding down a flexible printed circuit board on front contact portions of the conducting terminals, and a swivel cover coupled to the holder base and the press members and biasable relative to the holder base and the press member between a horizontal close position and a vertical open position.
US08851913B2

A connector for a light source comprises a first cam having a contact surface that is mounted such that the contact surface is extended and retracted relative to the housing. An electrical contact is provided and positioned to contact an electrical terminal in the socket. A conductor is electrically coupled to the electrical contact where the conductor is connected to a light source. An actuator rotates the cam to the retracted position. The connector may be inserted linearly into the socket and the actuator released to mount the light source in the socket.
US08851912B2

An exemplary electrical connector assembly includes a power plug and a power socket. The power plug includes a magnet. The power socket includes a pop-up mechanism. The pop-up mechanism includes a sliding assembly which can be switched from a first position to a second position. When the sliding assembly is switched from the first position to the second position, the pop-up mechanism generates a magnetic field which repels the magnet of the power plug, and the power plug moves away from the power socket.
US08851911B2

A card connector for receiving a card is provided. The card connector includes a housing a plurality of contacts, a slider and a stopper. The housing includes a front wall, a rear wall, and a card receiving passageway formed therein. The contacts are secured in the housing. The slider is positioned and slidable between the front wall and the rear wall. The stopper is supported by the slider and includes end sections positioned adjacent to the slider, such that a space is provided between one of the end sections and the slider.
US08851908B1

An electrical connector may include a cord comprising a plurality of wires and a plug extending from the cord. The plug may include a row of conductive signal pads arranged in a plane across the plug, the pads in the row being coupled to the plurality of wires, a plurality of conductive ground traces arranged in the plane across the plug and extending between the pads in the row, with at least one trace extending between adjacent pads, and a ground pad arranged in the plane and located adjacent to the row of conductive signal pads.
US08851907B2

A contact node of a portable terminal includes: a body fixed on a main board of the portable terminal; at least one first contact piece protruding through one side surface of the body; and at least one second contact piece protruding through another side surface of the body, wherein one of the first contact piece and second contact piece is disposed toward an outer side surface of the portable terminal.
US08851899B2

This invention discloses a portable solar teaching aid, including a portable case of which the case body and cover are flexibly connected; a sunlight analog device, of which the analog light source is fixed in the case body; a solar energy conversion device for converting analog sunlight into electric energy; some teaching appliances, which have electrical connection with the solar energy conversion device. The present invention provides a portable case to install a sunlight analog device, a solar energy conversion device and some teaching appliances in, thereby it is easy to carry and suitable for teaching purpose. The sunlight analog device is powered by electric supply to generate light which is similar to sunlight. The light can be converted into electric energy by solar energy conversion device and then transmitted to teaching appliances. This invention helps the students to get a direct vision of photovoltaic effect and have a hands-on operation of the application of solar energy so as to strengthen their awareness of low carbon and their understanding of the application of new energy.
US08851898B2

Manikin for the training of medical personnel and the like, comprising electrical circuitry for sensing of input parameters and controlling of output parameters. The manikin comprises a plate comprising metal, for the conduction of heat generated by said electrical circuitry, away from said circuitry. The said plate serves as a structural part, as it is connected, directly or indirectly, to at least one of the group consisting of thighs, pelvis, neck (head), and arms. Furthermore, the plate constitutes at least a part of a Faraday cage surrounding a manikin main board.
US08851896B2

A simulator facilitating virtual welding activity. The simulator may include a logic processor based subsystem operable to generate an interactive welding environment in virtual reality space that emulates welding activity by simulating a virtual weld puddle having dynamic, real time molten metal fluidity and heat dissipation characteristics, responsive to performing a simulated welding activity in real time. The simulator may include a foot pedal device in operative communication with the logic processor based subsystem and configured to affect a characteristic of the virtual weld puddle in real time, responsive to user control of the foot pedal device. The simulator may be configured to track the movements of a mock welding tool and a mock filler wire and determine interaction between the virtual weld puddle, a corresponding virtual welding tool, and a corresponding filler wire in virtual reality space that would result in the welding tool becoming contaminated.
US08851877B2

Provided is a die for extrusion forming for extrusion forming of a honeycomb formed body comprising a honeycomb forming die having a structure that there is provided at a surface a groove-like slit in a form of a cell block as well as there is provided at a backside a clay introduction hole in communication with the slit, and a frame-shaped presser plate that is disposed at an outer peripheral portion of the honeycomb forming die and that regulates a shape and dimension of a honeycomb formed body. Among the cell blocks, in an extrusion direction of forming clay, a cell block which end face is positioned to be overlapped with an inner circumferential surface of the presser plate is formed to be shorter than the other cell blocks resided inside the inner circumferential surface of the presser plate.
US08851855B2

A composite turbomachine blade (34) comprises a composite material including reinforcing fibers in a matrix material, the turbomachine blade (34) comprises an aerofoil portion (36), a shank portion (38) and a root portion (40). The aerofoil portion (36) has a leading edge (42), a trailing edge (44). The composite turbomachine blade (34) also has a metallic protective member (52) arranged in the region of the leading edge (42) of the aerofoil portion (36) of the turbomachine blade (34). The metallic protective member (52) is adhesively bonded to the composite material in the region of the leading edge (42) of the aerofoil portion (36) of the composite turbomachine blade (34). The metallic protective member (52) has at least one metallic projection (56, 58) extending from the metallic protective member (52) towards the root portion (40) of the composite turbomachine blade (34). The at least one metallic projection (56, 58) reduces local peak stress levels and increases high cycle fatigue strength in the composite material, the adhesive and the metallic protective member.
US08851848B1

A turbine blade with a leading edge region of the airfoil having rows of film cooling slots each connected by one or more metering holes to a cooling air impingement cavity, where the film slots have both a convergent and a divergent shape. The side walls converge while the top and bottom walls diverge within each slot and form a very narrow but tall slot opening on the leading edge surface of the blade.
US08851847B2

The invention relates to a rotor (10) for a turbo machine, in particular for an aircraft turbine, having rotating blades (12), which are joined with a basic rotor body (16) and, radially underneath their blade platforms (18), comprise channels (22) for introducing cooling air (KL) into rotating blades (12), whereby a gas diffusor (24) is provided on a high-pressure (HD) side of rotor (10), this diffusor being designed to at least reduce a hot-gas (HL) flow into channels (22) during the operation of the associated turbo machine and to permit an entry of cooling air (KL) into channels (22), whereby gas diffusor (24) is joined to rotor (10) and comprises a blocking element (28) running annularly in the circumferential direction of rotor (10). A related method for manufacturing, repairing and/or overhauling a rotor (10) for a turbo machine is also provided.
US08851843B2

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a rotating blade, having a collision face that collides with fluid and is rotated by the flow of said fluid, has at least one flow path that has been caved in from said colliding face; said flow path is located forward with respect to said rotation direction so that it is located in the rear with respect to the inlet wherein said flow is introduced and said rotation direction, and it has an outlet from which said fluid exits. Here, the cross-sectional area of said inlet may be greater than the cross-sectional area of said outlet. In addition, the cross-sectional area of said inlet may gradually decrease toward said outlet.
US08851835B2

A diffuser for an air cycle machine defines airflow both to a compressor rotor from the inlet and from the compressor rotor through a plurality of vanes that define radially extending airflow passages. The size and shape of both the inlet and the vanes of the diffuser define and tailor the character of airflow presented to and leaving the compressor rotor to provide a desired change in air flow.
US08851833B2

A rotor blade 40 for a gas turbine engine has an aerofoil portion 42 from a root 48 to a tip 54. In use, combustion gas may leak over the tip 54 from the pressure face 52 to the suction face 50. A gutter 62 extends across the tip 54 to entrain any over tip leakage gap. The floor of the gutter defines an increased depth portion 72 at the exit end of the gutter 62.
US08851827B2

The invention relates to a method for automatically order-picking or consolidating articles of a wide variety of different formats and varieties, using the following steps: separating the stored articles, storing the articles in a rack bay, retrieving the articles and palletizing them. The method is predominantly characterized in that the articles which are to be order-picked for an order are put together in a rack bay already in the sequence which is necessary for palletizing. The invention also relates to an installation for implementing the method.
US08851826B2

A bottom surface part of a bucket includes first and second curved surface parts. The second curved surface part is positioned closer to a back surface part than the first curved surface part. A second curvature radius of the second curved surface part is shorter than a first curvature radius of the first curved surface part. The center of the first curvature radius is positioned to the outside of a main bucket body when viewed from the side. In a horizontal state, the first curved surface part is arranged along or above a reference curved surface when viewed from the side. A connecting part between the first curved surface part and the second curved surface part is positioned more towards a lip part than the portion of the bottom surface part that is positioned lowest in the bottom surface part in the horizontal state when viewed from the side.
US08851824B2

An self-powered apparatus for moving objects that can be rolled or dragged across a surface, one embodiment of the apparatus operating on either of front or rear endless track pairs the apparatus center of gravity being forwardly and rearwardly shiftable to select between use of the front or rear endless tracks for movement of the vehicle across a surface.