Document	Document Title
US08169106B2	Energy management system and control method using the same, for determining an operation mode of a high voltage direct current system The present disclosure relates to an energy management system (EMS) and a method using the same, wherein the EMS comprises, a communication module receiving a channel information of a high voltage direct current (HVDC) system via a network; a circuit realization unit obtaining a connection information among constituent elements symbolizing the constituent elements among each node in electrical symbols by sequentially following pre-set nodes of the HVDC system, and forming the HVDC system by connecting the symbolized constituent elements using electrical lines by using the channel information of HVDC system received by the communication module; a system analyzing unit analyzing an operation mode of the HVDC system through the connection information among the constituent elements of the HVDC system obtained by the circuit realization unit; and a controller managing and controlling the HVDC system by giving an energy management command in response to the operation mode analyzed by the system analyzing unit.
US08169104B2	Control system for a battery powered vehicle A control system for a battery powered vehicle of the kind which is provided with an electric power source and at least one switch means, such as a contactor, which is operable to connect the output of the power source to a high power electrical item fitted to the vehicle, such as an electric drive motor, in which the control system is operable to set the vehicle in one of at least 3 different operating modes comprising a first mode in which the vehicle is immobilized and the contactor is held in an open position to isolate the battery from the electrical item, a second mode in which the vehicle is not immobilized and the contactor is held in a closed position to connect the battery to the electrical item, and a third mode in which the vehicle is immobilized but the contactor remains in an closed position to connect the battery to the electrical item.
US08169103B2	Data-ready power mains distribution panel and data coupler A power mains distribution panel including a data signal coupler providing a data path across multiple circuits therein. The power mains distribution or breaker panel provides mains power distribution from multiple non-neutral (i.e. having a voltage and providing a flow of current relative to each other or a common or neutral wire or virtual point, also called ‘hot’) mains circuits of a single or multiple phase for distribution within the distribution or breaker panel to branch circuits which in turn have a data path therebetween according to the present invention. Also described is a particular data signal coupler which may be used in the embodiments of the power mains distribution panels according to the present invention.
US08169100B2	Torque transmission for an aircraft engine The torque transmission system for an aircraft engine permits a starter-generator to drive the engine on starting at a speed reducing ratio. Once the engine is running, the engine then drives the starter-generator also at a speed reducing ratio.
US08169099B2	Deep offshore floating wind turbine and method of deep offshore floating wind turbine assembly, transportation, installation and operation A deep off-shore floating wind turbine apparatus and methods of manufacturing, operating, maintaining, protecting and conveying the wind turbine apparatus. The wind turbine includes a rotor converting a motion of air into a movement of the rotor, a hub housing equipment that transforms the movement of the rotor into a useful form of energy, and a tower supporting the hub on one end. The wind turbine further includes a base floating substantially at water surface and movable with respect to the underlying solid surface. The tower is connected to the floating base on the second end. The wind turbine also includes a tilting mechanism tilting the wind turbine into a substantially horizontal orientation and bringing it back into an upright position, as well as a rotating mechanism operable to control azimuth orientation of the wind turbine.
US08169096B2	Power generator and motor device The fluid power generator is provided. The fluid power generator includes: a rotating member that rotates by fluid force; a generator motor that is mechanically linked with the rotating member and that is configured to function both as a generator and as a motor; a rotation speed meter that measures a rotation speed of the generator motor; and a controller that controls the generator motor, wherein the controller has a control mode to keep the rotation of the rotating member irrespective of a variation in flow rate of the fluid.
US08169084B2	Bond pad structure and method for producing same It is described a bond pad structure and a method for producing the same, the bond pad structure (1), comprising: a substrate (3) having a surface (17) to be electrically contacted; a first isolator layer (5) contacting the surface (17) of the substrate in a first region (a); a first metal layer (9) contacting the surface (17) of the substrate (3) in a second region (b) adjacent the first region (a) and partly overlapping the first isolator layer (5); a second isolator layer (11) at least partly overlapping the first isolator layer (5) and the first metal layer (9); a second metal layer (13) at least partly overlapping the second isolator layer (11) in the second region (b); wherein a maximum thickness (U) of the second metal layer (13) perpendicular to the surface (17) of the substrate (3) is smaller than a maximum thickness (t0) of the first isolator layer (5) perpendicular to the surface (17) of the substrate (3). The surface of the second isolator layer forming the highest level provides scratching protection for the bond pad structure.
US08169078B2	Electrode structure, semiconductor element, and methods of manufacturing the same According to the present invention, there is provided an electrode structure which includes: a nitride semiconductor layer; an electrode provided over the nitride semiconductor layer; and an electrode protective film provided over the electrode, wherein the nitride semiconductor layer contains a metal nitride containing Nb, Hf or Zr as a constitutive element, the electrode has a portion having a metal oxide containing Ti or V as a constitutive element formed therein, and the electrode protective film covers at least a portion of the electrode, and contains a protective layer having Au or Pt as a constitutive element.
US08169075B2	Electronic part with affixed MEMS According to an aspect of the invention, an electronic part includes a substrate having a first planar surface, a first bump affixed to the first planar surface of the substrate, a second bump affixed to the first planar surface of the substrate a predetermined distance from the first bump, a MEMS chip including a element, the MEMS chip coupled to the first bump and the second bump, the MEMS chip distanced from the first planar surface, an adhesive region bonding with the first bump, the substrate and the MEMS chip.
US08169066B2	Semiconductor package Provided is a semiconductor package including a first package and a second package. The first package includes a first substrate having a first front side and a first back side opposing the first front side. The first package further includes a first semiconductor chip on the first front side and an external connection member on the first semiconductor chip. The external connection member may be configured to electrically connect the first semiconductor chip to an external device. The second package includes a second substrate having a second back side facing the first back side of the first substrate and a second front surface opposing the second back side. The second package includes a second semiconductor chip on the second front side. The semiconductor package further includes an internal connection member between the first back side and the second back side to electrically connect the first package to the second package.
US08169058B2	Semiconductor device and method of stacking die on leadframe electrically connected by conductive pillars A semiconductor device has a first semiconductor die mounted to a first contact pad on a leadframe or substrate with bumps. A conductive pillar is formed over a second semiconductor die. The second die is mounted over the first die by electrically connecting the conductive pillar to a second contact pad on the substrate with bumps. The second die is larger than the first die. An encapsulant is deposited over the first and second die. Alternatively, the conductive pillars are formed over the substrate around the first die. A heat sink is formed over the second die, and a thermal interface material is formed between the first and second die. An underfill material is deposited under the first semiconductor die. A shielding layer is formed between the first and second die. An interconnect structure can be formed over the second contact pad of the substrate.
US08169050B2	BEOL wiring structures that include an on-chip inductor and an on-chip capacitor, and design structures for a radiofrequency integrated circuit Back-end-of-line (BEOL) wiring structures that include an on-chip inductor and an on-chip capacitor, as well as design structures for a radiofrequency integrated circuit. The on-chip inductor and an on-chip capacitor, which are fabricated as conductive features in different metallization levels, are vertically aligned with each other. The on-chip capacitor, which is located between the on-chip inductor and the substrate, may serve as a Faraday shield for the on-chip inductor. Optionally, the BEOL wiring structure may include an optional Faraday shield located vertically either between the on-chip capacitor and the on-chip inductor, or between the on-chip capacitor and the top surface of the substrate. The BEOL wiring structure may include at least one floating electrode capable of being selectively coupled with the electrodes of the on-chip capacitor to permit tuning, during circuit operation, of a resonance frequency of an LC resonator that further includes the on-chip inductor.
US08169042B2	Integrated microphone A method of forming a microphone having a variable capacitance first deposits high temperature deposition material on a die. The high temperature material ultimately forms structure that contributes to the variable capacitance. The method then forms circuitry on the die after depositing the deposition material. The circuitry is configured to detect the variable capacitance.
US08169038B2	Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same A semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The method includes forming ion impurity regions of a first conductivity type by forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate and implanting impurity ions into a lower portion of the trench at different depths; forming an oxide region in the substrate adjacent to one end of the trench; forming a device isolation film filling the trench; forming a high voltage well in the substrate and a second conductivity type body in the high voltage well; forming a gate on the semiconductor substrate partially overlapping the device isolation film; forming second well in the semiconductor substrate at one side of the device isolation film overlapping the ion diffusion regions and the oxide region; and forming source regions in the body and a drain region in the second well.
US08169030B2	Semiconductor memory device and production method thereof In a static memory cell composed of four MOS transistors, the transistors composing a memory cell are formed on a substrate and have a drain, gate, and source arranged vertically with the gate surrounding a columnar semiconductor layer. In this memory cell, the first diffusion layers (second diffusion layers) functioning as a first memory node (second memory node) are connected via a first silicide layer (second silicide layer) formed on their surfaces, whereby an SRAM cell having a small area is realized. Furthermore, a first anti-leak diffusion layer (second anti-leak diffusion layer) having the conductivity type opposite to the first well is formed between the first well and the first diffusion layer (second diffusion layer) having the same conductivity type as the first well so as to prevent leak to the substrate.
US08169022B2	Vertical junction field effect transistors and diodes having graded doped regions and methods of making Semiconductor devices and methods of making the devices are described. The devices can be junction field-effect transistors (JFETs) or diodes such as junction barrier Schottky (JBS) diodes or PiN diodes. The devices have graded p-type semiconductor layers and/or regions formed by epitaxial growth. The methods do not require ion implantation. The devices can be made from a wide-bandgap semiconductor material such as silicon carbide (SiC) and can be used in high temperature and high power applications.
US08169018B2	Non-volatile memory device A non-volatile memory device includes a semiconductor layer including a cell region and a peripheral region, a cell region gate structure disposed in the cell region of the semiconductor layer, and wherein the cell region gate structure includes a tunneling insulating layer and a first blocking insulating layer, a second blocking insulating layer, and a third blocking insulating layer. The no-volatile memory device further includes a peripheral region gate structure formed in the peripheral region of the semiconductor layer. The peripheral region gate structure includes a first peripheral region insulating layer including a same material as a material included in the tunneling insulating layer and a second peripheral region insulating layer including a same material as a material included in the third blocking insulating layer.
US08169014B2	Interdigitated capacitive structure for an integrated circuit System and method for an improved interdigitated capacitive structure for an integrated circuit. A preferred embodiment comprises a first layer of a sequence of substantially parallel interdigitated strips, each strip of either a first polarity or a second polarity, the sequence alternating between a strip of the first polarity and a strip of the second polarity. A first dielectric layer is deposited over each strip of the first layer of strips. A first extension layer of a sequence of substantially interdigitated extension strips is deposited over the first dielectric layer, each extension strip deposited over a strip of the first layer of the opposite polarity. A first sequence of vias is coupled to the first extension layer, each via deposited over an extension strip of the same polarity. A second layer of a sequence of substantially parallel interdigitated strips can be coupled to the first sequence of vias.
US08169012B2	Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the semiconductor device A semiconductor device and a method of fabricating a semiconductor device provide high quality cylindrical capacitors. The semiconductor device includes a substrate defining a cell region and a peripheral circuit region, a plurality of capacitors in the cell region, and supports for supporting lower electrodes of the capacitors. The lower electrodes are disposed in a plurality of rows each extending in a first direction. A dielectric layer is disposed on the lower electrodes, and an upper electrode is disposed on the dielectric layer. The supports are in the form of stripes extending longitudinally in the first direction and spaced from each other along a second direction. Each of the supports engages the lower electrodes of a respective plurality of adjacent rows of the lower electrodes. Each one of the supports is also disposed at a different level in the device from the support that is adjacent thereto in the second direction.
US08169007B2	Asymmetric junction field effect transistor A junction field effect transistor (JFET) in a semiconductor substrate includes a source region, a drain region, a channel region, an upper gate region, and a lower gate region. The lower gate region is electrically connected to the upper gate region. The upper and lower gate regions control the current flow through the channel region. By performing an ion implantation step that extends the thickness of the source region to a depth greater than the thickness of the drain region, an asymmetric JFET is formed. The extension of depth of the source region relative to the depth of the drain region reduces the length for minority charge carriers to travel through the channel region, reduces the on-resistance of the JFET, and increases the on-current of the JFET, thereby enhancing the overall performance of the JFET without decreasing the allowable Vds or dramatically increasing Voff/Vpinch.
US08169004B2	Compound semiconductor epitaxial substrate and process for producing the same A compound semiconductor epitaxial substrate and a process for producing the same are provided. The compound semiconductor epitaxial substrate comprises a single crystal substrate, a lattice mismatch compound semiconductor layer and a stress compensation layer, wherein the lattice mismatch compound semiconductor layer and the stress compensation layer are disposed on the identical surface side of the single crystal substrate, there is no occurrence of lattice relaxation in the lattice mismatch compound semiconductor layer, as well as the stress compensation layer, and Ls representing the lattice constant of the single crystal substrate, Lm representing the lattice constant of the lattice mismatch compound semiconductor layer, and Lc representing the lattice constant of the stress compensation layer satisfy the formula (1a) or (1b). Lm Lm>Ls>Lc (2a)
US08169003B2	Termination and contact structures for a high voltage GaN-based heterojunction transistor A semiconductor device is provided that includes a substrate, a first active layer disposed over the substrate, and a second active layer disposed on the first active layer. The second active layer has a higher bandgap than the first active layer such that a two-dimensional electron gas layer arises between the first active layer and the second active layer. A termination layer, which is disposed on the second active layer, includes InGaN. Source, gate and drain contacts are disposed on the termination layer.
US08168990B2	Apparatus for dissipating thermal energy generated by current flow in semiconductor circuits A thermal energy dissipating arrangement includes a semiconductor device and a thermally conductive medium. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor circuit defining a semiconductor junction and encapsulating material in physical contact with and surrounding the semiconductor circuit. The thermally conductive medium defines an opening sized to receive the semiconductor device such that the thermally conductive medium defining the opening is in physical, thermally conductive contact with an exterior surface of the encapsulating material about the semiconductor device with the thermally conductive medium defining the opening intersecting an angle of less than or equal to a predefined angle relative to a plane defined by the semiconductor junction about a periphery of the semiconductor circuit. The thermally conductive medium absorbs thermal energy generated within the semiconductor device as a result of current flow through the semiconductor junction and rejects the absorbed thermal energy to an ambient environment surrounding the thermally conductive medium.
US08168983B2	Semiconductor device, method for manufacturing semiconductor device, display device, and method for manufacturing display device A semiconductor device 19-1 includes a source electrode 3s and a drain electrode 3d disposed on a substrate 1, an insulating partition wall 5, which has a first opening 5a reaching end portions of the source electrode 3s and the drain electrode 3d and between these electrodes 3s-3d and which is disposed on the substrate 1, a channel portion semiconductor layer 7a, which is composed of a semiconductor layer 7 formed from above the partition wall 5 and which is disposed on the bottom portion of the first opening 5a while being separated from the semiconductor 7 on the partition wall 5, a gate insulating film 9 formed all over the surface from above the semiconductor layer 7 including the channel portion semiconductor layer 7a, and a gate electrode 11a disposed on the gate insulating film 9 while overlapping the channel portion semiconductor layer 7a.
US08168976B2	Display panel and method for manufacturing the same A display panel includes a substrate having a display area and a blank area. The blank area includes at least one of a non-metal line region and a metal-line region. The non-metal line region includes a plurality of insulating patterns and a first conductive pattern layer formed on the substrate. The insulating patterns are isolated from each other by the first conductive pattern layer. The metal-line region includes an insulating multilayer formed on the substrate and a conductive pattern layer formed on the insulating multilayer. Several isolated zones are formed by the conductive pattern layer on the surface of the insulating multilayer.
US08168950B2	Charged particle beam apparatus, and image generation method with charged particle beam apparatus The present invention has a subject to provide an apparatus that optimizes scanning in accordance with circumstances or purposes, reduces distortion of images, and improves throughput, image quality, and defect detection rate by controlling deflection of a charged particle beam in a stage tracking system. To solve this subject, an apparatus according to the present invention is an inspection apparatus for detecting abnormal conditions of an inspection target by irradiating the inspection target with the charged particle beam and detecting generated secondary electrons, including both a stage that moves continuously with the inspection target placed thereon and a deflection control circuit for providing a deflector with a scanning signal that causes the charged particle beam to scan repeatedly in a direction substantially perpendicular to a stage movement axis direction while the charged particle beam being deflected in the stage movement axis direction in accordance with a change in movement speed of the stage during movement of the stage.
US08168945B2	Method for generation and use of isotopic patterns in mass spectral data of simple organisms A method for identifying a biological analyte that is affected by a stressor is disclosed in which two substantially identical biological samples are provided, with a first sample being a control sample and a second sample being an experimental sample. The control sample is grown with a nutrient having an isotope of a first atom, whereas the experimental sample is grown with a nutrient having a second isotope of the first atom. The experimental sample is grown with a stressing agent and regimen. The samples are admixed, and the formed composite is mass spectroscopically assayed for analyte peaks. The ratio of first isotope to second isotope is determined for the peaks, as is a sample median isotopic ratio. The ratio for assayed analyte peaks is compared with the median ratio. An analyte whose isotopic ratio significantly deviates from the median ratio is an analyte affected by the stressing agent.
US08168942B2	Chromatograph mass spectrometer In a chromatograph mass spectrometer capable of defining an appropriate measurement time range and selectively performing a scan measurement, selected ion monitoring (SIM) measurement or simultaneous scan/SIM measurement in that time range, a total ion chromatogram 51 obtained by a scan measurement of a standard sample and a previously-created compound table 52 are displayed on the screen of a display unit in the process of setting parameters in a measurement condition table. An operator selects a compound that should undergo the simultaneous scan/SIM measurement, then places a checkmark in an appropriate check box in the compound table 52, and finally clicks the “Auto-Create” button 54. Then, a measurement time range for the selected compound is defined by adding a time span before and after the retention time of that compound, respectively, and a measurement condition table 53 is automatically created and displayed on the screen. This table includes instructions for performing a simultaneous scan/SIM measurement at specific mass-to-charge ratios characteristic of the selected compound during the aforementioned measurement time range.
US08168941B2	Ion beam angle calibration and emittance measurement system for ribbon beams An ion beam angle calibration and emittance measurement system, comprising a plate comprising an elongated slit therein, wherein the elongated slit positioned at a rotation center of the plate and configured to allow a first beam portion to pass therethrough. A beam current detector located downstream of the plate, wherein the beam current detector comprises a slit therein configured to permit a second beam portion of the first beam portion to pass therethrough, wherein the beam current detector is configured to measure a first beam current associated with the first beam portion. A beam angle detector is located downstream of the beam current detector and configured to detect a second beam current associated with the second beam portion. The plate, the current beam detector and the beam angle detector are configured to collectively rotate about the rotation center of the plate.
US08168938B2	Method of manufacturing an optical member having stacked high and low refractive index layers A method of making an optical member including high refractive index layers and low refractive index layers, which are each relatively thin as compared with an optical length, and disposed alternately in the lateral direction with respect to an optical axis. Each width of the high refractive index layers and the low refractive index layers is equal to or smaller than the wavelength order of incident light.
US08168935B2	Pressure sensor and pressure measurement method of pressure sensor Disclosed is a pressure sensor comprising: a substrate; a pressure reception plate which is provided in a state of facing the substrate, the pressure reception plate comprising in a surface which faces the substrate, a low reflection region, and a high reflection region having a relatively higher reflection ratio compared to the low reflection region; a support portion to change a distance between the substrate and the pressure reception plate when a pressure is applied to the pressure reception plate, the support portion being provided in between the substrate and the pressure reception plate; and a plurality of light receiving elements which are respectively provided on the substrate in positions facing the low reflection region and in positions facing the high reflection region, of the pressure reception plate.
US08168930B2	Beam power for local receivers A beam power source transmits a signal indicating power availability, receives a request for power in response, and beams power in response to the request.
US08168918B2	Laser welding system and laser welding control method A laser processing head mounted on a robot arm moves from with a constant speed in a direction from a welding point to a next welding point, while a reflection mirror continuously turns in order to maintain laser beams focused on the welding point until the welding at the welding point is completed, and the reflection mirror quickly turns to shift the focus of the laser beams onto the next welding point when the welding at the welding point is completed.
US08168916B2	Enhanced piercing through current profiling In general, the present invention provides a method of piercing a workpiece with a plasma arc torch of the type having a plasma gas flow path for directing a plasma gas through the torch and a secondary gas flow path for directing a secondary gas through the torch. The method comprises directing a flow of shield gas along a distal end portion of the plasma arc torch to deflect metal spatter generated from the piercing, and ramping a current provided to the plasma arc torch along a profile during piercing and controlling current ramp parameters as a function of a thickness of the workpiece and an operating current level, wherein the current ramp parameters comprise a length of time, a ramp rate, a shape factor, and a modulation.
US08168915B1	Cutting torch splatter and glare guard A cutting torch splatter and glare guard includes a collar that is structured for releasable engagement with a cutting torch. The collar has first and second collar portions that are biased towards a first position for engagement with the cutting torch and movable against the bias towards a second position for disengagement with the cutting torch. A guard plate coupled to the collar and structured to block splatter and cutting debris emanating from a cutting surface. A plurality of shield plates is pivotably attached to the guard plate so as to pivot info and out of an orientation extending generally perpendicular downwardly relative to the guard plate.
US08168904B2	Illumination button switch assembly having lighting structure and electronic device An illumination button switch assembly for an electronic device includes a substrate, a switch element, a flexible and light-pervious supporting member, a light source, and a button cap. The switch element is disposed on the substrate to be triggered to generate a switching signal. The supporting member has a top end and a bottom end, a concave hollow portion is formed on the bottom end, and the bottom end is disposed above the switch element and is spaced from the switch element. The light source is disposed on the substrate to project light into the hollow portion. The button cap is fixed on the top end to be pressed to push the supporting member to contact the switch element with the bottom end. Since the button cap is light-pervious, the light passing through the hollow portion penetrates the button cap, thereby illuminating the button cap.
US08168890B2	Printed circuit board and component package having the same A printed circuit board, a component package that includes the printed circuit board, and a method of manufacturing the component package are disclosed. The printed circuit board, which may include an insulation layer, a pad formed over the insulation layer and wire-bonded to a component, and a tin (Sn) alloy layer formed over the pad, can be manufactured with lower costs and a simpler manufacturing process, where the adhesion provided by the wire-bonding can also be increased.
US08168880B2	Shingle with photovoltaic element(s) and array of same laid up on a roof A shingle having butt and tab portions is provided, wherein the tab portions are exposed when applied to a roof, and wherein active photovoltaic element(s) appear on portions only of the tab portions of the shingles, wherein adjacent zones of the tab portions of the shingles to which the photovoltaic element(s) are applied are free of active photovoltaic elements. The shingles are applied to a roof or a major portion of a roof, laid up in courses so that exposed tab portions of next-overlying courses cover unexposed butt portions of next-underlying courses, leaving photovoltaic elements exposed. In an array of shingles on a roof, the photovoltaic elements are distributed substantially uniformally. The surface ornamentation of the exposed surfaces of the photovoltaic elements may be either complementary to the exposed surfaces of the shingles not having photovoltaic elements thereon, or may blend with such zones not having photovoltaic elements thereon.
US08168877B1	Musical harmony generation from polyphonic audio signals Melody and accompaniment audio signals are received and processed to identify one or more harmony notes and a harmony signal is produced based on the one or more harmony notes. Typically the melody note is identified and a spectrum of the accompaniment audio signal and is obtained, and one or more harmony notes are identified based on the melody note and the accompaniment spectrum. The melody, and accompaniment signals can be processed in real-time for combination with the harmony signal in an audio performance. In some examples, audio signals are processed and harmonies generated for subsequent performance based on, for example, MIDI files generated from the audio signals.
US08168869B2	Sweet pepper hybrid 9930417 The invention provides seed and plants of pepper hybrid 9930417 and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of pepper hybrid 9930417 and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a pepper plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another pepper plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.
US08168865B1	Polypeptides having endoglucanase activity and polynucleotides encoding same The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having endoglucanase activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods for producing and using the polypeptides.
US08168863B2	Methods for accumulating heterologous polypeptides in plant stover utilizing a vacuole sorting signal Compositions and methods for increasing the expression and/or accumulation of cellobiohydrolase enzyme in the vacuoles of plant cells are provided. The method involves targeting the enzyme to the vacuoles through the use of a barley polyamine oxidase (BPAO) vacuole sorting signal peptide. Plants transformed with an expression construct encoding the vacuole sorting signal peptide operably linked to the cellobiohydrolase enzyme direct expression of the polypeptide to the vacuoles of the plant cells. Transgenic plants, seeds, and plant tissues, and plant parts are provided. Downstream uses of transgenic plants or plant material expressing the constructs of the invention include agronomical and industrial uses, for example, human food, animal feed, biofuel, industrial alcohol, fermentation feedstocks, and the like.
US08168854B2	Human chronic lymphocytic leukemia modeled in mouse by targeted TCL1 expression Transgenic animals containing a nucleic acid sequence encoding TCL1 operably linked to transcriptional control sequences directing expression to B cells are described. Such transgenic animals provide a useful animal model system for human B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
US08168845B2	Separation process The invention relates to an improved absorption-type separation and/or purification processes having dual rotary valves.
US08168843B2	Reformate benzene reduction via transalkylation A process for reducing benzene content in a reformate stream, including: fractionating a full range reformate comprising benzene, C7 to C9 monoalkyl aromatics, and C10+ polyalkyl aromatics into at least three fractions including a light reformate fraction comprising the benzene; a medium reformate fraction comprising the C7 to C9 monoalkyl aromatics; and a heavy reformate fraction comprising the C10+ polyalkyl aromatics; feeding the light reformate fraction, the heavy reformate fraction and a transalkylation catalyst to a transalkylation reaction zone; contacting the light fraction and the heavy fraction in presence of the transalkylation catalyst in the transalkylation reaction zone to react at least a portion of the benzene with C10+ polyalkyl aromatics to form monoalkyl aromatics; separating an effluent from the transalkylation reaction zone to form a catalyst fraction and a liquid fraction comprising the monoalkyl aromatics.
US08168842B2	Process for the alkylation of a cycloalkene Process for the alkylation of a cycloalkene, which process comprises alkylating a cycloalkene with an oxygenate under alkylating conditions in the presence of a zeolite; to yield an alkylated cycloalkene. Composition obtainable by such a process and use of such a composition as a gasoline blending component.
US08168840B2	Biomass pretreatment process A process is described for pretreating lignocellulosic biomass. The process comprises swelling the lignocellulosic biomass with an aqueous liquid. The pretreated lignocellulosic biomass may be used as a feedstock for the enzymatic conversion to ethanol, or in a thermal conversion. process to produce bio-oil. The pretreatment results in a greater yield and, in the case of a thermal conversion process, a better quality of the bio-oil. The pretreatment process may be used to adjust the composition and amount of inorganic material present in the lignocellulosic biomass material.
US08168838B2	Hydrocarbon compositions useful as lubricants A process for the preparation of a synthetic predominantly single carbon number hydrocarbon fluid comprises the steps of: contacting an alpha olefin having a carbon number of 4 to 30 with a single site catalyst under conditions effective to produce reactive hydrocarbon oligomers that contain reactive double bonds and comprising predominantly dimers, trimers, and tetramers wherein at least 10 weight percent of such reactive hydrocarbon oligomers at least one of trimers and tetramers; separating at least one of said trimers and tetramers in said reactive hydrocarbon oligomers; dimerizing said separated one of said trimers tetramers by contacting said separated one of said trimers or tetramers with a dimerization catalyst thereby producing an unsaturated synthetic hydrocarbon fluid; and contacting said unsaturated synthetic hydrocarbon fluid with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst thereby producing a synthetic hydrocarbon fluid having predominantly single carbon number.
US08168817B1	Citric acid esters The present invention relates to the ability of certain unsaturated Guerbet esters to repair damage to the hair and skin. The compounds are oleate esters of Guerbet alcohols. The low viscosity, polarity of the ester group and very low titer point allow the esters of the present invention to spread rapidly and efficiently on the hair and skin, providing an elegant feel and lubricate the surface of the hair or skin repairing damage done to the hair or skin by washing, and allowing for the replacement of the oils from inside the hair or skin.
US08168814B2	Synthesis of phosphonic acid labeled compounds High purity isotopically labeled phosphonic acid esters can be obtained from isotopically enriched Chloro[13C]methyl phenyl sulfide The labeled phosphonic acid esters can then be used as precursors for the one step production of labeled vinyl sulfides, labeled vinyl sulfoxides, and labeled vinyl sulfones. The labeled phosphonic acid esters can also be reacted with a variety of aldehydes to produce extended vinyl systems that are isotopically labeled.
US08168807B2	Process for one-stage preparation of 2-methyltetrahydrofuran from furfural over two catalysts in a structured bed The present invention provides a process for preparing 2-methyltetrahydrofuran by one-stage hydrogenation of furfural with a hydrogen-comprising gas in the presence of a structured bed of at least one copper catalyst and at least one catalyst which comprises at least one noble metal from groups 8, 9 and/or 10 of the periodic table of the elements applied on a support material.
US08168805B2	Optically active methylhydroxylaminopropanol compound and its use as intermediate for preparation of (S)-(−)-3-methylamino-1-(2-thienyl)propan-1-ol The present invention provides an (S)-methylhydroxylaminopropanol derivative and the (S)-methylhydroxylaminopropanol derivative of the present invention is used as an intermediate for preparation of (S)-(−)-3-methylamino-1-(2-thienyl)propan-1-ol, which is an intermediate for preparation of (S)-(+)-N-methyl-3-methyl-3-(1-naphthyloxy)-3-(2-thienyl)propylamine oxalate. The present invention also provides a process for preparing (S)-(−)-3-methylamino-1-(2-thienyl)propan-1-ol with higher yield and lower cost, wherein the (S)-methylhydroxylaminopropanol derivative is used as an intermediate.
US08168804B2	Large stoke shift NIR dyes A compound of the following formula: wherein R1 is SO3H; R2 is chosen from carboxylic acid group and SO3H; and R3 is chosen from Cl, carboxylic acid group, amino, amino-carboxylic acid group, amido group, amino-amido group, and methods of use related to imaging.
US08168803B2	Methods of using [3.2.0] heterocyclic compounds and analogs thereof Disclosed are methods of treating cancer, inflammatory conditions, and/or infectious disease in an animal comprising: administering to the animal, a therapeutically effective amount of a heterocyclic compound. The animal is a mammal, preferably a human or a rodent.
US08168792B2	Heterocyclic antiviral compounds Compounds having the formula A-R wherein A is a heteroaryl and R is Ia, Ib or Ic and wherein A, R, R1, R2a, R2b, R2c, R3a, R3b, R4, R5, R6, Ra, Rb, Rc, Rd, X, X1, X2 and n are as are as defined herein are Hepatitis C virus NS5b polymerase inhibitors. Also disclosed are compositions and methods for treating an HCV infection and inhibiting HCV replication.R is
US08168789B2	Organic amine salt of 6-fluoro-3-hydroxy-2-pyrazinecarbonitrile and method for producing the same Disclosed is an organic amine salt of 6-fluoro-3-hydroxy-2-pyrazinecarbonitrile, which is excellent in crystallinity and useful as a production intermediate for 6-fluoro-3-hydroxy-2-pyrazinecarboxamide.
US08168785B2	Benzothiazole derivatives Provided are compounds and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts that are useful for the treatment of diseases related to the adenosine receptor. Also included are methods of treating patients suffering from or susceptible to at least one symptom of abuse of, dependence on, or withdrawal from at least one substance.
US08168775B2	Compositions and methods for inhibiting expression of transthyretin The invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) targeting a transthyretin (TTR) gene, and methods of using the dsRNA to inhibit expression of TTR.
US08168774B2	Control of gene expression The present invention relates generally to a method of modifying gene expression and to synthetic genes for modifying endo gene expression in a cell, tissue or organ of a transgenic organism, in particular a transgenic animal or plant. More particularly, the invention utilizes recombinant DNA technology to post-transcriptionally modify or modulate the expression of a target gene in tissue, organ or whole organism, thereby producing novel phenotypes. Novel synthetic genes and genetic constructs which are cap repressing delaying or otherwise reducing the expression of an endogenous gene or a target gene in an organism when introduced are also provided.
US08168771B2	Use of consensus sequence as vaccine antigen to enhance recognition of virulent viral variants The invention provides consensus sequences for hepatitis C virus 1a and 1b. Also provided are non-synonymous changes for each residue of the consensus sequences. These sequences are useful as compositions or vaccines for prophylactic use or treating HCV-infected individuals. Also provided are methods for lessening the chances for a HCV-infected individual to enter a chronic phase of infection and methods of diagnosing an individual with HCV 1a or HCV 1b infection.
US08168770B2	Cloning, sequencing and expression of a gene encoding an eukaryotic amino acid racemase, and diagnostic, therapeutic, and vaccination applications of parasite and viral mitogens A method of preventing or inhibiting infection by a parasite or virus in vivo comprising administering to a human in need thereof a parasite or virus mitogen in a sub-mitogenic amount sufficient to induce a protective immune response against the parasite or virus in the human.
US08168769B2	HPV vaccines and methods for using the same Improved anti-HIV immunogens and nucleic acid molecules that encode them are disclosed, Immunogens disclosed include those having consensus sequences for HIV Subtype A Envelope protein, those having consensus sequences for HIV Subtype B Envelope protein, those having consensus sequences for HIV Subtype C Envelope protein, those having consensus sequences for HIV Subtype D Envelope protein, those having consensus sequences for HIV Subtype B consensus Nef-Rev protein, and those having consensus sequences form HIV Gag protein subtypes A, B, C and D. Improved anti-HPV immunogens and nucleic acid molecules that encode them; improved anti-HCV immunogens and nucleic acid molecules that encode them; improved hTERT immunogens and nucleic acid molecules that encode them; and improved anti-Influenza immunogens and nucleic acid molecules that encode them are disclosed. Pharmaceutical composition, recombinant vaccines comprising and live attenuated pathogens are disclosed as well methods of inducing an immune response in an individual against HIV, HPV, HCV, hTERT and Influenza are disclosed.
US08168762B2	Antigen binding proteins to proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) Antigen binding proteins that interact with Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin Kexin Type 9 (PCSK9) are described. Methods of treating hypercholesterolemia and other disorders by administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of an antigen binding protein to PCSK9 are described. Methods of detecting the amount of PCSK9 in a sample using an antigen binding protein to PCSK9 are described.
US08168747B2	On-growth inhibiting compounds An on-growth inhibiting agent, for the inhibition and/or prevention of on-growth of biological organisms on objects or living beings, includes at least one cyclotide, and a suitable carrier medium. A plant extract containing a mixture of cyclotides is also usable.
US08168746B2	Biomimetic materials for protein storage and transport The invention provides a method for the insertion of protein in storage vehicles and the recovery of the proteins from the vehicles, the method comprising supplying isolated protein; mixing the isolated protein with a fluid so as to form a mixture, the fluid comprising saturated phospholipids, lipopolymers, and a surfactant; cycling the mixture between a first temperature and a second temperature; maintaining the mixture as a solid for an indefinite period of time; diluting the mixture in detergent buffer so as to disrupt the composition of the mixture, and diluting to disrupt the fluid in its low viscosity state for removal of the guest molecules by, for example, dialysis, filtering or chromatography dialyzing/filtering the emulsified solid.
US08168745B2	Process for the preparation of poly- and oligothiophenes on an industrial scale Process for industrial scale synthesis of poly- and oligothiophenes, which works in concentrated solution. In this process, a solution which comprises an organometallic thiophene reagent is added to a second solution which comprises a catalyst.
US08168742B2	Crosslinkable fluorinated aromatic prepolymer and its uses To provide a crosslinkable fluorinated aromatic prepolymer which is capable of forming a cured product having a low relative permittivity, high heat resistance, low birefringence and high flexibility, and its uses.A crosslinkable fluorinated aromatic prepolymer which is obtained by subjecting a compound (Y-1) having a crosslinkable functional group (A) and a phenolic hydroxyl group and/or a compound (Y-2) having a crosslinkable functional group (A) and a fluorinated aromatic ring, to a condensation reaction in the presence of a HF-removing agent, with a fluorinated aromatic compound (B) represented by the formula (1): (wherein n is an integer of from 0 to 2, each of a and b which are independent of each other, is an integer of 0 to 3, and each of Rf1 and Rf2 represents a fluorinated alkyl group having at most 8 carbon atoms and a compound (C) having at least 3 phenolic hydroxyl groups, and which has crosslinkable functional groups (A) and ether bonds and has a number average molecular weight of from 1×103 to 5×105.
US08168739B2	Polysiloxane, method for producing the same, and method for producing cured product of the same The present invention has an object to provide a polysiloxane which is a liquid substance having low viscosity, is excellent in curing workability, and has excellent heat resistance in an obtained cured material, and to a production method of a cured material using the polysiloxane. Specifically disclosed is a polysiloxane which is obtained by hydrolysis and polycondensation of a silicon compound having three hydrolyzable groups, a silicon compound having two hydrolyzable groups and a silicon compound having one hydrolyzable group, and is characterized by containing a hydrosilylatable carbon-carbon unsaturated group, a hydrosilyl group and an alkoxysilyl group, and having a number average molecular weight of 500 to 20,000.
US08168738B2	Low temperature, moisture curable coating compositions and related methods Disclosed are low temperature, moisture curable coating compositions, related coated substrates, and methods for coating a substrate. The coating compositions include an ungelled, secondary amine-containing Michael addition reaction product of reactants including a compound comprising more than one site of ethylenic unsaturation, and an aminofunctional silane.
US08168724B2	Synthesis and use of well-defined, highly-branched saturated hydrocarbon polymers The present invention relates to a method to produce highly branched polymers with a polyolefin backbone structure of ethylene and precise control of the nature of the branching. In particular, the distribution of branch length and number of branches can be more precisely controlled via the polymerization method of the present invention. The method comprises using anionic chemistry to make unsaturated polydienes with a well-defined, highly-branched structure, and then hydrogenating these polydienes to form highly branched or dendritic saturated hydrocarbon polymers. Highly branched or dendritic polyethylene, ethylene-propylene copolymer and atactic polypropylene are among the saturated hydrocarbon polymers that can be anionically synthesized via the proper selection of diene monomer type, coupling agent, and hydrogenation conditions.
US08168713B2	Dispersants and compositions thereof The present invention provides a dispersant of Formula (1): E-O—(Y)x-T-NR′-A-Z—W0-v, and salts thereof, wherein E is R or R—NR′-T-; R is H or C1-50-optionally substituted hydrocarbyl; R′ is a residue of an optionally substituted alkyl (meth)acrylate or (meth)acrylamide, or a residue of an epoxide, or a C1-8-optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group; Y is C2-4-alkyleneoxy; T is C2-4 alkylene; A is the residue of a dibasic acid or anhydride thereof; Z is the residue of a polyamine and/or polyimine; W is the residue of an oxide, urea or dibasic acid or anhydride thereof; x is from 2 to 90; and v represents an integer variable. The invention further provides a composition comprising a particulate solid, an organic medium and/or water and the dispersant.
US08168705B2	Polymer membranes The invention relates to novel organic/inorganic hybrid membranes which have the following composition: a polymer acid containing —SO3H, PO3H2, —COOH or B(OH)2 groups, a polymeric ease (optional), which contains primary, secondary or tertiary amino groups, pyridine groups, imidazole, benzimidazole, triazole, benzotriazole, pyrazole or benzopyrazole groups, either in the side chain or in the main chain; an additional polymeric base (optional) containing the aforementioned basic groups; an element or metal oxide or hydroxide, which has been obtained by hydrolysis and/or sol-gel reaction of an elementalorganic and/or metalorganic compound during the membrane forming process and/or by a re-treatment of the membrane in aqueous acidic, alkaline or neutral electrolytes. The invention also relates to methods for producing said membranes and to various uses for membranes of this type.
US08168702B2	Acrylic-resin-containing film, polarizing plate and liquid crystal display device using the same Object of the present invention is to provide an acrylic-resin-containing film which exhibits high transparency, high heat resistance, and markedly improved brittleness, a polarizing plate using the acrylic-resin-containing film which improves a yield of operation such as punching of a polarizing plate or bonding panels and a liquid crystal display device which can keep to exhibit excellent visibility in long-terms usage in harsh environment. These objects have been achieved by the acrylic-resin-containing film comprising a acrylic resin (A) and a cellulose ester resin (B), or comprising the acrylic resin (A), the cellulose ester resin (B) and at least a resin (D) which is other than the resins (A) and (B) and has a glass transition temperature Tg of 120-300° C. The film is characterized in that it has a haze of less than 2%, a tensile softening point of 120-150° C. and undergoes no ductile fracture.
US08168693B2	X-ray opaque barium-free glasses and uses thereof Zirconium-containing BaO- and PbO-free X-ray opaque glasses having a refractive index nd of about 1.54 to about 1.58 and a high X-ray opacity with an aluminum equivalent thickness of at least about 500% are provided. Such glasses are based on a SiO2—B2O3—Al2O3—R2O—RO—La2O3—ZrO2 system with optional additions of SnO2. Such glasses may be used, in particular, as dental glasses or as optical glasses.
US08168692B2	Bone substitute compositions and method of use The present invention relates to novel bone substitute compositions and methods of use. It further encompasses the use of these novel bone substitute compositions for bone augmentation and the treatment of disease conditions. The invention also contemplates a kit including bone substitute compositions and a percutaneous delivery device.
US08168690B2	Solvent-free photocurable resin composition for protective film A solvent-free photocurable resin composition is provided which can be applied to the surface of optical discs or the like to form a highly transparent protective film that can stably adhere to the surface and effectively protect the surface from scratches. The solvent-free photocurable resin composition contains a urethane(meth)acrylate oligomer, a trifunctional (meth)acrylic acid ester monomer, a photopolymerization initiator, and a dilution monomer. The dilution monomer contains a fluorine-based (meth)acrylic acid ester monomer having three or more fluorine atoms and a monofunctional or difunctional (meth)acrylic acid ester monomer in amounts of from 10 to 40 wt% and from 10 to 30 wt%, respectively.
US08168684B2	Carbon efficiencies in hydrocarbon production This invention relates to a method of producing liquid hydrocarbons, preferably internal combustion engine fuels, using feedstocks of coal or methane. Depending on the nature of the feedstock it is subjected to a gasification and/or reforming process and/or water gas shift process which produces a syngas that is rich in carbon dioxide and hydrogen rather than carbon monoxide and hydrogen as in the conventional process. The carbon dioxide and hydrogen are combined in a Fischer Tropsch process to produce desired hydrocarbons and water. The energy requirements of the gasification/reforming process to produce a syngas that is rich in carbon dioxide and hydrogen is considerably less than the energy requirements for gasification/reforming process for producing the conventional carbon monoxide rich syngas. This reduction in energy consumption reduces considerably the quantities of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere compared to conventional processes that are based on carbon monoxide rich syngas. Unreacted CO2-rich syngas can be recirculated or can also be used, in molten carbonate fuel cells, or to generate energy or steam in turbine processes such as IGCC.
US08168682B2	Personal product bar compositions comprising crystalline wax structured premix or delivery vehicle The present invention relates to compositions comprising a structured benefit agent pre-mix or delivery vehicle comprising benefit agent structured with crystalline materials, as defined, which when separately prepared and combined after preparation, provides enhanced delivery of benefit agent from a personal product bar carrying composition into which the premix is added. The use of structured benefit agent also enhances delivery of separate benefit agents in the premix (which may or may not be structured) and of separate benefit agents added separately from the premix.
US08168680B2	Cyclopentane heptan(ENE)OIC acid, 2-heteroarylalkenyl derivatives as therapeutic agents A compound comprising or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a prodrug thereof, having the groups described in detail herein is disclosed. Also disclosed herein are compounds comprising or derivatives thereof, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, tetrazoles, or prodrugs of compounds of the structure or derivatives thereof, said derivatives being described in detail herein. Also disclosed herein are methods of treating diseases or conditions, including glaucoma and elevated intraocular pressure. Compositions and methods of manufacturing medicaments related thereto are also disclosed.
US08168679B2	Salts of Tramadol and Naproxen and their crystal forms in the treatment of pain The present invention concerns salts of Tramadol and Naproxen and their crystalline forms, and compositions thereof, for the treatment of pain, as well as their process for preparation.
US08168672B2	Thioamide derivatives as progesterone receptor modulators Thioamide compounds, and specifically, thioamide pyrrole compounds, and preparation thereof are provided. These thioamide compounds can be used as progesterone receptor modulators, in contraception, and in the treatment of progesterone-related maladies.
US08168661B2	Use of picoplatin to treat colorectal cancer The invention provides a method of treatment of colorectal cancer by administration of the anti-cancer platinum drug picoplatin in conjunction with 5-FU and leucovorin in a variety of treatment regimens.
US08168656B2	Indoleacetic acid and indenacetic acid derivatives as therapeutic agents with reduced gastrointestinal toxicity The presently disclosed subject matter provides derivatives of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that are characterized by substantially reduced cyclooxygenase inhibiting activity, yet retain the ability to interact with and modulate the activities of other polypeptides such as the class of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors (PPARs) and γ-secretase. Also provided are methods of using the derivatives to treat pathological disorders.
US08168643B2	Reversible inhibitors of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase and uses thereof The present invention provides compositions and methods for reversibly inhibiting S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (SAH) hydrolase. The compounds of the present invention can be used in combination with an anti-hemorrhagic viral infection agent, an immunosuppressant, a homocysteine lowering agent, or an anti-neoplasm agent. The compositions and methods of the present invention can be used for the prevention and treatment of hemorrhagic virus infection, autoimmune diseases, autograft rejection, neoplasm, hyperhomocysteineuria, cardiovascular disease, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, or diabetes.
US08168642B2	Dihydropyrimidine compounds and their uses in preparation of medicaments for treating and preventing antiviral diseases The present invention relates to a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof, to a process for preparing the compound of formula (I), and to use of the compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof as a medicament, in particular as a medicament for the treatment and prevention of type B hepatitis.
US08168638B2	Pyrazinecarboxamide derivatives and plant disease controlling agents containing the same The present invention provides the compounds represented by the general formula (I): [wherein X is a halogen atom or an (C1-C3)alkyl group which may be substituted with a halogen atom(s); Y is a hydrogen or halogen atom, or a cyano, a (C1-C3)alkyl or (C1-C3)alkoxy group; R is a hydrogen or halogen atom, a cyano group, or a (C1-C6)alkyl, (C2-C6)alkenyl group, (C2-C6)alkynyl, (C1-C6)alkoxy, (C2-C6)alkenyloxy, (C2-C6)alkynyloxy, (C1-C6)alkylthio, (C1-C6)alkylsulfinyl or (C1-C6)alkylsulfonyl group which may be substituted with a halogen atom(s), a (C1-C6)alkoxycarbonyl group, a (C1-C6)alkoxyimino(C1-C3)alkyl group, a tri(C1-C10)alkylsilyl group, or a phenyl, phenoxy, pyridyloxy or pyrimidyloxy group which may be substituted with a substituent(s); n is an integer of 1 to 5], which compounds cause reduced loads of deleterious, harmful effects to the earth environment, and exhibit a widened controlling spectrum at lowered chemical application rates, thereby finding useful application as a plant disease controlling agent for agricultural and horticultural uses.
US08168626B2	Benzodiazepine compositions for treating epidermal hyperplasia and related disorders The present invention provides, for example, pharmaceutical compositions comprising a benzodiazepine compound and an agent selected from the group consisting of a topical steroid, a keratolytic agent, a topical retinoid, a coal tar, and a vitamin D-3 analog. The pharmaceutical compositions are useful for treating medical disorders, such as epidermal hyperplasia.
US08168625B2	Pharmaceutical composition based on agonist of benzodiazepine The present invention describes the use of pharmaceutical compounds in pharmaceutical compositions for sublingual administration, including as active ingredient thereof, an agonist of the central receptor of benzodiazepinics chosen among diazepam, lorazepam, bromazepam, triazolam, alprazolam, flunitrazepam, nitrazepam and midazolam maleate, in a mixture with a pharmaceutical excipient consisting of, at least, 70% of the weight of the final formulation containing 40-45% by weight of lactose, 15-27% by weight of sorbitol and 12-16% by weight of cellulose.
US08168617B2	Complex pantoic acid ester neopentyl sulfonyl ester cyclization release prodrugs of acamprosate, compositions thereof, and methods of use Pantoic acid ester neopentyl sulfonyl ester prodrugs of acamprosate, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such prodrugs, and methods of using such prodrugs and compositions thereof for treating diseases are disclosed. In particular, acamprosate prodrugs exhibiting enhanced oral bioavailability and methods of using acamprosate prodrugs to treat neurodegenerative disorders, psychotic disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, somatoform disorders, movement disorders, substance abuse disorders, binge eating disorder, cortical spreading depression related disorders, tinnitus, sleeping disorders, multiple sclerosis, and pain are disclosed.
US08168616B1	Combination comprising a renin inhibitor and an angiotensin receptor inhibitor for hypertension The invention relates to a combination comprising the renin inhibitor of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US08168610B2	Bispecific oligonucleotide for the treatment of CNS malignancies CNS malignancy is treated in a subject suffering from a CNS malignancy by administering to the subject an antisense oligonucleotide having a sequence of bases that is complementary to portions of both the gene encoding IGFBP-2 and the gene encoding IGFBP-5, and which is of sufficient length to act as an inhibitor of the effective amount of IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-5, in an amount effective to reduce effective levels of IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-5 in cells of the CNS malignancy.
US08168609B2	RNAi-mediated inhibition of Rho kinase for treatment of ocular disorders RNA interference is provided for inhibition of Rho kinase mRNA expression for treating patients with ocular disorders, particularly for treating intraocular pressure, ocular hypertension and glaucoma. Rho kinase mRNA targets include mRNA for ROCK1 and ROCK2.
US08168606B2	RNAi inhibition of alpha-ENaC expression The invention relates to compositions and methods for modulating the expression of alpha-ENaC, and more particularly to the downregulation of alpha-ENaC expression by chemically modified oligonucleotides.
US08168592B2	CGRP peptide antagonists and conjugates Disclosed is a composition of matter that involves a CGRP peptide antagonist. A pharmaceutical composition is disclosed that comprises the composition of matter and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, which can be configured for administration to a patient. Also disclosed is a method of producing the composition of matter. Methods of treating, preventing or mitigating migraine, are also disclosed.
US08168586B1	Cancer targets and uses thereof Methods and compositions are provided for assessing, treating, and preventing diseases, especially cancer, using cancer-associated targets (“CAT”). Methods and compositions are also provided for determining or predicting the effectiveness of a treatment for these diseases or for selecting a treatment, using CAT. Methods and compositions are further provided for modulating cell function using CAT. Also provided are compositions that modulate CAT (e.g., antagonists or agonists), such as antibodies, proteins, small molecule compounds, and nucleic acid agents (e.g., RNAi and antisense agents), as well as pharmaceutical compositions thereof. Further provided are methods of screening for agents that modulate CAT, and agents identified by these screening methods.
US08168580B2	Method for producing aqueous α-sulfo fatty acid alkyl ester salt solution The present invention relates to a method for producing an aqueous α-SF salt solution that maintains fluidity and has superior production adaptability. The method includes dissolving a solid component (a) in the form of an α-sulfo fatty acid alkyl ester salt and a component (b) in the form of an inorganic sodium salt and/or inorganic potassium salt in water, wherein component (a) is dissolved in water at a temperature of 50° C. or higher while maintaining the following condition (i) or (ii): (i): the concentration of component (a) is 35% by weight or less when the total concentration of sodium and potassium ions derived from component (b) is less than 0.55 mol/kg, or (ii) the concentration of component (a) is 55% by weight or less when the total concentration of sodium and potassium ions derived from component (b) is 0.55 mol/kg to less than 1.8 mol/kg.
US08168574B2	Dispersant viscosity modifiers based on maleic anhydride-styrene copolymers An interpolymer composition comprising monomer-derived units of (i) at least one of an aliphatic olefin containing from 2 to 30 carbon atoms and a vinyl aromatic monomer, and (ii) at least one alpha, beta-unsaturated acylating agent; wherein a portion of said acylating agent monomers is esterified and wherein a portion of said acylating agent monomers is condensed with at least one aromatic amine, provides good viscosity modification and dispersancy performance.
US08168567B2	Thiadiazolyl oxyphenyl amidines and the use thereof as a fungicide The present invention relates to thiadiazolyloxyphenylamidines of the general formula (I), to a process for the preparation thereof, to the use of the amidines according to the invention in combating undesirable microorganisms and to a composition for this purpose comprising the thiadiazolyloxyphenylamidines according to the invention. The invention furthermore relates to a method for combating undesirable microorganisms by application of the compounds according to the invention to the microorganisms and/or to the habitat thereof.
US08168563B2	Metal-modified silica particles for reducing odor A substrate for reducing odor is provided. The substrate contains silica particles bonded to a transition metal through a covalent or coordinate bond. The transition metal provides one or more active sites for capturing an odorous compound.
US08168559B2	Production method of oxidation catalyst device for exhaust gas purification According to a first embodiment of a production method of an oxidation catalyst device for exhaust gas purification of the present invention, a plurality of slurries containing a catalyst precursor prepared from mutually different organic acids is coated respectively on a porous filter carrier (2) and calcined. According to a second embodiment of the present invention, the slurry contains the catalyst precursor having a particle diameter distribution ranging from 0.5 to 10 μm, and the slurry has a viscosity equal to or below 2.0 mPa·s. The oxidation catalyst device of the present invention is composed of a composite metal oxide on a surface of a cell division and a surface of an air pore of the porous filter carrier having a wall-flow structure.
US08168558B2	Method of manufacturing nano-platinum catalyst on nano-sized silicon dioxide The present disclosure uses a nano-SiO2 powder as a supporter with H2PtCl6 added as an electro-catalyst precursor. A chemical reduction is processed at a high temperature to adhere nano-sized Pt ions on the nano-SiO2 powder through reduction. Thus, a nano-Pt catalyst using nano-SiO2 as supporter is manufactured for fuel cells, organic compound reactions and the textile industry.
US08168557B2	Method of restoring catalytic activity to a spent hydrotreating catalyst, the resulting restored catalyst, and a method of hydroprocessing A method of restoring catalytic activity to a spent hydroprocessing catalyst that has a first carbon concentration. The concentration of carbon on the spent hydroprocessing catalyst is reduced to provide a carbon-reduced catalyst having a second carbon concentration that is less than the first carbon concentration. The carbon-reduced catalyst is exposed to a solution, comprising a chelating agent and a solvent, for an aging time period sufficient to provide for a restored catalytic activity thereby resulting in an aged catalyst having incorporated therein the chelating agent and the solvent. The aged catalyst is exposed to conditions, including a drying temperature, so as to remove from the aged catalyst a portion of the solvent without removing a significant portion of the chelating agent from the aged catalyst thereby resulting in a dried aged catalyst. The dried aged catalyst is then sulfur treated to thereby provide a restored catalyst. The restored catalyst and those catalysts made by the treatment method can be used in a hydroprocessing process comprising contacting the restored catalyst with a hydrocarbon feedstock under hydroprocessing conditions.
US08168554B2	Particle of a molten ceramic material The invention relates to a molten ceramic particle, characterized in that it has the following chemical composition in wt % based on oxides and for a total of 100%: 55%
US08168538B2	Buried silicide structure and method for making Methods for manufacturing buried silicide lines are described herein, along with high density stacked memory structures. A method for manufacturing an integrated circuit as described herein includes forming a semiconductor body comprising silicon. A plurality of trenches are formed in the semiconductor body to define semiconductor lines comprising silicon between adjacent trenches, the semiconductor lines having sidewalls. A silicide precursor is deposited within the trenches to contact the sidewalls of the semiconductor lines, and a portion of the silicide precursor is removed to expose upper portions of the sidewalls and leave remaining strips of silicide precursor along the sidewalls. Silicide conductors are then formed by inducing reaction of the strips of silicide with the silicon of the semiconductor lines.
US08168537B2	Semiconductor component and assumbly with projecting electrode A semiconductor component has a substrate and a projecting electrode on the substrate. The projecting electrode is configured suitably for electrically and mechanically connecting the semiconductor component to an external substrate. Furthermore, the projecting electrode is formed by a one-dimensional or two-dimensional array of projecting sub-electrodes, which are separated from each other by an electrically insulating fluid beginning from a substrate surface. The semiconductor component has an improved projecting-electrode. It provides the projecting electrode with a sub-structure, which achieves sufficient flexibility without introducing much constructive complexity and processing complexity during fabrication.
US08168534B2	Methods of fabricating electrodes and uses thereof The present invention relates to methods for fabricating nanoscale electrodes separated by a nanogap, wherein the gap size may be controlled with high precision using a self-aligning aluminum oxide mask, such that the gap width depends upon the thickness of the aluminum oxide mask. The invention also provides methods for using the nanoscale electrodes.
US08168533B2	Through-silicon via structure and method for making the same A through-silicon via structure includes a substrate with a first side and a second side, a through-silicon hole connecting the first side and the second side and filled with a conductive material, a passivation layer disposed on and contacting the first side and covering the through-silicon hole, and a protection ring surrounding but not contacting the through-silicon hole and exposed by the first side and the second side. The protection ring is filled with an insulating material.
US08168524B2	Non-volatile memory with erase gate on isolation zones The present invention provides a non-volatile memory device and a method for manufacturing such a device. The device comprises a floating gate (16), a control gate (19) and a separate erase gate (10). The erase gate (10) is provided in or on isolation zones (2) provided in the substrate (1). Because of that, the erase gates (10) do not add to the cell size. The capacitance between the erase gate (10) and the floating gate (16) is small compared with the capacitance between the control gate (19) and the floating gate (16), and the charged floating gate (16) is erased by Fowler-Nordheim tunneling through the oxide layer between the erase gate (10) and the floating gate (16).
US08168515B2	Method for manufacturing semiconductor substrate A first silicon carbide substrate having a first back-side surface and a second silicon carbide substrate having a second back-side surface are prepared. The first and second silicon carbide substrates are placed so as to expose each of the first and second back-side surfaces in one direction. A connecting portion is formed to connect the first and second back-side surfaces to each other. The step of forming the connecting portion includes a step of forming a growth layer made of silicon carbide on each of the first and second back-side surfaces, using a sublimation method of supplying a sublimate thereto in the one direction.
US08168512B2	Manufacturing method of semiconductor device To provide a thin semiconductor device having flexibility. A groove is formed in one surface of a substrate; an element layer including an element is formed, the element being disposed within the groove; the substrate is thinned from the other surface of the substrate until one surface of the element layer is exposed, to form a layer which is to be transposed, having the element; and the layer to be transposed is transposed onto the film.
US08168511B2	Display device manufacturing method and laminated structure A method for manufacturing a display device includes a step of preparing a flexible substrate including a delamination layer on its back surface, a step of bonding a support substrate to the delamination layer of the flexible substrate via an adhesive layer, a step of forming predetermined devices on a front surface of the flexible substrate having the support substrate bonded thereto, and a step of removing the support substrate by delaminating the delamination layer from the flexible substrate having the devices formed thereon.
US08168508B2	Method of isolating nanowires from a substrate A method is provided. The method includes forming a plurality of nanowires on a top surface of a substrate and forming an oxide layer adjacent to a bottom surface of each of the plurality of nanowires, wherein the oxide layer is to isolate each of the plurality of nanowires from the substrate.
US08168506B2	On/off ratio for non-volatile memory device and method This application describes a method of forming a switching device. The method includes forming a first dielectric material overlying a surface region of a substrate. A bottom wiring material is formed overlying the first dielectric material and a switching material is deposited overlying the bottom wiring material. The bottom wiring material and the switching material is subjected to a first patterning and etching process to form a first structure having a top surface region and a side region. The first structure includes at least a bottom wiring structure and a switching element having a top surface region including an exposed region of the switching element. A second dielectric material is formed overlying at least the first structure including the exposed region of the switching element. The method forms a first opening region in a portion of the second dielectric layer to expose a portion of the top surface region of the switching element. A dielectric side wall structure is formed overlying a side region of the first opening region. A top wiring material including a conductive material is formed overlying at lease the top surface region of the switching element such that the conductive material is in direct contact with the switching element. The side wall spacer reduces a contact area for the switching element and the conductive material and thus a reduced active device area for the switching device. In a specific embodiment, the reduced area provides for an increase in device ON/OFF current ratio.
US08168502B2	Tantalum silicon oxynitride high-K dielectrics and metal gates Electronic apparatus and methods of forming the electronic apparatus include a tantalum silicon oxynitride film on a substrate for use in a variety of electronic systems. The tantalum silicon oxynitride film may be structured as one or more monolayers. The tantalum silicon oxynitride film may be formed using a monolayer or partial monolayer sequencing process. Metal electrodes may be disposed on a dielectric containing a tantalum silicon oxynitride film.
US08168496B2	Single die output power stage using trench-gate low-side and LDMOS high-side MOSFETS, structure and method A voltage converter includes an output circuit having a high-side device and a low-side device which can be formed on a single die (a “PowerDie”). The high-side device can include a lateral diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) while the low-side device can include a trench-gate vertical diffused metal oxide semiconductor (VDMOS). The voltage converter can further include a controller circuit on a different die which can be electrically coupled to, and co-packaged with the output circuit.
US08168495B1	Carbon nanotube high frequency transistor technology A technique of the invention reduces significantly the distance between the gate and single-walled carbon nanotubes to improve performance and efficiency of a carbon nanotube transistor device. Without using a porous template structure, single-walled carbon nanotubes are grown perpendicularly to a substrate between a base metal layer and a middle mesh layer. The nanotubes are insulated with a thin insulator and then gate regions are formed.
US08168488B2	Systems and methods for reducing contact to gate shorts A method for reducing contact to gate shorts in a semiconductor device and the resulting semiconductor device are described. In one embodiment, a gate is formed on a substrate, a contact is formed on the gate and the substrate, and an insulator is formed between the gate and the contact. The insulator may be formed by oxidizing the gate to form a dielectric between the contact and the gate after the contact is formed on the gate.
US08168484B2	Display device and manufacturing method thereof, and semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof A method of forming a display device including source/drain electrodes on a substrate, a pixel electrode, an insulating partition wall layer, a channel-region semiconductor layer. The source/drain electrodes and the pixel electrode are formed on the substrate and in contact with each other. The insulating partition wall layer is formed on the substrate and provided with a first opening extending to between the source electrode and the drain electrode and a second opening formed on the pixel electrode and extending to the pixel electrode. The channel-region semiconductor layer is formed on the bottom of the first opening. The insulating film is formed on the partition wall layer so as to cover the first opening including the channel-region semiconductor layer. The oriented film covers the first opening from above the insulating film and the second opening from the pixel electrode.
US08168481B2	Method of manufacturing SOI substrate The method of one embodiment of the present invention includes: a first step of irradiating a bond substrate with ions to form an embrittlement region in the bond substrate; a second step of bonding the bond substrate to a base substrate with an insulating layer therebetween; a third step of splitting the bond substrate at the embrittlement region to form a semiconductor layer over the base substrate with the insulating layer therebetween; and a fourth step of subjecting the bond substrate split at the embrittlement region to a first heat treatment in an argon atmosphere and then a second heat treatment in an atmosphere of a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen to form a reprocessed bond substrate. The reprocessed bond substrate is used again as a bond substrate in the first step.
US08168478B2	Method for producing a matrix of individual electronic components and matrix produced thereby The invention relates to a method for producing a matrix of electronic components, comprising a step of producing an active layer on a substrate, and a step of individualizing the components by forming trenches in the active layer at least until the substrate emerges. The method comprises steps of depositing a layer of functional material on the active layer, depositing a photosensitive resin on the layer of material in such a way as to fill said trenches and to form a thin film on the upper face of the components, at least partially exposing the resin to radiation while underexposing the portion of resin in the trenches, developing the resin in such a way as to remove the properly exposed portion thereof, removing the functional material layer portion that shows through after the development step, and removing the remaining portion of resin.
US08168474B1	Self-dicing chips using through silicon vias Systems and methods simultaneously form first openings and second openings in a substrate. The first openings are formed smaller than the second openings. The method also simultaneously forms a first material in the first openings and the second openings. The first material fills the first openings, and the first material lines the second openings. The method forms a second material different than the first material in the second openings. The second material fills the second openings. The method forms a plurality of integrated circuit structures over the first material and the second material within the second openings. The method applies mechanical stress to the substrate to cause the substrate to split along the first openings.
US08168473B2	Molded ultra thin semiconductor die packages, systems using the same, and methods of making the same Disclosed are molded ultra-thin semiconductor die packages, systems that incorporate such packages, and methods of making such packages. An exemplary package comprises a leadframe having an aperture formed between the leadframe's first and second surfaces, and a plurality of leads disposed adjacent to the aperture. The package further comprises a semiconductor disposed in the aperture of the leadframe with its top surface substantially flush with the leadframe's first surface, and at least one gap between at least one side surface of the semiconductor die and at least one lead of the leadframe. A body of electrically insulating material is disposed in the at least one gap. A plurality of conductive members interconnect leads of the leadframe with conductive regions on the die's top surface, with at least one conductive member having a portion disposed over at least a portion of the body of insulating material.
US08168465B2	Three-dimensional semiconductor template for making high efficiency thin-film solar cells A semiconductor template having a top surface aligned along a (100) crystallographic orientation plane and an inverted pyramidal cavity defined by a plurality of walls aligned along a (111) crystallographic orientation plane. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor template by selectively removing silicon material from a silicon template to form a top surface aligned along a (100) crystallographic plane of the silicon template and a plurality of walls defining an inverted pyramidal cavity each aligned along a (111) crystallographic plane of the silicon template.
US08168456B2	Vertical cavity surface emitting laser with undoped top mirror A VCSEL with undoped top mirror. The VCSEL is formed from an epitaxial structure deposited on a substrate. A doped bottom mirror is formed on the substrate. An active layer that includes quantum wells is formed on the bottom mirror. A periodically doped conduction layer is formed on the active layer. The periodically doped conduction layer is heavily doped at locations where the optical energy is at a minimum when the VCSEL is in operation. A current aperture is used between the conduction layer and the active region. An undoped top mirror is formed on the heavily doped conduction layer.
US08168452B2	Method for manufacturing semiconductor device A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, the semiconductor device including an integrated circuit having plural connection terminals arranged on a predetermined local region of the integrated circuit, plural metal bumps, and a wiring layer connected to at least a portion of the connection terminals via the plural metal bumps, the method includes the steps of a) measuring an impedance value of the predetermined local region of the integrated circuit, b) determining whether the measured impedance value matches a predetermined impedance value, c) determining positions of the plural metal bumps in accordance with the determination result of step b), d) forming the plural metal bumps on the positions determined in step c), and e) forming the wiring layer on the plural metal bumps.
US08168451B2	Optical inspection methods Inspection methods. A method includes adhering an optical blocking layer directly onto and in direct mechanical contact with a semiconductor process wafer, the blocking layer being substantially opaque to a range of wavelengths of light; applying at least one layer over the blocking layer; and inspecting optically at least one wavelength at least one inspection area, the blocking layer extending substantially throughout the inspection area. An inspection method including adhering an optical absorbing layer to a semiconductor process wafer, where the absorbing layer is configured to substantially absorb a range of wavelengths of light; applying at least one layer over the absorbing layer; and inspecting optically at least one wavelength at least one inspection area of the process wafer. A manufacturing method including ascertaining if a defect is present within a photoresist layer, and changing a semiconductor manufacturing process to prevent the defect, if the defect is present.
US08168444B2	Substrate having channel portion including chambers, and method of transferring liquid by using the substrate A substrate having a channel portion in which a liquid transfers, wherein, even if the channel portion has no micro-channel interconnecting chambers, a liquid can transfer stepwise from one region to the next region according to the speed of rotation of the substrate. The substrate can be rotated about a rotation axis as the center, and has the channel portion including the chambers formed therein. The inner wall of each chamber has a first area including an area intersecting with a centrifugal direction from the center; and also has a second area placed at a position farther from the center than the first area, and including a surface intersecting with the centrifugal direction from the center. Further, the first area has a region for holding a droplet of a liquid provided; and also has a region where a contact with the droplet expands when the substrate is rotated, and that communicate with the second area.
US08168436B2	Method for determining quantity of peptide compound having phenylalanine residue at N-terminus The present invention provides a method for quantifying a peptide compound having a phenylalanine residue at the N-terminal, comprising measuring the content of heat generated by mixing 1) a peptide compound having a phenylalanine residue at the N-terminal, 2) cucurbit[7]uril, and 3) a metal ion in a solution.
US08168431B2	Tissue engineering scaffold comprising polyurethane material having voids interconnected by pores A tissue engineering scaffold for cell, tissue or organ growth comprises a biocompatible porous polyurethane cellular material comprising a plurality of substantially spherical voids of diameter from 20 to 300 microns, preferably 80 to 200 microns, interconnected by generally elliptically shaped pores. The cellular material has a void content of from 85% to 98% and a surface area to volume of from 5 to 400 mm2/mm3, ideally from 20 to 80 mm2/mm3.
US08168429B2	Method of amplifying hematopoietic stem cell and hematopoietic progenitor cell The present invention provides useful means in an expansion culture system for a hematopoietic cell (hematopoietic stem cell, hematopoietic progenitor cell). Specifically, the present invention provides a composition for expanding a hematopoietic cell (hematopoietic stem cell, hematopoietic progenitor cell) containing recombinant human serum albumin; a serum-free medium for expanding a hematopoietic cell containing a basal medium and recombinant human serum albumin; a method of expanding a hematopoietic cell comprising culturing a hematopoietic cell in a serum-free medium containing recombinant human serum albumin, and a culture of a hematopoietic cell that can be obtained by the expansion method.
US08168416B2	Modified lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase enzymes The invention provides compounds, pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, thrombosis, and for decreasing or prevention of accumulation of cholesterol in a subject by modifying LCAT polypeptide.
US08168415B2	Axl fusion proteins as Axl tyrosine kinase inhibitors Disclosed are novel inhibitors of the Axl receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) and methods of using such inhibitors in a variety of therapeutic approaches in the areas of cancer therapy and anti-thrombosis (anti-clotting) therapy.
US08168409B2	Compositions and methods relating to anti-IGF-1 receptor antibodies The present invention provides compositions and methods relating to or derived from anti-IGF-1R antibodies. In particular embodiments, the invention provides fully human, humanized, or chimeric anti-IGF-1R antibodies that bind human IGF-1R, IGF-1R-binding fragments and derivatives of such antibodies, and IGF-1R-binding polypeptides comprising such fragments. Other embodiments provide nucleic acids encoding such antibodies, antibody fragments and derivatives and polypeptides, cells comprising such polynucleotides, methods of making such antibodies, antibody fragments and derivatives and polypeptides, and methods of using such antibodies, antibody fragments and derivatives and polypeptides, including methods of treating or diagnosing subjects having IGF-1R-related disorders or conditions.
US08168394B2	Method for simultaneously detecting an antigen of, and an antibody against, an infectious microorganism The invention relates to a method for detecting, in vitro, an infection with a microorganism, such as the hepatitis C virus, in a biological sample, by simultaneously detecting an antigen of this microorganism and the antibodies against this same antigen, and also to the reagents and kits implementing this method.
US08168389B2	Fetal cell analysis using sample splitting The present invention provides systems, apparatuses, and methods to detect the presence of fetal cells when mixed with a population of maternal cells in a sample and to test fetal abnormalities, e.g. aneuploidy. The present invention involves labeling regions of genomic DNA in each cell in said mixed sample with different labels wherein each label is specific to each cell and quantifying the labeled regions of genomic DNA from each cell in the mixed sample. More particularly the invention involves quantifying labeled DNA polymorphisms from each cell in the mixed sample.
US08168388B2	Preparation of nucleic acid templates for solid phase amplification The invention relates to a method of preparing template constructs for solid-phase nucleic acid amplification and to use of the templates in methods of solid-phase nucleic acid amplification. The method involves carrying out two ligation reactions: (a) a ligation reaction in which the first end of one or more target polynucleotide molecules are ligated to surface-bound adaptor polynucleotide molecules, and (b) a ligation reaction in which solution-phase adaptor polynucleotide molecules are ligated to the second end of said target polynucleotide molecules, in order to produce one or more template constructs attached to a solid support.
US08168376B2	Manufacturing method of optical waveguide device A method of manufacturing an optical waveguide device which is capable of connecting light-receiving and light-emitting elements mounted on a board and an optical waveguide to each other with high accuracy. Insulation layers are formed on a first surface of a metal substrate. A first photomask is positioned by using an alignment mark formed in the metal substrate, and exposure to light and development are performed to form conductor layers. A second photomask is positioned on a second surface of the metal substrate opposite from the first surface by similarly using the above-mentioned alignment mark, and exposure to light and development are performed to form an opening for optical coupling between a light-emitting element and an optical waveguide film. The light-emitting element is mounted on pads of the conductor layers, and the optical waveguide film is fixed to the metal substrate using the optical coupling opening.
US08168351B2	Method for inspecting photomask blank or intermediate thereof, method for determining dosage of high-energy radiation, and method for manufacturing photomask blank A photomask blank which is manufactured by depositing a phase shift film on a substrate and irradiating the phase shift film with high-energy radiation to effect substrate shape adjusting treatment is inspected by measuring a surface topography of the photomask blank after the substrate shape adjusting treatment, removing the phase shift film from the photomask blank, measuring a surface topography of the treated substrate after removal of the phase shift film, and comparing the surface topographies, thereby evaluating a warpage change before and after removal of the phase shift film, due to a stress of the phase shift film having undergone substrate shape adjusting treatment.
US08168349B2	Fuel cell-purpose electrolyte material and production method therefor A fuel cell-purpose electrolyte material having a structural unit represented by a general formula (1): where n is 0 or a positive integer, and R1 represents H or CH3, and R2 represents (CH2)mSO3H (m is 0 or a positive integer).
US08168347B2	SOFC assembly joint spacing A textured surface is formed on at least one of a fuel cell mounting plate or fuel cell subassembly to define a joint spacing between these two components. In a preferred embodiment, the textured surface comprises a plurality of dimples coined or otherwise formed in the metal mounting plate. The joint spacing improves the manufacturing and assembly process of the fuel cell cassettes through precise application and control of the brazing process which improves the braze joint strength while reducing material cost.
US08168344B2	Air-cooled thermal management for a fuel cell stack The air-cooled thermal management of a fuel cell stack is disclosed. One disclosed embodiment comprises a cooling plate apparatus for an air-cooled fuel cell stack, where the cooling plate comprises a body configured to receive heat from one or more fuel cells in thermal communication with the body, and airflow channels formed in the body and configured to allow a flow of a cooling air to pass across the body. An insulating structure is disposed in the airflow channels, wherein the insulating structure has decreasing thickness from a cooling air inlet toward a cooling air outlet.
US08168343B2	Humidification control during shutdown of a fuel cell system A process for controlling the length of a purge and the purge rate of a fuel cell stack at system shut-down so as to provide the desired amount of stack humidity. The membrane humidification is measured at system shut-down by a high frequency resistance sensor that detects membrane humidification and provides the measurement to a controller. The controller controls the compressor that provides cathode input air to the fuel cell stack so that the time of the purge and the flow rate of the purge provide a desired membrane humidity for the next start-up.
US08168342B2	Method of producing (NH2(R2)) and/or hydrogen A method of producing NH2(R2), the method comprising reacting a metal hydride with a compound having the general formula: M1X(BH4)y(NH2(R2))n wherein M1 comprises one or more of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, La, Al, Ga and Sc; 0
US08168327B2	Imide derivative, material for organic electroluminescent device and organic electroluminescent device using the same An imide derivative represented by the following formula (A): wherein Ra and Rb are each a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a cyano group, an alkyl group, a fluoroalkyl group or an aryl group; at least one of Ra and Rb is a fluoroalkyl group; and Rc and Rd are each a substituted or unsubstituted benzyl group, an aryl group, a heterocycle, a fluoroalkyl group or an imide group.
US08168326B2	Battery structures, self-organizing structures and related methods An energy storage device includes a first electrode comprising a first material and a second electrode comprising a second material, at least a portion of the first and second materials forming an interpenetrating network when dispersed in an electrolyte, the electrolyte, the first material and the second material are selected so that the first and second materials exert a repelling force on each other when combined. An electrochemical device, includes a first electrode in electrical communication with a first current collector; a second electrode in electrical communication with a second current collector; and an ionically conductive medium in ionic contact with said first and second electrodes, wherein at least a portion of the first and second electrodes form an interpenetrating network and wherein at least one of the first and second electrodes comprises an electrode structure providing two or more pathways to its current collector.
US08168321B2	Alkaline battery having a protective layer An alkaline battery can include a housing, a cathode within the housing, an anode, a separator between the anode and the cathode, and an alkaline electrolyte contacting the anode and the cathode. The cathode defines an anode cavity and the anode is deposited within the anode cavity. The cathode has a top surface adjacent to the anode cavity. The battery can include a protective layer deposited on the top surface of the cathode and/or a gel plug deposited over the anode. The protective layer can include a PVA layer coated over the top surface of the cathode.
US08168311B2	Magnetic recording disk having pre-patterned surface features and planarized surface A magnetic recording disk with pre-patterned surface features of elevated lands and recessed grooves or trenches, like a discrete-track media (DTM) or bit-patterned media (BPM) disk, has a planarized surface. A multilayered disk overcoat is used to protect the recording layer, and at least one of the overcoat layers functions as a stop layer for terminating a chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) process that substantially planarizes the disk. All of the layers of the multilayered overcoat are located above the lands, but none of the overcoat layers, or a number of layers less than the number of layers over the lands, is located above the recesses.
US08168301B2	Polyester compositions, methods of manufacture, and uses thereof A composition comprising a combination of a thermoplastic polyester; and 0.2 to 0.7 parts by weight of an alkali metal salt, an alkaline earth metal salt, and/or a C1-12 ester of an aliphatic C24-36 carboxylic acid, based on 100 parts by weight of the polyester. The compositions are useful for molding parts, such as automotive headlamp reflectors.
US08168297B2	Fluoropolymer coated film, process for forming the same, and fluoropolymer liquid composition A process for forming a multilayer film includes coating a polymeric substrate film with a liquid fluoropolymer coating. The liquid fluoropolymer coating includes a fluoropolymer, solvent, a compatible cross-linkable adhesive polymer, and a cross-linking agent. The process further includes cross-linking the compatible cross-linkable adhesive polymer to form a cross-linked polymer network in the fluoropolymer coating, removing the solvent from the fluoropolymer coating, and adhering the fluoropolymer coating to the polymeric substrate film. A liquid fluoropolymer coating composition includes a fluoropolymer selected from homopolymers and copolymers of vinyl fluoride and homopolymers and copolymers of vinylidene fluoride, solvent, a compatible cross-linkable adhesive polymer, and a cross-linking agent. A fluoropolymer coated film includes a polymeric substrate film and a fluoropolymer coating on the polymeric substrate film. The fluoropolymer coating includes a fluoropolymer and a compatible cross-linked adhesive polymer.
US08168296B2	Benzylated polyalkylene polyamines and uses thereof The present invention provides curing agent compositions comprising benzylated polyalkylene polyamine compounds. Amine-epoxy compositions and articles produced from these amine-epoxy compositions are also disclosed.
US08168295B2	Tempered glass substrate and method of producing the same A tempered glass substrate of the present invention is a tempered glass substrate, which has a compression stress layer on a surface thereof, and has a glass composition comprising, in terms of mass %, 40 to 71% of SiO2, 3 to 21% of Al2O3, 0 to 3.5% of Li2O, 7 to 20% of Na2O, and 0 to 15% of K2O.
US08168288B2	Multilayer ceramic substrate and method for manufacturing the same In a multilayer ceramic substrate manufactured by a non-shrinking process, a bonding strength of an external conductive film formed on a primary surface of the multilayer ceramic substrate is increased. After a laminate of a multilayer ceramic substrate is formed from first ceramic layers and second shrinkage suppressing ceramic layers, and an underlayer is formed along one primary surface of the multilayer ceramic substrate, an external conductive film is formed on the underlayer. A non-sintering ceramic material powder in a non-sintered state is included in both the external conductive film and the underlayer, and this non-sintering ceramic material powder is fixed due to diffusion of a glass component from the first ceramic layers.
US08168286B2	Tempered glass chair mat and method of packaging A glass chair mat and method of packaging comprising a sheet of tempered glass with rounded corners and rounded beveled edges. The tempered glass chair mat may be finished to enhance its appearance or left translucent to showcase the flooring underneath. The method of packaging allows a minimal amount of employees to safely package the glass chair mat for delivery to residence and businesses alike. Furthermore, the packaging provides additional protection against damage during transit and assures common carriers are aware of the fragile nature of the package.
US08168273B2	Holding material for catalytic converter The present invention relates to a holding material for a catalytic converter including a catalyst carrier, a metal casing for receiving the catalyst carrier, and the holding material wound around the catalyst carrier and interposed in a gap between the catalyst carrier and the metal casing, in which the holding material includes an inorganic fiber substrate and a viscoelastic layer formed at least on a casing side surface of the inorganic fiber substrate and having a Young's modulus at 25° C. of 0.3 MPa or less.
US08168262B2	Flocked elastomeric articles In one embodiment, a flocked article is provided that includes an elastomeric film and a plurality of flock fibers on a flocked surface of the film. The flock fibers are embedded in the film.
US08168261B2	Process for applying a heat shielding coating system on a metallic substrate The invention provides a process for applying a heat shielding coating system on a metallic substrate. The coating system comprises at least three individual layers selected from the group of barrier layer, hot gas corrosion protection layer, protection layer, heat barrier layer, and smoothing layer. The coating system is applied to the metallic substrate by low pressure plasma spraying in a single operation cycle. This process enables the layers to be applied in an arbitrary sequence. The process is preferably used in applying a coating system to a turbine blade, particularly a stator or a rotor blade of a stationary gas turbine or of an aircraft engine, or to another component in a stationary or aircraft turbine that is subjected to hot gas.
US08168259B2	Articles for high temperature service and methods for their manufacture An article for use in aggressive environments is presented. In one embodiment, the article comprises a substrate and a self-sealing and substantially hermetic sealing layer disposed over the bondcoat. The substrate may be any high-temperature material, including, for instance, silicon-bearing ceramics and ceramic matrix composites. A method for making such articles is also presented. The method comprises providing a substrate; disposing a self-sealing layer over the substrate; and heating the sealing layer to a sealing temperature at which at least a portion of the sealing layer will flow.
US08168258B2	Method of producing a temperature sensor In a method of producing a temperature sensor including at least one lead wire of a non-noble metal or of an alloy containing a non-noble metal, at first a lead wire is attached to the temperature sensor. An oxide layer is removed from at least one portion of the lead wire, and the at least one portion of the lead wire is chemically gilded immediately after removing the oxide layer.
US08168256B2	Formation of selenide, sulfide or mixed selenide-sulfide films on metal or metal coated substrates A process and composition for preventing cracking in composite structures comprising a metal coated substrate and a selenide, sulfide or mixed selenide sulfide film. Specifically, cracking is prevented in the coating of molybdenum coated substrates upon which a copper, indium-gallium diselenide (CIGS) film is deposited. Cracking is inhibited by adding a Se passivating amount of oxygen to the Mo and limiting the amount of Se deposited on the Mo coating.
US08168254B2	Method and arrangement for synchronized positioning of at least one essentially continuous material web based on a virtual master function A method for synchronized positioning of a web for manufacturing products. The method includes feeding the web into a production apparatus at a first speed; processing in the production apparatus, with the web being fed forward at a second speed; and detection of each synchronization mark for positioning the respective motif in a predetermined position on each product. The method includes the following steps: generation of a reading of the actual value of a virtual master function upon the detection, which includes a cyclic clock where the number of cycles per product includes an integer; comparison between the actual value and the expected value of the virtual master function; and stretching of the web in response to any deviation between the actual value and the expected value, with the aim of minimizing the deviation.
US08168247B2	Cartridge and method for the preparation of beverages A cartridge for use in a beverage preparation machine, the cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the cartridge comprising an inlet for the introduction of an aqueous medium into the cartridge and an outlet for discharge of a beverage produced from the one or more beverage ingredients, wherein the one or more beverage ingredients is a liquid chocolate ingredient.
US08168246B2	Method for instantisation of coconut milk powder The invention relates to a method for the instantization of powders for use in the food stuff and animal feed production, the particles of which comprise free surface fat, especially coconut milk powder, wherein lecithin and alginate in water or an aqueous liquid are sprayed onto the powder particles and are subsequently dried.
US08168231B2	Antimicrobial composition useful for preserving wood Antimicrobial compositions useful for preserving wood, and comprising a variety of antimicrobial compounds.
US08168230B2	Platelet gel comprising platelet-rich plasma, platelet activator and polymer A semi-synthetic platelet gel comprising a platelet-rich plasma, at least one platelet activator, and a biocompatible polymer selected from the group comprising carbomers, polyalkylene glycols, poloxamers, polyesters, polyethers, polyanhydrides, polyacrylates, polyvinyl acetates, polyvinyl pyrrolidones, polysaccharides, and derivatives thereof. A method for preparing a semi-synthetic platelet gel comprising the steps of (a) mixing a platelet-rich plasma with at least one platelet activator, and, before the start of clot formation, (b) adding the mixture thus obtained to a biocompatible polymer selected from the group comprising carbomers, polyalkylene glycols, poloxamers, polyesters, polyethers, polyanhydrides, polyacrylates, polyvinyl acetates, polyvinyl pyrrolidones, polysaccharides, and derivatives thereof.
US08168226B2	Production of nanocapsules and microcapsules by layer-wise polyelectrolyte self-assembly The invention relates to capsules coated with a polyelectrolyte shell and methods for the production thereof.
US08168221B2	Composition 064 A pharmaceutical composition which comprises N-(3-methoxy-5-methylpyrazin-2-yl)-2-(4-[1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl]phenyl)pyridine-3-sulphonamide with mannitol and/or 5 microcrystalline cellulose is described.
US08168217B2	Oral drug delivery system Dosage forms and drug delivery devices suitable for administration of pharmaceutical compounds and compositions, including the oral drug administration of compounds.
US08168215B2	Alginate coated, collagen matrix cellular device, preparative methods, and uses thereof The present invention is directed to cellular devices comprising a collagen matrix, cell layer, and gelled alginate layer, processes for producing the devices, methods of implanting the devices, and methods of treatment thereof.
US08168210B2	Pressed powder cosmetic composition comprising flaky glass The present invention is directed to a pressed powder cosmetic composition, comprising by weight: (a) from about 75% to about 98% of a powder component, the powder component comprising a cosmetic grade flaky glass constituted of components comprising by weight at least 52% silicone dioxide and no more than 5% alkali metal oxide, and wherein the cosmetic grade flaky glass has an average thickness of 0.1-1.0 μm, an average particle diameter of 1-100 μm, and an aspect ratio, obtained by dividing the average particle diameter by the average thickness, of 10 or higher; (b) from about 1% to about 24% of a powder binder, the powder binder comprising sodium stearyl fumarate; and (c) from about 1% to about 25% of a liquid binder.
US08168209B2	Method and composition for administering an NMDA receptor antagonist to a subject The invention provides methods and compositions for administering an NMDA receptor antagonist (e.g., memantine) to a subject.
US08168199B2	Dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors for the treatment of schizophrenia and depression A method for therapeutically treating an animal, including a human, for psychosomatic, depressive and neuropsychiatric diseases, such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, schizophrenia, epilepsy, spasm and chronic pain. Administration of a suitable DP IV inhibitor causes the reduction of activity in the enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase (DP IV or CD 26) or of DP IV-like enzyme activity in the brain of mammals and leads as a causal consequence to a reduced degradation of the neuropeptide Y (NPY) and similar substrates by DP IV and DP IV-like enzymes. Such treatment will result in a reduction or delay in the decrease of the concentration of functionally active neuronal NPY (1-36). As a consequence of the resulting enhanced stability of the endogenous NPY (1-36) caused by the inhibition of DP IV activity, NPY activity is prolonged thereby resulting among other things in functionally active NPY Y1 receptor activity thereby facilitating antidepressive, anxiolytic, analgesic, antihypertension and other neurological effects.
US08168198B2	Therapeutic agent for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) A therapeutic agent for treating polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which exhibits few, if any, side effects, is effective at inducing ovulation, and is safely available for not only females who desire to bear children, but also for unmarried or young females. A therapeutic agent for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in which an extract of mushrooms is contained as the active ingredient thereof is used.
US08168197B2	External composition for skin containing Scrophularia buergeriana miq. extract and the use thereof for the skin moisturizing cosmetics Disclosed herein is a skin external composition for alleviating dry skin symptoms, which contains an extract of Scrophularia buergeriana Miq. as a main component and further contains an extract of Poria cocos Wolf, as well as the use thereof for skin-moisturizing cosmetics. The composition contains, as active ingredients, the Scrophularia buergeriana Miq. extract and the Poria cocos Wolf extract, which are prepared by extracting each of Scrophularia buergeriana Miq. and Poria cocos Wolf using water, ethanol, methanol, hexane, ethyl acetate or butanol.
US08168193B2	Molecules, compositions, methods and kits for applications associated with flaviviruses A method for controlling a flavivirus entry into a cell, kits for assaying the flavivirus entry into the cell, and methods of treating and preventing flaviviruses infections are disclosed, together with vaccine and pharmaceutical compositions.
US08168190B2	HBV core antigen particles with multiple immunogenic components attached via peptide ligands This invention relates to hepatitis B virus (“HBV”) core antigen particles that are characterized by multiple immunogen specificities. More particularly, the invention relates to HBV core antigen particles comprising immunogens, epitopes, or other related structures, crosslinked thereto by ligands which are HBV capsid-binding peptides that selectively bind to HBV core protein. Such particles may be used as delivery systems for a diverse range of immunogenic epitopes, including the HBV capsid-binding peptides, which advantageously also inhibit and interfere with HBV viral assembly by blocking the interaction between HBV core protein and HBV surface proteins. Mixtures of different immunogens and/or capsid-binding peptide ligands may be crosslinked to the same HBV core particle. Such resulting multicomponent or multivalent HBV core particles may be advantageously used in therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines and compositions, as well as in diagnostic compositions and methods using them.
US08168188B1	Antibody and utilization of the same The present invention is directed to providing an antibody having greater reactivity with amylospheroid than with amyloid β fibers, and the like. The aforementioned antibody includes an antibody having activity of inhibiting amylospheroid formation or activity of inhibiting neuronal cell death induced by amylospheroid. The antibody can be used for a therapeutic and/or preventive agent for Alzheimer's disease, or a screening thereof, a method and reagent for detecting individuals with Alzheimer's disease, and the like.
US08168172B2	Process for the production of organic formulation of bio-pesticide Pseudomonas fluorescens This invention relates to a process for the production of organic formulation of bio pesticide containing Pseudomonas Fluorescens comprising preparation of Mother culture of P. fluorescens and inoculating in King's B broth, at 30±1° C. for 24-36 hours followed by liquid fermentation process in 5-10% pongamia cake aqueous extract, 5-10% neem cake aqueous extract, 0.3-0.5% sugarcane molasses and King's B broth followed by solid fermentation using sterile Pongamia deoiled cake, Neem deoiled cake, wheat Bran.
US08168168B2	Infectivity-enhanced conditionally-replicative adenovirus and uses thereof A modified adenovirus capable of overcoming the problem of low level of coxsackie-adenovirus receptor (CAR) expression on tumor cells and methods of using such adenovirus are provided. The fiber protein of the adenovirus is modified by insertion or replacement so as to target the adenovirus to tumor cells, and the replication of the modified adenovirus is limited to tumor cells due to specific promoter control or mutations in E1a or E1b genes.
US08168167B2	Method for biologically combating the proliferation of Legionella pneumophila, and novel disinfecting agent containing amoebic protozoa of the Willaertia genus The invention relates to a method for biologically combating the proliferation of Legionella pneumophila, with the exception of the treatment methods applied to the human or animal body, characterized in that it uses amoebic protozoa of the species Willaerita magna, corresponding to the strain deposited with the ATCC under number PTA-7824 or the strain deposited with the ATCC under number PTA-7825.
US08168164B2	Targeted conjugates and radiation The invention relates to a method for enhancing an endogenous immune response-mediated elimination of a population of cancer cells in a host. The method comprises the steps of administering to the host a composition comprising an immunogen conjugated to a vitamin receptor-binding ligand selected from the group consisting of a vitamin, or an analog or a derivative thereof, and administering to the host a therapeutically effective amount of radiation wherein the amount of radiation can range from about 0.5 to about 10 Gy per dose.
US08168161B2	Method to promote oral health in companion animals A method for promoting oral health in a companion animal comprises causing the animal to ingest a composition comprising an oral health-promoting effective total amount of at least one antioxidant.
US08168160B2	Anti-inflammatory fusion protein The present invention relates to a fusion protein comprising therapeutic and diagnostic potential against chronic vascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis, a nucleic acid molecule encoding said fusion protein, a pharmaceutical and diagnostic composition which comprises the fusion protein or the nucleic acid molecule, the use of the fusion protein or the nucleic acid molecule for the production of a pharmaceutical and diagnostic composition, a method for the diagnosis of acute or chronic vascular diseases, and a method for the production of a fusion protein.
US08168151B2	Organic/inorganic composite biomaterials and process for producing the same This invention provides organic/inorganic composite biomaterials constituted by composites of hydroxyapatite and collagen and having an average fiber length of 60 μm or longer, and a process for producing the same in which the calcium ion and phosphate ion concentrations in the reaction vessel are optimized through regulation of the concentration of a starting material and the flow rate. The organic/inorganic composite biomaterials have mechanical strength and a biodegradation rate suitable for artificial bones through the introduction of crosslinking therein.
US08168149B2	Promoter enhanced chilled ammonia based system and method for removal of CO2 from flue gas stream A method and system for CO2 capture from flue gas uses an absorber vessel in which a flue gas stream containing CO2 is contacted with an ammoniated solution to remove CO2 from the flue gas, and a regenerator vessel in which CO2 is released from the ammoniated solution. Parasitic energy consumption of the system can be reduced by adding to the ammoniated solution a promoter effective to enhance the formation of ammonium bicarbonate within the ammoniated solution. The amount of ammoniated solution recycled from the regenerator vessel to the absorber vessel is less than that which would be required using the ammoniated solution without the promoter for removal of the same amount of CO2 from the flue gas.
US08168147B2	Sorbents for the oxidation and removal of mercury A promoted activated carbon sorbent is described that is highly effective for the removal of mercury from flue gas streams. The sorbent comprises a new modified carbon form containing reactive forms of halogen and halides. Optional components may be added to increase reactivity and mercury capacity. These may be added directly with the sorbent, or to the flue gas to enhance sorbent performance and/or mercury capture. Mercury removal efficiencies obtained exceed conventional methods. The sorbent can be regenerated and reused. Sorbent treatment and preparation methods are also described. New methods for in-flight preparation, introduction, and control of the active sorbent into the mercury contaminated gas stream are described.
US08168133B2	Device for performing a high throughput assay A device and method is provided for performing a high throughput assay. The device includes a plate structure having a plate and a plurality of microfluidic structures positioned thereon. Each microfluidic structure defines a channel having an input and an output. At least one of the input and the output of the channel of each of the plurality of mircofluidic structures includes a first plurality of ports. In operation, the channels are filled with fluid and pressure gradients are generated between the fluids at the inputs and the fluids at the outputs of the channels. As a result, fluid flows through the channels toward the outputs.
US08168132B2	Apparatus and method for drying instruments using superheated steam An apparatus and method for drying instruments using superheated steam is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a chamber for receiving the instruments, a distribution means for distributing superheated steam within the chamber and an exhaust means for purging vaporized moisture from the chamber. The chamber has at least one inlet port which is connected to the distribution means. The method comprises sterilizing the instruments using saturated steam generated by the steam generation means and drying the instruments using superheated steam generated by the steam generation means to vaporize moisture within the chamber and purging the vaporized moisture from the chamber using the exhaust means.
US08168131B2	Low pressure drop reforming reactor A syngas reforming reactor has a shell-and-tube configuration wherein the shell-side fluid flow path through the tube bundle has a longitudinal configuration. The reactor can include a shell-side inlet fluid distributor plate below the lower end of the tube bundle.
US08168126B2	Apparatus for microwave induced destruction of siloxanes and hydrogen sulfide in biogas The invention is an apparatus and method to remove hydrogen sulfide and siloxanes from biogas and destroy the contaminants in microwave reactors. Hydrogen sulfide and siloxane are removed from biogas using an adsorbent media such as activated carbon. The media is regenerated in a microwave reactor where the hydrogen sulfide and siloxane are removed in a sweep gas. In one process, siloxane is oxidized to silicon dioxide in a second microwave reactor and removed with a filter. Hydrogen sulfide if first oxidized to sulfur dioxide, then reduced to sulfur in a third microwave reactor and removed with a filter. In another process, siloxane is combined with water to form silicon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide is reduced to elemental sulfur in a microwave reactor. These reactants are removed with a filter. The remaining sweep gas containing hydrogen and low molecular weight hydrocarbons is returned to the biogas stream.
US08168125B2	Diesel oxidation catalyst and exhaust system provided with the same A diesel oxidation catalyst mounted on an exhaust pipe that exhausts an exhaust gas generated in an engine to the exterior may include a first portion having a hydrocarbon trap (HC trap) coated thereon, the HC trap absorbing or releasing a hydrocarbon (HC) depending on whether or not a predetermined condition is satisfied, and a second portion having an oxidation catalyst coated thereon, the oxidation catalyst oxidizing the hydrocarbon (HC) and a carbon monoxide (CO) in the exhaust gas, wherein the second portion performs oxidation reaction with the HC released from the first portion and releases sulphur absorbed at the oxidation catalyst by using oxidation heat generated in the oxidation reaction thereof.
US08168124B2	Exhaust gas treatment device and method An exhaust gas treatment device for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine includes a housing that is adapted to be tied into the exhaust system and at least one exhaust gas purification insert arranged in the housing. The exhaust gas purification insert includes an insert housing which is open at one end and at least one exhaust gas purification element arranged in the insert housing. The housing has at least one insert bracket which has at least one mounting opening on whose opening edge is supported an end section of the insert housing in the form of a ring. The end section forms a first spherical shell segment and the opening edge forms either a second spherical shell segment that is complementary to the first spherical shell segment or a conical jacket segment that fits the first spherical shell segment.
US08168121B2	Portable gas monitor A portable monitor used to measure landfill gas and landfill well parameters. The portable monitor includes a control unit and a measuring unit that can communication wirelessly with one another. The control unit and/or measuring unit can includes a heating arrangement to increase the temperature of one or more components in the control unit and/or measuring unit in cold environments.
US08168115B2	Methods of fabricating a superabrasive compact including a diamond-silicon carbide composite table Embodiments relate to superabrasive compacts including a diamond-silicon carbide composite table, and methods of fabricating such superabrasive compacts. In an embodiment, a method of fabricating a superabrasive compact is disclosed. An assembly comprising a mixture including diamond particles and silicon is formed. The silicon comprises amorphous silicon, crystalline silicon crystallized from amorphous silicon formed by a milling process, or combinations thereof. A substrate is positioned in proximity to the mixture. The assembly is subjected to a high-pressure/high-temperature process to form a superabrasive compact comprising a superabrasive table bonded to the substrate. The superabrasive table comprises diamond-silicon carbide composite including diamond grains dispersed through a matrix of silicon carbide grains.
US08168103B2	Method for making mushroom-type hook strap and mushroom-type hook strap made thereby A method for making a mushroom-type hook strap for mechanical fasteners is disclosed. In a first stage of the method, a hook strap on which a plurality of hook preforms each having a substantially V-shaped free end are integrally molded. Then, in a second stage of the method, the V-shaped free end of each the hook preform is deformed into a polygonal head portion by two calendar rolls so as to form a mushroom-type hook strap that has a higher engaging percentage with the loop strap, has a longer lifetime, and is capable of providing a reliable and all-directional uniform fastening function.
US08168101B2	Inorganic membrane devices and methods of making and using the same An inorganic membrane device is provided. The device comprises a substrate having a network of pores, and a membrane layer at least partially coupled to the substrate and having a plurality of pores, wherein the pores have an aspect ratio in a range from about 1:2 to about 1:100.
US08168094B2	Method for manufacturing disc and method for manufacturing stamper A method for manufacturing a disc includes the steps of performing laser exposure of an inorganic resist master on which a photosensitive layer is formed using an inorganic material, which protrudes in an exposed region, and a surface coat layer is formed on the surface of the photosensitive layer in order to control the shape of protrusion, transferring the shape of protrusion formed by the laser exposure on the inorganic resist master to produce a stamper on which a portion corresponding to the shape of protrusion is a depression, forming a resin substrate using the stamper so that a portion corresponding to the shape of protrusion is a protrusion, and forming a predetermined layer structure on the resin substrate to produce an optical disc.
US08168092B2	Uniaxial pressing and heating apparatus The present invention is directed towards an uniaxial pressing and heating apparatus for the production of ceramic materials comprising a heater (4), a mold (5) and a die (3), wherein a mold (5) is arranged inside a heater (4) and the mold (5) receives a die (3) at at least one opening and wherein the die (3) is actuated under pressure into the mold (5), wherein the ratio of the length of the heater (4) and the length of the mold (5) is from ≧1.5 to ≦4. The invention is further directed towards a process for the production of ceramics and towards a ceramic material.
US08168089B2	Solution-based fabrication of photovoltaic cell An ink for forming CIGS photovoltaic cell active layers is disclosed along with methods for making the ink, methods for making the active layers and a solar cell made with the active layer. The ink contains a mixture of nanoparticles of elements of groups IB, IIIA and (optionally) VIA. The particles are in a desired particle size range of between about 1 nm and about 500 nm in diameter, where a majority of the mass of the particles comprises particles ranging in size from no more than about 40% above or below an average particle size or, if the average particle size is less than about 5 nanometers, from no more than about 2 nanometers above or below the average particle size. The use of such ink avoids the need to expose the material to an H2Se gas during the construction of a photovoltaic cell and allows more uniform melting during film annealing, more uniform intermixing of nanoparticles, and allows higher quality absorber films to be formed.
US08168087B2	Patterned photovoltaic cell Patterned photovoltaic cells, as well as related components and methods, are disclosed.
US08168084B2	Polar nematic compounds Polar nematic compounds, one example of which has the following structure: is a caged boron structure, where the sphere of the caged boron structure is C and each non-sphere vertex of the caged boron structure is B—H. R is H, an alkyl, a cycloalkyl, a bicycloalkyl, an alkenyl, a cycloalkenyl, a bicycloalkenyl, an alkynyl, an acyl, an aryl, an alkylaryl, a halogen, a cyano group, or an isothiocyanoto group, or R is a group that forms an ether, a ketone, an ester, a thioester, a sulfide, or a sulfone. X is COOR′ or COSR′. R′ is H, an alkyl, a cycloalkyl, a bicycloalkyl, an alkenyl, a cycloalkenyl, a bicycloalkenyl, an alkynyl, an aryl, a halogen, or a cyano group. The compounds may be used in liquid crystal displays (LCDs), and in television sets, laptop computers, computer monitors, hand-held communication devices, gaming devices, watches, cash registers, clocks, and calculators having liquid crystal displays.
US08168082B2	Liquid crystalline coating solution and polarizing film A liquid crystalline coating solution which comprises: an azo compound represented by the following general formula (I); and a solvent to dissolve the azo compound: wherein Q1 is a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted naphthyl group; Q2 is a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group or a substituted or unsubstituted naphthylene group; m is an integer from 1 to 5; and M is a counter ion.
US08168077B2	Refrigerant compositions and use thereof in low temperature refrigeration systems A refrigerant composition. The composition has 25 to 35 mass % difluoromethane, 20 to 40 mass % pentafluoroethane, and 35 to 45 mass % tetrafluoroethane. The composition exhibits a positive superheat at an evaporation temperature of about −30° F. There is also a process for producing refrigeration and a refrigeration system.
US08168074B2	Modification of polymer surface with shielded plasma Methods and systems for modifying a surface of a polymer with a shielded plasma are provided. The surface may be modified to create a surface with increased crosslinking and/or a particular mechanical property, such as a coefficient of friction. A shielding arrangement is used to modify the plasma to which the polymer surface is exposed, thereby providing a surface with the desired mechanical properties. In one aspect, a single source that provides multiple species of plasma particles is advantageously used instead of having to switch or move in multiple sources. The extent of crosslinking is evaluated using a surface force microscope to determine a frictional property that is correlated to the crosslinking, e.g., via calibrated values determined from reference surfaces.
US08168063B2	Dialysis system having filtering method for determining therapy prescriptions A peritoneal dialysis system includes a logic implementer configured to: (i) generate a number of peritoneal dialysis therapy regimens that meet at least one therapy target input; (ii) accept a filter input; and (iii) filter the generated therapy regimens according to the filter input to refine the number of therapy regimens available for selection.
US08168062B2	Composition and method for breaking water in oil emulsions A multi-component demulsifier comprising an alkoxylated C5-C7 alkyl substituted phenol-formaldehyde resin and at least one polyalkylene oxide triblock copolymer. This synergistic combination of materials is useful in breaking emulsions, of water in hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon in water.
US08168056B2	Electrocomposite coatings for hard chrome replacement The invention provides a method and system for electrolytically coating an article. The method includes providing an article to be coated and disposing the article in an electrolytic cell. The cell includes an anode, a cathode in operable communication with the article, and an electrolyte bath. During electrolysis, the electrolyte bath comprises cobalt ions, phosphorous acid, and tribological particles selected from the group consisting of refractory materials, solid lubricants and mixtures thereof dispersed therein. The method further includes applying steady direct electric current through the anode, the electrolyte bath and the cathode to coat the article with cobalt, phosphorous and the tribological particles. An improved composition of matter is also provided that may be used as a coating, or the composition may be electroformed on a mandrel to form an article made from the composition of matter.
US08168052B2	Transition metal complexes with bidentate ligand having an imidazole ring Novel transition metal complexes of iron, cobalt, ruthenium, osmium, and vanadium are described. The transition metal complexes can be used as redox mediators in enzyme based electrochemical sensors. In such instances, transition metal complexes accept electrons from, or transfer electrons to, enzymes at a high rate and also exchange electrons rapidly with the sensor. The transition metal complexes include at least one substituted or unsubstituted biimidazole ligand and may further include a second substituted or unsubstituted biimidazole ligand or a substituted or unsubstituted bipyridine or pyridylimidazole ligand. Transition metal complexes attached to polymeric backbones are also described.
US08168047B1	HHO electrolysis cell for increased vehicle fuel mileage A HHO electrolysis cell mounted in a vehicle for creating hydrogen The hydrogen is mixed with a vehicle's fuel supply for increased fuel mileage. The electrolysis cell includes a cell housing for holding water. A plurality of positive electrode plates are mounted inside the cell housing and attached to a positive pole mounted on top of the cell housing. The positive pole is adapted for connection to a vehicle's electrical source. A plurality of negative electrode plates are mounted inside the housing and indexed in a spaced relationship between each of the positive electrode plates. The negative electrode plates are attached to a negative pole mounted on top of the cell housing. The negative pole is also adapted for connection to a vehicle's electrical source. The negative electrode plates are attached to a moveable plate rod mounted inside the cell housing. One end of the moveable rod is adapted for attachment to a linkage assembly connected to a vehicle's fuel system. As the vehicle accelerates in speed from idle, the plate rod moves the negative plates toward the positive plates, thus increasing the amount of electrolysis of the water in the cell housing and thus increasing the amount of hydrogen generated therein. The hydrogen is discharged out a hydrogen fuel port in the top of the cell housing to the fuel system.
US08168045B2	Apparatus for an enhanced magnetic plating method An apparatus for plating a magnetic film on a substrate includes: a track including a plurality of stopping points along the track; a permanent magnet placed on the track such that the permanent magnet can be moved along the track towards and away from the stopping points; at least one plating tank positioned on the stopping point; and a removable high permeability iron flux concentrator inserted into gaps between the substrate and inside walls of the plating tank, substantially surrounding the substrate and extending around and under the substrate.
US08168042B2	Bar arrangement for a machine for the production of a fibrous web The invention relates to a bar arrangement for a machine for producing a fibrous web. The bar arrangement according to the invention is characterized by at least one restoring mechanism for bringing the mobile bar from the operating position into the rest position. The at least one restoring mechanism comprises at least one guided piece arranged on the mobile bar on the exterior and alongside thereof, said piece having an inclined contact surface the incline of which is directed at an angle (α) in the range of 5 to 60°, preferably of 20 to 45°, especially of 25 to 35°, relative to the longitudinal direction of the mobile bar, at least one guiding piece on the interior of the C-shaped guiding unit, which has a preferably inclined guide surface that can be brought in contact with the inclined contact surface of the guided piece arranged on the exterior and alongside thereof when the mobile bar is brought from the operating position into the rest position, and at least one displacement device for displacing the mobile bar in its longitudinal direction which acts upon the mobile bar, preferably the face thereof, and which can preferably be controlled/regulated.
US08168037B2	Method and systems for enhancing oil recovery from ethanol production byproducts Methods and related systems efficiently and effectively recover a significant amount of valuable, useable oil from byproducts formed during a dry milling process used for producing ethanol. The method may include forming a concentrate from the byproduct and recovering oil from the concentrate. The step of forming the concentrate may include evaporating the byproduct using a multi-stage evaporator, as well as recovering the oil before the final stage of the evaporator. Further, the step of recovering oil from the concentrate may include using a centrifuge and, in particular, a disk stack centrifuge. Other aspects of the invention include related methods and subsystems for recovering oil.
US08168035B2	Adhesive method of pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet for vehicle coatings Provided is an adhesive method of pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet for vehicle coatings, giving a pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet highly adhesive even to a coating surface easily causing the low adhesion by bleed-out of leveling agent or the like.The adhesive method of pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet for vehicle coatings according to the present invention is characterized in that the difference (absolute value) between the solubility parameter (SP value) of a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer (X) formed on the side of the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet in contact with the vehicle coating and the solubility parameter (SP value) of the surface control agent contained in the vehicle coating is 0.6 (cal/cm3)1/2 or less.
US08168032B2	Method of forming a roofing product including a ceramic base material and recycled roofing material A method of forming a roofing product can include providing a ceramic base material having an open structure. The method can also include filling the open structure of the ceramic base material with a bituminous material, wherein the bituminous material has no greater than approximately 5 weight % of abrasive particles. The method can further include applying a recycled roofing material adjacent to the ceramic base material after filling the open structure of the ceramic base material with the bituminous material. In a particular embodiment, an open structure of the ceramic base material is filled with a bituminous material that has no greater than approximately 2 weight % of abrasive particles or 0.1 weight % metal content. The recycled roofing material can be applied along one or both sides of the ceramic base material. The bituminous material may have a characteristic particle size that is smaller than a characteristic particle size of the recycled roofing material. In another embodiment, the roofing product having the recycled roofing material can have tear strength characteristics as compared to a different roofing product having a substantially the same construction but having abrasive particles embedded within the ceramic base material.
US08168020B2	Pneumatic tire and its fabricating method Two kinds or more of resin films having different surface roughnesses are pasted to an outer surface of a side portion of an unvulcanized tire, the unvulcanized tire is vulcanized and molded in a state of pasting the resin films, thereby, a pneumatic tire provided with two kinds or more of the resin films at the outer surface of the tire side portion to be able to be exfoliated therefrom is fabricated.
US08168005B2	Liquid detergent composition for improved grease cleaning comprising an alkoxylated polyethyleneimine polymer A stable liquid detergent composition having a pH comprised between 7.5 and 8.4 and comprising an alkyl ethoxy sulfate surfactant, an amine oxide surfactant and a polyethyleneimine polymer to provide improved grease cleaning and sudsing and to reduce solution slipperiness.
US08167999B2	Three-dimensional printing material system with improved color, article performance, and ease of use A materials system and methods are provided to enable the formation of articles by three dimensional printing. The materials system includes particulate mixtures having a whitening agent and a solid particulate additive comprising an acid, the latter adapted for modifying a cure rate of an infiltrant. The materials system also includes aqueous fluids including optical brightening agents.
US08167996B2	Lightweight structural concrete provided with various wood properties A lightweight structural concrete with screw-ability and nail-ability similar to wood is composed of a non-structural and ultra lightweight aggregate such as expanded perlite or a combination of expanded perlite and polystyrene beads of a particular size distribution and volume amount, entrained air cells of another specific size distribution and volume amount, and dense cementitious composition of a cement binder, a fine grade structural filler no larger than concrete sand grade, a pozzolan, and optional micro-fibers for reinforcement. This structural concrete matrix is optimized to hold 13 gauge T-nails and bugle head wood screws with thread ranging from 8 to 11 threads per inch and diameter of 0.10″ to 0.137″. The resulting concrete will have consistent screw-ability and nail-ability similar to that of wood.
US08167995B2	Inorganic phosphate resins and method for their manufacture A method is provided for making inexpensive synthetic inorganic resins that are stable, mix easily with water and may be conveniently diluted to form an easy-to-use paste for commercial applications. The method uses environmentally friendly techniques to provide improved efficiencies in the commercial production of these resins. The resins are produced by the partial reaction of phosphoric acid with sparsely-soluble oxides, or sparsely-soluble oxide minerals, that are added to the phosphoric acid under controlled conditions. In certain specific embodiments, methods are provided for modifying synthetic inorganic resins so as to produce rapid-setting phosphate cements and ceramics having high flexural strength. Unique synthetic inorganic resin formulations are also disclosed. These formulations are phosphate-mineral based, non-volatile, tend to be non-flammable, do not contain any hazardous inorganic or organic compounds, and are chemically stable at relatively high temperatures, yet they are less expensive than most commercially available organic synthetic polymeric resins.
US08167990B2	Ingestible or nutritional liquid ink composition for ink jet printing Nutritional or ingestible ink composition for ink jet printing comprising: a binder comprising at least 0.5% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the ink, of at least one zein; a solvent comprising at least 10% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the ink, of one or more nutritional or ingestible solvent(s); and at least 0.1% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the ink, of one or more nutritional or ingestible dye(s) and/or pigment(s). Dispersion of particles of at least one pigment in at least one polar solvent comprises at least one zein as dispersing agent to facilitate the dispersing of particles and stabilize the dispersion. A process for marking a substrate, in particular a foodstuff, by ink jet printing with the foregoing composition and substrate, for example eggshell, provided with such a marking.
US08167989B2	Compound of di (nitrate) acetylacetonatobis (1,10-phenanthroline) lantanoid (III), applicable for luminescent additive to ink, and ink for hidden marking of valuables description The invention refers to new chemical compounds belonging to the known class of REE mixed ligand complexes, namely, to the compound of di-(nitrate)acetylacetonatobis (1,10-fenantrolin)lanthanide (III) of the general formula [Ln(NO3)2Acac(Phen)2]*H20, where Ln is TbxEr1-x, Acac is acetylacetonate-ion, Phen is 1,10-fenantrolin in the form suitable for application as a luminescent additive to ink for the hidden marking the valuables to provide protection against forgery. Such additive has three protective features suitable for automatic control independently of each other. The first protective feature is the ability to luminescence in green light under the impact of UV-radiation. The second protective feature is the ability to luminescence in green light under the impact of X-rays. The third protective feature is the Thermo-luminescence, which means the ability to accumulate for indefinite time span the energy of UV- and X-rays with subsequent green light emission at heating. It allows univocal identification of valuables and improves the protection efficiency.
US08167985B2	Clean corona gas ionization for static charge neutralization Clean corona gas ionization by separating contaminant byproducts from corona generated ions includes establishing a non-ionized gas stream having a pressure and flowing in a downstream direction, establishing a plasma region of ions and contaminant byproducts in which the pressure is sufficiently lower than the pressure of the non-ionized gas stream to prevent at least a substantial portion of the byproducts from migrating into the non-ionized gas stream, and applying an electric field to the plasma region sufficient to induce at least a substantial portion of the ions to migrate into the non-ionized gas stream.
US08167982B2	Dryer unit for compressed air and other gaseous media A vertically directed dryer unit for compressed air, comprising a dryer cartridge which, together with a housing, defines an inlet head area and an outlet head area. A plurality of hollow membrane fibers extend inside the cartridge between the two head areas, the wall material thereof being more permeable with respect to water vapor than air. An outlet valve is provided between the outlet head area and an outlet of the drier unit. Said valve only opens when the pressure in the outlet head area produces sufficient pressure for the provision of purging air. The purging air is fed to the outer surface of the membrane fibers via a throttle element.
US08167974B2	Terephthalic acid purge filtration rate by controlling % water in filter feed slurry The process relates improving the recovery of a metal catalyst from an oxidizer purge stream produced in the synthesis of carboxylic acid, typically terephthalic acid, while utilizing pressure filtration.
US08167973B2	Microwave-assisted synthesis of carbon and carbon-metal composites from lignin, tannin and asphalt derivatives A process for synthesizing carbon-metal nanocomposites. In one embodiment, the process includes the steps of preparing a metal derivative or a metal chelated derivative of a carbon-containing precursor in solid form, and subjecting the metal derivative or metal chelated derivative of a carbon-containing precursor in solid form to microwave radiation at a frequency in the range of 900 MHz to 5.8 GHz, for a period of time effective to generate a heat flow from inside of the metal derivative or metal chelated derivative of a carbon-containing precursor in solid form to the outside such that the temperature of the metal derivative or metal chelated derivative of a carbon-containing precursor in solid form reaches 1,000° C. in less than 6 minutes with a temperature (T) derivative over time (t), ΔT/Δt, no less than 2.5° C./second to form carbon-metal nanocomposites.
US08167965B2	Filter for cleaning a fluid A filter for filtering a fluid has a filter housing and a filter element arranged in the filter housing. A cyclone preseparator is arranged upstream of the filter element, wherein a fluid to be cleaned is guided through the preseparator to the filter element. The cyclone preseparator has at least two cyclone cells that have a different diameter, respectively.
US08167962B2	Pulpstone for long fiber pulp production Pulp production techniques are disclosed. In one embodiment, pulpstone segments are provided, that include proppant grits in the place of some or all of the conventional abrasive typically used in pulpstone applications. The proppant or proppant-abrasive mixture can be combined into a three-dimensional matrix supported by a vitrified bond. Alternative embodiments use proppant grits in an organic bond or a metal bond or a cement bond (each of which may also include abrasive grits in addition to proppant grits). The proportion of proppant grits to abrasive grits can be varied to produce pulp of varying fiber length distribution as required by the end-user (e.g., paper mill). The greater the proppant concentration, the less cutting of the fibers by the conventional abrasive will occur, producing a greater percentage content of longer fibers. Such pulp produces higher quality paper.
US08167955B2	Carbon fiber reinforced carbon foams for repair and reconstruction of bone defects The present invention relates to a tissue scaffold and a method of preparing a tissue scaffold for implantation. The tissue scaffold includes a body having a graphite foam core. At least a first portion of the external surface of that graphite foam core is covered by a composite material to provide additional mechanical strength to the scaffold.
US08167951B2	Method and apparatus for reconstructing a ligament and/or repairing cartilage, and for performing an open wedge, high tibial osteotomy A method for reconstructing a knee ligament and for performing a tibial osteotomy on the knee in a single procedure, the method comprising: forming a bone tunnel through the tibia at a location appropriate for the ligament reconstruction, disposing a graft ligament in the bone tunnel, and securing the graft ligament in the bone tunnel, and forming a wedge-like opening in the bone at a location appropriate for the tibial osteotomy, positioning an osteotomy implant in the wedge-like opening in the bone, and securing the osteotomy implant in the wedge-like opening in the bone; wherein the osteotomy implant is secured in the wedge-like opening in the bone with a fastener which extends through the implant and into the bone tunnel.
US08167947B2	Methods for push distraction and for provision of therapy to adjacent motion segments Disclosed are methods and apparatus for the provision of spinal therapy to two or more adjacent motion segments accessed through a trans-sacral approach. The spinal therapies include fusion and dynamic stabilization with and without a distraction of the most cephalad motion segment of the two or more adjacent motion segments provided therapy. The disclosure includes methods and apparatus to impart a push distraction to increase the distance between two adjacent vertebrae. Related concepts for the extraction of previously inserted devices and the delivery and removal of plugs for plugging the interior cavities of implantable devices are disclosed.
US08167946B2	Implant with openings adapted to receive bone screws A spinal fusion implant for insertion between adjacent vertebral bodies has opposed upper and lower surfaces adapted to contact each of the adjacent vertebral bodies from within the disc space, a leading end for insertion between the adjacent vertebral bodies, and a trailing end opposite the leading end. The trailing end has an exterior surface and an outer perimeter with an upper edge and a lower edge adapted to be oriented toward the adjacent vertebral bodies, respectively, and a plurality of bone screw receiving holes. At least one of the bone screw receiving holes is adapted to only partially circumferentially surround a trailing end of a bone screw received therein. At least one of the bone screw receiving holes passes through the exterior surface and one of the edges so as to permit the trailing end of the bone screw to protrude beyond one of the edges.
US08167945B1	Doughnut-like spinal implant A doughnut-like lumbosacral or intervertebral implant including an asymmetrical opening surrounded by a series of load-bearing curvatures. The doughnut-like implant can include a detachable connector. Preferred embodiments of the doughnut-like implant can include tapered lateral annular-like sides.
US08167942B2	Ear molding device for correcting misshaped ears A system and method for correcting misshaped ears using a molding device having one or more braces supporting a scaphal mold. The one or more braces and the scaphal mold are adapted to retain the helix and the helical rim of a misshaped ear within a space defined between the one or more braces and the scaphal mold, and to maintain a substantially correct anatomical shape of the helix and the helical rim.
US08167938B1	Reading enhancement device for preventing and treating presbyopia of the eye A reading enhancement device for preventing and/or treating presbyopia of the eye. The enhancement device is sutured to an outer wall of the sclera for buckling and compressing a portion of the sclera and the ciliary body inwardly and perpendicular to the plane of the sclera and exerting a posterior compression force toward the vitreous humor in the rear of the eye. The enhancement device includes a compression body with a front of the body having semi-circular convex surface. The compression body made of a non-metallic, synthetic polymer. The convex surface is used for engaging, buckling and compressing both a portion of the sclera and the ciliary body of the eye. The compression body also includes an enlarged, rounded first and second end portions and an elongated center portion with the convex surface formed thereon. Also, the compression body includes a rear having an outwardly extending rib portion with a pair of grooves at opposite ends of the rib portion. The grooves and the enlarged, rounded first and second end portions are used to aid the eye surgeon in suturing and securing the enhancement device to the side of the eye.
US08167934B2	Implant which is intended to be placed in a blood vessel This implant comprises an endoprosthesis having an axis which can be spontaneously deployed in a radial manner between a compressed configuration and a dilated configuration. The implant comprises at least one radial runner which comprises a separation surface which extends radially with respect to an outer surface of the endoprosthesis and a member which can be deployed away from the axis. The runner is arranged so as to delimit a confinement housing which extends between the separation surface and the outer surface and a radial spacer which is defined by the separation surface and the deployable member. When the implant is retained in a state of radial compression, the maximum radial width of the housing is less than the maximum radial width of the spacer which is not equal to zero.
US08167933B2	Annuloplasty apparatus and methods An annuloplasty system for repairing a valve in a patient's heart comprises a surgical implant including a member having first and second end portions. The implant member further is configured and/or adapted to form a partial ring along a portion of one of the valve annulae of a patient's heart such as the mitral or tricuspid valve annulus. The implant member is axially elastic such that it can axially expand and contract and includes first and second anchors extending from the end portions of the implant member. The anchors are adapted to anchor the implant in tissue such as the mitral or tricuspid valve annulus. The system can facilitate tissue plication (e.g., of the posterior annulus of the mitral valve or the annulus of the tricuspid valve) and reinforcement of a valve annulus.
US08167929B2	System and method for delivering a stent to a bifurcated vessel A stent delivery catheter system for accurately positioning a stent in a bifurcated vessel is disclosed. The system includes a catheter having a terminal portion and distal tip that is placed in a main branch of the vessel proximate the bifurcation. A fixed guidewire is attached to distal tip. A port is defined in the terminal portion of the catheter. The port is aligned with an ostium of a side branch of the bifurcated vessel to allow the passage of a stent delivery device, such as a balloon catheter having a stent crimped thereon, into the side branch. Radiopaque bands are positioned on opposite ends of the port. A positioning balloon is included on a surface of the catheter opposite the port and is selectively inflatable to position the radiopaque bands adjacent the side branch ostium. The radiopaque bands are referenced to place the stent proximate the side branch ostium.
US08167928B2	MRT-compatible valve prosthesis for use in the human or animal body for replacement of an organ valve or a vessel valve The invention relates to a biological or artificial valve prosthesis (4, 5) for use in the human or animal body for replacement of an organ valve or a vessel valve, in particular a cardiac valve prosthesis or venous valve prosthesis, with a stent (8) or without a stent, with a supporting valve framework, with at least one valve (7) and with at least one conductor loop (2) that forms the inductance of an electrical resonance circuit. In order to provide a simple and inexpensive valve prosthesis that can be viewed in the MR imaging technique and is also easy to implant, the invention proposes that the at least one conductor loop (2) forms the valve framework and/or the valve (7) or supporting areas of the valve framework and/or supporting areas of the valve (7).
US08167927B2	Barbed radially expandable stent The present application is directed to a stent, and more particularly to a radially self-expandable metallic stent, including a serpentine configuration having a plurality of struts and having a plurality of proximal and distal apices; and a barb integrally formed as an extension of each strut and extending outwardly from a position on each strut; where the barb has an elevation angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of a strut from which the barb extends of about 10 degrees to about 45 degrees.
US08167925B2	Single puncture bifurcation graft deployment system The present invention relates to the endoluminal repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms at the aortic and iliac bifurcation. In particular, a deployment system and graft are disclosed for deploying the bifurcated graft within both iliac branches, as well as the aortic trunk, from a single vascular access.
US08167923B2	Cooling of localized areas of the body for cerebral blood flow augmentation Methods are described for augmenting cerebral blood flow and altering sympathetic nerve firing and catecholamine release by cooling a part of the body. In particular localized cooling of the nose or mouth is used to augment cerebral blood flow and alter sympathetic nerve firing. By cooling a localized area such as nose or mouth, release of norepinephrine after an ischemic event is inhibited. The methods described may be applied to augment cerebral blood flow and alter catecholamine release, particularly in treatment of stroke, heart attack and transient ischemic event.
US08167908B2	Polyaxial transverse connector A polyaxial transverse connector for stabilizing a portion of the spine. Connector bodies are coupled to rods attached to either side of the spine. Heads of transverse members are positioned in the connector bodies such that they exhibit polyaxial motion. The transverse members may have curves or offsets to accommodate other components or patient anatomy. A connector connects the transverse members and male threaded inserts are advanced into the connector bodies to inhibit motion of the polyaxial transverse connector.
US08167897B2	Surgical instrument assembly A multimode instrument assembly (10, 11) configurable for performing a dermatotomy in a percutaneous procedure and further configurable for performing cuts in open surgery includes a pointed blade (68) and a hollow sheath body (18, 200) disposed to encapsulate the pointed blade (68) inside a longitudinal instrument cavity (32) to protect a user. The hollow sheath body (18, 200) is supported for longitudinal translation with respect to the blade (68). The hollow sheath (18) may be positioned and locked at a first position to completely encapsulate the blade (68) inside the instrument cavity (32) for safe handling. Otherwise the hollow sheath body (18, 200) is movable to second and third positions with different lengths of the blade extending out through a front face (23) of the hollow sheath body (18, 200). A compression spring biases the hollow sheath body (18) toward the first safety position. The multimode instrument is primarily intended for making a precise pierce cut with a consistent cut depth and cut length.
US08167895B2	Anastomosis composite gasket The present disclosure provides structures and/or gaskets for deposition between adjacent intestinal sections in an anastomosis procedure. The structure possesses at least an inner ring of a first material, and a middle ring of a second material. The first material and the second material include a wound treatment material consisting of at least one of an adhesive, a sealant and/or a medicament. The first material is different from the second material.
US08167892B2	Adjustable and detached stent deployment device The present disclosure is directed to a device for housing and retaining a delivery system for a self-expanding implant while providing means for actuating the delivery system.
US08167889B2	Use of vibration with orthopedic cements Methods of employing bone defect filling, e.g., orthopedic cements, such as calcium phosphate cements and the like, are provided. A feature of the subject methods is that vibration is employed in conjunction with the use of the cement, e.g., in preparation of the cement, in preparation of the target site, in delivery of the cement to the target site, and/or following delivery of the cement to the target site. Also provided are devices, systems and kits that find use in practicing the subject methods. The subject methods, devices and systems find use in a variety of different applications.
US08167882B2	Minimally invasive bone miller apparatus A miller assembly for creating a cavity in a bone. The cavity has a cross section which has a generally triangular profile having a first side generally parallel with an axis of the bone and a second side forming an acute angle with the first side, and is contiguous with a pre-existing conical cavity in the bone. The miller assembly includes a cutter and a frame for carrying the cutter. The frame includes a connection portion having a longitudinal axis and a cutter mount for mounting the cutter at a first angle approximating the acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the connection portion. The cutter mount extends at the first angle from the longitudinal axis of the connection portion and is configured to receive a portion of the cutter and maintain the received cutter oriented at the first angle during rotation. The frame further includes a handle configured to form a portion of a drive joint for coupling the frame to a drill, the handle having a longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axis of the handle is coincident with the longitudinal axis of the frame.
US08167879B2	Combination tissue removal and cauterization instrument A combination tissue removal and cauterization instrument includes one or more heads configured to remove tissue by mechanical cutting action resulting from rotation, vibration and/or other type of powered motion. The heads also have electroconductive outer surfaces to which electrical energy is supplied, thereby permitting the heads to simultaneously cauterize tissue that is not removed.
US08167875B2	Energy delivery algorithm for medical devices A method for controlling energy applied to tissue as a function of at least one detected tissue property includes the initial step of applying energy to tissue. The method also includes the steps of initially adjusting the energy applied to tissue and determining a direction of change of the at least one detected tissue property. The method also includes the steps of subsequently adjusting the energy applied to tissue in the same direction as the initially adjusting step if the at least one detected tissue property is changing in a first direction and in the opposite direction to the initially adjusting step if the at least one detected tissue property is changing in a second direction and further adjusting the energy applied to the tissue in the same direction as the initially adjusting step if the at least one detected tissue property is changing in the second direction and in the opposite direction to the initially adjusting step if the at least one detected tissue property is changing in the first direction.
US08167862B2	Absorbent article having a fit guide An absorbent article having a longitudinal centerline and adapted to be worn in an undergarment having a crotch portion bounded on opposite sides by portions of curved leg openings. The absorbent article comprises a main body portion, the main body portion comprising a liquid pervious body-facing surface, a liquid impervious garment facing surface, and an absorbent core positioned between the body-facing surface and the garment-facing surface. The absorbent article comprises at least one indicator marker visible from the body-facing surface, the indicator markers disposed to indicate proper alignment of the absorbent article with respect to undergarment-specific features such as the curved leg openings.
US08167861B2	Disposable garment with stretchable absorbent assembly A disposable absorbent garment has an elastic inner layer having an interior surface for facing a wearer of the garment, and an exterior surface. The elastic inner layer has an elongate opening therein disposed at least within a crotch region of the garment, and is stretchable in at least a lateral direction of the garment. An outer layer of the garment is in opposed relationship with the elastic inner layer and is stretchable in at least the lateral direction of the garment. An absorbent assembly is secured to the elastic inner layer between the elastic inner layer and the outer layer and is sized larger than the opening of the elastic inner layer for underlying substantially the entire opening. The absorbent assembly is stretchable in at least the lateral direction of the garment for lateral stretching thereof in response to lateral stretching of the elastic inner layer.
US08167860B1	Panty liner/pad system A body portion has opposed ends spaced centrally by a length. The body portion has opposed concave sides. The concave sides are spaced by a minimum width when measured at the midpoint of the length. The body portion has planar upper and lower surfaces. A vertically oriented projection extends upwardly from the upper surface of the body portion. The body portion has a lower edge centrally positioned on the longitudinal axis of the body portion. The projection has an upper edge centrally positioned above the longitudinal axis of the body portion. The projection has a forward end in a generally triangular configuration. The projection has a rearward end in a generally triangular configuration. The forward end has a thickness greater than the thickness of the rearward end.
US08167859B2	Ostomy bag mounting structure A mounting structure for installation at a corporeal port opening. The mounting structure includes a reentrant tube on an exterior surface of which is disposed at least one balloon, with a proximal everted portion of the tubing extending from the distal portion of the tubing, with a gas flow passage associated with the tubing, for selective inflation of the balloon. A vacuum thermoforming process for making such mounting structure is described. The mounting structure is useful employed for anchoring of a therapeutic device such as an ostomy bag at a corresponding port of the body, with the balloon(s) of the device providing effective anchoring of the mounting structure and permitting the mounting structure to be comfortably worn by a patient during therapeutic intervention.
US08167850B2	Cylinder/piston unit with at least three sealing elements A cylinder/piston unit is disclosed for pre-fill, storage and release when desired of an active substance, such as a medicament. The cylinder/piston unit is provided with a cylinder and with a piston which is guided therein and which is sealed off in a sterile manner by a rubber seal, the cylinder and the piston enclosing a chamber that can be filled at least temporarily with active substance, and the cylinder having at least one discharge element at its front end. For this purpose, the piston resting in a rear position is sealed off relative to the cylinder in a sterile manner by a static front sealing element and by a static rear sealing element. Arranged spatially behind each static sealing element, there is a parking area for receiving the respective sealing element. When the piston is actuated, the individual static sealing elements are transferred from their respective sealing position into a parked position located in the parking area, and each sealing element in the parked position touches only the cylinder wall or only the piston wall. With the present invention, a cylinder/piston unit is developed which can be pre-filled and in which, despite a sterile sealing of the piston, only a slight force has to be applied in order to accelerate and/or move the piston.
US08167847B2	Antiseptic cap and antiseptic cap equipped plunger and syringe barrel assembly The present invention provides an antiseptic cap for use with an access site having a housing with a wall defining a chamber, the wall having a set of threads on an inner surface of the wall; and an access site contacting surface associated with the housing having an antiseptic substance for contacting a surface of the access site. The present invention also provides an antiseptic cap equipped plunger assembly wherein an antiseptic cap is retained within a housing of the plunger.
US08167842B2	Introducer apparatus with cutting edges An introducer apparatus with a plurality of cutting edges along the outer surface of the distal end of an introducer with a blunt distal end is disclosed. The introducer may be adapted to extend from and be withdrawn into the sheath. The cutting edges may resect tissue located around the insertion site.
US08167837B2	Controlled retraction syringe and plunger therefor A retractable syringe (11) and plunger (20) therefore are provided, whereby the plunger comprises a controlling means (62) which facilitates control of the rate of retraction of the retractable needle. By controlling the rate of needle retraction, the likelihood of blood spattering is reduced, thereby improving the user-friendliness and appeal of the retractable syringe. Typically, the syringe is a prefilled syringe. Following plunger depression, a symmetrical ejector member (92) releases the retractable needle (40) from a retaining member (30) to thereby allow retraction of the retractable needle. Needle retraction is facilitated by a biasing means (70), such as a spring or other compressible and/or de-compressible device. The plunger comprises a plunger housing (21), in which is located the controlling means. The controlling means may be a pneumatic air space (324) inside the plunger housing which automatically acts against the retracting needle to thereby control or regulate the rate of retraction.
US08167836B2	Tissue expander configured for drug delivery A device includes a tissue expanding portion and an enclosure positioned on a surface of the tissue expanding portion. The enclosure includes an enclosure wall and a drug formulation pocket defined by the enclosure wall. A solid drug formulation that includes a drug is housed within the drug formulation pocket.
US08167827B1	Combined floor mat and continuous passive motion device and associated method The combined floor mat and continuous passive motion device may include a continuous passive motion device and a single and unitary floor mat preferably in continuous frictional contact with the ground surface. The floor mat may be laid end-to-end with the continuous passive motion device so that the proximal end of the continuous passive motion device is adjustably connected to a distal end of the floor mat. The continuous passive motion device may further include a mechanism for preventing the continuous passive motion device from shifting during the exercise so that the floor mat remains longitudinally aligned with the continuous passive motion device and continuously disposed at a flat and planar arrangement on the ground surface.
US08167823B2	Method and apparatus for aligning and securing an implant relative to a patient A surgical apparatus includes an orientation sensor that detects an actual orientation of a surgical tool. The apparatus also includes an orientation feedback device that selectively provides an orientation feedback signal. Moreover, the apparatus includes a controller that causes the orientation feedback device to provide the orientation feedback signal when the actual orientation of the surgical tool detected by the orientation sensor is substantially equal to a predetermined target orientation of the surgical tool.
US08167813B2	Systems and methods for locating a blood vessel Systems and methods for locating a blood vessel are described. One described method includes receiving a first temperature measure associated with a first point on a surface of a skin; receiving a second temperature measure associated with a second point on the surface of the skin, and determining a differential between the first temperature measure and the second temperature measure. The method further includes generating an output signal indicating the presence of a blood vessel if the differential exceeds a threshold.
US08167803B2	System and method for bladder detection using harmonic imaging Systems, methods, and ultrasound transceivers equipped and configured to execute harmonic analysis and extract harmonic information related to a targeted organ of a subject are described. The methods utilize neural network algorithms to establish improved segmentation accuracy of the targeted organ or structures within a region-of-interest. The neural network algorithms, refined for detection of the bladder and to ascertain the presence or absence of a uterus, is optimally applied to better segment and thus confer the capability to optimize measurement of bladder geometry, area, and volumes.
US08167802B2	Biological tissue motion trace method and image diagnosis device using the trace method A one frame image of a moving image formed by producing tomographic images of an object to be examined is displayed (S2), a mark is superposed on a designated portion of a tissue the movement of which is tracked in the displayed one frame image (S3), a cutout image of a size including the designated portion is set in the one frame image (S4), local images are searched in another frame images of the moving image and a local image of the identical size which is most coincided with the cutout image is extracted (S5,6), and a coordinate of the designated portion after movement is calculated based on a coordinate difference between the most coincided local image and the cutout image (S7), thereby the movement of tissue is quantitatively measured.
US08167799B2	Apparatus and method for monitoring strain and/or load applied to a mammal Apparatus is disclosed for monitoring strain and/or load applied to the body of a vertebral mammal. The apparatus includes means (10, 11) for measuring position of the body relative to an inertial frame of reference and for providing first data indicative of the position, wherein the means for measuring position includes at least one inertial sensor such as an accelerometer. The apparatus includes means (12, 15-19) for measuring muscle activity and for providing second data indicative of the muscle activity. The apparatus also includes means for storing the data and means for processing the data to provide a measure of strain and/or load to the body. The strain and/or load is typically applied to the back of the mammal. A method of monitoring strain and/or load applied to the body of the vertebral mammal is also disclosed.
US08167794B2	Endoscope system for fluorescent observation An endoscope system is disclosed for detecting fluorescent light emitted in the near-infrared region by a plurality of fluorescent labeling materials introduced into a living tissue.An illumination system generates illumination light in the wavelength range 600 nm-2000 nm which serves as excitation light for the plurality of fluorescent labeling materials, and a detection system that can separately detect different ones of the plurality of fluorescent light emissions that are emitted at different wavelengths from among the plurality of fluorescent labeling materials is provided. The endoscope system may include a conventional-type endoscope having an insertion section, or a capsule endoscope that wirelessly transmits image data. By superimposing the image data obtained using reflected light in the visible region and fluorescent light emitted by the fluorescent labeling materials, improved diagnostic capabilities are provided.
US08167787B2	Partially erodable systems for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea The invention relates to devices and methods for reforming tissue surrounding the airway of a subject suffering from obstructive sleep apnea so as to open the airway and alleviate the occurrence of apneic events. Devices comprise a combination of resiliently deformable material and bioerodible material. The deformable portion of the device has a preferred shape that corresponds to the desired final shape of the device once placed in an airway. In making a transplant-ready device, however, the deformable portion is placed into a deformed shape and constrained in that shape by the bioerodible material. After implantation, the device gradually assumes the preferred shape as the constraining bioerodible material erodes. As the device gradually reforms toward the preferred shape, it reforms the tissue into the therapeutically desirable configuration. The gradual nature of the shape change generally stabilizes the device in the tissue, and supports tissue reforming into a stable configuration.
US08167785B2	Urethral support system A supplementary urethral support stabilization system and method for supporting the urethra is described.
US08167782B2	Method and apparatus for making a paint roller and product produced thereby A core for a paint roller includes a base layer and a reinforcing layer positioned over the base layer. A method of assembling a paint roller core includes helically winding a base material around a mandrel, applying an adhesive to an exposed portion of the base material, helically winding a reinforcing material around the base material, and applying the adhesive to an exposed portion of the reinforcing material. An apparatus for forming a paint roller includes a mandrel, a first feeder for continuously winding a base material around the longitudinal axis of the mandrel, a second feeder for continuously winding a reinforcing material around the base material, a third feeder for continuously winding a fabric cover around the reinforcing material, and a belt drive arranged around the mandrel for advancing the base material, reinforcing material and fabric cover along the mandrel.
US08167779B2	Full body twisting exercise machine A full body twisting exercise machine has a support frame comprising a lower layer portion and an upper layer portion, a bearing respectively installed at the lower and the upper layer portions, a revolving shaft disposed though both bearings, one end of the revolving shaft protruding from the upper layer portion and connected to a crank and having an extension bar, a free end of the extension bar having a connecting portion; a connecting rod, a driving rod and a handle, an aperture of the connecting rod pivoted to the connecting portion of the extension bar and secured to one end of the driving rod; another end of the driving rod connected to a handle; and a flywheel disposed between the lower layer portion and the upper layer portion and jacketing the revolving shaft, and the lower layer portion of the support frame having a damping device.
US08167772B2	Systems and methods for converting a gasoline-fueled vehicle to a dual-mode powered vehicle A system and method for powering of a vehicle is disclosed. In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a powering assembly may include an axle, a wheel coupled to the axle, and at least one secondary coil winding affixed to the wheel. The wheel may be configured to rotate about the axle in a plane substantially perpendicular to an axis of the axle. The at least one secondary coil may be configured such that when the wheel is proximate to an embedded conductor embedded in a roadway and carrying a first electrical current, a magnetic field induced by the first electrical current induces a second electrical current in the at least one secondary coil winding.
US08167768B2	Eight speed chainless drive for a pedal powered utility tricycle An improved eight speed chainless drive includes a gear case housed within the hub of the driving wheel of a utility tricycle with a drive shaft on the axis of the wheel. Three counter shafts rotatably mounted on ball bearings in the gear case are equally spaced around the drive shaft with six gears fixed on each counter shaft. The two gears on one end of each counter shaft are in constant mesh with two drive gears which can be selectively locked to the drive shaft, and the four gears on the other end are in constant mesh with four gears rotating freely on a driven gear carrier rotatably mounted on a ball bearing on the drive shaft, with provisions for selectively locking any one of the four to the driven gear carrier. Spring-loaded pawls mounted on steel pins in the end of the driven gear carrier engage a ratchet ring fixed in the wheel hub for driving the wheel.
US08167764B2	Locking power transmitting device A power transmitting device that includes a dog ring and a thrust plate. The dog ring is formed of metal and has a plurality of locking features and a set of dog teeth. The locking features are spaced apart around the dog ring and extend in a radial direction. The dog teeth extend in an axial direction. The thrust plate is formed of a polymer and is cohesively bonded to the dog ring.
US08167760B2	Toroidal continuously variable transmission unit and continuously variable transmission In this toroidal continuously variable transmission unit, a carrier 100 and a disc 2 is brought into direct friction contact with each other, and power transmission between the carrier 100 and the disc 2 is implemented by friction force. Because of this, the necessity of machining a gear or claw on the disc or carrier, which has conventionally be done, is obviated, whereby a manufacturing process can be shortened and manufacturing costs can largely be reduced.
US08167753B2	8-speed hybrid transmission The hybrid transmission has a plurality of members that can be utilized in powertrains to provide eight forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio. The hybrid transmission includes a motor/generator, three planetary gear sets, five torque-transmitting devices, three external gear sets and a final drive gear set. The powertrain includes an engine and torque converter that is continuously connected to one of the planetary gear members and an output member that is continuously connected with the final drive gear set. The five torque-transmitting devices provide interconnections between various planetary and external gear members, the input shaft, and the transmission housing, and are operated in combinations of three to establish eight forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio.
US08167752B2	Hybrid transmission for hybrid vehicles A hybrid transmission described herein comprises a planetary gear arrangement and a clutch including two electromagnetic clutch portions used to interconnect an internal combustion engine, an electric traction motor, an electric motor/generator and driving wheels of a hybrid vehicle. The hybrid transmission described herein allows various modes of operation.
US08167749B2	Belt tensioner and belt exchanging method of belt tensioner A tensioner arm comprises a tool-engagement portion for engaging with a tensioner-arm rotation tool, and a jig-holding portion which has a through hole for accepting a tensioner-arm fixation bar jig being inserted thereinto from above at a portion of the tensioner arm extending upward from the base end portion. A bearing case comprises a contact face portion which is provided at a face located below the jig-holding portion of the bearing case so as to accept the bar jig being inserted into the through hole of the tensioner arm, and an engagement stair portion which is provided at the contact face portion so as to engage with the bar jig such that move of the tensioner arm toward the belt by the biasing mechanism is restricted. A belt tensioner which enables an easy belt exchanging even by a single worker without detaching surrounding components of the engine can be provided.
US08167742B1	Training strap for improving a golfer's golf stroke A training strap for improving a golfer's golf stroke is provided. The training strap includes a shoulder strap that attaches around the lead shoulder of the golfer with the opposite end attaching around the golfer's thumb on the same lead side of the body. Preferably, the training strap includes a strap length adjuster allowing the training strap to be fitted to the proper length. The golfer practices the stroke with the criterion being to keep the training strap taut. If the training strap stays taut, the user will develop a very fundamentally sound, repeatable stroke. When this is done the golfer is successfully utilizing the radius from the lead shoulder to hands to bottom out at the correct spot, thereby creating a good chipping, pitching or putting stroke.
US08167732B2	Static-balance-effect game table A static-balance-effect game table includes a table stand and a tablet. The table stand has two frame racks, a reception space, a base component and two connection components. The two frame racks are arranged in a symmetric manner and each has an inner end opposite to each other. Each frame rack includes two frame members individual and symmetric to each other. Each frame member is L-shaped approximately and disposed at an inclined angle, so that a distance between two inner ends of two respective frame members is shorter than a distance between two outer ends of two respective frame members. The reception space is defined between the two frame racks. The base component is elongated and has two opposite ends; each end of the base component connects to the inner end of each frame members. The two connection components join two frame members of each frame rack respectively. The tablet is arranged in the reception space of the table stand, and has two ends joining two connection components respectively.
US08167726B2	Constant velocity joint grease cap with increased torsional compliance A sealing cover assembly for an articulating joint. The articulating joint includes a first rotational member and a second rotational member. The sealing cover assembly includes a first portion having a plurality of fastening portions. The fastening portions are coupled to the second rotational member for rotation therewith. The sealing cover assembly also includes a second portion adapted for connecting to the driveline and a plurality of damping members constructed of at least a first material and interconnecting the first portion to the second portion.
US08167723B1	Reconfigurable gaming display and system A gaming system having a reconfigurable gaming machines and reconfigurable gaming displays is disclosed herein. The gaming system comprises one or more gaming machines including one or more reconfigurable video displays where at least one display presents video content for a game of chance and one display presents game information. The gaming machines are capable of receiving and presenting downloadable information on the reconfigurable video displays. The gaming system also includes a configurable display sign associated with the gaming machines. The configurable display sign includes one or more video displays, and the configurable display sign is capable of receiving and presenting downloadable information on the video displays. The gaming system also includes a processor that is in communication with the gaming machines and the configurable display sign. The processor is capable of altering the content displayed on one or more of the reconfigurable video displays and the configurable display sign.
US08167721B2	Program for object movement stored in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and object movement game apparatus Initially, a move target object is set from a plurality of objects. Next, a movement direction of the set move target object is decided. Next, for the decided movement direction, it is determined whether or not a rotation movement condition or a flip-over movement condition is satisfied. Next, when it is determined that the rotation movement condition is satisfied, the move target object is moved in a rotated form thereof in the movement direction, and when it is determined that the flip-over movement condition is satisfied, the move target object is moved in a flipped-over form thereof in the movement direction.
US08167718B2	Storage medium storing game program, game apparatus, and game control method A game apparatus includes an LCD, and displayed on the LCD is a game screen including a display portion that displays a planar positional relationship between a player object and enemy objects present in a three-dimensional game space. The player object and enemy objects are flight objects, for example. Each time a player presses an X button, a selection state of an enemy object as a target of the player object is switched by turns according to priorities of the enemy objects. When the player continuously presses the X button over a certain period of time, regardless of the priorities of the enemy objects, the selection state is switched to that of a highest priority enemy object.
US08167708B2	Method and apparatus for providing credits for game play Systems and methods are provided for offering a voucher which is redeemable for credits at a casino. The voucher may be redeemed for a first value of credits. One is charged a second value for the voucher, in which the second value is less than the first value. If the person is purchasing an additional product or service, the person may also be charged a reduced price for that product.
US08167703B2	Gaming system having alternate wagering game configurations A method of playing a wagering game comprises permitting a first configuration of the wagering game to be played via a gaming terminal, detecting a loss of communication between the gaming terminal and a server, and in response to detecting the loss of communication, permitting a second configuration of the wagering game to be played via the gaming terminal.
US08167699B2	Gaming machine A gaming machine includes plural stations and a processor. Each station can determine a game result and execute a game independently. The processor accepts each station's entry to an event game when a predetermined condition is satisfied. An event game consists of a plural number of unit event games. When executing unit event games, the processor collects a game charge from a station whose entry to the event game has been accepted.
US08167695B2	Casino games Apparatus and methods related to multi-player casino games are described. An electronic gaming device is provided that allows a live player to compete against a virtual player in a multi-player wager-based game. The electronic gaming device can comprise a multi-player game engine that does not distinguish between virtual players and live players. The electronic gaming device can be configured to simulate the decision making of a virtual player and associated behaviors of the virtual player during game play. In some instances, the simulated behaviors of the virtual player output at the electronic gaming device can be learned by a live player so that the live player can make better or more advantageous game play decisions. The simulated behaviors of the virtual player can be conveyed to the live player via visual images, such as simulated facial expressions of the virtual player.
US08167690B2	Polishing pad A polishing pad of excellent durability has a polishing layer is arranged on a base material layer, and the polishing layer comprises a thermosetting polyurethane foam having roughly spherical interconnected cells with an average cell diameter of 35 to 300 μm.
US08167685B2	Method of manufacturing a perpendicular magnetic recording medium, a method of manufacturing a substrate for a perpendicular magnetic recording medium, and a medium and a substrate manufactured by the methods A method of manufacturing a perpendicular magnetic recording medium and a substrate for the medium are disclosed, in which abnormal protrusions on an underlayer made of a Ni—P alloy are automatically eliminated while maintaining a flat surface with high accuracy on the underlayer, and appropriate texture traces remain to promote magnetization alignment in the vertical direction in a perpendicular magnetic recording medium without adversely affecting the magnetization alignment. In the method, texture processing is carried out on an underlayer made of a Ni—P alloy on a nonmagnetic base plate using a polishing tape while supplying mixed slurry of a surfactant and abrasive grains of polycrystalline diamond, and then, texture polishing is carried out on the underlayer processed by the texture processing, using a polishing tape while supplying slurry containing an abrasive material and an organic acid until the surface of the underlayer is polished to an arithmetic mean roughness Ra of at most 0.5 nm, preferably in the range of 0.05 nm to 0.2 nm.
US08167682B2	Automatic constant pressure polishing apparatus for improving surface accuracy of lens Disclosed is an automatic constant pressure polishing apparatus. The automatic constant pressure polishing apparatus comprises a housing having a hollow section therein, a rubber pad installed in the housing and having superior expansion and contraction characteristics, a pressure fixture having a male screw section, which is formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof in order to press and fix the rubber pad, and a central hole formed at a central portion thereof, a slider screw-coupled into the housing to adjust pressure in the housing according to a rotational degree of the rotating shaft, and a polishing pad installed at a front end portion of the housing.
US08167674B2	Phosphor distribution in LED lamps using centrifugal force A method of manufacturing an LED lamp is disclosed. The method includes admixing an uncured curable liquid resin and a phosphor, dispensing the uncured admixture on an LED chip, centrifuging the chip and the admixture to disperse the phosphor particles in the uncured resin, and curing the resin while the phosphor particles remain distributed.
US08167673B2	Method for manufacturing a spark plug having a laterally oriented ground electrode A method for manufacturing a spark plug having a central electrode and a ground electrode, the central electrode and the ground electrode being spaced apart from each other and a first planar electrode face being formed on the central electrode and a second planar electrode face being formed on the ground electrode by a separative manufacturing method.
US08167670B1	Blow-off float vehicle recovery apparatus The invention in one variation is a modular recovery apparatus for dispensing a tether spool having a tow line with a float, where the tow line can be used to retrieve an unmanned underwater vehicle and other underwater platforms. The modular recovery apparatus can be triggered underwater or on the surface, and being modular in configuration it is suitable to be fitted to a variety of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs). The apparatus has a tether spool that is spring loaded, such that when the tether spool is deployed, the spring expels the tether spool with sufficient force to clearly separate it from the UUV. One end of the tow line is typically fastened to a tow point on the UUV, and an opposing end is attached to the float. When the tether spool is deployed, the tow line unwinds from the float, providing a securable length.
US08167668B2	Air-thrust vehicle An air-thrust marine vehicle has a hull with upwardly extending hull sides. An air-thrusting propulsion unit is configured for detachable mounting on the gunwales of various width hulls. The propulsion unit has a base assembly configured to move between a retracted position and plurality of expanded width positions for accommodating various width hulls, while being configured to hingedly engage the gunwales. The propulsion unit can be removed from the vehicle and positioned on another vehicle, such as a boat, an ice- or snow-traversing vehicle.
US08167661B2	Method and system for improving crosstalk attenuation within a plug/jack connection and between nearby plug/jack combinations This application describes a jack for improving crosstalk attenuation. The jack has a housing, a foil at least partially surrounding the housing, a printed circuit board, and at least one pair of insulation displacement contacts and vias. Each pair of insulation contacts and vias are associated with a differential signal. A conductive trace stub is routed on the printed circuit board near the edge of the board proximate to the foil in order to at least partially balance the coupling from one of the insulation displacement contacts and vias of a pair to the foil with the other insulation displacement contact and via of the pair by electrically connecting the trace stub to the via that is further from the foil.
US08167655B2	Portable multi-functional data storage transmitting and connecting device A multi-functional data storage and transmitting and connecting device for an electronic device, includes a data transfer cable having a predetermined length, at least a first and a second connector provided at two ends of the data transfer cable respectively and a coupling element. The coupling element includes a plurality of connector sockets adapted for fittedly and detachably receiving the connectors so as to detachably couple the connectors into a handy structure, a control circuitry received in the coupling element, and a hanging device. The control circuitry includes an integrated circuit chipset, a rechargeable battery provided within the coupling element for recharging the electronic device, a call receiving circuitry electrically connected with the integrated circuit chipset, a speakerphone electrically connected with said call receiving circuitry, an amplifier adapted for amplifying audio signal, and a wireless transceiver electrically connected with the integrated circuit chipset for wirelessly receiving and transmitting signal.
US08167654B2	Radiation lamp and radiation source module incorporating same There is disclosed a lamp device including a longitudinal axis, a first elongate electrical connector and a second elongate electrical connector, each of the first elongate electrical connector and the second elongate connector being non-parallel with respect to the longitudinal axis. The present lamp device provides a reliable electric connection on the one hand, yet is relatively inexpensive, uncomplicated and simple to implement on the other hand.
US08167650B2	Formed gasket for an electronic connector Described is an electronic connector. The electronic connector has a substrate body for housing electronic pins and a cable. The substrate body is fabricated from a first material, such as hard plastic and has at least one passage from its exterior to its interior. The overmold is fabricated from a resilient material having a lower melting point than the first material. The resilient material is overmolded onto the substrate body and flows through the at least one passage in the substrate body and forms a gasket on the connecting surface of the substrate body.
US08167638B2	Multi-position quick release plug cassette assembly A cassette assembly which holds at least two electrical plugs which typically are connected to digital signal carrying cables. In one example, six of these plugs are positioned within a cassette, and are arranged in two rows of three plugs each for ease in connecting the plugs simultaneously to similarly arranged switch port jacks. A lever pivotally connected to the housing, when rotated, causes the release latch of the plugs held within the cassette to move from a locked to an unlocked position to simultaneously remove all of the plugs from the jacks to which they are connected. A housing clip is provided to be positioned within the housing of the cassette assembly such that a projection of the clip is positionable within a path of removal of a plug. A locking clip is also provided for blocking movement of the lever wherein the locking clip is easily installed with the cassette with providing a generally U-shaped constriction with opposing arms, a compression resistant member positioned between the arms and a tab positioned on each arm adapted to engage an aperture defined in a cassette plug housing. In addition, bridge clips are provided to gang together two or more cassette assemblies.
US08167635B1	Dielectric sealing member and method of use thereof A connector having a sealing member is provided, wherein the sealing member prevents environmental elements, such as rainwater from entering the connector. Furthermore, a sealing member placed on the inner surface of a post forming a barrier against moisture and other contaminants proximate the second end of the post is also provided.
US08167633B1	Multifunctional transmission and charging device with a power conversion module An intelligent multifunctional transmission and charging device includes a casing, a power conversion module, a reel device, at least one cable, and a plurality of openings and connectors to provide functions of charging mobile devices and extending service lives thereof.
US08167627B1	Positionable lighting systems and methods A lighting assembly includes a lighting unit having a housing defining an internal cavity and an opening. A light source is assembled within the internal cavity of the housing. An electrical wire is electrically connected to the light source at a first end and is configured to be contained at least in part within the housing. The opening is configured to permit withdrawal of a user selected amount of the electrical wire from within the internal cavity and/or to permit a user selected amount of the electrical wire to be inserted into the internal cavity.
US08167622B2	Power plug with a freely rotatable delivery point A power plug with a freely rotatable delivery point is disclosed, wherein a relative orientation between a delivery point element (e.g. an electric wire) and insertion terminals of the plug can change freely on a plane. A plug seat includes an armature which displaces axially. An open end of the seat is loosely connected with a turntable which is coaxial with the armature. The turntable is assembled with the insertion terminals which loosely contact with the armature by relative rotation. Between the seat and the armature, an elastic arch element is axially provided and parts of the insertion terminals relative to the armature are indirectly provided with plate-shaped conducting probes with an elastic shear. By the elastic arch element and the conducting probes, a mechanical vibration wave occurring during rotation of the turntable is absorbed, such that the armature can actually contact with the terminals to avoid jump sparks.
US08167619B2	Expandable dental implants of high surface area and methods of expanding the same A dental implant system for placement within a jaw of a patient includes an envelope including an outer surface and an inner surface defining a barrel. At least one barrier is located in the barrel. The barrel having a first region on one side of the barrier and a second region on an opposing side of the barrier. An expander member is movable within the barrel along a longitudinal axis of the barrel from the first region to the second region. The barrier prohibits the expander member from moving from the second region to the first region.
US08167618B2	Arrangement for using osteoinductive or bioactive material to induce bone and/or increase the stability of implants in the jaw bone, and an implant intended for this purpose The stability of an implant (5) which is fitted in a jaw bone hole created by tooth root extraction is increased using osteoinductive material. Bone formation in the space between the implant and the bone wall is also stimulated. In an initial stage, the implant is anchored or fitted in the hole. With its outer parts (5a) the implant extends into a part (4a) of the hole which has a cross-sectional area exceeding the crossectional area of the outer parts (5a) of the implant. The soft tissue of the jaw bone, with possible periosteum, covers the implant and the space to form a closed space (4a). The bioactive material consists of growth-stimulating substances (GSS) arranged on the implant. In a stage of incorporation, GSS passes outward into body fluid which has penetrated into the closed space and interacts with cells present in the fluid so that new bone is formed around the outer pats (5a) of the implant. The invention also relates to a use and to an implant. The invention also simplifies the handling of implants.
US08167612B2	Method for removing an orthodontic aligner with a removal tool An orthodontic aligner removal tool, kit, and method of using the same. An embodiment of the tool includes a shaft including a proximate end and a distal end. A C-shaped portion is positioned at the proximate end of the shaft. The C-shaped portion includes a top hook and a bottom hook. The top hook extends from the shaft and curves toward the bottom hook. The bottom hook extends from the shaft and curves toward the top hook. A handle portion is positioned at the distal end of the shaft.
US08167611B2	Drying furnace for coated film In drying of a glass substrate to which a coated film is applied, the heating and drying is conducted while feeding means 10, 18, which always moves on a lower surface of the glass substrate 6 to which the coated film is applied, abuts against the substrate, in order to solve a problem that when the lower surface of the coated film is supported for a long time, supporting traces occur and thereby quality of the glass substrate is reduced. With this configuration, traces of the pin 11, 12, 21 are less likely to occur.
US08167609B2	Mold-tool system having a melt-splitting device including uninterrupted melt channels extending from a melt inlet to a plurality of melt outlets A mold-tool system (100), comprising: a melt splitting device (102) being configured to interact with a melt distribution device (105), the melt splitting device (102) having: a single inlet (106); multiple outlets (108) being set apart from the single inlet (106), the multiple outlets (108) being configured for fluid communication with the melt distribution device (105); and uninterrupted melt channels (110) extending from the single inlet (106) and the multiple outlets (108).
US08167606B2	Apparatus and method for forming panel Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for forming a panel. The apparatus includes a first mold unit may include a right-angled upper mold provided on the front portion of an upper mold to reciprocate vertically, and a right-angled lower mold provided on the front portion of a lower mold, thus compressing base materials to impart a pattern of a right triangular waveform. A second mold unit may include an obtuse upper mold provided on the central portion of the upper mold to reciprocate in a direction inclined relative to a progressing direction of the base materials, and an obtuse lower mold provided on the central portion of the lower mold, thus compressing the base materials to impart a pattern of an obtuse triangular waveform. A third mold unit may be provided behind the second mold unit and linearly presses the base materials in a direction from front to rear.
US08167601B2	Blow molding machine with air conditioning A blow molding machine with air conditioning that while minimizing the introduction rate of outside air maintains constant temperature in a plant building and the interior of a blow molding machine and production of a bottle as a final configuration with stability in its measurement value. The machine is constructed so that air for biaxially stretching blow molding together with hot air of heating zone and internal air of a plant building is suctioned by suction chamber, filtered by primary filter and secondary filter into clean air, brought into heat exchange with primary cooling coil, fed under pressure by air blower and released through low-temperature duct into the interior of the plant building. Further, a housing on its side face is provided with vent to allow reflux of the clean air released into the interior of the plant building and flow into the heating zone and blow zone.
US08167588B2	Compressor system and frame A reciprocating compressor is provided with a reciprocating compressor frame which includes a central body and at least two crosshead guides extending from opposite sides of the central body. Additionally, the compressor frame has angled crosshead guide support structures extending outwardly from the central body along a respective crosshead guide.
US08167583B2	Pump support coupler system A pump support coupler assembly for connecting a large displacement hydraulic pump to a tractor power take off device is provided. The pump support coupler assembly includes a coupler housing with front and back walls, and sidewalls. The high displacement hydraulic pump attaches directly or indirectly to the coupler housing back wall. A shaft extends longitudinally through the coupler housing. The shaft is coupled to an input shaft of the hydraulic pump at its first end and a power take off output shaft at its second end. A torque restraint strap extends between the coupler housing and a tractor drawbar, and prevents the coupler housing from rotating about its longitudinal axis. In this configuration, the power take off output shaft supports the pump support coupler assembly and the hydraulic pump, and since the pump is attached to the coupler housing, the pump input shaft is not subjected to bending-type loads.
US08167582B2	Fan assembly and refrigerator having the same A fan assembly. The fan assembly includes a rotation shaft, a rotor coupled to the rotation shaft, a stator disposed inside the rotor, and a fan including a hub having a receiving space therein, and a plurality of blades disposed at a circumference of the hub, and coupled to the rotation shaft such that the rotor is spaced from an inner surface of the hub respectively in axial and radial directions, thereby preventing a transfer of vibration of a permanent magnet to the outside, and thus reducing the generation of noise due to the vibration.
US08167567B2	Gas turbine engine airfoil A rotor blade for a gas turbine engine includes an airfoil that extends in span between a root and a tip region. A leading edge and a trailing edge of the airfoil section extend between a chord line of the airfoil. A sweep angle is defined at the leading edge of the airfoil section, and a dihedral angle is defined relative to the chord line of the airfoil section. The sweep angle and the dihedral angle are localized at the tip region of the airfoil section.
US08167564B2	Fan blade The present invention relates to a fan blade for axial fans with a blade body comprising an inner inlaid part and an outer blade shaped part partially enclosing said inner inlaid part. The outer blade is made of a material of lower rigidity than the inlaid part. The inlaid part is constructed as a substantially flat metal part adapted to the shape of the blade body and in the fan blade base region has an unencapsulated smooth fixing section.
US08167553B2	Electrical system for driving a propeller pitch change mechanism A system adjusts the pitch of a variable pitch propeller having a non-rotating side and a rotating side. The rotating side of the propeller has a hub, a propeller blade mounted to the hub, a propeller shaft that rotates the hub and propeller blade, and an actuation system. The actuation system has a screw and a piston. A motor has a non-rotating component in communication with the non-rotating side of the propeller and a rotating component in communication with the actuation system. When the motor increases speed, the screw rotates and the piston moves laterally in a first axial direction to decrease the pitch of the propeller and, when the motor decreases speed, the screw rotates and the piston moves laterally in a second axial direction to increase the pitch of the propeller.
US08167552B2	Asymmetrical member for locking ring sectors to a turbine engine casing A locking member for a device for fastening ring sectors to an aircraft turbine engine casing is disclosed. The member has first and second clamping branches, which are connected together by curving joining portions, via a connecting branch. The joining portion of center thickness E1 has an inside surface of mean radius Rm1, and the joining portion of center thickness E2 has an inside surface of mean radius Rm2. Thickness E1 is strictly smaller than thickness E2, and mean radius Rm1 is strictly smaller than mean radius Rm2.
US08167551B2	Gas turbine engine with 2.5 bleed duct core case section A core case section for a gas turbine engine a multitude of discreet radial extending 2.5 bleed ducts defined in part by a rear structural wall.
US08167534B2	Seal for a turbine engine In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a turbine engine. The engine may include a main housing defining a compressor compartment and an air intake housing mounted to the main housing. The engine may also include a rotor including a compressor portion disposed within the compressor compartment, and a hub portion extending from the compressor compartment through an opening in the air intake housing into a bearing compartment defined by the air intake housing. The engine may further include a seal mounted in the opening in the air intake housing in an annular gap between the hub portion of the rotor and the air intake housing and configured to form a seal between the bearing compartment and the compressor compartment. The seal may be configured to be removed from the opening in the air intake housing while the air intake housing is mounted to the main housing.
US08167531B2	Method and apparatus for supporting rotor assemblies during unbalances A method and apparatus for reducing dynamic loading of a gas turbine engine is provided. The gas turbine engine includes a rotor shaft assembly including a rotor shaft, a bearing assembly, a mounting race, and a support frame, the mounting race including a spherical surface. The method includes supporting the rotor shaft on the gas turbine engine support frame with the bearing assembly, the rotor shaft including a yield portion configured to permit bending of the rotor shaft during an imbalance operation.
US08167529B2	Work vehicle A tractor includes a mounting plate, a protruding tube, a boom supporter, and a boom. The mounting plate is attachable to a frame on a side surface of a vehicle. The protruding tube is connected to the mounting plate, and shaped to protrude from a portion in which the protruding tube is connected to the mounting plate, toward the outside of the vehicle. The boom supporter is connected to a distal end portion of the protruding tube, and shaped to protrude upward from a portion in which the boom supporter is connected to the distal end portion of the protruding tube. The boom is coupled to the boom supporter via a boom coupler, and formed to extend from the boom coupler toward the front side of the vehicle. In a side view, an imaginary straight line extending vertically downward from the boom coupler is located rearward of the protruding tube.
US08167524B2	Handling system for inspecting and sorting electronic components A semiconductor package handling system is provided comprising a package holder for receiving and holding singulated semiconductor packages, and a first inspection device which is arranged and configured to inspect a first surface of the packages while they are being held by the package holder. An offloading device receives the packages from the package holder and conveys them packages to an offloader, and a second inspection device is arranged and configured to inspect a second surface of the packages which is opposite from the first surface while they are being held by the offloading device.
US08167521B2	Substrate transfer apparatus and vertical heat processing apparatus The present invention restrains, during a transfer of a substrate, a central portion of the substrate from being warped by its own weight, which might be caused by a super-enlargement of a diameter of the substrate. A substrate transfer apparatus 18 includes: a support part 17 which is moved above a substrate w of a large diameter; and an upside grip mechanism 28 disposed on the support part 17, the upside grip mechanism 28 capable of supporting a peripheral portion of the substrate w from above. The support part 17 is provided with a non-contact sucking and holding part 30 having a suction hole 31 and a blow hole 32. The non-contact sucking and holding part 30 sucks and holds the substrate w in a non-contact manner, by blowing a gas onto the central portion of the upper surface of the substrate w and sucking the central portion to form an air layer 50 such that the central portion of the wafer w is not warped.
US08167517B2	Pump with suction and pressure control for dry particulate material A pump for particulate material includes a pump chamber wherein material flows into the pump chamber under negative pressure and flows out of the pump chamber under positive pressure. A plurality of pinch valves are provided to control flow of material into and out of the pump chamber. The pinch valves are operated independent of each other and of the pump cycle rate. A modular design of the pump is provided. A pump control feature is provided for air flow rate control during positive and negative pressure conditions.
US08167514B2	Strake system for submerged or partially submerged structures A submerged or partially submerged structure includes one or more non-cylindrical support columns interconnected at the lower ends thereof by horizontally disposed pontoons. The support columns include one or more strakes mounted thereon. The columns and strakes contribute to the stability of the structure during free floating operations and installation by reducing vortex induced motion.
US08167513B2	Pothole patching machine A pothole patching machine includes a container for storage of patch material, and a auger screw conveyor for conveying the patch material from the container to a ram. The ram is adapted to forcibly urge the patch material into a pothole. The ram is moveable between a retracted position and an extended position which completes one fill stroke. The ram also includes a foot plate dimensioned for positioning over the pothole and sensors for sensing when the pothole has been filled.
US08167505B2	Pluggable system between optical transceiver and host system A mechanism to fix the new type of the pluggable optical transceiver to the host system is disclosed. The optical transceiver provides the screws, while, the host system has the face panel with a port and the rail system between which the optical transceiver is set through the port. In the present invention, the screw of the transceiver is fastened to the rail not the face panel, and the rail is precisely aligned with the electrical connector. Thus, the pluggable transceiver in the electrical plug thereof is exactly mated with the electrical connector of the host system.
US08167501B2	Separator for bearing assemblies with cyclic loads A bearing assembly includes first and second races, a plurality of ball bearings positioned between the first and second races, and a spacer positioned between each of the ball bearings. The spacers each include a body defining opposite first and second sides, a first substantially concave pocket located at the first side of the body, and a second substantially concave pocket located at the second side of the body. The first and second substantially concave pockets each define a central region having a first radius of curvature about a first center point and an outer region adjacent to the central region that has a second radius of curvature about a second center point. The first and second center points are spaced from one another, and the body includes a portion extending in between at least the respective central regions of the first and second substantially concave pockets.
US08167485B2	CMOS temperature-to-digital converter with digital correction Methods and systems for producing a digital temperature reading are provided. In an embodiment, one or more current sources and one or more switches are used to selectively provide a first amount of current (I1) and a second amount of current (I2) to the emitter of a transistor (Q1), during different time slots of a time period, to thereby produce a first base-emitter voltage (Vbe1) and a second base-emitter voltage (Vbe2), where I1=I2*M, and M is a known constant. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) digitizes analog signals representative of the magnitudes Vbe1 and Vbe2. A difference is determined between the magnitudes of Vbe1 and Vbe2. A digital calculator produces a digital temperature reading (DTR) based on the difference between the magnitudes of Vbe1 and Vbe2.
US08167479B2	Apparatus for dosing and mixing solid powders in technological processes for converting plastic materials An apparatus for dosing and mixing solid powders in technological processes for converting plastic materials, comprising an assembly for dosing the solid powders to be mixed with a first process liquid before mixing with an additional process liquid, the dosage assembly comprising at least one hydraulic cylinder for introducing the powders at a preset pressure which is correlated to the pressure of the first process liquid kept at a controlled pressure.
US08167478B2	Kneading screw and extruder A kneading screw is disclosed which comprises a screw body, the screw body comprising a feed section and a kneading section, the feed section comprising screw segments for feeding a to-be-kneaded material to a downstream side and the kneading section comprising kneading segments for kneading the material. The screw body is provided within the kneading section with a multi-stage portion which gradually changes axially in rotating outside diameter. It is preferable that the multi-stage portion be constituted by kneading segments of plural kneading discs different in rotating outside diameter. With such a construction, it is possible to avoid stress concentration on an axial part of the kneading screw and thereby prevent breaking of a spline shaft and abnormal wear of kneading flights.
US08167477B2	Backlight assembly including lamp socket with elastomeric conductor A lamp socket includes a body receiving a lamp, and a power supplying member disposed inside the body, the power supplying member a conductive elastomer, the power supplying member electrically interconnecting the lamp and an inverter substrate on which an inverter is mounted. The power supplying member includes a lamp connector receiving a lead wire of the lamp, and an inverter connector formed integrally with the lamp connector, wherein the inverter connector receives a protrusion of the inverter substrate to encircle the protrusion.
US08167475B2	Linear lighting apparatus and image reader using the same Conventional methods using two optical waveguide members are disadvantageous in cost because they require two optical waveguide members and pairs of their associated components. A linear lighting apparatus includes a rod-like optical waveguide member (100) formed by a transparent material, a light source placed near an end face of the optical waveguide member (100) in the longitudinal direction, and a light exit surface (101) formed on at least part of the optical waveguide member (100) in the longitudinal direction. A cross section of the optical waveguide member in the widthwise direction has a plurality of reflecting areas (102, 103) at positions to face a light exit surface (101) and a barrier (106) at a boundary portion between the reflecting areas (102, 103).
US08167473B2	Backlight unit A backlight unit capable of implementing slimness and preventing stain defects is disclosed. The backlight unit includes a plurality of LEDs arranged in a fixed interval, a reflection sheet disposed under the LEDs and configured to reflect light, a diffusion plate disposed on the LEDs and configured to diffuse light, and a plurality of inversed pyramid patterns formed along a diagonal direction in the center of one side of the diffusion plate on the upper surface of the diffusion plate. The plural LEDs include a plurality of odd-numbered line LEDs and a plurality of even-numbered line LEDs arranged in zigzags.
US08167470B2	Illumination device for generating light and supplying the light to an observation device used in endoscopy or microscopy An illumination device for generating light and supplying the light to an observation device used in endoscopy or microscopy comprises a light source having at least one LED and at least one optical waveguide to guide the light emitted by the light source. The proximal end of the optical waveguide is arranged on a side of the light source which faces the optical waveguide. The illumination device furthermore comprises a cooling device to dissipate heat generated by the light source, which cooling device has at least one first cooling element for dissipating the heat generated by the light source, which cooling element is arranged on a side of the light source which faces away from the proximal end of the optical waveguide. The cooling device has a second cooling element for dissipating the heat generated by the light source, which second cooling element is arranged on the side of the light source which faces the proximal end of the optical waveguide. The at least one optical waveguide passes through the second cooling element.
US08167467B2	Rear lamp assembly for a saddle-type vehicle, and vehicle incorporating same A saddle-type vehicle is provided with a rear cowl for covering a rear portion of a body frame, while having an opening capable of being closed with a rider's seat. The vehicle also includes a rear lamp assembly including a tail lamp bulb and a pair of turn signal bulbs, with stays being provided on the upper side of the rear lamp assembly. The rear lamp assembly is mounted to the body frame with a center cover, for covering the upper side of a tail lamp part of the combination lamp, and turn signal covers, for covering the upper side of turn signal parts and turn signal sockets in the combination lamp. The turn signal covers each have an arm located below the rider's seat and extending toward the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and the arm is fastened to the stay.
US08167462B2	Illumination lens and illumination unit including the same An illumination lens including a first part being free of prismatic patterns, a second part including prismatic patterns on both sides of the first part and configured to increase light distribution in the both sides of the first part, and a lens cover covering the first and second parts with the first and second parts being disposed on a substantially same plane under the lens cover.
US08167460B2	LED lamp having heat radiating housing A lamp includes a housing unit and a light source mounted on the housing unit. The housing unit includes a housing and a plurality of heat radiating fins. The light source includes a support base having a first side provided with a plurality of light emitting members, a heat radiating assembly having a first end mounted on a second side of the support base and a heat conducting plate mounted on a second end of the heat radiating assembly.
US08167448B1	Structure to support, display and illuminate a baseball cap A baseball cap lamp that is suitable for displaying and illuminating a baseball cap when the cap is not being worn includes a lamp shaft having a light socket and a cap stand carried by the lamp shaft at the light socket. An alternative illustrative embodiment of the baseball cap lamp includes a lamp shaft, an LED panel carried by the lamp shaft, a plurality of LEDs provided on the LED panel and a cap stand carried by the lamp shaft at the LED panel.
US08167447B2	Adjustable desk lamp An adjustable desk lamp includes at least two buttons, a lamp panel, a stand, and a support arm assembly. The stand includes at least two button housings. Each of the button housings is filled with liquid and receives one of the buttons. The arm assembly is attached to the stand. The arm assembly includes at least two channels and at least two support posts. Each of the channels communicates with one of the button housings and is filled with liquid. One end of each of the posts is received in one of the channels, and another end support the lamp pane. When one of the buttons is operated, the liquid in the button hole receiving the operated button and the channel communicating with the button hole is displaced, and the post received in the channel moves downwardly or upwardly, thus the lamp panel can cast light at a different angle.
US08167444B2	Road curvature estimation for rearview mirror adjustment system A system and method for automatically correcting the viewing angle of a rear-view mirror on a vehicle when the vehicle is traveling around a curve. The system estimates the curvature of the road using only vehicle speed and vehicle steering angle information. The road curvature estimation is used to determine the radius of curvature of the road, which can then be used to determine the corrected viewing angle of the rear-view mirror. Depending on whether the road is curving to the right or to the left will determine whether the left side rear-view mirror or the right side rear-view mirror will be adjusted.
US08167442B1	Vehicle side-view mirror and window clearing device and associated methods A device for preventing and clearing fouling on a side-view mirror includes a curved tube affixable to a vehicle having an inlet positionable facing forward in spaced-apart relation from the side-view mirror. An outlet is positionable facing the mirror's surface. An outer wall defines a lumen extending from the inlet to the outlet. The tube describes a partial “U”, with a rearmost portion of the tube extending generally rearward. Apertures extend through the wall adjacent the tube's rearmost portion, facing rearward. When the vehicle is moving forward, air is forced into the device's inlet and passes through the tube's lumen to exit the outlet, onto the mirror, preventing droplet buildup and fogging. The rearward-facing apertures channel moisture out of the tube's lumen, preventing additional droplets from impinging on the mirror. In an embodiment, a side window portion also provides for preventing and clearing fouling of a side window.
US08167441B2	Image display system and image display method An image display system includes an image display apparatus and an image signal supply apparatus which are connected to each other via an interface and displaying an image based on an image signal supplied from the image signal supply apparatus on the image display apparatus, wherein the image signal supply apparatus includes: an imaging unit taking an image of a subject; a movable holding unit holding the imaging unit and having a first state and a second state other than the first state; a state detector detecting which state of the first state and the second state the movable holding unit has; and an image signal supply apparatus controller transmitting the image acquired by the imaging unit and the detection result of the state detector via the interface, and wherein the image display apparatus includes: a state detection result acquiring unit acquiring the detection result of the state detector transmitted from the image signal supply apparatus; and an image display apparatus controller displaying a predetermined image other than the image based on the image signal transmitted from the image signal supply apparatus when it is determined that the movable holding unit has the second state on the basis of the detection result acquired by the state detection result acquiring unit, and displaying the image based on the image signal transmitted from the image signal supply apparatus when it is determined that the movable holding unit has the first state on the basis of the detection result acquired by the state detection result acquiring unit.
US08167435B2	Projection system and projector A projection system includes: a projection device mounted at a member that moves through space and projects an optical image; a detection device that detects relative position assumed in the space by a projection target surface onto which the optical image is projected and the projection device; and a control device that controls projection by the projection device in correspondence to the relative position detected by the detection device.
US08167429B1	Ophthalmic examination system wireless interface device An automated ophthalmic system is disclosed that is utilized to examine the eyes of a subject. A refraction system measures the refractive error of each eye and identifies a lens to correct the refractive error detected. A display presents one or more optotypes to the subject to ascertain the refractive error. An interface device receives a wireless signal from the refraction system, converts the wireless signal into one or more ASCII characters, and communicates the one or more ASCII characters to the display to present the one or more optotypes.
US08167427B2	Multifocal contact lenses manufactured from a responsive polymer gel A multi-focal contact lens wherein the lens is manufactured at least partially from a responsive polymer gel.
US08167420B2	Liquid discharging head and method for manufacturing the same A liquid discharging head is provided. The liquid discharging head has a flow path unit in which a common liquid flow path for supplying liquid to a nozzle which discharges liquid is formed by a plurality of plates being stacked together, the plurality of plates including a damper plate of which one surface defines at least a part of a wall surface of the common liquid flow path and an area on an other surface which is opposed to the common liquid flow path across the damper plate is not in contact with the plurality of plates other than the damper plate, wherein compression stress along the wall surface is applied to a portion of the damper plate which configure a wall of the common liquid flow path.
US08167406B2	Printhead having reinforced nozzle membrane structure A printhead includes a nozzle membrane, a substrate, and a support structure. The nozzle membrane includes an external surface, a length, and a plurality of nozzles located along the length of the nozzle membrane. The nozzle membrane is affixed to the substrate. The substrate includes a liquid feed channel that provides liquid to the plurality of nozzles of the nozzle membrane. The liquid feed channel extends along the length of the nozzle membrane such that the liquid feed channel is common to each nozzle of the plurality of nozzles of the nozzle membrane. The support structure is affixed to the external surface of the nozzle membrane to provide structural support to the nozzle membrane.
US08167400B2	Droplet ejecting device capable of recovering ejection performance efficiently A droplet ejecting head is formed with at least one nozzle and is configured to eject a liquid droplet through the at least one nozzle in a nozzle axis direction. A carriage supports the droplet ejecting head. A guide member extends in a predetermined direction and is configured to guide the carriage so that the carriage is movable in the predetermined direction. A moving section moves the carriage along the guide member. The droplet ejecting head is configured to eject a liquid droplet through the at least one nozzle onto an ejection object while the moving section moves the carriage. A vibration generating section vibrates the droplet ejecting head in such a manner that vibration of liquid held in the at least one nozzle includes a component in the nozzle axis direction.
US08167394B2	Image recording apparatus and calculation method An image recording apparatus, including: a platen which supports a sheet; a movable carriage disposed so as to face to the platen; a head mounted on the carriage to record an image on the sheet; an optical sensor mounted on the carriage and constituted by an emitting element which emits light and a receiving element which receives light reflected from the sheet and output an electric signal according to intensity of the reflected light; a changing mechanism which changes the optical sensor between first and second positions; and a calculation section which calculates at least one of a distance between the optical sensor and the sheet and a reflectivity of the sheet on the basis of (a) a first electric signal outputted from the receiving element with the optical sensor disposed at the first position and (b) a second electric signal outputted from the receiving element with the optical sensor disposed at the second position.
US08167388B2	Pull-out guide assembly for a drawer A pull-out guide for drawers including a first rail and at least one second rail, and at least one carriage is arranged between the two rails. The carriage includes a bearing group containing load-transmitting elements, preferably rollers, rolling bodies and/or balls. The load-transmitting elements guide the bearing group in the vertical direction and in the horizontal direction. At least one additional load-transmitting element is arranged on a bracket, at a distance from the bearing group. When the second rail is pulled out, the additional load-transmitting element can at least partially move out over the end of the first rail, such that it no longer lies on the first rail.
US08167378B2	Auxiliary drive A construction machine for the treatment of ground surfaces includes a machine frame, a drive motor, a work drum supported from the machine frame and including exchangeable tools fastened to the work drum, a belt drive and an auxiliary drive. The belt drive includes a motor-side pulley connected to the drive motor, a drum-side pulley connected to the work drum, and at least one drive belt connecting the motor-side pulley to the drum-side pulley. The auxiliary drive may be permanently coupled to the belt drive, or the auxiliary drive may include an adjustment mechanism for moving the auxiliary drive between a coupled and an uncoupled position.
US08167372B2	Seat assembly having dual actuated locking mechanism A seat assembly for supporting an occupant above a floor of a passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle is provided. The seat assembly includes a dual actuated lever mechanism operable by movement of a seat back from a seated position to a stowed position or the actuation of a handle. The lever mechanism engages with a locking mechanism such that when the lever mechanism is in a first position a first lock locks the upper rails to the lower rails when the seat assembly is in the seated position. When the lever mechanism is in a second position a second lock locks the upper rails to the lower rails when the seat assembly is in the cargo position.
US08167370B2	Seat cushion adjusting apparatus A seat cushion adjusting apparatus includes a support member configuring a frame of a seat cushion, a seating member supported by the support member and configuring an outer shape of the seat cushion, an adjustment member fastening a front end portion of the seating member in a longitudinal direction of a seat, and a movement mechanism rotatably connecting the adjustment member and moving the adjustment member relative to the support member in the longitudinal direction, the movement mechanism including a transmission member extending in a width direction of the seat at a front side of the support member, a lever rotatably connected to the support member, a first gear plate rotatably connected to the lever and the transmission member and having a first gear, and a second gear plate rotatably connected to the transmission member and the adjustment member and having a second gear meshing with the first gear.
US08167361B2	Motor vehicle front face with a cross member level with the main longitudinal members A motor vehicle front face (1) can be fixed rigidly to the front ends (2) of the main longitudinal members (14) of the motor vehicle. The front face (1) includes: at least one cross member (8), at least one lock (76) for fastening the bonnet of the motor vehicle, the or each lock (76) being rigidly fixed to the cross member (8). The cross member (8) is vertically located substantially level with the front ends (2) of the main longitudinal members (4).
US08167353B2	Tonneau cover assemblies Elongated side rails for attachment to a sidewall of a truck cargo box as a portion of a tonneau cover assembly. Each assembly includes a flexible cover that can be operatively secured to side rails. One side rail includes a securing portion that can be operatively connected to the sidewall; an inclined portion extending from the securing portion, the inclined portion having first and second sides; a connecting member extending downwardly away from the inclined portion from a position located between the first and second sides; and a longitudinal portion extending from the connecting member opposite the inclined portion. To secure the cover to the side rails, hook fastener is preferably attached to loop fastener on the cover. One preferred side rail has a ridge to prevent premature engagement of the fasteners. Another preferred side rail has directional hook fastener to prevent premature engagement of the fasteners.
US08167329B2	Fifth-wheel trailer with an adjustable floor and a method for its use A fifth-wheel trailer having a forward section comprising an adjustable-height floor. The floor being capable of moving up to a raised position to provide sufficient clearance for a towing vehicle to attach to the trailer for towing. The floor also being capable of moving down to a lowered position to provide a trailer with an approximately even floor and a full-height ceiling throughout. The present adjustable-height floor does not interfere with the structural stability of the trailer's main frame including its pin box.
US08167326B2	Seat cushion Seat cushions that prevent a seated handicapped individual from sliding forward on the seat, while preventing the occurrence of decubitus ulcers. The seat a seat cushion includes a resilient body having a generally rectangular-cuboid-shape. The resilient body includes a frontal portion having a front end and a rear end, and which is fabricated from materials having a first density, and a rear portion having a front end and a rear end, and is fabricated from materials having a second density. The first density is substantially higher than the second density. Preferably, the resilient body is fabricated out of a sturdy foam material. Preferably, the seat cushion further includes a protective cover wrapping the resilient body.
US08167315B2	Mechanical sealing device, and a pump A mechanical sealing device and a pump including a mechanical sealing device are described. The sealing device includes a first seal element (11) and a first holder element (12) holding the first seal element. The first seal element (11) forms a first seal surface (13), an opposite backing surface (14) and an outer peripheral surface (15). The first holder element has a support surface (16) and an inner surface (17). A second seal element (21), forming a second seal surface (22), is rotatable in relation to the first seal element around an axis (x) of rotation so that the first seal surface (13) abuts sealingly the second seal surface (22) in a radial plane. An elastomer element (30) is provided between the outer peripheral surface (15) and the inner surface. The opposite backing surface abuts tightly the support surface.
US08167313B2	Seal member, assembly and method A brush seal assembly and method for sealing a turbine machine rotary member relative to a stationary member circumscribing the rotary member. The seal assembly includes a first compliant seal component disposed at a radially inward region of the stationary member in rubbing contact with a surface of the rotary member. The seal assembly also includes at least one hard seal element formed integrally with a carrier of the first compliant seal component, located a specified axial distance from the first compliant seal component.
US08167306B2	Inertial flattening apparatus for note processing The present invention provides an apparatus for maintaining surface smoothness of note as they pass through a high speed processing machine. A note fed into the processing machine is carried through the machine by a series of conveyor belts. The note is conveyed past a line scan camera that records the note as it crosses a gap while passing from a first conveyor belt to a second conveyor belt that is approximately orthogonal to the first conveyor belt. A curved note guide redirects the path of the note as it crosses the gap between the conveyor belts. The inertia of the note causes it to remain flush against the surface of the curved guide, allowing the line scan camera to record each line of the surface of the note with equal resolution.
US08167296B2	Image forming apparatus A sheet feeding apparatus and an image forming apparatus which can certainly feed sheets without being influenced by an aging change of fan characteristics are provided. An air is blown to sheets stacked on a tray by an air blowing mechanism having a plurality of fans which are independently rotated, thereby loosening the sheets. Prior to starting the feeding of the sheet, rotational speeds of the fans of the air blowing mechanism are controlled so as to be set to target rotational speeds which have been preset every plural fans so that a wind pressure which can loosen the sheets in the driving state of all fans is obtained.
US08167295B2	Printer and method for controlling the same A printer is provided that includes a printing unit printing an image on a sheet being conveyed on a printing path, a first feeder unit configured such that a sheet placed thereon is fed to the printing path via a first feeding path, a second feeder unit configured such that a sheet placed thereon is fed to the printing path via a second feeding path even while the first feeder unit is being replenished with sheets, and a controller configured to, in response to a first requirement being satisfied while the first feeder unit is forbidden to be replenished with sheets during a continuous printing operation, switch an actually-working feeder unit that works for actual sheet feeding in the continuous printing operation, to the second feeder unit, the first requirement including a condition that one or more sheets are placed on the second feeder unit.
US08167289B2	Clamping element for workpieces, in particular a vice This invention relates to a clamping element for workpieces, in particular a vice (10, 33, 40), comprising a first clamping jaw (12, 34, 41) and a second clamping jaw (13, 35, 42), which are mounted on a carriage bed (11). To avoid bending moments as a result of tensile forces acting on the carriage bed (11), the clamping element of the invention is characterized in that the resultants of the forces introduced by the clamping jaws (12, 13, 34, 35, 41, 42) into the carriage bed (11) as a result of the clamping forces acting on the clamping jaws (12, 13, 34, 35, 41, 42) are located in the plane of the neutral fiber (32) of the carriage bed (11). Preferably, the clamping jaws (12, 13, 41, 42) constitute two-armed levers, a clamping surface (21, 24) being associated to the one lever arm and a push rod (27, 46) engaging the other lever arm.
US08167282B2	Aerosol generator A method of fabricating a glass body that includes a multiplicity of constituents, at least one of which is a dopant (e.g., a rare-earth element) having a low vapor pressure (LVP) precursor includes the steps of: (a) generating an aerosol from the LVP precursor; (b) separately generating vapors of the other constituents; (c) convecting the aerosol and vapors to deposition system including a substrate; and (d) forming at least one doped layer on a surface of the substrate. In one embodiment, the method also includes filtering the aerosol so as to remove aerosol particles outside of a particular range of sizes. Also described is a unique aerosol generator that is particularly useful in generating aerosols of rare-earth dopants. Particular embodiments directed to the fabrication of Yb-doped optical fibers are described.
US08167279B2	Device, method and use for the formation of small particles Disclosed is a device for producing small particles of a certain substance, the device including first inlet for a solution or a suspension containing the substance and second inlet for an atomizing agent, a mixing area for the solution and the atomizing agent and outlet for the particles, and a first and second conduit provided from the first and second inlet means respectively to the mixing means.
US08167276B2	Fence system with insect barrier A fence system including a fence post and a rail inserted into and supported by the fence post. The rail being an elongated member having a channel or U-shaped cross section defined by a web member and parallel leg members attached to the web member. The rail is inserted into an aperture located in a sidewall of the post. The aperture having a shape or configuration that is substantially the same as the cross-sectional shape of the rail. Accordingly, any gaps between the opening or aperture in the post and the rail, once the rail is inserted into the post, are minimized.
US08167275B1	Rail system and method for assembly A rail system that may be comprised of various components such as an upper rail, support rail, bottom rail, squash blocks, balusters, post covers, and ancillary components, such as post skirts and caps. In one exemplary embodiment, the rail system may be uniquely designed to accommodate perpendicular and angled installations (e.g., both in the horizontal and vertical planes). Furthermore, in another exemplary embodiment, the rail system may be easily assembled such that the support hardware is substantially hidden from view after installation, thereby enhancing the appearance of the railing.
US08167267B2	Faucet with spherical rotating closure A faucet including: a body having an axis channel; a spherical rotating closure mounted pivotable in the body, between a closed position and an open position, the closure including a through orifice allowing the passage of a fluid from an upstream pipe to a downstream pipe, in open position; an upstream seat having a central passage, mounted in the channel of the body upstream of the closure so as to be mobile in translation along the axis and urged towards the closure by elastic means; a protuberance provided in the upstream seat projecting towards the closure, and a recess provided on the closure, to co-operate with the protuberance in closed position of the closure; and means for equalizing the pressure between upstream and downstream of the upstream seat, prior to the faucet being opened.
US08167266B2	Clutch apparatus for electric valve actuator A clutch apparatus for an electric valve actuator, in which, where a manual handle is operated by an operator in a state that a power supply is stopped in a main motor, a coupling state between the manual handle and the main motor is released and the main motor is separately driven during a re-supply of the power, whereby preventing a safety accident of the operator of the manual handle.
US08167258B1	Clamp for connecting two elongated members and method of use A clamp for perpendicularly connecting two elongated members includes first and second interchangeable half clamps. The half clamps are placed in opposing relationship and tightened around the perpendicular junction of the two elongated members. In one embodiment, the clamp is designed to connect a beam (such as an I-beam) to a ridge (such as that found on a standing seam roof). In another embodiment the clamp is designed to connect two beams together.
US08167257B2	Apparatus, method, and system for supporting an object An apparatus, method, and system for supporting an object or objects. The apparatus includes a first body operably configured to be mounted to a surface. The apparatus also includes a supporting connector on the first body, for supporting the object. The apparatus also includes a stabilizer on the first body generally spaced apart from and generally parallel to the supporting connector, operably configured to cooperate with the object to stabilize the object into a stationary position in cooperation with the supporting connector. The apparatus further includes at least one guide on the first body, the at least one guide on the first body being operably configured to guide an adjacent apparatus into an aligned position beside the apparatus on the surface.
US08167251B2	Air hose support clip to prevent lateral loading Apparatus for suspending a device such as the end of a depending air brake hose from a railcar. A flexible strap of a synthetic resin such as moldable polyurethane is suspended from the railcar body, for example, by attachment to an apertured fitting on the railcar coupler. Elongated resilient wire clips are provided to attach the free end of the air hose. The wire clips are generally configured with a latching end including interlocking end portions for connection to the strap through a selected attachment aperture, a pair of flexibly resilient, elongated manually compressible elongated arms extending away from the latching end portions and a return portion joining the arms. The clip is further provided with a retainer operative when the arms are interlocked for maintaining the attachment aperture fitting within the confines of the return portion and out of position in which loading of the clip is exerted laterally of the clip arms. In a preferred embodiment, the clip is provided with a bend in its first arm operative to promote optimum point-loading of the clip, and this embodiment of the clip is particularly useful with a chain suspension strap.
US08167248B2	Aircraft comprising a device for reducing the induced drag An aircraft including a longitudinal fuselage, at least two lateral wings connected symmetrically one on each side of the fuselage and at least one engine pod fixed to each lateral wing via an engine support pylon. At least one profiled bearing rod is positioned on each of the engine support pylons so as to generate a propulsive resultant force under action of an oblique air flow.
US08167246B1	Tethering system for inflatable airfoils A tethering system for controlling an inflatable airfoil is provided. The inflatable airfoil has a horizontal center line and a vertical center line. The tethering system includes an airfoil wing secured to the inflatable airfoil. A first forward attachment ring is secured to the inflatable airfoil. A second forward attachment ring is secured to the inflatable airfoil. A rear attachment ring is secured to the inflatable airfoil. A center attachment ring is secured to the inflatable airfoil. A first airfoil reinforcement strap is secured between the first forward attachment ring and the center attachment ring. A second airfoil reinforcement strap extends between the second forward attachment ring and the center attachment ring. A third airfoil reinforcement strap extends between the rear attachment ring and the center attachment ring. A control mechanism controls the inflatable airfoil during flight.
US08167244B2	Class divider for aircraft cabin A class divider for an aircraft passenger cabin is provided. The class divider includes a partition positioned immediately aft of a rear row of seats in a first predetermined class area of the aircraft cabin and an aft-facing panel having a width and height generally corresponding to a width and height of the rear row of seats. One or more passenger convenience features selected from the group of video monitors, tray tables, and magazine storage pockets are provided on the aft-facing panel for use by passengers seated immediately aft of the partition in a front row of a second predetermined class area of the aircraft cabin.
US08167241B2	System for opening and closing the flap of a casing for the landing gear of an aircraft A system for opening and closing the flap of a casing for the landing gear of an aircraft includes a mechanical connection between the landing gear and the flap. The connection includes a first connecting rod which is fixed to the landing gear, and a second connecting rod which is fixed to the flap, the first and second connecting rods being connected by an articulation mechanism.
US08167238B2	Pylon caisson attachment on a wing, gripping a lateral panel of the caisson An aircraft assembly including a wing element and an attachment pylon of a turboengine, including a rigid structure forming a caisson defined externally by a first longeron, a second longeron, and two lateral panels. The assembly also includes an attachment mechanism of the structure on the wing element, fitted with two front attachments, each including two first fittings solid with the associated lateral panel. For each front attachment, the two first fittings are arranged respectively on either side of their associated lateral panel.
US08167234B1	Insect-like micro air vehicle having perching, energy scavenging, crawling, and offensive payload capabilities A micro air vehicle (MAV) comprises features that emulate insect-like topology and flight, including a dangling three part body (100a, 100b, 100c), wing-like dual side rotors (107, 107a) positioned to either side on rotor arms (103) providing tilt and teeter motions to vector thrust and allow crawling along improved surfaces, and elevators (101) that approximate the center of gravity and center of pressure control employed by insects via the inertial reaction and aerodynamic influence of a repositionable abdomen. Control, sensing, surveillance, and payload elements (114), (401), (402), (403), (404), (405), and (407) enable transmission of surveillance and engagement of an emerging target. Left and right perch hangers and grapples (112, 112a) allow perching on various structures, and energy storage (504) and (505) combined with power line (500) and solar (502) energy scavenging circuitry allow extended loiter and mission duration by replenishing onboard energy supplies.
US08167230B2	Endoscopic sheet rolling system Medical devices and methods are provided for rolling an endoscopic sheet into a tubular configuration.
US08167224B2	Delivery of agents to the cutting mechanism of paper shredders Lubrication substrates are disclosed that have been treated with or that carry a lubricant for maintaining a paper shredder. The lubrication substrate is fed through the shredding mechanism of a paper shredder. Rather than requiring disassembly of the paper shredder, maintenance and lubrication can be performed by passing the lubrication substrate through the shredding mechanism. The lubrication substrates can take any of a variety of forms, and can be substantially rigid and/or stiff. The lubrication substrates can also include scented lubricants and decomposing agents. Paper shredders are also disclosed for use with the lubrication substrates. The paper shredders can have various means for identifying when lubrication is needed and/or when the cutting mechanism of the paper shredder is lubricated by a lubrication sheet. Paper shredders having a reservoir of lubricant for delivery to the cutting mechanism of the paper shredder are also disclosed.
US08167223B2	Shredder and auto feed system An auto feed shredding apparatus has cutter elements for destroying articles and a mechanism for advancing articles from a tray and into the cutter elements for shredding. A method for advancing articles to be shredded is also described. A feed mechanism is used to lift articles from atop a stack and feed them into the shredder mechanism. The articles in the tray may be lifted via exhaust of a blower or a fan, and drawn to towards the feed mechanism via a vacuum. The shredder apparatus may also include a stripping device for removing articles that are stapled together. A number of sensors for determining an amount of articles queued in the tray and an accumulation of shredded articles in a container may also be provided. The sensors may be used to perform a predetermined operation of the shredder, such as alerting a user of an overload or shredding articles.
US08167221B2	Sprinkler housing having a side inlet to reduce stress concentrations thereat A sprinkler housing having a side inlet with improved strength and durability is disclosed. The housing includes an inlet opening having a shape configured to position regions of peak stress concentration on the housing side walls, upon the sprinkler housing being filled with a pressurized fluid, circumferentially spaced from the upper and lower central points of the inlet opening to provide a more robust sprinkler housing.
US08167210B2	System for increasing imaging quality A method and apparatus for improving the image quality obtained by an imaging-based scanner comprising a housing supporting one or more protective windows. The apparatus further comprises at least one scanning arrangement, the scanning arrangement comprising illumination and imaging optics. The illumination and imaging optics form a respective field of view for imaging a target object. A light baffle is attached to the scanning arrangement. The light baffle has an aperture corresponding to each of the illumination and imaging optics such that stray light reflected from the protective windows is absorbed by the light baffle, improving the image quality of the imaging-based scanner.
US08167205B2	Card reader with first operation part and second operation part A card reader may include a first card operation part having a first reproducing and recording part, a first feeding passage, and a first card pressing mechanism structured to press the card toward a first card feeding reference face, and a second card operation part having a second reproducing and recording part, a second feeding passage, and a second card pressing mechanism structured to press the card toward a second card feeding reference face which is formed on the opposite side to the first card feeding reference face. The first and second card operation parts may be adjacently disposed in a feeding direction of the card. The first and second reproducing and recording parts may be disposed in a substantially point-symmetrical manner.
US08167203B2	Credential reader having a micro power proximity detector and method of operating the credential reader An improved battery-powered credential reader, which may be used in security and other applications, includes include a micro-power proximity detector. The micro-power proximity detector is configured to lengthen battery life by reducing power consumption requirements of the credential reader during periods when no credential is present. An antenna formed about a perimeter of a printed circuit board is configured to propagate an electrostatic sense field adjacent to and through the credential reader using only microamps of electrical current. A control circuit of the micro-power proximity detector is configured to activate the credential reader from a “sleep” state when a disturbance in the electrostatic sense field caused by a credential is detected and/or registered.
US08167202B2	Method and apparatus for locating mobile assets A system for locating mobile assets includes a plurality of fixed mesh network communications devices, an asset-specific location device, and a computer. Each fixed mesh network communications device is associated with a different location within a predefined area. The asset-specific location device is coupled to the mobile assets and communicates an asset-specific identification to a nearest fixed mesh network communications device via a mesh network. The computer is in communication with each of the fixed mesh network communications devices and receives a request for a location of one of the mobile assets; polls each fixed mesh network communications device to determine which one is in communication with a selected asset-specific location device affixed to the selected mobile asset; and identify the location associated with the fixed mesh network communications device in communication with the asset-specific location device.
US08167198B2	Method, apparatus, assembly and kit for identification token An identification token assembly includes a card-shaped plastic body having a generally rectangular card-shaped plastic body; a radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC) embedded in the subcard body; and an antenna embedded in the subcard body and coupled to the RFID IC to transmit a signal generated by the RFID IC.
US08167194B2	Carton with opening feature and blank A dispensing carton includes a dispenser section having a deformation pattern provided therein. The deformation pattern facilitates removal of the dispenser section during opening of the carton.
US08167184B2	Magazine for use with a nail driving tool A magazine includes a storage for receiving and storing a plurality of strips of nails, and a driving device for driving the strips along a feeding plane towards an outlet end for feeding the tool with the nails. The storage stores the nail strips in a side-by-side relationship relative to one another. Each nail strip is stacked in a plane roughly perpendicular to the feeding plane. The magazine further has a transporting device for taking one nail strip out of the plurality of stored nail strips and moving it to a pivoting station where the one nail strip is to be pivoted into the feeding plane. The driving device is arranged for driving the pivoted nail strip from the pivoting station towards the outlet end.
US08167182B2	Electric driving machine An electric driving machine includes a remaining fastener sensor 257 which detects the amount of fasteners (e.g., nails) remaining, in an aligned and held manner, in a magazine 2 and which generates a residual-quantity signal (a signal showing depletion of fasteners) when the amount of remaining fasteners has decreased to a predetermined level or less; a remaining fastener detection circuit 406 which outputs a control signal (a signal of level 0) for controlling control means (299, 283, and other means) in accordance with an input of the residual-quantity signal (a switch-on signal) generated by the remaining fastener sensor 257; and a delay circuit 401 for delaying the remaining signal (the ON signal) generated by the remaining fastener sensor 257 by a predetermined period of time (e.g., 20 milliseconds) and inputs the thus-delayed remaining signal to the remaining fastener detection circuit 256 (406).
US08167177B1	Hands free hydration system A hydration system for hydrating a user is provided. The user having a hand with fingers and a palm and a wrist connected to the hand. The hydration system comprises a glove portion having a first side and a second side and a wrist portion. A water reservoir is attached to the wrist portion. A water pump is secured to the first side of the glove portion. A first tube connects the water pump to the water reservoir with the first tube spanning the distance between the glove portion and the wrist portion and fluidly connected to both the water pump and the water reservoir. A spritzer is secured to the second side of the glove portion. A second tube connects the water reservoir to the spritzer with the second tube spanning the distance between the wrist portion and the glove portion and fluidly connected to both the water reservoir and the spritzer wherein as the water pump is depressed by the user, air is forced through the first tube into the water dispenser causing the water in the water reservoir to travel from the water reservoir through the second tube and out the spritzer.
US08167164B2	Spill resistant tiltable paint pan A paint pan has a generally rectangular box shape and an inclined rub plate extends down into the pan from a front wall. A partial roof extends from the top edge of the back wall, and a partial opening is formed generally above the rub plate and between the top edge of the front wall and the partial roof. When the pan is in a “use” position, paint may be poured into the pan through the partial open roof and it will flow to the floor. The pan is dimensioned so that a roller brush may be inserted through the partial opening to the floor of the pan beneath the partial roof. A handle is provided on the front wall and when the pan is lifted by the handle, paint flows into a storage volume defined in part by the floor, a left wall, a right wall, the back wall and partial roof.
US08167160B2	Detachably connected container having barrier properties A method is provided of forming a multi-pack container assembly having at least two containers joined together by a channel. The method includes the steps of providing sheet having a barrier layer thermoforming the sheet into a multi-pack container assembly having a plurality of containers wherein each container comprises a flange and the flanges of adjacent containers are connected by an engineered area of weakness or channel. Resultant containers can be used for low-moisture, shelf-stable, ready-to-eat food products.
US08167155B2	Beverage mixing device with two mixed beverages A beverage mixing device includes a primary container, a secondary container mounted in the primary container, a diaphragm removably mounted on the secondary container to seal the lower end of the secondary container, a sliding member movably mounted in the secondary container and having a lower end provided with a cutting blade that is movable to penetrate the diaphragm to connect the secondary container to the primary container and an upper end provided with a helical driven portion, and a top cap removably mounted on the primary container and provided with a helical drive portion abutting the helical driven portion of the sliding member to push the sliding member toward the diaphragm by rotation of the top cap relative to the sliding member.
US08167151B2	Forkable base stand A base stand for transporting a metal storage bin having a main body with a top wall, first side wall, a second side wall, a third side wall and a fourth side wall; a first bracket mounted to the first side wall; a second bracket mounted to the second side wall; wherein the third side wall has a first opening and a second opening for receiving associated forks of an associated forklift. A metal storage bin is supported on the top wall of the base stand, and the first and second brackets extend along side walls of the metal bin to provide lateral support to the bin.
US08167147B2	Dish drainer A dish drainer assembly has a basket with a bottom and a side wall extending up from a perimeter of the bottom. The side wall terminates at a top edge. A cut out is formed in a part of the side wall and has an upper edge that is lower than the top edge of the remainder of the side wall. A drying accessory has a plurality of fingers spaced apart from one another and is configured to removably attach to the basket in a first position and a second position different from the first. The fingers are oriented differently in each of the first and second positions.
US08167142B2	Filter cartridge for liquid filtration; assembly; and, methods A liquid filter cartridge is provided. Preferred seal arrangements are provided, to provide for preferred axial load conditions, with respect to one or more of the end caps of the cartridge. Some cartridge configurations provided include no core structure or outer liner structure therein, to support axial load. Assemblies using the cartridge, and methods of assembly and use, are provided. The liquid filter cartridge can be a serviceable cartridge, or it can be retained permanently in a housing.
US08167131B1	Carrying device for art and craft supplies A carrying device for storing and organizing art and craft supplies featuring a base tray having an enclosure, a cushion component disposed on the bottom of the base tray; a plurality of removable storage boxes or pouches; a base lid pivotally attached to the base tray; a picture holding component disposed in the top of the base lid for holding a photograph; a plurality of first fasteners and second fasteners disposed on an inner surface of the base lid, the first fasteners function to hold the removable storage boxes or pouches and the second fasteners function to hold items such as pens, markers, and the like; and a generally flat inner lid pivotally attached to the base tray positioned between the enclosure of the base tray and the base lid, the inner lid provides a flat working surface.
US08167127B2	Protective carrying case for a portable electronic device A casing for a portable electronic device, such as an MP3 player, a cell phone, a smart phone, or a PDA, is formed with two or more sleeves that may be placed onto the electronic device and together form a closed encasement for the electronic device. The encasement is formed to enable operative access to the electronic device while the sleeves are connected to form the closed encasement. A back panel of the encasement is removable so that it may be exchanged for an alternative panel. That is, a first back panel may simply be a planar panel that only forms an integral backwall part of the closed encasement and a second back panel may be provided with a belt clip or belt loop, or the like. The different removable back panels may thus be exchanged to provide the device for mutually different functions of the casing.
US08167105B2	Pressure medium-actuated control device of an automated step-by-step variable speed transmission A pressure medium-actuated control device of an automated step-by-step variable speed transmission. The device having a control valve for controlling an actively engaged disconnectable type clutch which is disposed along a power flow path between a motor and a transmission input shaft, and a self-retaining valve located in the pressure supply of the clutch control valve for a rotational speed-dependent emergency actuation of the disconnectable type clutch. An electrical switch-off actuator is connected to the self-retaining valve such that the valve piston, of the self-retaining valve, can be moved into an idle position to lock the pressure supply of the clutch control valve in a powered state of the switch-off actuator, and into an operating position determined by the applied control pressures in the power-off state of the switch-off actuator.
US08167103B2	Four-passage multifunction torque converter A torque converter including: an impeller clutch arranged to transmit, when closed, torque from a first cover for the torque converter to a shell for an impeller; a lock-up clutch arranged to transmit, when closed, torque from a second cover for the torque converter to an output hub; a release chamber for the impeller clutch, connected to a first channel; an apply chamber for the impeller clutch, connected to a second channel; an apply chamber for the lock-up clutch, connected to a third channel; and a torus connected to a fourth channel. The second, third, and fourth channels open to a space including a longitudinal axis for the torque converter and the space is arranged to receive an input shaft for a transmission. The first channel is arranged to connect to a line in a pump housing for a transmission.
US08167100B2	Damping device A damping device comprises an axle, a housing, a unidirectional member, and a damping oil. The unidirectional member in cross section is formed like a T-shape, and a top portion thereof is formed as an arc to cooperate with the housing's inner wall. Where the unidirectional member contains a U-shaped slot is defined oil holes interlaced with the gap of the first slot wall. The lifting of the cover generates little damping and the closing thereof generates a variable and yet optimal damping. The undersized unidirectional member also adds strength to the structure. The diminished cross-section of the unidirectional member contributes to a smaller U-shaped slot.
US08167096B2	Electromechanically or pneumatically actuable disc brake, in particular for a commercial vehicle An electromechanically or pneumatically operable disc brake, particularly for a commercial vehicle, includes a brake caliper, which straddles a brake disc, a brake application device arranged in the brake caliper, and at least one electromechanically drivable adjusting device for adjusting a clearance between the brake pads and the brake disc. In order to operate the adjusting device, an electric motor is actively connected to the assigned brake pistons. The disc brake is designed such that the brake pistons are connected to the respective brake pad via spring elements that can be displaced in a direction of displacement.
US08167068B2	Motor vehicle front face The motor vehicle front-end panel includes a structure (2) to be fixed to body elements (4, 5) of the vehicle, a cassette (6) and at least one cooling element (8) for cooling the engine which is connected to the cassette (6) and chosen from a radiator or a condenser, the structure (2) including: —an upper transverse crossmember (10), —a U-shaped element (12) fixed beneath the upper crossmember (10) and including a lower transverse beam (22) and two side struts (24) connecting the lower beam (22) to the upper crossmember (10), the U-shaped element (12) and the upper crossmember (10) forming a frame (27) to which the cassette (6) is attached. The cassette (6) is attached to the frame (27) by fitting the frame (27) around the cassette (6).
US08167066B2	Defined internal combustion engine operation in vehicles having a hybrid drive A method for setting operating states of an internal combustion engine, in particular an internal combustion engine of a hybrid drive. In addition to the internal combustion engine, the hybrid drive includes at least one electric drive, a hybrid coordinator and a control unit assigned to the internal combustion engine in which functions are implemented. The functions request operating states favorable to their running ability from the hybrid coordinator which performs a commensurate modification of the distribution of power between the internal combustion engine and the at least one electric drive.
US08167061B2	Electric powered cart for moving loads A cart for moving loads includes a frame supported on wheels, a source of electric power supported on the frame, a drive system including a traction motor connected to the power source for driving a wheel secured to the frame and contacting ground, and a controller for adjusting a rotary direction of the drive wheel in response to selected states of an input to the controller.
US08167056B2	Rechargeable electric tool A rechargeable electric tool includes a housing having a lower end, to which a battery is attached, and a fastener tool configured to be attached to a lower side surface of the housing. The fastener tool includes a plate-like base portion, and an engagement portion joined to the base portion. The engagement portion protrudes rearward of the housing when the fastener tool is attached to the housing.
US08167052B2	System and method for delivering a cable downhole in a well A system for delivering a cable through a tubing string to a downhole location in a well, includes a plug and a receiver. The plug includes a first connector configured to be operably connected to the cable and further includes a plug housing adapted to fit within the tubing string. A check valve operably associated with a passage in the plug housing restricts fluid flow through the passage in a downhole direction and allows fluid flow through the passage in an uphole direction. The receiver is configured to be positioned at the downhole location and includes a receiver housing and a second connector configured to be operably connected to a downhole device. The second connector is adapted to communicate with the first connector when the receiver and plug housings are engaged.
US08167048B1	Frac gate and well completion methods Methods and apparatus are provided for oil and gas well completions without conventional perforations or jet cutting. One or more frac gate tool(s) are included in the production casing string or liner which is cemented in the hole. The frac gates have a sleeve that is openable by a shifting tool to allow fluids inside the casing or liner to exit through ports and breakdown and treat the adjacent formation. Casing flapper valves are placeable above a lower frac gate to isolate the treated formation from a higher producing zone during treatment of the higher zone through a higher frac gate. A single hydraulically actuated shifting tool is usable to open the frac gates and close the casing flapper valves.
US08167047B2	Method and apparatus for wellbore fluid treatment An apparatus for fluid treatment of a borehole includes: a tubing string having a long axis and an upper end, a first, second and third ports opened through the wall of the tubing string; packers operable to seal about the tubing string and mounted on the tubing string; a closure on each port and each being actuable between a closed port position and a position permitting fluid flow through the ports from the tubing string inner bore; and a closure actuating mechanism for actuating the first closure and the second closure together from their closed port positions to their positions permitting fluid flow, while the third closure remains in the closed port position.
US08167042B2	Method of forming self-diverting high-rate water packs Methods of forming gravel packs while reducing fluid loss to the surrounding subterranean formation. The methods involve suspending gravel that has been coated with a tackifying agent and degradable fines into a low viscosity carrier fluid and then placing that suspension into a subterranean formation so as to form a gravel pack wherein, as the gravel pack is placed, the degradable fines to de-adhere from the gravel and to fill at least a portion of the pore spaces within the gravel pack so as to reducing fluid loss through the gravel pack.
US08167039B2	Method of fracturing a subterranean formation at optimized and pre-determined conditions Prior to a hydraulic fracturing treatment, the requisite median diameter of a proppant, dprop, into a fracture of defined length, DPST, may be estimated in accordance with Equation (I): (dprop)2=(A)×(1/qi)×(DPST)B×(1/CTRANS)×(1/ΔSGPS)×(μfluid) (I) wherein: A is the multiplier and B is the exponent from the Power Law equation of velocity of the transport slurry vs. distance for the fracture geometry; qi is the injection rate per foot of injection height, bpm/ft; CTRANS is the transport coefficient; ΔSGPS is SGprop−SGfluid, SGprop being the specific gravity of the proppant and SGfluid being the specific gravity of the transport fluid; and μfluid is the apparent viscosity of the transport fluid, in cP.
US08167019B2	Shade apparatus for vehicle A shade apparatus for a vehicle includes a guide rail mechanism adapted to be arranged along a side portion of an inner periphery of an opening formed in an interior ceiling member of the vehicle, a shade panel mechanism slidably supported by the guide rail mechanism, configured to open and close the opening of the interior ceiling member, and including first and second shade panels, an engaging member arranged at one of the first and second shade panels, and an elastic member arranged at the other of the first and second shade panels and including a fixing portion and a deformable portion. The first and second shade panels move as a unit in the moving direction after one of the first and second shade panels moves relative to the other of the first and second shade panels in the moving direction and the engaging member engages with the elastic member.
US08167011B2	Portable work bench An improved portable work bench includes a structural body, and a platform disposed on and frictionally contacting the structural body. In addition, the platform includes an override mechanism for allowing horizontal movement of the platform along the structural body. Further, the portable work bench may include a plurality of legs for supporting the structural body. The structural body may be tubular and preferably has a trapezoidal cross-section. Such work bench can be used by disposing the platform on the structural body, so that the platform frictionally contacts the structural body. Then the user can mechanically override the static friction between the platform and the structural body and move the platform horizontally along the structural body.
US08167007B2	Device for filling containers of collapsible type The invention relates to a device for filling a container of a collapsible type with a product. The device comprising a valve housing with a filling tube, which is insertable into a filling duct of the container to supply the product to the compartment through a product path; a piston element arranged in the product path and comprising a valve body and an end element, the piston element being movable between a first position, in which the valve body blocks the product path and the end element counteract dripping, and a second position, in which the valve body opens the product path and the end element defines, together with the outlet portion, a filling passage; and a squeezing apparatus establishes a seal between the filling tube and the filling duct.
US08166996B2	Toilet bowl overflow prevention and water conservation system and method A system and method for conditionally interfering with the operation of a conventional toilet tank fill valve prevents toilet overflow and conserves water. A single self-contained apparatus, located completely within the toilet tank, detects and prevents a toilet overflow and/or conserves water by conditionally interfering with or overriding the normal operation of a toilet tank fill valve to prevent a further flush. Exemplary illustrative non-limiting steps include removing the toilet tank lid to provide access to said toilet tank fill valve within the tank, manually snapping an assembly onto said fill valve protective cap, and automatically and conditionally actuating said assembly to cause the assembly to selectively interfere with or override the operation of said toilet tank fill valve. An exemplary illustrative non-limiting device comprises an attaching structure for manual attachment to said fill valve cap, and a control mechanism supported by said attaching structure. The control mechanism acts to conditionally interfere with the operation of the toilet tank fill valve assembly in response to abnormal detected toilet tank water level over time, thereby preventing a further flush. The overflow and water conservation feature can be designed into a fill valve at time of manufacture and/or added in the field by an end user.
US08166995B2	Valve for the venting circuit of a liquid tank Valve for the venting circuit of a liquid tank, the valve comprising a chamber which includes openings that allow liquid to penetrate into the chamber above a certain level in the tank and/or in the event of waves in the tank or the tank being turned upside down, a cover for the chamber including an aperture that is susceptible to open into the venting circuit of the tank, and a float comprising a body and a needle that close off the aperture, the float being able to slide vertically inside the chamber depending on the level of liquid therein, the needle of the float being frustoconical-shaped and based on an elastomeric material.
US08166992B2	Placement of fluids in ground by pulse-injection For use when injecting remediation liquid via an injection-well into contaminated groundwater, in the ground. The injection equipment includes a pulse-generator, which has an upstream chamber and a downstream chamber, linked by a pulse-conduit and a bypass conduit. The pulse-conduit includes a pulse-port, which opens and closes cyclically. The pulse-port is formed by the interaction of two apertures, one in the motorised rotor, the other in the stator. The rotor and stator may be formed as two facing plates held slightly apart, or as two cylinders one inside the other. The pulse-generator is located at the ground surface and can be adjusted as to pulse frequency, pulse amplitude, pulse rise-time, and as the the differential pressure between the upstream-chamber and the downstream chamber.
US08166987B2	Systems and methods for assisting a seated person to a standing position A walker device including a walking aid and a lifting arm attached to, and extending in an approximate vertical direction from, the walking aid. The walking aid may include two front legs and two back legs. The walking aid may include two or more wheels attached to the bottom of the two front legs and/or two back legs. The walking aid may be a multiple-legged cane. The walking aid may be a wheeled mobility device. The lifting arm may include a gripping handle positioned at its approximate distal end.
US08166984B2	Dispenser of washing agents for a household washing machine, in particular a dishwasher A dispenser of washing agents for a dishwasher has a body with a reservoir configured for containing a total amount of a liquid substance sufficient for performing a number of cycles of operation of the dishwasher. The reservoir has a charging passage that can be engaged by a removable plug, and the dispenser has a system for dosage of the liquid substance contained in the reservoir. The plug is configured for co-operating with an adjustment element belonging to the dosage system when the plug itself is at least partially inserted in the charging passage, particularly in such a way that a movement of rotation manually imparted on the plug will bring about a movement of rotation of the adjustment element.
US08166980B2	Wig and method of making the same In the wig 10 provided with a wig base 11 and hair materials 12 attached to the wig base, the wig base 11 is zoned in its front portion 11a to an artificial skin portion 110a from a virtual hairline of the wearer's forehead portion toward a top portion and to a net pattern 11b connected thereto, the artificial skin portion is made of a synthetic resin film integrated with a shape retention net, provided with a front edge region 111 of the pre-determined width from a front edge 11a′ positioned on the wearer's virtual hairline toward inside and with a rear region 112 connected to the front edge region, and the front edge region 111 is bent to a sharper inclination than the wearer's corresponding head outline, giving a curved ridge line, resulting in an arc-shaped warp up prevention structure.
US08166974B2	Second-stage regulator for scuba divers A second-stage regulator for scuba divers is disclosed that reduces considerably the inhalation effort required by the user through reduction in friction between selected components of the regulator. A flexible sleeve is sealingly connected to the regulator poppet and the baffle, and coaxially with the poppet, so as to avoid blow-by of gaseous mixture through an opening in the baffle. A tail of the poppet extends through the opening, the tail being connected to a lever of the regulator projecting into an outlet chamber thereof. The head of the poppet is or includes a ferrule with an at least partially-circular profile and abuts a selected inner portion of the inlet's intermediate chamber to allow oscillation of the poppet. The lever end of the regulator contacts a diaphragm, the diaphragm separating the outlet chamber from the external environment. The lever end has a generally arched shape with a profile such that the length of the arch between two adjacent contact points measured along the lever is generally equal to the length of the segment between the same adjacent contact points measured along the diaphragm.
US08166967B2	Systems and methods for intubation An intubation device is provided. The intubation device comprises a movable guide having a guide extension, and a guide tip; at least one trachea condition sensor to detect a trachea condition wherein the at least one trachea condition sensor is disposed on the guide; and a guide control device operatively coupled to the guide, the guide control device to move the guide in response to the trachea condition.
US08166965B2	Fireplace insert The invention provides an insert assembly to convert an existing fireplace hearth into a gas burning fireplace and a method for installing the insert assembly while conveying the appearance of a wood burning fireplace. The insert assembly comprises legs removably attachable to the base of the firebox for allowing the insert to be installed higher into the hearth. The inner walls of the firebox are colored so as to camouflage the structure of the assembly in the hearth and a decorative fender mimics a wood burning grill. Where the insert includes a heat exchanger, a guide plate is provided at the top of the insert to ensure that air exiting the heat exchange outlet at the top of the insert is directed into the room.
US08166964B2	Heater for use in an agricultural house A radiant heater is configured to be positioned above a floor at a predetermined distance and to produce a generally quadrangular zone of heat within a predetermined temperature range, preferably between approximately eighty-five degrees Fahrenheit and one-hundred degrees Fahrenheit, on the floor. The heater includes an elongated burner assembly, an inner cone member, at least one emitter assembly and end plates which define a combustion chamber. The emitter assembly is configured to direct heat produced within the combustion chamber downwardly and outwardly to the floor to form the generally quadrangular zone of heat. A canopy is provided which directs heat heading upwardly and outwardly back downwardly toward the floor and toward the emitter assembly. A reflector pan is positioned below the burner and the emitter assembly and assists in directing the heat from the emitter assembly toward the floor. A blower assembly may be incorporated into the heater.
US08166951B2	Engine An engine includes an angular velocity detecting means 10 for detecting a rotation angular velocity of a crankshaft 11 of the engine, a torque generated by the engine detecting means for detecting a variability of the angular velocity amplitude obtained by the angular velocity detecting means 10 as the variability of the torque generated by the engine. The engine compensates a fuel injection quantity by comparing the angular velocity amplitude detected by the angular velocity detecting means with the adequate angular velocity amplitude.
US08166941B2	Device for switching activation of a hydraulic valve play equalization element A device for switching activation of a hydraulic valve play equalization element for setting of a maximal stroke or a zero stroke on a valve of an internal combustion engine, has a switching element for locking and unlocking the housing of the valve play equalization element relative to a guide that is axially displaceable therein. The switching element is a switching ring that surrounds the housing, on which a linkage for rotating the switching ring relative to the housing is disposed. The linkage of the switching ring is connected via a guide element with a groove on the circumference of a rotatable adjustment shaft. The groove has a groove section demonstrating an axial incline, and in which the switching ring is rotated, to implement a switching process via the guide element during rotation the adjustment shaft.
US08166940B2	Internal combustion engine with a camshaft bearing device A bearing device for supporting a camshaft in a cylinder head is disclosed. The bearing device comprising at least one locking contour, which is connected with at least one counter-locking contour configured at a cylinder head cover, such that the cylinder head cover is clamped tightly against the cylinder head by the bearing device.
US08166936B2	Valve timing adjusting apparatus A valve timing adjusting apparatus includes a housing, a vane rotor, and a spiral spring. The spiral spring has a most radially inward part engaged with a rotational shaft of the vane rotor in a state, where the most radially inward part is wound around the rotational shaft. The rotational phase has an intermediate position defined between a full retard position and a full advance position of the rotational phase. The spiral spring has a radially outward segment that is located radially outward of the most radially inward part. When the rotational phase is in a range on a retard side of the intermediate position or on an advance side of the intermediate position, the radially outward segment is engaged with the stopper such that the spiral spring urges the vane rotor in the advance direction or in the retard direction relative to the housing, respectively.
US08166935B2	Control system of internal combustion engine A control system of an internal combustion engine changing an operating timing of a valve in an internal combustion engine where a valve drive cam (13) and a pump drive cam (150) are both provided on a valve camshaft (1) is provided. That control system has a device inhibiting the operating timing from being returned in a direction reverse to the direction of the target operating timing during change of the operating timing. Further, in the control system, the relative rotational phases of the valve drive cam and the pump drive cam are set considering utilization of the composite reaction torque of the valve operation drive reaction torque and the fuel pump drive reaction torque acting on the valve camshaft for changing the operating timing in the direction of the target operating timing.
US08166925B2	Method and apparatus for steam generation A method, apparatus, and system and operation of surface equipment to generate steam while reducing the quantity of boiler blowdown and thereby increasing the amount of feedwater that is re-used or re-cycled in generating said steam. The present invention teaches that, on a sustained basis, the blowdown stream at the outlet of a once-through steam generator can be routed to the inlet of a second once-through steam generator that is in series with the first, that blowdown stream can be used to generate additional steam in the second once-through steam generator and further reduce the amount of blowdown, and that this can be accomplished without need of any treatment that reduces hardness or silica levels of the blowdown stream prior to its entering or during its entry into the inlet of the second once-through steam generator. The output of this second steam generator is a substantially dry saturated steam vapor stream and, complementarily, a blowdown stream whose mass rate has been reduced substantially from that of the blowdown stream exiting the first steam generator.
US08166922B2	Method and system for providing preidentified pets selective access to a predetermined location or object A method and system is provided that controls pet access to various different locations and/or objects. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides an automated system whereby pets wearing an ID tag are allowed access to various locations and/or objects, such as food contained within a feeder dish for example, while a sensor system, responding to the presence of other animals or people, causes the device to close preventing unauthorized access thereto. The feeder further includes one or more sensors using ultrasonic, infrared technology or both in combination for the identification of both tagged and non-tagged animals or children. Further embodiments employ the system to control access to litter boxes, pet toys, pet watering systems, pet gate access, pet containment systems or pet doors.
US08166917B2	Animal-activated fluid flow control systems and methods Animal-activated feeding systems and methods. The systems include a self-sealing valve assembly that, responsive to activation of a feed-flow activation member by an animal, selectively delivers a flow of the liquid feed to a vessel for consumption by the animal. The valve body further includes a valve member, which is configured to selectively obstruct the feed flow path, and a feed-flow activation member coupled to the valve member. The feed-flow activation member and valve member are selectively positionable between at least a sealed position and a range of activated positions. The valve assembly may include a buoyant activation restriction member adapted to restrict at least further or subsequent activation of the valve assembly responsive to the level of liquid feed in the vessel. The valve assembly may be configured to dispense the feed in a confined stream and/or in a generally horizontal or lateral direction into the vessel.
US08166909B2	Apparatus and methods for applying coatings The invention relates to systems and methods for forming coatings that can elute active agents and coating produced by the same. In an embodiment, the invention includes an apparatus for applying a coating to a medical device including a first spray nozzle, a first coating composition supply conduit, a second spray nozzle, and a second coating composition supply conduit. In an embodiment, the invention includes a method of applying a coating to a medical device including forming a first spray stream, forming a second spray stream, and directing the spray streams toward the medical device so that the first spray stream intersects the second spray stream before hitting the medical device. In an embodiment, the invention includes an apparatus for applying a coating to a medical device including a spray nozzle, a first coating composition supply conduit and a second coating composition supply conduit. In an embodiment, the invention includes a method of applying a coating to a medical device including applying a first composition onto the surface of a spray nozzle, applying a second composition onto the surface of the spray nozzle, generating a spray stream comprising the first composition and the second composition with the nozzle and directing the spray stream at the medical device.
US08166905B2	Boat accessory mounting apparatus A retractable mounting apparatus is provided for attaching boat accessories to a boat. In one embodiment, a mounting apparatus is provided for selectively securing an accessory to a structural portion of a boat. The apparatus has a housing that is configured for coupling to the structural portion of the boat, and a mounting element that is at least partially disposed in the housing. The mounting element is movable relative to the housing between a retracted position and an extended position above the structural portion. The mounting element is rotatable about the axis.
US08166898B2	Wind-powered personal hydrofoil watercraft A personal wind-powered hydrofoil watercraft having a sail supported by a mast coupled to a buoyant body, where the mast is tiltable forward and backward but not side to side, in order to prevent excessive rolling of the buoyant body when it is lifted clear of the water on the hydrofoils. Additionally, the buoyant body may be in the shape of a pontoon, the watercraft may be steerable by a steering mechanism actuated by a human operator's foot or feet, and the front hydrofoil may be associated with a surface tracking means in order to stabilize the altitude of the watercraft.
US08166895B2	Variable displacement meter roller A metering apparatus for metering a granular product is presented having a unitary meter roller comprising a plurality of meter roller sections, where each meter roller section has a plurality of radially extending ridges defining product receiving valleys having a volume such that each meter roller section dispenses a specific volume of the granular product per rotation of the unitary meter roller, whereby at least one meter roller section of the unitary meter roller has product receiving valleys of a different volume than the other meter roller sections of the unitary meter roller for reducing or increasing the overall volume of the granular product dispensed per rotation of the uniform meter roller.
US08166893B2	Table system A table system that includes a table top having an upper surface and a surface covering which covers substantially the upper surface of the table top. The table top and the surface covering have concentric openings with substantially similar diameters.
US08166865B2	Brake boost sensor feeler A sensor feeler device for a brake booster. The sensor feeler device (4) includes an axially moveable cylinder (40), the movement of which can be controlled by the control rod which is itself controlled by the brake pedal, a sensor feeler piston (5) able to move axially in said moving cylinder (40), and a spring (44) that tends to push the sensor feeler piston (5) forward and keep its front face substantially in the same plane as the front face of the moving cylinder.
US08166844B2	Rotating device and robot arm device A rotating device includes a communication unit including a transmitting portion having a first ring-shaped coil, a first ring-shaped magnetic body covering the first ring-shaped coil and a first terminal connected to the first ring-shaped coil, and a receiving portion having a second ring-shaped coil, a second ring-shaped magnetic body covering the second ring-shaped coil and a second terminal connected to the second ring-shaped coil, and a bearing connecting a hollow fixed portion to a hollow rotating portion, which is capable of rotating with respect to the fixed portion, in which the first ring-shaped coil and the second ring-shaped coil are formed so as to be wound around a rotation axis of the bearing, the first ring-shaped magnetic body and the second ring-shaped magnetic body face each other with a gap formed in the direction of the rotation axis, and the communication unit is provided inside the fixed portion and the rotating portion.
US08166843B2	Shift transmission control device of vehicle, vehicle and method for controlling shift transmission in vehicle A shift transmission control device of a vehicle includes a transmission, a clutch, a shift transmission controller, and a shift inhibition state detector. The shift transmission controller is configured to control the transmission and the clutch. The shift inhibition state detector is configured to detect based on a running state of the vehicle that a predetermined shift inhibition condition is satisfied. The transmission is capable of providing a preliminary change gear ratio while the predetermined change gear ratio at which the rotational drive force is transmitted to the drive wheel is maintained. The shift transmission controller is configured to control the transmission to inhibit a change of the predetermined change gear ratio at which the rotational drive force is transmitted to the drive wheel and to provide the preliminary change gear ratio in response to the running state of the vehicle when the shift inhibition condition is satisfied.
US08166839B2	Seat adjuster A transmission device, in particular for the adjuster of a vehicle seat, is suitable for converting a linear driving motion into a rotary output motion. According to an exemplary embodiment, the device has at least one lever that extends radially relative to a driven axis and is connected thereto. The at least one lever has a free end that interacts with an inclined surface that is moveable in a substantially linear manner in the direction of a driven shaft.
US08166837B2	Transmission arrangement of an agricultural or industrial utility vehicle The present invention relates to a transmission arrangement of an agricultural or industrial utility vehicle, in particular of an agricultural tractor. The transmission arrangement comprises a drive transmission, which can be driven by an engine of the utility vehicle, and a PTO transmission. The drive transmission has a rear-axle transmission output for driving a rear axle of the utility vehicle. The drive transmission has a front axle transmission output for driving a front axle of the utility vehicle. The PTO transmission serves to drive an implement adaptable to the utility vehicle. The PTO transmission can be driven via a PTO transmission output of the drive transmission or independently of the drive transmission via a shaft driven by the engine of the utility vehicle. The transmission arrangement according to the invention is characterized in that the PTO transmission can be coupled to the front axle transmission output of the drive transmission, in order to couple the output speed of the PTO transmission to the speed of travel of the utility vehicle.
US08166830B2	Meter devices and methods Some embodiments of a meter device for measuring volume flow of gas can include bearings and the timing gears may each include a least one component comprising a ceramic material that enhances the wearability of the bearing and the timing gears. Accordingly, the gas flow meter can operate in a manner that reduces or eliminates the need for external oil lubrication of the bearings and the timing gears (e.g., the external oil lubrication conventionally provided by the oil bath compartment), and thus reduces the likelihood of failure of the gas flow meter due to leaks or failures of the oil bath compartment.
US08166826B2	Vibration characteristic measuring device A vibration characteristic measuring device is provided with a shaker, including a shaking section which reciprocates along an axis, and a mounting block fastened to a mounting surface of the shaking section. A disk drive suspension is mounted on the mounting block. The mounting block has a facing surface which faces the mounting surface of the shaking section. An adhesive member formed of a resin tape is disposed between the mounting surface and the facing surface of the mounting block. The adhesive member is deformable depending on a gap between the mounting surface and the facing surface. The adhesive member closely contacts both the mounting surface and the facing surface without a gap.
US08166818B2	Using pole pieces to guide magnetic flux through a MEMS device and method of making A translational, Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) accelerometer device with precisely formed pole pieces to guide magnetic flux through a coil in a MEMS device layer. An example device includes a device layer, a magnetic return path component attached to a first side of the device layer, and a magnet unit attached to a second side of the device layer. The device layer includes a proof mass with electrically conductive trace and frame components. The magnet unit includes two magnetically conductive posts (formed of a ferrous material) located proximate to the trace, a base section formed of the same material as the posts, a non-magnetically conductive post (formed of a glass substrate) connected between the conductive posts, and a magnet attached to the non-magnetically conductive post within a cavity formed in the base section between the two magnetically conductive posts.
US08166811B2	Device and process for precision loading of particles in a vertical tube chemical reactor A device and method for precision loading and gentle loading of particles into vertical chemical reactor tubes in order to help ensure that the particles are not damaged while being loaded to the desired elevation.
US08166803B2	Method for the quantitative determination of an aging effect on motor oil The quantitative determination of aging effects on motor oil is of great interest. According to a method, two variables of the motor oil are detected, one of the two variables being the viscosity and the other variable being the acid content of the motor oil. A first deviation of the detected first variable from a default value is then determined, and the second variable is estimated based on the deviation. By determining a second deviation of the estimated second variable from the detected second variable, the second deviation is determined as a measure of the aging effect on the motor oil. Since various aging effects influence the two variables in different manners, individual aging effects may be quantitatively determined in a targeted manner.
US08166802B2	Device for displaying and measuring air losses in a chest drainage apparatus A device for displaying and measuring air losses in a chest drainage apparatus, having a transparent window enclosure with a connection to a tube end connected to a chest cavity to convey exuded liquids for collection a vessel and air losses, a chamber being provided within the apparatus at one of the transparent windows, that contains liquid and comprises the outlet section of a duct for air loss conveying. The device comprises a bell arranged above the outlet section, immersed in liquid at least at a lower end area, and provided, at the submerged portion, with at least one always-open air outflow port and with at least one additional port for the outflow of air.
US08166800B2	Gas concentration detection apparatus and gas concentration detection system A gas concentration detection apparatus and system including a gas sensor. Voltage Vd generated across detection resistor Rd through which pump current Ip flows is differentially amplified by OP1, and offset voltage Vofs is superposed thereon to obtain a detection voltage Vout. The amplification factor applied to the differential amplification of the voltage Vd is changed by turning switch SW3 on and off. When switch SW2 is turned on, the input terminal potentials of the operational amplifier OP1 are equalized, so that voltage Vofs is output as the detection voltage Vout. The detection voltage Vout contains an error attributable to the electronic components which form the circuit. The detection voltage Vout containing the error when SW2 is turned on is acquired as a correction voltage for each amplification factor, and is used for correction at the time of detection of the concentration so as to cancel the error.
US08166798B2	Gas analyzer having a structure including cavities and volumes Method of making a structure, a structure and a gas analyzer comprising cavities and volumes in which a multilayer structure is made by laminating single layers on top of each other to form the multilayer structure and combining them all together, in which method before the laminating step at least one layer is processed by cutting pneumatically constrictive openings therein to form pneumatic filters comprising constrictive cavities and volumes with the surfaces of the adjoining layers.
US08166796B2	System and method for improving the precision of nanoscale force and displacement measurements A self-calibrating apparatus comprises a primary device and a test structure fabricated on an integrated circuit chip. The primary device and the test structure have at least one unknown property due to a fabrication process of the integrated circuit chip. An electrical measurand sensor is configured to measure an electrical measurand of the test structure. A controller coupled to the primary device and electrical measurand sensor. The controller is configured to calculate the at least one unknown property of the test structure based on the measured electrical measurand and use the calculated at least one unknown property to calibrate the primary device.
US08166786B2	Wire-forming machine A wire-forming machine, comprising a machine frame, a wire feeder and a wire guide for transporting wire to a working area of the machine where the wire is processed by one or more tools. The tools are affixed on a tool plate on the machine frame and around a recess formed in the plate. A wire is fed through the recess to the working area of the machine. The tool plate is fitted on a second plate and is displaceable along a first direction (x) relative to the second plate, while the second plate is displaceable along a second direction (y) relative to the machine plate. Both directions (x, y) have an inclination of 45° each to the vertical normal axis of the wire-forming machine and are perpendicular to each other.
US08166784B2	Pin assembly cover for a lock mechanism and method of use A lock mechanism includes a cover plate positionable over a plurality of pin chambers in a cylinder housing wherein one or more of the pin chambers include an internal threaded portion. The lock mechanism includes one or more pin assembly caps that are operative to secure the cover plate to the cylinder housing of the lock by threadably engaging with threaded pin chambers. The pin assembly caps include an internal cavity sized to receive at least a portion of a pin assembly, such that threaded pin chambers and unthreaded pin chambers have substantially the same dimensions without substantially increasing the dimensions required for the lock mechanism. The pin assembly caps include a socket (e.g., a hex socket, a Phillips-type socket, or the like) that allow users to selectively remove and secure the cover plate to the cylinder housing common tools.
US08166782B2	Drum type washing machine A drum type washing machine includes a cabinet, a tub fixed in the cabinet, and a drum that performs a washing process. A motor rotates the drum, a supporting device that extends from a rotation shaft of the motor to the cabinet rotatably support the drum. A buffering-and-sealing device is provided at the rear side of the tub to buffer a space between the rotation shaft and the tub and to seal the rear side of the tub. A drying device extends from one side of the tub to the other side of the tub to circulate air in the drum and to dry laundry in the drum. Thus, the size of the washing machine is reduced, the washing capacity thereof is increased, and laundry is dried by the drying device.
US08166778B2	Tempered glass for thermal insulation The invention relates to a pane that has undergone a chemical toughening operation so as to have an alkali-metal-ion concentration gradient from its surface over an exchange depth of at least 100 μm, a surface stress of at least 200 MPa, and a strain point at the core of at least 550° C. The pane can be used especially in the field of domestic cooking, as a pyrolytic oven door, stove, fire guard, flue insert, and more generally for separating two gaseous atmospheres at different temperatures. The pane is particularly resistant to heat shocks.
US08166774B2	Heat exchanger with an expansion stage In a heat exchanger unit for conditioning a first fluid, particularly a refrigerant in an air conditioning system, including a heat exchanger, the heat exchanger includes first and second tube element units for heat exchange between a first fluid flowing through the tube elements and a second fluid flowing over the tube elements, wherein the first fluid is supplied first to the first tube element unit so as to flow upwardly therethrough and via an intermediate outlet connector to a compressor stage from where it is transferred to the top of the second tube element unit which is disposed above the first tube element unit and flows downwardly through the second tube element unit to an expansion stage wherein the energy released during expansion in the expansion stage is utilized for the compression of the first fluid in the compressor stage.
US08166771B2	Refrigeration system A heat source side circuit (14) includes a gas-liquid separator (35) for the separation of refrigerant flowing therein from an expander (31) into liquid refrigerant and gas refrigerant and a cooling means (36, 45, 53, 55) for the cooling of liquid refrigerant heading from the gas-liquid separator (35) to a utilization side circuit (11). Since the refrigerant exiting the gas-liquid separator (35) is in a saturated liquid form, it always changes state to a subcooled state whenever cooled by the cooling means (36, 45, 53, 55).
US08166766B2	System and method to generate electricity A split heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) arrangement including a first HRSG coupled to a turbine and thereby receptive of a portion of the exhaust gases to deliver the portion of the exhaust gases to a compressor, a second HRSG coupled to the turbine and thereby receptive of a remaining portion of the exhaust gases, which includes an NOx catalyst and a CO catalyst sequentially disposed therein to remove NOx and CO from the exhaust gases and an air injection apparatus to inject air into the second HRSG between the NOx catalyst and the CO catalyst to facilitate CO consumption at the CO catalyst.
US08166761B2	Method and system for generating power from a heat source A method of generating power from a heat source, said method including: compressing (10) a working fluid to increase its temperature; exchanging (11) heat between said working fluid and said heat source to superheat said working fluid; expanding (12) said superheated working fluid to drive a turbine, thereby reducing its temperature; condensing (13) said working fluid to further reduce its temperature: and returning said working fluid to said compressing step (10), the method further including the step (14) of regenerating the heat of said working fluid wherein working fluid passing between said compressing step (10) and said heat exchanging step (11) exchanges heat with working fluid passing between said expanding step (12) and said condensing step (13); wherein said steps are performed in a thermodynamic cycle (S1-S1′-S2-S3-S3′-S4) within a supercritical region (SC) above the saturation dome (A) of said working fluid, and wherein said heat regenerating step (14) is performed under isenthalpic conditions to induce continuous heat exchange. A system for generating power from a heat source is also provided.
US08166757B2	Engine with internal EGR system An engine with EGR system equipped with a variable geometry turbocharger and a particulate filter is provided in which the nozzle angle (nozzle area) of the variable geometry turbocharger can be controlled accurately and by a simple means in accordance with the change in the internal EGR rate due to deposition of particulate matter in the particulate filter, and the effect of EGR to reduce NOx emission is obtained in the whole operation range of the engine without deteriorating durability of the engine.
US08166754B2	Exhaust manifold In an exhaust manifold for an internal combustion engine including a central part with tow exhaust gas flow ducts extending from the central part in opposite directions for collecting exhaust gas from first and respectively second cylinder groups of the engine, the center part includes a first control valve for controlling the exhaust gas flow from the first and the second cylinder groups to first and second turbine inlet flow passages, a second control valve for controlling the exhaust gas pressure and a third control valve for controlling the exhaust gas recirculation rate.
US08166749B2	Exhaust treatment diagnostic system and method A method and system for monitoring operation of an exhaust treatment system of a diesel engine includes a dosing system for injecting an injection fluid and a temperature sensor generating temperature signals corresponding to exhaust temperatures. A control module determines a temperature change after an injection of injection fluid based on the temperature signals, compares the temperature change to a threshold, and generates a fault signal in response thereto.
US08166748B2	Gas turbine engine booster having rotatable radially inwardly extending blades and non-rotatable vanes A gas turbine engine booster includes one or more rotatable booster stages having booster blades extending radially inwardly from a rotatable drum and one or more non-rotatable vane stages having booster vanes extending radially outwardly from a non-rotatable shell. The booster stages may be interdigitated with the vane stages. The booster may be co-rotatable or counter-rotatable with respect to a fan stage of an aircraft gas turbine engine. The booster may be driven by a single turbine or one of counter-rotatable turbines or though a gearbox by these turbines. The booster blades and the booster vanes extend across a core engine inlet duct having an entrance downstream of the first fan stage. A fan section with the booster may have counter-rotatable first and second fan stages with fan blades of the second fan stages connected to and mounted radially outwardly of the rotatable drum.
US08166747B2	Gas turbine engine A steam injection gas turbine engine having a once-through steam generator (OTSG). A condenser is provided downstream of the OTSG to capture water and is protected from hot flue gasses during startup by a bypass circuit. Optionally, heating the exhaust downstream of the condenser using coolant taken from an intercooler provides plume suppression.
US08166746B2	Rotor containment element with frangible connections A containment system for containing fragments of a burst rotor including first and second means for frangibly connecting a containment element to first and second walls, the first and second means rupturing upon being subjected to a load mainly produced by a translational motion of at least one fragment impacting the element.
US08166741B2	Resilient composite tire cord Elastic metal/textile composite cord (C-1) having two layers (Ci, Ce) of 1+N construction, formed from a core or inner layer (Ci) comprising a textile core thread (10) of diameter d1 and a metal outer layer (Ce) of N wires (12) of diameter d2 wound together in a helix with a pitch p2 around the layer Ci, said cord being characterized in that it has the following characteristics (p2 in mm): As>1.0%; At>4.0%; Af>6.0%; d1>1.1d2; 4
US08166734B2	Equine cold therapy apparatus and method Apparatus for and methods of core cooling the blood of an equine animal. The apparatus is a flexible boot with an orthotic pad that has various features to allow for circulating coolant so the bottom hoof area of an equine can be cooled. Optionally the pad is designed to allow cooling under vacuum. In some aspects the apparatus also provides elements to facilitate cooling the lower leg of the equine in a way designed to allow coolant circulated through the boot pad to also be circulated through leg cooling elements while maintaining a controlled temperature against the leg surface. The invention is also a method of core cooling an animal utilizing the apparatus described.
US08166723B2	Floor panels with edge connectors Floor covering, including hard floor panels which, at least at the edges of two opposite sides, are provided with coupling parts, cooperating which each other, substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove, wherein the coupling parts are provided with integrated mechanical locking elements which prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels in a direction (R) perpendicular to the related edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels, and provide a snap-action coupling.
US08166711B2	Inflatable support systems for recreational structures A shelter including a support assembly having a plurality of inflatable supports each having an elongated tube body and defining at least two separate longitudinal passages pneumatically separated by a bladder, wherein the tube bodies of each support is connected to the tube body of one or more of the other supports and wherein each of the passages of the each support is pneumatically connected to each of the passages of the other supports, and wherein the supports are spaced circumferentially apart as legs of the support assembly for forming a perimeter of the shelter, and a single port pneumatically coupled to only one of the supports, the port configured for passing air between an external pneumatic vessel and the support to which the port is coupled and a canopy including a plurality of wall panels, the wall panels being configured for being suspended from the support assembly.
US08166709B2	Support of a solar tracker The invention relates to improvements in the support of a solar tracker, of the type comprising a structure (1) on which a solar panel (4) is arranged by means of horizontal articulations (3), a linear actuator (5) being included between both, which linear actuator is attached to the solar panel (4) at a point (6) which is laterally separated with respect to the axial line of the horizontal articulations (3) and with respect to the structure at a point (8) which is laterally separated therefrom, shock-absorbers (9) being arranged between the solar panel (4) and the structure (1) in the areas of the horizontal articulations (3), whereas pins (10) limiting the pivoting of the solar panel (4) in both directions are arranged in the horizontal articulations (3).
US08166707B2	Reinforced door jamb assembly A reinforced door jamb and method thereof, to prevent breaking of a lock. A doorjamb is reinforced by inserting one or two reinforced plates into the door jamb. One plate is inserted close to the door latch receiving recess on the interior side of the door jamb, and the other plate is inserted close to the exterior side of the door jamb. The reinforced plates are then connected to each other using high strength rods or bolts.
US08166705B2	Support structure for vehicular resin window A resin window includes a plate-shaped main body portion and a gear projection portion that is molded integrally with the main body portion so as to project in a thickness direction of the main body portion from a rear end portion of the main body portion. A part of a side face of the gear projection portion is surrounded by a gear-side guide frame for guiding the raising/lowering of the resin window. The gear projection portion includes a meshing gear provided along a vertical direction to mesh with a drive gear, and positioning members provided respectively on upper and lower end portions of the gear projection portion to abut on an inside surface of the gear-side guide frame. When the drive gear is rotated, the positioning members slide relative to the inside surface of the gear-side guide frame, and thus the resin window can be raised or lowered along the gear-side guide frame.
US08166702B1	Tree stand apparatus The tree stand apparatus provides lateral support and a large reservoir created by the conical shape enables fewer fillings of the apparatus. The numerous transfer orifices ensure that clogging especially typical of evergreen tree stands, does not occur, as full communication exists between the tree cylinder and the reservoir. The ability to easily drain and refill the apparatus ensures fresh water supply as well as supply of nutrients that further enhance tree livelihood. Problems of water drainage typical of after-use of a tree stand are negated by the valved drain bib that is disposed immediately adjacent to the bottom of the reservoir, thereby ensuring full drainage. The apparatus provides fill holes that are diametrically opposed, with one fill hole radialy aligned with a float that slides vertically on a float slide to enable exterior viewing of internal water level.
US08166690B2	Systems and methods for indicating properties of a unit for deployment for electronic weaponry An electronic weapon may be used with a unit for deployment to cause skeletal muscle contractions in a human or animal target. The unit for deployment when electrically coupled to the electronic weapon, may include at least two electrodes, an indicator, and a propellant for deploying the electrodes to enable delivery, through the target, of a stimulus current to incapacitate the target by causing contractions of the skeletal muscles of the target. The indicator indicates, to the electronic weapon, indicia of a first property of the unit for deployment prior to operating the propellant, and indicia of a second property of the unit for deployment after operating the propellant. Another unit for deployment includes at least two electrodes, an indicator, and a stimulus signal generator, coupled to the electrodes to enable delivery, through the target, of a stimulus current to incapacitate the target by causing contractions of the skeletal muscles of the target. The indicator indicates, to the electronic weapon, indicia of a first property of the unit for deployment prior to operating the stimulus signal generator, and indicia of a second property of the unit for deployment after operating the stimulus signal generator.
US08166679B2	Electric iron The present invention discloses an electric iron comprising: at least one base unit a main body provided with a water inlet, a water outlet and a water tank connected between said inlet and said outlet; said base unit and said main body may connected or disconnected by a connecting unit; said base unit provided with a water passage which can connected with said water outlet when in assembly with said main body, a steam outlet, a chamber connected between said water passage and said steam outlet and a heating plate used for heating said chamber. Since the base unit can disconnected to the main body, user can choice different heating plates based on different clothing ironing conditions.
US08166660B2	Reciprocating saw A reciprocating saw having a housing, a reciprocating shaft unrotatably connected to a blade, a rear handle and a forward handle, the forward handle being rotatably mounted to the housing near the blade and capable of sliding relative to the reciprocating shaft, but incapable of rotating relative to the reciprocating shaft. The forward handle comprises at least one hole, the reciprocating saw further includes a button connected to a locking element for engaging or disengaging with the at least one hole. The reciprocating saw is easy and comfortable to operate.
US08166645B2	Method for providing near-hermetically coated, thermally protected integrated circuit assemblies The present invention is a method for providing an integrated circuit assembly, the integrated circuit assembly including an integrated circuit and a substrate. The method includes mounting the integrated circuit to the substrate. The method further includes adding thermally conductive particles to a low processing temperature, at least near-hermetic, glass-based coating. The method further includes, during assembly of the integrated circuit assembly, applying a low processing temperature, at least near-hermetic, glass-based coating directly to at least one of the integrated circuit and the substrate. The method further includes curing the coating.
US08166644B2	Method for manufacturing an active socket for facilitating proximity communication One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates capacitive communication between integrated circuit chips. The system includes a substrate having an active face upon which active circuitry and signal pads reside, and a back face opposite the active face. The system additionally includes an integrated circuit chip having an active face upon which active circuitry and signal pads reside, and a back face opposite the active face. Additionally, the integrated circuit chip is pressed against the substrate such that the active face of the integrated circuit chip is parallel to and adjacent to the active face of the substrate, and capacitive signal pads on the active face of the integrated circuit chip overlap signal pads on the active face of the substrate. The arrangement of the substrate and integrated circuit chip facilitates communication between the integrated circuit chip and the substrate through capacitive coupling via the overlapping signal pads.
US08166643B2	Method of manufacturing the circuit apparatus, method of manufacturing the circuit board, and method of manufacturing the circuit device A method of manufacturing a circuit apparatus includes forming a plurality of pierced holes in a metal substrate. A first wiring layer is formed on one side of the metal substrate via a first insulating layer, and a second wiring layer is formed on the other side of the metal substrate via a second insulating layer. A conductor layer is formed in at least some of the plurality of pierced holes to establish a connection between the first wiring layer and the second wiring layer. A circuit element is connected to the first wiring layer on the one side of the metal substrate. When a plurality of pierced holes are formed, protrusions are formed on a surface of the metal substrate at least along either edge of each of the pierced holes provided with the conductor layer to protrude in a convex manner from the surface of the metal substrate.
US08166638B2	Rotary clip bonder Multiple connector clips are bondable onto an electronic device simultaneously with a rotary clip bonder, wherein a pick head comprising a plurality of collets is positioned at a clip supply channel. A plurality of connector clips are picked up from the clip supply channel in a fixed orientation with the pick head and are conveyed to a clip bonding area where the electronic device is located. The pick head is rotated with a rotary motor about a rotational axis passing through a shaft connecting the rotary motor to the pick head in order to change the orientation of the plurality of connector clips, before the connector clips are bonded at the clip bonding area.
US08166636B2	Apparatus with a centering device for positioning and cutting a laminate A mold houses a least one cutting die that defines a die axis. The mold has at least one punch aligned with the die axis and movable in a reciprocating manner that cooperates with the at least one cutting die to cut the laminate into the laminations by carrying out cutting steps. The mold has a centering device within the mold that locks the at least one cutting die into a desired position prior to each of the cutting steps. A punching movement of the at least one punch is coordinated with a feeding movement of the laminate to a location within the mold that is interposed between the at least one punch and the cutting die.
US08166630B2	Magnetic head slider manufacturing method To provide a manufacturing method which can adjust the lengths of a recording element and a reproducing element for enabling manufacture of high-quality magnetic head sliders. The manufacturing method comprises: a stacked-layer forming step which stacks magnetic heads on a substrate; a lapping step which cuts out a bar block having a plurality of connected magnetic head sliders, and polishes a flying surface; and a slider cutting step which cuts out individual magnetic head sliders from the bar block. The stacked-layer forming step forms a reproducing-element polish amount detecting sensor on a same layer as that of the reproducing element, and forms a recording-element polish amount detecting sensor on a same layer as that of the recording element. The lapping step carries out polishing based on each output value of the reproducing-element polish amount detecting sensor and the recording-element polish amount detecting sensor.
US08166617B2	Device for organizing and maintaining the patency of lines One aspect of the invention relates to a device that efficiently folds and organizes tubing and cords while not compromising their function. In certain embodiments, the device provides dynamic length adjustment in the form to reducing line length, and the device organizes the lines in parallel, making it easier to identify their connections.
US08166616B2	Turnbuckle A turnbuckle for an anti-skid chain that can be mounted on the wheel of a vehicle. A tension cable is connected inside the turnbuckle housing to a winding roll that is pre-stressed in the winding-up direction and mounted so that it can be rotated about its axle. A ratchet wheel with at least one ratchet catch allocated to it is provided on the winding roll and the tension cable can be blocked against its direction of tension by gripping of the ratchet catch into the ratchet wheel. The ratchet catch is moved at least incrementally outwards from the idle position when the wheel isn't moving, in which it is disengaged from the ratchet wheel and the tension cable is not blocked, under the action of the centrifugal force upon rotation of the wheel, and this movement effects a gripping of the ratchet catch into the ratchet wheel.
US08166613B2	Limiting hinge A limiting hinge has a stationary limiting washer, a rotating limiting washer, a rotating bracket and a positioning washer mounted around a pintle in sequence. A first resistance is formed between the stationary limiting washer and the rotating limiting washer. A second resistance is formed between the rotating limiting washer and the rotating bracket. A third resistance is formed between the rotating bracket and the positioning washer. Because the first resistance is larger than the second resistance while the second resistance is larger than the third resistance, the rotating limiting washer disengages from the rotating bracket when a huge force is accidentally applied. Therefore, the rotating limiting washer stays still with the stationary limiting washer to prevent breakage.
US08166612B2	Adjustable hinge for pivoting door A hinge assembly is provided for a pivoting door mounted about an opening, and may include a hinge plate, an internally threaded adjuster, a locking element, a first cam element, a second cam element, and a limiting plate. The hinge plate is mounted about the opening and includes a pivot projecting therefrom.
US08166609B2	Suction nozzle and vacuum cleaner having the same A suction nozzle of a vacuum cleaner includes a suction nozzle body which includes a suction port adapted to draw in contaminants on a surface, and a contaminant attachment unit formed in the suction nozzle body. The contaminant attachment unit is adapted to attach contaminants thereto.
US08166603B2	Compound water-wiper and pet hair/fur removal apparatus and method An apparatus and method that efficiently removes water from a surface without the need for a towel and effectively removes hair or fur from a surface. The apparatus is designed to provide a comfort gripping region to a human hand to facilitate ease in use. The material that the apparatus is made from can be static electric attracting to more effectively remove charged particles such as hair or fur from a surface. The apparatus may have various flex edges, including combs, slits and bulges.
US08166599B2	Articulated link duster and duster support frame In accordance with another aspect of the present development, an articulated link duster support frame includes a base and a working region connected to the base. The working region includes a plurality of links pivotally connected in series such that each link is pivotally connected to at least one adjacent link, with an inner one of said links pivotally connected to the base. Respective articulated joints pivotally connect the inner link to the base and pivotally connect each link to at least one adjacent link. Each joint includes a first side comprising at least two ears and a second side comprising at least one tab located between and slidably abutted with the at least two ears of said first side. Each joint further includes a fastener pivotally connecting the first and second joint sides. A fabric, feather, or other dusting member is connected to the working region.
US08166595B2	Bridge decking panel with fastening systems A bridge decking panel and structures for attaching the panel to supporting bridge beams and to other such panels at abutting ends. An anchor plate assembly is cast within a paving material and has a pair of parallel runner bars extending along the decking panel and spaced apart by the width of a supporting bridge beam that is received between the runner bars. The runner bars are connected by cross bars and several studs extend from the runner bars into the paving material. Several nuts are welded to the runner bars at spaced intervals and aligned with holes through the runner bars for attachment to connecting structures.
US08166594B1	Counterbalance mechanism for fold out ramp A ramp assembly has a ramp portion configured for reciprocating movement between a stowed position, a deployed position, and a neutral position. The weight of the ramp portion biases the ramp portion (1) toward the deployed position when the ramp portion is between the deployed position and the neutral position, and (2) toward the stowed position when the ramp portion is between the stowed position and the neutral position. A counterbalance for the ramp assembly includes a cam configured to rotate when the ramp portion moves between the stowed position and the deployed position. A cam follower is slidingly coupled to a guide and engages a surface of the cam so that rotation of the cam translates the cam follower along a path. The counterbalance further includes a resistance member coupled to the cam follower to provide a force to the cam follower to counteract the ramp moment.
US08166590B2	Method and apparatus for determining laundry load size A method and apparatus according to one embodiment for operating a laundry treating appliance includes determining a parameter representative of a rotational speed of laundry in a drum and determining a laundry load size based on the parameter.
US08166579B2	Power operated urinal apparatus for a commode The commode-urinal prevents urine-splatters around the commode, and stores extra toilet rolls and flushable funnels. In power-driven commode-urinal, a user activates a sensor; a jaw clamps a flushable funnel to an arm. The arm moves out of dispenser dispensing and suspending the funnel above the commode-bowl. The user urinates through the funnel, which channels urine into the bowl preventing urine-splatters around the commode. After urinating, the user activates the sensor; the jaw retracts releasing used funnel into the bowl. The arm retracts into the dispenser clearing the commode to function unimpeded. Flushing drains away the funnel. In manually-operated commode-urinal, when ready to urinate, the user pulls a funnel from the dispenser. Keeping bottom end of the funnel in middle of the bowl, the user urinates through it. After urinating, the user drops the funnel into the bowl and flushes. The funnels have wet strength, water repellency, but degrade in drains.
US08166573B1	Helmet system with interchangeable outer shells A helmet system comprises a base shell, a set of outer shells, said each outer shell selectively and adjustably geared for placement on and over the base shell in an interchangeable mode and position thereon as desired by the wearer, a connector detachably engaging said each outer shell to the base shell, and a first guide rail slot that includes an upwardly extending portion that the outer shell lies on and in, so that the upwardly extending portion extends between the base and the outer shell to form a buffer there between.
US08171560B2	Secure content pre-distribution to designated systems Described is a technology by which encrypted content is pre-distributed to recipients during a pre-distribution timeframe, for example to distribute protected content to many clients in a controlled manner. At a release moment, a key for decrypting the encrypted content is released. For example, a software update may be pre-distributed in this manner, whereby many clients may receive the updates over time but the update cannot be analyzed for hacking purposes, e.g., to use the update to figure out a prior vulnerability. By rapidly and widely disseminating the key at the release moment, the update is installed on a large percentage of client systems before those systems can be exploited. The content may be allowed to expire before the key is released, or may be canceled or replaced. The content may include a complete file, and/or a delta file that changes another file into a resultant piece of content.
US08171549B2	Apparatus, methods and articles of manufacture for intercepting, examining and controlling code, data, files and their transfer Apparatus, methods and articles of manufacture are disclosed for analyzing code. A valuation component, which provides a value for analyzed code is comprised of a tokenization component, hashing component and numerical valuation component. As code is transferred through the components, a numerical value for the code is generated. The valuation may occur through hashing, probability analysis and comparison against a proscribed code indicator.
US08171546B2	Keyboard security status check module and method A keyboard security status check module and method are provided. The module is provided to enable a user to easily check the operating status of a keyboard security program installed in a user terminal. The module includes a keyboard security monitor linked to the keyboard security program and configured to monitor a reception status of key input data protected by keyboard security, and a controller configured to display a dynamic keyboard security check representation on a screen of the user terminal according to the reception status of the key input data monitored by the keyboard security monitor.
US08171544B2	Method and system for preventing, auditing and trending unauthorized traffic in network systems A method and system for preventing, auditing and trending unauthorized traffic in a network system is provided. The unauthorized traffic is detected at the router level. An attacker transmits an attack vector to the network system. The attack vector is detected at the router and signatures are created for network system resources, wherein each signature represents the response of a network system resource to the attack vector. Signatures are created by learning how the attack is taking place within the network system. Network system resources corresponding to the signatures are then emulated, thereby protecting the network device.
US08171542B2	Advanced encryption standard to provide hardware key interface A system to control access to at least one protected device, the system comprising a test access port operable to mate with an external key device and an internal key device that is operable to receive synchronized cipher words during an idle state of the test access port from a removable external key device. The internal key device is also operable to receive test signals via the external key device and to input the received test signals to the protected device based on the synchronized cipher words. The protected device and the internal key device are one of located within a closed chassis, located under a protective security coating, located within a multi-chip-module, located within a closed integrated circuit package, and combinations thereof.
US08171540B2	Method and system for E-mail management of E-mail having embedded classification metadata A method and system method for e-mail management of e-mails having embedded classification metadata. A query from an end user to access an e-mail account by an e-mail client is received. It is then determined whether the query has come from an insecure e-mail client, such as a web e-mail client. Access rules for defining classification access restrictions for the e-mail client to access e-mail in the e-mail account are retrieved when the e-mail client is determined to be insecure. The e-mail query can then be modified before sending to an e-mail server storing the email account. The query is modified based on the retrieved access rules to exclude retrieval of e-mails based upon the e-mail classification metadata.

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