最新美国发明专利
Document Document Title
US08279340B2 Image signal processing apparatus and method thereof
An image signal processing unit and an image signal processing method thereof. An image signal processing unit estimates motion characteristics of an input image, and adjusts a phase of an interpolation frame according to the motion characteristics when converting a frame rate. Accordingly, linearity can be maintained according to the motion characteristics of an input image, and the frame rate can be converted without generating noise such as halo artifacts.
US08279333B2 Camera door opening and shutting apparatus for portable communication device
The present invention discloses a camera door opening/shutting apparatus for a portable communication device. The apparatus includes a camera door disposed at a main body to expose or cover a camera lens included in the main body according to a sliding movement of the camera door, and a door sliding part disposed between the main body and the camera door to slidably couple the camera door with the main body.
US08279323B2 Image capturing apparatus and control method for the same
An image capturing apparatus performs autofocus control that uses a face detection function. The image capturing apparatus sets a face region as an AF frame if face detection is successful. However, if a state in which face detection is successful transitions to a state in which face detection has failed, and furthermore a variation between subject distances is less than or equal to a threshold value, the image capturing apparatus maintains the previous AF frame setting instead of changing the AF frame setting. If the variation in subject distances is greater than the threshold value, the image capturing apparatus sets the AF frame to a predetermined region that does not follow a face region.
US08279320B2 Imaging apparatus data recording method and data-display control method, and computer program
An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit configured to execute processing to capture an image; a GPS (Global Positioning System) device configured to execute position calculation processing based on data received from a satellite; a power-supply control unit configured to control power supply to the GPS device; an apparatus control unit configured to monitor a state of photographing by a user to calculate a frequency of use of the imaging unit per unit time, and to cause the power-supply control unit to intermittently supply power to the GPS device when the calculated use frequency is lower than a predetermined threshold; and a data-recording control unit configured to generate photographed data attribute information in which positional information acquired in the GPS device is set as attribute information of an acquired image in the imaging unit, and to execute processing to store the photographed data attribute information in a storing unit.
US08279319B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and information processing system
An information processing apparatus includes an image-information obtaining unit configured to obtain first image information; an information associating unit configured to generate first related information having certain content related to the first image information and to associate the first related information with the first image information; a display processor configured to use function data including second image information and condition information to display an image of the second image information, and to allow display of a representative image representing the first image information on the image of the second image information; a determining unit configured to determine whether the content of the first related information associated with the first image information satisfies a condition represented by the condition information; and a display controller configured to cause the display processor to display the representative image only when the determining unit determines that the condition is satisfied.
US08279314B2 Apparatus and method for eliminating artifacts in active pixel sensor (APS) imagers
An active pixel sensor (APS) that includes circuitry to eliminate artifacts in digital images. The APS includes a comparator for comparing a signal level from a pixel to an adjusted saturation voltage to determine if the pixel is saturated. If the pixel is saturated, the signal output from the pixel is replaced with an analog voltage having a maximum value corresponding to a brightest pixel in the image.
US08279301B2 Red-eye filter method and apparatus
A digital image acquisition system having no photographic film, such as a digital camera, has a flash unit for providing illumination during image capture and a red-eye filter for detecting a region within a captured image indicative of a red-eye phenomenon, the detection being based upon a comparison of the captured image and a reference image of nominally the same scene taken without flash. In the embodiment the reference image is a preview image of lower pixel resolution than the captured image, the filter matching the pixel resolutions of the captured and reference images by up-sampling the preview image and/or sub-sampling the captured image. The filter also aligns at least portions of the captured image and reference image prior to comparison to allow for, e.g. movement in the subject.
US08279294B2 Information processing apparatus, remote indication system, and computer readable medium
An information processing apparatus including: a management portion that manages a first identifier to be added to a capture image from a capture device; and a first control portion that adds the first identifier to the capture image, temporarily stores the capture image to which the first identifier is added, and transmits the capture image to which the first identifier is added, to a remote terminal; wherein when storing an image displayed on a display device which is connected to the remote device is instructed, the management portion receives a storing instruction including the first identifier in relation to the displayed image from the remote terminal, acquires the capture image corresponding to the first identifier included in the storing instruction from the first control portion, and stores the acquired capture image into a storage.
US08279293B2 Image stabilizing apparatus and image pickup apparatus
The image stabilizing apparatus includes a base member, a first member shiftable with respect to the base member in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis direction, a first actuator shifting the first member with respect to the base member, an image-pickup element constituted by a photoelectrical conversion element, a second member holding the image-pickup element. The second member is shiftable together with the first member in the direction orthogonal to the optical axis direction and rotatable with respect to the first member in a plane orthogonal to the optical axis direction. The apparatus further includes a second actuator rotating the second member with respect to the first member.
US08279289B2 Optical unit with shake correcting function
An optical unit with shake correcting function may include a movable module having a lens, a fixed body supporting the movable module, a shake detection sensor for detecting shake of the movable module, and at least one pair of magnetic drive mechanism for shake correction which is structured on both sides of the movable module so that the movable module is swung with respect to the fixed body on the basis of detection result of the shake detection sensor to correct the shake of the movable module. The magnetic drive mechanism for shake correction is disposed so that a shake correction magnet is held by the fixed body and a shake correction coil is held by the movable module. Further, a shake correction coil may be disposed in a first region, where magnetic lines of force generated by a shake correction magnet are directed in directions generally going away from a supporting point part and/or a second region where magnetic lines of force generated by the shake correction magnet are directed in directions generally going toward the supporting point part.
US08279284B2 Video display apparatus
A video display apparatus includes a reception unit configured to receive a plurality of sequence of video signals output from a plurality of cameras, a storage unit configured to store the plurality of sequence of video signals received by the reception unit, a display unit configured to include the first and second display areas, and a control unit. The control unit selectively and time-divisionally displays the plurality of sequence of video signals received by the reception unit on the first display area, and along with the display operation, selectively reads out from the storage unit a non-displayed section of the plurality of sequence of video signals which have been received by the reception unit, and displays the readout section on the second display area.
US08279279B2 Image processing apparatus
An image processing apparatus permits a user to readily recognize a current state of an angle of view. When an angle of view is switched from a wide-angle to a narrow-angle, range display is performed for a predetermined time prior to the switching. Range display includes a narrow-angle image frame formed with lines indicating a border of an image displayed for a predetermined time prior to the switching. After the predetermined time, a narrow-angle image is displayed and the range display is no longer displayed. The range display allows a user to readily recognize that the wide-angle image has been switched to the narrow-angle image by recognizing to what area in a pre-switching wide angle of view image the post-switching narrow-angle image corresponds.
US08279275B2 Signal processing device for biological observation apparatus
Tissue information of a desired deep portion of a biological tissue based on a spectral image obtained from signal processing is adjusted to image information in a color tone suitable for observation. Outputs of a matrix computing section 436 are respectively connected to integrating sections 438a to 438c, and after integrating computation is performed for them, color conversion computation is performed for respective spectral image signals ΣF1 to ΣF3 in a color adjusting section 440, spectral color channel image signals Rch, Gch and Bch are created from the spectral image signals ΣF1 to ΣF3, and images of the spectral color channel images Rch, Gch and Bch are sent to a display monitor 106 via a switching section 439.
US08279268B2 Projection system with wall structures for aerial display of three-dimensional video images
An aerial projection system and method having a housing for positioning low cost optical elements capable of generating a three dimensional aerial images at video rates without reflected artifacts or visible display of the display screen. A method for generating the display images is based on a set of rules that eliminate boundary transgressions and maximizes the illusion of a three dimensional aerial image. An optional second display is a transparent imaging panel that acts selectively as a light valve, as a display platform for special effects or for providing the appearance of linear motion towards or away from the observer. The aerial projection system includes a plastic spherical mirror having a plastic part of at least the following descriptions: mirror surface of sufficient sphericity supported by wall structures, of a plastic material formulation, excellent optical grade finish, has a reflective metal coating and a protective overcoat.
US08279255B2 Electronic equipment for a communication system
The present invention relates to a method and an electronic equipment for reducing the set-up time required to establish video calls between handheld communication devices, wherein the method comprises the steps of detecting (16, S1) a signal to establish a video call via a communication link, determining (16, 30) the party to which the video call has to be established, searching, in a data base (30), for information indicating the capability of the party with respect to the video call, defining, for the electronic equipment (1), specifications for the video call based on the information, and initialling the electronic equipment (1) according to the specifications. By storing the negotiated result of a previous video call between communication devices, no further negotiation is necessary in the following video calls. The calling device can start its camera (8) and load its codecs during the calling phase and the called device can do it after receiving the set-up message from the network.
US08279254B2 Method and system for video conferencing in a virtual environment
According to some embodiments, a method and a system are provided to receive a first video signal at a first client and to receive a second video signal at a second client. The first video signal comprises an image of a first person and the second video signal comprises an image of a second person. The received first video signal and an image of a conference room are combined at the first client to create a first modified video signal comprising the image of the first person in the conference room. The received second video signal and the image of the conference room are combined at the second client to create a second modified video signal comprising the image of the second person in the conference room.
US08279252B2 Communication terminal apparatus, communication method, and information recording medium
A storage unit stores name, phone number, and a videophoning flag indicating whether to preferentially use a videophone or not in association with each person to communicate with. A CPU refers to the videophoning flag associated with a person when controlling a communication unit to make a call to that person, and determines whether to prioritize a voice phone or to prioritize the videophone. The CPU controls the communication unit to make a call by the videophone if the videophone is prioritized, or to make a call by the voice phone if the voice phone is prioritized. When a call from a person is received by the videophone, the CPU refers to the videophoning flag of that person, and permits communication by the videophone if the videophone is prioritized or does not permit communication by the videophone if the voice phone is prioritized.
US08279240B2 Video scaling techniques
A video scaler is disclosed. A polyphase filter can be used to generate interpolated pixels. The values of pixels adjacent an interpolated pixel are examined to determine variation in values among the adjacent pixels to determine minimum and maximum value variations. The value of the interpolated pixel is limited based on the minimum and maximum value variations. Ringing artifacts can be reduced by limiting the color range of an interpolated pixel.
US08279228B2 Performance driven facial animation
A method of animating a digital facial model, the method including: defining a plurality of action units; calibrating each action unit of the plurality of action units via an actor's performance; capturing first facial pose data; determining a plurality of weights, each weight of the plurality of weights uniquely corresponding to the each action unit, the plurality of weights characterizing a weighted combination of the plurality of action units, the weighted combination approximating the first facial pose data; generating a weighted activation by combining the results of applying the each weight to the each action unit; applying the weighted activation to the digital facial model; and recalibrating at least one action unit of the plurality of action units using input user adjustments to the weighted activation.
US08279227B2 Method for detecting collisions among large numbers of particles
A method for detecting object collisions in a simulation, which includes identifying a plurality of objects moving along a path within a simulation area, and defining a grid comprising defined regions which individually define a region within which any of the plurality of objects could potentially occupy. For each of the objects, the method further includes identifying which of the defined regions that each of the plurality of object occupies for at least a portion of a time step, and for each of the objects, determining an associated potential collision set by identifying objects of the plurality of objects which occupy common regions of the defined regions during any portion of the time step. In addition, for each of the objects, the method further includes determining an actual collision set comprising objects with which a given object will collide during the time step based upon location parameters of objects included in the potential collision set.
US08279222B2 Processing graphics data for a stereoscopic display
Processing graphics data for display on a stereoscopic display. In one example embodiment, a method of processing graphics data for display on a stereoscopic display includes several acts. First, a first projection matrix call from a graphics application to a graphics library is intercepted. Next, it is determined that the first projection matrix call produces a perspective projection matrix. Then, the first projection matrix call is forwarded to the graphics library. Next, a first drawing call with a first viewpoint from the graphics application to the graphics library is intercepted. Then, a second drawing call with a second viewpoint is generated. Next, a third drawing call with a third viewpoint is generated. Finally, the second and third drawing calls are forwarded to the graphics library.
US08279221B2 3D graphics processor and autostereoscopic display device using the same
A stereoscopic image display device displays a stereoscopic image by generating stereoscopic image data based on 3D graphics data. The stereoscopic image display device includes a display unit for displaying an image, a driver, and a controller. The controller receives a synchronization signal, the 3D graphics data, and a user selection parameter for modifying a stereoscopic effect level, and outputs a control signal based on the synchronization signal and a stereoscopic image data signal, which is generated by combining left eye image data and right eye image data generated through performing matrix operations on the 3D graphics data and the user selection parameter, to the driver. The driver drives the display unit based on the control signal and the stereoscopic image data signal to display the stereoscopic image on the display unit.
US08279197B2 Method and apparatus for detecting defective traces in a mutual capacitance touch sensing device
Several different methods of testing the integrity and proper operation of the drive and sense electrodes in a mutual capacitance sensing device such as a touchscreen or touchpad are disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, measured values of mutual capacitance corresponding to individual cells in a mutual capacitance sensing device are compared to one another and to predetermined thresholds. The results of the comparison are employed to determine whether any of the traces forming the electrodes in the device are defective. By way of example, traces can be defective if they are broken, too thin, too thick, or shorted together. The various embodiments of the methods disclosed herein may be used for touchscreen or touchpad quality control in a manufacturing setting, or may be used to test touchscreens or touchpads that have already been incorporated into electronic devices. The various methods disclosed herein lower manufacturing costs, increase product quality and yield, and may be carried out quickly.
US08279194B2 Electrode configurations for projected capacitive touch screen
A projected capacitive touch screen is provided that comprises a substrate and electrodes. The substrate defines an active touch zone surrounded by edges. The active touch zone includes a central active zone and an acceleration zone that is located proximate to, and extends along, at least one of the edges. The electrodes are provided on the substrate and are organized into first and second sets of electrodes that are contained within a common plane on the substrate. The first set of electrodes is interlaced with the second set of electrodes in a non-overlapping pattern on the substrate. At least a subset of the electrodes each has an apex and a base and a non-uniform triangular shape that extends along a longitudinal axis between the apex and the base.
US08279186B2 Interactive display system
There is disclosed an interactive display system comprising an interactive surface for displaying an image and for receiving inputs from remote devices, the system being adapted to detect the presence of at least two remote devices proximate the interactive surface.
US08279185B2 Methods, devices and computer program products for positioning icons on a touch sensitive screen
Methods, systems and computer program products for positioning a plurality of icons on a touch sensitive screen include receiving an input to the touch sensitive screen including a substantially continuous stroke between a first and a second position on the screen. The plurality of icons is positioned on the touch sensitive screen responsive to the substantially continuous stroke.
US08279183B2 Electronic device including touch-sensitive display
An electronic device includes a base and a touch-sensitive display connected to the base and movable relative thereto. The touch-sensitive display includes a display device and a touch-sensitive input device for detecting touches on the display device. The electronic device also includes a switch actuator disposed between the touch-sensitive display and the base, switches disposed between the touch-sensitive display and the base and moveable relative to the switch actuator from a first position in which only one of the switches is located for actuation by the switch actuator, and a second position in which two of the switches are located for actuation by the switch actuator, and operational components including a processor connected to the display device and the touch-sensitive input device for controlling operation of the display device and the touch-sensitive input device.
US08279169B2 Universal input device and system
The present invention relates to input devices and particularly to input devices for use with computer and telecommunications systems and/or other object systems and/or devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a universal input device for inputting data.
US08279168B2 Three-dimensional virtual-touch human-machine interface system and method therefor
A three-dimensional virtual-touch human-machine interface system (20) and a method (100) of operating the system (20) are presented. The system (20) incorporates a three-dimensional time-of-flight sensor (22), a three-dimensional autostereoscopic display (24), and a computer (26) coupled to the sensor (22) and the display (24). The sensor (22) detects a user object (40) within a three-dimensional sensor space (28). The display (24) displays an image (42) within a three-dimensional display space (32). The computer (26) maps a position of the user object (40) within an interactive volumetric field (36) mutually within the sensor space (28) and the display space (32), and determines when the positions of the user object (40) and the image (42) are substantially coincident. Upon detection of coincidence, the computer (26) executes a function programmed for the image (42).
US08279167B2 ePaper stamp
A method and apparatus are provided for stamping a piece of ePaper. A grid is positioned within a selected distance to a first side of the piece of ePaper. A grounding pin conductively connects a conductive backing plate located on a second side of the piece of ePaper. The grounding pin completes a voltage path from the grid through the piece of ePaper to the conductive backing plate. A voltage is supplied to the grid and supplying the voltage to the grid changes the appearance of the piece of ePaper to form a stamped image.
US08279166B2 Display apparatus comprising electrofluidic cells
A display apparatus is described comprising a plurality of electrofluidic chromatophore (EFC) pixel cells. Each pixel cell comprises a fluid holder for holding a polar fluid and a non-polar fluid having differing display properties. The fluid holder comprises a fluid reservoir with a geometry having a small visible area onto the polar fluid, and a channel with a geometry having a large visible area onto the polar fluid. The channel is connected to the reservoir to enable free movement of the polar fluid and non-polar fluid between the channel and the reservoir. At least part of a surface of the channel comprises a wetting property responsive to a supply voltage. The pixel cell comprises at least one further pixel cell terminal that is coupled to a further electrode to supply a direct voltage to the pixel cell.
US08279164B2 Surface light source capable of changing range of spread angle of exit light, and liquid crystal display apparatus using this surface light source
A surface light source includes first and second light sources that emit lights, and an optical deflection element. The optical deflection element changes light emitted from the first light source into first illumination light having a maximum value of an exit light intensity present in a direction parallel to a normal line of the surface light source, a spread angle range, and high directivity in a direction of the normal line and allows the changed light to exit therefrom. The optical deflection element also changes light emitted from the second light source into second illumination light having a maximum value of an exit light intensity in an oblique direction inclined at an angle with respect to the normal line and a spread angle range wider than that of the first illumination light and allows the changed light to exit therefrom.
US08279163B2 Image display apparatus and method
An image display apparatus and method. At least one of a left eye image and a right eye image may be formed on a pixel representation unit at a predetermined frame rate. A light, emitted from a backlight module, may be converted into a directional light having at least one direction through synchronization with the predetermined frame rate. The directional light may be guided to the pixel representation unit.
US08279162B2 Discharge lamp for dielectrically impeded discharge using a flat discharge vessel
The invention relates to a discharge lamp with a floor plate and a roof plate designed for dielectrically impeded discharge, in which the minimum discharge distances are at least 10 mm.
US08279155B2 Source driver and display utilizing the source driver
A source driver includes a receiver for receiving a digital signal at an input node to generate a received signal at an output node, and the receiver includes a first switch, a second switch, a voltage-limiting circuit and a channel. The first switch is utilized for selectively connecting the output node of the receiver to a first reference voltage based on the digital signal. The second switch is utilized for selectively connecting the output node of the receiver to a second reference voltage based on the digital signal. The voltage-limiting circuit is coupled between the input node and the output node of the receiver, and is utilized for limiting a voltage level of the input node of the receiver. The channel is utilized for generating a driving voltage based on the received signal.
US08279148B2 LCD and drive method thereof
This invention relates to a liquid crystal display device and its driving method for improving a visual picture quality. A liquid crystal display device according to an embodiment includes a liquid crystal display panel where plural pixels composed of sub-pixels arranged in a fixed pattern are arranged by the unit of one horizontal line; a timing controller for controlling the gray level realization of digital data inputted from a system; and a data drive circuit that differently realigns a data pattern of the digital data by the unit of one horizontal line for each k horizontal period, that converts the digital data of the realigned data pattern into analog data voltages, and that makes the analog data voltages, which are buffered in accord with the realigned data pattern, in accord with an arrangement pattern of the sub-pixels constituting each pixel to supply the analog data voltages to each pixel.
US08279137B2 Wireless antenna for emitting conical radiation
An antenna described herein includes a driven patch that is configured to emit radiation in a broadside direction in response to receiving excitation current, wherein the driven patch has a first radiating edge and a second radiating edge that are approximately parallel to one another. The antenna also includes a reflector element that is configured to reflect radiation emitted from the first radiating edge in a quasi-endfire direction. The antenna can also include two director elements that are configured to direct radiation emitted from the second radiating edge of the driven patch in a quasi-endfire direction.
US08279133B2 Antenna device
An antenna device is provided with an antenna element including a base, an inductance adjustment pattern that is formed on the upper surface and a side surface of the base and has a substantially U-shape, a capacitance adjustment pattern that is formed on the upper surface of the base and is placed to face the inductance adjustment pattern, and first to third terminal electrodes provided on the bottom surface of the base. The antenna element is installed between the first side and the second side of the ground pattern that form the two facing sides of the antenna mounting region. One end of the inductance adjustment pattern is connected to the feed line, the other end of the inductance adjustment pattern is connected to the first side of the ground pattern, and the third terminal electrode is connected to the second side of the ground pattern.
US08279132B2 Multi-mode antenna and method of controlling mode of the antenna
Provided is an antenna for a base station and a repeater capable of electrically or mechanically controlling the individual operation of an element antenna constituting an array antenna or a sub-array antenna so as to adaptively cope with the change in the communication environment, and having an economic and high performance transmitting and receiving function, and a method of controlling a mode of the antenna. The multi-mode antenna includes a radiation portion having one or more array antenna and capable of selectively changing an antenna effective opening surface and changing a resistance direction of an antenna beam pattern, an active channel portion connected to the array antennas and including switches, transmission and receiving channels, and a signal combiner and splitter, and a modem and control portion connected to the active channel portion and having a control portion and a modem.
US08279130B2 Microwave antenna for a level indicator
Microwave antenna for a level indicator, with an antenna cavity having a radiating aperture which can be closed with an HF-permeable disk that is fixed in position within the antenna cavity by means of a snap ring, and at least one sealing component is provided to seal the transitional area between the disk and the microwave antenna.
US08279124B1 Antenna system and method
An antenna system comprises a mounting plate, a parabolic antenna, a yagi antenna, and a communication link interface. The parabolic antenna forms a cavity and comprises a vertex and a base, wherein the base is non-conductively connected to the mounting plate. The yagi antenna is non-conductively connected to the mounting plate within the cavity of the parabolic antenna, wherein the yagi antenna comprises a reflector element proximate to the mounting plate, a driven element, and a director element proximate to the vertex of the parabolic antenna. The communication link interface is configured to attach a communication link to an external antenna. The communication link interface is electrically coupled to the driven element and configured to receive electromagnetic energy from the director element.
US08279123B2 Housing for a search-antenna polarization instrument
A housing for a search-antenna polarization instrument is formed by two housing shells (2, 3) which are plugged together in an interlocking manner. A depression can be formed on the outside of the housing, as a positioning surface (12 to 16) for an alignment instrument. Furthermore, a direction-finding groove (19, 20, 21) can be formed on a housing wall. One housing wall may also have a respectively rising extremely profile on two opposite ones of its four side edges. This improves the direction-finding accuracy of a search-antenna polarization instrument.
US08279121B2 Antenna device and wireless communication apparatus
A compact and low-cost antenna device in which no interference occurs even when many antenna units corresponding to various systems are mounted close together in a small area, and a wireless communication apparatus including the antenna device. An antenna device includes plural antenna units mounted on a single dielectric base. A first antenna unit having a lowest fundamental frequency is disposed at a left end of a non-ground region, a second antenna unit having a highest fundamental frequency of the plurality of the antenna units is disposed at a right end of the non-ground region, and a third antenna unit having a fundamental frequency between those of the first antenna unit and the second antenna unit is disposed between the first and second antenna units. A current-density control coil is connected between a first radiation electrode and a power feeder of the first antenna unit, while a reactance circuit is disposed in the middle of the first radiation electrode. Notches may be disposed between the first radiation electrode and a second radiation electrode and between the first radiation electrode and a third radiation electrode.
US08279119B2 Systems and methods for transparency mapping using multipath signals
Systems and methods for mapping a structure detect wireless signals, including at least one multipath signal that has experienced at least one reflection against a portion of the structure prior to the detection. The wireless signals are analyzed to estimate reflection points for the multipath signal(s), and a map of at least the portion of the structure is generated based on the estimated reflection points.
US08279118B2 Aperiodic antenna array
An exemplary aperiodic antenna array comprises a plurality of first elements radiating electromagnetic energy over a first bandwidth including a first frequency. Each of the first elements is spaced apart from a pattern center by an element distance and from the nearest first element by an element spacing in a regulated pattern. In the regulated pattern, the element spacing increases as the element distance increases. The plurality of first elements are configured to generate a first radiation pattern. The antenna array also comprises a second element positioned within a group of first elements from the plurality of first elements. Each element distance between the first elements in the group of first elements is greater than one-half of a first wavelength corresponding to the first frequency. The second element is configured to generate a second radiation pattern. The second radiation pattern combines with the first radiation pattern to form a composite radiation pattern.
US08279110B2 Method and device for determining the angle of bearing in a TACAN type radionavigation system
Method making it possible to reconstruct a first signal taking the form of a series of pulses of width T, characterized in that it comprises a step in which a delay τ fixed with respect to the first signal to be reconstructed is introduced into a second signal having a sinusoidal shape and in that the porches of width T of the first signal at an instant t are substituted with portions of sinusoid of the second delayed sinusoidal signal corresponding to an instant t−1 so as to reconstruct a signal having a sinusoidal shape.
US08279104B2 Radio wave absorber, electromagnetic field measurement system and radiated immunity system
A radio wave absorber for use in an electromagnetic field probe that measures an electromagnetic field by means of an antenna section provided therewith, the radio wave absorber including: a first end section; a second end section that is located at a position opposite the first end section; and an intermediate section that is located between the first and second end sections, the intermediate section having outer dimension and thickness that increase in accordance with a distance from the first end section toward the second end section.
US08279102B2 Method and apparatus for analog to digital conversion
An analog to digital converter (ADC) comprises an input node having a variable analog input voltage, first and second switched capacitor circuits, an operational amplifier, and a control circuit. The first switched capacitor circuit has first and second capacitors and is coupled to the input node, and the second switched capacitor circuit has third and fourth capacitors and is coupled to the input node. The operational amplifier is configured to be conditionally coupled to only one of the first and second switched capacitor circuits at a time and configured to conditionally provide feedback to the switched capacitor circuits via an output node. The control circuit is coupled to the first and second switched capacitor circuits for conditional coupling to the operational amplifier.
US08279099B2 Delta-sigma analogue-to-digital converters
An integrator based on an amplifier having a capacitive element connected between the input and the output of the amplifier, with a resistive element connected in series with the capacitive element. Integrators of this type can be used in feed-forward structures of delta-sigma analogue-to-digital converters in order to avoid the need for adders to combine the outputs of parallel signal paths in the feed-forward structure.
US08279096B2 Parallel compression for dictionary-based sequential coders
Dictionary-based sequential compression is performed in parallel on input data using multiple cores of a computer system. The compression can be performed by first determining a dictionary size for data compression, followed by determining a block size for partitioning the input data. The block size is greater than the dictionary size. The multiple cores of the computer system then execute multiple threads in parallel, with each thread compressing one block of the input data according to a dictionary-based sequential compression scheme.
US08279091B1 RFID system for gesture recognition, information coding, and processing
A system includes a controller and an RFID sensor, an RFID sensor reader having a detection region, and a transceiver connected to the controller. The system may be secured to or contained within a wearable glove. The RFID sensor is configured to transmit an RFID sensor signal to the RFID sensor reader when the RFID sensor is within the detection region. The RFID sensor reader is configured to transmit an RFID sensor reader signal to the controller after receiving the RFID sensor signal. The controller is configured to transmit a signal to the transceiver after receiving the RFID sensor reader signal. The signal may include input from a motion sensor and/or an orientation sensor connected to the controller. The transceiver may transmit the signal to a remote processor via an antenna. The signal may be used for gesture recognition, information coding, and/or information processing.
US08279081B2 Remotely readable gas meter and method of using the same
A sensing device for remotely determining the position of the needles of a gas meter including directional magnetic field emitters each having a north and a south pole and being secured relative to respective needles such that the pole axes are generally centered over the needle axes. The emitters producing directional magnetic fields that follows the position of the needles as they rotate and the sensing device further including position sensors positioned over the emitters that read the orientation of the magnetic fields sending this information to a processor for calculating the needle positions.
US08279080B2 Systems and methods for remote utility metering and meter monitoring
A remote water meter monitoring system is provided. A mesh network-type transceiver unit is coupled to a water meter housing having a water counting mechanism inside to transmit water consumption information as well as other sensor information, such as backflow detection, water pressure, and water metrics (e.g., residual chlorine and temperature) to a central server system via a bridge device and a corresponding mesh network. Mechanical energy from the water flowing through the water meter housing is converted to electrical energy via an energy conversion unit. An electrically powered shut off valve is remote addressable via the transceiver unit.
US08279074B2 Battery monitoring system, such as for use in monitoring cell site power systems
A system, apparatus, and method for generating backup power in a wireless communications system such as a wireless communications service base station includes a communications interface, a primary power interface, a generator, rectifiers, and a battery circuit. During normal operation, the communications interface is powered from the primary power interface. During a power outage, the communications interface is powered from either the generator or the battery circuit. A battery circuit monitoring circuit detects and/or predicts loose, corroded, intermittent, high resistance, arcing, open, shorted, and/or the like connections.
US08279070B2 Method for producing a security layered construction and security layered construction and identification documents containing such a construction
A method for producing a security layered construction as well as a security layered construction for an identification document (61), particularly for personal identification, having a transponder layer (20) and at least one cover layer (38, 39), the transponder layer being covered using the at least one cover layer to form a seal with the wire conductor positioned interposed, and at least one viewing side (62) of the at least one cover layer or transponder layer being provided with security printing (63).
US08279067B2 Securing, monitoring and tracking shipping containers
A method of securing a container includes inserting, into a seal device at a container, an electronic bolt; reading, by the seal device, a serial number stored in the electronic bolt; communicating, from the seal device, to a user application, insertion of the bolt; scanning, by the user via a handheld device, a barcode on the seal device representative of an identification of the seal device; communicating, from the handheld device to the user application, the identification of the seal device; inputting, by a user at the container via the handheld device, information associated with the container; communicating, from the handheld device to the user application, the information associated with the container; associating, in a database by the user application, the information associated with the container with the bolt serial number and the identification of the seal device; communicating, by the user application, a confirmation to the seal device.
US08279064B2 Method for postage evidencing for the payment of terminal dues using radio frequency identification tags
The invention makes it easier for the post office to calculate accurately terminal dues by providing information to the post regarding each piece or parcel of mail that crosses an international border. The invention also makes it easier for the post offices to calculate terminal dues by obtaining fee information from mail that is sent internationally. The foregoing is accomplished by placing an indication on the mail that the fees for delivering the mail have been paid or will be paid by a mailer to each post office that handles the mail. For instance, if a mail piece is mailed in the United States and delivered to a destination in the United Kingdom, the mailer's postage meter will place a Radio Frequency Identification Tag (RFID) on the mail piece that indicates the portion of the delivery cost that is attributable to the United States post office and that portion of the delivery cost that is attributable to the Royal Mail.
US08279063B2 Personnel location and monitoring system and method for enclosed facilities
A wireless time-of-flight distance measurement device and/or a motion detector is used at each of a plurality of stations in a wireless network in an enclosed facility to accurately locate a badge-wearing person near the station. The location, badge number and time of detection are transmitted through the network and stored in a computer memory. In a health care facility, hand-washing detectors are located at some of the stations and caused to energize a hand-wash status indicator light on the badge when the wearer has washed his or her hands. The light remains “on” for only a certain length of time, but will be extinguished sooner by a monitor device near each patient when the health care worker leaves the vicinity of the patient. These events also are transmitted and stored so that a timed record of each worker's hand-washing and visits to patients is created.
US08279061B2 Telemedicine application for remote monitoring, viewing and updating of patient records
Systems and methods of providing telemedicine services are provided. A system can include a medical device that obtains diagnostic information, a gateway device coupled to the medical device, an application server coupled to the gateway device via wired and wireless networks, a database coupled to the application server, the database storing the diagnostic information, and an analyzing device coupled to the database, the analyzing device analyzes records in the database to identify diagnostic information that exceeds predefined thresholds.
US08279059B2 Data recorder, system and method for transmitting data received from an in-vivo sensing device
An in-vivo sensing system including an in-vivo sensing device, a data recorder a receiver and a work station. The data recorder receives data signal from the in-vivo sensing device during an acquisition period. Batches of the data signal may be transmitted from the data recorder to a receiver, as soon as a batch has been received by the data recorder. The batches of data signal received by the receiver may be downloaded to the workstation as soon as each batch is received by the receiver. Signals are typically transmitted from the data recorder to the receiver through wireless transmission techniques such as cellular transmission, WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) transmission, BT (BlueTooth) transmission and Wimax (Worldwide interoperability for Microwave Access) transmission.
US08279046B2 Radio communication apparatus, radio communication method, and radio communication system
A radio communication apparatus stores, in a pattern storing unit, channel pattern data indicating radio channel switching order for searching for a free channel and stores switching condition data for the radio channel in a condition storing unit. A control unit of the radio communication apparatus switches, when the switching condition data stored in the condition storing unit is satisfied, the radio channel according to the switching order indicated by the channel pattern data stored in the pattern storing unit.
US08279044B2 Data storage device with radio frequency fingerprint scanner
A data storage device includes a storage module for storing data, a control module coupled to the storage module for detecting signals and controlling their transmission, an interface coupled to the control module for connecting the data storage device to a periphery device, a radio frequency fingerprint scanning module coupled to the control module for detecting fingerprints and transmitting fingerprint signals to the control module, and a light emitting diode (LED) indicator coupled to the control module to indicate a fingerprint scanning region on the data storage device.
US08279038B2 Method for operating a field device in automation engineering with special functionalities
A method for operating a field device of automation technology capable of special-functionalities, an enabling code set having a plurality of enabling code is managed in a superordinated, key-management unit. With the assistance of the enabling codes, special-functionalities can be enabled in field devices. Associated with individual enabling codes of the enabling code set is, in each case, an attribute, “free” or “blocked”. If a special-functionality is needed, then an enabling code is transmitted to the field device, in case an enabling code with attribute “free” is present. Following transmission, the attribute of the transmitted enabling code is changed from free to blocked. The method permits enabling code to be used very flexably.
US08279032B1 System for detachment of correlated magnetic structures
A system for detachment of correlated magnetic structures includes first and second correlated magnetic structure having complementary coded magnetic sources; and a tool that applies a bias magnet field to cause a transition of the first and second magnetic structures from a closed state in which the first and second magnetic structures are attached to an open state in which the first and second magnetic structures are detached.
US08279029B2 Weatherproof switch for indoor and outdoor information clusters and function switches
A weatherproof switch for use with an information/instrument cluster including a button having a body located adjacent to the information/instrument cluster, the body having a first end and a second end; a magnet substantially disposed within the second end of the body; a sensor located a distance from the magnet to produce a magnetic field of a first strength; and a circuit connecting the sensor to a function of the information/instrument cluster for controlling the function when the first end of the button is operated to increase and decrease the distance between the magnet and the sensor such as to produce magnetic field of a second strength.
US08279028B2 Electromagnetic relay
An electromagnetic relay including a body, a plurality of first surface-mount terminals projecting from the body, and at least one second terminal projecting from the body. Each first terminal includes a distal end portion adapted to be mounted on a surface of a circuit board. The second terminal includes a distal end portion adapted to be inserted into a through-hole of a circuit board. The distal end portion of the second terminal is positioned farther away from the body than the distal end portion of the first terminal.
US08279027B2 Magnetic latching actuator
A magnetic latching actuator operable to control the movement of at least a first contact and second contact between a closed position in which the contacts physically engage each other and an open position in which the contacts are spaced from each other. The magnetic latching actuator includes first and second stationary permanent magnets oriented such that the first magnetic field created by the first magnet and the second magnetic field created by the second magnet are in opposite directions. An actuation coil surrounds both the first and second magnets. Current is supplied to the actuation coil in a first direction to create a first magnetic field or a second direction to create a second actuation magnetic field opposite the first actuation magnetic field. A yoke is movable relative to the first and second magnets to cause the first and second contacts to move between the open and closed positions.
US08279025B2 Slow-wave coaxial transmission line having metal shield strips and dielectric strips with minimum dimensions
An integrated circuit structure includes an interconnect structure over a semiconductor substrate and a coaxial transmission line. The coaxial transmission line includes a signal line, a top plate over the signal line and electrically insulated from the signal line, and a bottom plate under the signal line and electrically insulated from the signal line. At least one of the top plate and the bottom plate includes metal strip shields and dielectric strips, with each of the dielectric strips being between two of the metal strip shields. The integrated circuit structure further includes a ground conductor electrically connecting the top plate and the bottom plate. The ground conductor is insulated from the signal line by a dielectric material.
US08279024B2 Resonator operating in plural resonant modes with switching circuitry for controlling the coupling between resonant modes
A resonator system contains one or more resonator, and has a plurality of degenerate resonant modes. Switching circuitry can be operated for controlling a degree of coupling between the resonant modes, such that resonant properties of the resonator system can be controlled. Where the resonator system includes one resonator, the size of a notch in a conductive patch can be controlled to vary the coupling between the resonant modes within that resonator. Where the resonator system includes multiple resonators, the coupling between the resonant modes in the resonators can be varied. A single device can be tuned as required, in order to provide the desired frequency response properties.
US08279017B2 Magnetic resonance type isolator
A magnetic resonance type isolator includes a ferrite; a connection conductor that is arranged on the ferrite and includes a first port, a second port and a third port; a permanent magnet that applies a direct current magnetic field to the ferrite; an inductor that defines a reactance element; and capacitors that define an impedance matching circuit. A main line arranged between the first port and the second port of the connection conductor does not resonate, an end portion of a sub-line that branches from the main line serves as the third port, and a wave reflected from the sub-line is modulated so that its phase is shifted by 90° or about 90° at an intersection of the connection conductor. The inductor is connected to the third port and the capacitors are connected to the first and second ports, respectively.
US08279016B2 Quantum interference device, atomic oscillator and magnetic sensor
A quantum interference device causing electromagnetically induced transparency in an alkali metal atom includes: a light source generating first and second resonant lights with frequency differences Δω; a magnetic field generator applying a magnetic field to the atom; a light detector detecting intensities of the first and second resonant lights passing through the atom; and a controller causing a frequency difference between specified first and second resonant lights to equal a frequency difference corresponding to an energy difference between two ground levels of the atom based on the detected light. The controller causes the frequency Δω or magnetic field intensity to satisfy 2×δ×n=Δω or Δω×n=2×δ. The frequency δ corresponds to an energy difference between two Zeeman split levels differentiated by one magnetic quantum number and generated in the two ground levels of the atom by energy splitting.
US08279010B2 Radio frequency power amplifier
The radio frequency power amplifier is connected between an other end of the first switching element and an other end of the second switching element, supplies power to a second amplifier via the first switching element and a second matching circuit, and includes a first power supply line for supplying power to the third amplifier via a second switching element and a third matching circuit, and the other end of the first switching element is connected to an input node of the first matching circuit, the other end of the second switching element is connected to the input node of the first matching circuit via the first power supply line, and an impedance of an output side of the RF power amplifier as viewed from an output node of the third amplifier is higher than an impedance of the RF power amplifier as viewed from an output node of the second amplifier.
US08279008B2 CMOS millimeter-wave variable-gain low-noise amplifier
A low-noise amplifier (LNA) includes a first cascode gain stage coupled to an input node for increasing an amplitude of an RF input signal. A first variable gain network is coupled to the first cascode gain stage and includes a first inductor for boosting a gain of the first cascode gain stage, a first capacitor coupled to the first inductor for blocking a direct current (DC) voltage, and a first switch coupled to the first inductor and to the first capacitor. The first switch is configured to selectively couple the first inductor to the first cascode gain stage in response to a first control signal.
US08279007B2 Switch for use in a programmable gain amplifier
A switch circuit is provided. The switch circuit may include a first transistor having a source terminal to accept an input signal, a drain terminal to provide an output signal, and a gate; a power supply providing a gate voltage. The switch circuit may also include a circuit to couple a switch signal to the gate, wherein the circuit turns the first transistor ‘off’ for all values of the input signal when the switch signal is ‘low.’ A programmable gain amplifier (PGA) is also provided. The PGA may include an input stage having an input node to couple an input signal, and an output node to provide a gate signal, at least a first gain stage including a resistor and a switch circuit as above. A differential gain amplifier may be included to provide an output signal from the gain signal.
US08278999B2 Output buffer circuit capable of enhancing stability
An output buffer circuit capable of enhancing stability includes an operational amplifier, a capacitive load and an output control unit. The operational amplifier has a positive input terminal, a negative input terminal and an output terminal, and generates an output voltage to the output terminal according to an input voltage received by the positive input terminal. The output control unit is coupled between the output terminal of the operational amplifier and the capacitive load, and is utilized for controlling electrical connection between the output terminal of the operational amplifier and the capacitive load to form a signal output path and for adjusting impedance of the signal output path when the signal output path is formed.
US08278995B1 Bandgap in CMOS DGO process
Bandgap voltage reference circuitry capable of operating at very low power supply voltages. The current source for driving the core bandgap voltage reference is implemented with insulated gate field effect transistors having low threshold voltages. Voltage clamp circuitry protects the transistors from power supply voltage variations rising above a predetermined clamp voltage. An output amplifier with output biasing circuitry having a circuit structure similar to that of the core bandgap voltage reference ensures that the bandgap reaches the intended steady state of operation.
US08278994B2 Temperature independent reference circuit
A temperature independent reference circuit includes first and second bipolar transistors with commonly coupled bases. First and second resistors are coupled in series between the emitter of the second bipolar transistor and ground. The first and second resistors have first and second resistance values, R1 and R2, and third and second temperature coefficients, TC3 and TC2, respectively. The resistance values being such that a temperature coefficient of a difference between the base-emitter voltages of the first and second bipolar transistors, TC1, is substantially equal to TC2×(R2/(R1+R2))+TC3×(R1/(R1+R2)), resulting in a reference current flowing through each of the first and second bipolar transistors that is substantially constant over temperature. A third resistor coupled between a node and the collector of the second bipolar transistor has a value such that a reference voltage generated at the node is substantially constant over temperature.
US08278992B2 Circuit and method for generating internal voltage, and semiconductor device having the circuit
An internal voltage generating method performed in a semiconductor device, the internal voltage generating method including generating a plurality of initialization signals corresponding to a plurality of external power supply voltages; detecting a transition of a lastly-generated initialization signal from among the plurality of initialization signals and generating a detection signal; and generating a first internal voltage according to the detection signal.
US08278987B2 Duty cycle based phase interpolators and methods for use
Duty cycle based phase interpolators, and methods for implementing duty cycle based phase interpolators are disclosed. One such phase interpolator includes a first pulse width modulator configured to generate a first duty cycle signal, and a second pulse width modulator configured to generate a second duty cycle signal. The phase interpolator further includes a logic unit configured to merge the first duty cycle signal and the second duty cycle signal to produce a periodic digital signal with a controllable phase depending on the first and second duty cycle signals.
US08278985B2 Synchronization circuit
A synchronization circuit includes a first loop circuit configured to set an initial delay time by using first initial delay information and generate a first delay signal by changing a delay time of a first input signal, a second loop circuit configured to set the initial delay time by using second initial delay information and generate a second delay signal by changing a delay time of a second input signal, a duty cycle correction unit configured to correct a duty cycle of the first delay signal by using the second delay signal, and an initial delay monitoring circuit configured to generate the first initial delay information and the second initial delay information in response to an internal delay signal of the first loop circuit and the first input signal.
US08278981B2 Low power variable delay circuit
A variable delay circuit includes at least a fixed delay unit, a first selection unit, and variable delay unit. The fixed delay unit receives an input signal and a first delay selection signal indicative of a first delay, and outputs a first delayed signal that is substantially the input signal delayed by the first delay. The first selection unit receives the input signal, the first delayed signal, and a second delay selection signal, and outputs either the input signal or the first delayed signal based on the second delay selection signal to the variable delay unit. The variable delay unit also receives a third delay selection signal indicative of a third delay, and outputs a output signal that is substantially the output signal of the selection unit delayed by a third delay. The first delay is 0 or X multiples of M delay units. The third delay is a delay selected from 0 to N delay units.
US08278979B2 Digital circuits with adaptive resistance to single event upset
A digital circuit with adaptive resistance to single event upset. A novel transient filter is placed within the feedback loop of each latch in the digital circuit to reject pulses having a width less than T, where T is the longest anticipated duration of transients. The transient filter includes a first logic element having a controllable inertial delay and a second logic element coupled to an output of the first logic element. A first controller provides a control voltage VcR to each first logic element to control a rise time of the first logic element to be equal to T. A second controller provides a control voltage VcF to each first logic element to control a fall time of the first logic element to be equal to T.
US08278978B1 Programmable voltage regulator
A circuit in accordance with one embodiment of the invention can include a variable voltage generator that is coupled to receive an input voltage. Furthermore, the circuit can include a non-volatile memory that is coupled to the variable voltage generator. The non-volatile memory can be coupled to receive programming for controlling an output voltage of the variable voltage generator.
US08278971B2 Detection circuit
A detection circuit is disclosed in specification and drawing, where the detection circuit includes a current source, a voltage-current converter and a current comparator. The voltage-current converter is configured to acquire a receiving current from the current source by comparing a reference voltage with an input voltage of a detecting terminal. The current comparator is configured to output an output voltage by comparing a steady current with an output current based on the receiving current.
US08278970B2 Device for detecting the peak value of a signal
A device for detecting the peak value of a signal with crest factor not known a priori includes a pair of peak detectors, each of which includes a rectifier element and a discharge-current generator and generates a respective output signal that is a function of the ratio between a physical dimension of the rectifier element and the intensity of discharge current produced by the generator. The ratio is different for the two detectors, and a combination network combines the output signals of the two peak detectors with one another and produces a combined signal indicating the peak value sought with high accuracy.
US08278960B2 Method and circuit for measuring quiescent current
A measurement circuit and method for measuring a quiescent current of a circuit under test are provided. The measurement circuit comprises: a comparator having a first input terminal for receiving a reference voltage, a second input terminal coupled to the circuit under test, and an output terminal; a current source having a first terminal coupled to a first power supply voltage terminal, and a second terminal for providing a current to the circuit under test; a first switch having a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the current source, a second terminal coupled to the circuit under test, and a control terminal coupled to the output terminal of the comparator; and a first counter having a first input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the comparator, a second input terminal for receiving a clock signal, and an output terminal for providing a first counter value associated with the quiescent current.
US08278954B2 Electrically modulatable extended light source and a measurement device for characterizing a semiconductor including one such source
A light source for injecting excess carriers into a semiconductor wafer, fully illuminating a surface of the wafer. According to the disclosed embodiments, the source includes at least one set of point sources which are spaced apart at regular intervals along the X and Y axes, such that the source emits a monochromatic beam of a size that is at least equal to that of the semiconductor wafer surface to be illuminated. Each of the point sources is sinusoidally modulated by a common electrical modulator, the distance between two point sources and the distance between the source and the semiconductor wafer surface to be illuminated being selected such that the monochromatic light beam uniformly illuminates the surface.
US08278953B2 Oscilloscope probe
In an oscilloscope probe with a transistor amplifier constructed on a semiconductor substrate using integrated circuit technology, at least one part of the input-voltage divider is also constructed together with the amplifier using integrated-circuit technology on the semiconductor substrate.
US08278930B2 Deep MWD resistivity measurements using EM shielding
Structure for deep MWD resistivity measurements suitable for both geo-steering and measurements ahead of the drill bit is disclosed. Alternating current is transmitted through a loop and an induction signal is measured by a two-coil bucking receiving system placed at some distance from the transmitter. To further reduce a parasitic effect of the currents in the pipe, a conductive copper shield wrapping around the pipe is used. The length of the shield is about one and one-half to two times longer than the longest transmitter/receiver spacing of the structure. The transmitter/receiver system is located in the center of the described electromagnetic shield.
US08278929B2 Determining orientation for seafloor electromagnetic receivers
Apparatus and method for estimating the 3D orientation angles for remotely deployed devices with flexible arms such as dipole antennas of receivers used in marine controlled-source electromagnetic surveys to explore for hydrocarbons. Acoustic transponders or transducers, or other positioning sensors such as attitude sensors or strain-sensitive fiber optic cables are placed on each electrode arm of the receiver. Acoustic sensors (101) on the receiver frame (94) work in conjunction with the positioning sensor(s) (101) on the electrode arms (92) to provide accurate 3D spatial position of the receiver electrodes (93) relative to the receiver frame. Alternatively, sonar transducers mounted on the frame are used to image the electrode arms, which image can be enhanced by fixing reflectors to the arms. An attitude sensor is mounted on the receiver frame, enabling conversion of the relative electrode positions to an earth reference frame.
US08278923B2 Downhole orientation sensing with nuclear spin gyroscope
Downhole orientation sensing with a nuclear spin gyroscope. A downhole orientation sensing system for use in conjunction with a subterranean well can include a downhole instrument assembly positioned in the well, the instrument assembly including an atomic comagnetometer, and at least one optical waveguide which transmits light between the atomic comagnetometer and a remote location. A method of sensing orientation of an instrument assembly in a subterranean well can include incorporating an atomic comagnetometer into the instrument assembly, and installing the instrument assembly in the well.
US08278921B2 Apparatus and method for detecting metallic objects in shoes
An inspection system positions a balancing shim to asymmetrically balance a magnetic field generated by an inductive sensor, which forms part of the inspection system. Additionally, relays and capacitors used to tune the inductive sensor to a desired resonance frequency are geometrically arranged to minimize electrical interference generated by operation of the relays and capacitors. A shielding device, which may be formed on a printed circuit board, protects a magnetic field generated by the inductive sensor from external electromagnetic interference. A slot positioned in the inductive sensor may be used to tune a resonant mode of the inductive sensor to accurately and particularly detect metallic shanks and/or other metallic objects in shoes, socks, and/or clothing.
US08278917B2 Magnetic head inspection method and magnetic head inspection device
A magnetic head inspection device inspects the write track width of a thin film magnetic head in a phase as early as possible during the manufacturing process. A recording signal (excitation signal) is input from bonding pads to the thin film magnetic head in a rowbar, and the magnetic field generated by the write pole (element) included in the thin film magnetic head is observed directly by using a magnetic force microscope (MFM), a scanning Hall probe microscope (SHPM), or a scanning magneto resistance effect microscope (SMRM) that performs a scanning motion at a position equivalent to the flying height of the magnetic head. In this manner, a shape of the generated magnetic field instead of the physical shape of the write pole (element) is measured; thus, a non-destructive inspection can be performed on the effective magnetic track width.
US08278914B2 Rotation angle detector
A rotation angle detector for detecting a rotation angle of a detectable rotation body, comprises: a primary rotation body to be attached to the detectable rotation body and to rotate as integral with the detectable rotation body; a secondary rotation body to rotate as a predetermined rotation ratio for the primary rotation body; a primary rotation detection mechanism to output a signal to be varied periodically as corresponding to a rotation of the primary rotation body; a secondary rotation detection mechanism to output a signal to be varied periodically as corresponding to a rotation of the secondary rotation body; a signal processing unit to calculate the rotation angles of the primary and the secondary rotation bodies using the signals that the primary and the secondary rotation detection mechanisms output; and an operation processing unit to calculate the rotation angle of the detectable rotation body.
US08278911B2 Inductive angle-of-rotation sensor and method for operating an inductive angle-of-rotation sensor
An inductive angle-of-rotation sensor includes a printed circuit board, on which one excitation conductor path, and a first, second as well as third receiving conductor path are applied. The angle-of-rotation sensor further includes a graduation element having a first and second graduation track. The first and second graduation tracks, and the first and second receiving conductor paths are arranged such that signals having a first period number are able to be generated by the first receiving conductor path, and signals having a second period number are able to be generated by the second receiving conductor path. The graduation element further has a third graduation track, so that signals having the first period number are able to be generated by the third receiving conductor path. In addition, a method is provided for operating an angle-of-rotation sensor.
US08278910B2 Phase locked loop for controlling motor and spindle motor using the same
A PLL for controlling a motor includes first and second feedback loops. The first feedback loop includes an oscillator for generating a signal having a frequency corresponding to an input voltage, a first phase comparator for outputting a first phase difference signal corresponding to a phase difference between the signal from the oscillator and an input signal, and a first smoothing filter for smoothing the first phase difference signal to output the smoothed signal as the input voltage. The second feedback loop includes a second phase comparator for outputting a second phase difference signal corresponding to a phase difference between a signal having a frequency corresponding to a rotational speed of the motor and the input signal, an adder for adding the first and second phase difference signals, and a second smoothing filter for smoothing an output of the adder to output the smoothed signal to the motor.
US08278909B2 Wide-dynamic range electrometer with a fast response
A method and apparatus for measuring current includes sensing a first voltage at the output of an amplifier and computing a current based on the first voltage and the resistance of a first resistive element, which is electrically coupled between an inverting input of the amplifier and the output of the amplifier, if the first voltage is below a predetermined level. The method also includes sensing a second voltage at the output of a buffer and computing a current based on the first and second voltages and the resistances of the first resistive element and a second resistive element, which is electrically coupled between the inverting input of the amplifier and an input of the buffer and is also electrically coupled to the output of the amplifier through a at least one diode, if the voltage output from the amplifier is above the predetermined level.
US08278904B2 High bandwidth power supply system with high efficiency and low distortion
A power supply system uses improved Class G amplifier architecture for high bandwidth operation with low distortion. The power supply system switches between multiple power supply rails, depending on the signal level handled by the power supply system. The lowest usable supply rail voltage is chosen to minimize power dissipation in the output driver, thus optimizing efficiency. Each supply rail has an associated driver capable of sourcing current to the amplifier output. When a supply rail is selected, its associated driver is enabled and other driver(s) not associated with the selected supply rail are disabled via separate disable control signals. The disabling of the deselected driver may be delayed until current above a predetermined threshold is sensed at the output of the enabled driver. In addition, the frequency of switching between the power rails may be limited via various means designed to limit distortion in the power supply system.
US08278895B2 Efficiency measuring circuit for DC-DC converter which calculates internal resistance of switching inductor based on duty cycle
An efficiency measuring circuit may measure the efficiency of a DC-DC converter having a switching inductor with an internal DC resistance and a plurality of electronic switches that control current through the inductor. A duty cycle circuit may measure the duty cycle of current flowing through one of the electronic switches. A current sense circuit may measure the current flowing through one of the electronic switches. An inductor voltage sensor circuit may measure the voltage across the inductor. A computation circuit may compute the internal DC resistance of the switching inductor based in part on the duty cycle measured by the duty cycle circuit and the current measured by the current sense circuit. The computation circuit may also compute the efficiency of the DC-DC converter.
US08278892B2 Converter comprising at least one normally on semiconductor switch
A converter for converting a DC input voltage includes two input lines receiving the DC input voltage; at least one normally off semiconductor switch which is not conductive without application of a control voltage to its gate and which is provided in one of the input lines. The converter also includes electric circuitry connected between the input lines and including at least one normally on semiconductor switch which is conductive without application of a control voltage to its gate; and a controller. In operation of the converter, the controller operates the at least one normally on semiconductor switch of the electric circuitry by temporarily applying a first control voltage to its gate; and permanently applies a second control voltage to the gate of the at least one normally off semiconductor switch in the one input line. Any normally on semiconductor switch of the electric circuitry is spatially separated and thus thermally isolated from any normally off semiconductor switch.
US08278887B2 Method of starting DC/DC converter using synchronous freewheeling MOSFET
A DC/DC converter including an inductor and a capacitor is started by connecting an input voltage to the inductor and shunting a current around the inductor so as to pre-charge the capacitor to a predetermined voltage.
US08278883B2 Load angle measurement and pole slip detection
Apparatus for measuring load angle in a synchronous generator is disclosed. The synchronous generator is of a type comprising a main machine, an exciter for exciting the main machine, and a permanent magnet machine for exciting the exciter. The apparatus comprises means for sensing a waveform produced by the permanent magnet machine, means for sensing a waveform produced by the main machine, and means (20) for comparing the waveform produced by the permanent magnet machine with the waveform produced by the main machine to produce a measure of load angle. The measure of load angle may be used to provide a warning of potential pole slip.
US08278875B2 Safety supervisory module of an electric vehicle charging station
A safety supervisory module (SSM) of an electric vehicle charging station that controls flow of current from the electric vehicle charging station to an electric vehicle. The SSM includes a set of two or more processors to control operation of a contactor control circuitry of the SSM to open and close a set of contacts of a set of power supply lines to control flow of current from the charging station to an electric vehicle. Each processor independently determines whether an unsafe condition exists and asserts a relay enable signal to the contactor control circuitry only when an unsafe condition does not exist. The contactor control circuitry generates a current to energize a relay to close the set of contacts responsive to the relay enable signal being asserted by each and every processor of the set of processors, and inhibits closure of the set of contacts or opens the set of contacts to prevent electricity from flowing between the charging station and an electric vehicle when any of the set of processors is not asserting the relay enable signal.
US08278872B2 Charging device
A charging device comprises a rotating unit, an axle unit assembled to the rotating unit and engaging the rotating unit, and two charging units assembled to the axle unit. Each charging unit includes a magnet retainer assembled to the axle unit and engaging the axle unit, a plurality of magnets received in the magnet retainer, and a case rotatably assembled to the axle unit and including a plurality of windings. Rotation of the rotating unit drives the axle unit and the magnet retainers to rotate, the rotating magnet retainers and magnets further rotate relative to the cases due to the inertia of the cases, and the magnets move relative to the windings and generate induction currents in the windings, for charging a battery.
US08278857B2 Motor control device and controller thereof
A motor control device is electrically connected with a motor. The motor control device includes a controller and a driving circuit. The controller has a default value of time and generates a first driving signal and a second driving signal. The driving circuit includes a first switching element and a second switching element, the first switching element and the second switching element receive the first driving signal and the second driving signal respectively, and the first switching element and the second switching element are switched on or switched off alternately according to the first driving signal and the second driving signal respectively, so as to drive the motor to operate. The controller switches off the first switching element by the first driving signal the default value of time before the controller switches on the second switching element by the second driving signal, and the controller switches off the second switching element by the second driving signal the default value of time before the controller switches on the first switching element by the first driving signal.
US08278847B2 LED mixture control device and controlling method thereof
A light source mixture control device for controlling a light source emitting different spectrums is provided. A coordination conversion unit receives and converts a hue signal and a luminance signal into a first to a third undecoupled color light component. A first color light component decoupling control unit decouples a first color light component from the first to the third undecoupled color light component. A second color light component decoupling control unit decouples the first undecoupled color light component into a first decoupled color light component. A third color light component decoupling control unit decouples the second undecoupled color light component into a second decoupled color light component. A fourth color light component decoupling control unit decouples the third undecoupled color light component into a third decoupled color light component. The first to the third decoupled color light component respectively control the light source.
US08278832B2 Dimmer circuit of light emitting diode and isolated voltage generator and dimmer method thereof
An isolated configuration dimmer circuit of a light emitting diode (LED) applied to a conventional triac dimmer and a dimmer method are provided. When a dimmer phase angle of the triac dimmer is regulated, a second side winding of a transformer of the isolated configuration produces a pulse width corresponding to a modulated alternating current (AC) voltage, so as to regulate the pulse width of a driving signal output by the second side winding of the transformer. In addition, the dimmer circuit regulates the magnitude of a current flowing through the light emitting diode (LED) according to the pulse width corresponding to the modulated AC voltage. Accordingly, the dimmer circuit regulates the pulse width and the magnitude of the current flowing through the LED according to the dimmer phase angle of the triac dimmer. Therefore, a dimmer range of the LED can be increased.
US08278822B2 Light-emitting element
A light-emitting element comprising a substrate; a light-emitting layer disposed above the substrate and emitting a primary light; and, a reflective film disposed between the substrate and the light-emitting layer and formed by at least one layer that reflects the primary light, in which the light-emitting element further comprises a light dispersing multilayered film disposed between the substrate and the reflective film and formed by two or more types of light dispersing layers, and the light dispersing multilayered film multiple-disperses a secondary light into plural wavelengths and discharges the secondary light, which is excited by the primary light passing through the reflective film.
US08278821B2 Light emitting device
A light emitting device according to one embodiment includes a light emitting element that emits light having a wavelength of 250 nm to 500 nm; plural red fluorescent layers that are formed above the light emitting element to include a red fluorescent material, the red fluorescent layers being disposed at predetermined intervals; and plural green fluorescent layers that are formed above the light emitting element to include a green fluorescent material, a distance between the light emitting element and the green fluorescent layers being larger than a distance between the light emitting element and the red fluorescent layers.
US08278816B2 High CRI electroluminescent lamp
An electroluminescent lamp having a high color rendering index (CRI) can be made using a phosphor blend comprising a mixture of an electroluminescent phosphor and an europium-activated alkaline earth silicon nitride phosphor, wherein the electroluminescent phosphor is selected from a blue-emitting electroluminescent phosphor, a blue-green-emitting electroluminescent phosphor, or a combination thereof. Preferably, the lamp exhibits a CRI of at least about 75, and, more preferably, at least about 80. A preferred blend contains from about 10% to about 20% by weight of the europium-activated alkaline earth silicon nitride phosphor.
US08278813B2 Apparatus and method for generating femtosecond electron beam
An apparatus and method for generating femtosecond electron beam are disclosed. The apparatus for generating electron beam by discharging an electron generated via a cathode to an anode includes a transmission window provided at one side of the cathode to allow incident laser to pass therethrough, a pinhole formed on the anode such that the pinhole corresponds to the position of the electron generated from the transmission window, and a focusing unit provided at one side of the cathode and generating an electric field to accelerate and at the same time concentrate the electron to the pinhole. Electrons are simultaneously concentrated and accelerated to the pinhole by an electric field generated by the focusing unit positioned at the cathode to generate femtosecond electron beam.
US08278810B2 Solid oxide high temperature electrolysis glow discharge cell
The present invention provides a glow discharge cell comprising an electrically conductive cylindrical vessel having a first end and a second end, and at least one inlet and one outlet; a hollow electrode aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel and extending at least from the first end to the second end of the cylindrical vessel, wherein the hollow electrode has an inlet and an outlet; a first insulator that seals the first end of the cylindrical vessel around the hollow electrode and maintains a substantially equidistant gap between the cylindrical vessel and the hollow electrode; a second insulator that seals the second end of the cylindrical vessel around the hollow electrode and maintains the substantially equidistant gap between the cylindrical vessel and the hollow electrode; a non-conductive granular material disposed within the gap, wherein the non-conductive granular material (a) allows an electrically conductive fluid to flow between the cylindrical vessel and the hollow electrode, and (b) prevents electrical arcing between the cylindrical vessel and the hollow electrode during a electric glow discharge; and wherein the electric glow discharge is created whenever: (a) the glow discharge cell is connected to an electrical power source such that the cylindrical vessel is an anode and the hollow electrode is a cathode, and (b) the electrically conductive fluid is introduced into the gap.
US08278809B2 Spark plug with alumina-based insulator
A spark plug exhibits a satisfactory withstand voltage characteristic and sufficient mechanical strength in a high temperature environment exceeding 700° C. The spark plug has a center electrode, an insulator, and a ground electrode, characterized in that the insulator is formed of an alumina-based sintered material containing an Si component, a Group 2 element (2A) component, and a rare earth element (RE) component; that the alumina-based sintered material has an RE-β-alumina crystal phase; and that the mean crystal grain size DA(RE) of the RE-β-alumina crystal phase and that of alumina DA(Al) satisfy the following relationship (1): 0.2≦DA(RE)/DA(Al)≦3.0.
US08278806B1 LED reflector lamp
An LED reflector lamp is provided wherein the lamp has a concave reflector substantially symmetrically arrayed about an axis, the reflector further having a focus and a bottom. A subassembly is coaxially aligned with said axis and comprises a light guide having a proximal end positioned outside of said reflector and a distal end positioned within said reflector at said focus. A first light source comprising at least one light emitting diode (LED) is positioned at said proximal end and operable to emit a first radiation when energized. A second light source comprising at least one phosphor is positioned at said distal end and operable to emit a second radiation having a different wavelength than said first radiation when energized by said first radiation from said first light source.
US08278801B2 Piezoelectric resonator device
A package inner peripheral face 13 of a base 4 is made up of a vertical face 14 and a horizontal face 15, and electrode pads 7 (71 to 78) are formed on the vertical face vertical face 14 of the base 4. The electrode pads 71 to 78 are formed on the vertical face 14 of the base 4 including an intersection line 17 at which the vertical face 14 and the horizontal face 15 intersect; for example, electrode pads 74 and 75 that serve as hetero electrodes are formed adjacently. The distance between the electrode pads 74 and 75 that are adjacent along the intersection line 17 of the vertical face 14 of the base 4 is longer than the shortest distance between the electrode pads 74 and 75 that are adjacent on the vertical face 14 of the base 4.
US08278794B2 Axial gap type motor and method of manufacturing rotor of motor
The rotor 11 of an axial gap type motor 10 is provided with a plurality of main magnets 41 respectively magnetized in an axial direction of a rotational axis and disposed at predetermined intervals in a peripheral direction, a plurality of yokes 42 structured by a laminated member 71 produced by winding a tape-shaped electromagnetic steel plate 60 and respectively disposed on both sides of the main magnets 41 in the axial direction, and a rotor frame 30 made of a die-cast alloy and including a plurality of ribs 31 respectively interposed between the main magnets 41 adjoining each other in the peripheral direction and extending in the radial direction, and an inner cylindrical portion 32 and an outer cylindrical portion 33 respectively formed on the radially inner side of the ribs 31 and on the radially outer side of the ribs 31. According to this structure, the yokes structured by the wound laminated member and the rotor frame can be firmly unified with each other, thereby being able to secure such rigidity that can withstand a centrifugal force generated due to the rotation of the rotor and a magnetic suction force given from the stator.
US08278786B2 Linear vibrator with an increased driving force
A linear vibrator is disclosed. The linear vibrator in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a base, a coil unit, which is coupled to the base, a magnet assembly, which forms a closed circuit of a magnetic force perpendicular to an electric current flowing through the coil unit and in which the magnet assembly relatively moves with respect to the coil unit, and an elastic member, which elastically supports the magnet assembly. Thus, a linear vibrator with an increased driving force can be provided by preventing the leakage of magnetic flux.
US08278776B1 Reciprocating wind-powered transducer employing interleaved airfoil arrays
A reciprocating transducer to convert windpower to electrical energy includes an odd sub-array of blades and an even sub-array of blades, wherein two odd thrust rods are pivotably coupled to the ends of each of the odd numbered blades, two even thrust rods are pivotably coupled to the ends of each of the even numbered blades, an odd tilt rod is pivotably coupled to the trailing edge of each of the odd numbered blades, an even tilt rod is pivotably coupled to the trailing edge of each of the even numbered blades. The tilt rods are moved up and down, thereby changing the attitude of the blades, a crank shaft converts the linear motion of the thrust rods into rotational motion, and a generator converts the rotational motion into electrical power.
US08278771B2 Kinetic energy collection device
A kinetic energy collection device is mounted on a vehicle body. The vehicle body includes drive disks rotated synchronously with wheels of the vehicle body. The kinetic energy collection device includes transmission units, a lift out unit, electrical generators, and an electrical storage. The transmission units are slidably mounted on the vehicle body and include friction disks. The lift out unit includes a braking controller, a pull rod connected with the braking controller, and connection rods rotatably connect the pull rod to the transmission units. The braking controller drives the pull rod to move in response to user's operations, so as to drive the connect rods to rotate, and thus to drive the friction disks of the transmission units to engage or disengage with the drive disks correspondingly. The transmission units drive the electrical generators to generate power. The electrical storage unit stores power generated by the electrical generators.
US08278768B2 Semiconductor device including wires connecting electrodes to an inner lead
A semiconductor device includes a plurality of electrodes formed on a semiconductor chip, and a plurality of wires each connecting each of the electrodes to an inner lead, and each having a plurality of bending points. A first wire of the plurality of the wires has a slope extending upwardly from a first bending point toward a second bending point, where the first bending point is being located at an upper end of a rising portion. The second bending point of the first wire is the highest bending point in the first wire. A second wire of the plurality of the wires has a slope extending downwardly from a first bending point toward a second bending point, where the first bending point is located at an upper end of a rising portion. The second bending point of the second wire is the lowest bending point in the second wire.
US08278766B2 Wafer level stack structure for system-in-package and method thereof
A system-in-package, comprising a wafer level stack structure, including at least one first device chip including a first device region having a plurality of input/output(I/O) pads, and at least one second device chip including a second device region having a plurality of input/output(I/O) pads and a second peripheral region surrounding the second device region, wherein the size of the second device region is different from the size of the first device region, wherein the at least one first device chip and the at least one second device chip have approximately equal size; and a common circuit board to which the wafer level stack structure is connected.
US08278764B1 Stub minimization for multi-die wirebond assemblies with orthogonal windows
A microelectronic package can include a substrate having first, second, and third apertures extending between first and second surfaces thereof, first, second, and third microelectronic elements each having a surface facing the first surface, and a plurality of terminals exposed at a central region of the second surface. The apertures can have first, second, and third axes extending in directions of the lengths of the respective apertures. The first and second axes can be parallel to one another. The third axis can be transverse to the first axis. The central region of the second surface of the substrate can be disposed between the first and second axes. The terminals can be configured to carry sufficient address information usable by circuitry within the package to determine an addressable memory location from among all the available addressable memory locations of a memory storage array within at least one of the microelectronic elements.
US08278756B2 Single chip semiconductor coating structure and manufacturing method thereof
A manufacturing method of a single chip semiconductor coating structure includes following steps. Step 1 is providing a single chip semiconductor which has a plurality of surfaces, and two opposite surfaces selected from the plurality of surfaces are manufacturing surfaces and have a conductive area with a pad thereon, respectively. Step 2 is providing a tool to cover one of the conductive areas with the pad. Step 3 is providing a coating step to form an insulating layer on the single chip semiconductor. Step 4 is providing a removing step to remove the insulating layer for exposing the covered conductive area and the pad. Step 5 is forming two electrodes and each of the two electrodes covers the conductive area with the pad.
US08278747B2 Semiconductor apparatus having a two-side heat radiation structure
A semiconductor apparatus having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface includes: a semiconductor chip having a front side and a backside; a first heat radiation member electrically and thermally coupled with the backside of the chip; a second heat radiation member electrically and thermally coupled with the front side of the chip; and a resin mold sealing the first and second heat radiation members together with the chip. At least one of the first and second heat radiation members is exposed on both of the first and second surfaces.
US08278730B2 High voltage resistance coupling structure
The disclosed invention provides a structure and method for providing a high lateral voltage resistance between the electrical networks, sharing a lateral plane, of conductive elements (e.g., having different high voltage potentials) comprising a coupler. In one embodiment, an integrated coupler providing a high lateral voltage resistance comprises a primary conductive element and a secondary conductive element. An isolating material is laterally configured between the electrical network of the primary conductive element and an electrical network of the secondary conductive element. The isolating material may comprise a low-k dielectric layer and prevents any lateral barrier layers (e.g., etch stop layers, diffusion barrier layers, etc.) from extending between the first conductive element and the electrical network of the second conductive element. The structure therefore provides a galvanically isolated integrated coupler which avoids electrical shorting between circuits (e.g., at barrier layers) resulting in an improved high voltage resistance.
US08278726B2 Controlling electromechanical behavior of structures within a microelectromechanical systems device
In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for fabricating a microelectromechanical systems device. The method comprises fabricating a first layer comprising a film having a characteristic electromechanical response, and a characteristic optical response, wherein the characteristic optical response is desirable and the characteristic electromechanical response is undesirable; and modifying the characteristic electromechanical response of the first layer by at least reducing charge build up thereon during activation of the microelectromechanical systems device.
US08278723B2 Thin film transistor substrate and method of manufacturing the same
A thin film transistor substrate capable of appropriately maintaining driving performance even when there is a difference between manufacturing processes and a method of manufacturing the same. The thin film transistor substrate includes: a gate electrode formed on an insulating substrate; a semiconductor layer formed on the gate electrode; and a plurality of thin film transistors each having a source electrode and a drain electrode that are formed on the gate electrode and the semiconductor layer so as to be spaced apart from each other. At least one of the plurality of thin film transistors is a dummy thin film transistor that does not have the semiconductor layer between the source electrode and the drain electrode.
US08278719B2 Radiation hardened isolation structures and fabrication methods
Semiconductor devices can be fabricated using conventional designs and process but including specialized structures to reduce or eliminate detrimental effects caused by various forms of radiation. Such semiconductor devices can include one or more parasitic isolation devices and/or buried layer structures disclosed in the present application. The introduction of design and/or process steps to accommodate these novel structures is compatible with conventional CMOS fabrication processes, and can therefore be accomplished at relatively low cost and with relative simplicity.
US08278716B2 Method of fabricating polysilicon, thin film transistor, method of fabricating the thin film transistor, and organic light emitting diode display device including the thin film transistor
A thin film transistor, a method of fabricating the thin film transistor, and an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device including the thin film transistor, the thin film transistor including: a substrate; a buffer layer formed on the substrate; a first semiconductor layer disposed on the buffer layer; a second semiconductor layer disposed on the first semiconductor layer, which is larger than the first semiconductor layer; a gate electrode insulated from the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer; a gate insulating layer to insulate the gate electrode from the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer; source and drain electrodes insulated from the gate electrode and connected to the second semiconductor layer; an insulating layer disposed on the source and drain electrodes, and an organic light emitting diode connected to one of the source and drain electrodes.
US08278714B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device has an external connection terminal, an internal circuit region, an ESD protection N-MOS transistor provided between the external connection terminal and the internal circuit region to protect an internal element formed in the internal circuit region, and a shallow trench structure provided to isolate the ESD protection N-MOS transistor. A thin insulating film is formed on a drain region of the ESD protection N-MOS transistor. An electrode is disposed above the drain region and on the thin insulating film for receiving a signal from the external connection terminal. The thin insulating film has a film thickness and film properties that allow dielectric breakdown and establish conduction between the electrode and the drain region when a voltage exceeding an absolute maximum rating of the semiconductor device is applied to the electrode.
US08278711B2 Semiconductor device and method of making the same
A substrate having semiconductor material and a surface that supports a gate electrode and defines a surface normal direction is provided. The substrate can include a drift region including a first dopant type. A well region can be disposed adjacent to the drift region and proximal to the surface, and can include a second dopant type. A termination extension region can be disposed adjacent to the well region and extend away from the gate electrode, and can have an effective concentration of second dopant type that is generally less than that in the well region. An adjust region can be disposed between the surface and at least part of the termination extension region. An effective concentration of second dopant type may generally decrease when moving from the termination extension region into the adjust region along the surface normal direction.
US08278703B2 Cross-hair cell based floating body device
A non-planar transistor having floating body structures and methods for fabricating the same are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the transistor includes a fin having upper and lower doped regions. The upper doped regions may form a source and drain separated by a shallow trench formed in the fin. During formation of the fin, a hollow region may be formed underneath the shallow trench, isolating the source and drain. An oxide may be formed in the hollow region to form a floating body structure, wherein the source and drain are isolated from each other and the substrate formed below the fin. In some embodiments, independently bias gates may be formed adjacent to walls of the fin. In other embodiments, electrically coupled gates may be formed adjacent to the walls of the fin.
US08278700B2 Semiconductor device
For providing a cheap semiconductor memory device with improving reliability by level of a cell, in the place of escaping from defects on memory cells electrically, through such as ECC, and further for providing a cell structure enabling scaling-down in the vertical direction with maintaining the reliability, in a semiconductor memory device, upon which high-speeded read-out operation is required, a charge storage region is constructed with particles made from a large number of semiconductor charge storage small regions, each being independent, thereby increasing the reliability by the cell level.
US08278692B2 Soft error reduction circuit and method
In some embodiments, complementary charge-collecting diffusions (transistor diffusions, e.g., drain or source areas) are disposed close to each other. In some embodiments, dummy (“off”) transistors are incorporated to bring complementary diffusions (diffusions of the same charge type and having complementary digital logic levels) closer to each other than otherwise might be possible and thus, to enhance common-mode charge collection for the complementary diffusion areas.
US08278682B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device that has a reduced size and exhibits a superior blocking voltage capability. A semiconductor device includes an edge termination structure between an active region and an isolation region, the edge termination structure being composed of an edge termination structure for a forward bias section and an edge termination structure for a reverse bias section. A plurality of field limiting rings (FLRs) and a plurality of field plates (FPs) are provided in the edge termination structure for the forward bias section and the edge termination structure for the reverse bias section. A first forward FP that is the nearest of the plurality of FPs to the edge termination structure for the reverse bias section is formed to extend towards the isolation region side. A first reverse FP that is the nearest of the plurality of FPs to the edge termination structure for the forward bias section is formed to extend towards the active region side. The first reverse FP stops the depletion layer expanding from the active region on application of a forward voltage. The first forward FP stops the depletion layer expanding from the isolation region on application of a reverse voltage.
US08278666B1 Method and apparatus for growing high purity 2H-silicon carbide
The disclosure relates to a high purity 2H-SiC composition and methods for making same. The embodiments represented herein apply to both thin film and bulk growth of 2H-SiC. According to one embodiment, the disclosure relates to doping an underlying substrate or support layer with one or more surfactants to nucleate and grow high purity 2H-SiC. In another embodiment, the disclosure relates to a method for preparing 2H-SiC compositions by nucleating 2H-SiC on another SiC polytype using one or more surfactants. The surfactants can include AlN, Te, Sb and similar compositions. These nucleate SiC into disc form which changes to hexagonal 2H-SiC material.
US08278664B2 Organic light emitting display device and method of fabricating the same
Provided are an organic light emitting display device (OLED) and a method of fabricating the same. When a electrically conductive line and a gate electrode are formed at the same time or when a first electrode is formed, interconnections for electrically connecting elements are formed. Thus, the number of used masks can be reduced, so that the overall fabrication process can be shortened and the production cost can be reduced.
US08278663B2 Paper including semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
Paper embedded with a semiconductor device capable of communicating wirelessly is realized, whose unevenness of a portion including the semiconductor device does not stand out and the paper is thin with a thickness of less than or equal to 130 μm. A semiconductor device is provided with a circuit portion and an antenna, and the circuit portion includes a thin film transistor. The circuit portion and the antenna are separated from a substrate used during manufacturing, and are interposed between a flexible base and a sealing layer and protected. The semiconductor device can be bent, and the thickness of the semiconductor device itself is less than or equal to 30 μm. The semiconductor device is embedded in a paper in a papermaking process.
US08278662B2 Thin film transistor, manufacturing method thereof, display device, and manufacturing method thereof
Disclosed is a manufacturing method of a thin film transistor, which enables the formation of a thin film transistor by using only one photomask. The method includes: over a substrate sequentially forming a first insulating film, a first conductive film, a second insulating film, a semiconductor film, an impurity semiconductor film, and a second conductive film; forming a resist mask thereover using a first photomask; performing a first etching to allow the side surface of the layers including an upper portion of the first insulating film, the first conductive film, the second insulating film, the semiconductor film, the impurity semiconductor film, and the second conductive film to be coplanar to a side surface of the resist mask; and performing a second etching to selectively etch the first conductive film to allow the side surface of the first conductive film is located inside the side surface of the layers.
US08278661B2 Thin film transistor, display device including the same, and method for manufacturing the same
A display device and a manufacturing method thereof, include a first thin film transistor including a first control electrode, a first semiconductor disposed on the first control electrode, and a first input electrode and a first output electrode opposite to each other on the first semiconductor; and a second thin film transistor including a second control electrode, a second semiconductor disposed on the second control electrode, and a second input electrode and a second output electrode opposite to each other on the second semiconductor, wherein the first semiconductor includes a first lower semiconductor including polysilicon, and a first upper semiconductor disposed on the first lower semiconductor, the first upper semiconductor including amorphous silicon.
US08278653B2 Nanoparticle positioning technique
Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a method for disposing nanoparticles on a substrate. In one embodiment, a substrate having a plurality of recesses is provided. In this embodiment, a plurality of nanoparticles is also provided. The nanoparticles include a catalyst material coupled to one or more ligands, and these nanoparticles are disposed within respective recesses of the substrate. In some embodiments, the substrate is processed to form nanostructures, such as nanotubes or nanowires, within the recesses. Devices and systems having such nanostructures are also disclosed.
US08278634B2 System and method for ion implantation with improved productivity and uniformity
A method comprising introducing an injected gas (e.g., Argon, Xenon) into a beam line region comprising a magnetic scanner is provided herein. The injected gas improves beam current by enhancing (e.g., increasing, decreasing) charge neutralization of the magnetic ion beam (e.g., the ion beam at regions where the scanning magnetic field is non-zero) thereby reducing the current loss due to the zero field effect (ZFE). By reducing the current loss in regions having a magnetic field, the magnetic beam current is increased (e.g., the beam current is increased in regions where the magnetic field is non-zero) raising the overall beam current in a uniform manner over an entire scan path and thereby reducing the effect of the ZFE. In other words, the ZFE is removed by effectively minimizing it through an increase in the magnetized beam current.
US08278632B2 Vessel sterilization apparatus
In an irradiation region A in which an electron beam irradiator emits an electron beam through an irradiating surface 12a of the electron beam irradiator, a resin bottle 8 is conveyed with a distance between the irradiating surface 12a and the resin bottle 8 being maintained constant. Grippers 6 are arranged to an outer peripheral portion of a rotary body 14 in a circumferential direction thereof at an equal interval, and the resin bottles 8 are conveyed with neck portions 8a thereof being held. Rotating means (52, 58, 62) for rotating the grippers 6 with respect to the rotary body 14 and forward/rearward moving means (18, 50) keeping constant a distance from the irradiating surface 12a of the electron beam irradiator are provided. In the electron beam irradiation region A, the gripper 6 is moved forward or rearward in a radial direction by the forward/rearward moving means in the electron beam irradiation region A to thereby maintain constant the distance between the resin bottle 8 and the electron beam irradiating surface 12a.
US08278628B2 Apparatus and process for sterilization and preservation of objects
This apparatus and method improves the way metal and other objects will be sterilized, disinfected and preserved by utilizing both electromagnetic radiation (UV light in particular) to kill anaerobic pathogens and oxygen depletion to kill aerobic pathogens. The removal of the presence of oxygen further increases the useful lifespan of the treated object by preventing corrosion in general and oxidation in particular.
US08278616B2 Position detector and exposure apparatus
A position detector includes a first planar encoder including a first encoder head unit mounted on a test object that is a movable member, and a first grating unit mounted on a fixed member, the first planar encoder being configured to detect a position of the test object in two directions by measuring a position of the first grating unit using the first encoder head unit, and a second planar encoder including a second encoder head unit mounted on the fixed member, and a second grating unit mounted on the movable member, the second planar encoder being used to generate data for calibrating the position of the first grating unit measured by the first encoder head unit.
US08278597B2 Hybrid welding systems and devices
A hybrid welding device including a fuel cell and an energy storage device that cooperate to power a welding operation and/or an auxiliary operation are provided. In some embodiments, the hybrid welding device may also include an engine coupled to a generator that is configured to supplement the power provided by the fuel cell and/or the energy storage device. The hybrid welding device may be adapted to provide power for a welding operation and/or an auxiliary operation when operated as a standalone unit and/or when connected to a primary source of utility power.
US08278591B2 Cutting method using a laser having at least one ytterbium-based fiber, in which at least the power of the laser source, the diameter of the focused beam and the beam quality factor are controlled
The invention relates to method for cutting a part using a laser beam, involving the use of laser beam generation means comprising at least one ytterbium-based fibre having a wavelength of between 1 and 4 μm in order to generate the laser beam. The laser beam is selected to have a power of less than 100 kW, a power density of at least 1 MW/cm2, a focused beam diameter of at least 0.1 mm and a quality factor (BPP) of less than 10 mm·mrad.
US08278580B2 Dome switch utilizing two domes
The invention concerns a multi-domed switch. It relates to a multi-domed switch of the push-button type for thin printed circuit possessing a thin substrate (20) against one face of which a printed circuit having connection pads is placed. The switch comprises two domes (12) and an insulating spacer, the peripheral parts of the two domes (12) are each in contact with one face of the spacer and are thus facing each other on either side of the spacer, each dome (12) possesses a connection member (18) for connection to a connection pad of the printed circuit (20), and the spacer has a central hole large enough for the tops of the two domes (12) to be able to come into mutual contact when they are subjected to a closing-off force. Application to chip cards.
US08278579B2 Thin key structure for keyboards/keypads
A thin key structure includes a keycap, a key body, an elastic piece and a base. The keycap has a first side wall. The key body has a second side wall forming a hollow chamber in which the keycap can be put to connect the elastic piece. The inner of the second side wall is provided with guiding portions for guiding the keycap to move steadily in the key body. With the keycap being put in the key body, the total height of the key structure can be reduced, and the vertical moving distance of the keycap with respect to the key body to press the elastic piece can be shortened. Thus, the thin key structure can be made more compact.
US08278575B2 Triggering device for a horn system of a motor vehicle
A triggering device for a horn system of a motor vehicle is integrated in a steering wheel (2) of the motor vehicle. In order to prevent a relative movement of components associated with the steering wheel in relation to each other, but still enable a secure and reliable actuation of the triggering device of the horn system while at the same time allowing an optically compact and appealing design of the steering wheel (2), the invention proposes for the triggering device to comprise a first triggering unit (7), with which a parameter inherent in intended activation of the horn is detected. When such a parameter is detected, a first triggering signal can be emitted. The invention comprises a second triggering unit (11), with which a further parameter inherent in an intended activation of the horn is detected and a second triggering signal can be emitted. By means of the triggering device (7, 11), the horn system of the motor vehicle can be put into operation when the first triggering signal is emitted by the first triggering unit (7) and the second triggering signal is emitted by the second triggering unit (11).
US08278574B2 Switch element for a movable furniture part
The invention relates to a switch element including an actuating element that can be impinged upon by an energy accumulator (force storage device) and is mounted so that it can be moved along a trajectory. At least two energy accumulators are used to impinge the actuating element and the number of the energy accumulators impinging the actuating element varies in predetermined positions of the trajectory.
US08278573B2 Circuit breaker for use in high power system and the power system
A high power system provided with a circuit breaker is disclosed, in which the circuit breaker controls the electrical connection in the system. The circuit breaker has a switch device and a connecting device. Two conductive terminals provided in the connecting device are spaced apart from each other and connected to a power source. The connecting device is equipped with a safety latch for transmitting a signal demanding the establishment of electrical connection to an interrupting control circuit. A conductive element provided in the switch device is electrically connected to the conductive terminals of the connecting device, and then a latch releasing element provided in the switch device drives the safety latch to activate the interrupting control circuit, so as to permit power transmission in the high power system.
US08278571B2 Capacitive touchscreen or touchpad for finger and active stylus
There is provided an electronic device having a mutual capacitance touchscreen or touchpad having combined finger navigation and active stylus navigation and character entry capabilities. According to one such embodiment, first and second pluralities of sense and drive electrodes are disposed in or on at least one substrate, and form an array configured to permit a first location corresponding to a finger or a second location corresponding to an active stylus to be detected thereby. The drive electrodes in the array are configured to operate as drive electrodes when the touchscreen or touchpad operates in a first finger touch mode, and to operate as additional sense electrodes when the touchscreen or touchpad operates in a second active stylus mode.
US08278569B2 Missing part checking structure
A structure is provided for checking a missing part in an electric device with an accommodation space for an electric component (6) and an exterior cover (11) to close the space. The structure includes cover male screws (12a, 12b) and base members (4A, 4B) which are detachably fixed in the accommodation space, on which the electric component (6) is inseparably fixed, and which include cover female screws (8a, 8b, 9a, 9b) receiving the cover male screws (12a, 12b) to detachably fix the exterior cover (11). When one of the base members (4A, 4B) with the electric component (6) is removed from the accommodation space, the exterior cover (11) is unfixable to the electric device.
US08278566B2 Device mounting board and manufacturing method therefor, and semiconductor module
A device mounting board includes: an insulating resin layer; a wiring layer disposed on one main surface of the insulating resin layer; and a bump electrode connected electrically to the wiring layer and protruding on a side of the insulating resin layer from the wiring layer. A side surface of the bump electrode is curved inwardly toward the center axis of the bump electrode as viewed in a cross section including the center axis of the bump electrode, and the radius of curvature of the side surface changes continuously from a wiring layer end to a head end of the bump electrode.
US08278559B2 Printed circuit board assembly
An assembly comprising a first printed circuit board, PCB, with a ball grid array, BGA, on its underside, a second PCB facing the first PCB and having at least one through-hole between its top and bottom surfaces, its top surface printed with a circuit pattern bonded to the BGA, a heat sink layer facing the bottom surface of the second PCB and having at least one thermally-conductive pin projecting normally into the through-hole or a respective one of the through-holes in the second PCB, and, for each pin, a thermally-conductive stud of the same cross-section as the pin, bonded to the BGA and disposed within the through-hole between the pin and the first PCB in thermal contact with the pin.
US08278558B2 Printed circuit board and method of producing the same
The portion of a board corresponding to the surrounding portion of a hole 4 formed through the board is arranged to include a patternless section 6 where a conductive film 5 is not provided.
US08278556B2 Stabilization of dielectric used in transmission line structures
Stabilization of dielectrics used in transmission lines is described. In one implementation, the transmission line includes an outer conductor, a center conductor, and a dielectric material. The dielectric material separates the outer conductor from the center conductor. The center conductor has a conductive surface with a pattern distributed thereon. The pattern is configured to prevent the dielectric material from moving when the transmission line is exposed to an extreme temperature fluctuation. The pattern increases a coefficient of friction between the center conductor and dielectric material sufficient enough to prevent undesired motion of the dielectric material. In one implementation, the pattern includes indentations that are generally, but not necessarily limited to between 0.001 and 0.004 of an inch deep.
US08278555B2 Electric wire conductor and a method of producing the same
A conductor includes elemental wires made from an aluminum alloy containing Si whose content is 0.3-1.2 mass %, Mg whose content makes an Mg/Si weight ratio in a range from 0.8 to 1.8, and a remainder essentially including Al and an unavoidable impurity. The conductor has tensile strength of 240 MPa or more, breaking elongation of 10% or more, impact absorption energy of 8 J/m or more, and electrical conductivity of 40% IACS or more. The production method includes the step of preparing a strand by bunching elemental wires with the above composition, and the step of subjecting the wire to solution treatment, quenching, and aging heat treatment. Solution treatment temperature is 500-580° C., and aging heat treatment temperature is 150-220° C. Heating in solution treatment is high frequency induction heating.
US08278554B2 Indicia-coded electrical cable
An electrical cable includes a sheath that envelops at least two internal conductors, and an indicia visible on the sheath is representative of the internal conductor.
US08278550B2 Ruthenium complex and photoelectric component using the same
The present invention relates to a ruthenium complex and a photoelectric component using the same, and the ruthenium complex is represented by the following formula (I): RuL1L2(NCS)2Am  (I) wherein L1, L2, A and X are defined the same as the specification. The ruthenium complex of the present invention is suitable for a Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell (DSC). Hence, the photoelectric characteristics of the DSC manufactured with the ruthenium complex of the present invention are an improvement.
US08278539B1 Spool mount for instrument strings
A spool mount for instrument strings that includes a housing mounted on an instrument, the housing having a plurality of spools disposed within, whereby each spool releasably unwinds a string when a locking button is depressed, and a length of string accordant with reaching an extant tuning key may be retrieved and unspooled therefrom to rapidly and easily replace a string on said instrument.
US08278537B1 Maize variety hybrid 10163930
A novel maize variety designated 10163930 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing maize variety 10163930 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into 10163930 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety 10163930, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety 10163930. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety 10163930.
US08278529B1 Soybean variety XBP38010
A novel soybean variety, designated XBP38010 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XBP38010, cells from soybean variety XBP38010, plants of soybean XBP38010, and plant parts of soybean variety XBP38010. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XBP38010 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XBP38010, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XBP38010, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XBP38010. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XBP38010 are further provided.
US08278519B1 Soybean variety XBP57002
A novel soybean variety, designated XBP57002 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XBP57002, cells from soybean variety XBP57002, plants of soybean XBP57002, and plant parts of soybean variety XBP57002. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XBP57002 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic, mutant trait, and/or native trait into soybean variety XBP57002, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XBP57002. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XBP57002 are further provided.
US08278515B1 Soybean variety XB12Q08
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated XB12Q08. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety XB12Q08, to the plants of soybean XB12Q08 to plant parts of soybean variety XB12Q08 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety XB12Q08 with another soybean plant, using XB12Q08 as either the male or the female parent.
US08278509B2 Fiji, mundaka, zuma lettuce varieties
A new lettuce variety designated FIJI, MUNDAKA, ZUMA is described. FIJI, MUNDAKA, ZUMA are romaine lettuce varieties exhibiting stability and uniformity.
US08278507B2 Polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase activity and polynucleotides encoding same
The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase 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 of producing and using the polypeptides.
US08278497B2 Disposable absorbent articles having a pocketed temperature sensor
A disposable absorbent article suitable for receiving and containing bodily exudates that comprises a first waist region, a second waist region and a crotch region disposed between the first and second waist regions, each region having two opposing longitudinal edges; wherein said article further comprises a pocket for a non-electronic temperature sensor wherein said pocket is disposed on any one of said regions and wherein said pocket has two opposing sides.
US08278495B1 System for decontamination of chemical weapons agents using solid sorbent with liquid decontamination solution
A chemical warfare (CW) agent decontamination system and method for decontaminated surfaces contaminated by CW agents. The system includes both solid particles and liquid solution in admixture such that the solid particles absorb the liquid decontamination material. The method of decontaminating surfaces contaminated with CW agents includes contacting the CW agent with a sufficient amount of a solid-particle sorbent for a sufficient time and under conditions which are sufficient to produce a reaction product having less toxicity than the CW agent. CW agents to be decontaminated include the nerve agents VX and G-type agents, and mustard agent HD. The system is non-toxic and has a reduced environmental impact as compared to the previously available decontamination systems and solutions.
US08278489B2 Method for producing an amine
Processes for preparing an amine, which processes comprise: reacting a reactant selected from the group consisting of primary alcohols, secondary alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, and mixtures thereof, with hydrogen and a nitrogen compound selected from the group consisting of ammonia, primary amines, secondary amines and mixtures thereof, in the presence of a zirconium dioxide-, copper- and nickel-containing catalyst; wherein the catalyst comprises a catalytically active composition which comprises, before reduction with hydrogen, oxygen compounds of zirconium, copper, nickel and tin, and 0.5 to 8.0% by weight of an oxygen compound of cobalt, calculated as CoO, and wherein the catalytically active composition does not comprise any ruthenium.
US08278483B2 Process for synthesis of glycomimicking cationic amphiphiles
The present invention provides processes for the synthesis of novel Shikimic acid head-group containing non-toxic cationic amphiphiles capable of facilitating transport of biological macromolecules into cells.
US08278480B2 Salts, aqueous liquid compositions containing salts of S-(+)-abscisic acid and methods of their preparation
The present invention generally relates to salts of S-(+)-abscisic acid having enhanced performance, aqueous liquid compositions containing these enhanced performance salts of S-(+)-abscisic acid and methods of their preparation for agricultural use.
US08278475B2 Processes for the preparation of optically active intermediates
This invention relates to processes for the production of optically active 2-(disubstituted aryl)cyclopropylamine compounds and optically active 2-(disubstituted aryl) cyclopropane carboxamide compounds which are useful intermediates for the preparation of pharmaceutical agents, and in particular the compound [1S-(1α,2α,3β(1S*,2R*),5β]-3-[7-[2-(3,4-difluorophenyl)-cyclopropyl]amino]-5-(propylthio)-3H-1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidin-3-yl)-5-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-cyclopentane-1,2-diol.
US08278472B2 Method of preparing allylchlorosilane derivative
Provided is a method of preparing allylchlorosilane, and more particularly, a method of preparing allylchlorosilane with high yield by Si—C coupling reaction of an allyl chloride derivativce with a hydrosilane derivative under specific reaction conditions without using a catalyst.
US08278464B2 Insecticides
Compounds of formula wherein the substituents are as defined in claim 1, and the agrochemically acceptable salts and all stereoisomers and tautomeric forms of the compounds of formula I can be used as agrochemical active ingredients and can be prepared in a manner known per se.
US08278462B2 Methods and compounds for producing dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors and intermediates thereof
Methods and compounds for production of cyclopropyl-fused pyrrolidine-based inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase IV are provided.
US08278455B2 5- or 6-substituted benzimidazole derivatives as inhibitors of respiratory syncytial virus replication
The present invention concerns 5- or 6-substituted-benzimidazole derivatives having inhibitory activity on the replication of the respiratory syncytial virus and having the formula a prodrug, N-oxide, addition salt, quaternary amine, metal complex or stereochemically isomeric form thereof wherein Q is Ar2, R6, pyrrolidinyl substituted with R6, piperidinyl substituted with R6 or homopiperidinyl substituted with R6, G is a direct bond or optionally substituted C1-10alkanediyl; R1 is Ar1 or a monocyclic or bicyclic heterocycle; one of R2a and R2b is cyanoC1-6alkyl, cyanoC2-6alkenyl, Ar3C1-6alkyl, Het1C1-6alkyl, N(R8aR8b)C1-6alkyl, Ar3C2-6alkenyl, Het1C2-6alkenyl, Ar3aminoC1-6alkyl, Het1aminoC1-6alkyl, Ar3thioC1-6alkyl, Het1thioC1-6alkyl, Ar3sulfonylC1-6alkyl, Het1sulfonylC1-6alkyl, Ar3aminocarbonyl, Het1aminocarbonyl, Ar3(CH2)namino-carbonyl, Het1(CH2)naminocarbonyl, Ar3carbonylamino, Het1carbonylamino, Ar3(CH2)ncarbonylamino, Het1(CH2)ncarbonylamino, and the other one of R2a and R2b is hydrogen; in case R2a is hydrogen, then R3 is hydrogen; in case R2b is hydrogen, the R3 is hydrogen or C1-6alkyl. It further concerns their preparation and compositions comprising them, as well as their use as a medicine.
US08278446B2 Process for preparing substituted diaminopyrimidine oximes
The present invention is directed to a process for chemoselective substitution on a halopyrimidine carboxaldehyde having multiple reactive sites and subsequent stereoselective oxime formation.
US08278440B2 Process for the synthesis of ivabradine and addition salts thereof with a pharmaceutically acceptable acid
Process for the synthesis of ivabradine of formula (I): and addition salts thereof with a pharmaceutically acceptable acid.
US08278437B2 Hydroxypropyl-sulfobutyl-beta-cyclodextrin, the preparation method, the analytical method, and the pharmacutical application thereof
Hydroxypropyl-sulfobutyl-&bgr;-cyclodextrin, the preparation method, analytical method, and the pharmaceutical application thereof. The hydroxypropyl-sulfobutyl-&bgr;-cyclodextrin is a derivate of cyclodextrin which is substituted by hydroxypropyl group and sulfobutyl group: n-(2,3,6-O-2-hydroxypropyl)-m-(2,3,6-O-sulfobutyl)-&bgr;-cyclodextrin. The number of substituent groups per mole cyclodextrin is n hydroxypropyl groups and m sulfobutyl groups. “n” represents the average substituent degree of hydroxypropyl groups; “m” represents the average substituent degree of sulfobutyl groups; “n+m=z” is the gross average substituent degree, in which n is a random integer chosen from 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9; m is a random integer chosen from 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9; and the gross average substituent degree z is a random integer chosen from 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10. The present invention shows low haemolysis and low toxicity.
US08278436B2 Glycosylated warfarin analogs and uses thereof
The present invention discloses a set of glycosylated warfarin analogs which are useful as anti-tumor or anti-metastatic agents and as reagents for studying sugar uptake in cells.
US08278434B2 Promoter, promoter control elements, and combinations, and uses thereof
The present invention is directed to promoter sequences and promoter control elements, polynucleotide constructs comprising the promoters and control elements, and methods of identifying the promoters, control elements, or fragments thereof. The invention further relates to the use of the present promoters or promoter control elements to modulate transcript levels.
US08278426B2 Carbocyclic bicyclic nucleic acid analogs
Provided herein are saturated and unsaturated carbocyclic bicyclic nucleosides, oligomeric compounds prepared therefrom and methods of using these oligomeric compounds. The saturated and unsaturated carbocyclic bicyclic nucleosides are useful for enhancing properties of oligomeric compounds including nuclease resistance.
US08278410B2 Fused thiophenes, articles, and methods thereof
Fused thiophene (FT) compounds, FT polymers, FT containing articles, and methods for making and using the FT compounds and polymers thereof of the formulas, as defined herein.
US08278395B2 Process for manufacturing modified conjugated diene polymer, composition comprising the polymer, and tire comprising the composition
The present invention has an object to provide a conjugated diene-based polymer, subjected to a vulcanization treatment to make a vulcanized rubber, the vulcanized rubber useful as a material for tire treads excellent in the balance among wet skid characteristics, low hysteresis loss, abrasion resistance, breaking strength and rigidity, and to provide its manufacturing process. According to the present invention, there is provided the process for manufacturing a modified conjugated diene-based polymer having a modifying group in its molecule, the process including a step of obtaining a conjugated diene-based polymer by polymerizing a conjugated diene compound, or a conjugated diene compound and an aromatic vinyl compound, by using an alkaline metal-based initiator or an alkaline earth metal-based initiator in a hydrocarbon solvent, and a step of reacting active terminals of the polymer with a glycidylamino group-containing low molecular compound having two or more tertiary amino groups and three or more glycidyl groups bonded to the amino groups in a molecule of the compound, and an oligomer of a dimmer or more of the low molecular compound as modifying agents, wherein the reaction is performed using 75 to 95% by mass of the low molecular compound and 25 to 5% by mass of the oligomer based on the total amount of the modifying agents.
US08278391B2 Polypropylene compositions for oriented films
Oriented films and methods of forming the same are discussed herein. The oriented films generally include a propylene based polymer and an additive selected from fluoropolymers, fluoroelastomers and combinations thereof, wherein the additive is present in an amount of from about 50 ppm to about 20,000 ppm.
US08278385B2 Rubber composite and tire using the same
The invention is to provide a rubber composite and tire using the rubber composite, which, when the rubber composite is used as the tread rubber of a tire, enables the tire to have high wear resistance and hence have a long life while presenting a low rolling resistance and enables an automobile that uses the tires to reduce fuel consumption during traveling. The rubber composite of the invention comprises 100 parts by weight of a rubber component composed of at least one kind of rubber, selected from a group of natural rubber, synthetic isoprene rubber and synthetic diene rubber and 10 to 100 parts by weight of a carbon black blended therein, the carbon black is specified to satisfy the relation X/Y≧0.84, where X is the mercury intrusion specific surface area (m2/g), measured by mercury porosimetry and Y is the CTAB specific surface area (m2/g). The tire of the invention is one that uses the above rubber composite as its tread portion.
US08278370B1 Friction surface for wet clutch
A friction lining made of a fibrous mixture with fillers and resin for a wet clutch. In order to design the friction lining able to withstand the higher torque to be transmitted, it is proposed to admix further filler with a Mohs hardness greater or equal to 9.0 and smaller or equal to 9.5 in addition to the ingredients of aramid fibers, cellulose fibers, phenol resin and amorphous silicon dioxide and first filler.
US08278365B2 Carpet waste composite
A composite material is produced from carpet waste and a binding agent, in intimate association, and may also include wood fiber or chips and/or other additives. A method of manufacturing a composite material includes shredding carpet waste, coating the carpet waste with a binding agent, and subjecting the shredded, coated carpet waste to elevated heat and pressure. As an additional step, the composite material may be actively cooled to prevent deformation of the material.
US08278361B2 Fluoroalkyl alcohol mixture and method for producing the same
Disclosed is a mixture of fluoroalkyl alcohols represented by the general formulae: CF3(CF2)n(CH═CF)a(CF2CF2)b(CH2CH2)cOH [Ia] and CF3(CF2)n-1(CF═CH)aCF2(CF2CF2)b(CH2CH2)cOH [Ib], wherein n is an integer of 1 to 5, a is an integer of 1 to 4, b is an integer of 0 to 3, and c is an integer of 1 to 3. This fluoroalkyl alcohol mixture is produced by the reaction of a fluoroalkyl iodide represented by the general formula: CF3(CF2)n(CH2CF2)a(CF2CF2)b(CH2CH2)cI [II], with N-methylformamide, followed by hydrolysis in the presence of a basic compound.
US08278358B2 Lipoic acid derivatives
The invention describes alpha lipoic acid complexes, that can be oligomeric, polymeric, monomeric and mixtures thereof. The complexes can be salts, chelates, etc. of the oligomers, polymers, or monomeric alpha lipoic acid.
US08278357B2 Derivatives of N-phenylanthranilic acid and 2-benzimidazolone as potassium channel and/or neuron activity modulators
Compounds, compositions and methods are provided which are useful in the treatment of conditions such as central or peripheral nervous system disorders through the modulation of potassium ion flux through voltage-dependent potassium channels and/or depressing cortical and/or peripheral neuron activity are disclosed. Novel derivatives of N-phenylanthranilic acid are also disclosed.
US08278356B2 Phloroglucinol derivatives having selectin ligand activity
Pharmaceutical compositions comprising at least one compound of the formula (I) and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier which is useful in a medicine wherein the symbols and substituents have the following meaning —X— is e.g. and Y being e.g. or the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters or amides and prodrugs can be applied to modulate the in-vitro and in-vivo binding processes mediated by E-, P- or selectin binding.
US08278355B2 Isovaline for treatment of pain
The invention provides for the use of isovaline or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for the treatment of Pain in a mammalian subject in some preferred embodiments, the invention provides for the treatment of acute and chronic Pain syndromes where other drug therapies have limited efficacy or unacceptable toxicity in said subject.
US08278351B2 Natural marine source phospholipids comprising polyunsaturated fatty acids and their applications
A phospholipid extract from a marine or aquatic biomass possesses therapeutic properties. The phospholipid extract comprises a variety of phospholipids, fatty acid, metals and a novel flavonoid.
US08278350B2 Agent for skin external use containing salt of ascorbic acid derivative, method for stabilizing the agent for skin external use, and stabilizer
An agent for skin external use of the invention contains a salt of higher fatty acid ester of ascorbic acid-2-phosphoric acid ester and a polyhydric alcohol. According to the present invention, occurrence of turbidity or precipitation with time can be prevented to enhance stability even when the agent for skin external use is prepared using a specific salt of higher fatty acid ester of ascorbic acid-2-phosphoric acid ester. Therefore, the present invention is useful for all agents for skin external use, particularly cosmetics.
US08278344B2 Heterocyclic inhibitors of necroptosis
The invention features a series of heterocyclic derivatives that inhibit tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) induced necroptosis. The heterocyclic compounds of the invention are described by Formulas (I) and (Ia)-(Ie) and are shown to inhibit TNF-α induced necroptosis in FADD-deficient variant of human Jurkat T cells. The invention further features pharmaceutical compositions featuring the compounds of the invention. The compounds and compositions of the invention may also be used to treat disorders where necroptosis is likely to play a substantial role.
US08278338B2 Saturated and unsaturated 3-pyridyl-benzocycloalkylmethyl-amines for use in treating pain, depression and/or anxiety
Saturated and unsaturated 3-pyridyl-benzocycloalkylmethyl-amines=compounds corresponding to formula (I), wherein the various substituents have the meaning provided in the description, and pharmaceutical formulations containing these compounds and methods for producing these compounds and related pharmaceutical formulation, and to methods for treating or inhibiting pain, depression and/or anxiety states.
US08278333B2 Crystals of benzoxadiazole derivative
ObjectProvided are β-form crystal, γ-form crystal, and α-form crystal of a benzoxadiazole derivative, wherein a uniform crystal having sufficient qualities can be obtained with high reproducibility, and they can be anytime supplied as crystals of drug substance for use in producing pharmaceuticals, are particularly suitable for mass synthesis in industrial production, hardly exhibit hygroscopicity and have particularly excellent photo-resistance.Means for ResolutionA solving means includes β-form crystal of 4-[3-isopropyl-5-(6-phenyl-3-pyridyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-yl]-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole, which shows an endothermic peak at 145 to 150° C. according to a differential scanning calorimeter analysis (DSC analysis) and shows X-ray powder diffraction peaks at 9.8, 11.1, 12.8, 13.3, 17.1, 20.2, 21.2 and 22.3 in 2θ(°), and the like.
US08278329B2 Diarylalkene derivatives and novel diarylalkane derivatives
The invention relates to a compound represented by the following general formula (1) or its analogue, which selectively inhibit N-type calcium channels or its analogue, and to a method for treating pain etc. comprising the compound represented by the following general formula (1) or its analogue to a patient in need of such treatment: wherein, A represents CH═CH, etc., a, b, c and d represents CH etc., R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 represents H etc., V—W represents C═C, etc., n represents 0 to 3, Y1 represents O etc., B represents —(CH2)vCHR21 wherein v is 0 to 3, R21 represents H, a lower alkyl group or the like, etc., G represents —CO—, a covalent bond, etc., m is 0 to 6, R7 and R8 represents H, a lower alkyl group, —COR18a, —COOR20 wherein R18a and R20 each represents a lower alkyl group or the like, etc.
US08278319B2 Substituted spiroamine compounds
Substituted spiroamine compounds corresponding to the formula (I) In which m, n, o, p, Q, r, s, t, R1, R2, R3, R4a, R4b, R5a, R5b, R6a, R6b, R7, R8, R9, R10 and R11 have defined meanings; a process for the preparation of such compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds and the use of substituted spiroamines for the treatment or inhibition of pain and/or other conditions mediated by the bradykinin 1 receptor.
US08278318B2 Spirocycles as inhibitors of 11-beta hydroxyl steroid dehydrogenase type 1
The present invention relates to certain spirocyclic compounds that are inhibitors of 11-β hydroxyl steroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11βHSD1), compositions containing the same, and methods of using the same for the treatment of diabetes, obesity and other diseases.
US08278316B2 Aza pyridone analogs useful as melanin concentrating hormone receptor-1 antagonists
MCHR1 antagonists are provided having the following Formula I: wherein all of the variables are defined herein. Such compounds are useful for the treatment of MCHR1 mediated diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, IBD, depression, and anxiety.
US08278306B2 C-met protein kinase inhibitors
Described herein are compounds that are useful as ROCK inhibitors. These compounds, and pharmaceutically acceptable compositions thereof, are useful for treating or lessening the severity of a variety of disorders, including cardiovascular, inflammatory, neurological, or proliferative diseases or disorders.
US08278305B2 Myosin light chain kinase inhibitor compounds, compositions and related methods of use
Pyridazinyl compounds, compositions and related methods of use.
US08278283B2 6-disubstituted or unsaturated bicyclic nucleic acid analogs
The present disclosure describes 6-disubstituted bicyclic nucleosides, oligomeric compounds prepared therefrom and methods of using the oligomeric compounds. More particularly, the 6-disubstituted bicyclic nucleosides each comprise a 2′-O—C(Ri)(R2)-4′ or 2′-O—C=(R3)(R.4)-4′ bridge wherein each R is, independently a substituent group and Ri and R2 include H. The 6-disubstituted bicyclic nucleosides are useful for enhancing properties of oligomeric compounds including nuclease resistance. In certain embodiments, the oligomeric compounds provided herein hybridize to a portion of a target RNA resulting in loss of normal function of the target RNA.
US08278282B2 Nucleoside analogs for treatment of viral infections
This invention relates to novel compounds that have various medicinal applications, e.g. for the treatment and/or prevention of viral infections.
US08278278B2 Cell proliferation reducing cancer specific PCNA peptides
Cell-permeable caPCNA-derived peptides and their variants serve as therapeutic compositions to reduce the proliferation of cancerous cells and also augment cytotoxic effects of chemotherapeutics.
US08278266B2 Inhibition of migration and induction of cell death by the type II collagen amino propeptides
The present invention provides combinations and methods for inducing cell death, inhibiting angiogenesis, and inhibiting cell migration. In particular, the present invention provides methods for inducing cell death in a cell expressing an αvβ3 and/or an αvβ5 integrin.
US08278252B2 Nano-sized particles for stabilizing viscoelastic surfactant fluids
An aqueous, viscoelastic fluid gelled with a viscoelastic surfactant (VES) is stabilized and improved with an effective amount of an alkaline earth metal oxide, alkaline earth metal hydroxide, alkali metal oxides, alkali metal hydroxides, transition metal oxides, transition metal hydroxides, post-transition metal oxides, and post-transition metal hydroxides. These fluids are more stable and have a reduced or no tendency to precipitate, particularly at elevated temperatures. The additives may reduce the amount of VES required to maintain a given viscosity. These stabilized, enhanced, aqueous viscoelastic fluids may be used as treatment fluids for subterranean hydrocarbon formations, such as in hydraulic fracturing. The particle size of the magnesium oxide or other agent may be nanometer scale, which scale may provide unique particle charges that use chemisorption, crosslinking and/or other chemistries to associate and stabilize the VES fluids.
US08278243B2 Laser imaging
An ink formulation comprises a marking component and a metal salt that absorbs laser irradiation at 700-2000 mn and thereby causes the marking component to change colour. A copper salt in particular allows effective marking with a diode or CO2 laser.
US08278222B2 Selective etching and formation of xenon difluoride
This invention relates to a process for selective removal of materials, such as: silicon, molybdenum, tungsten, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, tantalum, niobium, boron, phosphorus, germanium, arsenic, and mixtures thereof, from silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, nickel, aluminum, TiNi alloy, photoresist, phosphosilicate glass, boron phosphosilicate glass, polyimides, gold, copper, platinum, chromium, aluminum oxide, silicon carbide and mixtures thereof. The process is related to the important applications in the cleaning or etching process for semiconductor deposition chambers and semiconductor tools, devices in a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS), and ion implantation systems. Methods of forming XeF2 by reacting Xe with a fluorine containing chemical are also provided, where the fluorine containing chemical is selected from the group consisting of F2, NF3, C2F6, CF4, C3F8, SF6, a plasma containing F atoms generated from an upstream plasma generator and mixtures thereof.
US08278211B2 Thin film forming method
According to the present invention, a thin film having a desired thickness is formed on an inner sidewall of a step with excellent step coverage in a film forming step and an etching step at least once, respectively. In an embodiment of the present invention, a target material is deposited on a substrate (17) having a concave step (31, 32) having an opening width or opening diameter of 3 μm or less and an aspect ratio of 1 or more. At this time, a film forming method according to the present invention has a first step of depositing a thin film onto a bottom (33) of the step (31, 32) and a second step of forming a film on an inner sidewall (34) of the step (31, 32) by re-sputtering the thin film deposited on the bottom (33) and the pressure in a process chamber in the second step is set lower than that in the process chamber in the first step and the ratio of anode power to cathode power in the second step is set greater than the power ratio in the first step.
US08278210B2 Manufacturing method of semiconductor device
In a modern 0.15 μm power MOSFET, aluminum voids (voids formed in an aluminum-type electrode) are generated frequently in trench portions (source contact trenches) caused by the reduction of a cell pitch for refinement. It is considered to be attributable to the defects which are generated mainly due to a sudden increase of the aspect ratio from 0.84 in the previous generation to 2.8 in the current generation. Accordingly, concave portions of repetitive trenches having a high aspect ratio are filled with an aluminum-type metal by ionized sputtering throughout the processing, from the formation to the filling of an aluminum-type metal seed film.
US08278207B2 Methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices
A semiconductor device can include an insulation layer on that is on a substrate on which a plurality of lower conductive structures are formed, where the insulation layer has an opening. A barrier layer is on a sidewall and a bottom of the opening of the insulation layer, where the barrier layer includes a first barrier layer in which a constituent of a first deoxidizing material is richer than a metal material in the first barrier layer and a second barrier layer in which a metal material in the second barrier layer is richer than a constituent of a second deoxidizing material. An interconnection is in the opening of which the sidewall and the bottom are covered with the barrier layer, the interconnection is electrically connected to the lower conductive structure.
US08278199B2 Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device
Reliability of a semiconductor element and its product yield are improved by reducing variations in the electrical characteristic of a metal silicide layer. After forming a nickel-platinum alloy film over a semiconductor substrate, by carrying out a first thermal treatment at a thermal treatment temperature of 210 to 310° C. using a heater heating device, the technique causes the nickel-platinum alloy film and silicon to react with each other to form a platinum-added nickel silicide layer in a (PtNi)2Si phase. After removing unreacted nickel-platinum alloy film, the technique carries out a second thermal treatment having the thermal treatment temperature higher than that of the first thermal treatment to form the platinum-added nickel silicide layer in a PtNiSi phase. The temperature rise rate of each thermal treatment is set to 10° C./s or more.
US08278194B2 Method for fabricating semiconductor devices and a semiconductor device made therefrom
A method for fabricating semiconductor devices includes: (a) forming over a temporary substrate a sacrificial film layer; (b) growing laterally and epitaxially an epitaxial film layer; (c) forming over the epitaxial film layer a patterned mask that covers partially the epitaxial film layer and that defines a plurality of through holes to expose a plurality of epitaxial surface regions, respectively; (d) forming a plurality of conductive members respectively in the through holes and on the epitaxial surface regions; (e) removing the patterned mask and removing a part of the epitaxial film layer and a part of the sacrificial film layer beneath the patterned mask; (f) removing the sacrificial film layer; and (g) removing the temporary substrate.
US08278189B2 Method for thinning wafer
The present invention provides a method of thinning a wafer. First, a wafer is provided. The wafer includes an active surface, a back surface and a side surface. The active surface is disposed opposite to the back surface. The side surface is disposed between the active surface and the back surface and encompasses the peripheral of the wafer. Next, a protective structure is formed on the wafer to at least completely cover the side surface. Last, a thinning process is performed upon the wafer from the back surface.
US08278179B2 LDD epitaxy for FinFETs
A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes providing a substrate including a fin at a surface of the substrate, and forming a fin field-effect transistor (FinFET), which further includes forming a gate stack on the fin; forming a thin spacer on a sidewall of the gate stack; and epitaxially growing a epitaxy region starting from the fin. After the step of epitaxially growing the epitaxy region, a main spacer is formed on an outer edge of the thin spacer. After the step of forming the main spacer, a deep source/drain implantation is performed to form a deep source/drain region for the FinFET.
US08278160B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device with high reliability and operation performance is manufactured without increasing the number of manufacture steps. A gate electrode has a laminate structure. A TFT having a low concentration impurity region that overlaps the gate electrode or a TFT having a low concentration impurity region that does not overlap the gate electrode is chosen for a circuit in accordance with the function of the circuit.
US08278158B2 Thin film transistor substrate, method of manufacturing the same, and display apparatus having the same
In a method of manufacturing a thin film transistor substrate, a semiconductor pattern is formed on a substrate, a first etch stop layer and a second etch stop layer are sequentially formed on the semiconductor pattern, and the second etch stop layer and the first etch stop layer are sequentially patterned to form a second etch stop pattern and a first etch stop pattern. Thus, when the second etch stop layer is patterned using an etchant, the first etch stop layer covers the semiconductor pattern, thereby preventing the semiconductor pattern from being etched by the etchant.
US08278152B2 Bonding process for CMOS image sensor
The present disclosure provides a method of making an integrated circuit (IC). The method includes forming an electric device on a front side of a substrate; forming a top metal pad on the front side of the substrate, the top metal pad being coupled to the electric device; forming a passivation layer on the front side of the substrate, the top metal pad being embedded in the passivation layer; forming an opening in the passivation layer, exposing the top metal pad; forming a deep trench in the substrate; filling a conductive material in the deep trench and the opening, resulting in a though-wafer via (TWV) feature in the deep trench and a pad-TWV feature in the opening, where the top metal pad being connected to the TWV feature through the pad-TWV feature; and applying a polishing process to remove excessive conductive material, forming a substantially planar surface.
US08278148B2 Integrated circuit package system with leads separated from a die paddle
An integrated circuit package system is provided including forming a leadframe having a frame and a die paddle having leads thereon. The leads are held with respect to the die paddle. The leads are separated from the die paddle, and a die is attached to the die paddle. Bond wires are bonded between the leads and the die. The die and bond wires are encapsulated. The leadframe is singulated to separate the frame and the die paddle.
US08278146B2 Manufacturing method of chip package with coplanarity controlling feature
A chip package includes a substrate, an integrated circuit proximate a top surface of the substrate, and a cap comprising encapsulant that encapsulates the integrated circuit on at least a portion of the top surface of the substrate. The chip package further includes at least one extension feature positioned on at least a portion of the top surface of the substrate. The at least one extension feature also comprises the encapsulant and extends from the cap to a perimeter of the substrate.
US08278145B2 Method for packaging semiconductor device
The present invention provides a method for packaging semiconductor device which is using more than once reflow processes to heat the solder ball to prevent the deformation of solder ball, so that the yield of the manufacturing process can be increased and the reliability of the semiconductor device can be increased.
US08278142B2 Combined metallic bonding and molding for electronic assemblies including void-reduced underfill
A method for forming electronic assemblies includes providing a plurality of IC die each having IC bonding conductors and a workpiece having workpiece bonding conductors. A curable dielectric film is applied to the IC bonding conductors or the workpiece surface. The plurality of IC die are placed on the workpiece surface so that the plurality of IC bonding conductors are aligned to and face the plurality of workpiece bonding conductors to provide a first bonding. The placing is performed at a vacuum level corresponding to a pressure <1 kPa, and at a temperature sufficient to provide tackiness to the curable dielectric film. The plurality of IC die are then pressed to provide a second bonding. A temperature during pressing cures the curable dielectric film to provide an underfill and forms metallic joints between the plurality of IC bonding conductors and the plurality of workpiece bonding conductors.
US08278131B2 Method and apparatus for dark current and blooming supression in 4T CMOS imager pixel
A method and apparatus for operating an imager pixel that includes the act of applying a relatively small first polarity voltage and a plurality of pulses of a second polarity voltage on the gate of a transfer transistor during a charge integration period.
US08278130B2 Back side illumination image sensor and method for manufacturing the same
A back side illumination image sensor according to an embodiment includes: a device isolation region and a pixel region that are on a front side of a first substrate; a light sensor and a readout circuit that are on the pixel region; an interlayer dielectric layer and a metal line that are on the front side of the first substrate; a second substrate that is bonded to the front side of the first substrate on which the metal line is formed; a pixel isolating dielectric layer that is on the device isolation region at a back side of the first substrate; and a microlens that is on the light sensor at the back side of the first substrate.
US08278124B2 Assembly of ordered carbon shells on semiconducting nanomaterials
In some embodiments of the invention, encapsulated semiconducting nanomaterials are described. In certain embodiments the nanostructures described are semiconducting nanomaterials encapsulated with ordered carbon shells. In some aspects a method for producing encapsulated semiconducting nanomaterials is disclosed. In some embodiments applications of encapsulated semiconducting nanomaterials are described.
US08278119B2 Detection method and detection reagent for autoimmune pancreatitis or fulminant type-1 diabetes
By detecting an antibody which immunologically reacts with amylase α2-A in a sample, AIP or FT1DM is examined or the possibility of developing FT1DM is determined. For instance, detection of this antibody is carried out by an immunological method using an antigen which immunologically reacts with this antibody. The antigen is preferably a partial fragment containing the amino acid sequence of amino acid numbers 299 to 511 of human amylase α2-A (SEQ ID NO: 1).
US08278110B2 Method and a blood oxygen tester for detecting the arterial or venous blood
A method and a blood oxygen tester for determining whether a blood sample is arterial or venous blood are disclosed. A blood oxygen tester for determining whether a blood sample is arterial or venous blood includes a housing and a blood sample receptacle defined by the housing. A blood oxygen sensor is in communication with the blood sample receptacle and a test result indicator is in communication with the blood oxygen sensor. The indicator is responsive to the blood oxygen sensor for indicating whether a tested blood sample is arterial blood or venous blood.
US08278108B2 Automatic analyzer
An automatic analyzer of the type equipped with a sample preprocessing function pretreats a desired sample in a pretreating unit before pipetting the sample into an analyzing unit for analysis. When all samples are carried to the analyzing unit via the pretreating unit, irrespective of whether the sample is to be pretreated, this causes loss in terms of both costs and installation space requirements. In the case where the preprocessing is required, a minimal quantity of the sample is also necessary in order to make the sample react to the preprocessing liquid. In addition, the possible presence of a residual sample left in the pretreating unit could affect analytical results. The automatic analyzer which includes an analyzing unit and a pretreating unit further includes a sample-pipetting mechanism constructed to have a function that allows the mechanism to access a plurality of pipetting positions without a sample sucking/discharging position being fixed.
US08278105B2 Induction, propagation and isolation of liver progenitor cells
The present invention relates to methods of induction and isolation of progenitor cells from stem cell cultures, specifically liver progenitor cells from human embryonic stem cell cultures. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of inducing hepatocyte-like progenitor cells by placing a quantity of human embryonic stem cells in a medium supplemented with an inhibitor of the MAPK/MEK/ERK signaling pathway, FGFR, GSK3 and/or BMP.
US08278089B2 Quality of life for hepatitis C patients with a formulation for administration to the oral mucosa including Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and N-acetyl D-glucosamine
Disclosed are quick dissolve tablets, each including Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp bulgaricus (LBD) and N-acetyl-glucosamine (NAG), as well as excipients, for oral mucosal administration, for improving the quality of life of Hepatitis C patients. Any formulation suitable for oral mucosal administration can be employed for administering the active ingredients in a sufficient dosage for therapeutic effect, one such formulation being: 50 mg of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp bulgaricus lysate strain YB-I 10 mg of N-acetyl D-glucosamine. Excipients can include one or more of, maltodextrin; xanthan gum; acesulfam K; lemon powder and a flavoring, e.g., juice; Mannitol TL-32-04, Microcrystalline Cellulose and Carrageenan, Fructose, PVP-XL TL-11-04, Gellan Gum, Citrus TL 1-04, Orange TL 19-04, Sucrolose TL-13-04, and Mg ST TL-13-04.
US08278081B2 Method for producing non-infectious products from infectious organic waste material
A method for producing a hydrolyzed, sterile, denatured product from infectious organic waste material includes (a) introducing, into a reactor capable of being heated and pressurized, infectious organic waste material to form a reaction mixture; (b) subjecting the reaction mixture to saturated steam at a temperature and pressure within the reactor for a duration of time sufficient to thermally hydrolyze and denature the reaction mixture into a denatured slurry; and (c) alternatively (1) anaerobically digesting the denatured slurry, or (2) fractionating the denatured slurry based on molecular weight, density and size into at least two hydrolyzed, sterile, denatured products. The resulting hydrolyzed, sterile products have safe and valuable nutritional properties and may be used in a wide range of commercial, agricultural, and industrial products or processes.
US08278074B2 L-glutamic acid-producing microorganism and a method for producing L-glutamic acid
A coryneform bacterium that is modified by using a yggB gene so that L-glutamic acid-producing ability is enhanced as compared to a non-modified strains is cultured in a medium to cause accumulation of L-glutamic acid in the medium or bacterial cells, and L-glutamic acid is collected from the medium or cells.
US08278072B1 Method for synthesis of sialylated products using reversible sialylation
A method for producing sialylated molecules based on reverse sialylation that catalytically transfers the sialic acid moiety of sialylated donors to nucleotide monophosphates or transfer sialic acid moieties from sialylated donors to acceptor glycoproteins or glycolipids.
US08278056B2 Detection of early stages and late stages HPV infection
Embodiments of the invention provide methods, monoclonal antibodies, polyclonal antibodies, assays, and kits for detecting HPV infection and HPV related cancer diagnosis, including infection by various HPV genotypes, early and/or late stage HPV-associated or HPV-specific cancers. Various specific or pan monoclonal antibodies recognizing specific epitope for specific HPV protein or HPV type, or common epitope for various HPV proteins or HPV types are obtained. The invention also provides one or more solid surface to coat the testing cell lysate. Also, the anti-HPV antibody can be coated on the solid surface of the invention to capture HPV proteins and detect HPV infection.
US08278052B2 Tagged oligonucleotides and their use in nucleic acid amplification methods
The present invention provides kits containing tagged oligonucleotides for use in certain nucleic acid amplification methods to desirably reduce or eliminate false positive amplification signals resulting from contaminating biological material, e.g., nucleic acid, that may be present in one or more reagents used in an amplification reaction and/or that may be present in the environment in which an amplification reaction is performed. The kits containing tagged oligonucleotides can be used in purification and/or sterility efforts under less stringent conditions than conventionally needed to reduce or eliminate false positive results in a nucleic acid amplification method.
US08278051B2 Method of amplifying a target nucleic acid by rolling circle amplification
Provided is a method of amplifying a nucleic acid using rolling cyclic amplification (RCA), including amplifying a nucleic acid together with formation of a single-strand circular DNA template using RCA by reacting a reaction solution including: (a) two hairpin oligos, (b) a target nucleic acid, (c) a DNA ligase, (d) an endonuclease, (e) a DNA polymerase, and (f) a primer.
US08278050B2 Detection of chromosomal inversions using non-repetitive nucleic acid probes
A method for the identification of chromosomal inversions is described. Single-stranded sister chromatids are generated, for example by CO-FISH. A plurality of non-repetitive, labeled probes of relatively small size are hybridized to portions of only one of a pair of single-stranded sister chromatids. If no inversion exists, all of the probes will hybridize to a first chromatid. If an inversion has occurred, these marker probes will be detected on the sister chromatid at the same location as the inversion on the first chromatid.
US08278047B2 Biopolymer sequencing by hybridization of probes to form ternary complexes and variable range alignment
Methods for sequencing a biopolymer by forming local ternary complexes along the length of the double-stranded biopolymer target molecule using one or more probes and obtaining information about the location of the probe(s) using a detector. These methods offer particular advantage when implemented with nanopore (including micropore) detection systems.
US08278040B2 Optically responsive and mechanically tunable colloid-in-liquid crystal gels
Colloidal liquid crystal gels (CLCGs), sensors incorporating the CLCGs, culture substrates made from the CLCGs, and patterned films and molded articles made from the CLCGs are provided. The CLCGs are composite liquid crystal materials comprising networks of particles having liquid crystal domains dispersed therein.
US08278036B2 RNA containing modified nucleosides and methods of use thereof
This invention provides RNA, oligoribonucleotide, and polyribonucleotide molecules comprising pseudouridine or a modified nucleoside, gene therapy vectors comprising same, methods of synthesizing same, and methods for gene replacement, gene therapy, gene transcription silencing, and the delivery of therapeutic proteins to tissue in vivo, comprising the molecules. The present invention also provides methods of reducing the immunogenicity of RNA, oligoribonucleotide, and polyribonucleotide molecules.
US08278020B2 Polyester synthesis
The present disclosure provides methods for modifying polymeric resin materials after polymerization to make fine adjustments in the chemical or physical properties of the resin, or in modifying the structure of the polymer chains. The resulting resins may be useful in forming toner particles. In embodiments, a polymeric resin may have epoxy groups added to its backbone to increase its melting point. The resulting polymer, sometimes referred to herein as an epoxidized polymer, may, in turn, be reacted with wax-like components, to increase the compatibility of the polyester with waxes utilized in forming toner particles. In other embodiments, the resulting epoxidized polymer may be reacted with components possessing carboxylic acid groups to adjust the acid value and weight average molecular weight of the resin.
US08278019B2 Method of manufacturing electrostatic charge image developing toner
Provided is a method of manufacturing an electrostatic charge image developing toner exhibiting reduced variation in charging amount among manufacturing lots, which is capable of generating no fog, and acquiring high density print images. Disclosed is a method of manufacturing an electrostatic charge image developing toner, possessing the step of washing toner mother particles having been formed in an aqueous medium with washing water, wherein the washing water has a total dissolution component amount of at least 0.05 mg/liter and less than 0.5 mg/liter.
US08278018B2 Process for producing dry ink colorants that will reduce metamerism
In accordance with the invention, there is a method of forming a toner. The method can include blending two or more colorants to form a sample toner and forming a sample color specimen including a printed image comprising the sample toner. The method can further include comparing spectral distribution curves of the sample color specimen with that of a target color specimen including a target color and repeating the disclosed steps until acquiring a desired spectral match between the sample toner and the target color.
US08278017B2 Crack resistant imaging member preparation and processing method
The presently disclosed embodiments relate in general to electrophotographic imaging members, such as layered photoreceptor structures, and processes for making and using the same. More particularly, the embodiments pertain to the development of a structurally simplified flexible electrophotographic imaging member without the need of an anticurl back coating layer and a post treatment process for effecting the imaging member service life extension in the field.
US08278016B2 Electrophotographic photoconductor
An electrophotographic photoconductor including an electroconductive support and a photoconductive layer provided thereon, wherein the photoconductive layer includes a charge generating material, an electron transporting material and a hole transporting material, the electron transporting material being a diphenoquinone compound represented by formula (1) described herein, the hole transporting material being a compound represented by formula (2) described herein.
US08278013B2 Fuel cell device and system
The present invention relates to fuel cell devices and fuel cell systems, methods of using fuel cell devices and systems, and methods of making fuel cell devices. According to certain embodiments, the fuel cell devices may include an elongate substrate, such as a rectangular or tubular substrate, the length of which is the greatest dimension such that the coefficient of thermal expansion has only one dominant axis that is coextensive with the length. In addition, or in accordance with other certain embodiments, a reaction zone is positioned along a first portion of the length for heating to an operating reaction temperature, and at least one cold zone is positioned along a second portion of the length for operating at a temperature below the operating reaction temperature. There are one or more fuel passages in the elongate substrate, each having an associate anode, and one or more oxidizer passages in the elongate substrate, each having an associate cathode. In some embodiments, the passages are formed by sacrificial organic materials that are melted or baked out of the structure and/or by removable structures that are pulled out after lamination. Bake-out paths may also be used to facilitate removal of the sacrificial organic materials, which paths are later sealed. Embodiments of the invention further include methods and devices in which a current collector is recessed into the electrode.
US08278009B2 Metallic material for conductive member, separator for fuel cell using the same, and fuel cell using the separator
A metallic material for a conductive member has good corrosion resistance and low contact resistance. The metallic material has 0.3 μm or less of mean spacing of local peaks of the surface roughness profile. A proton-exchange membrane fuel cell includes a proton-exchange membrane, an electrode, a gas diffusing layer, and a separator using the metallic material for a conductive member, where the metallic material for a conductive member includes a stainless steel and includes 0.03% or less C, 0.03% or less N, 16 to 45% Cr, 0.1 to 5.0% Mo, 0.03% or less (C+N), by mass, and balance of Fe and inevitable impurities, and where the metallic material for a conductive member has 0.3 μm or less of mean spacing of local peaks of the surface roughness profile.
US08278002B2 Fuel-cell and fuel cell system including the same
A fuel cell includes: cells (11), each of which includes an electrolyte layer-electrode stack assembly (5) having a electrolyte layer (1) and a pair of gas diffusion electrodes (4a, 4b) sandwiching a portion of the electrolyte layer (1) which portion is located on an inner side of a peripheral portion of the electrolyte layer (1), an annular peripheral member disposed at the peripheral portion of the electrolyte layer (1), a pair of electrically conductive separators (6A, 6B) which sandwich the electrolyte layer-electrode stack assembly (5) and the peripheral member, and damage detecting wires (31); and a fuel cell stack (100) formed by stacking the cells (11), wherein: the damage detecting wires (31) are formed on components constituting the cell (11) other than the electrolyte layer-electrode stack assembly (5); and the damage detecting wires (31) are connected to one another to form an open circuit by stacking the cells (11).
US08277995B2 Fuel cell power generation system
A fuel cell power generation system is disclosed. The fuel cell power generation system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: a stack, which produces electrical energy by reacting hydrogen with oxygen and in which the hydrogen is supplied as fuel and the oxygen is in the air; a hydrogen tank, which supplies fuel comprising hydrogen to the stack; and a heat transfer tape, which transfers heat generated from the stack to the hydrogen tank. The fuel cell power generation system can improve the efficiency of supplying hydrogen by supplying waste heat generated from the stack to the hydrogen tank through the use of the heat transfer tape without a heat supplying device and be applied to a mobile device due to the reduced volume of the fuel cell power generation system.
US08277993B2 Fuel cell system
A fuel cell system is provided which can accurately detect an insulation resistance even during a high-potential prevention control. The fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell that generates electric power through an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidant gas; an insulation resistance measurement unit that measures an insulation resistance between the fuel cell and an outer conductor; and a control unit that controls a power generation state of the fuel cell, and the control unit carries out a high-potential prevention control that avoids a voltage of the fuel cell becoming equal to or higher than a predetermined high-potential prevention voltage threshold lower than an open circuit voltage of the fuel cell, and changes the high-potential prevention voltage threshold during an insulation resistance detection performed by the insulation resistance measurement unit.
US08277989B2 Cathode filter replacement algorithm in a fuel cell system
A fuel cell system that includes a compressor for providing cathode air to the cathode side of a fuel cell stack and an air filter for filtering the air sent to the compressor to prevent particulates and other contaminants from entering the compressor and the fuel cell stack. The fuel cell system also includes a mass flow meter that measures the flow of air to the compressor and a pressure sensor that measures the pressure of the airflow at the output of the compressor. An electronic compressor map is provided that defines the operating characteristics of the compressor. By knowing the flow through the compressor and the pressure at the outlet of the compressor, an algorithm can determine where on the compressor map the compressor is operating, and from that determine the inlet pressure to the compressor, which in turn shows whether the air filter is clogged or otherwise damaged.
US08277987B2 Fuel cell system
A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell stack configured to have a plurality of unit fuel cells arranged on an identical plane; a chassis configured to cover at least one side of said fuel cell stack via an air flow space; and a condensation water holding member configured to be provided in at least a part between said fuel cell stack and said chassis, have a mesh shape and have a function for keeping moisture.
US08277985B2 Separator including an elastic layer for use in humidifying device, humidifying device, and fuel cell system including humidifying device
A separator for use in a humidifying device includes: main surfaces contacting steam permeable membranes (2), respectively; a fluid channel (3, 4) formed by concave portions (66, 81) of a convex-concave portion formed on each of the main surfaces; and an elastic layer (1a, 1c) formed up to at least a certain depth from tip ends of convex portions (67, 82) of the convex-concave portion.
US08277980B2 Cathode active material for lithium secondary battery
Provided is a cathode active material which is lithium transition metal oxide having an α-NaFeO2 layered crystal structure, wherein the transition metal is a blend of Ni and Mn, an average oxidation number of the transition metals except lithium is +3 or higher, and lithium transition metal oxide satisfies the Equation m(Ni)≧m(Mn) (in which m (Ni) and m (Mn) represent an molar number of manganese and nickel, respectively). The lithium transition metal oxide has a uniform and stable layered structure through control of oxidation number of transition metals to a level higher than +3, thus advantageously exerting improved overall electrochemical properties including electric capacity, in particular, superior high-rate charge/discharge characteristics.
US08277973B2 Nonaqueous electrolyte composition and nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery
A nonaqueous electrolyte composition containing an electrolyte salt, a nonaqueous solvent and a compound having a phosphorus-hydrogen bond or a phosphorus-carbon bond is provided. Also provided is a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery including: a cathode and an anode having a material capable of occluding and releasing lithium ions as a cathode active material and an anode active material, respectively; a nonaqueous electrolyte composition; a separator; and an outer package member for housing the anode, the cathode, the nonaqueous electrolyte composition and the separator. The nonaqueous electrolyte composition includes an electrolyte salt, a nonaqueous solvent and a compound having a phosphorus-hydrogen bond or a phosphorus-carbon bond.
US08277966B2 Double winding-typed electrode assembly
Disclosed herein is a double winding type electrode assembly constructed in a structure in which a cathode and an anode are opposite to each other while a separator is disposed between the cathode and the anode, wherein the electrode assembly is manufactured by preparing a plurality of cell units, each cell unit having a cathode sheet and an anode sheet, of a predetermined size, wound, while a separator is disposed between the cathode sheet and the anode sheet, each cell unit being elliptical in section, and sequentially winding the cell units while arranging the cell units on a long separator sheet.
US08277963B2 Battery pack
A battery pack, including a cell including a cathode, an anode, and an electrode terminal having a bolt coupling region on a surface thereof, a circuit board electrically coupled to the cell and having a bolt through-hole at a position corresponding to the bolt coupling region, and a bolt passing through the bolt through-hole and coupled to the bolt coupling region.
US08277962B2 Magnetic recording medium for perpendicular magnetic recording
A perpendicular recording medium having a perpendicular magnetic recording layer and a magnetically soft underlayer structure disposed beneath the recording layer. The soft underlayer structure includes at least first and second soft magnetic layers having different magnetic permeabilities to create a magnetic permeability gradient in the soft underlayer structure. One or more of the soft magnetic layers can be anti-parallel coupled. The soft underlayer structure of the present invention having a magnetic permeability gradient advantageously leads to reduced adjacent track erasure (ATE) while maintaining good overwrite (OW) properties.
US08277958B2 Aluminum titanium nitride coating and method of making same
Hard coatings and methods of making the hard coatings comprising aluminum titanium nitride which are usable on cutting tools are disclosed. The coatings include at least one aluminum titanium nitride layer having between about 0 and about 15 weight percent hexagonal phase and a composition of (AlxTi1-x)N, where x is in the range of about 0.53 to about 0.58 moles.
US08277943B2 Thin films with high near-infrared reflectivity deposited on building materials
Disclosed are solar-reflective roofing and other building materials having high reflectance of near-infrared radiation and high transmission of radiation in the visible light range and a substantial emissivity so as to reduce the heat island effects experienced by the articles while also maintaining an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Also disclosed are related methods for fabrication of such materials.
US08277942B2 Semiconductor nanocrystal heterostructures
A semiconductor nanocrystal heterostructure has a core of a first semiconductor material surrounded by an overcoating of a second semiconductor material. Upon excitation, one carrier can be substantially confined to the core and the other carrier can be substantially confined to the overcoating.
US08277938B2 Part of composite material having a wedge between two zones
A part of composite material having a wedge between two zones, the second zone being shorter than the first zone, whose structure includes from its outer surface to its inner surface: a first section formed from at least two continuous sheets extending parallel to its outer surface, the gradient of the wedge being between 20% and 50%; a wedge in the shape of a triangular prism with its larger surface dimensioned in such a way that it forms a wedge having a gradient of less than 20%; a second section formed by a plurality of continuous sheets extending parallel to the surface bounded by the first section with the wedge placed upon it. The invention also relates to a process for manufacture of the part.
US08277928B2 Ultra-thin photo-polymer coatings and uses thereof
The invention provides methods for forming ultra-thin hydrophilic polymeric coatings on articles, as well as articles formed therefrom. The coatings are formed by irradiating a composition including a polymer having pendent photoreactive groups while the composition is in contact with a surface of the article.
US08277927B2 Electret and electrostatic induction conversion device
An electret in disclosed including a laminate. A layer (A) containing a resin (a) and a layer (B) containing a resin (b) other than the resin (a) or an inorganic substance (c) are directly laminated. The resin (a) is a fluororesin (a1), or a resin (a2) having an alicyclic structure and containing no fluorine atom. The layer (B) is disposed on the outermost surface on a side opposite to the side where electric charge is injected at the time of injecting electric charge into the laminate to form the electret.
US08277924B2 Panel-shaped molded product
The present invention relates to a panel-shaped molded product having a laminated structure which is produced from a resin and used for side doors, back doors, hoods, roofs, etc., and exhibits a more excellent finishing accuracy without occurrence of bleed-out along an inner periphery of a frame part and fine distortions on a design part. The panel-shaped molded product of the present invention is a molded product having a laminated structure which is obtained by injection-molding the frame part (2) on one surface of the plate-shaped design part (1) wherein an inner peripheral portion (4) of the frame part (2) is closely attached to the design part, and has a thickness changing region where a thickness of the frame part is reduced toward the side of a center of the frame part such that a ratio between a width of the thickness changing region and the thickness of the frame part (2), and a ratio between a width of the thickness changing region and a width of the frame part (2) are respectively adjusted to satisfy specific relationships.
US08277913B2 Foamed polyvinylidene fluoride tubular structures
The invention relates to foamed polyvinylidene tubular structures—and particularly those for use as conduit. The tubular structures may be corrugated, and are especially useful for fiber-optic plenum conduit. The polyvinylidene foam may also be directly applied to fiber optic cable.
US08277908B2 Substrate fluorescence mask for embedding information in printed documents
The teachings as provided herein relate to a watermark embedded in an image that has the property of being relatively indecipherable under normal light, and yet decipherable under UV light. This fluorescent mark comprises a substrate containing optical brightening agents, and a first colorant mixture printed as an image upon the substrate. The colorant mixture layer has as characteristics a property of strongly suppressing substrate fluorescence, as well as a property of low contrast under normal illumination against the substrate or a second colorant mixture printed in close spatial proximity to the first colorant mixture, such that the resultant image rendered substrate suitably exposed to an ultra-violet light source, will yield a discernable image evident as a fluorescent mark.
US08277902B2 Method for forming film and method for manufacturing light emitting device
A method for forming a film in which throughput is improved and a desired pattern is obtained smoothly in stacking a plurality of material layers over a substrate and a method for manufacturing a light emitting device are provided. In advance, a material layer is formed selectively by a droplet discharge method to be in contact with a light absorption layer on a first substrate. A second substrate is disposed so that the material layer faces the second substrate. The light absorption layer is irradiated with a laser light so that a film containing a material included in the material layer is formed on the second substrate. When the light absorption layer have a desired pattern, a film reflecting the pattern of the light absorption layer that has undergone the laser light irradiation is formed on the second substrate.
US08277893B2 Chemical vapor deposition apparatus
A chemical vapor deposition apparatus which comprises a susceptor for mounting a substrate thereon, a heater for heating the substrate, a feed gas introduction portion and a reaction gas exhaust portion, wherein a light transmitting ceramics plate held or reinforced by means of a supporting member is equipped between the heater and a mounting position of the substrate. A chemical vapor deposition apparatus that is capable of forming film stably for a long time without giving a negative influence on a quality of semiconductor film even in a case of chemical vapor deposition reaction employing a furiously corrosive gas with an elevated temperature for producing a gallium nitride compound semiconductor or so was realized.
US08277892B2 Process for creating an oxygen scavenging particle
A method is disclosed for manufacturing one or more oxygen scavenging particles, wherein the particle(s) comprises an oxidizable metal particle, such as elemental iron; an acidifying electrolyte such as sodium or potassium bisulfate and optionally a water hydrolysable Lewis acid, such as aluminum chloride. The method comprises the step of coating the oxidizable particle with a first compound and then reacting the first compound with a second compound to form a third compound, wherein the third compound promotes the reaction of the oxidizable particle with oxygen.
US08277887B2 Delivery device
Delivery devices for delivering solid precursor compounds in the vapor phase to reactors are provided. Such devices include a precursor composition of a solid precursor compound with a layer of packing material disposed thereon. Also provided are methods for transporting a carrier gas saturated with the precursor compound for delivery into such CVD reactors.
US08277886B2 Delivery device
Delivery devices for delivering solid precursor compounds in the vapor phase to reactors are provided. Such devices include a precursor composition of a solid precursor compound with a layer of packing material disposed thereon. Also provided are methods for transporting a carrier gas saturated with the precursor compound for delivery into such CVD reactors.
US08277882B2 Roofing and/or siding material and a method of forming thereof
A roofing and/or siding system having an improved average resulting reflectivity. The roofing and/or siding system is at least partially coated with a plurality of granules. At least one layer of paint is applied to the roofing and/or siding system to increase the resulting reflectivity of the roofing and/or siding system.
US08277874B2 Manufacturing method of magnetic recording medium, the magnetic recording medium, and magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus
A manufacturing method of a magnetic recording medium, the magnetic recording medium having a structure where plural magnetic recording areas and isolation areas in a magnetic recording layer are formed on a non-magnetic substrate, the isolation areas being configured to magnetically isolate the magnetic recording areas, the manufacturing method includes a step of forming the magnetic layer on the non-magnetic substrate, the magnetic layer being made of a hard magnetic material having a magnetic coercive force whereby magnetic recording is impossible; and a step of performing ion implantation partially at positions corresponding to the plural magnetic recording areas of the magnetic layer so that the magnetic recording areas are formed by reducing the magnetic coercive force in the positions of the ion implantation to a magnetic-recordable magnetic coercive force, and allowing the isolation areas to maintain the magnetic coercive force whereby magnetic recording is impossible.
US08277871B2 Evaporation donor substrate and method for manufacturing light-emitting device
To provide an evaporation donor substrate which is used for deposition by an evaporation method and which allows reduction in manufacturing cost and high uniformity of a film which is deposited. In addition, to provide a method for manufacturing a light-emitting device using the evaporation donor substrate. The evaporation donor substrate includes a reflective layer having an opening which is formed over a substrate, a heat insulating layer having a light-transmitting property which is formed over the substrate and the reflective layer, a light absorption layer which is formed over the heat insulating layer; and a material layer which is formed over the light absorption layer.
US08277867B2 Microdrop ablumenal coating system and method
Systems and methods for coating medical devices are provided that allow for relatively precise control over the deposition area and coating uniformity with improved efficiency. A microdrop source is used to provide a flow of coating microdrops. A charging electrode disposed near the outlet of the coating source gives each microdrop an electrostatic charge. As the microdrop travels toward the medical device to be coated, a control electrode alters the trajectory of the microdrop. The invention can include a scanner to scan or image the medical device as the coating is applied and a control system to adjust parameters of the deposition process based on information provided by the scanner.
US08277866B2 Extruded, highly cooked, non-sticky starch products
Improved extruded starch-bearing products (e.g., starches, starch-bearing legumes, starch-bearing grains and formulations containing any of the foregoing) are provided having relatively high cook values and low cold water viscosities. The products are prepared by initial preconditioning to partially cook the starting material(s), followed by low shear extrusion cooking, with a total STE/SME ratio of at least about 4.
US08277858B2 Process for making a healthy snack food
The present invention is directed towards a method for making a healthy snack food having an appearance and taste similar to conventional fried snack products without the use of an oil-flying process. The method of the present invention includes the steps of providing food slices from a starch-based food or dough. The food slices can be blanched and a controlled amount of oil can be added to enhance final organoleptical properties. The food slices are then rapidly dehydrated to a much lower moisture content in a primary drying step that simulates conventional frying dehydration rates. A food snack, such as a corn or potato-based snack, produced by this method is a low-fat, ready-to-eat snack having the conventional texture and taste associated with fried snack products.
US08277845B2 Formulations and methods for lyophilization and lyophilates provided thereby
The present invention provides compositions, methods for lyophilizing compounds and making pharmaceutical compositions, and kits providing solutions and lyophilized formulations of compounds. The compositions, methods, and kits are particularly useful in pharmaceutical applications involving therapeutic agents that have low solubility at low pH and medium pH values. Certain embodiments provide methods for lyophilizing compounds in liquid solutions, which include the steps of: a) preparing aqueous solutions of a compound of interest in the absence of buffer; b) adjusting the pH to high values of pH in order to increase the solubility of the compound of interest; and c) freeze-drying the solution to provide a lyophilized solid composition. Aqueous solutions including buffer are also disclosed. Lyophilized formulations, including micronized and non-micronized powders, are provided.
US08277844B2 Coating composition
The present invention relates to a novel resin composition useful as a coating agent or a binder for medicines, drugs for animals, agricultural chemicals, fertilizers, foods or the like, which contains a polyvinyl alcohol copolymer as a main component. More particularly, the present invention relates to a resin composition, characterized in that the composition is obtained by copolymerizing a polyvinyl alcohol having an average polymerization degree of 1300 or less, and at least one polymerizable vinyl monomer in a weight ratio of 6:4 to 9:1.
US08277843B2 Programmable buoyant delivery technology
The present invention is concerned with a system for spatially and temporally programmable delivery of an active agent. When administered orally, the System can be retained in the gastric region for a prolonged period of time. It comprises of a core (I), one or more layers (II, IV, V) coated over the core and a preformed hollow space (III). The invention also concerns with a process for preparation of the System and a method for treating/preventing diseases, by administering to a subject in need thereof, the System of the invention.
US08277839B2 Oral pharmaceutical composition of anilinopyrimidine, preparation and use thereof
An oral pharmaceutical composition comprising a capsule dosage form containing a liquid fill composition including an anilinopyrimidine derivative of Formula (I) and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, a glyceryl ester of capric acid or a mixture thereof. The liquid fill composition is formulated in a hard gelatin capsules and can be used for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of cancer in particular AML.
US08277834B2 Method for producing protein adsorption-preventing ocular lens material
The present invention is a method of manufacturing an eye lens material having a process in which a phosphorylcholine group-containing chemical compound represented by the following formula (1) is reacted and covalently bonded onto the surface of an eye lens material wherein a chemical compound having an end amino group is introduced to said eye lens material and then the chemical compound represented by the following formula (2) or (3) is introduced through said chemical compound having an end amino group.The object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a contact lens that prevents protein adsorption.
US08277833B2 Medical devices having surface coatings
According to an aspect of the present invention, medical devices are provided which comprise a metallic region and a coating on all or part of the metallic region that comprises a multivalent acid.
US08277827B2 Antimicrobial textiles comprising peroxide
This invention pertains to method for imparting a durable antimicrobial activity to substrates, particularly textiles. An acetate-free metal and peroxide antimicrobial treatment formulation is prepared by adjusting the pH of a mixture of a metal salt in aqueous hydrogen peroxide to about 7.5. The substrate is treated with the composition and dried to afford the treated substrate with antimicrobial activity. Zinc salts, ions, or complexes are preferred.
US08277824B2 Solubilization of cyclohexane-based carboxamide derivatives for use as sensates in consumer products
Disclosed are methods of solubilizing various coolants, in particular cyclohexane-based carboxamide derivatives to facilitate formulating these coolants into a wide variety of consumer products, including those for oral cavity, throat, skin and hair care applications. Suitable solvents are those that provide at least 5% concentrated solutions of these coolants. Particularly preferred solvents are those used in the perfume and flavor industries and are GRAS materials that do not contribute formulation difficulties or negative aesthetics.
US08277822B2 Botulinum toxin treatment
A liquid or semi-solid formulation of botulinum toxin for the preparation of a medicament intended to treat a disorder characterized by bladder spasms (e.g. urinary incontinence due to unstable bladder or unstable detrusor sphincter, voiding complications due to detrusor overactivity or unstable detrusor sphincter, urinary retention secondary to spastic sphincter or hypertrophied bladder neck and neurogenic bladder dysfunction secondary to Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury, stroke or multiple sclerosis or characterized by a spasm reflex), wherein said medicament is for administration by infusion into the bladder or by other methods that do not involve injection into the bladder wall.
US08277820B2 Process for preparing variant of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae surface protective antigen in E. coli
A variant of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae surface protective antigen SpaA protein or of a shortened form of SpaA (ΔSpaA) in which a portion of SpaA protein is deleted for protection from Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae infection and a process for preparing the same are provided. Introduction of amino acid substitution at a specific site in the amino acid sequence of SpaA or ΔSpaA protein provides a variant of SpaA or ΔSpaA protein which is immunogenic and is expressed in E. coli as inclusion bodies. The variant of SpaA or ΔSpaA protein of the present invention may easily be recovered and purified since it is expressed in E. coli as inclusion bodies.
US08277815B2 Pharmaceutical composition comprising an antigen
The invention relates to immunogenic compositions. In certain embodiments, the invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising an antigen, an immunostimulating substance selected form neuroactive compounds, hormones, compounds having a growth hormone activity, and mixtures thereof, and a polycationic polymer.
US08277798B2 Use of cells containing a specific DNA molecule as cytopathic agents to inhibit the proliferation of cells
The present invention relates to the use of cells containing in their genome a specific DNA molecule, as cytopathic agents able to inhibit the proliferation of cells, when these proliferative cells are contacted with the cells containing the above-mentioned DNA molecule.
US08277795B2 Methods and compositions for treating motor neuron diseases comprising mesenchymal stem cells
Disclosed herein are a composition for treating motor neuron diseases, particularly amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), using mesenchymal stem cells, and a method for treating motor neuron diseases using the composition. The composition and treatment method can provide effective therapy for motor neuron diseases, particularly for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
US08277794B2 Immune privileged and modulatory progenitor cells
Described herein is a method for modulating an immune reaction between lymphocytes and a body recognized by the lymphocytes as foreign. The method exploits the immunomodulating activity of a new class of progenitor cells termed HUCPVCs derived from the perivascular region of human umbilical cord. The method can also employ soluble factors exuded by cultured HUCPVCs. The method is useful to treat immune disorders including graft versus host disease, autoimmune disorders, and the like.
US08277792B2 Peptides for active anti-cytokine immunization
Peptide of a size comprised between 5 and 40 amino acids, originating from a cytokine, in which at least one of its amino acids comprises at least one of its atoms separated by a distance d of less than 5 angströms from an atom of the receptor corresponding to said cytokine, the spacing d being evaluated on the basis of structural data, derivatives, immunogenic compounds comprising them, use of a peptide or peptide derivative or immunogenic compound for the preparation of a curative or preventative medicament intended for the treatment or prevention of diseases linked to an excess or to the presence of cytokines or for the treatment of an auto-immune disease and pharmaceutical compositions which contain at least one abovementioned peptide or peptide derivative or immunogenic compound as active ingredient.
US08277785B2 Cosmetic compositions with encapsulated pigments and a method for using
There is a pigmented cosmetic composition. The composition has a cosmetically acceptable vehicle, a cosmetic active, and a plurality of encapsulated pigment particles. The particles have an encapsulant and an entrapped pigment within the encapsulant. The encapsulant has silicon dioxide and exhibits a refractive index of about 1.4 to about 1.6.
US08277784B2 Hair cosmetic product
A hair treatment method entailing sequentially (i) preparing a hair cosmetic by mixing a first agent containing an alkali agent and a second agent containing hydrogen peroxide to form a mixed liquid, (ii) discharging the mixed liquid in the form of a foam from a foamer vessel without a propellant, (iii) applying the mixed liquid to hair, (iv) allowing the mixed liquid to stand for 3 to 60 minutes; and (v) rinsing the mixed liquid away.
US08277780B2 Stable liquid desoximethasone compositions with reduced oxidized impurity
The present invention relates to a stable liquid formulation comprising desoximetasone, isopropyl myristate, a C2-C4 alcohol and a stabilizing agent. Specifically, the present invention provides a liquid formulation comprising: a) about 0.01 wt % to about 2.5 wt % desoximetasone; b) about 10 wt % to about 70 wt % isopropyl myristate; c) about 20 wt % to about 70 wt % C2-C4 alcohol; and d) a stabilizing agent selected from the group consisting of an oleaginous vehicle and a propellant, wherein the stabilizing agent is in an amount sufficient to reduce the formation of less than about 1 wt % 17-carboxy-9α-fluoro-11β-hydroxy-16a-methyl-androsta-1,4-diene-3-one under an accelerated storage condition.
US08277778B2 Vaccine adjuvants
The invention relates to a novel adjuvant Mycobacterium w and or its constituents and adjuvant containing composition, which contains antigen(s) with pharmaceutical acceptable carrier and its uses. Mycobacterium w and or its constituents when administered with antigen(s) to mammal results in enhanced immunogenicity of antigen. The enhanced immunogenicity manifests as humoral responses as well as cell mediated immunity. The adjuvant effect is seen with variety of antigens in various mammals irrespective of their immune status at the time of administration of Mycobacterium w and antigen containing composition. e.g. immune naïve or preimmunized status.
US08277776B2 Compositions for delivery of therapeutics and other materials
This disclosure relates to compositions for delivering agents to a subject, and in particular, to compositions for delivery of therapeutic agents or diagnostic agents in the presence or absence of targeting moieties. In part, this disclosure relates to compositions comprising a hydrophobic group with a first end and a second end, a first metal binding domain linked to the hydrophobic group, a metal ion capable of being chelated to the first metal binding domain, and an agent linked to a second metal binding domain capable of chelating to the metal ion.
US08277771B2 Continuous vapor grown carbon fiber, method for fabricating the same and applications thereof
A method for fabricating a continuous vapor grown carbon fiber, comprising: (a) providing a substrate which has a catalyst on its surface; (b) placing said substrate in a furnace; (c) loading said furnace with hydrogen, ammonia, or combinations thereof; (d) adjusting a temperature of said furnace to 400° C. to 900° C. to proceed heat treatment for 10 minutes to 2 hours; (e) adding a carbon-containing compound into said furnace; (f) adjusting the ratio of said carbon-containing compound and said hydrogen, ammonia, or combinations thereof; (g) adjusting the temperature of said furnace to 500° C. to 1200° C. to crack said carbon-containing compound, and thereby form a carbon fiber.
US08277767B2 Method and system for adsorbing pollutants and/or contaminants
The present invention relates to a method and a multi-component system for adsorbing contaminants and/or pollutants from a contaminated hot fluid by using a turbulent air stream, to adiabatically cool the temperature of the fluid, in association with one or more adsorbents. The system of the present invention can also be coupled to a recovery and recycling unit to recover and recycle the contaminant and/or pollutant and the adsorbent material.
US08277765B2 Process for recovering molybdate or tungstate from aqueous solutions
Process for recovering molybdate or tungstate from an aqueous solution, in which molybdate or tungstate is bound to a water-insoluble, cationized inorganic carrier material from the aqueous solution at a pH in the range from 2 to 6, the laden carrier material is separated off and the bound molybdate or tungstate is liberated once again into aqueous solution at a pH in the range from 6 to 14. The process is suitable for recovering molybdate or tungstate in the delignification of pulp with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of molybdate or tungstate as catalyst. The recovered molybdate or tungstate can be recycled to the delignification.
US08277756B2 Method of identifying a blockage at the receiving opening of a pipetting needle
A method of identifying a blockage at the receiving opening of a pipetting needle which at or in the proximity of the receiving opening has an electrode (E1) or is itself in the form of an electrode (E1), in an analysis apparatus when taking liquid from a liquid-containing vessel and/or when delivering liquid into a liquid-containing vessel, in which the pipetting needle is displaced in such a way that the receiving opening is immersed in the liquid in the liquid-containing vessel, an amount of liquid is sucked up into the pipetting needle or delivered from the pipetting needle, the pipetting needle is further displaced in such a way that the receiving opening comes out of the liquid in the liquid-containing vessel, during the displacement of the pipetting needle the capacitances (Kmeasurement) between the electrode (E1) and a counter-electrode (E2) are detected in dependence on the position of the pipetting needle, the detected capacitances (Kmeasurement) are compared to predetermined reference values (Kreference) for the respective position of the pipetting needle, and information about the presence of a blockage at the receiving opening of the pipetting needle is delivered if the deviation between the detected capacitances (Kmeasurement) and the predetermined reference values (Kreference) at one position or a plurality of positions of the pipetting needle exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
US08277755B2 Apparatus for discharging packing material from sample column
The present invention provides an apparatus for discharging packing material from a sample column which is capable of removing the packing material such as activated carbon from the sample column for analysis having a tube shape smoothly and more certainly, and can be suitably used in the case where the packing material thus removed is supplied to an analyzer, etc. The apparatus for discharging packing material according to the present invention comprises a discharge apparatus body (4) which is disposed concentrically to the sample column (9) held in a predetermined position, and is capable of moving close to and away from the sample column; a column positioning hub (5) which is mounted to a tip end of the discharge apparatus body to be movable forward and rearward, and biased toward the sample column (9); a push-out pin which is inserted into the discharge apparatus body (4) and the column positioning hub (5) to extend substantially along center lines of the discharge apparatus body and the column positioning hub, and allowed to relatively project from the column positioning hub when the column positioning hub (5) is moved rearward; and a vibration generating means for applying vibration to the push-out pin (6) when the push-out pin is allowed project from the column positioning hub.
US08277753B2 Microfluidic transfer pin
A liquid dispenser for a microfluidic assay system is described. The dispenser includes at least one transfer pin for transferring a microfluidic sample of liquid to a target receptacle. A pin tip at one end of the transfer pin is structured to cooperate with an opening in the target receptacle. The tip uses a high voltage potential to transfer the sample from the pin to the receptacle.
US08277751B2 Tissue paper with pH-indicator function
The present invention relates to a tissue paper with pH-indicator function, specifically a toilet paper that can be used to diagnose abnormal pH changes of the human urine as accompanying for instance acetonemic vomiting or diabetes.
US08277750B2 Detector for chemical sensor device and use thereof
Disclosed is a detector for chemical sensor devices, the detector being improved in detection sensitivity. Also disclosed is use of such a detector for chemical sensor devices. Specifically, disclosed is a detector for chemical sensor devices by which a substance to be measured is detected by adsorbing the substance contained in a medium on the surface thereof. The detector includes an adsorption layer containing hydroxyapatite or a substituted apatite obtained by substituting a part of elements in hydroxyapatite on a surface which is used for detecting the substance to be measured. Such a detector is greatly improved in detection sensitivity, and thus able to detect a very small amount of a chemical substance.
US08277745B2 Interchangeable load cell assemblies
A mass-based dispensing system includes a set of interchangeable load cell assemblies. The load cell assemblies are sized to be interchangeably received into a mass-based product dispenser. Each of the interchangeable load cell assemblies has a maximum rated load that is different from the maximum rated load of the other load cell assemblies. The interchangeable load cell assemblies are substantially modular (i.e., have substantially similar external geometries), thus enabling the product dispenser to interchangeably receive the load cells. The interchangeable load cell assemblies enable a single product dispenser to accommodate a broad range of differently weighted products and/or product containers.
US08277737B2 Catalyst systems
The present invention provides monolithic structural catalysts. The catalysts have a thin wall structure and are advantageous for catalyzing reactions of gaseous fluid or liquid fluid molecules, such as the denitration or selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of nitrogen oxides (NOx) in combustion flue gases. In an embodiment, the honeycomb-like monolithic structural body includes catalytically active outer peripheral walls and a plurality of catalytically active thin-walled inner partition walls, the thin-walled inner partition walls adapted to enhance fluid flow through the monolithic catalytic body and to increase interaction of the fluid molecules with the catalyst body.
US08277729B2 Sample analyzer, reagent aspirating method, and computer program product
The present invention is to present a sample analyzer which is capable of respond immediately when a need to perform analysis of multiple items arises. The sample analyzer 1 includes a table 12 capable of holding a first rack 320 and a second rack 330; a reagent dispensing arm 120 which comprises a pipette part 121; a reagent dispensing driving section 120a for moving the reagent dispensing arm 120; a reagent barcode reader 350; and a control section 501 for controlling the reagent dispensing driving section 120a so as to move the pipette part 121 to a predetermined reagent aspirating position according to the identification information obtained by the reagent barcode reader 350.
US08277724B2 Sterilization methods and systems
Methods and systems for sterilizing one or more areas or one or more portions of one or more areas are described. In some embodiments, the methods and systems can be used to sterilize one or more areas or one or more portions of one or more areas through use of sterilizing radiation. In some embodiments, the methods and systems can be utilized so that objects, such as humans, that are within one or more areas or one or more portions of one or more areas are not substantially irradiated with sterilizing radiation.
US08277720B2 Device and method for heating a metal material
Device for heating metal material includes an elongated DFI burner arranged to be driven with gaseous oxidant and gaseous fuel and to be displaceable and longitudinally arranged with respect to the metal material. The burner includes longitudinal tubular vessels for fuel and for oxidant, arranged in parallel to one another and relative to the surface of the metal material. Each of these vessels has an opening through which the fuel and oxidant flow out and then converge in an ignition zone outside the respective vessels, where a flame is generated. Supply devices are arranged via a regulator to keep the pressure constant throughout the respective vessel during operation. Each of the vessels has a longitudinally displaceable piston for controlling the longitudinal extension of the flame in the longitudinal direction of the vessels.
US08277714B1 Braid capture overmolding
The invention described herein relates to capturing a covering such as a braid on a exterior profile of a plastic tube by overmolding onto a plumbing tube, wherein a circumferentially surrounding covering or braid is modified prior to the overmolding process.
US08277713B2 Implantable analyte sensor
An implantable analyte sensor including a sensing region for measuring the analyte and a non-sensing region for immobilizing the sensor body in the host. The sensor is implanted in a precisely dimensioned pocket to stabilize the analyte sensor in vivo and enable measurement of the concentration of the analyte in the host before and after formation of a foreign body capsule around the sensor. The sensor further provides a transmitter for RF transmission through the sensor body, electronic circuitry, and a power source optimized for long-term use in the miniaturized sensor body.
US08277712B2 Fiber and nanofiber spinning method
The present invention relates to a method for spinning fibers, or fiberizers, using a rotary fiber-making die system made up of thin plates, embodied by a housing fixture, configured and stacked to define slots, channels and/or grooves through which the material used to make the fibers will flow. The die system allows for the production of different size and types of fibers, including nanofibers having a diameter of less than 1 micron, and facilitates a variety of cost effective methods for extrusion. The use of plates means the dies can be manufactured cost effectively, with easier clean-outs, replacements and/or variations.
US08277702B2 Near infrared absorbing agent and near infrared absorbing film
Disclosed herein is a method for preparing a near infrared absorbing agent. The method includes admixing tungsten trioxide and a reducing agent in water and allowing for a partial reduction of the tungsten trioxides to yield the near infrared absorbing agent.
US08277693B2 Method for producing fine particle dispersion and fine particle dispersion
A method for producing a fine particle dispersion includes the steps of reducing a metal ion to form a fine particle dispersion aqueous solution; adding an aggregation accelerator into the fine particle dispersion aqueous solution so that agglomerated or precipitated fine particles are separated to obtain fine particles; and re-dispersing the fine particles into an organic solvent containing an organic solvent having an amide group, a low boiling point organic solvent having a boiling point between 20° C. and 100° C. at a normal pressure, and an organic solvent having a boiling point higher than 100° C. at a normal pressure and containing an alcohol and/or a polyhydric alcohol.
US08277692B2 Semiconductive rubber composition and semiconductive rubber roller employing the same
The semiconductive rubber composition according to the present invention contains: a rubber content containing at least copolymer rubber containing ethylene oxide as a copolymeric component and chloroprene rubber; and not less than 0.5 parts by mass and not more than 1.5 parts by mass of a thiourea-based vulcanization accelerator, not less than 0.5 parts by mass and not more than 1.5 parts by mass of a guanidine-based vulcanization accelerator and not less than 0.5 parts by mass and not more than 2.0 parts by mass of a peroxide-based crosslinking agent with respect to 100 parts by mass of the sum of the rubber content.
US08277687B2 Phosphor and light-emitting device using same
The present invention relates to a phosphor that satisfies requirements (1) to (3): (1) the phosphor satisfies Formula [2] and/or Formula [3]: 85≦{R455(125)/R455(25)}×100≦110  [2] 92≦{R405(100)/R405(25)}×100≦110  [3] wherein R455(125) represents an emission peak intensity when the phosphor is excited by light having a peak wavelength of 455 nm at 125° C., (2) the emission peak wavelength is in the range of 570 nm to 680 nm, and (3) the full width at half maximum of an emission peak is 90 nm or less. The phosphor of the present invention has a high luminous efficiency and emits light of orange to red with high luminance. The use of the phosphor makes it possible to produce a light-emitting device, an illumination apparatus, and an image display, having a high efficiency and excellent color rendering properties.
US08277685B2 Dispersant having multifunctional head and phosphor paste composition comprising the same
Disclosed is a dispersant having a multifunctional head, and a phosphor paste composition comprising the dispersant. The dispersant has a multifunctional head that comprises an acidic group, a basic group and an aromatic group, thereby enhancing an affinity for the surface of phosphor particles and improving dispersibility.
US08277678B2 Polymer-bonded magnetic materials
A magnetic composition for power conversion includes a thermoplastic polymer and magnetic powders. The composition has a tensile strength of greater than 20 N/mm2.
US08277674B2 Method of removing post-etch residues
A method of removing post-etch residues is provided. First, a substrate is provided. An isolation layer covers the substrate and a conductive layer is embedded in the isolation layer. A dielectric layer and a hard mask cover the isolation layer. Then, an etching process is performed, and a patterned hard mask is formed by etching the hard mask by ions or atoms. After that, a charge-removing process is performed by using a conductive solution to cleaning the patterned hard mask and the dielectric layer so as to remove the charges accumulated on the patterned hard mask and the dielectric layer during the etch process. Finally, the post-etch residues on the patterned hard mask and the dielectric layer is removed.
US08277668B2 Methods of preparing printed circuit boards and packaging substrates of integrated circuit
A method of forming printed circuit boards and packaging substrates. After blind vias are created in a dielectric layer, a first seed layer is provided in the vias and on the dielectric layer. Copper is applied to fill the vias and to form a copper layer over the vias and over the first seed layer. The first seed layer and the copper layer are removed and a second seed layer is formed on the dielectric layer and the exposed surfaces of the vias. A wire pattern is then formed using a photo-sensitive thin film applied to the second seed layer, and the wires in the wire pattern are thickened. The photo-sensitive thin film and the exposed portions of the second seed layer are removed to form a first conductive pattern of wires. The process may be repeated to form a second conductive pattern of wires on the first pattern.
US08277662B2 Steam boiler apparatus and operating method therefor
It is intended to effectively suppress corrosion of a feed-water supply pipe in a preheater, by means of recirculation of boiler water to feed-water to be supplied to a steam boiler, even if a concentration of an alkaline component of the feed-water is relatively high. An alkali metal hydroxide is added from an agent-adding unit (14) to feed-water after removing therefrom a water hardness component in a water-softener unit (15) using a cation exchange resin and then removing therefrom dissolved gas in a degasifier unit (16). Then, the feed-water is supplied to a steam boiler 20 via a feed-water supply line 13 while being heated by a preheater (41). A part of boiler water having a pH value increased along with an increase in concentration of the alkali metal hydroxide resulting from enrichment thereof in the steam boiler (20) is mixed with the feed-water via a recirculation line (38). An alkaline component of the feed-water in the feed-water supply line (13) reacts with hydrogen ions from the cation exchange resin to form a carbonic acid, so that a concentration of the alkaline component is reduced. Thus, when the boiler water is mixed with the feed-water, a pH of the feed-water is increased without being influenced by a buffering ability of the alkaline component, to suppress corrosion of the feed-water supply line (13).
US08277657B2 Systems and methods for microbial reductive dechlorination of environmental contaminants
In preferred embodiments, bioremediation systems are provided that comprise electricigenic microbes that use electrons provided directly from the anode of an electrical bioremediation system to carry out reductive dehalogenation of halogenated hydrocarbon contaminants, including chlorinated solvents. The present invention also provides methods of performing in situ bioremediation of halogenated solvents in groundwater or soil through the use of the provided systems.
US08277653B2 Power recovery chamber
A power recovery chamber is used for a positive-displacement power recovery apparatus in the seawater desalination plant or system. The power recovery chamber includes a cylinder, a piston disposed in the cylinder and capable of being reciprocated in a longitudinal direction of the cylinder, and a piston guide disposed in the cylinder and extending in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder for guiding the piston when the piston is reciprocated in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder. At least a part of an outer circumferential surface of the piston is out of contact with an inner surface of the cylinder, and the piston is brought into contact with the piston guide at a part where the piston guide passes through the piston.
US08277646B2 System and method for temporary storm water drainage control
A temporary storm water drainage control member having a first portion including a series of flow control openings formed therein, and a second portion defining a side wall, is releasably mountable over or within the open end of a storm water pipe system. The side wall of the second portion of the drainage control member engages the storm water pipe in a frictionally engaging fit to mount the drainage control member over or within the opening of the storm water pipe.
US08277637B2 System for upgrading of heavy hydrocarbons
Systems and methods for processing one or more hydrocarbons are provided. One or more hydrocarbons can be selectively separated to provide one or more heavy deasphalted oils. At least a portion of the heavy deasphalted oil can be cracked using a fluidized catalytic cracker to provide one or more lighter hydrocarbon products.
US08277634B2 Electrolytic water treatment device having sintered nanoparticle coated electrode and method for making acid or basic water therewith
A highly stable aqueous solution having a molecular cluster with dimensions which are small enough to ensure substantial chemical-physical stability thereof for a relatively long time. To prepare the solution a fluid treatment device is used, which comprises at least one chamber (7) and at least one anode (4) and one cathode (3) arranged in the chamber (7). The anode (4) and cathode (3) are at least partly made of a first metallic material. At least one of the at least one cathode (3) and anode (4) comprises a coating of nanoparticles (5) of a second metallic material.
US08277630B2 Tin electroplating solution and a method for tin electroplating
A tin plating solution and tin plating method for chip components minimizes tin shavings when plated components are rubbed together such as during bulk mounting. This minimizes sticking of the chip components together.
US08277626B2 Method for depositing an electrodepositable coating composition onto a substrate using a plurality of liquid streams
The present invention is directed to a method for coating a substrate wherein the substrate is electrically conductive, the method comprising simultaneously applying a plurality of electrically conductive liquid materials to different portions of the substrate wherein at least one of the electrically conductive liquid materials comprises an ionic compound; and applying an electrical current to at least one of the liquid materials thereby depositing the ionic compound onto the substrate.
US08277620B2 Electrolyzer module forming method and system
Embodiments of the present techniques provide electrolyzers made using thermoformed electrode assemblies and diaphragm assemblies. Each electrode assembly is made from two plastic rings and an electrode plate using a twin sheet thermoforming technique. A first plastic ring is laid in a mold having the appropriate shape to form the electrode assembly. The electrode plate is laid on top of the first plastic ring and is generally centered on the ring. The second plastic ring is laid over the electrode plate, and is generally centered over the electrode plate. The plastic is heated to soften the plastic, and a vacuum is pulled on the mold to pull the softened plastic into the shape of the mold. The mold is closed over the assembly to seal the two plastic rings together. After cooling, the molded part may be removed, resulting in a hollow plastic rim surrounding an electrode plate.
US08277616B2 Surface treating device and surface treating method
A surface treating method for treating a tooth surface and a surface treating device thereof are provided. First, a working gas is filled into a tube. Next, a voltage is provided to the working gas for exciting the working gas into plasma. After that, the plasma is discharged through an opening of the tube for contacting the tooth surface.
US08277610B2 Mechanical fiber paper with controlled curl
A xerographic paper and method of forming includes mechanical fiber and a predetermined curl control defined by a split sheet contraction measurement. The split sheet contraction can be between about 0.8 and about 1.2 and between about 0.9 and about 1.1. Split sheet contraction is defined by a relationship of paper shrinkage in a cross-direction to paper shrinkage in a machine-direction and between the two sides of the sheet when split in the Z-direction.
US08277602B2 Apparatus and method for the wet chemical treatment of a product and method for installing a flow member into the apparatus
To ensure a uniform flow over the surface of a product W, an apparatus is provided for the wet chemical treatment of the product W that is disposed in the apparatus 100. This apparatus comprises at least one flow member 150 that includes respectively at least one paddle-like flow element 155, wherein at least one flow member 155 is disposed situated opposite the surface of the product W and is moveable substantially parallel to the surface of the product W.
US08277599B2 Compounds for placing objects by self assembling and the use thereof
The inventive method for placing and fixing (bonding) a first object, whose surface is functionalized by compounds of formula I Y (X), A′ (I), on the surface of a second object whose surface is functionalized by compounds of formula II Y (X)n A (II), wherein A and A′ are functional groups enabling to be bonded at least by a link in a covalent manner to an object surface X and X′ are aliphatic, linear, branched or cyclic spacers which can comprise one or several hetero or aromatic, or heteroaromatic atoms or consist of several aromatic or heteroaromatic cycles and optionally of alternating aliphatic chains having aromatic or heteroaromatic groups, n and n′=0 or 1 and Y and Y are functions for generating one or several non-covalent bonds wherein said Y or Y′ are selected such that they are complementary or can complex a metal atom or an identical metal compound.
US08277597B2 Method for bonding high heat conductive insulating resin
Provided is a method for bonding a high heat conductive insulating resin, by which the high heat conductive insulating resin can be bonded to a heat sink without deteriorating insulating characteristics and heat conducting characteristics. The method includes: a fixing step of fixing the heat sink by means of a jig having a vacuuming function; a placing step of placing the heat sink fixed with the jig on a sheet-like high heat conductive insulating resin previously bonded to a cooler and making a hermetically closed space; and a bonding step of having a bonding section between the heat sink and the sheet-like high heat conductive insulating resin under a negative pressure by depressurizing the hermetically closed space, heating the sheet-like high heat conductive insulating resin, and bonding the sheet-like high heat conductive insulating resin to the heat sink.
US08277596B2 Method of making a ceiling panel with enhanced acoustics and texture
A ceiling tile and a method of manufacture, wherein the ceiling tile has contrasting colors of texturized woven yarn and a coating, respectively, wherein individual colors of the yarn and coating are at different depths of surface texture, wherein color contrasts accentuate the surface texture depths to be viewed, and provide a desirable, unpredictable randomness of pattern of the color contrasts.
US08277594B2 Self-cleaning dry adhesives
A shape memory polymer microfiber material coupled to a base portion and coated with a dry adhesive in which the tips of the microfibers may be modified to achieve superhydrophobicity. The resultant surface of the material may be altered between to an adhesive state from a superhydrophobic state as the shape memory polymer transforms from its permanent shape to a temporary shape. The shape memory polymer microfiber material may be reversibly coupled to one or more substrates when in the adhesive state and uncoupled when in the superhydrophobic state.
US08277589B2 Method of retreading a tire
A mold (150) for a tread layer (40) having tread-forming side and sole-forming side, the sole-forming side having a plurality of mold elements (56) extending therefrom toward the tread-forming side. Either the mold elements (56) or the sole-forming side of the mold is configured to create a tread layer (40) having a recessed tread element such as an incision, lateral groove, longitudinal groove or other void on the sole side of the tread layer that enables the edges of the recessed tread element to obtain full coverage when subjected to an abrasion process.
US08277584B2 Extremely insensitive detonating substance and method for its manufacture
The present invention provides an explosive composition of substantially reduced sensitivity and low flammability, being definable as an extremely insensitive detonating substance (EIDS) according to UN Regulations for the Transport of Dangerous Goods and comprising one or more explosive material 42-58% vol., one or more fire retardant material 15-26% vol. and a binder 20-36% vol.
US08277576B2 Steel material composition for producing piston rings and cylinder lines
A steel material composition, in particular for producing piston rings and cylinder sleeves, contains the following elements in the cited fractions relative to 100% by weight of the steel material: 0.5-1.2% by weight C, 0-3.0% by weight Cr, 72.0-94.5% by weight Fe, 3.0-15.0% by weight Mn and 2.0-10.0% by weight Si. It can be produced by melting the starting materials and casting the melt into a pre-fabricated mold.
US08277575B2 Compounds and methods of fabricating compounds exhibiting giant magnetoresistence and spin-polarized tunneling
The invention relates to inorganic intermetallic compounds having a PMR effect (combined GMR/CMR effect), which are characterized in that they contain at least two elements per formula unit and have a field sensitivity of less than 10% per 0.1 T at temperatures greater than 290 K. The invention also relates to composites consisting of these compounds, to a method for the production thereof and to their use, in particular, as magnetic field sensors or in the domain of spin electronics.
US08277566B2 Mat washing machine and method
Mat washing device, method of using the mat washing device, and method of washing mats. The mat washing device includes a system that may be transported on a flat bed trailer from one location to another. The mat washing device includes conveying systems, brush systems, rails systems and control mechanisms. The mat washing device may be used by placing mat, on edge, on a conveying system and conveying the mat to a first brushing system and a second brushing system. In one aspect the first brushing system includes a cable brush having a bolt secured at the end of a cable in order to beat or brush material from the mat when the cable brush is spun.
US08277559B2 Quartz glass crucible for pulling up silicon single crystal and method for manufacture thereof
A quartz glass crucible which has a non-transparent outer layer formed through melting a natural silica powder and a transparent layer formed in the inside of the outer layer, wherein the transparent layer comprises a natural quartz layer having a thickness of 0.4 to 5.0 mm transparent layer comprising a synthetic quarts glass is formed thereon in the inside of the crucible in the range of 0.15 to 0.55 L relative to L, which is the distance from the center of the bottom of the inner surface of the quartz glass crucible to the upper end thereof along the inner surface thereof. The quartz glass crucible can be suitably used for suppressing the occurrence of vibration and reducing the generation of roughened face in the surface of a crucible, and thus for pulling up a silicon single crystal with enhanced stability.
US08277557B2 Agglomerated particulate lignosulfonate
An agglomerated particulate lignosulfonate material may be made by introducing or forming lignosulfonate microparticles in a fluidized bed agglomerator, and introducing sufficient heated gas and lignosulfonate liquid in the agglomerator to convert the microparticles to lignosulfonate granules of enlarged size. The granules may have an average size of at least 0.1 mm, and may be used to make a dry-blended cement additive or oil well cement that may be dustless, easily poured and stored, and rapidly dissolved in water.
US08277550B2 Yellow inkjet ink having improved print quality with porous photo media
The present invention relates to yellow dye-based inkjet inks having improved permanence when jetted onto porous photo media. The inkjet ink includes a mixture of at least two yellow dyes, at least three co-solvents comprising about 18% to about 24% of the composition of the ink by weight, a penetrant, at least one wetting agent, and water.
US08277548B2 Combined exhaust gas aftertreatment/air cleaner dust and ejector unit
A combined exhaust gas aftertreatment/dust ejector unit (10) is provided for use with a combustion process (14) and an air cleaner (16) of the combustion process (14). The unit (10) includes an elongate housing (30) containing an exhaust gas aftertreatment device (40) and having a radial exhaust gas outlet (34) to direct an exhaust gas flow (12) radially from the housing (30), and a dust ejector (60) including an ejector outlet (62) positioned in the exhaust gas outlet (34). The exhaust gas outlet (34) and the ejector outlet (62) have elliptical shaped cross sections (68,70), with the ejector outlet cross section (70) spaced inwardly from the exhaust gas outlet (34) to define a reduced flow area (72) for the exhaust gas flow (12) to accelerate the exhaust gas flow (12) past the ejector outlet (62).
US08277545B2 Method of reducing an amount of mercury in a flue gas
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a method of reducing an amount of mercury discharged to an environment in a flue gas (12) generated by combustion of a fuel source. The method includes contacting the flue gas with a moist pulverous material upstream of a particle separator (24), mixing powdered activated carbon (PAC) in an amount between about 0.5 lb/MMacf and 10 lbs/MMacf with the flue gas (12) upstream of the particle separator (24), wherein the PAC interacts with at least a portion of mercury containing compounds in the flue gas (12), and separating the mercury containing compounds from the flue gas (12) containing the moist pulverous material and PAC, thereby reducing an amount of mercury in the flue gas (12).
US08277541B2 Apparatus and method for smoke removal
A smoke removal apparatus, capable of operating in a confined space without ventilation of the apparatus to the atmosphere to provide removal of smoke from air to be treated. The apparatus includes one or more of the following filters: a mechanical filter; an electrostatic filter; and/or a chemical filter. The apparatus is arranged to collect smoke from a relatively higher position, pass smoke through the one or more filters/and expel treated air to a relatively lower position.
US08277540B2 Apparatus and method for gas separation
Herein disclosed is an apparatus comprising (1) a porous rotor symmetrically positioned about an axis of rotation and surrounding an interior space; (2) an outer casing, wherein the outer casing and the rotor are separated by an annular space; (3) a motor configured for rotating the rotor about the axis of rotation; (4) a feed inlet positioned along the axis of rotation and fluidly connected with the interior space; and (5) a first outlet, wherein the first outlet is fluidly connected with the interior space. Herein disclosed is a system, comprising at least one disclosed apparatus. Herein disclosed is also a method of separating a feed gas into a first fraction and a second fraction, wherein the first fraction has an average molecular weight lower than the average molecular weight of the second fraction.
US08277533B2 Powder metallurgy composition
A most preferred composition for the mixture, prior to sintering into an article (ideally a valve seat insert), is as follows: 35% hard phase, 65% matrix (excepting incidental impurities), the hard phase component being 2.2% C, 29.1% Cr, 4.9% Co, 5.3% Ni, 20.2% W with the balance being Fe and allowing less than 2% for one or more machinability aids and solid lubricants, and the matrix component being one of a high chrome steel powder (e.g. 18% Cr, 1% Ni, 2.5% Mo, balance Fe), a low alloy steel powder (3% Cu, 1% C, balance Fe; 3% Cr, 0.5% Mo, 1% C, balance Fe; 4% Ni, 1.5% Cu, 0.5% Mo, 1% C, balance Fe; 4% Ni, 2% Cu, 1.4% Mo, 1% C, balance Fe), or a tool steel powder (5% Mo, 6% W, 4% Cr, 2% V, 1% C, balance Fe), or a low-alloy steel powder as above but which issued in conjunction with a copper infiltration process during sintering.
US08277530B2 Grease removal apparatus, systems and methods
A filter assembly includes a filter pad comprising fibers including natural, synthetic and/or hybrid fibers. A stabilizer frame formed of a non-metallic material may be imbedded in the filter pad. The stabilizer frame may be configured to provide support to the filter pad to maintain the filter pad in a generally flat configuration. In accordance with a particular embodiment, the filter pad may be comprised of at least first and second fibrous mats that are coupled together. In this embodiment, the stabilizer frame may be disposed between and coupled with the first and second fibrous mats.
US08277520B2 Method for producing negative electrode for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, and negative electrode for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery
One aspect of the present invention pertains to a method for producing a negative electrode for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, which comprises a paste preparing step of kneading a mixture containing a negative electrode active material, a binder resin having a glass transition temperature within a range from 20 to 40° C. and a dispersion solvent to prepare a negative electrode material mixture paste, a paste applying step of applying the negative electrode material mixture paste controlled to a temperature which is at least 10° C. higher than the glass transition temperature of the binder resin on a current collector to form a coating film, a coating film drying step of drying the coating film to form a negative electrode precursor, and a rolling step of rolling the negative electrode precursor to prepare a negative electrode having a negative electrode material mixture layer.
US08277519B2 Hair treatment methods
A method of colouring a material, the method comprising the steps of: a)applying to the material a composition comprising a sulphur-containing nucleophile; and b)applying to the material a composition comprising a dye compound selected from a dye class other than the class of reactive dyes.
US08277513B2 Modular knee prosthesis
A joint prosthesis may include a tibial tray, a tibial base, a tibial articular member, and a femoral articular member. A coupler may engage the tray, and optionally the base, with an interference fit. An interference fit may be engaged using a mating surface with a constant non-tapering cross-sectional geometry.
US08277502B2 Tissue anchor for annuloplasty device
A method is provided, including coupling, to a first portion of tissue of a patient, a distal tissue coupling element of a tissue anchor. The tissue anchor further includes (a) an implant -coupling element, and (b) a cord, which is removably coupled to the implant-coupling element. The method comprises advancing an implant over the cord until the implant reaches and is coupled to the implant-coupling element. The method further includes restraining the implant from separating from the implant-coupling element, with an implant-restraining element of the implant-coupling element. Other applications are also described.
US08277495B2 Method and apparatus for treating a diseased nail
The invention generally relates to treating diseased nails, and more particularly to treating diseased nails using radiation and/or another form of energy to substantially deactivate the source of the disease. A nail treatment can be performed by a medical professional without the use of a dying agent or an exogenous chromophore, and the treatment can be effective at eliminating the source of the disease without subjecting a patient to adverse side effects or causing substantial unwanted injury to surrounding tissue.
US08277493B2 Anterior cervical plating system
An anterior fixation system includes a plate defining a plurality of screw holes, a number of screws and a number of locking assemblies for fixing the screws to the plate. The system includes two bone screws, a fixed angle screw and a variable angle screw, that are configured to extend through the same screw openings in the fixation plate. The surgeon can select either the fixed or variable angled screws to be implanted with a single plate and can place either type of screw into any of the screw holes along the plate. The fixation plate can include several screw holes in various patterns that provide the surgeon with great flexibility in the placement of bone screws depending upon the spinal anatomy and pathology. Also contemplated is a locking assembly to lock one or more bone screws within a respective screw hole.
US08277487B2 Method of percutaneously enlarging processus spinosus interspace using minimally invasive implant
For minimally-invasive therapy for spinal canal stenosis, a therapeutic device capable of stationing an interspinous process spacer without the need of large skin incision or ligamentous tissue incision and also without the need of detaching of the paraspinal muscle from the spine. The interspinous process spacer includes a conoid screw region (2) to be screwed into a processus spinosus interspace; a spacer region (3) in the longitudinal direction of the screw region (2); head region (4) capable of free interlocking with a tool arbitrarily; and through-hole (5) passing through the axial centers of screw region (2), spacer region (3) and head region (4). The processus spinosus interspace is enlarged by screwing of the screw region (2) into the processus spinosus interspace. The spacer region (3) is pinched upon passing of the screw region (2) through the processus spinosus interspace to attain enlarging and fixing of adjacent processus spinosus interspaces.
US08277468B2 Tissue reconfiguration
A medical instrument for engaging tissue includes a flexible shaft, a tissue piercing coil at a distal portion of the shaft, and a tissue stabilizer positioned over the shaft and biased in a distal direction such that as the tissue piercing coil enters tissue, the tissue stabilizer is urged against a surface of the tissue. A medical instrument for reconfiguring tissue includes a flexible shaft defining a lumen housing actuating controls, and a distal actuating assembly with a sealing portion configured to substantially seal the shaft lumen from contact with bodily fluids. A cartridge assembly includes first and second members configured for releasable attachment to a medical instrument, and a holder configured to receive the first and second members and to be released from the first and second members upon action of the first and second members attaching to the medical instrument.
US08277463B2 Medical device and method of fixing internal organ
A medical device (1) includes a main body (2); a first piercing needle (4) provided slidably with respect to the main body (2); a first holding plate (61) adapted to hold the first piercing needle (4) and provided slidably on the main body (2); and a second holding plate (62) adapted to hold a second piercing needle (3) and detachably and movably mounted on the first holding plate (61), wherein the second holding plate (62) is mounted so as to move to the first holding plate (61) in a predetermined direction.
US08277456B2 Spinal-column distractor
A spinal-column distractor (10) comprises a first pusher plate (1) intended to bear on a vertebra, a second pusher plate (2) intended to bear on an adjacent vertebra, and a slide (3). The slide (3) is connected to the first pusher plate (1) via a scissor linkage (4), and shiftable by a threaded spindle to change a spacing between the first pusher plate (1) and the second pusher plate (2), while the second pusher plate (2) forms a track for the slide (3).
US08277453B2 Instruments and systems for vertebral column manipulation
Vertebral column manipulation systems include spinal derotation instrumentation to affect one or more derotation maneuvers on a scoliotic spine or on a spine having one or more displaced, misaligned or curved vertebral levels. Derotation instrumentation is attached to at least one vertebral body, with the instrumentation including at least two elongated extensions mounted to and extending proximally from the at least one vertebral body. A linking assembly extends between and links proximal ends of the extensions to one another. The linking assembly includes first and second mounting assemblies movably engaged to an elongate link member extending transversely to the extensions. Each of the mounting assemblies includes a movable joint for receiving the proximal end of a respective one of the extensions and a cam assembly for securing the mounting assembly in position relative to the link member and to fix the joint around the extension.
US08277451B2 Two members cerclage tool
A method for placing a fixation member around a bone for internal fixation of the bone includes (a) inserting a first member of a cerclage tool through an incision and into a vicinity of the bone, the first member extending from a first proximal end comprising a first handle portion and along a first central portion to a first distal end comprising a first bent tube portion; (b) inserting a second member of the cerclage tool through the incision and into the vicinity of the bone, the second member extending from a second proximal end comprising a second handle portion and along a second central portion to a second distal end comprising a second bent tube portion; (c) joining the first and second members together to form a continuous tube with the first bent tube portion and the second bent tube portion that encircles the bone, wherein the first bent tube portion and the second bent tube portion cross over one another to form a non-zero angle at a location that is proximal of the bone when viewed from a direction extending perpendicularly into a plane comprising the first and second members, wherein the continuous tube is configured and dimensioned to receive the fixation member; (d) disassembling the joined first and second members; and (e) removing the disassembled first and second members from the vicinity of the bone and from the incision.
US08277449B2 Orthopedic external fixator and method of use
An orthopedic apparatus is provided for bridging a first bone unit to a second bone unit. The apparatus is demonstrated on a finger joint, wherein one of the bones and/or ligaments and/or tendons of the joint is/are injured. A method for implanting and using the apparatus also is presented. The apparatus includes a reformably deformable span portion which is generally circular and preferably rhombic. By deforming or reforming the span portion, it can be repositioned laterally, and/or it can be rotated to allow range of rotary motion so as to promote healing.
US08277439B2 Coronary sinus lead delivery catheter
A method of cannulating the coronary sinus or accessing a side branch of the coronary sinus of a patient's heart using a guide catheter. The guide catheter has a proximal portion and a distal portion formed into a preformed shape configured such that the distal portion of the shaft is supported on a wall of the superior vena cava during insertion of the distal portion into the coronary sinus. The preformed shape includes a first arc, a second arc, a third arc, a fourth arc, and a generally straight terminal portion. The preformed shape is generally a J-shape, having a terminal portion generally parallel to the proximal portion, a generally closed arc or a generally open arc.
US08277425B2 Dual lumen port with F-shaped connector
A port for subcutaneous implantation, comprising a housing including first and second wells formed therein and a substantially F-shaped flow element including first and second lumens extending therethrough wherein, when in an operative configuration the F-shaped flow element is coupled to the housing with a proximal end of each of the lumens in fluid communication with a respective one of the first and second wells for receiving fluid therefrom, and wherein distal ends of each of the lumens form outlets, each outlet being coupleable to a lumen of a medical catheter, the F-shaped flow element including first and second arms extending from a trunk with the first lumen extending through the first arm to the trunk and the second lumen extending through the second arm to the trunk, the first and second lumens being separated from one another within the trunk.
US08277419B1 Catheter securement assembly
An assembly structured to secure a catheter, such as an IV tube to a predetermined portion of a patient's body such that the IV tube is anchored adjacent an entry site. A base is structured and configured to engage the predetermined body portion and includes an opening for exposure of and access to the entry site. A support member is selectively positionable at variable locations relative to the opening in adjacent relation to the entry site such that the IV tube is mounted on an exterior or exposed portion of the support member so as to access the entry site through the opening and eliminate any type of adhesive strip or like connector contacting or being secured to the patient's skin.
US08277416B2 Powerhead of a power injection system
A contrast media injection system includes detects the absolute position of the syringe ram using a non-contact sensor. A series of magnets and Hall-Effect sensors may be used or an opto-reflective system. Illuminated knobs that are connected to the drive mechanism for the syringe ram rotate with the drive and provide visual feedback on operation through the illumination. Analog Hall-Effect sensors are used to determine the presence or absence of magnets that identify the type of faceplate being used. The faceplates include control electronics, connected to the powerhead through connectors, which may be interchangeably used by the two faceplates. The faceplate electronics include detectors for automatically detecting the capacity of pre-filled syringes. Additional features include using historical data to provide optimum pressure limit values during an injection protocol, a removable memory device for storing and transferring information such as injection protocols and injector statistics, and password protection of such protocols.
US08277414B2 Injection device
An injection device (210; 110) is described. A housing (212; 112) receives a syringe and includes a return spring (226; 126) for biasing the syringe from an extended position in which its needle (218; 118) extends from the housing (212; 112) to a retracted position in which the it does not. A drive spring (230; 130) acts on a first drive element (232; 132) and a second drive element (234; 134) acts upon the syringe to advance it from its retracted position to its extended position and discharge its contents through the needle. The first drive element (232; 132) is capable of movement relative to the second (234; 134) once a nominal decoupling position has been reached. A release mechanism is activated when the first drive element (234; 134) is further advanced to a nominal release position, to release the syringe (214; 114) from the action of the drive spring (230; 130), whereupon the return spring (226; 126) restores the syringe (214; 114) to its retracted position. The nominal decoupling and release positions are defined relative to the syringe (214; 114). This may be achieved by interaction between a moving component and a decoupling component (162; 262) that moves with the syringe as it is advanced.
US08277413B2 Device for administering a fluid product
An administering device for a fluid product includes a product receptacle that accommodates the product to be administered, a fluid reservoir for a driving fluid, a driving means, a product chamber, and a fluid connection. The product receptacle includes an opening at a forward end and a product stopper at a rear end. The driving means acts upon the fluid reservoir, the pressure chamber adjoins the product stopper while the fluid connection is located between the fluid reservoir and the pressure chamber, and the driving means acts upon the fluid reservoir in such a way that the pressure chamber is impinged upon by pressure which affects the product stopper and the product is discharged from the product receptacle.
US08277411B2 Needle device
A needle device for penetrating body tissues while substantially reducing the risk of damage to blood vessels and body organs by using visual control of the operative tip during insertion and the procedure, is disclosed herein. The needle device of the present invention has a large and diverse applicability to a number of medical procedures by enabling internal visual inspection of body tissues and cavities during treatment without open surgery or supplemental penetrating or visualization devices.
US08277410B2 Methods and apparatus for inhibiting introduction of air into the vasculature during a percutaneous procedure
Apparatus and methods for inhibiting the introduction of air into the body during a percutaneous procedure. The apparatus may include an instrument passage lumen defining a degassing region with a degassing region distal end and a degassing region proximal end, a fluid inlet port at the degassing region distal end, and a fluid outlet port at the degassing region proximal end. So configured, fluid will flow only from the degassing region distal end to the degassing region proximal end.
US08277409B2 Cutting element for a retracting needle syringe
A cutting element for a retracting needle syringe having a plunger with a cuttable distal end and a spring biased needle held by a cuttable support and a cutting element capable of cutting the cuttable distal end and the cuttable support includes a body portion having a proximal end, a distal end side wall therebetween and a passageway therethrough. The distal end of the body portion includes a cutting edge and a raised distally projecting tapered cutting tooth having distally converging edges. At least one tooth edge includes a sharp side wall for cutting the distal end of the plunger and the needle support.
US08277402B2 Orthopaedic device and method of use for treating bone fractures
Orthopaedic device and a method of use thereof are provided for treating a bone fracture. The orthopaedic device has at least one pressure applying element configured to apply pressure to soft tissue adjacent to the bone fracture and a holder configured to engage, in an engaged configuration, soft tissue adjacent to the bone fracture and, while in the engaged configuration, to permit adjustable positioning and securing the at least one pressure applying element to the holder.
US08277398B2 Methods and devices to target vascular targets with high intensity focused ultrasound
An ultrasonic applicator unit (2) is used diagnostically to locate a puncture wound (316) in an artery and then therapeutically to seal the puncture wound with high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). A control unit (6) coupled to the applicator unit includes a processor (74) that automates the procedure, controlling various parameters of the diagnostic and therapeutic modes, including the intensity and duration of the ultrasonic energy emitted by the applicator unit. A protective, sterile acoustic shell (4), which is intended to be used with a single patient and then discarded, is slipped over the applicator unit to protect against direct contact between the applicator unit and the patient and to maintain a sterile field at the site of the puncture. The apparatus and method are particularly applicable to sealing a puncture made when inserting a catheter into an artery or other vessel. Several different procedures are described for locating the puncture wound, including imaging the vessel in which the puncture is disposed and use of a locator rod to determine the disposition of the puncture along the longitudinal axis of the artery.
US08277393B2 Biopsy apparatus
A disposable tissue removal device comprising a cutting element mounted to a handpiece. The cutting element includes an outer cannula defining a tissue-receiving opening and an inner cannula concentrically disposed within the outer cannula. The outer cannula has a trocar tip at its distal end and a cutting board snugly disposed within the outer cannula. The inner cannula defines an inner lumen that extends the length of the inner cannula and terminates in an inwardly beveled, razor-sharp cutting edge. The inner cannula is driven by both a rotary motor and a reciprocating motor. At the end of its stroke, the inner cannula makes contact with the cutting board to completely sever the tissue. An aspiration vacuum is applied to the inner lumen to aspirate excised tissue through the inner cannula and into a collection trap that is removably mounted to the handpiece. The rotary and reciprocating motors are hydraulically powered through a hydraulic circuit. The hydraulic circuit includes a foot pedal that initiates aspiration vacuum, rotary motion and reciprocation of the inner cannula. The hydraulic circuit is configured so that the inner cannula closes the tissue-receiving opening before the foot pedal is depressed and automatically after the foot pedal is released.
US08277392B2 Biopsy collection device
A method and device for removing tissue from a patient during a biopsy procedure utilizing a biopsy collection device are provided. The biopsy collection device includes a body portion configured for attachment to an endoscope and a receptacle portion configured to retain a portion of tissue removed from a target site during the biopsy procedure. The biopsy collection device further includes a passageway configured to receive a biopsy sampling device, such as a pair of forceps, passing through the endoscope to the target site.
US08277388B2 Blood rheology measuring apparatus
A blood rheology measuring apparatus has a measuring portion for measuring a flow velocity of the blood flowing in a blood vessel of a person in a mode of a Doppler shift signal by transmitting and receiving a wave to and from a surface of the person's skin. An information processing portion calculates an intensity at each of frequency components of the Doppler shift signal, extracts a maximum frequency in a signal at an intensity level equal to or larger than a threshold in the histogram or a maximum frequency when an integrated value from a low frequency component reaches a predetermined rate of a total thereof in the histogram, and provides a temporal change waveform of the extracted frequency. The blood rheology is analyzed by an area value of a portion at and above a line connecting a minimum value of one pulse waveform and a minimum value of a successive pulse waveform of the frequency waveform.
US08277387B2 System and method for determining the blood pressure of a patient
In order to provide a technique for determining high-quality blood pressure values of a patient, especially in cases of unsupervised blood pressure measurements in a home environment, it is suggested to use a system (1) for determining the blood pressure of a patient (2) comprising a blood pressure measuring device (3, 4) for measuring a blood pressure value, an auxiliary device (6, 7, 8, 9) for measuring the motor activity of the patient (2) during a defined period of time prior to the blood pressure measurement, and a processing device (13, 14), said processing device (13, 14) being adapted to obtain the motor activity information and the blood pressure value, said processing device (13, 14) being further adapted to automatically assess the blood pressure value using the motor activity information, and said processing device (13, 14) being further adapted to provide a measuring result depending on the result of the assessment.
US08277376B2 Process and a device for surgical treatment of rectal and haemorrhoidal prolapse
A process for surgical operations on a rectal/haemorrhoidal prolapse comprises stages of realising, in the anal canal, at least a first circular stitching at a first portion of a haemorrhoidal prolapse; realising at least a second circular stitching in a second portion of the haemorrhoidal prolapse, and nearing the first circular stitching and the second circular stitching in order to create a constriction of the haemorrhoidal prolapse. The invention also relates to a device, preferably for actuating the process, which comprises a hollow divaricator (17) having a prevalent development direction along a longitudinal axis (Z) and being insertable in a patient's anal orifice. The device further exhibits a window (29) defining an operational area and creating a communication between a cavity (17b) internal of the divaricator (17) and a portion of haemorrhoidal prolapse. The device further comprises means for opening and closing (31) the window (29).
US08277374B2 Medical instrument, endoscope and endoscope device
A medical instrument of the present invention comprises a spiral shaped portion provided at an insertion portion main body, for generating a force at the insertion portion main body to advance/retreat in a subject by a contact with a body wall of the subject, a balloon provided so as to expand radially in a radial direction of the insertion portion main body and capable of contact with the body wall, a suction opening portion provided between the spiral shaped portion and the balloon in the insertion portion main body, and a suction pipeline communicating with the suction opening portion, inserted into the insertion portion main body and connected to a suction pressure controller on a rear end side of the insertion portion main body in the insertion direction.
US08277373B2 Methods and apparaus for off-axis visualization
Methods and apparatus for off-axis visualization are described herein. An endoluminal tissue manipulation assembly is disclosed which provides for a stable endoluminal platform and which also provides for effective triangulation of tools. Such an apparatus may comprise an optionally shape-lockable elongate body defining a longitudinal axis and adapted for endoluminal advancement in a patient body, at least one articulatable visualization lumen disposed near or at a distal region of the elongate body, the at least one articulating visualization lumen being adapted to articulate off-axis relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongate body, and at least one articulatable tool arm member disposed near or at the distal region of the elongate body, the at least one articulatable tool arm member being adapted to articulate off-axis and manipulate a tissue region of interest.
US08277372B2 Cardiac support device with differential compliance
A cardiac support device comprising a jacket of flexible and biocompatible material having a first axis for alignment generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of a patient's heart and a second axis that is transverse to the first axis. The material exhibits an amount of expansion in response to a force applied to the material along the first axis that is different than an amount of expansion in response to the force applied to the material along the second axis.
US08277370B2 Radiation catheter with multilayered balloon
The disclosure is directed to catheter devices and methods for controlled application of irradiation to tissue adjacent a body site, such as cavity after removal of tissue, e.g. cancer. The catheter device includes an inflatable balloon having at least two layers. The inflatable balloon has an expansion of more than 25% and less than 200% when inflated from the un-inflated condition to a turgid condition, preferably more than 50% and less than 150%. In the turgid condition the polymeric material(s) of the balloon layers are at or near the elastic limit of the balloon layer material. The balloon may contain or be formed of or be coated with radiopaque material to facilitate positional or symmetry verification.
US08277368B2 Folding machine and knife holder for a knife shaft of a folding machine
A folding machine for folding sheets of paper, board and the like, includes at least one knife-shaft unit for cutting, perforating, scoring or crimping the sheets. The knife-shaft unit has at least one pair of driven knife shafts. Knife-retaining units for retaining knives are fitted in a rotationally fixed manner on the knife shafts. The knife-retaining units have a split construction and are formed by a plurality of partial shells. A knife holder for a knife shaft of a folding machine, is also provided.
US08277364B2 Clutch control device for hydraulically driven vehicle
A first motor 3 and a second motor 4 of variable displacement type are in parallel to each other connected to a hydraulic pump 2 in a closed circuit, through which the output torque from the first motor 3 is transmitted to an output shaft 6. A clutch control unit 10 controls a clutch device 15 as: when the engine speed is N1, which is the case where the accelerator pedal is fully depressed, the clutch is disengaged at the vehicle speed v1. When the engine speed is N3(
US08277340B1 Basketball training device
A basketball training device that mimics an opposing player during practice. The training device has a weighted base set on caster wheels. A vertical support extends upwardly from the base. A slide structure moves up and down on the vertical support between a high position and a low position. A blocking form is coupled to the slide structure. The blocking form moves with the slide structure. Consequently, the blocking form can move up and down. An elongated control rod attaches to the wheeled base. The control rod is used by a coach to push and pull the training device along the basketball court during play. In this manner, a coach can adjust the position of the blocking form to better mimic the movements of a real opposing player.
US08277333B2 Releasable and interchangeable connections for golf club heads and shafts
Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: a shaft adapter, a shaft retainer, and a club head having an interior chamber. The club head and shaft may be changed by releasing the securing system and exchanging the original parts with different parts. Furthermore, the shaft may be bent or otherwise extend at an angle from the shaft adapter so as to allow adjustment of the shaft position with respect to the club head.
US08277326B2 Removable player station and locking mechanism for electronic games
A removable player station and locking mechanism. In one implementation, a removable player station allows quick and secure replacement, swapping, and upgrade of a modular player station component for electronic games. In one context, an electronic game table may employ multiple of the removable player stations, each secured with a locking mechanism and a common or a unique lock. In one implementation of a latching mechanism, a pivotable cradle attaches to the electronic game or game table and seats the removable player station through a pivoting motion that also brings the cradle into a locking position. When the pivotable cradle is opened from the locking position, the cradle lifts the removable player station from the game or tabletop for easy manual removal. The accessible part of the locking mechanism may be located under an electronic game tabletop away from view of the players.
US08277321B2 Game device, control method for game device, program, and information storage medium
To provide a game device which can allow a user to feel that an operation subject character loses its balance in a case where the operation subject character hits a moving object in such a state where the operation subject player character is located at a position comparatively far from the moving object in a sport game in which the operation subject character hits the moving object according to a predetermined operation by the user. Determination means (92a) determines whether or not the moving object is positioned in a decision area which is set based on a position of the operation subject character in a case where the predetermined operation is performed. Operation-subject-character control means (92b) causes the operation subject character to hit the moving object in a case where it is determined that the moving object is positioned in the decision area. Decision area control means (92c) controls a size of the decision area after the moving object is hit, based on a position of the moving object at a reference time based on at least one of a time at which the predetermined operation is performed and a time at which the operation subject character hits the moving object.
US08277312B2 Role-playing slot game
A game that includes both a slot-type game portion and a role-playing-type game portion. The game may include a plurality of characters with various abilities that may have modifiable values. The slot game may allow the player to play multiple lines and may include a multiplier that augments the value of any prize on any winning line. In addition, the slot game may include ability-related symbols on its reels, whereby an ability value for a selected character may be increased if the ability-related symbol appears on the reels after a spin. The role-playing type game may include features or subgames related to the abilities, where the features allow the character to compete to increase the ability values and to win additional prizes or compensation. Successfully completing a feature may be a random event, like the spin's of the slot game, or, alternatively, success may depend on the player's skill or ability.
US08277299B2 Casino slot wagering system
A new concept for designing casino slot games The game links together more than one game through their bets and their outcomes. All the bets and outcomes form a multidimensional matrix. A computer calculates the probabilities of all bets and outcomes during the betting rounds in real time. As a result of the so chained slot games the player makes decisions in multiple betting rounds in insufficient information about the game outcomes. At any time during the game play the player can evaluate the game outcomes as presented to him by the computer and raise his bet, proceed to the next betting round without changing the bet, or simply finish the game with no penalty.
US08277279B2 Method for processing a work-piece
A method for processing a work-piece is disclosed herein. The method includes the step of removing material from a work-piece to a predetermined depth with a tool that changes size. The method also includes the step of passing the tool across the work-piece in one or more passes during the removing step such that a cutting depth into the work-piece changes during a particular pass. Each pass is defined by a pass depth. The method also includes the step of maintaining a substantially constant chip thickness during the removing step. The method also includes the step of selectively maximizing one of a feed rate and a pass depth of material removal at the expense of the other during the removing step to minimize the time of the passing step.
US08277272B1 Flotation apparatus
A flotation apparatus including a frame configured to support a snorkeler lying in a prone position. A plurality, preferably six, of elongated arms are each pivotally attached at a proximal end thereof to the frame with a buoyant float positioned on a distal end of each arm for enhanced stability. Preferably, a propulsion apparatus is mounted to the frame and a control apparatus for operating the propulsion apparatus in a prone position is provided.
US08277270B2 Boat propulsion unit
A boat propulsion unit includes a power source, a propeller, a shift position switching mechanism, a control device, and a retention switch. The propeller is driven by the power source to generate propulsive force. The shift position switching mechanism has an input shaft connected to a side of the power source, an output shaft connected to a side of the propeller, and clutches that change a connection state between the input shaft and the output shaft. A shift position of the shift position switching mechanism is switched among forward, neutral, and reverse by engaging and disengaging the clutches. The control device adjusts an engagement force of the clutches. The retention switch is connected to the control device. When the retention switch is turned on by an operator, the control device controls the engagement force of the clutches to retain a hull in a predefined position. The boat propulsion unit provides a boat propulsion unit that can accurately retain a boat at a fixed point.
US08277269B1 Torque transmitting device and system for marine propulsion
A torque transmitting device and related a marine propulsion system include an adapter that comprises a first portion shaped to engage in torque-transmitting relation with a propulsor shaft of the marine propulsion system so that rotation of the propulsor shaft about the axis of rotation causes synchronous rotation of the first portion about the axis of rotation. A second portion is shaped to engage in torque-transmitting relation with a propulsor hub of the marine propulsion system. The second portion is connected to the first portion by a plurality of elongated torsional members that are integrally attached to at least one of the first and second portions. The elongated torsional members are resilient so as to allow the first portion and second portion to rotate relative to each other about the axis of rotation.
US08277265B1 Electrical connector for mating in two directions
An electrical connector is provided for mating with a mating connector having a mating contact. The electrical connector includes a housing having a receptacle that is configured to receive the mating contact therein from an insertion direction. An electrical contact is held within the receptacle of the housing. The electrical contact includes opposing arms and a contact finger that extends from one of the arms to the other arm. The contact finger includes a mating interface configured to engage the mating contact when the mating contact is received within the receptacle to electrically connect the electrical contact to the mating contact. The contact finger includes a segment having a length that extends at an angle relative to the insertion direction. The segment includes at least a portion of the mating interface. The electrical contact is configured to electrically connect to the mating contact when the mating contact is inserted into the receptacle of the housing in the insertion direction.
US08277264B2 Contact having independently deformable spring portions and connector including the contact
A contact is formed of a single metal sheet. The contact includes an upper spring portion configured to press an upper surface of a plate-like connection target in a downward direction and a lower spring portion configured to press a lower surface of the plate-like connection target in an upward direction. The lower spring portion is deformable independently of the upper spring portion.
US08277246B2 Battery terminal adapter
An apparatus including a battery having first and second battery terminals; and an electrical connector adapter. The electrical connector adapter includes a first and second adapter terminals. The first adapter terminal has a first contact area on the first battery terminal at the first side of the battery and a second contact area on a second side of the battery. The second adapter terminal has a first contact area on the second battery terminal at the first side of the battery and a second contact area on the second side of the battery. The adapter is configured to allow first contacts to electrically connect to the first and second battery terminals through the first contact areas. The adapter is configured to allow second contacts to electrically connect to the second contact areas and be connected by the electrical connector adapter to the first and second battery terminals.
US08277234B2 Interface between connectable electrical devices
A system for engaging devices having connectable electrical connectors includes a first device and a second device. The first device has a first electrical connector exposed at a first surface that is contoured to define one or more recesses, each of which has a lip. The second device has a second electrical connector exposed at a second surface that is contoured to define one or more gripping elements, each of which fits into one of the recesses to grip one of the lips when the first and second electrical connectors are connected together. The first device also has a movable element that can be positioned such that when the one or more gripping elements are in the one or more recesses and gripping the one or more lips, the movable element blocks the gripping elements from being moved out of the recesses or away from the lips.
US08277229B2 Connector assembly
A connector assembly includes a riser card, a first connector, a bent connector, and a second connector. The riser card includes a first side and a second side. The first connector is mounted on the first side of the riser card. The first connector includes at least one first pin extending through the riser card and protruding from the second side of the riser card. The bent connector is mounted on the second side of the riser card. The bent connector is coupled with the first connector in the riser card. The bent connector includes a first portion mounted on the second side and a second portion spaced from the riser card. The second connector is connected to the second portion. A gap is defined between the second connector and the riser card, and the at least one first pin of the first connector is located in the gap to avoid interfering with the second connector.
US08277223B2 External defibrillator training apparatus and method
A training apparatus (500) for use with an external defibrillator is provided, the external defibrillator being responsive to a first electrode and a second electrode, including: a transparent layer having a first electrode attachment region defining an opening sized to receive the first electrode; a signal conductor disposed proximate the first electrode attachment region, the signal conductor having a transfer path, the transfer path operable to provide communication between the first electrode and the second electrode, when the first electrode and the second electrode are disposed on the training apparatus; and a two-dimensional representation of an anterior portion of a defibribation subject, identificable through the transparent layer, having the first electrode attachment region arranged thereon in a manner that defines a preferred plancement area of the first electrode on the defibrillation subject.
US08277218B2 Screw-type dental implant
A dental implant apparatus consisting of an auger-like lower threaded portion that is screwed into the bone. It includes a divergent intermediate collar with mini-threads for engaging the cortical bone, and a tapered abutment for fixed tooth replacement or a ball-like snap attachment to secure removable dentures. The apical end of the device has a tapered portion with a blunt tip that condenses the medullar bone, which in combination with the divergent collar engaging and wedging into the cortical bone, provides a dual stabilization structure that can be immediately loaded or placed in light function by cementing on a temporary crown or bridge or by lightly attaching a removable full or partial denture.
US08277215B2 Universal non-custom dental tray having anatomical features to enhance fit
A non-custom, tray-shaped dental treatment device includes a moisture-resistant barrier layer having a front side wall and a bottom wall, and a dental treatment composition. In addition, the tray-shaped dental treatment device includes at least one of the following anatomical features to enhance the fit of the device: (1) the bottom wall includes a plurality of cuts positioned to help the bottom wall better conform to abrupt changes in the diameters of a person's teeth where the bicuspids and canines meet, and/or (2) the bottom wall includes at least one V-shaped or U-shaped indentation configured to be inserted into the depression typically found along the top surfaces of a person's molars, and/or (3) the front side wall and bottom wall include radii of curvature that account for typical flaring of a patient's incisors.
US08277207B2 Oil supply method of two-stage screw compressor, two-stage screw compressor applying the method, and method of operating refrigerating machine having the compressor
A two-stage screw compressor has a low-pressure stage screw compressor and a high-pressure stage screw compressor integrally constructed. Compression space is formed by a male rotor and a female rotor, and operation gas is fed for compression to the compression space. A method of supplying lubrication oil prevents degradation of volumetric efficiency caused by return of lubrication oil, coming from a bearing and a shaft sealing device, to the low-pressure stage screw compressor. As a result, refrigeration capacity is improved and the amount of the lubrication oil is reduced.
US08277204B2 Reciprocating motor and a reciprocating compressor having the same
A reciprocating motor and a reciprocating compressor having the same are provided. One side of each of outer and inner cores forming a stator are connected to each other, to prevent a magnetic flux generated by the coil and a magnet from leaking out of the stator. Hence, it is possible to fabricate components of the reciprocating compressor employing such a reciprocating motor by using a relatively low-cost magnetic substance, resulting in a decrease in fabricating costs of the compressor. Also, a length of the magnet may be reduced, which results in a reduction of the cost for the magnet, thereby decreasing fabricating costs of the reciprocating motor and the reciprocating compressor employing the reciprocating motor.
US08277201B2 Pump apparatus
Vessels (10, 11, 12 and 13) are associated with an inlet manifold (14) passing to inlets (16), each controlled by a knifegate valve (17). The lower ends of the pots (10) and (12), and pots (11) and (13), pass material through respective outlet knifegate valves (22) to respective first (23) and second (24) delivery lines. The respective knifegate valves (17) and outlet knifegate valves (22) of pots (10) and (11) on the one hand and pots (12) and (13) on the other, are operable by respective common pneumatic actuators (25). Each pot has an ejector assembly (26) having an upper chamber (28), an air injector nozzle (30), and an accelerator tube (31) to create the venturi function. An air cycling valve (32) transitions the upper chamber (28) between a depressurized space and a pressurized space. The accelerator tube (31) exhausts to a delivery line (23 or 24). Ejector assembly (26) air is supplied via air control valve (35). The respective delivery lines (23) and (24) each have an eductor port (37) which allow for air to be ported into the line. The completed load and discharge cycle is governed by a pneumatic PLC and pneumatic timers.
US08277197B2 Installation for high pressure compression with several stages
A multi-stage compression installation is formed of a main pipe (2) emerging in a baffle plate (3), where at least two compressors (4, 5) are mounted in series each having its own drive member (9, 10). The installation is equipped with a system for determining the pressure at the output of the main pipe (2), the installation being connected to a control box (8). Typically, the control box (8) is connected to at least two of the drive members (9, 10) of the compressors (4, 5) and ensures monitoring of the compressors such that the latter rotate jointly whether charged or uncharged. Thus, the compressors (4, 5) are jointly charged based on the pressure prevailing in the baffle plate (3), such that the charging of the compressor representing the overpressure stage, the compressor(s) of the lower compression stages are automatically and jointly charged.
US08277194B2 Component to be arranged in the flow channel of a turbomachine and spraying method for producing the coating
The invention relates to a component for arrangement in the duct of a turbine engine. The component is provided with a coating, which has a surface structure with scales which overlap each other in the direction of flow of the turbine engine. The invention also relates to a spraying method for generating a coating on a component.
US08277192B2 Turbine blade
An airfoil profile is formed such that a passage width ratio, represented in a dimensionless manner, of an inter-blade passage width of vane root cross-section to an outlet throat width substantially monotonously decreases from a blade inlet toward a blade outlet. The blade has a blade airfoil profile shape in an envelope within a range of .+−.2.0 mm in a direction normal to any surface location of an airfoil profile portion. The airfoil profile portion has a reference airfoil contour represented in Cartesian coordinates wherein Z is a distance representing a sectional height from a root of the airfoil profile portion. The contours represented by X and Y at each section Z are joined smoothly with one another in a blade height direction to form a complete shape of the airfoil profile portion.
US08277183B2 Systems and methods for monitoring wind turbine operation
A method is provided for monitoring a wind turbine using a combined supervisory command and data acquisition (SCADA) and video monitoring system. The method includes receiving video data from at least one video camera, wherein the video data is related to operating conditions of the wind turbine. The method also includes storing the video data in a memory, and receiving a command from a remote monitoring server relating to at least a portion of the video data, wherein the portion of the video data is associated with at least one SCADA data point. The method also includes retrieving the portion of the video data from the memory, and transmitting the portion of the video data to the remote monitoring server for presentation to a user.
US08277177B2 Fluidic rim seal system for turbine engines
A fluidic rim seal system can be provided between a neighboring stationary and rotatable components in the turbine section of a turbine engine. For instance, the stationary component can be an inner shroud associated with a vane. The inner shroud can include a groove that extends circumferentially about the shroud. The rotatable component can be a blade cover plate. The blade cover plate can include a protrusion that culminates at a tip. One or more passages can extend through the protrusion. The passages can have an inlet in fluid communication with a coolant source and an outlet at the tip. A tip region of the protrusion is received in the groove. During engine operation, an air barrier is formed in the groove by the air discharging from the outlet. This air also provides cooling to the protrusion as well as a portion of the inner shroud.
US08277176B2 Turbomachine exhaust case drain
A turbomachine exhaust case having an annular groove perforated with an orifice in which there is mounted a drain, which is formed by a tubular cylindrical body, for discharging liquids retained in this groove is disclosed. The drain includes a skirt, formed at one end of the cylindrical body, for fastening the drain by crimping in the orifice in the groove of the case.
US08277152B2 End mill
An end mill having a gash formed in a top portion of a flute. In a cross-section perpendicular to an intersecting ridgeline between an end cutting edge rake face and a gash bottom face of the gash, the gash bottom face and the end cutting edge rake face, and the gash bottom face and the gash wall face are respectively connected together by first and second connecting faces. The connecting faces have a form which either is a concave curve or a substantially concave curve formed with straight lines. A radius of curvature of the concave curve or the radius of a circle inscribed within straight lines forming the substantially concave curve about the front connecting face is larger than a radius of curvature of the concave curve or the radius of a circle inscribed within the straight lines forming the substantially concave curve about the second connecting face.
US08277140B2 Loose-leaf binder
A binder for releasably retaining loose-leaves. The binder has a front cover that lies flatly beneath its back cover when the binder is open 360 degrees. The rings of the binder can rotate around an edge of the flatly-folded cover to enable loose-leaves to lie flat above and below the cover. The binder also has a skeleton with a minimal cross-section spine which may be partially or completely embedded in a cover and rotates in relation to parallel front and back covers when the binder is open 360 degrees. The front cover, middle cover and back cover are connected in a way so that they do not interfere with the rotation of the rings. Mechanisms to open and close the rings of the skeleton to allow addition or removal of loose-leafs, and ring shapes to optimize or stabilize the capacity of the binder during operation are also disclosed.
US08277132B2 Bidirectional optical transceiver module
A bidirectional optical transceiver module with a temperature control function is provided. The bidirectional optical transceiver module includes a package configured to have a flat bottom surface and include two windows used for optical transmission and reception; a ferrule configured to be coupled to one side of the package and allow an optical fiber to be inserted therein; an optical receiver module configured to be coupled to another side of the package in a direction perpendicular to that of the ferrule coupled to the package; a sub-optical transmitter module configured to be built in the package and include a light-emitting element and a collimating lens used to collimate light from the light-emitting element; an optical filter configured to be built in the package, transmit light from the light-emitting element to the optical fiber and reflect light received through the optical fiber to the optical receiver module; and a temperature regulator configured to be built in the package and control the sub-optical transmitter module to a preset temperature. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost of the package, effectively discharge heat, and be more endurable to external impact or vibration.
US08277126B2 Fluid dynamic bearing device
A protrusion (7b3) directed axially downwards is provided at a bottom portion (7b) of a housing (7), and an outer peripheral surface (7b31) of the protrusion (7b3) is fixed to an inner peripheral surface (6a) of a bracket (6). When a thrust load is applied to the bottom portion (7b) of the housing (7), a part of the load is supported by the bracket (6) via the protrusion (7b3). Thus, a strength of a boundary portion (P) between a side portion (7a) and the bottom portion (7b) of the housing (7) increases, making it possible to prevent rupture of the boundary portion (P) due to an excessive thrust load. On the other hand, a wall thickness of the bottom portion (7b) can be made invariable, so it is possible to suppress deformation through molding shrinkage of a thrust bearing surface formed on an inner end surface (7b1) of the bottom portion (7b).
US08277123B2 Fluid bearing structure and method of forming bearing concaves in fluid bearing structure
A fluid bearing structure with uniform depths of bearing concaves and a method of forming the bearing concaves in the fluid bearing structure. Pipe parts are inserted into through holes formed in the bearing base to form fluid spout holes for spouting fluid between confronting bearing surfaces. Bearing concaves are formed around the fluid spout holes. The bearing base and the pipe parts are made of different materials. A coating layer is formed on the bearing base and the pipe parts by an anodic oxidation process. Thickness of the coating layer on the bearing base is different from thickness of the coating layer on the pipe parts since the base member and the pipe members are made of different materials. The material on which a coating layer grows quickly is selected for the bearing base and the material on which a coating layer grows slowly is selected for the pipe parts.
US08277122B2 Guide rail of a linear guide
A guide rail of a linear guide, on guide surfaces on which a guide carriage is longitudinally displaceable. A material measure is arranged at a distance, preferably in parallel, to the guide rail and is fastened to the guide rail by means of a mount. The guide rail has a groove or a hole arranged outside the guide surface. The mount can be detachably fastened by means of expanding elements that engage with the groove or into the hole.
US08277119B2 Fiber optic temperature sensor
A temperature sensor, capable of operating in electromagnetic and/or electric environments such as electrical generators, motors and transformers and/or in environments where vibratory conditions are frequent or continuous, contains at least one light emitting optic fiber and one light receiving optic fiber and an electrically non-conductive dilatable object which variably occults the emitted light as the object's temperature varies. The light receiving optic fiber transmits light intensity and light intensity changes to an electronic device that may include a photometer and light-to-temperature computing equipment.
US08277112B2 Devices and fluid flow methods for improving mixing
The invention provides devices and methods for increasing the degree of mixing of fluids, including under conditions of laminar flow and turbulent flow. In one embodiment, mixing of fluids using the invention's devices and methods is increased by splitting the flow of at least one of the fluids into two or more inlet channels. This is optionally followed by further splitting and merging (e.g., using one or more split and merge (SAM) mixer) the fluids.
US08277110B2 Micromixer biochip
The present invention provides a micromixer biochip, comprising: a substrate having a surface; a fluidic channel layer disposed above the surface of the substrate, including a mixing chamber and a single-opening fluidic channel, wherein one end of the single-opening fluidic channel is closed and the other end of the single-opening fluidic channel connects to the mixing chamber, and a top portion of the single-opening fluidic channel is made of a flexible material; and an air chamber layer disposed above the top portion of the fluidic channel layer, including an air pore, at least one chamber, and an air channel connecting the chamber and the air pore, wherein the number and position of the air chamber correspond to the number and position of the single-opening fluidic channel of the fluidic channel layer.
US08277109B2 LED lighting device with thermally conductive resin lampstand
A LED lighting device includes a cooling lampstand, a circuit, at least one light emitting diode (LED), a sealant and a power converter. The cooling lampstand is made by a resin composition in which the thermal conductivity of the resin composition is about 1-50 W/mk. The circuit directly is disposed on the cooling lampstand. The light emitting diode (LED) is disposed on the cooling lampstand and electrically connected to the circuit. The sealant covers the LED. The power converter is electrically connected to the circuit for supplying an electrical power to the circuit.
US08277108B2 Structure of lamp combined with picture frame and essence
A structure of lamp is combined with a picture frame and a mass of essence. The structure includes a picture frame body that receives and holds therein a picture or photo and forms a lighting chamber that receives and holds the lamp. The lighting chamber has a wall portion in which ventilation holes are defined. The picture frame body also forms an essence compartment that receives and holds the mass of essence that gives off a scent smell. The lamp, when lit, generates heat that causes the mass of essence to give off the scent that spreads through the ventilation holes of the lighting chamber. Thus, besides receiving and holding a picture, the picture frame also provides the functions of nighttime lighting and scent spreading for improving air quality of the surroundings.
US08277095B2 Light emitting diode lamp
A light emitting diode lamp includes a lamp shade, a light emitting diode light source, a universal joint and a power connector. The light emitting diode light source is disposed in the lamp shade. The universal joint includes a first connecting part and a second connecting part. The first connecting part is fixed to the lamp shade. The second connecting part is rotatably connected to the first connecting part and fixed to the power connector.
US08277090B2 Translating aperture adjustment for a recessed luminaire
A mounting assembly includes a stationary plate for supporting and linearly adjusting a recessed fixture in a parallel direction relative to structural framing members. Telescoping mounting bars are fixed to a building structure and allow adjustability of the stationary plate in a direction generally perpendicular to structural framing members. An adjustable plate has a plurality of linear guides received in a linear movable manner within a corresponding one of linear guide slots of the stationary plate. A linear locking member is adjustably secured in one of the linear guide slots such that linear movement of the adjustable plate is prevented relative to the stationary plate when the linear locking member is in a locked position, linear movement of the adjustable plate being allowed relative to the stationary plate in a direction parallel to the structural framing members when the linear locking member is in an adjustable position.
US08277082B2 Solid state light assembly having light redirection elements
A light assembly that includes an enclosure, a circuit board having a plurality of light sources disposed within the enclosure, and a plurality of light redirection elements associated with a respective one of the plurality of light sources. Each of the light redirection elements directs light toward a common point within the enclosure.
US08277081B2 Lamp using LED
Provided is a lamp using LED which has a heat sink and an air-flowing part formed in a body and is equipped with a heat pipe to make higher a heat-conductive efficiency and thereby to make higher a heat-generation performance considerably so that the light emitting diode can be applied to a high-output illumination device to increase a life-time.
US08277076B2 Lighting device
The present invention provides a lighting device having a battery housing to hold a battery, a light housing having a light source and a lens assembly into which said light source will emit light when activated, said battery and said light source being in circuit with a switch to open and close said circuit, said light housing being moveable relative to said battery housing to motivate said switch to open and/or close said circuit.
US08277070B1 Counter with border lighting
A counter includes a base and a countertop spaced from the base that has an edge that defines a border of the countertop. An edge or support collar is disposed between the base and the countertop, the edge collar including a light-transmissive band that extends along the border of the countertop. The light-transmissive band has an inner side and an outer side opposite the inner side that forms a stratified outer edge with the edge of the countertop. A light source is positioned adjacent the inner side of the edge collar and configured to emit light outward through the light-transmissive band.
US08277064B2 Light source and illumination system having a predefined external appearance
The invention relates to a light source and an illumination system. The light source (10) comprises a light emitter (20) and a light conversion element (30). The light emitter emits visible light of a first color through the light conversion element in a direction away from the light source. The light conversion element comprises a photoluminescent material (40) for converting at least a part of the light of the first color into light of a second color different from the first color. The light source further comprises conversion material (42) for converting at least a part of ambient light impinging on the conversion material into light of a third color (Ba) different from the second color. When the light emitter emits light, the color of the light emitted is mainly a mixture of the light of the first color and light of the second color. When the light emitter does not emit light, the color of the light emitted by the light source is determined by the reflected ambient light, light of the second color and light of the third color. As such, the color of the light source can be tuned when the light emitter does not emit light and can, for example, be made substantially identical to the color of the light emitted when the light emitter emits light.
US08277059B2 Vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly
A vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror casing and an electrochromic mirror reflective element. At least a portion of a front substrate of the reflective element extends beyond a corresponding portion of a rear substrate of the reflective element to establish a ledge at least partially along the periphery of the reflective element, with no part of the rear substrate extending beyond any part of the front substrate. Electrical connections are made to conductive coatings or layers at the front and rear substrates. The electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element includes a concealing layer disposed along a perimeter border region to conceal the presence of the perimeter seal and the electrical connections from view by a driver of the equipped vehicle. The mirror casing provides a bezel-less mirror casing where no portion of the mirror casing overlaps the first surface of the front substrate.
US08277056B2 Locally dimmed display
A locally dimmed display has a spatial light modulator illuminated by a light source. The spatial light modulator is illuminated with a low resolution version of a desired image. The illumination may comprise a series of lighting elements that vary smoothly from one element to another at the spatial light modulator.
US08277052B2 Aspect-ratio independent, multimedia capture, editing, and presentation systems and methods thereof
A multimedia presentation system includes a plurality of display systems and at least one control system. The plurality of display systems output image areas of a multimedia presentation to at least partially different locations of a display environment. The control system adjusts the output of the image areas from the plurality of display systems to conform to the display environment. The display and capture systems may be wearable, mobile or adjustable and can react to any environment. Editing environments allow the same show to be easily relinked to a new display configuration without any need for extensive user-driven layout revision. Virtual display configurations are simulated and presented on other displays.
US08277050B2 Projector and projector controlling method
A projector includes: an image projection unit which modulates light emitted from a light source and projects the modulated light; a cooling fan which cools the image projection unit; a light source control unit which controls lighting of the light source; a cooling control unit which controls operation of the cooling fan; an input operation unit which receives input operation; and a control unit which allows the light source control unit to decrease the luminance of the light source or allows the cooling control unit to increase the rotational speed of the cooling fan during the period from the time when the input operation unit receives the first ending operation to the time when the input operation unit receives the second ending operation.
US08277044B2 Mobile telephonehaving internal inkjet printhead arrangement and an optical sensing arrangement
A mobile telephone includes an optical sensing arrangement enabling the telephone to decode tags of coded data printed on media fed through the telephone via internal and external media pathway defined by a body of the telephone; a beam splitter deflecting incoming light onto an image sensor of the telephone; a first infrared LED directing light onto media present in the external pathway; a filter and lens arrangement receiving and directing light reflected from the external media onto the beam splitter; a second infrared LED directing light onto media present in the internal pathway; and a mirror arrangement directing light reflected from the internal media into the beam splitter. The coded data contains printing instructions for the printhead, and the filter and lens arrangement includes an infrared filter for removing non-infrared ambient light, whereby a signal to noise ratio of the reflected light is improved.
US08277010B2 Image forming device that performs bi-directional printing while calibrating conveying amount of recording medium
An image forming device performs a bi-directional printing operation and includes a unit that determines a first amount by calibrating a predetermined amount based on a first value relating to a positional offset of a print element, and a unit that determines a second amount by calibrating the predetermined amount based on a second value relating to a positional offset of another print element. A recording medium is conveyed in a conveying direction the first amount after one of forward and reverse prints and the second amount after the other of the forward and reverse prints.
US08277008B2 Method and apparatus for driving inkjet head
A method for driving an inkjet head includes applying drive signals including an ejection signal used for ejecting ink and a non-ejection signal used for not ejecting the ink, to an actuator provided with a pressure chamber at a constant cycle so as to increase or reduce pressure in the pressure chamber in such a manner that the ink is ejected or not ejected from a nozzle connected with the pressure chamber, wherein: a waveform of the ejection signal includes a combination of an ejection pulse for causing a droplet of the ink to be ejected from the nozzle and a non-ejection pulse for not causing a droplet of the ink to be ejected from the nozzle, the ejection pulse of the waveform of the ejection signal includes a part for reducing the pressure in the pressure chamber and a part for increasing the reduced pressure in the pressure chamber.
US08277007B2 Image processing apparatus
An image processing apparatus, connected to an ejection head in which a nozzle group configured of nozzles that eject CMY inks of the CMYK color system and a nozzle group configured of nozzles that eject K ink of the CMYK color system are formed at different nozzle densities, that converts inputted image data into print data and outputs the print data to the ejection head, and includes: a first processing device that inputs the image data; and a second processing device communicably connected to the first processing device via a predetermined communication interface.
US08277004B2 Refrigerator and opening/closing apparatus of the same
A refrigerator includes an opening/closing apparatus. In the refrigerator and opening/closing apparatus, an extendible cabinet with shelves is accommodated in a storing compartment. Therefore, food or other items can be loaded in the cabinet and taken out from the cabinet more easily.
US08277003B2 Undermount drawer slide
A drawer slide for coupling a drawer to a cabinet includes an intermediate rail partially housed within the drawer rail and web and first and second legs which are connected to the web. A flange extends from the first leg toward the second leg. Bearings housed in bearing cages placed between the rails allow sliding movement therebetween. A cabinet rail partially housed within the intermediate rail includes an upright wall and a flange extending away from the upright wall and toward the first leg. Ball and roller bearings housed in bearing cages couple the flanges. Grooves in the flanges are engaged by the ball bearings. Roller bearings housed in bearing cages couple the web of the intermediate rail and the flange of the cabinet rail, and the second leg of the intermediate rail and the upright wall of the cabinet rail.
US08277001B2 Storage unit for electronic devices
A storage unit (10) for electronic devices that comprises an openable housing and a mounting system (40) for receiving and retaining one or more electronic devices within the housing. The mounting system (40) has a hinging assembly (44) that supports two or more brackets (42), each bracket being arranged to receive and retain one or more electronic devices and being hingedly moveable relative to any other bracket by virtue of the hinging assembly to thereby enable access to the bracket for the installation, maintenance or removal of an electronic device or devices.
US08276993B2 Park system with high/low trip pressure for added failure protection with work brake application
A pneumatic brake system for a heavy duty vehicle is provided. The work brake system is operably dependent on a predetermined high trip brake system pressure and a predetermined reset brake system pressure. Upon actuation of the work brake system, when brake system pressure is greater than the predetermined high trip pressure, the work brake system is configured to deliver a pneumatic control signal to the second control valve to activate the service brake assembly. When brake system pressure is less than the predetermined high trip pressure, the work brake system is configured to deliver a pneumatic spring brake signal to the first control valve to activate the spring brake assembly and remove the pneumatic control signal to the second control valve. The delivery of the pneumatic control signal to the second control valve via the work brake system is prevented until brake system pressure exceeds the predetermined reset pressure.
US08276989B2 Pivot pin and saddle assembly for a side-dump trailer or truck
A pivot pin and saddle assembly is provided for a side-dump trailer or truck with the pivot pin and saddle assembly including structure which limits the relative movement between the side-dump body of the trailer or truck with respect to the frame of the trailer or truck. The saddle assembly of this invention includes a bearing block comprised of Nylon® or other composite material which supports the pivot pin to prevent metal-to-metal contact between the pivot pin and the associated saddle assembly.
US08276988B2 Child car seat
A child car seat is adapted for use in an automobile, and includes a seat assembly and a backrest unit connected to the seat assembly and including a backrest body, a pair of safety belts, and a guide component. The backrest body has opposite front and rear surfaces, and a plurality of spaced apart pairs of belt slots. Each belt slot has opposite front and rear open ends formed respectively in the front and rear surfaces. Each safety belt has a free end portion. The guide component is coupled to the rear surface of the backrest body and covers the rear open ends of the belt slots. The free end portions of the safety belts are extended respectively through a selected one pair of the belt slots, and along a predetermined route behind the rear surface of the backrest body through guidance of the guide component.
US08276984B1 Furniture assembly
A furniture assembly maneuverable from a first position to a second position has a first seat portion having a channel formed in an end thereof, a second seat portion positioned below the first seat portion, a first back portion positioned adjacent the end of the first seat portion, and a second back portion having a front surface positioned adjacent a back surface of the first back portion when in the first position. The second seat portion has legs extending from a bottom surface thereof adjacent a side thereof. The second seat portion has legs extending from the bottom surface thereof adjacent an opposite side thereof. The first back portion has keyholes on the back surface thereof. The second back portion has mushrooms on the front surface thereof. The mushrooms are removably placed in the keyholes when the first position.
US08276983B2 Manual retracting head restraint
A seat assembly includes a seat back pivotally coupled to a seat cushion for movement between a generally upright seating position and a folded position overlying the seat cushion. A head restraint is slidably coupled to an upper end of the seat back for vertical movement between a use position spaced apart from the upper end and a stowed position adjacent the upper end. A mechanism is operative for automatically moving the head restraint between the use and stowed positions in response to pivoting the seat back between the seating and folded positions.
US08276982B2 Detachable-body vehicle frame
Described herein is a frame for a motor vehicle having a first body and a second body, which are rigidly connected to one another in such a way that they can be taken apart; the first body has a first connection bar set in a transverse direction, and the second body has a second connection bar set in a transverse direction, which is set parallel to, faces, and is in direct contact with the first connection bar and is bolted to the first connection bar itself by means of a number of bolts arranged vertically.
US08276977B2 Automobile body structure
It is an object of the present invention to prevent a vehicle door from protruding into a vehicle cabin when a collision load is applied to the door from a lateral side thereof, and to reduce costs that are required for measures to prevent the door from protruding into the vehicle cabin.
US08276976B2 Vehicle body front structure
A vehicle body front structure provided with left and right side frames (16, 17). The left front side frame (16) has a rectangular closed cross-sectional shape. The front side frame (16) is provided with a rectilinear section (front half frame section) (44) extending rectilinearly from the front end (58) to the center section (43), and also with a moment receiving section (rear half frame section) (45) continuing from the rectilinear section (44) and extending in a curved form toward the inner side in the widthwise direction of the vehicle. A first ridge line section (78) is a portion which forms a corner (78) among the corners (78) of the rectilinear section (45), said corner (78) being located on the inner side in the widthwise direction of the vehicle. A second ridge line section (84) is connected to the first ridge line section (78) at a position inside the moment receiving section (45). A stiffener (65) is connected to the rear end (66) of the front side frame (16).
US08276966B2 Structure for lower part of rear vehicle body
A structure is in a lower part of a rear vehicle body 1. In this structure, each rear side member 2 is divided into a rear side member front part 10 and a rear side member rear part 11 in a front-to-rear direction of the vehicle, a cross member 26 below a spare tire housing is joined to the rear side member rear part 11, and a central part in a vehicle width direction 26a of the cross member 26 below the spare tire housing extends rearward in the vehicle and is curved obliquely downward.
US08276963B2 Storage structure having a lid
A storage structure, including: a main body portion including an opening portion and a cable outlet portion; a lid slidably mounted on the main body portion to open and close the opening portion, the lid including a cable introductory portion; and a flat plate-shaped cable including a first end at the cable outlet portion, a second end at the cable introductory portion, and a cable slack portion between the first and second ends, where the length of the cable slack portion between the cable outlet portion and the cable introductory portion is set to be equal to or more than the distance between the cable outlet portion and the cable introductory portion, both when the lid is positioned to open and to close the opening portion.
US08276952B2 Double-door stop apparatus
Double-door stop apparatus comprises a rigid elongate bar element which has a length which spans a distance between open oppositely-hinged double doors, and attachment elements on the bar element for releasably fastening the bar element to each of the doors. In use, the double doors are thus securely held stationary in an open condition. Preferably, the apparatus further comprises an awning sheet of flexible material which is extendable from the bar element.
US08276950B2 Vehicle door lock
Rotary latch lock for the locking closing of a vehicle door, having a lock case 2 exhibiting a cut-out recess for a lock pin, in which two rotatably mounted rotary latches, two rotary latch springs for imposing a load on the rotary latches and one pivotable, engaging lock element are arranged, which are capable of interacting in such a way as to actuate the lock, in conjunction with which an actuating element engaging in the lock case is provided, which element is capable of interacting operatively with the lock element, and by means of which locking is capable of being released, in conjunction with which an engaging locking element capable of pivoting and actuating this latch is provided for each rotary latch, in conjunction with which the locking elements are capable of interacting operatively with at least one actuating element, and in conjunction with which the rotary latch lock preferably exhibits an arrangement for locating, centering and guiding the vehicle door in relation to the body during opening and closing of the vehicle door.
US08276949B2 Vehicle door lock device
A vehicle door lock device includes a latch mechanism having a lift lever and further includes an inside open lever, an outside open lever, an open link and an active lever. A spring is interposed between the outside open lever and the open link. In the housing, provided is an unlocked state holding guide for holding the open link in an unlocked state when the active lever is in an unlock position and when the outside open lever rotates. In the active lever, provided is a locked state holding guide for holding the open link in a locked state when the active lever is in a lock position and when the outside open lever rotates. This construction enables reduction of the number of components and construction of the device in a simple and inexpensive manner.
US08276948B2 Multiple access door lock mechanism with reversible cam actuation
In combination a door, latch structure at an edge of the door, and independently opens the door latch operating components at opposite sides of the door, displaceable structure in the door having a position blocking movement of the latch structure, first means responsive to displacement of a selected one of the components for displacing the structure from the blocking position to allow movement of the latch structure, for door opening, and the first means including a rotatable cam having reversible positions in each of which motion is transmitted to the displacement structure in response to displacement of the respective components.
US08276947B2 Connecting piece comprising a gripping element on the outer surface for rotating the connecting piece
A first element is connected to a first end of the connecting piece and a second element is connected to a second end of the connecting piece. At least one end of the connecting piece is provided with a thread, whereby the connecting piece is connectable for instance to a pipe or fitting with threaded connection. The connecting piece may be made of plastic, for example, the connecting piece is made substantially completely of thermoplast in such a way that the thermoplastic body is provided with a thread. The outer surface of the connecting piece is provided with a gripping member. The gripping member is formed and dimensioned such that it gives way earlier than the connecting member thread and/or basic structure.
US08276942B2 Combat vehicle restraint system
A combat vehicle restraint system accommodates a wide range of soldiers, both with and without battle, arctic, or chemical gear. The restraint system includes lengthened belts and an adjustable buckle position. The belts include loops for locating and grasping the belts, and separate lap and shoulder belts with small narrowing ends to prevent catching on gear. The belts are extendable from Inertial reels which are calibrated for off-road operation. The buckle engages each belt separately and includes a single action release. The buckle position is easily adjusted using an oversized knob so that a soldier may easily find and adjust buckle length in the dark, wearing heavy gloves, or with muddy slippery fingers. The latch/unlatch mechanism and associated hardware is an open frame type to reduce or eliminate affects of mud, dust, water or other contaminants on operation.
US08276935B2 Foldable stroller
A stroller includes laterally spaced apart hubs that interconnect upper, middle and front frame member assemblies of a chassis of the stroller. The hubs are disposed one each along opposite sides of the stroller, and include mounting structures for coupling two or more of the strollers together in a side-by-side fashion. The hubs further include other mounting structures for mounting a seat assembly to the stroller chassis and for supporting both rearward facing and frontward facing orientation of the seat assembly as well as selectable inclination positions. Each of the hubs includes a folding mechanism for supporting folding of the stroller, such as for transport in a vehicle or for storage. Other laterally spaced apart hubs are provided along the upper frame members for providing a second point of attachment between two coupled strollers and for mounting of accessories.
US08276931B2 Dual tow ball coupling apparatus
A coupling apparatus includes a base, an arm extending from the base, a first tow ball extending from a first side of the arm, and a second tow ball extending from an opposite second side of the arm. The base is configured to be removably attached to a vehicle in opposite first and second positions such that the first tow ball is in an upright orientation when the base is attached to a vehicle in the first position, and the second tow ball is in an upright orientation when the base is attached to a vehicle in the second position. Each of the first and second end portions of the base includes a respective post, and a retainer assembly is configured to be removably attachable to each post.
US08276930B1 Tow bar having multiple interchangeable towing assemblies
A tow bar having a towing portion with multiple interchangeable towing assemblies each structured to be releasably connectable to towing vehicles having different types and/or sizes of towing hitch apparatus; a towed portion with a body member connected to a pair of rearwardly-extending legs each with a rear connector releasably connectable to a baseplate connector of a towed hitch apparatus of a towed vehicle, at least one of the legs being pivotally connected to the body member; an attaching portion structured to releasably connect each interchangeable towing assembly to the body member; and a storage mechanism structured to releasable secure the tow bar to a baseplate connector of the towed hitch apparatus of the towed vehicle.
US08276925B2 Mounting arrangement for lower steering arm
A knuckle includes a spindle to support a wheel and upper and lower bosses extending inwardly of the spindle. The lower boss includes a tie rod arm mount interface. A tie rod arm is received within the tie rod arm mount interface and a steer arm is positioned on an opposite side of the knuckle from the tie rod arm. The steer arm is fixed to the tie rod arm and includes an input mount interface to receive steering input to turn a wheel. The steer arm and tie rod arm are attached to each other with at least one fastener, or can be integrally formed together as a single-piece component.
US08276924B2 Golf bag carrier
A golf bag carrier comprising a vertical bar, foldable wheels installed on the vertical bar; a fixing band installed on the vertical bar to fix the golf bag, a supporting plate that is coupled to a lower end of the vertical bar such that it is unfolded when the golf bag is loaded thereon and folded when the golf bag is unloaded therefrom, a first support that is fixed at an upper portion of the vertical bar to support the golf bag, an elevating bar that is coupled to an upper end of the vertical bar by a height adjusting unit, and a second support that is installed to support an upper end of the golf bag.
US08276922B2 Child trailer
A child trailer includes a body with a plurality of wheels located at the bottom thereof, a joint and a coupler. The joint is located in front of the body to adjust the angle with the body. The coupler includes a coupling dock, a pair of adjustment arms and a pair of strap holders. The coupling dock is connected to the front end of the joint. The adjustment arms are respectively connected to the left side and right side of the coupling dock. Each of the adjustment arms includes a sleeve to adjust the transverse distance and an adjustment bar to adjust the longitudinal distance. The adjustment arm also has a pivotal member hinged on the strap holder. The strap holders are fastened to a stroller to enhance steadiness and safety and improve practicality.
US08276921B2 Snowboard binding
A snowboard binding comprises two assemblies that are capable of being mated or docked with each other and locked together while the snowboard is in use. One of the assemblies may be affixed to the deck of the snowboard. In an embodiment of the invention, the other assembly may be secured, e.g., to the user's boot, and in an embodiment of the invention, the features of the other assembly that support docking and locking of the assemblies may be incorporated into a boot.Either or both assemblies may comprise one or more permanent magnets configured to assist docking by attracting the assemblies to one another in a manner that encourages them to dock in a proper configuration. In embodiments of the invention, locking the docked assemblies together may be achieved without use of the hands.
US08276918B1 Plunger seal ring
One or more multifunction elastomeric plunger seal rings augment a plunger packing assembly within a plunger pump packing box. Each such ring comprises a totally-enclosed circumferential tubular cavity. The cavity is filled with a dilatant liquid which transmits hydraulic pressure throughout the tubular cavity and simultaneously damps pump vibration transmitted via the packing box. Pump pressure strokes increase tubular cavity hydraulic pressure, resulting in radial ring expansion forces both inwardly toward a plunger and outwardly toward its packing box. Inward ring expansion tends to close the extrusion gap, while outward expansion force improves heat transfer from plunger to packing box. Outward expansion force also increases coupling of packing box vibration to hysteresis loss in the dilatant liquid. During reductions in both pumped fluid pressure and associated pump vibration between pressure strokes, sealing and vibration damping functions of the rings are attenuated, reducing heat generation and frictional ring wear.
US08276901B2 Paper sheet handling apparatus and paper sheet handling method
A paper sheet handling apparatus includes a transport unit having a main transport path and a return transport path, a detection unit arranged at a predetermined detection position in the main transport path, and a controller controlling the transport unit based on the detection result of the detection unit. The controller leads, at the diversion position in the main transport path, a paper sheet transported along the main transport path into the return transport path, transports a subsequent paper sheet along the main transport path, and controls the transportation of the paper sheet and the transportation of the subsequent paper sheet respectively in response to the arrival of the subsequent paper sheet at the detection position such that the paper sheets are stacked into a batch at the joining position of the two transport paths with certain parts of the paper sheets being aligned.
US08276898B2 Electrode transporter and fixture sets incorporating the same
An electrode transporter is provided comprising a transporter frame, a plurality of transitional support elements, and a plurality of flipside support elements. The flipside support elements are configured to immobilize an electrode along a gravitational force vector normal to a major face of an electrode positioned in an electrode accommodating space defined by the transitional support elements and the flipside support elements. The transitional support elements are configured to transition back and forth from a secured state, where the electrode is further immobilized along an opposing force vector opposite the gravitational force vector, to an unsecured state where the electrode is relatively mobile along the opposing force vector. Additional embodiments relate to the use of a transporter tripod and an electrode removal puck and lifting fork to remove an electrode from the transporter frame.
US08276895B2 Clamping device
The present invention relates to a clamping device comprising an elongate support structure carrying a fixed jaw and a movable jaw and an advancing clamping mechanism mounted on the support structure for advancing the movable jaw toward the fixed jaw in a longitudinal direction. The clamping device further comprises a transportation mechanism for convenient transportation.
US08276869B2 Adjustable supporting stand
An adjustable supporting stand includes a main body with a receiving room, a slidable module disposed in the receiving room, a supporting holder assembled on the slidable module, a gear set connected to the supporting holder, and an elastic member disposed on the main body. The gear set has at least one first gear and a second gear, and the first gear is smaller than the second gear. One end of the elastic member is fixed on the main body and another end of the elastic member is connected to the second gear.
US08276847B2 Cover for an aircraft structure
A cover for an aircraft structure, in particular for nose parts of the vertical tail, horizontal tail or the wing, including a skin and support structure. The skin is arranged on the support structure and the support structure includes a plurality of ribs and a plurality of stringers. The plurality of stringers are arranged on the plurality of ribs to support the skin. Also provided is an aircraft having such a cover.
US08276837B2 Method and devices for detaching a charge stuck to the inner wall of a grinding pipe
In a method for detaching a charge (5) which is stuck to the inner wall of a grinding pipe (1), the grinding pipe (1) is rotated in a targeted manner such that the charge (5) that is stuck is removed from the inner wall of the grinding pipe (1) as a result of multiple modification of the rotational speed of the grinding pipe (1) and, optionally, as a result of abrupt braking of the grinding pipe (1). Generally speaking, the material-dependent maximum angle of rotation F of the grinding pipe is not exceeded in order to avoid the charge that is stuck from falling in an uncontrolled manner. The invention supercedes labor-intensive and protracted methods for detaching such charges (5) since the tasks can be carried out by the same motor of the drive device (2) which is used to drive the grinding pipe (1) during the grinding process.
US08276830B1 No leakage or dripping air-scenting device
An air-scenting device, which can be mounted vertically, horizontally or at any orientation, including upside down, without any leakage or dripping is disclosed in which there is no free-to-flow fluid under gravitational force, thus causing no spillage at any orientation. The device comprises a barrel containing an open-cell porous mass which contains air-scenting liquid within its pores and a porous wick surrounded by a cage, having perforations, and allowing evaporation of air-scenting fluid transferred to it by capillary action.
US08276828B2 Method of decoding coding pattern comprising control symbols
A method of decoding a coding pattern disposed on or in a substrate. The method comprises the steps of: (a) operatively positioning an optical reader relative to a surface of the substrate; (b) capturing an image of a portion of the coding pattern; (c) sampling and decoding control symbols contained in the imaged portion to provide r1 registration symbols and r2 second symbols; (d) constructing an imaged registration codeword of length r1 using the registration symbols ordered in a defined sequence; (e) identifying a distinct registration codeword corresponding to the imaged registration codeword; (f) determining a registration corresponding to the identified registration codeword; (g) constructing an imaged format codeword of length m using the determined registration and some of the r2 second symbols; (h) identifying a distinct format codeword corresponding to the imaged format codeword; (i) determining a distinct format corresponding to the identified format codeword; and (j) using the determined registration and the determined format to decode data symbols sampled from the imaged portion.
US08276820B2 Information notification method and information notification system
An information notification method includes coding information by a first information processing apparatus, displaying the coded information on a screen of the first information processing apparatus, obtaining displayed coded information as image information by a second information processing apparatus having an image-capturing unit, transmitting the obtained image information to a third information processing apparatus from the second information processing apparatus, receiving at the third information processing apparatus the image information transmitted from the second information processing apparatus, and decoding by the third information processing apparatus the received image information so as to obtain the coded information.
US08276815B2 High-speed automatic fire net-based fire instruction control system for short-range anti-aircraft gun
A high-speed automatic fire net-based fire instruction control system for a short-range anti-aircraft gun is provided. More particular, the present invention relates to a system, in which when a short-range anti-aircraft gun gunner calibrates values indicated on equipment and follows instructions without personally viewing a flying object that has infiltrated at low altitude, a tracking and automatic fire net is constructed, and the gunner follows fire instructions, thus allowing gunners to easily cope with targets anywhere regardless of the location, such as an anti-aircraft defensive position or a contact area, as long as the targets appear on a detection radar even in unfavorable weather or at night which forbids the targets from being detected and identified with eyes.
US08276802B2 Surgical instrument with double cartridge and anvil assemblies
An end effector for use with a surgical instrument having a first cartridge assembly configured to deploy a first set of fasteners and a second cartridge assembly disposed distally of the first cartridge assembly. The second cartridge assembly is configured to move between an open position and an approximated position relative to clamp tissue. A central rod extends between the first cartridge assembly and the second cartridge assembly.
US08276798B2 Feeder mechanism retention device for fastener driving tool
A fastener driving tool including a power source having a reciprocating driver blade, a tool nose associated with the power source for receiving the driver blade for driving fasteners fed into the nose, a magazine constructed and arranged to house a supply of the fasteners and a magazine feeder mechanism associated with the magazine for sequentially feeding fasteners into the nose. The feeder mechanism operates between a retracted position and an advanced position. An electromechanical retention device is operationally associated with the feeder mechanism and is configured for retaining the feeder mechanism in the retracted position until the driver blade is positioned to allow fastener advancement into the nose.
US08276794B2 Vehicle article carrier having releasable and stowable cross bars
A vehicle article carrier system that may have a pair of support rails and at least one cross bar. The cross bar may have an end support at each opposing end thereof. Each of the support rails may include an elongated recess extending parallel to a longitudinal axis thereof, where the elongated recess may be shaped generally in accordance with the cross bar, for receiving the cross bar when the cross bar is placed in a stowed orientation. Each of the support rails may further have at least one primary locking bar for supporting said cross bar in an operative position extending generally perpendicularly between the support rails, and at least a pair of secondary locking bars for supporting the cross bar in said elongated recess when the cross bar is placed in the stowed orientation in one of the support rails. Each of the end supports may include a locking assembly for securing the cross bar to either one of said primary or secondary locking bars, to thus place said cross bar in either the operative position or the stowed position.
US08276789B2 Heat transfer apparatus
A heat transfer apparatus for a portable hydration system that includes a reservoir, a first check valve, a manual pump activated by user movement, a second check valve, a first fluid communication line including a proximal end in communication with the second check valve and a distal end in communication with a bleed valve, further included is a second fluid communication line including an inlet end in communication in the bleed valve and an outlet end in communication with the reservoir. The first fluid communication line and the second fluid communication line are continuously adjacent in position to one another, wherein the bleed valve discharges a selectable intermittent fluid flowrate to the user for consumption and the pump outputs a primary intermittent fluid flowrate greater than the selectable intermittent fluid flowrate, wherein operationally the heat transfer apparatus acts to further help equalize the reservoir and the bleed valve temperatures.
US08276787B1 Combination beverage and water dispenser
A combination beverage and water dispenser includes a housing having a liquid-beverage-concentrate storage reservoir, a hot water storage tank and a cold water storage tank received therein. The cold water storage tank is in fluid communication with both a domestic water supply line and a dispensing cavity for receiving an inverted water bottle. Level sensors within the cold water storage tank communicate with a control valve on the domestic water supply line to control incoming domestic water supply. Alternatively, the domestic water supply may be disabled and a water bottle may be installed within the cavity to use bottled water in lieu of domestic water, if desired. The hot water tank, the cold water tank and the beverage concentrate reservoir are in selective communication with a mixing valve wherein hot or cold water and beverage concentrate are mixed to produce a desired hot or cold beverage. Accordingly, a user can instantly dispense a desired amount of beverage using either domestic water or bottled water.
US08276783B2 Container for food and beverage
A food/beverage container includes a cup-shaped main body for containing liquid content, and a cap having a hemisphere body provided with a spouting portion. The cap is designed to be normally or inversely fitted on the cup-shaped main body. The cap includes a first coupling part along an outer circumference configured to attach to and tightly contact a coupling edge of the container for normal fitting in an opposed second coupling part positioned opposite the first coupling part for inversely fitting to the cup-shaped main body.
US08276768B1 Magnetic knife guard device
A magnetic knife guard that attaches to one side of a knife and enables a user to safely and easily store individual knives in a drawer or hang individual knives on kitchen utensil racks without damaging or dulling the cutting surface of the knife. An embedded magnet within the guard holds the guard to the blade while a plurality frictional contact pads prevent slipping or rotation of the guard on the blade.
US08276752B1 Tool box
A tool box includes a box formed by top and bottom covers, in which the two covers are pivoted with each other so that the box can open or close; a lock member, in which one end of the lock member is pivoted on the bottom cover and another end of the lock member is used to lock with the top cover; and two handles disposed on top and bottom covers respectively. If the box is unlocking, the handle on the bottom cover is blocked by the lock member and the handle is not allowed to be bent up. Consequently, a user will be aware that the box is unlocking.
US08276737B2 Device for the transport of passengers
Device for the passenger transport, in particular an escalator provided with steps or a moving walkway equipped with pallets, wherein the steps or pallets are connected to each other to form a continuous step or pallet belt and can be moved in the direction of transport by means of drive elements, wherein a lower entrance or exit section of the device is connected to an upper exit or entrance section via at least one arched transport section which, seen over the length and height thereof, is formed by different radii which verge into each other, wherein at least the arched transport section is composed of several linear framing sections which are connected to each other in the region of the facing ends thereof.
US08276736B2 Conveyor apparatus and system for moving material
A conveyor apparatus includes a first conveyor apparatus and a second conveyor apparatus. The first conveyor apparatus is positionable adjacent to a feed conveying device. The first conveyor apparatus is configured to pivot about a position adjacent to the feed conveyor device or move laterally adjacent to the feed conveyor. The second conveyor apparatus is configured to move such that the second conveyor apparatus maintains a position substantially parallel to the first conveyor apparatus when the first conveyor apparatus moves or pivots. In some embodiments, the second conveyor apparatus may also be configured to move along a path so that the second conveyor apparatus is extendable beyond an end of the first conveyor apparatus. The path may be a linear path and may be substantially parallel to the length of the first conveyor apparatus such as a path that extends in a direction that is a few degrees off of being perfectly parallel.
US08276733B2 Sheet processing system, sheet processing apparatus, and sheet processing method
A sheet processing system has a sheet processing apparatus and a server. The server stores, as sheet, the identification data of a sheet and the result of a process performed on the sheet in association. The server transmits the sheet data to the sheet processing apparatus. The sheet processing apparatus receives the sheet data from the server and stores the sheet data. The sheet processing apparatus acquires images of the sheet fed to it and acquires the identification data of the sheet on the basis of the images acquired. The sheet processing apparatus refers to the sheet data, discriminates the sheet on the basis of the identification data acquired, and classifies and collects the sheet in accordance with the result of discrimination.
US08276729B2 Drive apparatus for motor vehicles
A drive assembly for a motor vehicle including a flywheel secured to an engine output shaft, a clutch disk mounted on a transmission input shaft, a torsional vibration dampener functionally interposed between such flywheel and clutch disk and an adjustment disk disposed between the engine output shaft and clutch disk, in which a bushing mounted on the engine output shaft and the adjustment disk are provided with rotationally symmetrical, spherical contact surfaces.
US08276717B1 High/low shoe abutment
A disc brake assembly includes an anchor having a pair of spaced apart inwardly facing contoured surfaces between which a disc brake backing plate having an outwardly facing pair of complementarily contoured surfaces is located. There is a pair of slipper springs, each of which may be interposed between an outwardly facing and corresponding inwardly facing surface in either one of two distinct symmetrical positions. The two slipper springs are substantially identical and include a U-shaped portion with a leg extending from one U end so that the leg may form an abutment contact between a backing plate surface and the anchor surface during brake application. The two distinct symmetrical positions comprise one position with the leg extending generally inwardly from the U-shaped portion toward the brake disc axis, and another position with the leg extending generally outwardly from the U-shaped portion away from the brake disc axis.
US08276710B2 Method for producing a lightweight, sound insulating covering for motor vehicles and corresponding covering
A method for producing a lightweight, sound insulating covering (1, 1′, 1″, 1″′) for a body component of a motor vehicle, in particular a lightweight dashboard covering, wherein the covering (1, 1′, 1″, 1″′) is produced as a foamed, sound absorbing molded part in a single-stage operation by injecting a reactive mix, comprising polyol and isocyanate, into a cavity (11) of a foaming tool (9), wherein before and/or during the injecting, at least one predetermined surface portion (17), defining the cavity (11) of the foaming tool (9), is temperature-controlled in such a manner that the foamed molded part comprises an integral substantially pore free skin (1.1) with a thickness of at least 0.5 mm on one side, and comprises an open porous surface (1.2) and/or a thinner, sound permeable skin (1.4) on its side opposite to said skin (1.1).
US08276707B2 Anti-noise device for the air intake conduit of a supercharged internal combustion engine
Anti-noise device for an internal combustion engine (9) equipped with a turbocompressor (10) for supercharging includes a turbine (11) placed in the exhaust gas flow and driven by these gases with the turbocompressor (10) connected by a shaft (13) to a compressor (14) mounted in the air intake conduit (3) of the engine (9). The anti-noise device includes a hinged flap (4) mounted within the air intake conduit (3) of the engine (9), upstream from the compressor (14) and capable of closing this conduit (3) under the action of a gaseous reflux coming towards it.
US08276706B2 Method and apparatus for a loudspeaker assembly
The present invention relates to a loudspeaker assembly and a method of assembling a loudspeaker assembly, comprising forming a front baffle, a first driver mounting portion, an intermediate portion, and an edge mounting portion. A port aperture formed in the intermediate portion, and a first driver installed in the first driver mounting portion. A rear baffle comprises a top portion, sidewalls, a recessed mounting portion, an edge portion and an electrical assembly. The edge mounting portion of the front baffle is attached to the recessed mounting portion of the rear baffle, and the rear baffle is secured to the back of the first driver. A back box is placed over the rear baffle provides thermal insulation, and a mounting plate securely attaches the first driver to a structural support. A perforated grille is crimped to the edge portion of the rear baffle and an edge portion of the back box.
US08276694B2 Arrangement for a power electronics unit in a hybrid vehicle
Arrangement for a power electronics unit in a hybrid vehicle power train, where all attachment points have a total thermal conductivity corresponding to less than 10 degrees temperature difference on a Kelvin-scale between electronics of said power electronics unit and the outside of said first transmission side for 5 kW of heat originating from one side of said attachment point. Arrangements including sound damping capabilities are disclosed. The arrangement can provide fewer parts and increased functionality of the power electronics unit.
US08276692B1 Electronic hand truck
The present invention consists of an electric powered, motorized hand truck having a substantially rectangular platform, at least four wheels, an electronic control panel, and a plurality of frames adapted to retain at least one cylindrical container. The frames are removably secured either horizontally or vertically to the rectangular platform. A gear axle and motor apparatus is secured to power the movement of the truck. Furthermore, a lithium ion rechargeable battery pack may be provided as an energy source for the motor, although different types of motors may be used including, but not limited to: gasoline, fuel cell, bio-diesel and diesel.