US09030125B2

The present invention discloses a power circuit having multiple stages of charge pumps. The power circuit comprises a first charge pump, a second charge pump, a voltage stabilizing capacitor, and an output capacitor. The first charge pump adjusts an input voltage and produces a first output voltage. The second charge pump adjusts the first output voltage, produces a second output voltage, and outputs the second output voltage for driving a loading. The voltage stabilizing capacitor is coupled between the first and second charge pumps and connected externally to the output of the first charge pump. The output capacitor is coupled to the second charge pump for providing the second output voltage. According to the present invention, the effect of supplying large transient currents to the loading can be achieved by connecting externally the voltage stabilizing capacitor to the output of the first charge pump.
US09030123B2

An illuminating apparatus includes a drive circuit that generates a drive current, and an organic light emitting panel that receives the drive current and that emits light. The drive circuit is capable of controlling a color temperature of the emitted light from the organic light emitting panel by controlling a current strength of the drive current and is capable of controlling a brightness of the emitted light according to a pulse width of the drive current.
US09030111B2

To maintain the shape of the projection on the electrodes of the tip end for a long time to extend the lifetime of a discharge lamp, a lighting device lighting a high pressure discharge lamp supplies alternating current such that an alternating current with a basic frequency at the time of the steady state lighting selected from a range between 60 and 1000 Hz and a low frequency of a half cycle with a frequency lower than the basic frequency are generated alternatingly. The alternating current is supplied such that the waveform with one polarity of the low frequency appears consecutively at least twice. It is also possible for the alternately generated low frequency to be lower than the basic frequency in a range from 5 to 200 Hz, and for the interval during which the basic frequency is supplied to be gradually increased and decreased at specified times.
US09030108B2

This invention is a photon-interactive Gaussian surface lens method means that converts incident photons from a single or a plurality of wide band gap semiconductor class light emitting diode dies, into a secondary emission of photons emanating from a composite photon transparent colloidal stationary suspension of quantum dots, high efficiency phosphors, a combination of quantum dots and high efficiency phosphors and nano-particles of metal, silicon or similar semiconductors from the IIIB and IVB Group of the Periodic Table and any nano-material and/or micro/nano spheres that responds to Rayleigh Scattering and/or Mie Scattering; and a plurality of quantum dots in communication with said nano-particles in said suspension. The apparatus and methods according to the present invention provides in improved narrow pass-band of red, green, and blue photon efficiency over phosphor based conversion. Utilizing the invention's methodology, the white resultant color temperature is stabilized against internal semiconductor thermal fluctuations or ambient thermal variations.
US09030101B2

Methods for processing a substrate in a plasma processing, chamber employing a plurality of RF power supplies. The method includes pulsing at a first pulsing frequency a first RF power supply to deliver a first RF signal between a high power state and a low power state. The method further includes switching the RF frequency of a second RF signal output by a second RF power supply between a first predefined RF frequency and a second RF frequency responsive to values of a measurable chamber parameter. The first RF frequency and the second RF frequencies and the thresholds for switching were learned in advance during a learning phase while the first RF signal pulses between the high power state and low power state at a second RF frequency lower than the first RF frequency and while the second RF power supply operates in different modes.
US09030097B2

To provide a light emitting device that has a structure in which a light emitting element is sandwiched by two substrates to prevent moisture from penetrating into the light emitting element, and a method for manufacturing thereof. In addition, a gap between the two substrates can be controlled precisely. In the light emitting device according to the present invention, an airtight space surrounded by a sealing material with a closed pattern is kept under reduced pressure by attaching the pair of substrates under reduced pressure. A columnar or wall-shaped structure is formed between light emitting regions inside of the sealing material, in a region overlapping with the sealing material, or in a region outside of the sealing material so that the gap between the pair of substrates can be maintained precisely.
US09030095B2

An OLED device is disclosed. The OLED device includes a first substrate including a driver element and a connection electrode connected to the driver element, a second substrate including an organic light emission diode element, a contact spacer electrically connected to the connection electrode, and a sealant disposed into a cavity which is formed by the first and second substrates, the connection electrode, the organic light emission diode element, and the contact space. Herein, the sealant is bonded to the contact spacer and the connection electrode and maintains the electric connection between the contact spacer and the connection electrode. In this manner, the driver element and the organic light emission diode element are protected from external oxygen and/or moisture, and the electric connection between the connection electrode and the contact spacer is reinforced. Accordingly, the contact defect between the connection electrode and the contact spacer can be prevented and the structural strength of the OLED device can be greatly improved.
US09030089B2

A lighting device for growing a plant includes: not less than two sorts of semiconductor light-emitting element, each having a peak emission wavelength in a range of 380 nm to 500 nm, the not less than two sorts of semiconductor light-emitting element being different from each other in peak emission wavelength by not less than 5 nm; and a red fluorescent material which (i) is excited by light of at least one of the not less than two sorts of semiconductor light-emitting element and (ii) has a peak emission wavelength in a range of 600 nm to 780 nm.
US09030085B2

A layered lighting assembly includes a circuit board having a battery, a light, a switching circuit and a push button switch selectively powering the light with the battery via the switching circuit. The circuit board is protected from vibration and impact with a relatively soft compressible foam layer provided adjacent the circuit board. A semi-rigid protective sheet of flexible plastic is layered over or layered adjacent to the circuit board to resist bending and flexing of the circuit board and thereby further protect the circuitry.
US09030079B1

An energy harvesting device using auxetic materials includes a first auxetic conductive electrode layer. A second auxetic conductive electrode layer is associated with the first auxetic conductive electrode layer. The auxetic conductive electrode layers have negative Poisson ratios. At least one dielectric elastomer layer is associated in layered orientation between the first and second auxetic conductive electrode layers.
US09030078B2

A vibrating element includes a piezoelectric substrate having an excitation section adapted to excite a thickness-shear vibration, and provided with a step section in each of side surfaces on both ends, and a peripheral section having a thickness smaller than a thickness of the excitation section, and the peripheral section has at least one projection section disposed on both principal surfaces in an area where a vibratory displacement when the excitation section excites a vibration is sufficiently attenuated.
US09030071B2

An electrical machine 20, 48 comprises a first stator 22 and a second stator 24 spaced from the first stator 22, at least one of the first stator 22 and the second stator 24 including a guide arrangement 26, 50. The electrical machine 20, 48 also includes a plurality of rotor elements 30, 46 located between the first stator 22 and the second stator 24 and cooperating with the guide arrangement 26, 50 for movement relative to the first stator 22 and the second stator 24. Adjacent rotor elements 30, 46 cooperate with each other so that the rotor elements 30, 46 form a rotor and at least one of the rotor elements 30, 46 includes a coupling element 32 to transfer force to or from the rotor. Each rotor element 30, 46 includes a first support surface 30a which faces towards the first stator 22 and defines a first air gap with the first stator 22, a second support surface 30b which faces towards the second stator 24 and defines a second air gap with the second stator 24, and one or more magnets 34 mounted on each of the first and second support surfaces 30a, 30b in the first and second air gaps.
US09030067B2

A bearing assembly for an electric motor is provided that includes a bearing having an inner race and an outer race, and a bearing float sleeve having an outer race engaging member. The outer race engaging member includes an outer surface sized for slip fit engagement with a bearing seat formed in a motor end member such that the bearing float sleeve can be displaced axially in relation to the bearing seat and an inner surface configured for engagement with the bearing outer race such that the bearing outer race is in a fixed rotational position with respect to the bearing float sleeve. The bearing float sleeve includes at least one feature operational to maintain a fixed rotational position of the bearing float sleeve with respect to the motor end member.
US09030049B2

An alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) converter device includes an AC-to-DC converter circuit, a step-down DC converter circuit, a controller, a first standby power converter circuit and a second standby power converter circuit. The AC-to-DC converter circuit is adapted to receive and perform an AC-to-DC conversion on an AC power so as to output a DC bus voltage. The step-down DC converter performs a step-down conversion on the DC bus voltage so as to output a main power voltage. The first standby power converter circuit performs a step-down conversion on the main power voltage so as to output a first standby DC voltage. The second standby power converter circuit performs a step-down conversion on the DC bus voltage to output a second standby DC voltage.
US09030041B2

A fourth constant-voltage power circuit directly powered from an on-vehicle battery is connected, in parallel through a serial resistor, to a second constant-voltage power circuit powered from the on-vehicle battery through an output contact of a power relay, and is connected to a drive power terminal of a microprocessor. When the output contact is closed, the microprocessor operates with an output voltage of the second constant-voltage power circuit, and an output current of the fourth constant-voltage power circuit is limited to less than or equal to a predetermined value by the serial resistor. During the operation stop at which a power switch is open, a micro standby current is supplied from the fourth constant-voltage power circuit to the microprocessor.
US09030030B2

A semiconductor device has a flipchip or PoP semiconductor die mounted to a die attach area interior to a substrate. The substrate has a contact pad area around the die attach area and flow control area between the die attach area and contact pad area. A first channel is formed in a surface of the substrate within the flow control area. The first channel extends around a periphery of the die attach area. A first dam material is formed adjacent to the first channel within the flow control area. An underfill material is deposited between the die and substrate. The first channel and first dam material control outward flow of the underfill material to prevent excess underfill material from covering the contact pad area. A second channel can be formed adjacent to the first dam material. A second dam material can be formed adjacent to the first channel.
US09030026B2

A stack type semiconductor circuit includes a plurality of semiconductor chips stacked therein, wherein the plurality of semiconductor chips are configured to share impedance calibration information. The plurality of semiconductor chips include at least one resistance value of an external resistor and an impedance calibration signal as the impedance calibration information.
US09030023B2

A method for forming bond pads on a semiconductor die includes forming a dielectric stack including a bottom and top dielectric layer having a contact hole therethrough over a bond pad. An outer edge of the bottom dielectric layer within the contact hole extends beyond an outer edge of the top dielectric layer to define a bond pad edge. A second metal layer on a first metal layer is deposited. A first photoresist layer is formed exclusively within the contact hole. The second metal layer is wet etched to recess the second metal layer from sidewalls of the bottom dielectric layer in the contact hole. A second photoresist layer is formed exclusively within the contact hole. The first metal layer is wet etched to recess the first metal layer from the top dielectric layer. The first metal layer extends over the bond pad edge onto the bottom dielectric layer.
US09030022B2

A device includes a package component having conductive features on a top surface, and a polymer region molded over the top surface of the first package component. A plurality of openings extends from a top surface of the polymer region into the polymer region, wherein each of the conductive features is exposed through one of the plurality of openings. The plurality of openings includes a first opening having a first horizontal size, and a second opening having a second horizontal size different from the first horizontal size.
US09030018B2

Provided are test vehicles for evaluating various semiconductor materials. These materials may be used for various integrated circuit components, such as embedded resistors of resistive random access memory cells. Also provided are methods of fabricating and operating these test vehicles. A test vehicle may include two stacks protruding through an insulating body. Bottom ends of these stacks may include n-doped poly-silicon and may be interconnected by a connector. Each stack may include a titanium nitride layer provided over the poly-silicon end, followed by a titanium layer over the titanium nitride layer and a noble metal layer over the titanium layer. The noble metal layer extends to the top surface of the insulating body and forms a contact surface. The titanium layer may be formed in-situ with the noble metal layer to minimize oxidation of the titanium layer, which is used as an adhesion and oxygen getter.
US09030016B2

A semiconductor device including a plurality of copper interconnects. At least a first portion of the plurality of copper interconnects has a meniscus in a top surface. The semiconductor device also includes a plurality of air gaps, wherein each air gap of the plurality of air gaps is located between an adjacent pair of at least the first portion of the plurality of bit lines.
US09030014B2

An upper surface of a plug (PL1) is formed so as to be higher than an upper surface of an interlayer insulating film (PIL) by forming the interlayer insulating film (PIL) on a semiconductor substrate (1S), completing a CMP method for forming the plug (PL1) inside the interlayer insulating film (PIL), and then, making the upper surface of the interlayer insulating film (PIL) to recede. In this manner, reliability of connection between the plug (PL1) and a wiring (W1) in a vertical direction can be ensured. Also, the wiring (W1) can be formed so as not to be embedded inside the interlayer insulating film (PIL), or a formed amount by the embedding can be reduced.
US09030013B2

A structure includes a substrate, a low-k dielectric layer over the substrate, and a conductive barrier layer extending into the low-k dielectric layer. The conductive barrier layer includes a sidewall portion. A metal line in the low-k dielectric layer adjoins the conductive barrier layer. An organic buffer layer is between the sidewall portion of the conductive barrier layer and the low-k dielectric layer.
US09029994B2

A semiconductor device includes a base plate having one main surface joined to an insulating substrate on which a semiconductor chip and the like are mounted and a transfer mold resin which is so provided as to cover the one main surface of the base plate, the insulating substrate, the semiconductor chip, and the like and expose the other main surface of the base plate. The coefficient of linear expansion of the base plate is lower than that of copper and the coefficient of linear expansion of the transfer mold resin is not higher than 16 ppm/° C. The transfer mold resin has such scooped shapes as to expose opposed short-side centers and the vicinity of the base plate, respectively. The base plate has mounting holes in portions exposed by the scooped shapes of the transfer mold resin.
US09029987B2

While reliably cutting an object to be processed, the strength of the resulting chips is improved. An object to be processed 1 is irradiated with laser light L, so as to form modified regions 17, 27, 37, 47 extending along lines to cut 5 and aligning in the thickness direction in the object 1. Here, modified regions 17 are formed such that modified region formed parts 17a and modified region unformed parts 17b alternate along the lines, and modified regions 47 are formed such that modified region formed parts 47a and modified region unformed parts 47b alternate along the lines. This can inhibit formed modified regions 7 from lowering the strengths on the rear face 21 side and front face 3 side of chips obtained by cutting. On the other hand, modified regions 27, 37 located between the modified regions 17, 47 are formed continuously from one end side of the lines 5 to the other end side thereof, whereby the cuttability of the object 1 can be secured reliably.
US09029982B2

A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, and a multilayer wiring layer provided over the semiconductor substrate. The multilayer wiring layer includes an inductor wiring formed in one wiring layer, a plurality of first dummy metals formed in the same layer as the inductor and provided inside the inductor, a plurality of second dummy metals formed in a same layer as the inductor and provided outside the inductor, a plurality of third dummy metals formed in a layer lower than the one wiring layer including the inductor, and provided inside the inductor in a plan view, a plurality of fourth dummy metals formed in a same layer as the plurality of third dummy metals and provided outside the inductor in the plan view, and a plurality of fifth dummy metals formed in the same layer as the plurality of third dummy metals and provided to overlap with the inductor.
US09029981B2

A semiconductor device comprises an active region including a core circuit forming region and a buffer forming region, and a fuse element forming region arranged on a corner of the active region and to be able to be electrically fused. It is possible to arrange the fuse element without forming the fuse in the core circuit forming region by arranging the fuse element forming region at the corner of the active region.
US09029980B2

A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, an element isolating trench structure that includes an element isolating trench formed in one main surface of the semiconductor substrate, an insulating material that is formed within the element isolating trench, element formation regions that are surrounded by the element isolating trench, and semiconductor elements that are respectively formed in the element formation regions. The element isolating trench includes first element isolating trenches extending in a first direction, second element isolating trenches extending in a second direction that are at a right angle to the first direction, and third element isolating trenches extending in a third direction inclined at an angle θ (0°<θ<90°) from the first direction.
US09029978B2

A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate with a substrate region and a trench extending into the surface region of the semiconductor substrate. The trench includes sidewalls, a bottom and a depth. The semiconductor structure further includes a trench liner overlying the bottom and the sidewalls of the trench. The semiconductor structure also includes a shallow trench isolation structure filling at least the depth of the trench. The shallow trench isolation structure is formed from alternating layers of silicon nitride and high-density plasma oxide.
US09029975B2

An electronic device includes a silicon carbide layer including an n-type drift region therein, a contact forming a junction, such as a Schottky junction, with the drift region, and a p-type junction barrier region on the silicon carbide layer. The p-type junction barrier region includes a p-type polysilicon region forming a P-N heterojunction with the drift region, and the p-type junction barrier region is electrically connected to the contact. Related methods are also disclosed.
US09029972B2

An imaging system may include an image sensor having an array of image pixels formed in a substrate. Each image pixel may include a photodiode directly coupled to an anti-blooming diode. The anti-blooming diode may be connected to a positive voltage supply line and may be configured to drain excess charge from the photodiode when the photodiode is saturated. The anti-blooming drain may be formed from an n-type diffusion region partially surrounded by a p-type doped layer. The p-type doped layer may be interposed between and in contact with the n-type diffusion region of the anti-blooming diode and an n-type doped region of the photodiode. The anti-blooming diode may begin to drain excess charge from the photodiode in response to the photodiode reaching a threshold potential during integration. If desired, multiple pixels may share a common anti-blooming diode.
US09029968B2

An optical sensor element is mounted in a package which includes a glass substrate having a cavity, and a glass lid substrate bonded to the other substrate to close the cavity. The glass substrate with the cavity has metalized wiring patterns on front and rear surfaces thereof, and a through hole filled with metal to form a through-electrode interconnecting the wiring patterns on the front and rear surfaces. A metalized wiring pattern on the rear surface of the glass lid substrate is electrically connected to the wiring pattern on the front surface of the other substrate with an adhesive containing conductive particles. The glass lid substrate is made either of glass having a filter function or glass having a light shielding property with an opening therethrough filled with glass having a filter function.
US09029966B2

Embodiments relate to IC current sensors fabricated using thin-wafer manufacturing technologies. Such technologies can include processing in which dicing before grinding (DBG) is utilized, which can improve reliability and minimize stress effects. While embodiments utilize face-up mounting, face-down mounting is made possible in other embodiments by via through-contacts. IC current sensor embodiments can present many advantages while minimizing drawbacks often associated with conventional IC current sensors.
US09029950B2

A semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same are provided. The semiconductor structure comprises a substrate, a first source/drain region, a second source/drain region, a first stack structure and a second stack structure. The first source/drain region is formed in the substrate. The second source/drain region is formed in the substrate. The first stack structure is on the substrate between the first source/drain region and the second source/drain region. The first stack structure comprises a first dielectric layer and a first conductive layer on the first dielectric layer. The second stack structure is on the first stack structure. The second stack structure comprises a second dielectric layer and a second conductive layer on the second dielectric layer.
US09029948B2

An LDMOS device is disclosed. The LDMOS device includes: a substrate having a first type of conductivity; a drift region having a second type of conductivity and being formed in the substrate; a doped region having the first type of conductivity and being formed in the substrate, the doped region being located at a first end of the drift region and laterally adjacent to the drift region; and a heavily doped drain region having the second type of conductivity and being formed in the substrate, the heavily doped drain region being located at a second end of the drift region, wherein the drift region has a step-like top surface with at least two step portions, and wherein a height of the at least two step portions decreases progressively in a direction from the doped region to the drain region. A method of fabricating LDMOS device is also disclosed.
US09029947B2

A field device and method of operating high voltage semiconductor device applied with the same are provided. The field device includes a first well having a second conductive type and second well having a first conductive type both formed in the substrate (having the first conductive type) and extending down from a surface of the substrate, the second well adjacent to one side of the first well and the substrate is at the other side of the first well; a first doping region having the first conductive type and formed in the second well, the first doping region spaced apart from the first well; a conductive line electrically connected to the first doping region and across the first well region; and a conductive body insulatively positioned between the conductive line and the first well, and the conductive body correspondingly across the first well region.
US09029940B2

A tunneling field-effect transistor (TFET) device is disclosed. The TFET device includes a source contact on the source region, a plurality of gate contacts at a planar portion of a gate stack and a plurality of drain contacts disposed on a drain region. The source contact of the TFET device aligns with other two adjacent source contacts of other two TFET devices such that each source contact locates in one of three angles of an equilateral triangle.
US09029929B2

A memory cell therein includes a first transistor and a capacitor and stores data corresponding to a potential held in the capacitor. The first transistor includes a pair of electrodes, an insulating film in contact with side surfaces of the electrodes, a first gate electrode provided between the electrodes with the insulating film provided between the first gate electrode and each electrode and whose top surface is at a lower level than top surfaces of the electrodes, a first gate insulating film over the first gate electrode, an oxide semiconductor film in contact with the first gate insulating film and the electrodes, a second gate insulating film at least over the oxide semiconductor film, and a second gate electrode over the oxide semiconductor film with the second gate insulating film provided therebetween. The capacitor is connected to the first transistor through one of the electrodes.
US09029926B2

A solid-state imaging device includes a substrate, a photoelectric conversion section, a first impurity layer having a carrier polarity of a second conductivity type, a charge-to-voltage converting section, an amplifying section, and a second impurity layer having a carrier polarity of the second conductivity type. The second impurity layer is disposed in a region between the photoelectric conversion section and the amplifying section. The second impurity concentration of the second P-type impurity layer is made higher than the first impurity concentration of the first impurity layer.
US09029924B2

Apparatus, systems, and methods are described to assist in reducing dark current in an active pixel sensor. In various embodiments, a potential barrier arrangement is configured to block the flow of charge carriers generated outside a photosensitive region. In various embodiments, a potential well-potential barrier arrangement is formed to direct charge carriers away from the photosensitive region during an integration time.
US09029923B2

A semiconductor device includes a fin-shaped silicon layer and a pillar-shaped silicon layer on the fin-shaped silicon layer, where a width of the pillar-shaped silicon layer is equal to a width of the fin-shaped silicon layer. Diffusion layers reside in upper portions of the pillar-shaped silicon layer and fin-shaped silicon layer and in a lower portion of the pillar-shaped silicon layer to form. A gate insulating film and a metal gate electrode are around the pillar-shaped silicon layer and a metal gate line extends in a direction perpendicular to the fin-shaped silicon layer and is connected to the metal gate electrode. A contact resides on the metal gate line and a nitride film is on an entire top surface of the metal gate electrode and the metal gate line, except for the bottom of the contact.
US09029915B2

A semiconductor device includes: a first semiconductor layer made of an AlxGa1-xN (0≦x<1); a second semiconductor layer provided on the first semiconductor layer and made of an undoped or first conductivity type AlyGa1-yN (0
US09029905B2

A light emitting diode (LED) device includes: a substrate having a central portion; an LED chip unit formed on the central portion of the substrate; a circuit pattern having a positive electrode and a negative electrode that are formed on the substrate, each of the positive electrode and the negative electrode including an arc portion and at least one extending portion that extends from the arc portion toward the central portion; a wire unit connecting the LED chip unit to the extending portions; a glass layer disposed on the substrate, covering the arc portions and including an opening unit that is aligned with the central portion of the substrate; a dam structure formed on the glass layer and extending along the arc portions; and an encapsulated body disposed substantially within the dam structure to cover the extending portions, the wire unit and the LED chip unit.
US09029891B2

There is provided a wiring substrate. The wiring substrate includes: a heat sink; an insulating member on the heat sink; a wiring pattern embedded in the insulating member and including a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the second surface contacting the insulating member; and a metal layer on the first surface of the wiring pattern, wherein an exposed surface of the metal layer is flush with an exposed surface of the insulating member.
US09029882B2

An active device array substrate for saving material cost includes a substrate, scan lines, data lines, a thin film transistor, a color filter layer, a transparent conductive layer, an insulating layer and a pixel electrode. The color filter layer covers and contacts the scan lines, data lines and the thin film transistor. The transparent conductive layer is disposed on the color filter layer and electrically isolated from the scan lines, the data lines and the thin film transistor by the color filter layer. The insulating layer covers the transparent conductive layer. The pixel electrode is disposed on the insulating layer and connected to the thin film transistor.
US09029879B2

A method for depositing a layer of phosphor-containing material on a plurality of LED dies includes disposing a template with a plurality of openings on an adhesive tape and disposing each of a plurality of LED dies in one of the plurality of openings of the template. The method also includes forming a patterned dry film photoresist layer over the template and the plurality of LED dies. The photoresist layer has a plurality of openings configured to expose a top surface and side surfaces of each of the LED dies. Next, a phosphor-containing material is disposed on the exposed top surface of each the LED dies. The method further includes removing the photoresist layer and the template.
US09029878B2

A lighting device with front carrier, rear carrier and plurality of light-emitting diode chips, which when in operation emits light and releases waste heat, wherein rear carrier is covered at least in selected locations by front carrier, light-emitting diode chips are arranged between rear carrier and front carrier to form array, light-emitting diodes are contacted electrically by rear and/or front carrier and immobilized mechanically by rear carrier and front carrier, front carrier is coupled thermally conductively to light-emitting diode chips and includes light outcoupling face remote from light-emitting diode chips, which light outcoupling face releases some of waste heat released by light-emitting diode chips into surrounding environment, each light-emitting diode chip is actuated with electrical nominal power of 100 mW or less when lighting device is in operation and has light yield of 100 lm/W or more.
US09029871B2

A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor layer surrounding a bottom of the trench gate, a second semiconductor layer disposed along one of end portions of the trench gate in a longitudinal direction of the trench gate, one of end portions of the second semiconductor layer contacting the body layer and the other of the end portions of the second semiconductor layer contacting the first semiconductor layer, and a connecting layer, one of end portions of the connecting layer being connected to the body layer and the other of the end portions of the connecting layer being connected to the first semiconductor layer, the connecting layer contacting the second semiconductor layer, and the connecting layer being separated from the one of the end portions of the trench gate in the longitudinal direction of the trench gate by the second semiconductor layer.
US09029869B2

One embodiment of a semiconductor device includes: a silicon carbide substrate including first and second principal surfaces; a first-conductive-type silicon carbide layer on the first principal surface; a second-conductive-type first silicon carbide region at a surface of the first silicon carbide layer; a first-conductive-type second silicon carbide region at the surface of the first silicon carbide region; a second-conductive-type third silicon carbide region at the surface of the first silicon carbide region; a second-conductive-type fourth silicon carbide region formed between the first silicon carbide region and the second silicon carbide region, and having an impurity concentration higher than that of the first silicon carbide region; a gate insulator; a gate electrode formed on the gate insulator; an inter-layer insulator; a first electrode connected to the second silicon carbide region and the third silicon carbide region; and a second electrode on the second principal surface.
US09029867B2

A light emitting device includes a substrate, multiple n-type layers, and multiple p-type layers. The n-type layers and the p-type layers each include a group III nitride alloy. At least one of the n-type layers is a compositionally graded n-type group III nitride, and at least one of the p-type layers is a compositionally graded p-type group III nitride. A first ohmic contact for injecting current is formed on the substrate, and a second ohmic contact is formed on a surface of at least one of the p-type layers. Utilizing the disclosed structure and methods, a device capable of emitting light over a wide spectrum may be made without the use of phosphor materials.
US09029847B2

An organic light emitting diode display device is disclosed. The organic light emitting diode display device includes: an element substrate configured to include a plurality of pixel regions; a first passivation layer formed on the element substrate; an organic light emitting diode which includes a first electrode formed on the first passivation layer, a first insulation film formed on the first passivation layer with the first electrode and configured to define an emission region, and an organic layer and a second electrode formed on the first insulation film; a first fixed layer formed on the first passivation layer under an edge of the insulation film and configured to prevent a direct contact of the first passivation layer and the edge of the first insulation film; and a second passivation layer formed on the organic light emitting diode.
US09029841B2

A method of creating a semiconductor device is disclosed. An end of a carbon nanotube is unzipped to provide a substantially flat surface. A contact of the semiconductor device is formed. The substantially flat surface of the carbon nanotube is coupled to the contact to create the semiconductor device. An energy gap in the unzipped end of the carbon nanotube may be less than an energy gap in a region of the carbon nanotube outside of the unzipped end region.
US09029828B2

Provided are a phase-change memory device and a method of fabricating the same. The device may include memory cells provided at intersections of word lines and bit lines that extend along first and second directions crossing each other, and a mold layer including thermal insulating regions, such as air gaps, that may be provided between the memory cells to separate the memory cells from each other. Each of the memory cells may include a lower electrode electrically connected to the word line to have a first width in the first direction, an upper electrode electrically connected to the bit line to have a second width greater than the first width in the first direction, and a phase-change layer provided between the lower and upper electrodes to have the first width in the first direction.
US09029817B2

A radiation attenuation elastomeric material which includes an elastomer in which a powder of metal oxides is dispersed, wherein the powder of metal oxides includes from 70 to 90% by mass of bismuth trioxide, from 5 to 15% by mass of tungsten trioxide, and from 5 to 15% of lanthanum trioxide. Multilayer protective gloves incorporating this material are suitable for use in protecting a wearer from ionizing radiation when handling radioactive materials.
US09029810B2

Systems and methods for providing improved scanner corrections are disclosed. Scanner corrections provided in accordance with the present disclosure may be referred to as wafer geometry aware scanner corrections. More specifically, wafer geometry and/or wafer shape signature information are utilized to improve scanner corrections. By removing the wafer geometry as one of the error sources that may affect the overlay accuracy, better scanner corrections can be obtained because one less contributing factor needs to be modeled.
US09029809B2

A movable microchamber system with a gas curtain is disclosed. The microchamber system has a top member with a light-access feature and a stage assembly that supports a substrate to be processed. The stage assembly is disposed relative to the top member to define a microchamber and a peripheral microchamber gap. An inert gas is flowed into the peripheral microchamber gap to form the gas curtain just outside of the microchamber. The gas curtain substantially prevents reactive gas in the ambient environment from entering the microchamber when the stage assembly moves relative to the top member.
US09029808B2

Disclosed are an apparatus, system, and method for scanning a substrate or other workpiece through a gas-cluster ion beam (GCIB), or any other type of ion beam. The workpiece scanning apparatus is configured to receive and hold a substrate for irradiation by the GCIB and to scan it through the GCIB in two directions using two movements: a reciprocating fast-scan movement, and a slow-scan movement. The slow-scan movement is actuated using a servo motor and a belt drive system, the belt drive system being configured to reduce the failure rate of the workpiece scanning apparatus. The apparatus further includes shields and other features for reducing process contamination resulting from scattering of the GCIB from the scanning apparatus.
US09029804B2

We report the synthesis and characterization of four novel CCC-NHC pincer platinum(II) and palladium(II) complexes, which adopt a distorted square planar configuration. These complexes emit bright blue light in the solid state under UV irradiation with emissions that are stable in ambient atmosphere (O2 and H2O) for extended periods. We also report the synthesis and characterization of CCC-NHC pincer ligand nickel complexes, and solid state fluorescence spectra have been collected for two of the complexes reported. X-ray structural analysis of a representative compound exhibits a distorted square planar geometry. Finally, we report the synthesis and characterization of CCC-NHC pincer ligand complexes for abnormal carbenes, triazole, and BIA.
US09029803B2

Disclosed herein is a fluorescent-image acquisition apparatus including an excitement-light source; an objective lens; an image pickup device; focal-point movement control means; and image-pickup control means.
US09029797B2

A photon source includes a plasma source for generating plasma and a photon guide through which the plasma travels. The photon guide includes an inner surface configured for reflecting photons emitted from the plasma. As the plasma travels through the photon guide, plasma electrons and ions recombine at the inner surface, whereby the predominant species emitted from an outlet of the photon guide are the photons and neutral particles, with few or no plasma electrons and ions being emitted.
US09029796B2

A drift tube manufacturing method and a drift tube which can reduce cost while securing an adequate level of particle beam focusing performance. The method includes: a magnet housing stage of housing a predetermined number of permanent magnets in a housing, which has a through-hole at a center part and an annular magnet housing space on an outer circumferential side of the through-hole; a welding stage of setting a lid for covering the opening part on the opening part; and welding the lid and the housing by laser beam welding. At least a surface of the housing and a surface of the lid are formed of copper.
US09029795B2

A radiation generating tube includes an electron emitting source configured to emit an electron beam; a target configured to generate radiation when the target is irradiated with the electron beam; a rear shield body having a tube-shaped electron passage with openings thereof at each end of the passage, and being located at the side of the electron emitting source with respect to the target, a first opening of the passage facing the electron emitting source and being separated from the electron emitting source, a second opening of the passage facing the target; and a brazing material joining the rear shield body with a peripheral edge of the target, at a position separated from the second opening. A closed space isolated from the electron passage is provided between the target and the rear shield body.
US09029793B2

An imaging device (6) for scan-imaging radiation includes an imaging cell array (3) comprising an array of detector cells generating charge in response to incident radiation (1) and an array of pixel circuits each pixel circuit associated with a respective detector cell. The pixel circuit includes circuitry for accumulating plural radiation hit on an associated detector cell and transfer circuitry shifting upon command the accumulated value of all pixels by one step in one dimension (e.g., row by row). The imaged object (2) moves at a speed VOPT (7) with respect to the radiation source and the imaging detector (or source and detector move at −VOPT with respect to the object) on which the accumulated values are shifted are with VTDI (8). VTDI may equal VOPT in value and direction. Thus, a value is accumulated in a moving information package using multiple pixels (10) and referring directly to a location on the moving object. The accumulated values are read out along one edge of the pixel array. An image is reconstructed in (4) and displayed in (5).
US09029789B2

A light receiver for detecting incident time is installed on the side of a radiation source of a scintillator (including a Cherenkov radiation emitter), and information (energy, incident time, an incident position, etc.) on radiation made incident into the scintillator is obtained by the output of the light receiver. It is, thereby, possible to identify an incident position and others of radiation into the scintillator at high accuracy.
US09029787B2

In an open PET device including a plurality of detector rings that are arranged apart in the direction of the body axis of a subject and having a physical open field of view area, at least one of the detector rings or another imaging device arranged in parallel is configured to be movable by simple device moving means in order to change the configuration of the PET device. This improves the versatility of the open PET device for easier introduction to facilities.
US09029771B2

Disclosed is a semiconductor device, comprising a driver that causes first through third infrared LEDs to emit light sequentially at prescribed times; an infrared light sensor that receives infrared light that is emitted by the first through the third infrared LEDs and reflected by a reflecting object, and generates photoelectric currents at levels corresponding to the intensity of the received infrared light; an amplifier that generates first through third infrared light information, on the basis of the photoelectric current that is generated by the infrared light sensor, and which denote the intensity of the infrared light; an A/D converter; and a linear/logarithmic converter apparatus. It is thus possible to sense the movement of the reflecting object on the basis of the first through the third infrared light information.
US09029762B2

The present invention relates to a method for measuring the characteristics of a downhole fluid. The method for measuring the characteristics of a downhole fluid includes passing a downhole fluid sample through an analyzer, analyzing the downhole fluid sample by illuminating the downhole fluid sample with light from a light source and detecting light that interacts with the fluid sample. The method is applicable to detecting carbon dioxide and/or hydrogen sulfide directly in a downhole environment.
US09029753B2

The present invention is related to an optical recognition system and a method thereof, and more particularly to an optical recognition system and a method that adopts a single-slope analog-to-digital converter to proceed a single-slope analog-to-digital conversion in order to have an image with a wide dynamic range.
US09029744B2

A microwave heating apparatus includes, within a heating room, a placement table having a horizontal placement surface for placing an object to be heated, and a plurality of feeding portions which are placed on a wall surface of the heating room for supplying microwave electric power to the heating room. The microwave heating apparatus is adapted to relatively move the position of the straight line connecting two feeding portions to each other, with respect to the object to be heated, through a movement mechanism portion, and to detect a phase difference between the microwave electric powers which minimizes reflected electric power returning from the heating room to the two feeding portions, for detecting the state of placement of the object to be heated on the placement table.
US09029741B2

A surface-mountable electrical circuit protection device includes layers defining a first PPTC resistive element, a second PPTC resistive element, and at least one heat-generating electrical component such as a planar zener diode chip positioned between, and in thermal contact with, the first and second PPTC elements, such that an electrical current above a threshold level passing through the component causes the component to heat, the heat being transferred to the PPTC resistive elements and tripping at least one, and preferably both of the first or second PPTC elements to a high resistance state. A series of edge-formed terminal electrodes enable surface-mount connection of the first and second PPTC elements and the electrical component to an electrical circuit substrate, such as a printed circuit board. A method for making the device is also disclosed.
US09029731B2

Systems and methods for laser processing continuously moving sheet material include one or more laser processing heads configured to illuminate the moving sheet material with one or more laser beams. The sheet material may include, for example, an optical film continuously moving from a first roller to a second roller during a laser process. In one embodiment, a vacuum chuck is configured to removably affix a first portion of the moving sheet material thereto. The vacuum chuck controls a velocity of the moving sheet material as the first portion is processed by the one or more laser beams. In one embodiment, a conveyor includes a plurality of vacuum chucks configured to successively affix to different portions of the sheet material during laser processing.
US09029726B2

A circuit breaker includes a first contact and a second contact. An electric arc zone is disposed between the contacts. A feed channel opens into the electric arc zone, connecting the electric arc zone to a hot gas reservoir volume. The hot gas reservoir volume, in turn, is connected to a compression volume. An outflow opening is disposed in a wall of the compression volume. The outflow opening is permanently open, at least in a contacting state of the contacts.
US09029725B2

A packaged chip detection and classification device includes a rotation unit for transporting a plurality of packaged chips, a packaged chip detection unit, and a packaged chip classification unit. The rotation unit includes a rotary turntable, a plurality of receiving portions formed on the rotary turntable, and a plurality of suction-exhaust openings respectively formed in the receiving portions. Each receiving portion is used to selectively receive at least one of the packaged chips. The packaged chip detection unit includes a packaged chip detection module adjacent to the rotation unit for detecting each packaged chip. The packaged chip classification unit includes a packaged chip classification module adjacent to the rotation unit for classifying the packaged chips. Therefore, the packaged chip detection and classification device can be used to detect and classify no-lead packaged chips by matching the rotation unit, the packaged chip detection unit, and the packaged chip classification unit.
US09029719B2

The present invention provides an integrated electro-mechanical actuator and a manufacturing method for manufacturing such an integrated electro-mechanical actuator. The integrated electro-mechanical actuator comprises an electrostatic actuator gap between actuator electrodes and an electrical contact gap between contact electrodes. An inclination with an inclination angle is provided between the actuator electrodes and the contact electrodes. The thickness of this electrical contact gap is equal to the thickness of a sacrificial layer which is etched away in a manufacturing process.
US09029717B2

The invention provides a wireless transmission method for a touch pen with wireless storage and forwarding capability. The wireless transmission method comprises the touch pen wireless receiving at least a record extracted from a displaying data area by a touch device when the touch pen touches to select the data display region shown on a touch screen of the touch device, and the touch pen storing the record. Accordingly, the touch pen can receive data from the touch device according to touch-control of the user.
US09029716B2

A knockout structure for a wall of an electrical box includes a cutout that penetrates through the thickness of the wall to form a knockout on an interior of the cutout along a substantial perimeter of the knockout. The knockout structure also includes a first bridge section interrupting continuity of the cutout and maintaining a connection between the wall and the knockout. The knockout structure further includes a second bridge section interrupting continuity of the cutout and maintaining a connection between the wall and the knockout, the second bridge section being different than the first bridge section and on a same half of the perimeter of the knockout.
US09029714B2

An electromagnetically shielded enclosure that is portable and lightweight with a double perimeter entry seal. The electromagnetically shielded enclosure can be used for applications such as testing and security and can be scaled from a bench top unit to a large field deployed enclosure. The electromagnetically shielded enclosure has a novel entry seal that eliminates the electromagnetic leakage that is common around the entry areas of such enclosures. The entry seal of the electromagnetically shielded enclosure is made up of a door having a first perimeter closure material and a second perimeter closure material and an enclosure opening having a first perimeter closure and a second perimeter closure where the first perimeter closure material aligns with the first perimeter closure and the second perimeter closure material aligns with the second perimeter closure. This double perimeter entry seal provides for electromagnetic isolation within the electromagnetically shielded enclosure.
US09029713B2

A printed wiring board including a rigid multilayer board, a first substrate having multiple conductors, and a second substrate having multiple conductors electrically connected to the conductors of the first substrate. The conductors of the second substrate have an existing density which is set higher than an existing density of the conductors of the first substrate, and the first substrate and/or the second substrate is embedded in the rigid multilayer board.
US09029710B2

A tape package includes a base substrate, an input lead line disposed on the base substrate, the input lead line including a main input lead line and a sub input lead line, the sub input lead line branching off and extending from the main input lead line, an integrated circuit chip electrically connected to the sub input lead line, and a sealing part fixing the integrated circuit chip on the base substrate and overlapping a portion of the main input lead line.
US09029703B2

The present invention relates to an electronically-controllable woven article with receptacle structure for electrically connecting at least one electronic unit. The electronically-controllable woven article includes a first metal yarn strand; a second metal yarn strand, which is arranged at one side of the first metal yarn strand in a side-by-side manner; at least one receptacle structure, which forms a receiving space corresponding to the electronic unit, the first metal yarn strand and the second metal yarn strand extending into the receiving space, the first metal yarn strand having a section corresponding to the receiving space, the second metal yarn strand having a section corresponding to the receiving space, both sections coupled to the receptacle structure; and a power supply unit, which is electrically connected to the first metal yarn strand and the second metal yarn strand.
US09029698B2

A cable protection and guide device is provided, which prevents abrasion of the cable skin of a cable or the like and holds the position of a multi joint link with high precision. The cable protection and guide device is characterized in that the multi-joint link includes a link member and a holding member attached to the link member for holding the cable. The holding member includes a cylindrical base portion and a holding portion formed integrally with the cylindrical base portion, wherein the cylindrical base portion is engaged with a circular through hole of the link member, and the holding portion extends outward from the cylindrical base portion in a multi joint link width direction and is bifurcated for holding the cable from two sides, i.e. multi-joint link flexional inner side and multi-joint link flexional outer side. The holding member is rotatable with respect to the link member.
US09029694B2

A photoelectric conversion element comprising a substrate, a first electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer comprising a semiconductor and a sensitizing dye, a hole transport layer and a second electrode, wherein the hole transport layer comprises a polymer having a repeat unit represented by Formula (1) or (2),
US09029687B2

Methods and apparatus for converting electromagnetic radiation, such as solar energy, into electric energy with increased efficiency when compared to conventional solar cells are provided. A photovoltaic (PV) device generally includes a window layer; an absorber layer disposed below the window layer such that electrons are generated when photons travel through the window layer and are absorbed by the absorber layer; and a plurality of contacts for external connection coupled to the absorber layer, such that all of the contacts for external connection are disposed below the absorber layer and do not block any of the photons from reaching the absorber layer through the window layer. Locating all the contacts on the back side of the PV device avoids solar shadows caused by front side contacts, typically found in conventional solar cells. Therefore, PV devices described herein with back side contacts may allow for increased efficiency when compared to conventional solar cells.
US09029682B2

A radiation-collecting device includes at least one radiation-collecting element and a scattering layer placed, in relation to the element, on that side on which the radiation is incident on the device. The scattering layer has a transparent fibrous structure and a transparent medium for encapsulating the fibers of the fibrous structure, the absolute value of the difference between the refractive index of the fibers of the fibrous structure and the refractive index of the encapsulating medium being equal to or greater than 0.05.
US09029678B2

A digital piano includes a keyboard comprising a plurality of keys; LED prompting lights corresponding to and disposed on the keys; a mode selector for making the digital piano at least work in a LED rectifying mode; a sound engine configured to receive an input note information relative to a key pressed and convert the input note information into a first note data; a digital music sheet processor configured to receive the first note data in real time from the sound engine, to compare an input note corresponding to the first note data with the note of a preset music sheet based on the preset music sheet and the first note data when the mode selector selects the LED rectifying mode and to determine whether to continue to play; at least one speaker configured to send out a sound according to a sound signal corresponding to the first note data.
US09029675B2

The invention relates to an apparatus for mounting a percussion instrument onto a stand. The apparatus comprises a support portion and a retaining portion, the support portion comprising a support member arranged for attachment to the stand and including a shaft, the retaining portion comprising a gripping member having a pair of elements spaced apart from each other and one or more spreader means arranged to urge the spaced apart elements away from each other, wherein the support and retaining portions are adapted to mount the percussion instrument therebetween, the shaft engageable with the retaining portion, the elements of the gripping member normally biased to a first position that is capable of retaining the shaft between the elements in a locked position in the said retaining portion, the elements movable to a second position in which the retaining portion can be received on or removed from the first position on the shaft, the elements movable from the first position to the second position by activation of the or each spreader means.
US09029665B2

The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1036361. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1036361. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1036361 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1036361 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US09029658B2

The invention provides seed and plants of sweet corn hybrid EX 08745857 R and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of sweet corn hybrid EX 08745857 R and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a sweet corn plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another sweet corn plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the parts of such plants.
US09029644B2

The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1037403. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1037403. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1037403 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1037403 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US09029636B2

This disclosure provides purified nucleic acids and polypeptides. Also provided are transgenic plants, seeds, and plant cells containing DNA for expression of the proteins that are useful for imparting enhanced agronomic trait(s) to transgenic crop plants, methods of making such plants and methods of making agricultural commodity including seeds and hybrid seeds from such plants.
US09029625B2

A film structure having a polymer film and an application system enabling the film structure to be handled in a simple manner. The application system is arranged on a first side of the polymer film and has at least one supporting film to which at least one gripping strip is applied. The polymer film also has at least one first region without a supporting film.
US09029622B2

Disclosed is a method for removing weakly basic nitrogen compounds from a hydrocarbon feed stream by contacting the hydrocarbon feed stream with acidic clay to produce a hydrocarbon effluent stream having a lower weakly basic nitrogen compound content relative to the hydrocarbon feed stream. The hydrocarbon feed stream comprises an aromatic compound and a weakly basic nitrogen compound.
US09029614B2

Disclosed herein are processes for alcohol production by reducing ethyl acetate produced by hydrogenating acetic acid in the presence of a suitable catalyst. The product of the acetic acid hydrogenation is fed directly to a decanter to separate the hydrogenation product into an aqueous phase comprising water and ethanol and an organic phase comprising ethyl acetate. The organic phase is reduced with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to obtain a crude reaction mixture comprising the alcohol, in particular ethanol, which may be separated from the crude reaction mixture. Thus, ethanol may be produced from acetic acid through an ethyl acetate intermediate without an esterification step. This may reduce the recycle of ethanol in the hydrogenolysis process and improve ethanol productivity.
US09029613B2

Provided is an alicyclic alcohol compound which can be used as a raw material for a compound perfume, and which has excellent floral-green-like aromas which are crisp and fresh; also provided are a manufacturing method for the same, and a perfume composition which contains the alicyclic alcohol compound. An alicyclic alcohol compound having a specified structure represented by chemical formula (1) has excellent floral-green-like aromas which are crisp and fresh; and a method for manufacturing the alicyclic alcohol compound represented by chemical formula (1) by reacting, in the presence of hydrogen fluoride, 4-isopropyl-1-methylcyclohexene and carbon monoxide, isomerizing the resulting 4-isopropyl-1-methylcyclohexane carboxylic acid fluoride, thus making 2-methyl-2-(4-methylcyclohexyl)-propionyl fluoride, reacting with alcohol and acquiring a cyclohexane carbonyl compound, and then reducing the cyclohexane carbonyl compound.
US09029605B2

The present invention relates to a method for preparing menthone, starting from isopulegol, using specific homogeneous catalysts.
US09029604B2

The instant invention provides for novel cationic lipids that can be used in combination with other lipid components such as cholesterol and PEG-lipids to form lipid nanoparticles with oligonucleotides. It is an object of the instant invention to provide a cationic lipid scaffold that demonstrates enhanced efficacy along with lower liver toxicity as a result of lower lipid levels in the liver. The present invention employs low molecular weight cationic lipids with one short lipid chain to enhance the efficiency and tolerability of in vivo delivery of siRNA.
US09029600B2

A method for preparing a high purity (e.g. greater than 70 wt. %) mono-hydrolyzed acyl halide compound as a precipitate from solution comprising the steps of preparing a solution comprising: i) at least 80 v/v % of a hydrocarbon solvent, ii) water at a molar concentration greater than its solubility limit within the solvent but less that its solubility limit in solution, iii) a tri-hydrocarbyl phosphate compound, and iv) a polyfunctional acyl halide compound at molar ratio to both water and the tri-hydrocarbyl phosphate compound of at least 1:1.
US09029595B1

The present invention relates to a method for working up distillation, residues from isocyanate production in which monomeric isocyanate present in distillation residues is recovered by means of a spray-dry method and the overall yield of monomeric isocyanate is thus significantly increased.
US09029592B2

The present invention relates to a process of making a compound of formula (I): Wherein, R1, R2, R4 and X are as defined herein.
US09029587B2

There is provided a method for producing an aqueous acrylamide solution by reacting a composition including acrylonitrile with water to produce acrylamide, in which the composition including acrylonitrile includes 3 to 15 mg of propionitrile per 1 kg of the total weight of the composition including acrylonitrile. According to the present invention, a production method with which it is possible to suppress acrylamide polymerization without lowering quality and thereby obtain a stable aqueous acrylamide solution can be provided.
US09029586B2

The invention provides a silane compound that includes a hydrophobic group and a silane ester group linked by a hydrophilic group for use as a surface treatment to an inorganic material, such as a pigment, the silane including a hydrophobic group and a silane ester group linked by a hydrophilic group. The invention includes a coated particle including an inorganic material coated with the silane compound(s) and methods of improving the wettability and/or dispersibility of an inorganic material such as a pigment, wherein the method comprises depositing the silane compounds on the surface of a pigment.
US09029585B2

A process for producing a cyclic silane compound, in which a chained polysilane is subjected to pyrolysis in the presence of an oxide of a transition metal belonging to Group 8 or Group 11 of the periodic table; and a process for producing a cyclic carbosilane compound, that includes subjecting a chained polysilane to pyrolysis in the presence of a simple substance of a metal selected from the group consisting of transition metal elements and elements belonging to Groups 12 to 15 of the periodic table, or a compound thereof.
US09029573B2

The invention includes halichondrin B analogs having pharmaceutical activity; in some cases, crystalline forms thereof, and in some cases, halichondrin B analogs having a further utility as synthetic intermediate.
US09029572B2

A method of manufacturing a compound or a salt thereof expressed with a formula (III) below, characterized by causing a compound or a salt thereof expressed with a formula (I) below and a compound or a salt thereof expressed with a formula (II) below to react in the presence of carbonate and copper salt or in the presence of hydroxide salt, carbonate, and copper salt.
US09029565B1

The present invention relates to intermediate compounds represented by the following Formula (I-A), The intermediate compounds of the present invention, such as represented by Formula (I-A), can be used to prepare photochromic compounds, such as photochromic fused ring indenopyran compounds, including but not limited to photochromic fused ring indeno-naphtho-pyran compounds.
US09029562B2

This invention provides a process for the N-halogenation of at least one 5-hydrocarbyl hydantoin and/or at least one 5,5-dihydrocarbyl hydantoin. The process comprises concurrently feeding into a reaction zone (i) water, inorganic base, and 5,5-dimethylhydantoin, these being fed separately and/or in any combination(s), (ii) a separate feed of a brominating agent, and (iii) a separate feed of a chlorinating agent, in proportions such that during all or substantially all of the time the concurrent feeding is occurring halogenation of the 5-hydrocarbyl hydantoin and/or 5,5-dihydrocarbyl hydantoin occurs and resultant halogenated product precipitates in the liquid phase of an aqueous reaction mixture, and in which the pH of the liquid phase is continuously or substantially continuously maintained in the range of about 2.0 to about 8.0 during all or substantially all of the time the concurrent feeding is occurring. Also provided by this invention is a composition of matter which is a halogenated 5-hydrocarbyl hydantoin or a halogenated 5,5-dihydrocarbyl hydantoin, which is a mixture of the 1,3-dibromo-, 1,3-dichloro-, and/or N,N′-bromochloro-species of the halogenated hydantoin.
US09029557B2

Contemplated compositions and methods are employed to bind in vitro and in vivo to an α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in a highly selective manner. Where such compounds are labeled, compositions and methods employing such compounds can be used for PET and SPECT analysis. Alternatively, and/or additionally contemplated compounds can be used as antagonists, partial agonists or agonists in the treatment of diseases or conditions associated with α4β2 dysfunction.
US09029553B2

The present invention provides compounds of general formula A useful as potential anticancer agents against human cancer cell lines and apoptosis inducers. The present invention further provides a process for the preparation of 2-anilino nicotinyl linked 2-amino benzothiazole conjugates of general formula (A), wherein R1═H or Cl; R2═H, OCH3 or F; R3═H, OCH3, F or Cl; R4═H, OCH3 or F and X═OCH3, F or N02.
US09029547B1

A novel process for the synthesis of 4-aryl 4-acyl piperidine derivatives using indium metal is described. Specifically, a novel process for the synthesis of 4-acetyl 4-phenyl piperidine and its salts using indium metal is described. This divisional application is specifically drawn to compounds 4-aryl 1,4-diacyl piperidine and 1,4 diacetyl 4-phenyl piperidine.
US09029546B2

The present invention relates to compounds useful as inhibitors of protein kinase. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising said compounds and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of various disease, conditions, or disorders. The invention also provides processes for preparing compounds of the inventions.
US09029539B2

The invention relates to a compound of the Structure 1 wherein Structure 1 contains a metal Met, coordinated to a tetradentate chelating ligand Lig of Structure 2 where V is a bridging unit which contains 1 to 40 atoms from the third, fourth, fifth and/or sixth main group and connects the two ligand moieties L1 and L2, which may be identical or different on each occurrence, covalently to one another, and where the two ligand moieties L1 and L2 satisfy Structure 3 where Cy1 and Cy2, identically or differently on each occurrence, correspond to a substituted or unsubstituted, saturated, unsaturated or aromatic homo- or heterocyclic ring, which is in each case bonded ionically, covalently or coordinatively to the metal via a ring atom or via an atom bonded exocyclically to the homo- or heterocyclic ring; and where L3, identically or differently on each occurrence, is a mono- or bidentate, neutral or monoanionic ligand, and where a is 0, 1 or 2. The present invention describes novel metal complexes with bipolar ligands. Compounds of this type can be employed as functional materials in a number of different applications which can be ascribed to the electronics industry in the broadest sense.
US09029535B2

The present invention relates to novel pyrimidine derivatives and their use in perfume compositions. The novel pyrimidine derivatives of the present invention are represented by the following formula: wherein m and n are integers of 0 or 1, with the proviso that when m is 0, n is 1 and when m is 1, n is 0; and wherein the dashed circle represents either single or double bonds.
US09029532B2

The present invention relates to naphthopyran compounds that include at least one compound represented by the following Formulas (I), (II), and (III): With reference to Formulas (I), (II), and (III), there is the proviso that: (i) at least one R1 is a group L; and/or (ii) B and/or B′ is substituted with at least one group L. The group L can be described as a lengthening group. The present invention also relates to photochromic-dichroic naphthopyran compounds and photochromic-dichroic articles containing such compounds.
US09029525B2

The invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) targeting Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 (GSK-3), and methods of using the dsRNA to inhibit expression of GSK-3.
US09029524B2

The invention provides compositions and methods for signal activated RNA interference (saRNAi), preferably in vivo. The invention provides polynucleotides that switches between an inactive form and an active form upon covalent or non-covalent interaction with one or more specific chemical signals, such as disease-specific mRNA, miRNA, or other cellular RNA products with sequences that characterize diseased states of the cell. The interaction between the subject polynucleotides and the signals is preferably mediated by hybridization, which exposes, facilitates the formation, and/or allows the formation of a substrate that can be processed by proteins of the RNAi pathway (such as Dicer). The input and output of multiple different polynucleotides of the invention can form an in vivo signaling network. In addition, the multiple input signals can be integrated to modulate the activity of the subject polynucleotides.
US09029520B2

The present invention relates to the fields of immunology and molecular biology and related to a B7-1-PE40KDEL exotoxin fusion gene-based DNA vaccine and the use thereof. Specifically, the DNA vaccine contains a recombinant expression vector, and the vector contains exotoxin fusion gene B7-1-PE40KDEL, which is effectively ligated into selected eukaryotic expression vectors, such as pcDNA3.1/Zeo(+), pWLNEO, pSV2CAT, pOG44, pXT1, pSG, pSVK3, pBPV, pMSG, pSVL, and adenovirus. The invention also relates to the exotoxin fusion gene B7-1-PE40KDEL, the encoded exotoxin fusion protein, a recombinant expression vector that contains the exotoxin fusion gene, and compositions that contain the recombinant expression vector. The DNA vaccine in this invention has a good effect on the treatment or prevention of allogeneic tissue/organ transplant rejection and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation rejection such as GVHD.
US09029503B2

The invention mainly relates to a method for manufacturing a polypeptide of formula: X1—X″—X2  (III) X1 and X2 each representing a peptide fragment, and X″ representing an amino acid residue comprising a thiol function, said method comprising at least one step of ligation reaction between a polypeptide of formula: X1—N(CH2CH2SH)2  (I) and a polypeptide of formula: H—X″—X2.  (II) The invention also relates to the polypeptides of formula (I) themselves and the method for obtaining them, as well as resin supports suitable for obtaining them.
US09029493B2

Provided is an organopolysiloxane and its use. The organopolysiloxane may exhibit excellent processibility and workability. In addition, when the organopolysiloxane is used as an encapsulant, it exhibits excellent light extraction efficiency, crack resistance, hardness, thermal and shock resistance and an adhesive property. Moreover, the organopolysiloxane may provide an encapsulant exhibiting stable durability and reliability under severe conditions for a long time and having no whitening and surface stickiness.
US09029478B2

A film comprising a polymer blend of: (a) 0.15 to 0.8 wt % of an LDPE having an MI of 0.1 to 0.6 dg/min; and (b) 99.2 to 99.85 wt % of an LLDPE produced with a single-site catalyst comprising a metallocene and having a haze (HZlldpe), dart impact (DIlldpe), MD-Tear (MDTlldpe), and a slice long chain branching index of at least 0.90 for any portion of the composition having a molecular weight of 100,000 or above, wherein the film has a haze (HZblend), a dart impact (DIblend), and an MD-Tear (MDTblend), and HZblend=a*HZlldpe, where a is 0.20 to 0.70; DIblend=b*DIlldpe, where b is 0.9 to 1.3; and MDTblend=c*MDTlldpe, where c is 0.8 to 1.1.
US09029467B2

There is provided a resin composition. A resin composition includes: a copolymer having structural units of the following Formula (1), Formula (2) and Formula (3): where X is a C1-5 alkyl group, a C5-6 cycloalkyl group, a phenyl group or a benzyl group, while the alkyl group, the cycloalkyl group, the phenyl group and the benzyl group optionally have a portion or all of the hydrogen atoms substituted with halogen atoms, carboxy groups, hydroxy groups, amino groups or nitro groups; each of R1s is independently a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; R2 is a single bond or a C1-5 alkylene group; R3 is a blocked isocyanate group; Y is an —O— group or an —NH— group; R4 is a single bond or a C1-5 alkylene group; and R5 is a C1-20 hydrocarbon group or a phenyl group having a hydroxy group as a substituent; and a solvent.
US09029464B2

Perfluoroelastomeric gel having the following properties: appearance: transparent gelatinous solid; water content between 10% and 90% by weight; density between 1.1 and 2.1 g/cm3; said gel satisfies the following test: dried in a stove at 90° C. until a constant weight gives curable perfluoroelastomers.
US09029463B2

The present invention relates to a polycarbonate composition comprising polyalkyl(alkyl)acrylate having a specific molecular weight and an impact modifier, as well as to moulded bodies obtainable from these compositions. Compositions according to the present invention exhibit superior properties, in particular with respect of low-temperature strength and melt flowability.
US09029460B2

Disclosed are solvent borne thermosetting coating compositions containing curable, aliphatic polyesters, acrylic copolymers, crosslinkers, and nonaqueous solvents. The aliphatic polyesters contain 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol. Blends of acrylic copolymers with these aliphatic polyesters exhibit good compatibility, viscosity reduction, and good Tg retention. Coating compositions formulated from these blends exhibit high gloss, hardness with flexibility; solvent and chemical resistance; and outdoor durability.
US09029458B2

A polymer composition which includes carbon nanotubes in a resin matrix such as cyclic butylene terephthalate where the resin matrix is compounded into a polymer matrix. The carbon nanotube resin matrix is compatible in a wide variety of polymer matrixes having many end uses. The resin matrix provides good compatibility with many polymer systems, e.g., polyamides, polyesters, acrylics and is easy to use exhibiting a low melting point and low viscosity in melt and provides for a polymer matrix having good properties, including a higher electrical conductivity and/or increased mechanical properties.
US09029457B2

A particle-polymer hybrid material can include: a substance having the structure of Formula 1 Z(Y-FP)m, wherein Z is a particle smaller than 1 mm; m is an integer; Y is a linker including a silicon atom linked to the particle; FP is a functionalized polymer having: a first structure derived from a first norbornene compound linked to the Y; and one or more repeating units linked to the first structure, each unit being derived from a second norbornene compound and having a functional group.
US09029455B2

Soft polyolefin composition with improved processability comprising from 8 to 45% by weight of a polypropylene component (A), from 82 to 45% by weight of an elastomeric component (B), and from 10 to 25% by weight of a viscosity reducing agent (C) comprising polybutene-1 and paraffinic wax or grease. The composition is easily processable also by injection molding and has better tensile properties than compositions in which processability is improved by visbreaking.
US09029454B2

An aqueous polymer composition is described comprising a homogeneous acrylic polymer dispersion produced by emulsion polymerization of a monomer mixture comprising: (A) from 85 to 99.9 wt % of one or more main monomers selected from C1-C12-alkyl esters of acrylic acid or C5-C12-alkyl esters of methacrylic acid, styrene, and vinyl toluene in such a ratio as to produce a polymer having a Tg in the range of −20 to +65° C.; and (B) from 0.1 to 5 wt % of at least one stabilizing monomer selected from ethylenically unsaturated monocarboxylic acids or amides thereof, ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acids or anhydrides or amides thereof, ethylenically unsaturated sulfonic acids, ethylenically unsaturated phosphoric acids, and ethylenically unsaturated phosphonic acids. The emulsion polymerization is conducted in the presence of 0.05 to 3 wt %, based on the total weight of monomers in the monomer mixture, of a chain transfer agent (C).
US09029452B2

This invention relates to a composition comprising a solvent-based fluoropolymer and its use as a coating additive, and a coating composition comprising the fluoropolymer. The coating composition comprising the solvent-based fluoropolymer provides desirable properties including uniform spreading, and cleanability and increased contact angle to a coated substrate. There is further provided a method of treating a substrate using the coating composition.
US09029450B2

Mixtures of silicon-containing coupling reagents comprising (mercaptoorganyl)alkylpolyethersilanes containing silanol groups and (mercaptoorganyl)alkylpolyethersilanes free of silanol groups in a weight ratio of from 5:95 to 95:5. The mixtures can be prepared by transesterification and hydrolysis. The mixtures can be used in rubber mixtures.
US09029449B2

A polymeric composition comprising: a reaction product (c) produced by reacting an organic silane compound (a) represented by the formula: R4-n—Si—(OR′)n [wherein R represents an organic group containing an amino group; R′ represents a methyl group, an ethyl group or a propyl group; and n represents an integer selected from 1 to 3] with at least one boron compound (b) selected from the group consisting of H3BO3 and B2O3; and a condensation product (d) of a metal alkoxide.
US09029445B2

A composition for inhibiting oxidation includes an anionic, hydrophilic, water soluble polymer, an anionic surfactant, and water.
US09029443B2

Flame retardant thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) compositions are disclosed having a flame retardant package comprising an organo-phosphinate component, an organo-phosphate component, and a polyhydric alcohol. The flame retardant components may be present in an amount from about 5 to about 40 weight percent of the phosphinate compound; from about 5 to about 20 weight percent of the phosphate compound, and from about 0.1 to about 15 weight percent of the polyhydric alcohol, based on the total weight of the TPU composition. Processes are disclosed to make the TPU compositions and to make wire and cable constructions employing the TPU compositions as the jacket of the wire and cable constructions. The TPU compositions exhibit excellent flame retardant capabilities as measured by Limited Oxygen Index testing and/or UL 94 Vertical Burn tests.
US09029430B2

Various uses of fluoroalkenes, including tetrafluoropropenes, particularly HFO-1234ze, in a variety of applications, including as blowing agents are disclosed.
US09029425B2

The present invention is directed to a compound of the formula (2) and its uses thereof: wherein T, U, V and W is CR1; R1 is H; X, is CR2 and N with the proviso that at least one X is equal to CR2 and at least one R2 from CR2 is equal to Z; and n and m are 0, 1, 2, 3 to 4 and either n is at least 3 or m is at least 3.
US09029423B2

The invention relates to pharmaceutical formulations, and more particularly to formulations containing cannabinoids for administration via a pump action spray. In particular, the invention relates to pharmaceutical formulations, for use in administration of lipophilic medicaments via mucosal surfaces, comprising: at least one lipophilic medicament, a solvent and a co-solvent, wherein the total amount of solvent and co-solvent present in the formulation is greater than 55% wt/wt of the formulation and the formulation is absent of a self emulsifying agent and/or a fluorinated propellant.
US09029422B2

The present invention relates to a cosmetic method for treating and/or preventing greasy skin or greasiness-prone skin and/or the associated cutaneous aesthetic defects, comprising the topical application to the skin of a composition comprising, in a cosmetically acceptable medium, at least one compound of formula (I): in which: R represents a hydrogen atom or a saturated or unsaturated and linear or branched C1-C6 hydrocarbon radical; R′ represents a saturated or unsaturated and linear or branched C1-C18 hydrocarbon radical, optionally substituted by a hydroxyl group; C—X represents C═O or CH—OH.
US09029421B2

The present invention provides a process for preparing a compound of formula (VI) or a salt thereof, the process comprising: (i) reacting 4-methoxyphenyl acetone with an amine of formula (VIII) under conditions of reductive amination to produce a compound of formula (II) or a salt thereof, wherein there is no isolation of an imine intermediate formed during the reductive amination; (ii) condensing the compound (II) or the acid addition salt thereof with an α-haloketone of formula (III) to produce the compound of formula (IV); (iii) reducing the compound (IV) to a compound of formula (V); and (iv) reducing the compound (V) to the compound of formula (VI), wherein the reduction is carried out in the presence of either (1) a hydrogen donating compound in the presence of a hydrogen transfer catalyst; or (2) ammonium formate using a hydrogenation catalyst, wherein R1 and R2 are independently optionally substituted arylalkyl, and Hal is selected from chloro or bromo.
US09029417B2

The present invention, in one or more embodiments, comprises water-soluble derivatives of 3-n-pentadecylcatechol (poison ivy urushiol saturated congener) and/or 3-n-heptadecylcatechol (poison oak urushiol saturated congener) as compositions for the prevention and/or prophylactic treatment of contact dermatitis caused by poison ivy and poison oak. The present invention is also directed towards processes for making such compounds. Disclosed are compounds which are effective for tolerizing and desensitizing a subject against allergens contained in plants of the Anacardiaceae and Ginkgoaceae families comprising water soluble urushiol esters of general formula (I) Tolerizing and desensitizing mammals, including humans, to allergens contained in plants of the Anacardiaceae and Ginkgoaceae families is attained by administering a composition containing at least one water soluble urushiol ester compound.
US09029412B2

Method for preparing diamino-dianhydro-dideoxyhexitols, particularly 2,5-diamino-1,4:3,6-dianhydro-2,5-dideoxy-D-hexitol.The invention related to a method for preparing diamino-dianhydro-dideoxyhexitols, particularly preferably 2,5-diamino-1,4:3,6-dianhydro-2,5-dideoxy-D-hexitol.
US09029402B2

The present invention is directed to inhibitors of S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR), pharmaceutical compositions comprising such GSNOR inhibitors, and methods of making and using the same.
US09029398B2

In the course of developing 2-[[[2-[(hydroxyacetyl)amino]-4-pyridinyl]methyl]thio]-N-[4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl]-3-pyridinecarboxamide (compound A), there are the multiple problems: 1) compound A or its salt is difficult to be recrystallized, the storage stability largely differs depending on the kind of the salt, and it is very difficult to obtain a salt of compound A having excellent storage stability; 2) in a crystallization process of compound A, it is very difficult to control a crystal polymorph, and 3) compound A (free body) causes mineral deposition in the stomach when it is orally administered repeatedly. For solving these problems, we made examination focusing on the kind of the salt and, as a result, found that 1) benzenesulfonate of compound A does not decompose by light, humidity and other factors in a 1-week preliminary stability test (severe test), and has no problem in its storage stability, 2) a method of selectively producing two kinds of crystal forms of benzenesulfonate of compound A, and that 3) no mineral deposition in the stomach is observed even after a 4-week repeated oral administration.
US09029395B2

Tetrahydroquinoline derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds and to their use in therapy.
US09029388B2

The present invention provides a compound having a superior PDE10A inhibitory action and use thereof. The compound is a compound represented by the following formula (I): wherein each symbol is as defined in the present specification, or a salt thereof.
US09029387B2

The present invention relates to benzonaphthyridinamines of the formula (I) as autotaxin inhibitors and to the use thereof in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of physiological and/or pathophysiological conditions in which the inhibition, regulation and/or modulation of phosphodiesterase or lysophospholipase autotaxin plays a role, in particular of various types of cancer and autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
US09029378B2

Substituted bicyclic aromatic carboxamide and urea compounds as vanilloid receptor ligands, pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds, and a method of using these compounds in the treatment and/or inhibition of pain and further diseases and/or disorders mediated at least in part via the vanilloid receptor 1 (VR1/TRPV1).
US09029373B2

Compounds of formula (I): wherein R2, W, A, Y, and R1 are as defined in the specification, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, are p38 MAPK inhibitors, and are useful as anti-inflammatory agents in the treatment of, inter alia, diseases of the respiratory tract.
US09029369B2

A 1:1:1 aprepitant L-proline H2O composition and a 1:1:1 aprepitant L-proline H2O cocrystal are disclosed as well as pharmaceutical compositions containing a 1:1:1 aprepitant L-proline H2O composition or cocrystal and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The 1:1:1 aprepitant L-proline H2O composition or cocrystal may be used in the same way as aprepitant to treat or prevent disorders relating to emesis, a neuropsychiatric disease, an inflammatory disease, pairs, cancer, a skin disease, itch, a respiratory disease, or an addiction.
US09029368B2

The invention relates to antibacterial compounds of formula I wherein G and K are as defined in the description; and salts of such compounds.
US09029354B2

Provided is a fungicidal aqueous suspension composition for agriculture and horticulture, comprising: a component (A) in the form of a specific oxime compound, salt thereof or N-oxide thereof, a component (B) in the form of at least one type of compound selected from the group consisting of a polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether, polyoxyalkylene fatty acid ester, polyoxyalkylene sorbitan fatty acid ester and silicone-based surfactant, and a component (C) in the form of at least one type of compound selected from the group consisting of a nonionic surfactant and anionic surfactant other than component (B).
US09029351B2

The present invention is directed to chitosan-derivative compounds and structures, methods of making chitosan-derivative compounds and methods for controlling, inhibiting and enhancing microbial populations in a variety of environments. The present invention is also directed to the control, inhibition and enhancement of microbial populations in animals, particularly humans. The microbial populations include bacteria, viruses and other pathogens where control of microbial populations are a necessity. The chitosan-derivative compounds of the present invention include chitosan-arginine compounds, related chitosan-L/D unnatural amino acid compounds, chitosan-acid amine compounds, chitosan-L/D natural amino acid derivative compounds, co-derivatives of the chitosan-derivative compounds, salts of the chitosan derivative compounds, and chitosan-guanidine compounds.
US09029350B2

This invention relates to the use of a biomaterial for the treatment, repair and/or enhancement of bodily tissue insufficiencies of the vocal chords, muscles, ligaments, cartilage, post-operative regions, sexual organs and/or weight supporting areas of the feet as well as other conditions of the bones and joints. The biomaterial for use in the invention may comprise an injectable bioresorbable polysaccharide composition wherein the polysaccharide may be succinochitosan glutamate. This invention also relates to the use of a biomaterial comprising an injectable bioresorbable polysaccharide composition in which resorbable particles may be in suspension, the said particles comprising or consisting essentially of chitin and/or chitosan, which may be free of any additional formulation modifying agents, and a process for manufacturing the same. The invention also includes the use of various medicaments in the biomaterial formulations to enhance the treatment of the affected area of the body.
US09029349B2

The invention provides a bioadhesive composition comprising a polysaccharide and an energy converter, wherein the energy converter is activated by non-UV light. The composition may be prepared by dissolving the polysaccharide and the energy converter in an aqueous acidic solution. The composition, in the form of a film or a gel, may be used for repairing a discontinuity in an area of tissue or for joining tissue.
US09029342B2

A method for treating and/or diagnosing pain and the source or type of pain, shock, and/or inflammatory conditions in a subject. A method of using a therapeutically effective amount of a DNA or RNA aptamer that shows high affinity for OLAMs to at least partially treat pain, shock, and/or inflammatory conditions in a subject. The DNA or RNA aptamer that shows high affinity for OLAMs may be coupled to a plasma protein binding compound or a pharmacologically active agent. A method of treating and or diagnosing pain, shock, and/or inflammatory conditions in a subject may include inactivating or preventing at least one linoleic acid metabolite to treat certain conditions (e.g., pain, shock, and/or inflammation) using a DNA or RNA aptamer that shows high affinity for OLAMs.
US09029338B2

The invention relates to lipid formulated double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) for inhibiting the expression of a gene from the Ebola virus.
US09029337B2

Disclosed herein are antisense compounds and methods for decreasing Factor 7 and treating or preventing thromboembolic complications, hyperproliferative disorders, or inflammatory conditions in an individual in need thereof. Examples of disease conditions that can be ameliorated with the administration of antisense compounds targeted to Factor 7 include thrombosis, embolism, and thromboembolism, such as, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, stroke, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibrosis.
US09029332B2

Cross-linked proteins and peptides, and methods of making and uses of such cross-linked proteins and peptides. The cross-linked proteins and peptides have rigid, distance-matching bismethylene aryl cross-linking moieties. Compositions comprising the cross-linked proteins and peptides can be used as pharmaceutical delivery formulations. The cross-linked proteins and peptides can have improved properties, such as cell permeability, as compared to the parent protein or peptide.
US09029330B2

Modified interleukin-12 (IL-12) p40 polypeptides are disclosed. The modified polypeptides have alterations in the IL-12p40 subunit to eliminate the protease site between positions Lys260 and Arg261. The modified IL-12p40 polypeptides according to the invention have improved stability compared to wild-type mature human IL-12p40 polypeptides.
US09029323B2

The present invention relates to neurturin protein products conjugated to polyols and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising neurturin conjugates as active ingredients, preferably PEGylated neurturin conjugates or variants thereof, having increased bioavailability.
US09029311B2

This invention relates to extend the benefits of using hypochlorite compounds such as sodium hypochlorite to clean and disinfect articles while reducing or eliminating the side effects of treating an article with a strong oxidant material. The invention relates to a single step process involving mixing of precursor compositions of a suitable hypohalite or hypohalous acid with a solution of a reducing agent. Optionally a buffer may be present in either or both precursor compositions, such that at time of use such active hypohalous acid concentration in the resulting aqueous mixture remains at a sufficient activity level to effect one or more desired benefits against a target substrate for a desired period of time. The oxidant is substantially consumed by reaction with the reducing agent after the time needed for achieving the desired benefit has passed.
US09029310B2

The present invention relates to an enzyme composition comprising enzyme containing polymer particles, which is useful for detergent compositions, in particular for liquid detergent compositions. In these enzyme containing particles, the particles comprise i) at least one enzyme, and ii) at least one polymer P, which is selected from homo- and copolymers having a C—C-backbone, wherein the C—C-backbone carries carboxylgroups, which may be present in the acidic form or in the neutralized form, and wherein the C—C-backbone comprises hydrophobic repeating units.
US09029309B2

Compositions and methods for improved cleaning using neutral cleaners are disclosed. In particular, neutral pH cleaning compositions according to the invention employ a synergistic combination of water insoluble surfactants and an anionic hydrotropes capable of forming a stable, low-foaming solution. The neutral cleaning solutions provide significant benefits over water insoluble microemulsions traditionally used for neutral cleaning compositions and provide at least equivalent cleaning efficacy as non-neutral cleaning compositions.
US09029308B1

A chemical composition for cleaning a medium is provided. For some embodiments, the chemical composition comprises a nonionic surfactant, an inorganic salt, a glycol compound, a chelating agent, and deionized water. For example, the chemical composition may comprise between about 1% and 5% of nonionic surfactant, between about 2% and 6% by weight of an inorganic salt, between about 5% and 10% by weight of a glycol compound, between about 5% and 10% by weight of a chelating agent, and deionized water.
US09029305B2

Provided is a lubricating oil composition containing a base oil which includes a mineral oil and/or a synthetic oil, and compounded therein, (A) at least one phosphorus-containing compound selected from phosphoric acid monoesters, phosphoric acid diesters and phosphorous acid monoesters, each having a C1 to C8 hydrocarbon group or groups and (B) a tertiary amine compound having C6 to C10 hydrocarbon groups as substituents thereof. The lubricating oil composition provides both a high metal to metal friction coefficient and an excellent wear resistance and is suitably used in a continuously variable transmission.
US09029297B2

The invention provides a method of printing, onto a substrate (12), an array (14) of spots of reagent compositions for use in a chemical and/or biochemical analysis. The method includes displacing an array of reagent composition containing capillary tubes (22) arranged alongside one another from an inoperative position to an operative position in which open ends of the capillary tubes (22) simultaneously impinge against a substrate and thereafter displacing the array of tubes (22) from the operative position back to the inoperative position. The invention extends to a printing apparatus (10), a method of printing a layered array of spots of reagent compositions, a method of introducing reagent compositions into the tubes, a reagent introducing device for introducing reagent compositions into the tubes and a printing installation which includes the printing apparatus (10) and the reagent introducing device.
US09029295B2

The present invention relates to a pyridazinone compound of the formula (I): wherein R1 represents hydrogen, a C1-6 alkyl group, and the like, R2 represents halogen, a cyano group, a nitro group, a C1-6 alkoxy group, and the like, G represents hydrogen, and the like, Z represents halogen, a cyano group, a nitro group, a C1-6 alkyl group, and the like, and n represents an integer of 1-5 useful as an active ingredient in a herbicide and a noxious arthropod controlling agent.
US09029289B2

The present invention relates to a catalyst for preparing carboxylic acids and/or carboxylic anhydrides, which has a plurality of catalyst zones arranged in series and has been produced using a vanadium antimonate having a maximum content of crystalline valentinite of 5% by weight. The present invention further relates to a process for gas-phase oxidation in which a gas stream comprising at least one hydrocarbon and molecular oxygen is passed through a catalyst which has a plurality of catalyst zones arranged in series and has been produced using a vanadium antimonate having a maximum content of crystalline valentinite of 5% by weight.
US09029285B2

A catalyst including: a support, the support including a mixture of SiO2 and ZrO2; an active ingredient including copper; a first additive including a metal, an oxide thereof, or a combination thereof; and a second additive including Li, Na, K, or a combination thereof. The metal is Mg, Ca, Ba, Mn, Fe, Co, Zn, Mo, La, or Ce. Based on the total weight of the catalyst, the weight percentages of the different components are as follows: SiO2=50-90 wt. %; ZrO2=0.1-10 wt. %; copper=10-50 wt. %; the first additive=0.1-10 wt. %; and the second additive=0.1-5 wt. %.
US09029269B2

A method of treating the surface of a semiconductor wafer through the formation of a bonding system is provided in order to enhance the handling of the wafer during subsequent processing operations. The method generally comprises the steps of applying a release layer and an adhesive to different wafers; bonding the wafers together to form a bonded wafer system; performing at least one wafer processing operation (e.g., wafer grinding, etc.) to form a thin processed wafer; debonding the wafers; and then cleaning the surface of the processed wafer with an organic solvent that is capable of dissolving the release layer or any residue thereof. The adhesive includes a vinyl-functionalized polysiloxane oligomeric resin, a Si—H functional polysiloxane oligomeric resin, a catalyst, and optionally an inhibitor, while the release layer is comprised of either a silsesquioxane-based resin or a thermoplastic resin.
US09029263B1

An integrated circuit containing linear structures on regular pitch distances may be formed by forming linear mandrels over a layer of material for the linear structures, with mandrel pitch distances that are twice the desired linear structures' pitch distances. Mandrels for a first plurality of linear structures are shortened. A layer of spacer material is conformally formed over the mandrels and anisotropically etched back to form spacers on lateral surfaces of the mandrels. Spacers on the shortened mandrels are narrower than spacers on the unshortened mandrels as a result of the anisotropic etchback. The mandrels are removed, leaving the spacers in place to form a spacer-based etch mask for the linear structures. The layer of material for the linear structures is etched using the spacer-based etch mask to form the linear structures. The linear structures from the shortened mandrels have lower widths than the linear structures from the unshortened mandrels.
US09029260B2

The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. The method includes forming a patterned dielectric layer having a plurality of first openings. The method includes forming a conductive liner layer over the patterned dielectric layer, the conductive liner layer partially filling the first openings. The method includes forming a trench mask layer over portions of the conductive liner layer outside the first openings, thereby forming a plurality of second openings, a subset of which are formed over the first openings. The method includes depositing a conductive material in the first openings to form a plurality of vias and in the second openings to form a plurality of metal lines. The method includes removing the trench mask layer.
US09029259B2

A self-aligning hybridization method enabling small pixel pitch hybridizations with self-alignment and run-out protection. The method requires providing a first IC, the surface of which includes at least one electrical contact for connection to a mating IC, depositing an insulating layer on the IC's surface, patterning and etching the insulating layer to provide recesses in the insulating layer above each of the electrical contacts, and depositing a deformable conductive material in each of the recesses. A mating IC is provided which includes conductive pins positioned to align with the deformable conductive material in respective ones of the recesses on the first chip. The first and mating ICs are then hybridized by bringing the conductive pins into contact with the deformable conductive material in the recesses, such that the conductive material deforms and the pins make electrical contact with the first IC's electrical contacts.
US09029256B2

Methods of fabricating 3D charge-trap memory cells are described, along with apparatus and systems that include them. In a planar stack formed by alternate layers of electrically conductive and insulating material, a substantially vertical opening may be formed. Inside the vertical opening a substantially vertical structure may be formed that comprises a first layer, a charge-trap layer, a tunneling oxide layer, and an epitaxial silicon portion. Additional embodiments are also described.
US09029245B2

A first patterned contact layer, for example a gate electrode, is formed over an insulative substrate. Insulating and functional layers are formed at least over the first patterned contact layer. A second patterned contact layer, for example source/drain electrodes, is formed over the functional layer. Insulative material is then selectively deposited over at least a portion of the second patterned contact layer to form first and second wall structures such that at least a portion of the second patterned contact layer is exposed, the first and second wall structures defining a well therebetween. Electrically conductive or semiconductive material is deposited within the well, for example by jet-printing, such that the first and second wall structures confine the conductive or semiconductive material and prevent spreading and electrical shorting to adjacent devices. The conductive or semiconductive material is in electrical contact with the exposed portion of the second patterned contact layer to form, e.g., an operative transistor.
US09029244B2

An apparatus and method for fabricating a semiconductor device using a 4-way valve with improved purge efficiency by improving a gas valve system by preventing dead volume from occurring are provided. The apparatus includes a reaction chamber in which a substrate is processed to fabricate a semiconductor device; a first processing gas supply pipe supplying a first processing gas into the reaction chamber; a 4-way valve having a first inlet, a second inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet and installed at the first processing gas supply pipe such that the first inlet and the first outlet are connected to the first processing gas supply pipe; a second processing gas supply pipe connected to the second inlet of the 4-way valve to supply a second processing gas; a bypass connected to the second outlet of the 4-way valve; and a gate valve installed at the bypass.
US09029233B1

Resistive-switching memory elements having improved switching characteristics are described, including a memory element having a first electrode and a second electrode, a switching layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, the switching layer comprising a first metal oxide having a first bandgap greater than 4 electron volts (eV), the switching layer having a first thickness, and a coupling layer between the switching layer and the second electrode, the coupling layer comprising a second metal oxide having a second bandgap greater the first bandgap, the coupling layer having a second thickness that is less than 25 percent of the first thickness.
US09029231B2

A method of fabricating a fin selector with a gated RRAM and the resulting device are disclosed. Embodiments include forming a bottom electrode layer and a hardmask on a semiconductor substrate; etching the hardmask, bottom electrode layer, and semiconductor substrate to form a fin-like structure; forming first and second dummy gate stacks on first and second side surfaces of the fin-like structure, respectively; forming spacers on vertical surfaces of the first and second dummy gate stacks; forming an ILD surrounding the spacers; removing the first and second dummy gate stacks, forming first and second cavities on first and second sides of the fin-like structure; forming an RRAM layer on the first and second side surfaces of the fin-like structure in the first and second cavities, respectively; and filling each of the first and second cavities with a top electrode.
US09029227B2

A p-channel flash memory is formed with a charge storage stack embedded in a hetero-junction layer in which a raised source/drain is formed. Embodiments include forming a dummy gate stack on a substrate, forming a layer on the substrate by selective epitaxial growth, on each side of the dummy gate stack, forming spacers on the layer, forming raised source/drains, removing the dummy gate stack, forming a cavity between the spacers, and forming a memory gate stack in the cavity. Different embodiments include forming the layer of a narrow bandgap material, a narrow bandgap layer under the spacers and a wide bandgap layer adjacent thereto, or a wide bandgap layer under the spacers, a narrow bandgap layer adjacent thereto, and a wide bandgap layer on the narrow bandgap layer.
US09029222B2

Three dimensional quantum well transistors and fabrication methods are provided. A quantum well layer, a barrier layer, and a gate structure can be sequentially formed on an insulating surface of a fin part. The gate structure can be formed over the barrier layer and across the fin part. The QW layer and the barrier layer can form a hetero-junction of the transistor. A recess can be formed in the fin part on both sides of the gate structure to suspend a sidewall spacer. A source and a drain can be formed by growing an epitaxial material in the recess and the sidewall spacer formed on both sidewalls of the gate electrode can be positioned on surface of the source and the drain.
US09029218B2

Horizontal and vertical tunneling field-effect transistors (TFETs) having an abrupt junction between source and drain regions increases probability of direct tunneling of carriers (e.g., electrons and holes). The increased probability allows a higher achievable on current in TFETs having the abrupt junction. The abrupt junction may be formed by placement of a dielectric layer or a dielectric layer and a semiconductor layer in a current path between the source and drain regions. The dielectric layer may be a low permittivity oxide such as silicon oxide, lanthanum oxide, zirconium oxide, or aluminum oxide.
US09029211B2

A method is provided for fabricating a nano field-effect vacuum tube. The method includes providing a substrate having an insulating layer and a sacrificial layer; and forming a sacrificial line, a source sacrificial layer and a drain sacrificial layer. The method also includes forming a trench in the insulating layer; and forming a dielectric layer on the surface of the sacrificial line. Further, the method includes forming a metal layer on the dielectric layer to fill up the trench, cover the sacrificial line and expose the source sacrificial layer and the drain sacrificial layer; and removing the source sacrificial layer and the drain sacrificial layer. Further, the method also includes removing the sacrificial line to form a through channel; forming an isolation layer on the metal layer; and forming a source region and a drain region on the insulating layer at both ends of the metal layer.
US09029208B2

In a method of fabricating a semiconductor device, a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate is provided. This SOI substrate comprises a buried oxide layer and an ETSOI layer between the buried oxide layer and a surface of the SOI substrate. A dummy gate is formed on the ETSOI. At least two raised source/drain regions are epitaxially formed adjacent to the dummy gate, and a protective cap is formed thereon. An etch process employing at least one acid is used to remove the dummy gate from the ETSOI. A gate dielectric layer is deposited on the protective cap and the ETSOI after removing the dummy gate. A replacement metal gate is then formed on the gate dielectric layer to replace the removed dummy gate, the gate dielectric layer is removed from the protective metal cap, and the protective cap is removed from the raised source/drain regions.
US09029206B2

A structure includes first and second silicon controlled rectifiers (SCRs) formed in a substrate. The first and the second SCRs each include at least one component commonly shared between the first and the second SCRs.
US09029203B2

This disclosure provides a semiconductor package and a method of fabricating the same. The semiconductor package includes an insulating layer; a plurality of traces and connection pads disposed in the insulating layer and protruded from the insulating layer; a plurality of bumps formed on the plurality of traces; a semiconductor chip disposed on the bumps; and an encapsulant formed on the insulating layer to encapsulate the semiconductor chip, the plurality of bumps, traces and connection pads. When the encapsulant is formed, voids can be prevented from being generated in the traces and the connection pads and thus the yield of process is significantly increased.
US09029201B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide for the dissipation of heat from semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) structures. In one embodiment, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit is disclosed. In a first step, active circuitry is formed in an active layer of a SOI wafer. In a second step, substrate material is removed from a substrate layer disposed on a back side of the SOI wafer. In a third step, insulator material is removed from the back side of the SOI wafer to form an excavated insulator region. In a fourth step, a thermal dissipation layer is deposited on said excavated insulator region. The thermal dissipation layer is thermally conductive and electrically insulating.
US09029200B2

A method for manufacturing semiconductor devices is disclosed. In one embodiment a semiconductor substrate having a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface and a plurality of semiconductor components is provided. The semiconductor substrate has a device thickness. At least one metallization layer is formed on the second surface of the semiconductor substrate. The metallization layer has a thickness which is greater than the device thickness.
US09029194B2

A method of making an integrated circuit module starts with a top leadframe strip comprising a plurality of integrally connected top leadframes. A plurality of flipchip dies are mounted on the top leadframe strip with solder bumps of each flipchip bonded to predetermined pad portions on each of the top leadframes. The top leadframe strip is attached to a bottom leadframe strip. The bottom leadframe strip has a plurality of integrally connected bottom leadframes each having a central die attach pad (DAP) portion and a peripheral frame portion. A back face of each flipchip die contacts the DAP portion of each bottom leadframe. Lead portions of each top leadframe are attached to the peripheral frame portion of each bottom leadframe. The top leadframe strip is attached to the bottom leadframe strip with a back face of each flipchip die contacting the DAP portion of each bottom leadframe and with lead portions of each top leadframe attached to the peripheral frame portion of each bottom leadframe.
US09029191B2

An object is to provide a high reliability thin film transistor using an oxide semiconductor layer which has stable electric characteristics. In the thin film transistor in which an oxide semiconductor layer is used, the amount of change in threshold voltage of the thin film transistor before and after a BT test is made to be 2 V or less, preferably 1.5 V or less, more preferably 1 V or less, whereby the semiconductor device which has high reliability and stable electric characteristics can be manufactured. In particular, in a display device which is one embodiment of the semiconductor device, a malfunction such as display unevenness due to change in threshold voltage can be reduced.
US09029173B2

A method for formation of a semiconductor device, the method including: providing a first mono-crystalline layer including first transistors and first alignment marks; providing an interconnection layer including aluminum or copper on top of the first mono-crystalline layer; and then forming a second mono-crystalline layer on top of the first mono-crystalline layer interconnection layer by using a layer transfer step, and then processing second transistors on the second mono-crystalline layer including a step of forming a gate dielectric, where at least one of the second transistors is a p-type transistor and at least one of the second transistors is an n-type transistor.
US09029169B2

Microfluidic devices having a protein renaturation component and methods for using the same are provided. Aspects of the present disclosure include microfluidic devices that include a separation medium with a first flow path and a protein renaturation component in fluid communication with the separation medium and having a second flow path. Also provided are methods of using the devices as well as systems and kits that include the devices. The devices, systems and methods find use in a variety of different applications, including diagnostic and validation assays.
US09029162B2

Disclosed are methods and systems for the analysis of testosterone in a sample using supported liquid extraction and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.
US09029157B2

A system for measuring a property of a sample is provided. The system comprises a diagnostic measuring device having a memory and a diagnostic test strip for collecting the sample. The strip has embedded thereon a pattern representative of at least first data and second data, the first data being data representing at least one of parameters related to measuring the property, codes usable for calibration of the diagnostic measuring device, or parameters indicating proper connection between the measuring device and the test strip and the second data usable for detecting and rejecting potential errors affecting the proper measurement of the property.
US09029156B2

The subject matter of the present disclosure is directed to developing a method of measuring the amount of producible oil and the producible oil saturation in shale-oil reservoirs using sample source rock. Further, the physical and chemical properties and amounts of producible oil in shale-oil reservoir samples may be determined. First and second solvents are applied to a sample source rock to extract petroleum from the sample source rock. The extracted source rock, the twice-extracted source rock, and the first and second extracted petroleum may be analyzed to determine the characteristics and properties of the reservoir rock.
US09029149B2

Provided herein are apparatus and systems for fabricating highly aligned arrays of polymeric fibers having isodiameters ranging from sub 50 nm to microns with lengths of several millimeters. The approach disclosed herein uses (e.g.) a micropipette to deliver polymeric solution which is collected in the form of aligned fibers on a rotating and linearly translating substrate. The methods deposit polymeric fibers on spherical surfaces and gapped surfaces with precise control, thus heralding new opportunities for a variety of applications employing polymeric fibers. The design workspace for depositing fibers disclosed herein is dependent upon processing parameters of rotational/linear translational speeds and material properties of solution rheologies. Techniques for fabrication of multilayer fiber arrays, for fabrication of cell growth scaffolds and for attachment of particles to the fiber arrays are also disclosed.
US09029145B2

The present invention provides an isolated population of chondrocyte precursor cells wherein 1% or less of the cells express Oct4, Nanog and/or TRA-1-60, 7% or less of the cells express no collagen II, collagen X, CD105 or Stro-1 and 85% or more of the cells express CBFA1, methods for preparing such cells and uses of chondrocyte cells derived from said precursor cells.
US09029142B2

Gene encoding human glucokinase mutant is provided. The gene has the nucleotide sequence chosen from the nucleotide sequence listed as SEQ ID NO:2 and the nucleotide sequence wherein the ORF region encodes the same amino acid sequence as the one encoded by ORF region (position 487 to 1884) of SEQ ID NO:2 and the rest of the region is same as the non-ORF region of SEQ ID NO:2. Human glucokinase mutant encoded by the gene, the recombinant vectors carrying the gene, the hosts comprising the vectors, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, uses thereof, and methods for treating and preventing diseases by using the same are provided. The human glucokinase mutant encoded by the gene has higher activity than that of the wild type human glucokinase, and thus provides a new way of controlling blood glucose and/or preventing and/or treating disturbance of carbohydrate metabolism, especially preventing and treating diabetes.
US09029141B2

Disclosure of a mammalian cytoplasmic donor cell line. Disclosure of a patient specific cell line. Methods to obtain a mammalian cytoplasmic donor cell line by fusing a differentiated mammalian cell and a functionally enucleated mammalian embryonic cell line. Methods to obtain a mammalian cytoplasmic donor cell line by fusing a differentiated mammalian cell and a functionally enucleated human cancer cell. Methods to obtain a patient specific cell line of a cell type similar to a mammalian cytoplasmic donor cell line by functionally enucleating the mammalian cytoplasmic donor cell line and fusing the functionally enucleated mammalian cytoplasmic donor cell line with a differentiated cell obtained from the patient. A method of treatment of a human patient by administering the patient-specific cell line to the patient.
US09029139B2

Methods for generating and using omentum cells, and particularly stromal cells and/or omentum stem cells, in medical treatments such as tissue repair and regeneration to facilitate healing from traumatic injury to an abdominal organ, and immune modulation treatments such as suppression of immune responses and inflammation and prevention of tissue fibrosis. According to one aspect, a medical procedure is performed on a patient that involves harvesting omental tissue from the patient, and then transferring the omental tissue to an organ of the patient. At least a portion of the harvested omental tissue may be activated prior to transferring the omental tissue to the organ. Alternatively, the transferred omental tissue may comprise non-lymphoid cells isolated from the omentum tissue and obtained by homogenizing at least a portion of the harvested omental tissue. The invention also encompasses a medical procedure comprising the transfer of omental stem cells to a patient, and a procedure comprising in vitro activation of omental stem cells by T cells to enhance immunomodulatory functions of the omental stem cells.
US09029133B2

The present invention provides a recombinant virus containing a nucleotide sequence encoding a tumor-therapeutic full-length antibody with human constant regions, and uses thereof. After a nucleotide sequence of a gene encoding a tumor-therapeutic full-length antibody with human constant regions of the light chain and the heavy chain is inserted into the genome of a recombinant virus, the tumor-therapeutic full-length antibody with human constant regions can be efficiently expressed in tumor cells, thereby inhibit the growth and metastasis of tumors.
US09029121B2

A method for the biological decomposition of organic compounds of the group of hydrocarbons, fats, oils, waxes, and derivatives thereof as well as mixtures thereof in media polluted therewith, in the presence of at least one dispersant, wherein the medium polluted with the pollutants is treated with at least one dispersant and with microorganisms.
US09029120B2

This disclosure describes genetically modified photosynthetic microorganisms, including Cyanobacteria, that contain one or more exogenous genes encoding a diacyglycerol acyltransferase, a phosphatidate phosphatase, and/or an acetyl-CoA carboxylase, and which are capable of producing increased amounts of fatty acids and/or synthesizing triglycerides.
US09029118B1

Selective enrichment media and methods for selectively growing and detecting Salmonella spp. The media comprise a carbon and nitrogen source, an inorganic salt, a fermentable sugar, one or more selective agents, and an efflux pump inhibitor. Various selective agents include sulfa drugs, surfactants, aminocoumarins, cycloheximide, supravital stains, ascorbic acid, bromobenzoic acid, myricetin, rifamycins, polyketides, and oxazolidinones. Various efflux pump inhibitors include arylpiperazines, such as 1-(1-naphthylmethyl)piperazine, and quinoline derivatives, such as 4-chloroquinoline. The selective agents and efflux pump inhibitors are provided in the media in combinations and amounts that inhibit growth of non-Salmonella microorganisms without substantially affecting growth and metabolism of Salmonella species. Methods of selectively growing and detecting Salmonella species are provided.
US09029103B2

Provided herein is a method for sequencing a polynucleotide molecules. The method includes the steps of providing a plurality of polynucleotide molecules attached to a surface, wherein a first portion of each polynucleotide molecule is attached to a first location of the surface and a second portion of each polynucleotide molecule is attached to a second location of the surface, the relative proximity of the first and second locations being correlated with the probability that the first and second portions are paired, separating the first and second portions of the polynucleotide molecules on the surface, determining the sequences of the first and second portions of the polynucleotide molecules and comparing the relative proximities and the sequences to determine which first and second portions are paired and to determine the sequence of the target polynucleotide molecules.
US09029101B2

Microplate reader with optical measuring/detection device has housing, a microplate support and a moving unit. The moving unit moves the microplate support out and into the housing and horizontally within the housing. The reader has an integrated lid holding apparatus within the housing for lifting and placing a microplate lid on the microplate. The lid holding apparatus moves the microplate lid and/or the microplate support for moving the microplate in one respective vertical direction. A method for optically measuring a microplate in such a microplate reader places a covered microplate on the microplate support, retracts it into the housing, lifts the lid from the microplate, measures the microplate with the lifted lid, replaces the lid, and extends the support and the covered microplate out of the housing.
US09029097B2

The present invention relates to novel biosensors that are based on bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET). These biosensors may be used to monitor rapid interaction and conformational changes within G protein-coupled receptor/G protein complexes and, in this way, reflect the activation status of the receptor. Advantageously, the biosensors may be used as a highly sensitive and quantitative assay for the identification of ligands (agonists, antagonists, inverse agonists, partial agonists, etc.) targeting G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) as well as for the analysis of the activation status of these receptors. Moreover, multiplexing different biosensors within receptors/G protein complexes allows for mapping ligand textures. Additionally, the biosensors permit the direct, real-time examination of interactions between receptors and G protein in their natural environment, the living cell.
US09029085B2

The present invention generally relates to droplets and/or emulsions, such as multiple emulsions. In some cases, the droplets and/or emulsions may be used in assays, and in certain embodiments, the droplet or emulsion may be hardened to form a gel. In some aspects, a heterogeneous assay can be performed using a gel. For example, a droplet may be hardened to form a gel, where the droplet contains a cell, DNA, or other suitable species. The gel may be exposed to a reactant, and the reactant may interact with the gel and/or with the cell, DNA, etc., in some fashion. For example, the reactant may diffuse through the gel, or the hardened particle may liquefy to form a liquid state, allowing the reactant to interact with the cell. As a specific example, DNA contained within a gel particle may be subjected to PCR (polymerase chain reaction) amplification, e.g., by using PCR primers able to bind to the gel as it forms. As the DNA is amplified using PCR, some of the DNA will be bound to the gel via the PCR primer. After the PCR reaction, unbound DNA may be removed from the gel, e.g., via diffusion or washing. Thus, a gel particle having bound DNA may be formed in one embodiment of the invention.
US09029077B2

The present invention relates to a manufacturing method for fibrous demineralized bone matrix, the method comprising: (a) a step for subjecting a bone, separated from a body, to a primary demineralization in an acid solution for 1-5 hours; (b) a step for slicing the bone obtained in step (a) to a thickness of 0.1-3 mm, thus forming a sheet of bone; (c) a step for subjecting the sheet of bone obtained in step (b) to a secondary demineralization in an acid solution for 2-6 hours; and (d) a step for grinding the demineralized bone obtained in step (c).
US09029061B2

A carrier for use in a two component developer for developing an electrostatic latent image is provided. The carrier includes a particulate core material; and a cover layer located on a surface of the core material and including a silicone resin and barium sulfate. The cover layer includes Ba and Si at an atomic ratio of from 0.01 to 0.08 as determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.
US09029054B2

An electron transporting layer is a cured layer including carbon atoms, nitrogen atoms and oxygen atoms. When ratios of the number of carbon atoms, ratios of the number of nitrogen atoms, and ratios of the number of oxygen atoms are analyzed at 10 points by an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ESCA), the respective standard deviations, σ(C), σ(N) and σ(O), of the ratios of the number of carbon atoms, the ratios of the number of nitrogen atoms and the ratios of the number of oxygen atoms satisfy the following expressions (1) to (3): σ(C)≦1.5  (1), σ(N)≦1.5  (2), and σ(O)≦1.5  (3).
US09029052B1

A photosensitive resin composition, a color filter and a method for manufacturing the same, and a liquid crystal display apparatus are provided. The photosensitive resin composition includes a pigment, an alkali-soluble resin, a compound containing an ethylenically unsaturated group, a photoinitiator, and an organic solvent. The photosensitive resin composition has the advantages of high contrast, low post-baking color difference, and good linearity of high precision pattern.
US09029047B2

A near-field exposure mask according to an embodiment includes: a silicon substrate; and a near-field light generating unit that is formed on the silicon substrate, the near-field light generating unit being a layer containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Au, Al, Ag, Cu, Cr, Sb, W, Ni, In, Ge, Sn, Pb, Zn, Pd, and C, or a film stack formed with layers made of some of those materials.
US09029044B2

An interconnector, or bipolar plate, for a high-temperature solid electrolyte fuel cell is composed of a sintered chromium alloy which has sintering pores and contains >90% by weight of Cr, from 3 to 8% by weight of Fe and optionally from 0.001 to 2% by weight of at least one element of the group of rare earth metals. The chromium alloy contains from 0.1 to 2% by weight of Al and the sintering pores are at least partially filled with an oxidic compound containing Al and Cr. The interconnector has a high impermeability to gas and dimensional stability.
US09029041B2

To an internal vessel that houses cells of a solid oxide fuel cell, an external vessel is further disposed. In the internal vessel, a plurality of planar cells is disposed vertically with a gap between the cells, a mixed gas of a fuel and air is descended from top down through the gap having a predetermined width between the cells, and, at a bottom portion of the housing space, the mixed gas is burned to generate electricity.
US09029038B2

A method of forming a fuel cell stack, wherein the stack includes an anode electrode layer, an adhesive and anode gas diffusion layer coupled to the anode electrode layer, an ion exchange membrane coupled on a first side to the gas diffusion layer opposite the anode electrode layer, an adhesive and cathode gas diffusion layer coupled to a second side of the ion exchange membrane, and a cathode electrode layer coupled to the adhesive and cathode gas diffusion layer opposite the ion exchange membrane. The fuel cell stack may be flexible.
US09029032B2

The present invention provides an apparatus for controlling hydrogen supply of a fuel cell system and a method for controlling the same. The apparatus includes a jet pump, a proportional control solenoid valve, and a controller. The jet pump is disposed at the side of an inlet of a fuel cell stack and performs supply and recirculation of hydrogen into the fuel cell stack. The proportional control solenoid valve is connected to a hydrogen supply line and fluidly communicates with a nozzle inlet of the jet pump to control the hydrogen supply to the jet pump. The controller controls an operation of the proportional control solenoid valve according to a power of the fuel cell system. Here, the controller controls the operation of the proportional control solenoid valve according to a pulse flow control method at a low power section in which a current power is lower than a predetermined reference power.
US09029027B2

Embodiments of the invention relate to an electrochemical cell comprising: (i) a fuel electrode comprising a metal fuel, (ii) a positive electrode, (iii) an ionically conductive medium, and (iv) a dopant; the electrodes being operable in a discharge mode wherein the metal fuel is oxidized at the fuel electrode and the dopant increases the conductivity of the metal fuel oxidation product. In an embodiment, the oxidation product comprises an oxide of the metal fuel which is doped degenerately. In an embodiment, the positive electrode is an air electrode that absorbs gaseous oxygen, wherein during discharge mode, oxygen is reduced at the air electrode. Embodiments of the invention also relate to methods of producing an electrode comprising a metal and a doped metal oxidation product.
US09029017B2

A nickel composite hydroxide for a lithium secondary battery represented by Formula 1 below with a small compositional variation in M: Ni1-x-y-zCoxMyMnz(OH)2  (1), where, in Formula 1, M is aluminum (Al), zirconium (Zr), titanium (Ti), magnesium (Mg), silicon (Si), or zinc (Zn), x is a number from 0 to 0.5, y is a number from 0.01 to 0.2, and z is a number from 0 to 0.5.
US09029010B2

The molding packaging material 1 according to the present invention includes a heat resistant resin layer 2 as an outer layer, a thermoplastic resin layer 3 as an inner layer, a metal foil layer 4 arranged between the heat resistant resin layer and the thermoplastic resin layer, and a black ink layer 10 arranged between the metal foil layer 4 and the heat resistant resin layer 2. The black ink layer 10 contains carbon black, diamine, polyol, and hardening agent. The black ink layer does not partially crack and detach even when the molding packaging material according to the present invention is used in a somewhat harsh environment such as a hot and humid environment and/or at the time of molding or sealing.
US09029005B2

Disclosed is a battery module structure including unit cells having positive and negative cell taps at an edge each unit cell to induce electricity, a plurality of receptacles respectively coupled to cell taps of unit cells, and a plurality of bus bars electrically connecting receptacles. Advantageously, the present invention, ensures a stable connection between the unit cells, makes manufacturing and assembling easy, ensures high durability, allows for implementation of various shapes and structures of the battery modules, and freely determines the arrangement structure and the number of the unit cells in various ways.
US09029001B2

A separator (1) for electrode plates (2) in gel storage batteries having two substantially rectangular layers (3, 3′) of a flat separator material, which layers come to lie in mutually superposed relationship. In order to provide less expensive separators for the separation of plate electrodes in gel storage batteries, which have a low electrical resistance and which afford additional protection for the edges and side surfaces and at the same time permit homogenous gel filling of the storage battery, the invention proposes that the two layers of separator material are connected together at least portion-wise in the region of their edges, forming a casing or pocket for the introduction of an electrode plate and a method and battery employing the separator.
US09029000B2

A circuit substrate module and a battery module using the circuit substrate module are disclosed. The battery module includes: a plurality of battery units, wherein each battery unit comprises a plurality of battery cells, a case for accommodating the plurality of battery cells, a plurality of electrode terminals, and a plurality of communication connectors coupled to the battery cells and protruding out of the case; a circuit substrate module mounted on the plurality of battery units and comprising a circuit substrate, wherein a plurality of circuit substrate connectors are coupled to the plurality of communication connectors, wherein the plurality of circuit substrate connectors are coupled to a single external connector that is configured to be coupled to an external device.
US09028994B2

A battery module includes at least one pair of first and second battery cells, each of the first and second battery cells including a first electrode terminal and a second electrode terminal and a first face including a first connecting portion, a terminal connecting member electrically connecting the first electrode terminal of the first battery cell and the second electrode terminal of the second battery cell, and a sensing member including a second connecting portion coupled with the first connecting portion. The first and second connecting portions are located on the first face and the terminal connecting member is in a pressure applying relationship with the first and second connecting portions. The first face may be provided by a cap plate, and the first and second electrode terminals are spaced apart at respective ends of the cap plate.
US09028990B2

In an embodiment, a fuel cell system for supplying emergency power to an aircraft, includes a fuel cell, a hydrogen tank, an oxygen tank, and a power distribution unit. This provides for an emergency power supply for aircraft that is reliable, independent of the outside air, and has low maintenance needs.
US09028977B2

The present invention relates to a novel compound of Formula 1, a method for manufacturing the same, and an organic electronic device using the same, and the novel compound according to the present invention may act as a hole injection, hole transport, electron injection and transport, or light emitting material in an organic light emitting device and an organic electronic device, and the device according to the present invention shows excellent properties in terms of efficiency, a driving voltage, and stability.
US09028972B2

A copper foil for a printed wiring board, the copper foil being characterized by having, on at least one surface thereof, a roughed layer of the copper foil in which an average diameter at a particle root (D1) corresponding to a distance of 10% of a particle length from the root, is 0.2 μm to 1.0 μm, and a ratio of the particle length (L1) to the average diameter at the particle root (D1) is 15 or less when L1/D1. A copper foil for a printed wiring board, wherein a sum of area covered by holes on an uneven and roughened surface of a resin is 20% or more at a surface of the resin formed by laminating the resin and a copper foil for a printed wiring having a roughened layer and then removing the copper layer by etching. An object of the present invention is to develop a copper foil for a semiconductor package board in which the aforementioned phenomenon of circuit erosion is avoided without deteriorating other properties of the copper foil. In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide a copper foil for a printed wiring board and a producing method thereof, wherein a roughened layer of the copper foil can be improved to enhance the adhesiveness between the copper foil and a resin.
US09028962B2

A transparent cover glass for applications such as, but not limited to, touch screen devices that embody antimicrobial properties that include s being antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral. The antimicrobial glasses contain nanoparticles of Cu or Cu2O on the surface of the glass. The antimicrobial glasses can further have a fluorosilane coating or other coating on the surface to make the glasses easy-to-clean. Also, glass surfaces having an antibacterial or antimicrobial surfaces and a protective coating on the surface that do not inhibit the antibacterial or antimicrobial properties of the glass are described. The disclosure is further directed to methods of making such articles.
US09028957B2

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the preparation of colloidal dispersions or suspensions of inorganic materials with nano-sized and nano-structured morphologies, preferably the nanosheet form, compositions produced by this method, and the like.
US09028952B2

Disclosed is a multilayered weatherable film for a solar cell, which has superior elongation change rate, strength change rate and haze and thus is suitable for use in a solar cell, and includes a hard layer having a polyester or copolyester polymer resin and a soft layer having polybutylene terephthalate containing polytetramethylene ether glycol, which are regularly or irregularly laminated in a multilayer form.
US09028947B2

A heat shield is disclosed. The heat shield may have a honeycomb core having a plurality of intersecting wall portions forming a plurality of cells. A strain compliant material may be applied to the wall portions of the honeycomb core prior to filling of the cells with an ablative material. An ablative material may be used that at least substantially fills the cells of the honeycomb core.
US09028936B2

A housing shell for electrical measuring, controlling and communication devices, in particular the lower housing part of a cellphone, has very great flexural and torsional rigidity in spite of an extremely small wall thickness if it is formed as a part created by a forming operation from the planar blank of a thermoplastically impregnated long-fibered multi-layered mat. Fine-membered functional elements of likewise thermoplastic material are then molded onto the housing shell in an injection mold.
US09028933B2

The present invention is a shrink label, comprising a heat-shrinkable multilayer resin film comprising an intermediate layer comprising a polystyrene type resin and outer surface layers comprising a polyester type resin, with said intermediate layer interposed therebetween, as a base film, wherein the polystyrene type resin composing said intermediate layer is an aromatic vinyl hydrocarbon-conjugated diene copolymer, and said intermediate layer is bonded to said outer surface layers with an adhesive layer comprising a hydrogen addition product of an aromatic vinyl hydrocarbon-conjugated diene copolymer, having at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of a carboxylic group, an acid anhydride group, an amino group, an epoxy group and a hydroxyl group in a molecule.
US09028932B2

The invention relates to a glass package (100) for sealing a device (120), to a system (110) comprising the glass package, a light source (210), a luminaire (200), a backlighting system (310), and to a display device (300). The glass package according to the invention comprises a first glass substrate (10), a second glass substrate (20), and a seal (30) sealing an interface between the first glass substrate and the second glass substrate. The seal comprises a frit (30) comprising glass. A CTE of the frit is chosen to be at least 10% lower compared to the CTE of the first glass substrate and/or of the second glass substrate. An effect of the glass package according to the invention is that the difference between the CTE of the frit compared to the CTE of the first glass substrate and/or the second glass substrate enables to generate a gas-tight sealed glass package while using a glass-material as the first glass substrate and/or as the second glass substrate which has a relatively high CTE.
US09028924B2

Methods of forming a film stack may include the plasma accelerated deposition of a silicon nitride film formed from the reaction of nitrogen containing precursor with silicon containing precursor, the plasma accelerated substantial elimination of silicon containing precursor from the processing chamber, the plasma accelerated deposition of a silicon oxide film atop the silicon nitride film formed from the reaction of silicon containing precursor with oxidant, and the plasma accelerated substantial elimination of oxidant from the processing chamber. Process station apparatuses for forming a film stack of silicon nitride and silicon oxide films may include a processing chamber, one or more gas delivery lines, one or more RF generators, and a system controller having machine-readable media with instructions for operating the one or more gas delivery lines, and the one or more RF generators.
US09028922B2

A manufacturing method according to the present invention includes a step of allowing lithium to deposit on a substrate provided with a layer capable of forming a compound together with lithium. A first beta ray and a second beta ray are emitted toward the substrate for irradiation before the deposition step to measure backscattering, from the substrate, of the first beta ray and the second beta ray. The first beta ray and the second beta ray are emitted toward the substrate for irradiation after the deposition step to measure backscattering, from the substrate, of the first beta ray and the second beta ray. A decrement in backscattering of the first beta ray before and after lithium deposition and a decrement in backscattering of the second beta ray before and after lithium deposition are calculated. The deposition step is controlled depending on the decrement in the backscattering of the first beta ray and the decrement in the backscattering of the second beta ray.
US09028918B2

A capping layer is formed over a hardmask layer to increase the etch resistance and overall performance of the hardmask layer. Embodiments include forming a hardmask layer over a substrate and forming a capping layer on the hardmask layer, the capping layer including a stack of at least two nanolayers.
US09028912B2

In a method of manufacturing an optical fiber base material including depositing soot generated by flame hydrolysis, the fluctuation band of the surface temperature of a burner fixing section including a burner holder and its fixture for burners for compounding the optical fiber base material is kept equal to or less than 80 degree C.The temperature can be controlled by a heat shield plate arranged between a burner flame and a burner fixing section and a temperature control mechanism that heats or cools the burner fixing section. Thereby the relative position between the burner and the soot deposition is stabilized, so that the manufacturing method being capable of manufacturing an optical fiber base material having a stable refractive index and the apparatus therefor can be provided.
US09028910B2

The present invention is directed to a method for manufacturing spin transfer torque magnetic random access memory (STTMRAM) devices. The method, which utilizes in-situ annealing and etch-back of the magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) film stack, comprises the steps of depositing a barrier layer on top of a bottom magnetic layer and then depositing an interface magnetic layer on top of the barrier layer to form an MTJ film stack; annealing the MTJ film stack at a first temperature and then cool the MTJ film stack to a second temperature lower than the first temperature; etching away a top portion of the interface magnetic layer; and depositing at least one top layer on top of the etched interface magnetic layer. The method may further include the step of annealing the MTJ film stack at a third temperature between the first and second temperature after the step of depositing at least one top layer.
US09028908B1

A system of rollers can transfer fluid from a reservoir to an electrically conductive wire feeding past the reservoir. The system can include a first cylinder that contacts the reservoir and rotates to pick up fluid from the reservoir. A second cylinder can contact the first cylinder and rotate. Fluid can transfer between the first cylinder and the second cylinder. The second cylinder can contact the feeding wire such that the second cylinder applies the fluid to the wire as the wire feeds past the second cylinder. Accordingly, two rotating cylinders can cooperatively transfer fluid from the reservoir to the moving wire.
US09028905B2

A process for cooking a food in oil and/or fat is provided. A dry pea protein mixture or an aqueous pea protein is added to a food prior to cooking. The amount of oil and/or fat absorbed by the food during cooking is substantially reduced.
US09028899B2

The present invention provides a food preservation system that includes an absorbent food pad that has absorbent material to absorb exuded liquids from a food product, and has an oxygen scavenging system to modify the atmosphere in the food package. Also described is a method of using the absorbent food pad to enhance appearance of the food product and extend shelf life.
US09028894B2

Gum manufacturing machinery and method of manufacturing gum is illustrated in which a gum loafing machine generates loaves of finished gum that are then subsequently run through a gum conditioner to more uniformly set the temperature and viscosity of the gum material prior to further processing. Upon achieving the appropriate conditioning level, a further forming extruder may be used to generate a continuous gum ribbon for subsequent rolling and scoring operations. The gum conditioner may include vertically stacked conveyors that have different operational modes including a first mode that provides a serpentine path for a long residence time and a second mode that provides a cascading path that avoids or bypasses much of the length of some of the conveyors to provide a shorter residence time. The gum manufacturing machinery may be used in an adjustable manner so as to accommodate difference gum recipes for different batches of gum product.
US09028889B2

The present invention relates to the use of a composition comprising at least one peptidic fava bean extract as an active agent capable of limiting hair loss, and/or stimulating its growth. Moreover, the composition is intended, on one hand, to modulate the Clock, Perl and Bmal1 genes in the dermal papilla cells, and, on the other hand, to restore the circadian rhythm and resynchronize the biological clock of said cells. Finally, the present invention relates to several methods of non-therapeutic cosmetic treatment using said composition.
US09028885B2

Disclosed is a composition comprising an extract of at least one selected from a group consisting of Rehmannia glutinosa, licorice, Coicis Semen, Hordei Fructus, Chaenomelis Fructus, Acanthopanacis Cortex and Puerariae Radix as an active ingredient. The composition promotes adipocyte differentiation and lipid droplet formation and is effective in improving skin wrinkles, enhancing skin elasticity and preventing skin aging.
US09028878B2

Compositions and methods, including novel homogeneous microparticulate suspensions, are described for treating natural surfaces that contain bacterial biofilm, including unexpected synergy or enhancing effects between bismuth-thiol (BT) compounds and certain antibiotics, to provide formulations including antiseptic formulations. Previously unpredicted antibacterial properties and anti-biofilm properties of disclosed BT compounds and BT compound-plus-antibiotic combinations are also described, including preferential efficacies of certain such compositions for treating certain gram-positive bacterial infections, and distinct preferential efficacies of certain such compositions for treating certain gram-negative bacterial infections.
US09028877B2

This invention discloses new krill oil compositions characterized by having high amounts of phospholipids, astaxanthin esters and/or omega-3 contents. The krill oils are obtained from krill meal using supercritical fluid extraction in a two stage process. Stage 1 removes the neutral lipid by extracting with neat supercritical CO2 or CO2 plus approximately 5% of a co-solvent. Stage 2 extracts the actual krill oils by using supercritical CO2 in combination with approximately 20% ethanol. The krill oil materials obtained are compared with commercially available krill oil and found to be more bioeffective in a number of areas such as anti-inflammation, anti-oxidant effects, improving insulin resistances and improving blood lipid profile.
US09028870B2

A controlled release dosage form has a coated core with the core comprising a drug-containing composition and a water-swellable composition, each occupying separate regions within the core. The drug-containing composition comprises a low-solubility drug and a drug-entraining agent. The coating around the core is water-permeable, water-insoluble and has at least one delivery port therethrough. A variety of formulations having specific drug release profiles are disclosed.
US09028868B2

Therapeutic compositions and methods for treatment of attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) include dosage forms that deliver a therapeutic amount of active drug in a delayed and controlled release formulation. The dosage form can be administered at night and drug release is delayed for from 3 to 8 hours, followed by an ascending release rate.
US09028865B2

A controlled release pharmaceutical composition which comprises therapeutically effective amount of pregabalin or salts thereof as active ingredient, a hydrophobic release controlling agent(s) and optionally other pharmaceutically acceptable excipients thereof.
US09028862B2

The present invention is directed to immediate release film coating systems for use on oral dosage forms such as compressed tablets and other orally-ingestible substrates which have improved moisture barrier properties. The film coating systems can be applied either directly to a substrate or after the substrate has been coated with a subcoat. In preferred aspects, the moisture barrier film coating is prepared as a dry powder mixture containing polyvinyl alcohol, a polymer with pH dependent solubility, a plasticizer, a glidant, and, optionally, a detackifier, an alkalizing agent and a pigment. Film coating compositions containing an aqueous suspension of the powder mixtures, methods of applying the coatings to substrates and the coated substrates are also disclosed.
US09028859B2

Medical devices and coatings for medical devices are disclosed, including methods for forming the devices and coatings. The devices and coatings comprise a phase-separated block copolymer matrix and one or more active agents. The phase-separated block copolymer matrix can be used to modulate the release-rate of one or more active agents from the medical device.
US09028858B2

The present invention provides an assembly for the preparation of a medical device having a porous coating comprising hydrogen peroxide. Particularly interesting medical devices are catheters (such as urinary catheters), endoscopes, laryngoscopes, tubes for feeding, tubes for drainage, guide wires, condoms, urisheaths, barrier coatings e.g. for gloves, stents and other implants, extra corporeal blood conduits, membranes e.g. for dialysis, blood filters, devices for circulatory assistance, dressings for wound care, and ostomy bags. The coating is in particular a hydrophilic coating formed from cross-linked polyvinylpyrrolidone. In one embodiment, the assembly holds a dry catheter element in one compartment of a package and an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution in another compartment. The solution may also comprise stabilizers, e.g. chelators, and osmolality increasing agents. The catheter for insertion in the urethra is useful for the treatment, alleviation or prophylaxis of microbial infections such as urinary tract infections (UTI).
US09028848B2

The present invention relates to a composition for cosmetics including a polyglycerol fatty acid ester, which is an ester of polyglycerol having an average degree of polymerization of 4 to 100 with a fatty acid having 2 to 18 carbon atoms, has a hydroxyl value equal to or less than 15 mgKOH/g, and has a specific gravity at 20° C. of 0.96 to 1.15; a cosmetic which includes the composition for cosmetics; a method for producing an oil-in-water emulsion cosmetic which includes mixing the composition for cosmetics; and a two-separate-layer-type cosmetic, which comprises the composition for cosmetics. The present invention relates to the composition for cosmetics which can be appropriately used in producing a cosmetic giving a highly excellent feel in using and having a very good texture, a cosmetic showing a very high stability over time as an emulsion, and a two-separate-layer-type cosmetic.
US09028846B2

A hospital bed is provided that may include a support structure having a plurality of surfaces coated with an antimicrobial treatment, which may include a silane quaternary ammonium salt and isopropyl alcohol. The silane quaternary ammonium salt may include an unreacted organofunctional silane to promote bonding to the surfaces of the bed, such as 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyldimethyloctadecyl ammonium chloride. Bed accessories, such as tables and IV stands, may also include the antimicrobial treatment. A method is also provided for coating these articles with the antimicrobial treatment.
US09028844B2

The present invention relates to a vaccine against Trypanosoma cruzi infection, useful in the prevention and/or treatment of the Chagas disease. More specifically, the present invention relates to a recombinant mutant trans-sialidase enzyme that can be used as an efficient vaccine, without side effects.
US09028842B2

The present invention provides anti-Plasmodium immunogenic compositions comprising EVP1 (PFD0495c) or an antigenic portion thereof, as well as methods of immunizing against malaria employing these compositions. In other embodiments, the present invention provides methods of identifying Plasmodium infection employing agents that bind to EVP1 or an antibody generated thereto.
US09028839B2

The invention relates to a vaccine composition comprising:a) inactivated whole virus, andb) a stabilizing excipient which comprises: i. a buffer solution, ii. a mixture of essential and nonessential amino acids, iii. a disaccharide, iv. a polyol, v. a chelating agent, vi. urea or a urea derivative, and vii. a nonionic surfactant.
US09028833B2

The present invention relates to therapeutic immunoconjugates comprising SN-38 attached to an antibody or antigen-binding antibody fragment. The antibody may bind to EGP-1 (TROP-2), CEACAM5, CEACAM6, CD74, CD19, CD20, CD22, CSAp, HLA-DR, AFP or MUC5ac and the immunoconjugate may be administered at a dosage of between 4 mg/kg and 24 mg/kg, preferably 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 16 or 18 mg/kg. When administered at specified dosages and schedules, the immunoconjugate can reduce solid tumors in size, reduce or eliminate metastases and is effective to treat cancers resistant to standard therapies, such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy or immunotherapy.
US09028832B2

A humanized anti-EGFR antibody L4-H3 and gene encoding the antibody are disclosed. The antibody is composed of a heavy chain and a light chain. The amino acid sequence of the heavy chain variable region is shown as positions 1-145 of SEQ ID NO: 3, the heavy chain constant region is the heavy chain constant region of the human antibody IgG1, and the amino acid sequence of the light chain is shown as SEQ ID NO: 1.
US09028828B2

Immunogenic compositions comprising a p97 adhesin adjuvant polypeptide, or a nucleic acid encoding said p97 adhesin adjuvant polypeptide, and a heterologous antigen are disclosed. Uses of the p97 adhesin adjuvant polypeptide or nucleic acid, or immunogenic compositions comprising same, for inducing an immune response against a heterologous antigen in a subject are also disclosed.
US09028825B2

A brain damage-related disorder is diagnosed in a subject by detecting at least one polypeptide, or a variant or mutant thereof, in a sample of body fluid taken from the subject, wherein the polypeptide is one for which the level is either increased or decreased in cerebrospinal fluid from deceased patients compared to cerebrospinal fluid from healthy donors.
US09028818B2

The invention relates to antibodies binding to the proteins forming adrenomedullin receptors, and to the uses thereof as a drug.
US09028817B2

The invention relates to storage-stable anti-TNFR1 antibody single variable domains (dAbs), antagonists and multispecific ligands, as well as methods and uses of these. The anti-TNFR1 polypeptides, antibody single variable domains (dAbs), antagonists and multispecific ligands are useful for treating and/or preventing inflammatory disease, such as arthritis or COPD, as well as for pulmonary administration, oral administration, delivery to the lung and delivery to the GI tract of a patient.
US09028815B2

The present invention relates to molecules, particularly polypeptides, more particularly immunoglobulins (e.g., antibodies), comprising a variant Fc region, wherein said variant Fc region comprises at least one amino acid modification relative to a wild-type Fc region, which variant Fc region binds FcγRIIIA and/or FcγRIIA with a greater affinity, relative to a comparable molecule comprising the wild-type Fc region. The molecules of the invention are particularly useful in preventing, treating, or ameliorating one or more symptoms associated with a disease, disorder, or infection. The molecules of the invention are particularly useful for the treatment or prevention of a disease or disorder where an enhanced efficacy of effector cell function (e.g., ADCC) mediated by FcγR is desired, e.g., cancer, infectious disease, and in enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of therapeutic antibodies the effect of which is mediated by ADCC.
US09028813B2

The present invention relates to a designer or recombinant ubiquitin ligase molecule that includes a toxin binding domain that is specific for a toxin active fragment, wherein the toxin active fragment is an enzymatically active fragment of one or more toxins or toxin serotypes; and an E3-ligase domain that comprises an E3-ligase or polypeptide that facilitates E2-mediated ubiquitination of the toxin active fragment. In an embodiment, the composition further includes a delivery system that allow the designer ubiquitin ligase to enter the cell. The present invention further includes methods for treating an individual intoxicated with a toxin by administering the designer ubiquitin ligase of the present invention.
US09028810B2

A novel use of periostin, and more particularly a composition for inducing the migration of neural stem cells, which contains periostin or a periostin-secreting cell as an active ingredient, based on the discovery of a novel function of periostin that induces the migration of neural stem cells. Periostin induces the migration of neural stem cells, and thus the composition for inducing the migration of neural stem cells, which contains periostin or periostin-secreting cells as an active ingredient, can be used in various applications based on neural stem cells. A pharmaceutical composition containing suicide gene-expressing neural stem cells and periostin allows the neural stem cells to effectively migrate to tumor tissues, and thus can be used as a cell therapeutic agent for treating cancer. Also, the pharmaceutical composition containing neural stem cells and periostin has improved effects on the stimulation of regeneration of nerve cells and the treatment of neural diseases.
US09028805B2

Present invention is related to a conditioning composition for hair comprising at least one cationic and/or cationizable surfactant of amido amine type, at least one aminated silicone and at least one fatty acid lower alcohol ester.
US09028804B2

The present invention is directed to water-resistant compositions comprising: a reaction product of at least one lactone compound and at least one amine compound chosen from amino alcohol compounds and alkoxylated amine compounds; and optionally, at least one carrier. These water-resistant compositions are capable of providing or acting as a carrier for delivering benefits to various substrates, for example, keratinous substrates such as skin and hair, while at the same time, imparting durable or long lasting hydrophobicity and/or a protective barrier onto said substrates.
US09028803B2

The present invention relates to a chewing gum having a high Surface Area to Volume ratio (SAV ratio), wherein said chewing gum comprises a water insoluble gum base matrix, a water soluble bulk portion and nicotine, wherein the gum base matrix, nicotine and the bulk portion are mixed and extruded to form a final extruded chewing gum product having a SAV ratio above 0.7, and wherein sustained release of nicotine is facilitated by adding 0.1-10% of C8-C10 triglycerides by weight of the chewing gum.
US09028801B2

The invention relates to a method of diagnosis of vCJD in a diagnostic sample of a valid body tissue taken from a human subject, which comprises detecting an increased concentration of a protein in the diagnostic sample, compared with a sample of a control human subject, the protein being: beta-actin (SwissProt Acc. No. P60709), apolipoprotein A-IV precursor (SwissProt Acc. No. P06727); haptoglobin beta-chain consisting of residues 162-406 (SwissProt Acc. No. P00738); haemoglobin beta chain (SwissProt Acc. No. P02023); or alpha-1-antitrypsin (SwissProt Acc. No. P01009); or a decreased concentration of a protein in the diagnostic sample, compared with a sample of a control, normal human subject, the protein being plasma protease (C1) inhibitor precursor (SwissProt Acc. No. P05155); complement component 1, s sub-component (SwissProt Acc. No. P09871); butyrylcholinesterase precursor (SwissProt Acc. No. P06276); complement component C4B (SwissProt Acc. No. P01028); lumican (SwissProt Acc. No. P51884); alpha-fibrinogen precursor (SwissProt Acc. No. P02671); IGHG4 protein (Swiss Prot Acc. No. Q8TC63) or immunoglobulin lambda heavy chain. Other marker proteins are also disclosed.
US09028800B2

The present application discloses compositions and methods of synthesis and use of 18F or 19F-labeled molecules of use in PET, SPECT and/or MR imaging. Preferably, the 18F or 19F is conjugated to a targeting molecule by formation of a complex with a group IIIA metal and binding of the complex to a bifunctional chelating agent, which may be directly or indirectly attached to the targeting molecule. In other embodiments, the 18F or 19F labeled moiety may comprise a targetable construct used in combination with a bispecific antibody to target a disease-associated antigen. The disclosed methods and compositions allow the simple and reproducible labeling of molecules at very high efficiency and specific activity in 30 minutes or less. In preferred embodiments, the labeled molecule may be used for imaging in a subject without purification after labeling.
US09028798B2

Methods for identifying compounds that modulate the generation of regulatory T cells (Treg) in vivo and in vitro, i.e., compounds that act on the transcription factors that increase or decrease expression of Foxp3.
US09028796B2

The present invention provides materials and methods to induce cell death by methuosis, a non-apoptotic cell death mechanism. Small molecules herein are useful for treating cell proliferation disorders or anomalies, particularly, but not exclusively, cancer. Methods related to the research and pharmaceutical use of the small molecules are also provided herein.
US09028795B2

The present invention relates to an organotemplate-free synthetic process for the production of a zeolitic material comprising YO2 and X2O3, wherein said process comprises the steps of (1) preparing a mixture comprising seed crystals, one or more sources for YO2, one or more sources for X2O3, and one or more solvents; (2) crystallizing the mixture obtained in step (1) to obtain a zeolitic material comprising YO2 and X2O3 as a crystallization product; wherein Y is a tetravalent element, and X is a trivalent element, and wherein at least a portion of the mother liquor obtained in step (2) is recycled to step (1) as a source for YO2, optionally after concentration of the mother liquor.
US09028793B2

The present invention provides a catalyst for generating hydrogen containing at least one composite metal selected from the group consisting of a composite metal of platinum and nickel and a composite metal of iridium and nickel, the catalyst being used in a decomposition reaction of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of hydrazine and a hydrate thereof; and a method for generating hydrogen, including contacting the catalyst for generating hydrogen with at least one compound selected from the group consisting of hydrazine and a hydrate thereof.According to the invention, hydrogen can be efficiently generated with improved selectivity in the method for generating hydrogen that utilizes the decomposition reaction of hydrazine.
US09028785B2

A CO2 amine scrubbing process uses an absorbent mixture combination of an amine containing a primary amino group CO2 sorbent in combination with a non-nucleophilic relatively stronger base. The weaker base(s) are nucleophilic and have the ability to react directly with the CO2 in the gas stream while the relatively stronger bases act as non-nucleophilic promoters for the reaction between the CO2 and the weaker base. Two moles of CO2 can be taken up by the primary amine groups in a dicarboxylation reaction, affording the potential for a highly efficient scrubbing process.
US09028778B2

The present disclosure provides methods for carrying out Romanowsky-type stains, specifically Wright-Giemsa and May-Grünwald stains, quickly and efficiently. The methods greatly reduce the overall amount of time required to complete a Wright-Giemsa stain or a May-Grünwald stain of sufficient quality on a biological sample. The subject methods can be applied to both manual and automated staining procedures.
US09028776B2

The invention provides structures and methods that allow polymers of any length, including nucleic acids, to be stretched into a long, linear conformation for further analysis.
US09028774B2

The invention relates to a pipetting apparatus, and a method for producing the same, comprising: —a valve arrangement having at least one valve device for setting a pipetting pressure, wherein the valve device comprises a valve chamber; —at least one pump device, which is connected to the valve chamber to generate a chamber pressure in the valve chamber; —a pipetting channel, to which the pipetting container can be connected, and; —a bypass channel, which is open to the surrounding environment; wherein the pipetting channel and the bypass channel are each connected to the valve chamber; —and wherein the at least one valve device is designed such that, to generate the desired pipetting pressure in the pipetting channel, the chamber pressure is distributed in a metered manner by the valve device between the pipetting channel and the bypass channel.
US09028770B2

This invention provides a cell made of polymers for spectra measurement while inhibiting a decrease in a molecular weight of resin caused by discharge treatment and having a stable hydrophilic modified surface. The hydrophilic resin cell is prepared by providing a polymeric resin cell between the two opposing electrodes, applying an electric field to a region between the above opposing electrodes under a nitrogen atmosphere with a pressure close to the atmospheric pressure to generate an electric discharge, and exposing the cell subjected to discharge treatment with a gas including oxygen.
US09028767B2

A method for mixing a chemical into a process liquid including: injecting the chemical into the process liquid flowing through a flow pipe; forming reaction products by a reaction involving the chemical occurring in the process flow; applying an electric field or magnetic field to a region of the flow pipe adjacent to the reaction occurring in the process flow, and suppressing the precipitation of the chemical or the reaction products on the surfaces of the pipe due to the electric or magnetic field.
US09028759B2

An aroma-diffusing heating device includes a heating base, an aroma capsule detachably accommodated in the heating base and heatable by the heating base to give off fragrance, and a cap capped on the heating base over the aroma capsule. The aroma capsule includes a heat-transfer container defining a top opening, an aromatic substance held in the heat-transfer container, and a sealing film bonded to the heat-transfer container to seal the aromatic substance in the heat-transfer container.
US09028758B2

Apparatus for detecting substances in an air sample, the apparatus including: a source of air pressure differential; a cyclone connected to the source of air pressure differential; an air input port connected to the cyclone, to receive the air sample; a substance output port connected to the cyclone, to receive the substances; an input port configured to disperse a finely separated material so that it mixes with said sample; and a detector located at the substance output port, to detect a chemical change in at least one of the substances and the finely separated material.
US09028742B2

The present invention discloses a steel wire tempering liquid wiping device. The device comprises a shell. A thermal insulation layer is provided on an inner wall of the shell, and a steel wire inlet and a steel wire outlet are provided on the shell. A wiping fiber rack is installed in a wiping cavity, and a tempering liquid wiping fiber is installed on the wiping fiber rack and is high temperature resistant fibers. After tempering, the steel wires pass through the tempering liquid wiping fiber. At the bottom of the wiping fiber rack, a tempering liquid recovery device is arranged. A heating device is installed in the shell. The steel wires come out from a high temperature tempering furnace, and then enter the steel wire tempering liquid wiping device.
US09028737B2

Provided is a technology with which, when producing a resin molded article, the inside of which is provided with an insert component such as a terminal fitting, it is possible to prevent the insert component from being exposed at an inappropriate position, and to ensure the desired positional accuracy. In an injection molding device, the accuracy of the position of a terminal is improved by allowing a core-back mold to move after a terminal, which is an insert component, has been inserted in a terminal tip holding section of a slide mold. By allowing the core-back mold to move by only a prescribed amount prior to injection molding, a resin wall is formed between the core-back mold and the terminal. The inappropriate exposure and shorting of and the adhesion of foreign substances to, and the like, the terminal can thus be prevented.
US09028733B2

An apparatus for forming a single extrudable food stream such as a cooked cereal dough into a plurality of differently colored and/or flavored dough streams is disclosed including an extruder having screw augers for advancing a plastic food mass, a head or manifold for dividing the plastic food mass into a plurality of substreams each in turn in fluid communication with a plurality of sub-divided dough passageways, and a die head having a plurality of die ports. Each subpassage is separately supplied an additive and has disposed therein a multiplicity of in-line static mixer elements to admix the additive into the substreams of the plastic food mass before passage through the die ports. In a preferred form, first and second substreams are intermixed in a non-homogenous manner before reaching the exit ports. The extrudates are severed into individual pieces by a rotary cutter.
US09028732B2

A single-sided, slip resistant, self-adhesive material is produced using a blown film process which produces a film having an interior layer capable of being treated or coated to accept a pressure sensitive adhesive, a middle layer of flexible polyolefin and an exterior polyolefin elastomer layer in combination with a blowing agent to produce a single-sided slip resistant material. A number of in-line rollers are optionally provided after a pair of nip rollers, which form part of a machine direction orienter (MDO) that is used in line in the manufacturing process to heat, and then cool and condition (anneal and relieve any stresses and/or thickness inconsistencies) the film prior to the film being coated on one side with a pressure sensitive adhesive.
US09028724B2

Provided is a method for preparing an aqueous dispersion of metal nanoparticles having superior dispersibility and being sinterable at low temperature by modifying the surface of metal nanoparticles having hydrophobic groups with hydrophilic groups. Specifically, by treating the surface hydrophobic groups of the metal nanoparticles with a surface modification solution containing a surfactant and a wetting-dispersing agent, the treatment throughput can be improved about 10-fold and the particles can be monodispersed without agglomeration. Further, by using an antioxidant and a ligand removal agent in the solution, denaturation and oxidation of the particles can be prevented and the high-boiling-point hydrophobic ligands can be eliminated effectively. The hydrophilically treated metal nanoparticles may be dispersed in an aqueous-based solvent to prepare a metal ink sinterable at low temperature.
US09028721B2

A target for sputtering which enables to attain high rate film-formation of a transparent conductive film suitable for a blue LED or a solar cell. A oxide sintered body includes an indium oxide and a cerium oxide, and one or more oxide of titanium, zirconium, hafnium, molybdenum and tungsten. The cerium content is 0.3 to 9% by atom, as an atomicity ratio of Ce/(In+Ce+M), the M element content is equal to or lower than 1% by atom, as an atomicity ratio of M/(In+Ce+M), and the total content of cerium and the M element is equal to or lower than 9% by atom, as an atomicity ratio of (Ce+M)/(In+Ce+M). The oxide sintered body has an In2O3 phase of a bixbyite structure has a CeO2 phase of a fluorite-type structure finely dispersed as crystal grains having an average particle diameter of equal to or smaller than 3 μm.
US09028720B1

Embodiments of the present invention provide cost-effective systems and methods for producing a synthesis gas product using a steam reformer system and an ion transport membrane (ITM) reactor having multiple stages, without requiring inter-stage reactant injections. Embodiments of the present invention also provide techniques for compensating for membrane performance degradation and other changes in system operating conditions that negatively affect synthesis gas production.
US09028712B2

There are provided an oxygen scavenger composition and the like, which are excellent in economy in which the amount of oxygen absorbed per unit volume of the oxygen scavenger composition is large, and rusting at high humidity is inhibited. The oxygen scavenger composition of the present invention comprises (A) an iron powder, (B) a metal bromide and/or a metal iodide, and (C) a thiosulfate.
US09028711B2

An inexpensive negative electrode material for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes three types of powder materials: alloy material A; alloy material B; and a conductive material. Alloy material A includes a CoSn2 structure containing Co, Sn, and Fe and has an Sn content of at least 70.1 mass % and less than 82.0 mass %. Alloy material B includes Co3Sn2 and has a lower discharge capacity than alloy material A. The proportion RB of the mass of alloy material B based on the total mass of alloy material A and B is greater than 5.9% and less than 27.1%. The content of the conductive material is at least 7 mass % and at most 20 mass % based on the total mass of alloy material A and B, and the conductive material. The exotherm starting temperature for the negative electrode material is less than 375.4° C.
US09028708B2

An aqueous chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) agent (A) comprising solid particles (a1) containing (a11) a corrosion inhibitor for metals, and (a12) a solid material, the said solid particles (a1) being finely dispersed in the aqueous phase; and its use in a process for removing a bulk material layer from the surface of a substrate and planarizing the exposed surface by chemical mechanical polishing until all material residuals are removed from the exposed surface, wherein the CMP agent exhibits at the end of the chemical mechanical polishing, without the addition of supplementary materials, —the same or essentially the same static etch rate (SER) as at its start and a lower material removal rate (MRR) than at its start, —a lower SER than at its start and the same or essentially the same MRR as at its start or—a lower SER and a lower MRR than at its start; such that the CMP agent exhibits a soft landing behavior.
US09028707B2

A composition comprising a refrigerant and a lubricant is disclosed, wherein the refrigerant comprises (i) a fluorocarbon selected from the group consisting of R125, R134a, R32, R152a, R143a, R218 and mixtures thereof, and (ii) a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of propane, n-butane, isobutane, n-pentane, isopentane, dimethyl ether, and mixtures thereof; the lubricant comprises (iii) a hydrocarbon-based lubricant component; and (iv) a synthetic lubricant component; and the synthetic lubricant component is less than 30% by weight of the total lubricant. Also disclosed are methods of replacing refrigerants in refrigeration or air conditioning systems containing a refrigerant comprising a CFC or HCFC and a lubricant. The methods involve adding to the system (a) a replacement refrigerant comprising (i) a fluorocarbon selected from the group consisting of R125, R134a, R152a, R32, R143a, R218 and mixtures thereof, and (ii) a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of propane, n-butane, isobutane, n-pentane, isopentane, dimethyl ether, and mixtures thereof; and (b) a synthetic lubricant component; wherein after refrigerant replacement the synthetic lubricant component is less than 30% by weight of the total amount of lubricant in the system.
US09028706B2

A binary composition of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and of ammonia, and also to the use thereof, in particular as a heat transfer fluid.
US09028705B2

A capsule having a solid core, a primary shell of liquid encapsulating the solid core and a secondary shell of particles encapsulating the primary shell. The primary and secondary shells are generally repulsive to each other. Also provided is a process for the manufacture of capsules and a process for the manufacture of a magnetic body.
US09028703B2

A sand filter for use with swimming pools includes a tank that has a hollow interior space and a top diffuser for allowing spent pool water to enter the tank and for distributing the pool water inside the tank. The sand filter also includes filter media formed as a bed of material on a bottom of the tank and also includes laterals that are located under the filter media and allow filtered pool water to exit the tank and flow back to the pool. The filter media includes a bed of sand that is disposed on the bottom of the tank and a layer of perlite material that is disposed on a top surface of the bed of sand. The perlite material is a high flow rate, low density perlite material that only contains a trace amount of floaters.
US09028692B2

A filter device is configured to filter a liquid. The filter device includes a drum sized to receive the liquid and a plurality of filter panels coupled to the drum to define a plurality of discs. The liquid passes through at least a portion of one of the discs. Each filter panel includes a perimeter frame that defines a panel normal flow area and a filter media coupled to the perimeter frame. The filter media may be adapted to include a plurality of pleats.
US09028684B2

Disclosed is a separating agent for optical isomer which is excellent in optical separation ability. Specifically disclosed is a separating agent for optical isomer containing: an inclusion complex including a π-conjugated polymer in a polymer compound having a hydroxy group or an amino group; and a carrier, the inclusion complex being carried by the carrier.
US09028683B2

To provide a medium suitable for high speed/high resolution, rich in hydrophilicity and resistant to a high concentration aqueous alkaline solution.A medium comprising crosslinked polymer particles containing from 20 to 95 mol % of repeating units derived from a (meth)acryloyl monomer represented by the formula (1): wherein R2 is a hydrogen atom or a C1-4 alkyl group, R1 is —NR3-R4-R5 or —O—R4-R5, R3 is a hydrogen atom or a C1-4 alkyl group, R4 is a C6-15 alkylene group containing an alicyclic ring or a C4-8 linear alkylene group, and R5 is a halogen atom, an alcoholic OH group, an amino group, a glycidyl group or an epoxy group.
US09028682B2

A system and method for efficiently removing hydrogen sulfide from a natural gas feed stream to produce a Stinson Process feed stream and an acid gas stream. A first solvent separates the majority of the carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons from the hydrogen sulfide in the natural gas feed to produce the Stinson feed stream. By removing the majority of the hydrogen sulfide prior to feeding the Stinson Process, a carbon dioxide stream suitable for use in flooding operations may be produced with the Stinson Process. The system and method also increase the concentration of hydrogen sulfide in the acid gas stream, making it suitable for sulfur recovery operations. The system and method are particularly suitable for natural gas feed streams containing 0.5%-20% hydrogen sulfide and at least 20% carbon dioxide. Operation in an anhydrous mode with the addition of nitrogen aids in solvent recovery for recycling.
US09028660B2

A magnetron sputtering apparatus (100) comprising: a magnetic array arranged to create a magnetic field (103) in the vicinity of a tubular target (2) which target at least partially surrounds the magnetic array and acts as a cathode (2a); an anode (2b); the magnetic array being arranged to create an asymmetric plasma distribution with respect to the normal angle of incidence to a substrate (3); and means (1b) for enhancing the magnetic field to produce a relatively low impedance path for electrons flowing from the cathode (2a) to the anode (2b).
US09028654B2

Disclosed herein is a system comprising an evaporation unit comprising a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with a second heat exchanger; where the first heat exchanger is operative to heat an effluent stream comprising an amine solvent and/or amine byproducts and water and to discharge the effluent stream to the second heat exchanger; where the second heat exchanger is operative to convert the effluent stream into a distillate stream and a concentrate stream; and a reverse osmosis unit in fluid communication with the evaporation unit; where the reverse osmosis unit comprises a first reverse osmosis unit that is operative to receive the distillate stream and to separate water from byproducts of the amine solvent such that the water has a purity of greater than 95%, based on the weight of the distillate stream.
US09028652B2

Absorbent members, especially bulked absorbent members, and methods of making the same are disclosed. The absorbent member may be in the form of a unitary absorbent fibrous layer comprising at least some cellulose fibers. The unitary absorbent fibrous layer is at least partially stratified through its thickness. The absorbent member may also have a plurality of discrete deformations, such as depressions and/or apertures in its surfaces. The method involves subjecting a precursor web to at least one cycle (or pass) through a mechanical deformation process. The mechanical deformation process utilizes a first forming member and a second forming member that form a nip therebetween through which the precursor web is passed. The first and second forming members are moving at different speeds relative to each other when they come together to form the nip.
US09028648B1

Provided are a substrate processing apparatus and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, which perform a cleaning process on the inside of an exhaust buffer chamber even if gases are exhausted using the exhaust buffer chamber. The substrate processing apparatus includes a processing space to process a substrate on a substrate placing surface, a gas supply system to supply gases into the processing space through a side facing the substrate placing surface, an exhaust buffer chamber including a communication hole communicating with the processing space at least at a side portion of the processing space and a gas flow blocking wall extending in a blocking direction of the gases flowing through the communication hole, a gas exhaust system configured to exhaust the gases supplied into the exhaust buffer chamber, and a cleaning gas supply pipe configured to supply a cleaning gas into the exhaust buffer chamber.
US09028644B2

Laminated glass is produced by laminating at least one film A, having a glass transition temperature TA and containing a polyvinyl acetal PA and optionally at least one plasticizer WA, and at least one film B, having a glass transition temperature TB and containing a polyvinyl acetal PB and at least one plasticizer WB, between two glass sheets, wherein, before the lamination process, film A has a proportion of plasticizer WA of less than 24% by weight, film B has a proportion of plasticizer WB of at least 24% by weight, and film A has a thickness of no more than 30% of the thickness of film B.
US09028640B2

A method for gluing of shaped bodies made of fiber composite compositions containing a plastic matrix KFZ with polyurethane compositions, the method including: a) application of IR radiation to a defined region of the shaped body of KFZ; b) application of a polyurethane composition to the defined region of the shaped body; c) bonding of the polyurethane composition on the defined region of the shaped body to a substrate; and d) curing of the polyurethane composition. The method is distinguishable by a rapid strengthening (early strength) of the polyurethane composition, so that the bond produced with its use can be machined or stressed already a short time after the application of the polyurethane composition.
US09028633B1

This invention relates generally to fabrics, films, sheets and other supporting media that contain and transport fire retarding materials. These transport media deliver fire retarding and smoke suppressing constituents to the surface of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite substrates during a manufacturing process. Upon exposure to open flame or radiant heat, the resultant manufactured product has much lower surface flammability and smoke development characteristics than would otherwise be achieved by the substrate material alone. By economizing the fire retardant constituents at the surface only, cost is reduced while also avoiding deleterious adulteration of the substrate material. When fire is prevented from penetrating the surface, combustion of the entire part is delayed or prevented. By embedding fire retardant within the surface using the native resin, no peeling or chipping occurs (as with paint), and the finish will be essentially as hard and durable as an untreated part.
US09028632B2

The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for assembling absorbent articles, and more particularly, diaper pants, each including a chassis connected with front and back elastic belts. As discussed in more detail below, opposing end regions of the chassis are connected with regions of the elastic belts where the elasticity of the elastic belts has been removed or deactivated. As discussed in more detail below, an elastic laminate may be formed by continuously bonding elastic strands between a first continuous substrate layer and a second continuous substrate layer. The elastic strands are then intermittently severed in light-bond regions of the elastic laminate. Adhesive on the laminate causes the severed elastic ends to retract or snap back from the light-bond regions at a relatively slower and/or controlled rate.
US09028627B2

A method for treating a component comprising a metallic or ceramic material with a crystalline, semi-crystalline or amorphous structure. According to the method, to case-harden the component, at least part of the surface of the component is exposed to an oil jet, while the temperature of the oil and/or the component is regulated. Also disclosed is a device for carrying out the method.
US09028621B2

A substrate rotates, and a liquid nozzle of a gas/liquid supply nozzle moves to a position above the center of the rotating substrate. In this state, a rinse liquid is discharged from the liquid nozzle onto the rotating substrate. The gas/liquid supply nozzle moves toward a position outside the substrate. A gas nozzle reaches the position above the center of the rotating substrate, so that the gas/liquid supply nozzle temporarily stops. With the gas/liquid supply nozzle stopping, an inert gas is discharged onto the center of the rotating substrate for a given period of time. After that, the gas/liquid supply nozzle again moves toward the position outside the substrate.
US09028615B2

A domestic appliance includes at least one component having a surface that can become laden with organic dirt. The surface includes a photocatalyst and is made from a primary-formed first material in which the photocatalyst is dispersed. A photoradiation source is provided for irradiating the photocatalyst with an activating electromagnetic radiation.
US09028610B2

A process for the production of a hydraulic binder, includes co-grinding a clinker and 0.1 to 5% by dry mass relative to the mass of clinker, of a material including more than 15% by mass of calcium silicate hydrate relative to the solid fraction of the material.
US09028600B2

An inkjet ink, which contains water, an organic solvent, a surfactant, and a colorant, wherein the organic solvent contains at least one polyhydric alcohol having an equilibrium moisture content of 30% by mass or higher at a temperature of 23° C. and humidity of 80% RH, at least an amide compound represented by the general formula (I), and at least one selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by the following general formulae (II) to (IV):
US09028597B1

A dust suppression apparatus comprising: (a) a turntable; (b) an engine; (c) a water mist blower comprising an air conduit, a plurality of water nozzles positioned so as to supply a spray of water to the air conduit, and a fan positioned so as to supply a stream of air through the air conduit, the water mist blower and the engine mounted on the turntable, the turntable adapted to permit the air conduit to be rotated horizontally, and the air conduit mounted so as to permit the air conduit to tilt vertically; (d) a water conduit adapted to supply pressurized water to the plurality of water nozzles; (e) a belt drive connected to the engine and adapted to supply power to the fan, and (f) a constant velocity joint connecting the belt drive to the fan.
US09028576B2

A gearbox includes an inlet configured to receive a mixture of air and oil from an external source and a deoiler. The deoiler includes a shaft including an inlet passage and an outlet passage, both formed on an inner portion of the shaft and separated from one another, a separator unit coupled to and surrounding a portion of the shaft and including an inlet and an outlet and a pre-pressuring component coupled to the shaft that increases the pressure of the mixture of oil and air to form a pressurized mixture and provides the pressurized mixture to the inlet of the separator unit.
US09028574B2

A polishing composition contains colloidal silica particles having protrusions on the surfaces thereof. The average of values respectively obtained by dividing the height of a protrusion on the surface of each particle belonging to the part of the colloidal silica particles that has larger particle diameters than the volume average particle diameter of the colloidal silica particles by the width of a base portion of the same protrusion is no less than 0.245. Preferably, the part of the colloidal silica particles that has larger particle diameter than the volume average particle diameter of the colloidal silica particles has an average aspect ratio of no less than 1.15. Preferably, the protrusions on the surfaces of particles belonging to the part of the colloidal silica particles that has larger particle diameters than the volume average particle diameter of the colloidal silica particles have an average height of no less than 3.5 nm.
US09028573B2

The present disclosure relates to cubic boron nitride (cBN) cutting elements that have high cBN content and that are cuttable by electric discharge machining (EDM). A cutting element according to an embodiment includes a self-sintered polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN) compact, having a first phase of cubic boron nitride (cBN) particles and a ceramic binder phase with titanium compounds. The first phase occupies greater than 80% by volume of the self-sintered PCBN compact. The self-sintered PCBN compact has an electrical conductivity sufficient to be cuttable by electrical discharge machining.
US09028567B2

For producing synthetic fuels, an educt mixture containing steam and oxygenates, such as methanol and/or dimethyl ether, is converted to olefins on a catalyst in a first process stage, and this olefin mixture then is divided in a separating means into a stream rich in C1-C4 hydrocarbons and a stream rich in C5+ hydrocarbons. The stream rich in C5+ hydrocarbons is divided into a stream rich in C5 and C6 hydrocarbons and a stream rich in C7+ hydrocarbons, wherein the stream rich in C5 and C6 hydrocarbons is at least partly subjected to an etherification with methanol. The ethers thus obtained are admixed to the gasoline product stream.
US09028566B2

A mechanism for transferring a flexible sheet material (202) from a first substrate (203) to a second substrate (204) is disclosed, the mechanism having a head rotatable and translatable relative to the first and second substrates, the head (201) comprising a cylindrical curved portion (205) having an outer face (207) across which are provided openings (206) configured to apply air pressure to sheet material (202) contacting the outer surface (207) such that the head (201) is adapted to transfer the sheet material (202) from the first substrate (203) to the second substrate (204) by a combination of rotation and translation of the head (201).
US09028558B2

A suspension liner for a residual limb has a liner body with a plurality of anterior and posterior projections formed from a thickness of the liner body. Medial and lateral tendons are located between and correspond to profiles of the plurality of the anterior and posterior projections such that the medial and lateral tendons are located on opposed sides of the liner body relative to one another. The medial and lateral tendons flare circumferentially toward proximal and distal sections of the liner body.
US09028557B2

A prosthetic includes a pair of prosthetic members movably coupled together to allow movement of the pair of prosthetic members with respect to one another. A hydraulic actuator or damper including hydraulic fluid in a hydraulic chamber is coupled to one of the pair of prosthetic members. A hydraulic piston is movably disposed in the hydraulic chamber and coupled to another of the pair of prosthetic members. A hydraulic flow channel is fluidly coupled between opposite sides of the chamber to allow hydraulic fluid to move between the opposite sides of the chamber as the hydraulic piston moves therein. A voice coil valve is coupled to the hydraulic flow channel to vary resistance to flow of hydraulic fluid through the flow channel, and thus movement of the piston in the chamber, and thus influencing a rate of movement of the pair of prosthetic members with respect to one another.
US09028551B2

A dilator retractor and the dilators that are used for minimally invasive spinal surgery or other surgery are configured to accommodate the anatomical structure of the patient as by configuring the cross sectional area in an elliptical shape, or by forming a funnel configuration with the wider end at the proximate end. In some embodiments the distal end is contoured to also accommodate the anatomical structure of the patient so that a cylindrically shaped, funnel shaped, ovoid shaped dilator retractor can be sloped or tunneled to accommodate the bone structure of the patient or provide access for implants. The dilator retractor is made with different lengths to accommodate the depth of the cavity formed by the dilators.
US09028549B1

Some embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus that (1) delivers a fusion member between two vertebral bodies after at least a portion of the fibrocartilaginous disc between the vertebral bodies has been removed, and (2) affixes the fusion member to the vertebral bodies. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes (1) a fusion member that is delivered and positioned between the vertebral bodies, (2) a delivery mechanism that delivers and positions the fusion member between the vertebral bodies, and (3) an anchoring member that affixes the fusion member to the vertebral bodies.
US09028544B2

A heart valve annulus sizer is provided for measuring a valve to be fitted with an annuloplasty ring. The sizer may include a body having a peripheral portion defining an opening, at least one rib disposed within the opening and dividing the opening into at least a first opening and a second opening, and an anchor disposed on and projecting from the body. The sizer may include a length of suture connected to the body. The anchor may include an aperture adapted to receive the length of suture. A method of using the sizer is provided that includes grasping the sizer with an instrument and positioning the sizer adjacent to a valve into a position suitable to allow for measurement of the valve.
US09028543B2

The invention provides a stent made from a material operable to perform a stent's desired therapeutic functions, and also made from a material that has a radiopacity that substantially preserves the appearance of the stent when the stent is viewed under a CT imaging beam. Such a stent can allow for follow-up of the stent and the surrounding blood-vessel on CT.
US09028542B2

A venous valve with a frame and a cover on the frame for unidirectional flow of a liquid through the valve.
US09028538B2

Disclosed are vertebroplasty methods that include cauterizing an inner cavity of a vertebra of a mammal, such as a human, and injecting bone cement into the vertebra. Systems and kits for performing such methods are also disclosed.
US09028536B2

Apparatuses and methods are disclosed for applying laser energy having desired pulse characteristics, including a sufficiently short duration and/or a sufficiently high energy for the photomechanical treatment of skin pigmentations and pigmented lesions, both naturally-occurring (e.g., birthmarks), as well as artificial (e.g., tattoos). The laser energy may be generated with an apparatus having a resonator with the capability of switching between a modelocked pulse operating mode and an amplification operating mode. The operating modes are carried out through the application of a time-dependent bias voltage, having waveforms as described herein, to an electro-optical device (e.g., a Pockels cell) positioned along the optical axis of the resonator.
US09028535B2

An orthopedic connection assembly is described that comprises a housing member for receiving an implant that is operably connected to a receiving member for receiving an anchor member. The connection assembly is configured to have a locking mechanism that secures and fixes the relative orientation between the implant and the anchor member. The connection assembly can comprise a plate member receivable within the housing member. When a securing member such as a set screw is introduced downwardly into the housing member to secure the implant, the securing member applies a lateral force to the plate member, which presses against an interference member within the receiving member. The interference member presses against the anchor member, such that the anchor member is fixed in a position relative to the implant.
US09028533B2

A method and apparatus of limiting at least one degree of movement between a superior vertebral body, an inferior vertebral body, and an intermediate vertebral body that is disposed between the superior and inferior vertebral bodies of a patient. The method can comprise: advancing a distal end of a stabilization device into a pedicle of the intermediate vertebral body; positioning a proximal portion of the stabilization device such that the proximal portion limits at least one degree of movement between the superior vertebral body and the intermediate vertebral body by contacting a surface of the superior vertebral body; and advancing a distal end of a fixation device into a facet of the intermediate vertebral body and into a facet or pedicle of the inferior vertebral body for stabilizing the intermediate vertebral body and the inferior vertebral body.
US09028528B2

A seal element for sealing between tissue lumens includes a first material for allowing tissue ingrowth and a second sealant material.
US09028510B2

Provided is a tissue excision method that excises a partial tissue within an excision region set in a hollow organ over an entire thickness direction. The tissue excision method includes a first process of gripping a peripheral edge portion of the excision region from the inside of the hollow organ; a second process of moving the portion and drawing the folded hollow organ into a slit with a predetermined width; a third process of suturing a part located outside the excision region so as to be integral over the thickness direction; and a fourth process of cutting the portion of the drawn hollow organ along the peripheral edge of the excision region. In the second process, a portion of a fluid within the hollow organ is moved out of the hollow organ to keep the internal pressure within a fixed range while drawing the portion of the hollow organ.
US09028504B2

An endoscopic surgical blade is disclosed. The blade is of a low-profile design, having a downward angled cutting surface that is radiused at its upper end. The blade is part of an endoscopic knife assembly which also contains a knife tube. The endoscopic knife assembly is for use in endoscopic surgery by insertion of the assembly through a slotted cannula. The knife tube is hollow and allows the insertion of an endoscope for viewing of the surgical procedure. A method for a performing an operative procedure on a target tissue in a subject using an endoscopic knife assembly having a low-profile, downward angled blade is also described.
US09028498B2

A bone fixation plate assembly includes a proximal plate having a proximal body with a first arm projecting therefrom, the first arm having an elongated expansion slot extending through a portion thereof and a threaded bore formed thereon so as to communicate with the expansion slot. A set screw is received within the threaded bore and has a top surface with a driver engaging feature formed thereon and an encircling perimeter edge. A distal plate has a distal body with a first sleeve projecting therefrom. The first sleeve bounds a socket with the first arm received therein. An access opening is formed on the first sleeve and is configured so that the driver engaging feature of the set screw is accessible through the access opening while at least a portion of the perimeter edge of the set screw is covered by the first sleeve.
US09028497B2

The present disclosure includes a method for reducing a bone fracture and an apparatus such as a cable button for use with a bone plate, the cable button including cable button threads, a plurality of cable button apertures, a hex socket, and a hex opening. The present disclosure also includes a method for reducing a bone fracture and an apparatus such as a cable button for use with a bone plate, the cable button including a plurality of legs, where a leg includes a protrusion, where the protrusion engages the bone plate, and the cable button defines at least one cable button aperture.
US09028496B2

A device is provided for insertion into a human bone to replicate the biomechanical forces found in a healthy bone in a human skeleton. The device can be configured in several different ways and is customizable to meet the requirements of a particular bone. The device is constructed with a central shaft having a compression plate at one end and a base member at the other. A plurality of wires interconnects the compression plate and the base member. The central shaft is threaded at both ends, with one end threaded into the base member and the other end threaded into the compression plate. An actuator is used to urge the base member in the direction of the compression plate. This action forces the plurality of wires to bow in an outward direction to stabilize the device against the bony surface on the interior surface of a bone.
US09028490B2

An electrosurgical suction coagulator includes a housing having proximal and distal ends and an elongated tube-like shaft extending longitudinally from the distal end of the housing. The elongated tube-like shaft includes a tube-like dielectric sheath, a tube-like conductor, and an external insulator. The tube-like conductor is disposed coaxially through the tube-like dielectric sheath. The distal end of the tube-like conductor protrudes at least partially from the distal end of the tube-like dielectric sheath. The external insulator is disposed coaxially around the tube-like dielectric sheath. The external insulator extends from about the proximal end of the dielectric sheath to about the distal end of the dielectric sheath.
US09028484B2

A fingertip-mountable electrosurgical instrument includes a monopolar electrode capable of directing energy into tissue, and a holder configured to be operably coupled to the monopolar electrode. The holder is also configured to be operably coupled to an energy source. The holder includes a housing body and one or more attachment members coupled to the housing body. The one or more attachment members are configured to be removeably attachable to a user's finger. The housing body includes a distal end and a proximal end. The monopolar electrode is mechanically coupled to the distal end of the housing body.
US09028483B2

A surgical instrument can comprise a first electrode, a second electrode, and a retractable sheath. At least one of the electrodes can comprise an insulative jacket extending along the length thereof which can comprise a tissue stop for limiting the progression of the electrode into tissue. In various embodiments, a surgical instrument can comprise a first electrode, a second electrode, and a displaceable arc guard positioned between the electrodes. In certain embodiments, a surgical instrument can comprise an electrode including a flexible mesh configured to conform to the tissue against which it is positioned.
US09028477B2

A tissue interface module has an applicator chamber on a proximal side of the tissue interface module and a tissue acquisition chamber on a distal side of the tissue interface module. The applicator chamber may include: an opening adapted to receive the applicator; an attachment mechanism positioned in the applicator chamber and adapted to attach the tissue interface module to the applicator; a sealing member positioned at a proximal side of the applicator chamber; and a vacuum interface positioned at a proximal side of the applicator chamber and adapted to receive a vacuum inlet positioned on a distal end of the applicator. The invention also includes corresponding methods.
US09028472B2

Medical devices and methods for making and using the same are disclosed. An example method may include renal-denervation treatment method. The method may include delivering an RF energy treatment to a tissue proximate a renal artery using a catheter assembly of a renal denervation catheter system. The denervation system may include an RF energy generator coupled with the catheter assembly by a controller. The method may also include applying neural activity stimulation to the tissue proximate the renal artery using the catheter assembly, assessing stimulated neural activity response of the tissue using the catheter assembly, and determining a parameter of the RF energy treatment based on the assessed neural activity.
US09028471B2

This invention concerns a cover member, especially for a HIFU head, comprising a peripheral outer wall, an open first side configured to partially cover an ultrasound head and a closed second side comprising a flexible membrane adapted for contact with a patient's skin, characterized in that the cover member is removeably attachable to the tip of said ultrasound probe.
US09028470B2

A method of treating hypertension in a mammal is described, including: by focused sound energy, heating at least one nerve at a surface of a renal artery in a mammal; during the heating and by magnetic resonance imaging, repeatedly determining thermal levels in each of first and second volumetric zones of a region that includes at least a portion of the surface, the second zone being adjacent to the first zone; after determining that an indicium of a thermal level in the first zone exceeds a first threshold, and upon determining that an indicium of a thermal level in the second zone exceeds a second threshold, ceasing the heating of the at least one nerve for at least three months; and as a result of the heating, lowering a blood pressure in the mammal.
US09028469B2

A treatment for subcutaneous fat and/or cellulite includes delivering a beam of radiation to a subcutaneous fat region disposed relative to a dermal interface in a target region of skin. The beam of radiation affects at least one fat cell in the subcutaneous fat region without causing substantial unwanted injury to the epidermal region and causes thermal injury to a dermal region to induce collagen formation to strengthen the target region of skin in a target region of skin. The treatment can include cooling an epidermal region of the target region of skin.
US09028468B2

A robotic arm especially suited for laparoscopic surgery, having a torsional joint and a flexural joint forming serially arranged joints is described. The joints provide respective degrees of freedom for the arm, which further receives drive means for such joints. The robotic arm also has transmission means placed between the drive means have and the joints. The transmission means a first and a second assembly of three gear wheels, preferably conical gear wheels, and a train of three additional gear wheels, preferably straight-cut gear wheels, which couple the first and second assembly to form a differential mechanism.
US09028457B2

A method and apparatus for separation, concentration, and/or applying a biological or bio-engineered fluid. Generally, the fluid application device includes a sprayer body to enable the application of the fluid and a container adaptable to enable the separation of the fluid into at least a first component and a second component. The container is releasably coupled to the nozzle. The nozzle is adapted to withdraw at least one of the first component or the second component from the container after the fluid has been separated to apply the fluid to a selected site.
US09028453B2

An injection device comprises a first sub-assembly. The first sub-assembly comprises a chamber for holding a fluid. The chamber comprises an inner surface and an exit aperture. The first sub-assembly comprises a stopper movably disposed within the chamber and having an outer surface substantially in contact with the inner surface about its perimeter. The first sub-assembly comprises an adapter adapted to transfer fluid into the chamber.
US09028449B2

A device and method for placing jejunal tube device through stomach and into small intestine with spring mechanism that is curled to diameter that is similar small bowel diameter, wherein the spring mechanism can be straightened during placement with a stiffening apparatus. The stiffening apparatus is guided by a forceps, and includes a retractable wire for use in attachment to the forceps. A c-plug is provided for centering jejunal tube during the placement procedure and to facilitate insufflation, the c-plug being split about midline to facilitate removal of the c-plug after tube placement.
US09028446B2

RFID chip (214) having various types of data is mounted on liquid syringe (200). Chemical liquid injector (100) obtains the various types of data from RFID chip (214) to perform a predetermined operation in accordance with at least some of the various types of data. For, example, a variable pattern for liquid can be recorded on RFID chip (214) of liquid syringe (200) to allow chemical liquid injector (100) to inject the liquid in accordance with the predetermined variable pattern. Thus, a large amount of data can be easily input to the chemical liquid injector to perform the various operations.
US09028443B2

A weeping balloon catheter includes a catheter having an elongate tubular body defining an inflation lumen and a combination lumen that terminates at an open distal end of the elongate tubular body. A dilation balloon is disposed at a distal end of the elongate tubular body and is in fluid communication with the inflation lumen. A drug delivery balloon is disposed at least partially over the dilation balloon and includes at least one drug release opening through an outer wall of the drug delivery balloon. The drug delivery balloon is in fluid communication with the combination lumen through a sidewall opening of the elongate tubular body.
US09028439B2

The present invention relates to a method for the preparation of a treatment machine for the treatment of a medical liquid comprising a coupling surface with actuators, with a cassette comprising a hard part with liquid-conducting passages which are covered by a flexible film being able to be coupled to the coupling surface of the treatment machine so that the actuators can control the liquid flow in the liquid-conducting passages by pressing the flexible film down into the cassette. In this connection, a switch is made after the setting up of the treatment machine and before the start of treatment into a stand-by mode in which the actuators are alternately moved to relieve the flexible film. It is possible for the first time by the stand-by mode before the start of treatment in accordance with the invention to completely uncouple the time-consuming setting up of the treatment machine from the treatment itself in a time aspect. The present invention furthermore comprises a corresponding treatment machine having a control for the carrying out of the method in accordance with the invention.
US09028433B2

Wearable devices, and methods of use thereof, are provided for the measurement of isometric limb strength. In some embodiments, the device includes pivotally connected members and associated contact pads for contacting portions of a limb, where the members may be locked in position to perform isometric flexion or extension force measurements of the limb about a joint. A load cell or other force measurement sensor integrated with the device measures the force applied to one of the contact pads, either directly or indirectly. In some embodiments, the device can be reconfigured for the measurement of isometric strength for both flexion and extension.
US09028431B2

A status detecting device is described for being attached to a living being, in particular a person, to detect the position of the body of the living being, having a first sensor, configured as an acceleration sensor and/or a gyroscopic sensor. An additional, second sensor, configured as a height measuring sensor, is also provided. Also described is a corresponding method.
US09028419B2

A blood pressure cuff includes a first bladder having a width, and a length transverse to the width. The blood pressure cuff also includes a second bladder connected to the first bladder and a port fluidly connected to at least one of the first and second bladders.
US09028417B2

There is provided in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention an ultrasound catheter for intrabody medical therapy comprising; an element adapted to emit ultrasound energy; at least two electrodes configured to apply a voltage across at least some volume of the element; and a gas bubble containment area adapted to retain the gas bubble when in blood.
US09028412B2

Apparatus and methods are described that include ultrasound imaging devices, which may operate in a transmissive ultrasound imaging modality, and which may be used to detect properties of interest of a subject such as index of refraction, density and/or speed of sound. Devices suitable for performing high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), as well as HIFU and ultrasound imaging, are also described.
US09028406B2

A system and method diagnoses esophageal reflux in a patient. A catheter includes a first pressure sensor configured to measure intra-abdominal pressure when the catheter is inserted into the stomach of a patient. A second pressure sensor is located proximal to the distal tip and configured to measure intra-thoracic pressure. A pH indicator is carried by the catheter body and configured to indicate that reflux has occurred in response to an involuntary reflex cough test. A processing device is configured to receive data regarding the first and second pressure sensors and regarding the pH indicator and process that data and assess if reflux is present during the involuntary epoch.
US09028398B2

A continuous flow irrigation endoscope and a continuous flow irrigation fluid management system, both designed to be compatible to each other and to function as a single system. The endoscope and the fluid management system are synergistic to each other such that both enhance the efficiency of each other. The invented system allows a body tissue cavity to be distended by continuous flow irrigation so that detached tissue pieces and waste fluid present inside a body tissue cavity are continuously automatically evacuated from the tissue cavity without causing the cavity to collapse at any stage and without the need of withdrawing the endoscope of a part of the endoscope from the tissue cavity. No type of feedback mechanism, such as mechanical or electrical, or valve or valve like systems, are incorporated in the endoscope to influence or facilitate the removal of detached tissue pieces or waste fluid in any manner.
US09028395B2

The present invention relates to a sexual stimulation device. In particular, the present invention relates to a sexual stimulation device having a phallic region, a discus region, and a handle region. In preferred embodiments, the device is configured for simultaneous insertion into a body cavity region (e.g., a vagina) and contacting of a non-body cavity region (e.g., a clitoris).
US09028385B2

An apparatus is disclosed for providing rods formed from a continuous supply of filter material for use in the manufacture of cigarette filter elements, each rod having individual objects placed at predetermined spaced intervals along the length thereof. The apparatus comprises a first hopper configured to provide a reservoir for objects, a second hopper positioned to receive objects from the first hopper, and a reciprocating screen disposed between the first hopper and the second hopper. The reciprocating screen defines a plurality of passageways therein, and the reciprocating screen is configured to facilitate transfer of the objects from the first hopper to the second hopper. The apparatus also comprises an object insertion unit in operable communication with the second hopper and configured to introduce a plurality of objects into engagement with the continuous supply of filter material.
US09028382B2

An extremity supporting exercise system is described. The system includes two knee sliders and two hand sliders. Each knee slider includes a knee pad and a knee base. The knee pad includes a recessed portion that is adapted to receive a user's knee. A patella support is disposed within the knee portion to support the user's patella when using the knee slider. Alternatively, each hand slider includes a hand pad and a hand base. The hand pad includes a series of finger indentations that are flanked by thumb receptacles. Importantly, the knee base and hand base are formed of a rigid and slippery material to allow the sliders to easily slide across a ground surface. Thus, through use of the exercise system, a user can support their hands and knees while sliding the hands and knees across a ground surface to perform a variety of exercises.
US09028378B2

In general, an exercise device includes a handle having a first end and a second end. A curved member is coupled to the first end of the handle. A movable member is coupled to the curved member, with the movable member configured to travel along a length of the curved member, where the movable member has a first portion and a second portion, and the second portion is configured to move relative to the first portion. An elongate member has a first end and a second end, and the first end of the elongate member is coupled to the second portion of the movable member. A weight is coupled to the second end of the elongate member.
US09028376B2

An exercise machine applicable for strengthening users abdominal muscles is described. The machine can include a track frame and a support frame adjustably coupled to the track frame. The track frame can include parallel rails to provide gliding support for movement along the parallel rails. Two sliding assembly may be movably mounted on separate pairs of the parallel rails respectively. Each sliding assembly may be configurable to move together or separately along the parallel rails. Two seat pads may be adjustably secured to the two sliding assembly respectively. Each seat pad may be rotationally adjustable to change angular relationship between the seat pad's longitudinal direction and movement direction along the parallel rails.
US09028373B2

An apparatus permitting a user to perform a simulated bicycling exercise is provided. The design includes a base, a frame comprising a head tube, and a lower front pivoting point connected to the base and an upper rear pivoting axial member positioned a fixed distance above the base. The lower front pivoting point and the upper rear pivoting axial member include a multiple component resistive element arrangement and collectively defining an axis of rotation, the axis of rotation forming a fixed angle relative to the base of 30 to 45 degrees, sloping upward in a rearward direction from the front pivoting point to the upper rear pivoting axial member. The design further includes a stem connected to a handlebar arrangement, the stem passing through the head tube and connected to the base by a connection arrangement comprising an arm.
US09028368B2

An exercise system includes one or more exercise devices that communicate via a network with a communication system. The communication system stores and/or generates exercise programming for use on the exercise device. The exercise programming is able to control one or more operating parameters of the exercise device to simulate terrain found at a remote, real world location. The exercise programming can include images/videos of the remote, real world location. The control signals and the images/videos can be synchronized so that a user of the exercise device is able to experience, via the changing operating parameters, the topographical characteristics of the remote, real world location as well as see images of the location.
US09028357B2

A power transfer unit assembly for a vehicle. The power transfer unit includes a housing, an internal variable speed differential positioned within the housing, a first front side shaft rotatively connected to the differential, a second front side shaft rotatively connected to the differential, an input shaft interconnected to at least one of the first and second side shafts, and at least one shifting mechanism for engaging at least one of the first and second shafts with at least one mode selection gear set. Engagement of the mode selection gear set transfers torque through the input shaft to selectively engage with a second gear set interconnected to a power transfer final drive unit assembly having an internal variable speed differential.
US09028351B1

A chain cleaning and lubricating device for use with chain driven vehicles, such as motorcycles. The chain cleaning and lubricating device includes a lubrication reservoir for storing chain lubricant, a lubrication applicator, and a control lever that is attachable to the handlebars of a motorcycle. A control cable operatively connects the control lever to a control valve that is operatively situated within the lubrication reservoir. The chain cleaning and lubricating device is affixed to a sprocket housing mounted to the frame of the motorcycle. The lubrication applicator includes a plurality of bristles that extend downward from the bottom surface of the lubrication reservoir to continuously engage the rotating chain of the motorcycle to remove debris from the chain. The control lever is selectively operated to regulate the flow of chain lubricant from the lubrication reservoir to the chain of the motorcycle.
US09028348B2

Scent delivery devices and methods of use are provided herein. According to some embodiments, the present technology may be directed to a scent delivery device configured to be housed within an arrow, the arrow having at least one opening to allow scent within the arrow to pass outwardly from the arrow, device having a base member at least partially insertable within a body of the arrow, a scent bearing member associated with the base, and a cap releaseably associable with the base, the cap covering the scent bearing member.
US09028345B2

A pin for a lawn game includes a shaft portion that includes a first end and a second ground contact end. The pin further has a first fence part that is fixedly attached to the shaft portion and radially extends outwardly from the shaft portion and a second fence part that is rotatably attached to the shaft portion and radially extends outwardly from the shaft. The second fence part is sized such that at least a portion of the second fence part is disposed within confines of the first fence part. The second fence part is rotatable relative to the fixed first fence part to allow the second fence part to be positioned at a desired angle, including a right angle, relative to the first fence part. The pin also has a flag disposed at the first end of the shaft portion.
US09028313B2

A method for manipulating a character of a soccer game includes, by an apparatus for manipulating the character of the soccer game, receiving information on a current position of a cursor in a game, the cursor being moved to correspond to movement of an input means on a soccer game screen, and information on a position of the game character controlled by a user via a user terminal that displays the game screen, calculating a direction of a vector that is formed to extend from the position of the game character to the position of the displayed cursor and a magnitude of the vector according to a distance between the position of the game character and the position of the cursor, and controlling the game character so as to be moved in the direction of the vector at a speed corresponding to the magnitude of the vector.
US09028309B2

A mounting flange for attaching an HVAC air diffuser terminal in an opening in a floor or other mounting surface. The mounting flange includes a trim ring and a flange clip. The flange clip is adjustably and movably received in a slot defined a side of the trim ring. A pawl on the flange clip engages with ratchets defined in a surface of the trim ring adjacent to the slot to maintain the flange clip in selected position relative the underside of a floor. The air diffuser terminal is secured in the floor opening between gripping surfaces on the flange clip and the trim ring. An optional screw operably connects the flange clip with the trim ring so that the diffuser may be securely tightened in the floor opening.
US09028305B2

A coin changer including a coin changer housing comprising a coin storage cassette. The coin storage cassette comprises a plurality of coin stores. A light source is located within the housing that directs light onto the coin stores with the light source providing sufficient light to allow a user to substantially view the coin stores in the absence of another light source.
US09028302B2

Polishing pads for polishing semiconductor substrates using eddy current end-point detection are described. Methods of fabricating polishing pads for polishing semiconductor substrates using eddy current end-point detection are also described.
US09028300B2

Disclosed is a grinding tool, which includes a first disk having an installation hole in a center portion thereof such that the grinding tool is installed on a grinder, a second disk forming a discharge passage with partitions on a bottom surface of the first disk, wherein air intaken from a central lower portion of the grinding tool is discharged to an outside thereof through the discharge passage, and a ring-shaped shank disposed under the second disk and including grinding tips to grind a target.
US09028297B2

The present invention relates to a polishing apparatus for polishing an object to be polished (substrate) such as a semiconductor wafer to a flat mirror finish. The polishing apparatus includes a polishing table configured to support a polishing pad, a polishing head having a top ring configured to press an object to be polished against the polishing pad while the object to be polished is rotated, and a dresser head having a dresser configured to dress the polishing pad. The polishing apparatus has a head cover having a purge gas introducing unit configured to introduce a purge gas into the head cover and an exhausting unit configured to exhaust the interior of the head cover. The pressure in the head cover is set to a pressure level slightly higher than the pressure outside the head cover, and main components of the polishing head are housed in the head cover.
US09028295B2

A grinder for sharpening the blades of reel mowers automatically to grind the underside of the blade of the reel mower.
US09028294B2

Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for monitoring a glass plate polishing state. The apparatus may include a location measuring unit for measuring a location on a glass plate being polished by a polishing machine, a current measuring unit for measuring an electric current flowing into the polishing machine, a memory unit for storing a reference value of the electric current flowing into the polishing machine for each polishing location of the glass plate, and a control unit for determining whether a polishing state is faulty, by comparing a value of the electric current measured by the current measuring unit for each polishing location measured by the location measuring unit with a corresponding reference value of the electric current stored in the memory unit for each polishing location.
US09028293B2

A dollhouse is moveable from a closed or folded position to an open or unfolded position. In its open configuration, the dollhouse provides one or more play areas on each side of the dollhouse. The dollhouse can be provided with a variety of sensors for detecting play activities and providing feedback such as audible feedback, motion or lights in response to the specific play activities. Feedback can also be produced in response to the order in which the sensors are activated and in response to activation by particular play components to encourage desired play behavior.
US09028290B2

Provided are a method of producing a polymer dispersed liquid crystal device with a cooling plate and a polymer dispersed liquid crystal device using the same. According to the producing method of the invention using the cooling plate capable of effectively removing heat with a simple method, it is possible to improve driving voltage characteristics and decrease a production cost of the polymer dispersed liquid crystal device.
US09028284B2

The invention relates to a crimping sleeve comprising a base part and at least two deformable crimping blades for producing a crimped connection to a cable, wherein the crimping blades each comprise a first region connected to the base part, a second region, and a middle region disposed between the first and the second regions, and wherein the base part comprises a greater thickness than the middle region of the crimping blades, the first region tapers down from the base part toward the middle region at least on a first side and the second region further tapers down from the middle region, starting at least on a second side opposite the first side, said sleeve thereby being equally suitable for cables having different cross sections for producing a reliable connection between the cables and crimping sleeve. The invention further relates to a connecting element having such a crimping sleeve.
US09028283B2

It is an objective to enhance sealing performance of a resin mold without subjecting a connector housing to special work. In an electric wire connection structure of a connector terminal in which an end of an electric wire (W) is connected to a rear portion of a connector terminal (10) and in which the electric wire connection is sealed of a resin mold (20), a step (d) that makes an underside (13b) of a rearmost end of the connector terminal (10) higher than an underside of an area ahead of the rearmost end is provided between the underside (13b) of the rearmost end and the underside (12b) ahead of the rearmost end, thereby assuring space (22) that enables filling of a resin which makes up a resin mold (20).
US09028277B2

A terminal locking structure for locking a terminal in a terminal accommodation chamber of a connector housing, the terminal locking structure comprises: a locking lance configured to lock the terminal to prevent the terminal from coming off from the terminal accommodation chamber, the locking lance being bendable in a direction intersecting the insertion direction of the terminal into the terminal accommodation chamber; and a flexible arm bendable in the direction intersecting the insertion direction of the terminal into the terminal accommodation chamber together with the locking lance, the flexible arm being formed extending from a front end of the locking lance to the insertion opening side provided for a corresponding terminal in the terminal accommodation chamber and being connected to an inner wall of the terminal accommodation chamber.
US09028275B2

An electronic apparatus includes: a receptacle having a plurality of pins for connecting a plug of a transmission cable; and a transmission cable determination section adapted to apply a predetermined voltage to a predetermined one of the pins of the receptacle to determine a category of the transmission cable.
US09028268B2

An electrical connector comprising: a shell, zinc alloy shell, body, front rubber core, rubber plug and wire; said zinc alloy shell body is provided with a holding groove penetrating from the front to rear ends; the front rubber core and the rubber plug are installed inside the zinc alloy shell body, and the shell set externally onto the zinc alloy shell body; the electric connector is provided with a hook unit, which penetrates the front rubber core, and is also coupled with the zinc alloy shell body; at the rear end of said hook unit, a locating part is molded, and also locked at the threading section of the wire. Compared with prior arts, the utility model features excellent air-tightness, anti-EMI capacity and compactness, thus improving the signal transmission capacity of the electric connector.
US09028259B2

A wearable cardiopulmonary resuscitation assist device or system including: a wearable article to be worn by a cardiopulmonary resuscitation performer or a patient, for assisting administration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation by the performer; at least one sensor for measuring at least one parameter to assist in cardiopulmonary resuscitation; at least one feedback component for conveying feedback information based on the parameter to the performer for assisting the performer in performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation; and a processing unit, the processing unit being configured to receive the at least one parameter from the at least one sensor and to send information based on the parameter to the at least one feedback component. Also a method for training or improving cardiopulmonary resuscitation procedures using the device.
US09028258B2

The present invention provides method and apparatus to perform combined cognitive and motor rehabilitation on a computerized non-portable system or on single portable device. A patient can play a variety of games that require the patient to perform a variety of memory exercises which involve physical exertion. The activities of the patient are monitored with pattern analysis software which provides feedback to the patient. The feedback can include voice synthesis, video guidance, progression messages etc. Patient data obtained while the patient is performing each of the memory exercises is stored locally on a database module and then uploaded to a cloud server. A remote psychologist/psychiatrist monitors the patient by logging into the same cloud, and updating cognition exercises. The same therapist can have live chats with the patient for further interaction and coaching.
US09028256B2

A method and system are presented to address quantitative assessment of visual motor response in a subject, where the method comprises the steps of: (1) presenting at least one scene to a subject on a display; (2) modulating the contrast of a predetermined section of the scene; (3) moving the predetermined section relative to the scene with the movement being tracked by the subject via at least one input device; (4) measuring a kinematic parameter of the tracked movement; (5) quantitatively refining the tracked movement; (6) determining the relationship between at least one of the scene and the quantitatively refined tracked movement; (7) adjusting the modulated contrast relative to the quantitatively refined tracked movement; (8) calculating a critical threshold parameter for the subject; and (9) recording a critical threshold parameter onto a tangible computer readable medium.
US09028254B2

Disclosed herein are acrylic and methacrylic acid ester-based polymeric materials containing as flexibilizing and brittleness reducing agents 1-60% of C4-C8 polyalkylene or polyalkyldiene compounds, preferably having a molecular weight of 300-2100, and the use of such materials in dentistry and medicine.
US09028250B2

A variety of improvements to the vibrating devices for dental remodeling are provided, including improved bite plate designs that accommodate common patient bite structure, a connector for a bite plate, a sizing tray for same, as well as better motors providing improved performance characteristics for an extraoral vibrator, and a completely intraoral vibrating dental plate with very thin cross section.
US09028248B2

The invention relates to a process and a plant for producing cement clinker, which has a furnace system and has essentially the following process steps:—raw material is preheated in a preheater by means of hot offgases from the furnace system,—dust is removed from the hot offgas downstream of the preheater in a preliminary dust removal apparatus to a residual dust concentration of max. 20 g/standard m3,—the offgas which has been subjected to preliminary dust removal is purified in a selective catalytic flue gas purification plant (selective catalytic reduction, SCR),—at least part of the offgas purified in the flue gas purification plant is conveyed in a bypass around a raw material milling plant to a cooling device and cooled there to temperatures of max. 140° C.,—before the residual dust in the offgas is precipitated in a process filter and—at least part of the residual dust precipitated in the process filter is discharged for removal of mercury.
US09028227B2

An electromagnetic pump is provided, which includes a hollow tubular body extending along a longitudinal direction, a piston mounted so as to be able to move inside the hollow tubular body, a solenoid, supplied with alternating current and assembled around at least a portion of the body and a magnetic envelope surrounding at least a portion of the body. The presence of a magnet magnetized longitudinally in a predetermined direction and a magnetic envelope orienting and channeling flux lines created by the magnet either around the solenoid or directly inside themselves creates an oscillating magnetic force on the piston.
US09028212B1

Apparatus, systems and methods of 50 CFM exhaust and ventilation fans for bathrooms with grill covers having removable light lens covers, and flaps/ears that allow the housings to mount directly to joists and/or other structural members inside of a ceiling or inside of a wall. The housing can include a mounting plate having a motor with attached impeller thereon, wherein the mounting plate with motor and attached impeller and electrical connectors can be removed as a single unit from the housing for accessing and inspecting interior wire connections during inspection and for ease in replacing parts such as burned out motors overtime.
US09028202B2

A variable geometry turbine includes a fluid space formed by a nozzle mount and a nozzle plate; and a plurality of nozzle vanes arranged in the fluid space at certain intervals in the circumferential direction so as to partition the fluid space. The nozzle vanes are supported by shafts on the nozzle mount, in such a manner as to be capable of turning. The flow rate of the discharged fluid can be adjusted by opening or closing the cross-sectional area of a flow path formed by the adjacent nozzle vanes. The nozzle plate is provided with plate projections protruding toward the nozzle vanes further than, at least, end surfaces of the nozzle vanes, so as to cover the spaces between leading edges of the nozzle vanes and trailing edges of the nozzle vanes adjacent thereto, when the nozzle vanes are at a closed position.
US09028197B2

A robot includes an arm having a base end portion rotatably installed through a joint part and a tip end portion in which an output shaft is installed; and a drive mechanism arranged within the arm and configured to drive the output shaft at a reduced speed. The drive mechanism includes a motor having a motor shaft, a driving pulley attached to the motor shaft, a driven pulley attached to the output shaft, at least one intermediate pulley provided between the driving pulley and the driven pulley, and a plurality of belts for operatively interconnecting the driving pulley and the driven pulley through the intermediate pulley.
US09028196B2

A recovery vehicle for recovering other, disabled vehicles, and a method for doing so. A vehicle frame extends along a longitudinal axis, and supports a travel base assembly carrying a boom. The travel base assembly can move along the longitudinal axis of the frame. Two or more traveler rollers may be located between the vehicle frame and the travel base assembly, for supporting the travel base assembly and facilitating longitudinal movement of the travel base assembly relative to the vehicle frame. The traveler rollers may include a plurality of rollers movable about a load-bearing member. Using the invention, a load may be lifted by the boom and moved between positions located at the rear and to the side of the recovery vehicle, without the need to first reposition the boom using boom lift or telescoping cylinders.
US09028190B2

A bookbinding apparatus inserts ring parts of a comb-shaped ring into binding holes of a sheet bundle and files and binds the sheet bundle, sequentially and includes a binding hole forming section configured to form binding holes in the sheet, a compiling section configured to arrange the sheet in which the binding holes are formed to make the sheet bundle, a comb-shaped ring feeding section configured to feed the comb-shaped ring piece by piece, a binding section configured to receive the fed comb-shaped ring, insert the ring parts of the comb-shaped ring into the binding holes of the sheet bundle, and bind the sheet bundle, and a bound-book discharging section configured to transfer the sheet bundle bound by the binding section to a storage stacker.
US09028177B2

A roughing end mill comprises an end mill body and plural inserts which are placed on an outer circumference of the end mill body with a predetermined distance apart from each other in the axial direction of the end mill body, wherein the plural inserts form plural insert rows which are provided in a circumferential direction of the end mill body, where the inserts are offset in the axial direction from each other between the different insert rows which are adjacent in the circumferential direction. The inserts have waveform cutting edges which face towards an outer circumferential side of the end mill body. One insert of one insert row and an insert of another insert row are positioned such that the waveform cutting edges of each of these inserts make up a waveform cutting edge row whose phase is continuous on a rotation trajectory around the axis.
US09028174B1

A device that attaches to the center of a boat slip so a boat entering the slip will engage the device. The device consist of a central vertical member having a horizontal support bar on one end so that the horizontal support bar is approximately centered with respect to the vertical member and is approximately perpendicular thereto. Each end of the horizontal support bar is provided with a forwardly inclined leg that engages the rear end of an approaching boat as the boat backs into the boat slip. Each leg is capable of flexing slightly rearward when engaged by the boat to slow and stop the boat, preventing damage to both the boat and the dock. An alternate embodiment eliminates the vertical member.
US09028170B2

The invention relates to improved water control gates and related inflatable actuators, and associated sealing, manufacture and operation apparatus and methods. Advancements in technologies related to air fitting design, inflated bladder stress relief, inflatable bladder strength enhancement, water gate related slide friction mitigation, abutment and other impounded water seals, gate panel fabrication, traffic accommodating water impoundment structures, and water gate panel system operation efficiency, as well as nappe aeration, hinges, and bladder manufacture technology are disclosed herein.
US09028167B2

A construction machine according to the disclosure comprises a material hopper for receiving bulk material. Moreover, the construction machine includes a material conveying system for conveying bulk material. The material conveying system comprises at least one conveying screw in the area of the hopper. A gap extends underneath the at least one conveying screw, and the gap has a cross section that varies in a conveying direction of the at least one conveying screw.
US09028160B2

In one example, a device for use in a printer includes a flexible piece and a holder configured to removably attach the piece to a platen that has a surface over which a print substrate is moved through the print zone for printing on the substrate. The piece and the holder are configured to place the piece in tension along the platen surface such that, when the piece is attached to the platen, the piece becomes sufficiently rigid to counter substrate edge curl.
US09028155B2

An optical module housing that may be easily seated, locked in and removed from a socket, thereby reducing or eliminating potential damage to the module and socket, and methods for making and using the housing are disclosed. The module housing generally includes a chassis, one or more pivots attached to the chassis, a latch configured to secure the housing in a corresponding slot when in a locked position, a slider configured to be in contact with and/or connected to the latch and to move the latch relative to the chassis, the latch and/or the slider being configured to move on and/or around the pivot(s) and a handle configured to be in contact with and/or connected to the slider such that when the handle moves from a first position to a second position, the slider and latch move to the locked and/or an unlocked positions.
US09028152B2

A rolling diaphragm seal for a strut bearing, the seal inserted into an annulus formed between an upper and lower housing. The seal having a hollow tubular form, formed into a ring open at one end. The seal rolling along a length thereof during relative rotation of the upper and lower housings. Alternatively, the seal can be a continuous hollow tubular form inserted between the upper and lower housings.
US09028151B2

A hub bearing assembly includes a hub made of lightweight metallic material and forming a cylindrical portion, on which a tubular inner ring providing a raceway is mounted; a second inner ring is fixed on the first tubular inner ring and provides a second raceway; a cylindrical interstice is formed between the cylindrical portion of the hub and the tubular inner ring and contains a bonding brazing material which integrally joins the hub to the first tubular inner ring.
US09028149B2

Disclosed is a bearing sleeve for supporting a shaft of an air cycle machine. The bearing sleeve includes an outer diameter and an inner diameter. The outer diameter is within a range of 3.222 and 3.224 inches. Further included is a foil retaining cavity provided in the inner diameter of the sleeve. The foil retaining cavity includes a slot and first and second openings located at opposing axial ends of the slot. Each of the first and second openings include a small portion and a large portion having different axial lengths. A ratio of the combined axial lengths of the large portions to an axial length of the foil retaining cavity is within a range of 0.19:1 and 0.22:1.
US09028144B2

Disclosed herein are an X-ray imaging apparatus which recognizes a marker located at a part to be subjected to X-ray imaging from an image of a subject imaged by a camera and which controls a respective movement of each of an X-ray tube and an X-ray detector to a respective position which corresponds to the recognized marker, and a method for controlling the same. An X-ray imaging apparatus includes an X-ray tube which radiates X-rays toward a subject, an X-ray detector which detects X-rays which propagate through the subject, an imaging unit which generates an image of the subject, a recognizer which recognizes a part to be subjected to X-ray imaging from the image of the subject, and a position controller which controls a movement of the X-ray tube and the X-ray detector to a position corresponding to the part to be subjected to X-ray imaging.
US09028136B1

A method for determining a blackbody temperature of an electrical discharge may include providing a radiometer with a sensor aperture, positioning a viewing aperture sheet between the sensor aperture and the electrical discharge, and providing the viewing aperture sheet with a viewing aperture therethrough, determining an area of the viewing aperture, determining a distance of the sensor aperture from the viewing aperture, observing the electrical discharge with the sensor aperture through the viewing aperture to obtain radiometer data, and calculating the blackbody temperature based at least on the radiometer data, the area of the viewing aperture and the distance of the sensor aperture from the viewing aperture.
US09028134B2

The present invention is to provide a portable device, such as a wrist watch, which realizes, with a simple structure, improved waterproof property against water leak associated with a push-in operation. A wrist watch (portable device) includes an outer case (device outer housing), an operation member and a holding ring. The outer case includes a holding portion in which an annular bearing surface is formed. The operation member is made of a soft material having waterproof performance. The operation member includes an annular packing portion to be seated on the bearing surface and a push-in portion integrally connected to the bearing portion, to which the push-in operation is performed from the outside of the device outer housing.
US09028127B2

A lighting module comprises a light guide plate including a predetermined pattern; a case covering both sides of the light guide plate; and a light source which is disposed in the case and is configured to emit light to the both sides of the light guide plate, wherein the light guide plate is configured to emit the light from the light source through a top surface and a bottom surface of light guide plate, and wherein the lighting module is configured to emit first light upward from the top surface of the light guide plate, and second light downward from the bottom surface of the light guide plate.
US09028126B2

An LED light bar includes a PCB and a plurality of LED lamps mounted to and electrically connected with the PCB. Each of the LED lamps has a light emission face that is perpendicular to the PCB. The LED lamps at two opposite ends are arranged to have the light emission faces thereof angularly shifted in directions away from the light emission faces of the LED lamps in the middle to thereby increase light irradiation range of the LED light bar. With the LED lamps at two ends of the LED light bar being arranged to have light emission faces thereof angularly shifted so as to form a predetermined included angle between the light emission faces of the LED lamps and a light incidence face of the light guide plate, the irradiation range of light from the LED light bar is increased.
US09028122B2

An electrical connector assembly, comprising an electrical conductor a housing enclosing a portion of the conductor, the housing having a terminal end; a connector connected to the conductor and the housing, the connector extending along a longitudinal axis from the terminal end of the housing, the connector having a terminal surface spaced from the housing, a light emitter within the housing, and a light guide within the housing to direct light from the light emitter to exit the housing from the terminal end to substantially illuminate the connector along the longitudinal axis.
US09028115B1

A high-intensity LED lighting system is presented whereby one or more LED lighting fixtures are affixed to an elevating structure, the elevating structure having a substantially continuous internal pathway. Said pathway can be used as a conduit or duct for pressurized air which is introduced at or near the bottom of the elevating structure and forced upwardly toward the lighting fixtures so to provide cooling of one or more components of the lighting fixtures so to, ultimately, improve the efficacy of the LEDs contained therein. A method of designing lighting systems, including analysis of whether or not to add air cooling to increase light source efficiency is also disclosed.
US09028108B2

Illumination devices whose function are to inject light into backlights, particularly into backlights that incorporate a recycling cavity formed by a front (50) and back (52) reflector, are described. In some embodiments, the device includes a light source (59) disposed proximate the back reflector, and first (42) and second (44) reflecting structures. The first reflecting structure includes an inner reflective surface (41b) at least a portion of which is inclined to form a wedge with the back reflector. The wedge partially collimates and directs light from the light source generally away from the recycling cavity. The second reflecting structure receives light exiting the wedge and redirects such light into an injection beam directed into the recycling cavity.
US09028107B2

A lamp has an LED, a base, and a reflector. The base is rigidly connected to the LED and has a base contact surface. The reflector, which can be connected to the base, has a reflector contact surface, an entry opening, an exit opening, and a longitudinal direction (L) that runs from the exit opening to the entry opening. The reflector contact surface is arranged in the longitudinal direction (L) between the entry opening and the exit opening, and the base contact surface abuts the reflector contact surface. Thus, movement of the base and/or reflector towards each other is prevented when the reflector is connected to the base. The reflector is formed in such a way that a projection of the reflector contact surface in the longitudinal direction (L) of the reflector is free of undercuts.
US09028106B2

A headlamp disclosed includes: a laser diode for emitting a laser beam; a light emitting section including a fluorescent material which emits light in response to excitation light emitted from the laser diode; a light-transmitting heat conducting member which is provided so as to face a laser beam irradiation surface of the light emitting section and receive heat of the light emitting section; and an adhesive layer filling a gap between the heat conducting member and the laser beam irradiation surface. This arrangement improves efficiency of the heat conducting member in absorbing the heat of the light emitting section, and consequently cools the light emitting section efficiently.
US09028079B2

The present invention provides a refractive index variable lens and a camera module using the same, the refractive index variable lens including a disc-shaped first medium, and a second medium formed at a periphery of the first medium and having a refractive index higher than a refractive index of the first medium, wherein a periphery of the second medium is sequentially formed with at least one medium having a refractive index higher than a refractive index of the second medium.
US09028078B2

Lens apparatus includes adjacent concave and convex lens surfaces adjacent with an air layer therebetween. At least one of the lens surfaces includes an antireflection film including multiple subwavelength structures at an average pitch of 400 nm or smaller. The surface satisfies: 0.715°, provided that: D=f/FNo, θ1=sin−1(D/(2×fi)), and θ2=sin−1((h×D)/R2), where f and FNo represent focal length and F-number of the entire optical system, f1 represents focal length of an optical system on object side with respect to the air layer between the lens surfaces, h represents axial conversion beam height on the at least one surface having anti-reflection film, R1 and R2 represent curvature radii of surfaces of respective object and image sides between the lens surfaces.
US09028074B2

An image display system includes a screen capable of switching a state thereof between a scatter state in which the screen scatters light and a transmission state in which the screen transmits light by changing the magnitude of a voltage applied to the screen, a projector that projects video image light modulated in accordance with an image signal on the screen to display an image on the screen, and a controller that controls operation of driving the screen and the projector, wherein the controller instructs the projector to project the video image light on the screen that operates in the scatter state and instructs the screen to change the degree of light scattering in the scatter state in accordance with a luminance level of the image displayed on the screen.
US09028073B2

A projection apparatus includes an optical engine base, a light source, a light valve, a lens module, and a fan. The light source is disposed at the optical engine base for emitting an illumination beam. The light valve is disposed at the optical engine base for converting the illumination beam into an image beam. The lens module is disposed at the optical engine base and includes a lens barrel and a lens assembly disposed in the lens barrel for converting the image beam into a projection beam. The fan is disposed at the optical engine base, and adjacent to the lens module. The fan is used for providing an air flow to cool the lens module.
US09028072B2

A laser projection system comprising a laser light and a human body detection module is disclosed. The laser light source emits a laser light. The human body detection module detects a reflective light of the laser light irradiated on an object. The human body detection module determines whether the object is a human according to a relationship between several reflectivity indexes of the reflective light. If the relationship corresponds to predefined situation, the human body detection module reduces a laser output intensity of the laser light.
US09028071B2

Light source layer (4) includes substrate (10) and a pair of layers, namely, hole-transport layer (11) and electron-transport layer (13), formed on substrate (10). Directional control layer (5) includes plasmon excitation layer (15) stacked on a side of light source layer (4), which is opposite to the side of substrate (10) of light source layer (4), and which has a plasma frequency higher than a frequency of light output from light source layer (4), and wave vector conversion layer (17) stacked on plasmon excitation layer (15), which converts light incident from plasmon excitation layer (15) into light having a predetermined exit angle to output the light. Plasmon excitation layer (15) is sandwiched between low dielectric constant layer (14) and high dielectric constant layer (16).
US09028063B2

Translating, multifocal contact lens pairs with optical power zones which are dissimilar between the first and second lenses of the pair are utilized for correcting presbyopia in the wearer. Each lens may differ in segment height, power, asphericity, shape, orientation and/or inset of the optical power subzones thereby providing clear and comfortable vision at far, intermediate and near distances.
US09028060B2

A shooter aims his equipment, such as a gun or bow, in the normal fashion with the optical axis of the aiming eye aligned with the gun's front and rear sights towards a target. A thin optical filter manufactured with alternating transparent and solid spaces is applied to the shooter's protective glasses on the lens of the non-aiming eye. The shooter proceeds to aim with both eyes open having only the non-aiming eye's vision filtered. The aiming eye's perceived dominance is increased by reducing the visual signal sent to the brain from the non-aiming eye.
US09028045B2

An image forming apparatus including a recording head to form an image on a recording medium, a carriage mounting the recording head and movable in a main scanning direction, a guide member extending in the main scanning direction to movably hold and guide the carriage, a stay member extending in the main scanning direction to hold the guide member, a frame member attached to the stay member to support the stay member, and an adjustment unit provided between and attached to a first end of the stay member and to the frame member to adjust an angle of the stay member with respect to the recording medium.
US09028044B2

First, second, and third ink absorbing bodies are accommodated in a container of a recovery reservoir in this order from the side corresponding to a bottom surface of the container, so that an introduction chamber is defined in the middle of a recovery space. A lid having a shutter plate and a communication hole is located over the third ink absorbing body. The upper side of the introduction chamber is covered by the shutter plate to suppress volatilization of solvent element of waste ink introduced into the introduction chamber. In addition, the communication hole is located in a portion of the upper surface of the third ink absorbing body, so that solvent element of ink absorbed by the third ink absorption body volatilizes.
US09028037B2

The present invention relates to an ink-jet print head able to resist to chemically aggressive solvent-based inks, and to a process for the manufacturing thereof, the ink-jet print head comprising a polymeric material layer defining ink passage ways formed on a substrate, said polymeric material layer being formed by curing a curable resin composition comprising a cyclic aromatic di-functional epoxy resin, a cyclic aliphatic di-functional epoxy resin and a polymerization initiator. The invention also relates to an improved curable resin composition.
US09028034B2

A printer has a mechanism to counter change in the tension of the recording medium to convey the recording medium with more precision. Such printer has a media conveyance mechanism that conveys a recording medium; a printhead that prints on the medium; a media supply mechanism that supplies the medium to the media conveyance mechanism; a movable member that can move to compensate and thus counter internal tension changes in the recording medium resulting from operation of the media conveyance and supply mechanisms; a detector that detects the movement or position of the movable member; and a control unit that controls the media supply operation based on output from the detector so that the movable member is urged back to or maintained in a home position.
US09028030B2

When the contact angle of a first color ink on a layer of a second color ink is larger than the contact angle of the second color ink on a layer of the first color ink, ejection of the first and the second color ink is controlled so that the number of pixel areas onto which the second color ink is applied after the first color ink is larger than the number of pixel areas onto which the first color ink is applied after the second color ink.
US09028027B2

Systems and methods are provided for aligning printheads of a printing system. The system comprises a sensor and a controller. The sensor is able to detect changes in a lateral position of a web of print media traveling through a continuous-forms printing system, and the controller is able to adjust a lateral position of a printhead while the printing system is operating to compensate for the detected changes in web position.
US09028012B2

A brake cylinder for pneumatic vehicle brakes, especially for commercial vehicles, includes in addition to a pneumatic locking mechanism, a manual release mechanism for manually releasing the spring brake section, and a device designed to visually recognize the manual release condition of the spring brake section outside of the housing.
US09028001B2

A chair assembly includes a four-bar linkage assembly including a first linkage member, a second linkage member, a third linkage member and a fourth linkage member each pivotably coupled to one another such that the four-bar linkage assembly includes an upper end that is adjustable between raised and lowered positions, and an arm rest assembly adapted to support the arm of a seated user thereon and supported the upper end of the four-bar linkage assembly, wherein a lower end of the four-bar linkage assembly is pivotably supported from an arm support structure for pivotable movement, such that the upper end of the four-bar linkage assembly is moveable between a first position and second position located laterally outward from the first position.
US09027992B2

A seat structure for a saddle-ride type vehicle, the seat structure including an outer frame portion in which a through-hole is formed at least at a seating position for the occupant to sit on; a seat skin that has elasticity is fixed to the outer frame portion while predetermined tensile force is applied thereto, and is disposed to cover a portion facing the through-hole; and a cushion member that is disposed between an upper surface of the outer frame portion and the seat skin, and bulges above an outer edge of the outer frame portion.
US09027984B2

A pickup truck having an access door in a side panel of the truck bed is provided. The access door pivots between a closed positioned and an open position. The access door defines an opening in the side wall, the opening being created by the access door being moved from the closed position to the open position. The pickup truck has a cap member, the cap member releasably coupling to the side walls of the pickup bed and having a gap in one side portion thereof, the gap being positioned above the opening, such that the gap and the opening communicate with one another. The pickup truck has an extension body that releasably couples to the access door and pivots with the access door. The extension body is configured to functionally engage the gap in the cap member under the condition that the access door is in the closed position.
US09027983B2

Embodiments provide an aerodynamic fairing system that may comprise a base configured to mount to a vehicle, an arm coupled to the base at a proximate end and extending laterally, an a fairing mounted to the arm having an inboard and an outboard surface. The fairing outboard surface may provide an aerodynamic outer surface to direct flow to an angle to the rear. The arm may a fixed or adjustable length arm. The arm may provide a mounting area for a mud flap such that aerodynamic system may act as a mud flap hanger. Embodiments also provide an adjustable mud flap hanger.
US09027977B2

A tool for lifting a tile from the bore of a chimney or other vertical opening has pivotably connected arms. Jaws at the lower ends of the arms are offset from a lifting point of the tool and optionally, from the pivot point. An actuating mechanism closes the jaws. One mechanism comprises a screw that moves a nut and one or more toggle elements connected thereto. Another mechanism comprises toggle elements which connect to the upper ends of arms and pull on them when upward force is applied at a lifting point. A releasable latch keeps the arms of tool spaced apart while a tile wall is being engaged. At least one jaw is a thin plate; preferably the opposing jaw is pivotable. Both jaws may be angled relative to the principal axis of the tool.
US09027973B2

A bumper fixing clip includes a leg portion engaging with a vehicle body panel; engagement claws engaging with a plurality of engagement holes formed on a bumper side; and an engagement member including a second engagement claw engageable with or retractable from one of the engagement holes formed on the bumper side by operating an operation portion, and fixing the bumper to the vehicle body panel. The engagement member is integrally formed with a fixing clip main body, and includes an approximately rod-like operation portion; the second engagement claw formed in a vicinity of a turning center of the operation portion; and an abutment piece formed on a side opposite to the second engagement claw. Also, the fixing clip main body includes a control portion abutting against the abutment piece of the operation portion, and controlling a moving range of the operation portion so as to reduce a force operating the operation portion, and even if an excessive force is applied, the moving range is controlled so as to prevent a breakage.
US09027968B2

A seal member for an aseptic coupling device includes a cross-sectional area including a first end portion, a middle portion, and a second end portion opposite the first end portion, the middle portion being thinner in radial dimension than the first and second end portions.
US09027965B2

A gas generating system (24) is provided including a gas generant container (34) and an initiator (28). A gas generant composition (32) is placed within the container (34) in ignitable communication with the igniter (28). A molecular sieve (33) is positioned within the housing 17 combined within the gas generant composition (32), or external of the gas generant (32) but in reactive proximity or vapor communication therewith. A seatbelt device (150) and a vehicle occupant restraint system (180) incorporating a gas generating system as described herein are also disclosed.
US09027946B2

A suspension device is provided with: a coiled spring which allows a vehicle body to elastically receive the vertical movement of a wheel and which is disposed at a position facing a side of the tire of the wheel; and a movement restriction section which is provided within the inner space of the coiled spring at a position facing the side of the tire and which restricts the movement of the coiled spring toward the tire.
US09027943B2

A scooter features a top tube attached to the top portion of a steering column and handlebars having handgrips and stems, with the stems sized to be received within the open ends of the top tube when in a use configuration. A handlebar holder housing covers a top portion of the steering column and a portion of the top tube and includes holding bores sized to receive the handlebar stems when the handlebars are in a storage configuration. The handlebar stems are provided with spring pins that engage use apertures and storage apertures formed in the top tube and housing, respectively, when in the handlebars are in the use and storage configurations. A cord passes through the top tube and is fastened to the handlebars. The handlebar holder housing includes cord slots in communication with the holding bores and receive the cord when the first and second handlebars are in the storage configuration.
US09027942B2

A heavy duty carriage cart is provided, which is used when moving a heavy object. The heavy object can safely be moved without being influenced by factors which obstruct the traveling of the carriage cart, such as distortions or joints of flooring material on a floor surface. In a lower part of a carriage cart main body, front rollers are pivotally supported by a front shaft, rear rollers are pivotally supported by a rear shaft, and intermediate rollers are pivotally supported by an intermediate shaft at a wheel base of the rollers. A load receiving platform, having a planar portion which is freely movable while contacting with the bottom of the heavy object, is placed on an upper part of the carriage cart main body. Four heavy duty carriage carts are used to move the heavy object.
US09027941B2

A portable child-carrying shopping cart having a collapsible cart basket. The cart has a seat for two small children and seat belts for keeping children safely seated side-by-side. An extendable snack tray provides children with access to their own snacks and beverages, so that a parent does not have to maintain constant control of these items. Below the seat is an interior cavity with a coat hook and a space for storing bags, purses, and garments. On the opposing side of the body of the device, a cart basket is secured. The cart basket is expandable and collapsible. The device can be easily stowed when the basket is collapsed against the body. It can also be quickly expanded for use as a shopping cart when a parent is running errands.
US09027933B2

An engine in which an oil consumption and a leakage of blow-by gas can be stably reduced for a long period of time. The engine includes a first land (3), a first ring groove (4), a second land (5), a second ring groove (6), a third land (7), a third ring groove (8), and a piston skirt (9) formed on a piston peripheral wall (1) in the above-recited order from a side of a piston head (2). A first pressure ring (10) is fitted in the first ring groove (4). A second pressure ring (11) is fitted in the second ring groove (6), an oil ring (12) fitted in the third ring groove (8), and an indentation (13) is formed at the second land (5).
US09027927B2

Certain embodiments of the present invention relate to gaming machines having mechanical reels. The machine is adapted so that the reels to some extent protrude from the front face of the machine to enhance the user's awareness that the reels are genuine and, optionally, the reels may have side walls having matching indicia to the symbols on the periphery of the reels. The reels may also be observed from front and rear sides of the machine or alternatively, rotated about an upright axis to enable a player to observe front and rear outcomes from one point.
US09027921B2

A sheet size setting device gives information for identifying a sheet size. The sheet size setting device includes a first rotary member, an engaging portion, a biasing member, a second rotary member, and an assisting mechanism. The first rotary member has a cylindrical shape, and is rotatable around and slidably movable along a first axis. The second rotary member is supported rotatably around a second axis parallel to the first axis. The first rotary member includes a plurality of detected portions, a plurality of engaged portions, and a first gear portion. The engaging portion is operable to engage with one of the plurality of engaged portions to thereby restrict the rotation of the first rotary member. The assisting mechanism applies a moving force to the first rotary member in the axial direction with the rotation of the second rotary member so that the engaged portion disengages from the engaging portion.
US09027904B2

A direct acting solenoid actuator includes an armature and associated push pin that are suspended from certain fixed solenoid components, such as a pole piece and/or flux sleeve, by a fully floating cage of rolling elements. The fixed solenoid component may comprise a pole piece and/or a flux sleeve. The pole piece may include stops to limit movement of the cage of rolling elements in the axial direction.
US09027901B2

A vibration absorption system for a rooftop mounted air handling unit is disclosed herein. The vibration absorption system includes an upper rail. The vibration absorption system also includes a lower rail. The vibration absorption system also includes at least one biasing device disposed between the upper rail and the lower rail. The vibration absorption system also includes a fastener having a head and extending through at least a first portion of the upper rail and at least a first portion of the lower rail to interconnect the upper rail and the lower rail. The vibration absorption system also includes a nut releasably engaged with the fastener. The first portion of the upper rail and the first portion of the lower rail are disposed between the nut and the head. The nut is adjustably positionable along a length of the fastener wherein adjustment of the nut along the length of the fastener varies an extent of compression of the at least one biasing device. A method associated with the system is also disclosed.
US09027897B2

A standoff connector forming, for example, a standoff post base, includes a base member having a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge. The first edge is configured to include an extending first projection, and the second edge is configured to include an extending second projection. The standoff connector includes a first stirrup plate member that is selectably attachable to the base member at the first edge by inserting the first projection into and through an aperture formed in the first stirrup plate that is sized and shaped to receive the first projection. The standoff connector further includes a second stirrup plate member that is selectably attachable to the base member at the second edge by inserting the second projection into and through an aperture formed in the second stirrup plate that is sized and shaped to receive the second projection.
US09027889B2

A spacecraft may include an upper core structure or a lower core structure. The upper core structure may include an upper cylinder for supporting an upper spacecraft of a dual-manifest launch configuration. The lower core structure may include a lower cylinder for supporting a lower spacecraft with the upper cylinder mounted on top of the lower cylinder. The upper cylinder may have an upper cylinder inner diameter that may be substantially similar to the lower cylinder inner diameter.
US09027881B2

Provided is a composite material structure enabled to be reduced in weight. The composite material structure includes a front section (3a) extending in one direction and formed as a composite material made of fiber reinforced plastics, a rear section (3c) separated from the front section (3a) by a predetermined space, extending in the one direction, and formed as a composite material made of fiber reinforced plastics, and access panels (5) provided between the front section (3a) and the rear section (3c) and having a dimension in the one direction shorter than the front section (3a) and the rear section (3c). The access panels (5) are fixed to the front section (3a) and the rear section (3c) in an orthogonal direction substantially orthogonal to the one direction and set to be displaceable in the one direction and are removable.
US09027877B1

High-altitude balloons and apparatuses for filling such high-altitude balloons are provided. As an example, an apparatus for filling a high-altitude balloon includes a tube extending through envelope material of the balloon is provided. The apparatus also includes a flange connected to a first end of the tube. The flange is connected to an interior surface of the balloon. A fitting is connected to a second end of the tube. The fitting is configured for attachment with an apparatus for filling the balloon with lift gas. In addition, methods of filing high-altitude balloons with lift gas and methods of manufacturing balloons are also provided.
US09027869B2

A filament winding apparatus prevents a fiber bundle supplied to a liner from interfering with other fiber bundles and fiber supplying guides. First and second guide units include a plurality of fiber supplying guides arranged radially and extending and contracting in a direction approximately perpendicular to a liner central axis. When a fiber bundle supplied from a first supplying guide of the first guide unit crosses between a second supplying guide of the second guide unit and the liner, the distance from the second supplying guide to the liner central axis is made larger than the distance from the first supplying guide to the liner central axis, and in the reverse case, the distance from the first supplying guide to the liner central axis is made larger than the distance from the second supplying guide to the liner central axis.
US09027857B2

A hand shower has outer housing including a first housing part and a second housing part, is disposed in the interior of the outer housing. The first housing part is produced by dual-component injection molding and has a support formed from a hard component. Alongside the switching device, this support is provided with a passage. A soft component, injected onto the outer side of the support covers the passage in a membrane-like manner. The membrane region of the soft component is elastically deformable to allow the switching device to be operated from the surroundings.
US09027844B2

A water delivery system is provided, including at least one sink with a faucet device having a cold water faucet part and a hot water faucet part, a cold water line to the at least one sink, a hot water line to the at least one sink, and a valve associated with the at least one sink allowing in an open state the transport of water between the hot water line and the cold water line and inhibiting in a closed state the transport of water between the hot water line and the cold water line, wherein the open state and the closed state of the valve depend solely on whether a differential pressure across the valve is below or above a threshold value.
US09027843B2

Embodiments of the present invention include systems, methods, and non-transitory computer program products for information exchange using color space encoded images. A color space encoded image can be displayed, for example on media such as posters, billboards, or paper, or on a display of a first device such as smartphone displays, palmtop displays, camera displays, tablet displays, or e-reader displays. A second device can acquire the displayed encoded image, for example by photographing the image. The second device can decode the color space encoded image or transfer the color space encoded image to a device that decodes the image.
US09027842B2

Embodiments of the present disclosure can include systems, methods, and non-transitory computer program products for using color space encoded images to perform image-based information broadcasting. In certain aspects, the information broadcasting can include using the encoded images to broadcast information to multiple devices within view of the encoded images. Embodiments can also include broadcasting information independent of network availability. In certain aspects, a public display having a camera can register or capture a color space encoded image from a remote device, where the encoded image encodes a request for information from a user. The public display can send the encoded image to be decoded, and receive the decoded request for information. The public display can encode an encoded image representing a response, and display the encoded image representing a response for decoding by the user.
US09027841B2

A digital information transferring coin is a disc-shaped apparatus that is capable of transferring digital information to another electronic device through radio communication. The apparatus includes a metal planar body, a near field communication (NFC) chip, a vinyl sticker, and an insulative pad. The NFC chip is mounted within a recessed well of the metal planar body. The vinyl sticker encloses the NFC chip within the recessed well, which allows the NFC chip to wirelessly communicate with a host NFC-enabled electronic device without interference from the apparatus. The NFC chip is situated within its recessed well with the insulative pad, which is used to prevent the NFC chip from making direct contact with the metal planar body. An epoxy finish is applied onto both the vinyl sticker and the metal planar body in order to further protect the NFC chip from any physical damage.
US09027838B2

This invention provides a field of view expander (FOVE) removably attached to a vision system camera having an image sensor defining an image plane. In an embodiment the FOVE includes first and second mirrors that transmit light from a scene in respective first and second partial fields of view along first and second optical axes. Third and fourth mirrors respectively receive reflected light from the first and second mirrors. The third and fourth mirrors reflect the received light onto the image plane in a first strip and a second strip adjacent to the first strip. The first and second optical axes are approximately parallel and a first focused optical path length between the scene and the image plane and a second focused optical path between the image plane and the scene are approximately equal in length. The optical path can be rotated at a right angle in embodiments.
US09027837B2

Provided are a method of recognizing a quick response (QR) code in image data, and an apparatus and method for converting a QR code in content data into a touchable object. The method of converting a QR code in content data into a touchable object includes a step in which a computer device receives content data including a QR code, a step in which the computer device recognizes the QR code in the content data, and a step in which the computer device converts an image in which the QR code is shown into a touchable object for executing a command included in the QR code. The converting step includes interpreting, at the computer device, the command included in the recognized QR code, and modifying, at the computer device, a code of the content data to convert the image into the touchable object for executing the command.
US09027829B2

A banknote handling apparatus (1) includes a sorted-banknote stacking device (2) that sorts and stacks banknotes per denomination and a bundling device (3) that bundles the banknotes. The sorted-banknote stacking device (2) includes a feeding unit (12) that feeds the banknote from the hopper unit (11); a transporting unit (13) that transports the banknote; a denomination recognizing unit (14); a plurality of stackers (16) in which the banknote is sorted and stacked based on a recognition result; and a rejecting unit (17) that discharges rejected banknotes. The bundling device includes a bundling-object-banknote stacking unit (21) that stacks banknote of a specific denomination transported by the transporting unit (13); and a banknote bundling unit (22) that bundles the banknotes. The bottom surface of the sorted-banknote stacking unit (2) is arranged at a higher level than the bottom surface of the bundling device (3).
US09027820B2

A unitized assembly may comprise a fiber metal laminate and at least one additive layer. The fiber metal laminate may have non-metallic plies bonded to metallic plies and may include an innermost metallic ply. The at least one additive layer may be deposited onto the innermost metallic ply by friction stir welding.
US09027800B2

A dispensing assembly for pourable food or drink products, comprising: a receptacle for accommodating a pourable food or drink product, comprising an opening; and a closure means for closing the opening, comprising a closure member, mounted across the opening, having at least one outlet, and a stop member mounted to confront the outlet, the closure member being resiliently deformable, by the pressing action of a user, from a first condition in which the outlet is spaced from the stop member and the food or drink product may be poured through the outlet to a second condition in which the outlet has been moved inwardly to a position in which it is closed off by the stop member.
US09027794B2

The present disclosure is directed to a liquid control mobility receptacle for storage, filtration, distribution, and transportation of liquids. The liquid control mobility receptacle has a main body that encloses a front security enclosure, a pump enclosure, and a main enclosure for storage of liquids. The main enclosure is disposed between the pump enclosure and the front security enclosure. An internal power source is enclosed within the front security enclosure and is electrically coupled to a pump, which is enclosed in pump enclosure. A fill line is provided to pump liquid from a liquid source into the main enclosure. A recirculation line is provided to recirculate fluid in within the main enclosure. A supply line is provided for pumping fluid out of the main enclosure. In some examples, the liquid control mobility receptacle has an internal power source that is a diesel engine, and the security enclosure further houses a fuel enclosure that is fluidly coupled to the diesel engine. In some further examples, the liquid control mobility receptacle has an internal power source that is a solar power generator, and a top wall of the security enclosure further includes a plurality of solar panels that are electrically coupled to the solar power generator.
US09027776B2

A first piece mounted in a fixed and rigid manner on a rigid annular collar of a second piece having an end opening, includes a transversal wall; an annular wall forming a skirt, whose inner face includes a part having a larger diameter and a part having a smaller diameter; a holding toric body adjacent to the inner face, deformable between a retracted state and an expanded state, and filled with a swelling medium; and at least one inlet/outlet port for the swelling media, communicating with the holding body. The first piece is dimensioned in relation to the collar, so as to enable the first piece to be slipped onto, or removed from, the second piece, when the holding body is in the retracted state, and to be mounted onto the collar in a fixed, rigid and tight manner, when the holding body is in the expanded state.
US09027772B2

A portable barrel for containing beverage includes a barrel body, an inner tank, a barrel lid and an adjusting tray. The barrel body has a receiving recess. The inner tank is mounted in the receiving recess of the barrel body and has a tank body and a pouring cap mounted on the tank body. The barrel lid is mounted on the barrel body and covers the pouring cap of the inner tank. The adjusting tray is mounted on the barrel lid and connects with the inner tank. The barrel body and the barrel lid can keep the inner tank cooled for a long time. The adjusting tray can be rotated to move upward, such that a channel is formed between the pouring cap and the adjusting tray to easily pour the beverage out from the inner tank.
US09027763B2

A pump filter system for use with a submersible pump assembly including a base cup having an outer peripheral flange and an upwardly extending ring concentrically located within and spaced from the peripheral flange. A self-supporting, substantially uniformly perforated, tubular wall portion having a lower end coupled to the base cup outer peripheral flange and an upper end surrounding a pump discharge conduit connection. A tubular sleeve having a lower end contiguous with an upper portion of the pump body and an upper end projecting above the discharge conduit connection. A tapered coupling having a lower end connected to the perforated tubular wall upper end and an upper end connected to the tubular sleeve upper end, and a seal ring surrounding the discharge conduit connection and the tubular sleeve inner surface.
US09027761B2

A device for separating clean litter from soiled litter comprising a receptacle with one inlet and two discharge outlets. Soiled animal litter enters the receptacle through the inlet and clean litter is separated out from the soiled litter. When the container is tilted in a first direction, feces exit the container through the first outlet and clean litter is retained in the receptacle. When the container is tilted in a second direction, clean litter exits the container through the second outlet and clean litter is retained in the receptacle.
US09027760B2

A screening machine includes wall members, screen assembly guide members, a screen assembly and a compression assembly. The screen assembly includes a frame with a plurality of side members and a screen supported by the frame. The compression assembly is attached to at least one wall member and forms the screen assembly into a concave shape.
US09027755B2

A food container stacking device comprising: a horizontal member, with a first longitudinal side, a second longitudinal side, a top surface, and a bottom surface, a first corner, second corner, third corner, and fourth corner; the food container stacking device configured to lay on the top surface of a first food container, and further configure to support a second food container on the top surface, thereby allowing for the stacking of the first and second food containers. A food container stacking system, comprising: a first food container; a first food container stacking device configured to lay on the top surface of the first food container, the first food container stacking device comprising: a horizontal member, with a first longitudinal sinusoidal shaped side, a second longitudinal sinusoidal shaped side, a top surface, and a bottom surface, a first corner, second corner, third corner, and fourth corner; a first pin removeably attachable to the first hole, and extending from the bottom surface; a second pin removeably attachable to the second hole, and extending from the bottom surface; a third pin removeably attachable to the third hole, and extending from the bottom surface; a fourth pin removeably attachable to the fourth hole, and extending from the bottom surface, where the first and second pins are configured to lay outside of the perimeter of the first food container, and where the third and fourth pins are configured to lay outside of the perimeter of the first food container, on an opposite side of the first food container.
US09027753B2

A removable faceplate for a portable electronic device is provided. The faceplate permits a user to change the physical appearance of a surface of the device while retaining access to the mechanisms for controlling the function of the device. Preferably, the removable faceplate and electronic device are configured with a means for association and dissociation that can be activated without the use of a tool and the means is not visible when the faceplate is attached. Additionally, an improved packaging system is provided to enable a vendor or manufacturer to package faceplates with the devices that they will cover and to allow substitution of faceplates in the packaging without disturbing the packaging of the electronic device itself. Further, there is a method for distribution of the packaging system.
US09027748B1

A liquid filling kit having a container with a separable bottom and top member and containing the remaining cooperating elements of the filling kit. A plurality of elongated legs, a pouch holding rack and a filling member are provided to allow flexible pouches to be filled and sealed with premixed liquids for subsequent use. The bottom member may be adapted to receive the elongated legs to thereby elevate the pouch holding rack and the filling member so that the premixed liquids may be poured through the compartments of the filling member into the open pouches held by the holding rack therebelow. Subsequent use of the filling kit, the components may be disassembled for storage within the bottom and top members forming the container.
US09027747B2

A protection cover support seat structure for tablet display apparatus includes a support member, a display adjustment seat and a connection assembly. The support member has a first end section and a second end section opposite to the first end section. The display adjustment seat is pivotally connected to the first end section via at least one first pivot member. An engagement locating assembly with elastic engagement function is disposed between the display adjustment seat and the connection assembly. One side of the connection assembly is connectable with the tablet display apparatus. The second end section is pivotally connected with a base seat, which is further pivotally connected with a board body. Accordingly, the tablet display apparatus can be co-used with the board body and rotated and tilted by different angles and supported in an inclined position in adaptation to different use situations and requirements.
US09027745B2

This distributing device for absorbent articles is provided with a main conveyor path, a branch conveyor path that branches from the main conveyor path, a main conveyor path that conveys absorbent articles along the main conveyor path, a diverting mechanism that diverts absorbent articles in the main conveyor path from the main conveyor path to the branch conveyor path, and a branch conveyor mechanism that conveys the absorbent articles diverted by the diverting mechanism along the branch conveyor path. The diverting mechanism is provided with a diverting part for diverting the absorbent articles. The diverting part moves without stopping, entering the main conveyor path from a standby position outside the main conveyor path and then, after leaving the main conveyor path, returning to the standby position.
US09027743B2

A device for changing a pallet car in a plant for the treatment of bulk materials where pallet cars that are continuously conveyed using a lifting wheel and a lowering wheel on an outer rail and an inner rail in an endless chain includes, in regions of a bottom and top strand of the lifting wheel, first and second outer curve links of the outer rail that are openable such that the pallet car is removable from the chain and another pallet car is insertable into the chain. A removal switch is disposed in the region of the bottom strand of the lifting wheel, via which the pallet car is movable out from the chain, and a supply switch is disposed in the region of the top strand of the lifting wheel, via which the pallet car is insertable into the chain.
US09027733B2

An infeed apparatus for the manufacture of containers such as can bodies, comprises a series of 3 or more infeed turrets (22, 30). The infeed turrets (22, 30) take a can body as linear pitch and convert this pitch to a circular pitch. By use of the series of turrets, the can passes to a machine such as a container processing machine not only at a desired linear pitch but also at the specified processing speed. The exchange ratio between individual turrets (22, 30) in the infeed turret series is variable and no greater than 2:1.
US09027732B2

A unit for transferring and up-ending at least one sealed package containing a pourable food product and having a first axis, comprising: at least one push member which cooperates with package to feed it along a first path from an in-feed station to an out-feed station; the path extending about a second axis; the unit further comprising a guide cooperating with a first side of package along first path to up-end it from an in-feed position, in which it is positioned with first axis oriented in a first direction, to an out-feed position, in which it is positioned with first axis oriented in a second direction crosswise to first direction; and an anti-rotating mechanism cooperating with package along path to prevent package from rotating about first axis; an anti-rotating mechanism comprising a pressure element rotatable about second axis and adapted to cooperate, in use, with package.
US09027723B2

The present invention is vehicle electric power supply system (A) that supplies electric power wirelessly to a vehicle (M) that is positioned within an electric power supply area (X). The vehicle electric power supply system (A) has: a power-receiving device (m1) that is provided in the vehicle; a plurality of power-transmitting devices (1a1, 1a2, 1a3, 1b1, 1b2, 1b3, 1c1, 1c2, 1c3) that are provided at mutually different positions within the electric power supply area; a position detecting device (4) that detects the position of the power-receiving device within the electric power supply area; and a control device (4) that, based on detection results from the position detecting device, selects from among the plurality of power-transmitting devices the power-transmitting device that is located in a position that corresponds to the power-receiving device, and then causes power to be supplied wirelessly from the selected power-transmitting device.
US09027722B1

A movable, e.g., wheeled, container, system, such as an article of luggage, cooler or other wheeled container, can include a container body with an openable lid. The system can include one or more wheels secured to the container body and a handle that extends from the container body. The system can include one or more strap mechanisms attached to the interior of the container body. Each strap mechanism can provide a retractable strap to extend from the container body. Each strap can be extended over an item to be secured to an exterior surface of the container body. An extended end of each strap can be secured to a fastening device located on an exterior surface of the container body. The wheels may be driven by motors that can be controlled by a user. A movable container system can be releasably attached to one or more other movable container systems.
US09027720B2

A vibration damping mechanism allows increase of an absorption amount of vibration energy, with less possibilities of increase in the manufacture cost of a vibration damping weight and of reduction in the strength of a shaft section. Within a cylindrical hollow portion formed inside the shaft section, there are accommodated a plurality of weight members divided from each other along the circumferential direction about the axis of the hollow portion. An urging member is provided for urging the weight members toward the axis such that dividing faces of adjacent weight members are brought into surface contact with each other.
US09027714B2

A device can actuate and reset a safety gear in an elevator system. The device contains a pressure accumulator, possibly a compression spring, which, in case of need, can move at least two engagement elements of the safety gear essentially synchronously into an engaged position, and a remotely actuatable resetting device, which can retension the pressure accumulator into a ready position.
US09027713B2

An elevator installation includes an elevator cage carrier with a first elevator cage and a second elevator cage. A hydraulic adjusting element for the first elevator cage is provided, which serves for adjusting the first elevator cage relative to the elevator cage carrier. In addition, a hydraulic adjusting element for the second elevator cage is also provided, which serves for adjusting the second elevator cage relative to the elevator cage carrier. In that case a stroke of the hydraulic adjusting element for the first elevator cage for adjusting the first elevator cage in a first adjustment direction is converted into a stroke of the hydraulic adjusting element for the second elevator cage for adjusting the second elevator cage in an opposite adjustment direction.
US09027711B2

Self-locking bi-foldable load bearing segments are disclosed that can be used in applications such as ladders or ramp. First and second sections of the segment are foldably coupled to transition between an open configuration and a folded configuration. The first and second sections can include rungs pivotally attached to rails that can be further transitioned from the folded configuration to a collapsed configuration, but not transitioned from the open configuration to the collapsed configuration. Openings in the side walls of the rails allow the rungs to pivot in one direction, but not an opposite direction. In the open configuration, the openings of the first and second sections may be oriented opposite, and the direction of allowed rotation of the rungs of the first section and second section are opposite, restricting compression of the rails together. In the folded configuration, the openings of the first and second sections can be oriented the same to allow rotation of the rungs and compression of the rails together.
US09027710B2

A surgeon lift comprising a base, wheels attached to the base, each wheel comprising a locking mechanism, a cylinder supported on the base, a platform operatively connected to the cylinder, a lifting mechanism for adjusting the height of the platform relative to a horizontal surface, a connector for operative attachment of the surgeon lift to a surgical table, the surgical table comprising an assembly comprising a power source for receiving the connector, and one or more controllers for automatically controlling the position of the lift relative to the surgical table in the x, y, and z dimensions.
US09027707B2

An upper body harness portion for converting a seat-style harness to a full body harness. The upper body harness portion includes a front lower component, a rear lower component, and an upper torso component having elongated first, second and third webbings. The ends of the first and second webbings are detachably securable to opposite sides of the front and rear or side portions of the seat-style harness waist belt, respectively. The third webbing forms a closed loop which, when worn, extends over a wearer's shoulders on opposite sides of the wearer's head. First and second connectors are slidably connected to the third webbing, with the first connector also being slidably connected to the first webbing adjacent the front of a wearer and the second connector being slidably connected to the second webbing adjacent the back of a wearer.
US09027704B2

A coating composition has a natural fiber-bearing dry matter mixture, as well as cellular plastic grains, mixed into water. By spreading this composition onto any base, particularly by spraying, and by hardening it, particularly through drying, the coating is formed from the coating composition, which coating provides extremely good acoustic properties. If a special fiber base plate based on chemical pulp is used as the base of the coating, the plate-like acoustic element is obtained.
US09027702B2

A synthetic jet muffler includes an exit end, a propagation path for conducting a first sound wave emitted by a synthetic jet generator to the exit end, and a shroud for conducting a second sound wave emitted from the synthetic jet generator in a direction opposite to the first sound wave to the exit end, wherein the shroud is disposed so that the first and second sound waves travel different distances to effect noise cancellation at the exit end.
US09027696B2

The present invention relates to an external airbag apparatus for a vehicle, including: an inflator; an airbag cushion which is deployed by gas flowing into the airbag cushion from the inflator; a separator which is disposed in the airbag cushion so as to separate an internal space of the airbag cushion into a plurality of chambers; and a vent hole which is formed in the airbag cushion so as to discharge gas flowing into the chamber to the outside.
US09027693B2

An inverted pendulum type vehicle is configured to permit a user to easily get on to the vehicle in a forward-facing posture from the rear of a vehicle body. The vehicle includes a seat for supporting a user thereon, as well as a main wheel driven by an inverted pendulum control, a vehicle body frame which rotatably supports the main wheel, and a tail wheel attached to a tail wheel arm, supported for pivotal motion on the vehicle body frame. The seat is attached to the vehicle body frame at an uppermost portion thereof. The vehicle body frame pivots rearwardly around an axle of the driving wheel together with the seat upon cancellation of the inverted pendulum control and the range of pivotal motion thereof is limited by contact thereof with the arm.
US09027682B2

A self charging electric vehicle includes a frame, at least one battery, a distribution box, an engine control unit, a plurality of drive axle systems, and a plurality of electric modules. The plurality of drive axle systems is positioned on the frame and a motor of each of the drive axle system is powered by the battery. A drive axle generator of each of the drive axle system re-charges the battery through the distribution box as the drive axle generator is selectively engaged with the motor by a clutch. The clutch is automatically operated by the engine control unit as the plurality of electric modules provides data back into the engine control unit so that the drive axle generator can be efficiently engaged with rotational motion of the motor.
US09027677B2

The present invention relates to an electric tracklaying gear and the use thereof for a self-propelled working machine, preferably for a construction or earth-moving machine or a surface mining machine such as Surface Miner, which includes an endlessly circulating track chain which can be driven by a crawler drive that is arranged inside the path of circulation of the track chain. It is proposed to associate a cooling device with a closed fluid cooling circuit to the electric motor of the crawler drive arranged in the interior of the path of circulation of the track chain. Due to the high thermal capacity of a suitable cooling fluid such as oil or water-glycol mixture small volumetric flow rates in the fluid cooling circuit and hence small conduit cross-sections are sufficient. On the other hand, due to the closed formation of the fluid cooling circuit any dust input into the crawler drive and also any generation of dust by exhaust air can be avoided.
US09027676B2

A construction machine includes: a lower propelling body; and an upper slewing body which is slewably mounted on the lower propelling body. The upper slewing body includes: an engine room provided with an intake opening and a discharge opening; a duct provided in the engine room so as to communicate with the discharge opening; and an exhaust gas pipe which guides exhaust gas discharged from the engine into the duct. The discharge opening and an outlet of the duct are open downward from the engine room. A portion on a distal end side of the exhaust gas pipe is inserted into the duct. The duct and the exhaust gas pipe are configured to cause the exhaust gas to be mixed with cooled air in the duct and cause the mixture of the exhaust gas and the cooled air to be discharged downward from the discharge opening.
US09027672B2

A method for reducing the friction forces between tubulars, for example coiled tubing in casing includes mixing a selected suspending agent and surfactant and polymer particles in oil, then adding the mixture to water and pumping the mixture down the tubing. The mixture is particularly useful in coiled tubular drilling inside casing of an oil or gas well. The formulation has also been found to reduce corrosion on metal surfaces.
US09027664B2

A method of making a tillage blade by obtaining a generally circular sheet metal steel disc having an outer peripheral edge. Waves are made in the outer peripheral edge of a circular steel disc in a predetermined pattern while the steel is cold. The outer peripheral edge is then sharpened at a predetermined acute angle with respect to a first plane by grinding. Then the disc is heat treated to make it harder so it will wear longer. If it is desired to have a concave/convex disc, instead of a coulter, then during the heat treating process the disc is deformed so that the sharpened portions of the peripheral edge remain generally in the first plane but a central portion of the disc is disposed at least partially in a second plane which is parallel to but spaced from the first plane.
US09027661B2

A foam chamber of a fire suppressant system having a closable testing outlet is disclosed. The foam chamber can operate in a testing mode and an operation mode. The invention has an inlet conduit for accepting a fire suppressant fluid attached to an expansion conduit. An expansion enclosure having two closable outlets is also attached to the inlet conduit and surrounds the expansion conduit. One outlet empties into the expansion enclosure. The other outlet extends through the wall of the expansion enclosure and empties outside of the expansion enclosure. Both of the closable outlets can be fitted with either an unbreakable seal or a frangible seal. If the foam chamber is configured for normal operation, the unbreakable seal is placed on the outlet that extends through the wall of the expansion enclosure and a frangible seal is placed on the outlet that empties into the expansion enclosure.
US09027658B2

In certain embodiments, a hanger running tool includes an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve. The inner sleeve has a first mating surface configured to engage a second mating surface of a hanger to couple the inner sleeve to the hanger. The outer sleeve is disposed about the inner sleeve. The outer sleeve is configured to rotate about a common longitudinal axis with respect to the inner sleeve.
US09027647B2

Methods for treating a subterranean formation can include: providing a treatment fluid that comprises: an aqueous base fluid; a hydrofluoric acid source selected from the group consisting of hydrofluoric acid, a hydrofluoric acid generating compound, and a combination thereof; and a biodegradable chelating agent comprising one of the following selected from the group consisting of: glutamic acid diacetic acid, a glutamic acid diacetic acid salt, a derivative thereof, and a combination thereof. The treatment fluid may then be introduced into at least a portion of a subterranean formation.
US09027646B2

Methods of processing a fluid recovered from an oil or gas extraction operation for reuse in a hydraulic fracturing fluid are described. The methods include providing an amount of a produced fluid composition containing iron and suspended solids and controlling at least one of the conductivity, iron content, oxidative strength, and pH of the composition, such that Fenton's reagent is formed in situ. Also described are hydraulic fracturing fluids produced using fluid recovered from an oil or gas production process and treated in accordance with the methods described herein as well as systems for preparing a hydraulic fracturing fluid having, as a fluid source, fluid recovered from an oil or gas production process that has been treated in accordance with the methods described herein.
US09027636B2

Tunable down-hole stimulation systems feature closed-loop control of pumps and tunable down-hole stimulators. Stimulators generate and hydraulically transmit broad vibration spectra tuned for resonance excitation and fracturing of geologic materials adjacent to the wellbore. Feedback data for controlling stimulation includes backscatter vibration originating in stimulated geologic material and detected at the stimulator(s). For initial fracturing with relatively large particle sizes, the power spectral density (PSD) of each stimulator output is down-shifted toward the lower resonant frequencies of large particles. As fracturing proceeds to smaller (proppant-sized) fragments having higher resonant frequencies, backscatter vibration guides progressive up-shifting of stimulator PSD to higher vibration frequencies. Stimulator power requirements are minimized by concentrating vibration energy efficiently in frequency bands to which geologic materials are most sensitive at every stage of stimulation. Geologic fragmentation efficiency is thus optimized, with inherent potential for plain-water fracs completed with self-generated proppant.
US09027625B2

The present invention concerns a device (1) for preloading of a rewind mechanism (2) for a fabric (4) arranged on an elongated tube (3) or the like of a roller blind, a projector screen or the like. The rewind mechanism (2) is arranged to be essentially inserted into said tube (3) and includes a spring (10), that is tensioned when the fabric (4) is rolled out and relieved when the fabric (4) is rolled up onto the tube (3). The device (1) includes an outer mounting element (5), that is arranged to be attached to the tube (3), and an inner mounting element (6), that is arranged to be attached to an outer bracket (not shown), said mounting elements (5, 6) being rotatingly arranged in relation to each other about a longitudinal axis of said tube (3). A spring element (7) is arranged between said mounting elements (5, 6) and includes a sleeve (11), in which said spring (10) is arranged. The sleeve (11) has an inner diameter that is smaller than the outer diameter of the spring (10) in an untensioned condition, wherein said spring (10) is arranged inside the sleeve (11) by being inserted therein in a pretensioned condition.
US09027624B2

The present invention relates to a tape guiding mechanism (10) of a tape device (100). The tape device (100) comprises a strip of tape (20) having supply tape (22) and take up tape (24); a spool portion (130); a supply spool (40) disposed at the spool portion (130) for winding the supply tape (22); a take up spool (50) disposed at the spool portion (130) for winding the take up tape (24); an application tip (12); and a spool mechanism (70) for allowing the supply and the take up spools (40 & 50) to rotate such that the tape travels from the supply spool (40), around the applicator tip (120), and to the take up spool (50).
US09027617B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a pneumatic tire of which rolling resistance is reduced without impairing wear resistance. Specifically, the pneumatic tire of the present invention comprises: a tread portion; a pair of side wall portions; a pair of bead portions; a carcass constituted of at least one carcass ply extending in a toroidal shape between bead cores in the respective bead portions; a belt disposed on the outer peripheral side of a crown region of the carcass and formed by at least one inclined belt layer made of cords extending to be inclined with respect to the equatorial plane of the tire; and a tread rubber disposed on the radially outer side of the belt, wherein a ratio of BD/BW satisfies the following formula: (0.062×tire aspect ratio−0.01)